Hong Kong: A hub for smart manufacturing

The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) at the Tseung Kwan O InnoPark is a world-class, purpose-built advanced manufacturing base.

With a ceiling height of six metres on each floor and a grid size of 12m by 12m, it provides a scalable, efficient and dedicated logistics serviced manufacturing space.

Comprehensive services

The centre provides ample cargo lifts and loading bays for lorries. It also supports the high demand for electricity from enterprises.

Furthermore, the AMC offers a high-specification and fully serviced production base with a dedicated logistics serviced space for advanced manufacturing.

A shared platform, the ProShop, is also available in the AMC for enterprises to carry out prototyping and low-volume assembly and production.

All these features are specifically designed for providing comprehensive services for manufacturers to develop their innovative ideas into quality products.

Advanced facility

Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation Head of Innofacturing Yiu Hing-leung said there are two main services installed in the AMC to support advanced manufacturing.

One is the advanced logistics centre. We are providing shared base warehousing, together with an automatic cargo delivery system. So that they can deliver goods back-and-forth to their premises automatically without a human.

Citing the proverb Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime, Mr Yiu noted that the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks mission is to provide the enterprises with the support they need, particularly with the manufacturing design aspect.

New industrialisation

Opened in early 2022, the response from the industry to the first AMC has been favourable. Enterprises engaging in commercial satellite manufacturing, nanomaterials, semiconductor assembly and medical devices are stationed there.

Among them is the first commercial aerospace enterprise in Hong Kong with satellite constellation engineering and satellite precision manufacturing as its core business.

The companys co-chairman George Lam said their manufacturing base is located in the AMC with a total area of around 20,000 sq m.

We are very satisfied with the AMC as the location for our production base. Our production system requires imported components and parts from all over the world. So we need very smart logistics support and warehousing support.

As announced in the Policy Address, the Government will explore the construction of the second AMC at the Tai Po InnoPark to promote new industrialisation.

A technical feasibility study is being conducted by Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks in order to provide space and facilities for specialised industries in setting up advanced manufacturing production lines.

This story has been published on: 2023-06-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Both Singapore and Malaysia produce a disproportionately large amount of the worlds semiconductors.

Singapore is worried that the massive subsidies Washington and Brussels are about to spend on new microchip projects will upset a finely balanced global market.

When we start doing these things, then I would say it functions almost like a tax, David Koh, chief executive of Singapores Cyber Security Agency, said during a panel at POLITICOs Global Tech Day in London on Thursday. Koh warned that planned chip subsidies from the United States and Europe could impose false barriers that end up driving up costs.

These costs will then feed into the global economic system, Koh said.

Despite its small size, Singapore produces 5 percent of the worlds semiconductor wafers.

Last year, Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, a law that pumps $52 billion into domestic chipmaking facilities and research labs. And in April the EU advanced its own Chips Act, which will funnel roughly $47 billion in subsidies to semiconductor firms that set up shop in Europe.

Koh suggested that neither the U.S. nor the EU possess the complex ecosystems required to support large-scale semiconductor operations.

Theres a challenge of whether you have the competence, you have the trained personnel, et cetera, he said. Koh cautioned that the subsidies could cause the world to lose some of the benefits of economic scale and the digital revolution.

Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysias communications and digital minister, broadly agreed with Kohs assessment of Western chip subsidies. Malaysia also has an outsized footprint on global semiconductor production.

Both Singapore and Malaysia subsidize semiconductor companies that operate in their countries. Singapore, in particular, offers a wide range of incentives to chip firms. The southeast Asian city-state is reportedly trying to lure the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to its shores through substantial new subsidies.

Source: Politico
Seedless lychee is grown in Thanh Hoa with a domestic market price of about 170 thousand VND/kg, and the export price to foreign countries is more than 800,000 VND/kg.

Also read: Vietnamese Thieu lychee granted certificate of geographical indication in Japan

To meet export demand, the Ho Guom-Song Am High-tech Agriculture Company chose and planted this seedless lychee variety in an area of about 30 ha in conjunction with the Institute of Agricultural Genetics ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ).

The company carefully selects the number of lychees that have just been exported according to the following criteria: thin skin, plump, not deep, fragrant, sweet, put into the fumigation line, and then canned for export.

The business above has implemented the rules per the expanding area code from production to preliminary processing, classification, treatment, fumigation, packaging, closed preservation management, and inspection through very strict stages to satisfy the demands of the Japanese and European markets.

The skin of the lychee does not burn in the sun and is easy to store. This variety's benefits include low maintenance requirements, shallow stalks, and great economic value. Litchi trees that are four years old and older can be harvested once a year.

According to Mr. Cuong, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collaborated with Ho Mirror-Song Am Company and the Institute of Agricultural Genetics to test a 30-hectare area in the Nguyet An commune, Ngoc Lac district after researching seedless lychee varieties from abroad and implementing the fruit tree project of Thanh Hoa province until 2030.

The local fruit tree initiative is being implemented with a new component: the planting model of seedless litchi. According to Mr. Cuong, the first effect has a significant economic value.

Additionally, according to Mr. Cuong, the seedless litchi planted in the province of Thanh Hoa has done very well, and no pests have been found. Currently, the company is growing in the direction of GlobalGAP, which is eligible for export to countries worldwide.

Recently, the company has exported to Japan UK and is negotiating with other countries. Currently, the firm sells its products for roughly 170,000 VND per kilogram on the local market; the price for exports to other nations varies by country and might exceed 800,000 VND per kilogram.

According to the plan, in the coming time, Thanh Hoa's agriculture industry will, together with the company and related units, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, will survey and select the best leading plants for breeding, continue to expand on the area the company is managing is about 700ha.

The firm will collaborate with residents of Nguyet An commune and other communes to impart science and technology, give people seedlings, and then move on to product consumption to create a controlled litchi-wide region. And the province's premium exportable lychee goods will be seedless, according to Mr. Cuong.

After more than 4 years of trial planting, it was originally demonstrated that seedless litchi offered positive results, according to the initial evaluation and trial results of seedless lychee varieties of Song Am Company and the Institute of Agricultural Genetics. Growth and development are similar to native lychee; the tree grows and develops well without pests and diseases.

Its main benefit is the fruit's compatibility with the most developed export markets. Another benefit is that the lychee does not have a deep stem. The fruit is succulent, needs little maintenance, and is relatively affordable.

The first year lychee is harvested and put on the market, 2023, is expected to produce over 20 tons.
Looking for a niche market and building a sandbox with breakthrough policies can be a pathway to help gradually turn HCMC into an international financial center capable of supplying cross-border financial services. This, however, is a long-term vision, while in the near term, it is important to revise policies to attract foreign capital.

Do it differently

There are two ways to develop an international financial center in HCMC. The first way is to outperform existing centers in Asia like Singapore and Hong Kong; the other way is to do it differently, said Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan at the University of Economics HCMC at a roundtable on What special mechanisms are needed for HCMC to develop an international financial center? held by the Saigon Times Group early this month.

The dream to turn HCMC into an international financial center is not a new one, but it has been repeatedly revisited over the past three years at a time when HCMC is seeking special mechanisms to help tackle existing difficulties and create new growth momentum to attain a better position in the global financial map.

The problem is how to figure out a stepping stone for HCMC to become a regional financial center first before going global. A pathway recommended by experts at the aforesaid rountable is to comprehend global demands and establish a niche market, especially for new services. Such an approach may help make HCMC more appealing, instead of placing the city on the collision course with long-established international financial centers in the world.

In countries without internal economic strength, a regulatory niche market should be an option, said Dr. Phung Huong Giang, a lecturer and a researcher at the ISC Paris Business School. The expert recommended the niche market to include provision of digital financial products or non-banking financial services, alongside the development of an ecosystem for the niche market and upgrade of the infrastructure.

Also regarding the niche market. Dr. Huan referred to the central bank digital currency (CBDC). The global financial market is still awaiting initiatives for building a cross-border transaction platform, and therefore, if Vietnam opts for a different approach, it can create a sandbox for a transaction and conversion center for CBDCs in the future.

However, that is a long-term vision. Further, the establishment of an international financial center in HCMC must meet stringent conditions, including infrastructure, national reputation, the Governments capacity, and business confidence, noted Dr. Giang.

Still, speakers at the roundtable agreed that HCMC in particular and Vietnam in general own specific advantages. Dr. Huan observed that many startups prefer Singapore owing to the existing ecosystem and easier access to capital and technology markets, but Vietnam also boasts strength in terms of business costs, while the tax system does not lag far behind.

Nguyen The Minh, R&D director at Yuanta Vietnam, noted that each special economic zone or international financial center has its own appeal depending on the risk appetite of investors. Investing in Hong Kong, for example, requires acceptance of high risks, while in Singapore, tight control is the norm. Even investing in Shanghai is not easy due to specific hurdles there. Vietnam boasts its own specific traits including flexibility and an easy-going mindset when compared to other developed markets, he said.

Key aim: attracting foreign capital

Currently, discussions are underway for trial policies and mechanisms to turn HCMC into an international financial center. Experts involved in drafting such policies pointed to a favorable condition for HCMC, which is the citys time zone different from those of all the 21 biggest financial centers in the world. This is the so-called natural advantage that can help HCMC attract foreign capital during the downtime at the other financial centers.

Regarding the stock market, the Yuanta Vietnam representative stressed the importance of mobilizing capital from foreign investors, especially institutional investors, as individual investors are overwhelming in Vietnams stock market, accounting for up to 90% of the transaction value compared to less than 50% in regional markets like Thailand or elsewhere.

There are many ways to stimulate foreign funds on bourse that have been discussed in the past, such as improving the quality of commodities being listed securities, lifting the foreign ownership cap in certain conditional business sectors, developing derivative products to help attract more capital on bourse and enhance liquidity, or delegating power to HCMC to equitize local enterprises.

The trial mechanisms will also be an important tool to lure capital, especially from areas that see the blend between new technologies and traditional businesses. Apart from the risks pertaining to market, finance and business, a huge risk facing foreign investors and startups is the regulatory risk. They highly expect a regulatory sandbox. Mechanisms are not easy to be fleshed out, but regulations need to be specific to stimulate innovations, said Tran Nhat Khanh, managing director of the investment fund Touchstone Partners.





Another issue is the stimulant capital or bait capital in the economy. Singapore has been successful in this respect as the government has contributed stimulant capital to private venture funds, enabling these funds to mobilize more capital to invest in Singaporean corporations. Khanh of Touchstone Partners asked whether HCMC should resort to this investment vehicle alongside tax and fee incentives to kickstart an investment ecosystem for the digital economy in Vietnam.

Seconding the point, Giang of ISC Paris Business School said that Vietnam needs to improve the legal corridor to facilitate private venture investments. Meanwhile, nationally-strategic projects should be able to access State-owned venture funds if they cannot secure private investment.

From the macro-economic perspective, a key challenge for a small-sized economy with high international exposure like Vietnams is how to control the free-moving capital flow while maintaining an independent monetary regime and a currency peg, according to Huan. This macro-economic hurdle will persist in the short term, while there is hardly any policy that can radically change the citys current situation. However, new breakthough mechanisms will help the city attract more foreign capital and improve its growth quality. Investors will find opportunities in new mechanisms, asserted Khanh.
Despite weak global consumer demand, many foreign buyers are still looking to Vietnam for sourcing goods and business cooperation. This is crucial for manufacturers and exporters in Vietnam to seize this opportunity to retain existing buyers and attract new customers.

Promising opportunities ahead

It has been proven that enhancing trade promotion activities is one of the practical solutions to look for new orders, especially in tough economic times.

Cao Van Dong, CEO of Kettle Interiors Asia, stated that his company participated in the Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair (VIFA EXPO 2023) in HCMC and received significant attention from international buyers.

Kettle Interiors Asia successfully sold 24 containers of wooden products worth over half a million U.S. dollars right at the trade fair. Over 40 new foreign buyers came to discuss supply opportunities and requested visits to their factory in Binh Duong Province.

Similarly, Huynh Thi Phuong Vi, deputy CEO of Hiep Long Company, said that after VIFA EXPO 2023, the company successfully gained an additional 20% of new customers, primarily from Europe and Australia. Notably, some of these customers have already started placing orders. International trade fairs offer great chances for businesses to boost sales and look for new customers, especially amidst an economic slowdown, Vi said.

Currently, the Vietnamese wood industry continues to attract the interest of many international buyers due to its reputation for high-quality products and competitive prices. As evidence of this, the VIFA EXPO 2023 was attended by nearly 6,000 international buyers who came to seek product suppliers. Additionally, Vietnamese wood businesses at the fair signed contracts and memoranda of understanding worth nearly US$100 million.

The textile, garment, and footwear sectors are no exception. Quach Kien Lan, the founder of Bao Lan Textiles Company, noted that the company has continued to attract new buyers interested in establishing future business relationships. Notably, since its participation in the Global Sourcing Fair Vietnam in HCMC at the end of April, Bao Lan Textiles Company has connected with over 20 new international buyers for business links.

These buyers may not be ready to place orders immediately. However, they are highly potential customers when the business market bounces back, said Lan. The majority of these buyers come from markets with strict requirements for product quality and sustainability, such as Europe, the U.S., the UK, and Australia.

Wei Hu, CEO of Global Sources, highlighted Vietnams emergence as a global manufacturing hub through the success of Global Sourcing Fair Vietnam.

Multiple buyers from the U.S., Europe, and Asia have approached us to establish connections for sourcing goods from Vietnam and neighboring countries. Importers from the U.S. and Europe are keen on finding business opportunities in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, instead of traditional supply markets such as Hong Kong and Japan. Furthermore, the growing quality and competitive pricing of Vietnamese goods have gained popularity among consumers in these countries, he said.

Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the HCMC Peoples Committee, believes that this positive signal indicates opportunities for domestic exporters to expand their target markets in the future. With many formidable challenges ahead, businesses need to make further efforts to create products that are suitable for the cultural, religious, and ethnic characteristics, as well as the specific regulations of each country.

Retaining customers

Vietnam has received special interest from multiple countries in recent years, especially those seeking a reliable source market to diversify their products. Even when the world is suffering from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has seen an increase in the number of international buyers asking for new supply sources, said Wei Hu, CEO of Global Sources.

Apparently, there are ample opportunities for Vietnamese exporters and manufacturers to expand their markets. However, it is not easy for them to retain existing customers and embrace new buyers as they may face intense competition from multiple countries in the region, such as China, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.

At the HCMC EXPO 2023, Do Thang Hai, deputy minister of Industry and Trade, also emphasized that many countries have strengthened their trade protectionism amidst the adjustment of the global supply chain. Therefore, Vietnamese businesses need to regularly update information, change production and business methods, diversify trade promotion approaches, and align them with major global trends such as digital transformation, green transition, and technological advancements.





Stable product quality and competitive prices are always important factors in attracting customers. However, manufacturers and exporters are now required to satisfy stringent conditions set by brands and importing countries, including eco-friendly production practices, resource efficiency, and labor safety standards.

During a green exports forum held in HCMC on May 25, Nguyen Duy Minh, secretary general of the Vietnam Logistics Service Business Association, emphasized that the requirements for green supply chain transformation are now clearly defined and have a significant impact on the opportunity to secure export orders. It is no longer merely an aspiration but a tangible necessity.

Expert Vo Tri Thanh also believes that green and digital transformation are the two key priorities for businesses seeking to adapt to international market demands. Going green is crucial for preserving competitiveness, sustaining production, expanding international sales, and attracting brand interest, he said.

It is noteworthy that the requirements for green production are becoming more stringent. As an illustration, Thanh highlighted that the global textile industry now requires manufacturers to recycle excess fabric or defective products rather than dispose of them.

Businesses with ESG standards (Environmental, Social, and Governance) may receive more and better orders. Recently, while Vietnamese businesses have been grappling with shortages of orders, Bangladesh has secured its position as the worlds second-largest textile and garment exporter and is working tirelessly to fulfill its orders. Bangladeshs achievement is the result of its non-stop efforts toward green transition.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, vice chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association, said that Vietnams major markets, including the U.S., Japan, China, and the EU, are focusing on the green economy and green agriculture. Multiple exporters with GlobalGAP and SMETA have seen good growth in export orders and values.

Tung said that the entire fruit and vegetable industry recorded a 20% increase in export revenue to US$1.4 billion in the first four months of this year. It stood out as one of the rare sectors with positive and high export growth in the current challenging situation.

The green economy is a clear growth trend in the world, so Vietnamese businesses should invest immediately in this trend instead of waiting for their importers to impose regulations. Moreover, many experts believe that the green transformation requires a lot of effort from both individual businesses and the Government.

In search for effective collaboration

To achieve export growth and expand into new markets, businesses should enhance connectivity with each other and with the local authorities.

At the conference on market information held in HCMC on May 26, Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said that Vietnamese exports, in general, and agricultural products, in particular, have great potential to grow as the country has signed numerous Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with most major export markets. However, many businesses have yet to take advantage of those agreements.

One of the crucial solutions is for export businesses to strengthen their connections and collaboration with partners to meet the technical requirements of export markets, Phuong suggested.

Statistics from the Department of Industry and Trade show that HCMC is currently home to thousands of foreign-invested enterprises, representative offices of foreign traders, and numerous foreign trade agencies. Therefore, the city could be considered a convergence and connection point for export supply chains.

Regarding agricultural products, Dr. Ha Thuy Hanh, former deputy director of the National Agricultural Promotion Center, highly appreciates the linkage between HCMC and the 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta region. This collaboration helps create consistently high-quality products and reduces logistics costs.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, chairman of Vina T&T Group, believes that product quality and brand reputation are key to success. To expand into new markets, businesses must have an abundant source of raw materials and quality products that are distinctive and suitable for the importing country and its target consumers.

Along with a skilled workforce, it is essential for businesses to closely collaborate with farmers in establishing a sustainable supply chain throughout the entire process, from seed selection and cultivation to harvest. Moreover, Vietnamese exporters should also focus on their digital transformation, as well as leverage online platforms and marketplaces to reduce costs and enable faster access to customers.

These are some of the insights and recommendations provided in the article Bright spots amid the gloom by Hung Le, which highlights the opportunities and challenges facing Vietnamese manufacturers and exporters in the current economic climate. It emphasizes the importance of trade promotion activities, green and digital transformation, and cooperation among businesses and with the Government to retain existing customers and attract new buyers.
Forging partnerships with academic titans

Over the past couple of years, MB has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with more than 100 events, both large and small, dedicated to nurturing the minds of students. The first half of 2023 alone witnessed MBs sponsorship of 15 programmes across various university campuses in Vietnam.

Two recent events that garnered significant attention were the HUB Career Fair held at the prestigious Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City and the Job Fair - Bridging Talent 2023 at the Banking Academy, which collectively attracted an astounding participation of 12,000 students. These staggering numbers clearly highlight the fervent desire of the younger generation to engage in activities organised by reputable educational institutions and businesses.

The seamless continuity and unwavering regularity of these events underscore MBs resolute commitment to its long-term vision of making a meaningful social contribution by supporting and fostering the growth of young talents. These initiatives form the very bedrock upon which promising individuals can build their careers, granting them the fortitude and the guidance they need to flourish.

MB has etched an indelible mark on the market with its remarkable foray into digital banking transformations. In 2022, the bank managed to bewilder the industry by attracting a staggering seven million new customers, propelling its total customer base to soar above the 20 million mark, a feat that accounts for approximately 20 per cent of Vietnam's entire population.

Digital transactions now encompass a resounding 95 per cent of MB Bank's operations, an achievement that stands tall among the leading financial institutions in Asia.

Furthermore, MB has amassed a treasure trove of prestigious accolades, including The Asset Triple A Awards 2023 for "Best Digital Branch Project" and "Best Mobile Banking Application," as well as the Vietnam Digital Awards 2022 for its remarkable digital transformation endeavours.

Unveiling digital banking's charms to Gen Z

In a world where Generation Z is poised to take centre stage, unprecedented opportunities have arisen to foster deeper connections between these young minds and the realm of banking, particularly the digital frontier. MB has orchestrated a captivating talk show series titled "MB let's talk talent," offering a platform for students to interact directly with the bank's seasoned experts and partake in scintillating discussions on hot-button topics.

This series has carved an indomitable niche by exploring diverse subjects such as the metamorphosis from a student to a proficient DevOps engineer, unlocking the secrets of business analysis at MB Bank, embarking on the transformative journey of wealth management as a Private Banker, unlocking the full potential of LinkedIn for career growth, and navigating the vast landscape of banking professions to find one's true calling.

In a bid to provide students with the most holistic perspectives on their future professions, MB has partnered with several renowned universities to orchestrate an array of workshops. These engaging sessions cover topics ranging from risk management, data analytics, and International Financial Reporting Standards to the intriguing realms of DevSecOps and Agile methodologies throughout the course of 2023.

Since 2021, MB Bank has embarked on a visionary journey, investing billions of Vietnamese VND into the creation of MB Digital Hubs nestled within the hallowed campuses of top universities and institutions. These innovative spaces have ignited a spark of enthusiasm among students, providing them with immersive opportunities to simulate banking activities and passionately pitch their groundbreaking ideas.

During a riveting talk show at the National Economics University (NEU), Ngo Huy Anh, a student at NEU, expressed his gratitude for being among the selected few, hand-picked from over 800 applicants, to grace the halls of the NEU - MB Digital Hub.

He shared his elation at attending the captivating talk show "Road to data analyst  unlocking the shortcut for economists," where he had the privilege of listening to and interacting directly with MBs luminaries. The invaluable insights and meticulous guidance provided by these experts kindled a sense of self-assurance in him, cementing his career aspirations.

Huy Anh confided his aspirations of joining MB, having recently submitted his application for a coveted scheme.

MBs allure extends beyond the borders of Vietnam, as it recently welcomed 160 students from the Republic University of Uruguay, one of Latin America's most distinguished training centres, for a study and research expedition.

These international youths savoured their first taste of Southeast Asia's banking ecosystem, deeply impressed by MB Bank's robust investments. Through this enlightening initiative, MB Bank gained insights, promising to shape novel approaches to service offerings and future recruitment events catered to global talent.

With a resolute commitment to nurturing young talent, MB anticipates unveiling an array of projects designed exclusively for aspiring individuals. These initiatives aim to provide students with early exposure to the business environment and offer them an opportunity to learn on the job.

Two standout programmes, MB Chasing and MB Young Talent, take centre stage. MB Chasing, a trailblazing initiative in Vietnam's retail banking sector, acts as the inaugural stepping stone on the "Pursue the banker road" journey, thoughtfully crafted by MB to guide students from their freshman years until they emerge as accomplished "MB Masters."

With exclusive financial benefits, scholarships, and recognition for achievements, this venture entices young candidates. Additionally, MB Young Talent seeks to identify exceptional individuals, enabling aspiring professionals without prior experience to join MB in various professions across six distinctive career groups.

By investing in meticulously designed and professionally executed programmes, MB Bank has established itself as one of Vietnam's most enticing and sought-after brands, commanding the attention of young talent and technological enthusiasts alike.

Top IT students experience a day at MB 13 valedictorian freshmen and 60 students majoring in business analysis from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) took part in a tour at MB to gain invaluable insight into what it takes to be an IT worker in modern banking

MB to accompany businesses in digital transformation As Banking as a Service (BaaS) becomes a new trend in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, MB is actively promoting this service to its partners and businesses across different sectors.

MB and SBI Shinsei Bank sign MBCambodia equity deal MB Group and SBI Shinsei Bank officially inked a agreement on April 7 for the sharing of equity investment in MB Bank (Cambodia), a new commercial bank recently launched in Cambodia.
The Tribune-Herald on June 1 published a story about efforts to replace hundreds of roofs damaged by an April 26 hailstorm that swept across Central Texas. Roofers said they were busy, but expected to get busier.

Exhibit A would be the latest Associated General Contractors of America newsletter, which lists 175 addresses around Greater Waco for which permits to install new roofs were secured between June 7 and June 13.

East Market closing

East Market and Goods announcement that it will close, effective June 30, following a liquidation sale, has prompted plenty of responses from patrons sad to see it go. The store at 6500 Woodway Drive arrived three years ago to offer hard-to-find ingredients, to-go orders and other items catering to people who love Asian cuisine.

With much consideration and heavy heart, East Market and Goods will be closing its doors on June 30, 2023.  Despite our best efforts and a multitude of factors we cannot justify continued operation, the stores announcement on Facebook says.

The post thanks employees for their commitment and perseverance through shenanigans the global economy has brought us.

Respondents recoiling at the news are calling East Market their favorite store, and saying now they must drive to Killeen or Austin, or order on Amazon.

River Cruise tops list

The Waco Tours River Cruise was named best boat tour in North America in a USA Today readers choice list released a week ago.

We are beyond excited to be awarded this title. When we were creating this experience, we wanted to build an excellent cruise that was relaxing, luxurious, informative and peaceful, Waco Tours co-owner David Ridley said in a press release. Our staff is what put us at the top. They are hospitality experts, they value every guest, and they provide inspirational fun.

The 2-hour and 15-minute sunset cruise travels the Bosque and Brazos rivers, where guests are intrigued by stories of this life-giving river, featuring Wacos history and its people, the press release says. Waco Tours tour manager Heather Venable said many guests call the cruise the highlight of their trip to Waco.

Specifics about booking a cruise, which costs $79 to $99 per person, are available at waco-tours.com.

Allied Steel in McGregor

Allied Steel Buildings, an international company, is in the process of getting its first U.S. fabrication facility built in the McGregor Industrial Park. The company plans to invest $25 million for the 140,000-square-foot facility, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce reported in a newsletter.

Kris Collins, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, said Allied will employ 25 highly skilled workers to start, including engineers, programmers, management, and process operations. She said Allied produces kits containing fabricated parts that contractors and others use to assemble buildings on-site.

Uzin Utz in action

More than two years ago, in January 2021, Uzin Utz announced it would spend $31 million placing a dry mortar factory in Waco. It would produce products including self-leveling compounds, patches, thinsets and grouts. It would employ 40 people at the 125,000-square-foot facility near Mars Drive and Texas Central Parkway, it said in a press release at the time.

Uzin Utz recently began turning out product, the Greater Waco Chambers Kris Collins recently told gathered business leaders.

I wouldnt categorize the project as delayed in any way, rather a successful launch given the challenges of building a new, highly sophisticated production facility in the midst of a pandemic, Collins said in an email response to questions.

D.C. visit

Local business leaders flew into Washington, D.C., recently to meet with lawmakers conducting business at the U.S. Capitol. The annual Greater Waco Chamber event gives locals a chance to rub elbows with those setting policy for the nation and more importantly the folks back home.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyns office sent a press release and photograph to the Tribune-Herald, showing Cornyn posing with the Central Texas contingent. One topic discussed was a letter Cornyn and six Senate colleagues sent to the Department of the Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget, urging they give state and local governments clear instructions on how they can spend unused pandemic relief funds. Cornyn sponsored a law that passed late last year to allow spending on transportation, infrastructure and government services.

Timely guidance would allow communities to more effectively plan and execute projects that could provide long-term benefit, the letter says.

Building permit roundup

Other building permits issued recently include one valued at $100,000 to make repairs to the Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries location on Hewitt Drive and relocate its entrance.

Another, for $15 million, authorizes a fiber line warehouse at 2601 Gateway Blvd.

A $500,000 permit was pulled to remodel the office, expand the training room and create a new IT and data room at 1298 Sun Valley Blvd., home to Southeastern Freight Lines.

Mini Reni close

Joanna Gaines will launch a new program June 25 titled Mini Reni on the Magnolia Network to which she and husband Chip provide content.

An item in The Dallas Morning News says the program will champion small and quick renovations, such as repainting and refurnishing instead of tearing down walls. In the first episode, Gaines will renovate three rooms with a budget under $15,000, according to the Morning News.
Sometime in the next few weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on two cases challenging whether it is legal for public and private universities to consider a students race in college admissions.

The American public has debated the question ever since affirmative action was introduced after the Civil Rights movement to correct racial imbalances in education and the workforce that were born out of a segregated society. Since then, the nations highest court has weighed in periodically on the legality of the policy and narrowed its scope but has allowed it to stand for nearly 60 years.

This time, legal and education policy experts are preparing for the courts conservative majority to possibly put an end to the use of race in college admissions, which would change how some universities select their students.

If that happens, it would largely impact Texas private institutions and its most selective public university: the University of Texas at Austin, which is the only public university in the state that still considers race in undergraduate admissions.

Education policy and admissions experts across the state and country are concerned that eliminating race-conscious admissions could have broader impacts on the already slow progress many universities have made to diversify their student bodies. In Texas, state lawmakers recently decided to dismantle offices on college campuses that try to make college campuses more diverse and welcoming to all types of underrepresented students. Experts worry that the ban on those efforts, combined with the end of race-conscious admissions, could cement the impression that students of color are not welcome in the states higher education institutions and walk back decades of efforts to build more diverse campuses.

The Supreme Court decision is almost the least of our worries and its still a huge worry, said Stella Flores, a higher education and public policy expert at UT-Austin. These attacks on DEI policies  are really going to destroy the culture of any form of attempts to provide more equity from kindergarten all the way to the workforce.

As universities await the Supreme Court decision, here are a few things to know about what the end of race-conscious admissions in higher education could mean for Texas:

The cases before the Supreme Court

In the past, the Supreme Court has banned racial quota systems and said schools cannot admit students to correct systemic racism or give an advantage specifically to students of color. But the court has largely sided with universities and supporters who argue that considering race in admissions is a way to increase student diversity and provides educational benefits to all students. Opponents have argued that the practice is discriminatory and believe admissions should be based primarily on merit.

The two lawsuits before the Supreme Court were filed by the group Students for Fair Admissions. The group is led by lawyer Edward Blum, who recruited Texan Abigail Fisher to file a lawsuit against UT-Austin, alleging she was unfairly discriminated against when the school denied her admission in 2008 because she was white. Ultimately, the court narrowly ruled in favor of UT-Austin, finding the university had met legal scrutiny requiring that race considerations provide an educational benefit to students.

In one lawsuit, SFFA alleges the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, which prohibits governmental entities from discriminating based on race, by considering race in admissions when it doesnt need to do so to achieve a diverse student body. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that race-conscious admissions are acceptable only if there is not a race-neutral alternative to achieve diversity.

In the second case, SFFA alleges that Harvard University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars the federal government from providing money to private entities that discriminate based on race. Blum is alleging that Asian American students are less likely to be accepted into the private university than similarly qualified students of other races.

Most in Texas dont consider race

The vast majority of Texas public universities, including Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, do not consider race in their undergraduate admissions process.

In 1996, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled against using race in admissions, which banned universities in its jurisdiction, including Texas, from using affirmative action in college admissions for a few years. The Supreme Court took a different stance in 2003 when it ruled the University of Michigan could consider race in its law school admissions, nullifying the 5th Circuits earlier decision.

Despite the change, many schools in Texas, like A&M, decided to continue to ignore race in their admissions process.

At the time, A&M leaders pointed to a statewide admissions process that had been developed recently known as the Top 10% Plan, saying they could use it to build a diverse student population without the need to implement affirmative action policies.

Under the plan, Texas students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class are automatically admitted to a public university. The thinking was that since Texas public high schools are still de facto segregated because people largely live in neighborhoods divided by race, pulling the top students from a wider selection of high schools across the state would be an effective way to create diverse student bodies at the states public universities.

Over time, A&M has grown by tens of thousands of students, with large gains in its Hispanic and Asian populations. But Black student enrollment has largely remained flat. Meanwhile, studies have shown the Top 10% Plan has not done enough to help A&M or UT-Austin better reflect the states diversity.

Unlike Texas public universities, many private schools in the state still consider race in admissions, including Rice University in Houston, where university leaders already pledged a commitment to continue their diversity efforts regardless of the Supreme Courts decision.

Our admissions office and general counsel are preparing for various outcomes, Rice University leaders wrote in an open letter in March. We will strive to do all we can, within the bounds of the law, to continue to recruit and retain a widely diverse student body. Rices student body, faculty and staff are a multicultural reflection of the world, and our goal every year is to enroll a diverse class of the most talented students as well as hire and retain faculty and staff from across the country and around the globe.

Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth also consider race in admissions. Notably, the largest private university in Texas, Baylor University, does not consider race in admissions.

The University of Houstons Law Center is one of the only public graduate programs that currently considers race in admissions.

Used in limited ways

The first time the Supreme Court was asked to weigh in on affirmative action in college admissions was in the 1970s in a case known as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. In that case, a white student who was denied admission to the universitys medical school twice challenged the schools policy to set aside a certain number of seats for students of color.

The court banned the use of racial quotas in admissions but did say that universities could consider race as one of many factors in a college application, including students grade-point average, personal essays, letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities.

Yet experts say the perception that universities still use racial quotas or decide to admit some students solely based on their race has persisted.

Its sort of a black box that not a lot of people understand, said Liliana Garces, a legal and education policy expert at UT-Austin. It is not this process of placing a thumb on the scale  Its just sort of understanding the entirety of the circumstances.

Admissions offices at some of the most selective schools often have to decide between highly qualified applicants, which means the smallest details can make a huge difference in their determinations. Factors they sometimes consider include whether the student lives in a state farther away from the school, whether they play an instrument or whether they want to major in a unique field.

Little things can have a great deal of impact, said James Murphy, deputy director of higher education policy at Education Reform Now, a national education nonprofit. That does not mean that theyre giving some unfair preference to students of color.

At UT-Austin, admissions officers consider race to admit only a portion of their freshmen. Today, 75% of each freshman class at the university are automatically admitted through the top 10% plan (However, due to the highly selective nature of their admissions, the state has allowed the university to only automatically accept students who graduate in the top 6% of their class.)

Most of the other 25% of students are admitted through a holistic review that considers race, along with a students grade point average, extracurriculars, personal essays and letters of recommendation.

During this years legislative session, Texas lawmakers adjusted the states education code to allow UT-Austin to continue admitting students using this method in anticipation that the Supreme Court might overturn race-conscious admissions policies. Without that change, state law wouldve required UT-Austin to accept 100% of students that qualify for admission through the Top 10% Plan, which wouldve drastically increased enrollment and leave no room for the university to consider other students, such as out-of-state students or student athletes.

Enrollment drops among students of color

In 1996, California voters banned the use of race in admissions at its public universities. Since then, research shows the share of Black and Native American students at the states schools fell.

A 2020 analysis from Yale University found the decision deterred students of color from applying to University of California system schools. By the mid-2010s, the number of underrepresented students who were earning more than $100,000 in their early careers dropped by 3%, showing the ban on affirmative action enhanced socioeconomic inequalities.

Garces also studied the impact of bans on race-conscious admissions in graduate programs like law and medical schools. In one analysis, she found that bans on affirmative action in college admissions in Texas, California, Washington and Florida over time reduced the average proportion of graduate students of color across the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, business, education and humanities by 12%. She also found that when individual schools stopped considering race in admissions, it made administrators feel as if they couldnt discuss issues of race and racism in decisions about admissions, academic support and beyond.

That ended up kind of muting and silencing your work in these areas and I know from research that its very important for that work to be intentional, in order to be able to support students experiences, she said.

Those who oppose race-conscious admissions argue that there are other factors that universities can consider to draw a diverse student body, such as socioeconomic status. But according to an analysis by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, that wouldnt be enough. If highly selective schools cannot consider race, the center found, they would need to completely reform their admissions processes to generate the same level of diversity achieved when considering race. That would include implementing measures like eliminating legacy enrollment, which gives preference to students whose family members also attended the school. Ultimately, the center concluded, there is no good substitution for the consideration of race.

In Texas, public universities have largely banned legacy admissions. Some private schools, including SMU, Rice and TCU do consider legacy along with race.

Baylor, which does not consider race, does consider legacy in admissions. The fall 2022 freshman class was 64% white, 4% Black and 16% Hispanic. According to the university, 30% of the fall 2022 freshman class were related to a Baylor graduate.

Murphy said selective schools are going to feel renewed pressure to eliminate legacy admissions if the Supreme Court bans race-conscious admissions.

Universities and colleges commitments to diversity are going to be truly tested. Not that getting rid of legacy will fix the problem  not even close  but because [the admissions process] is so competitive, he said. If theyre not getting rid of legacy preference, in my book, theyre essentially saying, diversity is a nice idea to our university, but it is not an important practice.

Experts worried about broader impacts

While many higher education experts are preparing for the Supreme Courts conservative majority to end race-conscious admissions, some are hopeful that wont be the case.

Leonard Baynes, the dean of UHs Law Center, said the Supreme Courts recent ruling to keep a portion of the Voting Rights Act intact in an Alabama redistricting case suggests that this is not a slam dunk to end affirmative action as we know it.

Other experts are less hopeful that race-conscious admissions will survive, pointing to justices skepticism about the need to consider race during oral arguments last fall.

If the Supreme Court does rule against race-conscious admissions, Baynes said it will be harder to achieve a diverse student body through other factors besides race. He believes its possible, but said it will take an intentional commitment to make it happen.

Some higher education policy experts worry about other unintended consequences. Admissions experts are concerned that if schools can no longer consider a students race, many students of color will be discouraged to apply to highly selective schools and will instead opt for less selective schools. Experts say historically Black colleges and universities could see an uptick in applications.

They also worry that universities, in an attempt to avoid future legal challenges, might take a narrow ruling from the court and apply it more broadly.

Murphy said some experts are concerned that states or universities would not just remove the portion of their applications where students are asked to identify their race, but also remove any mention of race in other parts, like essay prompts. Universities might even stop asking students to list their extracurricular activities or even the ZIP code in which they live, Murphy said.

My fear is that an overzealous legislature might, in the spirit of these well-funded attacks on diversity and civil rights  say, Oh, if colleges cant consider race, then were going to need to scrub applications and remove all of these elements.

Right now, Texas universities are trying to interpret recently approved legislation that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public colleges and universities that try to help underrepresented students  including students of color  succeed when they come to campus. Schools are still figuring out to what extent they need to eliminate or alter existing programs to comply with the new law.

Flores, the higher education policy expert at UT-Austin, said society is becoming more diverse, and actions that ignore that  like banning universities from how they consider race in admissions or discuss it in classrooms  will result in negative social and economic consequences for the state.

A majority of our children are nonwhite, and a majority of all [students] are not white, and now the majority of our entire population is nonwhite, Flores said. You cant function as a society if its poorly educated and does not have equal opportunity.

Disclosure: Baylor University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/texas-universities-affirmative-action/.

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LINCOLN  According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood illness in the United States. Approximately 25% of children in Head Start programs have already experienced dental disease according to Maternal Child Health data. In 2016, the DHHS Office of Oral Health and Dentistry (OOHD) began an educational program aimed at teaching parents and caregivers of newborns how to establish sound daily oral hygiene habits at a very early age.

One of the main offerings of the program is the dental health starter kit. These kits contain age-specific dental cleaning items that with proper use can significantly reduce the cavity-causing bacterial biofilm in the oral cavity. The kits also include information to alert parents of the importance of establishing a dental home for their child by age one and a listing of where reduced-cost dental care can be found in Nebraska.

Each year approximately 25,000 new babies are born in Nebraska. Thousands of these starter kits have already been distributed to dental offices, early head starts, WIC sites, daycares, home visiting programs, community health centers, local health departments and other locations.

In 2020, this statewide campaign expanded through support from a collaborative partnership with the Nebraska Community Foundation, the Maternal Child Health Block Grant, and the University of Nebraska Medicine College of Dentistry. Additional starter kits are now being delivered to the Childrens Medical Center and Associated Physicians health system for their pediatricians to dispense during the periodic well-baby checkups.

On May 17 a breakthrough in improved communication about dental disease prevention was achieved. The OOHD has begun a major partnership with the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) starting with a donation of 10,000 English and Spanish starter kits to send to their birthing hospitals across the state. For the first time, new mothers will receive these kits directly from hospital staff and watch an instructional video before they are released (see QR Code below). Proper daily oral hygiene habits can now start on day one and continue for a lifetime to improve oral health outcomes for all children.

The Nebraska Hospital Association is proud to be a part of this important public health disease prevention effort, said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the NHA. Dental health is a critical key to overall physical health, and we are happy to partner with DHHS to deliver these dental kits to the parents of newborns within our 92 member hospitals statewide. These kits will be invaluable in helping new parents know how to protect their childrens teeth now and in the future.

Proper oral health habits can prevent dental decay and early childhood caries, an infectious disease that can lead to severe pain, language development delays, malnutrition, and loss of school days.

Early education and access to preventive services, are the two principal keys to lowering childhood dental disease rates in Nebraska, said State Dental Director Dr. Charles F. Craft. Having hospitals and pediatricians directly involved in giving new parents the tools they need to ensure proper oral hygiene for their children will multiply the effectiveness of the education they receive from their dentists and hygienists. The impact of these evidence-based interventions can already be felt as the most recent oral health survey conducted in 2022 indicates dental disease rates for Nebraska children is now below the national average.

To learn more about the Nebraska Early Dental Health Starter Kit Educational Program please visit https://www.unmc.edu/dentistry/outreach/starter-kits.html
LINCOLN  Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 65 impaired drivers from the road during the annual campaign Click It or Ticket campaign to begin the summer travel season.

Nebraska roadways have had a busy start to summer, said Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. Our troopers were also busy over the last three weeks, working to help start the summer travel season safely across Nebraska.

During the campaign, which ran from May 15 through June 4, troopers arrested 65 drivers for driving under the influence. Troopers also issued over 100 citations for seat belt and child safety seat violations. Click It or Ticket is a nationwide campaign designed to increase seat belt use through enforcement and education efforts.

Troopers also issued citations for speeding (1,587), including 65 citations for speeding at over 100 miles per hour, no seat belt (79), improper child restraint (24), open alcohol container (34), minor in possession (28) and driving under suspension (109). Troopers also performed 870 motorist assists during the campaign.

Summer is just getting started and safe travel will be a key to making great memories on your summer road trips, said Bolduc. No matter where the road takes you this summer, wear your seat belt, always drive sober, put your phone down, and have a safe trip.

Throughout the summer, troopers will be participating in several localized campaigns to promote safe travel in communities across the entire state. Click It or Ticket was made possible thanks in part to a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation  Highway Safety Office.
August 16, 1952-April 5, 2023

WATERLOO-Norman E. Ussery, 70, of Waterloo, Iowa died at home April 5, 2023 after a lengthy illness. He was born in Miami, FL August 16, 1952 to Donald E. Jones and Bette Lou (Halverson) Ussery Christensen, and adopted by Emerson Ussery. He was raised in Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands by his mother and stepfather Christian Christensen.

Norman graduated Salutatorian from St. Joseph High School in Frederiksted, St. Croix. He received a B.A. from Duke University and found his love for performing arts while working summers at Unto These Hills and Carolina Regional Theater in Durham, NC.

He began a lifelong career in the theatre, both behind the scenes and on stage. He was the Managing Artistic Director at Island Center in St. Croix and the founding director of Pistarckle Theater in St. Thomas, USVI. Norman then served as Director at Williamsport Community Arts Center in Pennsylvania; Executive Director at Theatre Tallahassee in Florida; Executive Director at Twin City Stage in Winston-Salem, NC; Executive Director at Theatre Arlington in Texas; and Executive Director at Waterloo Community Playhouse / Black Hawk Childrens Theatre. For his final production, he was director of the musical Always, Patsy Cline in Waterloo last fall after retiring from management.

Norman enjoyed international travel, all forms of art and, in recent years, online word puzzles. He supported Actors Equity for more than 41 years and was a member of Waterloo Rotary Club for six years. He was active in recovery communities across the country, both in person and online, celebrating more than 30 years of sobriety.

Norman was preceded in death by his birth parents and adoptive father. He is survived by stepfather Christian Christensen of St. Croix; former longtime partner William R. Gilleran of Pensacola, FL; stepsisters Lisa and Essie Christensen and Shelby (Jones) Simonini; stepbrothers David and Bryan Christensen; and many more members of step-families.

Norman will be remembered as a gentle soul, creative thinker, good negotiator and compassionate collaborator, as well his perfect verbal enunciation that can only come from a lifetime in the theatre (and a childhood in the Virgin Islands where nuns demanded perfect English in school.)

A Celebration of Life will be held on the stage of Waterloo Community Playhouse in the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial, on Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow in the Walker Building. Memorial donations may be made to Waterloo Community Playhouse, 224 Commercial, Waterloo IA 50701, or the community theatre of your choice.
July 31, 1927-June 7, 2023

Ralph Samuel Scott, Jr., 95, formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Quincy, Illinois. He was born on July 31, 1927, in Portage, Wisconsin, the son of Ralph Scott and Mabel Quamme Scott. He married Liesel Luise Sattel on October 23, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois. Survivors include three daughters, Kristina Scott of San Carlos, California and her children Martin, Jianna and Sebastian Pollack; Ingrid (Stephen Wingert) Scott of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania and their children Heidi Luise, Andreas, Stephen II, Markus and Erik Wingert; and Heidi (Mark Vincent) Scott of Mt. Sterling, Illinois and their children Philip, Jakob and Liesel Vincent. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, his only brother Richard Scott, and one granddaughter Danielle Luise Pollack.

Ralph was passionate about life and all the people he met. He loved to make those he encountered smile, which usually ended up with a laugh as he enjoyed joking around. His first love was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed traveling, fishing and music when time permitted.

He received his BA from Luther College, his MSW from the University of Wisconsin, and his PhD in Clinical Psychology with highest honors from the University of Chicago. He spent most of his career at the University of Northern Iowa, where he served as Director of the Educational Clinic and Professor of Educational Psychology; Director of the School Psychology Program; and Professor of Psychology.

Ralph also served as medical advisor for the US Department of Health and Human Services; medical expert for the U.S. Social Security Administration; Director of the National Association for Neighborhood Schools; and psychological consultant for such institutions as the Iowa Department of Education, US Office of Education, National Institute of Education, US Commission of Civil Rights; Iowa Legislative Council, Iowa Department of Public Welfare, Iowa National Guard, Iowa Board of Psychology, and school districts in at least 24 states throughout the country.

He was an avid author, having written 13 books and over 200 research papers, was awarded several International Exchange Visits by the National Academy of Sciences, and served as the principal investigator of 18 federal and state government grants.

Ralph spoke fondly of his military service as aide to General Courtney H. Hodges, Commander of US First Army. Military honors will be conducted at the Catholic Cemetery in Mt. Sterling by the Illinois National Guard Funeral Honors Detail and the Mt. Sterling American Legion Post #374 on July 8, 2023 at 11:00 am. Per his request, burial services will be held in Bundenthal, Germany, at a peaceful location chosen by him and Liesel years ago.

Memorials, made payable to Penn State University with Fund 217-46HY 44JJ written on the memo line to support retina research, may be sent to Penn State College of Medicine, University of Development and Alumni Relations, PO Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033-0852.

Condolences for the family may be left online at hendrickerfuneralhome.com.
We all know the rules with regards to the TSA and the limits they put on what you can take in your carry-ons, which for most travelers just means buying travel size liquids. But according to a new report published by the Transportation Security Administration, more people are trying to take 
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for allegedly shooting a woman in the stomach in 2022.

Howard Jamrio Levar Mason, 22, pleaded to charges of willful injury causing serious injury, intimidation with a weapon, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and interference while armed and on June 1, he was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

According to authorities, Mason shot a woman because the woman was fighting with the mother of his child at 822 Fairview Ave. on May 12, 2022. When police arrived, he allegedly ran from officers while holding the gun.

Police later found a 9 mm Glock 43x handgun that had been hidden under a vehicle.

Authorities allege Mason is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 2021 domestic assault case.
CEDAR FALLS  The results of the internal evaluation of the Public Safety Department will be the focus of a Tuesday meeting of the City Council.

Officials will discuss the evaluation at 6 p.m. inside City Hall, 220 Clay St.

The focus is the departments progress on seven goals  staffing; departmental practices; training; facilities; equipment and vehicles; community engagement; and officer well-being  and explaining future priorities and challenges.

Earlier this year, the council voted 5-2 to conduct the internal review. Councilmembers Simon Harding and Dave Sires opposed after a proposal had been on the table for an unbiased, external review. No decision was made on whether an external review might be pursued after revealing the internal review.

The council also will discuss term limits for board and commission members, or whether to allow unlimited service. There is currently no policy.

However, Mayor Rob Greens practice has been to retire members with more than 20 years of service. That was initially questioned by Councilmember Daryl Kruse. Mardy Holst recently retired from the Planning and Zoning Commission after 20 years but said it was his decision, despite Green noting he wouldnt have reappointed him.

There are exceptions. Green recently reappointed Shirley Merner to the Health Trust Fund Board after more than 20 years because positions on the board are difficult to fill.

Also before Tuesdays council meeting will be a presentation on the possibility of Cedar Falls formulating a youth commission similar to Waterloos Youth City Council.

At the 7 p.m. meeting, the council will consider:

Approving the first of three readings of an ordinance establishing $12,000 as the annual salary for councilmembers. It would take effect Jan. 1 following the city election, and be raised every year based on the federal consumer price index rate. Councilmembers are being paid $6,982 in 2023. The new wage was supported by all councilmembers except Dave Sires and Susan deBuhr.

Approving the first of three readings of an ordinance amending snow and ice removal requirements, adding language clarifying the the full width of all sidewalks must be cleared and the job must be completed within 48 hours of the end of the weather event, as opposed to in a reasonable amount of time. The proposed rule also outlines the procedure to create an alternate snow-free path around a sidewalk because of unsafe conditions or hardship on the owner.

Approving the first of three readings of an ordinance rezoning 2.26 acres for Advanced Technical Services at 702 LeClair St. for a 6,900-square-foot expansion to the south of its existing facility for more storage space for equipment.

Approving the first of three readings of an ordinance allowing vinyl siding on residential buildings with six or fewer dwelling units in residential areas of downtown. The proposal is part of a flurry of changes introduced by a council majority to the fairly new code and reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. It requires a supermajority to enact because the commission did not endorse the proposed change.

Approving a resolution to remove councilmembers obligation to vote on proclamations forwarded to them by Green, who was wrapped up in controversy following his initial decision not to sign one recognizing LGBTQIA+ Month.

Accepting the resignation of Anne Bonsall Hoekstra from the Art & Culture Board.

Appointing Gina Weekley, Jason Droste, Madeleine Seymour, and Tyler Ingham to the Human Rights Commission.

Approving resolutions establishing the payroll for employees and setting the pay ranges for the various positions as well as various fees imposed by the city.

Approving the shared services 28E agreement for the Black Hawk County Dispatch Center, finalizing the continued cost sharing with other municipalities despite the massive uptick in expense assigned to Cedar Falls because of a change in formula approved by the Emergency Management Commission.
WATERLOO  Larry Elder is ending his successful media career to run for president of the United States.

Im doing this because I feel an obligation, he told the Black Hawk County Republican Party on Thursday inside the Iowa State University Extension Building.

Elder attributes that feeling to the fact he was raised in a military family.

Im the only one who didnt serve, he said. I feel I have a moral obligation to give back to the country thats been so good to me.

The author, columnist, radio host, television personality, attorney and now Republican candidate for president says hell have an easier time winning a nationwide race for the countrys highest office than any race in California, where he ran for governor.

In 2021, he felt Californians were livid about the public schools, crime, COVID-19 shutdown and a mass exodus from the state.

It was a recall election, which is why I did it, he said. I figured if maybe the ball caromed the right way, I could sneak through. A Republican has not won statewide in California in 20 years, and I thought this was my shot.

Elder touted his ability to attract more votes and raise more money than the other candidates, including actual politicians, without the Republican Partys endorsement or assistance.

California voters ultimately chose not to recall incumbent Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Elder treated local Republicans to several stories. He spoke of a trip to the ultraliberal west side of Los Angeles and a conversation with two 85-year-old Jewish women in a restaurant whom he described as completing his sentences as they talked about various issues.

It was proof to him that Americans live in silos.

He asked have you ever had a conversation with a conservative Republican in your life? And they both said no, said Elder.

He said it is a problem that he and others have lost friends because of their support for former President Donald Trump.

But he predicted Republican voters will coalesce behind a single candidate not named Trump because of questions about the former presidents electability. He doubted Trumps appeal with swing voters, many of whom are women from the suburbs unlikely to vote for Trump.

Elder, a Black man, took swings at former president Barack Obama for pushing nonsense that the country is systemically racist, and President Joe Biden, who told Howard University students the number one problem in America is white supremacy.

Last year, 25 people were killed by extremists, he said. Not all extremists by the way were white. In 2020, there were 11,000 Black homicide victims, almost all killed by other Blacks.

He said the real problems are the epidemic of fatherlessness, attacks on Christian beliefs, patriotism and entrepreneurship, and the scandal that is public schools, specifically in Baltimore and Chicago.

He closed by pushing for an amendment to the Constitution combatting big government. He wants reductions in entitlement programs. He would fix spending to a certain percentage of GDP, with exceptions for war and natural disasters.

At some point, politicians would have to go into a room, lock the door and they come out, eventually theyll be able to trim the budget because they have to by law, he said. Otherwise, they get thrown out of office.

Afterwards, Elder said he most relates to President Ronald Reagan because of his economic policies and work to cut taxes and deregulate, as well as his response to a recession, his re-election success, his radio career as an announcer for WHO Radio in Des Moines, and his sunny and upbeat personality.

Reagan gets shot and he says, Whats that guys beef? as opposed to being angry, said Elder. Hes being wheeled into the hospital and he sees the doctors over him  and he says, Hope you guys are Republican, and they said, Mr. President, were all Republicans now. And he said to his wife, Nancy, I forgot to duck.

My point is here is the man was shot. Hes bleeding. And we found out later on that his injuries were far more severe than people thought. He almost died, and here he is cracking jokes.

Photos: Sumner-Fredericksburg baseball vs. Dike-New Hartford, June 16 DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (1).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (2).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (3).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (4).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (5).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (6).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (7).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (8).JPG DNH vs. Sumner-Fred (9).JPG
WATERLOO  More new construction could be eligible to receive property tax exemptions if a plan is readopted by the city of Waterloo.

The Waterloo City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chamber at City Hall. The meeting was moved to Tuesday due to the Juneteenth holiday.

The council could readopt the City Limits Urban Revitalization Area program, which covers Waterloo outside of the more populated areas of the city. Qualified real estate within this area would be eligible to receive a total or partial exemption from property taxes for a specified number of years.

The previous CLURA was only available for new construction of single- or two-family homes and provided one tax abatement schedule: three years at 100%.

If readopted, some changes would be made. Qualified real estate would include childrens day care facilities and new construction of multi-family homes. A second tax exemption schedule would provide 10 years of a partial exemption  from 80% to 20%, decreasing each year.

A public hearing was held May 15 and notice was published in the paper and mailed to all property owners within the proposed plan area.

The council could also approve a Consolidated Public Safety Communications 28E Agreement with Black Hawk County, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Hudson, La Porte City, Dunkerton and Gilbertville to coordinate dispatching of public safety services in the county.

This year, the money given from each city is based on 100% of taxable property valuation. In previous years, it was based on both the number of calls for service and population.

With this agreement, Waterloo would reimburse Black Hawk County about $1.4 million, the highest amount of any of the cities, due to Waterloo having the largest population.

Other items coming before the council include:

A public hearing for the reading of bids for the fiber-to-the-premise and backbone network project. Bids range from $66.6 million to $106.9 million from four bidders with multiple alternates.

A public hearing to designate 722 Water St. a historic landmark. The build was once home to Huckleberrys Dining Emporium and the College of Hair Design.

A resolution for the submission of a nutrient reduction study to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

An ordinance establish grades for the fiscal year 2023 sidewalk repair assessment program for zone two.

A resolution approving a development agreement with Freedom Truck and Trailer Wash LLC and Deer Creek Development for the construction of an automated truck and trailer wash with a minimum assessed value of $2.2 million located at the southeast corner of Greyhound and Cyclone drives. This is not at the former Greyhound Park location.
WASHINGTON  As a Black student who was raised by a single mother, Makia Green believes she benefited from a program that gave preference to students of color from economically disadvantaged backgrounds when she was admitted over a decade ago to the University of Rochester.

As a borrower who still owes just over $20,000 on her undergraduate student loans, she has been counting on President Joe Biden's promised debt relief to wipe nearly all of that away.

Now, both affirmative action and the student loan cancellation plan  policies that disproportionately help Black students  could soon be dismantled by the U.S. Supreme Court. To Green and many other people of color, the efforts to roll them back reflect a larger backlash to racial progress in higher education.

I feel like working people have been through enough  I have been through enough, said Green, a community organizer. From a pandemic, an uprising, a recession, the cost of living price going up. I deserved some relief.

The rulings could also have political consequences among a generation of young voters of color who took Biden at his word when he promised to cancel debt, said Wisdom Cole, director of NAACPs youth and college program.

Year after year, we have elected officials, we have advocates, we have different politicos coming to our communities making promises. But now its time to deliver on those promises, he said.

The president's plan forgives up to $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers, and doubles the debt relief to $20,000 for borrowers who also received Pell Grants. About half of the average debt held by Black and Hispanic borrowers would be wiped out, the White House said. Six Republican-led states filed a legal challenge questioning whether the president, a Democrat, has authority to forgive the debt.

In the affirmative action cases, the court is considering the use of race-conscious admissions policies that many selective colleges have used for decades to help build diversity on their campuses. The cases are brought by a conservative activist who argues the Constitution forbids the use of race in college admissions.

The high court is expected to rule in each of the cases by the end of June.

Both cases focus on policies that address historic racial disparities in access to higher education, as Black borrowers tend to take on disproportionately more debt to afford college, said Dominique Baker, an education policy professor at Southern Methodist University.

Backlash to racial progress tends to follow periods of social change and advancement, Baker said. In a study published in 2019, Baker and her co-authors found states were more likely to adopt bans on affirmative action when white enrollment at public flagship universities dropped.

These are policy tools that have an explicit aim around reducing the power of white supremacy, Baker said. The two court challenges, she said, can be seen as linked backlash to two attempts towards racial justice.

Green, who grew up in a low-income household in Harlem, New York, graduated from Rochester with about $40,000 in federal loan debt. Some of that was erased under a public service forgiveness program when she completed two terms with Americorps, and she whittled it down further with monthly installments until the government paused repayment due to the pandemic.

Green said she sees both court cases as connected to conservative attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Critics say opposition to such programs is rooted in questions of fairness and in white grievances over the advancement of nonwhite people.

This is white supremacy at work, Green said. This is a long tactic of conservative, white supremacist-leaning groups to use education and limit Black peoples access to education, as a way to further control and oppress us.

In the 1960s and 1970s, many colleges developed affirmative action plans to address the fact that many predominantly white schools struggled to attract people from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. Policies were also created to promote greater inclusion of women.

Since the late 1970s, the Supreme Court has three times upheld affirmative action in college admissions on grounds that institutions have a compelling interest to address past racial discrimination that shut nonwhite students out of higher learning. Justices have also agreed with arguments that more diverse student bodies promoted cross-racial understanding.

But with the Supreme Court skewing more ideologically conservative, some former students and advocates worry how a ruling against affirmative action might affect diversity on campuses.

In anticipation of a possible ruling against race-conscious admissions, some colleges are considering adding more essays to get a better picture of an applicants background. Others are planning to boost recruiting in racially diverse areas. But in states that have already banned affirmative action, similar efforts at selective colleges have largely failed to maintain diversity gains.

Jonathan Loc, a graduate student at Harvard who helped organize teach-ins in support of affirmative action, said that for students of color, it's impossible to speak about their lives without mentioning race, whether through hardships faced or simply their pride in their cultural heritage.

I grew up as the son of refugees in a low-income community and a single parent family burdened with the model minority myth, he said. But I think that that kind of narrative also helps me to be an Asian American focused on racial justice, focused on making sure that everyone who has a unique story related to their racial background or any background has that story heard.

Justices past affirmative action views, in their own words Chief Justice John Roberts Clarence Thomas Samuel Alito Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett Sonia Sotomayor Elena Kagan Ketanji Brown Jackson Sandra Day O'Connor
Five years ago, a 37-year-old Rodell Jones was working as a Transportation Security Administration officer at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport  having pursued some higher education years earlier, but without landing a degree.

He had never been to Iowa  or even thought much about it  until considering the TSAs offer to earn a certificate in homeland security by taking online courses from a selection of colleges, including Des Moines Area Community College more than 1,000 miles away.

After earning that DMACC certificate in 18 months  all virtually from his home in Hagerstown, Maryland  Jones kept going, pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice from DMACC, with an eye on an eventual bachelors degree. He had planned to do that closer to home, transferring credits to a nearby four-year college, until a DMACC professor asked: Have you thought about UNI?

He said, I don't know whether or not you know this, but they have a partnership with DMACC, Jones said.

That University of Northern Iowa partnership  called UNI at Iowa Community Colleges or UNI@IACC  was not just news to Jones, but was news to Iowa last year. Offering associate-degree earners from any of Iowas 15 community colleges the option of seamlessly and virtually completing bachelors degrees in high-demand areas, like criminal justice, the program attracted 348 students in its first year and contributed to an 18% one-year spike in UNI transfer students in fall 2022.

Before that bump, UNIs transfer student numbers had been dropping year over year, and in 2021 fell to just 453  its lowest in decades and 45% below UNIs 829 transfer students in fall 2010, according to Board of Regents documents.

UNIs community college collaboration  like dozens of other cross-campus collaborations and partnerships that have emerged across Iowa over the last decade  had its intended effect of both increasing enrollment, despite a decline in the number of high school graduates, and improving access to higher education for non-traditional students.

Jones, after stopping out of college to raise a family, didnt know if he would ever complete a degree. But his experience with the DMACC him confidence to take advantage of its collaboration with UNI.

If I can do that, Jones said of his ability to get an associates online, then that means that I should be able to take advantage of going to a university online, which is where we're at now.

On track to finish his degree in August, Jones flew to Iowa in May to participate in UNIs commencement.

You always dream of walking with that bachelor's degree, Jones said.

Non-traditional students

Although Jones is a rarity among students taking advantage of the UNI@IACC partnership  in that he doesnt live in Iowa and doesnt plan to move here  non-traditional students like him are the target of the multitude of cross-campus agreements and collaborations emerging of late.

Students who are older, already in the workforce, raising families or from families without a history of college or the resources to finance it are becoming increasingly important across higher education  especially in the Midwest, which faces shifting demographics and waning high school graduates.

All the four-year schools are, in a sense, competing for the same community college students, and so we do have to look at new partnerships and ways to be collaborative and transfer-friendly, Paul Sapp, director of the UNI@IACC program, told The Gazette.

Like Iowas four-year colleges and universities, its community colleges have lost enrollment in recent years, too, making transfer-friendly policies and flexibility important.

It's what the market demands; it's what the consumer  in this case, the students  they're demanding flexibility, UNI spokesman Pete Moris said, acknowledging that most traditional students coming straight from high school prefer the the meat and potatoes experience here on campus.

But for the growing number who arent coming straight from high school, Were making sure we schedule around their lifestyle, around their work schedules, Moris said.

It does the students no good if we schedule a class that they need at 1 oclock in the afternoon when they're at work.

Like Ana Miranda, 36, of Des Moines, whos taking advantage of UNIs 2+2 Elementary Education BA program that lets students pursuing or already holding an associate degree from a community college to finish entirely online the remaining two years needed for a bachelors.

It was heaven-sent, Miranda told The Gazette about UNIs collaboration with DMACC  where she started her postsecondary journey after earning her high school diploma in 2005. Originally from Mexico, Miranda first had to learn English and then get financial aid to pursue college.

My academic journey has been bumpy, said Miranda, who earned her associate degree in 2014 before becoming pregnant and married soon after. I never stopped working full-time (except for maternity leave). I wanted to focus on my new life as a wife and mother, but a part of me refused to give up the dream of becoming a teacher.

When she stumbled upon UNIs 2+2 offering, she brought her son with her to an informational meeting and met her now academic adviser.

I wont forget that day, Miranda said.

But even after starting toward a UNI degree in education, Miranda had to pause when her marriage fell apart.

I then returned to the program, took some more classes, but at that point I was struggling with mental health, she said. As hard as it was, I had to make another pause to take care of myself (and my son).

Now back on track, Miranda has three courses left, with expectations to graduate next spring.

I would not be able to even be talking about graduating next year if it wasnt for the 2+2 UNI-DMACC, she said, adding, I am certain that other non-traditional students (who would not have access to higher education otherwise), will continue to take advantage of this program. I hope they do because it is an incredible opportunity.

Partnerships boom

Cross-campus collaborations also could help address Iowa workforce challenges. Many center on high-demand degrees and aim to churn out graduates at a faster clip  offering shorter times to graduation, like the University of Iowas 3+3 law degree collaboration with 17 institutions statewide.

Admitted students  from any eligible college or university, including Coe, Cornell, Wartburg and Luther colleges  can begin their law-degree pursuits in their fourth-year of undergrad, saving time and money. Or its undergrad-to-grad public health degree partnerships with Coe, Cornell, Luther and Grinnell.

Several partnerships have emerged statewide to address the need for more nurses  like Kirkwood Community Colleges RN to BSN program with the UI College of Nursing that launched this year.

Most of the dozens and dozens of cross-state partnerships have emerged in the last decade  the majority in the last few years. Many of the programs are online or hybrid, a style of learning and teaching that campuses had to expand after COVID-19 hit, creating an opportunity to expand.

The pandemic also affected enrollment and the workforce.

We'll be adding this fall a hybrid accounting program that will be partially online and partially face-to-face here at DMACC-Urban, UNIs Sapp said of his universitys Des Moines Area Community College-based site.

That was really something that the leadership of some of the financial sector firms in Des Moines did a great job of collaborating with us and DMACC on, UNI spokesman Moris said. Because there's a need. There are not enough entry-level people going into accounting.

Moris said he thinks the partnerships are going to grow as the non-traditional students do  with many workers who didnt initially think theyd need a four-year degree discovering or deciding they do.

These folks are finding out that they've kind of hit a ceiling in terms of what their earning potential is without that four-year degree, he said.

The campuses might hit a ceiling, too, in the straight-from-high school students they can enroll, as that population shrinks. Pulling from and partnering with other campuses to educate as many students in the state as possible could be a path forward for Iowas colleges and universities.

Still, Sapp said, even with all the collaboration, competition persists.

The transfer students are, I think, more savvy and are really shopping around and looking for their best options, he said. So we all have to try to make sure we're the best option.

Photos: St. Ambrose University Commencement Saturday at Vibrant Arena at The MARK 052023-qc-nws-sau-603 052023-qc-nws-sau-608 052023-qc-nws-sau-604 052023-qc-nws-sau-607 052023-qc-nws-sau-606 052023-qc-nws-sau-605 052023-qc-nws-sau-609 052023-qc-nws-sau-630 052023-qc-nws-sau-614 052023-qc-nws-sau-617 052023-qc-nws-sau-611 052023-qc-nws-sau-631 052023-qc-nws-sau-087a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-626 052023-qc-nws-sau-636 052023-qc-nws-sau-618 052023-qc-nws-sau-014a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-124a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-627 052023-qc-nws-sau-612 052023-qc-nws-sau-629 052023-qc-nws-sau-637 052023-qc-nws-sau-633 052023-qc-nws-sau-621 052023-qc-nws-sau-119a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-638 052023-qc-nws-sau-622 052023-qc-nws-sau-615 052023-qc-nws-sau-624 052023-qc-nws-sau-619 052023-qc-nws-sau-610 052023-qc-nws-sau-620 052023-qc-nws-sau-623 052023-qc-nws-sau-063a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-632 052023-qc-nws-sau-616 052023-qc-nws-sau-097.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-661 052023-qc-nws-sau-044a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-074a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-144a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-665 052023-qc-nws-sau-668 052023-qc-nws-sau-664 052023-qc-nws-sau-672 052023-qc-nws-sau-669 052023-qc-nws-sau-662 052023-qc-nws-sau-663 052023-qc-nws-sau-658 052023-qc-nws-sau-159a.JPG 052023-qc-nws-sau-670 052023-qc-nws-sau-137a.JPG
Everywhere you look on the sun-drenched Stockholm streets you see blue and yellow. Blue sky, blue water, and the powder blue field of the Swedish flag dominate in all directions.

Bobbing in these blue seas are islands of fair-haired Swedes hiking, biking, boating, and walking on or alongside the wharf of the citys best people-watching street, Strandvagen. The bright yellow Nordic cross on waving Swedish flags adds to the luster.

And right there, in a city so bright, so elegant, and so welcoming that you fall in love with it, you promise perfect strangers that you will return to Paris of the North.

They understand; everyone, after all, speaks English and everyone seems to enjoy the city as much as you. Its the perfect gateway to Scandinavia, a loosely-defined region that a local guide assures us means only Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

After a four-day soak in Stockholms warm sun, tasty food, and numerous museums, we take a short flight to Oslo, Norways capital, for two more days of walking, ferry riding, and sauna sitting.

Our traveling clan  six of us including a three-year-old granddaughter  isnt the only international group in the city. NATO defense ministers from nearly 30 nations have taken over Oslos historic center for an informal meeting. Local police, guard dogs, and armed soldiers  all stiffly formal  are on street corners and atop buildings.

Even at that, Oslo is as walkable as Stockholm with few hills, much shoreline, gleaming museums, and sunny public spaces. Most grassy parks are crowded with sunbathers soaking in Junes 20 hours of daily rays. A steady onshore breeze cools all.

Soon were rocking gently on the train a few hours northwest to rural Dombas, where another train takes us further north to Andalsnes on the famous Rauma railway. A fellow passenger informs us that were entering troll country and granddaughter Nora warns all when a welcoming conductor encourages her to sound the trains whistle.

Troll Countrys towering mountains, sturdy stone bridges, and snow-fed waterfalls come so fast there isnt time for both an Ooh! and an Ahh! before the next breathtaking sight comes around the bend.

Throughout the narrow, shadow-shrouded valleys are farms whose chief crop, grass, is fodder for sheep, goats, and a few cattle. Stately, three-story red barns are testament to long winters when the livestock, like their owners, are forced inside.

Soon the lush meadows give way to more fjords and more memories. For the next four days we rest, hike in the nearby Sunnmre Alps, peer over Geiranger Fjord, and kayak a bathtub-smooth, 1,000-foot deep Storfjorden.

I ask our kayak keeper if the locals fish the mountainous fjord. Yes, he replies, but its better fishing at the ocean  an hours-long cruise down the lengthy fjord  where the water is less deep.

Norway: Where the ocean is deep but fjords are deeper.

Revived, we board a 44-foot palace of a boat for a breathtaking, three-hour trip down Hjrundfjorden to rainy Alesund and then a short flight south to Bergen, Norways second largest city and its first capital.

Landing in Bergen is worth the price of any airline ticket. Everywhere you look there are too many islands to count surrounded by the dark North Sea and ships of every make and nationality  colorful oil tankers, massive cruise ships, gray coast guard cutters, sleek sailboats with billowing spinnakers, and working fishing trawlers.

After checking into our hotel, little Nora takes charge again and delivers her dinner plan: pizza in a park. After 10 days of the Norths finest salmon, monkfish, lamb, and duck, supper is take-out pizzas, a pint of fresh strawberries, and lukewarm refreshments on a grassy slope overlooking a wharfside neighborhood.

Three hundred yards away the luxury cruise ship Queen Mary 2 awaits for her passengers to return from city sightseeing and their not-pizza supper.

The next day, our final full day together, we ride Bergens famed funicular to an even better view of Bergen, the North Sea, and beyond. We cant quite see America but we, like generations of Scandinavians before us, know its there and trust it will shelter us soon.
I agree with the conservative element of the Iowa Republican Party. There is no question that this years legislative session was historic. With adoption of new child labor laws, the commencement of LBGTQ+ restrictions on health care, restrictions on what can be taught in schools, and vigorous steps to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in food safety programs and for Medicaid recipients, the landscape of Iowa is certainly going to change. The question is, what will the Legislature do next session?

Some would say we should go to Des Moines and find out. If you do make that trip you will be going in the wrong direction. The road map for Iowa law is not written in the states capital, it is conceived, molded, and presented for adoption in Washington, D.C. No, not in Congress and heaven forbid, not in the White House, but down on K street, where the think tanks reside. To understand how this works in Iowa look no further that the child labor law modifications.

The legislation was drafted by an organization known as the Foundation for Government Accountability, or FGA. It is in Florida but has lobbyists in 22 states, including Iowa. FGA gets its funding from conservative advocacy groups like the CATO Institute, founded by Charles Koch. The law adopted by lowa lawmakers was drafted by FGA and presented as a prepared package for passage, which after some debate, both houses adopted it and sent to the governor. The legislation was adopted not only in our state but in other states around the nation. We should expect more of these efforts, because while the CATO says it does not like the federal government, it is not too fond of state governments either.

Looking at the governors multi-million dollar education plan and understanding the foundation for Republican legislative thought makes it easier to anticipate where we are going next. Even a very early reading of the number of applicants indicates it is not too conservative to estimate by the third year of the program the costs could easily reach $1 billion dollars annually. We must keep in mind two things: Iowas annual total budget is $8.5 billion, and cuts are going to have to be made in other educational funding, which means public schools and universities will be on the chopping block.

As the educational costs continue to rise, Gov. Kim Reynolds has already indicated action must be taken to rein in teachers salaries. We should expect the introduction of a new class of teachers called teacher apprentice. I know this is coming because it has already been adopted in Florida. This step will probably edge Florida ahead of Mississippi as to which state Iowa is more like. For now, Iowa is northern Florida. Under the concept, a person with a two-year certificate and two years of apprenticeship in the classroom will obtain the status of a full-time teacher.

One last note on education. Public schools curriculum is set by Chapter 12, which allows local school boards to determine what courses to teach to meet the standards for graduation. Keith Turner, a retired school superintendent in north central Iowa, calls it a model for public education. However, the Legislature has found it can tell local boards what they cannot teach, and it will be a very short step to tell them what they must, and with a bow to the CATO Institute and the glory of the free enterprise system.

But changes are going to take place beyond the educational system. For example, you should expect a ban on the sale of abortion-inducing medication. The real open question is whether Iowa, like Idaho, will make providing an abortion a crime by the performer of the surgery and the patient.

There are other issues, for example the acceleration of the abolishment of state income taxes, which would please national conservative action groups and increase the governors chances of being the vice presidential nominee. There may be more action against woke people, but just legislation what we have outlined here would be quite enough.
Under the U.S, Constitution, the president is commander-in-chief, with ultimate responsibility for the safety and security of the United States and its citizens. That means using wise judgment to protect more than 330 million citizens.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence  including past and current presidents  knows the U.S. employs about 100,000 consultants and foreign nationals to collect, support and safeguard Americas security information. About 6,000 of this group are employees of CIAs Division of Clandestine Services who are, predominantly, working abroad.

Its a worthy side note that one expert estimates there are about 100,000 foreign agents (i.e., spies) from around 60-80 nations operating in America (CNN). Former and current leaders of these nations are doing everything in their power to keep their security information under lock and key just as we should do in the U.S.

Americas agents trust their identities will be kept confidential so they may be effective at accomplishing the specific role theyve been assigned. Knowing our democracy has different presidents, the agents trust their identities plus their work will not only be kept under strict confidentiality by the current president, but by past presidents and all personnel who have ever known who they are and what they do.

Its safe to say its critical to protect the identities of our agents, their families and their confidential informants. Anyone who thinks otherwise must be narcissistic.

Donald J. Trump, Americas 45th president, put at least 100,000 fellow Americans in peril by his purposeful mishandling and showing classified documents to people who didnt have security clearances. Our agents thought their classified documents would be stored in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) office. Wrong!

As pointed out by Heather Cox Richardsons June 11 blog, Trump also endangered employees of the CIA, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Department of Energy and State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

Avraham Shama, writing for The Hill, notes of the 100,000 spies, consultants and foreign nationals who support Americas security information: Many live under cover, leading double lives, lying to family and friends about who they are and what they do, living on edge thinking about what might happen to them if they were to be exposed.

Trumps careless actions just exposed 100,000 Americans, threw them under the bus, put them in harms way; many will quit, which will further erode U.S. intelligence gathering capability.

Steve Schmidt, a strategist for John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger and George W. Bushs Republican campaigns said, There is no person who has ever held a security clearance and been trusted with government secrets who is not shocked, dismayed and alarmed after reading the [Trump] indictment. Any person who cares about Americas national security would be. ... It is far more dangerous to our future than Trumps alleged criminality.

As Richardson notes, Trump was not charged of illegally keeping any of the 197 documents he returned. He was charged only for ones he kept, lied about, showed to other people, and hid.

The GOPs revered former Attorney General Bill Barr told CBS recently that Trump would not have been charged, had the president just returned the documents. But he jerked them around for a year and a half.

In the Wall Street Journals June 12 issue, Alan Dershowitz, Trumps attorney in 2020, notes tape-recorded conversations form the basis for several charges under the Espionage Act.  The reason this recording is so powerful is that it is self-proving. It doesnt rely on testimony by flipped witnesses or antagonists of Mr. Trump. It is the kind of evidence every defense lawyer dreads and every prosecutor dreams about.

As the Wall Street Journal, owned by Republican Rupert Murdochs News Corp., noted in its June 10-11 editorial, Republicans deserve a more competent champion with better character than Mr. Trump.

Trumps lack of character and self-centered behavior has endangered hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Anyone who supports Trump at this juncture has not thought through how many fellow Americans hes put in harms way. Their patriotism is now under challenge.
The liberals describe MAGA as a bad thing. Hmmmm! Well, as a citizen of our United States of America, I am apposed to open border, abortion, transgenders influencing my children and grandchildren, and the increase of more IRS regulations. I support voter ID, free speech, Bibles allowed in school again, and full investigations of the FBI, Department of Justice, and full raid of our sitting president, and adding more police! If that makes me MAGA, than that's what I am, and former President Donald Trump supports everything that I believe in!
To all Iowans and Gov. Kim Reynolds: Our legal system assumes that the accused/indicted is innocent until proven guilty with evidence. Also, in our legal system, no one is above the law. And the laws apply to everyone equally. Believe in our legal system.

This is a sad day for America, and it is difficult to see where we go from here  particularly as President Biden has also been accused of the same thing the DOJ is prosecuting former President Trump for. 2024 cant come soon enough. Iowa Gov. Reynolds.

I find it sad that Reynolds does respect the rule of law and our legal system. Governor, have you read the indictment? I have. Citizen Trump will have his day in court and be judged by a jury of peers. If the evidence shows he broke the law he will be convicted, just as anyone else would be for breaking the law. Its also sad that she doesnt understand the difference of situation of federal documents found at Vice President Mike Pences and President Bidens homes. Both individuals have worked with the authorities to return the documents. Trump did not!

Tim Murphy, Waterloo
Separation of church and state, as cited in a recent letter to the editor, is an old canard found nowhere in the Constitution of the United States of America  Thomas Jeffersons letter to the Baptists notwithstanding.

The First Amendment simply states, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

That amendment protects the people and their religious beliefs (and religions) from government, and certainly was never intended to protect government from religion.

Multiple states have authorized school vouchers to help concerned parents avoid what has become unpleasantness in the government school system, much of which can be traced directly back to Marxist-Leninist doctrine. John Dewey and Howard Zinn have had an important role in this degradation of education in our republic.

If your contempt for our Judeo-Christian heritage is so profound, may I suggest that you put your money where your mouth is and donate it directly to your favorite government school(s). The ideologically and morally corrupt NEA/ATF/Democratic Party would be very grateful.

We also could help education by eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, which has no constitutional basis.

Roger W. Smith, Waterloo
A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia.
On Russias withdrawal of troops from Kiev in the spring of 2022  there was a treaty

And

Talked about this very thing in the link above

Nasty Western Coalition

WtR
ST. PETERSBURG, June 15 (Xinhua)  The Moscow City Tourism Committee will hold a presentation of the Russian capitals tourism potential in Beijing next week, Yevgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow Tourism Committee, said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday.

According to E. Kozlov, representatives of Mostourism are currently in Guangzhou, and will arrive in Beijing next week to discuss possible cooperation with local travel agencies.

E. Kozlov expects to launch group visa-free agreements between Russia and China by the end of summer 2023. Such agreements can significantly increase the flow of tourists between the two countries.

SPIEF has been held since 1997. This year it takes place from June 14 to 17, the main theme of the business program is Sovereign development is the basis of a just world. Lets unite efforts for the sake of future generations.

WtR
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Beijing on Sunday, June 18, to meet with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in an attempt to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.

The visit was earlier scheduled in February but was postponed due to the alleged Chinese spy balloon incident. There were also two recent close calls involving the two nations' military assets prior to Blinken's trip, worsening the already cold diplomatic, economic, and military rivalry between them.

Qin greeted Blinken at the door of the Diaoyutai State Guest House in central Beijing before heading into a meeting room. Both officials did not make any comments about what they had talked about.

Chinese assistant foreign minister Hua Chunying later tweeted the picture of Qin and Blinken shaking hands. "Hope this meeting can help steer China-US relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali," she said.

Read Also: Marianne Williamson Calls Biden 'Selfish' If He Runs For 2nd Term

Hopes for Warmer Relations

Blinken was the highest-ranking US government official to visit the Asian superpower since US President Joe Biden took office in 2021. His primary goal was to establish open and durable communication channels to ensure strategic rivalry between the US and China and prevent any possible conflict. Other objectives were advancing American and allied interests, directly addressing related concerns, and exploring areas of potential cooperation.

Part of Blinken's two-day trip was a scheduled meeting with former Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. US officials and analysts suggest his trip would pave the way for more bilateral meetings between Washington and Beijing in the coming months, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to meet their Chinese counterparts. The trip could also establish a possible meeting between Biden and Xi at multilateral summits later this year.

Blinken's visit would also be closely followed by the rest of the world, as any escalation between the superpowers could have global repercussions. A senior State Department official told reporters during a refueling stop in Tokyo that both the US and China recognize they both "need to have senior-level channels of communication."

"[W]e are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation, or as our Chinese friends often say, stopping the downward spiral in the relationship, is something that's important," the official added.

However, Al Jazeera correspondent Katrine Yu reported China to be "looking for assurances" from the US that it would not "meddle into its domestic affairs" or "cross the red lines of its core interests, particularly Taiwan."

"But that doesn't mean that it is not significant, especially as China's neighbors are very worried that the relationship has gone so bad that there is a danger of tensions spiraling out of control into some sort of open conflict," she added.

Biden Hopes to Talk with Xi Soon

Meanwhile, Biden told reporters Sunday he did not think Chinese officials knew much about the alleged spy balloon that flew across the United States, where it was, or what it did, and that he hoped to meet Xi soon to talk about this and other matters.

"I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there's areas we can get along," he said.

While Biden and Xi already met at the G20 summit in Bali last November and talked about Taiwan and North Korea, the spy balloon incident later escalated tensions. It halted any high-level communication between the two.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates as US-China Tensions Intensify

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Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma appeared at an Alibaba event a few days after company executives said he was "alive" and "happy." He attended the Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition finals near Alibaba Group's headquarters in Hangzhou Saturday.

The appearance was noted after Ma disappeared from public life in 2020 when he criticized Chinese regulators for meddling in the conglomerate's affairs. He has since resigned from all his corporate roles before and during the incident.

Many have speculated about his well-being since Ma's disappearance from the public eye. His first confirmed public resurfacing happened in January 2023 in Thailand when he was pictured at a Bangkok restaurant. Prior to this, he was allegedly spotted outside China in 2021 and 2022.

He also visited Beijing for the first time in years in March to visit a private school he founded. During his time in China, the Alibaba Group decided to undergo a major corporate overhaul and planned to split it into six parts to recover from the group's financial nosedive in 2020.

Read Also: Alibaba Group To Undergo Major Overhaul as Jack Ma Returns To China

'Professor Ma' and Low-key Role with Alibaba

Since stepping down from his role at Alibaba, Ma took up a teaching role at the University of Tokyo, specializing in sustainable agriculture and food production. The South China Morning Post reported he took his first class on June 12.

Meanwhile, Alibaba president Michael Evans told CNBC Thursday Ma was enjoying his new lease on life as an educator. "Well, first of all, Jack is alive," he said while attending the Viva Tech conference in Paris. "He's well, he's happy. He's creative. He's thinking. He's teaching at a university in Tokyo, spending more time in China."

Evans added Ma was still Alibaba's biggest shareholder, which shows the billionaire's commitment to the company.

"This is [Ma's] company," he added. "So he cares...as much about this company today, as he did when he started, and I expect that that will continue for as long as Alibaba and Jack Ma are here."

Related Article: Jack Ma Resurfaces as Professor in Japan After 2020 Disappearance

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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'Leyenda Viva' marks the rapper's first full studio album in three years and it serves as a follow-up to his sophomore release, 'TattleTales', which arrived in 2020.

Jun 18, 2023

AceShowbiz - 6ix9ine has released a surprise new album, but this time, it's not for hip-hop music. On Friday, June 16, the "GOOBA" emcee unleashed a project called "Leyenda Viva" and the songs are all in Spanish.

The LP has 11 tracks in total, including "Bori", "Papa", "WAPAE" ft. Bulin 47, "Mata" and "Pa Ti" among others. The album has a few guest appearances from other artists as Grammy-winning star Lenier appears on seven songs.

On Friday, 6ix9ine also treated fans to a music video for "Pa Ti", which features a female artist named Yailin la Mas Viral. In the visuals, the two can be seen singing together in front of a massive, luxurious house in a tropical setting.

"Leyenda Viva" marks 6ix9ine's first full studio album in three years. The new set serves as a follow-up to his sophomore release, "TattleTales", which arrived in 2020.

The new album fuels fans' speculations that 6ix9ine is leaving the rap game, which many disapproved of. He, however, has defended his decision to try something else.

"You know how many Spanish n***as is born and raised in the whole of New York City? What ya'll trying to say, Spanish n***as can't eat? When you Spanish, you can only make Reggaeton?" he said in an Instagram video. "It's our culture, too, n***a."

"Name one Spanish rapper other than me that can enter the top 10 on Billboard Y'all just mad because I can enter a whole different demographic in the Spanish market," he went on arguing. "I dominated the English, and I'm gonna dominate the Spanish."

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Cover Images/startraksphoto.com/Michael Simon Celebrity

Rumor has it, the 'Beverly Hills, 90210' actress and her actor husband are not divorcing and the split announcement was made in the heat of the moment after a big row.

Jun 18, 2023

AceShowbiz - Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott are reportedly not separating. The 50-year-old "Beverly Hills, 90210" actress' partner, 56, with whom she has five children, made public their separation on Instagram on Saturday, June 17, but he has deleted the post and a source has claimed the couple aren't divorcing.

"They've had their ups and downs like any couple, but have continued working on their marriage through couple's counselling. They love each other and are not going to split," an insider told UsWeekly hours after "Due South" actor Dean's post made headlines.

According to the source, Dean's friends think he may have shared the post after possibly getting in a fight with Tori. They added, "Friends suspect that Dean posted that because he and Tori may have gotten into a big blowout fight last night." The insider went on, "He obviously regretted it, so he deleted the post."

Tori and Dean have children Liam, 16, Stella, 15, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and six-year-old Beau, and Dean's break-up post said they were vowing to "work together as loving parents" for the sake of their kids.

Dean, who also has son Jack, 24, with his first wife, actress Mary Jo Eustace, 61, said alongside a throwback photograph of him with Tori, "It's with great sadness and a very very heavy heart that after 18 years together and 5 amazing children, that @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways, and start a new journey of our own."

"We will continue to work together as loving parents and guide and love our children through this difficult time. We ask that you all respect our privacy as we take this time to surround our family with love and work our way through this. Thank you all for your support and kindness."

Tori - daughter of the late film producer Aaron Spelling, who died aged 83 in 2006 from complications linked to a stroke he had five days before he passed away - did not comment publicly on the post.

The couple have faced claims for years their relationship was crumbling - which Tori tried to brush off days ago by sharing a snap of her and Dean with their children.

Tori was previously married to actor Charlie Shanian from 2004 to 2006, the year Dean divorced Mary Jo. She and Dean met and started an affair while working on a Lifetime movie in 2005 when they were both still married.

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The 'Call Me by Your Name' actor and the actress, who starred in 'The Man from UNCLE' and ''Freak Shift' together, reportedly enjoyed a meal at Roscioli Salumeria in Rome.

Jun 19, 2023

AceShowbiz - Armie Hammer has seemingly enjoyed his time after sexual assault charges against him were dropped. On Friday, June 16, the "Call Me by Your Name" actor was spotted having dinner with Alicia Vikander in Rome, Italy.

The 36-year-old and his pal, who starred alongside each other in the 2015 movie "The Man from UNCLE" and 2020's "Freak Shift", reportedly enjoyed a meal at Roscioli Salumeria. Eyewitnesses additionally told Page Six that the actress' husband, Michael Fassbender, was not present.

Despite Michael's absence, Armie and Alicia were not alone. It was said that they were joined by two other unidentified individuals. Of the outing, a source said, "[It was] nothing scandalous."

Armie has been keeping a low profile after he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women. On May 31, however, it was announced that he won't face sexual assault charges following an investigation into an alleged assault in 2017.

After the announcement, Armie declared in a social media post that he will begin the "long, difficult process of putting my life back together" after his name was cleared, and he also thanked those who stood by him through the ordeal. He wrote, "I am very grateful to the District Attorney for conducting a thorough investigation and coming to the conclusion that I have stood by this entire time, that no crime was committed. I look forward to beginning what will be a long, difficult process of putting my life back together now that my name is cleared."

In the caption, Armie penned, "I would like to say a very special thank you to all of the people who have helped me get through this time." He then added, "Onwards and upwards."

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On Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal said illiterate people are running the government at the Centre and urged voters not to pick those with fake degrees next time.

Addressing a rally in the Sriganganagar district of poll-bound Rajasthan, he said as a kid, he had heard politicians saying that India would become a developed country in 20 years. He said he had also heard Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in which the latter said India would become a developed nation by 2047.

How can we trust your talk? They (the centre) are telling lies. They do not know anything. Today, illiterate people are running the government at the Centre, Kejriwal said. He further said, If there were literate people in the central government, they would not have brought demonetisation and farm laws. When you vote for the next time, do one thing, vote for literate people. Do not vote for those who are illiterate and have fake degrees.

The Delhi chief minister further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feel offended because he is literate, an engineer and was an IRS officer. He said he has plans to make India top country in the world in 10 years.

Kejriwal also narrated the story of an illiterate king who ruined the entire country, thus emphasising the need to have a literate king to run the state of affairs. He hit out at the BJP and the Congress rule, saying both parties have looted Rajasthan and the country.

Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying to make inroads in Rajasthan where polls are slated at the end of this year.
The Democratic National Committees Executive Committee voted Saturday to refer a complaint about the Alabama Democratic Partys abolition of diversity caucuses to its Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC).

The State Democratic Executive Committee voted on May 6 to eliminate caucuses for youth, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities and reduced the power of other caucuses. The move brought sharp criticism from the affected caucuses and a complaint from Vice Chair Tabitha Isner and more than 40 Democrats.

Alabama Democratic Party Chair Randy Kelley declined to comment Saturday, referring to earlier comments where he said he believed new bylaws adopted at the May 6 meeting would boost representation.

Democrats at the May 6 meeting also said party leaders charged a previously unannounced $50 fee to enter the meeting. Isner called it a poll tax; Kelley said there was precedent for the fee.

Isner wrote in a text message Saturday that she would be happy to introduce you to the more than 50 duly elected Democrats in Alabama who lost their seat on the committee when Kelley implemented a surprise poll tax and a grandfather clause that applied only to those he hand-selected.

He insists that representation was not lost because he intends to appoint their replacements, Isner wrote. But representation cannot be appointed. All people deserve the right to choose who represents them. That is how representative democracy works.

More from Alabama Reflector

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, who chaired the meeting, said party leaders would work to an even-handed investigation of the complaint. But he also mentioned George Orwells 1945 novel Animal Farm, where a group of pigs who drive a farmer out eventually take the role of the oppressors on their farm.

One thing thats very important, particularly to those of us who have lived in the South, who know how Black folks were kept out of the party, one thing we do not want to see is that we do the same thing, said Harrison, a South Carolina native who is Black.

No timeframe for the investigation has been set.

The RBC investigated complaints about Alabama Democratic Party leadership elections in 2018. The RBC directed the state party to adopt new bylaws that, among other steps, created caucuses for Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+ individuals, youth, and people with disabilities.

A months-long standoff between the DNC and the state party took place. The DNC eventually deposed Chair Nancy Worley and Kelley, then the vice-chair of the party, and recognized a faction aligned with then-U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, which adopted the bylaws and elected new leadership.

A faction of the party loyal to Vice Chair of Minority Affairs Joe Reed argued that the new diversity caucuses diluted the power of Black voters, who make up a majority of Alabamas Democratic electorate. Last August, Reeds faction won control of the party and elected Kelley chair. At the May 6 meeting, the party adopted new bylaws that abolished some of the diversity caucuses and reduced the powers of others.

The complaint from Isner and the other Democrats seeks to have the meeting declared null and void and says the new rules do not comply with the DNC.

Members of the RBC criticized the May 6 meeting at a gathering on Friday. Citing the U.S. Supreme Courts recent decision in Allen v. Milligan, Yvette Lewis, an RBC member who helped lead the 2019 investigation of the state party, said Alabama had an opportunity to elect Democrats, but needed to ensure that young people turn out. Harrison echoed that sentiment Saturday.

Alabama has a unique opportunity now, he said. In order to take advantage of that and other opportunities, were all going to have to work together.
A man and woman in Colbert County are facing aggravated child abuse charges after authorities discover a malnourished nine-year-old boy.

The Colbert County Sheriffs Office said Deja-Ariaha Bankhead, 27, and Demariez Lavonski Mitchell, 28, were arrested on an aggravated child abuse charge. They are each being held on $50,000 bond.

According to WAFF, deputies with the Colbert County Sheriffs Office were called to North Alabama Medical Center Saturday for a 9-year-old boy weighing 37 pounds.

Authorities said the child had bruises on his body, blood coming from his ear and other signs of child neglect. The child was taken to Childrens of Alabama for further treatment.

Bankhead and Mitchell were still at the hospital with two younger children, with the youngest being three months old.

Investigators said the family had been staying in a tent at the Colbert Alloys camping area for about two weeks.

The Colbert County Department of Human Resources has taken custody of the two younger children.
American Airlines and other air service companies have lots of rules and regulations to ensure the safety of their passengers and staff.

However, many of these policies can be quite annoying for airline passengers. These include the carry-on baggage limit, ticket-checking, following correct seating numbers, etc.

Although some passengers hate these rules, they must follow them to continue their flights.

All these airline regulations are published on the official websites of flight companies.

But, American Airlines has a secret policy that can't be seen on its web page. Here's why it will definitely annoy many passengers.

American Airlines Secret Policy Might Disappoint You

According to The Street's latest report, American Airlines is hiding a very annoying policy that can get passengers kicked out of their flights.

Read Also: British Airways Cancels Flight After Report of Mysterious Foul Odor

This was first revealed by View From The Wing. If AA passengers violate this rule, there's a high chance they will be denied permission to board or even kicked off their flights.

This secret American Airlines policy is about restricting the use of cameras to film activities inside the airplane.

"Is a secret policy that runs against common cultural practice, where people film things with their phone at will, even a policy at all?" the source asked.

Other Details of AA's Secret Policy

In 2014, American Airlines officially adopted a secret policy to prevent filming its employees.

However, it was only published in the company's on-board magazine, "American Way."

AA has no signage to inform its passengers regarding the camera usage policy. People can't also see it in American Airlines' Contract of Carriage.

Because of this, some passengers have already been kicked off their flights after breaking this hidden rule.

As of writing, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Transportation Security Administration don't have any policy prohibiting passengers from filming what's happening inside their airplanes.

This is why American Airlines' secret policy is criticized by many people, especially since filming your surroundings is very important for protection from any incident.

Related Article: [VIRAL] Emirates Gives Wrong Food To Passengers Causing Diarrhea! Backpacker Shares Video

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, seeking the Republican nomination for president next year, added his voice to the ongoing dialogue about moving the headquarters of U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.

WAAY is reporting that Pence, in town to speak to the Gridiron Mens Conference at Von Braun Center, gave his blessing to Huntsville.

Having Space Command here in a community that for generations has been synonymous with space innovation, and supported all of our efforts, not only in civilian space exploration, but also in supporting all of the technology that supports our national defense - theres only one place it should be, and thats right here in the hub of the American space program, Huntsville, Alabama, Pence said.

The ongoing struggle over where Space Command should be headquartered took another turn last week when House members inserted language into an appropriation bill which would virtually ensure Huntsville as the choice.

Pence, who said he believes the Biden Administration has weakened America, said the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump contains serious allegations.

No ones above the law and every American is entitled to a presumption of innocence, said Pence.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man accused of fatally shooting his three young sons admitted to planning the killings and lined them up before executing them with a rifle, prosecutors said Friday.

Chad Doerman, 32, who is also accused of wounding the boys mother at the familys home, has been charged with aggravated murder, authorities said.

Clermont Countys chief prosecutor of Municipal Court, David Gast, said during Doermans arraignment Friday that one of the boys tried to flee into a nearby field but Doerman hunted his son down and brought him back to their home before killing him.

Doermans bail has been set at $20 million. Court records did not indicate whether he was represented by a lawyer at his arraignment. He is currently being held in Clermont County Jail.

Gast called the killings the worst crime hed ever seen.

Deputies responded to the home in Monroe Township shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving a pair of 911 calls, one apparently from the mother who was screaming that her babies had been shot and another from a passing motorist who said a girl was running down the street saying her father was killing people, a news release from the Clermont County Sheriffs Office said.

The deputies found three boys, ages 3, 4 and 7, outside the home with gunshot wounds and tried to save their lives, but the children died at the scene.

They held these children knowing there was nothing they could do, Gast said. How do you unsee that sort of abomination?

The boys named have not been released.

This was the man that everyday they woke up looking to for protection, love and guidance in all things, ... Gast said. He was their world, he was their guardian and he executed them in cold blood.

The sheriffs office said the 34-year-old mother, who was not identified, was outside the home and had suffered a gunshot to the hand while trying to shield her sons from their father. She was transported to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.

Doerman was found sitting on a stoop at the home and was taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned on three counts of aggravated murder Friday.

Officials have not released a motive behind the shootings.

Neighbors in Monroe Township, which is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of Columbus, reported hearing several shots fired in what they said is usually a quiet, calm neighborhood.

I was sitting in the garage, and all of a sudden, I hear boom, boom and like five more, and I was like, Thats seven shots, Alexis Spoonamore told WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. Im shaking. It was a lot. It was bad.

This undated photo released by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office shows Chad Doerman. Doerman, who is accused of fatally shooting his three young sons on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Monroe Township, Ohio, admitted to planning the killings and lined them up before executing them with a rifle, prosecutors said Friday. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office via AP)AP
This is another installment in The Birmingham Times/AL.com/CBS42 joint series, Beyond the Violence: What Can Be Done to Address Birminghams Rising Homicide Rate? Click here to sign up for the newsletter.

Clayton Davis, a Smithfield parent, knows the pain of losing loved ones. Over the last few years, his grandmother, father, mother, and sister have died. Through his job at a hospital, he has seen numerous deaths through the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2022, though, his son, Maurice Montrell Lewis, was killed by gun violence.

Ive experienced a lot of [death], and, basically, the way I see it is hopefully they are in a better place, said Davis, who relies on his Christian faith.

The pain of thinking about his loved ones intensifies at times, but he doesnt believe in letting the sadness take over his life. Whether its the first Fathers Day or the 10th since losing a child, the holiday can be a difficult time, said Davis: Youre not going to get that phone call, saying, Happy Fathers Day, or that gift, or [have] him come over and barbecue or something. That will be missed.

Davis finds strength for dealing with his grief the way he finds strength for everything  with his faith. He also feels assured that his sons death wont go unpunished.

Me, I just draw on my faith and ask for guidance and strength to deal with the loss, he said. That really gives me some strength and kind of humbles me.  It kills that old, bad, angry feeling.

They still havent caught my sons killer or killers, but I know that in the long run, in the end, theyre going to pay. They aint gonna get away with it, so thats my strength, Davis said.

I miss him when I get those feelings around holidays. I talked to [my son] every day.  You miss that, too. My biggest thing is trying to hold up my wife, [Pamela], and the other siblings, said Davis, who also has three stepchildren: Brandon, Andria, and Briana, all of whom are in their early 30s.

Davis said his sons death has had an impact on the family, and they have gotten a tad better through a lot of talking and praying, as well as some counseling for his wife.

People say, Well, you cant be strong when you bottle up your emotions, he said. I tell them, Dont get me wrong. Ive cried and still cry, but people deal with death in different ways.

Davis was encouraged to see his wife recently connect with other mothers who had lost their children. She was able to meet the others at Lament and Hope, an event held last winter to memorialize those killed by gun violence in Birmingham.

All of them gave her [phone] numbers, and I said, Call them. That really has helped a lot, Davis said.

For more stories in the Beyond the Violence series, visit www.al.com/topic/birmingham-violence and www.cbs42.com
Robertsdale police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide Saturday night.

According to the agency, the incident happened about 7:09 p.m. at a home in the 18000 block of Brewton Street.

Officers responding to a shots-fired call discovered the bodies of two men who lived at the address.

The two were dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

This departments investigation and eye-witness reports find this incident to be consistent with a murder-suicide, the department said in a statement.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the men.
If Ron DeSantis were to become Americas next president, he would be the first Italian American president. It would be a historical event as momentous as the first Irish Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, and the first black president, Barack Obama. Like these firsts, it could definitively end the chapter about Americas discrimination against Italian immigrants. Back in the day, discrimination against Italians went well beyond the relatively trivial Italians Need Not Apply signs and ethnic slurs. Italian immigrants endured racial atrocities, such as illegal servitude, the largest and most heinous mass lynching in America, multiple exclusionary immigration policies, and unconscionable mistreatment during WWII.

After the Civil War, America needed a low-cost labor source, and southern Italians fit the bill. Many were so poor that they could pay for the passage only by becoming indentured servants. However, America had passed laws between 1868 and 1874 making it clear that it was illegal to leverage a persons labor to discharge a debt, even if the person agreed with the conditions.

That meant that tens of thousands of Italian immigrants endured illegal servitude, including the 7,000-8,000 kidnapped Italian children who were sold in America for $100-$500, These children lived a life of horror working on the streets and under the thumb of the padrone. Adults, too, worked under terrible conditions, a practice that endured into the 20th century. The American government was aware of the situation but, as shown by the many decades the situation endured, lacked the conviction and will to stamp out the practice of enslaving Italians in America.

Image: An Italian family at Ellis Island in 1905 by Lewis Hines. Public domain.

In 1891, eleven Italian men were lynched in New Orleans, the largest mass lynching in America. The Italians, who included three fruit vendors, a plantation worker, two stevedores, a cobbler, and a tin smith, had just been acquitted of murder. The townspeople, however, disagreed. Ten thousand people, including government officials and other prominent New Orleans residents, stormed the prison where the Italians were awaiting their freedom.

Many national media outlets saw the lynching as a virtuous act. The New York Times headline was, Chief Hennessy Avenged: Eleven Of His Italian Assassins Lynched By Mob. An Uprising Of Indignant Citizens In New-OrleansThe Prison Doors Forced And The Italian Murderers Shot Down. Across America, Italians were branded as dangerous and undesirable. Throughout the South, laws were passed to limit immigrants from southern Europe and Catholics from anywhere.

President Harrison was horrified by what had occurred. He and his team brainstormed ways to let Italians in America and Italy know how truly sorry the country was. They decided on a holiday to honor famous Italians such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Vespucci, and Columbus. In 1892, 400 years after Columbus landed in the Bahamas, Columbus Day was born.

Many people know of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, but there was also the less specific 1882 Immigration Act, which allowed immigrants to be turned away if they were subjectively assessed to be undesirable or if it was likely they could become public charges. Many Italians failed both subjective tests because Americans did not want more Italians.

To rationalize their disdain, Americans developed a eugenics theory targeted specifically at people from the Mediterranean, with a bullseye on Italians. Italian immigrants were seen as an inferior race that threatened to dilute the good Northern European stock and undermine traditional American institutions. With the aid of settled science, it became easier for Americans to exclude Italians.

In 1917, Congress enacted an immigration intelligence test to curb immigration from Italy. It didnt work; most Italians passed.

In 1921, over 200,000 Italian immigrants came to America, setting off alarm bells. The 1922 Immigration Act placed a quota of 42,000 on Italian immigrants. But even that was seen as too many.

Congress then passed the Immigration Act of 1924 to limit Italian immigration further. The quota was now 2% of the number of Italians in America in 1890. Congress chose that year because it was before Italians immigrated in numbers. This limited the Italian immigration quota to 3,845 people. In 1927, it was increased to 5,802. The fact that, during WWI, Italian immigrants were only 4% of the population but 10-12% of the military didnt make them less inferior.

In WWII, up to 1.5 million Italian Americans served in the US military. Italian Americans enlisted in numbers, despite America being at war with Italy from December 11, 1941, to September 8, 1943. It was generally recognized that families with soldiers were low risk.

Still, 10,000 Italians in California were forced to leave their homes. About 600,000 Italians in America were under curfews and travel restrictions. Radios and guns were confiscated, and homes were subject to spot seizures. There were 3,278 arrested, 1,881 in custody, and 418 interned throughout the war. Thousands of Italian fishermen lost their livelihoods.

Some are confused about how patriotic Italians, many of whom had sons in the military, could be subjected to such humiliation. By 1942, the government began loosening some restrictions on the Italians, recognizing that they were being punished for Japanese aggression against America.

In 1988, Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Japanese Americans interned during WWII received a letter of apology from the president, a Day of Remembrance, $1.6 billion in redress payment, and a multi-million dollar fund to educate Americans on the mistreatment of the Japanese in WWII.

But what about the Italians who were mistreated in WWII? A visitor to the WWII Museum would find the following: The surveillance and detention of Italian Americans after Pearl Harbor is a little-known piece of WWII history, December 13, 2021.

That it is known at all is because Congress passed the Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act in 2000. With an estimated cost of $500,000, the act provided for an in-depth review of Italian Americans confined in WWII. Most people were shocked because the history of mistreating Italians was virtually unknown. But there would be no apology, no Day of Remembrance, no redress, and no money to educate Americans on the mistreatment of Italians.

The only apology the US government has ever given to Italian Americans for the heinous discrimination they experienced in America was Columbus Day itself. Ironically, states and cities have been replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Its one more discriminatory snub to Italian Americans

If, and when, America elects an Italian American to be president, it will signal the end of another painful racist chapter in America. In the meantime, a nation obsessed with using Remembrance Days, publications, media reports, and curriculum changes to make Americans aware of hard history really needs to give equal consideration to educating Americans about the hard history of the governments complicity in discrimination against Italians as illegal indentured servants, mistreatment during WWII, and the multiple efforts to virtually exclude Italians from immigrating to America.
Last January, Tucker Carlson featured a segment that challenged the theory that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide. He was not alone. Many doubt the official narrative. What the doubters dont realize is how the press used the cover-up of a 1995 brutal prison homicide to facilitate the cover-up of Epsteins (very likely) homicide.

On August 21, 1995, Kenneth Michael Trentadue was found dead in his allegedly suicide-proof cell at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. Pieces of his skull were missing in three different places. There were deep bruises underneath his arms, including bruises shaped like a persons fingertips running along his biceps. His knuckles were deeply bruised and swollen.

According to the government, Trentadues appalling injuries resulted from his hanging himself in that suicide-proof cell during a 24-minute interval between bed checks. The FBI and the DOJ successfully made their suicide fantasy the accepted narrative about Trentadues death.

The only person who wasnt fooled was Kenneth Trentadues brother, Jessie Trentadue, a trial lawyer in Salt Lake City who kept challenging the governments lies. What he could not figure out was what triggered the violent assault. That issue was addressed in the Rohrabacher Report, which examined the many controversies surrounding the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It turns out it may have been a case of mistaken identity:

Bank robber Richard Guthrie claimed that he would soon be revealing information that would blow the lid off the Oklahoma City bombing case. The next day, he was found dead, hanging in his cell, purportedly a suicide. This suspicious suicide mirrored the similar death of Kenneth Trentadue, another prisoner, who may have been tangentially and incorrectly linked to the Oklahoma City bombing. The death of these two prisoners, who happened to be very similar in appearance, is more than disturbing. (Emphasis added.)

According to the FBI, Richard Guthrie was a member of the Midwest Bank robbers gang that reportedly shared stolen monies with Timothy McVeigh to help fund the Oklahoma City bombing. Trentadue may have been beaten to death by prison guards because they mistook him for Guthrie.

Image: Trentadue and Epstein.

This is where matters stood until 2019, when Epstein was discovered dead in his federal prison cell, purportedly another prison hanging. The next day two prominent newspapers described Epsteins death in relation to Trentadues death.

From the Wall Street Journal (emphasis added):

The investigation into Mr. Epsteins death could take years to complete. It took more than two years, for instance, for the Justice Departments inspector general to complete a probe into the death of Kenneth Trentadue, who was found hanging in his cell at a federal prison

The Hill was more colorful:

Deadly deja vu: Epsteins prison death was decades in the making

By accident or design, each newspaper incorrectly referred to Trentadues death as a suicide.

Epsteins death, as it turns out, was just as unlike a suicide as Trentadues was. To begin with, how many people are aware that Dr. Barbara Sampson, then Medical Examiner for New York City, did not attend Epsteins autopsy? Consider:

[Acclaimed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael] Baden told the [Miami] Herald that the pathologist who actually conducted the autopsy, Dr. Kristin Roman, also had trouble determining that Epstein hanged himself, and initially determined that the manner of death was pending. (Emphasis added.)

Less than a week later, Dr. Sampson changed the manner of death from pending to suicide, with no further findings or input.

Then there was the matter of the fact that Epstein allegedly killed himself simply by kneeling into the noose. Moreover, during a 60 Minutes interview, Baden noted, This looks like a clean noose that was never used to compress anybodys neck. Baden explained that there was no transfer of blood or skin to that noose although Epstein had a bloody wound under his chin. Thus,

Graphic images from the autopsy report showed a deep, bloody ligature mark on Epsteins neck. Baden said there was no way the mark could have been made by a bed sheet.

According to Baden, the type of wound Epstein hadstraight across his neckis more common when a victim is strangled by a wire or cord.

During an interview with Fox News, Baden pointed out that the petechiae, or broken capillaries in Epsteins eyes, are further evidence that Epstein did not hang himself:

Then there is the highly suspicious matter of Epsteins broken neck bones. During a 60 Minutes broadcast in January 2020, Baden expressed dismay concerning fractured neck bones discovered during Epsteins autopsy (emphasis added):

Dr. Michael Baden: There were fractures of the left, the right, thyroid cartilage and the left hyoid bone. I have never seen three fractures like this in a suicidal hanging. Sometimes theres a fracture of the hyoid bone or a fracture of the thyroid cartilage. Sharyn Alfonsi: But not three? Dr. Michael Baden: Very unusual to have two and not three. And going over over a thousand jail hangings, suicides in the New York City state prisons over the past 40-50 years, no one had three fractures.

Dr. Cyril Wecht, another expert forensic pathologist, does not believe Epstein killed himself. He told the Washington Examiner,

I have never seen this kind of hanging scenario, this leaning forward, with three fractures. The bunk was three to four feet above, and there was not enough velocity there to produce three fractures. (Emphasis added.)

Nevertheless, Dr. Barbara Sampson, Chief Medical Examiner for New York City, tenaciously clings to her suicide-by-hanging ruling. She does so even though it flies in the face of reams of hard evidence that indicates otherwise. On his January 26, 2023, show, Tucker Carlson featured the many strange circumstances surrounding Epsteins death, including pointing out how Dr. Sampson unilaterally overruled the conclusions of those who conducted the autopsy. But why did she do that? Carlson says that, when she was asked that question, Sampson responded by hanging up.

In a later broadcast, Carlson revealed how the Justice Department has been investigating Epsteins death for four years but has yet to publish their findings.

As you consider the evidence versus the official rulings regarding Epsteins death, consider too what President Harry Truman wrote on May 12, 1945:

 We want no Gestapo or Secret Police. F.B.I. is tending in that direction . They are dabbling in sex life scandles [sic] and plain blackmail when they should be catching criminals.

What makes Trumans statement so profound is not just its word content but when it was written: a mere five days after Nazi Germanys unconditional surrender and Europes liberation. Truman, who should have been ebullient, was instead apparently more concerned about the FBI, already in the blackmail business, transmogrifying into a Gestapo.

Considering the mess were in now, one might be tempted to ask, How did we fall so far so fast? In fact, warning bells have been going off for decades. Did they fall on deaf ears?
Overrated political pollster Frank Luntz admitted last week that he was wrong to prematurely dismiss a Trump comeback. "Not only can Donald Trump win the GOP primary again, but he can also win the presidency again," Luntz tweeted.

Luntz has always struck me as a pretend statistician whose real role is to shill for whatever the Republican side of the Uniparty needs voters to support. He peddles Deep State lies to ordinary Americans as truth. He wears a bad toupee, eats his feelings, and is more believable as Chris Farley's "man in a van down by the river" than House speaker McCarthy's former landlord. Still, as unexceptional as Luntz is at polling, he's the go-to guy for Club D.C. when the ruling class needs to brainwash normal people. Of course our unpopular policies are popular; Frank Luntz says they are, and he is Science...and Mathematics! Cringe.

I still remember watching Luntz sitting in the front row of Stephen Colbert's 2016 Election Night show solemnly insisting through most of the evening that Donald Trump had no chance of winning. The whole spectacle was intended to be a celebratory yuk-fest for leftists to pat themselves on the backs for being so righteous and brilliant while sticking it to Trump voters and laughing at their misery. Why a supposedly Republican-leaning pollster would have found enjoyment sitting through a Hillary Clinton coronation reveling in Republican grief is beyond me  unless these Republican-ishy squishes are perhaps Uniparty agents and conservative in name only! Could it be?

Anyway, President Trump was winning one battleground state after the next (this was before full-on mail-in-ballot election-rigging), Colbert's pluck had turned to tears, and the polling man from the van down by the river was still insisting that Hillary Clinton was certain to win. He looked like some mad fool standing on the top deck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic wondering why anyone would abandon ship for such a tiny leak. It's just a little bit of ice, Luntz kept insisting. What's the big deal?

Colbert didn't mean for the night to be funny, but it was downright hilarious. It was the closest thing to the kind of genius the Monty Python boys regularly created back in the days before Europe and America declared war on free speech. Wimpy Stephen's confident tough-guy shtick melted before the cameras. Democrat voters in the live studio audience gnashed their teeth, grimaced, and cried. And there sat ol' Frank, still shaking his head and predicting Clinton victory. Sheesh, when the Deep State says the fix is in, paid propagandists expect their compromised opinions to look like sophisticated punditry!

So when the guy who resembles a street vendor selling Chicago Red Hots tells the world that Donald Trump can win again, we're less interested in his "expert" opinion than the reason he has been paid to announce his opinion. In this case, it appears that Sloppy Frank has been sent out to sound the alarm that Trump's threat to the swamp is real and will require even more aggressive countermeasures than the banana republic indictments that the Department of (in)Justice has already deployed. As The Sydney Morning Herald warns apocalyptically, "Leading US pollster Frank Luntz says Donald Trump can re-win the presidency and that if that happens, US democracy could collapse."

To make sure that the globe's uber-elite take action before the 2024 presidential election becomes a 2016 sequel, Less-than-Frank went into screechy-sweaty-panic-mode during the Margaret Thatcher conference at the Center for Policy Studies in London. In an interview with Australia's newspaper of record, Luntz hyperventilated, "It's now conceivable that in 2024 the country comes apart." Ooh, but his opinion must represent Science!, so he added numbers: "We have a 15-percent likelihood of that destroying American democracy depending on what happens." Yikes, at least we have an 85% chance of saving democracy!  whatever that is.

"NATO is in jeopardy," Luntz continued. "Ukraine will no longer receive American support. Our legal system will be in jeopardy  I don't want to contemplate it." Don't worry, Frank. The D.C. Deep State won't ever give up on forever-wars. As for our legal system being in jeopardy  hahahahaha  that ship sailed long ago once the American people could see with their own eyes the federal government's rampant political persecution and the reality of two-tiered "justice" under a one-party State. Can't put the toothpaste back into that depleted tube.

Needless to say, Luntz's 180 degree flip-flop from his own "expert" opinion of just last year, when he confidently predicted that Trump is toast, came off more like a barely-disguised call to arms begging for more foreign election interference, left-wing shock troop mobilization, and World Economic Forum funding. For the global "elites," taking down Trump is even more vital than saving Ukraine. To beat back Russia, we must first beat back the guy we framed as a Russian agent! Globalists, Antifa terrorists, warmongers, and child-groomers, for the sake of One World Government, unite! It is as if Luntz went to London to rally the English-speaking peoples against their Trumpian foe  except Luntz comes off, at best, as Shakespeare's fat, vain Falstaff and certainly nothing like King Henry V!

It is always bewildering to watch Luntz and his ilk claim that any Trump election victory will mean the end of "democracy." Are democratic elections self-defeating? Should we pre-emptively end "democracy" in order to save it from the people who might inadvertently destroy it? Quick, someone fetch a dictator who would be willing to rule over Americans until they accept Luntz's officially sanctioned "truths." As he says, "that's how voters vote correctly." Americans will be granted the privilege of "representation" in government only if they choose candidates first vetted and approved by the Deep State! Wait, what? Newspeak doublethink is tough.

If Luntz were honest, he would admit that it is not Trump who poses a threat to America's system of government, but rather all the Deep State saboteurs, foreign interlopers, and Antifa domestic terrorists who refuse to let ordinary Americans have their say.

It was the Intelligence Community and (in)Justice Department, after all, that conspired with Hillary Clinton's campaign to polarize an already divided nation with fraudulent claims that Donald Trump was neck-deep in international espionage as a Russian spy. It was Democrat liars such as Adam Schiff who blamed Hillary's election loss on Russian bots. It was RINO liars such as Mitt Romney who inexplicably blamed Joe Biden's Ukraine bribery scandals on President Trump. It was Antifa and Black Lives Matter that laid siege to the White House and burned down cities across the country. It was the politicized American intelligence agencies and their press corps marionettes that covered up Biden family corruption. It was a cabal of election manipulators who induced fear over COVID to implement a mail-in ballot (s)election with scant security. It was a bloc of social media companies that censored Americans from reporting on 2020 election fraud. It was congressional Robespierres such as Liz Cheney who called for patriotic J6 election protesters to be treated as "insurrectionists" and "terrorists." It is Merrick Garland's DOJ faction that has hunted down and imprisoned Trump-supporters. It is the Biden junta that now seeks to lock up President Trump for life.

Luntz might not care who set the country on fire, but the rest of America knows.

Image: Frank Luntz. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped).
On June 7, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for more efforts to consolidate cultural confidence and boost cultural prosperity. This was at the opening of the first Forum on Building Up China's Cultural Strength, held in Shenzhen. At the forum, Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage in building up cultural strength. He quoted Xi saying, "Without the 5,000-year Chinese civilization, Chinese characteristics could not be formed. Wang added that cultural heritage cannot be replaced, and that all have a responsibility to protect it.

There was mention of learning from other civilizations. Many hoped that after America won the Cold War, Beijing would want to learn from our example. But all Chinas leaders wanted was our technology and management skills. Looking at our culture and how it plays out in democracy and business behavior is not attractive in Xi. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, China draws more on ancient imperial thought than a discredited Marxism. From this vantage, Xi is convinced that the West in general and the U.S. in particular are in decline, rotting from within, and thus our culture is to be kept at bay rather than embraced.

Economic reformer Deng Xiaoping claimed To get rich is glorious but Xis focus is on national, not individual wealth. China boasts more billionaires than America. Xi has acted to keep these moguls tied to the party and state policy while purging corruption among officials. Western democracy is denounced as a system dominated by interest groups competing for their own gains without regard to larger national needs. In Xis doctrine, a one-party system with no other constituency than the entire people united for the common good is true democracy.

The criticism has broadened to culture due to the bizarre images America is flashing to the outside world. Many have been alarmed by how fast woke ideas emerged from the dark fringe to dominate media, education, and even corporate boardrooms. Yet, the ancient Chinese philosopher Shang Yang knew how vulnerable society could be to bad ideas. Writing nearly 2,400 years ago, Lord Shang noted When a ruler loves their sophistry, and does not seek practical value, then the professional talkers have it all their way, expound their cooked sophistries in the streets. captivating kings, dukes and great men.

America is overrun with professional talkers, the most disruptive tracing their ideology back to the New Left who sought during the Vietnam War to bring an end to the victory culture that had been the narrative of American history from its colonial founding through World War II. The undeniable success of the United States in becoming the lead nation in the lead civilization of the modern era must be discredited and overturned because it is not based on leftist ideas. Of course, nothing substantial has ever been built on leftist ideas, so the very concept of success or victory must be denounced as immoral. Failure is to be embraced as more comfortable and less problematic. Basic material needs will be met without effort by socialism, which will also keep us in harmony with a soothing nature. Without pressure to achieve, our vulgar sides can atrophy as we can redefine ourselves in softer forms.

Consider Levi Gahman, dual-based at universities in London and the West Indies but focused on criticizing American culture which he sees based on White Settler Christianity, traditional family values and capitalist social relations. Toxic Masculinity is the core problem and thus we must reject as natural or normal traditional ideas of gender identities to overturn heteropatriarchy and white supremacy. When he describes the role of a man in providing for his family, educating his children, and making sure to pass on knowledge, expertise and know-how to future generations it is not to praise such responsibility but to condemn it. Mothers, of course, play the same positive role as fathers, and are condemned as well by woke schools that want to expel parents (of all colors) from their premises. Leftists prey on children because they lack real world experience, a deficiency parents must not be allowed to remedy as it would reduce their susceptibility to airy classroom notions tied to failure and mental trauma. The last words in Gahmans 2020 book Land, God, and Guns: Settler Colonialism and Masculinity in the American Heartland are All colonizers must die, and so too, masculinity.

President Xi agrees with the first part of Grahans sentiments, but not the second. His goal is to build China into the worlds greatest power by 2049, the centennial of the Communist victory in the civil war. He agrees with Lord Shangs that an intelligent prince restrains volatile scholars and those of frivolous pursuits. Xi is advancing a narrative of national triumph, even basing Beijings claim to the South China Sea on the dominant position Imperial China held in the past. His cultural policies are integrated into his economic and military policies; indeed, they are seen as a foundation for them. He has sought to drive foreign ideas from the media as well as the schools. Xi has banned effeminate men from television programs and social media. Si Zefu, a high regime official, believes the feminization of Chinese boys threatens Chinas survival and development. There has also been a campaign against pop culture and celebrity fan clubs because these make boys feel weak, inferior and timid.

Schools teach nationalism, glorify Chinas long history and only lament when it was weak, as during the century of humiliation when Western powers carved out spheres of influence within its lands. The national program builds on over a century of self-strengthening efforts that predate the rise of the Communist Party but not the rise of Chinese ambitions to regain its former power in Asia, and from there the world.

Chandran Nair left his native India for Hong Kong to promote a Pan-Asia project with China at its core. He often addresses an American audience to warn that the West must prepare for a long overdue reckoning. He easily adopts current left-wing rhetoric. The title of his new book is Dismantling Global White Privilege: Equity for a Post-Western World.

Our adversaries have made this mistake before. In the 1930s, the Japanese thought Americans were too decadent and isolationist to oppose their expansion. Pearl Harbor would knock us down and we'd stay down. In the 1970s, the disgraceful withdrawal from Vietnam, riots, and stagflation made the Soviets feel things were going their way in the Cold War. But that's not how things turned out. On 9/11 my office was only two blocks from the White House. On that chaotic day what I remember best occurred on my way home. A large pickup truck with an American flag flying from its cab roared by me. The driver was blaring his horn. That was toxic masculinity coming to the rescue, the stuff of true pride. The next 17 months will determine whether it still flows through our veins. Will we have a leader who loves sophistries or one who embraces the realities of what made America great? The survival of a successful United States as the secure home for all who live here, of both genders and all races, is on the line.

William R. Hawkins is a former economics professor who served on the professional staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has written widely on international economics and national security issues for both professional and popular publications.

Image: reinhold moller
Can AI replace humans in cosmology and astronomy fields?

There's no denying that artificial intelligence and machine learning can do a lot of things that people can't.

These technologies can also perform human tasks better and faster than actual humans.

Because of this, many people are concerned that AI can replace them in their jobs.

However, scientists and other experts said AIs still need humans to function properly and can't replace people.

This is also the case in astronomy and cosmology.

Can AI Replace People in Cosmology and Astronomy?

According to Engadget's latest report, cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, the author of "THE UNIVERSE IN A BOX: Simulations and the Quest to Code the Cosmos," explained why AIs couldn't replace humans in cosmology and astronomy.

Read Also: Virgin Galactic's First Commercial SpaceShipTwo Flight Debuts This June

Artificial intelligence and machine learning can be trained to spot objects in outer space. They can work with specialized Earth- and space-based telescopes to study heavenly bodies.

Overall, AI and ML models can simplify and enhance certain scientific approach aspects, especially those requiring complex information processes.

However, one thing prevents AI and ML technologies from replacing humans in astronomy and other space studies.

This is the ability to supplant scientific reasoning entirely. Artificial intelligence and machine learning cannot do this since it requires an improved understanding of the universe surrounding the world.

Pontzen said that AIs and MLs still have a long way to go before they can completely replace humans in space observations and studies.

How AI Can Help in Space Explorations

Although artificial intelligence can't replace humans in cosmology and astronomy, AIs can definitely improve space exploration.

Forbes reported that space agencies could use AI models to enhance spacecraft's take-off and landing capabilities.

Aside from this, artificial intelligence can also be used to enhance autonomous rovers. AI can help NASA and other space organizations when it comes to mapping the universe as well.

You can click this link to learn more ways how AI can benefit space missions.

Related Article: NASA Says 'UFO' Spotted in Las Vegas Likely a Bright Meteor

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
This Glenn Thrush article in the June 17 New York Times, "Special Counsel Aims to Dodge Distraction in Trump Case" (online "In Trump Prosecution, Special Counsel Seeks to Avoid Distracting Fights") was falsely labeled "News Analysis."

The Times summary of it is here:

Jack Smith has taken an iron-fist-in-a-kid-glove approach, sidestepping secondary issues that could divert attention from the weight of the evidence he has assembled in his case against the former president.

It was, actually, a litany of observations imputing the worst about Donald J. Trump while covering up even more lurid examples of Trump hatred previously expressed by three of the sources of anti-Trump nastiness quoted by Thrush.

The ostensible point of the piece was to explain to the Times base why Special Counsel Jack Smith did not treat the former president more harshly at his June 13 arraignment in Miami.

After all, it goes without saying that, more likely than not, the base of Trump hostiles had hoped to see the former president in manacles, and remanded on exorbitant bail, prevented from traveling about the country, and so forth.

Common sense dictates that treating former president Trump as harshly as an ordinary defendant would have even stirred the outrage of the 20 GOP congressman who gave the dishonorable Adam Schiff a free pass the other day to continue his habit of dishonesty.

Leftists simply are born without genes allowing or gestures of magnanimity.

Thrush went out of his way to throw blue meat to Times readers by seeking out comments from Jack Goldsmith, Barbara McQuade, and Mary McCord. Goldsmith was identified as a Harvard Law professor and former assistant attorney general. He was quoted by Thrush, in part, to seem to criticize the Justice Department for its "actions against Trump marked by error and excess." Goldsmith, however, went on to accuse "''Trump and his allies'" of intending to "'demonize the prosecution as unfair'" -- this from a partisan who, among his anti-Trump screeds, co-authored one called "How to Reform the Presidency After the Wreckage of Trump."

Besides, the term "unfit" addressed to Garland/Biden/Smith is not a denouncement, but simply descriptive of reality.

Let's consider another source quoted by Thrush, Barbara L. McQuade, identified as a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, from 2010 - 2017, an Obama appointee. Thrush omitted noting that she is now on the faculty of Michigan law school and wrote a Time essay faithful to Rule No. I of Trump-haters: say the worst you can think of about the former president. McQuade's seemingly innocuous point that Special Counsel Smith did not want to limit Mr. Trump's travel was printed right after Thrush wrote that Smith wanted to keep the focus on Mr. Trump's threat to national security and obstruction.

See McQuade's June 12 Time attack on the former president -- "The Dangerous Whataboutism in the Trump Classified Docs Case" -- which ends by denouncing him as a "grave threat to our national security" -- after suggesting that MAGA represents an authoritarian movement. It's an unhinged anti-Trump propaganda play.

Perhaps, however, the most bizarre anti-Trump source quoted by Thrush, on the record, is Mary McCord, identified as a former official in the national security division of the Justice Department. Her accusation, quoted by Thrush, was that Mr. Trump "'has tried to influence witnesses.'" Thrush himself went on to parrot this baseless witness-tampering accusation a few paragraphs down in his anti-Trump propaganda piece masquerading as "News Analysis."

Not disclosed by Thrush is that McCord accused President Trump of crossing a constitutional line by urging voters to liberate Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia. McCord is a visiting professor at Georgetown law school. She might better qualify as a proponent for the proposition that there is no such thing as hyperbole.

Thrush also cites the execrable Andrew Weissmann of Muellergate to accuse special counsel Jack Smith of applying a double standard for the purpose of protecting Mr. Trump.

That is not "analysis" but propaganda with the intent to deceive.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Monday, the nineteenth of June, is our newest federal holiday (just 2 years old), Juneteenth, and federal workers get yet another days pay without having to work for it. Since the federal workforce is heavily overrepresented with black workers (18.2% of the federal workforce versus 12.6% of the population), the words disparate impact come to mind, benefitting African Americans with a paid holiday that not too many other employees get, judging by the fact that I was able to book two appointments with service providers tomorrow before I even realized Monday was holiday.

Juneteenth, we are told, commemorates the end of slavery, even though President Lincolns

Emancipation Proclamation was issued two-and-half-years earlier. As Henry Louis Gates wrote, explaining the holiday:

The First Juneteenth 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. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere. General Orders, Number 3; Headquarters District of Texas, Galveston, June 19, 1865 When Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the above order, he had no idea that, in establishing the Union Armys authority over the people of Texas, he was also establishing the basis for a holiday, Juneteenth (June plus nineteenth), today the most popular annual celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. After all, by the time Granger assumed command of the Department of Texas, the Confederate capital in Richmond had fallen; the Executive to whom he referred, President Lincoln, was dead; and the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was well on its way to ratification. But Granger wasnt just a few months late. The Emancipation Proclamation itself, ending slavery in the Confederacy (at least on paper), had taken effect two-and-a-half years before, and in the interim, close to 200,000 black men had enlisted in the fight. So, formalities aside, wasnt it all over, literally, but the shouting?

As Professor Gates explains, despite the legal formalities, including Grangers order, news of the emancipation spread slowly, and many people were still held as slaves in places the news hadnt reached. The celebration of Juneteenth began as a folk holiday mostly among African Americans, but as race became an increasingly polarized factor, agitation began to make it a federal holiday, culminating in a bill passing Congress and signed by President Biden two years ago, following the George Floyd riots and BLM agitation, making it a new federal holiday, increasing labor costs for the federal government by about half a percent.

Notably the newest federal holiday created before Juneteenth was Martin Luther King Day, also commemorating the civil rights advancement of African Americans, meaning that 2 of the 12 federal holidays are now focused on this regrettable part of our history.

If all this celebration were a balm to the anger and tensions, it would be wonderful. But that doesnt seem to be the case. The brilliant writer Shelby Steele had a lot to say about the current push for reparations and much more in the Wall Street Journal on Friday:

The Great Society was a gigantic virtue signal. It was moral advertising when the times called for the hard work of adapting a long-oppressed people to the demands of the modern world. But an even greater barrier to black development turned out to be freedom itself. In the mid-60s, when the civil-rights movement and Martin Luther King were staples on the evening news, we black Americans stepped into a vastly greater freedom than anything we had ever known. Kings rhetoricGreat God Almighty, were free at lastportrayed freedom as heaven. But freedom also had to have been scary. Oppression had conditioned us to suppress our humanity, to settle ourselves into a permanent subjugation. Not the best preparation for a full life in freedom. I believe it was this collision with freedomits intimidating burden of responsibility, its terror of the unknown, its risk of humiliationthat pressured black Americans, especially the young, into a terrible mistake. In segregation we had longed for a freedom grounded in democratic principles. In the 60s we won that point. But then suddenly, with the ink still wet on the Civil Rights Act, a new voice of protest exploded onto the scene, a voice of race and color and atavistic longing: black power. To accommodate, we shifted the overriding focus of racial protest in America from rights and laws to identity. Today racial preferences are used everywhere in American life. Identity is celebrated almost as profusely as freedom once was. It all follows a simple formula: Add a history of victimization to the identity of any group, and you will have created entitlement. Todays black identity is a victim-focused identity designed to entitle blacks in American life. By the terms of this identity, we blacks might be called citizen-victims or citizens with privileges. The obvious problem with this is that it baits us into a life of chasing down privileges like affirmative action. In broader America, this only makes us sufferers for want of privileges. Reparation can never be more than a dream of privilege.

I truly believe that most non-black Americans want native born African Americans to achieve parity with other groups, including the comparatively recent arrivals from Asia and, yes, Africa, who have excelled in the freedom our economy offers, and have achieved average income levels higher than the general population of whites. Nigerian Americans, for example, enjoyed an average household income of $71,465, topping the median household income of the country as a whole of $69,717, and well above the comparable figure for the all-white Appalachian Americans of $49,747.

The end of slavery here is something that we should celebrate, though we must recognize that extra-legal forms of slavery, such as sex slavery at the hands of criminal gangs, still exists. And legal slavery still exists in a number of countries, including Sudan, Libya (where slave markets thrive in the wake of the deposing of Col. Ghaddafi at the initiative of Hillary Clinton), and Saudi Arabia. Slavery is, of course, sanctioned in the Koran, and therefore quite acceptable according to orthodox adherents of Islam.

A genuine celebration of the end of legal slavery here is well worth a federal holiday. I just wish that our discussion and broad understanding of slavery were more honest and better informed. And that, as a friend emailed me yesterday, there were not as much backsliding on civil rights in other areas:

Not only has the civil rights movement been reversed with blacks segregating themselves including across college campuses where they want their own dorms, clubs, and classes and where... the only thing that matters these days is ones skin color, but the womens rights movement has obviously been set back tremendously as well now that men can participate in womens sports, purportedly have babies, and receive advantages in the workplace as long as they claim to identify as a woman. One could also argue that voting rights are being set back as our votes become diluted through new laws that are intended to make voting easier but that allow for much more cheating as well as municipalities that are giving voting rights to illegal immigrants. Then theres our human rights which are being impacted by a decline in quality of life with crime rampant due to progressive policies that dont enforce criminal laws or that get rid of criminal laws, human, child and drug trafficking due to an open border and lack of enforcing our immigration laws, forced vaccinations during Covid and related dictates that have had far-reaching implications including in education, and whites (including Jews) being marginalized through reverse discrimination, lies in schools, and public policies that minimize our rights. I could go on but theres a pattern thats helping to lead to the decline of America.

A symbol of Juneteenth created by breefulmelange Pixabay license
He doesn't deserve the time of day to say it, but Chris Christie, who's challenging Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, is making an ass of himself.

A look at what the former governor of New Jersey been up to makes one want to close the barn door quickly to what's going on in that animal house.

According to The Hill:

Chris Christie turned up his rhetoric on fellow presidential contender Donald Trump in an interview Sunday, branding the former president as a petulant child and a loser. The former New Jersey governor appeared on CNNs State of the Union, where he tore into Trumps recent statements on former administration officials such as John Kelly, one of Trumps numerous chiefs of staff, and former Defense Secretary James Mattis. Donald Trumpif you believe what he said when they left, that means he didnt pick the very best people and doesnt know how to pick personnel, Christie said. If you believe whatabout them what he said at the beginning, the great stuff, then this guy is the worst manager in the history of the American presidency. Either way, Republicans should listen to what he says. Hes a petulant child when someone disagrees with them. Christie further blasted Trumps etiquette on a potential debate stage, repeating his promise to treat the Republican National Committees pledge to support the eventual 2024 nominee just as seriously as when Trump refused to acknowledge it during the first Republican debate in 2015. I will do what I need to do to be up on that stage to try to save my party, save my country for going down the road of being led by three-time loser Donald Trump, Christie said, citing Republicans performances in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Loser, loser, loser.

Can he give us a little 'nyah, nyah, nyah' to go with it?

That's the problem with this guy.

I get what he's trying to do here: He's trying to out-Trump Trump on the childish name-calling front, giving as good as he gets.

"Loser, loser, loser!"

Trump has done that and we'd rather he didn't, but that's his individual thing. Where Christie runs into trouble is when he tries to play the other side, too -- which is that of the sober adult decrying Trump's bad manners.

"He's a petulant child when someone disagrees with him."

So which is it, Chris, the nyah-nyah name caller, or the Mrs. Grundy scold, decrying Trump for his childishness?

The whole thing makes him look like a phony, a guy who's having his cake and eating it, too, so to speak.

He's quite the projecting guy, in fact.

He decried President Trump's hiring skills, calling him "the worst manager in the history of the American presidency."

Sure, Trump had issues. He has the chaotic style of a hotel manager of a big city hotel, which he kind of is, and he's probably not the easiest guy to work with, either.

But this, coming from the guy who had an aide who literally shut down traffic on a critical New Jersey bridge to New York to get back at a political rival? A guy who hires those kind of people and isn't very effective at keeping their political payback games out of the news? Maybe he should look at his own hiring and management record first.

It rings hollow, like an over-inflated balloon after a thump, because every obnoxious thing Christie accuses Trump of doing is something doing himself.

The writer of the piece asks what's his big plan , or rather ...

he offered few concrete plans for his own potential presidency.

That's why he can imitate Trump all he likes, and yes, there are some things Trump does that we would rather he not do, but he comes out looking like an idiot.

Behind that veneer that Christie loudly tut-tuts as Trump's childishness, voters know that Trump also has a track record, and that track record is what matters to voters.

Trump's the one who made us energy independent, taking the petrotyrants completely out of the picture as global power players and begging for mercy. Trump's the one who shut down surging border traffic and at least got started on construction of the border wall. Trump's the one who had nations falling all over themselves to make friends with us, getting along with even unexpected nations, such as Mexico and its rock-socialist president. Trump's the one who was perceived as so unpredictable, Putin didn't want ot take a chance on invading Ukraine, which he dearly wanted to do. Trump's the one who brought speedy prosperity to our country, meaning, people made money and had not just jobs but their choice of jobs, which meant record-low unemployment rates and record-high job participation -- particularly for women, minorities, handicapped people, and even ex-cons. Trump's the one who figured out a way to cut the bureaucracy through changing the civil service rules. Trump's the one who figured out how to win over black, Latino and other supposedly rock-hard constituencies of the Democrats over to the Republican side for votes. Trump's the only one who ever seriously supported and spoke out against abortion as the evil it is. Yes, he made some mistakes -- COVID, the nasty, sneaky, disloyal, scheming personnel he picked, his failure to get major election integrity measures done before they could get him on that front. But by and large his accomplishments outnumbered his mistakes and even more impressively, he did all this with one hand tied behind his back, as his political enemies employed every dishonest, dirty, trick in the book to thwart him before going down in flames of their own making.

Christie has nothing like that to speak of based on his own political record, so his bid to imitate Trump's edgier traits falls flat, an immensely annoying copycat act, with zero political muscle behind it, just a lot of flab.

What's he polling at these days? Zero? One percent? He needs to shut his fat trap at this point and just go away.

Don't run for president, Chris. Just run.

Image: Screen shot from Face The Nation video, via YouTube.
Democrats have always demonstrated a sense of "ownership" of certain communities of color.

So when the 28,000-strong Muslim-majority city of Hamtramck, Michigan passed an ordinance declining to wave gay pride flags from city buildings, they couldn't believe their eyes.

According to The Guardian:

In 2015, many liberal residents in Hamtramck, Michigan, celebrated as their city attracted international attention for becoming the first in the United States to elect a Muslim-majority city council. They viewed the power shift and diversity as a symbolic but meaningful rebuke of the Islamophobic rhetoric that was a central theme of then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps campaign. This week many of those same residents watched in dismay as a now fully Muslim and socially conservative city council passed legislation banning Pride flags from being flown on city property that had  like many others being flown around the country  been intended to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Muslim residents packing city hall erupted in cheers after the councils unanimous vote, and on Hamtramcks social media pages, the taunting has been relentless: Fagless City, read one post, emphasized with emojis of a bicep flexing.

For anyone who knows anything about what Muslims of a certain stripe believe over the past 20 years, or who can pick up a newspaper and read about, say, Iran, the result is about what one can expect.

But this doesn't include leftist Democrats, whose whimpers could be heard for miles around:

Theres a sense of betrayal, said the former Hamtramck mayor Karen Majewski, who is Polish American. We supported you when you were threatened, and now our rights are threatened, and youre the one doing the threatening.

Wait till they hear what these same Muslims think about women.

What happened here was a bad case of projecting.

Democrats projected their own rainbow and unicorn political views onto these Muslims, just because most opposed President Trump. They patted themselves on the back for virtue-signalling their diversity, and then got a good whiff of what that diversity actually meant to these particular voters.

They've promoted mass migration from Muslim countries, hailed recent-migrant Muslims to office, and worked to get that Muslim majority on the Hamtramck city council, all the while expecting that these groups would fall into line as good Democrats and back the party unconditionally.

Didn't happen that way. Now they are stuck with the result -- an openly anti-gay government in a Muslim-majority city, as if recently migrated Muslims representing recently migrated Muslims, with matching stone-age mentalities, wouldn't bring just that outcome. What's more, they still need those Muslim votes for other things, so it's dubious they're going to quit courting them even as they pass anti-gay flag-waving ordinances.

Many corporations have embraced the LGBTQ+ agenda out of fear of pressure groups vowing to boycott them. That shakedown dynamic seems to have been operative in the recent case of the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring the very unpopular gay group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Let's see those pressure groups try that shakedown tactic on this Muslim community, which is pretty open about its anti-gay sentiment.

Dollars to donuts, they won't. They'll just keep making whimperings to the press, astonished that Muslims will be Muslims.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Heather Mac Donald is a phenomenon, a long-time essayist and author, senior writer at the Manhattan Institute, and a lot more. She has always been an effective and eloquent advocate writer, debater and public speaker for the police and law enforcement, the rule of law. With that inadequate introduction, I attempt here to summarize and highlights of her 4000 word-plus discussion of the Neely-Penny struggle on the F train in Manhattan and her analysis of the culture/street/racial problems that brought us to this point of conflict and legal insanity.

She commences:

Neely died on May 1 on a New York City subway car, after being restrained by a Marine veteran who was trying to protect his fellow passengers from Neelys psychotic outbursts. Neely has been turned into a symbol of a racist system of law enforcement and of civilian values that exaggerate the threat of mentally ill vagrants to keep minorities down. All the pathologies afflicting American cities were present in that earlier fatal encounter and its aftermath: the grotesque parody of compassion that is conventional homeless policy; governments elevation of the supposed interests of the anti-social and dysfunctional over those of the law-abiding and hard-working; anti-white race-baiting and racial bathos. But the May 1 confrontation between the ex-Marine Daniel Penny and the mentally ill Neely stands for more than failed policy. Reaction to Pennys intervention illuminates as well the war on manly virtues and their attempted replacement with an emasculated dependence on bureaucrats and social workers.

YouTube screengrab (cropped)

Neely was a crazed and violent man who had a long rap sheet including his forte, violent assaults on elderly women.

while vagrants have a right to shelter, they have no obligation to use it. They are free to continue colonizing public and private spaces if they prefer. [A]n army of feckless outreach workers pads around after the vagrants, politely inquiring as to whether this time, they might deign to accept services and shelter. [in early April] Several outreach workers had come across Neely in a subway car at Coney Island, flashing his genitals and urinating on the floor.

Ms. Mac Donald provides much more. She discusses the May 1 arrival of Neely, the well-known time bomb, after he no doubt jumped a turn style and showed up in an F train car.

at the Lafayette and Broadway station in Manhattans SoHo, threw his jacket on the floor, and screamed that he was hungry, thirsty, and willing to die. . . . (there were various versions about what he said) The Daily Mail reports a third version from another eyewitness: I would kill a motherf***er. I dont care. Ill take a bullet. Ill go to jail.

Well, heres what Penny, a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine) did:

Penny and his fellow Good Samaritan held Neely down for several minutes and then rolled him over on his side in a recovery position. The video does not suggest that Neely was in a chokehold during that entire time. [A chokehold applies pressure to the carotid arteries in the neck to induce temporary unconsciousness.] Rather, Penny appears to be restraining Neely with a bear hug until the police can arrive. [emphasis added]

Derick Chauvin didnt strangle or asphyxiate George Floyd, either, but the racialist mob and loudmouths, the media, blew the thing up, in the Chauvin/Floyd case calling the prone restraint an asphyxiation murder hold, and in the Penny/Neely matter a choke murder hold. Yell, and repeat murder, chokehold, chokehold. Ms. Mac Donald comments on the calm and impassive nature of the accused Penny; I would also point out Neely was similarly obviously not struggling in the head lock like a man being strangled.

I have previously shown in an essay with an embedded video demonstration here at AT that George Floyd died of a cardiac arrest because of excitement and a very bad heart, a load of fentanyl and methamphetamine, not being restrained on his stomach. The widely used prone restraint taught to Minneapolis Police and parts of department policy that killed Saint George is not a killer, it was his heart. George Floyd died of a cardiac arrest, not asphyxiation.

Now I have to put up with another scared medical examiner who will declare Neely a victim of homicide by strangulation. The lesson to be learned is: white boy, dont lay a hand on an oppressed minority person, he or she might die and you will be prosecuted as a white supremacist murderer, conviction assured in a big blue city in America.

I know what a choke hold is, and Penny didnt have a choke hold on Neely. He had a head lock with no evidence on the video of the key elements of a choke hold. The right hand and arm were not in the lever/crank position for a choke hold. One more time -- look at the videos -- Penny isnt cranking on a choke hold, he was holding the mans head to restrain him; Chauvin was not bearing down to asphyxiate a 224 pound man, he was at 170 pounds with gear added, not capable of asphyxiating George Floyd.

Floyd and Neely both died of cardiac arrest from excitement and exertion and that could have been aggravated by drugs on board. People die suddenly and quietly, sometimes just dropping to the ground when they have a cardiac rhythm disturbance.

In modern day blue city racialist social justice prosecutions, the DA applies the Red Queen approach from Alice in Wonderland -- sentence first, verdict afterwards. The prosecutors are ready to trash the innocent till proven guilty principle as prosecutors run their updated and politically correct version of lynching by unethical, politically-motivated government prosecutors.

Ms. Mac Donald details the performances of the racialist hustlers and poseur academics and professionals who jumped to the microphone; then she discusses how we got to this -- and I have lived it and assure you her narrative is accurate

The Deinstitutionalization Movement

Best to quote the Mac Donald:

This status quo is the result of two upheavals in social policy, one regarding mental illness, the other regarding the proper focus of government. Civil libertarian Thomas Szasz argued in the 1960s that mental illness was an arbitrary concept designed to snuff out nonconformity to bourgeois norms of behavior. While Szaszs deconstruction of the distinction between sanity and insanity was not widely embraced to its full radical extent, he did succeed in making the standard for long-term involuntary commitment nearly impossible to meet. Mental institutions were shut down and their inhabitants released to the community, a movement aided by those facilities high cost and sometimes inhumane conditions. All this for the privilege of walking around with feces in ones pants, while raving at demons.

If it werent for politics, the deinstitutionalization movement could not have survived a short experiment, but it continues till today.

Mac Donald asks:

Meanwhile, hardworking taxpayers are treated simply as ATMs for funding the rights revolution.

When government abdicates its responsibility to maintain public safety, a few citizens, for now at least, will step into the breach. Penny was one of them. He restrained Neely not out of racism or malice but to protect his fellow passengers. He was showing classically male virtues: chivalry, courage and initiative. A homicide charge is the most efficient way to discourage such initiative in the future. Stigma is another.

Ms. Mac Donald brings us the benefit of her research:

Contrary to the anti-white narrative, white on black homicides are almost nonexistent. Blacks commit 87 percent of all non-lethal interracial violence between blacks and whites and whites and blacks; blacks are roughly thirty-five times more likely to commit violent offenses against whites than whites are to commit violent offenses against blacks. Existing while black is more dangerous than existing while white, but not because of white supremacy. In the first eighteen months of the pandemic, black juveniles were shot at 100 times the rate of white juveniles. (That shooting spike began only after the George Floyd race riots.) Had any of those black juvenile gun victims been shot or killed by whites, we would have heard about it. Instead, the rule for deciphering crime reporting is as follows: if the race of a crime suspect is not provided, the suspect is black. That rule applies when the victim is black and even more so when the victim is white. If a crime suspect is white, however, that fact will usually be reported and it will always be the lead in any story in the rare instance when the victim is black.

Ms. Mac Donald is a genius and an inestimable analyst of the current social scene and domestic political environment, with particular expertise in matters of law enforcement.

John Dale Dunn is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas.
It appears that the United States may be on the cusp of turning a corner in its long fight against opioid abuse. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that years of double-digit drug overdoses have leveled off.

But America has lost many battles in the drug wars over the past 50 years. Supply and demand dictate the drug du jour, which will cycle among heroin, cocaine, meth, designer drugs, and prescription drugs. In 2022 alone,109,000 Americans perished from overdoses.

The introduction of new classes of drugs into the illicit narcotics arsenal could usher in a fourth wave of the opioid crisis if law enforcement blinks. Xylazine and nitazines are the latest drugs gaining popularity, and both come with a high body count. Xylazine somehow limits the effectiveness of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, while nitazines are up to ten times more potent than even fentanyl. Ouch!

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies should parlay their recent victories in stemming overdose deaths by breaking the distribution supply chain. Its tentacles have expanded past Central and South America into communist countries like China and Russia.

The good news is that funds have started flowing from a landmark $26-billion settlement reached with several major manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids that will clearly be the quickest and most effective way for hospitals, families, and law enforcement to receive the resources they need not just to stem the opioid crisis, but to bring about its end.

Some states have used this money to fund tangible law enforcement initiatives to combat opioid abuse. Several Pennsylvania counties are planning to use their settlement funds to hire more police officers. Louisiana has committed 65 million dollars directly to its state sheriff's offices to end the rampant opioid crisis in the Bayou State. This amount constitutes 20% of its $325 million in settlement funds.

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is anteing nearly $300,000 in settlement funds to bolster a unique partnership between its police department and WakeUp Carolina, a local non-profit. The money will fund a "peer support specialist" who will be responsible for conducting follow-up visits with overdose victims and help them find their way to recovery. The specialist, along with other WakeUp employees, will also have access to the police department's incident management system, allowing him to document and track overdose incidents in real time. The program has already proven to be a success, significantly reducing the number of overdoses in the town year to date.

Unfortunately, not every state has signed on to this agreement and therefore will not have access to such resources to help bolster law enforcement efforts and launch innovative programs to end the opioid crisis. A deeper dive into the state-level data of the newly released CDC reporting indicates that the non-participators may be experiencing the negative effects of that decision.

While the USA, as a whole, saw the rate of fatal drug overdoses plateau in 2022, two notable holdouts to the settlement  Oklahoma and Washington State  saw their overdose rates spike. Oklahoma had the fourth highest increase of overdose deaths in the country, experiencing a 15.5% increase, while Washington State had the grim distinction of taking the top spot by seeing a more than 24% increase in deaths year over year.

Oklahoma declined to participate in the 26-billion-dollar settlement and instead decided to sue. The case reached the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, which ruled against the attorney general and effectively denied access to any funds related to this settlement or otherwise.

Washington State, which is inexplicably following the same failed legal playbook as in Oklahoma, is awaiting trial and still has time to settle. Washington State was slated to receive more than $100 million but instead decided to go to trial, essentially stalling for time in an attempt to negotiate a higher payout. This flawed strategy is wasting valuable time in treating the victims who require every second and dollar to get their lives back on track. The delay also hampers law enforcement's efforts to combat the criminal pipeline of poison into their state.

The United States may finally be rounding a corner on the opioid crisis, but ending it may be impossible minus a coordinated and total commitment of all three branches of government. Our society must also play a key role in that equation. Citizens can become the moral compass by supporting their community agencies across all fifty states. Having the financial resources minus a total commitment will come up short of the goal.

John Ligato is a retired special agent with the FBI.

Image via Raw Pixel.
It is not every spring that graduation speeches delivered in obscure schools and colleges a continent apart make headlines, but two recently have, one at City University of New Yorks law school and another at El Camino (California) Community College.

Both Muslim females at the podia wore non-American clothing and head covering. One is a native of Yemen, and the other claims to be a Palestinian but, like all others who make this claim, there is nothing Palestinian about her.

Both used their time at the microphone to voice the delusions of Jews doing terrible things. The one in El Camino said the Israelis are killing Palestinians every dayin an oppressive apartheid statetorturing Palestinians as we speak. The female jihadi in New York expressed her opinion on several social and political issues, fingering World Zionism as the No.1 menace to mankind.

Of course, Israel supporters were outraged at the shocking anti-Semitism in both speeches, but I beg to differ. What was on display was not anti-Semitism (in its original sense), but Islam, which began as a religion of Jew-hatred twelve centuries before the term anti-Semitism was ever coined in the West.

As a neologism, anti-Semitism is in a class with Islamophobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, etc., all tendentious, dishonest perversions of reality and truth. The word surfaced in the second half of the 19th century after many Europeans in the chattering classes had lost their faith in Christianity. Unintentionally, that loss of faith deprived them of a Christians legitimate way of hating Jews as Christ-killers. If you no longer believe in Jesus as divine, you can no longer hate the Jews in your life for killing him.

Image: Jana Abulaban happily spews Israel hatred. YouTube screen grab (cropped).

After the Enlightenment saw Jews emancipated from ghettoes and granted citizenship, Europe had plenty of people uncomfortable with both this new dispensation and the Jews presence as never before in the public square. They were as uncomfortable sitting next to a Jew on a train in 1850s Vienna as a white citizen in 1950s Birmingham, Alabama, was when sitting on a bus next to a black person.

This was the age of Darwin, the new academic discipline of anthropology, and the Higher Criticism of the Bible, so the solution was to rebrand the Jews. No longer could they be a nation dispersed around the globe for their cosmic crime of killing God. Now, they were born again as a race, which is a biological condition. No longer would Jews be shunned for their timeless fidelity to their G-d; now, they were obnoxious as Semites native to Asia. As Asiatics, they were as alien to European life as African blacks.

Only, there never was in history even one person calling himself a Semite and being called that by others. What 19th-century post-religious anti-Jews did was to pilfer a term from the study of languages, whose scholars categorized languages into numerous groups, e.g., they called French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and, of course, Italian the Romance languages. As for Hebrew and cognates (e.g., Aramaic, Akkadian, Ugaritic, Amharic, Arabic), these were called Shemitic (sic) after Shem, one of Noahs three sons. (Over time, the h fell away.)

So Semitic was invented without reference to a people, a community, or a common culture. It existed as a neutral linguistic designation until modern, post-Christian Jew-haters stole it to claim they had no problem with Jews and the Jewish religion. After all, Karl Marx said religion was just a narcotic. Instead, the modern cadre of haters pointed to the Jews alien race with foreign ways that made it impossible to assimilate them into European society.

Hence, those opposed to allowing Jews to integrate insisted they were not Jew-haters but were, instead, anti-Semites. At its birth, the term did not connote mass murder; that was for the next century. Its purpose was to bolster those opposed to giving refuge to Jews in Western Europe running from Russian pogroms.

Its different with todays valedictorians, spokeswomen for the Islamic persuasion. Their religions hatred pre-dates so-called modern anti-Semitism by more than a millennium. It is right there in the Koran.

Numerous verses are plainly and explicitly hateful and hostile to Jews. Muslims are forbidden to become friends with them (in truth, with any non-Muslim). Jews are required to be oppressed and humiliatedand they were every day in Muslim countries from the beginning.

And why? Because they continue to refuse to accept that the last and greatest prophet of all in the Jewish Bible was Muhammad.

Because the Jews refuse to convert to the One True Faith, they must pay a yearly jizya tax for the right to go on practicing their faith when they know deep down that Islam is the Correct Religion, the proper interpretation of the theology of Ibrahima name they chronically mispronounce.

So, it is a bit inaccurate to call those two hateful Muslim females anti-Semites. More simply, they are Muslims whose religion is a form of Jew hatred. There is not a single original religious concept, idea, or principle in Islam not stolen from Judaism. In the same way, they hunger to steal what the Jews brought back to life in a land that, until the 20th century, they never called Filistin (a proper noun so alien to these descendants of nomadic, desert-dwellers, they cannot even pronounce it properly).

Shai ben-Tekoa is the author of PHANTOM NATION: Inventing the Palestinians as the Obstacle to Peace and podcasts at phantom-nation.com.
David Cameron and George Osborne must be taken to task at the Covid inquiry over austerity-era decisions that left us so unprepared for the pandemic, a doctors union has said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the pair should be questioned this week about the parlous state of the NHS due to a decade of spending cuts.

Former prime minister Mr Cameron will become the first politician to appear under oath when he is sworn in on Monday, the inquiry has said.

He will be followed by former chancellor Mr Osborne, as well as Jeremy Hunt, the current Chancellor who served as health secretary in the austerity-era Government of the 2010s.

The inquiry will examine how prepared the UK was for the pandemic, meaning economic policies in the years leading up to the first outbreak will be taken into its wide remit.

It is unclear how long each witness will spend giving evidence.

BMA council chairman Professor Philip Banfield said ahead of Mondays hearing there was no doubt that both staff and patients were put in harms way because of underfunding in the decade running up to Covids arrival.

In a blog written for the unions website, he writes: I have seen first-hand the damage wrought by years of austerity and a failure to prioritise the nations health. The UK was severely on the back foot when Covid took hold, and this proved disastrous  for the doctors I represent and the millions who suffered at the hands of the virus.

It is therefore critical that Cameron, Osborne and Hunt are taken to task over the decisions they made that left us so unprepared, and to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated when we face our next health emergency.

He added: The question to Cameron, Osborne and Hunt must be: how did you allow the NHS and public health to get to such a parlous state, and fail to prepare so appallingly, that many didnt stand a fighting chance when the wave crashed over them?

The BMA and the Trades Union Congress are among core participants to the inquiry.

The inquiry heard last week that the UK entered the coronavirus pandemic with depleted public services and widening health inequalities.

A report prepared jointly by Prof Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Prof Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said austerity policies affected the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic.
A homelessness charity boss has praised the Prince of Wales commitment to build social housing on the Duchy of Cornwalls land.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, William revealed he will build the housing on the 130,000-acre property empire he now controls after becoming the Prince of Wales.

Reacting to the news, Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said it was great to see Williams commitment to build the housing.

We look forward to working together to create a country where everybody can enjoy the basic right of a good home, he said.

The prince also said he wants to make it his mission to end homelessness in the UK.

He told the paper that he will launch a really big project to take on the issue.

However, the details of the five-year project are being kept secret until the end of the month.

Its nerve-racking, he told the newspaper.

But Im really excited. Ive been waiting for the right time to do this.

Mr Downie said the prince was absolutely right that homelessness can be ended.

Prince William is absolutely right, he said.

We can end homelessness. For too long it has been assumed that this problem is just too difficult or that its something we should simply accept as a society.

Crisis has never believed that and we stand foursquare behind Prince William in his determination to end homelessness for good.

The prince has previous experience tackling homelessness. He is the patron of Centrepoint, a charity which helps homeless young people.

Earlier this week, he officially opened Reuben House, a block of 33 studio properties in south-east London where rents are set at a third of a residents income, on behalf of the charity.
An employee organizes Japanese yen at a foreign exchange department of a bank in Seoul, Jan. 3. Newsis



Koreans' combined purchase of the Japanese currency at local banks jumped nearly fivefold in May from a year earlier, data showed Sunday, as more people took advantage of a weaker yen.



The amount of Japanese currency sold at the country's four major banks came to 30.16 billion yen ($213 million) in May, soaring from 6.28 billion yen tallied a year earlier, according to the market data.



The increase apparently came as more people took advantage of the weak yen in recent weeks, which fell to an eight-year low against the won. On Friday, the Korean won closed at 903.82 won against 100 yen, marking the highest level since June 2015, when it traded at 905.4 won.



The eased COVID-19 travel restrictions also induced more people to travel to Japan, with others purchasing the yen for future profits.



The amount of deposits in the yen at the four banks came to 810.9 billion yen as of Thursday, up 16 percent from 697.8 billion yen tallied in late May.



The latest slide in the yen comes as Tokyo continues to maintain its monetary easing policy, despite the rate hikes carried out by other major economies, including the United States and Europe.



Market watchers, meanwhile, warned that local investors should not bet on the yen for a short-term profit, as the currency may further lose ground down the road, possibly hitting 890 won per 100 yen in the near future.



"While the yen may be viewed as a safe asset, it may not be an appealing investment choice for those betting on a currency rebound," said Baek Seok-hyun, an economist at Shinhan Bank, advising that the yen should not constitute a significant portion of one's portfolio. (Yonhap)


(Reuters) - The death toll from flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has risen to 16 in Ukraine, Kyiv officials said, while Russian officials said 29 people have died in territories that Moscow controls.

The breaching of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6 unleashed floodwaters across a large swath of land in southern Ukraine and in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine, destroying farmland and cutting off supplies to civilians.

More than 3,600 people have been evacuated from the flooded areas in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, while 31 people were still missing and some 1,300 houses remained flooded, Ukraine's interior ministry said on its Telegram channel late on Saturday.

Andrei Alekseyenko, chairman of the Russian-installed administration in the Moscow-occupied parts of the Kherson region, said on the Telegram messaging app the death toll had risen to 29 people.

Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the Soviet-era dam, under Russian control since early days of its invasion in 2022.

A team of international legal experts assisting Ukraine's prosecutors in their investigation said in preliminary findings on Friday it was "highly likely" the collapse in Ukraine's Kherson region was caused by explosives planted by Russians.

The Kremlin accuses Kyiv of sabotaging the hydroelectric dam, which held a reservoir the size of the U.S. Great Salt Lake, to cut off a key source of water for Crimea and distract attention from a "faltering" counter-offensive against Russian forces.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
A gay priest said his experience of conversion therapy felt oppressive after he was encouraged to attend weekly meetings for people struggling with their sexuality by a church in Liverpool a decade ago.

Augustine Tanner-Ihm, 33, moved to the UK from Chicago in 2013 and became an intern for a Liverpool church where conversion therapy made him feel that a part of [him] was always going to be wrong and bad.

Mr Tanner-Ihm told the PA news agency that he now works as a priest for three churches in Manchester where he can just be myself and said as a survivor and a minister, I think its best that [conversion therapy is] banned for all people in the UK.

Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to convert a non-heterosexual person to heterosexuality using methods like psychoanalysis and religious counselling, and has been condemned by LGBT+ charities like Stonewall.

A Government survey published in 2017 found 7% of UK LGBT people had been offered the therapy.

The Government has committed to banning conversion therapy but it has not yet banned the practice.

Mr Tanner-Ihm started conversion therapy when he joined a Liverpool church at 23 and told members that he was struggling with [his] sexuality in order to receive help.

He said: They were like, oh, thats fine. We have a group for people that struggle with their sexuality, and when I got there, I realised it was conversion therapy.

He met with 10 to 15 other people, between university age to about 60, who were also struggling with their sexuality once a week for around seven or eight months.

Augustine Tanner-Ihm attended conversion therapy once a week after being encouraged to do so by a church in Liverpool (Augustine Tanner-Ihm/PA)

He said: They met at someones house and they met once a week with a range of people  people who were single, people who got married to people of the opposite sex  and very much the goal was for you to be able to marry the opposite sex.

He described the meetings as kind of like a support group, adding: People talked about different ways of dealing with things. People talked about their own struggles and talked about total deliverance that God can give. [There was] a lot of prayer. Quite intense prayer.

They put it in my schedule, that I was going to go, but then after a while, I realised it was expected for me to go.

Mr Tanner-Ihm described the highly emotional conversion therapy meetings as oppressive and said he was particularly vulnerable as he was an intern from another country and [his] visa was in their control.

After repeatedly questioning some of the points made during the conversion therapy sessions, Mr Tanner-Ihm said he was perceived as a troublemaker.

He said: I was always the person to question everything  and I dont think they wanted someone to do that.

He returned to the US when his visa expired and lived there for over a year, before moving back to the UK.

Mr Tanner-Ihm said he wrestled with his sexuality every single day as he grew up in poverty in a predominantly black community in Chicago with quite religious Jehovahs Witness parents.

He was around 14 when he first realised that he might not be straight, which coincided with him discovering Christianity at a Christian summer camp.

A decade after conversion therapy, Mr Tanner-Ihm said he can be himself (Augustine Tanner-Ihm/PA)

Soon after becoming a Christian, he told a man who was mentoring him that he was gay and was given a book about how people can change from being homosexual to heterosexual which he sunk into in an effort to change his sexuality.

He said: I was 14 and I think I was really vulnerable, really fragile, and I just wanted help because I saw, through my black culture, through the religion that I came from and the religion I went into, and wider society, that this was bad.

After undertaking a year-long stint as an intern in Liverpool, he later returned to the UK in 2015 and lived in several parishes before eventually settling in Manchester, where he is now a priest for three churches.

He said his attitude towards his sexuality has changed massively, adding as he undertakes his duties as a priest, I can just be myself. Its really quite lovely.

Although Mr Tanner-Ihms feelings about his sexuality have transformed and societal attitudes towards homosexuality have drastically changed, the minister still feels the effects of conversion therapy.

He said: It has caused a lot of pain and suffering, and I continue to deal with the ramifications of conversion therapy.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said he will abstain from voting on the report which found Boris Johnson lied to MPs over partygate because he disagrees with its conclusion.

The Levelling Up Secretary claimed the Privileges Committees finding that the former prime minister should have been suspended from Parliament for 90 days was not merited.

He refused to be drawn on whether he believed the Prime Minister should back the report, saying it is a matter for each individual MP to decide for themselves.

However, former Conservative minister Justine Greening urged MPs to get behind the committees work and recognise that political leaders cannot be allowed to get away with misleading the Commons.

The report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension for committing repeated contempts of Parliament had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that penalty, the cross-party group of MPs chaired by Labours Harriet Harman also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament following a series of offences.

Speaking to the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, he said: I dont agree with the conclusion, however, personally  the decision to impose a 90-day penalty is not merited by the evidence that the committee has put forward.

If the report is not opposed then it could just be nodded through the Commons, saving Mr Sunak from having to choose between further riling Mr Johnson by backing it, voting against the report and risking public anger, or avoiding the action altogether and facing allegations of being weak.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass regardless, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists expected to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect.

Tory backbencher Bill Cash wrote in the Sunday Telegraph he would vote against the report, but former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland MP told Times Radio he would be endorsing it if it came to a division, highlighting the importance of the overall authority and standing of the House of Commons.

Former Conservative minister Justine Greening said it was important for the public to see that due process has been followed and MPs are actively supporting its outcome.

I think it would be easier to persuade the public that weve moved on from it if MPs simply went into the House of Commons on Monday and supported the Privileges Committee report, she said.

I think people are in Parliament to take votes and I think they should be decisive about supporting the Privileges Committees work. Essentially, its important to recognise that MPs, and especially prime ministers, cannot mislead Parliament and be allowed to get away with that.

Mr Johnson dismissed the report by the cross-party committee, which he claims is a kangaroo court, as smacking of bias  an accusation which led it to recommended a harsher sanction against him.

The committee found that the former prime minister had not only lied to MPs but launched what amounted to an attack on our democratic institutions by impugning the parliamentary process.

Despite the report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said on Friday Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.
The Princess of Wales has hailed childrens hospices for their life-changing care, saying they are a shining light to families.

Kate, in a message to mark Childrens Hospice Week, thanked staff for being there for people during their darkest times.

She also told of seeing first-hand how they allow children to be children, having been a royal patron of East Anglias Childrens Hospices (Each) for more than 10 years.

Kate said: With 99,000 seriously ill children across the country, childrens hospices work tirelessly to provide life-changing care to families with the aim of making unbelievably difficult situations that little bit easier.

As patron of East Anglias Childrens Hospices, I have been privileged to see first-hand the incredible way hospices help families and allow children to be children.

During Childrens Hospice Week, all hospices will be doing what they do day in day out  delivering vital specialist care, and whether that is by helping to facilitate a day at the beach for children to feel the sand between their toes, engaging young people in therapeutic music activities, or having a fun painting session to create special moments and memories, the teams supporting these families regularly go above and beyond to make a difference to their lives, no matter how long or short they may be.

On behalf of parents and carers across the country, I would like to say a huge thank you to all those working in childrens hospices. You are a shining light to so many families in their darkest times and your efforts do not go unnoticed.

This Childrens Hospice Week, I hope youll join me in celebrating the truly extraordinary teamwork that goes into providing this incredible care.

Kate has been a royal patron of East Anglias Childrens Hospices for more than 10 years (Joe Giddens/PA)

Childrens Hospice Week, from June 19-25, is organised by Together for Short Lives, the UK charity for seriously ill children and families, and is the only week dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the services across the country.

Phil Gormley, Each chief executive, said: We are so grateful for the princess invaluable contribution as royal patron.

Her work, visits and profile have projected our charity  as well as the importance of childrens hospice services generally  onto the global stage and for that we are truly thankful.
The Royal Mint is marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival in the UK of passengers on the Empire Windrush ship with a new commemorative 50p coin.

The coins designer, artist Valda Jackson, was born in St Thomas, Jamaica, and moved to England in 1964.

Her parents were among the generation of people invited to leave their homes in the Caribbean to work in Britain, and she later joined them at the age of five.

The coin depicts two smartly-dressed people from the Windrush generation.

Designer Valda Jackson with the commemorative 50p (Royal Mint/PA)

The design pays tribute to the many British Caribbean and Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1973, the Royal Mint said.

Ms Jackson said of the coin design: Its more than a celebration of one moment  it is an acknowledgement of the real, lived experience of generations of ordinary working people, and, though we may have struggled, and we still struggle in so many ways, we and our descendants are, in fact, at home.

And this is what the image  these figures and the added Union Jack  represents.

I am very happy to have my design selected for this coin, which honours our parents and their legacy, and which celebrates our presence, achievements, and contributions that continue to enrich our society.

The Royal Mint said it had also worked closely with Dr Juanita Cox, a Caribbean Studies specialist at the University of London, throughout the whole process of introducing the commemorative coin.

The Royal Mint said it is committed to representing and celebrating diversity on UK coinage (Royal Mint/PA)

Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at the Royal Mint, said: The Royal Mint is committed to representing and celebrating diversity on UK coinage, and, as we approach the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrushs arrival in the United Kingdom, we are honoured to be marking this important anniversary in British history on an official UK 50p coin.

Windrush has become symbolic of its passengers and today encompasses the subsequent generations who have played a pivotal role in shaping modern British culture and society since the Second World War.

The ships passengers disembarked at Tilbury in Essex on June 22 1948.

The 50p commemorative coin is available on the Royal Mints website in a range of precious metals and finishes, with prices starting at 11.

The Mint said it is not currently able to confirm whether the coin will enter general circulation.
Over the past year the UK has experienced a level of strike action the like of which has not been seen in the country for more than three decades.

Some 3.7 million working days were lost through labour disputes from June 2022 to April 2023, according to latest available data from the Office for National Statistics.

This is the highest for any 11-month period since July 1989 to May 1990, when 4.8 million were lost.

December 2022 saw the most working days lost, at 829,000.

(PA Graphics)

The number reflects the impact of a range of strikes, including disputes involving postal workers, driving examiners, rail workers, Border Force staff, ambulance workers and nurses.

It is the highest total for a single month since November 2011, when 997,000 days were lost.

It is also the second highest total since July 1989, when 2.4 million were lost.

Disputes affecting London and north-west England together accounted for nearly a third (30%) of all working days lost in the 11 months to April this year, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

There were 576,500 days lost in London (16% of the total) and 526,100 (14%) in the North West.

South-east England saw the next highest number, at 466,200 days (13%), followed by Scotland (459,500 or 12%).

Wales recorded the fewest days lost, 125,500, accounting for just 3% of the UK total.

(PA Graphics)

More days have been lost in the private sector (57%, or 2.1 million) than the public sector (43%, or 1.6 million), though the proportions have varied from month to month.

For example, in December 2022  the month with the highest number of working days lost  80% were in the private sector, driven mainly by the volume of disputes in the rail and postal industries.

But in March 2023, which saw the second highest total of days lost, 89% were in the public sector, reflecting a wave of strikes involving civil servants, junior doctors and teachers.

March also saw the highest number of workers involved in disputes, at 303,000, while December saw around half that figure, at 155,000.

(PA Graphics)

Of the 3.7 million number of working days lost from June 2022 to April 2023, more than half (57%, or 2.1 million) were in transport, storage and communication industries  a reflection of the frequency of rail strikes, but also of recurring disputes involving Border Force staff and driving instructors.

Nearly a quarter (23%) were to do with education, 10% health and social work and 6% public administration.
Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to skip a debate of the damning report that found Boris Johnson lied over partygate, amid reignited anger over the scandal following a newly published video.

The motion on the Privileges Committees findings comes as Scotland Yard is considering the footage from a 2020 Christmas gathering at Conservative Party headquarters.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who has apologised for the video showing Tory staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions, will also abstain from a vote.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg

He said it was a matter for each individual MP to decide their own course of action over the committee findings  leaving the door open for other Conservatives to follow suit and potentially avoid casting a ballot.

Whether or not a vote on the report takes place on Monday  which is incidentally the former prime ministers birthday  depends in part on how many Johnson loyalists decide to oppose the report.

The former prime minister was urging his allies not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect, although critics argue the level of support shown for him would have been low anyway.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could skip the debate on the Privileges Committee report

Senior backbencher Bill Cash, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said he would turn up to vote against the findings, citing the former prime ministers historic achievements.

But with at least three potentially damaging by-elections looming following the resignations of Mr Johnson, Nigel Adams and David Warburton, many could decide instead to spend Monday hitting the campaign trail.

No 10 has declined to say whether the Prime Minister will turn up to back the report, but he will be hosting a foreign leader in Downing Street on Monday which could give him an excuse not to take part.

The Times and The Telegraph newspapers report he is expected to not to cast a vote on the committees findings.

In a scathing 108-page report, the cross-party group of MPs recommended a 90-day suspension for Mr Johnsons repeated contempts of Parliament had he not pre-emptively resigned. It also says he should be denied the parliamentary pass usually given to former MPs.

The former Conservative leader has dismissed the findings of the committee, which he likened to a kangaroo court, as smacking of bias  attacks which led it to recommend a harsher sanction against him.

If the report is not opposed then it could just be nodded through the Commons.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass regardless, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists expected to oppose the reports findings.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson leaves his home in London, the day after his appearance before the Commons Privileges committee

The debate comes after the Sunday Mirror obtained a video appearing to show Conservative staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions at the height of the pandemic.

The footage of the event, which happened when indoor socialising was banned and people across the country were separated from family and friends, poses a further setback to Mr Sunaks efforts to move on from his predecessor-but-ones legacy.

It has also renewed accusations from opposition parties that the Prime Minister is weak for not intervening over Mr Johnsons resignation honours.

Both former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallet  who were handed a peerage and an OBE, respectively  attended the gathering.

Mr Gove told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the pair should not be stripped of their honours because rules allow outgoing prime ministers to make such appointments.

The Metropolitan Police, which previously investigated the gathering and claimed there was insufficient evidence to disprove the version of events provided by attendees, has said it is looking at the video.

A spokesperson for the force said: We are aware of the footage and are considering it.

CCHQ said formal disciplinary action was taken against four staff members, who were seconded to Mr Baileys mayoral campaign, over the unauthorised event.

Mr Bailey had reportedly left the gathering when the video was taken and has previously apologised for his involvement.
Tech investor and artificial intelligence specialist Ian Hogarth has said he is honoured to be chosen to chair the Governments new AI Foundation Model Taskforce.

Mr Hogarth co-founded Plural Platform, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in start-ups developing new technologies, and also co-authors the State of AI report, an annual review of the AI industry, safety research and the politics surrounding it.

He is also the co-founder of Songkick, a concert discovery service, which he set up after studying artificial intelligence at the University of Cambridge.

As chair of the AI Foundation Model Taskforce, Mr Hogarth will report directly to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith, and will focus on driving forward new research into AI safety ahead of a world-first summit on the issue which will be hosted in the UK later this year.

The Prime Minister has laid out a bold vision for the UK to supercharge the field of AI safety, one that until now has been under-resourced even as AI capabilities have accelerated, he said.

Im honoured to have the chance to chair such an important mission in the lead-up to the first global summit on AI safety in the UK.

Announcing his appointment on Twitter, Mr Hogarth also shared a form for AI specialists and safety researchers to express interest in working for the taskforce.

The governments new 100 million AI taskforce will bring together experts from government, industry and academia to research ways of safely developing artificial intelligence and help inform work to develop international safety guidelines.

It is modelled on the vaccine taskforce set up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As Mr Hogarths appointment was announced, Mr Sunak said we owe it to our children and grandchildren to develop new AI technologies safely.

The more artificial intelligence progresses, the greater the opportunities are to grow our economy and deliver better public services, he said.

But with such potential to transform our future, we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to ensure AI develops safely and responsibly.

As one of the leading figures in UK tech, its great to have Ian leading our expert taskforce, empowered with authority and agility to build our leadership in AI safety and development.

It will ensure we do things differently and move with the same pace and vigour as we rise to meet the task ahead.

Ms Smith added: With Ian on board, the taskforce will be perfectly placed to strengthen the UKs leadership on AI and ensure that British people and businesses have access to the trustworthy tools they need to benefit from the many opportunities artificial intelligence has to offer.
Michael Gove has said two Tories should keep the honours they were handed by Boris Johnson despite attending a pandemic-era gathering at which staff were filmed apparently joking about Covid restrictions.

The Levelling Up Secretary apologised over the footage of a Christmas event at Conservative Party headquarters said to have taken place on December 14 2020 when indoor socialising was banned.

But Mr Gove said the former prime minister has a right to confer resignation appointments which should not be blocked.

The video of the party, which was attended by failed London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallet  who will receive a peerage and an OBE respectively  has reignited criticism of Mr Johnsons list.

Mr Bailey reportedly left the event before the video was taken and has previously apologised for his involvement.

Asked whether the pair should be blocked from receiving honours, Mr Gove told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: No, I dont think that and I have to explain the context for that, so I hope that you and viewers will allow me to do so.

The decision to confer honours on people was one that was made by Boris Johnson as an outgoing prime minister. Outgoing prime ministers have that right.

Whether or not they should is a matter of legitimate public debate, but they do at the moment.

He told Skys Sunday with Sophy Ridge programme: I just want to apologise to everyone really, who, looking at that image, will think Well, these are people who were flouting the rules that were put in place to protect us all.

But former Conservative justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said those implicated in the video should consider declining their honours.

I think that theres still time for those individuals to consider their position to potentially say, thank you, but no thank you. I think that might be absolutely the best way to go here, he told Times Radio.

In the footage, one attendee can be heard joking about Covid restrictions, saying: As long as we dont stream that were, like, bending the rules before laughing while a man and woman hold hands and dance.

The pair crash into a buffet table stacked with food and wine glasses at one point while other guests walk past wearing paper crowns and clutching alcoholic drinks.

The Metropolitan Police, which previously launched an investigation over the event after a picture of the gathering was published but took no further action, is now assessing the video.

A spokesperson for the force said: We are aware of the footage and are considering it.

CCHQ said formal disciplinary action was taken against four staff members, who were seconded to Mr Baileys mayoral campaign, over the unauthorised event.

Mr Gove told Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: Its terrible. I think its completely out of order. As I understand it, this was an event that was organised by the people who were running the mayoral campaign for Shaun Bailey.

They had obviously behaved in a way which is unacceptable.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the footage shows Tories openly mocked the rules the British people followed while Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said it should make ministers sick to their stomachs.

Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey in Kennington while on the campaign trail for the London mayoral election (Victoria Jones/PA)

Revellers at this lockdown Tory booze-up openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think its one rule for them and one rule for everyone else, Ms Rayner said.

Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnsons demands and chosen to reward them with honours. Its a sickening insult.

This Prime Minister is failing to deliver the integrity he promised and showing hes too weak to turn the page on 13 years of Tory scandal.

Ms Cooper said: Conservative MPs and ministers should be sick to their stomachs seeing this new partygate footage.

While families grieved and NHS staff worked on the front line, Conservative campaign headquarters partied.

Whats worse is the current Prime Minister granted Boris Johnsons request to give some of these people honours.

There are thousands of families out there who deserve an apology for this scandal  Rishi Sunak should give them one immediately.

Following Mr Goves apology, the Lib Dems added: Goves apology is too little too late, it will bring cold comfort to the millions of people who stuck by the rules in the darkest days of the pandemic  Those honours should all be removed, the Government can do that.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of December 14 2020.

Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.
Graduation marks the end of one era and the beginning of a new one.

This bittersweet moment is filled with all kinds of emotions for graduates and their loved ones, ranging from sad goodbyes to happy tears to excitement for what lies ahead.

Whether you're the one walking across the stage to accept a diploma or simply cheering them on in the stands, take a moment to commemorate this milestone with just the right words.

To help you find the perfect message, we've collected an assortment of graduation quotes to honor the grad in your life, whether they're making the leap from middle school to high school or heading out into the great big world after graduating college.

Looking for something inspirational to include in their graduation card or celebratory Instagram caption? Find encouragement in past commencement speeches from some of today's most influential voices including Barack Obama and Viola Davis.

But if you want to balance out the tears with some laughs, go with one of the funny graduation quotes from Robin Williams, Tina Fey and other comedy legends. Or opt for a famous line from popular songs and books.

You know what will be the most meaningful way to your special graduate, so scroll on to find the perfect message.

Short graduation quotes

"Celebrate endings  for they precede new beginnings."  Jonathan Lockwood Huie

"There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart."  Mahatma Gandhi

"The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory."  Les Brown

"A star is a rock that never gave up on its dream to rise."  Matshona Dhliwayo

Success is loving life and daring to live it.  Maya Angelou

"Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead."  Nora Ephron

Through discipline comes freedom.  Aristotle

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.  Robert Collier

What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?  Eleanor Roosevelt

Dont be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.  John D. Rockefeller

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, Im possible!  Audrey Hepburn

Be so good they cant ignore you.  Steve Martin

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.  Neale Donald Walsch

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.  Mark Twain

It always seems impossible until its done.  Nelson Mandela

Success is not the absence of failure; its the persistence through failure.  Aisha Tyler

Accept no ones definition of your life, define yourself.  Harvey Fierstein

Todays accomplishments were yesterdays impossibilities.  Robert H. Schuller

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.  Mahatma Gandhi

Your education has prepared you for what lies ahead.  Conan OBrien, 2020 Harvard commencement

What we learn with pleasure we never forget.  Alfred Mercier

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.  Arthur C. Clarke

Its supposed to be hard. If it wasnt hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.  Jimmy Dugan, A League of Their Own

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Lao Tzu

Believe you can and youre halfway there.  Theodore Roosevelt

Persistence is the most powerful force on earth, it can move mountains.  Albert Einstein

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence.  Helen Keller

Frank Zappa quote

Funny graduation quotes

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."  Albert Einstein

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  Ferris Bueller, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

"I look to the future because that is where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.  George Burns

"Try not to have a good time ... This is supposed to be educational."  Lucy Van Pelt, "Peanuts"

"People don't turn down money. It's what separates us from the animals."  Jerry Seinfeld

"When all else fails, there's always delusion."  Conan O'Brien

"Summer vacation does kind of set up an adulthood of disappointment. That first job, youre like, 'I have to go to work in July? What is this, Russia?'" Jim Gaffigan, "Cinco"

"Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas." Paula Poundstone

"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open."  Frank Zappa

"Do not take life too seriously - you will never get out of it alive."  Elbert Hubbard

"You're only given a little spark of madness, you mustn't lose it."  Robin Williams

You cant be that kid standing at the top of the water slide overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.  Tina Fey

"All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific."  Jane Wagner

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you."  Steven Wright

"Never follow anyone else's path. Unless you're in the woods and you're lost and you see a path; then, by all means, you should follow that path."  Ellen Degeneres

Youre still here? Its over. Go home. Go.  Ferris Bueller, Ferris Buellers Day Off

Arthur C. Clarke quote

Inspirational graduation quotes

All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving towards them.  Viola Davis

"Thats a great motto for all of us  find somebody to be successful for. Raise their hopes. Rise to their needs."  Barack Obama, Arizona State University commencement speech 2009

"Look back on the journey that brought you here. What moments challenged you most? When were you asked to step outside of your familiar territory in order to rise to the occasion of your potential? I want you to remember those moments because they will embolden you."  Kerry Washington, George Washington University commencement speech 2013

"Just because you dont know what you want yet, it doesnt mean that theres nothing to want."  Emily Henry, "The Love That Split the Wind"

"You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation."  Brigham Young

"You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights."  Dr. Seuss, "Oh the Places You'll Go"

Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.  Martin Luther King, March for Integrated Schools

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.  Dr. Seuss, "Happy Birthday to You!"

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Youre on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one wholl decide where to go...  Dr. Seuss, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

"A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward."  Harvey Mackay

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.  Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"

"It is you, the young and fearless at heart, the most diverse and educated generation in our history, who the nation is waiting to follow."  Barack Obama, Selma Anniversary speech 2015

Its opener, out there, in the wide, open air.  Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places Youll Go!

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?  Dr. Seuss

"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.  Malcolm X

Congratulations! Today is your day. Youre off to Great Places! Youre off and away!  Dr. Seuss, "Oh, the Places Youll Go!"

"It is our failure to become of perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique."  Conan O'Brien, 2011 Dartmouth College commencement address

"Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in."  Bill Bradley

"There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed."  Ray Goforth

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."  Walt Disney

"Becoming isnt about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesnt end."  Michelle Obama, "Becoming"

I am a firm believer that you dont achieve greatness on your own. There is always someone there to lend a hand.  Greg Louganis

Natasha Bedingfield quote

Graduation quotes inspired by song lyrics

"Tonight / We are young /So, let's set the world on fire / We can burn brighter than the sun."  Fun, "We Are Young"

"Ill spread my wings and Ill learn how to fly / Ill do what it takes til I touch the sky / And Ill make a wish, take a chance, make a change and breakaway."  Kelly Clarkson, "Breakaway"

"And Ill be gone, gone tonight / The ground beneath my feet is open wide."  One Direction, "Story of My Life'

"You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine / Just own the night, like the Fourth of July."  Katy Perry, "Firework"

"Its something unpredictable, but in the end, its right / I hope you had the time of your life."  Green Day, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

"Aint about how fast I get there / Aint about whats waiting on the other side / Its the climb."  Miley Cyrus, "The Climb"

"I am unwritten / Cant read my mind / Im undefined / Im just beginning / The pens in my hand / Ending unplanned." Natasha Bedingfield, "Unwritten"

"As we go on, we remember / All the times we had together / And as our lives change / Come whatever / We will still be friends forever."  Vitamin C, "Graduation (Friends Forever)

"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance / Never settle for the path of least resistance."  Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance"

Schools out for summer / Schools out forever.  Alice Cooper, Schools Out

Steve Martin graduation quote

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Canadian writer Yann Martel speaks during a press conference at the Embassy of Canada in central Seoul, June 13. A special edition featuring both Martel's debut novel "The Facts behind the Helsinki Roccamatios" and his globally acclaimed work, "Life of Pi" was published in Korea to commemorate the author's visit on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his literary debut and the 60th year of diplomatic ties between Canada and Korea. Yonhap



Critically acclaimed Canadian author expresses concern over politicians who don't read



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Celebrated Canadian writer Yann Martel visited Korea to mark dual milestones  the 60th year of diplomatic ties between Canada and Korea and the 30th anniversary of his own literary debut.



This is Martel's first visit to Korea and he picked the visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as one of the most impactful experiences here as he continues to process his time spent in the country.



"My son and I visited the DMZ and that was a bit of a shock. It is war tourism, a strange mixture of capitalism and tragedy where we literally got to the southern border  the demarcation line  and we can look into North Korea... It's this terrible, terrible scar across the Korean Peninsula that was a shock for me," he said during a press conference at the Canadian Embassy in central Seoul, Tuesday.



Martel was invited by the Canadian Embassy here to visit Korea and participated in the Seoul International Book Fair, seizing the opportunity to engage with his Korean audience.



Honoring the occasion, Jakka Jungsin Publishing in Korea launched a special edition that features both Martel's debut novel, "The Facts behind the Helsinki Roccamatios," and his globally acclaimed work, "Life of Pi." Martel expressed joy over the new release, adding that he is intrigued by the decision to bind his first book  a selection of short stories  with the most renowned work.



"I'm happy that this collection of short stories perhaps gets more interest now. And it's also nice to see a new edition of 'Life of Pi,'" he said.



"Life of Pi" stems from his experiences in India, particularly the open-mindedness and religious cosmopolitanism he encountered.



"While I was traveling through India, I met many people who are more completely open-minded... They tend to be very open to other expressions of the divine. They were just remarkably open and kind towards me," he said.



"There's something about that openness that struck me, that was one of the seeds for 'Life of Pi,' just being in the country."



The 59-year-old author said he finds writing "exhilarating" and it fuels him to keep writing.



"As a human being I'm getting older and hopefully maturing and getting wiser. As a writer, I've been able to get a sharper eye... (and) I'm getting more experimental. As a writer, I've been very successful for 'Life of Pi,' so I'm not really worried anymore about success. I just want to tell the stories that I want to hear, that helped me," Martel said.



"There's nothing more thrilling for me than finding a story idea that works. Because if it doesn't work, it is an anecdote... A good story idea seems extraordinarily rich. So for example, with 'Life of Pi,' this idea of a boy with a wild animal crossing the Pacific is a wonderful metaphor of life."



He hopes people who read his books will navigate life's challenges and find personal salvation.



"Sometimes when I sign books, I say may you reach the coast of Mexico. And I'm not just wishing you a holiday in Mexico, which would be very nice anyway, but it's more this idea that may you survive the crossing of the Pacific of your life and reach some sort of coast of salvation, whatever salvation may mean to you."



Martel reflected on his personal expectations of people holding positions of power and therefore a high level of accountability, especially in a democratic society.



"So whether it's the head of a government or the head of a corporation, I would like to know where they got their ideas from. For example, I would expect them to have some degree of education, some degree of work experience, but also some degree of imaginative experience. One of the best ways to get wise quickly is to read books," he said.



"You also have to be a dreamer. You have to have a vision about where you want your society to go... The more books you read, the more we learn about other people's lives and we start seeing how society is. I'm afraid of prime ministers and presidents who don't read because I figured their dreams can become my nightmares. I want people in power to read so that they have worthwhile dreams or livable dreams."




Amazon (AMZN) officially opened up its second headquarters, called HQ2, in Arlington, Va., on Thursday.

It's been in the making for the better part of a decade when the plan for a second HQ was first made public in 2017  back when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was still the company's CEO.

The opening, though, comes at a time of turmoil for America's second largest company. Amazon has pushed through 27,000 layoffs in its corporate workforce as it negotiates a difficult post-pandemic boom economic period.

The company, which has its first headquarters in Seattle, isn't thinking about HQ2 as an expansion, though, said Amazon Vice President of Economic Development Holly Sullivan. "I would think about HQ2 as us living up to our commitmentsand, today, we delivered on our commitment," she said, adding that HQ2 will fundamentally make Amazon more efficient.

"It improves workflow, especially across time zones, and the ease of doing business is no longer dependent on time zones," she told Yahoo Finance.

The new facility, called Metropolitan Park, features 2.1 million square feet of office space, a 2.5 acre park, and 50,000 square feet of retail space, which will be occupied by local businesses like a dog day care and a taqueria, said Sullivan. The campus includes two 22-story buildings, Jasper and Merlin, that were built to highlight sustainability.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, center, with Holly Sullivan, Vice President of Economic Development at Amazon, center right, cut the ribbon during a grand opening ceremony at Amazon's second headquarters, HQ2, in Arlington, Va., Thursday, June 15, 2023. From right, Christian Dorsey, Chair of the Arlington County Board of Directors, Lieutenant Gov. of Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears, John Schoettler, Vice President of Global Real Estate and Facilities at Amazon, Holly Sullivan, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Brian Huseman, Vice President of Public Policy and Community Engagement at Amazon, and Youngkin's wife Suzanne Youngkin. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Though Thursday marked the official opening, Metropolitan Park has been opening in phases over the last few weeks. Merlin, for instance, has been open for about three weeks, and on Thursday, the company welcomed 3,000 employees to the offices, Sullivan told Yahoo Finance.

HQ2 was conceived in a pre-pandemic world, some time before COVID-19 popularized remote work. In recognition of how working environments have shifted, Amazon in its HQ2 design was "looking to meet the need for increased collaboration space," said Sullivan. The buildings feature a series of central floors and an emphasis on breakout rooms in the planning, she added.

In February, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that employees would be required to return to office at least three days a week, a position he doubled-down on in April. In May, about 2,000 Amazon employees walked off the job citing concerns about "company leaderships decision making," and emphasizing the company's return-to-office and environmental policies.

The company is bringing 8,000 employees in total to HQ2, all of whom are locally hired from the areas surrounding Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

"Hiring is ahead of schedule," said Sullivan.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

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Everyone needs a cellphone, but not everyone needs the same things from a cellphone. Seniors, in particular, need a lifeline to loved ones and emergency services, and maybe a few great apps for health, safety and social media. That said, seniors also need their phone to be uncomplicated, easy to use, and preferably with a large, bright screen. We tasked our AOL research team with finding the best cell phones for seniors based on a straightforward user experience, with a simple interface and options for accessibility features for those with physical challenges, such as eyesight or motor-skill impairments. With those criteria in mind, we've identified six models that tick all the boxes and then some.

Read more: If you're not seeking a senior-specific solution, here's our roundup of the best cellphones, period.

Key Considerations

When purchasing a new phone, its always important to consider your specific needs and which phone will meet those needs. We recommend considering the following:

The top 6 cellphones for seniors in 2023 according to our resident shopping expert.

Cost: As with any basic phone you buy, there's the cost of the phone itself and the cost of service. Thankfully, while the hardware can range from a few hundred dollars to nearly $1,000 (or more!), you can often take advantage of zero-interest financing to make them more affordable. The iPhone SE below, for example, can be paid off over three years for just $5 per month. The Samsung A23 runs about $8.33 per month when financed through Samsung.

Service: Consider whether you really need an unlimited data plan. If you spend most of your time at home, connected to Wi-Fi, then you probably don't. You can get service from whichever carrier offers the best plan to meet your connectivity needs and budget by choosing an unlocked phone. Consumer Cellular, for example, is widely regarded as the "senior-friendly" carrier, with excellent customer service and plans starting at $20 per month. Mint Mobile is another popular option, with plans as low as $15 (amortized) with a prepaid option for a year at a time.

Durability: Although everyday phone durability has improved over the years, with screens that promise to withstand minor bumps and scratches, gravity is not your friend  and a cracked screen is no fun. Whatever phone and carrier you end up with, purchasing a protective case is always a great idea.

Battery life and backup chargers: Speaking of accessories, consider keeping a mobile charger close at hand. Depending on how you use it, your phone's battery life might last a couple of days on a charge or it might expire by dinnertime. If you're near an outlet, you can always plug it in, but a power bank like this one from Anker can help when you're out and about.

Now let's take a look at the best cellphones for seniors.

Lively Best overall phone for seniors Lively Jitterbug Smart3 Smartphone for Seniors Why We Love It Android phones and iPhones can be made senior-friendly, but the Smart3 arrives that way: It's a phone made specifically with seniors in mind. In place of a sea of cryptic icons, it offers a handful of core features (e.g., phone, text messages and email) represented by large buttons that are clearly labeled with a simple menu accessed via a touchscreen. And at the very top is an Urgent Response button for quick access to live caregivers who can assist with everything from rides for minor health issues or immediate response during an emergency. (It can also be set to notify friends and family if that emergency button gets tapped.) The phone itself is quite affordable, and service plans start at just $20 per month. While its not the most capable smartphone available, it is a great option for seniors looking for the basics and added safety measures. $108 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Relatively inexpensive compared to most other smartphones

Easy to use

Offers live support in case of emergency

Cons:

Very basic compared to iPhone and Android phones

Overage fees can add up quickly when not on an unlimited plan

Consumer Cellular Best flip phone for seniors Consumer Cellular Verve Snap Why We Love It For some older adults, a smartphone can seem like a Ferrari: too fast, too complicated. In that case, a simple flip phone might be the best bet, and it's hard to beat Consumer Cellular's Verve Snap. Priced at just $49, it's the cheapest option here by far. It doesn't have apps, of course, and texts are complicated to send with the keypad (remember: no keyboard here). But there's a camera and even support for Bluetooth headsets, in case hands-free calling is preferred. Although a smartphone will be the best option for the more tech-savvy, this is an easy and affordable way to stay connected to loved ones and access emergency services if needed. $69 at Consumer Cellular

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Perfect for non-techy seniors

Least expensive option on our list

Offers a camera and bluetooth connectivity

Cons:

No apps available

No keyboard which can make texting difficult using just the number pad

Samsung Best affordable Android phone Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Why We Love It The A23 5G is Samsung's entry-level Galaxy phone, but it still offers plenty of great features, such as Easy Mode, which helps simplify the interface. Stocked with a hefty battery and fast charging capabilities, along with a high-resolution display and four quality camera lenses, the A23 is a great entry-level choice for young and old. If you love taking snaps of the grandkids or a fun selfie in front of a glorious scenic backdrop, you'll appreciate the robust storage options (up to 1 TB via microSD cards), a feature not found on any iPhone. The 6.6-inch large screen is downright huge, making it perfect for seniors with vision limitations. And because this phone is unlocked for use with all phone carriers, you have the freedom to choose the carrier with the most affordable connectivity options in your area. $300 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Easy Mode offers a user-friendly interface

Long-lasting battery

Loads of storage to hold photos, videos, music and apps

Cons:

Entry-level smartphones will leave tech-savvy seniors wanting more

The camera and video clarity are sub-par compared to other smartphones

Apple Best affordable iPhone Apple iPhone SE 3rd Generation (Verizon) Why We Love It An affordable iPhone? We know, it sounds too good to be true,but you can snag this beauty for just $5 per month (for 36 months at 0% interest). Even though this is Apple's baseline model, it still packs plenty of power, a bright display and has excellent cameras. It also has a physical Home button, something tech-challenged seniors will appreciate. Take note, however, that the screen is on the smaller side, at 4.7 inches, so if you have vision limitations, this may not be the phone for you. That said, if you are looking for a smartphone that fits easily in your pocket, this is a great option compared to larger, bulkier mobile phones. If you are looking for a compact smartphone, with a great camera, and plenty of apps to choose from, Apples iPhone SE 3rd Generation is a great option for an affordable iPhone? Sounds unlikely, but you can pay just $5 per month (for 36 months at 0% interest) to get Apple's baseline model, which packs plenty of power, a bright display and has excellent cameras. It also has a physical Home button, something tech-challenged seniors might appreciate. Take note, however, that the screen is on the smaller side, at 4.7 inches. Some actually prefer that because the phone fits more easily in a pocket, but it can be harder on the eyes. In any case, you'll need a Verizon service plan as well (starting at $30/month), though Walmart also offers the iPhone SE through AT&T. $180 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Very inexpensive compared to many other iPhone models

The physical home button offers user-friendly navigation

Compact size is easier to hold and slip into a pocket

Cons:

4.7 display may not be a good fit for vision-impaired

Camera lacks a night mode

Apple Best big-screen iPhone Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max (Verizon) Why We Love It This is Apple's latest iPhone release, and offers a super-spacious 6.7-inch screen making - that's a full 2 inches larger than the iPhone SE's screen. The large screen means icons are easier to identify, text is easier to read and videos of the grandkids are just, well, bigger and more fun to watch. The 14 Pro Max takes dazzling photos and videos as well. We also love that iPhone paired with the Apple Watch supports fall and crash detection for extra security and peace of mind for loved ones. Even though it comes with a hefty price tag, you can finance the phone for around $29 per month (for 36 months) with no interest when signing up for a service plan with Verizon or AT&T. (This link will lead you to Verizon, but Walmart offers the same model, with the same pricing, on AT&T.)This is Apple's flagship iPhone, and it's here for one main reason: the super-spacious 6.7-inch screen. That's a full 2 inches larger than the iPhone SE's screen, and trust me when I say bigger is better. Icons are easier to identify, text is easier to read and YouTube videos are just, well, bigger. The 14 Pro Max takes dazzling telephoto and close-up photos as well, great for birders and grandchildren-watchers. You can finance this phone for around $29 per month (for 36 months) with no interest, though remember that you'll need a service plan as well. (This link will lead you to Verizon, but Walmart offers the same model, with the same pricing, on AT&T.) $1,049 at Walmart

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Huge screen

Fantastic camera and battery life

Pairs with Apple watch, for fall and crash detection for extra security.

Cons:

Most expensive phone on our list

The phone is large and can be bulky to hold when you make calls and carry it around

GrandPad Best smartphone that's also a tablet GrandPad Tablet for Seniors Why We Love It It may seem odd to include a tablet in this roundup, but the GrandPad is part phone and part tablet, offering the best of both worlds This means it can be used for email, phone calls and hands-free Zoom video calls with distant relatives. Even though it does work just like a phone, it's not something you would hold to your ear to talk. The GrandPad, offered by Consumer Cellular, is designed to be used exclusively on speakerphone, making it a perfect option for those with arthritis who struggle with holding the phone, or those with vision impairments that need a larger screen display. In addition, there's baked-in live customer support that's available 24/7, which helps justify the somewhat pricey service plan. See below for my complete GrandPad review. It includes 4G LTE service with its monthly subscription plan ($59). It includes 4G LTE service with its monthly subscription plan ($59). $398 at Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Combination tablet and phone

Designed specifically for seniors

24/7 support

Cons:

Does not offer access to Google Play App store

Does not support ebooks that so many read on tablets

Read more: GrandPad review: A grand tablet for grandparents

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Android, iPhone or something else best for seniors?

Although the Android-versus-iPhone debate has been raging for years, the truth is that neither operating system is especially senior-friendly. One exception: Samsung's Galaxy A23 offers something called Easy Mode. When activated, the functionality makes the user interface (text, icons, onscreen keyboard, etc.) larger and simplifies the home screen. The iPhone can do the same, but it takes a little finagling with the settings to get there.

Is iPhone or Android More User-Friendly?

The Android operating system on the whole  navigation, settings, etc.  can be a little complicated. Overall, I find iPhones a bit easier to learn and use, and they offer an unrivaled selection of accessibility features and assistive technology. For example, users who suffer from low vision can enable "Speak Screen," which verbalizes the contents of whatever's currently showing. Those with hearing impairments can toggle the rear LED (normally used by the camera) to flash repeatedly when a call, text or other alert comes in. A triple-click of the side button can activate a camera-powered magnifier, and so on.

Can a Smartphone Work Like A Life Alert System?

Newer iPhones also offer safety features similar to medical alert systems like crash detection and, when paired with a newer Apple Watch, fall detection. In the unfortunate event of a driving incident or a tumble, the devices are designed to alert designated family members and even contact on-call emergency services. (Worth noting: Google Pixel phones offer crash detection as well, and fall detection is coming to Google's Pixel Watch.)
President Joe Biden spoke before an audience of union members in Philadelphia Saturday in what was his first rally since he declared his bid for a second term and comes as his campaign engagements ramp up.

Biden begins his 2024 campaign in the same way he kicked off his run in 2020: in front of Pennsylvania laborers.

"I am a union man, period," Biden said at a union hall in Pittsburgh during his first rally in 2019.

And just as he did then, Biden is accompanying the rally with a roll out of union endorsements. The AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 national and international labor groups -- including the national teachers and government workers unions -- endorsed Biden on the eve of the rally. The federation, which represents 12.5 million workers, is hosting the rally.

"The President and Vice President are humbled to have earned this historic groundswell of support nearly 17 months before the 2024 election," Julia Chavez Rodriguez, Bidens campaign manager, said in a statement.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (L) meet with labor union leaders in the Oval Office of the White House on February 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images, FILE)

Upon arriving in Philadelphia on Saturday, Biden received a helicopter tour of the collapsed portion of I-95 in Philadelphia and said "there's no more important project right now in the country" than rebuilding the highway.

The president said he's directed his team to "literally move heaven and earth" to get the rebuilding done as soon as possible and pledged federal assistance.

"The federal government got committed, we're going to reimburse 100% this phase of the work, and well over the first 200 days, and then after that, 90% of the work," the president said. "We'll be here until the end. We won't leave until it's finished."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at the Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, on June 17, 2023, after an aerial tour of the Interstate 95 highway collapse. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Biden leaned on labor groups in his run for the White House in 2020, earning back some Rust Belt blue-collar support Democrats lost in 2016 -- and these groups are prepared to use their vast political networks to turn out voters for the president once again.

Pennsylvania, the state Biden was born in, has not only played a significant role in the presidents political career, but also in national politics. Since 1920, candidates who won Pennsylvania were elected president 81% of the time, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

"If Im gonna be able to beat Donald Trump in 2020, its gonna happen here," Biden said, launching his last campaign. Pennsylvania would later carry Biden across the finish line.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden talks about his proposed FY2024 federal budget during an event at the Finishing Trades Institute on March 9, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE)

Bidens reelection campaigns activity has been slow since the president announced his decision nearly two months ago -- though the announcements timing was on par with the reelection campaign announcements of former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

But in recent days, the campaign has kicked into another gear. The president attended a fundraiser in Connecticut on Friday, with receptions in Maryland and California scheduled later in the month, while first lady Jill Biden had a fundraising swing through New York and California earlier this week. Biden also addressed environmental groups Wednesday and accepted their endorsement.

MORE: Low-key campaign launch fits Biden strategy for chaotic political era: ANALYSIS

The campaign trail is bound to be more demanding than last time. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the Biden campaign to go virtual for much of 2020, with socially-distanced events in the final weeks of the race.

Biden, who would be 86 years old at the end of a second term, acknowledged in a February interview with ABC News David Muir that concerns about his age are "legitimate," though he said it was not a consideration for him. Two months later, on the day after his reelection campaign launched, however, the president said his age was a factor in his decision-making.

"I respect them taking a hard look at it," Biden said in April. "Id take a hard look at it as well. I took a hard look at it before I decided to run."

Biden instead wants voters to focus on the work hes done, centering his campaign on what he sees as his accomplishments and behind a message that Americans should give him four more years to "finish the job."

ABC News Amanda Maile contributed to this report.

Biden kicks off 1st reelection campaign rally after rolling out major union endorsements originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The death toll from the June 6 collapse of the Kakhovka Dam is up to 45 people, 29 of them in Russian-occupied territory and 16 in areas held by Ukraine.

In some of the southern Ukraine provinces downstream from the dam, water contamination is becoming an increasingly dire problem following the massive flooding that has devastated dozens of towns along the lower Dnieper River and led to an ecological catastrophe, threatening crops and killing millions of fish.

And the evidence increasingly points to an explosion set off by Russia as the cause.

A New York Times report Sunday said the Russians knew the weak spot in the Soviet-era dam, a passageway that ran through the concrete block at its base, and most likely detonated explosives there to create the breach.

The evidence clearly suggests the dam was crippled by an explosion set off by the side that controls it: Russia, said the Times, which cited engineers in reaching its conclusion and also said the American government subscribes to that theory.

Also Sunday, The Associated Press wrote that based on information and drone photos it obtained, "Russia had the means, motive, and opportunity to bring down" the dam.

Earlier in the weekend, a group of international legal experts helping Ukrainian authorities investigate the disaster said it was "highly likely'' the Russians blew up the dam, Reuters reported. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has also determined the Russians probably were behind the explosion.

Ukrainian officials have blamed the invading forces all along for the attack, suggesting it was orchestrated to slow down Ukraines counteroffensive. The Kremlin has said Ukrainian shelling caused the dam to fail.

June 17, 2023 : A Ukrainian soldier lies on the ground as a tank fires toward Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine.

Developments:

 Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in Kherson province, according to Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in Odesa province.

 Ukraine recaptured the village of Piatykhatky in Zaporizhzhia province, said Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in that partially occupied region.

 The delegation of African leaders who met with the heads of the warring parties Friday and Saturday did not report any progress toward their goal of mediating peace talks.

Heavy casualties on both sides early in counterattack

The first 10 days or so of the counteroffensive have yielded small gains for Ukraine and some effective defensive operations by Russia, both coming at a high cost in casualties, with the Russian losses likely the highest since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, the British Defense Ministry said in its latest war assessment.

The update also said much of the heavy fighting has been concentrated in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, the western part of the neighboring Donetsk province and the areas around Bakhmut in that region.

Ukrainian officials said three civilians were killed and eight wounded in the previous day by Russian strikes in Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces.

The countrys military said Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers in the last 24 hours. According to a statement by the Ukraine's General Staff, Russias offensive operations remained focused on the industrial east, and there have been 26 combat clashes around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in Donetsk province.

Russian attack a possibility, report from Swedish parliament warns

At a time when Sweden's application to join NATO is being held up, a report by a Swedish parliament defense committee says a military attack from Russia can't be ruled out, according to Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

The report, which SVT says it has seen before Monday's release, urges Swedish leaders to prepare for such an eventuality, saying Russia remains capable of launching an assault despite all the resources it has committed to the war in Ukraine.

"Russia has further lowered its threshold for the use of military force and exhibits a high political and military risk appetite,'' the security analysis says, according to SVT. "Russia's ability to carry out operations with air forces, naval forces, long-range weapons or nuclear weapons against Sweden remains intact. Russia also has the ability to operate with special forces.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their decades-long policy of nonalignment and pursue entry into NATO together. Finland was granted membership on April 4, but its fellow Nordic country has yet to gain the approval of Turkey and Hungary  unanimity is required  because of disagreements regarding Sweden's handling of what Turkey regards as terrorist groups. Hungary has mainly remained in lockstep with Turkey.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Growing evidence Russia blew up Kakhovka Dam
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Binance have reached an agreement in court that lets the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange continue to operate in the United States as it battles SEC fraud charges.

Under a consent order filed Saturday, the defendants in the June 5 lawsuit agreed to repatriate all assets held for the benefit of Binance's U.S. trading customers.

The SEC alleges Binance broke U.S. law by operating as an unregistered securities exchange. It filed similar charges against the world's other top cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase, nearly simultaneously.

But Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, face additional charges of diverting customer funds - concealing the fact that it was commingling billions of dollars in investor assets and sending them to a third party that Zhao also owned.

As a result, the SEC asked that the assets of Binance's U.S. platform be frozen.

The order signed by Washington, D.C. federal judge Amy Berman Jackson prevents the defendants from spending corporate assets other than for ordinary business expenses. It also requires SEC oversight on any spending and prohibits the defendants from destroying records, the agency said in a statement.

The consent order obliges Binance to create new digital wallets for U.S. customers and transfer assets to them within two weeks.

The cryptocurrency industry has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Industry leaders say the SEC crackdown signals that U.S. regulators believe cryptocurrency has no room in the traditional financial system.

In August 2021, SEC chair Gary Gensler said investors weren't adequately protected in crypto markets, calling them more like the  Wild West. 

The collapse of crypto prices last year as well as the demise of several notable crypto companies  including FTX  exposed investors to billions of dollars in losses.
Lexie Moreland - Getty Images

Cate Blanchett has made another stylish statement for sustainability in red-carpet dressing.

On Thursday night, the Oscar-winning actress attended the Fragrance Foundation awards in New York City, where she re-wore the plunging black Armani Prive gown for the fourth time. While the gown has always included intricate detailing, her recent iteration of the shimmering, upcycled piece adds some surprising color.

In addition to the black sequined bodicewhich features a plunging halter neckline with chest panels, an A-line skirt, and side cutoutsthe Tar actress replaced the gown's previous lace underlay with sheer mesh fabric, which was covered in a black diamond pattern and embroidered with multi-colored beads in an art-deco starburst pattern. She completed the ensemble with black heels and minimalistic jewelry, including Louis Vuitton earrings, while wearing her blonde lob in beachy waves paired with lovely peach blush.

Lexie Moreland - Getty Images

The actress last wore the custom Prive gown to the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards last month, styling the sequined bodice with a minimalistic lace underlay that rose to her neck and covered her shoulders. Per Blanchett's stylist Elizabeth Stewart, the lace was repurposed from the original all-lace Armani gown the star wore to the 2014 Golden Globes and to a 2018 Cannes premiere.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

Jeff Vespa - Getty Images

The actress previously discussed her tendency to re-wear red-carpet looks in a Business of Fashion interview, saying that she re-wear garments to both promote sustainability and defy the unspoken rules of red-carpet fashionone of them being to never step out in a look youve been photographed in before.

It should be completely unremarkable, the idea of re-wearing (clothes), because we do it in our daily lives. We do it out of habit, we do it out of choice, we do it out of necessity, she said. I think that theres a lot of people like me who are tired of the churn. But who also want to keep the industry healthy in all its dimensions. Theres a chance here to redefine the notion of luxury. I think that its bringing back the cherished love aspect of it.

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The Formula 1 (FWONK) season is in full swing with round 9 of the championship, the Grand Prix of Canada, on tap for this weekend.

Though Red Bulls Max Verstappen appears to be walking away with the drivers championship, for the constructors'  or team  championship, many of the outfits are still battling to establish the pecking order. For you see in F1, the more competitive the team is, the more prize money they get.

McLaren Racing, one of the legendary teams up there in F1 lore like Ferrari and Williams, is celebrating its 60th year as an F1 constructor. CEO Zak Brown, a long-time vet of the racing scene both in F1 and other series, is slowly trying to bring the team back after a recent lull in its history.

For Brown, F1s popularity, and his own teams success, depends on a strong US  one that many automakers involved in F1, and McLarens own road car business, depends on for a majority of sales.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown speaks during a news conference in advance of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

"I think it's early days, which is amazing," Brown says of Formula 1s US appeal, which started around the time Netflixs Drive to Survive series started five years ago. "A lot of people are saying, 'How long do you think it will continue?' And my answer is, 'I think we're actually just getting started, right?' We haven't even had Las Vegas yet."

The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix is coming this year, under the lights, in mid-November. This follows F1s return to the US with a semi-permanent race in Austin, and two races in Miami which began last year. Brown notes F1s success has led to a new TV contract in the US with ESPN, with ratings still relatively strong.

This of course has led to blue-chip US companies like Oracle, Chipotle, Workday, and AutoNation joining the sponsorship ranks.

Brown, who cut his teeth bringing in sponsors for various race teams he worked for after his career as a racer, has seen McLaren boost its sponsorship numbers tremendously since he took the reins a few years back. And the big names appear here to stay.

MONTMELO, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren drives on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

"The Googles, the Goldman Sachses, the Coca-Colas  these are unbelievable companies that are now entering the sport and seeing how big and powerful our sport is," he said. Alphabets Google and Goldman joined McLaren last year as official sponsors, with Coke joining two years ago.

From McLarens end, even a somewhat uneven global macro environment hasnt dissuaded corporate sponsorship.

"Not yet, and I keep saying not yet because I'm waiting for it to come," Brown joked. "I think the sport is doing so well, that the good stuff in life seems to be  I don't want to say a recession proof because I don't want to jinx it  but we're not seeing it. Our numbers are up. We're a profitable Formula 1 team for the first time in about 10 years."

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 16: A crowd enjoys the atmosphere at the fan stage prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 16, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

One of the big reasons why US sponsors are excited is, as mentioned above, the third race coming to the US  and thats Vegas. And with the checkered flag dropping on a Saturday night (a first for F1 that usually races on Sunday), its going got be all eyes on the Strip.

"I think it's going to be probably the largest global sporting event in the world this year, I can't think of something that's going to be bigger," Brown said. "The excitement is going to be off the charts, and I can't wait to see everyone who shows up - it's going to be the celebrities, the athletes, the CEOs, and, of course, hundreds of thousands of fans."

Case in point  if you want to get tickets for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, you are out of luck  its sold out. The only tickets available are standing room, and special VIP packages that cost thousands of dollars.



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Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is pushing for the African Union to be made a permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) ahead of the summit in Delhi later this year, as the country moves to position itself as a leader of the developing world.

Mr Modi has reportedly written to all members of the G20, which consists of the worlds 19 biggest economies as well as the European Union, to give the 55-member African Union full and permanent membership.

An unnamed Indian official told Reuters news agency that the move is aimed at enhancing Africas voice on the international stage and in shaping the future of our shared world.

This will be a right step towards a just, fair, more inclusive and representative global architecture and governance, the source said.

(The) prime minister is a strong believer in having a greater voice of the Global South countries on international platforms, particularly of African countries.

The official said Mr Modi is focused on incorporating the priorities of the African countries into the G20s agenda, according to Indian media reports.

India, which is the host of this years summit on 9-10 September, has been showing an increased interest in Africa in recent years with cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic and a variety of development partnerships.

The country has also been striving to emerge as a voice for the developing world as it seeks to put the focus on tackling the economic fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rather than taking issue with and alienating the Russian government as was the case with the G7 summit in Japan this year.

The G20 consists of 19 countries and the European Union, representing approximately 85 per cent of global GDP, over 75 per cent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the worlds population.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the 55 nations of the African Union have a combined annual GDP of about $2.99 trillion  that would place it above France ($2.92 trillion) and below the UK ($3.16 trillion) if it were a country. The EU has a GDP of $17.82 trillion.

India has invited three African countries to attend the G20 as part of its list of non-member guest nations  Egypt, Mauritius and Nigeria. Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, the Netherlands, Oman and the UAE complete the list of guest attendees this year.

International organisations like the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and the IMF are also involved.

The Africa Unions inclusion in the G20 would significantly boost the blocs global coverage by population, as it is home to 17 per cent of the worlds people.
By Edward McAllister and David Lewis

DAKAR/NAIROBI (Reuters) - Mali's demand for the departure of U.N. peacekeepers heralded a sudden end to a decade-long mission that has struggled to protect civilians and its own troops, raising fears the country could slide deeper into chaos amid an Islamist insurgency and the possible revival of a separatist uprising.

The U.N. mission, known as MINUSMA, has been hobbled by restrictions on its air and ground operations since Mali's ruling junta joined forces with Russian military contractor Wagner Group in 2021, limiting its effectiveness against an Islamist insurgency that took root a decade ago and has since spread across West Africa.

Despite the restrictions, MINUSMA's 13,000-strong force has held the line in northern cities including Gao and Timbuktu that are surrounded by militants. It patrols camps for displaced people, which come under frequent attack, and provides medical evacuations for Mali's under-equipped army.

And it has also helped to placate Tuareg-led rebels in northern Mali who halted their separatist uprising with the 2015 Algiers Accord.

It is unclear how quickly U.N. troops could leave following Mali's unexpected request on Friday. But, when they do, Bamako will be alone with about 1,000 Wagner soldiers to battle the militants linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda, who have killed thousands of civilians and soldiers and control large swathes of the country's desert north and centre.

"If you leave, you have anarchy and civil war, especially against civilians and the weak," Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, a former Mauritanian foreign minister who served as a top U.N. official in West Africa and now runs a regional think-tank, said on Friday. "If you stay, you are almost discredited."

A spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), the Tuareg-led rebel alliance, said that any UN withdrawal was premature because the peace deal had not been fully implemented and would threaten stability across the Sahel region. He said, however, the CMA had not yet reached an official position.

Relations between the U.N. and Mali's junta, which consolidated power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, have frayed for years. Bamako wanted MINUSMA to become a more active fighting force to counter the Islamist threat, which the U.N. said was not part of its mission. U.N. officials, meanwhile, pushed for greater freedoms to protect civilians and investigate rights abuses by militants, the army and, more recently, Wagner.

Ties reached breaking point last month when U.N investigators released a report accusing the army and "armed white men" of massacring 500 people in the town of Moura in March 2022. Mali, Russia and Wagner deny wrongdoing in Moura or targeting civilians anywhere in Mali.

The U.N. has repeatedly said that the constraints imposed by the junta have stopped it from fulfilling its mission. Mali frequently denied or delayed permission for MINUSMA to move in combat zones, it said, making it less able to respond to civilians under attack or swiftly probe abuses.

Mali's government and army did not respond to requests for comment.

Frustrated by the restrictions, Western and African diplomats called for change this year. However, following a review of the mission in January, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week rejected a proposal for a surge of up to 3,600 more troops, which Mali's African neighbours had pushed for, as well as an alternative proposal that would have shrunk MINUSMA to a political mission in Bamako.

Instead, he proposed extending the mandate for the force with only a few tweaks, including closing some small northern bases.

On June 14, the Malian government issued a statement rejecting all the proposals. Then on Friday, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told a U.N. security council meeting that there had been "a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA" and the force should leave "right away".

The 15-member U.N. Security Council was scheduled to renew MINUSMA's mandate before the current one expires on June 30. Reuters could not immediately determine whether the council - where Russia has a veto as one of the 5 permanent members - will now vote for a renewal, or how long it would take to conclude an orderly withdrawal of the mission if there was no extension.

On Friday, in response to Mali's announcement, MINUSMA's head El-Ghassim Wane told reporters that peacekeepers can only operate with consent from the host country: without that, the mission is "impossible," he said.

MINUSMA spokesperson Fatoumata Sinkoun Kaba declined to comment on the logistics of any withdrawal and said the mission would follow Security Council mandates.

RESTRICTIONS

MINUSMA launched in 2013 after the separatist rebels and al Qaeda-linked insurgents occupied northern Mali. French troops forced the militants to retreat but they bounced back. More than 170 peacekeepers have died in fighting, making MINUSMA the U.N.'s deadliest combat mission.

Violence has spread into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, creating one of the world's fastest-growing humanitarian crises.

Mali's junta promised stability when it snatched power; it took an anti-French stance and deepened ties with Russia. By the end of 2021, Wagner had deployed.

Within weeks, Mali imposed the flight restrictions. Reuters was unable to determine whether the move was linked to Wagners presence. It mirrors past U.N. flight restrictions in Central African Republic, where Wagner also operates.

Bamako and the Kremlin say Russian troops, not Wagner mercenaries, are present in Mali but only to train the army and supply equipment.

Mali's army spokesman, Colonel Souleymane Dembele, told Reuters this year that restrictions on MINUSMA were retaliation for a no-fly zone imposed by French forces last year. Paris denies this.

By mid-2022, restrictions prevented the U.N. from operating unscheduled flights over 70,000 square kilometres of Mali, according to an internal U.N. report from the middle of last year reviewed by Reuters. Nearly 500 U.N. flight requests - one in four - have been denied this year, according to Security Council figures.

"MINUSMA is another peacekeeping lame duck. The mission couldn't fulfil the expectations of the population," said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation.

Frustrated, countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden, which provided some of the best trained soldiers, have announced troop withdrawals amounting to more than 20 percent of the mission. France, which had a separate task force in Mali, withdrew its remaining 2,400 troops in 2022, including the air support it gave the U.N.

The majority of MINUSMA's remaining soldiers are supplied by African nations.

Three of four units of MINUSMA's elite mobile task force are not operational, the Security Council said in a March 30 report. In July, Egypt suspended its MINUSMA activities because of attacks on its troops. For nearly a year, its 1,072 soldiers have been stuck in base.

A document prepared in April by the U.N. Department of Peace Operations detailed a string of units - from armed helicopters and airfield support to infantry and intelligence - that MINUSMA lacked.

HEART AND MINDS

MINUSMA still plays a significant role in Mali. Its $1 billion budget has created thousands of jobs and provided local support by erecting streets lights or police stations in a country whose economy has been crippled by coup-related sanctions imposed by its neighbours.

It helped organise a constitutional referendum on Sunday meant to pave the way to presidential elections next year.

Crucially, it has coordinated peace talks between rival armed groups in the north, the U.N. and security officials said.

A senior U.N. official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Tuareg leaders had indicated that the withdrawal of the UN mission could lead to the collapse of the Algiers Accord, which marked the official end of a four-year armed uprising that seized large parts of northern Mali - with repercussions felt across the region.

Ould Mohamed Ramdane, spokesperson for CMA rebel alliance, said that in addition to its role in ongoing talks, MINUSMA had brought "calm and security" to areas where it was deployed and had dispensed a lot of humanitarian aid in northern Mali.

"We all think that its withdrawal will have a major impact on the northern localities but also on stability throughout the Sahel," Ramdane said.

"The threat of resumption of violence with the former separatists is looming again," said Yvan Guichaoua, senior lecturer at the Brussels school of international studies, referring to the fallout from MINUSMAs expected departure. In addition to the loss of its security forces, the withdrawal of U.N. investigative teams would increase the risk of impunity for human rights abuses during the conflict, he said.

Attacks on civilians surged in the year after Wagner arrived. At least 750 were killed during joint operations carried out by Wagner and Mali's military during that period, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a U.S.-based research group. Sixty civilians died in military operations in the year before Wagner came.

Restrictions in MINUSMA's movements have meant the mission has become more and more focused in recent years on protecting itself. A U.S. official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said 90% of troop operations are focused on securing its own bases and defending peacekeepers.

As a result, MINUSMA has struggled to counter a tide of anti-U.N. posts online, losing the battle for public opinion in Mali. In a recent survey of nearly 2,300 Malians conducted by German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 72% blamed MINUSMA for not protecting civilians.

Over 90% said they had confidence in Russia to support Mali in the fight against Islamists.

(Reporting by Edward McAllister in Dakar and David Lewis in Nairobi; Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrives in Beijing on Sunday. (Leah Millis / Associated Press)

After months of acrimony, accusations of espionage and warnings against meddling in each others domestic affairs, the U.S. and China this week will attempt to find a way to reopen talks on divisive issues including nuclear warfare, climate change and fentanyl.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Beijing on Sunday in the first such high-level contact in China in five years, a potentially momentous diplomatic action that is likely to be only an initial step.

Blinken is making a trip that was scrubbed in early February after the Biden administration detected  and ultimately shot down  what it described as a Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. territory.

Virtually all contact between the worlds two largest economies slammed shut over the incident, with relations sinking to their lowest level in recent memory.

Tensions were already fraught over a visit in August to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). China claims the self-ruled island as its own and is furious when senior U.S. officials appear to give it sovereign recognition.

Now, the Biden administration has decided the time is finally right to launch what would be a long and bumpy journey to rapprochement.

What were working to do on this trip is  to establish sustained, regular lines of communication at senior levels  because if we want to make sure that the competition that we have with China doesnt veer into



conflict, the place you start is with communicating, Blinken said Friday in Washington before departing for Beijing.

He said he would seek potential areas of agreement or cooperation, but the more likely outcome is the two nations seeking ways to manage differences.

Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict, Blinken said. That is what the world expects of both the United States and China.

As both he and Chinese diplomats downplayed expectations, the two global powers seem to be far apart on most substantive issues. Yet their economies are



intertwined, making complete rupture next to impossible.

In addition to the conflict over Taiwan, the U.S. maintains punitive trade tariffs on key Chinese exports and is demanding cooperation on control of Chinese production and marketing of the deadly drug fentanyl.

The Biden administration also wants China to back away from support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, and is alarmed by the diplomatic and economic inroads China is making around the world, especially in Africa and Latin America, where purported Chinese espionage installations in Cuba spying on the U.S. grabbed headlines this month.

Blinken said his two-day mission to Beijing is an important but, in a sense, insufficient step because theres a lot of work to be done.

Days before the trip, Blinken called his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, to inform him he expected to conduct what the State Department called direct and candid conversations about issues that include human rights and Beijings detention of U.S. citizens.

Qin warned Blinken against interfering in Beijings domestic affairs, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which added in a statement that the U.S. should respect Chinas core concerns such as Taiwan.

Part of the Chinese anger comes from an expectation officials there had after President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia, last fall  that Washington would become less critical of Beijings policies and actions. Instead, tensions deepened, especially over Chinese military activities in the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese are coming ready to play hardball, said Carla Freeman, a China expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. They are very cynical about any major takeaways from meeting with Blinken.

Chinese state media have adopted a contentious tone before Blinkens arrival, signaling that the country is not anticipating any dramatic reversal in U.S.-China relations.

Our position is firm: Its impossible to claim a desire for dialogue while simultaneously suppressing and restraining China, a state-backed social media account associated with China Central Television said.

At best, the Blinken intervention could clear the way for other senior Biden administration officials such as Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and John F. Kerry, presidential envoy for climate, to visit Beijing for talks on their respective portfolios. It is less likely, however, that military-to-military engagement will normalize because Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin IIIs counterpart, Gen. Li Shangfu, remains blacklisted by the U.S. over purchases of Russian-made weapons in 2018.

Neither side would say whether Blinken and Xi would meet.

It doesnt mean theyre going to go back to the good old days, but I think the key word is stabilize, said Henry Huiyao Wang, founder of the nongovernmental Center for China and Globalization in Beijing. I think there is wishful thinking on both sides, but theres also reality.

For China, the most crucial issue is Taiwan, whose sovereignty quickly became the most sensitive geopolitical matter in the U.S.-China relationship after Xi began calling more forcefully for eventual unification and deploying more military excursions in the Taiwan Strait.

In the shadow of Russias war on Ukraine, Biden has said on several occasions that the U.S. would offer military aid to Taiwan if China attacked, though the White House followed up to underscore that the official U.S. policy had not changed. Still, China has accused the U.S. of undermining its One China policy, which acknowledges Beijings stance that Taiwan is a part of China but stops short of endorsing it.

Such ambiguity has helped preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait for decades, but the delicate balance has grown tenuous, highlighted by several recent near misses between U.S. and Chinese military ships and fighter jets around Taiwan.

China will be treating Taiwan as a bottom line, hardcore issue and may be implying [that] on this issue we cannot have any compromise, said Alfred Wu, associate professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

The Biden administration has also sought to counter the inroads China has made in many parts of the world, including in the Western Hemisphere, through its multitrillion-



dollar, 10-year-old Belt and Road infrastructure project.

We have strengthened Americas ability to out-compete China, said Kurt Campbell, U.S. presidential coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, by building the U.S. economy, better protecting U.S. technology and  critically  by deepening our relationships with allies and partners around the world.

But the U.S. is playing catch-up. Just in recent weeks, China flexed its influence over a traditionally Russian sphere in Central Asia by gathering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in a summit. And Blinkens arrival in Beijing was preceded by the visits of the presidents of Honduras and the Palestinian Authority.

Beijing condemns what it sees as U.S. attempts to contain Chinas rise. Aside from its frustration over U.S. moves to strengthen ties with Taiwan, China has criticized a defense pact the U.S. formed with the United Kingdom and Australia, known as AUKUS, as well as informal collaboration with the Quad, which comprises the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.

Beijing has also bristled at the growing list of Chinese companies subject to a trade blacklist over the use of American technology. Initiatives to prevent Chinese companies from gaining access to sensitive U.S. technology exports have hindered Chinas attempts to achieve self-sufficiency in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Without agreement on the fundamental ordering of their places in the world, there is temptation to turn every aspect of their relationships into a battleground for performative one-upmanship, said Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National Universitys Taiwan Studies Program.

As much as the Biden administration is emphasizing its shoring up of alliances to counterbalance China, this is happening in a shifting world order. It is no longer simply West versus East; it is not a complete or exclusive relationship. Numerous countries in the region do not want to be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing but prefer to work with both, depending on their own interests, analysts say.

That message was delivered publicly to Blinken hours before his flight to Beijing, when he held a news conference in Washington with the visiting foreign minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan.

As the world transits into a multipolar world, now more than ever we need a rules-based, multilateral system with institutions and processes fit for purpose, updated where necessary, Balakrishnan said. This requires the United States and China to achieve a modus vivendi.

This is a very important and critical moment, he added, not just for the United States and China but, indeed, for the rest of the world, [which] will be watching.

Wilkinson reported from Washington and Yang from Taipei. Special correspondent David Shen in Taipei contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Government officials and lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party hold a policy consultation meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap



The government and the People Power Party (PPP) agreed Sunday to expand the inspection of radioactivity levels in the ocean, in response to heightened public concern over the planned release of contaminated water from Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.



The agreement was reached during a policy consultation meeting between the PPP and top government officials. The nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, is scheduled to release the water into the ocean starting this summer.



According to the agreement, the number of testing sites for seawater will be increased from the current 92 places to 200.



Also, the concentration levels of cesium and tritium, a radioisotope of hydrogen, will be tested every other week, compared with the current frequency of once every one to three months.



Both sides also pledged their support for the marine product industry, which has been adversely affected by the reduced consumption of seafood.



"The government and the ruling party will actively respond after reaching a consensus that various allegations circulating recklessly will severely threaten the livelihood of our fishermen," Rep. Yoo Sang-bum, a PPP spokesperson, told reporters following the meeting.



The Seoul government launched a daily press briefing Thursday to keep the public updated on the planned release in response to heightened public concern, as the nuclear power plant began the trial operation of its discharge facility. (Yonhap)




SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration has proposed an end to public disclosure of investigations of abusive and corrupt police officers, handing the responsibility instead to local agencies in an effort to help cover an estimated $31.5 billion budget deficit.

The proposal, part of the governor's budget package that he is still negotiating with the Legislature, has prompted strong criticism from a coalition of criminal justice and press freedom groups, which spent years pushing for the disclosure rules that were part of a landmark law Newsom signed in 2021.

The law allows the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to investigate and decertify police officers for misconduct, such as use of excessive force, sexual assault and dishonesty. It requires the commission to make public the records of decertification cases.

The Newsom administration now wants to get rid of that transparency element. The commission says the public could still get the records from police departments. But advocates say local police departments often resist releasing that information.

A number of states with a police decertification process, including Republican-led ones such as Tennessee and Georgia, require state agencies to divulge records of police misconduct.

In Tennessee, records made available through the requirement provided a slew of new details on police officers actions when they brutally beat Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop earlier this year. Those details, released by the state police certification commission, were not previously made public by the local police department.

Its a slap in the face to the family members who have had their loved ones stolen from them that ... a key provision of the decertification process is not being honored, J Vasquez, of social justice group Communities United For Restorative Justice, said at a news conference last week.

Removing the transparency element from the 2021 law would continue eroding public trust, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker said. The city, 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of San Francisco, was shaken after a federal investigation found more than half of the officers in the Antioch police force were in a group text where some officers freely used racial slurs and bragged about fabricating evidence and beating suspects.

To say, go to the very people who commit the crimes against your community and ask them to reveal themselves to you so that you can hold them accountable, I dont think thats a fair process, Torres-Walker said.

The coalition of more than 20 groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, also accused the Democratic governor of abusing the budget process to push through his proposal introduced in April.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, director of government affairs for ACLU California Action, said Newsom's proposal should have gone through the traditional legislative process, instead of being put into the budget.

Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford, who authored the 2021 landmark bill, declined to comment on the proposed change.

The governor's office referred questions to the commission, whose spokesperson said the proposed change is a cost-saving measure that would still allow the public to access information on decertification cases from local police departments. California is facing a nearly $32 billion budget deficit this year after enjoying several years of record-breaking surpluses and the proposal is one of many of Newsoms cost-cutting measures.

Neither the governor's office nor the commission shared how much money the state could save under the proposal.

According to a May budget request, the commission estimated it will handle up to 3,500 decertification cases each year. That's about 4% of all officers in California. The commission, which has suspended or decertified 44 police officers so far this year, requested an additional $6 million to handle the large number of complaints.

Because of the substantial fiscal implications, as well as the need to urgently implement these cost-saving measures into law, the budget process is the most appropriate avenue for this, commission spokesperson Meagan Poulos said in a statement.

For decades, police officers in California have enjoyed layers of legal protections helping shield most of law enforcement misconduct records from public scrutiny, First Amendment Coalition Legal Director David Loy said.

In 2018, things began to shift after the Legislature passed a bill requiring the disclosure of records pertaining to police misconduct including use of excessive force, sexual assault and dishonesty. That law was expanded in 2021 to include the release of investigations into police racist or biased behavior, unlawful searches or arrests and use of unreasonable force.

The 2021 decertification law was hailed as another mechanism to hold law enforcement accountable.

"California has always been a black hole for police transparency, said Loy, whose group is part of the coalition opposing the change. The last thing California should be doing is taking any step backward on police transparency.

The state Legislature passed its own version of the state budget Thursday to meet its deadline without including Newsoms proposed change to the decertification process. Legislative leaders and the governor's office will continue negotiations to finalize the budget by the end of the month.

___

Associated Press reporter Jonathan Mattise contributed from Nashville, Tennessee.
LONDON (Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in London on Sunday condemned a meeting last week between Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Taiwan's digital minister, saying it violated international relations.

Reuters reported on Friday that Tugendhat had met the Taiwanese Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang on Wednesday during a rare high-level ministerial trip to Britain. One source said they had discussed mutual security interests.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and fiercely objects to perceived foreign interference with the island.

"This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement.

"It sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence' and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this."

Britain only has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials.

Tugendhat, who was sanctioned by China two years ago for speaking out about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, is not a full cabinet minister but attends cabinet meetings in his role as security minister, where he is responsible for countering terrorism, domestic state threats and economic crime.

"We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine China's interests will be met with resolute responses," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  The cruise ship with about 1,000 passengers anchored off Nome, too big to squeeze into into the tundra city's tiny port. Its well-heeled tourists had to shimmy into small boats for another ride to shore.

It was 2016, and at the time, the cruise ship Serenity was the largest vessel ever to sail through the Northwest Passage.

But as the Arctic sea ice relents under the pressures of global warming and opens shipping lanes across the top of the world, more tourists are venturing to Nome  a northwest Alaska destination known better for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and its 1898 gold rush than luxury travel.

The problem remains: There's no place to park the big boats. While smaller cruise ships are able to dock, officials say that of the dozen arriving this year, half will anchor offshore.

That's expected to change as a $600 million-plus expansion makes Nome, population 3,500, the nation's first deep-water Arctic port. The expansion, expected to be operational by the end of the decade, will accommodate not just larger cruise ships of up to 4,000 passengers, but cargo ships to deliver additional goods for the 60 Alaska Native villages in the region, and military vessels to counter the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic.

It's a prospect that excites business owners and officials in Nome, but concerns others who worry about the impact of additional tourists and vessel traffic on the environment and animals Alaska Natives depend on for subsistence.

The expansion will "support our local economy and the local artists here, the Indigenous artists having access to the visitors and teaching and sharing our culture and our language and how we how we make our beautiful art, said Alice Bioff, an Inupiaq resident of Nome.

Bioff was a tour guide who greeted the Serenity's passengers when they arrived in 2016. One of the guests admired her cloth kuspuk, a traditional Alaska Native garment similar to a smock, and wanted to know if it was water resistant.

It wasnt, but the interaction inspired Bioff to create her own line of waterproof jackets styled like kuspuks. She now sells to tourists and locals alike from her own Naataq Gear gift store, a retail spot in the post office building, where about 20 Alaska Native artists offer ivory carvings, beadwork or paintings through consignment.

Studies show that cruise ship passengers typically spend about $100 per day in Nome, city manager Glenn Steckman said.

With the expansion, hes hoping guests on larger cruise ships will extend their stays to experience more of Nome and the tundra, to view wild musk ox, or to sip a drink at the 123-year-old Board of Trade Saloon.

Climate change is making this all possible.

Nome, founded after gold was discovered in 1898, has seen six of its 10 warmest winters on record just in this century. The Bering Strait shipping lanes have gotten only busier since 2009, going from 262 transits that year to 509 in 2022.

Were going to be the first deep-draft Arctic port but probably not going to be the last, Nome Mayor John Handeland said.

The Bering Sea ice on average reaches Nome in late November or December, about two or three weeks later than it did 50 years ago, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

In 2019, mushers in the Iditarod, who normally drive their dog teams on the Bering Sea ice to the finish line in Nome, were forced onto the beach because of open water. The ice season will only get shorter, Thoman said.

The existing port causeway was completed in the mid-1980s. The expansion will be completed in three phases and effectively double its size. The first part of the project is funded by $250 million in federal infrastructure money with another $175 million from the Alaska Legislature. Field work is expected to begin next year.

Currently three ships can dock at once; the expanded dock will accommodate seven to 10.

Workers will dredge a new basin 40 feet (12.2 meters) deep, allowing large cruises ships, cargo vessels, and every U.S. military ship except aircraft carriers to dock, Port Director Joy Baker said.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, said the expanded port will become the centerpiece of U.S. strategic infrastructure in the Arctic. The military is building up resources in Alaska, placing fighter jets at bases in Anchorage and Fairbanks, establishing a new Army airborne division in Alaska, training soldiers for future cold-weather conflicts and has missile defense capabilities.

The way you have a presence in the Arctic is to be able to have military assets and the infrastructure that supports those assets, Sullivan said.

The northern seas near Alaska are getting more crowded. A U.S. Coast Guard patrol board encountered seven Chinese and Russian naval vessels cooperating in an exercise last year about 86 miles (138 kilometers) north of Alaskas Kiska Island.

Coast guard vessels in 2021 also encountered Chinese ships 50 miles (80 km) off Alaskas Aleutian Islands.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last yea r warned that Russia and China have pledged to cooperate in the Arctic, a deepening strategic partnership that challenges our values and interests."

Still, the prospect of Nome welcoming more tourists and a greater military presence bothers some residents. Austin Ahmasuk, an Inupiaq native, said the port's original construction displaced an area traditionally used for subsistence hunting or fishing, and the expansion won't help.

The Port of Nome is development purely for the sake of development, Ahmasuk said.

___

This story corrects that Sullivan is a senator, not a representative.
Juneteenth is facing new challenges as it marks its second federal birthday on Monday in the form of both political attacks on the need to understand Black history and diversity, and the mixed emotions of becoming a more commercial holiday.

Over the last three years, policymakers in 45 states have proposed 283 laws restricting what teachers can say about race, racism and American history, according to the Washington Post.

Some of these laws include language that would forbid any teachings that could cause a student to feel anguish, guilt, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race.

Meanwhile, the popularity of the holiday is leading to some mixed emotions as scores of Juneteenth products, from apparel to paper plates and party supplies, underscore the growing commercialism surrounding June 19th.

Both aspects show the importance of Juneteenth in different ways.

One of the things that Black history and heritage does for the country is it lists a large populace of people who have truly contributed so much to the building of our country, said David Anderson, author and founder of Gracism Global.

Juneteenth, its about being honest. We cannot understand our country without being honest about where its come from, where it is now, and where it needs to go. And I think that honoring, celebrating and being gracious would allow all of us to move forward in unity instead of being so divided.

Juneteenth, which celebrates the day slavery officially ended in America, became a federal holiday in 2021 after decades of pressure from grassroots activists.

The holiday was approved in a unanimous Senate vote and a bipartisan 415-14 House vote; the 14 no votes were all from Republicans. Some argued the holiday was divisive; others said it was too costly.

There are continued challenges today.

Books delving into the Black experience and history, such as Ruby Bridges Goes to School, about the first Black student to integrate a New Orleans school, are being banned. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the GOP presidential nod, in February stopped an advanced placement African Americans studies course from running in his states public schools.

Black scholars argue Juneteenth is an important date to tell the entire history of the United States  particularly given present events.

Just because we were freed in 1865 doesnt mean we always enjoyed freedom, Sue Johnson, founder and executive director of Galvestons Nia Cultural Center, told The Hill.

Historians like Sam Collins say the history of the holiday is important because though it does show dark chapters of abuse, violence and slavery, it can also share the many success stories that have not been told.

That includes recognizing the contributions of people like the United States Colored Troops, who helped bring the message of freedom to the people of Galveston, Texas.

States with laws banning instruction on items that could invoke feelings of guilt misunderstand that Juneteenth could be looked at as an exercise in repair, Collins said.

Im not interested in anybodys guilt  guilt is a luxury that we can no longer afford. I know you didnt do it, and I didnt do it, either. But I am responsible for it because Im a man and a citizen of this country and you are responsible for it for the very same reason, said Collins.

Im interested in doing the repair work to a false narrative that has been pushed on us for many decades and years  an incomplete story. We have to acknowledge that the complete story has not been told.

The United States tends to commercialize its holidays, and Juneteenth has been no exception.

Though 50 percent of Black Americans like brands to include cultural holidays in their advertising, according to a study by Collage Group, 30 percent of Black Americans also tend to be suspicious of brands motivations for doing so.

Daryn Dodson, managing partner at Illumen Capital, an impact fund working to address systemic inequity, said the rebuttal of commercializing Juneteenth could stem from the financial and economic inequities that have pushed Black Americans into poverty for decades despite the supposed message of freedom.

The backbone of the global financial system and the economy within the United States was created with African Americans on the asset management sheet, he said. Although slavery ended, in one way, that financial system that reinforced it has changed very little in terms of the investments that are managed by women and people of color.

Women and people of color makeup 1.3 percent of financial markets, contributing between $82 and $84 trillion to the global financial markets. This begs the question, Dodson said, why 99 percent of these markets are still dominated by white men.

But thats why Juneteenth could be a perfect day to begin educating others and addressing these disparities, said Anderson of Gracism Global.

Im not mad if a company commercializes Juneteenth, said Anderson. What I want you to do, I want you to make that money and make a decision that youre going to give to a Black-owned organization. Give 60 percent of your profits from that day to Black-owned organizations.

But he also wants other consumers to educate themselves, even just for one day, by patronizing only Black-owned stores, restaurants and banks.

Having to do that for a day would give you a sense of  what Black people have to go through in order to survive and succeed, he said. I have to go through white people in order to survive and succeed. I cant not go to white people in order to survive. I cant get a mortgage. I cant get an education. My white brothers and sisters actually dont have to go to Black people at all.

What that would do is show how woefully underrepresented Blacks are in so many of the institutions upon which we build our lives, he added. Juneteenth gives us an opportunity to really help people emphasize so that they can heal with us and so we can heal together.

Leaders like Johnson, from the Nia Cultural Center, are finding new ways to educate youth on the importance of the day.

Johnsons group has started the Defense Fund Freedom School in Galveston, a summer literacy program based on the civil rights movement. The students learn not only about Juneteenth, but other aspects of Black history that are often untaught in schools, Johnson said.

That means immersing the students in history with biographies and autobiographies of Black people. At the end of the program, Johnson said, the students often leave with a newfound sense of pride and confidence in themselves and their culture.

Juneteenth tells us who we are, where weve been, where we are, where we still must go and we still must be, said Johnson. So Juneteenth is important because it gives us a starting point to look at and analyze and explain not only the problems of the past, but it also positions us to see patterns that might otherwise be invisible right now in the present. It provides a crucial perspective for understanding and solving current and future problems.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Panu Wongcha-um and Orathai Sriring

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's caretaker government hosted the foreign minister of Myanmar's ruling junta at informal regional peace talks on Sunday, as key Southeast Asian counterparts stayed away from the meeting that has drawn sharp criticism.

Only Cambodia has so far officially confirmed it intended to attend the talks.

Myanmar's generals have been barred for nearly two years from senior-level meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for failing to honour an agreement to start talks with opponents linked to the ousted civilian government that had been led by now-jailed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

But Thailand, whose prime minister himself first took power in a military coup, invited Myanmar's junta-appointed Foreign Minister Than Swe to the talks along with other foreign ministers in the 10-member ASEAN bloc, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters.

Myanmar's junta spokesman could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Thailand's foreign ministry was tight-lipped about exactly who was attending the two-day gathering in the resort town of Pattaya, for which outgoing Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai sent invitation letters just four days before its start.

Don told the local news outlet Matichon on Sunday the unofficial initiative was meant to complement, not replace, ASEAN-led efforts and members were free to attend or not.

The current situation has changed a lot. There is now more fighting within Myanmar," he was quoted as saying. "Myanmar also has a roadmap leading to elections... These things have given us the need to continue our interactions with Myanmar."

Myanmar has been roiled by violence since a Feb. 1, 2021 coup, with the military battling on multiple fronts to try to crush an armed pro-democracy resistance movement formed in response to the crackdown. The junta says it is fighting terrorists who aim to destroy the country.

'SECRETIVE INITIATIVE'

Critics of Thailand's initiative say it risks legitimising Myanmar's military government and is inappropriate because it is outside the official ASEAN peace initiative, known as the "five-point consensus".

Others questioned why Thailand called the talks now, when it is expected to have a new government in August after the pro-military coalition was soundly beaten in May 16 elections by progressive and populist parties.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn was to attend the meeting, his government said in a statement on Friday.

Other ASEAN members have declined Thailand's invitation, including this year's chair, Indonesia, as well Singapore, whose foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said on Friday "it would be premature to re-engage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level".

Nantiwat Samart, secretary to the Thai minister of foreign affairs, defended the talks on Sunday, saying Myanmar should not be completely isolated or cut out from ASEAN, according to the Thai-language website of Nation TV.

Vietnam's government said its foreign minister would not attend "due to a prior engagement".

Malaysia also would not be attending, said two sources with knowledge of the matter. The Philippines, which did not respond to questions over the weekend, is seen as firmly in the camp of isolating Myanmar's generals.

Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government, made up of loyalists to Suu Kyi's ousted administration, condemned the Thai initiative.

"Inviting the illegitimate junta to this discussion will not contribute to the resolution of Myanmar's political crisis," it said in a statement on Saturday.

A group of 81 Myanmar activist groups released an open letter on Sunday condemning the "secretive initiative", saying it was in "blatant contradiction" with ASEAN's policy of excluding junta officials to high-level meetings.

"We demand the caretaker Thai government cancel this meeting immediately," the letter said.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Orathai Sriring in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi, Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Teresia and Stefanno Sulaiman in Jakarta, Poppy McPherson and Devjyot Ghoshal in Bangkok and Shoon Naing; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by William Mallard)
By Tiemoko Diallo and Fadimata Kontao

BAMAKO (Reuters) -Mali started counting votes on Sunday from a constitutional referendum that the ruling military junta and regional powers have said will pave the way to elections and a return to civilian rule.

The junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, promised to hold the plebiscite as part of a transition to democracy, under pressure from West African regional bloc the Economic Community Of West Africa States. Provisional results are expected by Tuesday.

Some of the proposed clauses in the new constitution drafted by the transitional council are contentious, with proponents saying they would strengthen fragile political institutions and opponents saying they would give too much power to the president.

But regional bodies and the United Nations see the referendum itself as an important test of the junta's willingness to stick to the transition and hold a nationwide democratic process, particularly at a time when Islamist militants are stepping up attacks.

"With this project, we are betting on the future of our state, the restoration of its authority, and the regained trust between institutions and citizens," interim president Colonel Assimi Goita said in a televised speech on Friday.

The draft includes updates that have been proposed in past failed efforts to revise the constitution, including the creation of a second parliamentary chamber to boost representation from across Mali.

The proposed establishment of a separate court of auditors for state spending will bring Mali in line with a directive from the West African Economic and Monetary Union from 2000.

But some opposition parties, pro-democracy groups and campaigners for the 'No' vote say non-elected authorities such as the junta have no right to oversee such a substantial constitutional overhaul.

"I am for a revision of the constitution but not this referendum. The legitimacy of the actors, the process ...I think we could have done better," lawyer Fousseini Ag Yehia said in the capital Bamako on Saturday.

Northern Mali armed groups that signed a 2015 peace deal, which has been shaky since the junta took power, had called for a boycott of the referendum saying the process was "not sufficiently inclusive".

Ahmoudane Ag Ikmasse a former member of parliament for the northern town of Kidal, told Reuters that no voting took place there on Sunday.

Ould Mohamed Ramadane, a spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), the northern Tuareg-led rebel alliance, said voting only took place in a few places with a high concentration of Malian armed forces, such as Timbuktu, Gao and Menaka.

Large areas of northern Mali are controlled by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State as the Sahel nation struggles to find stability since a 2012 Tuareg rebellion.

Mali on Friday demanded the departure of U.N. peacekeepers who have been in the country since 2013, saying the mission was fuelling tensions between communities.

(Writing by Alessandra Prentice and Bate Felix; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Andrew Heavens)
NEW YORK (AP)  A man stabbed a pit bull to death following a quarrel with the dog's owner in New York City's Central Park, officials said.

The seriously injured dog was transported to a local animal clinic, where he was euthanized after the stabbing Saturday evening, police said.

According to the New York Daily News, an argument broke out between the man and the woman when the assailant's unleashed dog began biting at the woman's pit bull. As she tried to separate the dogs, the man pulled out a switchblade and stabbed the pit bull mix.

No arrests were made as of Sunday. An investigation was ongoing.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposes any interim agreement reportedly being negotiated between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program.

Netanyahu spoke after reports in Israeli media said understandings are being reached between Washington and Tehran that would seek to hold back Iran's nuclear program somewhat, in exchange for some sanctions relief. The reports could not be independently confirmed and the U.S. has publicly denied any such deal.

Netanyahu said Israel had informed the U.S. that the most limited understandings, what are termed mini-agreements, do not  in our view  serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well.

Israeli officials believe some understandings have already been reached limiting enrichment and that some funds have already been unfrozen. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic assessment.

The Israeli news site Walla last week reported that under the emerging understandings Iran would limit its uranium enrichment to 60% in exchange for sanctions relief. The site also said the sides were discussing reciprocal prisoner releases.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week there is no deal," adding that the reports were untrue.

In its report, Walla said Netanyahu had revealed details of the agreement at a recent parliamentary committee meeting. The U.S. and Israel share intelligence and a prime focus of the countries' interactions is Iran and its nuclear program.

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration that sought to rein in Iran's nuclear program. He was a major supporter of President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal, which left it in shambles.

Iran says its program is meant for civilian purposes. Israel considers a nuclear Iran as a major threat, citing its calls for Israels destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

Israel says it does not rule out military action to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday declared a national day of mourning for citizens who died when a fishing trawler packed with migrants sank off the Greek coast.

As many as 750 men, women and children from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe. The Greek coast guard has defended its response to the tragedy that left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank on Wednesday.

Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said Monday would be observed as a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-staff.

He previously said that Pakistan's embassy in Athens has identified 12 nationals who were rescued by the coast guard. There was no official information on how many Pakistanis were onboard the vessel, how many survived or how many perished.

Greek authorities have been criticized for their failure to act faster. They say the migrants insisted they didnt need any help, but non-governmental organizations say they received a number of calls for help. The sinking was one of the worst disasters of its kind this year.

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said Sunday they arrested 12 people involved in sending local youths to Libya for the onward journey to Europe.

Senior officer Khalid Chauhan said police picked up the suspects amid a crackdown on human traffickers. Police are interrogating them for their alleged roles in luring, trapping and sending locals abroad after extracting huge amounts of money from them.

Around 28 people from the Koi Ratta area in the district of Kotli have gone to Libya for onward travel to Europe, police said. Local official Chaudhry Haq Nawaz said there was still no confirmation on how many young men from the area were onboard the ill-fated boat, or how many are among the dead or missing.

He said efforts are underway to collect relatives' DNA and the test results will be sent to Greece to help identify victims.

People have been offering their support to relatives of those presumed to have been on the boat.

Raja Sakundar, of Bindian village in Kotli, said his four nephews aged 18 to 36 remain missing.

We were informed by the media (of the tragedy). When children are not found or die, you can understand what a parent goes through," he said.

Raja Muhammad Majeed asked the Pakistani government to bring back his nephew, Raja Awais.

If he is dead, bring back (the) body, he said. When we bury him here, his mother, sisters and others can go to his grave and offer prayers. We will be patient.
WILLOWBROOK, Ill. (AP)  At least 23 people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday during a gathering in a suburban Chicago parking lot that drew hundreds of people to celebrate Juneteenth, authorities said.

TV news video showed the strip mall lot in Willowbrook filled with debris and police tape, about 20 miles (32.1 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. The DuPage County Sheriff's Office described it as a peaceful gathering to celebrate Juneteenth that suddenly turned violent as a number of people fired multiple shots into the crowd.

We know of 22 victims injured and one victim killed by gunfire. Several other victims were also injured while attempting to flee the area, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Authorities didn't immediately release the conditions of those injured.

A motive for the attack wasnt immediately known, and no one was arrested by early afternoon. Sheriff's spokesman Robert Carroll said authorities were interviewing persons of interest in the shooting, the Daily Herald reported.

Police were at the strip mall before the shooting to monitor the gathering, but were called away because of a nearby fight, the sheriff's office said. They heard gunshots and immediately returned to the scene," the sheriff's office said.

"We transported numerous victims from the scene. Others just walked into area hospitals," said Eric Swanson, deputy chief at the sheriffs office.

Rick Wagner, who lives nearby, said there were at least 300 people in the lot by 10:30 p.m. Weve had multiple conversations with police" about large groups meeting there, Wagner told the Daily Herald.

A witness, Markeshia Avery, said it was a Juneteenth celebration. Monday is the federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed  two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

"We just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped, Avery told WLS-TV.

Another witness, Craig Lotcie, said: Everybody ran, and it was chaos.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement that he was monitoring the investigation.

Gathering for a holiday gathering should be a joyful occasion, not a time where gunfire erupts and families are forced to run for safety, Pritzker said.

The White House released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying that the President and First Lady are thinking of those killed and injured in the shooting in Illinois last night. We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders in the wake of this tragedy at a community Juneteenth celebration.
Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar, center, takes part in the ninth International Day of Yoga celebrations at Seoul Olympic Park in eastern Seoul, Saturday. Over 600 yoga enthusiasts joined the outdoor exercise celebrating the transformative power of yoga in fostering physical and mental well-being on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, which falls on June 21. Courtesy of Embassy of India in Korea
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  All 120 passengers and crew members aboard a Philippine ferry that caught fire at sea on Sunday were rescued safely and the fire was extinguished, the coast guard said.

The M/V Esperanza Star caught fire at dawn while traveling from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines with 65 passengers and 55 crewmembers, the coast guard said. It added that it deployed two vessels for rescue and to help put out the flames, which raged for more than five hours.

Photos and video released by the coast guard show flames and black smoke billowing from two decks at one end of the ferry. Coast guard personnel onboard another vessel used a water cannon to put out the fire while a fishing boat and one other vessel can be seen nearby.

All those who were onboard the ferry are safe, Joy Gumatay, coast guard spokeswoman, said in a statement but gave no further details.

She added that the survivors were brought to the port city of Tagbilaran in Bohol province and an investigation was underway.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.

In March, a fire broke out  and raged overnight  on a ferry carrying about 250 people and killed at least 31 passengers and crew members off the southern island province of Basilan, the coast guard said.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the worlds worst peacetime maritime disaster.
CAIRO (AP)  An airstrike in Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday killed at least 17 people, including five children, health officials said, as fighting continued between rival generals seeking to control the country.

The attack was one of the deadliest of the clashes in urban areas of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.

There was no immediate comment Saturday from either side of the conflict on the strike, and it was not clear whether the attack was by warplanes or a drone. The militarys aircraft have repeatedly targeted RSF troops and the RSF has reportedly used drones and anti-aircraft weapons against the military.

The fighting broke out in mid-April, capping months of increasing tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF. The clashes have killed more than 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others, said Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim in an interview late Saturday with the Saudi-owned television station, Al-Hadath.

Saturdays strike hit the Yormouk neighborhood in southern Khartoum, where clashes have centered in recent weeks, according to Sudan's Ministry of Health. The area houses a military facility controlled by the army. At least 25 houses were destroyed, the ministry wrote in a Facebook post.

The dead included five children and an unknown number of women and elderly people, and some wounded people were hospitalized, the ministry said.

A local group that calls itself The Emergency Room and helps organize humanitarian aid in the area, said at least 11 people were wounded in the strike. It posted images it said were of houses damaged in the attack and people searching through rubble. Other images claimed to show a wounded girl and man.

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced late Saturday that the warring sides agreed on a 72-hour cease-fire across the African country. The new cease-fire would take effect Sunday morning Khartoum time, according to a joint U.S.-Saudi statement.

The statement said both the military and the RSF agreed to stop fighting and refrain from seeking military advantage during the ceasefire.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia urged the warring sides to fully implement the cease-fire, which comes ahead a pledging conference to fund the increasing humanitarian needs in the African country.

For weeks, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating between the warring parties. Multiple cease-fire agreements failed to stop the raging fighting across Sudan.

The conflict has plunged the African country into chaos and turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields. The paramilitary force has occupied peoples houses and other civilian properties since the onset of the conflict, according to residents and activists.

More than 2.2 million people have fled their homes to safer areas inside Sudan or crossed into neighboring countries, according to U.N. figures.

Activists and residents have reported widespread looting in the capital. Diplomatic missions, including residences belong to the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, have been stormed and looted, allegedly by armed men wearing RSF uniforms. Almost all diplomatic missions in Sudan were evacuated in the first weeks of the war.

Looting was fairly extensive at some of the residences, the U.S. Department of State told The Associated Press. The damage was discovered during routine checks of the residences. There is some damage to the structures and personal property.

Sexual violence, including the rape of women and girls, has been reported in Khartoum and the western Darfur region, which have seen some of the worst fighting in the conflict. Almost all reported cases of sexual attacks were blamed on the RSF, which hasn't responded to repeated requests for comment.

The Darfur city of Genena has experienced some of the worst battles, with tens of thousands of its residents fleeing to neighboring Chad. The RSF and allied Arab militias have repeatedly attacked the city, especially areas of the non-Arab Masalit community, since late April, according to residents and activists.

The attacks intensified earlier this month. Volker Perthes, the U.N envoy in Sudan, said last week that the fighting in Genena has taken on an ethnic dimension, with Arab militias and armed men in RSF uniforms showing "an emerging pattern of large-scale targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnic identities.

On Wednesday, West Darfur Gov. Khamis Abdalla Abkar, who hails from the Masalit, was abducted and killed hours after he accused the RSF and allied Arab militias in a televised interview of attacking Genena. His slaying was blamed on the RSF, a charge the paramilitary force denied.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for bringing those responsible for Abkar's slaying to justice, "including those who bear command responsibility.

Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Gov. Abkar was in the RSFs custody, and it was the RSFs responsibility to keep him safe, Shamdasani told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday.

Abkar was the second high-profile official killed in Genena within a few days. The older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was also killed, Shamdasani said.

Martin Griffiths, the U.N.s top humanitarian official, decried the fighting in Darfur on Thursday, especially in Genena where trapped residents are living a nightmare.

Babies dying in hospitals where they were being treated; children and mothers suffering from severe malnutrition; camps for displaced persons burned to the ground; girls raped; schools closed; and families eating leaves to survive, he said.

Griffiths urged the international community to intervene to avert another cycle of violence such as the one Darfur experienced in the early 2000s when it was the scene of genocidal war. Ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination. Former dictator Omar al-Bashirs government was accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes, known as Janjaweed, who targeted civilians. The Janjaweed later evolved into the RSF.

Darfur is rapidly spiraling into a humanitarian calamity. The world cannot allow this to happen. Not again, Griffiths said.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.
NC elections

Regarding Legislation would restructure state elections board, (June 14) and related articles:

Our North Carolina county boards of election and the State Board of Elections provide fair and honest elections. The precinct workers in each county are highly trained and provide such a great service in their precincts. Its my opinion that the proposed election law changes under consideration in the legislature are not needed. Trust our local boards to carry out the integrity of the election process. What is the real motive of the leaders in the N.C. General Assembly for this legislation?

Connie Mitchell, Rolesville

GOP power

Regarding NC Republican supermajority poised to pass governor powers bill, (June 13):

Our current political situation reminds me of political life under Jim Crow in southern states. In those years, there was a single political party, Democratic, and the agendas of governors were usually in lockstep with the legislatures agendas. Corruption was a fact of political life, depending more or less on particular governors.

In North Carolina, Republican gerrymandering has made the Republican Party the de facto single party, with veto-proof supermajorities in both legislative houses. Senate Bill 512, which shifts power from the governor to General Assembly, further restrains the governors ability to push back on Republican legislative injustice, and diminishes the power N.C. voters once had.

Joe Burton, Raleigh

Wake tax increase

According to recently published studies, about half of Wake County residents are rent burdened, paying at or greater than 30% of their income on rent. Yet, our county commissioners have passed a tax increase. Rents will continue to rise as a result and this is compounding our affordable housing issues in Raleigh.

Many years ago, I was able to do a ride along with a Raleigh police officer as part of a leadership program with the Raleigh Chamber. Many of the officers I spoke to expressed disappointment at not being able to afford to live in the community where they worked. What a shame for commissioners to appear tone deaf on a major issue for our area. Lets stop the tax increases.

J.D. Howard, Raleigh

Allowing ADUs

While euphoria about Raleigh and other Triangle communities soon being able to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) appears widespread, one should consider that the owners of these properties will suddenly become landlords and inherit all the problems that come with being landlords. That includes dealing with trash in the yard, parking problems, noise, guests who are not allowed, unpaid or late rent and evictions  just to name a few. Maybe cities should consider other options before taking this route.

Ben Owens, Raleigh

Sen. Tillis

Im not a Republican but my regard for Sen. Tom Tillis rose several points after reading the June 10 article about the reasons for his censure.

Sissy Ashby, Raleigh

RINOs like Tillis

I want to graciously thank the NCGOP for finally having the guts to do the right thing and rein in these elitist RINO progressives like Sen. Thom Tillis who think they can get elected by real Americans, then run up to D.C. and brown-nose other politicians like Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.

Tillis sycophants are the people who told me, We just have to vote for Tillis because hes the only one who can win. What did we win?

George Lea, Cary

Trump indictment

Regarding NC congressional Republicans react to Trump indictment, (June 11):

The Republican congressional delegation of North Carolina has it backwards. Their claim that the Trump indictment is the product of the weaponization of the Department of Justice for political purposes ignores the fact that the grand jury has determined there is probable cause to believe that former President Trump committed serious federal crimes. It is understandable that Republicans would come to Trumps aid because they fear his ire and the loss of his base. But their support is merely political  not based on the merits  as evidenced by the fact that his supporters are attacking the process and do not deny that Trump committed the crimes he is charged with.

Barton Bloom, Clayton

US Supreme Court

A recent article from The Lever lays out a strong connection between Harlan Crows business interests and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recent vote to gut the Clean Water Act. Its yet more proof that special interests have corrupted our highest court and are influencing its jurists and their decisions in ways that are dangerous for regular Americans.

Im angry about it and I want Congress to act.

I want N.C. Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis to co-sponsor the Judiciary Act of 2023 and my congressional representative, Deborah Ross, to co-sponsor a similar bill in the House. These proposals would expand the Supreme Court by four seats. I also want them to call for Clarence Thomas to resign. I have lost confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court is a fair arbiter of justice in this country that will uphold my constitutional rights.

Beth Bowman-Rodriguez, Raleigh
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  Police have hunted down a velociraptor that was stolen from outside a South Dakota arts and science center.

Sioux Falls police Sgt. Aaron Benson said Friday that a security officer spotted three people carrying the statue away from the Washington Pavilion and called police just after midnight. Surveillance video then helped officers track the statue to a nearby apartment, The Argus Leader reports.

When opening the door, detectives could clearly see the velociraptor was sitting right inside, Benson said.

Police detained the three suspects on charges of grand theft. Benson said one was 18, another 19 and the third a juvenile.

Fortunately, the statue was not damaged, stated Madelyn Grogan, the Pavilions director of education, programming and exhibits, in an email Friday.

The statue and many other dinosaur representations are part of the Dinosaurs in the Wild exhibition at the Washington Pavilion's science center. The organization did not provide any information on the size or weight of the statue. Scientists believe velociraptors grew to about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weighed about 100 pounds (45 kilograms) when they roamed the earth millions of years ago.

Grogan said officials are evaluating how they can better secure the dinosaur statue. It was one of two velociraptors featured outside as part of the collection of dinosaur statues; one was perched on the roof of the building, looking out at the city, and the other was almost directly below.

___

This spelling of Sioux has been corrected in the dateline.
Among this weeks productions are Rebecca Frecknalls Romeo and Juliet at the Almeida (Marc Brenner/Manuel Harlan)

This week, Shakespeare at the Almeida, the birth of the BBC at the Donmar Warehouse, and a comedy set in Ghana at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Romeo and Juliet  Almeida a a a a a

Its rare to come across a production of Romeo and Juliet that stays true to Shakespeares promise of two hours traffic but tonight at the Almeida, director Rebecca Frecknall complies. A tight runtime comes at a price, however, and in this case that means a hefty edit and no loo break. Still, Frecknalls play gains a lot from those cuts and the result is a visceral, charged production that is also accessible.

This is Frecknalls first go at the Bard. Its an unsurprising choice for a director who is increasingly renowned for shaping old tales into new forms, as she did most recently with A Streetcar Named Desire and Cabaret. Romeo and Juliet gets the Frecknall treatment, too, with a pared-back script, a sprinkling of dance, and a minimalist set by Chloe Lamford (brought to life with evocative, subtle lighting from Lee Curran).

The cast of Romeo and Juliet' (Marc Brenner)

As the eponymous lovers, Toheeb Jimoh (sweet and smiley Sam Obisanya in Ted Lasso) and Isis Hainsworth are well-matched. Jimoh is moonstruck and tender, reeling off columns of metre rapidly, casual as you like. Meanwhile, Hainsworth effectively plays up Juliets young age, making for moments of comic relief. The chemistry between the two then feels less like true love than infantile infatuation. (Whos to say which is more dramatic?) Jack Riddiford is a fantastic Mercutio, and it is to Frecknalls credit that his Queen Mab speech is spared from her cutting room floor, where other scenes such as Pariss death reside. Mercutio is swaggering and lustful, irrepressible even in death.

Speaking of deaths, there may be fewer in Frecknalls production, but those that do make it to the stage are potent  played out in real time with a good measure of realistic arghs and urghs from the actors. The play is more than comfortable revelling in its violence. Jonathan Holbys stylized fight direction and Frecknalls dance choreography often bleed into one another, with varying levels of success. The choice to soundtrack a number of those set pieces to Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet is understandable but distracting  so marred are those thunderous chords by The Apprentice. Frecknalls production is impressive overall, propelled along by a fast-paced energy and an individual perspective. Annabel Nugent

When Winston Went to War with the Wireless  Donmar Warehouse a a a a a

Jack Thornes new play, set in 1926, is about the early days of the BBC. Families cant afford to eat, striking workers are bringing the country to a standstill, and the recently established public broadcaster has been accused of regurgitating Tory propaganda. Sound familiar? But its not just the political relevance that makes When Winston Went to War with the Wireless feel fresh. This is a pacey play with powerhouse performances and a slick production.

The BBC presented in Thornes play, directed by Katy Rudd, is one with a complex relationship with the government. At the time, the broadcaster was limited to one news bulletin a day. But then the general strike begins and the BBC marches in, filling the place of the printing press and the homes of striking workers with songs, comedy skits, and yes, news. John Reith (Stephen Campbell Moore), the man responsible for running the BBC, insists its a great thing for democracy. You can lie in print, but on the wireless, someone will hear it in you, he declares. A mic; it makes you honest. Winston Churchill (Adrian Scarborough) rubs his hands together with glee, seeing the wireless as his own personal mouthpiece.

Stephen Campbell Moore and Adrian Scarborough in When Winston Went to War with the Wireless' (Manuel Harlan)

But Reiths decline comes quickly. Campbell Moore initially carries a twitchy, nervous energy as he conveys Reiths dignity and belief in the BBC as a moral good. But hes easily swayed by the power and pomp of Scarboroughs Churchill into pushing government lines and censoring opposition. In Campbell Moore, those nerves regress to near madness as Reith, haunted by war and the memory of a former lover (Luke Newberry), realises the BBC needs to lose its morals to survive. Scarborough, meanwhile, prevents his Churchill from being a full-on caricature, and is shown deferentially scurrying around after prime minister Stanley Baldwin (the ever-excellent Haydn Gwynne).

The leads are well supported by a multitalented ensemble cast, who also create the shows auditory world. This comes down to the ingenious sound design of Ben and Max Ringham, who create a soundscape of Foley artistry (the technique used to create sound effects for radio). With the consultation of Foley artist Tom Espiner, the cast create the audio world of 1926 before us with household objects: hands in a goldfish bowl for a running river, shoes in gravel for Churchills marches.

Sound is the thread that links Thornes play together, even in moments of silence. In Laura Hopkins set, microphones hang in the air, dropping down to enhance the sounds of the Foley artists or actor-musos. Yet in the shows final moments, they descend and surround Reith, trapping him in a metaphorical forest of his own making. At times, incorporating so many design elements can leave the supporting characters feeling a little thin, with cameo roles given the same depth as political leaders. Still, it doesnt diminish Rudds production, the power of which reverberates around the Donmar Warehouse like an echo. Isobel Lewis

School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play  Lyric Hammersmith a a a a a

The cast of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play' (Manuel Harlan)

Hell hath no fury like a teenage girl scorned. Since its 2004 release, Mean Girls has been the flagship example of this adage  and in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, we quickly learn its a truth that holds up, no matter the setting. Based in 1980s Ghana, Jocelyn Biohs acclaimed off-Broadway hit explores the rapidly changing dynamics of a friendship group, led by the obnoxious but charismatic Paulina (Tara Tijani). Biohs answer to Regina George, Paulina keeps her girls in check about their weight, intelligence and fashion sense. And she isnt the type to sugarcoat her words. But the arrival of new girl Ericka (Anna Shaffer) poses an immediate threat to Paulinas reign as Queen B. American-raised, light-skinned and the daughter of a wealthy cocoa farm owner, Ericka is everything Paulina and the other girls arent. Its not long before everyones attention turns in her direction but Paulina wont give up her crown without a fight.

There are barbs about invisible boyfriends. Jabs about absent parents. And shocking swipes about weight and complexion. Things get brutal as the schoolgirls trade verbal blows with ease. But as easily as you cackle at their supreme shade skills, youre also silenced by lines that expose the genuine hurt behind the students harsh words. Bioh tackles the capital-I issues without ever letting her play veer into PSA territory. Her script elegantly expresses how factors such as colourism, poverty and white supremacy can lead to self-hatred that inevitably spreads outward. All eight actors of the ensemble cast shine on stage, from the necessary warmth of headmistress Francis (Alison A Addo) to the hilariously ditzy double act of pupils Gifty and Mercy (Francesca Amewudah-Rivers and Bola Akeju).

Biohs play is more than Africas answer to Mean Girls. Its an incisive, intelligent 80-minute exploration of teenage wrath  and the funniest thing on stage this summer. Nicole Vassell
Texans and other southern US residents were bracing this weekend for severe storms and weather  including Panhandle town Perryton, which suffered three fatalities just days earlier when an EF-3 tornado barrelled through it.

Weather systems capable of damaging gusts, large hail, or tornadoes will be possible over a vast area from Colorado to Florida and central Texas to the Lower Missouri Valley and the Midwest, the National Weather Service tweeted on Saturday. Very large hail will be possible in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as along the eastern Gulf Coast, the tweet continued.

Severe storms capable of damaging gusts, large hail, or tornadoes will be possible over a vast area from CO to FL, and central TX to the Lower Missouri Valley, & the Midwest. Very large hail will be possible in CO, KS, OK, & TX; and along the eastern Gulf Coast. https://t.co/S2HlTQvS8i  National Weather Service (@NWS) June 17, 2023

The NWS Storm Prediction Center warned on Twitter of widespread severe storms that are expected from the Plains to the Gulf Coast with damaging gusts (75+ mph) very large hail and a few tornadoes on Saturday afternoon and evening.

The majority of the storms were expected during the later afternoon and evening hours, with the highest risk centered across the lower Mississippi River Valley, including Arkansas, much of Mississippi, and northern Louisiana as the storms from the previous night move eastward during the early morning, CNN reported.

Texas has already suffered significant damage this week, with 11-year-old Matthew Ramirez among three people killed by the massive tornado which tore through Perryton on Thursday. He was tragically found in a trailer park, while Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop, and Cindy Bransgrove, also in her 60s, was discovered in a food bank, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said.

The twister hit Perryton, a town of around 8,000 people close to the Oklahoma border, on Thursday just after 5pm local time, leaving a quarter-mile trail of destruction according to the National Weather Service.

A mobile home park took a direct hit from the tornado, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said. In addition to the fatalities, up to 100 people were being treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe.

More than 300,000 people remained without power on Saturday across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, according to Poweroutage.us, as storms continued to threaten the area and wider region.
A tweet posted by a former senior Army officer reads, the state is now stateless Like Syria

People in large numbers take part in a torchlight vigil in response to the ongoing violence in Manipur, in Bishnupur, Manipur, (PTI)

Guwahati: Amid reports of multiple clashes between security forces and mob of civilians in Imphal, the ruling party legislators have started rushing to New Delhi to seek intervention of the central government to restore peace in the trouble-torn Manipur.

At least two civilians were injured in Imphal after the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired rubber bullets and tear gas on a mob of 1,000 that attempted arson in the citys Palace Compound area on Friday. Security sources said that a mob was also advancing towards the residence of Manipur assembly speaker Satyabrata. However, the security forces managed to avert the attack.

Indicating that civilians have now started targeting the ruling party leaders accusing them of failing to restore peace, sources said that Manipur assembly speaker has left for New Delhi with a delegation of eight legislators to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier, Mr Satyabrata held a meeting with 24 MLAs of Imphal valley in which it was decided that a delegation of ruling party legislators should meet the Prime Minister to intervene as the law and order situation in Manipur is deteriorating.

Security sources also claimed that it managed to disperse a mob that had gathered in an attempt to vandalise state BJP president A. Sharda Devis house near Porompat in Imphal, while an Army column dispersed another mob that had gheraoed the BJP office at Singjamei.

Later, joint columns of the Army, Assam Rifles, RAF and the police conducted flag marches in Imphal East district.

In separate incidents, automatic gunfire was reported from Kwakta in Bishnupur district of Manipur and Kangvai in Churachandpur district through the night. Though details were not known.

Retired lieutenant general expresses dismay

Meanwhile, a retired lieutenant general from Manipur, L. Nishikanta Singh, expressed dismay at the violence in his home state, calling it stateless and equating the scale of anarchy to what was witnessed in Syria, Libya and Nigeria.

A tweet posted by a retired senior army officer, elicited messages of support from many veterans, including a former army chief, General V.P. Malik.

I'm just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening ? pic.twitter.com/VqfwLrF2DR  Lt Gen L Nishikanta Singh (R) (@VeteranLNSingh) June 15, 2023

All of them urged the government to do more to defuse the crisis. Im just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now stateless, Mr Singh tweeted.

Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?

In another tweet, he said, A majority people in Manipur are looking over the shoulders for the Central Govt and its various agencies to stop the anarchy that has gripped us. This madness has to stop. How can a large part of our country be stateless?

Responding to his tweet, Gen Malik on Friday said, An extraordinarily sad call from a retired Lt Gen from Manipur. Law & order situation in Manipur needs urgent attention at the highest level.

Malik, who was army chief during the 1999 Kargil war, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

A retired brigadier, Sandeep Thapar, responded to Singh saying, This from a Manipuri & veteran soldier. If only Manipur had a few more parliament seats then ppl would have bothered. Nobody is bothered since it has only 2 (LS) & 1 (RS)!

Air Vice Marshal (retd) Manmohan Bahadur said, We need to hang our heads in shame. Is anyone listening?
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing, Sunday. Reuters-Yonhap



Abrupt thawing of US-China relations unlikely



By Nam Hyun-woo



United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China on Sunday as part of his mission to cool down the tensions between Washington and Beijing.



With the world watching the high-profile trip and asking how exactly the competition between the superpowers will unfold, Seoul, which has been locking horns with Beijing over recent remarks by the Chinese ambassador here, is also paying keen attention to the implications of Blinken's visit to its relations with China.



Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday, becoming the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China in five years. He was set to have talks with senior Chinese officials, including Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, to discuss "guardrails" to enable the responsible management of competition between the two superpowers.



Amid the visit, there have been concerns that there could be an abrupt thawing of relations between Washington and Beijing, and this may leave Seoul somewhat isolated in its strained relationship with China.



In the wake of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, Korea has been echoing the stance of the U.S. in matters that China finds sensitive. President Yoon has been reiterating that he is against any "attempt to change the status quo by force" referring to Beijing's stance on the self-governing island state of Taiwan.









Tensions reached a peak when Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming commented earlier this month that Korea was making a "wrong bet" by leaning toward the U.S. The remarks irked Yoon, who slammed Xing saying that the envoy's "attitude of mutual respect and reciprocity as a diplomat" is doubtful.



However, experts said prospects for Blinken's visit becoming a major breakthrough are slim, and chances are low for Korea to find itself in an awkward position between the U.S. and China.



"Blinken's visit, while not exactly a breakthrough, is still an important step in managing relations," said Lee Seong-hyon, a senior fellow at George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and a visiting scholar at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. "His aim is to 'establish a floor' for U.S.-China relations that have been in a downward spiral."



Lee noted that Blinken reached out to his counterparts in Korea and Japan before his visit in order to "reaffirm Washington's commitment" to its alliance and clarify the visit is not intended as "a Nixon moment," referring to former U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China. The unanticipated visit marked a dramatic detente and at the same time surprised many U.S. allies, including Korea, because they were not prepared for the abrupt thawing of relations.



"It's crucial for Washington to convey its intentions clearly not only to China but also to its allies. In the realm of alliance diplomacy, the last thing desired is a surprise, so as to ensure allies don't feel neglected or out of the loop."





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
Not only is there no evidence of Urdu promoted except under the Nizam, there are prodigious works in Malayalam or Tamil by Muslim scholars

There was no urge to impose a culture, as in the north, but to adapt to local cultures as a means for expanding trade. (AA File Image)

Just when we were boarding the Delhi flight after a stint in Bengaluru during the recent elections, my wife posed a whimsical question: did I share her view that the South was more polite and cultured?

I consider myself privileged to have been installed as regional editor of Indian Express from 1979 to 1984, based in Chennai. I supervised editions in Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Kochi and all in between. In Kerala, the main bureau was just a stone throw from E.M.S. Namboodiripads house, which gave me easy access to one of the finest political minds I ever met. Foreign correspondent James Camerons advice made so much sense after every conversation with EMS: When I travel to a country to cover a major event, I first visit the local Communist Party office where the background to the story has been analysed ahead of others. All I need to do is to sift out the ideology and I have the outlines of a first-rate situation report in my notebook.

At the Thiruvananthapuram bureau or the publishing centre in Kochi, the editorial staff worked with extraordinary diligence on days when a top Kathakali artist like Kalamandalam Hyderali was performing. Extra work was put in earlier so that the journalists were free for the show.

My colleagues knew the katha (story), nritya (dance) and natya (drama) like the back of their hands. The culture sustained by Urdu as central to what was known as our Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, was disrupted by Partition and a scramble for Western education as the guarantor for bread on our tables. The South was spared these travails.

Partition or the primacy of English for jobs created no turbulence in Kerala. Muslims came to Kerala not as rulers from Central Asia but as traders from Arabia. There was no urge to impose a culture, as in the north, but to adapt to local cultures as a means for expanding trade. It was because of this enthusiastic acceptance of Malayalam that resulted in Muslims excelling in poetry, literature and all performing arts, like cinema, in which Prem Nazir entered the Guinness Book for acing in a record 750 films.

Considering that M.G. Ramachandran in Tamil Nadu and N.T. Rama Rao in Andhra Pradesh built lasting political careers based on cinematic charisma, why did Prem Nazir not end up dominating Kerala politics? Little reflection provided the answer: the Kerala voter was too politicised by an expansive and deep Communist movement and too educated due to the Churchs influence.

Its not commonly known that Keralas first mosque was built in 629 AD, three years before Prophet Mohammads death, making it among the earliest mosques anywhere. It was built by a Hindu nobleman, Cheraman Perumal. He was simply filling a need: increasing number of Arab traders needed a place of worship.

Not only is there no evidence of Urdu being promoted except under the Nizam of Hyderabads vast reach, there are numerous incidents of prodigious works in Malayalam or Tamil by Muslim scholars like Justice Ismail in Chennai, who was seen as the sole authority on Kamba Ramayanam. He was the single source for scholarship on the subject.

Likewise, to C.N. Maulana of Kerala goes the credit for breaking a taboo imposed by the clergy: Gods language is Arabic and the Quran can therefore not be translated. It was this kind of rigidity that Urdu poet Yaas Yagana Changezi had debunked: Samajh mein kuchch naheen ata/ Parhe jaane se kya hasil/ Namazon mein hain kuchch/ Maani to pardesi zubaan kyon ho? (If there is to be meaning to your prayers, why should prayers be in a foreign language?)

In my appreciation of the South, my friend, the remarkable cartoonist Abu Abraham, played no mean role across many conversations we had. His angry outburst on one occasion surprised me because a joke I told him had smacked of uneducated, North Indian prejudice.

I had just returned from JNUs first convocation addressed by Balraj Sahni, film actor and a leading member of the Progressive Movement. The speed with which All India Radio was incorporating difficult Hindi in its news bulletins had elicited a quip from Sahnis Bollywood friend, the comedian Johnny Walker.

Ab yeh naheen kehna chahiye ki aap Hindi mein samachar suniye Sahni quoted Johnny Walker, balki yeh kehna chahiye ki ab samachar mein Hindi suniye. (Newsreaders should now say listen to Hindi in the news instead of news in Hindi.)

Abu was livid. You North Indians must know that a more sanskritised Hindi is that much more intelligible to us.

That all Indian languages, with the solitary exception of Tamil, have some proportion of Sanskrit, helped me understand cultural variations in India that much more. I cannot claim to have understood anything of the great trinity of Carnatic music -- Thyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar -- but I became sufficiently acquainted with the form of their verse. I even visited the great veena player S. Balachander for advice on elementary Carnatic sangeet.

One day the door of my third-floor Mount Road office opened and in walked Balachander in a state of high agitation. Vocalist Semmangudi, he alleged, had the patronage of the Travancore Palace. So what? I asked. He is lobbying in Madras (Chennai) to elevate musician prince Swathi Thirunal to the level of the great trinity. He wants Thirunals photograph alongside the great trinity in the Music Academy, virtually headquarters of all the performing arts in South India. Beads of perspiration covered his forehead. This will happen over my dead body, he said. He lifted both hands and brought them down on my table with such force that the glass top splintered.
Bishop Stephen Chow presided over the ordination. Cardinal Wu laid on his hands on the first in July 1997, a few days after Hong Kong returned to China. Now some 30 deacons are active in the city, an important sign for all of Asia, the continent with the lowest number of permanent deacons.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The Diocese of Hong Kong has eight new permanent deacons. Yesterday Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan ordained them in a solemn celebration held in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The new deacons join 22 other, mostly married men, who already carry out this ordained ministry in the Church of Hong Kong after it was reintroduced following the Second Vatican Council to support priests in the service of their brothers and sisters, like in the first Christian communities.

The Diocese of Hong Kong was the first in Asia to ordain permanent deacons when Card John Baptist Wu served as the local bishop in the 1990s, overcoming the initial resistance of most of the local clergy.

The ordination of the first permanent deacons took place in July 1997, a few days after Hong Kong, a British colony up to that time, was handed over to China.

Since those first steps, the situation has changed greatly. Today, the presence of permanent deacons in Hong Kong is viewed favourably by virtually everyone, as was clear last year when the first 25 years were celebrated.

Deacons carry out their ministry in parishes, but also in works of support for prisoners, the sick, and the homeless.

Of the first group, five have passed away while five others have retired because of advanced age, but in addition to the newly ordained other people have followed the training programme.

The eight new deacons are Gamaliel Cheng, Paul Lui, Thomas Lam, Vincent Chan, Paul Wat, Francis Tang, Stephen Yau, and Patrick Leung. All have come to the diaconate through experiences of service to the poor, each with their own story.

Liu was born into a non-Catholic family and came to the faith through Canossian nuns; Tang was a district councillor 20 years ago dealing with administrative issues; Leung was a karate champion who participated in international competitions; Chan served at the international airport; Yau has been going through a particularly painful experience, that of his wife's illness, but it was she who encouraged him to pursue his vocation.

Speaking about the deacons wives, Bishop Chow encouraged them to stand by and support their husbands through prayers; he also reassured them that the diocese will be close to them should the deacons encounter difficulties.

The presence of permanent deacons in Hong Kong is very significant in relation to the overall state of Asias Catholic Churches. According to the latest data in the Vatican Statistical Yearbook, only 281 of the 48,635 permanent deacons in the world are in Asia, the continent with the lowest number by far.

The experience of the permanent diaconate in Hong Kong is being closely monitored by churches in mainland China, which are struggling with an aging clergy and declining priestly vocations.

In 2016 the Council of Chinese Bishops  which is not recognised by the Holy See  held a special study meeting at the national seminary in Beijing to discuss the issue.

Some 50 people took part in the event, with representatives from 14 Chinese provinces like Hebei, Sichuan, Shandong, and Beijing. Also invited from Hong Kong were Father Dominic Chan Chi-Ming, chairman of the Diocesan Committee for the Permanent Diaconate, and Deacons Edwin Ng and Louis Wong.

Despite the gathering, there are still no permanent deacons in mainland China.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE.
In 2012, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer launched the first model of the KTM 200 DUKE as a standard, naked machine powered by a single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It packed a cable-operated clutch and featured an under-belly exhaust system.

The 200 DUKE was manufactured in India at the Bajaj Autos Chakan Plant and assembled in Columbia by the Auteco Company in Argentina by the Simpa S.A. Since 2014, the machine has been assembled by KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Being available only for Asian, European, and South American markets, the 200 DUKE was released in 2020 for the North American market, featuring an updated style and various components borrowed from the DUKE 390 to resemble other DUKE machines.

For 2023, the manufacturer released a new street range of motorcycles that introduced new graphics and color changes, including the KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE, and KTM RC 390 machines. The KTM 200 DUKE packed a new livery that enhanced its aggressive styling.

The 2023 KTM 200 DUKE was delivered with a lightweight 199cc four-stroke single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, with an electronic fuel injection system on board, boasting 26 hp with a maximum peak at 10,000 rpm and 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) torque at 6,800 rpm.

From the manufacturing plant, the 2023 KTM 200 DUKE rolled on 10-spoke lightweight wheels, displaying many modern components, including a stylish front fender, engine and exhaust guards, a two-piece dual seat, a side stand, and a black-finished frame.

The bike was fitted with a newly designed headlight for a menacing look and bodywork with sharp lines offering an excellent street presence. The 2023 KTM 200 DUKE was for sale with a base price of $4,199.
The saga of Alfa Nero, one of the most famous, beautiful, and controversial vessels from luxury shipyard of Oceanco, has come to an end. The superyacht, initially estimated at $80 million after it was frozen by authorities in Antigua and Barbuda, is now the property of an American billionaire.

18 photos Photo: Oceanco (Composite)
Huawei's automotive ambitions revolve around software and services available in cars sold by its partners, and in addition to HarmonyOS, the company is also offering several other advanced solutions supposed to upgrade the driving experience.

EV

One of them is HiCar, a system that's best described as an alternative to Google's Android Automotive Like its rival, HiCar does not require a mobile device to run, as it's pre-installed at the hardware level from the factory. In other words, it's the operating system powering the infotainment capabilities, so you won't need anything special to run it. Start the engine, and you should see HiCar loading on the screen (if the operating system is installed in the car).Huawei has recently updated HiCar to version 13.2.0.501, and one of the highlights is an updated cruise control system. Beginning with this update, you can configure the OS to automatically enable cruise control when reaching 18.5 mph (that's about 30 kph for our European readers). Needless to say, not everybody wants the cruise control system to kick in automatically when reaching a certain speed, so HiCar also comes with additional configuration options.For instance, when you reach the speed threshold, the system can show a cruise control icon on the display, letting you manually activate the mode. You can do this by touching the screen icon or with a voice command. At the same time, voice commands can be used to turn cruise control off, though you can always press the brake pedal to quickly disable it anyway.In addition, the new update also includes a feature to automatically launch certain apps and show them on the home screen. This way, you can customize the dashboard screen, making sure your most important apps are always at a one-tap distance.Besides that, HiCar is mostly unchanged, remaining one of the biggest Android Automotive alternatives currently available. Its biggest shortcoming is the limited availability, as HiCar continues to be offered exclusively to Chinese automakers. This is part of Huawei's local focus, which has been enforced primarily as a result of the sanctions the company was the subject of back in 2019.In the meantime, Google is also working on improving Android Automotive. The company is working non-stop with carmakers across the world to adopt its operating system. The number of cars using Android Automotive is rapidly increasing, with more big names expected to join the list in 2024.General Motors is the name that made the front page of newspapers earlier this year, as the company decided to adopt Android Automotive and give up on Android Auto and CarPlay completely. The company will install AAOS on the 2024 Blazer, eventually bringing the same operating system to all its zero-emission vehicles in the coming years.
Visitors take photos in traditional Saudi Arabian attire during the 26th Seoul Friendship Festival, held at Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul, Sunday. This year, a total of 68 embassies took part in the festival, each showcasing their country's unique food, clothing, performances and films. Yonhap
Spains Kiddo Motors is the brainchild of Sergio Armet, whod first opened the shops doors back in 2010. Since then, the Kiddo team has grown in numbers bit by bit, and among those who joined along the way is a Swedish industrial designer named Christoffer Martensson. He left Sweden for sunny Barcelona as of 2014, becoming a part of Sergios crew at the age of 24.

CDI

Around a year later, Christoffer's keen eye for detail gave us this ravishing BMW R 100 RS cafe racer, which was built with minimalism, practicality, and reliability in mind. Theres something distinctly Swedish about this creatures aesthetic, as well, so youd be forgiven for assuming it was crafted in Martenssons hometown of Malmo rather than Catalonias capital.In any case, the caffeinated airhead looks absolutely thrilling from every angle, and its worth inspecting in close detail even today. Once the R 100 RS had been taken apart, Kiddo started by massaging its frame in various places so as to bring about a cafe stance, while also mending the unsightly incline of the engine. At the back, the skeleton got shortened and looped, with its rearmost section receiving a Bates-style LED taillight and a tiny license plate bracket.Up top lies an elegant leather saddle thats been put together in-house, and all this rear-end equipment is perched on progressive shock absorbers. Kiddos specialists installed a custom fender at the front, but they chose to retain the Beemers iconic fuel chamber. The tank saw its factory paint stripped away in favor of a bare metal finish, which is joined by turquoise accents, white pinstripes, and a shiny aftermarket filler cap.We find a gorgeously minimalistic cockpit a little further ahead, featuring a bespoke top clamp, Tommaselli clip-ons, and subtle Motogadget switchgear. That retro-looking headlamp comes from Kymcos catalog, while the minute speedo recessed into the top part of the headlight bucket was also supplied by Motogadget. Moreover, a fresh pair of Tarozzi foot pegs complete the motorcycles ergonomic package.The R 100s wheels got wrapped in Avon Roadrider rubber for ample grip, and its brakes are now actuated via premium Goodridge lines. Kiddo ditched the stock wiring harness, too, replacing it with a simplified alternative thats linked to a lithium-ion battery and Motogadgets m-Unit control module. Other electrical upgrades include a 14-volt alternator, an all-newsetup, and modern ignition coils, as well as a modern voltage regulator.Concerning the bikes twin-cylinder boxer, Sergios guys performed an all-inclusive overhaul and swapped the original exhaust with an aftermarket replacement. As a neat little touch thats easy to miss at first, the fuel lines are color-matched to the turquoise details on the gas tank. Lastly, a keyless Motogadget m-Lock ignition made its way onto this stunning R 100 RS cafe racer
18 June 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az

Truly historic events are taking place in the South Caucasus region. Yes, the attention of the whole world is now focused on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which has entered a fierce and final stage, but events are taking place in our region that deserve very close attention. To begin with, Ill just let you know that in Armenia, calls to curtail all cooperation with the Russian Federation are becoming louder and louder.

In particular, Russian Ambassador Sergei Kopyrkin was summoned to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. According to the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the reason for calling the Russian ambassador to the Armenian Foreign Ministry was the recent incident on the Lachin road. At the meeting, the dissatisfaction of the Armenian side in connection with the incident was brought to the attention of the Ambassador.

Before us is a classic example of how in Armenia they decided to justify themselves by shifting all the blame on Russia. The reality is that the provocation was committed by the Armenian side. It was not the Russians, but the Armenians who fired at the BCP on the Lachin road, it was they who wounded the Azerbaijani border guard. And the answer was given not to the Russians, but to the Armenians.

Nevertheless, the RA decided to use its own provocation for the next actualization of the topic of Russia's failure to fulfill its allied obligations. "Not only does the Russian peacekeeping contingent not ensure the smooth functioning of the Lachin corridor, but it also accompanies the Azerbaijani flag near the Khakari bridge," Vahagn Aleksanyan, deputy from the ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia, said on the air of the Public Television of Armenia.

He will never say that the checkpoint on the Lachin road is completely legal. Even after the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh economic region and enclaves. Yes, Aleksanyan looks like the author of an absurd conclusion, but he is not the first, he is not the last such person in the Armenian parliament.

The truth is that Azerbaijan has the right to establish BCP on its territory. The truth is also that the need for this checkpoint was proved by Armenia itself and the Karabakh separatists. For, in Baku, cases of transportation along the Lachin road, from Armenia to Khankendi, of weapons and ammunition have been recorded more than once. It was important to cover this shop. And she was covered.

At the same time, a sufficient number of Armenians have already used the services of the Lachin BCP, passing through passport control there. This caused hysteria among the Armenian opposition and the world Armenians, who recruited politicians and journalists in different countries of the world. They, in turn, replicated lies about a "humanitarian catastrophe" in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. Time has proven the ludicrousness of such false statements.

But what do we see now? The attempt of the Armenian leadership to blame its internal problems, its failures in foreign policy... Russia and the opposition. And the same deputy from the ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia, Vahagn Aleksanyan, pointed out that the Armenian opposition is activated not because of the internal political situation, but because they are organized by external forces.

There is progress in the negotiations on a peace treaty, it is obvious that in specific geopolitical points there is dissatisfaction with where the negotiations are taking place. There are forces that are not interested in Armenia resolving their conflicts. They provoke internal political tension in Armenia, pay attention during which negotiations the opposition becomes more active. Has it ever happened that there were negotiations in Moscow and the opposition would become more active? No. But when negotiations are held in another country, the opposition is ready to stand up and save the homeland," the Armenian MP said.

The hint is more than transparent. A hint that the Armenian opposition is financed from the Russian Federation, receiving directives from there. I note that in this matter he is right. Suffice it to recall the Moscow intruder, the Russian-Armenian oligarch Ruben Vardanyan. He is so connected with the Russian Federation that he even moved somehow in the car of Russian peacekeepers, hiding under a pile of dirty laundry.

Yes, many other Armenian oppositionists are focused on Russia and do not hide this, including the former Karabakh separatist, the second president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. But the essence of the matter is different. It is that we see an attempt by the current Armenian authorities to explain their failures exclusively by the Russian factor, and this is already a miserable manipulation.

After all, it was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan who shouted in the center of Yerevan that "Karabakh is Armenia and that's it." As a result, he provoked a 44-day war, the defeat in which forced official Yerevan to come to terms with the inevitable. What we are seeing today from official Yerevan is the consequences of that defeat, the recognition of the inability of the RA to prevent the strengthening of Azerbaijan's positions. Only and everything. No matter what grievances against Russia are voiced by the members of the ruling party in the Republic of Armenia.

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18 June 2023 17:48 (UTC+04:00)

There are forces in Armenia whose personal interests depend on the existence of a conflict with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing Trend.

The former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza told local media outlet, commenting on the escalation of the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

"These are revanchist extreme nationalists, members of the Dashnaktsutyun, whose US branch, the Armenian National Committee of America, constantly spreads messages of hatred towards Azerbaijan and Turkiye. It was they who blocked my appointment as ambassador to Azerbaijan," he said.

Revanchists, whether in Armenia or the United States, know that the absence of peace with Azerbaijan will bring them more political and financial dividends, Bryza said.

"But I think we will still see the process moving forward thanks to the very fruitful mediation of European Council President Charles Michel, as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken," he concluded.

Note that on June 15, 2023, at 08:45, as a result of shelling from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan, who served at the Lachin BCP, was wounded.

The enemy firing point was suppressed by return fire, and the situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units.

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18 June 2023 11:06 (UTC+04:00)

According to the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 18, 2007, every year June 18 is celebrated as the National Human Rights Day in Azerbaijan.

In Azerbaijan, which follows the path of democracy and development, human rights are protected by the Constitution of 1995. Article 12 of the Constitution states that ensuring human rights and freedoms is the supreme objective of the State. On June 18, 1998, National Leader Heydar Aliyev approved "State Program on the Protection of Human Rights". This year marks the 25th anniversary of the approval of the first strategic document in the field of human rights in Azerbaijan.

Over the past years, huge reforms have been carried out to adapt the legal system of Azerbaijan to international standards in the human rights field, and to develop and implement a new strategy of cooperation with international organizations. Various UN agencies operating in the field of promotion and protection of human rights, as well as the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, are among these organizations.

Azerbaijan is considered an example of tolerance, peaceful coexistence of representatives of various religious and ethnic groups in the world. Within the framework of the Baku Process initiated by Azerbaijan in 2008, numerous World Forums on Intercultural Dialogue, Baku International Humanitarian Forum and other international events were held in our country. In 2016, Azerbaijan hosted the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue which is regularly organized in Azerbaijan is recognized as a key global platform for promoting intercultural dialogue.

Along with the measures taken in the country to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms, Azerbaijan contributes to the international human rights protection system. Azerbaijan was among the first members of the UN Human Rights Council established in 2006 and assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2014.

At the initiative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the resolution on Missing Persons which is put forward every two years at the sessions of the UN General Assembly since 2002, the resolution titled Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which was put forward by Azerbaijan as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement at the sessions of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, resolution titled Promoting human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals through transparent, accountable and efficient public services delivery at the Human Rights Council were adopted unanimously.

Joint statements made at the initiative of Azerbaijan on the impact of landmines on human rights, the importance of promoting cultural diversity in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, the role of education in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance were supported by numerous states.

On the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th Anniversary of "State Program for the Protection of Human Rights", the Republic of Azerbaijan remains committed to the principles of universality, interdependence, and indivisibility of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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18 June 2023 11:41 (UTC+04:00)

The information disseminated by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia that on June 18 from 03:20 to 04:10 (GMT+4), units of the Azerbaijani army allegedly fired at the positions of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Basarkechar and Shamshaddin districts from small arms of various calibers is a lie and does not correspond to reality, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

"We categorically deny this information," - the statement said.

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18 June 2023 15:35 (UTC+04:00)

The Western Azerbaijan Community, an organization dedicated to uniting Azerbaijani refugees from Armenia and advocating for their right to return, hosted a meeting today with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Recognizing the importance of international support in facilitating return process, the Community had previously reached out to the United Nations Secretary General, seeking the assistance by the UN and that of its specialized organizations.

The exchange of views during the meeting covered a range of topics, including repatriation, reintegration, the solution to the problems of the refugees, and the forthcoming commemoration of the World Refugee Day.

The Western Azerbaijan Community commends the UNHCR for its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of refugees worldwide.

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18 June 2023 16:12 (UTC+04:00)

On June 18, commemoration ceremonies dedicated to the anniversary of the rise of the National Hero of Azerbaijan Mubariz Ibrahimov to the top of the martyrdom, who sacrificed his life for the defense of Azerbaijani territories, were held, Azernews reports.

During the ceremonies, the servicemen visited the grave of the hero, laid wreaths and flowers and honored his memory.

The bas-relief of the National Hero in the Tartar city was also visited and flowers were laid.

Speakers at the commemoration ceremonies noted that Azerbaijan is historically distinguished by its heroes, and spoke about examples of bravery and courage shown by M. Ibrahimov. It was brought to attention that the hero, who sacrificed his life for the Motherland and set an example for the youth with his step, had a strong feeling of patriotism and fighting spirit.

It was noted that the courage shown by M. Ibrahimov was highly appreciated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev. M. Ibrahimov, after his death, was awarded the title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan by the relevant Order of the head of state.

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18 June 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00)

Saudi Arabia has dispatched a new plane loaded with humanitarian aid for the victims of the Feb. 6 earthquakes that killed thousands in Turkiye and Syria, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

A plane loaded with 90 tons of medical materials landed on Saturday at Gaziantep Airport in Turkiye, the state news agency SPA reported.

The aid is part of the Saudi relief airlift launched by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to help the quake victims in Turkiye and Syria, it added.

It has been the 17th plane to have been sent by Saudi Arabia for the quake victims in the two countries.

More than 50,000 people were killed in two powerful earthquakes that struck southern Turkiye on Feb. 6.

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude quakes that were centered in Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck in less than 10 hours.

Following the earthquake disaster, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center launched a donation drive on Feb. 8 for the quake victims in Turkiye and Syria.

On Wednesday, the Qatar Red Crescent Society launched a donation campaign for establishing the Hayat Sehir city in Istanbul, to house orphans affected by the earthquake that struck southern Turkiye.

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18 June 2023 18:55 (UTC+04:00)

Zekeriye Cerit, the so-called Turkmenistan director of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), and another fugitive terrorist was arrested in Istanbul, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Upon a tip off that the terrorists would flee abroad, two separate operations were carried out by the General Directorate of Security and Turkish anti-terror police, according to information received by Anadolu.

During the operation, Zekeriye Cerit, who is on the "Wanted for Terrorism" list, was arrested in Istanbul for laundering money belonging to the organization in FETO-owned associations and for being the director of a terrorist organization in Turkmenistan.

Also, $3,300 and 180 in cash, fake identity cards and a large number of digital materials were seized.

FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Turkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 injured.

Turkiye accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

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18 June 2023 19:25 (UTC+04:00)

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Norway Adil Tursunov met with County Governor of Rogaland Bent Hie, Mayor of Bergen Linn Kristin Engo, Deputy Mayor of Stavanger Dagny Sunnana Hausken and Deputy Mayor of Time municipality Petter Lorentz Stabel, Azernews reports,citing Kazinform.

The Ambassador informed about the political reforms in Kazakhstan being implemented on the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the economic potential of our country. The parties considered prospects of Kazakh-Norwegian interregional cooperation and discussed plans for organizing joint business events in the cities of Stavanger and Bergen focused on oil and gas, green technologies, renewable energy sources, aquaculture, agriculture as well as promotion of trade through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazinform learnt from the Foreign Ministrys press service.

The possibilities of implementing joint projects between the two countries were discussed during the visit of the Kazakh diplomat to such companies in Western Norway as Ennox Technology, StormGeo and Framo Group.

At the meeting with Rector of the University of Stavanger, Klaus Mohn, the Kazakh Ambassador found points of dialogue on higher education, in particular, on the opening of branches of foreign universities in Kazakhstan, academic exchanges, staff training, partnerships between universities and participation in educational fairs.

Ambassador Tursunov also met with Kazakh children who took part in the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger. They showed a hard struggle for the prize-winning places of the tournament, despite that one of them at the age of four years became the youngest participant of the competition.

With the assistance of the head of the Bike for Peace movement Tore Naerland, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan held a meeting with the Nei Til Atomvapen organization (NTA  No to Nuclear Weapons) in the city of Bryne. The meeting was dedicated to Kazakhstans present-day development and the efforts of President Tokayev in the field of international security, further promotion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation processes.

In general, the trip showed broad prospects and the growing interest of the Norwegian regions in getting acquainted with our country. The parties agreed to intensify interregional cooperation across the entire spectrum of the bilateral relations and to organize business events in Stavanger and Bergen in the fall of this year.

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Tourists enjoy a water jet boat ride in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, as Korea issued the first heat wave advisory of the year in 13 regions across the country, including Seoul and surrounding eastern Gyeonggi Province. The scorching heat is expected to continue this week with the maximum temperature on Monday forecast to hit 35 degrees Celsius. Yonhap
18 June 2023 21:15 (UTC+04:00)

Carabinieri police on Sunday began a new thorough inspection of a formerly occupied building in Florence where a 5-year-old Peruvian girl who disappeared on June 10 lived with her family after the premises were cleared of squatters on Saturday, Azernews reports, citing ANSA.

The search of the former Astor hotel in Via Maragliano in the the Novoli district of the Tuscan capital involved members of the Carabinieri's Special Intervention Group (Gis), which is specialised in the use of high-tech equipment.

On Saturday 17 families totalling 54 people including 19 minors mostly of Romanian and Peruvian origin were evicted from the building after taking up illegal residence there last September.

One was the family of Kataleya, who went missing after playing with a neighbour's daughter on the afternoon of Saturday June 10.

Her mother sounded the alarm when she came home from work shortly after and found she was not there.

Law enforcement and firefighters have carried out a massive search for the girl, but so far no trace of her has been found.

One of the possibilities under examination is that the girl was kidnapped by adults.

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Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.
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Participants of the 15th Daegu Queer Culture Festival carry banners and flags while marching on the street in Daegu, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Cho Hye-yoon



Conservative mayor-led city government attempts to prevent march, clashes with police



By Lee Hae-rin



DAEGU  Korea's southern conservative stronghold of Daegu saw an unwavering will to celebrate the identity and integrity of sexual minorities, Saturday, despite strong opposition from the city mayor and conservative Christian protesters.



The 15th Daegu Queer Culture Festival (DQCF), held in the city's central area of Banwol Intersection on Dongseong-ro, was the first of eight local Pride festivals to be held across the country under the theme of "We, Already."



This year's festival began with an unusual face-off between the local government and the police.



Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a longtime member of the main conservative People Power Party (PPP), argued that the festival promoted an "inappropriate sexual culture" among younger generations, thereby compromising the rights of the "sexual majority."



His comments came after a group of Daegu's Christian churches and merchants filed an injunction application to block the DQCF, which was dismissed by the Daegu District Court.



On Saturday morning, Hong deployed around 450 public servants to stop festival organizers from setting up facilities and taking to the street to march earlier in the morning, claiming it is "illegal" and somehow disrupts citizens' "right to movement."



However, his attempt was stopped by around 1,500 police officers, as Daegu Police Agency said that they would protect the event organizers' and participants' constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression.



"This parade and festival today is not illegal. We (organizers) followed due procedures to file a notice of assembly in advance and this stage and these booths that you're enjoying are registered items of the assembly that should be rightfully protected by the police," said Bae Jin-kyo, the chairperson of the DQCF organizing committee.



"Let's not lose to the hate groups. Let's dance with pride, resist discrimination while also having fun, and march through the city center of hyper-conservative Daegu," Bae said, which was responded to with cheers and applause from the hundreds in the audience.



The celebration was joined by people from all walks of life, including LGBTQ communities and allies in support of LGBTQ rights from all across the country, with Korean and foreign nationals alike in attendance.



"I just wanted to come out and show my support," said Carrie Green, 31, a Daegu-based English teacher from the U.S. told The Korea Times during the event. "We should be able to celebrate who we are and who we love without having to be scared," she said, adding that the annual pride festival in her conservative hometown Texas also has grown to settle as a popular celebration despite opposition and she hopes the same for Daegu Pride.



Daegu, the fourth-most populated city in Korea with around 2.4 million people, has been a conservative political stronghold and is well known for its patriarchal culture along with neighboring Gyeongsang Province



Since the festival started in 2009, the region saw opposition, being particularly fiercer in nature than others. Christian groups always held rallies next to the festival, while some anti-protesters made hate speeches and committed physical violence against participants, while also damaging their property. On many occasions, the local police were criticized for acting like bystanders during clashes.



In response, the DQCF organizers filed a petition to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in May 2019 against the local police. NHRCK recommended that the chief of the Daegu Police Agency protect the group's freedom to assemble. Bae gave a presentation on the significance of the Pride festival and LGBTQ rights to local police officers, and since then the organizers and police have cooperated to ensure the safety of the event.





Police officers stop Christian protesters holding homophobic placards during the 15th Daegu Queer Culture Festival, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Cho Hye-yoon



On Saturday, the annual event saw its regular opponents, the Christian groups attending from the beginning until the end  midday to 6 p.m.



Every protester's attempt to enter the event venue was stopped by the police in the area. "Homosexuality is a sin and you are being politically manipulated," screamed a man dressed as Jesus carrying a red cross, which was greeted with cheers from the festival's participants dressed in rainbow colors.



The event featured booths operated by local LGBTQ and human rights advocacy groups, artists, minor liberal political parties and diplomatic missions in Korea, including the embassies of Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Switzerland.



No casualties were reported during and after the parade, as hundreds marched through the city center.





Participants of the 15th Daegu Queer Culture Festival look around booths operated by local human rights groups, artists and embassies in Daegu, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Cho Hye-yoon
Leigh Sewell quit her role as president of two Bon Secours hospitals last month. Her next move? Become the franchisee of an upscale boutique, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported June 16.

Ms. Sewell served Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health for 17 years before announcing her departure May 12. She had been helming Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville, Va., and Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock, Va., but decided it was time to start her next chapter and "just pulled the trigger," she told the newspaper.

She plans to open a franchise of Monkee's, a women's clothing and accessory boutique, in Richmond, Va. She first stumbled across the boutique while visiting her daughter at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and called the corporate team to ask about franchising.

Ms. Sewell, who has led multiple hospitals since 2018, intends to incorporate her healthcare roots into the new endeavor. She plans to host "shop with a doc" sessions, where customers can hear a brief presentation at the store from a female physician, then mingle and chat with her.
Nicola joined NI actor Jamie Dornan at a Netflix event in Brazil this weekend.

Coughlan's character looks set to undergo a friends-to-romance story in the new season

Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington) and James Newton (Colin Bridgerton) in the new series of Bridgerton

The latest season of hit Netflix series Bridgerton will be scandalous, magical and romantic former Derry Girls actor Nicola Coughlan has revealed.

Coughlan entertained fans of the show at Tudum: A Global Fan Event at Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday and revealed early photos revealed from the eagerly anticipated Season 3 of the series which is set to hit screens soon.

Everyone should come here because you can make everyone feel like Beyonce. This is the best place, an excited Coughlan  who played Claire in Derry Girls  told a screaming crowd.

Nicola Coughlan

"The Bridgerton fandom is one of the most passionate in the world and I know you are dying to know whats to come in Season 3.

"This season Penelope returns to London determined to become a new woman with a new independence and determination.

"I can promise you quite the scandalous season and we cannot wait to take you along for the carriage ride.

"Both Colin and Pen have done some growing up and only time will tell how their friendship will develop. I can promise you are in for a magical and romantic season.

Coughlan's character looks set to undergo a friends-to-romance story in the new season

The Co Galway native plays the role of Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton, who is embroiled in a friends-to-lovers romance with world traveller Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton.

L-R Alia Bhatt, Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan.

Photos of the fetching couple were shown at Tudum: A Global Fan Event, where Coughlan and Dornan were joined by thousands of fans in person as well as those watching online streams.

Coughlan is also due to star in the highly-anticipated new Barbie movie which is released in July.

The event showcased Netflix news, exclusive first looks, trailers and clips of fan-favourite shows.

Also attending the event was NI actor Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey, Kenneth Branaghs Belfast) who was plugging American spy thriller Heart of Stone. The movie also stars Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot.

Last month, the actor could be seen in the trailer for Sir Kenneth Branaghs latest film A Haunting in Venice.

The trailer sees the Northern Ireland star reunited with some of his Belfast co-stars.

Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, both of whom stared in Sir Branaghs semi-autobiographical Oscar winner Belfast, feature in the film with the duo set to play father and son again.
Children were shipped off to Australian to ease the burden on UK orphanages and to boost the populations of the colonies.

Jon McCourt (centre) on Bloody Sunday. A teenager standing against the fence had just been shot and the boy close behind him would be shot moments later.

One of Northern Irelands most high-profile campaigners for abuse victims has declined an MBE nomination, saying that as a proud Derryman he could not with integrity and conscience accept it.

Jon McCourt, from the campaign group Survivors (North West), has been a pillar of the long-running campaign to secure redress for victims of historical institutional abuse and to get an apology from the State and churches responsible.

The Cabinet Office wrote to Mr McCourt explaining that the Prime Minister was going to recommend him to His Majesty The King for the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday 2023 Honours List.

Explaining his reasons for declining the award, Mr McCourt cited the role of British Empire in the Child Migrant Act.

He also recalled witnessing the horrors of Bloody Sunday in his hometown when 13 people were shot dead (a 14th man died later) and the fact one of the soldiers involved that day was awarded an MBE.

I am pleased that the work we have been engaged in on behalf of victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse has been recognised by the Government, Mr McCourt said.

It was a privilege to work with many representatives across the political spectrum to ensure that the long search for justice for some of the most vulnerable children in our society, abused while in the care of the State and religious institutions, would finally be achieved through the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 and The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) 2019.

Children were shipped off to Australian to ease the burden on UK orphanages and to boost the populations of the colonies.

Among the thousands of victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse who will have seen our efforts as a successful campaign are many who were stolen as children and ripped from their homeland, most never to return, under the Child Migrant Act as part of the propagation of Empire.

Having spoken to some of them, and heard their heart-wrenching experiences of lost family ties, brutality and abuse, my thoughts as I write this are especially with them.

Particularly Peggy Gibson from Derry, transported as an orphan, who gave a statement to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry cataloguing that brutality only to discover on a visit to Derry in her later years that she was not an orphan when she was removed from the Nazareth House in Derry, but sadly her mother and her brother had died before she returned.

He continued: As well as acknowledging those who suffered under the Child Migrant Scheme stolen from here with the sole purpose of the propagation of Empire, the photograph is another personal reason.

I'm in the middle of the photograph. Against the fence on my left I'd a 16-year-old boy who has just been shot, the boy behind me would be shot next and my friend would be murdered in front of me while he lay already mortally wounded on the kerb, feet in front of me on Bloody Sunday.

Jon McCourt (centre) on Bloody Sunday. A teenager standing against the fence had just been shot and the boy close behind him would be shot moments later.

The King is the Honorary Colonel in Chief of the regiment responsible. One of the soldiers involved was also awarded an MBE.

I appreciate the intention of the nomination, for me the work on the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry and our role was sufficiently recognised in the passing of the legislation at Stormont and Westminster bringing justice and acknowledgement for thousands of victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.

However, as an Irishman and particularly as a Derry man I could not with any integrity and conscience accept an MBE. Therefore I am declining the offer.

Despite declining the MBE title, Mr McCourt said he was pleased for the recognition of his work and that of other campaigners.

The campaign for justice for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse crossed the religious and political divide in this country, Mr McCourt said.

They were clear at the outset they were not seeking an inquiry into solely Catholic-run institutions.

Victims and survivors came from a broad section of State and religious Institutions each with their own traumatic experience to recall.

We stayed away, I believe successfully, from anything political that would have detracted from our cause, Mr McCourt explained.

Just as the HIA Report was due to be released, the Executive collapsed in 2017, which caused significant delay in establishing the redress process and again in 2022, just ahead of the long awaited apology. Although frustrated, we remained patient and dignified, acting as persuaders and trusting that we would eventually conclude the journey we had been on since 2009.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken, centre, secured a visit to Washington by Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

The United States and China have failed to overcome their most serious disagreements but were able to discuss them in a potentially constructive way and have agreed to continue talks, US officials have said.

The officials said US secretary of state Antony Blinken was able, during a nearly six-hour meeting, to secure a visit to Washington by Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. But they said progress on other issues remained a work in progress.

Mr Blinken, the highest-level American official to visit China since US president Joe Biden took office, will have more senior level contacts with Chinese counterparts on Monday, including potentially with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

Despite Mr Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital and the relatively upbeat assessment of Sundays meeting, the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies remain slim.

Mr Blinkens trip follows his postponement of plans to visit China in February after the shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US.

His talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Mr Biden and Mr Xi.

Mr Blinken is welcomed to Beijing by foreign ministry official Yang Tao, centre, and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

He finished the first of two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that were fuelling the opioid crisis in the US.

Mr Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

US officials said Mr Blinken posed each of these points, though neither side had shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

The US wanted to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China could co-operate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino/US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi said to Mr Gates.

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Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Since the cancellation of Mr Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister travelled to the US. And Mr Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Mr Wang in Vienna in May.

But these have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing was attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.
US secretary of state arrives in Beijing in effort to cool US-China tensions(Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early on Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding US-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

Mr Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon.

He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February after a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over the US.

Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

Mr Blinken plans to meet with Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to US officials.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi agreed to Mr Blinkens trip early at a meeting last year in Bali.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russias war in Ukraine.

US officials said before Mr Blinkens departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.

Shortly before leaving, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corporation co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi said to Mr Gates.

Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Mr Biden told White House reporters on Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how  to get along.
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting discussing plans to organize the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern port city of Busan, in May, 2022. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol will give a speech promoting Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo during a general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international body in charge of overseeing the event, in Paris this week, his office said Sunday.



Yoon will deliver the speech in English on Tuesday, the first day of the two-day assembly to be held in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris.



Korea is bidding to host the Expo in its southeastern city of Busan in a competition against Rome, Italy; Odesa, Ukraine; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.



"President Yoon Suk Yeol, who will appear as the last speaker, plans to conduct the presentation in English, and by strongly expressing the Republic of Korea's commitment to hosting the World Expo in Busan, draw the enthusiastic response and support of member states," the presidential office said in a press release, referring to Korea by its formal name.



This will be the fourth presentation ahead of the announcement of the winning bid in November. Other speakers from the Korean side will include rapper Psy, members of academia and chiefs of startup businesses.



Karina of K-pop girl group aespa and soprano Sumi Jo will also take part virtually.



Following a demonstration of K-content's "overwhelming" power during the third presentation, the Korean delegation will again fill the 30-something minutes allotted to it with various videos and presentations to make a case for why Busan should host the Expo in front of delegates from the 179 BIE member states, the presidential office said. (Yonhap)


In 1907, a theft at Dublin Castle ended up becoming a global story when the precious Irish Crown Jewels went missing. Scotland Yard, psychics and even the author of Sherlock Holmes were drafted in 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.
Unionists are demanding to know why Sinn Fein continues to turn up for meetings of the body in charge of the day-to-day running of Parliament Buildings  even though the party has lost its vote.

As a result, the party is unable to block the placing of an Ulster-shaped centenary stone within the grounds of Parliament Buildings for a second time which it has described as bizarre.

Despite this, Sinn Feins Pat Sheehan has continued to attend meetings of the Assembly Commission.

A final decision on the location of the centenary stone is expected this week with DUP leaders Jeffrey Donaldson, Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie and TUV chief Jim Allister planning a public ceremony later in the summer.

An initial request for a stone marking NI's Centenary was rejected in 2021 after Sinn Fein argued that no artefact should reflect only one political perspective.

At the time, in a joint statement, the three unionist leaders said Sinn Feins decision to oppose the project had caused "great hurt" in the unionist community.

Pat Sheehan

Sinn Fein lost its voting rights on the commission when the party's Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd became infrastructure minister.

The party was left unable to nominate a replacement assembly member because the power-sharing institutions were not functioning.

A fresh request for the stone was then given the go-ahead with the SDLP not opposing the move.

Unionists have tabled formal questions asking on what basis Pat Sheehan had been attending commission meetings.

TUV leader Jim Allister inquired whether he was still being allowed voting rights and argued his attendance was not consistent with the body's own standing orders.

Jeffrey Donaldson

Sunday Life contacted Pat Sheehan and Sinn Fein but got no response.

However, a spokesperson for the Assembly Commission said the assembly member was attending in line with a previously agreed procedure which was fully compliant with standing orders.

A reply to Mr Allister the spokesperson said Mr Sheehan could not vote at meetings but "it has been the practice throughout the lifetime of the Assembly that a representative from each of the five main parties (can attend).

"This is to ensure that the Assembly Commission considers the views of the vast majority of the Assembly when making decisions".

It said the Assembly had faced the situation of a vacancy arising at a time when the Assembly was not sitting "so the vacancy could not be filled".

That was in 2019 when the then Deputy First Minister the late Martin McGuinness pulled out of office after DUP leader Arlene Foster refused to stand aside for a period over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.

Even earlier after the resignation of SDLP veteran Alex Attwood, his party was allowed to nominate ColinMcGrath.

After the appointment of John O'Dowd as a minister "the Commission agreed to follow the previous convention and invite SF to nominate a member. SF nominated Pat Sheehan.

Sinn Fein previously said it had opposed a stone which celebrated partition and added: "It is bizarre that three unionist parties are focussed on a stone while the Assembly is being blocked from doing business on the real issues affecting the lives of all our people such as restoring the Executive, passing vital legislation, tackling health waiting lists and supporting workers and families through a cost of living crisis."
East Belfast man who claimed to be loyalist enforcer has been taunting police while on the run for two weeks
The NI-linked family of Marsha McDonnell have spoken of their pain at the murderers attention seeking

Serial killer Levi Bellfield will be allowed to marry in prison (Met Police/PA)

The family of a serial killers victim, whose father is from Northern Ireland, have slammed the murderers jailhouse wedding as attention seeking loser behaviour.

Marsha McDonnell, whose father Phil McDonnell is a businessman from Fermanagh, was bludgeoned to death by Levi Bellfield in Hampton, England, in February 2003.

Bellfield (55) is currently serving two whole life orders for the murders of Milly Dowler, Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, all committed in the early 2000s.

The evil brute is reportedly being allowed to marry a besotted visitor in jail after winning a human rights tussle with prison bosses, sparking fury among the bereaved.

Marsha McDonnell

Belfast-born Mr McDonnell (74) said: He can rot in hell as far as I'm concerned.

There are many ways I'd have loved to have gotten my hands on him for what he did to my daughter.

The businessman, who grew up in Enniskillen, became a prominent member of Ulster's music scene from the 1960s until the 1980s while acting as tour manager for established international artists including Fleetwood Mac.

He worked alongside Ulster music royalty in Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher and is now director of Horizon Event Cargo, an international shipping agency providing services for touring rock bands.

Amelie Delagrange, left, and Amanda (known as Milly) Dowler, centre, and Marsha McDonnell, right (Family handouts/PA)

Marshas brother Jack told Sunday Life he was sickened by the revelations about Bellfields intended nuptials and insisted the vile killer was just looking for attention.

He said: This isnt the first time this guy has done something like this to try and get his 15 minutes of fame again.

Hes very clearly a narcissist constantly wanting attention, hes rotting in prison and no one gives a f*** about that guy.

As far as getting peoples attention, yeah we hear about this stuff for five minutes and then we forget about it and move on with our lives, it doesnt really matter to us.

Its just loser behaviour, its all for attention, without a doubt. He converted to Islam at one point and I was told about that as if I should care about what hes doing.

The fact that news even made it to me is ridiculous, I cant believe the fact there is even an audience for this stuff, what this f***ing guy is doing.

Jack McDonnell

Bellfield has been threatening legal action to be allowed to marry his partner in Frankland Prison, Co Durham, for some time and last week won a bid to be granted up to 30,000 of legal aid in the case.

It was reported last week prison bosses would acquiesce to the demand after his lawyers cited their clients human rights as well the Marriage Act of 1983.

This has led to fury among victims, cops and the public.

Marsha was found yards from her home in Hampton, south west London, after she returned from a trip to the cinema. She spent two days in hospital before dying of horrific brain injuries.

Bellfield is the only prisoner in the UK ever to be handed two whole life orders and is imprisoned without the possibility of parole.
The woman identified herself only as the identical twin of Olufunke Alade

The woman identified herself only as the identical twin of Olufunke Alade

The identical twin sister of a nurse who was struck off for slapping a vulnerable child patient says the nurse intends to appeal the decision.

Olufunke Alade, from south Belfast, was booted out of the nursing profession for pinning down and later slapping a 17-year-old girl in an ugly incident on a psychiatric ward.

The nurse had previously been convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court in August last year of assaulting the young woman, described as Patient A, before being struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council earlier this month.

After she was barred from the profession by the NMC, Sunday Life called to her door to ask her questions about the affair. A woman claiming to be Alades identical twin sister, but who refused to identify herself, answered and initially told our man, Leave me alone, before slamming the door in his face.

However, as our reporter was walking away the mystery woman called him back and said: She lives here but shes not around, shes my identical twin sister.

The whole family is very upset about it, the newspapers could have come and asked her what happened before printing all that stuff, she didnt get a chance to give her side of the story.

She is very upset because they didnt ask her about it but she is going to appeal anyway, it was not very nice for her to go through.

When asked to identify herself, she said: I dont want to give you my name.

The woman identified herself only as the identical twin of Olufunke Alade

On Friday, June 2, a fitness to practice committee at the NMC ruled Ms Alades behaviour was unacceptable and barred her from the profession.

This incident was of a serious nature against a vulnerable minor, it said.

The panel was of the view that the findings in this particular case demonstrate that your actions were so serious that to allow you to continue practising would undermine public confidence in the profession and in the NMC as a regulatory body.

The panel said it took into account the following aggravating features:

Serious assault involving an extremely vulnerable 17-year-old patient detained in a psychiatric unit;

Alade, who qualified in 2004, had experience and could expect high levels of disruption and challenging behaviour from patients;

Abuse of a position of trust between the nurse and patient relationship;

Lack of insight into failings and into the impact of your behaviour on the patient, the patients family and the wider nursing profession;

Patient A was caused real harm as a result of Alades actions.

The incident happened on October 15, 2021, at the Belfast Trusts Beechcroft Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Care Unit at the old Forster Green Hospital site at Saintfield Road.

The case against Alade was that she inappropriately restrained and physically assaulted Patient A.

The NMC case put by Laura Holgate was that Patient A pulled off staff nurse Alades headscarf and refused to return it to her.

The NMC representative argued: You then left and returned to the Psychiatric ICU with another member of staff and requested that a colleague use management of actual or potential aggression (MAPA) techniques to allow you to retrieve the headscarf.

However, that staff member refused to do this, stating that it would be an inappropriate use of MAPA.

When you asked Patient A to return the headscarf, Patient A ran to her bedroom, and you followed her. A colleague followed and is said to have observed you pinning down Patient A on her bed with her knee, holding Patient As shoulder while you attempted to retrieve the headscarf.

The colleague asked you to leave the area and said that they would retrieve the headscarf when the situation settled. It is alleged that you declined to leave the PICU area and that a member of staff attempted to redirect and de-escalate the situation.

You struck Patient A across the face. Patient A is then said to have spat on you, and you then struck Patient A across the face again. Following this, you were escorted from the area and later asked to leave the premises.

Ms Holgate said Alade pleaded guilty to assaulting Patient A in August 2022 and the following month, received a community service order for 40 hours and a one-year probation order.
Trio appear over sickening litany of alleged sex crimes

This is one of three pensioners due to stand trial accused of controlling prostitution and human trafficking.

Robert Rodgers faces seven charges of allegedly exploiting women sexually for gain spanning more than eight years.

The 77-year-old is accused of inciting one woman to become a prostitute sometime between February 2015 and April 2016.

Rodgers is also charged with controlling the same womans prostitution for gain for himself or a third party between February 2015 and June last year.

He is further charged with controlling another alleged prostitutes activities and of trafficking the woman between January 2015 and September 2020.

Rodgers, of the Antrim Road in north Belfast, is also charged with the same offences against a third woman between May and September 2020.

Belfast Crown Court

During a brief hearing at Belfast Crown on Thursday, he entered not guilty pleas to all the alleged offences and was released on continuing bail.

At the same court two men also appeared on a lengthy list of charges in relation to the same case.

One is Oliver James MacCormack, whose address was only given as Maghaberry Prison.

The 70-year-old faces a total of 65 charges, to which he each pleaded not guilty as they were put to him, namely:

21 counts of human trafficking;

12 counts of controlling prostitution for gain for himself or a third party;

Seven counts of rape;

Seven counts of paying for sexual services;

Five counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin and cocaine;

Three counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of sexual offences including rape and sexual assault;

Two counts of sexual assault.

He also faces single counts each of inciting a woman to become a prostitute, attempting to choke or suffocate a woman into unconsciousness to allow her to be raped, intimidation of a witness, perverting the course of justice, causing a person to engage in a sexual act, paying for sexual services, offering to supply a class A drug and arranging for the payment of sexual services of a woman with a belief that she would be sexually assaulted.

Robert Rodgers

All of the charges against MacCormack are alleged to have been committed on dates between January 2015 and June last.

Standing alongside him in the dock was Kenneth Harvey, of Killynure Road in Carryduff, Co Down, but who is now being held in prison on remand.

Harvey (62) is accused of trafficking a woman for exploitation on dates unknown between May and September 2020.

He is also accused of inciting the same woman to become a prostitute between May and June that year and controlled her activities as a prostitute for gain between May and December 2020.

Harvey is also alleged to have attempted to pay the same woman for sex and of raping the same woman on dates unknown in May 2020.

He is further accused of trafficking another woman for exploitation, controlling her as a prostitute, sexually assaulting and raping her on dates unknown between March 2015 and September 2020.

Harvey is also alleged to have trafficked a third woman for exploitation and to have controlled her activities as a prostitute for gain between March 2020 and April this year. In addition to the human trafficking and controlling prostitution charges, Harvey also faces two counts of paying for sex between September 2020 and 2021; and March 2021 and April 2022.

As the charges were put to him Harvey replied not guilty to each one. After hearing the pleas, His Honour Judge Mark Reel adjourned all matters for trial preparation and listed all three cases for review on July 3.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), speaks during a policy consultation meeting between the PPP and top government officials held at the prime minister's official residence in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap



The government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) agreed Sunday to enact a special bill aimed at expanding the disclosure of personal data of violent crime assailants to the public, in response to heightened public concern over a series of heinous crimes.



The agreement was discussed during a policy consultation meeting between the PPP and top government officials, including Prime Minster Han Deok-soo and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon.



According to the agreement, the plan will further include suspects involved in grave crimes, such as terrorism, organized gangs, drugs, and sex crimes targeting children, as well as violence targeting random female victims.



Rep. Yoo Sang-bum, a PPP spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting that the goal of the bill is to expand the scope of disclosure, as the two sides "acknowledge the gravity of heinous crimes."



The bill would also involve disclosing the mug shots of suspects, which are photographic portraits of individuals from the shoulders up.



The decision comes amid increasing public concern over a series of high-profile violent crimes targeting random individuals and socially vulnerable groups. One notable case is the so-called "spin kick" assailant in the southeastern port city of Busan.



The male assailant was handed down a 20-year-prison term in an appellate ruling Sunday for indiscriminately assaulting a woman in her 20s near her home in central Busan. He was convicted of following the victim, to whom he had no personal connection, and knocking her out with a roundhouse kick to the back of the head, and then kept assaulting her until she passed out.



The proposed bill will also broaden the definition of a suspect to include "a suspect following the indictment."



Additionally, the bill will specify that the photos of criminals to be disclosed to the public must have been taken within the previous 30 days. The move aims to address criticism that many of the photos currently provided are often unrecognizable. (Yonhap)




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I once knew a man whose father had abandoned him, his mother, and his four siblings when he was just a small child. Life in poverty with an alcoholic father had not been easy, but it became exponentially harder without a father at all. For over thirty years, they never heard a word from him. One day, the father walked back into his mothers life, asking her forgiveness, and confessing that he had lived with another woman for all those years. The mans mother had never remarried; it took some time, but eventually and to the surprise of her adult children, she did forgive him, took him back as her husband, and renewed her wedding vows.

Despite his mothers decision, the man struggled with anger, resentment, and at times, hate for the father who had abandoned him. He was cordial to his fathers face, but held onto the bitterness, unwilling to forgive. One morning, however, God confronted the man about his own hard heart. He tells the story that as he was praying in church, he heard a voice as if someone was standing next to him. It was so sudden and startling that he opened his eyes and looked to either side. The voice asked, So, do you want me to forgive you? In his mind, he answered, Yes. The voice, which by now he recognized as Gods Spirit speaking to him through his conscience, said, Why should I forgive you when you wont forgive your father?

As you can imagine, God made His point clear. The man decided then and there to forgive his father; he described it as a load lifted. Incidentally, this occurred after the mans father had passed away. While he had missed the opportunity to tell him face to face (on this side of eternity), the act of forgiveness still worked in his own heart. He has hope to meet his father in heaven, where they can be reconciled personally.

Our salvation depends on trusting that God has forgiven us. Who are we to withhold forgiveness for those who have hurt us? Our life is temporary; our struggles and pain will one day end. We will enjoy eternity in heaven because Jesus made it possible for our sins to be forgiven by the Father. Our Heavenly Father has set the example.

Do you want hope for broken relationships? Look at what your true Father did for you. Forgiveness is the path to reconciliation and redemption. We of all people have hope because we are forgiven. This is not only the message and means of the gospel, but also the evidence that the gospel has taken root in us.

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Photo credit: Unsplash/Kevin Delvecchio
 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

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 Final Thought: Leaving money to kids, charities & friends

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Bridging the gap between users, developers, and policymakers

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has launched the National Centre for Assistive Health Technologies (NCAHT), an initiative of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), to boost research and development in assistive technologies (AT), focusing on rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and the elderly.

The TTK Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) is implementing this initiative at IIT-M. NCAHT will be a showcase centre that enables R&D in assistive technologies. It envisages user empowerment by showing the possibilities through technology, minimising unconscious bias in the minds of engineers/assistive technology developers, policymakers, general public and paving the way for better AT solutions and policies.

Co-developed with IIT-M Research Parks 10X Assistive Technology Programme, NCAHT is designed to foster increased social inclusion and serves as an immersive experience centre, underscoring the transformative power of assistive devices for users, policymakers, rehabilitation professionals, and innovators.

NCAHT will demonstrate the real-life challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the elderly through various experience zones. Additionally, NCAHT features an Innovation Hub for User-centric Design, a Wheelchair Skills Lab, an Open Innovation Portal, a Policy Research Desk, and a Dissemination Centre, all aimed at cultivating an assistive technology ecosystem that complements the research, design, and development efforts at R2D2.


By Choe Chong-dae



Despite some of my colleagues encouraging me to take a trip abroad, I instead decided recently to explore Gurye, South Jeolla Province. This picturesque county is home to two magnificent temples that I couldn't resist visiting  Hwaeom Temple and Yeongok Temple. After a comfortable journey on a KTX train from Seoul, which took about two hours, I arrived in Gurye, ready to immerse myself in the beauty and serenity of these historic temples.



Nestled at the foot of Mount Jiri, Hwaeom Temple, also known as Flower Garland Temple, was founded in 554 by the Buddhist monk Yeongi-josa, who is believed to have come from India. This esteemed temple is home to numerous culturally significant treasures. Notable among these treasures is the Stone Lantern located at Gakhwangjeon Hall, the impressive East and West Five-story Stone Pagodas and the majestic Stone Lion Pagoda positioned in front of Wontongjeon Hall.



One particular feature that captivated me was the remarkable Four Lion Three-story Stone Pagoda situated in the enchanting northwestern region of the monastery. It consists of a three-story structure on a two-story platform, showcasing intricate carvings and designs.



The lower platform of the pagoda showcases exquisite carvings of Apsaras, celestial beings that perform a variety of art forms such as music, dance and praise. The intricate carvings of the Apsaras reflect the deep appreciation our ancestors held for music.



On the upper platform, four majestic lions are positioned at the corners. The first story of the main body showcases a carved door, where the sides are adorned with statues of Benevolent Kings, the Four Guardian Kings and Bodhisattvas. This distinctive pagoda represents the rich heritage and architectural brilliance of the monastery.



Yeongok Temple, established in 543, is situated in the picturesque Piagol Valley within Jirisan National Park. The valley's enchanting red-tinted autumn leaves have captivated numerous visitors, giving rise to the renowned adage credited to Confucian scholar Nammyeong Jo Sik (1501-72): "One cannot truly claim to have witnessed the beauty of autumn leaves without beholding the splendor of Piagol's fall foliage." The temple proudly houses valuable cultural artifacts including the East Stupa, the North Stupa, the Three-Story Stone Pagoda and the Stele for Master Hyeongak. Each treasure holds its own significant story, contributing to the temple's rich legacy.



Gurye, with its precious cultural heritage sites, holds more than just ancient historical significance. The legacy of Ahn Jong-sam (1903-77), the police chief of Gurye during the 1950-53 Korean War, continues to inspire admiration and captivate my heart. Ahn's remarkable act of saving 480 civilians from unjust execution stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and compassion.



In the face of orders to carry out the execution of prisoners suspected of being pro-North Korean leftists, Ahn recognized their innocence and, risking his own life, made the courageous and humanitarian decision to release them. This act of defiance set him apart from the government's widespread disregard for due process, while shining a light on his moral integrity and unwavering principles.



Ahn's selfless and extraordinary actions were not in vain, as he was rightfully promoted for his bravery. Today, his memory is honored by a statue in the yard of the Gurye police station, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of justice and compassion in our society. His story continues to inspire generations, carrying a timeless message of humanity triumphing over adversity.



The unwavering determination and compassionate endeavors of Police Chief Ahn have left an indelible impression on me. With such an admirable legacy in mind, I am convinced that Gurye is a destination worthy of a visit.





Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.


More than three years after the U.S. stopped sending taxpayer dollars to fund coronavirus experiments on bats in China, 27 Chinese laboratories  including some run by the Chinese Communist Party  are still eligible for U.S. government funding for research on animals, according to a new review of Congressional Research Service data provided to Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

The ongoing debate over COVIDs origins, including U.S. intelligence agencies belief that the virus likely or could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has spurred far more Washington scrutiny of U.S. funding of various research programs in China and Russia. Over the last year, Congress has broadened the effort, working to limit or altogether end U.S. financial support for research projects in all countries regarded as foreign adversaries.

In late May, an analysis by Ernst and the watchdog group Open the Books found that the American research institutes had sent Chinese and Russian entities at least $1.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars over five years for various programs, including several at the Wuhan lab, as well as experiments forcing cats to run on treadmills in Russia and a gender-equality New Yorker cartoon exhibition in Beijing.

The CRS data showed that $490 million in U.S. grants and contracts were paid to Chinese entities, while another $780 million went to Russian entities. Before Ernsts efforts, the Government Accountability Office estimated that the U.S. sent just $48 million to Chinese entities over the five-year period examined, from 2017 to 2021.

Another outside group, the White Coat Waste Project, which seeks to end government-funded animal experiments and first exposed the U.S. financing of the coronavirus research in Wuhan, has since reviewed all the U.S.-funded research programs over that five-year period.

A White Coat Waste review of the CRS data, released to RealClearPolitics this week, found that the University of Illinois spent $123,552 of a $1.6 million NIH grant on a Kremlin-linked project at a Russian fur farm that killed foxes, and that the University of Southern California channeled $576,453 of a $1.9 million NIH grant to Chinas Peking University for deadly experiments on mice.

It also showed that Microsoft co-founder Paul Allens Seattle-based Allen Institute sent $993,000 of a $64.7 million NIH grant to Wuhans Huazhong University of Science and Technology for a deadly experiment on baby mice. In addition, Emory University shipped $515,418 of a $38.6 million Health and Human Services contract to the CCP-linked Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, which houses one of Chinas dangerous high-containment bio-agent labs.


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Last month, global attention was drawn to the southern Irish States proposed hate speech laws, owing to online commentary on the new bill from high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr. and Jordan B Peterson.

Allowing for someone to be convicted for merely possessing hateful material  which could be something as simple as an internet meme - without even distributing it, the new legislation, if passed, will effectively create thought crimes in what is a supposed democratic western state.

Domestic critics of the bill have expressed concern that it will stifle debate on the introduction of gender ideology to the school curriculum, citing the recent case of Enoch Burke as an example. Burke, a teacher at the prestigious Wilsons Hospital boarding school in County Westmeath, was imprisoned for three months last year over his refusal to not attend the school following his suspension over a dispute relating to the use of they/them pronouns on a student.

There have also been concerns expressed that the new legislation will be used to censor critics of the 26-County States immigration policy.

Since last November, using emotive coverage of the war in Ukraine as a cover, the southern Irish government has placed hundreds of male migrants into wildly unsuitable locations such as an inner city office block and childrens primary school, leading to protests by local residents over the lack of consultation with community representatives beforehand, the unsuitability of the chosen locations, and the lack of transparency on whether those placed in said locations had been vetted or not.

Protests, that in a similar vein to last years Canadian Freedom Convoy, have drawn widespread condemnation from the 26 County political establishment as being organised by the far-right, with Leo Varadkar, like Justin Trudeau, also being a WEF Young Global leader.

The spotlight was shone once again on the new legislation this week when Pauline OReilly, a Senator and chairwoman of the ruling coalitions Green Party, announced, in dystopian fashion, that the purpose of the bill was to restrict freedom for the common good, her comments drawing attention from as far afield as Fox News and acclaimed US journalist Glenn Greenwald.

One facet of the new legislation that has been overlooked by most onlookers however, is the section related to the denial or condoning of war crimes, which with an increased push amongst the 26 County political establishment for the State to join NATO amidst the ongoing Russian operation in Ukraine, may soon become one of its most relevant.

Since the launch of the Russian intervention last February, the southern Irish State has, in lockstep with the rest of the collective west, condemned what it calls an unprovoked invasion.

What has been conveniently omitted from this description however, is the almost nine years of western provocations that preceded it, beginning with the November 2013 US and British-instigated Maidan coup, the use of anti-Russian extremist elements such as Right Sector and Azov Battalion to wage a bloody war on the predominantly ethnic Russian Donbass region, and the revelation that the US was producing bioweapons on Russias borders.

Key details related to the conflict that, under the new legislation, could soon be made illegal to publicly disclose in the 26 County State.

Indeed, this would tie in with Leinster Houses desire to join NATO, a view not shared by the majority of the Irish public. This has not hindered the 26 Counties anti-Russian policies however, with a number of Russian diplomats expelled in the weeks following Moscows intervention; a step noticeably never taken by the southern Irish state towards US Diplomats over Washingtons conflicts in Iraq and Syria, or indeed, British Diplomats over British Intelligences role in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

Now, with the strong possibility that a Nord Stream-style false flag attack off the Irish coast is imminent, the criminalisation of facts related to Russias military operation in Ukraine, may soon be used to clear the path towards NATO membership for the south of Ireland.






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The pharmaceutical industry is depleting horseshoe crab populations along the U.S. Atlantic coast with limited accountability  and serious environmental consequences, NPR reported this week.

Drugmakers use a product derived from horseshoe crab blood to test vaccines, injectable medicines and medical devices before injecting them into humans. The product tests for the presence of endotoxins, a toxin found in some bacteria that can cause inflammation, fever, sepsis or death.

The horseshoe crabs bright blue blood contains a substance called limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) that detects the harmful bacterial toxins and captures them in blood clots. No other natural substance is known to work as well to detect the toxins.

A synthetic alternative exists, but unlike in some other countries, U.S. regulators have not established standards for its use industry-wide.

That means the key medical test is dependent on a single animal, whose already precarious existence  the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2016 listed horseshoe crabs in the U.S. as vulnerable to extinction  can be further threatened by events like the COVID-19 pandemic demand for mass vaccine production.

A finite source with a potentially infinite demand

Scientists discovered the horseshoe crab bloods unique capacity in the 1960s, and in 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the endotoxin test using horseshoe crab blood.

To meet Big Pharmas growing demand since the 1990s, an industry exploded around the collection and bleeding of the animals. Today, five major corporations harvest the blood along the east coast of the U.S.

The companies harvest the animals when they come to shore to spawn. Crabs caught in nets from trawling and dredging fisheries are not subject to regulations, which creates loopholes that make it possible for the companies to harvest and kill more crabs.

Lab technicians pierce their hearts and drain up to half their blood before releasing the animals back into the sea.

LAL labs claim that the vast majority of crabs recover. But research shows the bleeding appears to make the animals more lethargic, slower and less likely to follow the tides like their unbled counterparts do.

As a result, 30% or more of them die and many others never make it to shore to lay the eggs needed to reproduce the population and that serve as food for a wide range of migratory birds and marine life.

Despite demands for industry regulation by environmental groups, some limited legislative protections and successful lawsuits limiting horseshoe crab harvests in a few key locations, the amount of blood harvested by the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry from the animals grows every year.

Habitat loss and overharvesting have affected the 475-million-year-old species in the past, but the massive growth of the pharmaceutical industry seriously threatens the species.

The five corporations operating in South Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland reportedly drained the blood of more than 700,000 crabs in 2021, which NPR reported is more than any other year since officials started keeping track in 2004.

Larry Niles, a wildlife biologist and leader of the nonprofit Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition (HCRC), which unites different organizations into a single concerted effort to end the killing of horseshoe crabs on the Atlantic coast, told The Defender those industry numbers severely undercount the number of harvested crabs.

Horseshoe crabs are a finite source with a potentially infinite demand and those two things are mutually exclusive, Allen Burgenson, of Swiss biotech Lonza, told Agence France-Presse last year. Lonza produces the LAL test and also has developed a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood.

Prioritizing money over the health of the stock

Horseshoe crabs are one of the oldest species on the planet. They are considered a keystone species, which means many other species depend on the horseshoe crab for survival. Their nutrient-rich eggs are an important food source for migratory birds and marine animals.

The rufa red knot, a federally listed shorebird species at risk of extinction, relies on horseshoe crab eggs for food during its annual 9,000-mile migration from Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina to its breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic.

But pressures from harvesting crabs for bait, habitat loss and biomedical bleeding have led to a 60% crash in the population along the Atlantic coast over the last 25 years. As a result, shorebird and fishery populations have also crashed. About 94% of red knots have disappeared over the past 40 years.

And despite recent harvest regulations, horseshoe crab populations have not increased, according to the HCRC.

Niles said part of the problem is that horseshoe crabs are treated as if they have no value  data is not collected on them in any systematic way and they are not protected.

He said:

The reality is that the bleeding companies who are extracting the blood and the lysate from the blood are making hundreds of millions of dollars off of the east coast horseshoe crabs because theyre able to hide all the data, including the value.

It perpetuates this myth that the crab is worthless, but in fact, its very likely the most valuable fishery on the Atlantic coast. 

Yet the agencies are treating it like its valueless.

And given pharmas resources, it is hard to fight them, Niles said.

Were up against this system that really prioritizes money over the health of the stock, he said, adding that along the East Coast, every fishery is essentially stressed to the breaking point.

Shadowy practices and limited regulation

NPR reported that the horseshoe crab industry falls into a regulatory gray area because they arent regulated by fisheries or by biomedical regulations  and the regulations that do exist for the treatment of crabs are largely unenforced.

There are best practices that function as guidelines, but audio recordings of industry meetings obtained by NPR indicate that companies involved in harvesting show little concern for following the non-binding guidelines.

Niles said regulations for protecting marine life are much looser than those protecting terrestrial wildlife. For terrestrial animals, he said, corporations have to prove their practices wont damage the population.

But for fisheries, he said, its the opposite. If you think that they are destroying a population, you have to develop the data to prove it.

HCRC has developed its own best practices guidelines and says if the practices were implemented, they would actually preserve and re-grow the crab populations. The group is working to get the industry to incorporate them.

The horseshoe crab blood extraction industry is dominated by giant multinational firms like the Japanese Fujifilm and Charles River Laboratories, a $22 billion publicly traded pharmaceutical company that provides half of the worlds supply of the horseshoe blood-derived test.

In April, a South Carolina District Court issued an injunction against Charles River Laboratories, prohibiting them from harvesting horseshoe crabs during the 2023 season on key red knot migration stopover beaches in South Carolina, in response to a lawsuit brought by the Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation groups against Charles River Laboratories.

The injunction also stopped the labs practice of keeping crabs in holding ponds prior to bleeding them, where they cannot spawn, so the migratory birds have no access to food.

This settlement is a welcome reprieve for the threatened red knot, Ben Prater, Defenders of Wildlife Southeast program director, said in a press release.

For years, Charles River Laboratories has overharvested horseshoe crabs, depleting a vital food source for red knots. As these long-distance migrants return to the shores of South Carolina this month we are grateful they now have a better chance to thrive.

But NPR reported that Charles River was responding by simply moving operations elsewhere. It also reported that when it requested annual reports from states where the bleeding was based, the company shared only highly redacted information, which makes it difficult to assess collection and mortality numbers for the crabs.

Are high profit margins on horseshoe crab blood hindering progress on synthetic alternative?

There is a synthetic alternative, called recombinant factor C (rFC), which can be used to test for endotoxins.

The European Pharmacopoeia has confirmed that it is a reliable alternative, but the U.S. Pharmacopoeial Convention (USP)  the nonprofit scientific organization that sets the legally recognized standards for the strength, purity and quality of medicines manufactured and distributed in the U.S.  has not yet approved it.

Environmental groups like HCRC and Revive and Restore say the transition to this synthetic alternative is essential for protecting the species.

Biologists Jeak L. Ding and Bo Ho, from the National University of Singapore, produced rFC in yeast. They licensed the process to Lonza, which brought it to market as PyroGene. A German company named Hyglos has been working on another synthetic endotoxin detector.

Wildlife nonprofit Revive and Restore reports that the patent for rFC was initially withheld from production after it was created because the profit margins on horseshoe crab blood are so high  it sells for approximately $29,000 per quart.

Some of the corporations that harvest horseshoe crabs also manufacture and sell the synthetic alternative, but Charles River doesnt and it continues to lobby to expand its harvest territory, The State reported last year.

A 2020 paper by rFC creator Ding and her colleagues said that the continued production and use of the horseshoe crab-harvested LAL has been a barrier to the production of rFC.

Others indicate most pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. have not turned to a synthetic alternative because of their reluctance to go through the regulatory process. Regulators like the FDA follow the USP guidelines. Shifting to an alternative method requires additional testing to show the method is equivalent to the existing approved LAL method.

A recent op-ed by environmentalist, horseshoe crab expert and author Deborah Cramer in The New York Times faults the USP for repeatedly and inexplicably failing to set standards for the use of rFC in the U.S.

The USP has proposed two sets of standards since 2019 but failed to approve them and the committee responsible for the approval was dismissed last year. A new one has been convened.

If USP approves standards, drug makers can use the synthetic test without having to go through the lengthy process of winning approval by the FDA, according to Cramer.

She wrote that according to Pfizer, a green light from USP would save drugmakers weeks of laboratory validation tests and documentation for every new product and subsequent F.D.A. regulatory review and approval.

Eli Lilly is currently the only U.S. pharmaceutical company using rFC and it has gone through the FDA regulatory review process.

Biotech and biopharmaceutical companies and venture capitalists interviewed for the Times op-ed all indicated they are eager to enter the new market.
Facebooks parent company Meta is trying to walk back its policy to censor Covid misinformation as the Big Tech giant battles loss in trust among its users.

As Slay News reported earlier, Meta CEO Marck Zuckerberg admitted last week that Facebooks so-called fact-checkers have been censoring information that was actually true.

Zuckerberg revealed that Metas top social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, were censoring skepticism about the Covid pandemic without any real evidence that the claims were false.

Much of that so-called misinformation has since been proved either true or debatable, however.

Zuckerberg admitted that the corporate media and Big Tech were wrong to censor skepticism.

The efforts by social media platforms to censor their users really undermines trust, Zuckerberg noted.

On Friday, Meta announced that its lifting its controversial and damaging censorship policy.

Starting in 2020, Facebook, along with other social media companies such as Twitter, started censoring any posts that dissented from the official government/corporate media narrative on Covid and Big Pharma vaccines.

Claims that were challenged by establishment groups, particularly about vaccines, propagated like wildfire, prompting the platforms to batten down the hatches.

However, much of the content that was targeted for censorship later turned out to be true and should have been part of the critical debate.

In many cases, theories and opinions from renowned experts were removed from social media after being deemed misinformation by failed journalists parading as fact-checkers.

These heavy-handed measures have now backfired, however, as the Covid censorship policies censored truthful information and undermined credibility in institutions.

Nevertheless, Metas back-peddling comes with a qualifier.

The company clarified that the censorship policy will remain in place for nations still supposedly in the grip of Covid.

Meta stated in a blog post that the censorship policy will still be enforced in countries that still have public health emergencies in place.

We are consulting with health experts to understand which claims and categories of misinformation could continue to pose this risk, the company said.
Mateo Ventura, an 18-year-old resident of Wakefield, Massachusetts, has been arrested and charged with knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources for a foreign terrorist organization. The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing Ventura of providing financial support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

On the surface this story may appear to be another win for the so-called War on Terror, launched by former President George W. Bush in the days after the 9/11 attacks. However, even a cursory look at this case reveals the tell-tale signs of entrapment organized by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

As The Intercept notes, the DOJs own criminal complaint indicates that Ventura never funded ISIS, or any other alleged terror group. The only contact Ventura made was an undercover FBI agent who posed as a terrorist and befriended the 16-year old. The agent subsequently convinced Ventura to send him gift cards as donations to the alleged terror group. He also instructed the young man not to tell anyone about their online communications.

Mateo Venturas father, Paul Ventura, told The Intercept that his son suffered from childhood developmental issues and left school are being bullied by other students.

He was born prematurely, he had brain development issues. I had the school do a neurosurgery evaluation on him and they said his brain was underdeveloped, Ventura said. He was suffering endless bullying at school with other kids taking food off his plate, tripping him in the hallway, humiliating him, laughing at him.

The criminal complaint makes it clear that Ventura gave the undercover FBI agent gift cards in increments of just $25. Over a period of two years, Ventura sent small amounts of money via gaming sites Steam, PlayStation Network, and Google Play. Altogether, he sent $965 as a minor, and $705 after he turned 18-years old.

The interaction between 16-year old Ventura and the FBI began in 2021 after they paid a visit to his family, warning his father he was looking up dangerous websites. In August 2021, an FBI agent starting communicating with Ventura online. The FBI alleges that Ventura was interested in hijrah, a migration towards territories controlled by ISIS.

The FBI agent spoke in broken English while pretending to be a member of ISIS, at one point telling Ventura he was strong and Look (sic) like lion after the young man sent a video of himself with a beard.

Ultimately, Ventura was told he could help ISIS by sending the gift card transactions. However, the FBI agent wanted to convince Ventura to make a trip to travel to join ISIS. However, several times Ventura made up excuses not to go.

The Intercept notes that in September 2022, 17-year old Ventura told the agent that he could no longer go for hijrah, because he had been hurt very bad in fall and can no longer walk. The FBIs own investigation concluded that Ventura made up the injury to avoid taking the trip.

Finally, in January 2023, Ventura reached out to the undercover FBI agent again and apologized for not communicating for months. Ventura claimed to want to travel to ISIS territory to potentially train or fight. Ventura sent another gift card and on April 10 of 2023 booked a flight to Egypt.

However, rather than taking the flight, Ventura called the FBIs National Threat Operations Center and attempted to turn in the undercover FBI agent impersonating an ISIS terrorist. Ventura spoke erratically and demanded the FBI pay him millions of dollars for information related to terrorism.

Now Ventura has been arrested and is being held under suspicion of being a terrorist. His father told reporters that his son is being railroaded.

Clearly, Mateo Ventura was dealing with bullying and mental health issues. He did not have the means to join ISIS or even a contact with anyone in ISIS or another terrorist group. As we have seen time and time again, the FBI manipulates vulnerable individuals and walks them into fake scenarios which they can label as terrorism, while the media reports another win for the now-Domestic War on Terror.

A History of FBI Entrapment

Its worth noting that this practice has been happening for years. In fact, only a decade ago mainstream media outlets acknowledged the controversy surrounding the FBIs tactics. A decade later and these tactics appear to be accepted or ignored by most Americans.

In 2012, Rolling Stones Rick Perlstein wrote a piece entitled How FBI Entrapment Is Inventing Terrorists  and Letting Bad Guys Off the Hook questioning the motives of the bureau. That same year The New York Times even took a bold stance with David Shiplers piece, Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I. Shipler wrote:

This is legal, but is it legitimate? Without the F.B.I., would the culprits commit violence on their own? Is cultivating potential terrorists the best use of the manpower designed to find the real ones? Judging by their official answers, the F.B.I. and the Justice Department are sure of themselves  too sure, perhaps.

The article details the way entrapment efforts disguised as counter-terrorism usually start: with an individual making comments to friends, or through online postings, before being approached by an informant who encourages them to take their speech to the next level. Since 9/11 these types of stings have become commonplace  so much so that in America today, merely discussing the possibility of violence with an informant can warrant an arrest.

Recorded conversations show, contrary to claims by the Justice Department, that suspects are not always warned about the consequences of their actions and are, in fact, sometimes told by their informants to continue their efforts.

One of many examples of these shady practices involves the group known as the Cleveland 5. In October 2011, the FBI sent an unnamed informant, known as a confidential human source, or CHS, to infiltrate Occupy Cleveland in hopes of finding potential terrorists. The FBI sent in a career criminal convicted of at least six charges, including robbery, to investigate the Occupy group and potential criminal activity and threats involving anarchists who would be attending. The CHS found five men with anti-government sentiments and began encouraging them to consider various acts of terrorism.

Under the encouragement of the CHS the group plotted to blow up a bridge in Ohio on April 30, 2012. The CHS reportedly took the men from discussing knocking down bank signs to discussing buying C4 explosives, promising them fake license plates and alibis to soothe their fears of being arrested and sent to Guantanamo. The CHS repeatedly pressed the men to consider buying the explosives in the weeks leading up to the arrest. One of the 5, Connor Stevens, was actually recorded rejecting violent tactics, saying, Its actually harder to be non-violent than it is to do stuff like that.

Eventually, though, the group was persuaded to buy explosives and upon attempting to make use of the dummy explosives, which had been provided by another FBI informant, they were arrested. The men received sentences ranging from six to 11 years.

Yet another example involves the so-called Christmas Tree Bomber, Mohamed Mohamud, who was convicted of attempting to blow up a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon in 2010.

Mohamud, a Somali-American student who was 19 at the time of the incident, was told he would be participating in a bombing with two al-Qaida recruiters. The recruiters ended up being informants for the FBI and the bomb was a fake. In 2014 Mohamud would be sentenced to 30 years in prison. The arrest and sentence lead many activists and members of the Muslim community to question whether the FBI had gone too far and possibly created a terrorist out of thin air.

In 2016, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments related to surveillance and possible entrapment of Mohamud. In 2013 Counter Punch reported:

Almost nothing about this scenario was true. The cell phone wasnt connected to the toggle switch. The detonation cords werent wired to an explosive device. The blue drums werent filled with diesel-saturated fertilizer, but harmless grass seed. Mohamed wasnt a member of al Qaeda. Of Somali origin, he was a troubled college dropout from Beaverton, Oregon, home of Nike. Youssef wasnt a member of al Qaeda. Hussein was not one of al Qaedas top bomb makers. Youssef and Hussein were not really arrested and neither was charged with being part of a terrorist plot. Youssef and Hussein were both federal agents.

CounterPunch also noted (and court records show) that Mohamed Mohamud did not seek out the bomb plotters; they found him and seduced the young man into joining their conspiracy.

We can even look at more recent cases of claimed domestic terrorism, like the alleged attempted kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer It was only a matter of time before word got out that the FBI was up to its usual tactics, using criminal informants to attempt to create terrorism.

The reality is that the U.S. government  in an attempt to justify the bloated War of Terror budget and satisfy the Military-Industrial-Complex  has perfected the use of counter-terror strategies. These strategies include infiltration, division, distraction, and entrapment of isolated individuals who otherwise would likely never pose any real threat.

The U.S. government sees its own people as potential enemies because the uniparty is determined to erase individual liberty in their quest for complete Technocratic control. They will use any means  pandemics, terrorism, otherworldly threats, or climate changes  to keep the people in a state of perpetual fear while they strip away freedom.


By Casey Lartigue Jr.



I have another reason to thank my critics. The latest update is that they inspired me to re-engage with Harvard University.



As background, I graduated from the Harvard University Extension School (HES) and Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HGSE). I am a former executive editor of the Harvard Crimson newspaper.



For many years I was not in contact with Harvard and might have gone on with my life without it. I gave speeches at the HGSE and Harvard Law School back in 2003, but I went 12 years without visiting Harvard even as a tourist.



Why in 2015 did I accept an invitation to fly from Seoul to Cambridge to speak at an HES symposium? Critics. I saw some cutting comments from critics after I started receiving some attention for my work related to North Korean refugees.



My favorite laugh-out-loud line was from an angry woman who recently said that I must think of myself as "Captain Harvard." Out of the many intended slights, attacks and rude things that people have said about me over the decades, that is by far one of my all-time favorites and worthy of being the title of my future autobiography.



I advise people not to get angry at critics. Many critics are angry, disgruntled, depressed, disappointed in themselves, jealous about others having fun and success, poisoned ideologically or philosophically, etc. Research shows that individuals have about 50,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day, with 90% of them being negative. I didn't respond to the angry woman. Instead, I decided to embrace being "Captain Harvard."



I began contacting people at Harvard University to create opportunities. In-person and online, I have now given almost 20 speeches at four different schools at Harvard University (Harvard Law School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Extension School, Harvard College). I am a Goodwill Ambassador at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a "Crimson Connect" mentor for Harvard students and alumni. Thanks to critics, I got inspired to re-connect with Harvard.



In my latest go-around it seems that one thing leads to another, but it may be that I am more inspired and accomplished this time. On Feb. 1, Jill Felicio of Harvard's Division of Continuing Education interviewed me for the Harvard Extension School's Author Spotlight Series (it started at 2 a.m. Seoul time). Harvard's Ed. Magazine editor Lory Hough watched and contacted me later. Aiden Fitzgerald, one of the magazine's staffers, wrote a feature that made me look so good that even my own mother might have wanted to write a rebuttal.



Things have come full circle. In 2003, I spoke at the first Alumni of Color Conference (AOCC) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At that time, I spoke about my work helping to create and expand education choices for low-income children in the USA, especially Washington, D.C. Twenty years later, on March 3, I spoke about my work empowering North Korean refugees to engage in public speaking.



During that trip in March, I stopped by the Harvard Crimson newspaper. Cara Chung, the Korean-American president of the Crimson, invited me to the Crimson's 150th Anniversary Celebration. Six weeks later, I was back at Harvard, sharing memories with Crimson staffers I worked with decades ago. The VIP was probably Joseph F. Kahn, a former president of the Crimson I worked with who is now executive editor of the New York Times.



During my trip in late April, I was joined by Lee Eun-koo, co-founder with me of Freedom Speakers International (FSI), and bestselling author E Ji-sung. We met with Harvard University professors, staff, and students to talk about a possible conference in the future. We also shared E's latest book about his work rescuing North Korean refugees. I wrapped up that trip with an online speech to the Harvard Club of Seattle.



A few weeks later, back in Seoul, I was the keynote speaker at an online event hosted by the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C. That was event one of two. Next month, the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C., will be holding a dinner event for Freedom Speakers International. I will be joined by FSI co-founder Lee and seven North Korean refugees in our organization.



On June 6, FSI held an event with Harvard students in the Radcliffe Choral Society (RCS) during their trip to South Korea. I am an active member of the Harvard Club of Korea so I met RCS again a few days later.



Thank you, critics, for inspiring me once again. These activities with Harvard University probably would not have happened without your input. Special thanks to the angry woman online who derisively called me "Captain Harvard." I have no plans to write a "Captain Harvard" autobiography, but if critics keep chirping then I may be inspired to do so.





Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is co-founder with Lee Eun-koo of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) and co-author with Han Song-mi of the book "Greenlight to Freedom." He has two diplomas from Harvard University and is a Goodwill Ambassador to the Harvard Graduate School of Education.


Penn Badgley has teased fans about the final season of You, saying he cannot say who his character Joe Goldberg will come up against as he contends with loose ends from his past.

The Gossip Girl star, 36, has been starring in the show as the sociopathic obsessive stalker and serial killer for four seasons since 2018.

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On Saturday, Badgley told Tudum 2023: A Netflix Global Fan Event in Sao Paulo, Brazil: Ive heard youre on the edge of your seats waiting and theorising about the epic conclusion to You.

More importantly, youre considering what or should I say who Joe will come up against as he finally returns to New York.

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So I cant say who just yet, we all know there are many loose ends from Joes past. The question is, who are you?

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The clip showed the characters including therapist Dr Nicky (John Stamos), suburban couple Sherry (Shalita Grant) and Cary Conrad (Travis Van Winkle), Paco (Luca Padovan), Ellie (Jenna Ortega), Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) and Lady Phoebe (Tilly Keeper) seen in flashes on screen.

In the fifth season of You, Joe is set to return to New York where viewers will see him using his original name after faking his own death in previous episodes of the show.

He has not been in the US city since season one where he met and dated Guinevere Beck, played by Once Upon A Time actress Elizabeth Lail, while working as a bookseller.

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Throughout the psychological thriller, he has pursued relationships while contending with his dark impulses in other locations such as London and California.

His latest love interest is gallery manager Kate Galvin, played by Fresh Meat and Call The Midwife actress Charlotte Ritchie, who used her money and connections to get rid of his controversial past at the end of series four.

Based on the best-selling novel by Caroline Kepnes, the show aired on Lifetime in its first season before being taken on by Netflix.

The final season of You will air in 2024.

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Over 2,000 Gardai have been assaulted while on duty over the past seven years, according to a Fine Gael TD.

Deputy Alan Farrell, Fine Gaels Justice spokesperson, said: Gardai put themselves in harms way on a constant basis to protect the people and communities they serve; they deserve our utmost respect and appreciation for the work they do.

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Unfortunately, we have seen steady increase in assaults against Gardai in recent years, with 186 members of the force attacked while on duty this year to the end of May alone.

Deputy Farrell said figures provided to him show from 2015 to December 2022, 2,080 Gardai were assaulted while on active duty.

It includes 509 in the Dublin metropolitan region, while outside of Dublin, Kerry had the highest number of assaults against Gardai with 157 incidents.

In Tipperary 135 Gardai were attacked, while in Waterford and Galway the numbers stood at 156 and 110 respectively.

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These heinous attacks are an attack not just on the individual but on communities as a whole. It is essential that frontline workers are protected while carrying out their roles and that the law reflects and responds to any situation that they find themselves in.

Building stronger, safer communities is one of Minister Helen McEntees central priorities and this of course includes the frontline heroes who protect our communities."

Separate figures he obtained also show that last year saw the highest number of Gardai assaulted over a ten-year period, with 305 members of the force sustaining injury following an assault while on duty.

We also regularly see racially motivated abuse and harassment against Gardai from a minority background with these incidents then posted on social media in some cases.

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"This is reprehensible and must be condemned in the strongest terms, these workers do not deserve to be harassed as they carry out their duty.

Government recently agreed to increase sentences for assaults causing harm to Gardai and emergency service workers, which will enable members of the judiciary to hand down tougher sentences to the perpetrators of these appalling crimes."

Deputy Farrell said bodycams will be vital in terms of protecting gardai Gardai and for evidence of the nature of assaults and incidents that they are facing.

"It also makes little sense that the only individual involved in a confrontation with a member of the force who is without a camera and with footage of the incident is the Gardai themselves," he said.
More than 150,000 was spent last year on refurbishment at Dublins Mansion House including the rehanging of historic curtains, the 7,000 purchase of bespoke long cushions, and the restoration of a 19th century gilded mirror.

A sum of 8,800 was spent by Dublin City Council on secondary glazing to better noise-proof and insulate windows in the Lord Mayors bedroom, work carried out by Timeless Sash Windows.

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Covid concerns resulted in the 7,800 replacement of an air handling unit in the famous Oak Room of the building, an 18th century national monument.

Works carried out over the past three hundred years had meant the Oak Room and its adjoining bar had no natural ventilation with windows and external doors having been blocked up to make room for expansion.

A contract award said: An old air handling unit is in place and was inspected following Covid to check If it met Government Covid guidelines, and it was found not to do this.

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A major repair job to an 18th century plaster ceiling ended up costing almost 20,000 after damage was found to be worse than expected.

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The ceiling had been buried under several layers of paint with removal needed and then the restoration of very fine quality historic plasterwork.

Dry cleaning and rehanging of the carpets after the plasterwork was finished cost a sum of 1,225, according to records released under FOI.

A further 7,000 was spent on the purchase of specially designed long cushions for the Oak Room benches as requested by [the] Mansion House.

The replacement of two castors and repair of lacquer surfaces on a baby grand piano cost 340 while 147 was spent on removing scratches and polishing a window seat.

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Fixing up a rosewood Georgian circular table came with a bill of just under 1,700.

This involved the repair of a brass inlay which was lifting, as well as the replacement of brass inlay strips.

There was spending of 5,250 on specialist cleaning and restoration for the entrance steps to the famous old mansion.

This included fungicide treatment, steam cleaning, as well as works on the granite steps themselves.

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One of the largest bills was for installation of a new safer walkway to allow access to the roof of the building, which cost 48,500.

An email from the company who carried out the works said: Our normal PVC off the shelf system is not suitable for this project due to the narrowing of the roof widths, the fall of the gutters and the unusual widths in many parts of the roof.

A mirror restoration in the Lady Mayoresses Parlour cost 3,300, according to the records.

The gilded mirror, which is from around 1750, was chipped and required specialist works undertaken by the expert Kildare-based gilder Susan Mulhall.

A further 48,407 was spent on ongoing works to provide better accessibility as well as landscaping works, invoices show.

Asked about the expenditure, Dublin City Council said they had no comment to make.
Jemulpo in the late 19th century. Robert Neff Collection.



By Robert Neff



In the summer of 1884, there were a handful of Westerners exploring the Korean Peninsula  one of them was John Baptiste Bernadou, a 24-year-old ensign in the United States Navy temporarily assigned to the legation in Seoul. Part of his responsibilities was to gather material for the Smithsonian Institute  a task that he did admirably well as evidenced by the large collection that can still be found in the museum.



Bernadou arrived at Jemulpo (modern Incheon) aboard the American warship USS Juniata in early 1884. According to the warship's logs, it arrived in the early morning of February 29, but in Bernadou's correspondence to the museum, he claimed he arrived in the port on March 1. They are likely both correct; the ship arrived on the 29th but Bernadou did not go ashore until the following morning. I am amazed at how poorly the log appears to have been maintained as an examination of it reveals that it often lacked annotations of who departed the ship and when. Judging from the log, the crew also had a problem with discipline  a lot of bread and water with leg irons.





USS Juniata in the 1880s. Public Domain  Wikipedia.



Bernadou left the ship and walked to Seoul, arriving at the legation sometime in the afternoon and was given "a warm and courteous reception" by General Lucius H. Foote, the U.S. Minister to Korea and his wife. Foote graciously provided Bernadou with "a house on the U.S. Legation ground" for his use while in Korea and he would dine with the legation's staff.





An engraving of John Baptiste Bernadou. Public Domain  Wikipedia.

Shortly after he arrived, Bernadou began studying Korean with Yun Chi-ho at the American legation. When he wasn't studying the language, he was out exploring Seoul and the surrounding region. He also frequently visited Chemulpo where he collected fish specimens to ship back to the United States.



He lamented not having a camera as he could not "imagine any place where a photographic apparatus could be put to a better use than here. The costumes, buildings, memorial arches, bridges, tombs, shops, etc., would furnish work for many" researchers at the museum. It must have irked him to the degree that there were several people in Seoul who possessed cameras  including two American naval officers. In a plea to be provided with one, he wrote: "a small camera, plates and developing apparatus would, I think, well pay the investment." Unfortunately, his request was not granted.



Everything caught his attention  especially the small knickknacks and curios that he could easily send to the museum. One of the streets near the American legation was often referred to as "Furniture Street" and was a popular place for the handful of Western visitors. In late May, a small number of officers from the American warship, accompanied by Bernadou, wandered through this furniture market.





A group of curious residents of Seoul curiously looking at the cameraman, Percival Lowell, in early 1884. Robert Neff Collection.



According to one of the officers:



"Unlike the Japanese with whom everything is lacquered, lacquer-work is here the exception. But instead, the wood is either dark and finely grained, admitting of a polish like walnut, or rosewood, or it is stained in shades of purple. For the furnishing of houses, that are generally without closets, these cabinet makers furnish bureaus, cabinets and deep chests, all bound and ornamented, handled and hinged with brass and iron. The chests, bound with iron in curious fretwork, and sharply wrought hinges, handles and locks, look not unlike those we see in the Museum of Cluny and other depositories of Mediaeval art. The cabinets are often hinged with brass in the form of butterflies, and the turtle is a favorite decoration  representing longevity  while there is some inlaid work in mother-of-pearl, or abalone shell, which is well done, though inferior to the Japanese art of this character. Their most characteristic work is a long cabinet with sliding panels, which uncover all sorts of doors and recesses and would fit a mantle very well. The panels are made of hardwood and in the centre of each is a silver ornament in the form of a flower, or rosette."



Bernadou was impressed and at some point became a customer. Although he was "picking up [the language] readily with the aid of a native teacher with whom he is closeted five hours daily," I cannot imagine him being able to haggle with one of the many shopkeepers who had the reputation (at least amongst the foreigners) for being cold to potential buyers. His teacher probably assisted him with his transaction.





Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 6: Pyongyang Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 part 5: Gaeseong's bridges and tombs Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 3: Gaeseong, the old capital Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 2: Goyang and Beyond A cabinet and writing desk obtained by Bernadou. The picture was taken by Pierre Louis Jouy in the mid-1880s. Annual Report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institute (1891).

In a letter to his superior at the museum, Bernadou wrote:



"I have several small specimens [of furniture], one in particular being quite good. It was made by a Corean in Soul [sic]. It has, in silver inlaid on copper, the Chinese character, (long life and happiness), repeated a number of times; this is characteristically Corean. The locks, hinges and paneling are all of good workmanship and peculiar."



A cabinet obtained by Bernadou. The picture was taken by Pierre Louis Jouy in the mid-1880s. Annual Report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institute (1891). Two Korean boys use a less-unique technique to shoe a Korean pony. Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection. This is a wonderful publication based upon the "Annual Report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institute (1891)" but uses modern images of the Bernadou Collection and includes his (sometimes mistaken) notes as well as the descriptions provided by his contemporaries and present-day experts. Smithsonian Institution. Books and paintings were also of interest to the American collector. He wasn't the only one searching for interesting manuscripts. According to him, "There are several books of Corean folk-lore; these by the aid of an interpreter have been put into good English by a European here."



It isn't clear who the European was. Horace N. Allen arrived in Korea during the late summer of 1884 and did eventually write a book about Korean folk-lore, but he was an American missionary doctor. It is possible the writer was a German or Austrian member of the Korean Customs Service at Jemulpo or Seoul.



Bernadou, however, managed to find something he considered far more important than a book of fairy tales.



"The most valuable object that I have succeeded in obtaining is a picture book between two and three hundred years old representing scenes in Corean domestic life, and general life of the common people. The pictures are faithful to the minutest details, among them are; a marriage procession, students at an examination, a dancing girl and a band of musicians, weir fishing, shoeing a horse in a manner I think peculiar to Corea (by throwing him upon his back and [tying] his four feet to an upright post."



In later years, Westerners often commented about this unique Korean technique of shoeing horses. One American missionary confessed a very unchristian-like sentiment of enjoying the horse being subject to the pain and discomfort of being shod in this manner as it seemed a fitting punishment for the Korean horses' notorious viciousness to their riders, one another and anything else that had the misfortune of straying too near to their teeth and hooves.



As for animals, he expressed a desire to hire two native hunters in the fall to go out and kill and skin animals  under his direction. A Korean official of high rank promised to assist him with this venture.



But the one thing that he wanted more than animal pelts was skeletons  not animal skeletons, he wanted human skeletons.



"I have been looking anxiously for some way to obtain a skeleton. This is extremely difficult to do, however, as from their [the Koreans'] religion, setting such a high value upon human remains, they are averse to disposing of them. As heads are cut off frequently, I might be able to get the remains of some criminal; but the subject is a very delicate one and I would not act until I felt sure that motive was fully understood."



The frequency of decapitations in the streets was also noted by one of his naval companions when they went for a walk in late March.



"We encountered one ghastly spectacle in the broad street which fronts the palace entrance  the bodies of two criminals, beheaded, and left to decompose by the road side. It is so common a sight it called for no comment, or notice, from the passers by."



I am surprised Bernadou did not approach Fritz W. Schultz, the stuttering German harbor master at Jemulpo who outrageously proposed to the American naval officers to do "a little body-snatching business in the interests of science" at the Korean cemetery near the port. Schultz suggested that "the fruits of [their] labor [were] to be deposited in the museums of America and Germany." The American naval officers declined the offer, but apparently Schultz  or perhaps one of his associates  did disinter some of the graves as there are some Korean skeletons in museums in central Europe. It seems that Bernadou never reached the point where he felt his motive would not be misunderstood because there is no mention of a skeleton on the manifest of goods he sent to the museum.




HB Ice Cream said that they were sorry to disappoint Choc Ice lovers by ending its production.

However, they plan to continue to sell 'classics' such as Iceberger, Brunch, and Loop the Loop.

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"We are happy to say that we have also brought back our chocolate ice cream Feast in time for the sun to shine.

A petition was launched by Choc Ice enthusiast, Neil Cash, who demanded that it be returned to production.

We are asking the people of Ireland to come together and make our voices known, the petition reads. We want to keep the Choc Ice on the shelves (of the freezer).

Independent Councillor Alan Hayes from Dublin, who signed the petition, wrote that the HB Choc Ice was the "original and the best".

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"Why get rid of it? (Why) force people to eat over sized and unnecessarily complex ice creams rather than the simple, retro and uniquely crispy Choc Ice."

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People who have supported the petition include comedy duo The 2 Johnnies and Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae. It has received 1,192 signatures to date.

Meanwhile, Deputy Healy Rae wrote on Twitter that the discontinuation of the Choc Ice was a "shocking" decision and asked was "nothing sacred anymore?." He joked "Do the Greens have anything to do with this?"

When contacted by Newstalk he said one of the first ice creams we can all remember is the Choc Ice.

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Choc Ice are being discontinued, shocking, whats next ?? Is nothing sacred anymore ?



Did the Greens have anything to do with this ? pic.twitter.com/4hP4IZAkzE  Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) June 16, 2023

You broke the hard chocolate layer, you got into the creamy ice cream in the middle, you chewed it up and you mix that layer on the outside with the inner beautiful ice cream.

"This created a sensation in your mouth like nothing before or after, and now to think that it's going from us.

Deputy Healy-Rae said Choc Ices are still in demand, and many people will now rush to buy them because they are being discontinued.

This morning at 7.15am in my shop, I did something I never did before, he said. I sold three Choc Ices to three people in a row, not connected to each other at all.

Obviously they were listening to the news about the demise of the Choc Ice and then decided they better have one for breakfast before theyre gone.
The President has issued a strongly worded warning about deviating from Ireland's traditional policy on neutrality.

Michael D Higgins said the country is "playing with fire" during a dangerous period of "drift" in foreign policy - and should avoid "burying itself in other people's agendas".

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His comments in today's Business Post, come ahead of a Government Forum on International Security, which meets next week in Cork, Galway, and in Dublin.

Mr Higgins said Ireland's policy was one of "positive neutrality".

If you interfere with that, theres no difference between you and Lithuania and Latvia, Mr Higgins said (both Lithuania and Latvia are Nato members).

Thats the fire that people are playing with, he told the outlet.

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He also questioned the selection of speakers at the four-day event.

Government response

In a lengthy statement, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin insisted the Government does not intend to change Ireland's policy of military neutrality.

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However, he also said debate on security and defence policy is necessary.

Since Russias brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which blatantly violated the UN Charter and international law and fundamentally altered the European security environment, every country in Europe has examined and re-examined its foreign, security and defence policies.

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Ireland is no different. To shy away from doing so  or to do so behind closed doors  would have been a fundamental mistake and an abrogation of responsibility.

Ireland has consistently taken multilateralism seriously, and wants to see a strong and effective United Nations. In that context we have a responsibility to hold Russia to account, and to address the implications of its actions for the rules based international system.

It is a fundamental duty of government to address the challenging global situation as it is today."

He said the forum is not a binary discussion on neutrality and was never intended to be.

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The Government have made clear that we do not intend to change Irelands policy of military neutrality.

Fine Gael Minister of State for Business Neale Richmond said Mr Higgins certainly goes close to the line in making the comments.

When I read the reports initially this morning I was a little bit disappointed but I have now come full circle, we want people to engage in this consultative forum. Lets have that debate, lets have that discussion.

People Before Profit Paul Murphy said: "If all the militarists are so sure that Michael D Higgins is acting outside his constitutional role, why don't they go to the courts to stop him?"

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He added: "Funny all the pro-NATO heads saying 'we wouldn't even be allowed into NATO', while simultaneously advocating for all the changes which mean we would be allowed into NATO.

"Do they think people are stupid?"

My opinion is Michael D Higgins has nailed it.

Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry believes the majority of Irish people will back the President.

"My opinion is Michael D Higgins has nailed it... I mean he says the Irish government are playing with fire, I think that's correct. He says Micheal Martin's security forum, which kicks off in Cork on Thursday, is stacked, and I think that's very true as well.

"So any attempt to silence the President on these issues in the next couple of days will cause a big crisis for the Government."
Gardai have launched an investigation after three men were taken to hospital after an assault in Slane, Co Meath on Saturday night.

It is believed the assault took place on the grounds of Slane Castle as a clean-up of the concert site continued.

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Two of the men were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and one was brought to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown with non-life threatening injuries

It is believed that two of the men suffered stab wounds in the incident.

In a statement gardai said they could confirm that they "attended an assault involving three men on the grounds of a premises in Slane, Co. Meath on Saturday night, June 17th, 2023 at approximately 11pm.

"All three males were removed to hospital, two men to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and one man to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown with non-life threatening injuries.

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"Investigations are ongoing"

Speaking about the incident. Local councillor Paddy Meade said: "Slane Village is a wonderful place and is a former winner of the friendliness place in Ireland award.

"Last week, 80,000 people passed through the village for a Harry Styles concert with no incident, and so to hear of such an assault is quite shocking and uncharacteristic for our area.

"My thoughts are with the injured in the hope they all have a full recovery."
Tralee was returning to normal on Sunday after a Saturday afternoon cloudburst which saw huge volumes of water overwhelm drains and gutters and shoppers run for shelter.

University Hospital Kerry remains closed to visitors today after the flash flooding which affected access roads, entrance areas and a number of departments.

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The towns main Dunnes at North Circular Store is also closed today. It suffered roof damage during the torrential rain which lasted for around 45 minutes.

Outgoing mayor of Tralee Councillor Mikey Sheehy said businesses were this morning assessing the damage.

"The volume of water that fell was incredible," he said.

"It lasted for around 45 minutes, and it took around the same time for the waters to subside. Gullies and gutters could not deal with the volumes and buildings with flat roofs were badly affected.

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Most businesses apart from those worst affected would reopen on Monday, Mr Sheehy expected.

Away from the town centre, the Omniplex cinema on the outskirts of Tralee on the Dan Spring Road was badly affected and remains closed.

Incoming mayor of Tralee, Fianna Fail Councillor Johnny Wall said the floods were almost a foot deep in areas of the town centre - and a bucket of water would have been collected in just seconds.

"I never saw rain like it," Mr Wall said.

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 VIDEO: Tralee, Co. Kerry hit by biblical flash flooding pic.twitter.com/Qs29eZAFbl  Irish Times Video (@irishtimesvideo) June 18, 2023

With no rain for up to five weeks in Tralee, sediment had hardened in the sewer and drainage pipes and waste water system and the water had nowhere to go.

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Were the cloudburst to occur today, the system would be free to deal with it as the sediment had been washed away.

Six pipe bands from all over the country were lining up to go on stage at the towns Feile na mBlath festival for a competition when the heavens opened. With just marquees in the park, for shelter, the event was cancelled.

"We had no rain for weeks and this event had been hugely looked forward to," Mr Wall said.

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On Banna Beach there was lightning and the coast guard in Valentia was alerted to organise assistance for two lifeguards. The lifeguards were clearing the beach of bathers because of the lightening threat and were at the waters edge when it struck alongside them, it is understood. They were taken to UHK for observation.

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University Hospital Kerry really took a bad doing in the Tralee floods. Hope all returns to normal soon pic.twitter.com/1hDYtRDBCc  Shane McAuliffe  (@ShaneMcAuliffe1) June 18, 2023

Low-lying Tralee, which is at the confluence of a number of rivers on their way to the bay, is accustomed to flooding, but historically this relates to tidal and winter floods.

Saturdays event which saw water flow into coffee and clothes shops was related to a cloudburst and prolonged heavy rain which lasted for more than 30 minutes. Main streets like Denny Street and Castle Street experienced a river of water.

A spokesman for Kerry County Council said the rain had overwhelmed the drainage system. It was very localised - nearby towns like Castleisland had little or no rain.

Fire and roads crews rushed to the worst affected.

UHK said the hospital remained closed on Sunday to all but compassionate visits and emergency cases.
Two lifeguards who were taken to hospital after a lightning strike in Co Kerry did not suffer any wounds, a leader in Irish water safety has said.

The lightning strike on Banna beach occurred shortly before 4pm.

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A yellow weather warning for Kerry and surrounding counties was issued by Met Eireann at 1:30pm on Saturday, but the lifeguards were still attempting to clear people from the water when the strike happened.

Due to circumstances outside of our control, there will be NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at Banna Beach tomorrow, Sunday 18th June. Those using the beach are advised to be aware of this. Kerry County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused  Kerry County Council - Comhairle Contae Chiarrai (@countykerry) June 17, 2023 Advertisement

Roger Sweeney, Deputy chief executive of Water Safety Ireland, told the PA News Agency that the lifeguards are fine but are being monitored in hospital.

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Thankfully both Lifeguards are fine, with no entry or exit wounds, he said.

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The lightning strike happened on Banna beach in Kerry shortly before 4pm. The Lifeguards had observed flashes of lightning on the horizon and were in the process of clearing the water of people when a strike occurred on the beach, close to both Lifeguards.

They did not suffer any wounds and were taken by ambulance to hospital where they are being monitored.

The beach was closed and Banna Rescue, a local voluntary search and rescue unit which is one of the Community Rescue Boats of Ireland did a great job in continuing to clear the water and sand of visitors.

All lifeguarded beaches in North Kerry were closed as a precaution.

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Video on social media showed flooding in streets across Kerry, with a Dunnes Stores in Tralee being evacuated following intense rainfall.

The University Hospital Kerry said it had been impacted by flooding and a number of areas had closed, with people being advised only to come to the hospital in case of emergency.

STATEMENT: FLOOD DAMAGE



UHK has been impacted by the heavy rain fall in the Tralee area this afternoon Saturday 17th June, 2023.



Management at the hospital have had to close a number of areas in the hospital



Cntd. pic.twitter.com/4Y5Vzmrd4o Advertisement Advertisement  University Hospital Kerry (@hospital_kerry) June 17, 2023

Mr Sweeney advised against being in or near large bodies of water during the type of weather conditions expected in many areas of Ireland over the weekend and gave advice on how to tell how far a thunderstorm is.

If you are in a thunderstorm, cancel any plans to go swimming and if you are swimming, get to shore as quickly as possible, as water conducts electricity, in much the same way as metal pipes and phone lines, he said.

Take shelter. The thunder starts as a shockwave from the lightning. The lightning itself can strike up to 10 miles from the centre of a storm.

Count the seconds between seeing any lightning and hearing thunder. We see lightning first because light travels faster than sound. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound of thunder to travel a mile.

So, when you count the number of seconds between seeing a crack of lightning and hearing the thunder, divide that number by 5 and that is how many miles away the lightning was when it struck. Keep in mind that you should be in a safe place while counting.
Sunday's front pages cover a range of stories from President Michael D Higgins warning of Ireland getting to close to NATO to SIPO ruling against investigating Damien English.

The Business Post lead on an interview with President Michael D Higgins who said Ireland is 'playing with fire' becoming more aligned with NATO.

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Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHklEWC for these stories plus:



 Lorcan Allen on commercial property turbulence



 Vincent Boland on a bad week for populists



 Developers: paying off locals is just 'cost of doing business' pic.twitter.com/quQoshnMqS  Business Post (@businessposthq) June 18, 2023

The Sunday Independent lead with the Standards In Public Office Commission (SIPO) declining to investigate Damien English over an incorrect planning application.

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Sunday Indo P1

- Sipo rules complaint about Damien English planning application 'not of sufficient gravity'. Hugh O'Connell reports

- Ali Bracken speaks exclusively to family of depraved rapist Richard O'Brien. Tough read, but an important story

- Hurling special

- Lots more pic.twitter.com/x8sngm2ar9 Advertisement  Alan English (@AlanEnglish9) June 10, 2023

The front page of tomorrows Sunday Times - subscribe here to read it all online https://t.co/hh3xChZS8i pic.twitter.com/ukTpFCpZfm Advertisement  The Sunday Times Ireland (@ST__Ireland) June 17, 2023

In today's paper:

- EXCL: 'Our son should have stopped Ana's murder' - Boy B parents

- Taoiseach: 'We'll cut tax and increase spending'

- No qualified accountants on HSE audit body as experts resign

And lots more ... pic.twitter.com/rSUHuJt3sC  Irish Mail on Sunday (@IrishMailSunday) June 17, 2023 Advertisement

Meanwhile, in the UK Boris Johnson and partygate continue to take a large chunk of the focus of the nations papers.

The Observer reports allies of Rishi Sunak have dismissed Mr Johnson as just an ex-MP in the wake of the privileges committees report into partygate.

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Staying with partygate, the Sunday Mirror leads with footage emerging from one of the lockdown-busting events.

A member of the privileges committee is also facing an investigation over a lockdown-busting drinks party for his wife, according to the Mail on Sunday.

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Mail on Sunday: Proof Boris accuser did go to party

in lockdown #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QSCUEkkwnj  George Mann  (@sgfmann) June 17, 2023

The Sunday Telegraph says a Cabinet Office inquiry found senior civil servant Sue Gray breached impartiality rules.

The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph:



'Starmer aide Sue Gray broke civil service job rules'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/yOUDislT2M  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 17, 2023

The Sunday Express leads with senior Tories calling on MPs to move on from Mr Johnson and focus on the economy.

Elsewhere, The Sunday Times carries the Prince of Wales launching a project aimed at ending homelessness.

Sunday People reports Jane McDonald is in line to replace Phillip Schofield on Dancing on Ice.

Sunday People: Jane set to Phil in again #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/XSEO5m5BPV  George Mann  (@sgfmann) June 17, 2023

And the Daily Star Sunday says a mum remembered being abducted by aliens after going to therapy.

Daily Star Sunday: I forgot I'd been abducted by aliens #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AnEarQoyW1  George Mann  (@sgfmann) June 17, 2023
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool exploding US-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

He started his mission by meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for an extended discussion on Sunday, to be followed by a working dinner.

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He will have additional talks with Mr Qin, as well as Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping, on Monday.

Neither Mr Blinken nor Mr Qin made any substantive comments to reporters as they began the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is welcomed to Beijing by Foreign Ministry official Yang Tao, centre, and US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

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Despite Mr Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital, the prospect of any significant breakthrough is slim, as already strained ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years.

Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

Mr Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi agreed to Mr Blinkens trip at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the US says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across America which was shot down.

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The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Blinken will also be pressing the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fuelling the opioid crisis in the United States.

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US officials have said Mr Blinken will raise each of these points, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his mission by holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

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Shortly before leaving, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can co-operate to benefit our two countries.

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I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi told Mr Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

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Mr Biden told White House reporters on Saturday he hoped that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how  to get along.

Chances for such a meeting could come at a Group of 20 leaders gathering in New Delhi in September and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in San Francisco in November.

Since the cancellation of Mr Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister visited the US, and Mr Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met Mr Wang in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defence minister rebuffed a request from US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

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Mr Austin said on Friday that he is confident he and his Chinese counterpart will meet at some point in time, but were not there yet.

Underlining the difficulties, China rejected a report by a US security firm, which blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained that the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Mr Qin had in a phone call with Mr Blinken urged the US to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.



Antony Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the US, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks on Friday and agreed to strengthen their defence co-operation, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and ambitions.

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This coincides with the Biden administration signing an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym Aukus (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Chinas foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, issued a statement of cautious optimism as Mr Blinken started his first day of meetings in Beijing.

Hope this meeting can help steer China/US relations back to what the two presidents agreed upon in Bali, she said in a statement on Twitter.

Speaking ahead of Mr Blinkens arrival, two US officials played down hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip is intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said: Intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.
Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials have said.

Russian losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, UK military officials said in their latest assessment.

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According to British intelligence, the most intense fighting has centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut, and further west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 18 June 2023.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/kAqNWJPcea



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/mfO2AfBSy2  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) June 18, 2023 Advertisement

While the update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in these areas and had made small advances, it said that Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in Ukraines south.

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The Ukrainian military said in a regular update on Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours, Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

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According to the statement by the General Staff, Russia continued to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing attacks around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in the countrys Donetsk province, with 26 combat clashes taking place.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two civilians had been killed, with a further three wounded in the past day.

The most intense fighting is said to have centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut (Libkos/AP)

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Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had also launched airstrikes on other regions of the east and south of the country.

One civilian was killed and four more wounded in Kherson province as a result of Russias attacks, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

While Zaporizhzhia regional governor Yurii Malashko said one person had been wounded in Russian attacks that had hit 20 settlements in the province.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky on the Zaporizhzhia battlefront.

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Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in the southwestern Odesa province, said Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in nearby Kherson province.

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South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, was among a delegation of African leaders to meet with Russia president Vladimir Putin in recent days (Evgeny Biyatov/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning, Mr Bratchuk said in a video message on Sunday morning, posted to his Telegram channel.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraines counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 600-mile (1,000km) front line could last a long time.

A group of African leaders have carried out a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia in recent days to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war, but the visit ended on Saturday with no immediate signs of progress.

Meanwhile, the death toll from flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam had risen to 16 in Ukrainian-held territory, Ukraines interior ministry said on Saturday, while Russian officials said 29 people had died in territories controlled by Moscow.

Massive flooding from the destruction of the dam on June 6 devastated towns along the lower Dnieper River in the Kherson region, a front line in the war. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of causing the breach.

The flooding devastated towns along the lower Dnieper River in the Kherson region (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Meanwhile, as the deadline for all Russian volunteer formations to sign contracts with Russias defence ministry approaches, widely seen as targeting Russias Wagner mercenary group, Wagner leader and regular Kremlin critic Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Sunday that 32,000 former prisoners had returned home after the end of their contracts with Wagner in Ukraine.

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According to Mr Prigozhin, 83 crimes were committed by those who had returned home, which he claimed was 80 times less than the number committed by those released from prison over the same period without having served with Wagner.

Mr Prigozhin toured Russian prisons to recruit fighters, promising pardons if they survived a half-year tour of frontline duty with Wagner.

In an interview last month, Mr Prigozhin said he had recruited 50,000 convicts, about 10,000 of whom were killed in Bakhmut.
Pope Francis has resumed his Sunday custom of greeting the public in St Peters Square, two days after being discharged from hospital.

Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for affection, attention and friendship and the assurance of the support of prayer during his hospitalisation for abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital on June 7 to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.

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This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort, Francis told some 15,000 people in the square.

Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart.



Pope Francis thanked the crowd during his appearance (Andrew Medichini/AP)

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The 86-year-old pontiff sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, deviated at times from the prepared speech, and looked happy to be back to his routine.

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While the thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims who regularly turn out for the weekly noon appearance of the pope at a window of the Apostolic Palace usually applaud when they catch sight of him, this time the publics applause seemed louder than usual, with the crowd shouting long live the pope

The three-hour surgery under a general anesthetic had forced Francis to skip the Sunday appearance on June 11.

The pope took the opportunity during his address to note that Tuesday marked World Refugee Day, an occasion promoted by the United Nations.

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With great sadness and so much sorrow I think of the victims of the very grave shipwreck that happened in recent days off the coast of Greece, Francis said.



The crowd gathered in St Peters Square shouted long live the pope (Andrew Medichini/AP)

He was referring to the smugglers overcrowded fishing boat, filled with hundreds of migrants, that sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

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I renew my prayer for all those who lost their life, and I implore that, always, everything possible is done to prevent similar tragedies, the pontiff said.

Some of the 104 survivors said that as many as 750 people had been onboard, leaving the possibility that hundreds had perished.

Greek rescuers had recovered 78 bodies.

Questions persist about whether the Greek coastguard could have intervened in time to prevent the vessel capsizing.

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Sudans warring parties have begun a ceasefire after two months of fighting pushed the African nation into chaos.

Residents in the capital, Khartoum, and its neighbouring city of Omdurman reported relative calm in the first hours of the ceasefire on Sunday morning, after fierce clashes were reported the previous day.

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The three-day truce comes ahead of a pledging conference on Monday, organised by the UN and other nations, to raise funds to cover Sudans humanitarian needs.

The UN said it has received less than 16% of the 2.57 billion US dollars (2 billion) required to help those in need in Sudan in 2023. Another 470 million dollars (366 billion) is needed to support refugees in the Horn of Africa region, it said.





Sudan: One million children have been displaced, hundreds have been killed & injured, and many are in urgent need of humanitarian aid since conflict broke out two months ago.



As the situation worsens, this is how @UNICEF is helping children & families. https://t.co/9s8xK1qzDN pic.twitter.com/5IZ5MGdAAg Advertisement Advertisement  United Nations (@UN) June 16, 2023

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced the ceasefire agreement on Saturday. Both have led concerted international diplomatic efforts to stop the war over the past two months.

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They said in a joint statement that the military and its rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, agreed to halt fighting and refrain from seeking military advantage during the ceasefire.

Sudan was plunged into chaos after months of worsening tensions between the rival generals exploded into open fighting across the country in mid-April, with Khartoum and the western Darfur region bearing the brunt of the armed conflict.

The fighting turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlegrounds.





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"In Darfur, people are trapped in a living nightmare.



We urge the parties to allow those seeking to flee to do so safely and voluntarily.



We also urge them to ensure the movement of humanitarian supplies and personnel to Darfur." @UNReliefChiefhttps://t.co/WnozMBTAMH pic.twitter.com/mFFK3rzKcc  UN OCHA Sudan (@UNOCHA_Sudan) June 16, 2023

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More than 3,000 people lost their lives and some 6,000 others were wounded, according to Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim.

It forced more than 2.2 million people to flee their homes to safer areas inside Sudan and to neighbouring countries.

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The ceasefire was the latest in a series of attempted truces, brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia, all of which failed to stop the fighting, with meditators blaming the two warring sides for repeated violations.

The humanitarian situation in the war-ridden country has been worsening.

At least 24.7 million people  more than half of the countrys population  need humanitarian assistance, and more than 100,000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications by the end of the year, the World Health Organisation warned on Friday.





.@WHO requires US$ 145 million to respond to health emergency in #Sudan and neighbouring countrieshttps://t.co/psmxdGWfHz@whosudan  WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (@WHOEMRO) June 16, 2023

The UN health agency said it needs 145 million dollars (113 million) to meet the increasing health needs of those affected by the conflict inside Sudan and assist those who fled to neighbouring countries.

The scale of this health crisis is unprecedented, said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

He added that funds are urgently needed to avert a looming collapse of Sudans healthcare system.

The conflict has wrecked the countrys infrastructure. It also left about 60% of health facilities across the country unable to function, amid a drastic decrease in medical supplies, which were either destroyed or looted, according to the WHO.

The UN agency said it confirmed at least 46 attacks on health facilities between April 15 and June 8.
Press Release

June 17, 2023 'KLABARZON Society' to host jobs fair, labor forum in Batangas MATAAS NA KAHOY, Batangas - The 'KLABARZON Society' will host its third town hall meeting on public policy on Monday, June 19, in the Province of Batangas. KLABARZON Society convenor Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino said the third town hall forum will focus on labor and employment, and how it can boost the efforts of local government units (LGUs). Aside from the usual town hall forum, this also will be the first time that KLABARZON will host a jobs fair as one of the sidelines of the assembly. The said event will take place at the Shercon Resort and Ecology Park along Barangay San Sebastian in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas and will also be graced by Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who is expected to conduct an in-depth talk with officials from different LGUs in Batangas on how can government agencies effectively respond to the needs of every locality in the said province. Batangas 3rd District Representative Maria Theresa Collantes is also expected to grace the town hall forum, together with all local chief executives of the Province of Batangas and regional officials of line agencies in Southern Tagalog. Earlier this year, Senator Tolentino spearheaded the creation of KLABARZON Society, a region-based organization which aims to enhance the overall welfare and socio-economic well-being of people living in Region-4A (Calabarzon). 'KLABARZON'--which stands for "Kabite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon," focuses on achieving economic growth, better quality of education, as well as the promotion of sustainable regional tourism, cultural heritage, and environmental awareness and protection Southern Tagalog Region--considered as the cradle of Philippine Independence. Being the main convenor of KLABARZON Society, Tolentino said the organization's main goal is to bring the national government services direct to the LGUs to fast-track public service delivery in order to achieve significant positive change for the region. KLABARZON will assist every respective LGU in the region to position itself as the premier growth center of the Philippines through the attainment of a peaceful, resilient, and inclusive system of good governance.
A view of Pyongyang in the late 19th or early 20th century Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection



By Robert Neff



After leaving Songdo (Gaeseong), John Baptiste Bernadou, a 24-year-old ensign in the United States Navy and temporarily assigned to the legation in Seoul, traveled to Hwangju  a town "surrounded by a heavy wall which extends to the summit of the hills in the rear." Hwangju was important for a number of reasons: both the military commander and the governor of the province resided in the area and due to its great stretches of well-cultivated land, it was a great agricultural center that shipped large quantities of grain to Seoul. Apparently, Bernadou stayed only long enough to climb the wall and do a little sightseeing (a.k.a. scavenging for relics and curiosities) before resuming his journey.



Finally, he reached the Taedong River and began to follow it upstream toward Pyongyang. He described the river as being about 650 meters wide and with a depth of about three and a half meters. Bernadou was instructed by one of his guides that large junks were not capable of sailing all the way to Pyongyang but this proved to be false as he later witnessed some larger vessels plying the river. He was also told that the voyage from Pyongyang to Jemulpo (modern Incheon) generally took "about ten days, but bad weather frequently lengthens the time."





Boats on the Taedong River at Pyongyang in the late 19th century Robert Neff Collection



At a distance, his first impressions of Pyongyang were positive. The city was built on a ridge of hills on the north bank of the river, and, according to him, was famed throughout Korea "for its natural beauty, and from many points may be had unobstructed views of the surrounding plains." He also added, "In consequence of its position the city is naturally well fortified, and has been a prominent objective point in all wars in Corea."



I assume he and his party hired a small ferry to transport them across the river. Every time I think about someone crossing the Taedong River by one of these small ferries it always reminds me of the amusing encounter a missionary had in the early 1890s. While crossing the river with his gisu (servant or bodyguard) a Korean man on the opposite shore "steadfastly gazed at the strange Western creature in the approaching boat. He was in doubt whether the stranger was a man or a woman; finally concluding his latter guess was correct, walked up to [American missionary], when that gentleman stepped ashore and chucking him under the chin said, 'Ah, pretty, pretty.' The words had hardly left his lips when the [gisu] had him by the top-knot. 'No, no,' said that man in terror, 'she is not pretty, I didn't mean it.'"



Apparently Bernadou had a more masculine appearance than the American missionary and did not have the same experience.





Recruiting Korean laborers for the Russo-Japanese War Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection



I his article, Bernadou described the city as having seven gates  four of them being principal ones. Characteristically, he only named two of them (South Gate and North Gate) and failed to describe them.



As he approached the gate, one can imagine Bernadou was somewhat apprehensive as he was greeted by "great numbers" of the city's residents. The infamous destruction of the General Sherman (an American merchant vessel that had sailed up the river to the city in hopes of establishing trade) nearly two decades earlier was a well-known story in the open ports of China and Japan, and helped perpetuate the perception of the city being filled with a hostile, bloodthirsty and xenophobic population.



But the American experienced "no ill-treatment from the people" who merely had "a great laugh at [his] appearance" and told him that he "was the first European who had entered" the city. This claim is something Bernadou would later repeat in a letter describing his travels to the Smithsonian but with a slight modification  "As I know that I am the first authorized European that has entered [Pyongyang]." In his article published in Journal of the American Geographical Society of New York he conceded that "Catholic missionaries had, of course, preceded me, and I knew that one was there at the time, though I did not see him."





The shrine at Kija's tomb in the early 20th century Robert Neff Collection



Despite having spent 10 days in Pyongyang, Bernadou's account is agonizingly anemic with descriptions. One of the main streets ran from the river to the North Gate and was the primary commercial zone of the city  "lined with shops and filled with booths."



"[Pyongyang] is rather a commercial than a manufacturing centre. Beans and peas, grown in very great quantity in the northern parts of Corea, find a chief market here. Iron goods manufactured in the province, silk, cotton stuffs, tobacco, hides, and goods brought from China across the northern frontier, all are to be seen. In exchange from the south come paper, rice, articles of bamboo, and such foreign goods as come in at the treaty ports. The silk industry, as the Coreans are beginning to realize, has a promising future; there is considerable gold, coal and excellent iron in the province."





Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 1: Collecting Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 2: Goyang and Beyond Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 3: Gaeseong, the old capital Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 part 5: Gaeseong's bridges and tombs By the end of the 19th century, Pyongyang would be the hub for several Western gold mining concessions as well as a thriving coal industry. It would also become a center of missionary activity and would eventually become the "Jerusalem of the East."



Besides natural resources and potential trade, Pyongyang was rich with history. Bernadou, surprisingly, wrote about some of the historical sites around the city that he visited:



"Below the city, along the river bank, may be followed a mound of earth marking the site of the walls of the old city, founded over two thousand years ago by [Gija] the so-called civilizer of Corea. Although no portion is standing, yet its line can be easily followed. At one point within are the remains of the stone foundation of a pavilion said to mark the site of the old palace. There is near by a well, called [Gija's Well], deep and very narrow, lined with smooth, rounded stones."



Kija's tomb in the early 20th century Robert Neff Collection

Not content with just visiting Gija's ruined city, Bernadou also went to Gija's tomb, located in a grove of pine trees on a hill just north of the city.



"The approach is through an outer court; the mound is about ten feet in height and twenty in diameter. Along the paved path leading from the court are two lines of stone figures facing each other. There are three on each side, each one of a pair being the same as its opposite; the two nearest the mound are in the shape of rams and are neatly carved from blocks of granite. The others represent Coreans in a dress something like that now worn, but having their hands meeting in front of the body, holding rods of stone."



Kija's tomb  Bernadou's great temptation Robert Neff Collection

Perhaps we can excuse our young naval officer for not exploring more of the city and its surrounding area because Mother Nature was definitely working against him. It seems that he was under the belief that the rainy season had ended  he was wrong.



"The river rose fifteen feet (4.6 meters). It undermined the wall in several places, swept away the houses along the bank, partly flooded the plains, and it became impassable for boats."



A water carrier uses empty kerosene tins in the late 19th or early 20th century. Robert Neff Collection

As soon as the weather permitted it, Bernadou bade farewell to the city and started for Uiju, a city on the Yalu (Amnok) River. It was his intention to travel from Uiju, along the river and into the heart of the northern peninsula and eventually arrive on the shores of the Pacific Ocean (East Sea). Unfortunately, things did not go as he planned. In a letter to the Smithsonian, he wrote:



"Owing to the change of food, I had trouble with my digestion and was compelled to return to [Seoul] for medical aid [and] was compelled to retrace my steps. I made a journey of over five hundred miles [805 kilometers], however."



Pyongyang's city wall and Chilseong Gate in the late 19th century Robert Neff Collection

Following his return to Seoul, he did not venture very far from the capital as he had been instructed by his doctor (most likely Dr. Horace N. Allen) to take it easy until he fully recovered. Eventually, the naval officer did resume his exploration of the peninsula but, to the best of my knowledge, never made it to the east coast.



In closing his letter to the Smithsonian, Bernadou wrote:



"I would add that the Korean officials have been very kind to me, affording me every facility for traveling, furnishing me horses at government rates, and giving me lodging on my way, in the official buildings."



A traveler on horseback in the Pyongyang area in the early 20th century Robert Neff Collection

Bernadou's traveling account, despite his reluctance to describe the places he visited in detail, is a refreshing read and it is relatively devoid of disparaging comments about his Korean hosts or his experiences. Bernadou's writing was the exception and not the rule.





My appreciation to Diane Nars for allowing me to use some of her images.





A view of Uiju and its South Gate in the early 20th century Robert Neff Collection
Rishi Sunak faces another potentially damaging by-election after a former Tory MP resigned with immediate effect following accusations of sexual harassment and cocaine use.

David Warburton has stood down from his seat of Somerton and Frome, hitting out in an exit statement at an extraordinarily difficult 14 months fighting malicious allegations.

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He claimed he had been denied a fair hearing by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) and prevented from speaking out while it probed the accusations.

(PA)

In his resignation letter he said had been left with no choice but to provoke the upheaval of a by-election, adding: It is my hope that, in so doing, I can freely illuminate the methods of an oversight system not fit for purpose, so that friends and colleagues in the House can see the perverted process by which their own judgement may at any time be freighted.

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In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Mr Warburton admitted to taking cocaine after drinking tons of incredibly potent Japanese whiskey, but denied claims that he harassed a female political aide in his Westminster flat.

The resignation will trigger an electoral battle in his Somerset constituency, adding to the problems faced by the British prime minister amid the fallout from his predecessor-but-one stepping down.

Mr Warburton took the seat from the Liberal Democrats in 2015 and has a 19,213 majority, but the party is already stepping up manoeuvres to reclaim it.

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Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: Time after time the Conservatives have mired themselves in sleaze and scandal neglecting the issues that really matter to people. Then they decided it was okay to leave local people in this seat without any proper representation at all.

This by-election will be a clear contest between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, Labour finished third last time and are completely out of the race. The people of Somerton and Frome need a local champion and they can have that at the next election by choosing our local Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Dyke.

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Meanwhile Labours national campaign co-ordinator Shabana Mahmood accused the British prime minister of being too weak to act himself.

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Yet again, we see a Tory MP resigning in disgrace, after Rishi Sunak was too weak to act himself. Enough is enough, she said.

Britain cant afford this weak Conservative prime minister with a party too divided to govern as families struggle with the cost of living. Its time to turn the page on 13 years of Tory chaos. We need a general election now and a Labour government led by Keir Starmer.

Mr Warburton had been sitting in the Commons as an independent after having the Tory whip suspended last April over the allegations.

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The prime minister now faces four potential by elections with two contests in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty already scheduled for July 20th after Boris Johnson and his ally Nigel Adams resigned.

Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to quit over the fallout from the former prime ministers resignation honours, is staying while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords on the list.
A Ugandan border town where an attack on a school by suspected extremist rebels left 42 dead was preparing to bury its victims on Sunday.

One of eight people wounded in Friday nights attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School  located just over a mile from the Congo border  had died overnight, Mpondwe-Lhubiriha mayor Selevest Mapoze said.

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Security forces were said to be stepping up patrols along the frontier with volatile eastern Congo.



Relatives travel in the back of a truck with the coffins of villagers who were killed in the attack (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

Most of the relatives have come to take their bodies from the morgue, he said.

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Some students were burned beyond recognition, and others were shot or hacked to death, after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked the school, which is coeducational and privately owned.

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Ugandan authorities believe at least six students were abducted, taken as porters back to Congo.

In addition to the 38 students who were killed, the victims included a school guard and three civilians.



Lhubiriha Secondary School was attacked on Friday night (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

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UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a statement, urging the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between (Congo) and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area.

The atmosphere in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha was tense but calm on Sunday, as Ugandan security forces roamed the streets outside and near the school, which was protected by a police cordon.

Ugandan security forces have not given a detailed account of how the rebels, active in eastern Congo, were able to carry out the attack.

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The group, known as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, rarely claims responsibility for attacks. It has established ties with the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.



Relatives wait to collect the bodies of victims of the attack (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

In a statement released on Sunday, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni described the attack as criminal, desperate, terrorist and futile, vowing to deploy more troops on the Ugandan side of the border.

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The ADF has been accused of launching many attacks targeting civilians in remote parts of eastern Congo in recent years, including one in March in which 19 people were killed.

The ADF has long opposed the rule of Ugandan president Mr Museveni, a US security ally who has held power in the East African country since 1986.

The group was established in the early 1990s by some Ugandan Muslims, who said they had been sidelined by Mr Musevenis policies.



Plainclothes security forces and civilians stand outside the entrance to the school (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

At the time, the rebels staged deadly attacks in Ugandan villages as well as in the capital, including a 1998 attack in which 80 students were massacred in a town not far from Fridays raid.

Students have been attacked because schools are considered soft targets, pupils are sometimes recruited into rebels ranks or used to carry food and supplies for insurgents, and such raids provide media coverage coveted by extremists.

The raid appears to have taken Ugandan authorities by surprise, with first responders arriving after the attackers had left.

Some villagers have moved away from the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha community temporarily, fearing more attacks, Mr Mapoze said.
The United States and China have failed to overcome their most serious disagreements but were able to discuss them in a potentially constructive way and have agreed to continue talks, US officials have said.

The officials said US secretary of state Antony Blinken was able, during a nearly six-hour meeting, to secure a visit to Washington by Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. But they said progress on other issues remained a work in progress.

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Mr Blinken, the highest-level American official to visit China since US president Joe Biden took office, will have more senior level contacts with Chinese counterparts on Monday, including potentially with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

Despite Mr Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital and the relatively upbeat assessment of Sundays meeting, the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies remain slim.

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Mr Blinkens trip follows his postponement of plans to visit China in February after the shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US.

His talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Mr Biden and Mr Xi.

Mr Blinken is welcomed to Beijing by foreign ministry official Yang Tao, centre, and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

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He finished the first of two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that were fuelling the opioid crisis in the US.

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Mr Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

US officials said Mr Blinken posed each of these points, though neither side had shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

The US wanted to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

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Mr Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China could co-operate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino/US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi said to Mr Gates.

Today, I met with Peoples Republic of China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing and discussed how we can responsibly manage the relationship between our two countries through open channels of communication. pic.twitter.com/dPkd0aWQ5J  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 18, 2023

Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Since the cancellation of Mr Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister travelled to the US. And Mr Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Mr Wang in Vienna in May.

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But these have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing was attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.
Fitz: You pop up on all the commercial TV stations, lots of ABC stuff, particularly with Good News Week, and more radio with Triple M and Vega for a good stint. Squires once said to me that when it comes to wit, you were the fastest gun in the West. Is there anyone youve worked with, whom you care to offer a similar accolade? MR: Paul McDermott, who I worked with on triple j, was the best improviser Ive ever come across. He was what I call a hand grenade guy. If a bit of improv might not be quite working, Paul would throw himself on the hand grenade to save everyone else, and dig deep to make it work, even if it costs him a little bit of ego. And I would also cite the late Rebecca Wilson, who I worked with on Vega. She had absolutely no filter. She would just say stuff that was so great to work with. And I would say to management, Dont make Rebecca come to the planning meetings. Just turn the mic on and let it go! Robins with Paul McDermott: [He] was the best improviser Ive ever come across. Fitz: Squires is not alone in the industry in regarding you as a great wit. How is it that you dont have a gig right now? MR: Because, lets be honest, now that we are in the age of national networking, theres about seven or eight of those jobs in the whole country going to get the attention of generally young age brackets, and as you say, Im over 60. Im not complaining. I had a bloody good run, made a lot of friends along the way, and had a ball.

Fitz: So now, and this sounds strangely familiar, youre raiding history for great stories, and have a book coming out called Idiots, Follies and Misadventures. What is the guts of it? And I trust Im not mentioned under idiots. MR: Well, my last book was about bad behaviour throughout history and as I was writing that, I kept coming across other stories that didnt quite fit, about colossal idiots, shocking follies and terrible misadventures. The big-game changer for prehistoric man was controlling fire, but looking back I think the most amazing thing is that we actually managed to make it out of the cave without spearing ourselves in the foot. My take on history is that while the technology and the costumes have changed, the human impulses are the same. Robins in 1998: I was 160kgs Credit: Dallas Kilponen Fitz: Go on . . . MR: Well, in terms of stupidity, the truth is that we will believe anything from someone we know and trust, or something that makes us feel better about ourselves  and we will take both over actual scientific fact  and this was as much of a problem in the third and 16th century as it is now. And Ill give you an example of the parallels. During the Great Plague of London in the mid-1600s, one of the prescribed preventative measures was to walk around with a jar of your own flatulence to sniff from when you were in company. The idea was that stench around you would prevent you getting the plague, and rich people would buy the most stinky of goats to put in their parlour.

Fitz: Go on with you! MR: Its true. And I was writing the book during COVID, and we had people who ended up in the hospital because they took fish-tank bleach to ward off the virus! There are so many examples of these parallels. Yes, right now, the net is responsible for the surge of a lot of stupid conspiracy theories. But lets not forget that within 30 years of the Gutenberg Press being invented in the mid-1400s  the great breakthrough in disseminating information  it was being used to spread false conspiracy theories, sometimes with tragic results. In Italy, after a child had died in mysterious circumstances, a pamphlet went out blaming the local Jewish community and ended up in a pogrom. And heres the thing, this same crackpot theory is still being espoused in right-wing chat rooms today! Its like the David Bowie lyric, were always crashing in the same car. Fitz: Other examples? Robins with Tony Squires in 2008: He bet me 50 grand that I wouldnt make it past 50. Credit: MR: The whole flat Earth thing. We were taught that Columbus was the only European who thought the earth was round, when actually, by the time of Columbus, the elite had known it for centuries, from Socrates to Plato to St Augustine. But Columbus actually thought the Earth was shaped like a womans boob as she lies flat on her back, with the nipple being the Arctic, closest to God.

Fitz: Really? I am loving these stories, but can only hope they are true. MR: They are. Columbus writes of it in his third journal. He was worse at maths than I was, and believed in two weeks he could have got to Japan. To his dying day, he believed he had got to India. But because of American exceptionalism, they wanted to make it appear that Columbus was defying all the current beliefs by continuing to sail west without falling off the edge of the Earth and this writer Washington Irving wrote a fictional biography of Columbus, quoting an early medieval writer who believed the Earth was flat. And then in Victorian England, the flat-Earth thing takes off. It then gets transported to America and in the last survey I saw, youve got about 9 per cent of Americans who think the Earth is flat! Fitz: I am guessing that in terms of folly, America was fertile ground? MR: My favourite is the one on Lincolns bodyguard, John Frederick Parker, who went with him to the theatre that night. There had already been many assassination attempts on the president, and they included a confederate surgeon getting infected clothing from prison camps making them into elegant shirts that he mailed to Lincoln with the thought that he might get smallpox. On the theatre night, Parker was supposed to be seated at the entrance to the booth where Lincoln was shot. The play Our American Cousin was getting a lot of laughs, which Parker can hear. So that piques his interest, and he leaves his spot to get a better view of the play. He then decides he doesnt like the play, so goes to the tavern next door. Theres a good chance he and the assassin, John Wilkes Booth, actually crossed paths that night, going from, and to, the theatre! And so Lincoln was shot, unprotected. Fitz: Staggering. Australian stories?

Loading MR: I love the one on the American-born politician, King OMalley, who was one of the prime movers in having our capital city, Canberra, placed where it was. I was always taught at school that it was put there because it was halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. But another factor, pushed by OMalley, was that cold climates create greater intellects  which, when you think of it, is a really European and imperialistic way of looking at the world. He wanted to call Canberra Shakespeare Town. Fitz: Generally, I thought OMalley highly regarded? MR: Well, he might fit into another chapter called I Should Have Done Better, which focuses on how the ability to be clever in one area does not guarantee youre going to be clever in another area. Isaac Newton lost a fortune in the South Sea bubble. Similarly, Mark Twain was an absolute financial idiot, and originally came on his famous tour to Australia to raise money to pay back taxes. Fitz: I cant wait to read it. Whats your next project?

Loading MR: Well, Im doing a podcast with a guy called Paul Wilson who is a real historian. And weve actually been getting people in to talk about their hero and their howler from history. And so, this afternoon, weve got Matt Preston coming in to talk about Zheng Yi Sao, the Chinese pirate from the start of the 19th century. Blackbeard, at his height, had four ships and 200 pirates. She had 1400 ships and between 60,000 and 80,000 pirates. And when she surrendered to the Qing dynasty  after she had taken on the Portuguese empire and the British East India Company  she was allowed to keep all her wealth, retired to Macau where she opened a tea room /gambling house/ brothel, and they reckon that, to this day, some of the nefarious activities on Macau probably come in a direct line from her activities. Fitz: That is a brilliant story. I will race you to write a book on it! Quote of the Week If even half of it is true, then hes toast. - Donald Trumps former attorney-general Bill Barr on his ex-bosss indictment.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A new Australian musical. Its a treasure so rare that people greet the idea with the same mix of excitement and disbelief that accompanies ghost sightings, Bjork concerts and baristas who can spell your name correctly. The obstacles a new musical faces are manifold, and the stakes at play mean that many go under before a single ticket is sold. Melbourne is about to witness the opening of one of these exceptional beasts, and its no diminutive try-out sheltered away in a tiny venue. No less than the Comedy Theatre will be home to the unveiling of Midnight, a work thats been more than eight years in the making and boasts a cast of heavy hitters including Shane Jacobson, Lucy Durack, Verity Hunt-Ballard and Matt Lee. Alongside them, playing Ella and her prince, are up-and-comers Brianna Bishop and Thomas McGuane. Midnight takes its inspiration from Cinderella, but the team behind it have expanded the tale to include properly fleshed-out back-stories, three-dimensional characters and  of course  musical numbers worthy of such a beloved tale. John Foreman and Anthony Constanzo lead the music department, and Kate Miller-Heidke has contributed a stirring ballad. Producer Spencer McLaren says while most people are familiar with the Disney version of the Cinderella story, its been around in some form or another long before Walt set his sights on it. I think the earliest version weve found is from 7BC, by the Greeks. Its been reinvented and retold in various cultures over and over again, he says. The cast of Moonlight during rehearsals. Credit: The specific shape of the story has shifted throughout its various incarnations. The slipper is there a lot. The pumpkins a more recent addition. But, generally, youre talking about a central female character who ends up in a situation where shes hard done by and shes saved. That last point was a thorny one. The shows inception occurred when co-writer and co-director Dean Murphy was watching Disneys Cinderella with his young daughter.

[Cinderella] was waiting to be saved. I didnt want Charlie to think that thats what you do if youve got problems. You dont wait for some guy to come along and make everything right.

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So when we first started talking about it, we knew we had to make her a much stronger character who, while shes been dealt a lot of tough things in life, is not a victim sitting around waiting to be rescued. Shes dealing with these things and is the one in charge of her own story as well as any of us can be. Midnight retains its storybook setting but in many other respects updates the source material for modern audiences. For one, its shifted into the realm of romantic comedy. The first conversation we had was, What if you took the Cinderella story but did it as though it was When Harry Met Sally meets The Princess Bride?, Murphy says. Instead of them falling in love so quickly, what if they have to go through all the obstacles and ups and downs that so many relationships have? Loading The comedy has been tailored to local tastes, too. Verity Hunt-Ballard, who plays Cinderellas stepmother, says: Australia does have a particular kind of comedic tone and audiences have a particular kind of comedy that they respond to, and its been really interesting playing with that. While the stepmothers role in fairytales traditionally comes with plenty of baggage, this version doesnt cleave to expectations. Its really nice to be playing against the stereotype, Hunt-Ballard says. That was exciting when it was pitched to me. Im very much enjoying finding new ways to portray her. She is larger than life, Ill say that. For a performer, one of the most exciting elements of a new musical is the fact that there are no shoes to fill. McLaren spent years performing in professional musicals, from Beauty and the Beast to Carousel to Footloose. My experience was very much replicating international products. I found that immensely frustrating, he says. Hunt-Ballard has starred in plenty of big commercial vehicles but is also known for having an unusual degree of experience in new works. Its always an honour to be in the room when somethings literally being created from scratch, she says. Its terrifying at times and then exhilarating as well.

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One of the hurdles new musicals face is just how many people are needed to get it off the ground. A playwright can finish an entire script without getting up from their desk, but a musical requires a whole team just to reach draft stage. Midnights credit list is extensive but doesnt even include the host of people who contributed additional work along the way  Tripods Simon Hall composed a song that didnt fit the final cut, Joanna Murray-Smith gave story feedback, and fellow playwright Elizabeth Coleman provided dramaturgical advice. The final creative team skews male, but McLaren was careful to bring a more diverse set of eyes to the development process. Weve been conscious of trying to address that as much as we can, to make sure were not cis white 50-plus men going, This is what your daughter should be doing! Loading The lengthy development period has also allowed room for actors to shape the roles that others will go on to play down the line. Its been great with people like Verity. She really breaks down her character. So its made us have to delve further in, Murphy says. For her part, Hunt-Ballard described the creative team as amazing collaborators [who] really value the opinion of the cast. Thats quite rare sometimes, to feel really valued as a creative as well as a performer. Hunt-Ballard has two daughters, and one of the big attractions of Midnight was the way this Cinderella is much more than a helpless damsel. The other was its focus on togetherness. Her fundamental belief is to protect her community, as opposed to the Cinderella story of my prince will come and save me ... Its lovely to come and see a story with incredible music and all the power that a musical gives, but fundamentally its saying: lets look after each other.

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You have the one shot, and if it looks silly, sorry. But that only, to me, adds to the charm of it, Jason Diamond, a Brooklyn-based writer, says, pointing out that physical photos are a permanent item that the user gets to hold on to. Theres no app. It takes you away from the algorithm, and it takes you away from having to do everything online. The use of film cameras has grown among young people. Sax says his young daughter recently asked for a type of film camera that was popular long before she was born. Sending letters and postcards Receiving a letter or postcard can be a glimmer of joy in ones mailbox. Sending them can be gratifying, too. Flea markets and op shops are littered with old postcards, relaying the senders trip to Acapulco or Paris to a loved one. Between the texts, voice notes, phone calls, FaceTimes, Instagram DMs and Snapchats, the letter or postcard can invite a playfulness in its limitations: a scribbled-out word, a pen smudge, a stamp from a faraway land. Analog affords accident in a way that I really appreciate, said Elizabeth Goodspeed, a designer and critic. It allows you to delve into a deeper, more intuitive way of engaging with the world.

As Diamond writes in his newsletter The Melt, sending and receiving letters is deeply personal. I always put it away in hopes that someday itll have a deeper meaning for some reason to people that didnt know me or the person who wrote it, he writes. Print books and magazines A reader of strictly printed books will argue that nothing compares to the feeling of a physical book in ones hands. You can dog-ear pages, fold back the cover, gauge how far along you are and fill up your bookshelves. In fact, Gen Z readers frequent libraries and generally prefer physical books to e-books. Magazines are also sticking around; in the past two years, nearly 200 new magazines have launched. Part of the appeal is the lasting impact of magazines. Diamond found old issues of Popeye, a Japanese mens magazine, at a vintage store. Some Japanese mens magazine from 1984 somehow can influence me in 2023, he says. Full-bleed photos, varied fonts and colourful illustrations contribute to a different experience in print than on a screen. Pages from magazines can be used for creating vision boards and collaging on large pieces of poster board or in a journal.

Loading Theres also creative value in the tactile nature of the magazine. Physical things have a lot more decisions that had to be made to create them, Goodspeed says. Theres a real difference between reading Interview magazine, which is huge, and reading Readers Digest, which is small. While she usually makes digital mood boards for her clients, Goodspeed says she enjoys making physical mood boards because the scale  not constricted by a screen  allows them to be more immersive and powerful, creating new moments of synchronicity or intrigue. She adds that the materials used for mood boarding are important: What does a piece of matte cardstock evoke thats different from a page ripped out of a glossy magazine? Vinyl records For millennials, streaming music was a welcome improvement on the age of burning CDs and illegal downloads. But for many, a physical record, a displayed turntable and a full album on deck hold appeal. You can cede control with a vinyl record; you dont have to worry about queuing up the next song or constructing a perfect playlist.

Diamond, a longtime devotee of vinyl records, says he used to schlep crates of records to various DJ gigs. Theres this beautiful little pop, and youre like, Oh, theres something real happening here, he says. Its still electronic, but its a little more simple. And I think at heart, we all crave simplicity. Pens and stationery An awareness of screen time  even short tasks like jotting down to-do lists  has led people to reconsider the power of pen and paper. On TikTok, the hashtag #stationeryaddict has nearly 800 million views, and a large subsection of the platform is focused on how to utilise planners and calendars, organise a desk with sticky notes and staplers, and sample new pens. Sax says that he will almost always start a project with pen and paper and move to typing it on a computer once the key elements are in place. He recently began a new book project and found that physical paper provided the space he needed to plan. I wrote out different ideas, locations and themes, and all these different components that I had to do, he says. And I arranged it in my backyard on a table. That gave me this idea of an outline and it was this physical manifestation of it.

Collecting Collecting doesnt just apply to expensive antiques or art. Satisfaction can be found in pocketing a matchbook, a bookmark or a little postcard that comes with the bill at the restaurant. Loading Goodspeed regularly collects ephemera from her daily life, travels and special occasions, as well as records and secondhand books. She says physical items with an interesting font, shape or illustration spark inspiration for her and connect her to the past lives of the object. I think what I really enjoy about the analog is how many clues there are. I love buying a record and someone has circled a song lyric, Goodspeed says. She enjoys physical books, particularly used books, because of the many hands they pass through before they reach her. I feel very connected to the past lives of this object and the past lives of the people who had this object, she says.
A single dachshund can be so small that you might blink and miss it, but on Sunday, a mass of sausage dogs moved their little feet to achieve an enormous feat.

In Elwood in Melbournes inner south-east, more than 1300 dachshunds and their owners set a Guinness world record for the largest dog walk by a single breed.

Dachshunds rule: Owners held dogs aloft before the world record attempt. Credit: Luis Ascui

Some of the proceeds from the event will go towards operations on foster dachshunds, many of which are affected by a spinal disease.

In Point Ormond Reserve before the walk, there was a stunt that would be hard to pull off with heavier breeds. Event volunteer Elizabeth Anile asked owners over the PA system to hold up their dachshunds for a drone photo with the Melbourne CBD in the background.
REVOLUTIONARY SPRING: Europe Aflame and the Fight for a New World, 1848-1849

Author: Christopher Clark

Publisher: Crown

Pages: 872

Price: $40

In January of 1848, a mysterious poster appeared on the walls of Palermo announcing a revolution set to coincide with the kings birthday. In fact, no insurrection had been planned, but the curious crowds that descended on the central squares to catch a glimpse of one provided the conditions for an actual uprising as troops moved in to clear public spaces.

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Here as elsewhere the old regime was not unprepared: If the Spanish Bourbon king Ferdinand II was unpopular, he had plenty of ships, cannons and soldiers to make up for it. The strangest thing about the uprising, writes the Cambridge historian Christopher Clark in his new book, Revolutionary Spring is that it was ultimately successful. The breadth of social resistance  from Palermitan gentry and liberal lawyers to armed artisans and peasant squadre  made a purely military solution impracticable. As protests spread to Naples, Ferdinand appeared to retreat, promising a constitution.

For months afterward, kingdoms across the continent convulsed as insurrectionists demanded the drawing up of constitutions that would enshrine basic political rights and rein in monarchical authority. There was no single issue, Clark explains, but a multitude of questions  about democracy, representation, social equality, the organization of labor, gender relations, religion, forms of state power.

Clark presents the unrest at street level through eyewitness accounts, and he weaves this material into an impressive transcontinental tableau. As the feudal order went into retreat, novel political forms emerged. Karl Marx, a figure who floats through Clarks book as an observer, wrote The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels early in 1848. The fighting spread across borders just as new nation-states struggled to come into being. This was the only truly European revolution that there has ever been, Clark writes.

The clearest indication that a new kind of revolution was at hand came a few weeks after the uprising in Palermo and 900 miles away. In February, Parisians streamed toward the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Boulevard des Capucines. French infantry panicked and fired their guns. More than 1,000 barricades sprang up across the city. Army units sent to secure strategic posts found themselves drowned in crowds, their weapons pulled from their hands by demonstrators. King Louis-Philippe gave up his crown and fled.

The revolutionary wave emerged from the French capital with new energy. It crossed the Rhine into Munich, Berlin and Vienna  moving not just across, but up and down the central spine of Europe, to Milan and Venice. Even states within this zone that avoided major crises  Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Piedmont  did so only thanks to harried doses of political and social reform.

In Clarks view, the press was the medium conducting this spark across Europe, allowing city dwellers who read  or heard  the news to understand events as interconnected. The spontaneous quality that took the police and army by surprise in late winter made the uprisings hard to organise or lead. These revolutionaries agreed on little. Moderates favoured a constitutional monarchy, while radicals and socialists pressed for universal manhood suffrage and the creation of state-sponsored national workshops that would provide guaranteed employment.

The counter revolutions came fast. Insurrections lost steam and constitutions were torn up. In France, radicals did poorly in elections to the Assembly in April; in Central Europe, the Hapsburgs  forced to flee Vienna for Innsbruck in May  regained the upper hand in June, reconquering Prague and parts of northern Italy.

Foreign intervention finally brought the curtain down on the revolutionary spring. In 1849, Russian soldiers swept in to suppress the Hungarian revolution on Austrias behalf  after Emperor Franz Joseph fell to his knees before Czar Nicholas I in Warsaw, imploring him to save modern society from certain ruin. In April, France, in violation of its own constitution, sent 10,000 men to crush the short-lived Roman Republic for Pope Pius IX, with the backing of the liberal statesman Alexis de Tocqueville.

The revolutions, Clark insists, did not fail. In his view, they encouraged states from Portugal to Prussia to become far more active  channelling investments into railways and telegraphs, and setting up statistical bureaus and ministries to promote economic development and public health. In the Austrian Empire, serfdom never returned.

Clarks book is a major achievement in representing the lived experience of the revolutions. Revolutionary Spring brims with poetry, novels, memoirs and paintings, and Clark is drawn to colour, sound and dress. If this kaleidoscopic accumulation of details and viewpoints greatly enriches our understanding of 1848 as a political phenomenon, it reduces other themes to background noise. The disruption of agrarian life and the decline in living standards that came with the onset of industrialisation and the emergence of capitalism had a lot to do with the scale and simultaneity of the discontent.

Clark acknowledges the spectral presence of the French Revolution for the actors involved in this drama, but, in making comparisons, he is more interested in musing on the present. The arc of protest that runs from the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, a decade ago, to Jan 6  poorly planned, dispersed, patchy and bristling with contradictions  may match the mood of the 1840s, but the conclusions suggested by these resonances are a little too felicitous.

The sense of failure that hovers around 1848 cannot be dispelled by counting the rail lines laid down in its aftermath. Liberals, frightened of worker uprisings, embraced Family, Work, Property, Public Order  in short, conservatism. They were content to see economic liberalisation proceed without the risks entailed by the political kind.





The reviewer is author of Liberalism at Large: The World According to The Economist

2023 The New York Times News Service
After GoMechanic, Zilingo, and others its the turn of Healthtech startup Mojocare which has financial irregularities, said its investors. The case yet again brings the corporate governance issue to the fore among Indian startups.

Investors in the Bengaluru-based firm in a statement said that they have found financial irregularities and also said that the business model is not sustainable.

Major investors of Mojocare initiated a review of the companys financial statements. While the analysis remains ongoing, initial findings have uncovered financial irregularities, and it has become apparent that the business model is not sustainable due to a variety of operational and market factors, said the joint statement from the investors of the company.

They further added, As a result, Mojocare will be scaling down operations, and the investor group is working with the company through its transition.

Mojocares major investors include Chiratae Ventures, Peak XV Partners, B Capital, Better Capital, Surge among others.

According to media reports, Deloitte has been carrying out the forensic audit at the company for some time now.

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The company had raised $20.6 million in Series A round in 2022. And its current valuation, according to Tracxn, is $67 million. The company had reported revenue of Rs 12.1 crore in FY22 up from Rs 30 lakh in FY21 and losses in FY22 went up to 7.3 crore, said Tracxn data.

A week back Mojocare had also laid off 80 per cent of its staff. In media reports the company had said that 150-170 employees were impacted as it looked to rationalise cost and focus on profitability.

In recent times, Indian startups have reported financial lapses and have been pulled up by investors. Some of the recent examples include BharatPe, GoMechanic, and Zilingo.

A few weeks back Rahul Yadavs Broker Network also had run ins with its investors. Info Edge in a regulatory filing said that it has initiated forensic audits into the affairs of the company and has appointed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India.
The government is likely to invite financial bids for privatising NMDC Steel only after the commissioning of the blast furnace at the company's steel plant in Chhattisgarh, according to officials.

Officials expect the value of the company to go up once the blast furnace of the steel plant becomes operational. NSL is expected to have a production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum.

The government holds a 60.79 per cent stake in NMDC Steel Ltd (NSL) after it got demerged from NMDC, which is India's largest iron ore producer.

The facility is located in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. The remaining 39.21 per cent stake is with the public.

NSL is up for privatisation with the government looking to sell 50.79 per cent of its shareholding, along with management control. The government had received multiple preliminary bids or expressions of interest for the company.

Officials said the government will get to know the fair value of NSL once the blast furnace, which is the heart of a steel plant, is commissioned and production starts.

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Financial bids would be invited only after investors gain confidence about the real capacity of the company.

NMDC Steel, which was listed on the stock exchanges in February this year at Rs 30.25, is currently trading at around Rs 44 a share. Based on the current market price, the sale of a 50.79 per cent stake would fetch the government around Rs 6,500 crore.

In October 2020, the CCEA gave 'in-principle' approval to the demerger of the Nagarnar steel manufacturing unit from NMDC and strategic disinvestment of the resulting entity by selling the entire stake of the Government of India.

Following that the government on December 1, 2022, invited bids for buying a 50.79 per cent stake in NSL. The balance 10 per cent stake of the government would be offered to NMDC after the strategic buyer for 50.79 per cent stake is selected.

The privatisation of NSL is expected to be completed in the current fiscal. The Budgeted disinvestment target for the current fiscal is Rs 51,000 crore, of which the Government has so far raised Rs 4,235 crore from minority stake sale in PSUs.
Children of HD Hyundai employees play with teachers of the company's Dream Boat child care center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, March 9. Courtesy of HD Hyundai



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, HD Hyundai, NCSOFT, HanmiGlobal and other Korean companies are strengthening their welfare support structures, providing improved child care centers and fertility support in order to help employees have more children while remaining in the workforce, according to company officials, Thursday.



The family-centric initiatives being implemented by companies here, are all part of efforts to, in some way, help to overcome the country's severely declining birth rate, the lowest in the world.



The officials said that while the government is offering a number of supportive measures to boost the extremely low birthrate, companies are also trying to keep pace with the government and offer support to their employees simply because their own future viability is uncertain without future workers.



Companies are trying to offer better in-house child care centers because many employees think they don't have a reliable way to care for their children if both parents have to go to work. Companies are also increasingly focusing on making it easier for both male and female employees to take parental leave, return from leave and reintegrate back into the workforce.



The reason why companies are even stepping up their efforts to help overcome the low birth rate is that Korea's fertility rate has fallen to a critically low level. According to Statistics Korea, 249,000 babies were born last year, down 11,500 or 4.4 percent from 2021. The fertility rate, which refers to the number of children a woman can expect to have in her lifetime, hit 0.78.





Lee Jae-yong, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, speaks with the company's female employees at its Suwon headquarters, to hear about the challenges they face in juggling child care and work and how the company can improve, Aug. 6, 2020. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



To contribute to improving the birthrate through positive developments in employee welfare, Samsung Electronics, the largest conglomerate here, has allowed employees to take two years of parental leave since 2015, double the legal limit of one year. It also has enabled employees to take parental leave until their children reach the age of 12, up from the legal standard of 8 years old.



The move to bolster welfare support for its employees is in line with its Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong's philosophy, which is to utilize the leadership of skilled female employees. Through this philosophy, the company has improved its support systems to help female employees balance work and child care.



"Since last year, Samsung has also introduced a re-boarding program for employees returning from parental leave such as providing job training, mentoring and support for working from home. The idea is to make it easier for them to adjust to work life after taking parental leave," a Samsung Electronics spokesman said.



LG Electronics also allows employees to take up to two years of parental leave. Since 2020, the company has also provided three days of paid leave for employees who take time off for fertility treatments, even though the law requires only one day of paid leave.



"Since last year, LG Electronics has provided up to two years of parental leave so around 500 to 600 employees have taken their parental leaves so far," a company spokesman said.



HD Hyundai has been actively working to resolve child care issues by subsidizing employees' preschool education expenses for their children by providing a total of 18 million won ($14,000) for three years prior to their children entering elementary school.



"In addition to subsidizing scholars, President Chung Ki-sun decided to open the Dream Boat child care center to address child care issues, which are a major concern for employees. The day care center, which opened in March, is free to employees with children aged 5 and under from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is open to all employees," a company spokesman said.



HanmiGlobal, a local construction project management company, has been in the spotlight for its unprecedented low birthrate support measure, as its Chairman Kim Jong-hoon recently announced that an employee who gives birth to a third child will be promoted to the next-highest position right away.



"The chairman has a philosophy that people who give birth to children are heroes in this era. He believes that the way to save Korea, which is suffering from a declining birth rate, is to have more children," a company spokesman said.



"In addition to this extraordinary promotion system, HanmiGlobal has provided more support for childbirth and marriage than other companies. The company pays 1 million won for the first birth, 2 million won for the second, 5 million won for the third and 10 million won for the fourth. It also provides free fertility treatments for employees who have difficulty conceiving," the official added.





Children of NCSOFT's employees study foreign languages at the company's in-house day care center Laughing Peanuts in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of NCSOFT
The moratorium clause of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) may be getting diluted for certain sectors, with the corporate affairs ministry considering exemption from this provision for aircraft leases, two senior officials told Business Standard. Moratorium for idle spectrum in the telecom sector can also be done away with by bringing a provision in the telecom bill, government sources said.

Section 14 of the IBC declares a moratorium on proceedings, transfer or disposal of any of the assets of the company from the date of commencement of its insolvency.

Officia
Patanjali Foods Ltd plans to invest up to Rs 1,500 crore in the next five years on capital expenditure, mostly for scaling up its palm oil business, according to company CEO Sanjeev Asthana.

The company (formerly Ruchi Soya Industries) has set a target of clocking a turnover between Rs 45,000-50,000 crore in the next five years as it expands its product offerings and distribution reach.

"Our estimation is over five years, we'll invest about Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,500 crore of capital expenditure...Most of the expenditure will happen in year four and five, which is where we are pushing for and the rest in the initial years. We have enough capacity and capex already laid out," Asthana told PTI.

He was responding to a query on the company's investment plans in order to meet its growth targets.

When asked where the investments will be made, he said, "A large part of it will be on oil palm".

On the palm oil plantation, Asthana said, "We have got about 64,000 hectares which are already yielding fruits. That's a big business for us already. We have committed to do five lakh hectares of further palm plantation under the National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm in five states in northeast -- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland."



In south India, he said, "We are already large in Andhra Pradesh, now we're going big ticket in Telangana and in Karnataka, and then the rest are the other states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat, among others. So it's a very big campaign that we're running and we continue to build up and grow that."



Asked about the turnover target, he said, "As of now it is more than Rs 31,000 crore and in the next five years our expectation is it shall go between Rs 45,000 crore and Rs 50,000 crore."



The company expects its new range of premium offerings in nutraceuticals, health biscuits, Nutrela millet-based cereals, and dry fruits to play a significant part in meeting the five-year target.

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"Our target is that from the current value offering that we have, about 5 per cent to 10 per cent will come from the premium products," Asthana said.

The scope of the company's Nutrela brand is also being widened to keep pace with the growth plans.

"Nutrela is a premium offering that we have with the different verticals under it. We are building it up as an umbrella consumer business orientation, that has got both value and a premium offering," he added.

On biscuits, he said the company has clocked a revenue of Rs 1,200 crore.

"This year, our target is upwards of Rs 1,500 crore. We're pretty confident that we will meet that objective. Going forward, a larger part of our share will come to the value and a significant part of it is going to come from the premium (segment), where we are giving the healthier options without diluting anything that Patanjali stands for."



When asked about nutraceuticals, Asthana said all the products currently available in the market are based on "the Western notions of what nutraceuticals are all about" and the company is offering an alternative, "which is entirely vegetarian and organic, bio-fermented and healthier options to consumers".

"That is what we're working towards and is very successful. Last year we did sales of Rs 500 crore and we want to continue expanding and growing that," he added.

In terms of sales network, he said currently the company has 8,000-plus distributors with about 1.5 million direct reach to retail outlets and is working towards having an additional indirect reach of close to a million outlets.

Besides, the company has access to more than 5,000 outlets through Patanjali Ayurved and its products are also available across all the e-commerce platforms, modern trade stores and direct-to-consumer channels through its omni-channel strategy to build up its business, Asthana said.
Leading manufacturer of power transmission and distribution structures Skipper Ltd on Saturday said it has secured cumulative orders worth Rs 1,135 crore for the design, supply, and construction of new transmission line projects for Powergrid Corporation of India, as well as tower and pole export supplies.

The export supplies will be made to Latin America, the Middle East, and north Africa, a company statement said without providing further details.

The company has a total order book of Rs 4,500 crore and aims at doubling its revenue to Rs 4,000 crore over the next three years.

These orders are a significant milestone for Skipper and reaffirm its position as a leading player in the power transmission and distribution industry, it added.

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The Ministry of Corporate Affairs will hold consultations with stakeholders on issues related to MCA21 portal in Chennai and Hyderabad next week.

The move comes amid stakeholders facing various issues with respect to the portal, which is the key platform for submitting statutory filings under the companies law.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, the ministry said the secretary will hold consultations with stakeholders in Chennai on June 20 and in Hyderabad on June 21.

"Secretary @MCA21India will hold stakeholders' consultations, along with the team of @LTIMindtreeOFCL @theicai and



@icsi_cs at Chennai on 20th June and at Hyderabad on 21st June on the issues relating to the MCA-21 Version-3 Portal.

@nsitharamanoffc," it said in a tweet.

Manoj Govil is the corporate affairs secretary.

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Filings under the companies law and the limited liability partnership law are submitted to the ministry through the MCA21 portal.
India may be seeking a reduction in import duties on some basmati rice varieties from the UK as part of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.



This is to ward off a growing challenge from its nearest competitor in basmati rice Pakistan and also create a wider demand for domestic products, trade and industry sources said.
RBL Bank is targeting to expand its net interest margin (NIM) to over 5.2 per cent by the end of FY24 by upping the share of higher-yielding assets in its loan book, a top official has said.

The private sector lender will continue to maintain the share of unsecured loans like credit cards and microfinance by growing them at over the 20 per cent overall loan book increase targeted for every year till FY26, R Subramaniakumar told PTI.

The bank had reported an expansion in NIMs to over 5 per cent in the March quarter, in line with the industry trend.

"NIM will be 5.2-5.3 per cent by the end of the year (FY24). The mix of products will deliver the higher yield," he said.

Subramaniakumar said the bank is targeting to increase the share of secured retail assets like mortgage loans, loans against property, two and four-wheeler loans, which will yield higher.

He admitted that given its relatively smaller size, it has to offer higher deposit rates to get the required liabilities to fund the asset growth of over 20 per cent.

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The higher deposit rates alone will have a 0.30 per cent drag on the NIMs, he said, adding that the same will be compensated by replacing the asset profile.

At present, it does not have many contributions from secured assets in the retail loans, which yield less as compared to unsecured ones but are generally safer bets having lower risk weights, he said, adding that the secured retail assets yield higher than wholesale book.

By end-FY26, the bank is targeting to have a third of its book from such secured retail assets, Subramaniakumar said, adding that it will continue to grow the unsecured book as well which it considers as flagship products.

It can be noted that in late 2021, the Reserve Bank had, in a rare intervention, curtailed the duration of the then MD and CEO, and also placed its representative on the bank board. As per some reports, the regulator was concerned with the unsecured assets concentration at the bank.

Subrawmaniakumar said the bank will be growing the credit card book at 23-24 per cent - higher than the overall asset book growth of 20 per cent it is targeting - which will ensure that it occupies a fourth of the overall loanbook pie by end of FY26.

The bank is planning to rely on more partners beyond Bajaj Finance to source its credit cards, and also leveraging on the network strength of over 500 branches to push the product.

He said MFI is a good business as long as you have ears and feet on the ground, and the bank will continue to grow the book at 30 per cent. This higher paced growth can take the share of MFI loans to up to 10 per cent from the present 6-7 per cent.

The bank, which moderated its wholesale lending growth to 13 per cent in FY23 after some setbacks in the past, will continue to be circumspect on this segment, Subramaniakumar said.

It will prefer lending to smaller businesses having turnover of less than Rs 200 crore and credit requirements of up to Rs 40 crore, he said, explaining that a better control over the company's cash flows and being among the limited number of bankers is a draw.

The share of wholesale book, which stands at 44 per cent at present, will come down to 30 per cent by end of FY26, he said.

The bank wants to decrease cost to income ratio by 4 percentage points in FY24, and aims to exit FY26 at 56 per cent, he said, adding that a bulk of investments are done which will now start yielding returns.

Subrawmaniakumar said the transition to credit loss-based system of provisioning will not have a major impact on the bank.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday issued a clarification that reports related to missing Rs 500 notes are inaccurate and based on an erroneous interpretation of information obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005 from the printing presses.

Media reports citing RBI said that certain sections of the media circulated the reports which alleged the disappearance of the bank notes printed by banknote printing presses. The central bank, however, has now denied these reports and said that all banknotes supplied from the printing presses to the RBI are properly accounted for.

It further stated that systems are in place to reconcile the banknotes printed at the presses and supplied to the central bank, which includes protocols to monitor production, storage, and distribution.

Following these claims, the central bank has urged the public to rely on information published by itself in cases pertaining to such matters.

News reports earlier claimed that while the mints issued 8,810.65 million pieces of the newly designed Rs 500 note, the RBI had only received 7,260 million.

These reports were based on responses to an RTI query filed by activist Manoranjan Roy. The data obtained via RTI claimed that 375.450 million pieces of the newly designed Rs 500 note were printed by the Currency Note Press, Nashik. However, the central bank records indicate that only 345.000 million pieces were received between April 2015 and December 2016.

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Citing RBI's annual report 2022-2023, the media reports stated that the share of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes in circulation accounted for 87.9 per cent in value terms of the total circulation as on March 31, 2023.



Further, it stated that in terms of value, Rs 500 denomination constituted the highest share at 37.9 per cent, followed by Rs 10 denomination at 19.2 per cent of the total banknotes.
With the global panic over the Covid-19 pandemic finally waning, the focus is again on preventive and curative measures, mainly the 'life-saver vaccines'. They provided a cover against the invisible coronavirus and its variants which have already snuffed out nearly 69 lakhs (6.9 million) lives worldwide, including some 5.32 lakhs in India till date, and counting...

In mid-January 2021, a saviour called the Covid-19 vaccine was finally developed in India by two companies -- the government-owned Bharat Biotech Ltd (BBL)'s "Covaxin" and the private Serum Institute of India (SII)'s "Covishield" -- and approved for "restricted emergency use" to arrest the killer-run of the coronavirus.

Barely four months later in mid-May 2021 the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare raised red-flags on both Covaxin and Covishield that were being jabbed into the unsuspecting millions of countrymen, initially free of cost.

In a communication to all states, the MoHFW had spoken about the Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) and an analysis of the AEFI cases by the National AEFI Committee for TTS (Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome --- which implies blood clots in veins).

The MoHFW categorically stated that "there is a very miniscule but definitive risk" of Thromboembolic events following Covishield (SII) jabs, but Covaxin (BBL) posed no such potential risk."

In a relief of sorts, the MoHFW added that the 'risk' was just "0.61/million doses" compared with 4/million in the UK or 10/million in Germany.

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The Centre also prepared two separate advisories -- one detailing diagnosis and treatment of TTS post-vaccine doses for health-care institutions and workers, and another for beneficiaries to encourage them to report any such side-effects and seek treatment.

Activists like Pune businessman Prafful Sarda said that when all this was known, "why did the government make the entire country a guinea pig to boost the profits of the vaccine-manufacturers".

He said that hundreds of cases are being filed in different countries as more and more serious adverse effects of the vaccines are coming to the fore and many deaths of perfectly healthy people are now being attributed to the immunisation.

Nagpur-based Council for Protection of Rights (CPR) chairman, barrister Vinod Tiwari said though the vaccines were permitted for 'emergency use' only, a mass-immunisation program was taken up as people panicked.

"It was indirectly made compulsory by denying people the right to travel in autos, taxis, trains, flights, inter-state or international, barring entry to most public places or workplaces, thus compelling them to get the jabs even against their wishes. It's time now to question all the governments, including India, on their ill-conceived actions," said Tiwari.

Incidentally, in March 2023, the ICMR launched a study into the alarming 'sudden heart attacks deaths' of many including youngsters and its possible link with vaccines. Its report is expected shortly.

Tiwari and Sarda demanded that "the courts must suo moto intervene for this public cause, identify those responsible for imposing vaccination on the country and punish them plus compensate the victims as per the relevant laws."

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tens of millions of jittery people thronged vaccination centres for a 'protective prick', little concerned about its potential short-term or long-term effect/side-effects.

In all fairness, the Centre's advisory came months after the BBL and SII had released their own comprehensive list of side-effects - before the actual vaccine launch - but of course, few bothered to even glance through them.

Nevertheless, the BBL made it amply clear that "the clinical efficacy of Covaxin is yet to be established and is under study and serious or unexpected side-effects may occur" while stressing the need to follow all other precautions, as the vaccine is still being tested.

The SII declared that the "duration of protection against Covid-19 disease is currently unknown", plus serious and unexpected side-effects could occur, as the vaccine was still under clinical trials.

In case of any AEFIs, both companies appeared to shrug off responsibility and advised the people to rush to the nearest hospital, call the healthcare provider/vaccinator, medical officer etc. for any problems post-jabs.

The side-effects of COVAX as listed by the BBL: Injection site pain/swelling/redness/itching, stiffness in the upper arm, weakness in the injection arm, headaches, body-aches, fever, malaise, weakness, rashes, nausea/vomiting, or severe allergic reactions with symptoms like difficulty in breathing, swelling on the face and throat, a fast heart rate, rashes all over the body, dizziness and weakness.

The side-effects of COVISHIELD as listed by the SII: Very Common ones like tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching, swelling or bruising where the injection is given, generally feeling unwell, fatigue, chills or feeling feverish, headache, feeling sick (nausea), joint pain or muscle ache; Common ones like a lump at the injection site, fever, vomiting, flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills; and uncommon side-effects of feeling dizzy, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, enlarged lymph nodes, excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

--IANS

qn/bg
Manipur state authorities said on Sunday said they had started to relax a curfew imposed in the state after 45 days of unrest.

We have decided to remove curfew from 5 am until 5 pm to enable residents to buy food, medicines, and other essentials, said Diana Devi, a local government official based in Imphal.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday condemned the ongoing violence and appealed to the government, including local administration, police, security forces and central agencies to take every possible step to restore peace immediately.

In a statement, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale also urged them to ensure a seamless supply of relief materials to those displaced due to the violence, along with necessary actions to maintain peace and harmony in the northeastern state.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh has spoken to him over the phone and sought his help to restore peace in the neighbouring state.

During the telephonic conversation, Singh also requested him to take measures for the safety of Meitei people living in Mizoram, the chief minister said.



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Manipur has experienced widespread violence since May 3, following protests by Indigenous communities sparked by resentment over economic benefits and quotas for government jobs and education reserved for Kukis, an ethnic group, who mostly live in the hills.

Meiteis, the dominant community in the low lands of the state, who account for half of state's population, demand extension of limited affirmative action quotas to them.

But Kukis fear it would mean Meiteis would get a greater share in education and government jobs reserved for them.

Last week's federal home ministry records showed 83 people have been killed and more than 60,000 residents displaced since May in the violence.

On Thursday, a federal minister's house was set on fire in Imphal. He hails from the majority Meitei community.

Neighbouring states which have provided shelter to the displaced population appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to release funds needed to feed the refugees.

Leaders from the opposition party accused Modi government of failing to contain the crisis in a state governed by his party.

"We believe that if the prime minister takes action, then peace in Manipur can be restored in 24 hours," said Nimaichand Luwang, an opposition lawmaker in Manipur.

A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said at least 32,000 security forces will continue to support local police until normalcy is restored.
Himachal Pradesh, country's fruit bowl ranking second in apple and almond production, may witness a 30-35 per cent decline in the apple crop besides flavour deterioration this year owing to freak weather conditions, say horticulture experts.

Growers say the loss could be 50 to 60 per cent.

As per farmers, the snowless winter and wet weather with the onset of spring for several weeks are the reasons for the crop loss. The impact is seen more on lower and mid belts. Harvest will pick in July and last till October-end.

But horticulture expert S.P. Bhardwaj is optimistic despite the decline in yield.

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He told IANS on Saturday that the natural fruit thinning of apple crop balances the amount of fruit left on trees with the leaf surface that provides the energy to grow and ripen fruit.

In developed countries, the fruit thinning is done to increase fruit size and enhance repeat bloom, Bhardwaj, former joint director at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan.

Apple is the most important fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes 48.8 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and 81 per cent of the total fruit production during FY 2021-22.

The area under apple has increased from 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-61 and 115,016 hectares in FY 2021-22.

Between 2007-08 and 2021-22, area under apple has seen a growth of 21.4 per cent. Shimla district alone accounts for 80 per 'ent of the state's total apple production.

As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, the state produced 674,000 tons of apples till December 2022. In the past 13 years, the leanest crop of 275,000 tonnes was in 2011-12 while the optimum of 892,000 tons was in 2010-11.

More than 90 per cent of the state's apple produce goes to the domestic market.

But farmers are skeptical about the overall production of the apple crop this year.

They say the decline in the crop this time could be as high as 70 per cent compared to the yield of recent years.

Apple grower Rajesh Khimta in Karsog, the hub of apple orchards in Mandi district, told IANS the main reason for the decline in the crop is largely due to lack of winter snow and extensive rainfall during the spring and thereafter.

"Fluctuation in temperatures from March to May altered the timing of key plant physiological events like delay in bud break and full bloom period," he explained. Also, the hails in May have damaged the crop extensively.

Another grower Vinod Chauhan, who owns an orchard in Banot in Kotgarh area, said the crop has also been impacted by hailstorms. "Though growers ar' using hail nets, but they can't cover the entire orchards with the net."

He said the old and senile apple plants need more chilling hours and have been severely impacted with almost snowless winter this time.

"For the past week we have been witnessing long sunny days that give you the feeling of summer. Otherwise, the temperature has been lying low due to regular showers. The vast variation of temperatures has impacted this season's crop," he said, while pointing towards trees that are normally laden with apples during this period.

Field reports say the crop loss in orchards located in lower belts of Kotgarh could be as high as 75 per cent, while in upper regions like Thanedar it could be 50 to 60 per cent. In the high altitude orchards the loss is around 25 per cent.

The first apple orchard in Himachal Pradesh was planted in Kotgarh, some 85 km from Shimla, on November 6, 1916, and that had helped Kotgarh to progress economically, socially and also marked its presence on the global map.

However, horticulture expert Bhardwaj believes with the enhancement of rainfall activity during this period will help the crop gain in size.

"There is plenty of moisture in the soil that will enable the fruit to attain optimum size. Also the growers should not go for early harvest and colour spray," he said.

As the fruit is sold on the basis of weight, the gaining of optimum size means overall increase in quantity, he explained.

The farmers should have to adapt to modern farming practices and replace the old and senile apple plants with exotic high-yield varieties. They should have to change their mindset that every flower turns into fruit, which is against nature.

"When too many fruits are left on a tree, the competition among fruit for scarce nutrients will limit the size of each fruit," Bhardwaj added.

In a first, the Northern Railway has offered the facility to transport apple growers across the country through trains.

Also after successful trials in remote Kinnaur, private company Skye Air is going to introduce drone technology to transport apple boxes, weighing between 10 kg to 20 kg, across the challenging terrain of the hills.

The early-season varieties hit the market. They fetch Rs 900 per 20-kg apple box in the wholesale market in Bhattakufer near Shimla.

Superior grades like Royal Delicious, Red Chief, Super Chief, Oregon Spur and Scarlet Spur will start arriving by the middle of August.

Farmers and trade insiders say the overall apple production in the state has been erratic since 2010.

Experts believe changes in precipitation patterns like frequent extreme weather events both in summer and winter have impacted the taste, colour and texture of apples.

Fluctuations in temperatures from December to February, for example, every year have been preponing flowering in apple trees in spring and altering the timing of key plant physiolo'ical events like early bud break and full bloom period.

State's apple boom is credited to Samuel Evans Stokes (later named Satyanand Stokes), an American missionary who first introduced the high-quality apples in the mid-altitude hills.

From a small orchard in Kotgarh, Stokes promoted the apple cultivation in other areas too, especially in upper Shimla.

Since then the hill state has been synonymous with apples that alone constitute 89 per cent of the state's fruit economy of Rs 5,000 crore.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

--IANS

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This file photo provided by Kia shows its flagship EV9 electric SUV. Yonhap



Kia, Korea's second-biggest carmaker, said Sunday it will launch its all-electric EV9 flagship SUV in the domestic market this week as part of its electrification efforts.



The three-row seater is Kia's second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated electric vehicle platform, called E-GMP, after the EV6 SUV launched in 2021.



The two-wheel-drive EV9 comes with a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery and can travel 501 kilometers on a single charge. An all-wheel-drive model is also available, the company said in a statement.



The model  set to be launched Monday  is priced at 73 million won-82 million won ($57,000-$64,000), depending on options.



Kia plans to gradually launch the EV9 in Europe, the United States and other markets in the second half.



Kia plans to produce about 100,000 units a year of the new model at the Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong plant, just south of Seoul, for global sales.



The maker of K5 sedans and Sorento SUVs aims to sell 1 million EVs in 2026 and gradually fill its EV lineup with 15 models by 2027.



The company plans to add the EV9 GT-line and the performance EV9 GT models to beef up its EV lineup in the third quarter. The GT-line model adopts the design of the performance GT model to meet diverse customer demands.



It will introduce Level 3 autonomous driving technology through the Highway Driving Pilot program in the GT-line model.



A Level 3 car allows lane changes and other autonomous driving functions to work without intervention by the driver. At Level 4, a vehicle can drive itself under limited conditions and will not operate if all required conditions are not satisfied. At Level 5, a vehicle's automated driving features can drive under any conditions.





EV9s, Kia's electric vehicle, is on display at the Seoul Mobility Show at Kintex in Gyeonggi Province, March 30. Yonhap
India and the UK are seeking equal treatment in each other's market for their respective companies engaged in the services sector under the proposed free trade agreement, which is under negotiations, a government official said.

The two countries are looking at promoting trade in services through this agreement, negotiations for which was launched on January 13, 2021.

As many as ten rounds of talks have been completed till June this year and both sides are aiming to conclude the negotiations at the earliest.

In the services sector, the official said the UK is showing keen interest in areas such as financial sectors, while India is looking at areas such as education and movement of skilled professionals.

Under the services chapter of the free trade agreement, there are no customs duty concessions given to each other.

The two trading partners negotiate issues like giving national treatment to Indian and British companies in different sectors and ease norms to promote trade in services like simple visa processes for skilled labour force and easy foreign direct investment norms in the sector.

Also Read India-Australia FTA to help bilateral trade cross $70 bn in next 5 years India, EFTA trade pact to boost commerce, investment, job creation India-Australia trade agreement to greatly benefit MSMEs: Piyush Goyal FTA negotiations going on with United Kingdom, EU and Canada: Sitharaman India looking at multilateral, equitable agreements for all sides: Goyal 10 injured at Bengaluru airport as bus ferrying passengers hits pillar Emergency was dark era in country's history: PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat Massive fire erupts in godown in Maharashtra's Pune, dousing ops underway Strength of disaster management that India has is becoming example: PM Modi UP CM Yogi Adityanath instructs to start plantation campaign from July 1-7

"Regular meetings are held at higher levels to review the progress, resolve the outstanding issues and discuss the way forward in negotiations. So far nothing has firmed up in the services sector," the official, who did not wish to be identified, said.

"The UK is an important financial services centre of the world, so they always have interest in that, the official added. Both sides have exchanged the list of services where they are keen to promote exports.

The negotiations between the two countries for the agreement covers as many as 26 policy areas/ chapters. Out of this, 14 chapters have been substantially closed for negotiations and there is significant progress in other areas.

Investment is being negotiated as a separate agreement (bilateral investment treaty) between India and the UK and it would be concluded simultaneously with the free trade agreement.

Indian students have for the first time overtaken Chinese as the largest group of foreign students studying in the UK with a massive 273 per cent hike in visas granted over the past few years, according to the country's official immigration statistics released in November last year.

The UK Home Office data collated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had shown that Indians also continue to be the top nationality granted visas in the skilled worker category, with 56,042 granted work visas in the past year.

Indian nationals also represented the highest number of visas at 36 per cent of the total under the tailored Skilled Worker Health and Care visa targeted at medical professionals, reinforcing Indian contribution to the state-funded National Health Service (NHS).

The UK ranks number two in the world in terms of tourists visiting India, but most of the tourists are British nationals of Indian origin. Around 500,000 Indians visit the UK every year.

Services Export promotion Council of India (SEPC) Chairman Sunil Talati said huge potential is there to further boost trade in services.

"The four areas of our interest in the UK under the trade agreement are accounting and auditing, legal, tourism, and engineering and architecture.

"We are requesting the commerce ministry to seek liberalised visa norms for Indian professionals in these segments. Medical treatment in the UK is expensive. In fact people from Scotland and Ireland also prefer India for treatment," Talati said.

He added that Uk is keen in segments such as legal, accounting and auditing, tourism, and financial services.

The bilateral trade between the countries has increased to USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23, as compared to USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22.

India's exports to the UK stood at USD 11.4 billion last fiscal, as against USD 10.5 billion in 20210-22. Imports aggregated at USD 8.96 billion in 2022-23, as compared to USD 7 billion in the previous fiscal.

India's main exports to the UK are ready-made garments and textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum and petrochemical products, transport equipment, spices, machinery and instruments, pharmaceuticals and marine products.

The main imports include precious and semi-precious stones, ores and metal scraps, engineering goods, professional instruments other than electronics, chemicals and machinery.

In the services sector, the UK is the largest market in Europe for Indian IT services.

In the field of investment, the UK is one of the top investors in India. In 2022-23, India has received USD 1.74 billion foreign direct investment from Britain as against USD one billion in 2021-22. During April 2000 and march 2023, the investments stood at USD 33,9 billion.

Top sectors attracting FDI from the UK are petroleum, ports, services, roads and highways, computer software. There are around 700 Indian companies like the Tata Group in the UK.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the first Infinity Centre of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Dubai on Sunday, rolling out his government's ambitious programme of setting up one-stop destinations across the world to strengthen the state's ecosystem for nascent companies.

Vijayan, who is on a tour to US and Cuba, will arrive in Dubai to take part in the event.

Chief Secretary V P Joy will chair the ceremony at Taj, Burj Khalifa, a KSUM release said, adding that the event will mark the start of a series of such launch pads for Kerala's startups to explore foreign markets by enabling non-resident Indians to help become entrepreneurs in association with KSUM.

"The idea of Infinity Centres comes in the context of NRIs totalling 3.2 crore, topping India in the global list of hosting the largest number of migrant citizens," the release said.

"Adding about $78 billion in remittance to the Indian economy, they play a huge role in the development of India. Considering this, KSUM conceived the Startup Infinity as an initiative to help the NRI community set up business in Kerala and tap into their vast amount of resources to support nascent companies," it said.

Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, State IT and Electronics Secretary Dr Rathan U Kelkar, KSUM Chief Executive Officer Anoop Ambika, Consul General of India (Dubai) Dr Aman Puri, Lulu Group International CMD M A Yusaf Ali, Aster DM HealthCare MD Azad Moopen, IBS Executive Chairman V K Mathews and Norka Roots Vice Chairman P Sreeramakrishnan will take part in the event.

Also Read Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls on Centre to set up AIIMS in Kozhikode Vijayan meets envoys of UAE, Vietnam at Kerala House in Delhi Vijayan to go slow on case against 7 Oppn MLAs for Assembly fiasco: Rpt Fuel price hike comes into effect, UDF observes 'black day' in Kerala Sharing dais with Kerala CM Vijayan in US to cost $50,000: Reports UP govt signs MoU with Khan Academy to improve Maths skill of students Two earthquakes of mild intensity hit J&K's Doda, no damage reported IMD issues heatwave to severe heatwave warning for several states/UTs 'Savarkar was social reformer, unfortunate that chapter on him dropped' Spare parts, missiles, drones, aircraft to be manufactured in UP: Singh

The Startup Infinity programme aims to unite the NRI population and encourage them to launch their own businesses both abroad and in Kerala.

It said the launch pad will act as a global desk in select countries where the NRI community can engage, co-create and set up businesses either in their resident country or in India.

KSUM, in its bid to institutionalise the success of these foreign delegations, plans to start the Infinity Centres across the world on a pilot basis.

Initiated with the objective of helping Kerala-based startups explore the overseas market, the Infinity Centres seek to make Kerala a key point of access for overseas startups to explore the Indian market, it added.

KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will be giving free mobile phones to the women of the state under Rajasthan Free Mobile Yojana 2023. Now, the question being exchanged is, if this scheme for women can be a gamechanger. As per officials, it is directly going to benefit around 1.33 crore eligible women of the state.

While BJP leader Nimisha claimed that the Gehlot government has woken up late to make this announcement at a time when the world's cheapest internet services are being availed by women in india, Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said that the scheme will script a new story of growth for women section of the state.

"There are many ambitious schemes being chalked out by the Congress government in Rajasthan which will directly help women. They can now avail a gas cylinder for Rs 500. Also there are free medicines and heath benefits being launched by the state government and through the free mobile, they can stay updated of such schemes and get the benefits," Chaturvedi added.

However, Nimisha said, "India is the second top manufacturer of mobile in the world and in present times, each citizen of the country is using mobile. Gehlot ji Der se jage (Gehlot has waken up late).

She added, "When world's cheapest internet is already being used by women, and they are now launching their own startups and rural females too are scripting their success story, Gehlot government's new announcement comes as a part of election freebies," she commented.

Nimisha further said that the women neither feel safe nor being respected hence the government should focus on law and order rather than issuing such freebies.

Also Read Rajasthan farmers to get Rs 500 cr in FY24 to build greenhouses, shade nets Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot to present state budget for FY24 on February 8 Decision will be taken in party's interest: Cong Prez on Gehlot, Pilot Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan Rajasthan govt working to uplift every section of society, says CM Gehlot Top headlines: RBI on Rs 500 notes report, India to have 40% of workforce PM Narendra Modi to address 102nd edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' today HP BJP stages protest at Kangra demanding fair probe in Chamba murder case Death toll rises to 291 in Odisha's Balasore three-train train accident Man takes injured son in hospital lift on scooter; no wheelchair available

Meanwhile, Chaturvedi said, "Rajasthan is the only state which is scripting a success story in pension and social schemes. We are the only one to take women as head of the family and give them the benefits of phones and free data so that they can smartly use the phones for their uplift."

It needs to be mentioned here that Gehlot government has announced free mobiles for women. He said that if tender doesn't happen, such a facility will be made that women can buy mobile phones themselves as they will be transferred money in their bank accounts to buy mobiles.

First, an amount would be fixed for the phone and then the money would be transferred to the bank accounts of eligible women. With this, women will be able to buy phones with their own choice. Women can buy mobiles on their own and decide which model, which company, how much GB mobile they want, they can buy smart phones of their choice, to ensure they script a smart empowerment story, said Gehlot.

Also, if they get money in their own account, there won't be any complaint that some women has got mobile from one company while others have received mobile from other country, he added while speaking on challenges if companies can make delivery of such a huge number of mobile stock.

It needs to be mentioned here that the Congress government in the state has announced to give free mobile phones to 1.33 crore women in three phases. The first phase will be during Rakshabandhan, in which it has been promised to distribute phones to 40 lakh women.

Gehlot announced the launch of Rajasthan Free Mobile Yojana 2023 during the budget speech 2022-23. Through this scheme, free mobile phones will be given to women heads of 1.33 crore Chiranjeevi families of the state. Internet data up to 3 years will also be given absolutely free in these mobiles.

Rs 1,200 crore will be spent by the government on Rajasthan Free Mobile Yojana 2023.

Now, discussions are on if this scheme can be a gamechanger in view of the assembly polls scheduled to be held in or before December 2023, and if Gehlot can get votes from the women section by making them subscribers of smart phones and free data.

--IANS

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The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Khan Academy India to enhance maths learning skills of over five lakh students in the 48,000 state-run schools.

As per the government spokesman, this partnership will make high-quality maths learning content in Hindi accessible to students and teachers in the department of basic education, including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), department of secondary education and schools overseen by the social welfare department, seamlessly integrating them into classrooms.

Khan Academy India is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in India to provide free, world-class education for millions of learners in India.

It was founded by Khan Academy Inc and Tata Trusts in 2006.

Vijay Kiran Anand, director general, school education, Uttar Pradesh, said, "This collaboration between the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Khan Academy India is a significant step towards ensuring that every student has access to the tools and resources they need to excel in maths and reach their full potential."

"The programme's success in KGBVs serves as a testament which has already shown promising results in improving maths learning outcomes. We are proud to continue and expand our strong partnership with them," he added.

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Since 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government has worked closely with Khan Academy to improve math learning outcomes in state-run schools limited to KGBVs. The encouraging results have prompted the expansion of this partnership.

Learning maths at Khan Academy, with its seamless integration into the classroom environment, has reshaped the educational delivery system, earning accolades from both teachers and students alike.

By the end of the second year, the programme incorporated 72,000 students from 746 KGBVs and over 24,000 students engaged in maths practice for 60 minutes per month, demonstrating better learning outcomes.

The partnership aims to host Khan Academy's tech-based modules for teachers on the DIKSHA portal to ensure all teachers across the state access world-class content and Hindi-medium maths learning resources.

Additionally, Khan Academy team will extend hands-on support to 48,000 teachers on how to leverage online teaching resources in their preferred language and offer personalised learning based on individual student progress data.

The expanded partnership will further strengthen the educational infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in maths education. Teachers will be better equipped to support their students while students will benefit from engaging, personalised learning experiences.

As more students participate in daily maths practice, the overall quality of maths education in the region is set to improve. This initiative is supported by HDFC Bank under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) umbrella brand for all social efforts 'Parivartan'.

--IANS

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An ambitious scheme that aims to promote balanced use of fertilisers along with bio-fertilisers, called Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana or PM PRANAM, is likely to be formally unveiled by the Centre at the end of this month.

According to sources, the scheme, which was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget for 2023-24, is likely to be cleared by the Union cabinet once Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his visit to the US and Egypt.

With PM Modi scheduled to return from his two-nation tour on June 25, there is a likelihood that the scheme may be discussed during the cabinet meeting scheduled towards the end of the month.

Sources further informed that all preparations for sending the scheme for cabinet approval are complete and once it is cleared, then it would come under the implementation process.

The driving point behind the scheme is to cut down the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers, which is estimated to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23, much higher than the previous years.

Also Read FM Sitharaman meets President Murmu ahead of Union Budget presentation Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approves Budget ahead of presentation Post-pandemic development requirements becoming lot more focussed: FM Nirmala Sitharaman's Daughter Parakala Vangamayi ties knot in Bengaluru FM Sitharaman arrives at North Block ahead of Budget 2023 presentation Hopes of monsoon revival likely to bring relief for kharif sowing Agri Min issues draft guidelines for registration of bio-stimulants Farmers call off protest after Hry announces to hike MSP for sunflower crop Bond auction: 11 states borrow Rs 22,500 crore; Maharashtra tops the list Centre imposes stock limits on quantity of wheat to cool down prices

Also it won't have any separate budget, sources said, and therefore will be financed with the help of funds saved from the ongoing fertiliser subsidy under various schemes of the chemical and fertilisers ministry.

Around 50 per cent of savings made in subsidies will be given as a grant to the state that saves the most amount of funds.

In addition to this, 70 per cent of the grant provided under the scheme would be used for asset creation related to the technological adoption of alternate fertilisers and alternate fertiliser production units at the village, block and district levels, sources said.

The remaining 30 per cent would be used for rewarding and encouraging farmers and other village bodies for contributing towards reducing the use of fertilisers.

--IANS

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An Energy Panel was held as part of the XXVI St Petersburg International Economic Forum and Rosneft's Chief Executive Director Igor Sechin gave the keynote speech at the event.

In his report "Sodom and Gomorrah in the Energy Market: God's Wrath or Organized Chaos? Save Yourself if You Can", he presented an analysis of the energy transition and climate changes. He paid special attention to the volatility of the global financial and economic systems, the US banking crisis, and the declining role of dollar as a reserve currency.

Sechin also presented a roadmap for improving the efficiency of the Russian energy sector in the face of unprecedented external challenges.

The event was attended by CNPC Chairman Dai Houliang; Managing Director of ValPro India, Govinda Kottis Satish; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ICEF (Innovation for Cool Earth Forum), a non-profit low-carbon technology initiative of the Japanese government; Executive Director of the International Energy Agency from 2007 to 2011 Nobuo Tanaka; President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf; Vice President of China and Asia Pacific's leading university, Tsinghua University, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Jiang Peixue; Chairman and CEO of Oil & Petroleum Holding International Resources (OPHIR) Pedro A. Aquino Jr.; Martin Wiewiorowski and CEO and Managing Director of Kenya National Petroleum Corporation Leparan Gideon ole Morinthat.

The Energy Panel was attended by a delegation from Venezuela, led by the Head of the Central Bank, as well as representative delegations from China, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and Brazil.

Also present were Laureano and Daniel, the sons of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

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The Energy Panel was moderated by Alexander Dynkin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and President of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences

--IANS

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PRI ERG ESPL NAT .NEWDELHI DES33 AAP-MANIPUR AAP blames BJP for Manipur violence, dubs PM 'incompetent' for failing to restore peace (Eds: With file pics) New Delhi, Jun 18 (BJP) The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday blamed the BJP for the violence in Manipur and dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi incompetent for the government's failure in restoring peace and normalcy in the northeastern state. "Peace and tranquillity in the country will remain a far cry so long as the BJP is in power," AAP Rajay Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Singh said at a press conference here. More than 100 people have so far lost their lives in the ethnic violence that broke out a month ago between the Meitei and the Kuki communities in Manipur. "Manipur is burning for over one-and-a-half months but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent. He has not even uttered the letter 'M' of Manipur so far," the AAP leader said. Questioning Modi's silence, Singh said the prime minister is incompetent and wants to lead the country towards ruin. "He does not have any agenda or vision. He does not have anything else to do," the AAP leader charged. "Spread hatred and rule this is the formula the BJP and Prime Minister Modi have been applying to continue in power," Singh alleged. The MP also dubbed the BJP as "the biggest factory of hatred" in the country, and said there will be "no peace in the country so long as there is BJP". "BJP has become 'Bharatiya Jhagda Party'. The BJP's sole objective is to ruin this country by spreading hatred and inciting violence, creating divisions among people on the lines of religion, caste and sects," he alleged. "Manipur is witnessing violence due to the hatred spread by the BJP in the state," Singh added. The AAP leader asked the prime minister to cut short his foreign tour and visit Manipur to resolve the prevailing tense situation in the state. "Look at the situation in India. Visit Manipur and resolve the prevailing situation," the AAP leader said addressing the prime minister. "These are your people who are being killed. These are your people whose houses were set on fire. It is very unfortunate and sad that you are still silent," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday over his decision to open a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in Amritsar, Punjab, and questioned whether he was opening an NCB office or a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office.

The Delhi Chief Minister hit out at the BJP and alleged that the BJP workers are not working to fight against drugs in the state; instead, they are using NCB to promote the BJP.

Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, "Are you opening the NCB office or the BJP's in Amritsar? Then how can NCB work in villages through BJP workers? This means that you have nothing to do with the intoxication of Punjab. The BJP has to be promoted using NCB. By the way, intoxication had spread only during your and Akali Dal's government, Shah Sahib?"

The political slugfest comes after the office of the Union Minister said that the Narendra Modi-led BJP is working towards making the country free from drugs, and in this regard, they'll be opening the NCB office in Amritsar within a month.

Shah also said that the BJP workers will go to every village and start the journey of public awareness against drugs.

"The Modi government is working towards making the country free from drugs and uprooting the drug trade from within Punjab. The NCB office will be opened in Amritsar within a month to fight the fight against drugs, and within a short time, BJP workers will go to every village and start the journey of public awareness against drugs," Office of Union Minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday targeted the Congress over corruption, alleging scams worth Rs 12 lakh crore had taken place under the party-led UPA government at the Centre.

Whereas, the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is functioning in a transparent manner and even its opponents cannot point a finger of corruption at it, Shah said addressing a rally in Sirsa in Haryana.

Targeting the erstwhile Congress dispensation in Haryana led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the senior BJP leader said, "It was a 3D government of darbaris (courtiers), daamad (son-in-law)...you know to who I am referring to...and dealers. Manohar Lal (Khattar) has ended all these three Ds." He was apparently referring to Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Shah listed various achievements of the Narendra Modi government and said it was strong and decisive.

India's prestige rose globally under the Modi dispensation. "Be it any issue, the entire world waits to see what India has to say on that," he said.

The Modi government took decisions such as scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution which accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, despite stiff opposition from several parties, including the Congress, he said.

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Shah appealed to the people of Haryana to give their blessings to the BJP in 2024 like they did in the previous Lok Sabha polls and once again give all 10 parliamentary seats in the state in "Modi ji's kitty to make the country No. 1 in the world and to make Modi ji prime minister once again".

Notably, BJP has an alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana, but both parties have been non-committal on whether they would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls together.

Shah was addressing "Gauravshali Bharat" rally organised here as part of the BJP's outreach campaign to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government.

Before addressing the rally, Shah paid obeisance at the historic Gurdwara Chilla Sahib here.

After the rally ended, Shah, along with Chief Minister M L Khattar and other leaders, went to the residence of Haryana Power Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, who is an Independent MLA, and had tea there.

Earlier in the day, Shah addressed a rally in Gurdaspur in neighbouring Punjab as part of the BJP's outreach initiative.

Targeting the previous UPA government at the Centre, Shah said at the Sirsa rally that nine years ago terrorists used to come from Pakistan and behead our soldiers, "but Manmohan and Sonia sarkar used to remain mum".

Under the Narendra Modi government, India gave a befitting reply to terrorist attacks in Uri and Pulwama, he said, adding, "In nine years, Modi made the country secure".

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule lasted for 10 years and the country's law and order and security were in tatters, he said.

Manmohan Singh was the prime minister from 2004 to 2014 and Sonia Gandhi the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

"Remember the time nine years ago, Congress party (led UPA) had indulged in Rs 12 lakh crore worth of scams and corruption...In these nine years, even our opponents cannot point a finger of corruption at Modi ji, who has run the government in a transparent manner," Shah told the gathering.

In its nine years, the Modi dispensation gave a new hope to the poor of this country, he said, while touching upon several initiatives for them.

He said that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress did not leave politics behind. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used to warn people against taking the COVID-19 vaccine, terming it "Modi vaccine", but no one listened to him and he too later got vaccinated himself secretly, Shah said.

"Congress indulged in corruption, failed to keep the country secure...even during Covid pandemic, Rahul Baba and Company did not stop doing politics," he said.

He also attacked the Congress over Article 370.

"Is Kashmir ours or not, tell me Sirsawalo? Should Article 370 have been scrapped or not?... When you gave 10 seats to Modi ji, he scrapped it at one stroke," he said.

Shah said Congress people used to oppose it, saying it will lead to bloodshed in Kashmir Valley. Leave alone bloodshed, no one has dared to even pelt a stone, he said.

After Covid, when the entire world was in recession, India was insulated due to policies of the Modi government, he said, adding "this is a big thing for us".

Haryana is falling prey to the drug menace, Shah noted with concern.

"I want to tell you all that the prime minister is concerned and he has kept a target before the Union Home Ministry to rid the country from the drug menace in a short time and this campaign has started in Haryana," he said.

Attacking former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shah said he now talks of farmers' welfare but when in government he did not start Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana for them and did not do any credible work for crop diversification.

He also took on Hooda, saying earlier the chief minister used to be of Rohtak only and he never thought beyond it, but M L Khattar has undertaken equitable development of different regions the state.

"I want to ask Hooda ji, Hooda Maharaj, give account of what your government did for Haryana when your party ruled both in the state and at the Centre," he said.

He said Haryana is known as the land of sportspersons and every third player is from the state. In its nine years, the Khattar government has started many schemes for players, he said.

He also praised hardworking farmers of Punjab and Haryana.

"Haryana's dhaakad jawan, dhaakad kisan and dhaakad khiladi are the country's pride," he said.

Former deputy prime minister Devi Lal had dreams for farmers which no one fulfilled until Prime Minister Modi did so, Shah said.

These nine years are going to be written in golden letters in the country's history, he said.

Haryana has become the biggest exporter of Basmati rice in these nine years, first kerosene-free state, first to have educated panchayats, and the first open defecation free (ODF)-plus state, he said.

Haryana has been clocking a growth rate of more than six per cent for the last seven years, he said, adding this is the result of the "double-engine government", he said.

Fifty per cent of cars manufactured in the country some out of factories in Haryana, he said.

The rally was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and BJP in-charge of Haryana Biplab Kumar Deb, among others.
The Congress in Bihar would extend a "historic" welcome to Rahul Gandhi when he visits the state later this week, for the first time since making waves with 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', the party's state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said on Sunday.

Talking to reporters, Singh said Gandhi will be accompanied by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal and they will make a stopover at Sadaqat Ashram, the BPCC headquarters, before attending the meeting of opposition leaders convened by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"Gandhi will drive straight to Sadaqat Ashram from the airport and will be accorded a historic welcome all through the route. It is a special occasion for us since he is visiting Bihar for the first time since his Bharat Jodo Yatra", said the Bihar Congress chief.

He said Gandhi will spend about an hour at Sadaqat Ashram where "a huge marquee, spread across 70,000 square feet" was being put up for the occasion.

"He will address party workers and after gracing us with his inspiring words, will leave for the meeting with Kharge and Venugopal", he said.

To a question from journalists about the venue of the meeting, which has not yet been announced, the Congress leader said "this is a question that should be posed to the Bihar chief minister. Though as per my information, it will be held at his official residence".

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He sought to make light of reports about West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's discomfiture over a possible tie-up between Congress and CPI(M) in her state.

Banerjee is among the leaders scheduled to take part in the meeting and so is Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of CPI(M) whose party she had ousted from power in West Bengal.

"Do not worry about trifles. The scenario will change after June 23", said the Congress leader.

Incidentally, the idea of Kumar hosting a meeting of all leaders opposed to the BJP in Patna was first floated by Banerjee whom the former had met in Kolkata a couple of months ago.

The Bihar Congress leader also parried questions on whether the meeting will decide the Prime Ministerial candidate for the opposition camp and pointed out "I was a minister in the UPA government. The coalition never declared Manmohan Singh as its face in elections. We function differently".

He also hastened to add, "these are issues on which, as far as the Congress is concerned, only the high command can take a call".

In reply to another query, the Congress leader claimed that the state cabinet will undergo an expansion after the opposition meet and "two ministers from our party and as many from the RJD will be inducted".

At present, the Congress has two members in the 30-strong state cabinet, which includes the Chief Minister and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who belongs to the RJD.

Although the RJD has the lion's share with 14 ministers, besides the Deputy CM, two berths remain vacant since resignation of as many of its leaders from the cabinet.

Another vacancy arising out of the recent resignation of Santosh Suman, national president of Hindustani Awam Morcha, has been filled up with the induction of JD(U)'s Ratnesh Sada.

The state's ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' also includes CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M) all of which are supporting the government from outside.
Hyundai Motor Group's electric cars, which will be used as mobility vehicles for the Korean delegation during the 172nd general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on June 20 and 21, are parked in downtown Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Sunday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



By Baek Byung-yeul



Hyundai Motor Group is supporting Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030 as the automotive giant provides electric vehicles (EVs) with the Busan logo to the Korean delegation participating in the 172nd general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris, according to the group, Sunday.



The Korean delegation will take part in the BIE's general assembly meeting, which will be held on June 20 and 21 in the French capital city to give their fourth competitive presentation promoting why the country's southern port city of Busan should be chosen as the host city of World Expo 2030 before BIE members.



President Yoon Suk Yeol will also attend the BIE's meeting to promote the country's strong willingness to secure the international event. In addition to the Korean delegation, three other countries including Italy, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine will give their presentations during the meeting while the host city of the 2030 event will be announced after a final presentation in November.





Hyundai Motor Group's electric cars including the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 6 and Kia's EV6 are seen in Paris, Sunday. The automotive group said vehicles will be used as transportation for the Korean delegation, which will make a presentation to bring the World Expo to Busan in 2030 during the Bureau International des Expositions' (BIE) 172nd general assembly on June 20 and 21 in the French capital city. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



Hyundai Motor Group said it will provide the Korean delegation with a fleet of the group's electric cars decorated with the "BUSAN is READY!" logo. The vehicles are Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 and Kia's EV6.



The electric vehicles will serve to promote Busan to the BIE members and tourists from around the world as the vehicles will drive around major tourist attractions in Paris, such as the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower, Hyundai Motor Group said.





Hyundai Motor Group's electric cars, which will be used as mobility vehicles for the Korean delegation during the 172nd general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on June 20 and 21, are parked in downtown Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Sunday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Karnataka Heavy and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is playing politics over the Anna Bhagya Yojana.

He said that the Karnataka government had asked the central government to buy the rice required to be distributed to the poor of the state under the Anna Bhagya Yojana. But they are doing politics in this too.

"We have asked the central government to buy the rice required to be distributed to the poor of the state under the Anna Bhagya Yojana. But they are doing politics in this too. BJP is showing its anti-poor attitude through this," MB Patil said.

Speaking to reporters who met him here on Sunday, he said, "We have already told the central government enough about the need for Anna Bhagya Yojana. BJP MPs who are elected from our state should raise their voices. May God give them good sense, that's all."

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had alleged that the Union Government was not allowing the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell rice to the state to roll out its "Anna Bhagya" scheme which envisages giving Below Poverty Line household and Antyodaya card holders 10 kg of food grains for free starting from July 1.

The "Anna Bhagya" scheme is one of the five election promises made by Congress ahead of the Karnataka assembly election. In the State Five kg of rice is already being given to members of BPL households. Now through this scheme, Congress wants to enhance the free grain to 10 kg.

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"The fact that the BJP government at the centre, which had promised to provide rice first for the Anna Bhagya scheme to alleviate the hunger of the poor, has now withdrawn from it only shows their pettiness," criticized Patil.

He also spoke on new airports in the state that are being seriously considered to be managed by the state government itself.

He, however, said that the final decision will be taken after looking at its pros and cons.

"At present, we have built airports in many parts of the state by spending thousands of crores of rupees. But later we are handing over these to the airport authority. They (BJP) are entrusting these to many private companies including Adani," said Patil.

He expressed displeasure over entrusting rights to other private organisations than to the airport authority.

"We have no right over our own airports. There is a feeling that it would be better if we manage our airports ourselves. Instead of entrusting the airport authority to someone else, we can do the work ourselves," said the minister.

He said that in the current system, the airport authority is not even listening to the grievances of the state.

"As of now, it is being checked from all angles. We are also observing the pattern of Maharashtra," he added.

He further vowed to welcome those investors in the State, who are transparent and wanted to create job opportunities.

"Whoever comes forward to invest and create jobs in the state in a transparent and legal manner will be welcomed. There is no discrimination in this," he said.

"A single window system should be effective to facilitate investment. In many states including Punjab, all the departments required to issue business licenses have been brought together and a simple system has been kept," added Patil.
The controversy generated by a BJP leader's statement that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing into the files of 17 senior officers in Nagaland has triggered a major socio-political row.

Even as varied reactions have poured in on BJP leader Dilip Jaiswal's claim that 17 senior officers under Nagaland government are facing ED probe, some social workers say that "corruption is a reality" in Nagaland and none should try refusing to see the mirror.

Former Pradesh Congress president, Kewekhape Therie, said the remarks from BJP national secretary Dilip Jaiswal is a manner of saffron party's "signal to change leadership" in Nagaland. He also said in a statement that the other is to intimidate 48 regional party MLAs.

In February polls this year, the BJP could win 12 seats as it did five years ago in 2018. Incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is heading the NDPP-BJP coalition government. Rio otherwise has been a trusted ally of the BJP since 2003.

Therie also pointed out that there are already five known ED cases pending in Nagaland but the delay in probe and court proceedings have made people to raise eyebrows in suspicion.

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One case pertains to delay in constructing the High Court complex and on this some associates of Chief Minister Rio were also questioned last year.

Another politician and NPF legislature party leader, Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu, told IANS, "I have taken cognizance of the statement by BJP leader Dilip Jaiswal that an ED probe has been launched against 17 officers".

"My view point is clear, corruption in any manner should be taken seriously and investigation in any manner must be welcomed by one and all in order to deliver good governance and justice to the people."

"Whether it is 17 officers or 71 politicians and business people. If there was corruption, it's a cancer and so the law should take its course and wrongdoers should be punished," Azo said.

During his visit to Dimapur in Nagaland on June 16 in connection with completion of nine years of the Modi government, Dilip Jaiswal, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) of Bihar, and also state BJP in-charge for Sikkim, claimed at a media interaction that -- "There are 17 senior officers of Nagaland government whose files have been opened and were under investigation by the ED".

For his part, to a question NPF leader Azo said, "I am not authenticating what Jaiswal has said. Because I am not privy to any information at my level. But because he is an important BJP leader, I take his words made at a press conference seriously".

Jaiswal had admitted that the BJP was a part of the coalition government in Nagaland, but maintained that he would not hesitate to speak the truth as corruption was still rampant in the state.

However, it has generated enough curiosity that while he sought to blame it on civil and police officials for corruption, he declined to say anything on politicians.

NPF leader Azo, also a former Minister, hastened to add, "I do not know who these officials are...and which departments they belong to. But if there are corruption cases then the probe should be expedited to bring out the truth. Law of the land should take its course."

Congress leader Therie also said, although ED and CBI have been misused by the Centre elsewhere, "However, I am happy that ED is doing something appreciable in Nagaland. In the absence of opposition, ED can help the public". Therie said Jaiswal actually agreed that "his party (BJP) government is corrupt" in Nagaland. But he assured, if the ED was serious to clean corruption, "we will support to let the law take its own course" without political influences.

However, a very strong statement has emerged from a retired civil servant, Alemtemshi Jamir, a former Chief Secretary, "Who is an MLC of all the places ...from Bihar who is trying to pass adverse comments on the bureaucracy of Nagaland ?"

"Firstly I think very strongly ...knowing all things about bureaucracy and governance in Bihar,he has no credentials. Mr Dilip Jaiswal has no right to talk about bureaucracy in Nagaland," said the former Chief Secretary, who has worked closely with Chief Ministers Neiphiu Rio and S.C. Jamir.

"The administration here in Nagaland is not like other parts of India...we are under terrible threats," he pointed out.

"Yet, the IAS and IPS have been functioning diligently...Most importantly, denigrating the IAS and IPS fraternity of Nagaland is just not fair. It is humiliating and adds insult to the injuries. Unlike the mainstream India where bureaucracy and politicians have the luxury of peace, in Nagaland we all have gone through hell. The eighties and nineties were so scary and fearful. We lost fraternity brothers. Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, L.V. Reddy, a young officer, was killed in 1995," Alemtemshi told this journalist over phone.

He also pointed out that in the nineties, SP, Mokokchung, Ved Prakash was gunned down and another IPS officer, Akangyanger Aier was also shot dead.

The charges of corruption are nothing new in Nagaland. In the eighties, senior journalist M.J. Akbar had said, "In Nagaland payments (for government contracts/ projects) are done for works done in heaven (previous life)."

Surprisingly, the NDPP and BJP leaders have not reacted formally yet even as a number of saffron party leaders admit, "The episode is embarrassing as we are part of the government in Nagaland with our nominee as the state Home Minister (Y. Patton) since 2018".

Congress leader Therie, a bitter rival of incumbent Chief Minister Rio, however has added a new flavour in the debate when he said, BJP leader Jaiswal's statement was "calculated and with authority".

"He (Jaiswal) has information from ED. The statement is with a forked tongue. It is a signal to change leadership, and the other is to intimidate 48 regional MLAs with ED for fear of being debunked."

With the law and order situation already in mess in neighbouring Manipur, this development in Nagaland vis-a-vis a statement from a central BJP leader on ED probe in Nagaland is quite a curious episode.

According to party insiders, the central BJP is embarrassed over an 'impeachment' proceeding against the Rio government (of NDPP-BJP) in Nagaland in the Supreme Court. The proceeding related to the Rio government's decision not to implement the Supreme Court order on Urban Local Body (ULB) polls.

Last month during the proceedings, the two-member bench of Justices S.K. Kaul and A. Amanullah told the Centre, "We cannot let the law of the land not be followed." (with regard impeachment case against Nagaland government)

The court also used the phrase -- "long rope for hanging" against the Nagaland government.

A former Chief Minister told this journalist, "Never in my long career had I heard the Supreme Court using the phrase of a rope and hanging even against a small government department. This is against an elected state government which enjoys the political backing of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah."

Instead of implementing the Supreme Court order on ULB polls with quota for women, the state government in January this year withdrew the law related to the subject saying the Naga customary laws did not allow any such reservation for women.

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books 'The Talking Guns: North East India' and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views expressed are personal)

--IANS

nirendra/dpb
Karnataka is witnessing a political high drama between ruling Congress party and opposition BJP over distribution of free rice to the poor.

On one hand, the ruling Congress party has given a call of state-wide protest on June 30 condemning the move of BJP-led central government's refusal to sell rice for Karnataka. On the other hand, BJP has stated that if the free rice scheme is not implemented in the state from July 1, the party will launch large-scale agitation.

The sources in the Karnataka government stated that the Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the five major guarantees assured by the Congress, will take some time to take off.

The Congress government has implemented the scheme of free bus travel for women. Applications have been invited from the beneficiaries to avail the schemes of free power up to 200 units and Rs 2,000 allowance to women heads exempting tax payers.

Sources in both parties explain that the political drama is created by both the parties in the backdrop of upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Congress, which has earned goodwill from the people following implementation of the free bus scheme and announcement of other four guarantees, seeks to blame the Centre over the free rice programme.

The statements of depriving the poor of their food or stealing the poor man's food are given with a clear intent to damage the image of BJP further which is still waiting for a momentum after the drubbing in the assembly elections.

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Karnataka Congress President and Dy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had given a call to the party workers to stage a protest in all district headquarters on June 20, condemning the move of the central government to refuse to sell rice to Karnataka.

"The Food Corporation of India (FCI), which promised supply of rice, now had written a letter refusing it. This is an example of the practising of hate politics by the central government. BJP has snatched the food of the poor. BJP is a party which indulges in betrayal of poor masses," the state Congress has charged.

The FCI had promised to provide 2.28 lakh metric tonne rice in the letter, but it has gone back on their words, claimed Congress. The claim was challenged by the BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi who asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to show the letter of commitment by the FCI in this regard.

Siddaramaiah in turn had posted the letter of commitment by the FCI and urged C.T. Ravi to stop politics over the issue and pressurise the central government to provide rice.

Shivakumar stated, "We are being threatened by the central government and we will fight it. The protest is staged to get attention of the central government and people over the issue," he said.

The saffron party, already struggling to usher new spirit into demoralizsd cadres of the party, seeks to blame the Congress over its failure to provide free 10 kilograms of rice. The Congress leaders are not only attacking the state leadership, they are also targeting the BJP top leaders.

Karnataka Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making the announcement of putting Rs 15 lakh into bank accounts of every individual. The minister made the statement to counter BJP leaders in the state questioning the Congress on announcing the free rice scheme without discussing it with the central government.

When PM Modi made an announcement of depositing Rs 15 lakh to all accounts, did he take permission? Rajanna reiterated.

"The Congress does not need to discuss with the FCI and announce schemes. Will they give it free of cost? We are going to pay money and make a purchase," he said.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has slammed and warned the Congress government that if the free rice scheme is not implemented by July, the BJP will launch a protest in the state.

"The state government has continued the 'dhoka' series. The statements of CM Siddaramaiah blaming the central government is nothing but betrayal to the people," he said.

"They have not kept the word given to the BPL card holders and the poor. Siddaramaiah has stated that the central government is bringing politics in the free rice distribution scheme. But, the Centre has been providing free 5 kilograms of rice to all states under the Food Security Act," Bommai said.

"Along with the cost of rice, the Centre is also providing the expenses of the transportation which will come up to Rs 3 per kilogram. CM Siddaramaiah claims that his government is giving 10 kilograms of rice, but it includes five kilograms of rice given by the central government, Bommai claimed.

If the Congress government was serious about the implementation of the scheme, it should have spoken to the Centre. The Congress would not have been wasting time in getting publicity, he said.

"The Centre will decide after taking the future situation into consideration. The decision was taken in the backdrop of lack of rainfall and to ensure there is no good shortage," Bommai claimed.

Karnataka Minister for Home G. Parameshwara reacted strongly, stating that the state is not under the mercy of central government and they need not wait for the consent but implement the schemes as announced.

"Karnataka political scenario is going to heat up in the coming days as BJP and Congress are in confrontation mode on various issues. Both parties are aiming to show another as a villain of the poor masses for political mileage in the case of the free rice scheme. Fingers are crossed over the turn of events in the coming days in the state," sources explained.

--IANS

mka/uk/
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the national capital would have been the safest place had law and order been under the AAP dispensation instead of the Lt Governor.

His comments, however, drew a sharp reaction from Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi, who claimed that Kejriwal does not understand the law. Harish Khurana, the spokesperson for the BJP's Delhi unit, on the other hand, accused him of trying to settle political scores with Lt Governor VK Saxena.

Kejriwal's remarks came after two women were allegedly shot dead by assailants over a suspected financial dispute with their brother in southwest Delhi's RK Puram on Sunday morning. Three men have been arrested in this connection.

"Our thoughts are with the families of the two women. May their souls rest in peace. The people of Delhi have started feeling quite insecure. Those who are responsible for handling the law-and-order situation in Delhi are hatching a conspiracy to take control of the Delhi government instead of fixing the situation," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Had the law-and-order situation been under the AAP dispensation instead of the L-G, Delhi would have been the safest," he added.

The AAP had attacked Saxena over the alleged "deteriorating" law and order in the city earlier as well.

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Reacting to Kejriwal's comments, Lekhi told PTI, "I want to remind the people of Delhi that this is the same Arvind Kejriwal whose MLAs were involved in (the) Delhi riots. They were involved in killing IB (Intelligence Bureau) officer Ankit. Gulel (catapults), guns (and) petrol bombs were supplied by these people. Can such people be given the responsibility of law and order?"



The Union Minister of State for Culture stressed that the RK Puram incident was the fallout of personal enmity.

She said, "Wherever such an incident has happened, the role of the government is to register an FIR and take strict action against the accused and produce them in the court of law.

"The system of trial courts is under the Delhi government. So, whenever this case comes up in the court, in this case, the Saket court, you should ensure that the guilty are punished."



When asked about Kejriwal's allegations, Lekhi said, "The person who does not understand the law is sitting as the chief minister. I am surprised at this."



Responding to the Delhi chief minister's allegations, Khurana told PTI, "Arvind Kejriwal is trying to settle his political score with the Lt Governor.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at the government over rising airfares, saying that in free markets, when demand increases, supply will increase, but in India's free market, when demand increases, prices will increase.

The Congress has been attacking the government, demanding concrete action over rising airfares.

In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "Delhi-Chennai Business Class air tickets on Vistara and Air India have been set at a 'reasonable' price of Rs 6300 and Rs 5700 respectively. Oops, sorry, they are set at a 'very reasonable' Rs 63,000 and Rs 57,000 respectively."



"In free markets, when demand increases, supply will increase. In India's free market, when demand increases, prices will increase," he said.

Airlines will expand their routes, curtail flights on old routes and jack up prices, the former finance minister said.

"India will be the Vishwaguru to the world on monopolistic capitalism," he said.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in airfares on certain routes, mainly due to a capacity crunch and suspension of operations by crisis-hit Go First.

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Against this backdrop, concerns have been expressed in various quarters, and the Civil Aviation Ministry on June 6 asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets.
Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over violence in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that "his government is asleep at wheel."

He also asked the Centre to allow an all-party delegation to visit the northeastern state.

In a tweet, targeting the Prime Minister, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Your 'Mann ki Baat' should have first included 'Manipur ki baat', but in vain."

He said the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing. "You have not spoken a word. You have not chaired a single meeting. You have yet not met an all-party delegation. Looks like your government does not consider Manipur as a part of India. This is unacceptable," he said.

"Your government is asleep at the wheel while the state burns. Follow the Raj dharma. Act firm on all elements that disturb the peace. Restore normalcy by taking citizen groups in confidence. Allow an all-party delegation to visit the state," Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur."

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"Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question," Ramesh said.

The remarks of Congress leaders came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again maintained silence on Manipur during his Mann Ki Baat.

For around 50 days now, ethnic violence continues in Manipur, where over 100 people have died since May 3.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast programme on Sunday, PM Modi said that no one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years, is becoming an example today

--IANS

aks/uk/
Among the six southern states, Tamil Nadu (TN) has lately been conspicuous on the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) radar, along with Telangana. Three events gave the BJP the traction it wanted.

In November 2022, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated a month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha (LS) constituency. He called attention to the integral association of Kashi (Varanasi) and TN with Lord Shiva and said the confluence of the two strands was as sacred as the mingling of Ganga and Yamuna at Sangam.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav will be attending the inauguration of initiatives in memory of late DMK president M Karunanidhi at Tiruvarur on June 20, his son and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Sunday.

While Kumar will inaugurate the 'Kalaignar Kottam', Yadav will open the 'Muthuvelar' Library, both established in Karunanidhi's native Tiruvarur district, Stalin said.

A 'kottam' in Tamil refers to a structure built in memory of someone highly respected.

In a letter to partymen, the DMK chief exhorted them to attend the June 20 event in good numbers. Stalin said he will unveil a statue of his father, who is a former Chief Minister, at the event, coinciding with Karunanidhi's centenary celebrations.

Also Read Stalin refutes to wade into 'cheap politics' over PTR audio issue M K Stalin behaving like the original Stalin: Union minister Chandrasekhar Vaiko urges Stalin to fulfil demands of Tamil Nadu's unorganised workers TN CM Stalin scraps Bill that extended working hours from 8 to 12 AIADMK functionary arrested in TN for 'defamatory' info on CM Stalin One more 'Mann Ki Baat' but 'Maun on Manipur': Congress slams PM Modi Was thrown in jail for 18 months during emergency, says Rajnath Singh UPA-3 very much possible, Oppn must be ready for give and take: Sibal Delhi's law system has worsened over past year: Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj With Senthil Balaji's arrest, TN politics heading for direct DMK-BJP fight
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday targeted the Congress government in Rajasthan alleging that after four-and-a-half years of its rule, it is trying to mislead the public in the name of announcements.

Accusing the state government of blocking the schemes of the central government, he said the Centre has approved a plan of Rs 5,782 crore to bring water from Chambal in Alwar, but the "corrupt Gehlot government has blocked that too".

Goyal and BJP's national spokesperson and MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore interacted with media in Kotputli on the public welfare policies of the central government.

The Union Minister said that the state government could not even fulfil the promises made in its manifesto. "Promises such as providing unemployment allowance and loan waiver of farmers turned out to be lies," Goyal alleged.

He said that after four-and-a-half years of the state Congress government, it is "working to mislead the public" in the name of announcements.

To a question on the recent raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) across the state in the paper leak case, Goyal said that if the Ashok Gehlot government is clean, it need not be afraid of the probe agency's action.

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Taking a jibe over the Congress infighting in Rajasthan, he said that for four-and-a-half years, the "Congress could not settle the internal disputes in its house, Gehlot himself does not accept the decisions of his party".

The minister claimed that in order to take advantage during the election time, hiding internal conflicts, they (Congress) are distributing freebies to the public.

He accused the Gehlot government of stalling the plans of the Modi government.

"The Gehlot government refused to provide land for a big railway project in Rajasthan by writing a letter. It is supporting the corrupt involved in laying pipelines under the Jal Jeevan Mission," alleged Goyal, a former railway minister.

He said that the "days of Gehlot government are over". The public is united to form a transparent and good governance government of the BJP in the state.

Goyal, the Union Commerce and Industry minister, said India has become the fifth largest economy in the world in the nine years of the Modi government.

He said that in the last nine years, long pending development projects have been implemented on the ground. The Modi government has established creative dimensions in building airports, railways and expressways, he said.

The minister said today the world is looking towards India with hope due to its strong economy.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said a UPA-3 government coming to power in 2024 is very much possible provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda reflecting it and are ready for give and take when fielding candidates to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Sibal, a prominent Opposition voice and a former Congress leader, also said that instead of a common minimum programme, the Opposition parties should talk about a "new vision for India".

His remarks come days before a crucial meeting of Opposition parties, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, where top Opposition leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Benerjee, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, among others, are set to deliberate on the way forward for forming an anti-BJP coalition for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

In an interview with PTI, Sibal said the Congress' win in Karnataka assembly polls was an example that the BJP can be defeated but cautioned against making sweeping statements for 2024, asserting that a Lok Sabha election is fought on different grounds altogether.

The former Union minister also insisted that the fight for 2024 was not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but against the ideology that he seeks to perpetuate



Sibal said UPA-3 could be a reality in 2024 provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda which reflects it and that they move forward with the mindset that there needs to be a lot of give and take.

There needs to be give and take at the time of distribution of tickets in those states and constituencies where two or more political parties' candidates are vying for the same seat. Once these three things are agreed upon, I think UPA-3 is very much possible, Sibal told PTI over phone from New York.

Also Read Kapil Sibal tears into Centre, claims misuse of anti-defection law Parties like JD(U), Shiv Sena were your allies, now they are corrupt: Sibal Why is PM Modi 'silent': Kapil Sibal on Bengal, Bihar communal violence Kapil Sibal raises question of pliant investigation amid wrestlers' protest BJP wants 'Opposition-free' India: Kapil Sibal on CBI summoning Kejriwal Delhi's law system has worsened over past year: Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj With Senthil Balaji's arrest, TN politics heading for direct DMK-BJP fight BJP leader's remarks of ED probe against 17 Nagaland officials spark row Bengal panchayat poll: Raj Bhavan to directly monitor reports of violence 200K jobs eliminated from PSUs, govt 'trampling upon hopes of youth': Rahul

Asked if it would be practically possible to put up joint candidates against the BJP when there are serious differences in Opposition ranks, Sibal said talk of differences was an overstatement, citing that in many of the states, certain political parties are truly dominant.

For example the Congress is the real opposition to BJP in many states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In these states there is no issue. Among states where there are non-Congress Opposition governments, such as in West Bengal we all know that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is the dominant partner. There will be a very few constituencies in West Bengal where there will be any kind of conflict, he said.

Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, there will not be any problem as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have fought together many times without any real conflict, Sibal noted.

In a state like Telangana there may be a problem. In Andhra Pradesh, it is unlikely that there would be any Opposition coalition because of a possible three-way contest involving Jagan's party (YSRCP), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), he said.

In Goa again there will be a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, the real Opposition is represented by the Samajwadi Party. The Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress at best will be junior partners. BSP's Mayawati is not playing ball so there is no possibility of an alliance as she has publicly stated that she will be putting up candidates in all parliamentary constituencies. In Bihar, again Congress has no real presence. So I don't think there is any problem on that front, Sibal argued.

Once the three conditionalities that I have put forward come through, seat sharing won't present a real problem, he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister over his recent remarks on political stability in recent years and its importance for the country, Sibal said he would like to question the assumption of the PM. The kind of instability that we have had in the Modi years was not seen during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) period, he alleged.

What is the stability Modi ji has provided? See what is happening in Manipur. This Central government, through tactics which to say the least are unsavoury and clearly corrupt, displaced elected governments. Destabilising elected governments does not provide stability in governance. This dispensation has sown the seeds of economic, political and social instability in the country, he alleged.

Sibal claimed that UPA I and II governments provided a fair amount of political stability. Besides, real growth happened in those years, he added.

Asked if the Opposition parties should leave the leadership question to after the Lok Sabha polls or put up a joint PM candidate, he said it was too early to talk about these things.

The parties when they get together know best how to move forward. This is not something I wish to comment on, Sibal said.

On whether hammering out a common minimum programme should be a priority for Opposition parties, Sibal said, To talk about a common minimum programme is a misnomer. What we should be talking about is an alternative agenda of the Opposition; a new vision to take India forward. My country requires a paradigm shift in the way India should move ahead and a new vision for India. Instead of talking of a common minimum programme, we should talk about a new vision for India.

On Banerjee's reported remarks that the Congress should not expect any help in the Lok Sabha polls in her state as long as it is aligned with the CPI(M), Sibal said, I don't think I should react to statements made by leaders of political parties. Leaders will be sitting together on June 23. I think it will take time to resolve such issues. Resolving them should not be a problem.

Asked whether the Congress should be the centre of an anti-BJP front, Sibal said it was too early to talk about these things, but pointed out that the grand old party was the only national party in the Opposition besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he noted had the status of a national party but was without a footprint outside a few states.

The question as to who should take the lead, how this coalition of opposition parties needs to move ahead, is something that has to be addressed, he said.

On whether Opposition unity is progressing in the right direction, Sibal said it was too early to tell but added that the fact that key opposition parties are meeting on 23rd June is reflective of the desire of the Opposition to come together to face Modi in 2024.

Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and UPA 2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support.

He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice.




By Kim Jae-heun







Chong Kun Dang (CKD) is accelerating the development of new drugs by significantly expanding investments in research and development, the pharmaceutical company said Sunday.







During the first five months of this year, CKD spent 181.4 billion won ($141.7 million) or 12.2 percent of its annual sales in 2022 to expand the scope of new drug development to advanced biopharmaceuticals and antibody drug conjugates (ADC) such as gene and cell therapies. The pharmaceutical company is expected to focus on first-in-class drugs and responding to unmet needs in the medical market.







Last May, the CKD signed a memorandum of understanding with ENCell, a contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) company specializing in cell-genetic therapy and next-generation stem cell therapy, for strategic investments and joint research on cell-genetic therapy. CDMO refers to the development and production of medicine at the request of a client company that lacks any medical production facilities.







It also opened a gene therapy research center called "Gen2C" at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, last September, to develop treatments for rare diseases and "undruggable targets," which refer to proteins that are not capable of being targeted with existing methods.







Recently, CKD signed a contract with Dutch biotechnology firm Synaffix to introduce ADC technology and secure the right to use three types of ADC platform technologies such as GlycoConnect, HydraSpace and toxSYN, to develop anticancer drugs.







"We plan to strengthen industry-academic cooperation and exchanges in relation to research and clinical trials, while conducting joint development through open innovation with other local and foreign companies," a CKD official said.


The arrest of Tamil Nadu minister and powerful leader from Karur, Senthil Balaji by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the public response of Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin that the DMK could not be cowed by using agencies has led to a direct fight between the DMK and the BJP.

Senthil Balaji has been arrested in a case related to the job for cash scam when he was serving as a transport minister in the 2011-16, cabinet of Jayalalithaa. Balaji, who was with the AIADMK then, had switched stands to DMK. He was made a minister in the M.K. Stalin government and allocated important portfolios of Electricity, Excise and Prohibition.

The arrest of Senthil Balaji, who is considered very close to the Chief Minister and one of the pointsman of the party in Western Tamil Nadu, led to Stalin directly intervening and openly retorting against the BJP and the central agencies.

Stalin in a video message said that DMK is a political party which cannot be subdued or forced to submission as it had seen several such tough acts earlier and had come out of that. The Chief Minister also said that if the DMK retorts, then the BJP will not be able to withstand it.

True to his words, the DMK government has started a crackdown and the BJP state secretary S.G. Suryah was arrested on a complaint by the CPI(M) Madurai district committee that he had deliberately posted messages in social media against the party MP from Madurai, Su Venkatesan.

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The BJP leader had posted that a conservancy worker was forced by a CPI(M) councillor of Madurai to clean sewage and that the Dalit woman worker died due to this.

However, CPI(M) in a statement said that there was no such incident and that no one had died and the BJP leader had posted fake information. The BJP leader was immediately taken into custody and then produced before a judicial magistrate court that remanded him for two weeks judicial custody.

BJP national leaders, including Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and party national general secretary (organisation), B.L. Santhosh came out strongly against the arrest of S.G. Suryah.

Santosh said that the BJP is a political party that has fought against Emergency and will not be subdued by police highhandedness and political vendetta. He also said that Stalin has not come out of the shock over the arrest of Senthil Balaji.

AIADMK Erode district IT cell functionary, Gowtham (24) was arrested on Friday night for allegedly spreading and posting defamatory information against Chief Minister Stalin on social media platforms.

According to police, he had received a video that portrayed false information about the Chief Minister. He had made certain changes on the video and later circulated it which went viral. The video was about Stalin as an opposition leader lashing out against Senthil Balaji who was then in the AIADMK.

The AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) came out strongly against the arrest of the AIADMK functionary. The former Chief Minister said that if the trend of taking false cases against AIADMK office-bearers continues, then the party will have to take legal action against the concerned police officers.

It may be noted that ever since former IPS officer of Karnataka cadre, K. Annamalai was anointed as the state president of the BJP, there have been continuous fights between the DMK and the BJP.

Annamalai had even brought out certain corruption allegations against the DMK leadership including Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin. However, the fight between the two reached a flash point after the arrest of the Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji.

It has to be seen how the state would go forward if a fight is taking place between the political parties that are ruling the state and the Centre.

With the preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections already commenced and with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister calling on the DMK cadres to win all the 39 seats from the state and one from the Union Territory of Puducherry, the fight between the BJP and the DMK is to escalate in the days to come.

Dr R. Krishnaswamy, retired professor of political science from a government college at Madurai while speaking to IANS said, "Stalin has to keep the tempo against the BJP to cater to his support base and the tough response of the Chief Minister could be due to the fact that there is a possibility of central agencies again swooping down on senior leaders of the DMK.

"The DMK is also expecting further actions from the central agencies and it knows that in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, there could be further action from the central agencies."

He also said that the DMK is trying to defend its forte and the BJP-led alliance is on an aggressive path against the ruling front.

--IANS

aal/dpb
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that the stature of India in the international forums has risen in the past nine years and the world now listens to it attentively.

Addressing a gathering of successful candidates of the UPSC Civil Services Exam in an event organised in Lucknow today, he stressed that the idea of a developed India is not merely a dream now, but is becoming a reality under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Singh emphasized that now a Superpower like the United States prepares diligently to welcome and host India's Prime Minister, and foreign media talks about the country's success story.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Developed India by 2047, Singh said that young civil servants have a vital role in building such a nation.

"A huge responsibility is on your shoulders. You are going to serve at a time when the country has entered the Amrit Kaal. When you will be at the end of your term by 2047, the country will be celebrating its 100th year of independence. I would like you to be prepared for the upcoming challenges. Together we can face them and take India on the path of a developed nation," the Defence Minister said.

He exhorted civil servants to earn people's trust in government by living up to their expectations and aspirations, and by proactively engaging with them. He stressed that people's trust in democracy will increase manifold if bureaucrats connect with the public more readily.

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Singh underscored that as society is moving forward on the path of progress and prosperity, the feudal system and mentality are diminishing, and in such a situation, living up to the expectations and aspirations of the public is the measure of the capability of bureaucrats and leaders. "There was a time when there used to be a culture of authority in the society, now the culture of justification has overtaken the culture of authority as citizens are becoming educated and more aware with the arrival of new means of communication," he added.

Emphasizing the role of people's representatives in day-to-day governance and democracy, he stressed that civil servants should listen carefully and act on the suggestions made by the public representatives, as in a democracy, the representatives of the people are the representatives of their aspirations.

Defence Minister denounced the culture of undue political interference in the local administration, however, he pitched for guidance from the people's representatives, as they represent the common citizens of the country.

"As people's representatives, they will definitely raise before you the issues related to their constituency. That's why you have to work closely with the people's representatives in your area," he stressed.

Admiring the phenomenal performance of women in civil services exams in recent years, Singh said, "Girls occupying the top three positions, and 14 girls out of the top 25 presents the picture of a new India. Our daughters have brought laurels whenever they got the opportunity."

Mentioning Gandhi's Talisman and the philosophy of trusteeship, he asked young civil servants to think of the last person in society when taking any decision for the welfare of the people.
In early June, sporadic but serious service disruptions plagued Microsoft's flagship office suite including the Outlook email and OneDrive file-sharing apps and cloud computing platform. A shadowy hacktivist group claimed responsibility, saying it flooded the sites with junk traffic in distributed denial-of-service attacks.

Initially reticent to name the cause, Microsoft has now disclosed that DDoS attacks by a murky upstart were indeed to blame.

But the software giant has offered few details and would not comment on the attacks' magnitude. It would not say how many customers were affected or describe the attackers, who it has named Storm-1359. A group that calls itself Anonymous Sudan claimed responsibility on its Telegram social media channel at the time. Some security researchers believe the group to be Russian.

Microsoft's explanation in a blog post Friday evening followed a request by The Associated Press two days earlier. Slim on details, the post said the attacks temporarily impacted availability of some services. It said the attackers were focused on disruption and publicity and likely used rented cloud infrastructure and virtual private networks to bombard Microsoft servers from so-called botnets of zombie computers around the globe.

Microsoft said there was no evidence any customer data was accessed or compromised.

While DDoS attacks are mainly a nuisance making websites unreachable without penetrating them security experts say they can disrupt the work of millions if they successfully interrupt the services of a software service giant like Microsoft on which so much global commerce depends.

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It's not clear if that's what happened here.

We really have no way to measure the impact if Microsoft doesn't provide that info, said Jake Williams, a prominent cybersecurity researcher and a former National Security Agency offensive hacker. Williams said he was not aware of Outlook previously being attacked at this scale.

We know some resources were inaccessible for some, but not others. This often happens with DDoS of globally distributed systems, Williams added. He said Microsoft's apparent unwillingness to provide an objective measure of customer impact probably speaks to the magnitude.

As for Storm-1359's identity, Williams said he doesn't think Microsoft knows yet. That would not be unusual. Cybersecurity sleuthing tends to take time and even then can be a challenge if the adversary is skilled.

Pro-Russian hacking groups including Killnet which the cybersecurity firm Mandiant says is Kremlin-affiliated have been bombarding government and other websites of Ukraine's allies with DDoS attacks. In October, some U.S. airport sites were hit.

Edward Amoroso, NYU professor and CEO of TAG Cyber, said the Microsoft incident highlights how DDoS attacks remain a significant risk that we all just agree to avoid talking about. It's not controversial to call this an unsolved problem.

He said Microsoft's difficulties fending of this particular attack suggest a single point of failure. The best defense against these attacks is to distribute a service massively, on a content distribution network for example.

Indeed, the techniques the attackers used are not old, said U.K. security researcher Kevin Beaumont. One dates back to 2009, he said.

Serious impacts from the Microsoft 365 office suite interruptions were reported on Monday June 5, peaking at 18,000 outage and problem reports on the tracker Downdetector shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time.

On Twitter that day, Microsoft said Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business were affected.

Attacks continued through the week, with Microsoft confirming on June 9 that its Azure cloud computing platform had been affected.

On June 8, the computer security news site BleepingComputer.com reported that cloud-based OneDrive file-hosting was down globally for a time.

Microsoft said at the time that desktop OneDrive clients were not affected, BleepingComputer reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.

Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planet's two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

Blinken plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to U.S. officials.

Biden and Xi agreed to Blinken's trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the U.S. says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.

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The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russia's war in Ukraine.

U.S. officials said before Blinken's departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.

Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the U.S. and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The U.S. wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries."



I believe that the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people, Xi said to Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along. Chances could come at a Group of 20 leaders' gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco that the United States is hosting.

Since the cancellation of Blinken's trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while China's commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China's refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, China's defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet at some point in time, but we're not there yet.

Underscoring the situation, China rejected a report by a U.S. security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional



A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect China's core concerns such as the issue of Taiwan's self-rule, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop harming China's sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter China's growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking before Blinken's departure, two U.S. officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

"We're coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said "intense competition requires intense diplomacy if we're going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.
Julie Johnsson

Boeing predicts airlines around the world will add 42,595 jets valued at about $8 trillion over the next two decades, even as concerns over climate change affect the way consumers travel.



The US planemakers latest tally of industrywide deliveries over the next 20 years takes into account growing activism over jet emissions, said Darren Hulst, a Boeing vice president of marketing. He predicts a fall-off in commercial flights that are shorter than 500 miles, as governments urge consumers to switch to greener transport such as trains.



Airlines ability to wring more flying and profit out of their aircraft will also temper sales. Boeing estimates that carriers will find ways to squeeze about 20 per cent more productivity out of their fleets by moving to large planes, adding denser seating patterns and keeping the airliners airborne more hours each day.



Still, Boeing expects the global fleet will nearly double through 2042, growing at a faster pace  3.5 per cent per year  than its 2.6per cent forecast for annual global economic growth. Airbus SE predicts that 40,850 new jets will enter the commercial market over that span.



Both planemakers expect single-aisle jets to dominate the market for the next two decades. Boeing sees the workhorse jets like its 737 Max and Airbuss A320neo accounting for 76 per cent of projected sales, compared with a 80 per cent forecast by its European rival.



The Arlington, Virginia-based manufacturer doesnt expect every category of jet to enjoy robust growth. Boeing reduced the numbers of air freighters and regional jets that it expected to enter the market by 1.6 per cent and 14.6 per cent, respectively, from last years forecast.



Hulst is skeptical that single-aisle jets capable of flying between continents, like rival Airbus SEs A321XLR, will ever command more than a small niche of the market. The US planemaker doesnt have an offering that directly competes with its rivals long-range narrowbody.


The border security agencies of India and Bangladesh on Sunday discussed various issues, including transboundary crimes and other related matters, an official statement said.

Both sides laid emphasis on sharing information for curbing crimes and increasing mutual trust, it said.

The discussion was held at a meeting between Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General Dinesh Kumar Yadav and Border Guard Bangladesh Region Commander Brig Gen Md Morshed Alam in Assam's Dhubri district.

Several important border issues and solutions to curb various transborder crimes jointly by BSF and BGB were discussed, the release said.

Emphasis was laid on sharing real-time information between the two border guarding forces to effectively control crime.

Various initiatives were also discussed to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides, the BSF release said.

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It was decided to undertake confidence-building measures and programmes at different levels.

They mutually agreed to make all possible efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity along the borders.

Both the forces pledged their commitment and expressed satisfaction at the outcomes of the meeting, the release added.
A relentless wave of violent crime within Israel's Palestinian minority is turning cities and towns into bloody battlefields, exasperating a community feeling increasingly forsaken by Israeli authorities.

Anger over the mounting insecurity is directed at Israel's government and its ultranationalist minister in charge of police, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Critics say that with his history of anti-Arab rhetoric, he cannot be trusted to combat the rising scourge.

The skyrocketing violence lays bare the deep inequities in Israeli society, with Arabs facing years of discrimination that activists say laid the groundwork for the unabating bloodshed.

More than 100 people have been killed in violent crime in Arab communities this year, nearly three times higher than at the same time last year, according to the Abraham Initiatives, a group that promotes Jewish-Arab coexistence and safe communities.

It also is more than three times the murder rate in the majority Jewish sector, according to official figures, despite Arabs making up just a fifth of the country's population of 9.7 million.

Authorities say they are trying their best. But activists see a direct link between the soaring figures and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

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The coalition, which includes ultranationalist factions with anti-Arab hues, took office in late December.

The head of one of those parties, Jewish Power's Ben-Gvir, has made racist remarks and before entering politics was convicted of incitement to violence and support for a Jewish terror group.

As national security minister, he now oversees the country's police force.

Will a person who is busy making racist comments against Arabs protect them, said Thabet Abu Rass, co-director of the Abraham Initiatives. We are citizens of this country. We deserve to feel secure like anyone else in this country. And that is his responsibility.

Israel's Palestinian minority, which makes up 20% of the country's population, has been convulsed by violent crime in recent years involving criminal gangs and family disputes.

Activists say Israeli authorities have historically ignored deadly crime among Arabs, doing little to deter violence or hold criminals to account.

They say that sense has deepened under the current government.

Of the 100 or so people killed this year, police have brought charges in just over 10 cases, according to Abu Rass.

Ben-Gvir has pledged to serve all Israelis. But the community views his past remarks and perceived neglect of the crisis as a sign that the government isn't looking out for them.

Earlier this month, five people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a car wash near the biblical city of Nazareth, and the shooter is not known to have been caught.

In April, the bodyguard for the mayor of an Arab city was shot and killed outside the mayor's home.

Women and children have not been spared, among them an 18-year-old killed recently who had reportedly received threats over her sexual orientation.

Two toddler siblings and their mother were allegedly killed by their father in May.

Shootings are so common in some places that residents fear leaving their homes, not only to avoid getting hurt but also to make sure they don't accidentally become witnesses to a crime and fall into the killers' sights.

We leave the house, we're scared. The kids are at school, I am afraid for them. I am always thinking will my son return home or not?' said Mirvat Saleh, 48, a plant and flower vendor at a market in Lod, a mixed Arab-Jewish city in central Israel rife with violence.

Under Ben-Gvir's leadership, critics say the police is in disarray, with a crisis in confidence within the ranks, including spats between the minister and the police chief, and a series of departures by top officers, including the head of the unit fighting crime in the Arab population.

Ben-Gvir says he is dealing with manpower shortages that have been complicated by weekly mass protests against a government plan to overhaul the judiciary that need securing.

The police chief and I are working hard, Ben-Gvir said after the five people were killed near Nazareth. We are trying to address the root problems.

Ben-Gvir, whose office did not respond to requests for comment, has pushed for the establishment of a new national guard, which he says will increase community policing. Critics say the guard, which would report directly to Ben-Gvir, would amount to a personal militia for the minister.

Netanyahu says his governments have over the years poured resources into fighting crime. Now, he has met with Arab leaders and pledged to crack down, established a committee to try to tackle the crime and even promised to enlist the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

We are determined to restore law and order in the face of this violent crime. We will do whatever is necessary, Netanyahu said.

The security agency, whose main work is to keep tabs on Palestinian militants, has been wary of using its spying tools on Israeli citizens in the past. Israeli media have reported its leaders expressing similar concerns now.

While successive governments have struggled to contain the violence, critics say the tone under Netanyahu's current coalition has ruptured trust. One lawmaker from Ben-Gvir's party livestreamed himself making slurs at Arab legislators in parliament.

The Netanyahu-appointed police chief reportedly said it was the nature and mentality of Arabs to kill. Involving the Shin Bet, which is deeply mistrusted by Palestinian citizens, is another sign of the tone deafness, critics say.

The crime is rooted in deeper underlying issues that have plagued the community for decades, activists say.

Israeli Arab citizens are descendants of Palestinians who remained within the borders of what became Israel in 1948. Members of the community have reached the highest echelons of government, business and other fields.

But while they tend to be better off than their Palestinian brethren in the West Bank and Gaza, Israel's Palestinian citizens are generally poorer and less educated than Jews and have long faced neglect or discrimination in policing, public services and housing.

Those societal issues fuel the violence, said Wisal Raed, who focuses on crime in the Arab population at Sikkuy-Aufoq, a group that advocates for equality between Arabs and Jews.

She said a historic lack of access to bank loans drives many to turn to crime families for capital, entangling themselves in potentially dangerous business.

She also pointed to a crisis of space in Palestinian communities, where land is hard to come by, not only for housing, but even parking spots because of planning challenges sometimes stymied by the state.

Issues like those ramp up already simmering disputes that descend into violent feuds.

If the government continues to neglect these spheres, even if the police does what needs to be done," she said, the root problem won't be dealt with.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered a crackdown against human smugglers as the country announced a day of mourning for the victims of the Greece boat tragedy, several of whom were from Pakistan.

An overloaded boat carrying around 750 people, aiming to enter Europe illegally, sank in open seas off Greece. It is believed that several Pakistanis were among the victims, though their exact number is not known.

So far, at least 12 Pakistanis have been found alive, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the premier said that June 19 would be observed as the Day of Mourning across the country, and the national flag would fly at half-mast.

In another statement, the PMO said that Shehbaz directed the law enforcement agencies to track down agents involved in human trafficking and called for them to be brought to justice.

He directed the FO to immediately take action on the boat capsizing and the reports of possible Pakistanis being among the victims. The prime minister also ordered Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to submit a report after investigating the matter.

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Best efforts should be made for all Pakistanis. I will not tolerate any laziness and incompetence, the statement quoted Shehbaz as saying.

Following the order by the prime minister, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) appointed senior police officer Alam Shinwari as the focal person to facilitate information about those dead and the injured in the boat tragedy.

As some victims belonged to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the region's chief secretary appointed a focal person to contact the Pakistani embassy in Greece and authorities to facilitate the injured and the deceased's relatives.

The FIA also formed a four-member team to track down those responsible for sending people abroad through illegal channels.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf asked the government to immediately investigate the incident.

Europe is a desired destination for many young Pakistanis who risk everything to go abroad. Some of them are killed, others make it to Europe, and their success creates an urge among others to follow the path.
Israels nationalist-religious government on Sunday tabled plans to approve thousands of building permits in the occupied West Bank, despite US pressure to halt settlement expansion that Washington sees as an obstacle to peace with Palestinians.



The plans for approval of 4,560 housing units in various areas of the West Bank were included on the agenda of Israels Supreme Planning Council that meets next week, although only 1,332 are up for final approval, with the remainder still going through the preliminary clearance process.



We will continue to develop the settlement of and strengthen the Israeli hold on the territory, said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds a defence portfolio that gives him a leading role in West Bank administration.



Most countries deem the settlements, built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, as illegal. Their presence is one of the fundamental issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as their capital. Peace talks that had been brokered by the United States have been frozen since 2014.



Intel Corp will build a new factory in Israel worth $25 billion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, calling it the largest-ever international investment in the country. The factory in Kiryat Gat is due to open in 2027 and will employ thousands of people, Israel's Finance Ministry said, adding that under the deal Intel will pay up a 7.5 per cent tax rate, up from the current 5 per cent.



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Judicial overhaul on cards



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his government intends to move ahead on contentious plans to change the country's judicial system after talks aimed at finding a compromise solution appeared to be crumbling.



The governments plans to overhaul the judiciary plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises ever earlier this year.

Negotiations between the government and opposition parties somewhat alleviated the crisis with attempts to find a middle ground over proposed changes to the countrys justice system.



Those talks were jolted last week over a crisis surrounding the powerful regular committee responsible for picking the countrys judges.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposes any interim agreement reportedly being negotiated between the US and Iran over its nuclear programme.

Netanyahu spoke after reports in Israeli media said understandings are being reached between Washington and Tehran that would seek to hold back Iran's nuclear programme somewhat, in exchange for some sanctions relief.

The reports could not be independently confirmed and the U.S. has publicly denied any such deal.

Netanyahu said Israel had informed the U.S. that the most limited understandings, what are termed mini-agreements', do not in our view serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well.

Israeli officials believe some understandings have already been reached limiting enrichment and that some funds have already been unfrozen.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic assessment.

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The Israeli news site Walla last week reported that under the emerging understandings Iran would limit its uranium enrichment to 60% in exchange for sanctions relief.

The site also said the sides were discussing reciprocal prisoner releases.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week there is no deal," adding that the reports were untrue.

In its report, Walla said Netanyahu had revealed details of the agreement at a recent parliamentary committee meeting. The U.S. and Israel share intelligence and a prime focus of the countries' interactions is Iran and its nuclear programme.

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration that sought to rein in Iran's nuclear programme.

He was a major supporter of President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal, which left it in shambles.

Iran says its programme is meant for civilian purposes.

Israel considers a nuclear Iran as a major threat, citing its calls for Israel's destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

Israel says it does not rule out military action to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Bejing, Sunday, June 18. AP-Yonhap



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday kicked off two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.



Blinken opened his program by meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for an extended discussion to be followed by a working dinner. He'll have additional talks with Qin, as well as China's top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping, on Monday.



Neither Blinken nor Qin made any substantive comments to reporters as they began the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.



Despite Blinken's presence in the Chinese capital, prospects for any significant breakthroughs are slim, as already strained ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.



Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.



Biden and Xi agreed to Blinken's trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the U.S. says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.



The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russia's war in Ukraine.



Blinken will also be pressing the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.



U.S. officials have said Blinken will raise each of these points, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.



Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the U.S. and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The U.S. wants to make sure "that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into conflict" due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.



Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications "precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications," Blinken said Friday.





U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, June 18. Reuters-Yonhap



Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions , saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to "benefit our two countries."






The number of chargers for electric vehicles in South Korea has surpassed 2,40,000, data showed on Sunday, amid the growing popularity of eco-friendly cars in the country.

Fast chargers accounted for 10.6 per cent of the 2,40,695 installed electric vehicle charging stations in South Korea, Representative Park Sang-hyunk of the main opposition Democratic Party said, citing data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Environment in May.

Considering chargers that are not registered with the authorities, the actual number of available charging stations could be higher than reported.

The number of EV chargers in the country has been showing rapid growth in recent years, soaring from just 330 in 2015. The number surpassed 100,000 in 2021, Yonhap news agency reported.

By region, Gyeonggi province, which surrounds Seoul, had the highest number of 60,873, followed by the capital city with 42,619. The southeastern port city of Busan had 13,370.

Concerning the ratio of chargers per EV, the southern resort island of Jeju had the lowest figure of 0.277. Seoul and Gyeonggi province posted comparable ratios of 0.66 and 0.67, respectively.

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The central city of Sejong boasted the highest ratio, with the figure reaching 0.85.

The number of hydrogen fuelling stations, meanwhile, came to just 244 last month, slightly up from 229 tallied in 2022.

--IANS

int/khz/
South Korea plans to carry out its first in-depth inquiry into forced labour practices in North Korea through interviews with defectors who have arrived in South Korea over the past five years, sources said on Sunday.

North Korean Human Rights Records Centre will conduct the interviews through the end of the year to learn details of the forced labour practices taking place at North Korea's detention facilities, schools and various social organisations, according to the sources.

The inquiry by the centre affiliated with the Unification Ministry will look into changes in forced labour practices before and after the launch of the Kim Jong-un regime and the relevant laws and systems of forced labour. Kim took over North Korea in 2011 after the sudden death of his father and long-time leader Kim Jong-il.

The results will not be disclosed to the public and will only be used by the government to draw up policies on North Korean human rights, Yonhap news agency reported.

Last year, the Unification Ministry conducted an in-depth inquiry into women's rights and labour rights in North Korea.

In 2014, the UN Commission of Inquiry issued a report after a year-long probe that said North Korean leaders are responsible for "widespread, systematic and gross" violations of human rights.

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--IANS

int/khz/
The UAE has participated in a symposium on "Advanced Water Management Policies and Technologies'', organised by the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) in Seoul as part of the works of the Joint UAE-Korea Committee for cooperation in water resources.

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Union Water and Electricity Company represented the UAE in the event, while the Korean Water Policy Office, the K -Water and the Korean Ministry of Environment.

The symposium discussed many important topics, the foremost of which is the role of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in promoting water sustainability. The UAE delegation was also briefed, as part of its participation, on the Korean experience in the field of using smart technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital twinning in the management of water production plants and networks in Korea.

On the sidelines of the event, Ahmed Mohammed Al Kaabi, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Electricity, Water and Future Energy, and head of the UAE delegation, met with Han Wha-jin, Minister of Environment, to discuss ways of bolstering the Emirati-Korean partnership in water resources management and issues of common interest. Korea's participation in COP28 which the UAE will host in November 2023 at Expo City Dubai was also touched during the meeting.

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NIRF Ranking 2023: CU Continues its Winning Streak, Ranks 27th Among Universities!

Chandigarh University, located near Chandigarh in the province of Punjab, is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an Autonomous Educational Institution recognized by the UGC. It is India's youngest institution and the first private university in Punjab to receive an A+ rating from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU provides over 109 undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other fields. The WCRC named it "The University with the Best Placements."

Chandigarh University (CU) has continued to elevate its performance among the country's public and private universities, landing the 27th spot in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023, which was released on Monday (June 5) by Minister of State for Education and External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. Chandigarh University (CU) has risen to the seventh top university in North India. Last year, the University was ranked 29th out of all Government and Private universities in the country. The university has considerably increased its rating across disciplines, according to the Education Ministry's annual ranking (NIRF-2023), and has emerged as one of the greatest institutions in the region.

The university's overall rank rose to 45th this year, up from 48th in the previous year's ranking edition, and it now ranks 11th among North Indian universities. This comes on the heels of the university's outstanding debut in five topics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 in March of this year. In the NIRF rankings released last year, CU was the youngest institution in the top 30, reflecting the university's continuous commitment to providing an extraordinary education and academic performance.

Chandigarh University (CU) has vaulted to 38th place in the Engineering rankings this year, up from 45th last year. In terms of engineering, it is the 12th top university in North India. Similarly, the university increased its position among management institutes this year, rising to 36th place from 40th last year. As a result, CU was ranked 12th in management among North Indian universities. In pharmacy, the University was ranked 34th in this year's NIRF, up from 37th the previous year. The institution is now the 14th finest Pharmacy University in North India. Taking a significant leap, CU has emerged as the 5th top university in Architecture in North India, with a 15th rank this year according to NIRF 2023, up from 19th the previous year. In response to the NIRF-2023 ranking, Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu of Chandigarh University (CU) stated that these rankings are an indication of the excellence and quality of education being provided to students.

"These rankings illustrate the result of an institution's teaching-learning pedagogy and norms, and Chandigarh University follows a systematic industry-oriented approach to ensure top-class education to its students and prepare a future-ready talent that contributes to nation-building," Satnam Singh Sandhu said, adding that the university's performance in the recently released NIRF Rankings 2023 is proof that the university has worked hard. He went on to say that Chandigarh University has steadily risen through the ranks of many national and international rankings over the years.

"In NIRF-2023, the University moved up two spots from last year's 29th rank to 27th in the category of top institutions in the country."

"The university has made significant progress in a variety of disciplines and will continue to improve in the coming years," Satnam Singh Sandhu said. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) establishes a framework for rating institutions based on the overall suggestions and broad understanding reached by a Core Committee established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to identify the broad factors for ranking various universities and institutes. The parameters include a wide range of topics, including "Teaching, Learning, and Resources," "Research and Professional Practises," "Graduation Outcomes," "Outreach and Inclusivity," and "Perception."

Chandigarh University, located near Chandigarh in the province of Punjab, is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution recognized by the UGC. It is India's youngest institution and the first private university in Punjab to receive an A+ rating from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU provides over 109 undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other fields. The WCRC named it "The University with the Best Placements."
Salary and Salary Package are one of the most important aspects of getting any job. It is a notion across the country that in Private Sector, the aspirants get a handsome salary package, while the government employees get a lesser package and salary. You get paid more in the private sector because corporations produce more profit and can pay you back. However, the government sector does not generate revenue. A private corporation makes a profit, thus they are willing to repay you.
From right, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of Trooping the Colour parade to honour Britain's King Charles on his official birthday in London, Britain, June 17. Reuters-Yonhap



Britain's royal family rounded off King Charles III's inaugural birthday parade Saturday with a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace to watch a spectacular fly-past.



Three of the king's young grandchildren  future king Prince George, nine, Prince Louis, five, and Princess Charlotte, eight  joined the rest of the family on the balcony with the princes sporting red ties and blue blazers and Charlotte in a sailor suit with red trim.



They were cheered by the crowds who gathered outside the palace and in The Mall, the avenue leading up to it.



The air display of some 70 military aircraft, following a 41-gun salute from nearby Green Park in central London, came after bad weather cut short a planned fly-past at Charles's coronation on May 6.



It ended with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force's aerobatic display team, trailing red, white and blue vapours.



Earlier, Charles saddled up for the annual Trooping the Colour parade that marks the British sovereign's official birthday.



It was the first time the monarch has ridden at the ceremony since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986.



Charles, who also took the royal salute, was followed on horseback as he inspected the troops by his eldest son and heir, Prince William, Charles' brother Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and sister Anne, the Princess Royal.



Queen Camilla in a military-inspired red outfit, and William's wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who was dressed in green, followed in a carriage.



The colourful display of regimental precision and pageantry was the first of 74-year-old Charles's reign.



Charles's actual birthday is on Nov. 14 but British sovereigns celebrate twice  once in private and again in public.





Britain's King Charles, Prince William, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Anne, Princess Royal ride on horseback as part of Trooping the Colour parade which honours King Charles on his official birthday, in London, Britain, June 17. Reuters-Yonhap



Colourful display



The June parade tradition began in 1748 under King George II, who wanted a celebration in better summer weather, as his own birthday was on Oct. 30.



The televised event kicked off with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.



Some 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses took part, led in the parade by Juno, a 10-year-old shire mare, alongside three other Drum Horses  Perseus, Atlas and Apollo.



Drum Horses are the most senior animals in the army and hold the rank of major. They are traditionally named after figures from Greek mythology.



The minutely choreographed event has its origins in the display of colours or flags of different regiments to allow their soldiers to identify them in battle.



The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards trooped their colour up and down the ranks this year.



The U.K. is currently experiencing a hot spell which would have made it difficult for the troops in their ceremonial black bearskin hats and thick red tunics.



Unlike last weekend, however, when William inspected troops from the Household Division group of senior regiments, none of the soldiers appeared to faint.



As Prince of Wales, William is honorary colonel of the Welsh Guards.





Britain's Prince Louis of Wales, left, and Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales arrive in a horse-drawn carriage on Horse Guards Parade for the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17. AFP-Yonhap
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...
Pixars latest offering Elemental is a love story between water and fire. To celebrate its release, were taking a look at some of the best examples of water and fire animation throughout cartoon history.

Starting with the water effects: Disneys Pinocchio (1940) contains what might be the greatest water animation ever drawn, thanks to the combined talents of effects artists Art Palmer, Josh Meador, Don Tobin, and Sandy Strother (Woolie Reitherman animated the whale). The mix of stunning realism and painterly abstraction in this 83-year-old sequence is nothing short of miraculous. You could only get a look like this in animation.

The realism that cgi artists are able to pull off is astounding. I remember seeing Finding Nemo (2003) as a kid and being blown away by how convincing the ocean looked.

That was 20 years ago, and the Pixar artists keep topping themselves. Piper (2016) boasts water so real it looks like you could reach out and touch it. Instead of using a preprogrammed aquatic pattern, the artists carefully shaped and timed each wave. To achieve this, tech supervisor Brett Levin took eyebrow models and transformed them into a shoreline. As director Alan Barillaro explained, The water edge is literally 40 or 50 eyebrows moving back and forth. And the reason is that if were talking about comedy timing, it has to be exact to the frame.

As amazing as those examples are, photorealism is just one of countless creative solutions to illustrating water; take for instance Aleksandr Petrovs lovingly impressionistic paint-on-glass water in The Old Man and the Sea (1999).

Bill Nolans rubbery water in the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The Singing Sap (1930) is about as far away from Pixar-style believability as you could get, and its wonderful. Nolans work absolutely revels in its cartoony unreality.

Theres a fantastic sea storm in the Ub Iwerks short Davy Jones Locker (1934), animated by Betty Boop creator Grim Natwick. This scene (reworked from 1932s Stormy Seas) shows great imagination in transforming a frightening situation into a series of weird sight gags. I love the furiously squiggly drawings of the waves.

Hayao Miyazakis films are full of remarkable hand-drawn effects, with Ponyo (2008) being a prime example of the directors poetic surrealism. Theres nothing logical about giant fish doubling as waves, but it makes perfect visual sense.

When it comes to memorable water sequences, its hard to top Fantasia (1940). According to art director Zack Schwartz, effects animator Ugo DOrsi not only animated the water in this scene but also painted the cels, instead of handing it off to the ink & paint department. His meticulousness in detailing every drop gave his work a foamy popcorn effect.

I still remember being six years old and seeing the parting of the Red Sea from The Prince of Egypt (1998) on the big screen. Technology has come a long way since then, but this early cg effect is as sublime and powerful as ever.

We tend to associate cg animation with realism, but thats certainly not intrinsic to the medium. The ocean in Phil Lord and Christopher Millers The Lego Movie (2014) is cleverly designed and animated to match the films whimsical worldbuilding.

Sometimes studios will create 2d pencil tests to work out a final 3d aesthetic. Eric Goldberg did a test animation of the magical living ocean in Moana (2016), which served as a guide for the finished film. Heres a side-by-side comparison.

The hand-drawn ripples and splashes in William Salazars Bird Karma (2018) are detailed without losing their spontaneity. The visual style here, designed by Raymond Zibach, was inspired by painter J. M. W. Turner.

In Charlie Browns All Stars! (1966), waves are reduced to scribbles. I love this approach; its simple, direct, and loaded with personality.

One of the most heavily abstracted sea storms appears in the UPA cartoon Fudgets Budget (1954), designed by T. Hee and Jules Engel. Every single aspect of this  the waves, the rain, the lightning  is put across in boldly offbeat fashion.

Another ultra-stylized ocean shows up in Dusan Vukotics ingenious Ersatz (1961). I love the way the water is just one unmoving painting, while perfectly geometric lines and loops are drawn on top to suggest drips and splashes.

Im fascinated by artists who are able to strip things down to bare essentials. There isnt much detail in The Animal Movie (1966), directed by Grant Munro and Ron Tunis, but the few lines and splashes of color that are here perfectly aid the storytelling.

A lot of modern stop-motion films use cg for water scenes, which is kind of a shame because I like to see how they pull off those sorts of effects within the medium. Is there anything better than those quirky ripples in the Rankin-Bass special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)?

In Hayley Morris heartbreaking short Undone (2008), the water resembles a rolling blanket. The tangible textures give the film a personal touch.

The herky-jerky water is just as kooky as everything else in the underrated French feature A Town Called Panic (2009). Every moment in this film is overflowing with gleeful invention.

Roaring waters never looked as soothing as they do in the hands of Andrea Love, who animates using needle-felted wool. Whether animating syrup, bubbles, or pencil shavings, her work is always mesmerizing.

Turning our attention to fire, we have one of the all-time great effects sequences: the forest fire in Disneys Bambi (1942). Designer Tyrus Wongs bold color choices turn an already exciting scene into a terrifying nightmare as Bambis home is transformed into a hellish inferno by careless humans. The fire in the sky at the end of this clip was created by photographing a shiny metallic sheet, which reflected and distorted the animation drawings and created a warping effect. This same process was used for the ghosts in Fantasia.

I particularly love fire animation with visible brushwork. Theres some great use of dry brush in the climax of Max Fleischers Superman (1941), the first cinematic depiction of the popular superhero, in which flames spurt out of a doomsday machine.

Anthropomorphized fire is a longstanding tradition in animation, from fiery villains to mischievous little flames who run away from cartoon firemen. The battle with the Fire God in Yugo Serikawas The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963) is an excellent fight sequence and a 2d effects tour de force. This seminal early anime feature went on to influence the look of the tv series Samurai Jack.

A more friendly personified flame is the fire demon Calcifer, who steals the show in Hayao Miyazakis Howls Moving Castle (2004). Its particularly impressive the way the animators are able to give Calcifer an appealing personality without sacrificing the illusion that hes a smoldering flame.

Four elements (water, earth, fire, and air) are used instead of weaponry for the battle scenes in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino gave each of the four nations a different Kung Fu fighting style, with the aggressive Northern Shaolin style serving as the inspiration for firebending.

Great animation can turn the familiar on its head. We all know what fire looks like, but the green coloring and ornately-rendered swirls of the dragons breath in Disneys Sleeping Beauty (1959) are something new. Brilliant design work by Eyvind Earle here.

In contrast to the intricate artwork in Sleeping Beauty, the fire in Noemie Marsily & Carl Roosens I Dont Feel Anything Anymore (2016) is delightfully loose, like a New Yorker gag cartoon set in motion.

Veering away from traditional drawn animation entirely, Polish animator Witold Giersz uses a thick application of oil paint to show us a haunting depiction of a forest fire in his short film Pozar (1975).

Creating fire in stop-motion isnt easy; many films either use cg or set the puppets on fire in real time (which is fun). Still, its nice to see stop-motion fire when someone pulls it off. The 1980s Welsh series Fireman Sam used paper cutouts and colored lights to suggest fire.

I love the approach to fire in the Julien Baker music video Hardline (2021), directed by Joe Baughman, which is intentionally artificial and charmingly hand-crafted.

As much as I love elaborate effects, its just as inspiring to see details sidestepped in a clever and disarmingly simple fashion, like this Yule Log from animator PES.

Well, thats it for now. What are your favorite fire or water effects in animation? Let us know in the comments below. Good luck braving the elements!
The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger has announced that the companys senior executive VP and chief financial officer Christine McCarthy is stepping down from her role.

McCarthy is set to take a family medical leave but will continue to serve as a strategic advisor at the company to help with the transition period following her departure. Her exit comes during a tumultuous time at Disney, which is laying off 7,000 employees as part of its $5.5 billion cost savings measures.

A key figure at the top of The Walt Disney Company for years, she was an outspoken critic of former CEO Bob Chapeks aggressive streaming subscriber targets and reportedly played a key role in his removal as CEO and the subsequent return of Iger.

Since Chapek got the boot, there have been wildly disparate rumors about McCarthys future at the organization. In December, many insiders were tagging her as a possible Iger replacement when his contract expires in 2024, while others were citing internal sources that predicted she would leave the company sometime this year.

McCarthy joined Disney in 2000 as treasurer and became CFO in 2015. Before joining Disney, she was the executive VP and CFO of Imperial Bancorp. She currently serves on the board of directors of The Procter & Gamble Company and FM Global and is a trustee of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

In a release, Iger said of his long-time colleague:

Christine McCarthy is one of the most admired financial executives in America, and her impact on The Walt Disney Company during 23 years of dedicated service cannot be overstated. Christine has served as a key strategic anchor during a period of great transformation, and she and I have discussed her desire to ensure an orderly and successful CFO succession in advance of the companys transition to its next chief executive officer.

McCarthy said:

I am immensely grateful for the opportunity Bob provided me to serve as CFO of this iconic company and am proud of the work my talented team has done to position Disney to capitalize on the business possibilities that lie ahead. Although I am leaving the CFO role, I look forward to helping with the transition and will always be rooting for the success of my extended Disney family, who have shown time and again that determination, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence are an unstoppable combination.

As Disney searches for a permanent replacement, executive VP and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products CFO Kevin Lansberry will take over for McCarthy on an interim basis.

In the role, Lansberry will assume oversight of the companys worldwide finance organization, which includes corporate alliances and partnerships, corporate real estate, corporate strategy and business development, enterprise controllership, enterprise technology, financial planning and analysis, global product and labor standards, global security, investor relations, risk management, tax and treasury.
Mile Morales wont be swinging into cinemas in several Middle Eastern countries after Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was pulled from the release schedule in territories across the region.

No reason was given for the films removal from the upcoming schedules, but there is speculation that its related to a poster on Gwens wall that reads, Protect Trans Kids. (Seen above)

The film was meant to be released in theaters across the Gulf region on June 22, and as recently as last Sunday pre-orders of tickets were still being offered by exhibitor Vox.

However, the company told Reuters on Thursday that the movie would not be released in the UAE. Other major cinema chains in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain including Vox, Novo, and Reel cinemas do not list the film in the coming soon promotional areas on their websites or social media accounts.

On Monday, the UAE Media Council tweeted (translated by Google):

Disclaimer: The Emirates Media Council monitors and evaluates the media content circulating locally, and the Council confirms that it will not allow the circulation or publication of content contrary to the values and principles of the UAE and the standards of media content in force in the country.

No specific titles were mentioned in the tweet.

Last summer, Pixars Lightyear was banned in several Middle Eastern territories for including a blink-and-you-miss-it same-sex kiss. Across the Gulf region, the film was also pulled from Disney+ along with other content that didnt align with several countries regulatory standards.

Disney, predicting distribution difficulties in territories where films featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and storylines had been banned in the past, proactively chose to skip numerous markets with last years Strange World, which features a gay main character.
Animation in Europe, a federation of European animation producers established in 2016, held a general meeting in Annecy this week, where members elected a new board of directors, welcomed three new countries to their ranks, and discussed the current state of European film and tv animation production.

Here are four big takeaways from this years general meeting and the corresponding report put out by the federation after its conclusion.

European Animation Exports are Punching Above Their Weight

According to the federation, animated features and series are doing extremely well on the international market, especially compared to their live-action counterparts.

The group used Germany as an example, where a small batch of family animated films which represent just 5% of the countrys overall production, made up half of the countrys feature film exports. Meanwhile, animation exports from France account for nearly half of all audiovisual revenues abroad, despite only accounting for 10% of the total volume of national production across all mediums.

Streamers Are Neglecting European Studios

Animation in Europe expressed disappointment that U.S. streamers arent commissioning more work from European studios. Referring to the global success of European animation, the federations report says:

This undeniable international potential contrasts sharply with the very small number of European animated series and films commissioned by platforms, even though these platforms are investing heavily in the production of local dramas. This observation is shared by all member countries of Animation in Europe.

France was used as an example to emphasize the groups argument. The country imposes some of the worlds strictest local production quotas on global platforms, but the impact of that legislation is felt far more keenly in live-action production than in animation.

Making matters worse, the group says that when streamers do recruit European studios, its typically for service work and rarely for original animation. According to the report, studios in countries with booming animation industries such as France, Ireland, and Spain still mostly do service work for U.S. productions like Arcane and The Cuphead Show.

A Call to Action

While the group was quick to call out some of the troubles the European industry is experiencing, it didnt do so without offering a solution. In its report, Animation in Europe issued a call to action to the European Union which reads:

Animation in Europe calls on the European Union and EU member states to leverage the planned review of the AVMS Directive, set for no later than the end of 2025, to defend the position of European animation and promote a European editorial offering targeted at a young audience.

The AVMS Directive is an EU law that dictates the level of investment that broadcasters and platforms must make in any country where they do business. So, Animation in Europe is asking the EU to update the conditions of that directive to help bolster original animation production in its member countries.

New Members

There was some good news in this years report as well. The Federation revealed that it has added new members Estonia, Greece, and Portugal, bringing the number of European member countries to 20, including associate member U.K. According to the group, the additions are representative of an interest among European producers in inter-country exchange of industry information and collective action at the community level.

The organization also elected its new board of directors for the next two years, which will be led by Philippe Alessandri (Watch Next Media, France) who will continue as president. Four vice-presidents were also elected, including Moe Honan (Moetion Films, Ireland), Pablo Jordi (Pikkukala, Finlande), Ivan Agenjo (Peekaboo Animation, Spain), and Dirk Beinhold (Akkord Film Produktion, Germany).




Mexican authorities found 129 migrants, mostly from Guatemala, crowded into a truck trailer in the eastern state of Veracruz, the National Migration Institute (INM) said in a statement on Saturday.







The migrants were crammed into a trailer in the midst of a heat wave in Mexico, where higher-than-normal temperatures have topped 45C (113F) in several states, including Veracruz, where the operation took place.







Immigration agents in late May had uncovered another 175 migrants further south, mainly from Central America, in Chiapas state. Another 300 people were stopped at a checkpoint in Veracruz in March.







Migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Latin America frequently pay smugglers in an attempt to pass through Mexico bound for the U.S. Some are forced to cross areas rife with drug violence, making them vulnerable to organized crime.







Among the travelers found on Friday were adults from Guatemala, Honduras, India and El Salvador, and 19 unaccompanied minors, the migration institute said. It added that the children will be put under state guardianship, while the others will be processed to determine their legal status in Mexico. Four suspected traffickers were arrested in the operation.







On Friday the commissioner of the INM, Francisco Garduno, had met with Guatemalan officials to discuss reparations for the victims of a deadly March fire in a migrant detention center in Mexico that claimed 39 lives, the INM said in a separate statement. (Reuters)






Elizabeth Otavalo, mother of the murdered lawyer Maria Belen Bernal, arrives to the wake of her daughter at the theater of the Universidad Central de Ecuador in Quito, on Sept. 22, 2022. AFP-Yonhap



A 76-year-old woman who had been declared dead and surprised her relatives by knocking on her coffin during her wake earlier this month has died after seven days in intensive care, her family said Saturday.



Gilberto Barbera Montoya, the woman's son, told The Associated Press that doctors at the state hospital where she was rushed after the incident said that she died on Friday evening.



Ecuador's health ministry confirmed in a statement that Bella Montoya died from an ischemic stroke after spending a week in intensive care. It added that Montoya had remained under "permanent surveillance," but didn't provide further information on the medical investigation surrounding the case.



Barbera Montoya said that he hadn't yet received any report from the authorities on the medical explanation of what happened and warned that things "are not going to stay like this." He added that a sister of the deceased woman had formally complained about the incident, seeking to identify the doctor who declared her dead to begin with.



Bella Montoya reportedly woke up and started knocking on June 9 after spending five hours inside her coffin at a funeral home in Babahoyo, about 208 kilometers (about 129 miles) southwest of Quito.



The remains of Montoya, who was a retired nurse, are back at the same funeral home where she woke up. Her son told the AP that she will be buried at a public cemetery.



A technical committee has been formed to review how the hospital issues death certificates, the country's ministry of health said last week. (AP)


photo by Gail Perry photo by Gail Perry photo by Gail Perry photo by Gail Perry photo by Gail Perry photo by Gail Perry Previous Next

Masseys Kitchen, which will have a grand opening Monday, has been previewing the new restaurant this weekend. It is on the way to becoming Chattanoogas newest gathering place  exactly what it was designed to be, said owner Allen Corey.

Both the food and the setting are casual. The Mediterranean-inspired menu includes a selection of sandwiches, pizzas and salads using ingredients imported from Italy and Greece.

Everything on the menu including all breads, sauces and dressings are made in house from scratch. The only item on the menu that is all-American is a hamburger. Diners will also find a selection of beers, wines and cocktails.



The space has been planned to flow seamlessly from inside to out through large garage doors that roll open to the colorful patio. And windows have been replaced with more garage doors opening to the sidewalk where there is additional seating.

The atmosphere is lively and fun and encourages mixing and mingling and the service is fast and friendly.



This is the kind of restaurant that will not be reserved for only special occasions, it is a place that will be visited repeatedly.
Elected officials in Hartford have been busy over the last few years trying to address housing supply issues in Connecticut. The push means that communities of 25,000 residents or more, such as Cheshire, are now subject to mandates meant to create and maintain affordable housing opportunities.

With the growth in rental properties comes the requirement that rents for those properties accord with applicable state, federal, and local laws. To help enforce those laws, as of April, the state has mandated that communities establish Fair Rent Commissions by July 1.

The Town of Cheshire is now actively seeking volunteers with some experience in housing and real estate matters. Those selected will have the opportunity to serve as members of Cheshires five-person Fair Rent Commission.

Per a Town release, The purpose of the Commission is to regulate and eliminate excessive rental charges for residential properties within the Town of Cheshire. The Commission shall receive complaints, make studies and investigations, and conduct hearings relative to excessive rental charges on Cheshire housing accommodations, except those rented on a seasonal basis, to control and eliminate excessive rental charges on and to carry out the provisions of (state regulations).

Residents wishing to be considered for this appointment should submit a note of interest, including a brief description of relevant areas of expertise, to the Town Council Chairman c/o the Town Managers Office to townmanager@cheshirect.org by Monday, June 19, at 12 p.m.

By law, at least one member of the Fair Rent Commission must be a realtor or real estate appraiser licensed in Connecticut, one must be a tenant, and one must be a landlord. After consideration of the interested applicants, the Town Council will select and appoint the five members, per Assistant Town Manager Arnett Talbot. Commissioners will serve two-year terms that will start this coming July.

The Commission will have wide-ranging statutory powers, including the power to conduct studies and investigations; hold hearings; receive rent complaints; require people to appear at hearings; issue subpoenas and administer oaths; and issue, continue, review, amend, terminate, or suspend orders and decisions.

Generally, the Commissions area of authority will be excessive rents. Its powers will not apply to seasonal units that are rented for fewer than 120 days per year.

Unlike other Town commissions and committees with regular schedules, the Fair Rent Commission meetings will be held as needed to hear and investigate complaints.

We are hoping that this commission will not be needed frequently, but it is a benefit to our community to have a local resource, says Talbot.

Tenants in immediate need of resources can consult state resources such as EvictionHelpCt.org, which can connect tenants with legal assistance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with delegation of African leaders to discuss their proposal for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 17. Reuters-Yonhap



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday met with a group of leaders of African countries who traveled to Russia on a self-styled "peace mission" the day after they went to Ukraine, but the meeting ended with no visible progress.



The seven African leaders  the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt's prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda  visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war .



The African leaders then traveled to St. Petersburg on Saturday to meet with Putin who was attending Russia's showpiece international economic forum.



Details about the delegation's proposals were thin.



Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the three-hour meeting that the Africans' peace plan consisted of 10 elements, but "was not formulated on paper."



"The peace initiative proposed by African countries is very difficult to implement, difficult to compare positions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But "President Putin has shown interest in considering it."



"He spoke about our position. Not all provisions can be correlated with the main elements of our position, but this does not mean that we do not need to continue working," Peskov said.



"The main conclusion, in my opinion, from today's conversation is that our partners from the African Union have shown an understanding of the true causes of the crisis that was created by the West, and have shown an understanding that it is necessary to get out of this situation on the basis of addressing these underlying causes," Lavrov said.



Russia says that it was effectively forced to send troops into Ukraine because it was threatened by Ukraine's desire to join NATO and by the country's support from the United States and Western Europe.



Speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin declared that the first Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, describing the move as a deterrent against Western efforts to defeat Russia in Ukraine. He previously said that the deployment would begin in July.



Asked if he could order the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin said that there was no need for that but noted that Moscow could use its nuclear arsenals in case of a "threat to the Russian statehood."



"In that case, we will certainly use all the means that the Russian state has. There should be no doubt about that," he said.



The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives  such as one by China  and carries particular importance for Africa, which relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine. The war has impeded exports from one of the world's most important breadbaskets.





Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa meet for talks at Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg. TASS-Yonhap
A TikTok user named Natasha Diamond (@natashadiamondx) is describing how she went on a date with a guy she couldnt remember meeting because she had gotten way too drunk on her night out.

So it was her 21st birthday, and she and her friends rented a pink limousine to take them out to the bars. They didnt realize the limo would be filled with champagne.

Obviously, they had to make the most of their money, so they drank as much as possible. Eventually, they headed over to a nightclub, which is where Natasha met this guy named Sam.

At that point, Natasha was still pretty boozed up. She was on the dance floor when she gave Sam her phone number, and after that, she couldnt remember anything else about him.

The next morning, he called and introduced himself, reminding her they had met at the club. He was from London and told her he would be in her hometown the following weekend, which was when Natasha would be home from college.

She had no idea what he looked like, so he described himself as having dark hair and eyes. He sounded like her type, though, so she agreed to meet up with him.

Natasha notes that the first red flag that popped up was that he was coincidentally going to be in her area visiting a friend.

The second red flag was that he didnt have any social media, so she couldnt see a picture of him before we met.

She went to meet him on her own in front of a shopping center. He came with his friend and his friends girlfriend. Upon seeing him, Natasha knew he was not her type.

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5 theologically conservative denominations that allow women to serve as pastors

At the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, messengers voted to affirm an earlier decision to disfellowship churches that allow women to serve in the office of pastor.

Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and a smaller congregation known as Fern Creek Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky, were disfellowshipped for having women in the office of pastor. Messengers overwhelmingly approved both votes.

During the appeals process, Saddleback's founder, Rick Warren, argued that the SBC should consider the issue of female pastors to be a nonessential matter, comparing it to the Conventions acceptance of member churches that embrace Calvinism.

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, warned that Saddleback was threatening the unity of the SBC and that the issue of women pastors was not nonessential.

"It's not just a matter of church polity; it's not just a matter of hermeneutics," Mohler stated during the appeals session. "It's a matter of biblical commitment, a commitment to the Scripture that unequivocally we believe limits the office of pastor to men."

"Here we face the unusual situation in which Dr. Warren himself has made repeated statements, and the church has taken repeated actions that make very clear it rejects the confessional understanding of the Southern Baptist Convention on this issue."

Although the SBC has opposed having women serve in the office of pastor, other theologically conservative denominations have embraced the idea, including one earlier this month.

Here are five examples of theologically conservative Christian denominations that allow women to become pastors.

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Christian teacher fired for opposing LGBT lessons at son's school wins appeal

A Christian teaching assistant in England won her appeal against a prior judgment that upheld her 2019 dismissal for sharing Facebook posts that critiqued transgenderism and compulsory sex education in her son's Church of England primary school.

In the Friday ruling, President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London Jennifer Eady ruled in favor of Kristie Higgs, stating that the "freedom to manifest belief (religious or otherwise) and to express views relating to that belief are essential rights in any democracy, whether or not the belief in question is popular or mainstream and even if its expression may offend."

Higgs was dismissed in 2019 from the Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, after she took to social media to voice objection to her child's Church of England school planning to introduce books that promoted transgender identity.

She also encouraged her family and friends to sign a petition challenging plans to incorporate sex education into primary schools. A similar petition was signed by over 115,000 people and debated in Parliament.

She was let go after an extended interrogation, during which she was told that her Christian beliefs, as expressed in her posts, were comparable to "pro-Nazi right-wing extremist" views.

Eady chastized the Bristol judges for neglecting to determine whether the investigation and subsequent dismissal of Higgs "were prescribed by law and were necessary for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, recognizing the essential nature of [Higgs's] rights to freedom of belief and freedom of expression."

The Christian Legal Centre, which represents Higgs, praised Eady's decision as one that sets a legal precedent that safeguards the right to manifest one's beliefs, as well as to express them under the Equality Act of 2010.

The decision also confirms that any restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion in the workplace must be legally justified and proportionate to protecting others' rights, freedoms and reputations.

The group hopes this legal precedent would protect Christians who face disciplinary action or dismissal for expressing their faith through conversations or social media posts, as well as through acts of prayer or wearing religious symbols, such as crosses.

In concluding her judgment, Justice Eady apologized to the involved parties for the delays and indicated that the case would be returned for a re-hearing, further postponing the final judgment for Higgs.

Despite her posts being made under her maiden name on a profile that had no links to her employer, and despite no evidence ever being found that her posts brought the school into disrepute, she was sacked for gross misconduct, which included allegations of "illegal discrimination," "serious inappropriate use of social media," and "online comments that could bring the school into disrepute and damage the reputation of the school."

In response, Higgs launched legal action for discrimination and harassment based on her Christian beliefs.

Friday's judgment overturned a previous ruling from October 2020, which upheld the sacking. She remitted the case back to the Employment Tribunal to be reconsidered in light of her ruling on issues of law.

The ruling comes at a time when the government has announced that it will undertake an urgent review of "inappropriate" sex education in U.K. schools.

"I am pleased that the courts have overturned the previous judgment, but I am frustrated by the further delays to receiving justice," Higgs said in a statement.

"I was, and still am, appalled by the sexual ideology that was being introduced to my son's Church of England primary school. ... Since I lost the job I loved, there has been so many disturbing revelations about transgender ideology in schools and children being taught inappropriate sex education. I feel so justified and vindicated for sharing and expressing the concerns that I did."

Higgs contends that Christian parents should "have the freedom to bring their children up in line with their Christian beliefs."

"I want young children to be protected from transgender ideology and Christians must also be able to share their opinions and beliefs without fear of losing their jobs," she said.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, thanked Eady for having the "courage to exonerate" Higgs.

"Kristie was punished in 2019 as a result of the climate of fear and intolerance created in our education system by Stonewall and other LGBT activist groups," Williams said.

Higgs' pursuit of justice has faced a series of unusual obstacles.

In July 2022, her appeal was postponed after Justice Eady was forced to recuse trans activist Edward Lord from sitting as a lay magistrate on the presiding panel. Later, in March 2023, another recusal was necessary when it was discovered that Andrew Morris, former assistant general secretary of National Education Union, would be presiding as a lay magistrate.

With both recusals, Justice Eady was forced to proceed "judge alone." The further hearing date has yet to be announced, the Christian Legal Centre stated.
This week in Christian history: SBC apologizes for slavery, Matthew Henry dies, Exodus International closes

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be previously unknown to most people.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events in Christian history this week  June 18 to June 24. They include the closure of Exodus International, the Southern Baptist Convention apologizing for slavery and the death of Matthew Henry.

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Praise for the 'bog standard' church leader: why average and unfashionable can be good for ministry

There are, broadly, two kinds of churches. There are the modern kind, full of lights, excellent graphic design, well-dressed people, lively music, passionate sermons, and large, growing congregations. The pastors are often young, charismatic, trendy, maybe even displaying the odd tattoo. People in the congregation often talk exuberantly about the church: it's 'alive', 'relevant', not like the 'dead religion' they experienced as a child, and so on.

At the other end of the spectrum are our more old-fashioned churches, often built in the Victorian period, owned by more traditional denominations such as Methodism or the Church of England. Typically their services are more structured, there are traditional hymns, and much smaller congregations. The pastors of these churches are, well... a lot less trendy than the other kind. They can vary in their social skills, sermon-writing abilities, and fashion taste. The people in these older churches might not seem as enthusiastic as those in the modern churches. And in theology, they are very variable.

But I think they have a lot to offer, especially in an era when suspicion about glitzy 'megachurches' and 'celebrity pastors' is on the rise, as research group Barna found in a survey late last year.

These results are astonishing. Whereas Jesus, and even Christianity, gets the thumbs up from the majority of the population in the US, famous worship bands and celebrities who are Christians get just a 26% approval rating, while celebrity pastors and megachurches get 17% and 16% respectively.

The reasons aren't spelled out, but there have been a succession of awful scandals coming from celebrity Christianity lately, so it's perhaps not surprising that their rep isn't great. Contrast these poor ratings with the stats for "churches in your community"  their overall approval rating is 47%, although admittedly this is boosted by Christians, and people of other faiths and none are less enthusiastic. But there's a lot more positivity directed at the "bog standard" church down the road than the heaving megachurch and its charismatic, charming pastors.

The bog standard vicar was celebrated in the 2010-2014 BBC TV series 'Rev', with Tom Hollander playing a very average Anglican vicar in an inner-city parish. He was portrayed as a man full of doubt and moral indecision, his prayer life apparently mostly taking place while on the toilet, his congregation very eclectic and very small.

Despite these challenges, he was endearing, and his compassion and care for the difficult people of his parish shone through. I suspect that this kind of leadership is going to become more respected and sought out by Christians going forward, as people seek authenticity and community bonding more than they do the dopamine-enhancing activities of trendier churches.

Obviously, the well-created short videos, drums-and-guitar-based worship and fashionable clothes of the more modern church have not created the scandals. And there are many brilliant modern churches that do amazing work in the community, and many amazing pastors who preach in them.

But I fear that the popularity and "success" of the modern church has a negative side effect: it can attract some people who want to be at the front for the wrong reasons. The lure of the adulation of a large crowd, the lack of structure and accountability that a lot of more trendy churches outside of traditional denominations have, and the attractiveness of being "cool"  leading such a church has a number of benefits for the ego that aren't about serving Christ.

Of course, there are many brilliant, genuine, loving and self-sacrificial leaders in trendy churches. There have also been horrendous, abusive and selfish ministers in old-fashioned churches, too.

I do believe there are a number of ways that the old-fashioned model of church avoids some of the pitfalls of celebrity Christianity:

There is not much 'street cred' to being in a bog-standard church  for the congregation or for its leader. This means that there are fewer ulterior motives to both attending and leading it.

The services might be less exciting, with liturgy and music from a bygone era. But, the words of goodness and truth are still there. Without the excitement and lights of a more fashionable church, the real Word and its own light can sometimes be seen more clearly.

Smaller congregations mean that the individual can be seen and served. As in Rev, those who attend can be genuinely appreciated and loved by their vicar  and in return, the leader can be genuinely appreciated, along with all their faults, as they become genuinely known. In larger churches, authentic relationship is impossible for a pastor with most of the congregation, because there are just too many people to get to know. It's therefore a lot easier for the congregation to put leaders on a pedestal and impose impossible standards on them. And pedestals can also attract people for the wrong reasons.

There is a willingness to serve difficult communities and be a presence there. Large churches tend to locate themselves where they can be easily accessed, have enough space for the thousand-strong congregation, and can attract the mass market. Older churches were built at a time before everyone had a car, and so had to be walking distance for their communities. This means there are buildings in every community, rich and poor.

Pedestals provide a high place to fall from. The bog standard vicar has fewer temptations because there is less of an image to cultivate. Yes, they are a pillar of the community, but the standards expected are more realistic than those imposed on modern pastors of being exciting, crowd-pulling, modern, full of the spirit, etc.

Great music and attractive visuals are likely to attract the modern consumer, it's true. In a world where we're bombarded by the aesthetic, beautiful and airbrushed, some people will feel more at home in a trendy church. Perhaps that's needed for seeds to be sown and faith to begin.

But for anyone with the privilege of an existing faith, there's a lot to be said for our collection of average parish vicars, ministers and pastors, who are faithfully serving their communities, without much fanfare, attention or praise.

Let's stop our local church from becoming the next development of flats or local heritage anomaly, and give some support to all our bog standard ministers.
Co-organized by Caspian Energy Club and the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the 16th international Caspian Energy Investment Forum Riga 2023 has been held, Azernews reports.

The Forum was held in the framework of activities planned to be conducted in 20 countries on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, said Chairman of the Board and Group CEO of Caspian Energy Club Telman Aliyev.

Participating in the forum were representatives of relevant government agencies of Latvia, as well as top-managers of public and private companies.

The purpose of the forum was to develop bilateral economic relations between Latvia and Azerbaijan, arrange B2B networking on the international level for further addressing of professional tasks, as well as to highlight opportunities provided for foreign entrepreneurs and investors.

The forum focused on discussion of the business climate in Latvia and Azerbaijan, LEF network (Latvia, Estonia, Finland) project, expansion of the Latvian-Azerbaijani business relations and cooperation in different sectors of the economy.

Delivering an opening speech at the forum, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Latvia Elnur Sultanov spoke about high rates of bilateral relationship development between Azerbaijan and Latvia.

He also reminded about the Joint Declaration on the establishment of strategic partnership that Azerbaijan and Latvia signed in 2017, and said: Today Latvia ranks among Azerbaijans nine strategic partners from the EU member states.

Elnur Sultanov informed the event participants about high-speed economic development of Azerbaijan and successful diversification of the countrys economy. He emphasized the potential for expanding trade-economic relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia, and made his suggestions in that regard. Elnur Sultanov expressed his strong confidence that the Azerbaijani business delegations visit to Latvia would give a fresh impetus to mutual trade-economic cooperation.

Chairman of the Board and Group CEO of Caspian Energy Club Telman Aliyev spoke about the Clubs activity and noted that this was Caspian Energy Club delegations third visit to Latvia. Addressing the event, Telman Aliyev expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Latvia, Embassy of Latvia in Azerbaijan and the management team of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Chairman of the Board of Caspian Energy Turkiye Suleyman Majidli acted as a moderator of the panel sessions. Presentations in the course of the sessions were made by Katr?na Zari?a, Member of the Board of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ?irts Jaunzems, Director of Foreign Trade and Foreign Economic Relations Promotion Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Shabnam Allahverdiyeva, Adviser to the Acting Executive Director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan  AZPROMO, Deniss ?amovs, Senior Investment Advisor of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, L?ga Si?eva, Head of the EU project department at the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Anna Mammadova, CEO of AZE Turizm.

The Forum continued with bilateral discussions between representatives of business structures of both countries, which resulted in reaching cooperation agreements. It is noteworthy that such forums have been previously held in Tbilisi, Prague, Istanbul, and Tashkent.

In the framework of the official visit, Caspian Energy Clubs delegation plans to make business tours to enterprises located in Riga, Jelgava and Valmiera cities.

Established in June 2002, Caspian Energy Club brings together over 5,000 companies and organizations across 50 countries. As an active participant of the business-to-government dialogue, the major objective of Caspian Energy Club is to improve investment and business climate in Azerbaijan and in other countries where the Club operates, as well as to encourage and actively engage in B2G, B2B and B2C dialogues.

Headquartered in Baku, Caspian Energy Club is an international business networking platform regularly conducting different events. Caspian Energy Club has representative offices operating in Turkiye, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, UAE, Israel, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia, as well as authorized representatives around the globe.








Twelve police were wounded on Saturday in clashes with demonstrators in France's Savoie department where a protest against a high speed rail project in the Alps turned violent, authorities said.







Some 2,000 protesters, including a roughly 300-strong dark-clad hardcore, were in the Maurienne Valley objecting to construction of a rail link including a tunnel between Lyon and the Italian city of Turin.







They threw rocks at riot police, who responded with tear gas, and one demonstrator was wounded, local prefect Francois Ravier told a news conference.







Association Les Soulevements de la Terre contested that figure in a Twitter post late on Saturday and said 50 demonstrators were wounded, including six who were hospitalised.







"The day is not over, we remain prudent and mobilised," said Ravier, noting a security presence would go through the night.







Interior minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted the police injury toll. Border checks turned up 400 objects, like knives and hammers, while 96 individuals known by security services were sent back to Italy, the officials said. (Reuters)










Uganda security forces are seen at the premises of an attack in Mpondwe, Uganda, on June 18, at the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School. AFP-Yonhap



Suspected rebels attacked a school in a remote area of Uganda near the Congo border, killing at least 41 people in a nighttime raid before fleeing across the porous frontier, authorities said. Thirty-eight students in their dormitories were among the victims.



Some students were burned beyond recognition, and others were shot or hacked to death after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked the school in the frontier district of Kasese, a local mayor told The Associated Press.



In addition to the 38 students, one guard and two residents of the local community in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town were killed in the attack, said Mayor Selevest Mapoze. A Ugandan military statement said the rebels abducted six students, taken as porters of food looted from the school's store.



The school, co-ed and privately owned, is located about two kilometers (just over a mile) from the Congo border.



Authorities are blaming the massacre at Lhubiriha Secondary School on the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, a shadowy extremist group which has been launching attacks for years from bases in volatile eastern Congo. Villagers in the Congolese provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have been the victims of the group's alleged attacks in recent years.



But attacks on the Ugandan side of the border are rare, thanks in part to the presence of an alpine brigade of Ugandan troops in the region.



The attack has sent shockwaves in this normally peaceful East African country whose long-time leader cites security as a strength of his government. It is also a blow to the country's armed forces, who since 2021 have deployed in parts of eastern Congo under a mission specifically to hunt down the militants accused of attacking a school.



Speaking to reporters near the scene of the attack, the commander of Ugandan troops in Congo told reporters that the rebels spent two nights in Kasese before carrying out their attack. He gave no further details.



ADF rebels, when under pressure, "divert" their pursuers' attention by splitting into small groups that then launch violent attacks in other places, said Maj. Gen. Dick Olum, suggesting that the latest attack was an attempt by the rebels to ease battlefront pressure.



"A typical ADF signature," he said, "because this is pressure. They are under huge pressure, and that's what they have to do to show the world that they are still there, and to show the world that they can still do havoc."





The charred remains of a bed at the dormitory at the premises of an attack in Mpondwe, Uganda, on June 18, at the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School. AFP-Yonhap
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has had a rough week, trying to explain why his staff knew that serial killer Paul Berndardo was being moved from Millhaven Penitentiary to a medium-security institution but he didnt. The answer might be simple: a generation gap.




The Chinese embassy in London on Sunday condemned a meeting last week between Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Taiwan's digital minister, saying it violated international relations.







Reuters reported on Friday that Tugendhat had met the Taiwanese Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang on Wednesday during a rare high-level ministerial trip to Britain. One source said they had discussed mutual security interests.







China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and fiercely objects to perceived foreign interference with the island.







"This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement.







"It sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence'?and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this."







Britain only has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials.







Tugendhat, who was sanctioned by China two years ago for speaking out about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, is not a full cabinet minister but attends cabinet meetings in his role as security minister, where he is responsible for countering terrorism, domestic state threats and economic crime.







"We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine China's interests will be met with resolute?responses," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said. (Reuters)






MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio  Middleburg Heights City Council on June 13 unanimously approved a resolution instituting a six-month moratorium on new vape and smoke shops.

The city shall not accept, process or approve any new applications, or issue any new permits, licenses, variances or any zoning application from, or for, vape/smoke establishments or shops within the city, the resolution reads.

Council desires to issue a moratorium  while it undertakes a review of information on the effects of vaping and e-cigarettes, and a review or study of (city) ordinances  to enact reasonable regulations, including restricting areas used for business and trade.

We discussed this back when we did a first round of zoning code updates, Mayor Matt Castelli told council prior to the vote. Its a good time to bring this back again as I believe were going to see more and more requests for these types of establishments.

Councilman and Berea-Midpark High School teacher Matt McGregor expressed appreciation for the administrations efforts in proposing the resolution.

Its a pandemic in the high school, McGregor said about student vaping use. We had to put vape sensors in the restrooms. They dont smoke in the restrooms anymore, they vape.

The kids dont realize its not good for you. They just think its cool, so its a tough battle.

He noted suspensions result when students are caught vaping. McGregor also said wands are used to detect the vaping coils when students try to hide the devices.

Its a serious problem, Councilman Tim Ali added, mentioning the harmful presence of artificial chemicals found in vape products.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
Northeast Ohio has some strong opinions about Canada Geese.

We let readers know that reporter Pete Krouse would be exploring the goose problem in a story this weekend, through a text message that I send out each weekday on stories in the works or questions we seek to answer. Subscribers to the free service were quick to share their feelings. You can sign up for the texts, free, at joinsubtext.com/chrisquinn.

Ive guaranteed anonymity to anyone sending me texts, so without names, weve put together s sampling of the goose texts.

Heres what I sent out:

Its not on the level of world hunger or climate change, but people in some parts of Northeast Ohio see the Canada goose as a plague upon their neighborhoods. While some of us have a live-and-let-live attitude about wild creatures that have taken up residence among us, others are bent on removing them. (re: sharpshooting of deer.) I had no idea the geese are so despised in some areas, but reporter Pete Krouse has a story laying out the battle lines, with a partial focus on companies using border collies to harass the geese into moving elsewhere. Yes, that creates a problem for elsewhere. All part of the battle. Story coming soon.

And a sampling of what I received in response:

Have wild creatures taken up residence among us or have we taken up residence among them?

Weve had an ongoing battle with geese and their poop at our church for years. Geese are winning. We even put fake plastic swans in the pond to try to deter the geese. The only thing that happened was that one of the swans washed ashore and while it was lying in the grass we got a visit from a hysterical PETA member who accused us of killing it.

Goose are copious crappers. Walks are often iridescent with goose slime after a goose invasion. Theyre fun to watch though. And Ive heard they make better watchdogs than watchdogs. So just enjoy them and power wash your sidewalks as needed.

Wildlife like deer and Canada geese naturally live outdoors. Thats a fact. Many people want wildlife to follow human rules and change...or they kill them off. People are the nuisance problem! Yes, at times its frustrating to find the blooms of your favorite flowers chewed off, but thats nature. People who complain about wildlife living in their yards would be happier in high rise condos than living in a house w nature.

If Canada geese ate Canadian soldiers during the infestation, there would be much better international relations.

Im not a fan of geese at all. To me theyre a total nuisance bird. They have an attitude about them. Short story-years ago I was with my family at The Barn in Smithville. It was fall, and I had a brand new leather jacket on. I was the parking lot when a gaggle flew over and pelted me with defecation, totally desecrating me from head to foot. If Id had a gun in my hands at that time, I would have blasted them to kingdom come. Needless to say, I have no love for them ever since.

The noise outside my bedroom window at 4am! The slimy goose poop all over the lawn and sidewalks- yuck!

Some degree of live and let live with wild critters is OK. The noble Canada Goose is the exception. They are hissing s--- factories And they taste lousy when cooked. They are a nuisance. At least deer are good eating We have so many wild critters in suburbia because man is encroaching into the critters territory and the supply of predators is insufficient to keep the prey animals in check. The problem of which Canada Geese are symptomatic will not go away until it is commonly realized that there are too few predators, too many critters, and too many people.

Green lasers! The only solution I have found and it works like magic. They HATE green lasers. You can buy a laser pointer on eBay for $10 and shoo them away.

I think the Australians learned best with their war on Emus that conventional warfare wont work on mother nature. While using indirect methods like domesticating possums to keep ticks at bay mother nature has a way of evolving.

Most useless animal God created. Makes a terrible mess wherever it goes.

Yikes! Last year one of our neighbors had geese create a nest and lay eggs on their patio. It was wonderful! The Dad would swoop in and let the Mom take a flying break. Their was a little honking, but that was ok. In the end, seven little goslings emerged and marched around the patio for a couple of days. Then they moved out! The owner cleaned up after them.I heard one neighbor complain (why? They werent on his patio). But he seems a bit grouchy and complains whenever possible. Keep the geese!

Problem (is) all they do is eat and crap and walk in the road. But, nobody follows them with a plastic bag!

The NIMBY attitude that objects to animals that are able to adapt to our invasion of their natural habitats is just as dangerous/racist as those who object to people who are different in some way.

When do we stop acting as though every inch of this planet belongs to humans? So Canada geese are noisy (not like motorcycles which are oh so quiet and only used by the most polite people) and they poop (not like a pet dog which -heaven forbid- does its job on a neighboring lawn). We cull the deer population because we dont want them getting killed on our suburban streets. Not because they are chomping down someones flowers ( theres a spray for that). Border collies poop too. Enough already!

Nature is a balance and humans have impacted that balance. When the people who love deer and geese also support bringing back wolves and mountain lions then Ill believe they actually love nature.

Geese are a problem here. If they had to bag up their poop like people are required to do for their dogs, I could co-exist, but their feces are a serious mess in yards, sidewalks, and anyplace else they inhabit!

Haha, thanks for looking into this. I hate those things! I live by a pond where they have taken up residence so their poop is a constant nuisance. They are also absurdly aggressive, especially during breeding season, which is now. Basically I look on them as an invasive species because they chase away the native waterfowl. We try to eradicate invasive vegetation, so why not apply that concept to invasive animal species?

This is so funny to me! My friend (were both in our late 60s/early 70s) and I were discussing how back when we were kids in the 1950s-60s you never saw geese waking around, obstructing roadways, and defecating all over playgrounds. Thats because as boys from that era our first instinct in seeing any wild animal was to try to kill it. BB guns, stones, whatever came to hand. We seldom succeeded, but thats the way boys back then rolled. Nowadays kids are raised with such an emphasis on non-violence that if any of them tried something like that they would be sent off to a special school for troubled children.

They are a menace! And I love other creatures.
The Ohio Supreme Court is no stranger to double talk. Thats why it wasnt a surprise last week that it let stand phony wording on State Issue 1, the General Assemblys anti-voter scam.

Issue 1, on Ohios Aug. 8 statewide ballot, would make it much harder for Ohio voters, by ballot petition, to propose amendments to the Ohio Constitution. Thats something Ohioans have been able to do since 1912. Voter-proposed amendments become part of the Ohio Constitution if they attract the support of 50% plus 1 of those voting in a statewide election.

Now, however, the General Assemblys Republican majority fears the states voters might amend the Ohio Constitution to guarantee the legality of abortion in this state. So legislative Republicans proposed State Issue 1, which would require a statewide yes vote of at least 60% of those voting on future measures to amend Ohios constitution.

That is, Issue 1 aims to make it harder for Ohioans to keep abortion legal in Ohio and, further down the road, harder for Ohioans to end the brazen gerrymandering of Ohio General Assembly and congressional districts.

For the incumbent General Assembly, politics is a game of tricky words. To make sure of that, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, an Upper Arlington Republican, and his fellow Ballot Board Republicans massaged the Issue 1 wording that Ohio voters will see on their ballots.

Part of that wording is, after a slight tweaking at the courts behest: Elevating the standards to qualify for an initiated constitutional amendment and to pass a constitutional amendment.

Elevating? Thats not how ordinary Ohioans speak, no matter what dictionary the Supreme Court consulted. When BP boosts gasoline prices, or the electric company jacks up monthly charges, the oil company didnt elevate its prices. It raised them. And American Electric Power, AES Ohio, Duke and FirstEnergy dont elevate electric rates. They raise them.

In those contexts, elevates is a weasel word to  at best  understate whats going on. And whats really going on is a bid by legislators to cripple a power that the voters of Ohio have enjoyed for more than 100 years by raising, not elevating, the number of required petition signatures and the percentage of votes required to ratify a proposed amendment. Since 1912, its been 50% plus 1; State Issue 1 would raise it to 60%.

That a 4-3 majority of Supreme Court acted as it did  taking a back seat to its supposed equals, Ohios legislative and executive branches  isnt new.

Ohios highest court has never been ranked better than middle of the pack  and thats on a good day  among the nations state supreme courts. Were not talking Albany, Boston, or Sacramento.

As previously noted, this is what scholars G. Alan Tarr and Mary Cornelia Aldis Porter wrote in 1988: The Ohio [Supreme Court] was dominated from the close of the Civil War to 1978 [when the late Frank D. Celebrezze, a Cleveland Democrat, was elected chief justice] by conservative, old stock Republicans who fashioned the law to conform to the values and interests they shared with small town and rural Ohioans, with business and industry. (Spurred by business lobbies, voters unseated Celebrezze in 1986.)

Today, you want to be toast of the town at a county-seat service club? Land an Ohio Supreme Court seat.

So ingrained has the courts irrelevance become that when the Supreme Court (albeit, under Republican Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, since retired) ordered the GOP-run Ohio Redistricting Commission to draw fair General Assembly districts, the commissioners simply ignored the court. Result: The Looney Tunes legislature that now rules Ohio. Politically, were treading water because the General Assembly is obsessed with policing bedrooms.

Legislators dont want voters with the realistic power to directly propose amendments to the Ohio Constitution. Thats why the General Assembly passed State Issue 1 and why Frank LaRose is seeking Republican IOUs (for a Senate race) by putting his thumb on the ballot-language scale.

The only thing Issue 1 will elevate is the power the General Assembly has over ordinary Ohioans, notably over the reproductive health and choices of a majority of Ohios population  women.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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CLEVELAND -- Three days after the 2016 presidential election, New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Executive Editor Dean Baquet combined on a letter to their readers, acknowledging that Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton had taken them by surprise.

It was not an apology, as Trump repeatedly insisted, but it did come pretty close to admitting that the Times (along with most of the countrys major media) had missed The Big Story of the election, and vowed to do better.

After such an erratic and unpredictable election there are inevitable questions, the pair wrote: Did Donald Trumps sheer unconventionality lead us and other news outlets to underestimate his support among American voters? What forces and strains in America drove this divisive election and outcome?

The two promised that their newspaper would rededicate itself to the fundamental mission of Times journalism, reporting honestly, without fear or favor, striving always to understand and reflect all political perspectives and life experiences. A sentence that they believed the Times reported on both candidates fairly was later deleted from the letter on the papers website, because they feared it sounded defensive.

Both men have since retired, and Ill leave it to you to decide whether the Times was fair in its coverage and has made good on its promise since 2016.

But as we approach another presidential election less than a year and a half away, it is left to other editors and publishers and news directors across the country to puzzle over how to cover the enigma that is Donald Trump, and unravel the mystery of his hold on so many millions of Americans.

It does not seem that we are much closer to a satisfactory answer today than we were in the aftermath of the 2016 election that flummoxed Sulzberger and Baquet.

The challenge of trying to cover Trump in a way that is informative, fair and journalistically sound has already cost one news executive his job, and he might not be the last.

Chris Licht, who had tasked himself with ending CNNs partisan news coverage and returning the cable news network to a more balanced approach when he became CEO in 2022, tried to take a step toward his goal by giving Trump a 70-minute forum May 10 at a town hall meeting in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The idea of hosting an exclusive appearance by the GOP frontrunner would normally be considered a coup for a news network  with anyone else but Trump.

But Trump is always Trump. And in the wake of his raucous appearance in front of a vocal, partisan crowd, in which Trump verbally attacked CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins and repeated his familiar false or unsubstantiated statements on the 2020 election, the Jan. 6 insurrection, the economy and his legal challenges, CNN was roundly criticized and ridiculed by critics across the country for providing him the forum.

Four weeks later, Licht was out at CNN.

The Trump town hall wasnt Lichts only controversial decision, but the aftermath is sure to serve as a cautionary tale to others as they plan their coverage heading toward November 2024.

It has become accepted wisdom among media leaders that the blanket coverage that Trumps antics got in 2016 was, in effect, free advertising, and a major factor in his victory. Since then, many of them have vowed to resist the temptation to report his every outrageous statement and dial back their coverage.

Ive got a different view.

Its not up to editors and news directors to decide what impact their reporting might or might not have on election outcomes.

Obviously, news judgment is paramount, and media organizations cannot and should not cover every word spoken by Trump or any other candidate. But in the end, it is journalists responsibility to tell their readers, viewers and listeners whats happening  as fairly and objectively as they can, bringing all the honest reporting firepower at their disposal to the job.

If they think Trump or anyone else is lying or rabble-rousing, that doesnt mean they should not cover an event or tell people what happened there. It simply means they should do their jobs better, providing context and fact-checking. Then let voters do the rest.

Did news coverage play into Trumps hands in 2016, providing him with a lot of free publicity that misled voters? I dont know, but heres what I think:

Donald Trump did not win in 2016 because the bulk of Americans  or even a majority of Republicans  supported him.

He got the Republican nomination because there were too many reasonable GOP candidates who divvied up the sensible conservative vote, allowing Trump to win state after state with a 30% to 40% plurality of his devoted followers until the nomination was virtually assured. His total percentage of all primary votes was a shade under 45%.

And he won the general election because many Americans (but not the majority) could not stomach the idea of a President Hillary Clinton.

The same thing almost happened again in 2020 with Joe Biden as his opponent, but Trumps words, actions and tweets during the four years of his presidency raised the disdain of too many voters, particularly women, to Clintonesque proportions, gifting the election to Biden.

CNN should not be criticized for giving America a 70-minute dose of Donald Trump. The more he talks, the crazier he reveals himself, and the people who will vote in 2024 need to see that.

Without that town hall, Trump wouldnt have had a national forum that, almost unbelievably, showed him refusing to take sides in Ukraines resistance to Russias brutal invasion.

And opposition candidate Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, wouldnt have had the opportunity to publicly respond: I think hes a coward, and I think hes a puppet of Putin.

He wouldnt say last night that Ukraine should win the war, Christie said the following day. I mean, I was stunned  to me, it was the most stunning moment of the debate.

People need to see and hear things like that, particularly if Trump elects not to debate his primary opponents, as some observers think he will.

More than 50 years in this business have convinced me that withholding coverage because youre worried about the outcome is almost never a good idea.

Let Trump be Trump, live and in color.

Ive still got enough faith in American voters  and even Republican primary voters  to give them the information and let them do the rest.

Ted Diadiun is a member of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

To reach Ted Diadiun: tdiadiun@cleveland.com

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THE Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) yesterday held its last candidates selection process in Harare amid reports of violence and chaos in some suburbs.

The CCC did not hold any primary elections, but was piloting what it says is a citizen caucus process where ordinary people are given a chance to select their aspiring candidates.

The run-up to yesterdays candidate selection process was heated with Harare East legislator Tendai Biti locked in a fierce battle with Harare North MP Allan Markham.

The results of the nominations are yet to be announced.

This publication heard that some Zanu PF activists attempted to disrupt the CCC candidate selection process ahead of the nomination court sitting on Wednesday.

There were also reports of bussing of people by some aspiring candidates, a few days after party leader, Nelson Chamisa, condemned the practice and warned that culprits would be disqualified.

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere told The Standard yesterday evening that the partys candidate selection process went smoothly.

We saw an overwhelming turnout of citizens and every one of the caucuses was conducted in peace, Mahere said.

The citizens voices were heard. Reports will be furnished to the Citizens Independent Selection Panel in due course.

Mahere said the panel would collate information from nomination stakeholder consultation and community consensus before announcing the eventual winners.

We have succeeded in creating a platform for communities to hear from their potential candidates and make their voices heard, she said.

We are well on course to ensuring we have a dream team of citizen representatives who will usher in competent, ethical leaders, led by (CCC leader Nelson) Chamisa and who will put the citizens first.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seeking a second term, has announced August 23 as the election date.

Mnangagwas Zanu PF will officially launch its campaign this week.

Zanu PF chose its candidates through chaotic primary elections coordinated by the Central Intelligence Organisation and the army.

Nomination courts will sit on Wednesday across the country to consider names of aspiring MPs and councillors.

In Harare, the nomination court will consider names of presidential candidates.

Mnangagwa and Chamisa are considered front runners for the presidency after the closely contested 2018 polls where the Zanu PF leader narrowly came out victorious.

Chamisa rejected the results saying his rival worked with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to rig the polls that came eight months after the military toppled long time ruler Robert Mugabe in a coup. Standard
In early June, sporadic but serious service disruptions plagued Microsoft's flagship office suite  including the Outlook email and OneDrive file-sharing apps  and cloud computing platform. A shadowy hacktivist group claimed responsibility, saying it flooded the sites with junk traffic in distributed denial-of-service attacks.

Initially reticent to name the cause, Microsoft has now disclosed that DDoS attacks by a murky upstart were indeed to blame.

But the software giant has offered few details  and would not comment on the attacks' magnitude. It would not say how many customers were affected or describe the attackers, who it has named Storm-1359. A group that calls itself Anonymous Sudan claimed responsibility on its Telegram social media channel at the time. Some security researchers believe the group to be Russian.

Microsoft's explanation in a blog post Friday evening followed a request by The Associated Press two days earlier. Slim on details, the post said the attacks "temporarily impacted availability" of some services. It said the attackers were focused on "disruption and publicity" and likely used rented cloud infrastructure and virtual private networks to bombard Microsoft servers from so-called botnets of zombie computers around the globe.

Microsoft said there was no evidence any customer data was accessed or compromised.

While DDoS attacks are mainly a nuisance  making websites unreachable without penetrating them  security experts say they can disrupt the work of millions if they successfully interrupt the services of a software service giant like Microsoft on which so much global commerce depends.

It's not clear if that's what happened here.

"We really have no way to measure the impact if Microsoft doesn't provide that info," said Jake Williams, a prominent cybersecurity researcher and a former National Security Agency offensive hacker. Williams said he was not aware of Outlook previously being attacked at this scale.

"We know some resources were inaccessible for some, but not others. This often happens with DDoS of globally distributed systems," Williams added. He said Microsoft's apparent unwillingness to provide an objective measure of customer impact "probably speaks to the magnitude."

As for Storm-1359's identity, Williams said he doesn't think Microsoft knows yet. That would not be unusual. Cybersecurity sleuthing tends to take time  and even then can be a challenge if the adversary is skilled.

Pro-Russian hacking groups including Killnet  which the cybersecurity firm Mandiant says is Kremlin-affiliated  have been bombarding government and other websites of Ukraine's allies with DDoS attacks. In October, some U.S. airport sites were hit.

Edward Amoroso, NYU professor and CEO of TAG Cyber, said the Microsoft incident highlights how DDoS attacks remain "a significant risk that we all just agree to avoid talking about. It's not controversial to call this an unsolved problem."

He said Microsoft's difficulties fending of this particular attack suggest "a single point of failure." The best defense against these attacks is to distribute a service massively, on a content distribution network for example.

Indeed, the techniques the attackers used are not old, said U.K. security researcher Kevin Beaumont. "One dates back to 2009," he said.

Serious impacts from the Microsoft 365 office suite interruptions were reported on Monday June 5, peaking at 18,000 outage and problem reports on the tracker Downdetector shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time.

On Twitter that day, Microsoft said Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business were affected.

Attacks continued through the week, with Microsoft confirming on June 9 that its Azure cloud computing platform had been affected.

On June 8, the computer security news site BleepingComputer.com reported that cloud-based OneDrive file-hosting was down globally for a time.

Microsoft said at the time that desktop OneDrive clients were not affected, BleepingComputer reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) walks with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R) ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. Leah Millis | Afp | Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to cool U.S.-China tensions that have overshadowed geopolitics in recent months. The trip by Blinken makes him the highest-level American official to visit China since Joe Biden became U.S. president and the first U.S. secretary of state to make the trip in nearly five years. Blinken had "candid, substantive, and constructive talks" with Qin, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement Sunday. He raised concerns as well as "opportunities to explore cooperation," and he emphasized the importance of open communication, according to the statement. "The Secretary made clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order," the spokesperson said. Blinken invited Qin to the U.S. to continue discussions, and the spokesperson said the pair agreed to schedule a visit at a "mutually suitable time." Blinken will continue to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing Monday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. Leah Millis | AFP | Getty Images

His original travel plans for February were disrupted by news of an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. airspace. The U.S. ultimately shot down the alleged spy balloon, and tensions between the world's two largest economies have since remained tense. Beijing insisted the balloon was an unnamed weather tracker that blew off course. Blinken was set to have a working dinner later Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Qin, who was previously China's ambassador to the U.S. Some reports suggest there may also be a meeting with President Xi Jinping on Monday during Blinken's two-day visit. Expectations for a significant recovery in the U.S.-China relationship, especially as a result of Blinken's trip, remain low. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement last week that Blinken will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and will "raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges." At the annual Shangri-La Dialogue event in Singapore earlier this month, the U.S. defense chief and his Chinese counterpart didn't have a formal meeting. And more broadly, international travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic limited contact between the U.S. and Chinese governments. In August, a controversial visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, fueled Beijing's ire. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to conduct diplomatic relations on its own. The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China, while maintaining unofficial relations with the island, a democratically self-governed region.

Biden's visit to Beijing could also possibly pave the way for a November meeting between Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi  their first since Bali in November, a day before a G-20 summit kicked off. In late May, the U.S. commerce secretary and her Chinese counterpart met in Washington, D.C. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is also expected to visit China at an unspecified time. China's new ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, arrived in the U.S. in late May after a period of about six months with no one in that position. Biden said around the same time that he expected U.S.-China tensions would "begin to thaw very shortly." A potential opportunity for Biden and Xi to meet again would be in November, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Summit that's set to be held in San Francisco.
There are overbought stocks, and then there's Delta Air Lines . The airline's 14-day relative index reached 100  the highest level possible  after the stock's nearly 9% rally this week. The move comes after the company resumed its quarterly dividend . Delta shares have also been on fire this month as investors become more optimistic about the travel industry's prospects going forward. However, such a high RSI level indicates the stock may be due for a pullback in the short term  even if 85% of analysts covering it have buy ratings on Delta. A stock is considered overbought if its 14-day RSI goes above 70, signaling investors should consider easing their exposure. A 14-day RSI under 30, however, signals that a stock is oversold, meaning there may be a buying opportunity. Take a look at the most overbought stocks in the S & P 500 . Retail giant Walmart is also among the most overbought S & P 500 names, with an RSI of nearly 97. The stock is up almost 10% year to date, and roughly two-thirds of analysts covering it rate have buy ratings on it. That said, the average analyst price target implies just 7% upside over the next 12 months. Tesla also made the cut for stocks deep in overbought territory. The electric vehicle maker has an RSI of more than 96. The stock has been on a tear this year, more than doubling. Last week, it snapped a 13-day winning streak  its longest on record. Earlier this month, shares got a boost on news that General Motors will use Tesla's electric vehicle charging network . TSLA YTD mountain TSLA in 2023 However, analysts on average see its stock falling more than 20% after its recent surge, FactSet data shows. Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi, a longtime Tesla bear, said Friday the company's cost advantage could be in trouble. "Broadly, we see 5 parallels between Ford during the Model T era and Tesla today," Sacconaghi said, highlighting the fact that "both came with the backdrop of a period of dramatic market growth (up 90x in 18 years)" and that "both Ford and Tesla drove down price to capture share." "That said, we also believe that auto market today is increasingly global and structurally more competitive than it was in the 1920s, and as a result Tesla's cost advantage may not be as sustainable/long-lasting as Ford's was," he said. American Airlines , Netflix and Norwegian Cruise Line are also deeply overbought, based on their 14-day RSIs. Still, there are some names that are oversold and could be due for a rebound in the near term. Advance Auto Parts is by far the most oversold S & P 500 stock with an RSI of 13. The company last month posted a massive earnings miss that led to several analyst downgrades . Overall, just 7% of analysts have buy ratings on the stock, though the average price target implies upside of 18%. Year to date, Advance Auto Parts shares are down more than 50%. Dollar General and Campbell Soup are also oversold, based on their respective RSIs of 22 and 26. Shares of Dollar General are down nearly 19% this month after the discount retailer posted weaker-than-expected first-quarter earnings and slashed its full-year outlook. The company cited a " challenging " economic outlook for the guidance cut. Campbell Soup, meanwhile, reported fiscal third-quarter earnings on June 7 that beat analyst expectations. However, the company's full-year earnings forecast was slightly below Street estimates. Analysts are also bearish on the stock, with only 5% of them rating it a buy. However, with an RSI below 30, it may be due for a bounce near term. There are also other names approaching oversold territory, including General Mills , SolarEdge Technologies and Kraft Heinz .  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks to supporters as he formally announces his intention to seek the Republican nomination for president on June 07, 2023 in Ankeny, Iowa.

Several Republican 2024 presidential hopefuls criticized Donald Trump Sunday as the former president faces 37 federal counts for allegedly hoarding documents after he left the White House.

Trump has lashed out at his critics  including members of his former staff  in the wake of his indictment, calling his former Attorney General Bill Barr a "Gutless Pig" and his former chief of staff John Kelly "weak" with a "VERY small 'brain.'"

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who announced his bid for president earlier this month, said Trump's comments suggest he is the "worst manager in the history of the American presidency."

"He's a petulant child when someone disagrees with him," Christie told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

Presidential hopeful and former Vice President Mike Pence said it is "premature" to say whether or not he would pardon Trump were he to be convicted. Pence said Wednesday he could not defend the criminal allegations against Trump, but added Sunday that he does not know why many Republicans are presuming he will be found guilty.

"All we know is what the president has been accused of in the indictment," Pence told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. "It is saddening to me that we are now in this moment."

Pence questioned Trump's commitment to conservative principles, stating that he is "walking away" from his stance on abortion and that his position on the national debt is "identical" to that of President Joe Biden.

He added he had hoped Trump would "come around" to accepting the results of the 2020 election, which Trump has repeatedly claimed was stolen.

"No one who puts himself over the Constitution should ever be president of the United States," Pence said.

Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas who is also a presidential hopeful, said he doubted Trump's ability to pardon himself if he were reelected.

"I'm doubtful of it. I don't think that's what the Constitution intends in giving the president pardon power," Hutchinson said on ABC's "This Week," later adding that, though a self-pardon would be "inappropriate" and "unseemly," doing so is "exactly what (Trump) would intend if he got elected president."

Hutchinson also said he would not accept the Republican National Committee's pledge to support the eventual GOP presidential nominee as a condition of participating on the debate stage.

"I'm not going to support  just like other voters are not going to support  somebody for president who is under indictment that is potentially convicted at that time," said the Arkansas Republican.

But Trump had a supporter on Sunday in Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy who has said the former president should be pardoned if convicted. The biopharma entrepreneur called for dismantling institutions like the Federal Bureau of Investigation over so-called "political viewpoints."

The agency is "a formula for corruption," Ramaswamy said on "Fox News Sunday," for allegedly threatening Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights era or "going after political conservatives" like Trump.

"This is about standing up for principles over politics," he said.
An employee works at the Airbus A350 assembly site, in Colomiers near Toulouse, south-western France, on December 9, 2022.

A lot has changed in the four years since one of the aviation industry's biggest air shows was held in person.

The Covid-19 pandemic devastated travel demand, the aviation industry shed thousands of experienced workers and roller coaster appetites for new jets wreaked havoc on production rates of new planes.

After all that, the Paris Air Show  a trade event where companies get a chance to showcase new technology, commercial and military aircraft, and strike deals  returns on Monday during a surge in air travel demand, with airlines starving for jets to feed it. The question is whether Boeing , Airbus and their numerous suppliers can catch up.

"That's creating pressure on the order books  it's creating upward momentum on used aircraft lease rates and forcing airlines to make compromises," said Andy Cronin, CEO of aircraft-leasing firm Avolon.

Aviation analytics firm IBA estimated last week that there could be orders for about 2,100 planes during the show as airlines replace older aircraft and prepare for future growth in air travel.

Over the past year, Boeing has logged large orders or preliminary agreements from customers including United Airlines , Saudia and new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air. Air India's massive order earlier this year included both Boeing and Airbus jets.

Turkish Airlines' chairman told reporters last month that the carrier is planning to order around 600 aircraft, both wide-body and narrow-body planes. The order would be the largest ever for a single airline, though it isn't clear whether that would come together in time for the show.

IBA's chief economist, Stuart Hatcher, wrote in a June 15 forecast that Delta Air Lines , Malaysia Airlines and Air France-KLM could be buyers, but the timing isn't yet certain. Air Baltic could also look to expand its Airbus A220 fleet, he said.

"It might still be too early to call any Chinese expansion yet given the political climate, but I wouldn't be surprised to see top-up orders coming through," Hatcher wrote.
(CNN)  Asylum-seekers transported from Texas to Californias capital city of Sacramento two weeks ago say they were misled by people who convinced them to travel with promises of work and shelter.

A total of 36 migrants were driven from Texas to New Mexico where they were then transported on private charter flights to California on June 2 and June 5, Eddie Carmona, director of campaigns with the non-profit PICO California, told CNN. Most of the migrants, two of whom CNN spoke to, are from Venezuela and Colombia, while a few are from Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

We are here because they offered us a job, one of the migrants, a 34-year-old Venezuelan man who does not want to be identified for legal reasons, told CNN. We were deceived by the people who provided the flight service. They offered us jobs and housing.

Investigators from the California Attorney Generals office have determined that although the migrants came from Texas, they were carrying documents purportedly from the Florida government. The papers listed Vertol Systems Company Inc. as the contractor behind the flights. CNN has obtained a signed contract showing Floridas Division of Emergency Management hired Vertol Systems to relocate migrants in May. Its the second time Floridas government has worked with the contractor since the fall of 2022.

Officials with the Florida Division of Emergency Management have maintained all travel was done on a voluntary basis.

Members of the first group told authorities they were told to sign documents before they could board the plane to Sacramento, according to Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta. However, not all the migrants  who are not fluent in English  understood where they were headed and not all signed the forms, she said.

The Venezuelan migrant, who had only been in the US for a week before being transported to California on the first flight, told CNN four people approached him in a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, and promised if he agreed to go to California, he would be given a job and a place to live.

The migrant said the people asked him to sign paperwork in English, which he doesnt speak. He said although he didnt understand the document, he signed it because of what he was promised.

A 31-year-old Colombian woman, who was on the second flight and asked not to be identified for legal reasons, told CNN she was approached by two men at a shelter in El Paso, where she had been for 20 days.

The people who approached them never identified themselves or said who they were and only made promises, the migrants told CNN. The Venezuelan migrant said the people told him the help came from Florida but didnt elaborate.

The Colombian migrant was also promised work and housing in California, but when we arrived, she said, all the dreams, everything you thought, they just disappeared.

Its not fair that they played with our feelings

When they arrived in Sacramento, the asylum-seekers on the first flight were transported from the airport to a parking lot they did not recognize, the Venezuelan migrant said.

The parking lot belonged to the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, a local church office, where the migrants were dumped on the doorstep, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement, without any advance warning.

The people the migrants believed to be their guides disappeared, and the documents they signed were not returned to them, the Venezuelan told CNN.

He was supposed to hand us over to other people who would take us directly to where we were going to stay. And from there, to work. Thats why we came here, to work, he added.

Both migrants said they did not understand politics in the US and reiterated they agreed to come to California because they were being offered the opportunity to work.

I dont think we should be involved in politics because we are people who have come here after suffering, said the Venezuelan migrant, who arrived in Texas on May 27 after traveling predominantly on foot for three months from Venezuela to the US in hopes of escaping his countrys difficult economic situation.

We came to work, to earn the goodwill of many people, because many people might think that we came here to Sacramento looking for other things, not for work, not to improve our lives economically, not to be able to send money back to the little ones at home who are waiting for us.

The Colombian woman who spoke to CNN said she endured the strenuous journey to the US because she wants to provide for her family, and agreed to go to California because she was promised work. It took her two months to travel from Colombia to the US-Mexico border.

It doesnt matter what you have to go through because its tough to get here. But you have your family in mind, she said. Of course, because they say work and you need to work the bad thing is that we trusted a person whose intentions we didnt know.

Its not fair that they played with our feelings, that they promised us things they wouldnt fulfill, she added.

They were lied to and deceived advocates say

Shortly after the relocation, the Florida Division of Emergency Management released two-and-a-half minutes of edited video it claimed showed some of the migrants being transported to California. The video includes footage of some people signing documents, as well as stills and silent footage of people boarding a chartered plane.

The two migrants interviewed by CNN verified they appeared in the video, telling CNN theyd been happy to travel at the time because theyd been promised jobs and housing.

Neither of them had ever been on an airplane before.

Officials with the Florida Division of Emergency Management said the migrants who were flown to Sacramento did so voluntarily, countering accusations from California authorities who said the asylum-seekers were misled into taking trips.

Floridas voluntary relocation is precisely that  voluntary, Florida Division of Emergency Management spokesperson Alecia Collins said in a statement on June 6. Through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California. A contractor was present and ensured they made it safely to a 3rd-party (non-government organization). The specific NGO, Catholic Charities, is used and funded by the federal government.

Most of the migrants are young people who are the first in their families to come to the US, according to Gabby Trejo, the executive director of Sacramento Area Congregations Together, a non-profit collaboration between local religious congregations.

She said many walked three to seven months to come to the US for their dream life, but it turned into a nightmare.

They were lied to and deceived, Trejo said at a news conference on June 6. They can be in this country. They have the paperwork, theyre legally in our country. She noted the migrants have pending hearings with immigration officials.

Newsom called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a small, pathetic man in a tweet on June 5 and brought up the possibility of kidnapping charges, linking the post to a California law defining the crime. DeSantis has not answered repeated attempts from CNN for comment on the latest flights or the migrants accusations they were deceived.

The California attorney general on June 6 told CNN his office was looking at the possibility of criminal liability, including kidnapping and false imprisonment.

The migrants are now receiving assistance from multiple non-profit organizations in Sacramento who are helping them arrange housing, hire lawyers, and medical checkups, according to Sacramento Area Congregations Together. They are also learning about the basics of living in the US and the organization launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of caring for the migrants.

Thank God those people appeared and through them, we have been able to rest, we have been able to eat well, we have been able to change our clothes, the Venezuelan migrant told CNN. Maybe because here we were left with a little backpack as if we were homeless people on the street.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Asylum-seekers flown to California say they were deceived by people promising them jobs and housing"
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African peace mission asks Ukraine, Russia to settle the war through diplomacy

The large African peace delegation led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday. Ramaphosa asked Ukraine and Russia to settle the war through dialogue and diplomacy.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PresidencyZA

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PresidencyZA

Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks with the African peace delegation. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PresidencyZA

The African peace mission includes the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, and top officials from Uganda, Egypt, and Congo-Brazzaville. The African nations, just like many parts of Asia, have been bearing the economic brunt of the war, with commodity prices going up and up.

Moreover, a Bloomberg report said that a lot was at stake here for Ramaphosa, who needed to score a big diplomatic win after being branded pro-Russia and being treated with great suspicion by the United States, hurting the South African economy.

The African peace delegation in Kyiv on June 16. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PresidencyZA

The African peace delegation in St Petersburg on June 17. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@PresidencyZA

During these meetings, Ramaphosa had mixed success. According to Agence France-Presse, while Zelenskyy has reportedly ruled out talks until his country can take back the territories captured by Russia, Putin reportedly has shown an interest in considering the African peace missions initiative. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that any initiative is very difficult to implement.

[WATCH]: HE President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses the joint press briefing of the African Heads of State and Government and HE President Zelenskyy following peace talks in Kyiv, Ukraine. #AfricanPeaceMission pic.twitter.com/brNn7nvPZH  Presidency | South Africa  (@PresidencyZA) June 17, 2023

Even though Russia has the upper hand militarily, its invasion of Ukraine has gone on for nearly 16 months now. The smaller nation has been able to hold out far longer than anticipated, and it has also launched its counteroffensive with military equipment supplied by NATO allies, so the war is not likely to be over anytime soon.

Also read: Putin confirms moving first batch of nukes to Belarus as a deterrent for the hostile West

President Cyril Ramaphosa informs President Putin that ending the war is in everyone's best interest.



The prices of commodities have gone up particularly grain and fertilizer and the prices of fuel have also gone up in South Africa @PresidencyZA pic.twitter.com/0Lyr8Rhc4n  News Live SA (@newslivesa) June 17, 2023

With no end in sight, Ramaphosa has taken his proposal right to the parties at conflict, highlighting the impact of the war outside the war zone. This war must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means, he said during talks with Putin in St Petersburg. Just before that, Ramaphosa had said, This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and, indeed, on many other countries around the world.

The 10 principles listed by the African peace mission include de-escalation of the conflict; the recognition of all countries sovereignty; security guarantees for all countries; unhindered grain exports through the Black Sea; and releasing prisoners of war and children, letting them go home.

Reportedly, Putin praised the African delegations balanced perspective and declared that he was open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties legitimate interests.

However, Ukraine will not talk until its captured territories are given back, and Russia is not ready to give back what it has captured. That makes it a stalemate as of now.
The verdict is relevant for India because Eternit company with which he was associated had plants in India as well. There is no public or private building in India which is asbestos free including the new parliament building.This verdict has a relationship with the verdict of Honble Supreme Court of India dated 27 January 1995 in Consumer Education & Research Centre (CERC) v Union of India. It directed all asbestos factories to keep the health records of their workers for 40 years and/or 15 years after their retirement. It is germane to India because human biology is same everywhere if the asbestos is deemed hazardous and unusable in the developed countries; it must be deemed so in India too.The conviction of Stephan Schmidheiny for asbestos related deaths paves the way for the 300 year old Yale University to rescind the honorary degree given to him. It rescinded it from comedian Bill Cosby for sexual assault.The extent of greenwashing, blue washing and ethical positioning by Stephan Schmidheiny can be fathomed from the fact that his foundations financed entirely by the Schmidheiny family have awarded Max Schmidheiny Freedom Prize to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, Professor Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Jorma Ollila, Chairman & CEO, Nokia, The Economist, The International Committee of the Red Cross and N. R. Narayana Murthy, the Founder-Chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited, a global software consulting company headquartered in Bangalore, India.After Schmidheinys conviction, there is a moral obligation on the part of the individuals and institutions to return the tainted awards and donations from him and to recall the awards and degrees given to him.The Italian Courts verdict is relevant to India because it has been estimated that one person dies from mesothelioma for every 170 tons of asbestos consumed. India is the biggest consumer of asbestos. It imported 3,61,164 tonnes of asbestos in 2019-20. The imports of asbestos were mainly from Russia (85%), Brazil , Kazakhstan, Hungary (3% each), and Poland and South Africa (2% each). Asbestos diseases have a very long incubation period.Therefore, if you are exposed today to asbestos fibre, you are likely to get the disease in the next 10-50 years. Asbestos is like a time bomb to the lungs and Indians will suffer the most. If it is banned today that does not mean people will not suffer. Because of past usage people will continue to suffer from these diseases.Responding to the verdict of the Italian Court, Dr Barry Castleman says:Dr Castleman is the author of "Asbestos: Medical and Legal Aspects", the most authoritative book on the asbestos industry.Eternit does have asbestos manufactories in India and is responsible for many asbestos related deaths. I hope the Indian legal system is as sophisticated as the Italian legal system to allow justice for victims of asbestos disease, similar to those in Casale Monferrato, Italy, says Harminder Bains, joint head of Leigh Day asbestos team, UK. Her father died of mesothelioma, an asbestos related disease.Schmidheiny is a 73 years old industrialist and former main shareholder in the cement production company Eternit Italia, was sentenced by a court in Novara after being found guilty of causing the death of 392 people in Casale Monferrato, the Piedmont town that until 1986 was home to the largest of Eternit Italias six factories.Schmidheiny used to manage the plant in Casale Monferrato from 1976 until its closure. Eternit SEG, led by Schmidheiny, was a leading shareholder in Eternit Italia until its bankruptcy in 1986. The judges have ordered him to pay 50m (43m) in provisional damages to Casale Monferratos local authority as well as 30m to the Italian state and 500m to a local association for relatives of victims of asbestos related diseases.Schmidheiny was tried because under Italian law, the owner of a firm is deemed responsible in the event of workplace accidents or deaths. The factorys asbestos waste used to be crushed outside causing asbestos dust to be blown across the town. The factory was responsible for primary and secondary exposure to the carcinogenic asbestos mineral fibers.A rise in the number of victims of asbestos related diseases like pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, was found alarming in the late 1970s despite the fact that symptoms of these diseases have a long incubation period before they become manifest.It is noteworthy that the UN agencies have taken note of a study that found the Kymore asbestos factory in Katni, Madhya Pradesh, was first operated by a subsidiary of UK's Turner & Newall, and later by a subsidiary of ETEX/Eternit between 1992-1998. It has dumped asbestos waste on 600,000 square metres of land. More than 3000 people currently live there.This study has found presence of one million tonnes of asbestos-contaminated surface soil,with asbestos concentrations of upto 70%. Belgian ETEX/Eternit was a shareholder of five asbestos factories in India during 1989-2001, ETEX/Eternit sold its Indian subsidiary prior to Belgian ban on asbestos.The workers, their families, consumers and unsuspecting citizens at Kymore factory and its vicinity face risks of exposure to asbestos fibre. Asbestos is a threat to life throughout its life cycle. Some ex-workers and their family members have reported manifestation of asbestos-related diseases.It has been admitted that the prevalence of asbestosis is 3-9% among factory workers. In such a backdrop, it is ironic that Everest is into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work for Tobacco Control! Now one has to wait only for the Tobacco industry to undertake CSR work for Asbestos Control although some 70 countries have learnt that safe and controlled use of this carcinogenic mineral fiber is impossible.Disregarding incurable Asbestos diseases, India's first plant Asbestos fibre based plant in Kymore has been awarded for excellence in Safety, Health and Environment by Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP). It has ignored WHO's recommendation seeking elimination of Asbestos related diseases which requires ban on asbestos. WHO is the same entity whose recommendations on covid-19 is restructuring global response of public health institutions all over the world.Notably, UN agencies have taken note of human rights implications of exposure to asbestos from this asbestos fibre cement factory, which used to be partly owned by Belgium-based company, ETEX/Eternit, and dumping of asbestos waste in the village of Kymore, Madhya Pradesh, India. They have written to the Government of India but our government is maintaining deafening silence and remains indifferent to the plight of the victims of asbestos related diseases.It may be recalled that the Kymore asbestos factory was Indias first asbestos plant, built by British company Turner & Newall. The British also built an asbestos based plant in the erstwhile Shahabad district of Bihar. Besides Kymore, UN agencies have noted the presence of Everest factories in Nashik, Coimbatore, Kolkata and Roorkee. The plight of workers and communities in these areas merit your attention. The committee ought to visit the sites of these factories which were linked to Eternit in particular and other asbestos based factories in IndiaThis situation creates a compelling logic for Indian authorities to take cognisance of Indias asbestos legacies, and the implications of the ongoing import, manufacture, procure and use of white chrysotile asbestos mineral fiber despite having banned its mining.The conviction of the Swiss asbestos tycoon is linked to the abject lack of effort by Eternit management to protect or warn workers and the people in the community surrounding the plant prevailed during the 80 years of plant operation until the plant was padlocked and declared bankrupt in 1986. The terror imposed on the community, with so many dying from asbestos, year after year, is expressed in the testimonies of the victims.A testimony of Chandni Sharma, daughter of a victim of malignant mesothelioma, one of the deadliest forms of cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos. an asbestos related disease establishes the crying need to address this public health crisis. She says:Notably, Indian Navy officials have rightly objected to the presence of asbestos in aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov which was inducted into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya after asbestos decontamination. Both civilian and non-civilian lives in India are exposed to the carcinogenic asbestos mineral fibers.Significantly, Indian railways is engaged in making more than 7,000 railway platforms asbestos free. Similar efforts are needed in every sector and in every public and private space. India has banned mining of asbestos due deleterious impact on health but it is quite ironic that the Union Government allows import of white chrysotile asbestos from countries like Russia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan and others. Government should not allow itself to be misled by asbestos producers like Russia in this regard due its deleterious impact on health.
The mismatched buddy comedy has long been a staple of Hollywood filmmaking, from the days of Laurel and Hardy to the Schwarzenegger/DeVito-starring Twins to every movie that pairs Mark Wahlberg with someone who isnt a complete garbage person. While the buddy movie may have stalled somewhat in recent years, it turns out that history is full of real-life odd couples whose stories could easily be adapted into hit movies, such as the bizarro friendships of

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5 Andre the Giant and Samuel Beckett Long before he was palling around with Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride or trying to protect the ungrateful, ignorant masses from the hidden dangers lurking in Hulkamania, Andre the Giant was just a giant child in need of transportation. The future wrestler reportedly used to get rides to school from legendary playwright Samuel Beckett, who lived down the road from him in their shared small French village. Though, come to think of it, someone famous for penning a story about waiting around for a guy who never bothers to show up possibly wasnt the best person to depend on for rides. While elements of this story have been exaggerated over the years, including false claims that Andre was too big to ride the school bus and was the only student who got a ride in the Beckett-mobile, the core element of the heart of the story that these two legends regularly shared a car together, is true. Although it has yet to be made into a movie, joining Wallace Shawns failure to pitch My Dinner With Andre The Giant in our disappointment at a lack of Andre films, the story has apparently been adapted for the stage. Play Advertisement

4 Colonel Sanders and J. Edgar Hoover Decades before he died and was resurrected as a cyborg killing machine, fried-chicken magnate Colonel Sanders reportedly invited J. Edgar Hoover to his 80th birthday party. Sanders was a fan and had previously written a letter to the FBI Director, praising his commie-beating efforts. In the invitation, which sits in Sanders FBI file, the former head of KFC tells Hoover, I do believe that us folk can show those young people what celebratins all about. And really, who wouldnt want to see that play out in a movie? Play Advertisement Advertisement Were still waiting on the FOIA to reveal if Hoover wiretapped Sanders to find out his secret recipe blend of 11 herbs and spices.

3 Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell Weve already gotten one biopic about Larry Flynt, but why not let Woody Harrelson take another crack at the role for a movie all about the famous pornographers inexplicable friendship with televangelist Jerry Falwell? The pair met when Falwell sued Flynt for libel, but after The People vs. Larry Flynt came out, Falwell got back in touch and invited Flynt to appear with him on Larry King Live. The interview went so well that Falwell proposed touring together, staging debates at colleges all around the country. Play Advertisement Advertisement Presumably, bonding over both being terrible in totally different ways, the pair continued to be friends. They would even exchange Christmas cards with one another, which were assuming displayed two drastically different uses of candy canes.
Marrying into royalty generally means leaving whatever career you had behind for a life of unveiling plaques and smiling benignly on state visits.

So it's easy to forget that some royal women had impressive careers before they gave it all up for charity work and raising their families.

From multilingual Queen Mathilde of Belgium, a former speech therapist who has a masters degree in psychology to Queen Maxima of The Netherlands who held high ranking positions at big banks, these women have very impressive academic credentials and career achievements.

But how do our own royal family, including former PR consultant Sophie Wessex and Kate, who worked part time for Jigsaw, measure up?

Kate worked as a part-time accessories buyer for Jigsaw before announcing she wanted to pursue a career in photography

THE PRINCESS OF WALES

Kate achieved two As and a B in her A Levels, enabling her to go to St Andrews University where she studied history of art and graduated in 2005 with a 2:1.

Initially, Kate attempted to set up her own childrens clothing line as a subsidiary to her parents company Party Pieces, but she was forced to close it before it launched for financial reasons.

In 2006, it was announced that she'd taken up a position as a part-time accessories buyer for Jigsaw owned by her parents close friends John and Belle Robinson.

However, she quit after less than a year and announced that she wanted to pursue a career as a photographer.

There was speculation she would take up a job offer to train under Royal photographer Mario Testino in New York, but instead ended up photographing new stock for the Party Pieces website.

She was also said to be involved in catalogue design, production and marketing, but in 2008 it was reported that the late Queen was concerned by Kate's lack of a discernible job.

Kate at her university graduation ceremony at St. Andrews University in 2005. She achieved a 2:1 in history of art

The monarch made it known to William that she felt his girlfriend should be settled into a career before he proposed, but when the couple became engaged two years later Kate was playing the role of housewife while her royal beau worked as a search and rescue pilot in Anglesey.

Since their marriage her public role has increased and she balances royal duties with looking after the couple's three children George, Charlotte and Louis.

She is royal patron of a number of charities including East Anglia's Children's Hospices, SportsAid and The National Portrait Gallery and has worked to highlight the importance of the early years of childhood, launching her Shaping Us campaign earlier this year.

SOPHIE WESSEX

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, built up her own PR agency and impressed the Queen with her hard-working attitude

The Queen has always been especially fond of Prince Edward's wife and was said to be particularly impressed by the fact she was a hard-working career girl before they got married.

After training as a secretary, the then Sophie Rhys Jones embarked on a career in public relations, working for companies such as Capital Radio, The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media.

In 1996, she branched out on her own and set up her own agency RJH Public Relations, with her business partner, Murray Harkin where she continued to work following her marriage to Prince Edward.

UK ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS Princess of Wales Countess of Wessex Princess Beatrice Princess Eugenie of York BA in Art History Secretarial college History degree English/history of art degree Advertisement

EUROPEAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS Queen Letizia Queen Maxima of The Netherlands Crown Princess Mary Queen Mathilde of Belgium MA in journalism Economics degree Commerce and law degree Masters in psychology Advertisement

However, it all started to unravel following an indiscreet business talk Sophie had with a 'Middle Eastern' man whom she believed was a potential PR client but who was, in fact, an undercover News of the World reporter.

Chatting in a London hotel about the famous people she knew in hope of securing a 240,000-a-year contract, she affectionately described the Queen as 'the old dear' and the Queen Mother as 'the old lady'.

In light of these indiscretions she scaled back her commercial work and took up the royal duties full time in 2002.

PRINCESS BEATRICE

Princess Beatrice has had five jobs in four years and is now embarking on her sixth venture, a startup business consultancy

Prince Andrew's older daughter achieved a 2:1 in her History and History of Ideas degree from Goldsmiths College, London in 2011.

According to her CV on business website LinkedIn, after leaving university Beatrice worked between September 2011 and January 2012 as a 'research associate' for her mother's charity Children In Crisis. She moved to investment firm Cabot Square Capital in February 2012 but quit 16 months later.

She took her next job, as an 'international production analyst' at Sony Pictures, in January 2014. But she quit the 19,500-a-year post after a year.

Palace aides said afterwards that she was 'exploring her career options'  but that didn't stop her enjoying a string of luxury holidays.

Between December 2014 and December 2015 the princess  who receives no government funding  racked up 18 foreign jaunts including a trip on Roman Abramovich's 1.5billion super-yacht in Ibiza.

Her next position was with Manhattan investment firm Sandbridge Capital, but she turned her back on her fourth job in five years and has worked in New York as vice-president of strategy and partnerships at Afiniti since 2016.

She is also the co-founder of charity Big Change which aims to help young people thrive in life so they can contribute positively to the world.

PRINCESS EUGENIE

Princess Eugenie achieved the best A-level results of any member of the royal family and has recently been promoted to director at the Mayfair art gallery Hauser & Wirth

Prince Andrew's younger daughter broke royal family records by achieving two As and a B in her A-levels after studying art, English literature and history of art.

Eugenie graduated from Newcastle University with a 2:1 degree in English and history of art in 2012 and went on to work in Manhattan for online auction company Paddle8.

The princess joined contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London in 2015 and was promoted to the role of director in 2017.

She balances the role with looking after her son, August, and announced that she is expecting another baby this summer.

QUEEN MAXIMA

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands had a high-flying career in finance before her marriage and is now a UN Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development

Before meeting her husband King Willem Alexander of The Netherlands, Argentinian-born Maxima was pursuing a high-flying career in finance.

While studying for her degree in economics from the Pontifical Catholic University, she worked for for Mercado Abierto Electronico SA, an electronic securities and foreign-currency trading market.

She also balanced her studies with working in the sales department of Boston Securities SA in Buenos Aires, conducting research on software for financial markets.

After graduating, she took up a job with HSBC in New York where she rose to vice president of institutional sales for Latin America.

Her next move was to Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in New York where she worked as vice president of the emerging markets division, before moving to Deutsche Bank in Brussels.

She is fluent in Spanish, her first language, English and Dutch and can speak conversational French.

Thanks to her past career, Maxima was appointed as a UN Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development by former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2009.

She has also been honorary patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) since June 2011 where she works on advancing the G20's work on inclusive finance.

CROWN PRINCESS MARY

Former advertising executive Mary Donaldson worked up until her engagement to Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2003

Mary Donaldson studied at the University of Tasmania and graduated with a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degree.

After graduating she worked as an account executive for various firms before being appointed as account director for international agency Young and Rubicam in 1999.

After meeting Prince Frederik, Princess Mary worked for Belle Property as a sales director, before moving to Paris to teach English at a business school.

In 2002, she moved to Denmark permanently and was employed by Microsoft Business Solutions as a project consultant.

A career-driven woman, Princess Mary worked up until her engagement to Prince Frederik in 2003, when she officially left her prior life and career behind and became a royal.

She also studied Danish as a foreign language so she could embrace her husband's native tongue.

QUEEN MATHILDE

Former speech therapist Queen Mathilde has a masters degree in psychology and has a special interest in children's health and economics

Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz earned a diploma with high honours in speech therapy and set up her own practice in Belgium when she was just 22-years-old.

She then went on to take a masters in psychology and continued her studies after marrying Prince Philippe, the heir to the Belgian throne, graduating in 2002 with honours.

The Queen can speak French, Dutch, English and Italian and has a good knowledge of Spanish.

She has a special interest in children, thanks to her speech therapy work, and is the Honorary Chair of UNICEF Belgium.

In 2016, she was invited to become one of the Advocates for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

She also takes part in the annual World Economic Forum in Davos and has led economic missions to the US and Vietnam with King Philippe.

QUEEN LETIZIA

Queen Letizia of Spain enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism and reported on a wide range of breaking news events, among them the 2000 US presidential elections and the 9/11 attacks before meeting her husband

Before meeting the heir to the Spanish throne, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano whose father Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and stepmother Ana Togores are both journalists, enjoyed a lengthy career in TV and newspapers.

She completed a BA in journalism, followed by a masters in audiovisual journalism.

After a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva Espana, she went on to work for ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain.

Next came a stint at Spanish news agency EFE before a move to Guadalajara in Mexico saw her take on a role on local paper, Siglo 21.

Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+.

By the time she met her husband King Felipe VI, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where she anchored the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin.

She reported on a wide range of breaking news events, among them the 2000 US presidential elections and the 9/11 attacks.
British comedian Adam Kay, who wrote hit TV series This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, has revealed he's welcomed two children via a surrogate with his TV producer husband James Farrell.

Kay, who once worked as an obstetrician for the NHS before turning to comedy, told Lauren Laverne on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that the couple, who married in 2018, had welcomed two children by a US-based surrogate.

Kay said while their daughter is six months old, the couple's son is two months old. The TV writer joked that his life had been both transformed for the better and 'ruined' by the pitter patter of tiny feet.

He said: 'We have a very boring life, or we did until six months ago. This isnt something that Ive spoken about before, there is no calm whatsoever, because weve got two very young babies  Ruby, whos six months, and Ziggy, whos two months.'

The former NHS doctor's book about life as a junior doctor was adapted for the BBC starring Ben Wishaw and aired to wide critical acclaim in 2022. His book has won four National Book Awards and has sold more than three million copies.

Adam Kay, right, with his husband James Farrell, a TV producer. Kay, who wrote best-selling book This is Going to Hurt about his life as a junior doctor, said the couple have welcomed a son and a daughter via surrogate in recent months (Pictured at the BAFTAS in May 2023)

The writer said the birth of the couple's first child hadn't been straightforward, when their surrogate, who lives in Washington in the US, went into labour four weeks before Ruby's due date.

With only one flight seat available at short notice, Kay told the BBC Radio 4 programme that his TV producer husband Farrell took it, leaving Kay to fly out later after the birth.

He explained: 'James got there on the only seat of the only possible flight and made it in time for Ruby's birth and I didn't.

'So many of my thoughts are about how to be a good father and how to get it right and how to be there, and I've started off very, very, very badly by missing it.

Adam Kay found huge success after leaving the NHS with his book about his time as a junior doctor, which has since sold 3 million copies and been turned into a BBC series (Pictured at the National Book Awards on November 20, 2018)

The British comedian was once married to a woman, known in his famous book as H, before coming out as gay. Kay and his wife experienced a miscarriage during their time together.

He revealed last year in his book Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients that he was once raped by a man while in New Zealand and still married.

The star said he was attending a medical conference to perform a comedy and had planned to cheat on his wife with a man at a sauna but was raped, and left so traumatised he didn't talk about the attack for a decade.

'A man in his 40s stood up, took my arm and wordlessly led me to a dimly lit cubicle, where he raped me,' and then said 'thanks' afterwards.

He said he later tried 'to work out if there could have been some kind of misunderstanding, something I did wrong'.

He wanted to be to able to put it down to poor communication on his part.

'But I can't  the truth of it is inescapable. I was clear. I said no when it became obvious he wanted this interaction to go a lot further than I did'
The Princess of Wales made a stylish ode to her new military role at yesterday's Trooping the Colour for the King's birthday.

Kate Middleton, 41, was effortlessly elegant in an emerald green, satin-look dress and matching hat - which she adorned with a golden Cartier brooch of a three-leaf clover.

The all-green ensemble suggests a chic nod to to her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards - which she took over from her husband at the end of last year.

Her shamrock ornament - which the mother-of-three has frequently worn for St Patrick's Day festivities - is thought to be special as it's reportedly lent to Royals, rather than belonging to them.

According to Town & Country, Lauren Kiehna, who runs the site The Court Jeweller, explained that the pin is owned by the regiment 'loaned out to royal ladies' associated with it.

Kate Middleton, 41, was effortlessly elegant in an emerald green, satin-look dress and matching hat - which she adorned with a borrowed golden brooch of a three-leaf clover

However, the outlet explains it appears unclear who the brooch's first owner is - despite being donned by the Firm for decades, in past years including the Queen Mother and Princess Anne.

Kate also paid a sweet tribute to her late mother-in-law at yesterday's festivities.

The royal looked delighted as she travelled to the Horse Guards Parade with Queen Camilla and her three children.

Her husband, the Prince of Wales, was nearby on horseback with King Charles.

Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, were well behaved as they made their way down the Mall in the carriage - waving and smiling at onlookers.

Kate made a nod to Princess Diana with her outfit, accompanying it with a pair of sapphire drop earrings which once belonged to her late mother-in-law.

Yesterday's event was the first Trooping the Colour following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September - and King Charles' inaugural Birthday Parade.

She later took to the Buckingham Palace balcony for a military flypast, which involved around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force

The mother-of-three was joined by her husband, the Prince of Wales, George, Louis and Charlotte and King Charles and Queen Camilla

Kate made a nod to Princess Diana with her outfit, accompanying it with a pair of sapphire drop earrings which once belonged to her late mother-in-law

Kate's three children were also spotted arriving at the event together, waving enthusiastically at royal fans.

She later took to the Buckingham Palace balcony for a military flypast, which involved around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

The mother-of-three was joined by her husband, the Prince of Wales, George, Louis and Charlotte and King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, also appeared on the balcony with her husband Prince Edward, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the aircraft took off from 15 locations up and down the UK before meeting in the south-east of England and flying across London.

Her shamrock ornament - which the mother-of-three has frequently worn for St Patrick's Day festivities - is thought to be special as it's reportedly lent to Royals, rather than belonging to them. Pictured in March

Kate sporting the brooch in 2019, after attending the St Patrick's Day parade at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow

Kate - then Duchess of Cambridge - pictured in 2012 - for St Patrick's Day festivities in Aldershot

Kate pictured wearing the brooch in 2011, as she and William presented medals to the Irish Guards at Victoria Barracks in Windsor

The event featured a mix of aircraft, ranging from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight dating back to the 1940s and the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight to multiple Typhoon fighter jets and the Envoy IV CC1, which made its flypast debut.

At the front of the flypast was a Juno HT1 piloted by Flight Lieutenant Tom Knapp from 60 Squadron, No 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury.

The event ended in a show of red, white and blue from the pilots of the Red Arrows.

The MoD said many of the aircraft taking part in the flypast have been involved in operations around the world this year, including the Nato air policing mission in Eastern Europe and the evacuation of British citizens from Sudan.

The annual event of Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the sovereign for more than 260 years.
When Royal Ascot opens its gates on Tuesday, spectators will notice a subtle change to the cream and gold 7 programmes on offer.

Following the Coronation of King Charles, the racecards now carry a new cypher, replacing the late Queen's official royal emblem with a joint one to reflect both the King and Queen.

On social media, Royal Ascot shared a photograph of the new look, writing: 'We are delighted to unveil the racecard cover for the opening day of Royal Ascot 2023, the first displaying the joint cypher of Their Majesties The King & Queen.'

Both the King and Queen have individual cyphers. The joint cypher is more similar in design to Queen Camilla's own emblem but adds an additional swirling C to represent the King.

Britain's most famous racing event has revealed its programme for 2023; the 7 racecard carries a joint cypher to reflect the new monarchy

The Queen Consort's official cypher is a swirling 'CR' monogram under a Crown. The entwined letters stand for Camilla Regina  Latin for Queen.

Like Charles's cypher, Camilla's design is based on the Tudor crown but is more elaborate and stylised.

It is the first time in 70 years that the country's most famous horseracing event will carry a new cypher.

The Queen, who passed away in Balmoral Castle last September, had a lifelong association with Royal Ascot, developing a love and passion for horse racing throughout her 70-year reign.

The King and Queen Camilla offer a wave to crowds at Trooping the Colour on Saturday

The joint cypher is similar in design to Queen Camilla's own individual cypher but adds an additional swirling C to represent the King

Individual cyphers: Like Charles's cypher (pictured), Camilla's design is based on the Tudor crown but is more elaborate and stylised

And the event has paid tribute via renaming a race in the late Queen's honour. The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, a six-furlong sprint which is staged on the Saturday of Ascot's five day meeting, will from now on be known as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Queen Elizabeth II had 24 winners in total, having been a keen racehorse owner, with her final triumph coming by way of Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes three years ago.

Choir Boy raced home as her first ever winner during the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup, which occurred during the same week of Her Late Majesty's coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Royal Ascot 2023 is scheduled to run from Tuesday June 20th until Saturday June 24th.
A headteacher of a top British boarding school has said that children should be taught to make AI robots their 'servants.'

Head of exclusive Cottesmore School in West Sussex, Tom Rogerson, 48, says he's already on the look out for an artificial intelligence expert to implant it into the curriculum and help prepare the future generation for a world in which AI features heavily.

He told the Telegraph: 'We need to prepare them for a life of using and living with AI and robots which have AI installed in them.

'They've got to learn for it to be their benevolent servant.'

Tom Rogerson the head of Cottesmore School, is on the look out for an artificial intelligence expert to implant it into the curriculum and prepare the future generation

His comments echo those made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week, who told journalists that he wanted to make Britain the global hub for 'safe' AI, saying the 'extraordinary possibilities' of the tech could transform public services and the economy, with AI as a 'co-pilot' in every job.

Speaking this week, headteacher Rogerson said far from fearing the technology it should be used AI to spark creativity in students in lessons such as design and technology.

Older students should know how to write an essay without help, but might also use AI technology such as ChatGTP to help complete assignments, showing they can point the software is the right direction to create something worthwhile.

He added: 'I think we need to embrace it, but we need to brace them for it, and get them to understand the moral and ethical implications of it, and get them to live alongside it.'

The headteacher children must be taught to make robots their 'benevolent servants' (a robot at the Viva technology exhibition this year)

Cottesmore School is a boarding preparatory school in West Sussex for boys and girls aged four to 13, founded in 1894

The new head of AI will be expected to show teachers how to reduce their workload - for example, using it to write lesson plans.

He says he learned about ChatGPT last year from his nephew and since then has been exploring Wonder, an app that creates generative art AI.

The description on the App store says: 'Turn words into mesmerizing digital artworks!

'All you need to do is enter a prompt, pick an art style - and watch Wonder bring your idea to life in seconds!'

Mr Rogerson will be hosting a free AI 'masterclass festival' in September which will be open to all teachers - including those who teach at state schools.

Each term of full boarding at Cottesemore for UK pupils costs parents 10,528, a cool 32,000 a year.
READ MORE: Look as good as Martha does in just your cossie

Swimwear season has well and truly arrived, and  if youre anything like me  digging your saggy old cossie out of the drawer, let alone wearing it to strut your stuff poolside, isnt sparking any joy.

But the days of unflattering and uncomfortable swim togs will be a thing of the past if you heed the advice of lingerie and swimwear expert Susana Lorena.

The London-based bra expert, who previously worked for top lingerie retailer Rigby & Peller and swimwear brand Eres before opening her own store in West London, says we should shop for swimwear as we do lingerie, ignoring fads and putting fit, cut and comfort at the top of the list.

Here, she busts some of the biggest swimwear myths and offers tips that will leave you more confident than youve ever been with your bikini choices . . .

A BIG BOTTOMED BIKINI DOES MAKE YOUR BOTTOM LOOK BIGGER

Flower-adorned bikini top, 35, and briefs, 29, stories.com

The reality is: the more you cover your bottom, the bigger it looks.

Yes, big bikini bottoms are everywhere and, yes, curvy women have been told since the beginning of time to go for full coverage - but dont!

Extra fabric means extra inches. Instead, look for skimpy, high-cut bottoms and adjustable side ties which elongate your legs.

Rather than constricting and concealing those curves, show them off. You have nothing to hide.

The Maryan Mehlhorn Softline collection of one and two pieces is great for curvy women  it goes up to XXL or size 18.

Gottex is another great option  its Onyx and Liv swimsuit ranges are excellent for full-chested and long bodies, and come in square neck, round neck and halter-neck.

Or, if youre on a budget, high street favourite & Other Stories has a pair of perfectly-cut emerald green bikini bottoms (29, stories.com).

STEER CLEAR OF PATTERNS

Watercult asymmetric swimsuit, 159, maisonsl.com

Texture swimsuit, 170, wolfordshop.co.uk

I am partial to a print, but unless its delicate and small or cleverly placed, I think prints should be left to your beach cover-up.

The problems with prints on a swimsuit is they can make you look bigger. Cut-out or asymmetric one pieces are a much better way of adding curves where you need them, or look for a wrap-style one piece which can create an hourglass shape by cinching in the waist.

Nicole Olivier is a wonderful brand from the South of France and the cut-out, asymmetric styles like Acacia or Alcyon create beautiful curves.

Another good option is the Aubade Beach Escape collection.

SMALL BREASTS DONT REQUIRE PADDING

Deep-V swimsuit, 68, boden.co.uk

Thirty years ago maybe, but nowadays you just need a little triangle top to get the most fashion-forward look.

Another advantage of having small breasts is that you can wear a deep plunging neckline without it looking too revealing. (Head to Boden for a multitude of deep-V styles.)

If you want to add a bit of shape now and again (or hide nipples!), many bikini tops and one-piece swimsuits have removable foam pads. Crocheted fabrics and ruching also give the illusion of volume in bikini tops. See And/Ors frilled floral bikini top (24, johnlewis.com).

Crocheted fabrics and ruching also give the illusion of volume in bikini tops

Push the boundaries with what youre allowed to wear  comfort is key. Banana Moon, Aubade, Valerie and Watercult all do triangles and removable foam pads which are good for smaller breasts.

BIG BOOBS DONT NEED SHAPEWEAR

Aside from the fact that minimisers are uncomfortable, shapewear swimsuits often squish your assets down - and why would you do that?

What big boobs do need, however is a cup, so buy your bikini like you buy a bra.

Big boobs need a cup, so buy your bikini like you buy a bra. Choose a brand like Curvy Kate, Lise Charmel or Aubade and buy your swimsuit by your cup size, not your dress size

Choose a brand like Curvy Kate, Lise Charmel or Aubade and buy your swimsuit by your cup size, not your dress size. If you can, get fitted for it because, trust me, youll look and feel better than you ever have on the beach before.

BLACK ISNT ALWAYS THE MOST SLIMMING COLOUR

Navy swimsuit, 260, heidiklein.com

Black can be incredibly harsh against certain skintones.

If you want to stick to dark colours then turn to softer shades such as khaki, navy, brown and burgundy.

And remember: a correctly fitting swimsuit will do more for you than any colour can.

You might have to try plenty on before you find something that suits, but thats OK.

A SWIMSUIT VS A BIKINI

Tummy control ruched bandeau swimsuit, 40, next.co.uk

Tummy control padded square neck swimsuit, 29.50, marksandspencer. com

Obviously a one-piece swimsuit covers your tummy, but unless you buy the right style it can have the opposite effect.

You need a style that accentuates your waist. Usually thats a wrap swimsuit style or a style with what we call pin-tuck, where the details in the tailoring make your waist look smaller.

Also go for a matt fabric because shiny fabrics tend to make you look bigger.

I love the Maryan Melhorn Softline collection, but for a cheaper option, Next has a glorious fuschia swimsuit with a waist-enhancing ruched detail (30, next.co.uk), or try Marks & Spencers ruched waist swimsuit (29.50, marksandspencer.com).

TAKE MORE THAN ONE SWIMSUIT FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

For many of us, your swimsuit is what youre going to be wearing all day, every day on the beach and youd never dream of wearing the same dress every day for a week.

I recommend two or three options you can mix and match. No more squeezing into damp togs the next day!
When I meet people at parties and tell them Im a psychosexual therapist, the most common question Im asked  often in a whisper, possibly after a few glasses of wine  is how to get a sex life back on track once the spark in a marriage has waned.

Its a familiar theme in my clinic, too, and almost always at the root of it is a mismatch of libidos. But, sometimes, the reason for the mismatch is complicated.

A recent poll found Brits are having sex less than once a week. Google searches for dead bedroom, a term used for couples experiencing a prolonged period of sexual inactivity, have risen by 223 per cent in the past year.

Peek behind the statistics and my bet is youll find a nation of couples where one of them wants more sex than the other. And I see just as many women whod like more sex in their relationship as men.

Its been called the libido gap, and many otherwise happily married couples suffer from it. In fact, Ive come to the conclusion that its almost inevitable in most relationships at some point.

The 'libido gap' occurs when one partner in a relationship wants more sex than the other - and it's just as likely to be the woman who wants more sex

We put barriers up and construct obstacles, until one day, sex simply becomes too fraught or too loaded with emotion, we back away from each other, and our relationship slips into a downward spiral. When sex goes wrong, life can often feel wrong, too.

But you can solve the problem and close the libido gap by dismantling damaging, intimacy-killing beliefs and breaking free of the patterns of behaviour that wear away at the passion you once felt for each other.

Read on for my seven-step guide on how to breathe new life back into your relationship  as well as enjoy the best sex of your life (even with the partner youve slept side-by-side with for decades) . . .

ONCE A FORTNIGHT IS PLENTY!

Many women assume their partner has certain expectations around sex, even in established long-term relationships. They feel any kiss or touch creates an unwanted obligation to jump straight into bed and so, sadly, become reluctant to kiss or touch in any context  in or out of the bedroom.

Soon the avoidance of touch becomes pervasive and the men withdraw, too. The deprivation of any touch is hugely damaging to almost any relationship and can leave couples feeling not just isolated and alone, but unsure how to come back to one another. This is often where I am brought in.

TIP: To take the tempo down, I ask each partner to clarify how much sex they would be happy with. In almost every couple Ive worked with, this has been less than their assumption of how much the other person wanted. Learning that both of you may be satisfied by less frequent sex than you used to have allows you to breathe.

Everyones expectations get a reset. Youll feel calmer about touch, sex and connection. Some might want sex every night but, in my experience, most partners just need to feel wanted, to connect once a week or every fortnight.

Sex therapist Helen Mayor asks each partner to clarify how much sex they would be happy with. Learning that both of you may be satisfied by less frequent sex than you used to have allows you to breathe

HAVE SEX AS A STARTER

A fascinating new development in my practice is the epidemic of men Im seeing  young, good looking, gym-toned  who are just not particularly interested in sex.

This is baffling and dismaying to the (equally gorgeous) women they marry. These couples love each other, but given the choice of binge-watching a TV series or going to bed together, he chooses another episode. It seems to his partner that he has lost interest in her sexually.

The problem is, these partners sometimes have no experience of sex beyond instant desire, so they need to learn how to sustain intimacy by making it a habit.

TIP: Escape the mundanity of day-to-day life together. Do something new, even if its talking about dreams for the future or going on a bike ride.

Jimmy and Mel worked hard in corporate careers and were too tired to choose sex after a rare date. I suggested a lunchtime date at the weekend where they could go to bed afterwards. Or try pre-emptive sex before a date, which takes the pressure off and often makes couples feel more playful.

Another trick is to arrive at dates separately, so no-one is sniping about who has the keys or whether youre going to be late, but instead see your partner arrive in their who can resist me? shirt or dress, just as you did when you started dating.

TRY THE NEW ROLE PLAY

Many couples fall into a rut where one initiates and the other gets to feel wanted. Changing it up allows you to learn more about yourself and your partner sexually

One of my clients, lets call her Beth, had tuned out of sex with her long-term partner Stan. Theyd been together for a decade and were in their late 30s with a toddler and a child who had just started school.

Though she loved him and found him attractive, she didnt want him, despite his constant desire for her. His desire was so powerful, she felt there was no space for hers to grow and, as a consequence, had no real sense of what sparked it any more.

After some time working together, we came up with a plan where they agreed to switch roles. Now she would become the sexual protagonist and he would follow her lead. That meant he had to stop initiating altogether and give her space to work out what turned her on.

In a matter of weeks, her libido was no longer overwhelmed by his. Beth started to actively want sex and Stan enjoyed the feeling of being wanted.

He let Beth set the pace and she began to notice she felt more open, relaxed and liberated by her new sense of sexual autonomy.

TIP: Many couples fall into a rut where one initiates and the other gets to feel wanted. Changing it up allows you to learn more about yourself and your partner sexually. Beth started to feel more compassionate towards Stan and the feelings he had when she rejected him.

CREATE A TOUCH JAR

Jenny loved her partner Mark  he was warm, kind, sensitive and fun. They were in their 40s and thinking about moving in together.

But their sex life was not what they hoped for: Jenny wanted spontaneous passion, while Mark couldnt engage with this. It alarmed him and he felt ashamed for not matching the alpha male stereotype. In every other way this couple had it nailed, but this mismatch was causing problems.

Sex therapist Helen Mayor (pictured) says the most common question she is asked is how to get a sex life back on track once the spark in a marriage has waned

The couple agreed to create a touch jar. Each of them wrote down things they liked to do sexually on coloured Post-It notes, the colours graded according to how heavy or full-on they wanted each session to be, and put them in a jar. A pink note, for example, might be kissing or cuddling; a yellow one, a massage or bath together; and a green note, having sex in a new position.

In this way, instead of feeling shut down by Jennys ad hoc demands, Mark felt he could choose what he wanted and when, which made him more open and playful.

The next time we met, they were giggly and exuberant  they had been using the jar a lot to initiate sexual moments. Mark got to decide when he could approach Jenny, but there was still an element of surprise not knowing which Post-It he might pick. Alternatively, Jenny could initiate something but Mark could decide what level of intimacy he wanted.

TIP: Autonomy and confidence, trust and safety, are huge considerations in sex. Write out things you like, dont like, or might be open to trying, agree them and maybe get your own jar. Even the act of going to the jar can create frisson and excitement.

PUT YOUR SEX LIFE FIRST

Publishing exec Sian was angry and frustrated with her sex life, but these feelings were masking her huge fear that her marriage was not going to last. Jeremy, her husband of two years, loved her but was shamed by his own absence of desire.

Stressed by a high-pressure legal career he didnt enjoy, he was using booze as a crutch and hiding his true feelings about work from Sian.

This is a good example of the way in which sexual rejection often has little to do with sex itself, but instead reflects how people feel about themselves. Jeremys dissatisfaction with life was showing up in the marriage.

During an online meeting while they were on holiday on the Suffolk coast, I could see how much happier and less irritable they were when they werent at work. A few sessions later, we talked through the realities of a permanent move for them, how it would work with schools and their jobs, and Sian later told me their sex life improved almost instantly.

Helen helps couples work out what they need in their lives to be content and feel relaxed enough to free up sexual feelings

TIP: Sometimes we need to find out the real reasons for a sex drought. What do we need in our lives to be content and feel relaxed enough to free up sexual feelings?

LOVE YOUR BODY

If you dont like your body, you go into sex with the limbic system (the part of the brain responsible for our fight-or-flight instincts) already on high alert.

When you project onto your partner an assumption of disgust at any point they touch this part of your body, your brain is essentially working against desire.

It takes a bit of effort to create a new narrative. Often the biggest obstacle is how you talk to yourself, because the disgust is yours, not your partners.

TIP: Create a healthy internal narrative rather than a masochistic one and, over time, you form new habits and neural pathways that reward you with dopamine for being nice to yourself.

One of my clients, who was very tough on herself, made me a mug with a phrase I used to remind her of her value: I am the prize.

Another described herself as a reformed perfectionist and now loved her body just as much as her partner did.

If you dont like your body, you go into sex with the limbic system (the part of the brain responsible for our fight-or-flight instincts) already on high alert. It's important to create a healthy internal narrative rather than a masochistic

. . .IMPORTANT: NEVER USE SEX AS A REWARD

I see this scenario a lot. Take Sonya and Rob, busy working parents. Sonya felt objectified by his desire for her, and began to agree to sex only when Rob was the perfect husband and family man, using it almost as a reward for his good behaviour.

Sex is often where dissatisfaction in other parts of life starts registering. Sonya felt under-appreciated by Rob. She felt he didnt value the things that mattered to her  namely, he wasnt engaged during family time  and that was getting in the way of her sexual feeling for him.

TIP: You need to identify what the real cause of the friction is. If you feel one or other of you isnt pulling their weight in some way, make a schedule you agree on  be flexible with each other, but also be honest  and then sit down together for a debrief after sticking to it for a week and adjust it based on feedback.

Feeling cared for and valued by Rob made Sonya so much warmer towards him and started to heal the sexual gap which had emerged in their relationship.

Its not an instant process but, during one of our final sessions, they were flirting so much I felt I needed to excuse myself.
Bath time is about to get a whole lot steamier Down Under thanks to an innovative showerhead which doubles as a powerful sex toy.

Australian women can now get their hands on the Wave, a showerhead by iconic sexual wellness brand Womanizer, and German bath ware manufacturer Hansgrohe.

The showerhead which has been dubbed 'the world's best' landed in Australia in June - sending sensual shoppers into a frenzy.

And the early indication is they are very satisfied.

'My new showerhead made me squeal, and I look forward to my self care showers now that I know I will orgasm every single time,' a woman revealed in a five-star review.

A brand new showerhead is becoming a 'must-have' for women after many have discovered the 'night time' secrets the product entails

Womanizer's brand new 'Wave' 2-in-1 showerhead was created in conjunction with German bath ware manufacturer Hansgrohe in order to satisfy a very specific demographic

Pleasure seekers all around the globe are itching to give their bathrooms a makeover and replace their dingy showerheads with the handy $179 device.

The award-winning Womanizer Wave is the world's first showerhead designed specifically for masturbation - after many women revealed they'd used their regular showers for pleasure.

The showerhead can easily be installed on any hand-held showerhead and its subtle design will make visitors none the wiser.

'I was worried I'd have to call a plumber to install the Wave - but it was so simple to do myself!' a woman said. 'It's so user-friendly and has quickly become one of my favourite homewares.'

Another added on, 'Once installed, it looks like a stylish shower head and fits right in with my existing chrome fittings. There is nothing gimmicky or obviously sexual about it, which is great in case I have other people over.'

Users can simply flick between three settings using a single button.

The 'Pleasure Jet' was designed for constant, rhythmic stimulations; while 'Pleasure Whirl' is full of stimulating and surprising movements.

The third type, 'Powder Rain', is Hansgrohe's most popular jet - and offers a gentle and calming showering experience.

The product has won the iF Design Award, the German Innovation Award, and the Reddot Award for personal care and wellness.

Research conducted by Womanizer revealed that women have been 'exploring their pleasure' in the shower for years - with 60 per cent of women admitting to masturbating in the bath or shower

Research conducted by Womanizer revealed that women have been 'exploring their pleasure' in the shower for years - with 60 per cent of women admitting to masturbating in the bath or shower.

The intimate nature of the shower experience, coupled with pressure from water, has long been recommended by sexologists around the world for self-pleasure purposes.

Elisabeth Neumann, sexologist and Head of User Research at Womanizer said: 'Womanizer Wave represents a significant step forward in the destigmatisation of masturbation, as it normalises and incorporates this healthy sexual practice into our daily lives.

'By leveraging the power of water, anyone can now enjoy a fully immersive and satisfying self-pleasure experience in the privacy of their own shower.'

The Wave launched in Australia at the beginning of June and has already racked up hundreds of five star reviews

The Wave launched in Australia at the beginning of June and has already racked up hundreds of five star reviews.

'Wave is my absolute favorite sex toy, and even better than my previous showerhead,' a woman wrote.

She added, 'I use it almost every time I shower, even for stimulation. It fits perfectly into my morning routine and serves as the kickstart to my day. I will never give it up, and it will be my new go-to gift for friends.'

'The pleasure jet and whirl options are fabulous, they really hit the spot without being too fierce,' a second revealed.

'It's simply a new shower experience. Very discreet, even visitors wouldn't suspect that things can get steamy with the shower head,' another said.
A hot water bottle filled with warm water will help you cool down in bed

As summer draws near, you might find yourself thrashing about in the bed covers, trying to get to sleep.

When it is too hot, our bodies can struggle to cool down, disrupting the relaxation process and making it difficult to fall asleep.

And a recent study found that getting a good night's sleep is more urgent than ever because it can lead to a 40 percent lower chance of early death.

Experts have revealed some lesser-known tips for staying cool through the night.

Use a hot water bottle

Using a hot water bottle in summer might sound counterintuitive, but sleep expert James Wilson recommends a tepid bottle on your feet to raise your core temperature slightly.

Then when you go to bed, your core temperature will drop.

This is an important part of your body falling asleep and helps trick the body into thinking it is cooler than it is.

Submerge your feet in water

Like a hot water bottle, submerging your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water offers long-lasting coolness.

But watch the temperature of the water  using ice-cold water can shock you awake and make it harder to fall asleep.

Make your own cold air

A bowl of ice placed in front of a fan will generate a cold breeze rather than circulate existing warm air around the room.

Freeze your pajamas

Popping your pajamas in an air-tight bag in the fridge or freezer before bed for a few minutes can give you a cool treat.

You could also put your pillowcase in the freezer to help keep you cool in the night.

The summer heat can make sleeping impossible, but experts reveal several tips for a cool night's sleep

Don't sleep naked

As tempting as it may be to strip off, a UK psychologist recommends against the practice.

Suzy Reading told UK bedding company Kudd.ly: 'I wouldnt recommend sleeping naked, as much as this might appeal, because sweat then collects on your skin rather than being absorbed by the fibers of your clothing and cooling you down.'

She instead suggested wearing 'loose-fitting, airy, light garments in natural fibers,' like cotton, silk, eucalyptus or bamboo, ideally in lighter-colored shades, the New York Post reported.

Leave hair damp

Putting down your hairdryer and leaving your hair wet after showering will leave you feeling cooler for longer.

Breathing techniques

Sitali breathing is a yoga breathing practice known for its cooling ability.

Try doing it seated. On inhalation only, curl up your tongue like a straw and sip in your breath

Avoid spicy foods

What you eat can also have an impact on how well you sleep.

Ms Reading warned against eating anything spicy while you are winding down.

'Be careful with fermented foods like teriyaki or soy sauce, tofu and miso, also citrus fruit, cured meats and aged cheeses,' she said.

'These contain the amino acid tyramine, which can increase brain activity and make it harder to fall asleep.'

Our bodies take more energy to diagnose a large, rich or heavy meal and produce more metabolic heat.

A light evening meal in summer will counteract this.

Don't share covers

If you sleep with a partner, you should consider using separate blankets.

While snuggling up to your significant other might be tempting, their body heat will only transfer to you.

Ms Reading said: 'A simple way to more effectively optimize your personal sleep environment is to use separate coverings so you can tailor it to your preferences and reduce the possibility of bedtime tug-o-wars.'

Use aloe vera

California meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said that using aloe vera before bed trumps taking a cold shower because she claims it absorbs into the body four times quicker than water.

She recommends lathering up all over your body just before bed for a cooling effect.
Hundreds of families affected by the tainted blood scandal won't get compensation because of a cruel loophole, it can be revealed today.

All surviving victims and their bereaved partners are entitled to a 100,000 pay-out.

But MailOnline has learned that for the bereaved parents and children to qualify for the one-off sum, their loved ones must have died within a strict three-month period last year.

Outraged families called the arbitrary cut-off a 'betrayal', with one accusing officials of just 'waiting for them to die' to avoid a pay-out.

Thousands of patients with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were infected with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s after getting a contaminated medical product. Some even unwittingly infected their romantic partners.

Colin and Denise Turton pictured at the start of the Infected Blood Inquiry

Tainted donations came from US prisoners, sex workers and drug addicts, who were paid to give their blood to the manufacturers of the product.

It is considered the worst treatment scandal in NHS history, with around 2,400 killed as a result.

A multi-million inquiry tasked with investigating what went wrong, and if more could have been done in the aftermath, is still ongoing.

However, in August last year the Government offered a 100,000 interim compensation fee to survivors, as well as the partners of those who died, in recognition of their suffering.

Lee's condition started to deteriorate in 1988, the couple said. He began to lose his appetite and was 'always ill'

Lee Turton died when he was just 10-years-old from Hep C and HIV

At the time ministers claimed the payment represented a step 'to help right a historic wrong'.

But parents who lost their children and those whose parents died were not eligible.

This decision was based on historic eligibility criteria for previous support packages offered to victims.

However, this website can reveal ministers did make one exception.

Both of these groups could technically get the payment if the infected person died in a strict three-month window between July 2022 and October 2022, according to an internal Government document written in September.

With many of those infected having died years before, campaigners called the move 'a massive betrayal' that will only compound feelings of grief and unfairness.

Jason Evans, founder of the campaign group Factor8, which advocates for victims of the scandal and their families, told MailOnline: 'Hundreds of bereaved families will be excluded, maybe even thousands.

'It's a massive betrayal.

'The sense of unfairness people felt will be massively compounded.'

A timeline of the contaminated blood scandal which began in the early-1970s 1972: NHS starts importing large batches of Factor VIII products from United States to help clot blood of haemophiliacs. 1974: Some researchers warn that Factor VIII could be contaminated and spreading hepatitis. Late-1970s: Patients continue to be given Factor VIII, with much of the plasma used to make the product coming from donors such as prison inmates, drug addicts and prostitutes. 1983: Governments in both the UK and the United States are told that Aids has been spread through blood products. Mid-1980s: By now the blood products such as Factor VIII, were being heat-treated to kill viruses, but thousands of patients had already been infected. 1991: Blood products imported from US are withdrawn from use. The government awards ex-gratia payments to haemophiliac victims threatening to sue. 2007: Privately-funded inquiry into scandal set up by Lord Archer of Sandwell but it does not get offical status and relies on donations. 2008: Penrose Inquiry launched, but victims claim the seven-year investigation was a 'whitewash'. 2017: Independent inquiry into contaminated blood scandal announced by Prime Minister Theresa May. April, 2019: Infected Blood Inquiry starts hearing evidence. Advertisement

Mr Evans's father, Jonathan, died in 1993 after getting infected with a tainted blood product.

He said that, in his opinion, the only reason the Government would restrict eligibility criteria this way was to save money.

'It's total cost minimisation, rather than looking at what's fair,' he told MailOnline.

'They are looking at where they would like to draw a ringfence around costs as much as possible. That's the only justification that makes sense to me.'

Mr Evans added that this has created a perverse situation, where some victims' lives are judged as being worth more than others. Some families have already received their 100,000 payout, as part of the 400million scheme.

'The fact they are willing to compensate a small number of estates show that they understand it makes sense,' Mr Evans said.

'But the point of contention is why are these estates worth compensation, but all the others aren't?'

He said that some of families rendered ineligible for the compensation were some of those worst affected by the scandal.

'These are the where the HIV progressed quickly, a time before treatment, the height of AIDS stigmahaving funerals in secret, lying about what their loved ones had died of,' he said.

About 30,000 people were infected with HIV and/or hepatitis C with blood products called Factor VIII or IX.

Most victims had haemophilia  a rare blood-clotting disorder  and relied on regular injections of the products to survive.

They were unaware Factor VIII was obtained from people who were paid to donate.

One those infected was Lee Turton, who died in 1992 aged just-10-years-old,after contracting HIV from contaminated blood products in the 80s.

Lee's mother Denise Turton told MailOnline the Government's callous ringfencing of the compensation  which she is not entitled to  made her 'angry'.

'We're all suffering, our mental health has suffered over what's happened over the years,' she said.

'We're just treated with disdain.

'Our children's lives are worthless.'

She added that she wanted to ask ministers why her son was seemingly worth less than other victims.

'Why can't they pay the compensation to his estate? He had the same infections as all the others,' she said.

'A lot of parents aren't here to see this now, and maybe that's a good thing.'

Mrs Turton, now in her 60s and based in Cornwall, added the difference even the interim compensation could make to their lives couldn't be underestimated.

'It would relieve a lot of our suffering,' she said.

'My husband has now got early onset Alzheimer's and it would mean we would not have to fight so much and not have to worry about everything all the time.'

Justine Gordon-Smith, from Scotland, is another person left with no support by the Government's arbitrary cutoff.

Randolph Peter Gordon-Smith died in 2018 from complications related to a Hep C infection he contracted from being given a contaminated blood product to treat is haemophilia in the 80s

Ms Gordon-Smith has PTSD from watching her father, Randolph, slowly die from complications resulting from a hepatitis C infection he got from an infected product in the 80s.

'It was like watching him be tortured to death,' she said.

'It was so awful, like a living nightmare.'

Her father, a talented jazz musician, was left in so much pain from his condition that he attempted suicide multiple times to end his suffering.

She was forced to become his carer full time in 2014 before his eventual death in 2018 at 79, a death that does not fit within the Government's three-month window for 2022.

But for Ms Gordon-Smith, the agony of those years is still fresh in her memory.

'I've had to walk-in and find my father dead after a suicide attempt and dial 999 for an ambulance,' she said.

His daughter, who described her father as a talented jazz musician, said she was appalled that the Government was deciding that some children and parents of those that died were ineligible for interim compensation based on a calendar date

'I had to live with guilt of keeping someone alive so that they could suffer. I felt like a prisoner and a jailor.'

Ms Gordon-Smith said the decision to only offer compensation to a fraction of parents and children who lost someone to the infected blood scandal was disgraceful.

'Going through all of that, going through this inquiry, to then be told by the Government that you don't deserve compensation because of a date?', she said.

'It's absolutely appalling.'

She added that she feared ministers would adopt this 'segregation of suffering' towards other compensation for estates in the future when the inquiry issues its final recommendations.

READ MORE: Orphan lost both her parents to HIV eight days apart Lauren Palmer, 39, lost both her parents to the contaminated blood scandal when she was nine Advertisement

Ms Gordon-Smith, who described herself as now 'living on the breadline' after not working to be her father's carer, said the 100,000 compensation would represent a recognition of what her, her father, and her family went through.

'I would be able start to recover from the trauma' she said.

'It would be a sense of recognition of the ordeal.'

The final report into the infected blood scandal from the long-running public inquiry is due in the autumn of this year.

But in a second set of recommendations released in April this year, Sir Brian said interim compensation payments should be expanded to the children and parents of those who died, and quickly.

'I am also recommending further interim compensation payments to recognise the deaths of people who have so far gone unrecognised, as I believe this is necessary to alleviate immediate suffering,' he said.

'It is a fact that around 380 children with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV. Some of them died in childhood. But their parents have never received compensation.

'Children who were orphaned as a result of infections transmitted by blood transfusions and blood products and have never had their losses recognised. It is time to put this right.'

Responding in the days after this recommendation was published the Government's paymaster general, Jeremy Quin, said ministers would need to consider the 'complexity' of further compensation.

Thousands of patients were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood transfusions in the 1970s and 1980s (stock image)

However, he added that work was being done on Sir Brian's recommendations and announcements would be made in 'due course'.

No updates on the scheme have been released since.

A UK Government spokesperson said: 'The Government accepts the moral case for compensation and work is ongoing at pace across the UK Government and in consultation with the Devolved Administrations to consider the recommendations put forward in the Inquiry's second interim report.'

'Interim compensation payments of 100,000 were paid to the infected and bereaved partner beneficiaries of the UK infected blood support schemes, in accordance with the recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, in his first interim report.

'Our intention remains to pay those small number of estates referred to in the extract and work is ongoing to facilitate this.'
An NHS doctor who helped to lead medics' demands for a 35 per cent pay rise has been selling a drug used for skin whitening, a Mail on Sunday investigation has found.

Dr Adam Daneshmend, a council member of the British Medical Association (BMA), is 'founder and CEO' of Vital Healthcare Solutions, which runs a website called Glutathione Shop UK, which sells vials of a drug called glutathione for intravenous injection.

Use of glutathione, which is usually applied as a skin whitener by women of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin, has been described as a 'dangerous fad' by the American Medical Council on Science and Health and criticised as 'unethical' and 'potentially dangerous' by the British Medical Journal.

Some governments advise against its use because it may have 'toxic effects on the liver, kidneys and nervous system'.

As a BMA council member, Dr Daneshmend has helped to drive industrial action by doctors which has crippled the NHS, as the Government has also faced damaging strikes by teachers and train drivers.

Dr Adam Daneshmend, a council member of the British Medical Association (BMA), is 'founder and CEO' of Vital Healthcare Solutions, which runs a website called Glutathione Shop UK, which sells vials of a drug called glutathione for intravenous injection

As a BMA council member, Dr Daneshmend has helped to drive industrial action by doctors which has crippled the NHS

He joined picket lines this year when junior doctors held four-day and three-day strikes over their pay demands, which Ministers have criticised for being 'unrealistic'.

These strikes helped lead to the cancellation of an estimated 370,000 appointments and operations.

It may have toxic effects on the liver and kidneys

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is a supporter of IV-injected glutathione to combat ageing and boost health, saying it was one of her 'favourite' injected drugs. The claim has been dismissed by doctors. Popular American health website WebMD says: 'People take glutathione for ageing, alcohol use disorder, liver disease, heart disease and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.'

When The Mail on Sunday contacted Dr Daneshmend, he first denied having anything to do with Glutathione Shop UK and then said it may be linked to his company, which has been running for two years.

When asked about glutathione, he then abruptly put the phone down. Later, Dr Daneshmend sent a statement saying that the website was not fully operational yet and was not advertised.

He added that glutathione was not advertised on the website as a skin whitening product.

He said: 'This website was never fully operational, nor was it advertised, but was created as a proof of concept. The website should not have been searchable and was not carried forwards due to commercial reasons.

'One product planned for sale was glutathione  a legal and approved supplement commonly available both online and on the high street from pharmacies, fitness supplement retailers and wellness shops. The other product was vitamin C.

'Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally produced by the body and people take it for many reasons, including to boost their immune system and for liver health.

'Glutathione was not marketed on the website as a skin lightening or bleaching product.'

Dr Daneshmend also pointed out glutathione is found in high street health shops like Holland & Barrett. After we placed our calls to him, the website for Glutathione Shop UK was taken down, as well as Dr Daneshmend's Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media pages.

The BMA declined to comment.
A simulator pilot guides a jet along a ladder-like line, snaking through the valleys of north Wales.

The imaginary aircraft twists through O-shaped loops on the screen. 'It may look like a video game but actually it's a lot more than that,' says Jon Wiggall, a flight test manager at defence giant BAE Systems.

The simulator is part of a multi-billion-pound programme to deliver Tempest  the UK's next-generation supersonic stealth combat aircraft  by 2035.

Flight of fancy: First announced in 2018, the programme has since become a collaboration with Italian and Japanese defence industries

The project uses digital technologies to predict how the aircraft will operate and then makes tweaks to the design. The idea is to save time and money by identifying issues before it is actually built.

A real-life demonstrator will be in the air by 2027 before Tempest itself finally takes shape, replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce has been testing advanced technology for the plane in Bristol while successful ejector seat trials have taken place in Northern Ireland.

First announced in 2018, the programme has since become a collaboration with Italian and Japanese defence industries. France and Germany are separately racing to build their own Typhoon successor.

I was invited to the cavernous 5 Hangar at BAE's base in Warton, Lancashire  whose origins date back to the Second World War  to see how the Tempest programme is taking shape.

The simulator mocks up the landscape of the 'Mach loop'  the series of valleys north of the Welsh town of Machynlleth, which for decades have been used as low-level training areas for ultra-fast jets.

Ten pilots, led by ex-RAF flyer Steve Formoso, have been putting Tempest through its paces electronically since March 2020, with 125 sorties lasting a total of 170 flying hours  but without worrying the sheep. 'It's a lot of fun,' says Wiggall.

It ensures the jet's systems will operate smoothly 'whatever your flying style'. Wiggall says: 'When you drive a car people can drive very smoothly or very aggressively. Pilots are very similar.

'You can get a pilot that's very, very smooth and gentle with the flying controls or you can get a pilot that's actually very sharp and aggressive, and rough.'

Any changes that would have taken weeks or months can now be done in days.

Wiggall says: 'Steve can do an evaluation on a Thursday and come back with comments. The engineers can make changes to the software and by Tuesday the following week those changes are incorporated and being evaluated.'

Elsewhere in the hangar, an assembly of machines that look like speakers at a rock concert, with flashing green lights and red LED number displays, sit next to glass cabinets housing an array of switches. These replicate systems that will sit within the aircraft.

In another room, bits of aircraft machinery called hydraulic actuators  representing parts of a wing and a fin  sit shielded behind glass. These parts, hooked up to digital versions of other parts, help engineers build up a picture of how the whole jet will operate. 'These actuators will think that they are actually flying,' says Wiggall.

Tempest: A test pilot in BAE's bespoke simulator

He says the project is working out as expected, but adds: 'I'm not going to say it's easy. It's challenging. But we're making it work.'

One key challenge is created by the stealth design, which involves embedding engines in the plane, hidden from view. That means a 10-yard long duct has to be built to carry air into the engine, but that risks producing organ pipe-like vibrations that could cause the motor blades to fall apart.

Engineers have designed a duct that stops that happening and they have tested it using complex computer models, thus avoiding the need for repeated trial and error.

It meant that when Rolls-Royce carried out full-scale tests hooking the duct to an aeroplane engine at its plant in Bristol  where decades ago Concorde engines were developed  it was proved to work. Much of the project is shrouded in secrecy. The Government has committed 2 billion, and 800 million is coming from private sector firms, including BAE and Rolls-Royce.

Fired up: A Rolls-Royce engine being put through its paces

The final cost has not been revealed and the timetable for getting to the end of the programme is under wraps. However, project managers seem confident of political support despite the state of the public finances and the approach of a general election.

Neil Strang, BAE's Tempest programme director, says: 'We have had a number of the shadow cabinet here, and the Cabinet, and all of them have warmed to what we are doing.' That is likely to be because the project is so important both to the economy and defence strategy.

Tempest employs 2,800 people across industry and the Ministry of Defence and, according to a report for BAE, will support an average of 21,000 workers a year developing and, later, servicing the aircraft between 2026 and 2050.

Replacing the Typhoon fills a giant hole as the jet represents 85 per cent of UK defence exports, BAE says. Air Commodore Martin Lowe, director of the programme for the MoD, says: 'One of the motivations for the UK is to develop a military capability over which we have freedom of action.'

He hopes the aircraft will inspire new generations in the same way that his own youthful ambitions were sparked by the prototype that later became the Typhoon.

'I had that poster on my wall when I was a teenager,' he says. 'It is probably half the reason I am sat here now. I'd like this supersonic demonstrator aeroplane to have the same impact on another generation that that had on me.'
NSA whistleblower Reality Winner refuses to watch the new HBO Max docudrama that encapsulates the jarring play-by-play of her FBI interrogation because she is 'doesn't want to relive the trauma' of her final moments of freedom before being arrested for leaking a classified report to the media.

Reality was working as a contractor for the agency in Augusta, Georgia, in 2017 when when she shared classified information on Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election.

A few weeks later, Reality arrived home from the store expecting to put away her groceries, tend to her beloved pets, and prepare for her yoga class. Instead, she was met with a tense interrogation by FBI agents at her house that culminated with her arrest and three years in prison.

Now, Reality, 31, keeps a distance from any triggers that may force her to relive the trauma from that day, her lawyer, Alison Grinter, told DailyMail.com.

National Security Agency whistleblower Reality Winner has not watched the new HBO Max film starring Sydney Sweeney which is entirely adapted from her FBI interrogation

Actress Sydney Sweeney (left) plays Reality Winner (right) in the new HBO Max film 'Reality'

A new HBO Max docudrama starring Sydney Sweeney as Reality Winner is not only ripped from the headlines, it is based entirely on the 65-minute FBI transcript verbatim from the interrogation that took place when Reality was 25 years old.

The interrogation was first played out on stage in director Tina Satter's Broadway play in 2021. Satter also directed the film.

Reailty supports both the play and the movie, but Grinter said that she has seen not seen either of them.

'Reliving it is the worst trigger for Reality and she has been hesitant to relive that trauma,' Grinter said.

'Why would she want to relive the last few moments of her freedom? These past four years have been extremely traumatic for Reality.'

Reality was the first person charged by President Trump's Justice Department under the Espionage Act for leaking a government report to the media.

In 2018, after being kept in custody for a year, she pleaded guilty to one felony count of unauthorized transmission of national defense information.

Reality was sentenced to five years and three months in jail but freed in 2021 due to her good behavior. She will be on supervised release until 2024.

The former contractor who speaks three Middle Eastern languages, Farsi, Dari and Pashto, told CBS 60 Minutes in her first interview that she is not a traitor or a spy and that she acted 'in service to the American people' when she leaked classified documents to The Intercept.

Reality was the first person charged by President Trump's Justice Department under the Espionage Act for leaking a government report to the media

Reality Winner, pictured here in 2018 outside a federal courthouse in Georgia during her espionage trial, has repeatedly said that she has no interest in reliving that trauma

Reality herself has responded to people on Twitter asking for her reaction to the movie, bluntly stating that she will not be watching it.

Instead she prefers to gush about her dogs, poll her followers about their favorite Pokemon and show off her fitness achievements.

But Reality is still not completely free. Her plea deal that bans bans her from monetizing her story, also restricts her speech, and her ability to travel for three years. On May 31, she tweeted about what she misses the most.

'Honestly the worst thing about federal supervised release right now is the constant agonizing over CrossFit competitions I can't go to. I want to be freeeee.'

At different times throughout the interrogation shown in the docudrama, Reality was shown worried about her cat getting out of the house while the agents came and went. She warned them that her the dog she had been fostering did not like men.

She also stressed over missing an upcoming powerlifting competition and finding coverage for a yoga class she was teaching the following day.

Reality's lawyer, who described her as being 'incredibly intelligent, personable, and so very funny,' told Dailymail.com that she was clearly rattled and unsettled during the interrogation by the presence of these agents.

'Reality is just one person, but she's relatable to so many of us,' Grinter said. 'There are so many people who put themselves in her shoes - what would they have done'

Grinter added that Reality has been supportive of both the play and the film, and that she appreciates how people are putting themselves in her shoes, standing with her in solidarity.

'Reality never wanted to be an advocate for transparency,' Grinter added. 'She never wanted to be a whistleblower. She never wanted to be in this position.'

The HBO Max docudrama, which began streaming on May 29, opens with Reality Winner working in a cubicle surrounded by TVs blasting Fox News that she had complained about

There is no dialogue in the opening scene, before it switches to Reality's house in Augusta where she arrives home from the grocery store to find two FBI agents waiting for her

There is a dread to the whole endeavor from the first shot, but it takes some time for the agents to get to the real questions which causes the small stresses and indignities to build

While both the play and the film follow the transcript verbatim, there are slight changes in the visual effects to translate the story from stage to screen.

The film, which began streaming on May 29, opens with Reality working in a cubicle surrounded by TVs blasting Fox News.

It would later be revealed through Reality's case that she had filed complaints about the conservative network being played in the office. She had suggested that Al Jazeera or even a slideshow of people's pets would have been more appropriate.

There is no dialogue in the opening scene, before it switches to Reality's house in Augusta where she pulls into the driveway to find two FBI agents waiting for her, and the entirety of the interrogation unfolds from there.

Every bit of the dialogue is verbatim from the transcripts, even with all the ums and ahs, botched sentences and awkward small talk.

There is a dread to the whole endeavor from the first shot, but it takes some time for the agents to get to the real questions which causes the small stresses and indignities to build.

Every bit of the dialogue is verbatim from the transcripts, even with all the ums and ahs, botched sentences and awkward small talk one might expect from actual human beings

Grinter, who saw the play and the film, thought both portrayed Reality in a good light and were able to capture her personality - also the feeling of how unsettled she felt in the interrogation

This image released by HBO shows Josh Hamilton, from left, Sydney Sweeney and Marchant Davis in a scene from 'Reality.' (HBO Max via AP)

Grinter, who saw both the play and the film, thought both portrayed Reality in a good light and were able to capture her personality - but also the feeling of how unsettled she felt during the interrogation.

'As a criminal defense attorney, I was very surprised to see these interrogation techniques used on Reality,' she said.

Grinter explained that the agents 'conducted the interrogation inside Reality's house to create the idea that the whole interaction was voluntary and non custodial.'

There was a motion to suppress her statements based on the fact that they were made in custody without her rights being read, she added. However, the motion wasn't heard before Reality's plea bargain.

The agents tell Reality they have a search warrant for her home and her car and tape off her yard with 'crime scene' tape, take her phone and force her to stay outside as they search

The agents then move inside, stand near her at all times before they move to the back room

In the film, the agents tell Reality they have a search warrant for her home and her car and promptly tape off her modest yard with 'crime scene' tape, take her phone and force her to stay outside as they search.

She's worried about the perishables, her cat escaping through the open door and her dog - who hates men - scaring people. Meanwhile, one of the agents is asking about her CrossFit routine and her life as a single woman in Augusta.

When the trio move inside to the 'back room' of the house, it starts to feel suffocating, especially as the questions get more specific and accusatory.

Reality, wearing jean shorts and sneakers, does not seem aware that she has the right to not answer their questions and has the right to an attorney - and the agents certainly aren't offering this information either.

Instead, she is deferential and even helpful to these uninvited strangers, as though being nice might help things.

Sweeney, whose range continues to astonish - from 'Euphoria' to 'The White Lotus' draws you in and you feel her stress and panic escalate.

Reality is interrogated for several hours before she hits a breaking point and admits her crime

Sweeney in a scene from 'Reality' looks back at her house before she's taken into custody

Another look into Reality's life is set to be released in the form of a documentary by director and producer Sonia Kennebeck later this fall.

The recently released trailer begins with Reality speaking to the camera.

'If you were to go into a time machine to May 2017 and turn on any news media any channel there was one question mark hanging in the air -- and that one question mark was holding the entire country back.

'I thought with a couple pieces of paper, I could bring an end to that crisis. And that's how we got here.'

Reality continues with how her day began on June 3, 2017.

'June 3rd started as a wonderful day. I drove up to my house. I had a car full of groceries and soon as I had closed the door and gone around to the back of the car, this unmarked black SUV came up and...'

What follows is the exchange between Reality and the FBI agents - already heard in the play and the docudrama.

'I didn't realize that it was about to become a four-hour chess game for my life.'

At the time of her arrest, Winter was a linguist in an elite combat unit engaged in secret missions for the US service

At the time of her arrest, Winter was a linguist in an elite combat unit engaged in secret missions for the US service.

'I'm still stained by them accusing me of being the same groups that I enlisted in the Air Force to fight against,' Reality said in a previous interview. She won the Air Force Commendation Medal in 2016 for '600 enemies killed in action.'

For the majority of her six years in the Air Force, Winter served at a duty station in Fort Meade, Maryland, where she and other linguists eavesdropped on communications from 7,000 miles away in Afghanistan, to identify targets for armed drones.

In Georgia, as she waited for the call to report to a country in the Middle East, she begrudgingly put in her time at NSA's Fort Gordon duty station translating Farsi documents to English.

For the majority of her six years in the Air Force, Winter served at a duty station in Fort Meade, Maryland, where she and other linguists eavesdropped on communications from 7,000 miles away in Afghanistan, to identify targets for armed drones

Former National Security Agency contractor Reality Winner told CBS' 60 Minutes in 2022 that she's not a traitor and acted in 'service to the American people' when she leaked classified documents on Russian meddling in the 2016 US election

In the days and weeks after Reality printed the classified document, slipped it into her pantyhose and sent it off to The Intercept, nothing happened, so she moved on.

But everything changed for Reality on June 3, 2017, when she arrived home with groceries and two men in polo shirts introduced themselves as FBI agents.

She was then interrogated by the agents, in an exchange that an official FBI transcript alleges was 'voluntary.'

But Reality told 60 Minutes Scott Pelley in a 2021 interview that the pair never mentioned her right to have an attorney present.

After looking at the circumstances of her case, feds hit Winter with the most serious possible charge for her actions - espionage.

At the time, U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine said of Winner's crimes, that the agent's 'willful, purposeful disclosure caused exceptionally grave damage to U.S. national security.'

Reality was denied bail for her discretions as well, after prosecutors argued during her trail that Winner had a fascination with the Middle East and Islamic terrorism.

Reality fills her social media pages with her fitness accomplishments, like Crossfit, weightlifting competitions and races where she runs for veterans

The government further claimed that they had found handwritten notes during a search at Reality's home which appeared to sympathize with Osama bin Laden and other terrorists.

According to prosecutors, Reality was maddened by Trump's election into office, citing a passage from Winner's diary that read: 'I want to burn the White House down and go live in Kurdistan.'

They argued she could potentially defect to the Taliban.

After an exhaustive trial the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Winner was found guilty and sentenced to more than five years in federal prison. She was released in June 2021 after serving just four years at the Fort Worth prison, on 'good behavior.'

During her televised talk with Pelley, Reality detailed how the tumultuous period of her life deteriorated her mental health, inducing a state of intense depression on the then 25-year-old intelligence specialist, that nearly brought her to suicide.
A major pool company has collapsed, leaving as many as 80 clients desperately trying to get deposits worth tens of thousands of dollars back.

Nyerse Constructions Pty. Ltd, which trades under the name of Pools R Us and is based in Melbourne, went into liquidation on June 1.

The family-run business's downfall has left clients in limbo with little or no communication about what will happen to their pools, or their money.

Many paid hefty deposits upfront after signing contracts only to later learn the company didn't order a building permit or buy insurance for the works - meaning some clients may struggle to get their money back.

The Pools R Us website has been removed while phone numbers for the business and Nyerse Constructions have been disconnected.

An email to clients sent on May 31 said the director, Chris Rhodes, was undergoing treatment for a health issue that was 'taking a very heavy toll' on his family and the business.

Nyerse Constructions Pty. Ltd. which trades as the Melbourne-based company Pools R Us (pictured), went into liquidation on June 1

An email to clients sent on May 31 said the director Chris Rhodes was undergoing treatment for a health issue that was 'taking a very heavy toll' on his family and the business

Pictured is Pools R Us owner Chris Rhodes. The business went into liquidation on June 1

Customers were told the business had been closed for several weeks but was working on various options to finish projects.

'Unfortunately what has happened during this period has taken a toll to say the least,' the email read.

'Our website and Google Maps listing has been hacked, alongside several death threats towards us and our families, including their children.

'This is something we cannot work through or tolerate.'

The company then said they would be permanently closing Pools R Us 'after many years of building quality swimming pools'.

'We were trying every avenue and all options in our power to continue trading under the circumstances we were facing,' the email continued.

'We had continued through Covid - followed by an insanely bad year of weather, massive price rises throughout the building industry, endless supply shortages and huge staff shortages.

'We are absolutely devastated that we have had to make this decision and unfortunately, due to the events over the last few days, we believe it is no longer possible or safe for us to continue trading.'

One client, Shaz, who only wanted to give her first name, has lost $32,000 after paying a 5 per cent deposit as well as a deposit for the shell of her pool when she signed a contract with Pools R Us in April 2022.

She'd had a pool installed previously with the company without any issues and was keen to use them again after moving house.

But after being told the pool would be finished within a couple of months, Shaz and her husband were instead then sent letters from the company warning of delays due to weather, manufacturing, staff shortages and issues securing a permit.

'This went on for months. Me and my husband were sending emails, calling the office but there was no response,' Shaz told Daily Mail Australia.

'We just kept getting the random generic email saying the company was busy and would get back to us.'

Eventually Shaz took it upon herself to visit the Pools R Us office in Dandenong South, Victoria, in February this year, demanding answers.

She claims the owner's son told her husband the build should not be taking so long, but when she confronted staff in the office she says she was met with hostility.

'They told me to get out of the office and said ''people like you go to the bottom of the list'',' Shaz said.

She then received an email from Pools R Us saying the manufacturer was struggling to get the shell of her pool to Melbourne.

'It was all just smoke and mirrors, it was c**p,' she said.

Shaz was then told the shell would arrive in May but a few weeks later she received an email telling her the business had closed.

She then learnt that Pools R Us had never applied for a permit to build her pool, and therefore no insurance was able to be secured.

Shaz said she knew of about 80 people who'd been affected by the business' closure, and questioned the claims the owner was sick in their final email.

'I believe they've used that as an excuse, and as for the threats if you're not giving people their money back, people are always going to be unhappy,' she said.

Shaz said she'd gone to the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) but they told her because she didn't have insurance there wasn't much they could do.

Another Pools R Us client, Laura, is in the same boat.

She fears she's lost $27,000 to the company after signing a contract for a pool mid last year.

Laura said she was tossing up between a few different pool companies but said Pools R Us had 'promised the world' and vowed to build it within a few months, where as other businesses had said it would take up to more than a year.

She said the company charged her three payments upfront totalling just over $27,000 and equal to 50 per cent of the deposit.

According to Victoria's Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, by law a deposit for building work can't be more than 10 per cent if the total price is $20,000 or less, or five per cent if the total cost is more than $20,000.

The closure of Pools R Us has left up to 80 clients in limbo as they try to get their deposits back on pools they signed with the company (pictured is a pool by Pools R Us)

She added she and her husband had been very understanding throughout the process and felt confident in the business because it had won awards and had positive reviews online.

After signing the contract mid last year, Laura said she was told the pool would be ready by the end of the year.

'As soon as we paid the deposit, we didn't hear from them,' she said.

'We spoke with them but it was always us initiating contact, we weren't given any timeframes for the work or even a start date.'

In February of this year she was told the pool could be ready by June or July pending the weather.

'We gave them a wide berth, we were very understanding, we know every industry is struggling with staff turnover and that sort of stuff,' she said.

'We were understanding there would be delays but we definitely didn't expect what's happened.'

From April this year Laura claims the company stopped replying to her altogether and appeared to have a 'huge victim mentality' in the final email sent to clients.

'It's just so unfair they're possibly going to get away with this and not pay us a cent,' Laura said.

Others have shared similar unhappy experiences online.

'Yeah I've lost over 15k,' one customer wrote.

'Can't even explain the disappointment with this company,' said another.

'The complete lack of communication and unanswered calls for months was so wrong. Years of saving for us, and so many others, just gone,' shared one client.

Others revealed they had had pools made by the company without hassle, but did admit communication was lacking at times.

In a glowing blog post, the team said the company was 'multi-award winning' and and committed to 'quality and customer satisfaction'.

'Whether you're looking to create a pool from $5,000 or $50,000  no job is too small or large,' the owners said.

'Behind every Pools R Us pool is 20 years of commercial, industrial and domestic building experience. This is used on every pool project Pools R Us undertakes. It gives our clients peace of mind knowing that they are dealing with a real builder!

'Pools R Us gives one-on-one supervision from start to finish throughout every project.

'You can rely on Pools R Us for everything and anything  from plans to permits, pool to landscape design, paving, concreting and tiling to the installation and design of water features.'

One former worker at the company declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Pools R Us and G S Andrews Advisory, who've been appointed liquidators, for comment.
At the peak of the Cold War - as the US grew increasingly concerned over reports that the Soviet Union had used mind control techniques on American prisoners - the CIA set up an astonishing illegal experiment.

Its plan was to find a 'truth drug' which could be used in interrogations, forcing confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.

Operation Midnight Climax, established in 1954, was based in an LSD-fueled brothel, run out of a safehouse in one of San Francisco's poshest neighborhoods. The purpose? To see if hallucinogens could be weaponized against the Soviets in a new breed of 'brain warfare'.

Unwitting American men were lured back to the property by prostitutes to have sex, and were then pumped with drugs without their knowledge as CIA agents watched from the other side of a two-way mirror.

The home has since been turned into a four-story mansion, complete with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and sold for more than $10million in October 2015.

Operation Midnight Climax was led by CIA agent George Hunter White

The home at 225 Chestnut Street has since been turned into a four-story mansion, complete with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and sold for more than $10million in October 2015

It last sold in October 2015 for $10.7million and serves as a luxury home worlds away from the LSD-brothel it used to serve as

The hidden brothel at 225 Chestnut Street was run by federal agents for eight years until 1963, and was orchestrated by George Hunter White, who had been a captain in the Office of Strategic Services, the CIA's predecessor, and an agent in the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.

The agency was obsessed with finding a mind control drug to force prisoners to reveal their secrets, and turned their attention to LSD, an unbelievably powerful drug that had been developed by Swiss chemist Doctor Albert Hofmann about a decade earlier, in 1943.

The technical branch of the CIA quickly latched on to its potential and chemist Doctor Sidney Gottlieb persuaded his colleagues to investigate it as a spy tool.

CIA director Allen Dulles approved a program for the 'covert use of biological and chemical materials' on April 13, 1953. It was called MKULTRA and started with an initial budget of $300,000 - about $3.4million in today's money.

It experimented with drugs including mescaline, psilocybin, morphine and amphetamines and Gottlieb preferred to use them on people without their knowledge - often on prisoners, drug addicts, mentally and terminally ill patients.

Gottlieb then approved an MKULTRA subproject on LSD in June 1953, with a much smaller budget of $40,290.

Operation Midnight Climax was born, and White was hired to run a safe house for LSD testing initially in New York's Greenwich Village, which then transferred to San Francisco in 1955.

He rented an apartment on Telegraph Hill and spent $4,000 decorating the place to make it look like French brothel, furnishing it with a picture of a French can-can dancer, Toulouse-Lautrec posters and photos of women in bondage.

A narcotics agent who regularly visited the apartment told former Foreign Service Officer John Marks: 'It was supposed to look rich but it was furnished like crap.'

White then bugged the place and installed a two-way mirror where he would sit on a portable toilet and drink from a pitcher of martini he kept in the fridge and watch what unfolded.

The prostitutes who took part in the operation were paid with favors they could use to get out of jail or exchange for $100 cash.

The agents played on the fact prostitution was illegal at the time, and that the sex workers and their clients were unlikely to report anything to the police.

The hidden brothel was run by federal agents for eight years until 1963 to test the effects of LSD on unsuspecting visitors

The CIA set up the illegal experiment in Telegraph Hill to find a 'truth drug' which could be used in interrogations

Doctor Sidney Gottlieb persuaded the CIA to investigate LSD as a spy tool

It experimented with drugs including mescaline, psilocybin, morphine and amphetamines and Gottlieb (left) preferred to use them on people without their knowledge

They would meet the unsuspecting men in local bars and lure them back to the brothel where they would be drugged with LSD, knockout drops and marijuana concealed in food, drinks and cigarettes.

The CIA was also keen to observe how sex could be used to get a man to open up - and whether extra sexual favors could help get the men to talk.

But an observer noticed they were open to discuss anything anyway and said: 'We found the guy was focused solely on hormonal needs. He was not thinking of his career or anything else at that point.'

The short period after intercourse - when the men expected the women to move on to the next client in a hurry - proved to be the most effective time to gather information. This is when the subjects became emotionally vulnerable, and wanted to stay longer.

As their search for subjects grew, CIA agents began venturing outside the apartment to drug people with acid and other drugs in restaurants, bars and beaches, where they would slip it into people's drinks.

'If we were scared enough of a drug not to try it out on ourselves, we sent it to San Francisco,' a CIA source told Marks.

At first the agents targeted working class men, but soon began luring in targets from all layers of society back to the safe house.

The project ran for eight years until 1963, when it was shut down by the CIA's inspector general John Earman. The San Francisco joint was eventually closed in 1965.

'I toiled wholeheartedly in the vineyards because it was fun, fun, fun. Where else could a red-blooded American boy lie, kill, cheat, steal, rape and pillage with the sanction and blessing of the All-Highest?,' White is claimed to have said.

Perhaps surprisingly, only one death has been associated with the program. Frank Olson, a high-ranking scientist who worked for the CIA and the Army's Biological Warfare Laboratories, is said to have killed himself after Gottlieb slipped LSD into his drink and it sparked a mental health crisis.

In the days after Olson was drugged, he had asked to leave the program. He had been paranoid and disoriented and depressed.

Frank Olson is said to have killed himself in 1953 after Gottlieb slipped LSD into his drink. He jumped out of a 10th-floor window in New York

President Gerald Ford met privately with the family of Olson and apologized on behalf of the US Government for the scientist's suicide after he was secretly given LSD by the CIA

He fell to his death from of a 10th-floor window in New York City in 1953. And while Gottlieb would always maintain that he'd sent Olson to Manhattan to receive psychiatric treatment and that his death was suicide or an accident, Olson's family believe that his desire to leave the CIA's most clandestine project led to his murder.

The MKULTRA program was only briefly put on hold.

Decades later. Olson's son had his father's body exhumed and a new autopsy performed.

The pathologist noted that, although Olson landed on his back, the skull above his left eye was disfigured. He changed the manner of death from suicide to misadventure.

The same year that Olson died, Gottlieb wrote a CIA handbook on assassination. One of the methods he recommended was 'the contrived accident.'

He wrote: 'The most efficient accident is a fall of 75 feet or more onto a hard surface. It will usually be necessary to stun or drug the subject before dropping him. A rock or heavy stone will do

'Blows should be directed to the temple.'

Olson's family sued the government for wrongful death and were awarded a $750,000 settlement and received personal apologies from President Gerald Ford and then CIA Director William Colby.

The agency destroyed most of the files relating to MKULTRA and Operation Midnight Climax in 1973 so it is not known how many people's lives and minds were damaged or destroyed by the illegal experiment.

Gottlieb is said to have told his agents never to write down any details of what they were doing.

And to make matters worse, it reportedly produced nothing of value for the spy agency and they never came close to discovering a 'truth drug' to use against America's enemies.

A congressional report in 1977 described the program as offensive, unethical and illegal.

White quickly moved out of San Francisco following the end of the project and retired from the federal government later that year.

The property, which boasts magical views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge, was eventually converted into a private residence

He moved to Stinson Beach, where he became the chief of the local fire department, according to his autobiography, and died a few years later in 1975, aged 67, from liver cirrhosis.

Gottlieb later estimated that he himself had taken LSD more than 200 times. He retired on June 30, 1973 and was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal - one of the agency's highest orders.

Not long after, he and his wife Margaret decided to sell everything, board a freighter from San Francisco to Australia and travel the world doing volunteer work and seeking spiritual fulfilment.

Gottlieb thought he had destroyed all proof of the past but the truth finally caught up with him.

The scandal was first exposed by New York Times reporter Seymour Hersh in 1974 and it led to subsequent investigations on the illegal spying of Americans.

Gottlieb died in 1999 at the age of 80 - with the New York Times describing him as 'a kind of genius.'

The property on Chestnut Street, which boasts magical views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge, was eventually converted into a private residence.

It last sold in October 2015 for $10.7million and serves as a luxury home worlds away from its seedy past.
A photo plastered on the empty windows shows it as it used to be: a colorful branch of Gap surrounded by crowds of cheerful tourists and not a drug addict or scrap of litter in sight.

Today, San Francisco's once bustling Union Square and downtown area is a shadow of its former self: rows of empty stores, sparse crowds even on peak weekend shopping days and nearby hotels  including a huge Hilton - unable to cover their mortgage payments.

The historic Flood Building, a survivor of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, stands largely empty: Gap has gone along with nearly every other business in the property with the exception of a tired branch of Dr. Martens and an Urban Outfitters store offering 70 per cent discounts.

On the other side of Market Street is the soon-to-be sold Westfield San Francisco Center  its doorways reeking of urine and every store staffed by hulking security guards. Westfield announced its planned departure on Monday and several occupants of the mall have already said they'll follow.

Days later AT&T announced its iconic flagship store around the corner at 1 Powell Street, one of the largest in the country, was to permanently close.

The local branch of Walgreens is boarded up, although still open, and was recently the scene of a fatal confrontation between a homeless trans woman and a security guard.

Ross Dress For Less and Saks Off 5th are operating a one-in, one-out system to deter thieves while Nordstrom Rack is closing down altogether in September  along with its sister Nordstrom and scores of other stores such as T-Mobile and Payless Shoes.

A map reveals the major businesses which have left, or plan to leave, San Francisco in recent months. Westfield, the most recent to announced its departure, will give up its huge mall - and several occupants have already said they intend to follow

Those tourists that still come can't avoid San Francisco's homeless problem. Here a tour bus drives past a tent city in the Tenderloin area

Edward Liu, 49, a local resident and hospital worker told DailyMail.com: 'A lot of the stores are closing, a lot of hotels are shutting down. 'You don't get the numbers in downtown anymore because a lot of people are working from home.

'The homeless don't make people want to stay for sure  it's just not very appealing.

'They defecate, they urinate on the street. They do drugs on the street. The mayor isn't doing anything and it's been like this for a very long time.'

Commercial realtor Mark Ritchie told DailyMail.com that San Francisco had suffered particularly badly from the rise of remote working which has decimated footfall in the financial district and Union Square areas.

He said: 'The office market in San Francisco is devastated. It's had the most severe backlash from Covid and remote work because of how tech-oriented the economy in the Bay Area is.

'San Francisco is one of the hardest cities to commute into downtown so the remote work crowd, there's even more resistance.'

Last week Park Hotels & Resorts announced it was stopping mortgage payments on two hotels, the 1,921-room Hilton San Francisco and the 1,024-room Park 55, saying: 'Now more than ever, we believe San Francisco's path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges.'

An analysis of official figures and other research reveals San Francisco may lose hundreds of millions of dollars through an exodus of businesses and its failure to recover from Covid

The reality: There's a gap where Gap used to be as building owners advertise desperately for new tenants

Even the candy is under lock and key in Walgreens in San Francisco. A DailyMail.com reporter witnessed four thefts in 15 minutes at the store

The owner of the Huntington Hotel has sold up as he faced foreclosure, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Yotel was sold in a foreclosure auction and Club Quarters is headed to foreclosure while 20 others have loans due in the next two years.

Convention bookers are avoiding San Francisco because of the homeless, leading to even more problems for hotels in a city where tourism numbers are down by 16% over pre-pandemic numbers. There were 26.2 million visitors in 2019, compared with 21.9 million last year.

Hotel revenues were 23 percent lower than pre-covid levels in April 2023 and appear to have stagnated, according to hospitality data firm STR.

Big companies are also leaving en masse, causing office vacancies to reach a record high of 31 percent in May, enough space for 92,000 workers. In April, Salesforce said it will leave its eponymous 30-story Salesforce East building in downtown, where around 1,000 staff had worked before the pandemic.

Leaders estimate the situation will contribute to a budget shortfall of $1.3 billion in five years. The decline in property tax revenue alone could cost nearly $200 million per year, according to a worst-case scenario drawn up by the city's chief accountant.

A security guard at another branch of Walgreens on Powell Street  home to San Francisco's famous cable cars  had different explanation for the hollowing out of the city center.

'Theft is constant. For my company, this is the busiest store in San Francisco. We used to have two guys here but now it's one so a lot of the time, I'll be dealing with one person and someone else will be taking things. I can't get them all.'

As if to prove his point, a bearded homeless man caught stealing hours earlier attempted to enter the store. Told he couldn't enter and blocked, he screamed: 'Excuse you! I have every right to be here' before swiping a brownie and an apple from a nearby counter and sprinting off.

It was one of four attempted or successful thefts DailyMail.com witnessed at the pharmacy within a 15-minute period and as a result, everything from chocolate bars to a $4.99 bottle of cheap Moscato wine was either locked up or security tagged.

People do drugs in front of one of the many empty storefront in downtown San Francisco on June 16, 2023. (Josh Edelson for DailyMail.com)

A movie theater is seen inside an almost empty Westfield Mall on Market Street, both of which are expected to close down

An empty storefront that used to house the Park City Cafe is seen vacant in downtown San Francisco

Another empty storefront that used to house Ria Shoes, now permanently closed, in the Union Square area of San Francisco

Along Market street and Mission Street homeless people congregate in hordes in front of an IKEA store

Open air use of class A substances is rampant among San Francisco's burgeoning homeless population leading to others avoiding the downtown area of the city

A woman lies passed out in front of a children's play area. Even upscale areas such as Russian Hill, which is part of the cable car route along Hyde Street, and tourist hotspots like the Golden Gate Bridge have been affected

A family with two young children navigates its way through the filth and squalor at the junction of Jones and Eddy Streets in San Francisco's Tenderloin District

Office workers in tech-heavy San Francisco are working from home and tourism is down 16% from pre-pandemic levels, so the streets have been left to the homeless and drug addicts

The exasperated guard added: 'That guy, we see him a lot. He's pulled a knife before which is why I remember his face.

'At the Target down the street, we've seen people come in smoking fentanyl. Obviously, we chase them straight out but half the time they don't even realize they're doing it.

'I've been doing this a year and I've seen enough. I'm moving to the country where homes are in the low 300s [$300,000] and joining a police department there. It'll be nice to get one callout a week for a cow.'

But San Francisco's problems don't end with petty theft which is down 10 percent overall on the last six months of 2022 but has still occurred over 14,000 times citywide in the first half of 2023.

The city is suffering from a perfect storm: a downturn in the tech industry and workers reluctant to swap their remote jobs for a return to the office post-pandemic.

Footfall in the city's struggling downtown is only around 32 percent of what it was before the pandemic, and ridership on the BART public transport network is down 65 percent.

There has also been an explosion in the number of homeless people  drawn to the city in part by generous assistance programs worth up to $687-per-month.

As of the last official count in 2022, more than 7,000 occupied the tented shanty towns that have sprung up downtown and in the nearby Tenderloin district.

Even Gavin Newsom, California's Democrat governor, has confessed the homelessness crisis in San Francisco and elsewhere in the state is a 'disgrace'. He said California has 'not made progress in the last two decades' but claimed $15.3 billion has been set aside to address the problem.

Newsom told Fox's Sean Hannity: 'I don't like what's happening with encampments, I don't like what's happening to streets and sidewalks.

'I don't like the bashing of my old city San Francisco. Whole Foods did shut down one business, but that was a bad location to begin with.'

Along with the homeless population has come a plague of drug dealers  many plying their trade openly and supplying users with fentanyl which they then smoke in full view of tourists boarding cable cars on Powell and Market Street.

As a result, city figures show there have already been more than 268 drug overdose deaths in the first six months of 2023 alone  a 41 percent increase on last year. Even upscale areas such as Russian Hill, which is part of the cable car route along Hyde Street, and tourist hotspots like the Golden Gate Bridge have been affected.

Both now carry signs warning people to remove their belongings from their cars to avoid break-ins while at the end of the cable car route, at Fisherman's Wharf, homeless people are starting to set up camp on the benches near the station.

Homeless people smoke drugs in front of a vacated DSW Shoe Warehouse just off Union Square in downtown San Francisco

A woman drags her earthly possessions past the flagship Westfield San Francisco Center on Market Street

The streets of San Francisco have seen an explosion in the number of homeless people  drawn in part by generous assistance programs worth up to $687-per-month

Mark, 62, came to San Francisco 30 years ago, planning to jump to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge before changing his mind. Now he carves walking sticks for tourists. 'I started making them to defend myself,' he admits

But former retail paradise Union Square and the Tenderloin are in the eye of the storm: in just a few hours in the streets near Union Square, DailyMail.com repeatedly saw homeless people snoozing in doorways, openly smoking drugs, shoplifting, screaming obscenities at passers-by and, in one case, being revived by medics from the San Francisco Fire Department.

Dylan Anderson, 30, of nearby Alameda, says progressive policies are to blame. He told DailyMail.com: 'This is 100 per cent socialism and liberal views ruining downtown San Francisco.

'Defund the police, giving people money to live on the streets and be on drugs  the politics don't work.'

Animal rights activist, Marie, 80, visiting from Sonoma, would like to see street dwellers helped into rehab and then homes

Others, such as Marie, 80, an animal rights activist who was visiting the city from Sonoma, would like to see street dwellers helped into rehab and then homes.

She told DailyMail.com: 'I do feel safe here. There's a lot more homeless than they were but they're not doing anything. I would like to see them taken to rehab and then helped with food and housing.'

For visitors, squalid encampments downtown can come as a shock. 23-year-old Izzy Gaine from Essex, England, was visiting the city  and the US  for the first time to attend a corporate event for architects.

She told DailyMail.com she was stunned by the scale of the drug problem, saying: 'I think it's more a drug problem than a homeless problem. It's shocking. I'm from a village and it's not something I'm used to seeing.

'On my first day, I came out of the hotel at 9am and could just see street cleaners and homeless people. I thought, where are all the normal people? At 9am, you'd think you'd see lots of people going to work.'

Even San Francisco's downtown welcome ambassadors are fed up, with one telling DailyMail.com: 'You see foil, it's fentanyl. You see people hunched over, it's fentanyl. 'They say they want the tourists to come back  so do something about the homeless, do something about the fentanyl.'

Astonishingly, even the homeless residents themselves think the drug problem has gotten out of control.

Mark, 62, is originally from Oregon but said he came to San Francisco 30 years ago, planning to jump to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge before changing his mind.

Perched in a wheelchair with a stack of walking sticks which he had carved to sell to tourists, he said: 'I started making sticks to defend myself and I have had to use them. I see things they don't see in their hotel  it's not safe.'

The Market Street branch of Walgreens is boarded up, although still open, and was recently the scene of a fatal confrontation between a homeless trans man and a security guard

For Lease signs are everywhere downtown due to stores being frightened away by the number of homeless who have invaded the city

It's 5:30 on a Friday afternoon and once-bustling Union Square is virtually deserted as the Bay City faces its existential crisis

Ross Dress for Less and Saks Off 5th are both operating a one-in, one-out system in a bid to deter thieves

T-Mobile's Metro store on Market Street is barricaded, one of the victims of San Francisco's economic turmoil

He added: 'As far as the drugs go, I hate to say it but I don't see enough of the police. You have to have them. It has to be consistent.'

The signs are that the authorities are beginning to listen. In April, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he was deploying the California Highway Patrol and National Guard to the city to help tackle the problem.

Ultra-woke DA Chesa Boudin was turfed out by angry voters last November and replaced with the more pragmatic Brooke Jenkins who has made it her mission to tackle the drug problem.

Detailing the new city budget in an address at the end of May, Mayor London Breed vowed to crack down on drug dealers while also announcing three 'wellness hubs' which are aimed at getting the homeless off the street and will include safe consumption areas for addicts.

And last week, San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto announced that a new emergency unit staffed by 130 deputies would be deployed to work alongside the SFPD in the Tenderloin  focusing on arresting drug dealers but also drug users with the aim of getting them off the streets and into the health system.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said the new deployment has been made possible by recruiting new deputies and says his staff will 'proactively' tackle dealers.

'In terms of public safety, it's very challenging. We have an area of our city that has been overrun with people engaged in harmful behavior which has affected the entire community,' Miyamoto said.

'The Tenderloin historically has been a challenge for the city as a whole, in terms of creating a safe place for the entire community.

'There are really good people who live in the community but a lot of the individuals who populate the community right now, who are engaged in the criminal and harmful behavior, they are transitory.

A security guard ushers a man he suspected of shoplifting out of Walgreens on Powell Street

Dylan Anderson, 30, says progressive policies are to blame, while British visitor Izzy Gaine was amazed there was no-one on the streets when she left her hotel at 9am

Russian Hill and tourist hotspots including the Golden Gate Bridge both now carry signs warning people to remove their belongings from their cars to avoid break-ins

San Francisco's woes deepened last week when the owner of the Hilton Union Square, the city's largest hotel, and Parc 55, said it would pull out, saying the city's 'path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges'

'They're not residents of the neighborhood but they're unhoused people, people living out on the street, people hurting themselves out on the street.

'We have a lot of people who come here for help or because we're an open, caring city, and some people are engaged in some harmful behavior right now.

'We have resources and a strong healthcare system but people have to act on getting that help.

'One of the reasons both we and the police department are out there very actively right now is to create a safer community by getting people the help they need.'

He added: 'Our number one priority is making sure everyone, not just the residents, but our visitors as well feel safe here.'

But Cassandra Costello of the San Francisco Travel Association disputed the idea that the city is in decline. She told DailyMail.com visitor arrivals were up 29% in 2022 compared to the previous year and international visitors were up 211%.

'The demand for international travel to San Francisco has sparked the introduction of new airline routes to the San Francisco International Airport,' she said.

'Starting July 1, Norse Atlantic Airways will be providing three direct flights per week between SFO and London-Gatwick. Norse joins other airlines who have recently added nonstop routes to SFO including LEVEL Airlines, providing direct flights from Barcelona and ZIPAIR, providing direct flights from Tokyo.'

And others see hope. Realtor Ritchie says bad though things might be in San Francisco now, he expects the city to bounce back  helped by an artificial intelligence boom.

He told DailyMail.com: 'San Francisco will be back. We'll surprise everyone.

'I think we're going to see an AI employment boom in the Bay Area, that's what I'm going to say.

'Drugs are a big problem. It's not all over the city and it's in a few obvious spots but unfortunately, those obvious spots like the Tenderloin are right under the feet of the business tourists and the conventions. It couldn't be worse because they're right on top of each other.

'But when you drive out to the wealthier neighborhoods or the outer more middle-class neighborhoods of San Francisco, it's fine and the neighborhood street retail system is thriving. There's plenty of good news out there.'
A group of U.S. veterans have been working for more than a year to get essential supplies to the frontlines in Ukraine

A group of U.S. veterans have helped to raise more than $30 million to send much-needed supplies to the Ukrainian army as Kyiv starts its fightback against Russia.

They have been coordinating and delivering more than the delivery of the non-lethal aid to frontlines since the start of the full-scale invasion in February last year.

Nearly 9,000 civilians have been killed and more then 15,000 have been injured since Vladimir Putin's all-out assault on Ukraine.

A former infantry and foreign area officer, Matt Dimmick served on overseas assignments in Saudi Arabia, Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Russia, Iraq, and Georgia

Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24 last year, launching a series of strikes on the capital Kyiv

One missile struck this residential building in the Ukrainian city during a frenzied Russian bombardment

Spirit of America, the Virginia-based nonprofit that counts several ex-servicemen and women amongst its ranks, tracks down non-lethal military supplies and gets them to the frontlines to help the Ukrainian war effort.

It is the only such organization in the U.S. that works directly with the Department of Defense to identify the needs of the Ukrainian soldiers.

Weapons shipments are left to Ukraine's allies, with a small number of U.S. officials tracking deliveries inside the country to stop them ending up in the wrong hands.

The group was set up in 2003 by tech entrepreneur Jim Hake after the 9/11 attacks.

Present in more than 100 countries, it has been on the ground in Ukraine since 2014 after Moscow illegally seized Crimea, initially focusing on setting up a radio station to fight back against Kremlin propaganda.

But the focus switched when Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin sent troops and tanks into the capital, Kyiv.

Its staff and donors have made it possible to ship more than 200 tons of non-lethal equipment such as helmets, body armor, and surveillance drones.

The organization, drawing upon its Ukrainian government contacts, has even paid to refurbish old Soviet-era military vehicles to help the country's army fight back against Russia.

Colleen Denny, now a director at Spirit of America, served nearly a decade with the U.S. Coastguard and was involved in its humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake

Colleen Denny, who served for nearly a decade with the U.S. Coastguard, joined the non-profit in January 2019.

'We had actually been working with the US Embassy in Kyiv and US military partners for a couple of months before the full-scale invasion,' she says. 'We were just reading what was happening and understanding what Russia was doing.;

When Russia's army eventually rolled over the Ukrainian border, Denny was on vacation in Utah where she watched the events unfold on TV.

'I was watching the news and seeing what was happening and how unfair and cruel it seems,' Denny says.

But just 24 hours later, the Johns Hopkins graduate was back at her home in Washington D.C. and packing her bags for Poland.

It would be from there that she would spend the next few weeks coordinating the 'monumental task' of getting supplies to those who need it in Ukraine within 36 hours.

The 35-year-old, who was involved in the U.S. humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, made it to Rzeszow, a major supply hub for the Ukrainian war efforts, by February 28.

'We had our first cargo plane land on March 18,' she says. 'I don't even know how many Signal messages, WhatsApp messages, emails I received from any Ukrainian who somehow got my number.

'I think my weekly screen report was on average of 21 hours. We were just around the clock.'

'It was truly like a triage of how do we prioritize and assess what funding we have and the aid that we can provide.'

Denny and fellow veteran Matt Dimmick, seen here with Ukrainian soldiers on the ground, have been helping to coordinate deliveries of crucial non-lethal aid from neighboring countries

Ukraine's government revamped the rules to make it easier to join the country's Territorial Defense Forces just before Russia's latest illegal land grab.

Their ranks swelled from 55,000 to as much as 110,000 by May 2022, according to the British defense think-tank RUSI.

A presidential decree also bans males between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country.

It meant demand in Ukraine for life-saving items such as Kevlar-plated vests shot up in the first few months of the war.

In fact, one of the group's donations helped a young solder cheat death on the frontline in the southern port of Mykolaiv last year after coming under Russian fire.

'We provided the helmet that he was wearing,' Denny said. 'He texted a photo and said "last night I was in a firefight and this saved my life".'

Spirit of America eventually hopes to have shipped the equivalent of $200 million in terms of non-lethal aid and equipment to the Ukrainian army, which began its long-awaited counteroffensive against the Russian invaders on June 10.

Unlike many other non-profits, it prides itself on being 'non-neutral' and openly supports U.S. foreign policy goals.

Its website brands Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion as 'the greatest threat to freedom and democracy since World War II.'

Ret Col. Matt Dimmick, who served for 29 years in the U.S. army as an infantry officer and foreign area officer, said he signed up because he missed working on the 'hard missions or causes' that came with serving his country.

'For veterans, it's hard to replicate that on the outside after you take the uniform off, the 52-year-old explained.

A Russia and Ukraine expert who has advised the Pentagon and the White House, Dimmick describes his work coordinating aid deliveries to the war-torn country as 'like coming home.'

He said experience abroad in conflict zones such as Kosovo and Bosnia was 'part of the recipe for what drove me to where I wanted to do after getting out of the military,'

'These are similar examples where you've got an aggressive, larger neighbor that wreaked havoc and destruction on a smaller population...'there are certain things that powerful countries can do to help those people withstand just blatant aggression.'

The West Point and University of Kansas graduate was preparing to go live on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network when he learnt Putin 'had gone ahead with this insanity.'

But there are those who are part of the project and still serving in some capacity.

Adel Hussain, the son of Bangladeshi immigrants, is a reservist paratrooper and psychological operations officer in the U.S. army alongside his work with Spirit of America.

The 28-year-old helped to train Ukrainian soldiers as part of a NATO program known as Operation Atlantic Resolve from September 2017 to June 2018.

Hussain, a practicing Muslim, has served as an Army Field Artillery Officer with an overseas tour in Germany and Poland

The 28-year-old scrapped his plans to study international relations at the University of Denver, preferring instead to help Spirit of America's efforts to support Ukraine

On the night Russia invaded, he decided to pull out of a graduate program in international relations at the University of Denver and ended up joining the Arlington-based non-profit.

'I felt this sort of helplessness where you hope the training you gave to your friends in Ukraine is keeping them alive right now,' Hussain explains. 'But I felt incredibly frustrated and guilty that I wasn't doing more.''

Amid the backdrop of Spirit of America's fundraising drive, some in Republican circles argue that U.S. taxpayers should not be helping the Ukrainian military at all.

The Biden administration has pledged just over $77 billion in aid to Ukraine since February 24 last year, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Just over $47 billion has been used for weapons and other military equipment, much of which is made in the United States itself.

'The U.S. government spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year, even trillions of dollars over time, to deter Russia from exactly what they're trying to do to Ukraine,' Dimmick counters.

'The Ukrainians are a huge favor for all freedom-loving, liberty-loving people in Europe, in the United States by tackling Russia and pulling off massive chunks of resources of the Russian military machine,' he told DailyMail.com
A woman who bled for 13 weeks straight after a miscarriage has claimed doctors at a Queensland hospital failed to provide her with adequate after-care.

Breanna Tottle, 26, from southeast Queensland, bled for almost the entire summer after she miscarried with her second child at the end of September.

She claims hospital staff at her local hospital failed to scan her uterus multiple times despite her experiencing heavy bleeding for months.

Ms Tottle claims hospital staff told her she risked a hysterectomy - the complete loss of her uterus - if dilation and curettage surgery (D&C) wasn't done correctly.

However, she stopped bleeding just days after she saw a private obstetrician who performed the D&C surgery to finally remove the contents of her uterus.

Ms Tottle told Daily Mail Australia she first visited the hospital in September when she experienced symptoms of a 'missed miscarriage'.

Breanna Tottle, 26, from southeast Queensland, bled for almost the entire summer after she miscarried with her second child at the end of September

The 26-year-old lived in fear she would start to bleed while in public and was so sad some days she 'couldn't move' and was constantly crying

Hospital staff told the young mum, who has a one-year-old son, that her body didn't know it had lost the baby yet and gave her three options - either wait it out, take some tablets to kickstart the miscarriage or have C&D surgery.

Just days after starting the tablets, Ms Tottle returned to the hospital after she began to 'gush' blood and says she saw the 'outline' of the foetus in the toilet.

She claims an emergency department doctor had a nurse hold an iPhone torch while he used a speculum to check if anything was stuck in her cervix.

After some of the pregnancy matter was removed, Ms Tottle stayed in hospital overnight but was discharged the following morning after a doctor told her it didn't feel as if there was anything left inside her uterus.

But in November she once again began gushing blood and went to the emergency department where she experienced a traumatic incident in the toilets.

Ms Tottle said she bled all over her underwear and the floor of the bathroom and is grateful her one-year-old son who witnessed it will likely not remember it.

This time her uterus was scanned, revealing it was still full of pregnancy matter.

The young mum lived in fear she would start to bleed while in public or at the shops and was so depressed some days she 'couldn't move' and was constantly crying.

In November, Ms Tottle once again began gushing blood and went to the emergency department where she experienced a traumatic incident in the toilets

In December, she was placed on a mental health plan and met with a psychologist

However, the following month her health worsened.

'I was really really sick, I was mentally exhausted, feverish,' she recalled.

Ms Tottle waited for six hours at the emergency department before doctors detected an infection in her uterus and kept her in hospital overnight.

In the morning, she claims another doctor told her she didn't have an infection.

The 26-year-old decided to go to a private obstetrician who found her uterus was as full of pregnancy matter in January as it had been in November.

The obstetrician was shocked to hear Ms Tottle had been bleeding for 13 weeks straight and was now anaemic due to the amount of blood she had lost.

She spent $4,000 on C&D surgery which stopped the bleeding the following day.

Following her ordeal, Ms Tottle said she was contacted by a customer liaison officer after she left a review for the hospital.

She was asked to attend a meeting with the hospital's executive directors, who said her experience would be used as a training exercise for staff.

Ms Tottle eventually stopped bleeding just days after she saw a private obstetrician who performed dilatation and curettage surgery to remove the contents of her uterus

However, just months later another woman, Nikkole Southwell, would also claim staff at the same hospital did not provide her adequate care following a miscarriage.

Ms Southwell claims paramedics put a small amount of foetus and pregnancy matter inside a biohazard bag, which she was then forced to hold in a waiting room.

She also claims staff used an iPhone torch when examining her cervix.

Ms Southwell was eventually operated on at Mater Hospital where doctors suspected she was suffering from an incomplete C&D surgery.

She now fears commencing IVF in the hopes of having another baby, due to fears her uterus is 'ruined' after two dilatation and curettage surgeries while Ms Tottle is unsure when she will be ready to have another child.

'I didn't want a child for so long after that happened, I told my partner that I don't know when or if I'm going to be ready,' she said.

West Moreton Health Chief Executive Hannah Bloc said that she acknowledges that losing a baby is 'very traumatic' for women and their families.

'Connecting with patients is one of our core values, and I'm sorry if that did not occur in Breanna's case,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'After Breanna raised concerns in January, a review was undertaken of her care.

'One of the recommendations of that review was to establish a working group to improve our model of care for women who miscarry.

'An important part of the success of this work will be including women with experience of our service.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Queensland Health Department.
It's all hands on deck for Team Biden the next two weeks as Joe, Jill, Kamala and Doug head to America's richest cities in order to rake in much-needed campaign cash ahead of the June 30th's crucial fundraising deadline.

The four will criss-cross the country, hitting wealthy neighborhoods in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Aspen, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

President Joe Biden's campaign has, thus far, not announced any details about how much money it has raised, but it will be required to do so after June 30, which is the end of the second quarter fundraising deadline.

The team of four will have no problem raising money - the question is will they have an impressive first number to give when they finally release the total.

A strong number could put to bed the lingering questions about whether Democrats are fully supporting Biden given previous concerns about his age. He's the oldest president ever elected. If he wins a second term he would 86 when it's over.

The four are doing nearly two dozen fundraisers before the end of the month to cram the campaign coffers full of cash.

First lady Jill Biden got started this week with a three-day trip to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, where she attended mulitple fundraisers and bashed Donald Trump to donors.

At her Manhattan appearance, she slammed Trump's supporters for backing the former president through his federal indictment.

'They don't care about the indictment. So that's a little shocking, I think,' she said, according to wire reporters who attended the event.

Jill Biden also appealed to donors in Washington DC on Thursday evening with actress Eva Longoria.

President Joe Biden heads to San Francisco on Monday and also has fundraisers in Chicago and New York on his schedule. He's also going to Chevy Chase, Md., a wealthy suburb of Washington DC.

Vice President Kamala Harris will hit up donors in Denver and Dallas while Doug Emhoff does the same in Aspen.

The Biden campaign argues that they're focused on 'a range of metrics. Obviously, fundraising is important, but we're really starting to lift and get traction on our message. And our campaign message from onset has been a huge piece of this,' an official told DailyMail.com.

The campaign declined to provide the other metrics or their internal fundraising goals.

The Biden campaign does have some advantages, including joint fundraising agreements in place with all 50 state parties.

Additionally, Biden is expected to easily win his party's nomination and - unlike the Republicans - doesn't have to go through a bruising and expensive primary process.

'While MAGA Republicans burn cash in their primary, competing for whose agenda is the most extreme, the President's campaign will be capitalizing on the opportunity to raise significant resources that will help expand on our winning 2020 Biden coalition,' Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Rodriguez said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'Combined with our robust grassroots fundraising network, never before has a campaign had more powerful fundraising tools with a longer runway, and with freedom and democracy on the line in this election -- we intend to use them,' she said.

Actress Eva Longoria with Joe and Jill Biden at the White House on Thursday night - earlier that evening she participated in a fundraiser with the first lady

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff will also hit the fundraising trail in the next few weeks

Shortly after Biden announced in April that he would seek a second term, donors expressed concern that he wasn't doing enough to raise the billions it takes to run a modern presidential campaign.

The Biden campaign had planned to release fundraising totals after 48 hours after Biden officially announced, a source told Bloomberg News. That number was never released.

And the four principles have done some fundraising since Biden announced his re-election bid.

Biden attended two fundraisers in New York last month and one in Las Vegas. Harris has raised money in Atlanta and New York.

President Biden, Jill Biden, Harris and Emhoff have all sent emails and texts to supporters to ask for financial support.

Republican candidates, meanwhile, have bragged about their fundraising prowess as they compete against each other for the GOP presidential nomination.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis brought in $8.2 million in fundraising during the 24 hours after he declared his candidacy for president, his campaign announced.

And Donald Trump raised $7 million in the 24 hours after he was indicted on federal charges related to his possession of classified document.
Flaunting designer hauls on social media used to be the key to gaining thousands of loyal followers. But for Gen Z, it's all about bagging a bargain - and showing their followers how they can do it too.

Content around 'dupes', or duplicates, has blown up in recent years on social media, as the cost of living crunch has hit home. To date, the hashtag #dupe has over 4.3 billion views on TikTok alone.

It's led to a surge in youngsters snapping up duplicate versions of premium products from popular stores - and designer items - for a fraction of the price.

On TikTok influencers regularly boast about finding inexpensive knock-offs of brands such as Lululemon and Dyson on Amazon or even in Walmart.

As opposed to fake or counterfeit items, dupes do not replicate trademarked names, logos or details, meaning they are legal and not breaching copyright or intellectual property laws. But experts warn the rise in dupes is contributing to 'the cultural acceptance of fake goods'.

The counterfeit goods market has exploded into a $2 trillion economy worldwide, figures show

While Lululemon workout shorts cost up to $74, influencers like Ariana Vitale, who has over 228,000 followers on TikTok, explain how similar items can be found on Amazon for as little as $10.

Vitale, who told her followers she worked at Lululemon for over two and a half years, swears that they look and feel just as good as the original. 'They look identical, between the fabric, the material, the seams, everything,' she said in a video.

In fact, Lululemon is so much at the center of the so-called dupe economy that it hosted a pop-up event in Los Angeles last month where shoppers were able to swap their dupe leggings for real ones - free of charge.

But why are Gen Z so seduced by the idea of luxury on a budget?

Young consumers are the most likely group to buy dupes because they simply cannot afford the real thing, according to YPulse, which collects research on Gen Z (born 1997 to 2013) and Millennials (born 1981 to 1996).

According to the insights platform, 47 percent of 13-to 39-year-olds said they had purchased a dupe luxury product.

Plus, Gen Z are a particularly financially savvy generation who are conscious about saving money, Walker Post, from social impact consultancy DoSomething Strategic, told Vogue Business.

The senior strategist said: 'Many of them witnessed the 2008 recession as children, before living through Covid and the current economic downturn. They are spending differently since the pandemic.'

It's also easy for Gen Z to find tips and tricks for finding the best bargains as they typically spend more time on social media.

Danielle Carmody from Atlanta, Georgia, told USA Today she regularly scans Instagram for dupes of everyday things she wants to buy.

@lululemon Trust us, no one is missing their dupes. Align Legging Dupe Swap is back tomorrow at Century City Mall in LA, while supplies last. #lululemonalign  original sound - Ethan Palazzo

Influencers are taking to social media to show their followers where to find dupe products

'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,' she said.

While some people will search for dupes of everything from workout clothes to Dyson Airwraps, KitchenAid mixers, and even fragrances, Carmody said she 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.

But for the hoards of people who are looking for cheap fashion, content creators swear by the China-based third-party selling site DH Gate, which is a prolific destination for high-end and luxury dupes.

A logo-free replica of a designer bag, which would cost over $2,500 if bought new, is available on the site for as little as $19.

But experts warn there is a darker side to the search for luxury items on a shoestring, which could be a slippery slope into purchasing criminal counterfeit items.

A logo-free replica of a designer bag, which would cost over $2,500 if bought new, is available on DH Gate for as little as $19

Among the acceptable dupes on the website crop up distinctive logos of well-known designer brands.

Paul Delponte, an executive director at the National Crime Prevention Council (NPCP) told DailyMail.com that while the appetite for a bargain is not a new phenomenon, the danger is 'the cultural acceptance of fake goods.'

'If you buy a product at a respected retailer that looks similar to a more expensive product, it doesn't violate any laws, but the danger is in the cultural acceptance in the notion of a dupe, which could lead to an increase in the sale of counterfeit products. And these do fund a criminal enterprise,' he said.

The counterfeit goods market has exploded into a $2 trillion economy worldwide, as it is increasingly difficult for consumers to know the difference between real products and fakes.

Delponte said: 'Dupes have popped up on the scene in a major way in the last year or two. It's a bit of a double-edged sword to the extent that the "dupe culture", so to speak, is opening up legitimate companies to manufacture things, it might squeeze out some of the illegal manufacturing and distribution of fakes, which would be a good thing.

'But at the same time it feeds into that cultural mindset that people can get something just as good as that named brand for a lot less, and fuel further growth of an already exploding criminal enterprise of fake goods.'

Earlier this month, Nordstrom Rack was at the center of a legal dispute after it was accused of selling knock-off clothing from designer Patagonia.

The issue is particularly concerning for electricals and cosmetics which can seriously injure buyers - and in some cases has even killed them.

Data from the NPCP estimates that fake products now account for 3.3 percent of world trade.

A separate study by the US Government Accountability Office suggests as many as 25 percent of shoppers have purchased some kind of counterfeit product online.

Many dupes shoppers turn to Amazon, but the company told Vogue Business that it is working hard to ensure demand for replicas does not result in more counterfeit products on the platform.

In 2020, it initiated a joint lawsuit with Valentino against a seller selling fake shoes on the site.

Anna Dalla Val, Director of Global Brand Relations at Amazon said: 'We remain focused on using every tool at our disposal to protect brands, customers, and selling partners from intellectual property and brand infringement, and we aggressively pursue anyone who violates our zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit products.'
A recently divorced mom-of-three has revealed how she lost her entire 401(K) to a scammer she met on Tinder after he convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes.

Rebecca Holloway, 42, was coming out of a messy second marriage when she was swindled out of more than $100,000 by fraudsters posing as a French entrepreneur called 'Fred.'

She is the third victim to come forward in recent months about a cruel scam known as 'pig butchering' - whereby victims are effectively 'fattened up' with a fake romantic relationship before being 'butchered' by fraudulent investment advice.

Tech executive Shreya Datta, 37, and single mom Kate, 41 both revealed they lost $450,000 and $80,0000 respectively in an eerily similar rouse. In all, the three women have handed over half a million dollars to scammers.

Officials say the con is exploding across the US, with Secret Service agents admitting they were seeing 'a ton' of cases. The body is responsible for 'safeguarding' America's financial and payment systems and regularly probes high-value fraud cases.

Speaking exclusively to Dailymail.com, Holloway said: 'Single women approaching middle-age are so vulnerable.

Rebecca Holloway. pictured, has revealed how she lost her entire 401(K) to a scammer she met on Tinder after he convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes

'We have money but we might not have met the right guy yet. And suddenly this good-looking man starts talking to you and you're excited.

'Looking back, the signs are so obvious. But at the time you want to believe it's real.'

Holloway - a freelance marketing executive who once worked on Wall Street - was immediately drawn to 'Fred' after receiving consistent and attentive messages, which made him so unlike the men she usually matched.

He claimed to be a French entrepreneur living in Philadelphia, who had studied Economics at university. He also said he had a daughter - something the pair bonded over as Holloway has three teenage children.

They matched on Tinder in March this year and quickly moved over to text where 'Fred' then started discussing his cryptocurrency investments, which immediately peaked Holloway's interest.

Much of what he was saying was accurate. He told her that in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank - there was a lot of money to be made in alternative platforms.

At the time, media outlets were running reports with headlines such as 'Bitcoin spikes amid Silicon Valley Bank collapse.'

Intrigued, she thought there was 'no harm' in listening to Fred and under his instruction she transferred $1,000 to what she believed was a real cryptocurrency platform.

The platforms he ushered her too were modelled off legitimate sites - but with slightly different URLs.

She immediately saw returns on her investment, making $168 on four 'trades'.

The 'pig butchering' con is long-winded and sees the scammer engage in a months-long relationship to build up trust.

Holloway shared exchanges between her and 'Fred' exclusively with Dailymail.com

Holloway is the third victim to come forward in recent months about a cruel scam known as 'pig butchering'- whereby victims are effectively 'fattened up' with a fake romantic relationship before being butchered by fraudulent investment advice

Crooks often allow victims to withdraw money easily from the investment app in the beginning - but once they have invested heavily they will lose this option.

Sure enough, Holloway was immediately able to retrieve her $168 earnings and transfer them back to her bank account.

She then traded a further $6,000 from her savings and saw her money continue to balloon.

In the meantime, her supposed relationship with 'Fred' was blossoming. While he avoided meeting up in person, he would video-call her while he was making dinner - though she said he was mostly off-camera and she struggled to get a proper look at his face.

Before long, she had cashed out her entire 401K - worth $100,000. After accounting for the government tax she faced during the transaction, she was left with $70,000 to invest again.

Alarm bells only rang when she met up with a friend for dinner and she shared the details of her relationship with 'Fred.'

'My friend told me about pig butchering scams and that's when I realized what had happened,' she said.

'It felt like a movie where suddenly everything around me blurred and became distorted. I didn't even try to withdraw my money, I knew at that point it was gone.'

On reflection, she had suspected several times something was up with 'Fred.' At times, it felt like she was speaking to several different people, with his moods changing frequently. She also noticed he didn't appear to have a French accent in videos he sent.

This was something single mom Kate, from Vancouver, Washington, had observed too. Like Holloway she believed she had met a French entrepreneur - though he said he lived in Seattle.

He claimed to be called 'Andy' and working as a wine trader. Over time, the duo struck up a relationship when he convinced her to invest $80,000.

Last month, she told Dailymail.com: 'I was the perfect sucker in a way because I knew nothing about cryptocurrencies.'

And tech executive Shreya Datta also believed she was talking to a French wine trader - who ended up conning her out $450,000.

Tech executive Shreya Datta, 37, left, and single mom Kate, 41, right, both revealed they lost $450,000 and $80,0000 respectively in an eerily similar rouse

Kate, 41, who used a pseudonym for the piece, lost $80,000 to a 'pig butchering' scam

Datta - who earns a six-figure salary in a global tech firm - told the Inquirer she had felt as though she had 'a hole in my soul for not having a man in my life' - hence why she was tricked.

'I was in a trance,' she said adding 'it's like my psychology was hacked.'

Holloway has now reported her case to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - but she has no idea if she will ever see her money again.

Data from the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3) shows cryptocurrency scams are the fastest growing type of investment fraud.

In all victims reported losses of $2.57 billion last year, up by over 183 percent on 2021.

In May, Secret Service agents in the San Francisco field office hosted an 'Ask Me Anything on Reddit' where they said pig butchering was now among the most common scam they were seeing.

'In San Francisco specifically, we tend to focus on victim-based cases, meaning those where theres an individual(s) or company thats been affected,' the body was quoted as saying in Blockworks.

'These days we see a ton of pig butchering investment scams and have devoted resources to help those victims.'

And in September, Andrew Frey, a forensic financial analyst with the United States Secret Service in the San Francisco Field Office, told Forbes that pig butchering is now a 'super scam.'

'They took that up a notch in terms of sophistication in creating these apps with the perception that people are making money,' he said.

On its website the Secret Service says it had a 'long and storied history' of keeping America's payment systems safe.

It regularly probes elaborate financial and cybercrime activities. In 2021, authorities said romance fraud was one of the 'most significant types' of fraud crimes that it investigates.

Many pig butchering operations are reportedly run by criminal syndicates in Cambodia which employ thousands of people.

A report by Vice News and the South China Morning Post found last year that workers themselves are enslaved and abused, having been lured there with the promise of a legitimate job.

They are given scripts tailored to individual victims.

Dailymail.com also reached out to Hinge and Tinder for comment.
Brittany Higgins admitted she had 'signed her life away' to The Project four days before her explosive rape allegations were first revealed.

Speculation has raged over whether the former political staffer was paid for her 2021 interview on The Project when she accused a former colleague - later identified as Bruce Lehrmann - of raping her in 2019.

Network 10 has consistently denied paying Ms Higgins beyond basic expenses, but admits she signed a contract where she pledged that everything she said was true.

In a series of worried text messages to her partner David Sharaz eight days after signing it, she revealed her fears she would be sued for defamation.

'I'm just stressy this will all become a litigious matter now,' she admits to Mr Sharaz.

He tried to ease her concerns in a series of replies and said it would be politically 'stupid' to attack her so close to an election.

'You're not going to get sued,' he insisted. 'They never sue the person speaking.'

Brittany Higgins (left) admitted she had 'signed her life away' to The Project in a series of worried text messages to her partner David Sharaz (right)

Speculation has raged over whether the former political staffer was paid for her 2021 interview on The Project (pictured) when she accused a former colleague - later identified as Bruce Lehrmann - of raping her in 2019

'Let it go. You just have to try and not workshop every possible outcome.'

He added: 'Worst case absolute worst case. They go after The Project and rather than fight it, The Project pays a settlement, and that is a non-disclosed amount etc.'

But Ms Higgins reveals she's worried she will be dragged into the legal proceedings.

'Yeah, they sue the broadcaster,' she said. 'As as the person who signed her life away to the broadcaster, we are in this together.'

Ms Higgins signed Ten's 'Adult Appearance Release' contract on February 3, 2021 which promises that all her allegations are 'true and factually accurate', according to court documents.

She voiced her fears at being sued eight days later, four days before the blockbuster interview aired on February 15, sparking a media and political firestorm.

But Mr Sharaz insisted she had nothing to worry about in the text exchange on February 11 - and added it would be politically damaging for anyone to target her.

David Sharaz insisted Brittany Higgins had nothing to worry about in the text exchange on February 11 (texts recreated above)

'The likelihood of it happening is low,' he added. 'Worrying about it now isn't going to help when you have so many other things on your plate.

'But if that happens, we will deal with that then. So please don't feel like you are alone in that. I know you're worried about that now.

'Besides, suing you looks like doubling down on the victim close to an election. Politically it would be very stupid.'

He added: 'Everything dragged out in court, all public. Do they want the five hours of stuff public? Nope.'

It's unclear what Mr Sharaz is specifically referring to in the final text message.

But leaked audio from the couple's five hour pre-production meeting with Lisa Wilkinson and Project producer Angus Llewellyn in January 2021 sparked a furore when it surfaced this month.

The recordings revealed the four going over Ms Higgins' allegations and plotting the political and media blitz that would follow the interview being aired.

It also included comments from Ms Wilkinson ridiculing the Coalition pre-selecting Jacinta Nampijinpa Price for the senate and the TV host struggling to pronounce the Indigenous politician's name.

Network 10 has consistently denied paying Brittany Higgins (pictured with Project host Lisa Wilkinson) beyond basic expenses, but says she signed an Adult Appearance Release contract

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured)has since launchd a series of defamation actions over Ms Higgins allegations after his trial was abandoned and the charge against him was later dropped

Network 10 has repeatedly denied paying Ms Higgins for The Project interview apart from basic expenses, which was repeated in Ten's defence documents filed in court.

'Ten did not pay Higgins, other than for her travel and accommodation expenses in order to come to Sydney to attend the meetings and interviews,' the broadcaster's defence papers reiterate.

They add that Ms Higgins signed an 'Adult Appearance Release' indemnity contract with Ten on February 3, 2021, which promised everything she told them would be 'true and factually accurate'.

Mr Lehrmann strenuously denies Ms Higgins' allegations and his rape trial was abandoned in October after juror misconduct.

All charges were dropped in December over concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.

On December 13, she settled her claim with the Commonwealth for a reputed $2.5million over her treatment after she made her rape allegation.

Mr Lehrmann has since launched defamation actions against Ten and Project host Lisa Wilkinson, and against the ABC.

A third action against News Life Media was settled out of court.
By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az

Truly historic events are taking place in the South Caucasus region. Yes, the attention of the whole world is now focused on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which has entered a fierce and final stage, but events are taking place in our region that deserve very close attention. To begin with, Ill just let you know that in Armenia, calls to curtail all cooperation with the Russian Federation are becoming louder and louder.

In particular, Russian Ambassador Sergei Kopyrkin was summoned to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. According to the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the reason for calling the Russian ambassador to the Armenian Foreign Ministry was the recent incident on the Lachin road. At the meeting, the dissatisfaction of the Armenian side in connection with the incident was brought to the attention of the Ambassador.

Before us is a classic example of how in Armenia they decided to justify themselves by shifting all the blame on Russia. The reality is that the provocation was committed by the Armenian side. It was not the Russians, but the Armenians who fired at the BCP on the Lachin road, it was they who wounded the Azerbaijani border guard. And the answer was given not to the Russians, but to the Armenians.

Nevertheless, the RA decided to use its own provocation for the next actualization of the topic of Russia's failure to fulfill its allied obligations. "Not only does the Russian peacekeeping contingent not ensure the smooth functioning of the Lachin corridor, but it also accompanies the Azerbaijani flag near the Khakari bridge," Vahagn Aleksanyan, deputy from the ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia, said on the air of the Public Television of Armenia.

He will never say that the checkpoint on the Lachin road is completely legal. Even after the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh economic region and enclaves. Yes, Aleksanyan looks like the author of an absurd conclusion, but he is not the first, he is not the last such person in the Armenian parliament.

The truth is that Azerbaijan has the right to establish BCP on its territory. The truth is also that the need for this checkpoint was proved by Armenia itself and the Karabakh separatists. For, in Baku, cases of transportation along the Lachin road, from Armenia to Khankendi, of weapons and ammunition have been recorded more than once. It was important to cover this shop. And she was covered.

At the same time, a sufficient number of Armenians have already used the services of the Lachin BCP, passing through passport control there. This caused hysteria among the Armenian opposition and the world Armenians, who recruited politicians and journalists in different countries of the world. They, in turn, replicated lies about a "humanitarian catastrophe" in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. Time has proven the ludicrousness of such false statements.

But what do we see now? The attempt of the Armenian leadership to blame its internal problems, its failures in foreign policy... Russia and the opposition. And the same deputy from the ruling Civil Contract party in Armenia, Vahagn Aleksanyan, pointed out that the Armenian opposition is activated not because of the internal political situation, but because they are organized by external forces.

There is progress in the negotiations on a peace treaty, it is obvious that in specific geopolitical points there is dissatisfaction with where the negotiations are taking place. There are forces that are not interested in Armenia resolving their conflicts. They provoke internal political tension in Armenia, pay attention during which negotiations the opposition becomes more active. Has it ever happened that there were negotiations in Moscow and the opposition would become more active? No. But when negotiations are held in another country, the opposition is ready to stand up and save the homeland," the Armenian MP said.

The hint is more than transparent. A hint that the Armenian opposition is financed from the Russian Federation, receiving directives from there. I note that in this matter he is right. Suffice it to recall the Moscow intruder, the Russian-Armenian oligarch Ruben Vardanyan. He is so connected with the Russian Federation that he even moved somehow in the car of Russian peacekeepers, hiding under a pile of dirty laundry.

Yes, many other Armenian oppositionists are focused on Russia and do not hide this, including the former Karabakh separatist, the second president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. But the essence of the matter is different. It is that we see an attempt by the current Armenian authorities to explain their failures exclusively by the Russian factor, and this is already a miserable manipulation.

After all, it was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan who shouted in the center of Yerevan that "Karabakh is Armenia and that's it." As a result, he provoked a 44-day war, the defeat in which forced official Yerevan to come to terms with the inevitable. What we are seeing today from official Yerevan is the consequences of that defeat, the recognition of the inability of the RA to prevent the strengthening of Azerbaijan's positions. Only and everything. No matter what grievances against Russia are voiced by the members of the ruling party in the Republic of Armenia.




The US has been left shaken by yet another case of gun violence in schools after a six-year-old shot his teacher in the chest with his mother's handgun - and now she is trying to sue to school for 31million ($40million) amid claims they fired her.

First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot by the boy at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia on January 6 this year while she was trying to protect 20 other pupils.

But in the latest cruel twist her lawyers are claiming the school has sacked her former employer has said she resigned  and the court case can not go forward.

Ms Zwerner's attorney Jeffrey Breit said the school district is attempting to push the 25-year-old out after she filed a $40million lawsuit against its board.

'While this woman was protecting 20 other students and risking her life,' Breit said, 'they decided to fire her because she wouldn't drop her lawsuit.'

First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was shot by the boy at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia on January 6 this year while she was trying to protect 20 other pupils

Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, where the shooting occurred

In an email shared by WAVY, however, Zwerner wrote to HR she wished 'to resign' and an official for Newport News Schools said her contract then ended on June 12.

But Ms Zwerner's lawyer claims his client has not been paid since February and that she was fired.

'I don't think you can read this any other way than you've been fired,' Breit said. 'And that's what she thinks. She doesn't understand it; there's no other communication.'

Talking with WAVY, Breit said Zwerner was let go because of her lawsuit and the months of prior uncomfortable interactions between an admin and the teacher.

'To say we were shocked is an understatement; we have litigation,' Breit said, adding that she should have had until August 1 to leave or re-sign.

'The only thing I can think, they were trying to put pressure on her because we filed suit. It's outrageous, as outrageous as I've ever seen,' the attorney argued.

In the email exchange where Zwerner announced her resignation, she initially reached out to Human Resources saying that she could not access a form.

In a country which has been shaken by all-too-commonplace shootings in schools, this case has hit out at the heart of the issue.

On January 6, Ms Zwerner had just finished reading a story to her class and were about to head to an art lesson when the youngster pulled out the 9mm handgun handgun and shot her.

In April, the boy's mother Deja Taylor , 25, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home

She survived, but has spent three weeks recovering in the hospital.

And in a sad revelation, it later emerged that the boy 'suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.'

The family said the week of the shooting 'was the first week when we were not in class with him. We will regret our absence on this day for the rest of our lives.'

And in April, the boy's mother Deja Taylor, 25, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun in the family's home.

The schoolboy stole his mother's legally purchased handgun and snuck it into school, before firing a single round into his teacher, striking her in the hand and chest.

She turned herself in for outstanding warrants stemming from the horror shooting of her son's teacher. She was later arraigned after posting a $5,000 bond.

Zwerner, 25, was shot in the hand and chest by the child at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January

At the time her attorney, James Ellensen, told AP: 'She is nervous and scared, because she has never been charged before, but holding up well.'

Taylor later told Good Morning America in May that her son was suspended the week before the shooting for 'knocking the phone' out of his teacher's hand 'on accident.'

But Zwerner said that the child was 'violent' in the lawsuit, claiming that he 'slammed the cellphone on the ground so hard that it cracked and shattered.'

Her lawsuit also states that the boy had a 'history of random violence' and that he 'attacked students and teachers alike.'

Taylor described her son as a 'great' and 'energetic kid,' claiming he doesn't talk about the incident, but he does speak about the 'day or two days before.'

She said: 'He has ADHD. Some people have it mildly. He's off the wall. Doesn't sit still ever. He had started medication and he was meeting his goals academically. He actually really liked her.

'I will say that week, he did come home and he was talking a lot about how he felt like he was being ignored. He would come home, and say "Mom, I don't think she was listening to me. I didn't like that."

'He ended up getting suspended the next day because he was in class, he was trying to tell her something and she asked him to go sit back down. He threw his arms up and said fine. When he put his arms up he knocked the phone out of her hand on accident. He got suspended for that.'

Police said an unnamed schoolboy stole his mother's legally purchased handgun and snuck it into the school

Body camera footage released last month shows police responding to the shooting.

In the footage, one officer could be heard praying for the children stuck inside Richneck Elementary School.

Another officer could later be seen leading a group of students through the hallway, pretending they were on a train, as he tried to get them to safety.

Ms Zwerner revealed that she thought she was going to die when the boy pointed a gun at her, and that she'll 'never forget' the look on his face as he pulled the trigger.

The boy, who has not been named, was on the school's radar and that day there were rumors he was carrying a gun in his backpack, which was searched with no weapon being found.

Taylor blamed her son's ADHD diagnosis for the shooting in an interview with ABC News last week

In an interview on NBC's TODAY show with Savannah Guthrie in March, Ms Zwerner said she still 'can't make sense' of the shooting, but that her first thought when he pulled out his weapon was to ensure the other children in the class were safe.

'Some days I can't get up out of bed, then some days are better than others, where I can make it to my appointments. I try to stay positive and have a positive outlook on what's happened,' she said.

'There's some things I'll never forget and I just will never forget. The look on his face while he pointed the gun at me. It's changed me. It's changed my life. You can't make sense of it. I'm not sure when the shock will ever go away.

'The vivid memories that I have of that day... sometimes I have nightmares.'

The day of the shooting began like an ordinary school day, but turned sinister.

'The morning it felt like a regular school day but I started things and things started happening that made my fear grow. As the day went on, my fear grew more.

'I remember him pointing the gun at me, the look on his face, the gun going off, feeling something, it was a pretty scary day. I was terrified.

'In that moment, my initial reaction was your kids need to get out of here, this is not a safe classroom anymore, and then you need to get help for yourself.'

She said the other kids in the classroom were 'screaming' and 'extremely frightened'.

'They knew they had to get out of there,' she said.

Abby was able to get the kids to safety and herself to an office where she passed out.

'I thought I had died. I got them out and went to get help for myself. I didn't know at the time my lung had collapsed but I started not being able to breathe.

'My vision started going out. I went to the office and I passed out.'

Ms Zwerner said she had repeatedly warned the school that the boy who shot her made her feel 'uncomfortable' and that he was threatening other pupils.

She had reported two incidents about the boy on November 22 in an email chain including one where he stuck his middle finger up to a classmate and another where he pushed a student to the floor.

Ms Zwerner reportedly told staff at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News: 'As of today, I do not feel comfortable with him returning to my classroom,' according to documents obtained by 13NewsNow.

She reported her concerns to Principal Briana Foster Newton and Assistant Principal Ebony parker - both of whom resigned shortly after the incident - less than two months before the child shot her with a handgun he had stolen from his mother.

The teacher had also suggested scheduling a meeting with the boy's father to address his 'behavioral difficulties' and offer 'support.'
A new drama telling the story of how a Dutch couple helped to hide Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis has received rave reviews from critics.

A Small Light tells how hero husband and wife Miep and Jan Gies played a central role in shielding the Franks from danger in a secret annexe in Amsterdam between 1942 and 1944.

The show also portrays Anne's father Otto, her sister Margot and mother Edith, along with the van Pels family, who hid with them and Fritz Pfeffer until they were all discovered by the Nazis.

But Otto would be the only member of the group of eight to survive the Holocaust. The rest, including Anne, perished in Nazi death camps including Auschwitz.

Below, MailOnline details what happened to each of the tragic group.

Anne Frank (third from right) is seen with her father Otto (centre) as they make their way to the wedding of friends Miep and Jan Gies in 1941

Anne Frank

Anne Frank is portrayed in A Small Light by 18-year-old British-French star Billie Boullet.

The German-born girl was given a diary for her 13th birthday in June 1942 and less than a month later her family were forced to go into hiding as Nazi persecution of Jews in the Netherlands and elsewhere ramped up.

Frank spent the next three years documenting her day-to-day life as she hid with her father Otto, mother Edith and sister Margot along with Auguste and Hermann van Pels and their son Peter and Fritz Pfeffer.

Anne Frank is portrayed in A Small Light by 18-year-old British-French star Billie Boullet (right)

The families lived secretly in a three-storey annexe above her father's warehouse in Amsterdam.

In August 1944, the group were discovered when the annexe was stormed by German police.

It remains a mystery to this day how the families were found, though many believe they were betrayed by someone who knew of or suspected where they were hiding.

Both the Franks and the van Pels' were subsequently deported to Auschwitz.

Anne, now aged 15, was spared from being immediately sent to the gas chambers.

In October 1944, she was transferred to Bergen-Belson camp with her sister Margot and Auguste.

Anne is known to have died at the second camp in February or March 1945.

Her notebooks became a worldwide phenomenon after being published in 1947.

Miep Gies had rescued the diaries after coming across them in the empty annexe in the days following Anne's arrest. She went on to give them to Otto.

Anne's writings, released under the title of The Diary of A Young Girl, have been published in more than 70 languages.

As a result, Anne's name is known by millions of people across the world.

Recalling his feelings when he read his daughter's dairy for the first time, Otto Frank said: 'For me, it was a revelation.

'There, was revealed a completely different Anne to the child that I had lost. I had no idea of the depths of her thoughts and feelings.'

Otto Frank

Otto Frank, played by Liev Schreiber in A Golden Light, had desperately tried to secure his family's passage to the United States before they were forced to go into hiding in 1942.

He made the decision to enter the annexe after his older daughter received a written summons to report for what was claimed to be labour duty in Germany.

On arrival at Auschwitz, Otto was separated from his wife and children and selected for work rather than immediate death in the gas chambers.

Otto Frank, played by Liev Schreiber in A Golden Light (right), had desperately tried to secure his family's passage to the United States before they were forced to go into hiding in 1942

When the camp was liberated in January 1945, Otto, weighing just eight stone (52kg), was too weak to even leave the sick barracks.

Once well enough to travel, he set about trying to find his wife and children. He quickly discovered that his wife had died in Auschwitz, but did not yet know the fate of his daughters.

After returning to Amsterdam, he moved in with Miep Gies and her husband Jan.

In July 1945, he discovered that both his daughters had also perished in the Holocaust.

After reading Anne's diary, Otto set about trying to get it published in edited form and eventually was able to do so in 1947.

Otto Frank with his daughters Margot and Anne (sitting on his lap), circa 1931

The initial publication was in Dutch, but translations in French, German and English soon followed.

In 1952, Otto moved to Switzerland and remarried fellow holocaust survivor Elfriede Geiringer.

When the Amsterdam annexe was opened as the Anne Frank House museum in 1960, Otto gave a speech.

He spent his later life organising international youth conferences and frequently corresponding with people who wrote to him after reading his daughter's diary.

He passed away aged 91 in August 1980.

Speaking in an interview shortly before his death, he said: 'I am almost ninety now and my strength is slowly fading.

'But the mission that Anne passed on, keeps giving me new strength - to fight for reconciliation and for human rights across the world.'

Edith Frank

Anne's mother Edith, portrayed by Amira Casar in A Small Light, featured frequently in her daughter's diary, but often when the teenager was documenting her disagreements and conflicts with her.

Anne did later write that the period of 'tearfully passing judgement on Mother is over', adding: 'I've grown wiser and Mother's nerves are a bit steadier.

'Most of the time I manage to hold my tongue when I'm annoyed, and she does too.'

On arrival at Auschwitz, Edith and her daughters were separated from Otto and never saw him again.

Anne's mother Edith, portrayed by Amira Casar in A Small Light, featured frequently in her daughter's diary, but often when the teenager was documenting her disagreements and conflicts with her

She initially managed to stay with her daughters but a second selection at the end of October 1944 wrenched them apart.

Edith was selected for the gas chambers around the same time her daughters were sent to Bergen-Belsen.

However, she was able to escape to another part of the camp and remained there through the winter.

She died aged 44 on January 6, 1945, three weeks before Auschwitz was liberated.

Margot Frank

Anne's sister Margot is portrayed in A Small Light by Ashley Brooke.

Margot was nearly three years older than her sister. She also kept a diary during her family's time in hiding, but the document has never been found.

Like her sister, she is believed to have died from typhus at Bergen-Belsen in February or March 1945.

Anne's sister Margot is portrayed in A Small Light by Ashley Brooke. Margot was nearly three years older than her sister. She also kept a diary during her family's time in hiding, but the document has never been found

Miep and Jan Gies

Miep and Jan Gies - played by Bel Powley and Joe Cole in a Small Light - were the Dutch couple and wife who helped the Franks and the van Pels' to go into hiding.

Miep worked for Otto as a secretary at his business in Amsterdam and became a close and trusted friend of him and his family.

The Franks attended the wedding of Miep and Jan in July 1941.

Along with Bep Voskuijl, another woman who helped the Franks, she entered the Amsterdam annexe just a few days after they had had been arrested with the van Pels'.

Miep Gies helped to hide the Franks, the van Pels' and Fritz Pfeffer. She is portrayed by Bel Powley in the new drama

She told how it still smelled of the boiled kidney beans that the group had been eating for breakfast on the morning they were taken. The table was laid for mid-morning coffee.

Miep and Bep found Anne's diary on the floor of the ransacked annexe and kept it safe until Otto returned to Amsterdam in 1945.

Jan had dedicated himself to helping Jews and others escape Amsterdam from the moment Nazi persecution increased.

Both Miep and Jan would visit the Franks frequently when they were in hiding.

The couple later hosted Otto when he moved in with them after leaving Auschwitz.

They became high-profile after their heroic efforts came to light following the publication of Anne's diary.

In later life they attended memorial screenings and gave lectures about Anne and the importance of resisting fascism.

Miep passed away aged 100 in 2010, whilst Jan died in 1993 aged 87.

Miep's husband Jan was also integral in the operation which kept the Franks hidden for more than two years. He is played by Joe Cole in A Small Light

Bep Voskujil

Bep Voskuijl - portrayed by Sally Messham - began helping the Franks after working as Otto's secretary.

Then aged 18, she was the youngest employee in the office. Her father Johannes built the now-famous book case that concealed the entrance to the Franks' hideout.

For more than two years, Bep brought food to those who were in hiding, and generally did her best to keep them cheerful.

On one occasion, Anne invited her for a sleepover in the annexe.

And she was there in the aftermath of the Franks' arrest.

Bep Voskuijl - portrayed by Sally Messham - began helping the Franks after working as Otto's secretary. Then aged 18, she was the youngest employee in the office. Her father Johannes built the now-famous book case that concealed the entrance to the Franks' hideout

A new book by Bep's son, Joop van Wijk-Voskuijl, reveals how his mother was later deeply troubled by her experiences.

When Joop was growing up, the story of the secret annexe was taboo in the family.

Joop tells how Bep's sister Nelly, who was unaware about the secret annexe, became jealous of how close she was to her father.

The book raises the question as to whether it was Nelly who betrayed the hiding families. Bep herself believed that her sister was the betrayer.

Nelly went on to live a normal life and died in 2001 after falling down the stairs.

Bep however remained deeply unhappy for the rest of her life. After marrying an alcoholic, she was found by Joop after taking an overdose.

She went on to have a daughter who was named after Anne. She died aged 63 in 1983.

The Van Pels family

Hermann and Auguste van Pels - portrayed by Andy Nyman and Caroline Catz - had fled Germany for the Netherlands with their son Peter in 1937.

Along with the Franks, they went into hiding in the annexe in Amsterdam after the Nazi takeover of the country.

Hermann was the first of his family to die after being sent to Auschwitz. He initially worked but, after injuring his hand, was murdered in the gas chambers in late 1944.

Hermann van Pels is depicted in A Small Light by Andy Nyman. He went into hiding with his wife Auguste and their son Peter

Auguste, portrayed by Caroline Catz, was sent to Bergen-Belsen along with Edith, Anne and Margot Frank. She was later transferred to Buchenwald camp, and then to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. She died there in April or May 1945, shortly before the camp was liberated

Auguste was sent to Bergen-Belsen along with Edith, Anne and Margot Frank. She was later transferred to Buchenwald camp, and then to Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia.

She died there in April or May 1945, shortly before the camp was liberated.

Anne told in her diary how she and Peter, portrayed by Rudi Goodman in A Small Light, developed a romantic relationship when in hiding.

Once at Auschwitz, he and Otto were assigned to the same work detail. In January 1945, he was forced on 'death march' to Mauthausen camp.

He is believed to have died in April 1945, a few weeks before the camp was liberated.

Anne told in her diary how she and Peter, portrayed by Rudi Goodman in A Small Light, developed a romantic relationship when in hiding. Once at Auschwitz, he and Otto were assigned to the same work detail. In January 1945, he was forced on 'death march' to Mauthausen camp. He is believed to have died in April 1945

Victor Kugler

Victor Kugler was among those who helped the Frank family when they were in hiding.

Portrayed by Nicholas Burns in A Small Light, he was arrested on the same day that those who were in hiding were discovered.

After being interrogated, he was sent to a prison and then a concentration camp.

He was later forced to do hard labour but was able to escape during a bombing raid.

Victor Kugler was among those who helped the Frank family when they were in hiding. Portrayed by Nicholas Burns in A Small Light, he was arrested on the same day that those who were in hiding were discovered

Kugler made it back to his own home in the Dutch city of Hilversum and hid there until the liberation of the Netherlands in May 1945.

His wife Laura died in 1952, but Kugler went on to remarry and moved to Canada.

He received a $10,000 prize in recognition of hiding the Frank and van Pels families, as well as Pfeffer. He passed away aged 81 in 1981

Johannes Kleiman

Johannes Kleiman, portrayed by Ian McElhinney, is the man who came up with the plan of using the annexe as a hiding place.

He later became the families' main point of contact in case of emergency, at one point providing them with pesticides to treat a flea infestation.

Kleiman had met Otto in the 1930s and went on to work for him as a bookkeeper.

He was arrested along with Kugler on the same day that the Franks were taken.

Johannes Kleiman, portrayed by Ian McElhinney, is the man who came up with the plan of using the annexe as a hiding place

After being interrogated, he was sent to a prison for Jews and political prisoners awaiting deportation.

He was sent to the Amersfoort labour camp, but was released after an intervention by the Red Cross due to his ill health.

After the publication of Anne's diary, Kleiman regularly took visitors around the annexe after it had been vacated, but did not live to see it open as a museum.

Kleiman died aged 62 in January 1959.
President Joe Biden would beat his Republican challenger, whoever it is, if the general election were held tomorrow  but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would run him closer than former President Donald Trump, according to a new national DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners poll.

Yet with 17 months to go there is everything to play for, as Biden lags among independents and the numbers point to an excruciatingly tight race.

The poll of 1000 likely general election voters found that in a Biden-DeSantis matchup the Democratic candidate would take 44 percent of the vote to 43 percent.

Democratic voters appeared more motivated in an election against Trump, giving Biden a lead of 46 to the former president's 44 percent.

Mike Pence, the former vice president, who entered the race last week took 38 percent to Biden's 41 percent, while Chris Christie, Trump-ally-turned-nemesis, would take only 32 percent to Biden's 39 percent.

A new poll for DailyMail.com shows that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently best placed to take on President Joe Biden in the 2024 election

The contest for the Republican nomination is currently a race between Trump and DeSantis. But supporters of the Florida governor say he has a better chance in the 2024 general election

Trump is the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary. Polling averages give him a more than 30-point lead over DeSantis, with Pence a distant third.

Supporters of the other runners fear Trump could romp to the nomination but his legal woes and polarizing manner would then turn off general election voters allowing a weak opponent in Biden to hang on to the White House.

James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners which conducted the poll, said the data leant weight to that analysis.

'There is one clear picture: Trump is the least popular potential candidate with Independents and is the only one who does not beat Biden with the group pivotal to the next presidential election,' he said.

Biden wins among independents by five percent in a head-to-head contest with Trump, while other Republicans fare better.

DeSantis reverses those numbers with a five percent lead over the president among people who identify as neither Republican nor Democratic.

The surprise package may be Pence. He could face hostility from Trump supporters who think he did not do enough to keep their hero in office, and anger from Democrats who see him as a vice president who enabled the former president's worst excesses.

Yet the poll found he did best among independents, with a six-point lead over Biden.

'Key to the next presidential election will be independent voters: They gave Biden the presidency in 2020, and were crucial to the tight outcome in the House in 2022,' said pollster Johnson.

'The candidate who appeals most to this critical group of voters? Mike Pence.

'He leads Biden amongst Independents by 6 points, 38% to 32%.

'What holds back some of his numbers overall are the one in ten Republicans who say they do not know how they would vote  but come an election they would likely rally to the GOP.'

Former Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen in Waukee, Iowa. He is a distant third in the Republican race but our new poll suggests he is doing better with independent voters

Pence launched his campaign in Iowa, where he believes his message will resonate with evangelical Christian voters who make up a key part of the state's Republican electorate.

Christie, who entered the race in the same week as Pence, may face the toughest path of all. He launched in New Hampshire, where he hopes his reputation on the center right may appeal to the state's generally more moderate Republican voters.

Our poll found Republican voters had the least enthusiasm for the former New Jersey governor of the four runners. Only 60 percent of Republicans said they would back him in an election against Biden.

Pence can count on 72 percent, DeSantis on 84 percent, and again Trump's grip on the G.O.P. is clear with some 90 percent of Republicans saying they would rally behind him if he were the nominee.

The poll was conducted from June 12 to 15, and used landlines, cell phones, SMS and apps to reach 1000 likely general election voters across the U.S. It carries a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
Ask voters for the one word that springs to mind when they think of leading Republican candidates for the 2024 election and the results are not flattering.

Former President Donald Trump is a 'criminal,' 'dangerous,' and 'disgusting.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is 'fascist', 'racist,' but also a 'leader.'

And new entrant Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, is simply 'fat' or 'irrelevant.'

That is the result of a survey of 1000 likely general election voters carried out by JL Partners for DailyMail.com.

Word clouds generated for the leading candidates are far from flattering. 1000 likely voters were asked to describe 2024 runners in a single word. Source: J.L. Partners

Add in their likely Democratic opponent and the descriptions are not much better.

The word cloud for President Joe Biden runs from 'old' and 'incompetent' to 'senile' and 'corrupt.'

And the results suggest Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, has a lot of work to do if he answers the call of those in his party who want a younger challenger to Biden. 'Unknown' and 'unsure' were the words associated with him.

Each fares better among voters for their own party. But crucially independent voters reach for overwhelmingly negative words.

James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners, said the one-word survey was not just an exercise in poking fun but offered a flavor of how leaders are viewed across the country

'The key group to the next election  independent voters  are unsatisfied with any of the current choices available,' he said.

'To them, Trump is "disgusting", a "criminal" and an "asshole," while Biden is "old," "senile" and "incompetent."

'DeSantis gets some credit for his leadership of Florida, while Christie and Newsom are too unknown to register. What is clear is that  for both Independents and the American people  the idea of a 2020 rematch next year elicits little enthusiasm.'

The contest for the Republican nomination is currently a race between Trump and DeSantis. But supporters of the Florida governor say he has a better chance in the 2024 general election

The word clouds suggest voters are not enthused about the idea of a 2020 rematch. Even Democrats can only come up with 'steady' and 'competent' for Biden although 'old' still dominates the cloud. Republicans get more excited about 'awesome,' 'patriot' Trump

This cloud suggests DeSantis has some way to go if he is to woo independent voters

Yet that is the way the two parties are headed. Biden is a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination unless he drops out or drops dead, while Trump is the clear frontrunner on the Republican side.

Commentators are already talking of election fatigue among voters who feel they know both candidates well and don't much care for either. Neither can claim positive favorability ratings in office, for example.

And at 80 and 77 years of age they do not exactly represent hope or excitement for the future.

It means that when Democrats are asked for words to describe their octogenarian president they choose words like 'steady,' 'competent,' and 'honest.'

Republicans pick 'patriot,' 'leader,' and 'awesome' for Trump.

DeSantis gets similar words  'leader,' 'smart,' and 'strong'  suggesting his main rival's attempts to define him early have not yet resonated with Republicans flirting with picking the Florida governor.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is frequently touted as a Democratic alternative to 80-year-old Biden. But his word cloud suggests he has work to do to build his national profile

That still leaves moderate Republicans alarmed at the way their party has been taken over by Trump and his former acolytes, who are squabbling over the same populist territory.

Meghan Milloy, founder of Republican Women for Progress, said: 'The Republican Party likes to think we have grown so much since 2016, but, the truth is, we've gotten worse.

'We now think Trump is the norm and anyone marginally less horrific is Mother Theresa.

'Until we are able to fully reset our decency barometers to account for the rule of law, dedication to democracy, and actual winnability, we will continue to have to deal with a slate of ding dongs that are going to do nothing but bolster a Biden White House.'

A new poll for DailyMail.com shows that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently best placed to take on President Joe Biden in the 2024 election

Results from the poll suggest that if the general election were held tomorrow Biden would narrowly hold on to the White House.

He would beat DeSantis by one point (44 percent of the vote to 43), Trump by two points and new entrant Pence by three points.

Yet with 17 months to go there is everything to play for, as Biden lags among independents and the numbers point to an excruciatingly tight race.

Biden is also viewed as too old to be president by some 71 percent of voters, and by almost half of Democratic voters.

The poll was conducted from June 12 to 15, and used landlines, cell phones, SMS and apps to reach 1000 likely general election voters across the U.S. It carries a margin of error of 3.1 percent.
US voters by wide margins say transgender ideology is being promoted too aggressively, including most Gen Z and Millennial Americans, an exclusive DailyMail.com poll shows.

A DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners survey of 1,000 adults also found respondents were split over whether businesses like Target should display LGBT-themed products for Pride month prominently in their stores.

The results suggest that Americans are relatively open to non-traditional lifestyles, but are increasingly concerned by the growing prominence of trans ideas in the nation's cultural life.

It comes in the wake of several high-profile controversies over trans issues, including the backlash over Bud Light's tie-up with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote the beer.

US voters by wide margins say transgender ideology is being promoted too aggressively, including most Gen Z and Millennial Americans, an exclusive DailyMail.com poll conducted by J.L. Partners shows

Respondents were split over whether businesses like Target should display LGBT-themed products for Pride month prominently in their stores

In our survey, 59 percent of voters said the promotion of trans ideology had gone too far in America, while 16 percent said it had not gone far enough.

This included majorities in every age group, but interestingly also 51 percent of adults aged 18-29  a cohort that is often seen as more supportive of new wave gender ideas.

Results were partisan. An overwhelming 93 percent of Republicans said trans ideas were being too heavily promoted, compared to just a quarter of Democrats.

Meanwhile, respondents were split on whether Target and other retailers should display LGBT-themed products for Pride month prominently in their stores.

Some 38 percent of people were opposed to such displays, while 37 percent supported them.

'There is a hidden consensus in America  between young and old, black and white, men and women: that trans and gender ideology has gone too far' James Johnson, the founder of J.L. Partners who conducted the DailyMail.com poll said.

'Rather than the polarized country that often gets talked about, large margins feel the promotion of these issues has gone too far. Fully half of 18-29 year olds agree.'

Next time you see coverage of trans issues in the classroom, or on college campuses, do not assume Generation Z and millennials are all in support. Like the rest of the country, they appear to instead be quietly uncomfortable with the most radical voices on these issues."

After an intense backlash from some shoppers, Target last month removed certain items and changed its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month.

Similarly, Anheuser-Buschs Bud Light has lost its top spot in the US beer market to Modelo Especial, following a backlash from conservatives over a social media promotion with Mulvaney.

Cops block the entrance to a Target in Miami amid protests over the store's selling pro-LGBTQ merchandise

Protesters near the Supreme Court in Washington DC during a debate on trans rights. Many trans activists say they're battling a 'genocide' and have vowed to fight back

Whether to accept and support trans people in society has become a frontline issue in the culture wars between American liberals and conservatives.

Trans rights groups say the minority group is being wiped out in a genocide. Skeptics say sex is immutable and that the gender spectrum has no basis in reality.

Republican politicians in Red states have introduced some 500 bills affecting LGBTQ people this year, with dozens already signed into law, says the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group.
One Tampa real estate agent warned that the decline could be being fueled by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' public war on woke

But the housing boom now appears to be waning, with home values in the Sunshine State flatlining for the first time since 2011

The housing boom that sent Florida's real estate market into a frenzy has finally started to wane, following a pandemic-era spike that saw millions of Americans flock to the Sunshine State.

The last three years saw single-family home prices in Florida climb by almost 50 percent, as blue-state residents raced to land a property down south.

But now, for the first time since 2011, home values have flattened, and fewer home seekers are opting for Florida due to a noticeable decline in affordability.

'The fact that Florida is getting more expensive is making it less attractive to homebuyers,' said Daryl Fairweather, Redfin Corp chief economist, to Bloomberg.

One Tampa real estate agent claimed while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' anti-Covid lockdown policies were once attractive, his recently-launched run for the White House and public push against woke politics could be driving clients away.

One of the reasons for Florida's flatlining housing market is soaring mortgage rates and insurance premiums, which has eroded the state's attractive levels of affordability.

For years, would-be residents have been lured south by Florida's lack of a state income tax.

This was coupled by a desire to escape what many saw as over-the-top, woke pandemic rules in many states including mask mandates and business restrictions.

But while locals accepted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' push to insert the state into national culture wars debates when prices were down, the 2024 hopeful's platform has been noted as a reason behind the recent decline.

Vanessa Charles, a real estate agent in Tampa, told Bloomberg she saw a spike in business during the pandemic, but hostile politics are seeing this dwindle.

'People are looking at Florida differently now,' she said. 'A lot of families who moved here called and said 'We have to leave''.

Situated in the exclusive Indian Creek neighborhood, this palatial property in Miami has hit the market for a staggering $85 million

This mansion situated on the lavish North Bay Road near Miami Beach is one of the most expensive on Florida's housing market at $76 million

In nearby Ocean Blvd, a $77 million lakefront estate is also up for sale - and it even comes with a private yacht dock

So far in 2023, 56 percent more people migrated to Florida than moved out, according to data from United Van Lines. In comparison, this figure stood at 62 percent at the height of the pandemic in 2021.

The covid-fueled housing boom also hit the single-family home value market, which saw a significant spike in recent years due to the significant influx of new residents.

According to data from Florida Realtors, median home prices skyrocketed by 27.7 percent at their peak in May 2021 - but dropped to just 2.1 percent by March 2023.

Insurance premiums have also ballooned in the Sunshine State, as a series of devastating natural disasters alongside high fraud rates have seen home insurance bills hit $6,000 on average - almost four times the US average.

Data from the Insurance Information Institute found the average premium in the state has risen 100 percent over the past three years.

In Miami, which became the most desired destination for New Yorkers as woke pandemic policies drove them from the Big Apple, the decline in affordability has been especially evident.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was noted by one Tampa real estate agent as one of the potential factors behind the state's recent housing decline

The influx of new residents has seen the hotspot become the most unaffordable city in the US, according to real estate tracker RealtyHop.

While out of reach for most, some of the most lavish homes on Miami's housing market show why it has earned a reputation for opulence.

According to Zillow, one of the most expensive mansions on the market is available for a stunning $85 million. Situated in the exclusive Indian Creek neighborhood, the palatial estate has been up for sale for less than a month.

Complete with 14 bathrooms and seven bedrooms, the terraced property is fitted with lavish marble finishes, a home cinema, and several pools.

And while many home seekers are set to be turned away from Florida's housing crisis, another $76 million mansion is still on the market for those feeling flush.

Situated on the prestigious North Bay Road by Miami Beach, the estate has everything a megarich homeowner could ask for.

The seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate boasts panoramic views of the coastline, with west-facing vistas offering year-round sunsets.

In nearby Ocean Blvd, a $77 million lakefront estate is also up for sale - and it even comes with a private yacht dock.

The stunning property offers six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a gourmet private chef's kitchen with island views.
A 31-year-old man has died after crashing his motorcycle into a country church on Saturday night.

Emergency services were called to St Nicholas Anglican Church on Kinghorne St in Goulburn after the man was found by a passer-by just before 8.30pm.

NSW Police said officers from the Hume Police District attempted to resuscitate the man before paramedics arrived.

Emergency services were called to St Nicholas Anglican Church on Kinghorne St in Goulburn after the man was found by a passer-by just before 8.30pm

Sadly, the man could not be revived and died at the scene.

No one else was injured.

While the man has yet to be formally identified a spokesman for St Nicholas Church said their thoughts were with the man's family.

'St Nicholas Anglican Church sends its condolences to the family of the man pass away last night,' he said.

'Church services remain on and the church is open for comfort to anyone.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved.'

Police have since established a crime scene and investigations are ongoing.

A report will also be prepared for the coroner.

Authorities have encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 133 000.
A driver has been arrested after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase and rolling their car before they were pinned down in a citizen's arrest.

Youseff Rima, 37, allegedly rolled his Hyundai Tucson SUV after reaching speeds of up to 140km/h in Guildford, western Sydney, at 11pm on Friday.

Rima allegedly attempted to flee on foot after rolling the car before he was tackled to the ground by local Adnan Obeid on Chiswick Road.

He was then arrested by police, charged with drugs, driving and motor vehicle offences and refused bail after fronting Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

A Hyundai ended up on its side after a high-speed police chase led it to crash into the front wall of a suburban property

Police began pursuing Rima after they allegedly saw him run through a red light at the intersection of Guildford Road and Woodville Road.

'When the vehicle failed to stop a pursuit was initiated,' NSW Police said in a statement.

'The vehicle was pursued into Chiswick Road where it will be alleged that the vehicle reached speeds of up to 140km/h.'

'A short time later the vehicle collided with a retaining wall at the intersection of Clyde Street and Chiswick Road before crashing into a parked car and then coming to rest on its side.'

Rima's wrecked vehicle ended up sitting on the footpath in front of the wall it ran into and the crash led to one of the vehicle's wheels coming off.

Officers said they abandoned the chase before the crash due to safety concerns.

The pensioner whose front wall the Hyundai hit said he had just been getting to sleep when there was an enormous bang 'like thunder'.

As police intervened, Rima allegedly threw a bag of marijuana at them and later allegedly tested positive for being under the influence of drugs.

He was allegedly driving a car with no headlights and his licence had previously been suspended for previous offences.

Youseff Rima was arrested at the scene after allegedly scuffling with a local man who managed to stop him from fleeing

Rima was refused bail in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

In opposing bail the police prosecutor said it was only by good fortune that the main damage was done to property.

'He is very lucky that he is not facing worse charges in that no members of the public were injured,' the prosecutor told the court.

'There is huge risk of endangering the safety of the community (if Rima is released on bail).'

Acting Magistrate John Bailey said: 'One wonders if he was trying to get up to 200km so that police would stop chasing him.'

Rima denied this.

Rima's Legal Aid said his driving disqualifications were a long time ago and he had regained a full licence.
The Kremlin has been condemned for using a 'horrific' animal circus to entertain Ukrainian orphans in Mariupol a year after Russia killed around 600 in a bomb attack on the city's theatre.

Propaganda films show beavers, bears and bison performing tricks. State news agencies claimed it brought residents 'happiness, love and joy' in 'difficult times'.

Mariupol was taken after a three-month battle reduced it to ruins.

Videos show a bear dancing with a hoop at the Russian State Circus, a beaver flying on a trapeze while apparently urinating in distress, and beavers pulling a carriage of ducks.

Marie Struthers, of Amnesty International, said: 'There's something grotesque about Russian authorities using a circus to try to normalise their occupation.'

Propaganda films show beavers, bears and bison performing tricks for Ukrainian war orphans

Videos show a bear dancing with a hoop at the Russian State Circus and a beaver flying on a trapeze while apparently urinating in distress

Dr Colin Alexander, an expert in political communications at Nottingham Trent University, said the propaganda deliberately included orphaned children as part of a strategy to 'placate' Ukrainians.

Tory MP Alicia Kearns, of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'The Kremlin murders children by night and forces them to watch clowns in the day.'
Terrifying footage has captured the moment a police dog bit into a teenager's arm during a dramatic arrest.

Police were following up an incident when they visited a house on Reginald Ward Street in South Kempsey, north of Port Macquarie, just before 1pm on Thursday.

Three teenagers, one as young as 14-years-old, were arrested while a 16-year-old allegedly fled the scene.

A teenager has been caught on camera screaming in agony after being bitten by a police dog while allegedly fleeing arrest in South Kempsey

He was arrested just moments later on neighbouring Robert Eggins Street after a police dog bit his right forearm and brought him to the ground.

A local filmed the arrest with video showing the teenager yelling in agony as a police officer attempts to release the dog's grasp on his arm.

The teenager can be seen lying on his stomach with two men, one an officer in uniform, squatting over him and the dog still biting down on his arm.

He can be heard yelling in pain and repeating 'my hand' while the officer tells him to 'stay still'.

The officer then put his foot on the back of the teenager's elbow while attempting to have the dog release the arm.

After being told to put his hands behind his back, the teenager is heard saying: 'I can't move my hand'.

'(They) don't even know how to tame their own dog,' the cameraman can be heard saying while the police dog continues to bark at the teenager.

'Go away mate, get out of here,' the officer then tells the cameraman before a second police officer approaches and forces him away from the scene.

The teenager had to be treated for injuries at Kempsey Hospital before being released by police pending further investigations

A NSW Police spokesman confirmed the teenager was one of four arrested during the police inquiry.

'Three teenagers were arrested at the unit, and one teenager  aged 16  fled the location,' he said.

'With the assistance of the dog unit, the 16-year-old boy was arrested nearby.

'NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 16-year-old boy in custody for a hand injury before taking him to Kempsey hospital.'

Three of the teenagers, including the 16-year-old, were released pending further investigations while a 14-year-old was charged with aggravated break and enter in company causing damage to property less than or equal to $60,000.

He was granted bail and is set to face children's court on August 9.
Lovdahl is now suing the hospital and doctors for unspecified damages, alleging they pushed 'ideological and profit-driven medical abuse'

She said despite clear mental health issues, medical professionals urged her to undergo invasive surgeries for profit

Kayla Lovdahl said doctors urged her to undergo a double mastectomy aged 13 that left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'

A California woman is suing the hospital that removed her breasts when she was 13, claiming her doctors pushed her into the procedure under the 'erroneous belief' she was transgender.

Kayla Lovdahl, now 18, says she underwent the invasive surgery after being urged to 'entertain' the plans by medical professionals when she was just 11-years-old.

According to a lawsuit filed by Lovdahl against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and four doctors, it is claimed they 'handed Kayla the prescription pad, and allowed her naive, emotional, childish, rollercoaster of feelings to dictate the so-called 'treatment' that she would receive.'

The legal challenge comes amid a growing chorus of 'de-transitioning' youths, many of whom claim they were subjected to death threats and intimidation after turning their backs on the 'cult-like' transgender community.

Kayla Lovdahl, now 18, says she was urged to 'entertain' surgeries by medical professionals when she was just 11-years-old

After years of battling mental health issues, Lovdahl claims she was 'exposed to online transgender influencers' who prompted her to 'erroneously' believe she was transgender when she was 11.

Lovdahl claims her parents were told: 'It is better to have a live son than a dead daughter'

With her parents unsure how best to support her, the tween sought medical help, rapidly sending her down a path of risky treatments.

By the age of 12, she was on puberty blockers and testosterone despite never receiving a proper psychological evaluation, per the lawsuit.

Amid concerns over the potential surgeries, it is alleged that Lovdahl's physicians told her parents: 'It is better to have a live son than a dead daughter'.

Her entire transition evaluation lasted just 75-minutes, she claims, as Lovdahl alleges the process that led her to surgery is 'ideological and profit-driven medical abuse'.

Within six months, Lovdahl underwent a double mastectomy, a decision she now regrets after detransitioning a year ago.

As a child, Lovdahl suffered severe mental illness, which she feels was overlooked by doctors as they pushed for her to become transgender

Years after she underwent a double mastectomy aged 13, Lovdahl now says the procedure left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'

Her lawsuit condemned the system that allowed her to undergo the invasive surgery at such a young age, saying: 'There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patient's wishes.'

After detransitioning, she says she began regular psychotherapy sessions to help her mental health, 'which is the care she should have been receiving all along', the lawsuit states.

'The vast majority of cross-gender identified children, if medically treated in early adolescence, risk regretting the decision after they are old enough to realize their losses,' Lovdahl added.

She said the ordeal left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'.

She also claims the hospital and doctors did not provide her and her parents proper 'informed consent', which would have introduced therapy sessions, something she says was never offered.

In a statement, her lawyers criticized the procedures as 'an insane form of child abuse'.

'We believe cases like this are the best way to stop them, especially in liberal states like California, where reckless ideologues are pushing this radical agenda,' said attorney Charles Limandri.

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals has been contacted by DailyMail.com for comment.
Police are to investigate bombshell claims that officials of the Scottish National Party accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from a relative of one of the party's MPs.

Allegations made by a whistleblower state that senior party figures received tens of thousands of pounds from a Scottish businessman related to a prominent nationalist politician  and that they broke electoral law by failing to publish details of the gifts.

The claims are made in a letter that was sent last week to Police Scotland and to the Lord Advocate, the country's chief prosecutor  and that has also been seen by The Mail on Sunday.

As part of an investigation called Operation Branchform, police are already looking into separate allegations of fraud in relation to the possible misuse of 600,000 given by donors to the SNP. Now Police Scotland has confirmed that it has received the whistleblower's letter and that Branchform officers are assessing its claims.

These include allegations the businessman handed 'substantial monetary donations' to SNP officials; that he 'expressed and boasted on several occasions in public spaces that he had donated 'tens of thousands of pounds' to the SNP over many years'; and that he was seen handing over 'cash in white envelopes'.

As part of an investigation called Operation Branchform, police are already looking into separate allegations of fraud in relation to the possible misuse of 600,000 given by donors to the SNP

The letter identifies the businessman, and the SNP MP to whom he is related.

It also names party figures said to have either received or been aware of the donations.

Specific details cannot be reported while the police continue their investigations  but analysis of the official register of party donors shows that it does not record any donations to the SNP from the businessman concerned.

Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 to find out how money raised in 2017 and 2019 as part of a 'independence referendum appeal' has been spent.

Concern was first raised when SNP accounts showed less than 100,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, despite 600,000 having been donated. It also emerged that in June 2021 party leader Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell  the SNP's chief executive  had lent the party 107,620: a loan not disclosed until 14 months later.

In February, Ms Sturgeon, 52, dramatically resigned as First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader stating that the 'brutality' of politics had taken its toll.

The following month, Mr Murrell, 58, stepped down as chief executive after admitting he was responsible for 'misleading' membership figures.

In April, he was arrested at their Glasgow home and taken into custody, with The Mail on Sunday later revealing that police had seized a 110,000 campervan from his mother's house in Dunfermline. The same month, former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested and questioned by police, resigning his post the next day.

Then, last Sunday, Ms Sturgeon was arrested and questioned for seven hours. Like Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie, she was released without charge. She later made a statement saying that her arrest had been 'deeply distressing'.

Last night a spokesman for Scotland's prosecution service, the Crown Office, declined to discuss the whistleblower's allegations, stating: 'We won't comment on the progress of investigations.'

The SNP were approached for comment.
The distraught family of former Hollyoaks actress Frankie Jules-Hough, 38, who was fatally struck on a motorway while 17 weeks pregnant have shared their heartbreak as her killer was jailed for just 12 years. Adil Iqbal was driving with one hand and holding his phone with the other as he filmed himself weaving through motorway traffic at speeds of up to 123mph on the M66 in Bury, Greater Manchester, on May 13. Ms Jules-Hough, who was 17 weeks pregnant with her first daughter, Neeve, suffered brain injuries and they died two days later in hospital. Her partner, Calvin Buckley, said in court: 'My past, present and future has been crushed and taken from me. And for what? An adrenaline rush, an ego boost, a false sense of worth, and selfish gratification with no regards for the safety of others.'
A militant teaching union is set to plunge schools across the country into chaos with another two days of strikes.

Millions of pupils face yet more misery after the National Education Union (NEU) last night escalated its long-running dispute over pay.

Hardline union chiefs yesterday agreed a fresh wave of walkouts on July 5 and 7. The action means millions of pupils could miss out on end-of-year trips.

NEU members in England have held three regional and five national strike days since February, causing huge disruption to families.

The Department for Education last night warned that further strike action 'will cause real damage to pupil learning and even more disruption for parents right across the country'.

Striking members of the National Education Union (NEU) South East Region at a rally in Chichester, West Sussex, in a long-running dispute over pay on March 2

Striking members of the National Education Union (NEU) on Piccadilly march to a rally in Trafalgar Square (picture from March 15)

Confirming the new wave of strikes, NEU joint general secretaries Kevin Courtney and Mary Bousted said: 'Time and again the NEU, alongside its sister unions have called for the Education Secretary to get around the negotiation table to settle this dispute for a fully funded teacher pay increase.

'Time and again our calls have fallen on stony ground.'

The union is currently re-balloting its members to see if they want to continue taking industrial action for the rest of the calendar year.

In potentially another major escalation, the NEU and three other teaching unions are contemplating co-ordinating strikes in a bid to close every state school in England this autumn.

Up to 400,000 headteachers and school staff could walk out together if the NEU, NAHT, NASUWT and ASCL unions successfully ballot for more strikes.

In a bid to break the deadlock, the Government has offered teachers a 1,000 one-off payment for the current school year and an average 4.5 per cent rise for staff next year.

The offer was labelled 'insulting' by the NEU.
The condition of the secretive head of Ukrainian intelligence remains unknown as Russian sources claim a missile strike has left him in hospital with brain damage.

Major-General Kyrylo Budanov, 37, was last seen in early June in a flashy promotional video from the Ukrainian military about their counter-offensive, titled Plans Love Silence.

Now one of Putin's biggest targets, he climbed the Ukrainian military ranks quickly and has previously been tipped as a potential defence minister. A Moscow court issued an arrest warrant for him following the Crimean Bridge explosion last October.

Russian sources have said he was critically wounded in a missile strike on the headquarters on May 29, initially reporting that he had been killed in the attack before citing non-existent sources in German media that he was in hospital with brain damage.

But aides told The Telegraph that the millennial spy chief was 'alive and well', although they offered no up-to-date photographs to support this statement.

General Kyrylo Budanov, 37, Ukraine's military intelligence chief poses in his office on February 15, 2023

Three people were killed and 32 wounded in a Russian missile strike on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih early on June 13

The 'incredibly ruthless' Budanov first rose to prominence during the Crimean invasion in 2014 and was wounded several times, including when a piece of shrapnel narrowly missed his heart.

He has been left to his own devices to run Ukraine's military intelligence and is said to be creative and cruel. Reports include cases of pensioners blackmailed into attacking Russian draft offices and young people into bombing railway infrastructure.

James Rushton, an independent foreign policy analyst in Kyiv, told The Telegraph: 'Budanov runs his agency his own way, and has clearly been given considerable latitude in that regard by the Ukrainian government because of how effective HUR has become.'

The spymaster has confirmed that his agents have taken out high-profile Kremlin propagandists and leaked documents have confirmed that his communications are being monitored by the U.S.

Speaking about the death of Daria Dugina, a pro-war blogger, Budanov said: 'All I will comment on is that we have killed Russians and will continue to kill Russians anywhere in the world, until the complete victory of Ukraine.'

Several prominent pro-war figures have been killed or wounded by explosives in Russia since the start of the invasion on February 24 last year.

Budanov remains a controversial figure in Ukraine, primarily for his eager use of notorious far-right extremists in daring cross-border raids into Russia, and often toes the line of acceptable warfare.

A missile launch from Russia. Several prominent Putin supporters have been targeted by Ukrainian intelligence since the invasion in February 2022

The U.S. is said to have intervened on a number of occasions to prohibit strikes against Russian targets abroad.

There have been at least 10 attempts on his life - including one in 2019 which failed only when a car bomb detonated prematurely.

Mr Rushton said the fact that Putin's forces were prepared to use expensive missiles to try to take out the spymaster showed what an important target he was.

'The fact Russia deployed its most expensive and supposedly capable weapon systems - the Kinzhal air launched ballistic missiles - in an attempt to kill him, is a testament to just how much of a thorn in the Kremlins side he is,' the analyst concluded.
People who invest in solar panel parks in their area could receive cheaper energy, Labour will claim tomorrow.

Sir Keir Starmer will pledge that a Labour government will promote 'clean power' partnerships to encourage local eco-friendly schemes.

The Labour leader said: 'I want people to see the benefit of that power. With Labour, they will.'

The announcement comes after the party was forced to climb down on plans to spend 28 billion a year on a 'green transition' for the country.

Sir Keir Starmer will pledge that a Labour government will promote 'clean power' partnerships to encourage local eco-friendly schemes

Last night Tory MP Paul Bristow said: 'Offers of cheaper energy from Sir Keir Starmer aren't worth the recycled paper they're written on.'

Under the Labour plan, a new publicly-owned company called GB Energy would form partnerships with locally elected leaders, communities and private firms to build clean power sources in 'cities, towns and villages across Britain'.
Terrifying footage has captured the moment a car and truck collide, sending the smaller vehicle hurtling across a major highway.

Video shared by Dashcam Owners Australia this week stated said the collision occurred on the Bruce Highway coming into Brisbane.

The major highway stretches from Brisbane to Cairns in the state's far north, with the speed limit reaching a maximum of 100kmh in most sections.

Video shared by Dashcam Owners Australia this week stated said the collision occurred on the Bruce Highway coming into Brisbane

Seconds before the flip, a truck can be seen trying to merge into the left lane, before a grey car - believed to be a Nissan model - flips onto its back.

The Nissan is sent hurtling across multiple lanes and appears to flip on its back, before skidding and making impact with the highway barrier.

It is unclear if the vehicle was clipped by the truck before it was hit.

The car then appears to flip back over onto its left side wheels, back onto its wheels, before the car comes to a slow stop on the middle of the road.

In the comments, people questioned why the truck chose to merge behind the grey car.

'With all the technology we have today, surely there's something the trucks can use that should be made standard so the driver can see down his blind spots and avoid situations like this,' one user wrote.

The major highway stretches from Brisbane to Cairns in the state's far north, with the speed limit reaching a maximum of 100kmh in most sections

The Nissan is sent hurtling across multiple lanes and appears to flip on its back, before skidding and making impact with the highway barrier

'Why cant trucks be fitted with blind spot monitors like all modern cars have?' shared another.

'That would have been terrifying to be in the car.'

Other users questioned whether the car was in the truck's blind spot, before it attempted to swiftly change lanes.

'Looks like a bus more than truck, he really should have indicated for five seconds before merging, car driver should also know there in a danger zone and sped up or back off,' another user wrote.

'How hard is it to stay away from the trucks? Don't sit next to them....' wrote another commenter.
Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding US-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

The Secretary of State was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February over a Chinese spy balloon that was shot down after drifting over the US, further inflaming tensions between DC and Beijing.

Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planet's two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years.

Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding US-China tensions

Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office

Blinken plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to US officials.

Biden and Xi agreed to Blinken's trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February, but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russia's war in Ukraine.

US officials said before Blinken's departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.

Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure 'that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into conflict' due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications 'precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications,' Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions , saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to 'benefit our two countries.'

'I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people,' Xi said to Gates. 'Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.'

In February, Blinken called off plans for a China visit at the last minute, after a Chinese spy balloon crossed the US and was shot down by an F-22 Raptor (above)

US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (left) and Chinese Foreign Ministry official Yang Tao greet Blinken on Sunday as he arrives in Beijing

Blinken exchanged greetings with Burns and Yang as he became the highest-level US official to visit China since Biden took office

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) walks after arriving in Bejing, China on Sunday

Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was 'hoping that over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along.' Chances could come at a Group of 20 leaders' gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco that the United States is hosting.

Since the cancellation of Blinken's trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the US And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine , and US allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities , including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet 'at some point in time, but were not there yet.'

Underscoring the situation, China rejected a report by a US security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as 'far-fetched and unprofessional'

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

View of the motorcade carrying US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after his arrival in Beijing

Blinken arrives at a hotel in Beijing on Sunday ahead of high-level diplomatic talks

Blinken plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (left) on Sunday and top diplomat Wang Yi (right) on Monday

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is seen meeting with Bill Gates on Friday. A meeting between Blinken and Xi is possible, but not certain, during this visit, US officials said

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect 'China's core concerns' such as the issue of Taiwan's self-rule, and 'stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop harming China's sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.'

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter China's growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS - for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking before Blinken's departure, two US officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

'We're coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible,' said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said 'intense competition requires intense diplomacy if we're going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.'
A former volunteer high school dance teacher has pleaded guilty after plying a student with alcohol then having sex with her.

Bradley William Flavel, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16 and one count of carnal knowledge with a child under the age of 16 while facing Beenleigh District Court, in Queensland, on Friday.

The court heard he first made contact with the 15-year-old girl in 2013 while working as a volunteer dance teacher at Rochedale State High School, in Brisbane's south east.

A former high-school dance teacher at Rochedale State School (pictured), Bradley William Flavel, 31, has plead guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old school girl in 2013

After initially talking on Facebook about his dance class, Flavel asked the teenager and a friend of hers if they would go for a drive with him.

He then encouraged the 15-year-old to drink alcohol before sexually assaulting her in his car in a forested area in nearby Daisy Hill and once again in his home while her friend waited in the car.

Flavel then had sex with the teenager in an industrial area in Yatala on an unknown date between October and November of 2013.

Although the victim came forward to police in 2020, Flavel continued to work in partnership with the school as president of the South Brisbane Wolves Volleyball team until at least 2021.

The court heard that Flavel had not offended since 2013 and he had no criminal history prior to the incidents, according to The Courier Mail.

During sentencing, Judge Rowan Jackson acknowledged exceptional circumstances as to not serve him with an imprisonment sentence.

'The fact you gave her alcohol is an aggravating feature but you appear to have grown a lot in maturity,' he said.

'I need to provide a sentence that is just in all the circumstances and make it clear the community denounces this sort of behaviour.'

The Beenleigh District Court (pictured) heard that Flavel, then aged 21, urged the 15-year-old to drinking alcohol before sexually assaulting her

Flavel was sentenced to 18-months in prison, suspended for two years.

Speaking outside of court, the now 25-year-old victim said she was not displeased with the judge's sentencing.

'What happened is sad but I don't want him to go to prison,' she said.

'People are sexually assaulted every day, he wasn't the first and he won't be the last; but I don't want his life to be ruined.

'Then I have to deal with the guilt of somebody going to prison.

'It won't change anything, I just wanted it to be over.'
It wants supporters and friends to stop tooting

An anonymous letter demanding a well-known charity worker stop his 'friends and followers' from tooting their car horns outside his house has divided locals.

The letter was left in Darren Laffan's mail box in the northern border Victorian town of Cobram before he posted a photograph of it to Facebook.

Mr Laffran, who is well known for helping out local farmers, wrote despite the letter being addressed to 'Dear Neighbours' it appeared to be solely aimed at him.

'While we appreciate your charity and what you do for our farmers, we don't appreciate your friends and followers tooting their horns every time they drive past your house,' the letter reads.

'This has been happening day and night, every day, for almost the entire year you have lived here. Apart from being extremely annoying and waking people up, it is illegal to toot your horn except under emergency situations.'

This letter was left in the mail box of northern Victorian Darren Laffan, who is well known for his charity work

The letter concluded by asking Mr Laffran share the message with his friends and followers to stop honking.

Mr Laffran said he would refuse to bend to the demands of the letter writer who had asked him to share the message with his friends and followers on Facebook.

'Mine is not the only house on the street not sure how you can direct this at me,' he wrote.

'And no I will not be putting a post on the charities Facebook page, unless you can prove it is directed at that.'

Social media users were split on the reasonableness of the letter.

'No need to toot the horns. Show your support in ways that don't p*** your neighbours off.. a pretty reasonable thing to do,' one person wrote

'I'd find constant tooting annoying too,' another agreed.

A comment endorsing this sentiment noted the letter had a legal point.

'Yes and doing this is actually against the law now in Victoria It attracts a pretty hefty fine as well,' it read.

Mr Laffran (pictured right) is a well known charity worker who supporters farmers in his region

The peace and quiet of the town of Cobram in northern Victoria is, according to one anonymous letter writer, being shattered by car horns night and day past a popular local's house

Others thought the letter was out of order, especially considering Mr Laffran's efforts helping farmers by co-ordinating hay runs for the Need for Feed program.

He has also helped struggling dairy farmers with donations of food, machinery and vehicles, which led to him being recognised with a Cobram Rotary Citizen of Distinction award last year.

'Thank you for your selfless service to people in need,' one person wrote.

'Perhaps your neighbour could assist, instead of complaining.'

'Sounds like you have some pretty crappy neighbours. So glad they don't rely on farmers for their food!!' said another.

A number of people objected to the fact the letter had been dropped off anonymously.

'They couldn't have just knocked on your door to chat about it?' one said.

'Very passive aggressive. They don't have the courage to talk directly,' another noted.
Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie has admitted she was 'aware of rumours' before Senator David Van was accused in parliament of sexual assault.

Senator Van resigned from the Liberal Party a day before a committee was due to discuss allegations he inappropriately touched three women including independent senator Lidia Thorpe and former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker.

He has vehemently denied the claims of sexual misconduct, which he says have left him 'shattered'.

Appearing on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday, Senator McKenzie was asked if she was 'surprised' to hear about the allegations levelled at Senator Van.

Senator McKenzie said she was not aware of 'any specific allegations', but revealed she was 'aware of rumours'.

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie (pictured) has admitted to hearing rumours

Senator David Van (pictured) has resigned after being accused of sexual misconduct

'I wasn't aware of any specific allegations at all but as always in this place, and the media would be well aware of this, there are rumours from time to time about certain individuals,' Senator McKenzie said.

'So I was aware of rumours.

'I hear a lot of rumours and if I acted on every single one of them that would not result in the best outcome. I probably am a person that if I have first-hand information, I take action, and I don't listen to gossip or rumours.'

It comes after Labor's Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has come under fire this week after leak texts revealed she was made aware of Ms Higgins allegations days before she aired her bombshell accusations on The Project in February 2021.

Senator Gallagher's insider knowledge - which she claims she was asked to keep confidential - and the Labor government have come under scrutiny after Ms Higgins was granted a fast-tracked taxpayer-funded compensation payment of 'up to $3million'.

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has vehemently denied raping Ms Higgins and the charge and trial against him were dropped late last year.

Senator McKenzie said Labor, the then opposition party, was 'ferocious' in targeting ministers over the allegations levelled at the Morrison government in the wake of Ms Higgins claims in 2021.

Lidia Thorpe made allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched'

However, she agreed with Senator Gallagher's decision to keep the information confidential, saying she does the same for 'community members, staff and colleagues' who come to her with sexual harassment issues.

'It is every single womans right to determine how she takes forward what happened to her. She might choose to stay silent, she might choose to take it to police.. There is a whole spectrum of options,' she said.

'I would really hate to see a situation arise where we are mandatorily having to report these things because it takes that agency away.'

Speers was quick to point out Senator McKenzie was among those to call on Senator Gallagher to answer questions about her knowledge of the rape allegations, despite her insistence it was confidential.

However, Senator McKenzie insisted she was not asking Senator Gallagher to breach confidentiality, only to elaborate on what she did with the information once it was known to her.

'There are very legitimate questions when it became apparent that Senator Gallagher knew prior to these allegations being made public,' she said.

'Questions still remain about the compensation payout (received by Ms Higgins)  there are still legitimate questions to ask about that process.'

In relation to Senator Van, Senator McKenzie said she supported Senator Thorpe's decision to detail the allegations under parliamentary privilege.

Former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker (pictured) has also come forward with allegations Senator Van 'squeezed her bottom'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton took steps to remove Mr Van from the Liberal party room on Thursday and called on him to resign 'sooner than later'

'Senator Thorpe was absolutely within her right to use parliamentary privilege to raise those issues as she did,' she said.

'Parliamentary privilege is a powerful and very careful part of our democracy and senators across the ages have used it to raise matters of public interest from time to time.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Senator Van for comment.

In a letter to Victorian Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella, Senator Van said he could not remain a member of a party that 'tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated'.

Allegations levelled against David Van: A timeline Wednesday, June 14 3.30pm: Lidia Thorpe accuses David Van of being a 'perpetrator' as he attempts to deliver a speech in the Senate

7.30pm: Ms Thorpe returns to the Senate to withdraw her allegations, citing parliamentary standing orders. A senator cannot make comments on the character of a colleague. She vows to make a follow up statement on Thursday Thursday, June 15 7am: David Van appears on 2GB to publicly reject allegations

12.15pm: Lidia Thorpe makes tearful admission in Senate that an unnamed colleague 'followed her aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' her

1.45pm: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reveals further allegations and expels Mr Van from Liberal party room. Simultaneously, Mr Van gave a speech in parliament, again refuting all allegations

6.30pm: Amanda Stoker comes forward to allege she was groped 'twice on the bottom' by Mr Van at an event inside a parliamentary office in November, 2020. She claims to have dealt with the matter privately with Mr Van Friday, June 16 Peter Dutton reveals there is at least one further allegation against Mr Van, and calls on him to resign from parliament altogether

8.30am: Mr Van issues a final statement, vowing to 'fully cooperate' with an examination into all claims levelled against him Advertisement

'Given the Liberal Party's wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately,' he said in the letter.

Senator McKenzie said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's decision to immediately boot Senator Van from the party room and call for his resignation from parliament in the wake of the allegations was the right call.

'All political parties have faced these type of internal challenges over the recent past and for a leader to be so decisive, I think, was a testament to his strength of feeling around these matters,' she said.

'I think there was a lot of cheers silently across parliamentary offices with such decisive action being taken by a leader.'

Senator Van denied the allegations and said he would co-operate with any investigation.

On Friday, Mr Dutton confirmed further allegations had been brought against Senator Van.

Senator Van said he was 'deeply distressed and hurt that I have not been afforded procedural fairness' in relation to the claims.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said he was shocked by what had been alleged.

'I appreciate Senator Van wants to have a presumption of innocence but I also appreciate the fact Peter Dutton has the right to protect the Liberal Party and to undertake his own investigation,' he told Nine's Today program on Sunday.

'If his behaviour doesn't meet the standards of the Liberal party, then (Peter Dutton) has every right to remove Senator Van from his party room, and the Liberal Party has every right to accept his resignation.'

Mr Littleproud hit out at Senator Van's decision to remain in parliament on the cross bench.

'While the senator can stay, under the law, really, he wasn't elected on his own volition,' he said.

'He was elected on the Liberal Party. He wants to remove himself from the Liberal party and then he should probably also remove himself from the Senate.'

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said the events of parliament in the past week sent a bad message to the public.

'(Parliament House) should be a safe place to work, the parliament of any workplace in Australia should be safe,' she told Sky News.

'Clearly there are still issues but I do not take away from the fact that much good work (on implementing reforms on workplace culture) has been done.'

Senator Van's resignation came a day before the Victorian Liberal Party's administrative committee was to meet to further consider the allegations.

He was sworn in as a federal Liberal Party senator for Victoria in July 2019.
Olson is accused of targeting young Asian girls on Instagram by specifically seizing on any one who posted about not being able to afford clothes

A neighbor of the alleged attacker has revealed that he enlisted a young child to walk his dogs from his Manhattan apartment

Michael Olson, 55, is accused of drugging and raping a 14-year-old girl in a New York City hotel

A Manhattan financier accused of drugging and raping a 14-year-old girl had a young child frequently visiting his apartment, a neighbor has claimed.

Michael Olson, 55, allegedly had the girl - who appeared to be just 11 or 12 - walking his dogs from his Battery Park apartment, the neighbor told The New York Post.

The alleged attacker was said to be secluded but lived with a woman, while the teen was often spotted 'always alone in the hallway', neighbor Rocco Flammia, 44, said.

Olson has been charged with a litany of offenses after he was found in a Manhattan hotel room in May with a girl overdosing on a cocktail of drugs, who he is also accused of raping.

Michael Olson, 54, is accused of targeting young Asian girls on Instagram by specifically seizing on any who posted about not being able to afford clothes, or about self-harm

One of Olson's neighbors in his Manhattan apartment block (pictured) has claimed the alleged attacker was frequently seen with a young girl in the building

Olson's relationship with the young girl Flammia spoke of, or whether she is the girl he is accused of raping, is unclear. The neighbor speculated that she may have even been his own daughter.

'I thought it was their child, or maybe from his previous marriage, she looked like she was mixed (Asian/white) but I haven't seen her in months,' he said.

'She was maybe 11, 12... I guess they would let her go out by herself. She was always alone in the hallway going out to walk the dogs.'

Flammia also reportedly said his secluded neighbor would always wear noise-canceling headphones, adding that his partner was also much younger.

'She's much friendlier, the wife or the girlfriend,' he said.

'I rarely saw them together. It was kind of weird. He's in his 50s, and she's very young. She's a cute girl.

'It's very disturbing. I literally share a wall with this guy'.

Prosecutors say he kept a spreadsheet detailing the drugs he gave young girls, and who he'd sent messages to

Olson was denied bail following his arrest, and his attorney said he is 'very upset' about the allegations

Olson is facing a series of disturbing allegations about his behavior, including claims he would target young Asian girls on Instagram.

It is alleged he would specifically seize upon girls posting about not being able to afford clothes, or about self-harm.

According to police, Olson stored a screenshot of the New York City public school calendar on his phone.

There were also records of pick-ups and drop-offs from NYC elementary and middle schools.

He has been charged with a range of offenses against one child who was found in a hotel room with him in Midtown Manhattan in May after overdosing on ketamine, cocaine and Xanax. Olson was there but told police the drugs were 'gifts'.

Prosecutors say he kept a spreadsheet detailing the drugs he gave young girls, and who he'd sent messages to.

The girl he was found in the hotel with had also been on trips with him, traveling to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami.

Prosecutors claimed he pretended she was his daughter on the trips to avoid suspicion.

Olson first came onto the radar of law enforcement in May, when EMTs were called to a hotel room where his alleged victim was overdosing.

He was arrested, but was released after posting a $1 million bond. Once free, however, police say he continued to prey upon young girls on social media.

Prosecutors have levied a series of disturbing allegations against Olson, including keeping a spreadsheet detailing the drugs he gave young girls, and who he'd sent messages to

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesman for Dwight Mortgage Trust - the firm where he worked - confirmed he'd been fired.

'Yesterday we became aware of the serious criminal allegations against one of our employees, Michael Olson, and immediately after learning about these allegations, he was terminated.

'The allegations are horrific and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

'We will cooperate fully with any request by law enforcement regarding Mr. Olson.'

The investigation into Olson will continue, says Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, whose office is asking any other victims to come forward.

His attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, told The New York Post that Olson is 'very upset' about the charges against him.

'Of course he's upset, he's a human being  it's a horrible day for him,' he said.

Lichtman would not give an expansive response to the allegations, instead saying: 'These are just allegations at this point, no matter how salacious they may be.

'We haven't received a single piece of paper of evidence yet, so it's hard to really discuss the case intelligently when you're not exactly sure what the evidence is.'
Ted Cruz has called on Joe Biden to release information on the 'mystery source' of $10million he made in 2017, the year his term as vice president ended.

After his term in the Obama White House ended, Biden and his wife Jill signed a lucrative multi-book deal valued at $8million, and launched a speaking tour that brought in more than $4million over several years.

However, income from the book deal and speeches was routed through two entities, known as S corporations, shielding the money from certain taxes and concealing the ultimate source on tax returns the Bidens have publicly released.

Now Cruz, a Texas Republican, is pointing to that lack of transparency in connection with an FBI memo that Republicans claim shows Biden was involved in a $5 million bribery scheme when he was vice president.

'You're looking at a tax return that has $10 million in cash that came from a mystery source,' Cruz said on Friday during his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz.

Senator Ted Cruz has called on President Joe Biden to release information on the 'mystery source' of $10 million he made in 2017

After his term in the Obama White House ended, Biden and his wife Jill signed a lucrative multi-book deal valued at $8 million, and launched a speaking tour that brought in millions more

Biden's two S corporations, CelticCapri Corp and GiaCoppa Corp, reported income of $9,490,857 and $557,882 respectively in 2017, Biden's first year as a private citizen after decades in federal elected office as a senator and the vice president.

That money, which Biden says is from book deals and speeches, was then remitted to Biden and his wife primarily as 'distributions' rather than salary, according to CNBC.

When money is funneled through an S corporation in this way, the recipient doesn't owe Social Security or Medicare taxes on it, and the source of the money is obscured.

Cruz claimed the 'timing' of the income infusion was suspicious in light of unverified allegations of a $5 million 'arrangement' of an exchange of money for policy decisions between then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national.

The claim is based on an FBI document viewed by members of Congress, which describes an interview with an informant.

The informant claimed that the CEO of Ukranian gas company Burisma paid $5 million each to Joe Biden and his son Hunter to head off an investigation by the Ukrainian prosecutor general at the time, Viktor Shokin, in 2015 or 2016.

Cruz remarked: 'The whistleblower says when he was vice president, a senior executive at Burisma offered him $5 million cash personally in order to make a corrupt deal and make official decisions for Burisma.

Biden's family income jumped from $400,000 in 2016 to $11 million in 2017 as a result of his book deal, which was valued at $8 million

Biden's 2017 tax return shows $10 million in payments to two S corporations. That money has long been reported as income from speeches and book deals, but the nature of S corporations conceals the exact source of the money, and shields it from certain taxes

'The year he leaves the vice presidency in 2017, he reported over $10 million of income in two corporations that he and his wife set up, and we know nothing, zero whatsoever about the source of that income.'

He speculated: 'What if half of that $10 million is the $5 million payment for Burisma for the bribe?'

Cruz called on House Republicans to subpoena the tax returns of CelticCapri Corp and GiaCoppa Corp.

However, that would likely prove futile, as the tax returns of S corporations typically reveal only aggregate income and expenses, and not the specific source of funds.

Biden is hardly the only politician to take advantage of the tax-avoidance and privacy benefits of S corporations.

The tactic is known in tax circles as the 'Gingrich-Edwards loophole' after Republican Newt Gingrich and Democrat John Edwards, both former presidential candidates who used it.

Joe and Jill Biden's joint tax returns show that the couple made more than $15 million in the two years after they left the Obama White House.

Biden and his wife signed a multibook deal with Flatiron Books valued at $8 million, according to Publishers Weekly.

Biden's first book, an account of his son Beau's death from cancer, briefly topped bestseller lists in 2017. Jill Biden also published a memoir in 2019.

Biden earned more than $4.29 million in speaking fees, according to public disclosures.

Joe Biden's basic speaking fee was reportedly $100,000 a speech, but his disclosures showed that while some appearances were priced as low as the $40,000 range, others ranged as high as $190,000 for a lecture at Drew University in New Jersey.

Jill Biden made at least $700,000 in her own speaking engagements, the disclosures shows.

Joe Biden also earned $540,000 as a professor and namesake of the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.
An American Airlines subsidiary is facing a $15,000 fine after an airline worker died when she was so violently 'ingested' into the engine of a landed plane it shook the entire aircraft.

OSHA's findings come into direct conflict with the initial report from the National Transport Safety Board which largely blamed Edwards, stating she was killed after getting too close to the engine of an American Eagle-operated Embraer E175 jet.

The tragedy occurred on New Year's Eve at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. The victim was later identified as 34-year-old Courtney Edwards, who worked as a ground agent for Piedmont Airlines.

An Occupational Safety and Hazard Association report is fining Piedmont an initial penalty of $15,625, the maximum under the law.

They claimed the airline did not furnish 'a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees that were exposed to ingestion and jet blast hazards.'

An American Airlines subsidy is facing a $15,000 fine after Courtney Edwards, an airline worker, died when she was so violently 'ingested' into the engine of a landed plane it shook the entire aircraft

OSHA also charges Piedmont with lacking effective training, a lack of effective communication and unclear instructions from supervisors, all contributing to Edwards' 'preventable' death.

The Communications Workers of America, Edwards' union, said in a statement that 'it is likely Piedmont will contest the decision, but CWA will continue to fight for Courtney Edwards, her family, and the safety of all airline workers, who should never fear for their lives on the job.'

The airline has 15 business days to comply with or contest the fine, which was officially issued on June 7.

'Safety is always our top priority for our team members,' Crystal Byrd, a spokesperson at Piedmont Airlines told the Dallas Morning News.

'We appreciate the recommendations from OSHA and will ensure that a thorough review is accomplished.'

The initial report, however, notes that Edwards failed to heed multiple warnings to stay back from the engines while the plane was shutting down.

The 59 passengers on board the flight from Dallas and four crew members were not injured.

Edwards is survived by her three children and her mother, according to a GoFundMe page that has been set up to help her family financially. At the time or writing, the campaign has raised close to $120,000.

Edwards worked as a ground agent for Piedmont Airlines

An obituary for Edwards mentions that she is survived by her three children

An Occupational Safety and Hazard Association report is fining Piedmont - a subsidiary of American Airlines - an initial penalty of $15,625, the maximum under the law, in direct conflict with an NTSB report

The report says the surveillance video shows a violation of protocol in which Edwards did not keep a safe distance until the airplane's rotating beacon light shuts off

According to the report, upon landing, the captain began the process of shutting down the engines before receiving a warning that the plane's front cargo door was open.

The co-pilot alerted workers on the ground to let them know the engines were still on.

One section of the report reads: 'Immediately thereafter, he saw a warning light illuminate and the airplane shook violently followed by the immediate automatic shutdown of the number 1 engine.

'Unsure of what had occurred, he extinguished the emergency lights and shut off both batteries before leaving the flight deck to investigate'.

The report says there is video that shows Edwards walking in front of the first engine on the left of the plane. It reads: 'She was subsequently pulled off her feet and into the operating engine.'

One of Edwards' colleagues told investigators he saw her 'almost fall over from the engine's exhaust while he attempted to alert her to stay back and wait for the engines to be shut down'.

One section of the GoFundMe page reads: 'Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends and kids for years to come'

As a result of the accident, Montgomery Regional Airport was shut down

The report cites the American Eagle Ground Operations Manual which tells workers not to approach the front of a running jet engine and to keep a safe distance of at least 15 feet, known as the 'ingestion zone'

Another said he attempted to warn her that the engine was still on, and as he was in the process of doing this he heard a 'bang'.

The ground crew said they had two meetings about safety prior to the plane landing and all members knew the engines would remain on until ground power was connected as the plane does not have auxiliary power.

One member of the crew said it was 'discussed that the airplane should not be approached'.

The report says the surveillance video shows a violation of protocol in which Edwards did not keep at a safe distance until the airplane's rotating beacon light shut off.

It reads: 'Throughout the course of the accident, the airplane's upper rotating beacon light appeared to be illuminated'.

The report cites the American Eagle Ground Operations Manual which tells workers not to approach the front of a running jet engine and to keep a safe distance of at least 15 feet, known as the 'ingestion zone.'

The manual says: 'Jet engines spin with powerful speed and are extremely dangerous until spooled down. The area in front of the engine is called the ingestion zone. The ingestion zone for all aircraft types is 15 feet. You must never enter the ingestion zone until the engine has spooled down.'

It's not clear when the full and final report will be published.

Speaking about Edwards' death, a co-worker Divonta Palmer, told WSFA: 'I can't wrap my mind around how did this happen. She would tell me that she was always dedicated and motivated to do the best job and put the best foot forward.'

Palmer also said the incident should act as a wake-up call for ground crews regarding safety.

The GoFundMe page was set up for Edwards by local union rep, Donielle Prophete. On the fundraising page, Prophete wrote: 'Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends and kids for years to come.'

Edwards was from the town of Niceville, Florida, close to the border with Alabama. She moved to Alabama in 2013.

According to Popular Mechanics, there have been 33 reports of people being ingested by Boeing engines over the last forty years. The website referred to death by ingestion as 'uncommon' but not 'unprecedented.'
His father was killed instantly, and the six-year-old has tragically died after spending a month in a coma on life support

Grayson Boggs, 6, was struck by lightning while holding hands with his father Matthew last month

A six-year-old Texas boy has tragically died a month after his father was struck and killed by a lightning bolt while they were holding hands.

Grayson Boggs, 6, was being picked up from the school bus by his dad Matthew, 34, on May 15 when the strike hit them, killing Matthew instantly.

Paramedics rushed Grayson to hospital and he remained in critical condition with brain damage for over a month before his death on June 16.

'Words can't describe this,' the boy's aunt wrote on social media. 'You fought so hard through it all, now you'll be able to rest my handsome funny little baby nephew'.

Grayson was rushed to hospital following the strike and remained in critical condition for weeks before his death on June 16

Pictured: Dad Matthew with his two sons Elijah and Grayson, who can be seen in a stroller

The tragic incident occurred after Matthew had picked his sons up off the school bus, and they were walking down the driveway of their family home in Valley Mills, Texas.

Matthew's mother Angela Boggs heartbreakingly revealed that the father and son expressed their love for each other just moments before the lightning strike.

'(Matthew had just got done telling Grayson that he loved him, he said 'I love you buddy', that's when the lightning came down,' Boggs told KWTX.

'I always took care of him, because he is the one god gave to me,' she added, speaking about Matthew. 'Now my responsibility is to take care of my grandbabies.'

Grayson had been quickly placed on life support in a coma following the strike, and it was later determined he had a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.

Grayson had been taken off a ventilator three days before his death after doctors determined his condition would not improve

Family members said he had initially shown signs of improvement, including breathing on his own and being taken off the donor list

The boy spent over a month in hospital after the strike. He is pictured with his cousin Harley (left), great grandmother Rose (center), and mother Kayla (right)

As his devastated family prayed for a recovery, they said the little boy had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, including breathing on his own and being taken off the donor list.

But on Tuesday, almost a month after the lightning strike, doctors informed his heartbroken family that his condition would not improve, and the decision was made to take him off a ventilator.

He was placed on palliative care a day later, before he passed away at around 5am on June 16.

The day before his death, his family had posted an update on his condition to a GoFundMe set up to help pay for funeral expenses.

'It's been 1 month since tragedy struck this family,' the post said. 'The strength that this family has shown is inspiring. Grayson is still hanging on, but is on comfort care.

'Please just pray that we keep him comfortable at this time and pray for healing for the family. We may not know what God's plan is, but we know he has his arms wrapped around Grayson at this time.'

His mother Kayla announced the tragic news of her son's death on Facebook

The six-year-old had been in critical condition for over a month before his tragic death

Pictured: Angela Boggs (left) and grandson Elijah Boggs speaking after the strike

Grayson's brother Elijah, who was only a feet away when the lightning struck his dad and brother, recalled in harrowing detail the moments after the strike hit.

'I was really scared. I rolled Grayson over and he was kind of smiling a little bit,' he said.

'I thought they were just joking, but when I rolled my dad over the middle of his head was bleeding and his face was already purple.'

When first responders arrived on the scene, both father and son were unresponsive. Both reportedly lost their shoes due to the intensity of the strike.

While Matthew was pronounced dead soon after, desperate efforts to resuscitate Grayson saw him rushed to Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center in Waco, Texas.

Doctors determined he was okay from the neck down, however they found he had suffered neurological issues and sustained a major anoxic brain injury.

Elijah (right) was just feet away from the lightning strike that killed his brother Grayson (left) and father last month

Pictured: Matthew with his wife Kayla and two of their children Elijah and Nevaeh

Family members said tributes and well wishes poured in from around the world while the boy battled in a coma.

But when doctors informed the family that Grayson's condition wouldn't improve, a decision was made to take him off his ventilator. He died three days later.

According to the CDC, lightning strikes are more frequent and deadly in the southeastern states including Texas.

From 2006 until 2021, only five states (Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Washington) and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported no lightning deaths.

Texas was the second highest with the number of deaths over that period, with 36 people killed, Florida took the first spot with 79 deaths.
The father of the man who allegedly shot his three young sons on Thursday has said something in his son must have 'just snapped.'

Keith Doerman, 59, said he and his wife were 'still trying to comprehend' how Chad Doerman, 32, could have allegedly killed his own boys, but added they have 'no answers.' 'He just snapped,' Keith said.

'There was something going on in his life that he couldn't handle no more. I can't talk to him, they aren't letting me talk to him so I don't have any answers. He probably hid a lot of stuff from me.'

Chad Doerman, 32, cried as he was arraigned in court on Friday and his bail was set at $20million for allegedly killing his three young sons

A tearful Doerman was arraigned in court on Friday, where his bail was set at $20million.

Haunting police bodycam footage shows the moment officers arrived to find Chad calmly seated next to his rifle on Thursday afternoon moments after allegedly executing his young sons.

Doerman was detained without incident after he was found on the steps of his Ohio property.

The deputies discovered the victims, aged 3, 4, and 7, unresponsive in the yard with gunshot wounds. They tried to revive the children until the Monroe Fire/EMS arrived but all of them succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

Their 34-year-old mother was also outside the property when deputies arrived, with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the hand that was not life-threatening.

She was taken to University Hospital in Cincinnati, where she was informed that her children had died.

A tearful Doerman appeared in court for his arraignment on Friday

Doerman updated his Facebook page to include this picture just six days ago

He shared several recent pictures of the boys before allegedly executing them last Thursday

The sheriff's office said there were no signs of forced entry into the home and investigators are not looking for any other suspects.

Doerman later allegedly confessed to lining up his three young sons and shooting them one after another, as his terrified daughter ran, screaming that her father was 'killing everyone,' said prosecutors on Friday.

He is also accused of shooting the boys' mother in the hand. He was charged with aggravated murder over the death of his children.

Chad's father said he had just visited his son last week.

'He seemed fine,' Keith Doerman said. 'He was a jokester and a fun-loving guy.'

He also insisted that Chad did not have a criminal history or any mental illness. Chad was once charged in a 2010 domestic violence incident, during which he had allegedly choked his father.

A child's bike, along with evidence markers, in the front yard of the home in Monroe Township where three brothers, ages, three, four and seven, were killed, execution style, according to the Clermont chief prosecutor

Police body camera footage shows the arrest of Doerman, who was sitting on his front steps when police arrived after he alleged shot his three sons, ages 7, 4, and 3

Mugshot of Chad Doerman released by the Clermont County Sheriff's Office

However, the case was dismissed when Keith Doerman failed to appear as a witness for the prosecution.

The elder Doerman told the Post that the account recorded by the Cincinnati Enquirer was incorrect about its account and that the 'judge dismissed the case.'

Just days prior to their horrifying deaths, Doerman seems to have changed his profile picture on Facebook to a picture of his three young sons.

He also posted several pictures of himself with the boys in recent days.

A GoFundMe established for the family and the burial expenses for the boys has raised close to $140,000
A family has been left devastated after their 16-year-old daughter died in hospital a week after she was involved in a two-vehicle smash.

Lilly Hayes was one of two people critically injured when the blue sedan she was riding in smashed head-on with a white 4WD coming the other way on a rural road near the Queensland town of Gunalda at about 2.30pm Saturday, June 10.

Lilly was transported to the Brisbane Children's Hospital, about 200km south, in a critical condition before dying on Friday.

A Gofundme was set up to help Lilly's family while they remained by her bedside throughout the harrowing ordeal.

'It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to write this update on Lilly's condition,' page creator Sherryn Wynne wrote.

Lilly Hayes (pictured centre) has lost her life following a horrific car crash in rural Queensland

'Yesterday afternoon, surrounded by her loved ones, Lilly passed away.'

'Meagan, David, Jacob, Seth and Emma are now grieving the loss of their daughter and sister.'

'This is something that no parent should have to go through and it is just so devastating that her life has been cut so short.

'Our sassy little Lilly had the whole world ahead of her.'

The page said donated funds will go towards a celebration of Lilly's life and ongoing support for the family.

Lilly attended the James Nash State High School in Gympie where she was described by Gympie mother Kirra Mills as 'Such a loving caring young lady'.

'You helped Mia more than you will ever know. It was a pleasure having you over. Such beautiful manners,' Ms Mills said in a Facebook comment.

The smash occurred on a single lane dirt backroad about 200km north of Brisbane just over a week ago

'This beautiful family aren't ones to reach out and ask for help,' Ms Wynne wrote in the post.

'They're used to being on the other side and are always the first to offer help to those in need.'

One of the donors lost their 14-year-old son, Levi Hanna, when he was hit by a bus after stepping out of a bus in the same Gympie region as Lilly's accident in February.

'I know that our kind and light hearted Levi will help guide Lilly in this next journey . .. We Send all our love to you little Lilly,' wrote Levi's mother Lilly Zrehen.

The gofundme page had passed $5000 in pledges by Sunday afternoon.

The driver of the car Lilly was in, a man in his 20s, was flown to the Royal Brisbane where he was last reported to be in a critical condition.

The blue sedan that Lilly and a man in his 20s were travelling in was left a twisted wreck after the crash

The six passengers in the 4WD were left 'battered and bruised' but escaped without serious injury.

Gold Coast mum Amellia Hartman who was driving the 4WD said the car's front had smashed in but largely absorbed the crash's impact.

She was horrified however to see her three-year-old toddler Charlotte walk up to check on Lilly, who was lying in the road.

'That's not something you want a three-year-old to experience,' she said.

Police were investigating the crash but said no charges have been laid.
Police have charged a man with murder after another man was found dead at a high-security prison in Adelaide over the weekend.

At about 5:35 pm on Saturday police and emergency services rushed to the Yatala Labour Prison, in the Adelaide suburb of Northfield.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, a 52-year-old male inmate died at the scene.

South Australia Police said they arrested a 33-year-old male inmate on Saturday evening, who was subsequently charged with murder.

At about 5:35 pm on Saturday police and emergency services rushed to the Yatala Labour Prison, in the Adelaide suburb of Northfield

The man will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Police said that as the death occurred in custody, it will therefore be subject to a mandatory inquest by the state coroner.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said he understood the death happened in a cell located within the prison.

'As it stands, we know that Major Crime are investigating this death that on all accounts occurred within a cell where there was more than one prisoner,' he said.

Department for Correctional Services chief executive David Brown said the inmates shared a cell.

'Both the victim and the alleged offender were on remand to appear in court at a future date,' he said.

Mr Brown said staff provided first aid to the inmate until paramedics and police arrived at the jail.

'After the incident, the second prisoner was immediately secured in another area by correctional staff,' he said.

South Australia Police said they arrested a 33-year-old male inmate on Saturday evening, who was subsequently charged with murder

'This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim's family,' he said.

'Correctional and nursing staff were confronted with a very difficult situation and support is being provided to those staff involved.'

Yatala Labour Prison is the largest metropolitan corrections facility in South Australia.

Minister for Correctional Services Joe Szakacs praised staff for their quick response.

'I commend the effort of Department for Correctional Services staff and first responders for their immediate assistance rendered,' she said.
Podcaster Joe Rogan and billionaire Elon Musk have lashed out at a vaccine researcher who dismissed Rogan's recent interview with anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as 'nonsense'.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, on Saturday tweeted his concerns about Rogan's interview with Kennedy, a longshot Democratic presidential candidate.

Kennedy in the interview repeated his debunked claims that common childhood vaccines cause autism, which Hotez called 'just awful' as he lamented 'its clear many actually believe this nonsense.'

Rogan fired back with a challenge: 'Peter, if you claim what RFK jr is saying is misinformation I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if youre willing to debate him on my show with no time limit.'

Musk quickly chimed in to goad on the drama on Twitter, which he owns, tweeting that Hotez 'just hates charity' and saying the scientist is 'afraid of a public debate, because he knows hes wrong.'

Robert F. Kennedy Jr appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast this week, repeating his debunked claims that common childhood vaccines cause autism

Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, on Saturday tweeted his concerns about the Kennedy interview

However, in multiple tweets, Hotez indicated his willingness to appear on Rogan's podcast, which reaches a massive audience of millions on Spotify.

'Im happy to come on and have a meaningful discussion. I respect you and your show and I dont want an adversarial relationship. I think we can make some progress,' tweeted Hotez.

'And Im open to a number of different options, but to be pressured to give you an answer on Twitter, now, with a take it or leave it demand thats not how I work. Honestly, I dont even think that would be in your best interests,' he wrote.

Kennedy also indicated his willingness to engage, tweeting: 'Peter. Lets finally have the respectful, congenial, informative debate that the American people deserve.'

During his appearance on Rogan's podcast on Thursday, Kennedy repeated his longstanding and debunked claims that common childhood vaccines cause autism.

'Everybody will say, "There's no study that shows autism and vaccines are connected." That's just just crazy. That's people who are not looking at science. It's part of the religion.'

The Democrat has made a name for himself by being a prominent anti-vaxxer, but his involvement in the anti-vaccine movement intensified after the pandemic and development of the Covid-19 vaccine.

His anti-vaccine charity, Children's Health Defense, prospered at the time, with revenues more than doubling in 2020 to $6.8 million, according to filings made with charity regulators.

Rogan challenged Hotez to debate RFK Jr for a $100,000 donation to charity, while Musk quickly chimed in to goad on the drama on Twitter, which he owns

Rogan's challenge sparked a frenzied back-and-forth on Twitter, but Hotez indicated in multiple tweets that he would be willing to appear on the podcast

Kennedy Jr released a book in 2021, The Real Anthony Fauci, in which he accused the U.S.s top infectious disease doctor of assisting in 'a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy' and promoted unproven COVID-19 treatments such as ivermectin, which is meant to treat parasites, and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

His push against the COVID-19 vaccine has linked him at times with anti-democratic figures and groups.

Kennedy Jr has appeared at events pushing the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and with people who cheered or downplayed the US Capitol riot.

Kennedy Jr has at times invoked his family's legacy in his anti-vaccine work, including sometimes using images of President Kennedy.

His sister Kerry Kennedy, who runs Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the international rights group founded by their mother, Ethel, said her brother has at times removed some of the content at her request.

She told the Associated Press in a 2021 interview her brother is 'completely wrong on this issue and very dangerous.'

After Kennedy announced his presidential bid as a Democratic candidate in April, he is polling at about 15 percent among potential primary voters, compared to 62 percent for President Joe Biden.

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

Since Kennedy announced his presidential bid as a Democratic candidate in April, he is polling at about 15 percent among potential primary voters

Kennedy Jr has refused to openly speculate on Biden's mental fitness for office, but told Fox News that he jumped in the race because he is displeased with what Biden is 'doing with this country.'

He pointed specifically to the president's handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he said should have been settled long ago.

The amount of American dollars that have been sent to Ukraine since the conflict began last year currently tops $130billion, a figure Kennedy pointed out far exceeds the budgets of many of the US alphabet agencies combined.

The candidate suggested that some of that money be spent stateside instead, citing the fact that 57 percent of Americans cannot afford a sudden $1,000 hardship expense.

Kennedy has also attracted a niche crowd of followers among conservatives for his vociferous COVID-19 vaccine skepticism, as well as his support for keeping biological males out of women's sports.
Fake heiress Anna Sorokin asked NewsNation's Chris Cuomo 'how many times must I apologize?' in her first television interview since her release from prison.

The 32-year-old con artist was granted a $10,000 bail by a federal immigration court after spending 18 months in prison this past October.

She gave her first TV interview to Cuomo from her Manhattan apartment as the host tried to pin down Sorokin about whether or not she was truly sorry for her years as a serial scammer.

Cuomo noted that showing some actual regret would have helped her, as a judge sentenced her to four to 12 years in 2019 after saying she seemed to have no remorse.

Sorokin snapped at Cuomo, saying 'that did not happen. Where do you have that information from? That never happened, I had the option. Who reported that the judge declined the deal.'

Notorious fraud Anna Sorokin was clearly frustrated with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo in her first television interview since her release from prison, as she attempted to move on from prison life

'The court records,' Cuomo responded, which led to him asking if Sorokin was tired of being asked if she was truly sorry as he just had.

Sorokin claimed people have been taking things out of context and believe she did everything that the Netflix series inspired by her, Inventing Anna, said she did.

'You know you did do some of it, you were convicted by a jury' Cuomo said, noting that all of her appeals have failed.

She argued that her criminal appeal, which has not even been filed yet, is 'still pending'.

'I'm not responsible for how fast the system is moving, I'm sorry,' she added.

Cuomo then noted that the appeal hadn't been filed, which seemed to annoy the phony heiress further.

'How familiar are you with the criminal justice system in New York?' Sorokin asked.

'Too familiar,' Cuomo responded dryly, before asking if she had indeed filed her criminal appeal.

She gave her first TV interview to Chris Cuomo from her Manhattan apartment as the host tried to pin down Sorokin about whether or not she was truly sorry for her years as a serial scammer

Sorokin claimed people have been taking things out of context and believe she did everything that the Netflix series inspired by her, Inventing Anna, said she did

Sorokin argued that her criminal appeal, which has not even been filed yet, is 'still pending'

Sorokin became fixated, shooting back: 'Too familiar? It doesn't sound like that,'

'Let's say I did,' she then said. 'My criminal appeal is pending. It's publicly available information.'

Cuomo then chose to move on, asking one more time if she felt that her apologizing would help her get past this.

'It does, I mean, and I said I regret a lot of decisions I made when I was younger and I think I should be afforded a chance to move on with my life,' she said. 'How many more times shall I apologize? I repaid my restitution in full before I was released from prison. How many people can say that?'

Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, had her lavish lifestyle as a con artist captured by the 2022 miniseries 'Inventing Anna'.

The show tells the story of a woman leading New York's elite to believe she is an heiress to a large fortune in order to bank a personal hoard of cash and goods as she looks to open an art-themed club.

The 'Soho Grifter' pretended to be a German heiress with a 60mn euro fortune before she was found out and arrested.

Despite being sentenced to four years in jail in April 2019, Delvey was released on good behavior until she was re-arrested for overstaying her visa.

She has since been on house-arrest at her East Village apartment in Manhattan and has recently announced the launch of a podcast, recorded under house arrest.

Guests are said to include Emily Ratajkowski, Julia Fox and Whitney Cummings, as she discusses 'what it means to be a rule-breaker'.

Delvey has continued to clash with her former lawyer, who she has claimed failed to turn over records she needs to fight a deportation order and appeal her conviction.

In March this year, Thomas collapsed in court as she faced Delvey in Manhattan Civil Court.

She said: 'My heart is hurting me! I need an ambulance!'

After a brief delay while the former attorney was wheeled out of the courtroom on a stretcher, Delvey emerged victorious as the judge ordered Thomas to hand over the documents.

Thomas was disbarred in November after she allegedly stole money from an elderly client.

In the new court papers, seen by the New York Post, she referred to this, saying that her disbarment 'does not negate the balance that the defendant owes'.

Delvey in a recent photoshoot to promote her new podcast which she is recording from her apartment while under house arrest

Anna Sorokin appears in Manhattan Civil court in March, since dropping Thomas in April 2022

Thomas collapsed in court on March 10, before she was ordered to hand over court documents

Delvey has announced she will launch a podcast featuring famous guests from her apartment

Thomas was held in contempt of court and fined $1,000 a day 'until she either returns the materials or provides and explanation' as to their whereabouts.

After being dropped by Delvey, Thomas previously sent two batches of the deportation documents in August to Delvey's new legal team.

However, she allegedly failed to turn over 'any of the digital audio recordings of (Delvey's) immigration court hearings,' according to the lawsuit against her.

The convicted fraudster also alleged that Thomas withheld her personal property, claiming she is concealing the items because she has a 'vendetta' against her.

After completing her criminal sentence in February 2021 - for convictions of grand larceny and thefts totaling $275,000, including stealing at least one flight on a private jet - Sorokin was detained for 18 months by ICE.

She was released from ICE custody on October 7. Judge Charles R. Conroy ruled that Sorokin was not a danger to the public and would move to house arrest while she fights deportation to Germany.

She wrote an exclusive piece for DailyMail.com in September in which she complained that the US immigration system is broken, saying she has spent 18 months 'foundering in the sinkhole of America's immigration system.'
A month's worth of rain could be dumped on parts of Britain today causing flash floods in the process as thunderstorms puncture the recent summer sunshine that has covered the country.

Experts are warning more than three inches of rain (80mm) could fall in the space of just three hours in some areas England and Wales this afternoon and evening.

The Met Office has issued two thunderstorm warnings in the UK - one covering the entirety of Wales and most of England, one covering Cumbria along with southern and central Scotland, and another covering large parts of Northern Ireland.

It says the storms could bring lightning, strong winds, hail and localised flooding as the water is dropped on land that has been parched following Britain's hottest start to June since 1976.

There are warnings that despite the heavy rainfall, water supplies won't be sufficiently replenished to lift hosepipe bans that are currently in place for 1.3million people in South East England.

Lightning and thunder is seen over the water during a storm in Minster on Sea, Kent, in the early hours of Sunday morning

The Met Office has issued two yellow thunderstorm warnings and one yellow rain warning for Britain today. The map above shows one thunderstorm warning covering most of Northern Ireland, and another covering the whole of Wales and almost the entire of England

Temperatures are expected to remain above average for this time of year, with highs of 25C (77F) in inland areas of southern England, while it will be several degrees cooler on the coast.

Overnight some Britons had their sleep disturbed as thunderstorms formed in parts of the country, with a lightning strike in Manchester causing 'severe delays' on the region's Metrolink tram.

The East Didsbury-Rochdale and Manchester Airport lines were suspended for hours, while the Altrincham line faced serious delays after the strike caused a technical issue which prevented trams from leaving the Trafford depot.

Meteorologists say they believe this afternoon's thunderstorms are most likely to form just to the north of London, before moving northwards across the Midlands, east England, east Wales and southern areas of northern England.

READ MORE HERE: More than three inches of rain will fall within hours on Sunday as heatwave breaks Advertisement

However, there will be isolated showers across most of England as well - including Isle of Wight Festival where revellers will be trying to make the most of the last day of the show off the south coast.

The Met Office has updated a yellow warning for thunderstorms in England and Wales that was issued yesterday, so it will now come into effect from midday and last until midnight.

It warns: 'Some places may miss most (or all) of the rain, but others could see 30mm in an hour or less, and perhaps a few spots seeing 60 to 80mm within 3 to 6 hours. There is also the potential for frequent lightning, strong winds and hail.'

The service has also issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for western and central areas of Northern Ireland, which will come into effect at midday and last until 9pm.

And earlier today it issued a yellow warning for heavy rain covering Cumbria and the entirety of southern and central Scotland, with warnings more than three inches could fall in some places.

This rain warning will be in place from 7pm to midnight, at which point it will be replaced with another 12-hour rain warning covering northern England and the whole of Scotland with the exception of the Highlands.

Half today's torrent is expected to fall in just an hour, prompting warnings of flash flooding and danger for drivers.

Jonathan Vautrey, a Met Office forecaster, told the PA news agency today: 'Some places could see 40mm to 60mm of rain, even 80mm in some places, which is more than half a month's worth of rainfall depending on where you are.

'That could cause some sudden flooding spray on roads which could cause some difficult travelling conditions over the next 24 hours.'

In June, the entire UK averages 12 days of rain, totalling 77mm.

The Environment Agency had 14 flood alerts in place across the Midlands and northern England on Sunday morning, meaning flooding is possible.

People in Cambridge took advantage of the warm temperatures before the rain arrived by going punting this morning

A group of women laugh as they punt along the River Cam in Cambridge on Sunday morning

Revellers smile for the camera at Isle of Wight Festival on Saturday. Forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall at the festival today

A rain warning for northern England and large parts of Scotland will also be in place on Monday

What is the weather looking like for the second half of the weekend?



Here is your Sunday #4cast with all the details  pic.twitter.com/2MHQEdGpJx  Met Office (@metoffice) June 17, 2023

The Met Office has warned that pollen levels are set to be high across most of the UK today, with some areas have Very High levels

Just 9mm of rain fell in the first two weeks of this month, the hottest start to June since the heatwave summer of 1976.

Many parts of Britain met the threshold for a heatwave last week and the above-average temperatures are expected to continue into next week, despite the unsettled conditions.

READ MORE HERE: Summer drought brought on by the heatwave leaves thousands of homes across Kent and Sussex without water for days Advertisement

Temperatures have been more than 10C above average in recent days. Despite threats of hail and lightning, maximum temperatures are expected to be between 27C and 29C going into next week.

The deluge follows a month of fairly dry weather, with England seeing 65 per cent of its average rainfall in May. The Environment Agency urged people to check its website for flood warnings throughout today.

Sarah Cook, the agency's national flood duty manager, said: 'On Sunday afternoon and into the night, slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms could lead to localised surface water flooding across England.

'Environment Agency teams are out on the ground and will support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.

'We urge people not to drive though flood water  it is often deeper than it looks and just 30 centimetres of flowing water is enough to float your car.

'People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest flood updates.'

The Met Office's three month outlook predicts there is a 45 per cent chance that this summer will be hot  2.3 times higher than the normal chance.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said: 'The long-range forecast suggests that there is a good chance of it being an above average summer when it comes to temperatures.

'An area of high pressure has been dominating for quite a while and so temperatures have remained elevated.'
A distressed dog has been spotted trapped inside a parked car 'full of barbed wire' at a popular Australian beach, outraging animal lovers - but police have bizarrely claimed the claimed pooch is being 'well-looked after'.

The disturbing sight was photographed in the carpark at the southern end of Caves Beach, 90 minutes drive north of Sydney, by a local on Thursday morning.

A man walking past the silver MG hatchback only stopped to take a look because the dog was so upset that it drew attention to the vehicle.

As he got closer he saw a 'visibly distressed' dog, which appeared to be a German shepherd in the back seat, with barbed wire covering all the windows.

'The windows were fully up and the dog couldn't get near the windows as they were covered in barbed wire,' a local woman told Daily Mail Australia.

The disturbing sight of a dog in a car full of barbed wire at Caves Beach, 90 minutes drive north of Sydney, was photographed by a local

Local police were alerted but the car had left the parking area by the time they arrived

The woman, a friend of the man who witnessed the car, said there were no other passengers, nor a driver, inside.

The man went to find phone reception to alert police, and the local woman, but by the time they returned to the carpark the vehicle had gone.

'My friend was very distressed at what he found and I was disgusted at what he showed me,' the local woman, who asked not to be named, said.

'It's super messed up for this little beachside village.'

Officers from Belmont police station rushed to the carpark but the car had left.

NSW Police police told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday evening the dog's owner was later spoken to but no arrests were made.

'When police arrived [at the carpark], the vehicle had left the scene; however, inquiries identified the car owner, and officers from Tuggerah Lakes PD were asked to conduct further inquiries,' a police statement said.

'Later that day, police spoke with the owner about the concerns for the dog.

'Officers have checked the dog and confirmed there were no injuries and that it is being well-cared for.

'They have also been assured that the wire has been permanently removed from the car.'

On social media the reaction to the photos was total outrage.

'That's the most f***ed up thing I've seen,' said one man in the local Facebook post.

'What I see is someone desperately trying to control their dog, yet having zero idea how to do so,' a woman said. 'This is awful behaviour.'

'Why the f*** would anyone do this? There is no possible reason. I can't believe what I'm seeing,' one person wrote on reddit.

'Smash the window and get the dog out of there. F*** that person.'

Another reddit user pointed out the implications of barbed wire inside a car are worse than they first appear.

'If that car is in an accident, whoever is inside is f***ed assuming it has airbags.

Social media users were outraged. 'Why the f*** would anyone do this? There is no possible reason,' one wrote

'I don't know the legalities around this sort of thing. Is this actually something an owner can choose to do inside their own vehicle? It obviously has major safety implications.

'Their insurance company would obviously deny any claims.'

Back on Facebook, one woman wondered if the barbed wire was 'a safety measure' for a homeless person living out of their car.

'Poor dog, though,' she added.

'[That's] definitely a possibility but no excuse for cruelty,' said a woman in response.

An RSPCA spokesman told yahoo situations like this need to be reported so they can be investigated for potential animal cruelty.

You should note down the car's make, model, colour, and license plate number or if you have your phone nearby, take a picture of it, ' a spokesperson told Yahoo.

'If you can, stay with the dog until help arrives and provide updates on the condition of the dog where possible.'
Keir Starmer has risked the fury of one of his most high-profile eco-protester financial backers by telling energy firms personally he will not interfere with gas and oil projects in the North Sea.

The Labour leader reportedly spoke to senior executives ahead of the launch of his party's green energy policy tomorrow.

Sir Keir told the head of Equinor, which is applying to brill the Rosebank oil field, that Labour would not retrospectively suspend any licences it receives, if the party takes power next year, the Sunday Times reported.

The controversial development west of the Shetland Islands, is expected to get approval from the Tory government within weeks.

But it comes after the party, and Sir Keir personally, took millions in donations from Dale Vince, the green power tycoon who also funds Just Stop Oil.

He has been criticised for taking cash from the Ecotricity founder and owner of Forest Green Rovers, while going on the attack over fossil fuels.

However, Labour defended its policy today, saying it was never its intention to retrospectively cancel projects already approved if it wins the next election.

The Labour leader reportedly spoke to senior executives ahead of the launch of his party's green energy policy tomorrow.

Sir Keir told the head of Equinor, which is applying to brill the Rosebank oil field, that Labour would not retrospectively suspend any licences it receives, if the party takes power next year, the Sunday Times reported.

The controversial development west of the Shetland Islands, is expected to get approval from the Tory government within weeks.

But it comes after the party, and Sir Keir personally, took thousands of pounds in donations from Dale Vince, the green power tycoon who also funds Just Stop Oil.

A spokesman said: 'Labours policy is unchanged. We will not grant licenses to explore new fields.

'We have also always said we would not revoke existing licenses. So if Rosebank, for example, is licensed by the time of the election, then it will be able to continue to operate.'

Equinor - which is majority Norwegian state-owned - is one of the biggest producers of gas in the world.

Last year it became Europe's biggest supplier of natural gas after Russia's Gazprom slashed deliveries amid sanctions against Vladimir Putin's regime, following his invasion of Ukraine.

It has historically supplied around 25 per cent of gas used in the UK. It reported net profits of 23.8 billion ($33.5 billion USD) last year, compared with profits of 7.1 billion ($8.6 billion) in 2021.

Activists have taken aim at the firm for raking in huge profits while households and businesses are suffering amid a cost-of-living crisis and claim the companies have made little progress in switching to renewable energy sources.

In February, a company spokesman said the Rosebank development 'has the potential to strengthen energy security with oil and gas that is produced with a much lower carbon footprint than current UK production' and claimed it will bring in around 26.8 billion to the UK economy through taxes and investments.

Sir Keir is under pressure over more than 1.5million Labour has received from Mr Vince since 2015.

Last month Mr Vince said he would double all money given to JSO in a 48-hour period after senior Conservatives urged Sir Keir to return the funds the green energy entrepreneur gave to the party.

And this month he took part in a JSO slow walking protest that brought Westminster to a halt by processing down Whitehall to Trafalgar Square.
Primary schools in some London boroughs will be left out of pocket and unevenly hit by costs from Sadiq Khan's 130 million free school meal plan, new research has suggested.

Under the London Mayor's plan, all primary school children in the capital will receive free school meals for the next academic year, with Mr Khan's office funding 2.65 per meal - an increase from the 2.41 per meal currently paid for by the Government.

But some councils, such as Lewisham, have warned that the true cost of meal is actually 3 per child, creating a 600,000 shortfall in borough finances to plug the gap and make sure every child is given free meals from September.

In other areas, however, boroughs have said the new scheme will result in an excess amount of cash, prompting fears that the scheme has been distributed unevenly across London.

School food campaigner Andy Jolley said that Mr Khan had 'completely underestimated the difficulties of implementation' and that schools would be left to 'pick up the pieces'.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan will launch his 130 million free school meal plan in September

Bexley council told Schools Week: 'The council does not have the funds to meet any additional costs associated with this initiative and this will need to be met by our schools.'

A spokesperson for Sutton Council added: 'As the funding is only for one year, commencing with a short timescale and the take-up is unknown, schools will need to manage the equipment and sites they have and manage the situation accordingly.

'If this were to continue then some capital funding may be required.'

Others, such as Kingston and Richmond council, warned that they would not have time or enough extra cash to increase staff and upgrade facilities before rolling out the scheme in September.

'Logistics of mobilising the expansion in such a short period of time is causing concern, at a time when schools are already under significant pressure in terms of children's needs and school finances,' it said.

Westminster council, however, which already provides free school meals to all primary school, said the extra money would help expand the scheme for secondary school pupils.

Currently, households in England receiving Universal Credit must earn below 7,400 a year before benefits and after tax to qualify for free school meals. But all children in London will be provided free meals from the start of the new academic year.

According to the Food Foundation, an estimated 800,000 children in England are living in poverty but do not qualify for free school meals.

Mr Khan has previously said that the scheme should be copied nationwide.

Some councils, however, have warned that the earmarked money is not enough to cover costs for a free meal for every single child

Speaking to the BBC previously, Mr Khan said: 'I am hoping that the lessons from London will show the case unarguably that universal free school meals in primary schools should be a must.'

'The cost-of-living crisis means families and children across our city are in desperate need of additional support,' he added.

'It will also guarantee every primary school student a healthy, nutritious meal - meaning they don't go hungry in the classroom and can better concentrate on their studies.'

It faced backlash when he unveiled the plans, with some Conservative MPs hitting out at the cost and the universality of the scheme.

Former secretary of state for levelling up, Simon Clarke said: 'Using millions that could be spent on targeted support to vulnerable children to subsidise free school meals for middle class parents who can afford them perfectly well is the opposite of progressive politics. Classic Labour.'

Mr Khan's intervention comes after TV chef Jamie Oliver in December called on the Government to extend free school meals to every household with parents on Universal Credit, warning 'chaos ensues' from parents worrying about feeding their children.

A spokesperson for the Mayor told MailOnline: 'Due to the impact of the spiralling cost of living on families, the Mayor has stepped forward with an emergency 130m funding plan to ensure primary school pupils in the capital receive free school meals for the next academic year.

'He has continually called on the Government to provide these free school meals to help already-stretched households, but Ministers have simply failed to act.

'The Mayor's team have been working closely with schools, councils and partners to inform the implementation of this unprecedented policy and it has been proposed that 2.65 will be provided per meal  almost 10 per cent more than the Government currently funds for free infant school meals.

'The Mayor's team will be working with schools and boroughs to support best practice around pupil premium, which includes strongly encouraging the adoption of a universal registration model which helped increase the income in Islington.'
This is the moment a sex offender who used mayonnaise bottles to squirt his semen over women, prompting a police appeal, called 101 to admit: 'That image is me'.

Willbert Mukori, 26, sexually assaulted a dozen victims before handing himself in. Astonishingly, he then demanded police remove the CCTV appeal.

He initially self-presented at the station and was arrested, but denied any of the allegations.

After a police investigation Mukori, of Elswick Grove, Kingstanding, admitted 16 sexual assaults against 12 women. He was jailed for four and a half years, with an added four years extended licence, at Birmingham Crown Court.

The attacks began with a single incident in Derbyshire, with the subsequent 11 taking place in Birmingham City Centre and Selly Oak.

In the initial assault dating back to 2016, Mukori put his own semen into a burger sauce bottle and sought out a woman walking alone in a street. He then squirted the liquid onto the buttocks area of her clothing.

Willbert Mukori, 26, sexually assaulted a dozen victims before handing himself in. Astonishingly, he then demanded police remove the CCTV appeal

Years later, he developed a substance with the appearance of semen to spray on women in student areas of Birmingham. For some time, he would 'carefully' choose and follow his victims, one of who he spent 30 minutes waiting for outside a Sainsbury's store.

The victims, most of them University students, were then sprayed from behind with Arabic Gu,.

Following multiple reports to police, CCTV images were then found and shared on the force's social media with an urgent appeal to track Mukori down. But it was then the suspect himself who called 101 with information.

In the audio from the call, Mukori can be heard saying: 'I'm just calling in regard to a case reference that I saw online on a Facebook post. That image that's on that case I've seen is me and it was sent to me by someone and yeah, I just wanted to know what this is in question about because it's quite a serious allegation I've seen on there.

'And if it's of an incident that had happened between me and a female, that I'd also made a phone call and spoken to a police member on site about it.'

Police then began to collect evidence against Mukori, taking his DNA and running it through a national database. The results showed a match on the initial sexual assault years before in Derbyshire.

CCTV images were then found and shared on the force's social media with an urgent appeal to track Mukori down

He was arrested in February 2023 and, after searching his car, police recovered the burger sauce bottle used in the assaults

He was arrested in February 2023 and, after searching his car, police recovered the burger sauce bottle used in the assaults.

Detective Constable Suzanna Doidge, who led the investigation, said: 'We will not tolerate this behaviour.

'We put that out into the media and he phoned up the police himself, said that was him and demanded that it was taken offline.

'Two managers at his work, where he was a carer, also phoned to identify him.

'These sexual offences targeted young women who were selected by Mukori based on their appearance and attire, some who were repeatedly targeted. He was careful, methodical and planned.'

'His offending spans over seven years and although there appears to be a gap in his offending I believe that there may be other victims out there who haven't come forward.

'This is such an unusual case. The collective harassment of these female students along with repeat victimisation is concerning.

'We have a perpetrator who has repeatedly executed an unconsented pattern of behaviour over the course of seven years, who, whilst on police bail was re-arrested and found in possession of equipment to assist him in continuing to offend. '

West Midlands Police urged anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of Mukori's offending to come forward.

'We are encouraging any more victims to come forward by contacting us through a special online portal set up just for this case,' DC Doidge added.
A 'rainbow junction' in support of the LGBT community cost taxpayers almost 50,000, it has emerged.

The four crossings, painted in the coloured stripes of the Progressive Pride flag, was rolled out in Chiswick High Road in February by Labour-run Hounslow council.

But disability campaigners were left furious when it was revealed to be the most expensive rainbow crossing in Britain, at a cost of 48,174, according to the Telegraph.

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK said 'inclusion must mean inclusion for all, including blind people' and insisted the money could instead have been spent on safety and accessibility for the visually impaired.

Meanwhile, Tory peer Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne suggested the crossing 'will inevitably cause migraines and trigger epilepsy'.

The four crossings, painted in the coloured stripes of the Progressive Pride flag, was rolled out in Chiswick High Road in February by Labour-run Hounslow council

It was revealed to be the most expensive rainbow crossing in Britain, at a cost of 48,174, according to the Telegraph

Over the course of a year, the crossing itself cost more than 34,000, while the town hall also splurged 9,000 on road markings and resurfacing, 1,900 on traffic management and 4,500 on road safety audits

The scheme was developed alongside the West London Queer Project, which aims to 'connect, support and give voice to' the LGBT community in the area.

Over the course of a year, the crossing itself cost more than 34,000, while the town hall also splurged 9,000 on road markings and resurfacing, 1,900 on traffic management and 2,400 on road safety audits, the Telegraph found.

By comparison, 46,000 was the combined cost of developing rainbow crosses in hospital grounds by 20 NHS trusts between 2019

Hounslow - which supports Sadiq Khan's Ulez expansion and recently raised council tax by the maximum amount of 4.99 per cent - rejected the suggestion that it was a poor allocation of resources.

Council leader Shantanu Rajawat told the paper: 'Important day-to-day services are not impacted by new community initiatives like this.

'Due to our prudent financial management over many years, Hounslow is in a relatively strong position among local authorities and our balanced budget will ensure we will continue to deliver the quality of services and support residents expect and deserve.'

It comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed last year that councils have spent more than 200,000 on woke pedestrian crossings.

MPs expressed their fury at how taxpayers' money has been wasted on the 'ridiculous pet projects' while frontline services including bin collection are cut.

The 200,000 outlay includes 43,000 splashed out by Kensington and Chelsea Council on three 'creative crossings'  including a Japan-themed one  while Richmond Council in South-West London spent 4,400 on a crossing featuring poppies.

Kensington and Chelsea Council spent 43,000 on three creative crossings Pictured; Pedestrians using a creative crossing in Kensington designed Tokolo Asao for Japanese House London as part of Creative Kensington High Street initiativ

A new rainbow Pride pedestrian crossing is unveiled at Maidstone Hospital in 2019

In total, 21 local authorities spent 205,084 on what are described as 'pointless paint jobs', Freedom of Information data shows.

Last year Bristol City council spent 7,161 repainting a crossing in rainbow colours of the LGBT+ movement at the height of the pandemic  while cutting services and complaining of a 23 million funding gap.

Transport for London spent 13,700 on an LGBT crossing in Regent Street that was there for only two months.

It led disability groups to complain that the 'alternative' crossings make life harder for disabled people.

Hounslow Council has been approached for further comment.
A 76-year-old woman who came back to life at her own funeral in Ecuador and surprised her relatives by knocking on her coffin during her wake has died after seven days in intensive care.

Bella Montoya reportedly woke up and started knocking after spending five hours inside her coffin at a funeral parlour in Babahoyo, about 129 miles southwest of Quito, on June 9.

Ecuador's health ministry said Ms Montoya died from an ischaemic stroke on Friday at the Martin Icaza Hospital after spending a week in intensive care.

It added that she had been under 'permanent surveillance' but did not provide further information on the medical investigation surrounding the case.

Her son Gilberto Barbera Montoya said he had not received any report from the authorities about what happened and added things 'are not going to stay like this'.

Bella Montoya died on Friday at the Martin Icaza Hospital in Ecuador, a week after she miraculously showed signs of life at her funeral after being pronounced dead just hours before, her son Gilberto Barbera Montoya was told by her doctors

Mr Barbera Montoya (pictured dressed in black) said that he had not received any report from the authorities about what happened and added that things 'are not going to stay like this'

He said that his mother's sister had formally complained, seeking to identify the doctor who declared her dead.

A technical committee will review how the hospital issues death certificates, the country's ministry of health said last week.

She fell ill on Friday, June 9, and was taken to Martin Icaza Hospital in the province of Los Rios, where she was admitted at 9am and pronounced dead at 12pm after suffering a stroke, according to her son.

Ms 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,' Mr Barbera Montoya told local newspaper El Universo. 'She was making an effort to breathe.'

She fell ill on Friday, June 9, and was taken to Martin Icaza Hospital in the province of Los Rios, where she was admitted at 9am and pronounced dead at 12pm after suffering a stroke, according to her son

Footage showed him instructing a person to call 911 as he and another person placed their hands around his mother's head and left arm.

Ms 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.

Medical experts believe Ms Montoya was in a state of catalepsy or cataplexy, a condition characterised by 'temporary loss of muscle control resulting in weakness and possible collapse', according to the NHS.

The death certificate noted her death was caused by 'cardiorespiratory arrest due to suffering from an unspecified cerebrovascular disease.'
Britain's FBI has arrested two men after intercepting a 120million cocaine hall hidden in sacks of charcoal on a ship from Panama to London.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said around 1.6 tonnes of cocaine were found on June 8, when Border Force officers searched a container carrying 800 sacks of charcoal.

Officers from the NCA's Armed Operations Unit, along with armed units from Leicestershire Police, carried out a controlled delivery and raided two farm properties in Whitwick, Coalville, and Shepshed on Thursday.

Suspects, including a 50-year-old from Coalville and a 31-year-old from Nottingham, were arrested at a location in Coalville town centre. They are being questioned on suspicion of importing class A drugs.

Forensic examinations are being carried out on two self-loading pistols and a self-loading rifle which were recovered at an address in Coalville, according to the NCA who said that searches are still being carried out.

Britain's FBI has arrested two men after intercepting a 120million cocaine hall hidden in sacks of charcoal (pictured) on a ship from Panama to London

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said around 1.6 tonnes of cocaine were found on June 8, when Border Force officers searched a container carrying 800 sacks of charcoal

The NCA, who was working with Border Force officers, believes it is the first time it has faced suspects who have tried to hide cocaine in this way.

The drugs would have had a street-level value of more than 120 million, they estimate.

Claudia Johnstone, Border Force Thames Command assistant director, said: 'With thanks to the joint efforts of the NCA, Leicestershire Police and Border Force, over 120 million worth of cocaine has been prevented from plaguing UK streets.'

The NCA, who was working with Border Force officers, believes it is the first time it has faced suspects who have tried to hide cocaine in this way

'We remain committed to working round the clock to intercept drug supply chains and will continue to work closely with our counterparts to identify and prevent the new methods criminals take to smuggling illegal drugs.'

Jacque Beer, NCA regional head of operations, said: 'This operation has prevented a huge amount of cocaine from making it on to the streets, where it would have generated criminal profit and fuelled further violence and exploitation.

'I'm grateful to Border Force, Leicestershire Police and partners from the Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service for the support they have provided to our ongoing operation and investigation.'
Residents also claim she allows her horse to roam freely and is rearing a fox cub

They say Sharon Davis is breaching tenancy rules with 'aggressive' pet geese

Residents in one of the UK's most remote beauty spots are locked in a bitter row with their neighbour, who they are trying to evict over claims her pet geese are 'terrorising' locals.

The community of just eight people in Berney Arms, along the Norfolk Broads, are accusing Sharon Davis of breaching her tenancy agreement over the 'aggressive' gaggle and claims that she is allowing her horses to roam freely.

Walkers and tourists have allegedly felt threatened by the animals on the site, which was once home to a pub and is now made up of a collection of outbuildings, static caravans and boats moored on the nearby River Yare.

Concerns have also been raised around a pet fox cub that Ms Davis is rearing in the remote community, which has no public road access, and has historically been a scene of calm and tranquility.

Ms Davis, 53, has denied the allegations, and insists that her animals are kept safe and secure. She claims she is the victim of a 'revenge eviction' after she refused to renovate her property, which she moved into in August 2021.

Residents claim Ms Davis's (pictured in right of image) pets are attacking walkers and tourists as they travel along the Wherryman's Way footpath, which lies between Reedham and Great Yarmouth

Raymond Hollocks, who owns the now-closed pub and 20 acres of surrounding land, claims to have received 'reports of these geese attacking people', and has seen 'CCTV footage showing the horses roaming freely' adding that they are running past people 'at speed'

The community of just eight people in Berney Arms, along the Norfolk Broads, are embroiled in the bitter row

Raymond Hollocks, who owns the now-closed pub and 20 acres of surrounding land, claims to have received 'reports of these geese attacking people', and has seen 'CCTV footage showing the horses roaming freely' adding that they are running past people 'at speed'.

'My tenants have told me the geese are aggressive', Mr Hollocks, 70, said. 'And I have concerns about a wild fox living here.'

In response to the claims, Ms Davis said: 'I moved here because I have horses and there is lots of space here.

'After I had a brain haemorrhage I needed somewhere quiet and peaceful and a project to keep me busy.

'But the situation here for all the tenants is so severe. [Mr Hollocks] is leaving us to rot. This eviction is a revenge eviction.'

She claims she and Mr Hollocks fell out at their first meeting. She later complained to Broadland District Council about her property and officials raised concerns about the safety of the building, citing the state of the electrics.

They are now attempting to rehome her.

Nettie Southgate, 57, who lives in a static home next to Ms Davis's chalet, says she is supporting Mr Hollocks's bid to get Sharon evicted.

'It is so lovely so tranquil so quiet', she said. 'Ever since the neighbour moved in she has had no regard or respect for us. I love animals but her horses are storming around our side, out of control.

'There have been numerous occasions where I have nearly been trampled on. They charge along the public footpath constantly and it is terrifying and causing me a living hell.

'I love animals but these are out of control. They roam all over the place and go wherever they please.

'Recently she has been letting walkers hold her pet fox, a wild fox which she found, which surely should be living freely.'

Ms Davis (pictured) has denied the allegations, and insists that her animals are kept safe and secure

Nettie Southgate, 57, who lives in a static home next to Ms Davis's chalet, says she is supporting Mr Hollocks's bid to get Sharon evicted

Jeff Pennington, who lives on a boat at the site, claims he was 'nearly flattened' by Ms Davis's 'out-of-control horse'

The Broads Authority recently launched a legal bid to evict the entire community, claiming the structures do not have planning permission

Ms Davis previously complained to Broadland District Council about her property and officials raised concerns about the safety of the building, citing the state of the electrics

Jeff Pennington, who lives on a boat at the site, added: 'I was nearly flattened by her out-of-control horse.

'She has burnt all her bridges with us all living here.

'The geese stroll around as though they own the place. I think it's quite fitting for them to be here though they have been aggressive to walkers in the past.

'I think she believes rescuing the fox cub was an act of goodwill, though I think it is a wild animal which should be roaming the wonderful meadows and plains.'

The Broads Authority recently launched a legal bid to evict the entire community, claiming the structures do not have planning permission.

Mr Hollocks plans to defend the action and keep the group on the land.

A spokesman for Broadland Council said: 'The council has served an Emergency Prohibition Order regarding the safety of the [Mrs Davis' chalet].

'The reason for this is poor electrics, which pose an immediate risk.

'We are working with the tenant to assist with rehousing, in the meantime we have given advice on safety measures and actions we will need to be completed to lift the Order.'
SNP voters are abandoning the party following the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon in a fraud probe, according to a new poll that makes Labour the largest party in Scotland.

A Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times projects that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster, up from one currently.

This would put the party ahead of the SNP, which is predicted to take 21, down from 45 currently.

It would be the first time since 2010 that Sir Keri Starmer's party was the largest Scottish group at Westminster and would be a major boost to his hoes of taking power in Westminster.

The poll was carried out after Ms Sturgeon was held for seven hours last Sunday by detectives investigation the whereabouts of more than 600,000 in donation.

She was later released without charge pending further investigation, and denies any wrongdoing.

The research also found that support for the SNP has dropped, with 34 per cent saying they would vote for the party at the next general election, down five points compared with Panelbase's last poll in March.

A Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times projects that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster, up from one currently.

The poll was carried out after Ms Sturgeon was held for seven hours last Sunday by detectives investigation the whereabouts of more than 600,000 in donation.

This puts it on a level with Labour, up three points over the same period, while the Conservatives would take 18 per cent and the Liberal Democrats and Others 7 per cent each, the poll suggests.

Meanwhile Ms Sturgeon has seen her popularity fall by 38 points since research in February to minus 18.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has a rating of minus 12, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar scored minus 2 and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross minus 34.

The poll also found that 44% of those questioned said Scotland should be an independent country, half said it should not, and the remainder did not know.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'The polls are clear - Labour has ended the SNP's stranglehold on Scottish politics and is fighting to win seats across the country.

'The people of Scotland know that only Labour can kick the Tories out and deliver the change we need - all the SNP offer is more chaos and sleaze.

'The road to a Labour government runs through Scotland, and the next Labour government will deliver for the people of Scotland.

'From tackling the cost-of-living crisis to generating thousands of green jobs, Scottish Labour is the change Scotland needs.'

- Panelbase interviewed 1,007 people aged 16 and over in Scotland between June 12 and 15.
Distraught families visited a mortuary after ISIS killers massacred their children in a Uganda school.

Militants slaughtered 42 people - including 38 pupils - and kidnapped six others in a sickening attack at a school near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.

Victims were hacked, shot and burned to death at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, shocking Uganda and drawing condemnation from around the globe.

Horrific photographs show children's beds burned to ashes, smashed windows and relatives crying over the graves of their loved ones.

The army and police blamed the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), a militia based in DR Congo, who fled back to the border with six abductees in captivity after the attack.

Distraught families gathered at a mortuary in western Uganda on Sunday for any news of their loved ones after a militant attack left dozens of students dead and others missing

Burned bunk beds and personal items are seen inside the boys dorm at the Lhubirira Secondary School, in Mpondwe, Uganda

Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition when the attackers set a locked dormitory ablaze, frustrating efforts to identify the dead and account for the missing

A general view of the Lhubirira Secondary School following the attack in Mpondwe

Relatives carry a coffin containing a body of a victim of the school attack

The military said it was pursuing the attackers and would recover those kidnapped.

Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition when the attackers set a locked dormitory ablaze, frustrating efforts to identify the dead and account for the missing.

Seventeen male students were burned in their dormitory while 20 female students were hacked to death, said Uganda's first lady and education minister, Janet Museveni.

READ MORE: ISIS killers slaughter 41 people including 38 pupils who were burned, shot or hacked to death with machetes in sickening attack on school in Uganda Advertisement

In addition to the 38 students who were killed, the victims included a school guard and three civilians.

At a mortuary in Bwera, a town near where the attack occurred, families cried as the bodies of their loved ones were put into coffins and taken away for burial.

But for many others, there was no news of missing relatives. Many of those killed in the fire were transferred to the city of Fort Portal where DNA testing can be conducted.

'Most of the relatives have come to take their bodies,' Mpondwe-Lhubiriha mayor Selevest Mapoze said.

It is the deadliest militant attack in Uganda since 2010, when 76 people were killed in twin bombings in Kampala by the Somalia-based group Al-Shabaab.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it 'an appalling act' while the United States, a close ally of Uganda, and the African Union also sent their condolences and condemned the bloodshed.

A security guard and three members of the public were also killed, officials said.

The army would track down 'these evil people and they will pay for what they have done', Museveni said on Saturday.

But questions have been raised about how the attackers managed to evade detection in a border region with a heavily military presence.

The relative of a victim of the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School mourns as she leans towards a casket outside the Bwera General Hospital Mortuary

The relative of a victim of the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School mourns outside the Bwera General Hospital Mortuar

Families cry outside a mortuary where bodies of victims of school attack were brought

Cooking equipment is seen burned amongst debris inside the school

The outside of the building has been left severely damaged following the horrific attack

Major General Dick Olum told AFP that intelligence suggested the presence of the ADF in the area at least two days before the attack, and an investigation would be needed to establish what went wrong.

The UN secretary-general urged 'the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between (Congo) and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area'.

The atmosphere in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha was tense but calm on Sunday, as Ugandan security forces roamed the streets outside and near the school, which was protected by a police cordon.

Ugandan security forces have not given a detailed account of how the rebels, active in eastern Congo, were able to carry out the attack.

The group, known as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, rarely claims responsibility for attacks. It has established ties with the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.

The ADF has been accused of launching many attacks targeting civilians in remote parts of eastern Congo in recent years, including one in March in which 19 people were killed.

The ADF has long opposed the rule of Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, a US security ally who has held power in the East African country since 1986.

The group was established in the early 1990s by some Ugandan Muslims, who said they had been sidelined by Mr Museveni's policies.

Glass from the school windows lies shattered on the ground after the killings

Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition when the attackers set a locked dormitory ablaze, frustrating efforts to identify the dead and account for the missing

It is the deadliest militant attack in Uganda since 2010, when 76 people were killed in twin bombings in Kampala by the Somalia-based group Al-Shabaab

At the time, the rebels staged deadly attacks in Ugandan villages as well as in the capital, including a 1998 attack in which 80 students were massacred in a town not far from Friday's raid.

Students have been attacked because schools are considered soft targets, pupils are sometimes recruited into rebels ranks or used to carry food and supplies for insurgents, and such raids provide media coverage coveted by extremists.

The raid appears to have taken Ugandan authorities by surprise, with first responders arriving after the attackers had left.

Some villagers have moved away from the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha community temporarily, fearing more attacks, Mr Mapoze said.

Uganda and DR Congo launched a joint offensive in 2021 to drive the ADF out of their Congolese strongholds, but the measures have failed to blunt the group's violence.

In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Uganda's Kichwamba Technical Institute near the DR Congo border.

More than 100 students were abducted.
Australians are set to endure even colder conditions with an icy blast bringing freezing cold temperatures and even Western Australia won't escape the frosty weather.

New South Wales continues to record some of its most coldest mornings this year so far, as icy blasts welcome snow in the alpine areas.

Australians can expect the mornings to be colder over the next few days, according to Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne.

Some towns recorded minimum temperatures below average on Sunday, including Dubbo which recorded -1 degrees.

Canberra residents had a chilly start to Sunday recording 1 degree, while Perth and Hobart each recorded 6 degrees.

Australians are set to endure even colder conditions with an icy blast bringing freezing cold temperatures

Damaging winds are expected in the Snowy Mountains region including Perisher (pictured) and Thredbo

Meanwhile, it was a slightly warmer Sunday morning in Sydney and Melbourne with both recording 8 degrees, while Brisbane and Adelaide hit 9 degrees.

Ms Osbourne said the ranges and elevated terrain can expect cooler temperatures over the coming days, with snow very much on the forecast.

'Showers are continuing over the rangers and slopes and a cooler westerly change will punch over the coastline but most areas will expect to remain dry otherwise,' she said.

'Damaging wind warnings remain in place across New South Wales' Snowy Mountains including Perisher and Thredbo, just with some gusty winds over elevated terrain expected to hover around 1100m mark at the ski resort level.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts winds will average 80 to 90 km/h, with peak gusts in excess of 125 km/h are possible for alpine areas above 1900m from late Sunday night.

Winds are expected to ease below warning thresholds by early Monday afternoon.

Ms Osbourne said the snow could fall from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning as the cold front continues to form in the southern regions.

'A high pressure system will push in from the west and that clears conditions with winds still from south to south easterly aspect,' Ms Osbourne said.

'That means it'll be cold, it'll be clear and it'll be cold.

'This cold front stars to generate some showers this afternoon (Sunday) over South Australia by tonight, showers and small hail over those border regions towards western Victoria.

'Now the system then pushes through to the Melbourne area with showers intensifying by tomorrow morning and snow levels dropping with the temperatures.'

Bushwalker alerts remain in place for parts of Tasmania, as warnings continue for low level snow on Sunday and Monday.

'Bush walkers are advised that snow as low as 700 metres is expected late Sunday evening, lowering to 500 metres on Monday,' the bureau warns.

'These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.'

Ms Osbourne said the snow is 'going to be quite widespread' across Tasmania.

'It's going to snow particularly in levels of 700m down to 400m in Tasmania, which could disrupt transport in some southern areas,' she said.

Damaging wind warnings remain in place across parts of southern New South Wales

Meanwhile, Western Australia residents can expect heavy rainfall in the coming days.

'Over the next few days we could see some the heaviest rain in a few years for June over the Exmouth Gulf and potentially some pockets of the western Pilbara including Exmouth and Karratha,' Ms Osbourne said.

Perth will reach a top of 17 degrees on Sunday.

The bureau also forecasts widespread frosts across coastal NSW and Victoria on Wednesday
It was the world's first council estate. Built in place of a Victorian slum, the blocks of flats nestled on the edge of London's east end aimed to provide houses for more than 5,000 people.

The slum, dubbed the Old Nichol, had become a problem for the city in the late 19th century - renowned for its terrible living conditions and extreme poverty.

It became notorious after author Arthur Morrison used it to become the setting of his book named The Child of Jago in 1896, which depicted a hive of seedy characters and criminality. The streets were lined with small terraced houses, with only one in four children living beyond the age of one.

In what was considered a controversial move at the time, the now defunct London County Council demolished the 730 terraced homes giving way for a huge new estate to be placed between Shoreditch High Street and Bethnal Green Road.

It was meant to provide new homes for those who lived in squalor but instead many of those who called the area home were displaced to give way to the five new blocks of council flats to be known as the Boundary Estate.

Before the housing estate was built, there was slum filled terrace houses which was called the Old Nichol

 Slide me  The Boundary Estate in the 1920s compared with the estate in 2013

A photo of the launderettes on the Boundary Estate in 1964

The estate, which was built in 1899 allowing residents to move in the following year, was a trail blazer.

On site it had a surgery, shops, two schools - called the Rochelle and Virginia Schools which still stand today - and a central laundry for all those living on the estate.

It had been built to improve life for the poor in London but despite this many of those who had previously lived on the slum did not get a space on the new estate. In fact only 11 of the original Old Nichol residents were amongst the thousands eventually housed, according to the Bethnal Green history site.

More than 100 years later the picturesque red brick mansion still stand and protected as Grade II listed buildings.

While the majority of the flats still remain under council ownership, let by Tower Hamlets borough, the estate has not been completely immune to the influx of landlords renting out properties as short-term lets on AirBnb.

Standing just a stones throw away from the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch, bursting with some of the city's most popular bars and clubs, the area is one of the most desirable locations in London for tourists.

It's no surprise then that amongst those who lived there for decades and the young families new to the area, savvy landlords are renting out their properties for those on the hunt for a boozy weekend.

As with other parts of the city, the number of people coming for short-term stays in the blocks has increased in the last few years, locals have said.

But they are not all resentful of the way their community has changed over the decades, adding that although it 'feels like Glastonbury on the weekends' they love the 'nutty feel'.

They claim it is just one element that resulted in a loss in the sense of community over the decades, which has slowly eroded as the area has been gentrified.

Aimee McWilliams, 42, who has lived on the estate for 20 years said: 'I love living around here, on a Sunday it feels like being at Glastonbury from a festival vibe of people and crowds.'

The Boundary Estate is the world's oldest council estate, built in 1899

The estate still stands today and while it remains mainly owned by the council, there are also a number of private landlords with holdings

The red-brick mansions are a stones throw away from Shoreditch High Street and Bethnal Green Road

While Josh Brind, 32, has lived on the estate for the last six years, added: 'It still holds a sense of community, it does, it's still a nice area to live in and there are nice people around here. It's just a prime location and a bit nutty on the weekend around here.'

Elsewhere across the country, there have been fed-up neighbours coming to their wits end with AirBnb's being rented out as party houses, with residents from York, Bath and Chelmsford all voicing their concerns.

The complaints have become so severe that even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a 160million crackdown on anti-social behaviour which included forcing Airbnb hosts to register on a database.

Those on the Boundary Estate, however, insist that the AirBnBs within the property are not having a huge effect on their quality of life or the community in the area.

Mr Brind added: 'Loads of people have bought their flats so they have rented them out.

'There's still loads of people here, people have always rented their flats out that way and that's not really what's changed, it's just Airbnb has become more popular.'

Ms McWilliams explained that Airbnbs 'taking over' the community was only a small part of the problem.

She added: 'I think these problems are there but there are still a lot of original East End people and a lot of people who are long termers like me.

'I think you do get a load of pockets of it [Airbnb] and I definitely agree that it is happening. I just don't think it's happening everywhere, I don't think it's a mass takeover.'

Daniel Jefferson, 51, lives just next to the Boundary Estate and his block of flats also used to be ex-council.

 Slide me  Shoreditch High Street in 1920 compared with 2013

The estate is located in one of the most desirable areas of the capital, extremely close to Shoreditch High Street

Shoreditch is a bustling part of London, where tourists and locals alike flock to on the weekend for a boozy night out

He said there AirBnbs were only a small factor in damaging community relationships.

Mr Jefferson added: 'There are people in my block who have been there for 40 years, I've been there for six years and even then the people in my block I don't know that well - which is probably more my fault - but that community thing, it's probably not as strong as it could be but I don't think that's Airbnb.

'I wouldn't say there's a strong sense of community but maybe that's just the lifestyles that people live now. You're working, and you just go to your job and want to come home.

'I imagine Airbnb does have some effect on lowering the sense of community, but I imagine it's not just that. I think the way people live are now, there's a lot of professionals moving in now and it's just they have busy lives.'
Dozens of migrants were pictured being brought into Dover this morning, as new Home Office figures revealed more than 10,000 have tried to cross the Channel in small boats so far this year.

The Typhoon cutter was seen bringing the small crowd of people to shore as the number of arrivals into the country continues to increase amid the warmer weather.

Some 374 people were detected on Saturday, taking the provisional total for 2023 to 10,139.

There were 45,755 crossings in 2022.

Crossings have picked up in recent days after a quiet spell earlier in the month, with 2,529 people reported to have arrived between June 10 and 17.

Dozens of migrants were pictured being brought into Dover this morning, just days after more than 200 were intercepted trying to cross the Channel by Border Force officials

The Typhoon cutter was seen bringing the small crowd of people to shore as the number of arrivals into the country continues to increase amid the warmer weather

Nearly 10,000 have already made the dangerous crossing in small boats this year, on top of more than 45,000 who made the journey in 2022

Seven boats were detected on Saturday, which suggests an average of around 53 people crossed the Channel per boat.

However, the total number of crossings so far this year remains below the equivalent number at this point last year.

More than 11,300 crossings had been detected by June 17 2022 - over 1,000 higher than the 10,139 detected so far in 2023.

READ MORE: Home Office to fly 24/7 surveillance plane over English Channel to catch migrant smugglers Advertisement

It comes after it was revealed that the Home Office and French government are to join forces to launch a surveillance plane which will fly over the English Channel 24/7 to catch people smugglers.

The move, designed to cut the overall numbers of migrants and vulnerable asylum seekers from crossing the Channel on small boats, is being seen as the 'final piece in the puzzle' to cut crossings.

The news comes after the French Interior Minister told RFI on Thursday: 'We are guarding the border for the British people. Therefore you would expect to receive thanks rather than complaints.'

The plane is said to be capable of flying in all weathers, meaning it will not be affected by conditions which affect drones currently employed in similar roles, which cannot be flown in heavy cloud cover.

It is hoped the plane will improve the ability of French and English authorities to prosecute people smugglers due to its capability to film crossings for evidence in potential legal action.

It will also improve authorities' ability to track boats making the dangerous crossing.

Meanwhile, an investigation has revealed how Albanian migrants who have entered the UK illegally are paying smugglers up to 30,000 to be provided with fake families.

The migrants are being offered sham marriages over TikTok by gangs who have recruited British or EU single mothers and their children.

The investigation found TikTok videos are being targeted at prisoners attempting to fight deportation from the UK as well as those who have entered the country illegally.

Migrants were brought to shore in Dover this morning after being picked up by Border Force

The latest TikTok scam comes after it was revealed Albanian gangs had launched an advertising blitz offering stowaway trips to migrants trying to come to the UK as well as channel crossings.

More than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats last year came from Albania.

The Telegraph reported that one TikTok account was posting clips offering to act as a middle-man to link migrants with the gang's recruited mothers.

The account, created on May 10, also reportedly offered the service of finding guarantors who would provide fake UK addresses.

These services could help an illegal migrant receive an immigration bail, something they can only currently do if they have a place to live in the UK.

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 the boats, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers.

'The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.'
A factory worker who survived after being hit by a van driven by a suspected triple killer has been released from hospital to enjoy Father's Day with his daughter.

Marcin Gawronski, 40, miraculously suffered only minor wounds to his head, arm and leg after the vehicle ploughed into him and two other victims, named as Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller.

Valdo Calocane, 31, has been charged with their attempted murder following the attack in Nottingham during the early hours of Tuesday.

He is also accused of stabbing to death 19-year-old University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar as well as 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates earlier that morning.

Mr Gawronski - originally from Poland - had been about to start work last week when he was struck by the van, which is believed to have been stolen from the last victim, Mr Coates.

Marcin Gawronski (pictured), 40, miraculously suffered only minor wounds to his head, arm and leg after the vehicle ploughed into him and two other victims, named as Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller

Valdo Calocane (pictured left), 31, has been charged with their attempted murder following the attack in Nottingham during the early hours of Tuesday

Mr Gawronski (left) can spend today with his wife Samanta (right) and their five-year-old daughter to celebrate Father's Day - a day he thought might never come

A friend added: 'We're pleased to see him home. He was in hospital for 24-hours and we were all worried about him but he can now spend Father's Day with his family (pictured: Marcin and Samanta Gawronski with their daughter)

But speaking at his end-terrace home in the north of Nottingham, Mr Gawronski shrugged off his injuries, which have left him walking with a limp.

He told MailOnline: 'I was hit by the van, but I can't say anything, the police have told me not to. I'm feeling ok now, I was released from hospital on Wednesday.'

It means Mr Gawronski can spend today with his wife Samanta and their five-year-old daughter to celebrate Father's Day - a day he thought might never come.

A friend added: 'We're pleased to see him home. He was in hospital for 24-hours and we were all worried about him but he can now spend Father's Day with his family.

'Marcin had been up early for work. He's a grafter, up at all hours, seven days a week, to provide for his wife and daughter.

'It was awful what happened. He had a bump to his head and he's suffered injuries to his leg and arm and he's walking with a limp but to be honest he could have been more seriously wounded or even killed.'

Another of those hit by the van, Ms Miller, also returned home last night.

The 44-year-old arrived back at her semi-detached house near Nottingham Racecourse just after 7pm on crutches with a protective boot on her foot.

She declined to comment but her partner Martin accompanying her out of the taxi gave the thumbs up as they opened the front door.

He said: 'Sharon is really lucky to be alive. I just want to thank all the paramedics, police and doctors and hospital staff for all they've done for her.

'At the moment she is just too traumatised to talk about what happened.'

The third person hit by a van, Mr Birkett, 58, was the most seriously injured. He had been in a critical condition in hospital but is now stable.

He was hit by the vehicle on Milton Street in Nottingham while Mr Gawronski and Ms Miller were both struck on nearby Upper Parliament Street.

Medical student Grace O'Malley-Kumar (pictured) and history student Barnaby Webber were found fatally knifed on Ilkeston Road at around 4am. Miss O'Malley-Kumar's family described her as a 'truly wonderful and beautiful young lady' who would be 'so dearly missed'

The family of Barnaby Webber (pictured) described their 'complete devastation' at the 'senseless murder of our son', saying he was a 'beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to'

Mr Coates (pictured) was then found dead in Magdala Road about an hour later. Two of Mr Coates' sons said his death had 'rocked everyone's world', adding: 'Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn't'

The police watchdog has confirmed it is now investigating whether the driver of a marked police car had sight of the van for 'less than a minute' before it collided with Mr Gawronski and Ms Miller.

Calocane, originally from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa but who grew up in West Wales, is accused of stealing the van after allegedly killing Mr Coates, Mr Webber and Miss O'Malley-Kumar.

He yesterday appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court charged with three counts of murder and three of attempted murder.

Dressed all in grey, Calocane gave his name as an alias - ''Adam Mendes' - and confirmed his date of birth and the fact he was of no fixed abode.

He was remanded in custody and will appear before Nottingham Crown Court next Tuesday.

Calocane (pictured right), originally from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa but who grew up in West Wales, is accused of stealing the van after allegedly killing Mr Coates, Mr Webber and Miss O'Malley-Kumar. He yesterday appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court charged with three counts of murder and three of attempted murder

Mr Gawronski - originally from Poland - had been about to start work last week when he was struck by the van (pictured), which is believed to have been stolen from the last victim, Mr Coates. Another of those hit by the van, Sharon Miller, also returned home last night. The third person hit by a van, Wayne Birkett, 58, was the most seriously injured. He had been in a critical condition in hospital but is now stable

Medical student Miss O'Malley-Kumar and history student Mr Webber were found fatally knifed on Ilkeston Road at around 4am.

Mr Coates was then found dead in Magdala Road about an hour later.

The family of Mr Webber described their 'complete devastation' at the 'senseless murder of our son', saying he was a 'beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to'.

Miss O'Malley-Kumar's family described her as a 'truly wonderful and beautiful young lady' who would be 'so dearly missed'.

Two of Mr Coates' sons said his death had 'rocked everyone's world', adding: 'Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn't.'

Police revealed Calocane was a former University of Nottingham student, but said 'this is not believed to be connected with the attack'.
West Yorkshire Police has launched an appeal to help trace a missing 12-year-old girl who vanished two days ago.

Schoolgirl Hannah Binns, 12, was last seen at home in Pontefract around 9pm on Friday.

West Yorkshire Police posted an appeal this morning on social media, asking the public for any information to help find Hannah.

Hundreds of people have already shared the appeal which was posted this morning.

Missing schoolgirl Hannah Binns, 12, was last seen at home in Pontefract around 9pm on Friday

The police appeal said: 'Missing Person - Hannah Binns age 12.

'Hannah was last seen at home in Pontefract around 9pm. She is a white female, medium build, 4ft 11, shoulder length brown hair, clothing unknown.

'Please call 101 and quote 2196 17/06/23 with any information. #missing #concern.'

Anyone with information about Hannah's whereabouts is asked to call West Yorkshire Police.
A heartbroken student claims she will be forced to drop out of uni after returning from holiday to find her room empty after 'student accommodation staff had thrown out everything she owned'.

Laoise Murphy, from Stockport, Manchester, burst into tears when she realised her room at Ardcairn House in Dublin 'had been completely emptied upon returning on June 13 after a trip'.

The 20-year-old said she is 'traumatised' that 4,000 worth of clothes, her MacBook, a 600 Dyson hoover, all her forms of identification and gifts from family 'have vanished'.

She took pictures of two skips allegedly standing outside her accommodation, one containing a suitcase, and she believes her belongings have been thrown in there.

She claims staff at Yugo, who own the property and multiple others across UK and elsewhere in the world, have told her they can't find her things and insisted they searched the skips but didn't find anything of hers.

Laoise Murphy (pictured), from Stockport, Manchester, burst into tears when she realised her room at Ardcairn House in Dublin had been completely emptied upon returning on June 13 after a trip

The 20-year-old said she is 'traumatised' that 4,000 worth of clothes, her MacBook, a 600 Dyson hoover, all her forms of identification and gifts from family have vanished. Ms Murphy said she paid to stay at the accommodation until June 16 but she returned from a 12-day trip visiting family in Wexford, Republic of Ireland, on June 13

MailOnline has contacted Yugo as well as University College Dublin for comment on the matter.

Ms Murphy said she paid to stay at the accommodation until June 16 but she returned from a 12-day trip visiting family in Wexford, Republic of Ireland, on June 13.

Without a valid ID she is unable to return home to England and claims she has been left with only two tops and two shirts from an overnight bag she took on her trip.

She said she is anxious about her identity being stolen and heartbroken that sentimental items such as jewellery and a Burberry coat from her grandma will probably never be seen again.

The student believes some residents' contracts ended on June 2 so her room could have been mistaken for one that was vacant and needed to be cleaned.

But she said she is confused as to why she wasn't contacted and said it is 'negligent' that anyone could think so many expensive and personal belongings would be left behind.

She said: 'I don't think I've fully processed that I'll never get anything back. Every single thing I own and have worked for was in that room. I only took an overnight bag back to Wexford, so I have two skirts and two tops.

'When I came back I'd forgotten my fob so one of the staff took me into my room and I just started sobbing. It was totally cleared out. It had been cleaned and everything.

'When I walked out of the building I saw two industrial-sized skips full to the brim of other people's duvets and suitcases. That's when I realised they'd probably put them in the skip.'

She took pictures of two skips allegedly standing outside her accommodation, one containing a suitcase, and she believes her belongings have been thrown in there

The student said she was 'heartbroken' and claims she is considering dropping out of university over the incident: 'It sounds shallow because it's just material things but I'm just left with nothing. It's my identity. I'm anxious about my ID and identity theft.

'I feel violated that they were in my room. There was personal stuff in there and they clearly went through it all to throw it out. They must have thought my room was one of the rooms that they wanted to clear out. But it's hard to believe that they wouldn't contact me to double-check.

'I usually get my medication from the NHS but because I don't have an ID I can't get the ferry over to my mum. I'm stuck in Ireland.

'I don't want to go back to Dublin after this. I'm a bit traumatised so I'll most likely drop out and go back to Manchester to go to a uni in the UK.'

Ms Murphy lived in a student house for most of the academic year but paid around 850 to move into an en-suite room at Yugo's Ardcairn House in April as she thought it would be safer.

She has tried to track her MacBook using Apple's tracking software but because it could have been up to two weeks since it was removed from her room there's now no signal from it.

She said she was baffled by how staff didn't realise she hadn't moved out given the amount of belongings in the room.

Ms Murphy said: 'How did the amount of stuff I had in the room not raise a red flag? It's super hard to believe that they'd go into that room and think it's vacant. It was clearly occupied.

'I'd already started packing up some of my stuff so you could hardly walk in, but most of it was loose and put away.

'I think it's terrible that they didn't check if I was still there or not.. I don't know why they didn't say that they thought it didn't look right.

'I'd like my stuff to be replaced. I feel helpless. I think there should be stricter laws on what people running student accommodation can do.'

Yugo said they have investigated the incident but declined to state what the outcome was or whether they removed the items however said they are in contact with Ms Murphy to 'support her'.

She claims staff at Yugo, who own the property and multiple others across UK and elsewhere in the world, have told her they can't find her things and insisted they searched the skips but didn't find anything of her

She filmed a TikTok showing images of the skip which has been viewed more than 120 thousand times, with users stunned by the disappearance of her belongings

The business student says young staff at the accommodation told her they'd find her belongings but after an hour they couldn't so they asked her to make a list of everything that was in there.

The student claims Yugo told her staff were instructed to search through the skips to find her belongings but they couldn't find any of the four suitcases she listed as the largest items.

A spokesperson for Yugo said: 'Following an investigation into the incident at Ardcairn House, we are now liaising with the resident on next steps and how we can best support her.'

She filmed a TikTok showing images of the skip which has been viewed more than 120 thousand times, with users stunned by the disappearance of her belongings.

The student also reported the incident to the Irish police, The Garda Siochana, who say it's currently a civil matter and not a criminal one.

A police spokesperson said: 'Garda received a report on a matter which occurred in the Grangegorman area of Dublin on 13th June 2023.

'The Garda Siochana has no involvement in what appears to be a civil matter, at this time.'
Prince William has revealed he points out homeless people to his children during the school run and asks them why they think people are sleeping rough.

In his first interview since becoming Prince of Wales, the heir, 40, explained how he was determined to 'make a difference' by building a social housing estate on the Duchy of Cornwall, which he inherited from his father King Charles.

He candidly spoke of the conversations he has with his own children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, about homelessness to ensure they grow up knowing 'some of us are very fortunate' while 'some of us need a little bit of a helping hand'.

It comes as he unveiled plans to build a mixture of private, affordable and social housing on the 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall spans from Cornwall to Kent and includes estates in Newquay and Dorchester.

The Prince said he was pondering when the right time was to bring his children down to a homeless organisation.

Prince William spoke of conversations he has with Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, about homelessness to ensure they grow up knowing 'some of us are very fortunate'

The Prince of Wales, 40, explained how he was determined to 'make a difference' by building a social housing estate on the Duchy of Cornwall

He told The Sunday Times: 'I think when I can balance it with their schooling, they will definitely be exposed to it. On the school run we talk about what we see. When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets and we'd talk about it.

'I'd say to the children, "Why are they there? What's going on?" I think it's in all our interests, it's the right thing to do to expose the children, at the right stage in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding.'

He added that it will show them that 'some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help improve others lives'.

The Prince was vocal in his frustration around the government, councils and charities' just 'managing' the homelessness crisis rather than 'preventing' it.

Now he is teasing what he calls a 'really big project' coming from the Royal Foundation, which he heads along with the Princess of Wales.

He said he hopes the project, which is being kept under wraps until later this month, will have a 'tangible impact' on improving living conditions.

William was 11-years-old when his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him and Prince Harry to a homeless shelter and is now a patron of the Passage, the charity that ran it.

He followed in his mother's footsteps to become a patron of another charity, Centrepoint, in 2005, and recently spoke at an affordable housing development of 33 flats for young people funded by the group.

The charity's research revealed last year that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who were either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless was 122,000.

This figure, obtained through freedom of information requests to all councils, has risen since Centrepoint's first request five years ago, when it was 110,000, and is due to rise again this year.

The Prince also revealed that he is planning to take his children to a homeless shelter, and that he tries to make sure his kids are exposed to the realities facing tens of thousands across the country.

Prince William, 40, spoke in his first interview since becoming the Prince of Wales, and used it to explain that he is determined to 'make a difference'

Poundbury was developed on land belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall, a royal estate run under the stewardship of the Prince of Wales. It comprises of a mixture of private and affordable housing (file image)

He said that during the school run through London, he often asks Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte about what they see and why they think people are sleeping rough.

'They [will] grow up knowing that actually, do you know what, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives.'

As a senior royal and with the eyes of the world constantly on him, the Prince was asked what he does personally to help people sleeping rough.

'I don't tend to give money. I tend to buy them a drink, food, something like that. I find that when I'm walking around or driving past and see other people do it [give money], people don't even look at them. How many people stop and talk to somebody who is homeless? Very few of us.

'In my job, I get to meet these people, I get to hear the stories, I get to feel it, I get to see it. That for me  and I've heard from them themselves  matters an awful lot.

'They've become invisible. It's really important that society acknowledges that there is somebody there and they're having a tough time. It shouldn't happen but it's right there. You can't ignore it.'

Diana, Princess of Wales during a visit to the homeless charity The Passage with her sons, (then) Prince Harry (2nd left) and Prince William (2nd right) in the early 1990s

William is a patron of the charity Centrepoint and recently spoke at an affordable housing development of 33 flats for young people funded by the group

And when asked by the paper whether there are plans for affordable homes on Duchy land, William said: 'Absolutely. Social housing. You'll see that when it's ready. I'm no policy expert, but I push it where I can.'

Described by the paper as 'curveball' which aides were not expecting, William indicated that he will 'start small' with the housing and if the scheme does well will look to increase the amount available.

William said: 'It's all very well doing big gestures, but there's no point if... there's no future to it.'

Poundbury, an estate in Dorset which is part of the royal's over 1billion property portfolio, comprises of 35 per cent affordable housing, as well as private homes.

Under the national planning policy framework, major developments which include housing should be required to have at offer 10 per cent affordable homes.
A defiant Nicola Sturgeon insisted she had 'done nothing wrong' today as she faced the cameras for the first time since being arrested in a police probe into the SNP's finances.

The former Scottish first minister spoke in the sun outside her Glasgow home a week after being grilled for seven hours by Police Scotland detectives.

And in a potentially awkward move for her successor Humza Yousaf, she confirmed that she would return to Holyrood next week.

Mr Yousaf has been facing heavy pressure to suspend her as an MSP following her arrest, which followed that of her husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive.

Ms Sturgeon told reporters: 'I can't say very much just now, what I will say is reiterate the statement I issued last Sunday, I'm certain that I have done nothing wrong.

The former Scottish first minister spoke in the sun outside her Glasgow home a week after being grilled for seven hours by Police Scotland detectives.

In a potentially awkward move for her success Humza Yousaf, she confirmed that she would return to Holyrood next week

Mr Yousaf (right) has been facing heavy pressure to suspend her as an MSP following her arrest, which followed that of her husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive

'I intend to be back in Parliament in the early part of the week, I'll make myself available for questions then.

'For now I intend to go home and catch up with some family.'

Asked whether she had considered stepping back from the SNP, she said: 'I've done nothing wrong and that is the only thing I'm going to assert today.'

She continued: 'I know I'm a public figure, I accept what comes with that, but I'm also a human being that's entitled to a bit of privacy and my neighbours are also entitled to a bit of that as well.'

Asked whether conditions have been placed on her arrest, she told media: 'No and I'm not going to get into anything other than that.'

When asked whether Nicola Sturgeon would have suspended Nicola Sturgeon, she said: 'Look I've done nothing wrong, it's for others to comment as they see fit but that's my position.'

It comes as a new poll suggests SNP voters are abandoning the party amid upheaval caused by the investigation.

A Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times projects that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster, up from one currently if a general election was held today.

A Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times projects that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster, up from one currently.

This would put the party ahead of the SNP, which is predicted to take 21, down from 45 currently.

It would be the first time since 2010 that Sir Keri Starmer's party was the largest Scottish group at Westminster and would be a major boost to his hoes of taking power in Westminster.

The poll was carried out after Ms Sturgeon was held for seven hours last Sunday by detectives investigation the whereabouts of more than 600,000 in donation.

She was later released without charge pending further investigation, and denies any wrongdoing.

The research also found that support for the SNP has dropped, with 34 per cent saying they would vote for the party at the next general election, down five points compared with Panelbase's last poll in March.

This puts it on a level with Labour, up three points over the same period, while the Conservatives would take 18 per cent and the Liberal Democrats and Others 7 per cent each, the poll suggests.

Meanwhile Ms Sturgeon has seen her popularity fall by 38 points since research in February to minus 18.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has a rating of minus 12, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar scored minus 2 and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross minus 34.

The poll also found that 44 per cent of those questioned said Scotland should be an independent country, half said it should not, and the remainder did not know.

Anas Sarwar said that while he thinks the Scottish Labour Party has momentum, 'we've still got a hell of a lot of work to do'.

Anas Sarwar said that while he thinks the Scottish Labour Party has momentum, 'we've still got a hell of a lot of work to do'.

He told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: 'Of course it's good news, it's positive news, but we are not complacent, we've still got a hell of a lot of work to do to persuade people across Scotland and across the country that the Labour Party is ready to serve and ready to deliver a transformative Labour government.'

Asked whether securing 26 seats was a realistic prospect, he said: 'Two years ago when I became the leader we were 32 points behind the SNP and if you'd told me then that two years on we'd be neck and neck with the SNP in the opinion polls I wouldn't have believed you, I would have believed we'd be close to them, I wouldn't have believed we'd be neck and neck.

'I think something different is happening in Scotland, I think there is momentum with the Scottish Labour Party, I think there is a mood for change, but as I say I'm not complacent.'

The poll also found Ms Sturgeon has seen her popularity fall by 38 points since research in February to minus 18.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has a rating of minus 12 while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar scored minus 2 and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross minus 34.

The poll also found 44 per cent of those questioned said Scotland should be an independent country, half said it should not, and the remainder did not know.
Land Rover is the most stolen car make in Britain, with one in every 100 of its expensive SUVs snatched by thieves last year.

Land Rovers - including Range Rovers, which fall under the brand - are three times more likely to be stolen than a Mercedes-Benz, which came in as the second favourite make for criminals, according to figures from confused.com.

Among the 896,948 licensed Land Rovers in the UK, 8,284 were reported as stolen in the year ending March 2023.

There is growing concern that the valuable 4X4s, which can cost over 100,000 new, are being increasingly targeted as latest figures from AA insurance show that car thefts have gone up by 25 per cent.

Last Wednesday, a Range Rover was stolen from a driveway in Gloucester within a matter of minutes, as thieves used technology to break into the keyless car.

Relay attacks often involve two people working together - with one standing by the vehicle and the other standing near the house with the device to pick up the signal

Last Wednesday, a Range Rover was stolen from a driveway in Gloucester within a matter of minutes as thieves used technology to break into the keyless car

Is YOUR car at risk? The top 10 most stolen cars in Britain 1. Land Rover 924 cars stolen in every 100,000 2. Mercedes-Benz 323 cars stolen in every 100,000 3. Ford 292 cars stolen in every 100,000 4. BMW 290 cars stolen in every 100,000 5. Audi 216 cars stolen in every 100,000 6. Toyota 185 cars stolen in every 100,000 7. Fiat 152 cars stolen in every 100,000 8. Volkswagen 149 cars stolen in every 100,000 9. Vauxhall 145 cars stolen in every 100,000 10. Hyundai 135 cars stolen in every 100,000

The shocking CCTV footage showed two crooks approach the car several times, before managing to get in and drive the car out in reverse in the speedy theft.

A police spokesperson said it was likely the tech-savvy thieves would have used a transmitter to boost the signal from the key that was inside the house in order to break into the car.

The car was eventually ditched after the criminals failed to disable the the tracker device fitted, but not before colliding with another car and damaging the rear end.

Police are currently appealing for information from anyone who saw the vehicle being driven around the area, or may have CCTV footage of the theft on the 7 June.

Opportunist criminals have become smarter in the ways they break into vulnerable vehicles, some of which are keyless and can be hacked into.

Devices which can be bought for 1,300 can allow car thieves to hack into a keyless cars and speed off within 90 seconds

Mercedes-Benz is the second most popular brand for thieves with as many as 323 cars stolen per 100,000.

Ford came in at third place of the list of most targeted car bards, followed by BMW and then Audi.

Toyota, Fiat, Volkswagen, Vauxhall and Hyundai also made the list of car brands eyed by crooks.

The tech-savvy thieves would have likely used a transmitter to boost the signal from the key that was inside the house in order to break into the car

The shocking CCTV footage shows the pair of thieves drive the Range Rover out of the driveway in reverse in a theft that took minutes

President of the AA Edmund King keeps his car fobs in a Faraday pouch, in a box, in his microwave (pictured)

Colour was also found to be a factor in the way thieves target motors, with black cars being more likely to be stolen than any other colour, according to the same data.

The Master Locksmith Association has tips to avoid theft. It says : 'Keyless car theft happens when thieves are only within a few metres from your car keys to capture the signal' and can take 20-30 seconds.

It added that thieves use a device which transmits the signal from a key to somebody else standing by the victims car.

This then fools the car into thinking the key is near it, allowing the doors to be opened and ignition to be started.

The organisation urges motorists with keyless cars to keep keys well away from doors and windows, and suggests putting then in a Faraday bag to prevent thieves from amplifying the signal and capturing it.

They also suggest turning off a keyless fob's wireless signal and using a steering wheel lock or car alarms to deter criminals.

A thief barged this 4x4 through a level crossing barrier and went past stunned commuters who were waiting for a train at Cheshunt station, Hertfordshire, before stopping 200 metres down the track and fleeing on foot

This is the 'creepy' moment a car thief was able to steal a mother's keyless Mercedes by using a metal loop to boost the fob's signal
A detransitioned woman who is suing the medical professionals responsible for her transition claims doctors spent just 75 minutes vetting her before setting out on the life-altering ordeal - back when she was just 12 years old.

Now 18, Kayla Lovdahl filed the lawsuit last week in California's San Joaquin County Superior Court, accusing multiple Bay Area professionals of fast-tracking her treatment - while flouting factors such as her poor mental health.

The suit specifically names doctors Lisa Kristine Taylor, Winnie Mao Yiu Tong, Susanne Watson, and Mirna Escalante as defendants, for providing Lovdahl with puberty blockers, testosterone, and a mastectomy in the span of just a few months.

Instead of warning Lovdahl about the finality of the treatment - or advising her to explore her gender issues through psychotherapy - the providers automatically, and erroneously, declared the youth to be transgender, the suit claims.

Also named in the sensational suit - which comes amid a growing chorus of 'detransitioning' youths expressing regret over their life choices - is the hospital who removed her breasts, and the provider who presided over the six-month process.

Now 18, Kayla Lovdahl is suing the medical professionals responsible for her transition more than five years ago - claiming doctors spent just 75 minutes vetting her before setting out on the life-altering ordeal

It specifically names Kaiser doctors Susanne Watson, Winnie Mao Yiu Tong, and Lisa Kristine Taylor as defendants, for providing Lovdahl with puberty blockers, testosterone, and a double mastectomy by the time she was 13

'This case is about a team of doctors who decided to perform a damaging, imitation sex change experiment on [Lovdahl], then a twelve-year-old vulnerable girl struggling with complex mental health co-morbidities,' the 35-page filing reads.

'[Lovdahl] needed care, attention, and psychotherapy,' it continues of the NorCal medical officials supposed mishandling of the situation. 'Not cross-sex hormones and mutilating surgery.'

The lawsuit goes on to lay out how Lovdahl - who goes by the pseudonym Laya Jane - would detransitioned last year at the age of 17, ultimately regretting her and her doctors' decision.

Forced to undergo psychotherapy sessions to undo the mental damage wrought by the procedure, Lovdahl and her lawyers write their prognosis was premature - and gave the then-impressionable preteen the 'erroneous belief' she was transgender.

To come to that conclusion, the suit states, clinical psychologist Watson - who also serves as the clinical director of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals' 'Transgender Clinic' at the Oakland Medical Center - held a single, 75-minute transition evaluation.

During the sit-down, Watson is said to have not disclosed any of the lasting health risks associated with a young child taking 'off-label puberty blockers and high doses of powerful male hormone drugs' - after discerning Lovedahl was transgender.

Taylor and Tong, a endocrinologist and plastic surgeon employed under the Oakland-based hospital system's umbrella, all agreed with their colleagues' assessment, starting her on puberty blockers and testosterone at age 12.

The double mastectomy happened a few months later, and left Lovedahl without the ability to breastfeed at any point in the future.

The trio, the suit claims, 'immediately, and negligently, affirmed [Lovdahl's] self-diagnosed transgenderism without adequate psychological evaluation,' and 'failed to inform [Lovdahl] of the significant increased suicide risk' that follow such treatments.

The suit also states that after Taylor's meeting, the three 'coerced' Lovdahl and her parents to undergo the treatment regimen - in part by warning the family 'it is better to have a live son than a dead daughter,' in reference to her potential suicide.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the doctors' employer for comment - as well as a fourth Kaiser doctor named in suit, pediatric endocrinologist Escalante, who referred the family to the trio in the first place.

Years after she underwent a double mastectomy aged 13, Lovdahl now says the procedure left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'

The suit states that after the 75-minute meeting with psychologist Taylor, the three 'coerced' Lovdahl and her parents to undergo the treatment regimen by telling the family 'it is better to have a live son than a dead daughter'

As a child, Lovdahl suffered severe mental illness, which she feels was overlooked by doctors as they pushed for her to become transgender

The lawsuit went on to condemn Kaiser Permanente for allowing the invasive surgery at such a young age.

'There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patient's wishes,' it said.

After detransitioning, she says she began regular psychotherapy sessions to help her mental health, 'which is the care she should have been receiving all along', the lawsuit states.

'The vast majority of cross-gender identified children, if medically treated in early adolescence, risk regretting the decision after they are old enough to realize their losses,' Lovdahl added.

She said the ordeal left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'.

She also claims the hospital and doctors did not provide her and her parents proper 'informed consent', which would have introduced therapy sessions, something she says was never offered.

In a statement, her lawyers criticized the procedures as 'an insane form of child abuse'.

'We believe cases like this are the best way to stop them, especially in liberal states like California, where reckless ideologues are pushing this radical agenda,' said attorney Charles Limandri.

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals has been contacted by DailyMail.com for comment.
A state trooper in Pennsylvania was killed in a shootout with a man hours after the suspect had opened fire on another trooper.

The first trooper was shot and seriously injured in Mifflintown - a small town in central Pennsylvania - at around 12.45pm on Saturday and he was rushed to hospital, according to state police.

Around two hours later the suspect was found in Walker township, around thirty miles to the north, and another shooting ensued.

The suspect and the trooper were both killed during the resulting shootout and police said both of their identities will be released later.

A state trooper in Pennsylvania was killed in a shootout with a man hours after he opened fire on another trooper

Law enforcement work the scene of the second shooting in Pennsylvania on Saturday

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote on Twitter he had spent time at the hospital and the first trooper is in a stable but critical condition.

Col. Christopher Paris of the state police was also at the hospital where the injured trooper was being treated, state police said. Their current condition is unknown.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry also issued a statement offering condolences.

'Our brave law enforcement officers fight to protect Pennsylvania communities every day. As the Attorney General, know that my office stands with you,' she said.

The suspect's pickup truck is seen in the center

Officials said on Saturday evening there was no threat to the public.

The incident comes around a week after Pennsylvania state troopers shot and killed an 18-year-old street racer who authorities say struck them after refusing to stop.

One of the troopers then fired a shot into the car, striking Anthony Allegrini Jr., who died at the scene on the I-95.

An investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office ongoing but Pennsylvania State Police are not equipped with body-worn cameras, the Philadelphia Enquirer reported on Thursday.
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined this week's episode of CNN's 'Who's Talking to Chris Wallace,' and defended his previous comparison of the January 6th Capitol riots to Kristallnacht violent attack on the Jewish people.

Schwarzenegger, 73, made his original comments comparing the two events in a January 2021 video, when he issued a dramatic speech slamming Trump and comparing the MAGA January 6th riot to the Nazi takeover of his native Austria.

CNN anchor Chris Wallace played a portion of his speech in the interview with Schwarzenegger on Friday before asking him whether he still stands by his original statement.

'Now, the night of broken glass, or Kristallnacht, was in 1938 when Nazi sympathizers ransacked Jewish stores and synagogues and schools,' Wallace said. 'Do you still think its fair to compare Kristallnacht, the Nazi attack on the Jews, to what happened on January 6th?'

The former Republican Governor replied: 'Yes, absolutely.'

Former California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured), joined CNN's 'Who's Talking to Chris Wallace' on Friday, and defended his previous 2021 comparison of the January 6th Capitol riots to Kristallnacht violent attack on the Jewish people in Germany

Nearly 100 Jews were murdered during the violence on Kristallnacht in 1938 and 30,000 were sent to concentration camps. On January 6, 2021 (pictured) one person was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer while four other people died of natural causes either during or following the event

Kristallnacht, on November 9 (pictured) resulted in about $400 million (in 1938 rates) in damages - which the Nazis held the German-Jewish community responsible. The Capitol riots on January 6th, resulted in $1.5 million worth of damage to the U.S. Capitol building

'I mean, I think that it is, of course, a different time and all that. But it is kind of like a threat to democracy and a threat of what happens to people when theyre lied to,' he added.

He then claims that the American people are being misled in the same manner his father, a former Nazi, was misled during World War II.

'And this is why I compared it to that. Because in Kristallnacht, I know with my father, who was part of the Nazi party, they were lied to. They were misled. And I think a lot of people in America today are being misled,' he said.

Nazi mobs, SS troops and ordinary citizens torched, vandalized, if not completely destroyed thousands of Jewish homes, schools, synagogues, businesses, hospitals and cemeteries.



KRISTALLNACHT: THE PRELUDE TO THE HOLOCAUST Although the Nazis began persecuting Jews as soon as they gained power, Hitler's true capacity for unadulterated violence was demonstrated to the world on November 9, 1938. The pretext was the assassination of a German diplomat in Paris by a young Polish Jew. The SA, his private paramilitary force, started by smashing Jewish shops' and synagogues' windows - hence the name - then moved on to mob violence, killing at least 91, beating untold numbers and running free as police stood by or helped. The Nazis were not arrested: the Jews were, with 30,000 sent to concentration camps; 267 synagogues were destroyed, thousands of businesses looted and seized, and the community 'fined' a sum equivalent to around $7 billion in current values. German, Austrian and Sudetenland Jews' persecution shocked the world and the stage was set for the Holocaust. Advertisement On January 6 2021, one person was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the Capitol riots - protestor, Ashli Babbitt. Four other people died of other causes either during or following the event: one died of an accidental drug overdose, two died of heart attacks and one died of a stroke. Kristallnacht resulted in about $400 million (in 1938 rates) in damages - which the Nazis held the German-Jewish community responsible, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Capitol riots on January 6th, resulted in $1.5 million worth of damage to the U.S. Capitol building, according to the Department of Justice. The Nazis were not arrested nor held accountable legally or financially in 1938: the Jews were, with at least 91 murdered, 30,000 sent to concentration camps; 267 synagogues were destroyed, thousands of businesses looted and seized, and the community 'fined' a sum equivalent to around $7 billion in current values. Meanwhile, following January 6th, more than 1,033 of the rioters have been arrested, with approximately 485 federal defendants receiving sentences - as more cases pile on. Schwarzenegger said his father and the other men of his childhood were shattered mentally by the guilt of 'what they saw and did,' in the 2021 video. Gustuv Schwarzenegger was wounded in combat on the Eastern Front in 1942 having served in a Panzer group as a military policeman in Poland, France, Belgium, Ukraine, Lithuania and finally modern-day Russia. 'Now, I've never shared this so publicly because it is a painful memory but my father would come drunk once or twice a week and he would scream and hit us, and scare my mother,' Schwarzenegger said. A night of shame: In the violence of Kristallnacht, mobs of SA paramilitaries and Hitler Youth burned almost 300 synagogues, and desecrated cemeteries Nazi past: Gustav Schwarzenegger was a policeman in Austria who joined the Nazis and was wounded on the eastern front. His son described him drunkenly beating his children, like the neighboring fathers, because of the guilt 'of what they saw and did.' His mother Aurelia had two children - Meinhard, and Arnold - with Gustav; her first husband had died in action Eleven year old Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for a photo in art class in 1958 in Thal, Austria 'I didn't hold him totally responsible because our neighbor was doing the same thing to his family, and so was the next neighbor over. I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes. 'They were in physical pain from the shrapnel in their bodies and in emotional pain from what they saw or did. 'It all started with lies, and lies, and lies, and intolerance. So being from Europe I've seen first hand how things can spin out of control.' Comparing 1930s Austria to modern America he said: 'President Trump sought to overturn the results of an election and of a fair election. He sought a coup by misleading people with lies. 'My father and our neighbors were misled also with lies. I know where such lies lead.'

Kristallnacht, often referred to as the "Night of Broken Glass," was a wave of violent anti-Jewish pogroms which took place throughout Germany on November 9 and 10, 1938, that claimed the lives of nearly 100 Jews and sent 30,000 to concentration camps.
After spending 20 years behind bars over the deaths of her four children, Kathleen Folbigg enjoyed her first hours of freedom drinking champagne, eating steak and gazing out at the ocean.

Ms Follbigg, 55, has been staying at a farm owned by her best friend Tracy Chapman in Glenreagh in north-eastern NSW since her release earlier this month.

There she has gone for walks in the fields, patted horses and gazed out at the Pacific Ocean after spending almost exactly two decades in a cell.

'Just before coming out, I had frosted glass windows so there was no looking out of that and a colourbond fence that was only about a foot away so there was no looking at anything,' Ms Folbigg told Ms Chapman in footage aired by 7News Spotlight.

A dinner was held in Kathleen Folbigg's (pictured) honour where her friends and longtime supporters who helped secure her release supped champagne and tucked into steak

A dinner was held to celebrate her release, joined by friends and those who had campaigned on her behalf, as they sipped champagne and tucked into steak.

She said the message she wants people to take away from her story was that they could 'survive it'.

'You can move on from it and for me the future is everything and your future is anything,' she said.

Ms Folbigg was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter after her babies Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb died in suspicious circumstances between 1989 and 1999.

But this month NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley confirmed she would be released from jail following new scientific evidence that cast a 'reasonable doubt' over her case after she was first imprisoned in 2003.

In the 7News footage she opens up on the reason why she thinks she lost four children.

'I've always believed that family was everything so you take that step forward and you take the risk,' she said.

'I would say that's why I lost four children because I always...after Caleb there was 'no, no, surely we can get this right' so Patrick was born. And then after Patrick it was like 'well that didn't work so let's have Sarah' - lots of discussions. And then with Sarah there were so many discussions, I almost didn't have Laura.'

Kathleen Folbigg was out and about in the historic NSW north coast town of Nana Glen on Saturday after her release from prison earlier this month

Ms Folbigg (pictured in 2005) was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003 after her babies Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb died in suspicious circumstances between 1989 and 1999

She added: 'I always see myself just as a very simple Novocastrian Newcastle girl, who - though I might have lost four children - led a very normal life.'

Ms Folbigg had been sentenced to 30 years in jail and was not eligible for parole until 2028, but had consistently maintained her innocence.

Her convictions have not been quashed. Her prison pardon was granted because of 'reasonable doubt' over her children's death.

The decision came after an inquiry - set up by Supreme Court Justice Tom Bathurst KC - found there was new evidence to suggest the children died from natural causes.

It was revealed soon after her release that Ms Folbigg would sit down with Channel Seven, with reports suggesting the price of the exclusive interview was $400,000, fighting off fierce competition from the Nine Network.

On Saturday, Ms Folbigg was spotted out in public for the first time, embracing friends in the historic NSW north coast village of Nana Glen on Saturday, with Sunrise host Natalie Barr also in her entourage.

A full documentary will air on 7News Spotlight in the coming weeks.

Ms Folbigg may also receive a hefty compensation fee from the state government for her time behind bars.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr is seen with Ms Folbigg in Nana Glen - Channel 7 has reportedly paid more than $400,000 to interview the former inmate

In the wake of the pardon, which does not quash her conviction but frees her from jail, lawyer Rhanee Rego revealed compensation could be on the cards.

'We haven't spoken to her about this. She is very much trying to focus on taking one step in front of the other and not rush into things because she has just been waiting to feel the grass on her feet, look at the sky and watch the sunrise for the first time in 20 years,' Ms Rego said on June 6.

'Kathleen is still having a cup of tea, acquainting herself to normal life, and we are just getting used to not speaking to her in a prison over an AVL call.

'We are taking it one step at a time, but in due course, we will certainly be thinking about all options available to her.

'We won't be rushing her and pushing her to do anything. She does not need to do until she is ready.'

Ms Folbigg was convicted of the murder of her son Patrick (right), as well as manslaughter of her first child Caleb (left)

Medical experts say there might have been a genetic mutation which caused the deaths of Sarah (left) and Laura Folbigg (right)

Ms Folbigg's convictions need to be quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal before compensation avenues can be discussed.

Figures from as little $1million up to $20million have already been speculated in the media.

'She not only lost one child, she has lost four and been in jail for 20 years. The system has failed her at every step,' Ms Rego said.

'Instead of trying to understand why her children died, potentially through an inquest... we threw her in jail, locked her up and called her Australia's worst female serial killer.'
The Metropolitan Police said today it was 'considering' newly released video footage showing Conservative Party staff partying, dancing and drinking during lockdown.

The force said it was aware of the video, which shows a Christmas party involving at least 24 revellers at the party's campaign headquarters in London in December 2020, when social distancing restrictions were in place.

Michael Gove today tore into those at the raucous party organised by the campaign team of the then London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey, branding it 'terrible' and their actions 'indefensible'.

Two dancing officials are shown twirling each other past signs saying 'please keep your distance' and stumbling into a table laden with buffet food. As they do so, other Tory staff members are heard laughing, with one joking that he hopes that they are not exposed for 'bending the rules.'

Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday a furious Mr Gove said he hoped all those filmed were 'contrite', adding: 'It is terrible. I think it is completely out of order.

'I want to apologise to everyone who, looking at that image, will think these are people flouting the rules put in place to protect us all...

'The fact that this party went ahead is indefensible for the people who were there.'

The Metropolitan Police has previously investigated the event, which took place on December 14 2020, but only had a still image of the partygoers, and Mr Gove declined to tell the force if it should reopen its probe.

Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday a furious Mr Gove said he hoped all those filmed were 'contrite', adding: 'It is terrible. I think it is completely out of order.'

Good Lord: London mayor wannabe Shaun Bailey, who was ennobled last week, is seen smiling at the lockdown-mocking party thrown by the team who failed to get him elected

He said Mr Bailey and Ben Mallett should keep the honours they were awarded in Boris Johnson's resignation list.

Officers will now assess the new video - raising the prospect that the Conservatives could face yet another highly damaging police partygate probe.

The video, obtained by The Sunday Mirror, is the first time footage has emerged of a rule-breaking party in Westminster.

It shows a karaoke machine with flashing lights, as partygoers joke about how they are breaking the rules.

One man, wearing a brightly coloured Christmas jumper, is seen ballroom dancing with a woman dressed in a red dress.

The unsteady pair bump into a table laden with party food and wine glasses as they spiral around to the sound of The Pogues' Fairytale of New York.

When one man sees he is being recorded, he says: 'Oh Christ.' Then another asks: 'Are you filming this?' Someone else responds: 'Er, it's for the party use.'

A man then laughs after declaring: 'As long as we are not streaming that we're, like, bending the rules.'

One of those captured in the footage is Ben Mallett, a senior Tory aide who was awarded an OBE in former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.

Holding a glass of red wine and wearing festive braces, Mr Mallett was the Tories' campaign director for the 2021 London mayoral election. He now runs the campaign of Moz Hossain, who wants to stand in next year's mayoral race.

In the video one man, wearing a brightly coloured Christmas jumper, is seen ballroom dancing with a woman dressed in a red dress

Just days after the party Mr Johnson announced a raft of tighter restrictions which meant people in the areas worst hit by Covid could not see their loved ones over Christmas.

Read more: Partygate showdown is set to descend into farce as Rishi Sunak and other MPs may skip voting on report altogether Advertisement

Labour's Deputy leader Angela Rayner last night said: 'Revellers openly mocked the rules the British people followed. The Tories think it's one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.

'Instead of forcing them to face the consequences, Rishi Sunak has caved into Boris Johnson and chosen to reward them with honours. It's a sickening insult.'

A photograph of the controversial celebrations by Mr Bailey's campaign team was first published in December 2021 and put fresh pressure on Number 10 over its conduct during the pandemic.

After the picture emerged, Mr Bailey apologised 'unreservedly' and resigned as chair of the London Assembly's police and crime committee.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.'

A spokesman for the Shaun Bailey campaign said: 'This is an old story. We repeatedly apologised for this event at the time. It was subject to a nearly year-long police investigation. The matter is closed.'

It was not clear if the spokesman was one of those present in the video.
This is the shocking moment an Australian China watcher is questioned by police over vile threats he was falsely accused of making to 'rape and kill' a Chinese journalist - which he believes were actually crafted by China's spies.

Andrew Phelan, an entrepreneur and vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party, was arrested by four armed police officers at his Melbourne home on 25 January this year.

They confiscated his phone, two laptops and several external drives and took him to a local police station for questioning.

He was accused of sending an email to the young female journalist, who is believed to have Chinese-Singaporean heritage, which read: 'Get back to China, b**** and if you don't I'm going to come find you and pound your yellow p****, cut your throat.

'At least then you'll bleed red, in the colour of the CCP, you b****.'

Footage of Mr Phelan's police interview shows him completely gobsmacked hearing the words supposedly written in his name.

'I would never ever, in a month of Sundays, use that kind of language to women or anybody else,' he tells the officers.

After questioning, police established that the email had been sent by a fake account purporting to be him.

'It was surreal. Incredibly confronting. It was horrible - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy,' Mr Phelan told 60 Minutes.

Mr Phelan, who was a former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia-China Council scholar, was in no doubt about who was behind the vicious message.

Mr Phelan believes alleges he was targeted by China's Ministry of State Security due to his vocal criticism of the CCP

'I believe that this has been done under the auspices of the MSS, China's Ministry of State Security,' he said.

'I believe they are targeting Westerners who have been critical of the CCP in the public square.'

He confirmed to Daily Mail Australia his conviction that the 'fake email tactic is a new strategy deployed on dissidents and critics of the regime under the sponsorship of Chinas MSS (Ministry of State Security)'.

'I dont know who exactly was behind it but it would have been done with state sponsorship,' he said.

Mr Phelan said the confiscation of his phone and laptop came at the 'worst possible time' because his mother, who suffers from dementia and cancer, was about to return home from hospital after falling and breaking her hip.

The China watcher said the accusation was also 'particularly aggravating' because he had physically intervened multiple times to stop men harassing or bullying women on trips to Asia before.

'I advised the police to inform the complainant that I was very sorry she had been caught up in this as "collateral damage" as it were through know fault of her own,' he said.

'Even though I was the intended target in this case whats clear is the perpetrators had zero regard for the welfare of the complainant.'

Mr Phelan has offered police his time and insight to help educate them about these nefarious tactics in the future.

60 Minutes also spoke to human rights activist Drew Pavlou who was arrested protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in London last year.

Mr Pavlou alleges the Chinese regime made a false bomb threat in his name, which left him potentially facing 12 years in prison.

For six months after his arrest received more than 40 emails threatening to kill him and his mother also suffered a campaign to have her sacked.

Human rights activist Drew Pavlou (pictured) believes the Chinese regime made a false bomb threat in his name

China is known to crack down on critics of the state

The program also heard from Australian political artist, Badiucao, who lived in China for 20 years before seeking refuge here.

He is considered an enemy of the state for his art, which often paints the Chinese Communist leader, Xi Jinping, as a tyrant.

Badiucao claims Chinese authorities have put so much pressure on local galleries he can't get his work shown in Australia and he has been forced to sever ties with family in China in order to keep them safe.

He has also suffered near-daily death threats.

'No matter how far you are in Australia, in America, in Europe, if you offend China, then you will be killed,' he told 60 Minutes.

The program also shone a light on so-called Chinese Overseas Police Service Stations, which are allegedly secret Chinese police stations operating in over 50 countries around the world.

Documents sourced from Chinese authorities suggest two secret stations are located in Australia, according to 60 Minutes.

Artist Badiucao (pictured) is considered an enemy of the state for his art, which often paints the Chinese Communist leader, Xi Jinping, as a tyrant

Australian authorities deny they are operating even though China reportedly publicises their existence.

An establishment ceremony for the alleged station in Sydney was covered by the Chinese press, but it flew under the radar in Australia.

A spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Australia told Nine 'there is no so-called overseas police stations'.

'The relevant institutions helped overseas Chinese who could not return to China due to the pandemic renew their driving licence and perform physical examination.

'They are not so-called police stations or police service centres at all.

'The local Chinese groups who helped provide venues for the services and the volunteers are Chinese from the local communities who are willing to help their compatriots, not Chinese police personnel.

'In light of the evolving COVID situation and relevant services now available online, the relevant service centres have been closed.'
President Joe Biden is spending Father's Day at his Rehoboth Beach house, after hopping a ride to his home state on Air Force One to his second Delaware home and spending part of his 46th anniversary at a political rally.

The president was briefly back at his beach house for some relaxation time with family for a weekend trip, with plans to jet to San Francisco on Monday.

Should family conversations turn to politics around the meal table, there will be much to discuss: a new DailyMail.com poll reveals 71 per cent of Americans and half of Democrats surveyed think he is too old to be president, and surveys show him in a tight race with top Republican rivals.

He motorcaded into the small town of Rehoboth Saturday early evening, popping by his $2.7 million beach house briefly before making his way to church for a Saturday night Mass.

President Joe Biden is spending the weekend at his Rehoboth Beach, Del. home. He attended mass at St. Edmund Church Saturday evening with daughter Ashley (l) and granddaughter Natalie Biden

Visitors awaited his departure along sidewalks to snap photos and catch a glimpse. Late-arriving church-goers had to be swept by security, with some yelling 'We love you' when he walked outside.

When mass was over, two priests in green and white vestments walked outside and briefly visited with Biden as he left. His daughter Ashley Biden, his daughter with first lady Jill Biden, also took part in the conversation, smiling. She was accompanied by Biden's granddaughter, Natalie, the eldest daughter of the late Beau Biden.

Biden went to church soon after arriving at his beach house on Father's Day weekend

He spent part of his anniversary with first lady Jill Biden at a union rally in Philadelphia

The first lady was seen sporting a corsage when she boarded Air Force One in Philadelphia

Jill Biden also spoke at the union rally, Biden's first public campaign-style event since announcing his reelection run in April

Daughter Ashley Biden and husband Howard Krein were spotted getting off Air Force One

Ashley Biden, a social worker and activist, keeps a low profile, and is spending the weekend with her parents

The down time comes before a spring that will mix campaigning, governing, and diplomacy over the summer  although a White House official told DailyMail.com the Biden camp isn't expected to open a campaign office in his home state until later this summer.

'There's a reason we're doing this a whole year and a half before election day,' Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) told reporters at Biden's union event. 'We have a record now. It's one thing to run for president in 2020 to talk about the things you will do or you're promising to do It's another to have a concrete record to point to.'

Still, his team has bristled at questions about why Biden hasn't done more campaigning since launching his reelection. The White House official noted that Barack Obama didn't do his first event until 2012, the year of his reelection win.

Much of the media attention has been sucked up by the legal woes of his potential rival, former President Donald Trump.

But Biden isn't yet ready to say who he'll face, when asked about facing a potentially brutal campaign. 'Well, it depends on who the nominee is,' he told DailyMail.com.

The president wasn't able to tune out diplomatic challenges on his trip, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken starts his high-stakes trip to Beijing.

Biden may have stroked Blinken's audience by cutting China's leaders some slack on the spy balloon the U.S. military shot down over the Atlantic.

'I don't think the leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on. It was -- I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional,' he told reporters Friday.

Next month he heads to Vilnius, Lithuania for the annual NATO summit as Ukraine carries out its counteroffensive to try to expel Russian forces from their territory in the brutal war.
Since 2023 began, there have been at least eight instances in which planes collided or nearly collided at American airports.

January 13  a Delta flight nearly collides nose-first into the side of an American Airlines that had crossed into its runway at New York's John F Kennedy Airport

The Boeing 737 he was piloting was traveling at 115mph down a runway at the New York's airport at around 8.45pm when an air traffic controller noticed that the American Airlines flight to the UK crossed from an adjacent runway right in front of the departing plane, ABC 7 reports.

Air Traffic Control had told the American Airlines flight to cross 'runway 31L at Kilo' but instead crossed runway 4 Left at Juliet, crossing directly in front of the departing Delta flight.

The Delta pilot was forced to abruptly brake, traveling another 661 feet before he came to a complete stop with just 1,000 feet to spare before the plane would have T-boned the American Airlines Boeing 777, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a preliminary statement.

It was then forced to return to the gate, and did not takeoff again until the next morning, while the American Airlines flight arrived in the UK on time.

January 18  A JetBlue flight 'bumps' into empty parked plane at JFK

According to a passenger on board the JetBlue flight during the incident, the plane was being pushed from the gate by a pushback truck and preparing to taxi before takeoff.

During the pushback, the AirBus A320 hit another parked JetBlue AirBus A320.

Following the incident, the plane returned to the gate and passengers were forced to disembark. There were no reported injuries. Both aircraft were put out of service, the airline said.

February 3  Two United Airlines aircraft collide at New Jersey airport

Two United Airlines planes clipped wings on the tarmac at Newark Liberty International amid a spate of high-profile near misses at U.S. airports.

The Boeing 757 bound for Orlando, Florida, was struck by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner before the pilot announced to passengers: 'Obviously, our wing has been clipped.'

The tip of an Orlando-bound aircraft's wing was torn off by the collision at Newark Liberty International Airport on February 3

February 4  FedEx plane narrowly misses crashing into Southwest Airlines jet at Austin airport

A FedEx cargo airplane attempting to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was seconds from disaster with the flight crew suddenly forced to pull up and abort their landing after a Southwest Airlines plane was also cleared to takeoff from the same runway.

The two planes appeared to come within 75 vertical feet of one another.

The Boeing 767 cargo airplane was several miles from the airport when it was cleared to land, according to the FAA but just before it was about to touch down an air traffic controller also gave the go-ahead for the Southwest Boeing 737 to take off on the exact same stretch of tarmac.

'Shortly before the FedEx aircraft was due to land, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 to depart from the same runway,' the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

'The pilot of the FedEx airplane discontinued the landing and initiated a climb out.'

The FedEx Boeing 767, in orange, had been cleared to land while a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737, in yellow, had also been cleared to depart on the same runway

At one stage, just 75 feet appeared to separate the two aircraft according to FlightRadar24

February 27  JetBlue pilot forced to take 'evasive action' after an aircraft crossed the runway when it was preparing to land in Boston

A JetBlue pilot had to take 'evasive action' while landing at Boston's Logan International Airport when another aircraft crossed an intersecting runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The close call occurred at 7pm when the pilot of a Learjet 60 took off without clearance as a JetBlue flight was preparing to land on an intersecting runway, according to the FAA's preliminary review.

The FAA is investigating just how close the two aircraft came, but flight data tracking service Flightradar24 said Tuesday that a preliminary analysis put the aircraft approximately 530 feet (160 meters) apart.

An air traffic controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to line up and wait on one runway while the JetBlue flight landed on another, the FAA said in a statement.

'The Learjet pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a takeoff roll instead,' the FAA said. 'The pilot of the JetBlue aircraft took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection.'

March 6  Wings of two United Airlines planes clip on the runway at Boston Logan Airport

Two United Airlines planes were involved in a slow-speed collision at Boston Logan International Airport.

It happened as one airliner was being pushed backwards out of its bay and its right wing fouled on the horizontal stabilizer at the rear of an adjacent plane.

The incident occurred just before 9am and required United Airlines to disembark all passengers so the two flights could be rescheduled using different aircraft.

'While pushing back from its gate earlier today at Boston Logan, the wing of one United aircraft made contact with the wing of another United plane parked at the neighboring gate,' United Airlines said in a statement.

An airliner was being pushed backwards out of its bay when its right wing collided with the horizontal stabilizer at the rear of an adjacent plane. Pictured are the two aircraft in contact

March 18  Southwest flight narrowly misses crashing into helicopter on Hollywood Burbank Airport runway

A plane almost collided with a helicopter at a Southern California airport, just days after the Federal Aviation Administration held a summit on rising safety concerns.

FAA officials said a Southwest flight was approaching a runway at the Hollywood Burbank Airport around 9.50am when an air traffic controller noticed a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter on the same runway.

According to an FAA statement, the helicopter had been practicing touch-and-go landings. After noticing the issue, the controller told the Boeing 737 to wrap around.

No one was injured and the matter is under investigation by the FAA at this time.

The Boeing 737 was Southwest flight N551WN from Phoenix, which had to turn around and attempt another landing after the near-crash ended the first landing attempt.

June 16  United plane collides with a Delta aircraft on the tarmac at Boston's Logan Airport

Passengers on board a Delta flight caught on camera the moment a United Airlines plane collided with their aircraft on the tarmac at Boston's Logan Airport - forcing all passengers to deplane and rebook their tickets.

The two vehicles collided Friday afternoon as the parked Delta plane was waiting to take off for Detroit.

Video posted online showed the United aircraft slowly backing up into the Delta plane, with a spokesperson for the airline confirming to WCVB that its winglet grazed the tail end of the other aircraft.

'Customers on the United aircraft deplaned normally at the gate, and we will rebook them onto other flights,' the United spokesperson said, noting that there were 128 passengers on board the flight headed to Newark, New Jersey.

Passengers on board the Delta flight were also rebooked on another flight that arrived an hour later, and the airline apologized for the inconvenience by ordering the customers pizzas, one passenger wrote online.
Police were shocked after driving along a busy road in Birmingham and encountering a massive boa constrictor slithering across the street.

Officers were on patrol driving along the street on Park Lane in Aston on Saturday when they spotted the reptile in the middle of the road.

Images show how at least three officers had to club together to bravely usher the animal into a pillow case with a broom at the side of the busy road.

The constrictor, the species of which can grow up to 10ft (3m) in length, was taken to a local reptile shop where it was checked over and found to be uninjured.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: 'We often have to deal with the odd slippery customer, but officers got an off-the-scale shock when they encountered a boa constrictor in the middle of a busy Birmingham road.

Officers were on patrol driving along the street on Park Lane in Aston on Saturday when they spotted the reptile in the middle of the road

The constrictor, the species of which can grow up to 10ft (3m) in length, was taken to a local reptile shop where it was checked over and found to be uninjured

Video footage and images show how at least three officers had to club together to bravely usher the animal into a pillow case with a broom at the side of the busy road

Police were shocked to see the animal slithering along the busy road and had to take it to the side of the road

'Officers from our operational support unit were driving down Park Lane yesterday afternoon when they spotted the large snake moving across the road.

'But they soon had the situation in the bag as they gently manoeuvred the creature into a pillowcase before taking it for checks at a local reptile centre.

'Staff at Birmingham Reptiles confirmed that the common boa constrictor had come to no harm and they'll be looking after it until its owner claims it or it's rehomed.'

Boa constrictors are large, non-venomous snakes that are often kept and bred in captivity.

They are native to South America, and are recognisable for their highly distinctive and variable colour patterns.
Presidential hopeful Mike Pence won't say whether he would pardon Donald Trump, claiming that the former president could still be found innocent in his federal indictment.

Trump's former VP shared with NBC host Chuck Todd that he was hoping Trump would 'come around' to accepting the results of the 2020 election by now.

Pence is now running against his former boss in the 2024 primary  and argued that Trump is not the same leader he was when they ran together in 2016.

Now that Trump was levied earlier this month a federal indictment with 37 separate counts, the crowded GOP primary field is being asked to weigh-in on the case.

'Well, let me say first and foremost, I don't know why some of my competitors in the Republican primary presume the president will be found guilty,' Pence told NBC's Meet the Press.

Former Vice President and 2024 presidential contender Mike Pence wouldn't commit to pardoning Donald Trump  but said that the ex-president could still be found innocent in the federal indictment

WATCH: Would fmr. VP @Mike_Pence be running for president had Trump come around on accepting the 2020 election results?



Pence: I always hoped [Trump] would come around.  No one who puts himself over the Constitution should ever be president. pic.twitter.com/wXX0izcgM5  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 18, 2023

'Look, all we know is what the president has been accused of in the indictment,' he continued. 'We don't know what his defense is. We don't know if this will even go to trial. It could be subject to a motion to dismiss. We don't know what the verdict will be of the jury.'

Meanwhile, longshot Republican presidential contender and self-made biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy has already said he would pardon Trump if he becomes the chief executive.

Fellow far-out contender and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is running on an anti-Trump platform, called Ramaswamy's commitment 'offensive' and 'pathetic.'

Pence, however, says the question on a pardon is 'premature.'

'I just think this whole matter is incredibly divisive for the country. And, look, I just think at the end of the day, it is saddening to me that we are now in this moment,' Pence told Todd.

On his bid to take the nomination from Trump, Pence made the argument that Trump has strayed from his 2016 stances that were more hard-line conservative.

Pence vowed to restore that in the White House.

There are already 13 people running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Trump is far ahead of the field in early polls, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in second  usually falling about 20 percentage points behind the ex-president.

The former vice president also commented on the 2020 election, which Trump still insists was stolen in a mass voter fraud scheme. Todd asked Pence if he would be running for president now if Trump had accepted the results of the last president election.

Pence is running against his once-boss in the 2024 Republican primary, saying that he 'hoped' Trump would 'come around' to the 2020 election results and argued that he has strayed from conservative principles

'I always hoped he'd come around on this issue,' Pence replied. 'Because I believe no one who puts himself over the Constitution should ever be president of the United States.'

'And I had hoped that President Trump would eventually see that he'd been misled by the so-called legal experts that had advised him wrongly about the role that he thought I had, and still thinks I had that day,' the ex-VP said.

Trump insisted that Pence had the ability to stop Congress from certifying the election results and therefore somehow overturn the will of the people to vote in Joe Biden as the next president.

When January 6, 2021 rioters stormed the Capital and called for Pence to be hanged, Trump did not speak out in defense of his No. 2  and, in fact, has taken to attacking him along the campaign trail as one of the main reasons he is not president still today.
A 'psychopath' husband, who murdered his wife then dissolved her body in acid leaving only her porcelain teeth, will be given the chance for plead for an early release.

Klaus Julius Andres, who was found guilty of murdering Li Ping Cao in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison, was granted the opportunity after being deemed to have cooperated under Queensland's 'no body, no parole' laws.

Andres, now 80, is not eligible for parole until December 2028 but argued that due to his ill health he should be granted early release on exceptional circumstances parole.

The Parole Board of Queensland found he can pursue that outcome in a decision handed down on June 16.

Klaus Julius Andres, who was found guilty of murdering Li Ping Cao (pictured) in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison, was granted the chance to plead for an early release

The first sign of foul play was during a press conference held by police when Andres smiled and joked around as he appealed for information about his wife (pictured)

It is not known if Andres, who remains locked up in the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in Far North Queensland, has yet lodged a fresh bid for parole since that ruling, the Courier Mail reported.

A Cairns jury put Andres away for life in 2013 after a breakthrough in Ms Cao's October 2011 disappearance.

He was 70 then, 26 years older than Ms Cao, whom he killed at 42.

Queensland police discovered CCTV footage of Andres using Ms Cao's card at an ATM and a hardware store where he bought 40 litres of acid.

In total they found he bought 60 litres of acid.

At first, investigating officers believed the acid was used to clean up a murder scene.

But they realised the grim truth after 10 Ms Cao's porcelain teeth were found in a drain outside the couple's Cairns home.

Andres had melted her body in a wheelie bin using hydrochloric acid bought from Bunnings.

Neighbours gave grim evidence to police that after her disappearance Andres lost control of a heavy wheelie bin on his driveway resulting in 'a pink slushy mess' spilling into a stormwater drain.

Andres told detectives Ms Cao disappeared after leaving him when she accused him of cheating.

The couple, who met online, had been married for seven years but Andres didn't seem to be upset about his wife's disappearance, Detective Sergeant Brad McLeish told A Current Affair in 2017.

Andres wasn't supposed to be eligible for parole until 2028 after dissolving his wife's body in acid while having an affair with another woman

Detectives determined Andres had murdered his wife after finding 10 of her porcelain teeth in a drain near their Cairns home (pictured)

Andres is locked up in the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in Far North Queensland (pictured) and is expected to lodge a fresh bid for an early release

At a press conference before he was arrested, Andres even laughed and joked with reporters.

'I don't like to use the word psychopath, but that's his personality,' Sgt McLeish said.

'He's just an evil, greedy, arrogant little man.'

He was found to be having a relationship with another Thai woman and had forged his wife's signature so he could collect her Centrelink payments.

An extramarital affair and money appeared to be his main motives, Sgt McLeish said.

Andres appeal to the High Court of Australia in 2016 was rejected.
Sen. Tim Scott responded to Barack Obama's attacks on him by claiming it's proof Democrats are 'threatened' by his candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

The primary contender is only polling around 3 percent, but is facing an onslaught from Democrats who claim that he doesn't understand race issues in America as a black Republican.

'There's no higher compliment than being attacked by President Obama,' Scott told Fox News Sunday. 'Whenever the Democrats feel threatened, they pull out  drag out the former president and have him make some negative comments about someone running, hoping that their numbers go down.'

The first black president accused presidential hopefuls Scott and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley of engaging in a 'long history' of minority Republicans downplaying racism.

Scott is the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, and Haley is the first-ever Indian-American to hold an office in South Carolina and serve in a presidential cabinet as ex-President Trump's U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said former President Barack Obama's attacks on him are a 'compliment' because it means Democrats are feeling 'threatened' by his presidential bid

Obama said during a podcast interview that it's time for Republicans to get real about systemic racism  specifically calling out presidential hopefuls Scott, who is black, and Nikki Haley, who is of Indian descent

WATCH: Senator @Timscott joins the program to respond to recent comments from former President @Obama over race in America. Tune in! #FoxNewsSunday pic.twitter.com/dkxEZbNCSI  Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) June 18, 2023

Obama took issue with Scott saying that Republicans are 'doing a fabulous job of making progress' with race issues.

'If a Republican who may even be sincere in saying 'I want us all to live together' doesn't have a plan for how do we address crippling generational poverty, that is a consequence of hundreds of years of racism in this society and we need to do something about that,' Obama told the Axe Files, hosted by his former adviser David Axelrod.

Scott also took head from The View host Joy Behar, who claim he didn't understand systemic racism. He demanded a chance to respond and appeared on the show last week.

During the roundtable discussion where he took attacks from the liberal co-hosts, Scott even cited Obama as an example of how African Americans are set up to succeed.

'The fact of the matter is we've had an African American president, African American vice president, we've had two African Americans to be secretaries of state,' he said.

'In my home city, the police chief is African American who's now running for mayor.'

He said that black people have just as much opportunity as Ameircans of all other races.

In response, Obama said Republicans need to be honest about racism.

'I'm not being cynical about Tim Scott individually,' the former president said. 'I am maybe suggesting that the rhetoric of 'can't we all get along?' ... that has to be undergirded with an honest accounting of our past and our present.'

Scott doubled-down on his claims during his interview with Fox News Sunday.

'Here is what people need to know  the truth of my life disproves the lies of the radical left,' he said.

'There is a way for us to elevate poverty  not by a race, but by the statistics themselves,' Scott explained. 'That's what America stands for.'

'If anyone should be standing and shouting at the mountain tops that America is not a racist country, it should be the man that Americans supported twice for the nomination and becoming president.'

'The evolution of America is palpable. Progress in this nation, undeniable.'

Scott launched his run for president last month on an optimistic platform and has put his own story of struggle at the center of his campaign, with a philosophy that suggests everyone can succeed if they want to.

But former President Obama said in a podcast released Thursday that it was time for the Republican Party to get real about how systemic racism shaped the nation's history.

'If somebody is not proposing, both acknowledging and proposing elements that say, 'No, we can't just ignore all that and pretend as if everything's equal and fair. We actually have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.'

Former President Barack Obama in a podcast said the Republican Party needed a reckoning with the nation's history on race, and targeted 2024 hopeful Sen Tim Scott in particular

'If they're not doing that, then I think people are rightly skeptical.'

Scott responded to his comments late on Thursday, but steered clear of attacking Obama by name.

'Let us not forget we are a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression. Democrats deny our progress to protect their power,' he said.

'The Left wants you to believe faith in America is a fraud and progress in our nation is a myth. The truth of my life disproves the lies of the radical Left.

'We live in a country where little black and brown boys and girls can be President of the United States. The truth is - we've had one and the good news is - we will have another.'

Scott, the first Black Republican from the South elected to the Senate since Reconstruction, recently took his campaign to daytime TV.

Obama also said the GOP needed to move on from the populist grievances of Donald Trump

Sen. Tim Scott appeared on The View, when co-host Joy Behar said that he doesn't understand race issues in the U.S. as a black Republican



Obama said on the podcast there is an opening in the Republican Party for a platform that moved beyond the grievances of Donald Trump.

'What we've seen is a Republican Party that has embraced a cultural populism, the kind of populism that we talked about earlier, resentment, anger, exploiting people's sense that things aren't rigged but what you don't see is the Republican Party embracing ... they still have very much an elitist economic agenda with a cultural overlay,' he said.

'I think there's an opening for a smart Republican out there to talk about economic issues and say, 'You know what, I wouldn't mind people who are doing really well paying a little bit higher in taxes'.'

Scott has repeatedly defended Republicans' record on race and argued that his success is not some kind of exception but a path available to all.

His most high-profile defense came on The View last week.

'One of the reasons why I'm on the show is because of the comments that were made, frankly, on the show  that the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule,' Scott said.

'That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message to send to our young people today  that the only way to succeed is by being the exception.'

He noted the massive strides African Americans have made in his lifetime alone and noted the successful people in power that he knows today  adding former President Barack Obama and current Vice President Kamala Harris to that list.

But he missed the chance to go head to head with Behar. He appeared on the show last Monday, her regular day off.
Students in Virginia have rejected the notion of replacing Father's Day with a more gender inclusive one - like Parent's Day - and say it's just more woke nonsense.

It comes after Springfield College in Massachusetts released a language guide about replacing the terms 'father' and 'mother' with something more gender-neutral like 'parent' on its campus.

Last week, just days before many would celebrate the father in their life, Campus Reform reporter William Biagini took to the streets in Tyson's Corner to ask local students what they thought.

Each person featured in the video disagreed with changing the holiday name and had even more of an issue with the idea of banning the day, pointing out that fathers - just like mothers - need to be celebrated.

Students in Northern Virginia have rejected the notion of replacing Father's Day with a more gender inclusive one - like Parent's Day - and say it's just more woke nonsense

Biagini began the video by asking local students about their plans for Father's Day. He then moved on to the question about the idea of the holiday name change.

Some of the students immediately shut down the idea, while others appeared to be shocked that changing the name or banning the holiday altogether was even an option.

'Nah, it's crazy. It's been like that since day one, so why [are] they gonna change it now?' one student replied.

Another pointed out that she didn't see the point of having a gender-neutral title for parents, even if they are LGBTQ.

'Like, if you have two dads, you call them both 'Dad.' Or if you have two moms you call them both 'Mom.' I don't think it should be banned.'

Some of the students immediately shut down the idea, while others appeared to be shocked that changing the name or banning the holiday altogether was even an option

Springfield College in Massachusetts released a language guide about replacing the terms 'father' and 'mother' with something more gender-neutral like 'parent' on its campus

The reporter's questions stem from the language guide recently posted on the Springfield College's website.

In the guide, pronouns are broken down and explained, with suggestions of more inclusive ways to use them and 'gender-inclusive nouns' to be used instead of 'gendered nouns.'

It suggests using the term 'parent' instead of 'mother' and 'father' as a way to respect parents identifying with non-traditional gender roles.

Biagini took it a step further and asked the students what they thought about banning 'Father's Day' altogether.

'No, cause we need to celebrate the fathers too because without females and males how are we to populate? We need fathers. We need mothers as well,' one person replied. 'So you can't really celebrate Mother's Day and not give the fathers their handclap.'

Another added that fathers deserve their own day.

'I wouldn't do that because I feel like Dads, they work the hardest for the family,' she said. 'Of course they should have their own day.'

When asked if banning Father's Day would possibly downplay the role of the father, a student disagreed and said 'they'd still be a father, and they'd still do everything they do.'

The students who were featured in the video all told the reporter that they still planned to celebrate Father's Day just as they always have.
Jocelyn is now filming an HBO docuseries about her life and is planning a potential reality television series

She had won a $2.5billion divorce settlement in the 1990s, with $100million guaranteed for each successive year

Socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein claims she is flat broke and has not had any income for eight years after her ex-husband's family cut her of from her $100million annual divorce settlement.

'I have a huge problem with my settlement,' she told The Sunday Times as she and her longtime fiancee film a new HBO docuseries about her life. 'Since eight years, they have completely cut me off.'

The reclusive 82-year-old won a $2.5billion settlement with $100million allocated for each year thereafter in her divorce settlement as she claimed her husband had been unfaithful.

She now says Alec tried to put the blame for their failed marriage on her by saying he no longer recognized his wife due to her extensive plastic surgeries which earned her the nickname 'Catwoman.'

Jocelyn Wildenstein, 82, first met Alec Wildenstein while on a safari in Africa. She is pictured here at the age of 15, before she got extensive plastic surgery

Jocelyn rose to international fame amid her divorce from Alec, a renowned art dealer, right, in the 1990s. She claims his infidelity led her to file for divorce

Jocelyn won a $2.5billion settlement from the divorce with a $100million payment each year thereafter. But the payments stopped in 2015 when his family cut her off, she says

Jocelyn first met Alec in 1977 at his family's Ol Jogi ranch, north of Nairobi, when she was on a safari with friends.

The two went on to have two children, Diane and Alec Jr., and lived comfortably in their Manhattan penthouse with a separate family compound in the British Virgin Islands and the family's estate in Africa.

But after 20 years of marriage, Jocelyn says, she called it quits, citing her husband's extramarital affairs.

'It was getting too obvious,' she told The Sunday Times. 'It was young girls and going to the same restaurants we went to. It was no discretion, nothing.'

During the divorce proceedings, Jocelyn claims, Alec started planting stories about her plastic surgeries to 'win the divorce' and even 'hired a publicist and paid a plastic surgeon to certify that I completely changed my face.'

'He couldn't say I betrayed him; I never betrayed him,' Jocelyn said, claiming her ex-husband once insisted that '"She became a monster... I don't recognize her."

'He put all the blame on my face,' Jocelyn said.

Rumors abounded, however, that Alec, a known cat lover, encouraged his wife to get the surgeries to make her appear more feminine.

He denied those claims in an interview with Vanity Fair at the time.

'She was crazy,' Alec insisted. 'I would always find out last.

'She was thinking that she could fix her face like a piece of furniture,' he claimed. 'Skin does not work that way. But she wouldn't listen.'

Still, Jocelyn won the proceedings  taking home a settlement of $2.5billion with $100million guaranteed each year thereafter 'to follow the lifestyle and the work of the 20 years.'

She was also allowed to keep her ex-husband's last name.

For years rumors abounded that Alec had encouraged her to get plastic surgery to make her look more feline

Jocelyn and her longtime fiancee, French-Canadian designer Lloyd Klein, are now filming an HBO docuseries about her life. The two are pictured here in New York City in September

But her good fortune apparently ended in 2015  when Alec's family decided to cut off her settlement payments.

Three years later, she filed for bankruptcy.

At the time, The Sunday Times reports, Jocelyn listed her checking account balance as '$0' despite still having millions of dollars in assets  most of which was property.

Her three luxury apartments at Trump Tower were then repossessed, and now she says she has no money at all.

'Zero  nothing in eight years,' she told the Times.

Jocelyn's longtime fiancee, 56-year-old French-Canadian designer Lloyd Klein, said she is now making a docuseries to tell her side of the story and potentially recoup some money.

He called the HBO project 'her reply' to the public, which has scrutinized her life and her infamous plastic surgeries.

She is also planning a reality television series produced by the team behind Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

'Jocelyn wants to tell the story with her own voice,' he said, with Wildenstein adding: 'I've never been public. It's not my nature.'

But Klein says he has bigger plans for his fiancee: 'I want to have a movie series on Jocelyn's life, and I would like to have Jennifer Lawrence as a young Jocelyn,' he said, adding that he would choose Rami Malek to play Alec.
Italian police are desperately searching for a five-year-old Peruvian girl who was allegedly bundled into a suitcase and kidnapped from a hotel that was occupied by 140 illegal migrants in Florence.

Kataleya Mia Chicillo Alvarez, five, disappeared nine days ago from the Astor Hotel in Florence where she had been living with her family and more than 140 illegal migrants.

CCTV recorded her playing on some steps near a courtyard at the hotel at 3.12pm on June 10 before she vanished.

No traces of Kataleya and her kidnappers were found in the area and the police's working theory is that she was bundled into a trunk or suitcase and taken out one of the two exits of the hotel.

Italy's Carabinieri Scientific Investigation Department officers and workers from local services are carrying out a desperate search for the five-year-old and have taken her toothbrush for DNA analysis.

Kataleya Mia Chicillo Alvarez, five, (pictured) from Peru, went missing on June 10 from the occupied Astor Hotel in Florence

Relatives of the missing five-year-old girl, Kataleya, weep during a religious ceremony at the Baptist church on Sunday

A police officer checks a bin for evidence of the five-year-old, who went missing more than a week ago

On Sunday, ten police officers began to empty bins outside of the occupied hotel where Kataleya lived, while two teams of specialist officers arrived with search equipment.

Eight forensic officers were also on the scene as investigators finally emptied the building of all of its occupants in order to conduct an unimpeded search for the first time.

The inspection of the building is set to continue on Monday morning and the building has been manned to prevent intrusions and interference with evidence.

A nearby building and garage were also combed over by officers as they believe the five-year-old might have been moved there temporarily.

Anti-mafia police are believed to be involved in the ongoing search.

Kataleya's family lived in a room in the former hotel which became occupied in September last year. They moved to Italy when she was six months old.

On Saturday the building was cleared and it was discovered that 140 people were living there illegally.

There have been several violent incidents at the hotel recently, including an attack on an Ecuadorian man, who reportedly jumped from the third floor to avoid a gang armed with knives.

Kataleya's parents, Kathrina Alvarez and Miguel Angel Romero, attended a church service in Via Lulli, near the hotel, to pray for the safe return of their daughter.

A letter from the priest of the parish, Father Juan Manuel Nunez Rubio, chaplain of the Latin American community in Florence, announced that Cadinal Giuseppe Betori has asked people to pray for the missing child, La Repubblica reported.

'This disappearance has mobilized many people full of good will - he adds - who courageously committed themselves from the first moment they learned of the disappearance, gathered together and began the search.

'This disappearance saddened not only the Peruvians present in Florence, but also the whole Florentine community, even from abroad, in particular from Peru.'

Specialist officers gained access to the full building for the first time on Sunday after removing 140 illegal occupants

The Peruvian community in Florence gathers in the street with placards to plead for the return of the five-year-old

'We welcome once again the invitation that Cardinal Giuseppe Betori has addressed to all the parishes of the diocese of Florence to pray for the return of our Kataleya.'

Miguel was released from prison on Tuesday, where he had been detained since March for theft and credit card fraud, on the condition that he visit the local police station twice a week.

He admitted that he previously had trouble at the former Astor hotel but said earlier this week: 'I had problems here before, but I don't think it's this thing, I can't believe they are involving a little girl.

Confirming that the family paid rent for their 'share' of the hotel, Miguel added: 'We bought only once, we took two rooms, also my brother and my father. I think it's a kidnapping.

'Maybe for extortion, I don't know, I don't have to judge, God will judge but my little girl has nothing to do with it. I don't want any more problems with anyone, I love my family.'

Kathrina was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after ingesting bleach in desperation, saying: 'I'll be fine. Forgive me if for a moment I thought about giving up and losing hope. But now I'm stronger and I won't rest until I find you.'

The Peruvian community in Florence has repeatedly taken to the streets with placards demanding the release of the girl.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised 'issues of concern' with his Chinese counterpart during his first day of talks in Beijing, as the Biden administration seeks to steady a key relationship that faces multiple points of tension.

Blinken held 'candid, substantive, and constructive talks' with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing,' said State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller.

Blinken stressed maintaining 'open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation,' he said.

He also 'raised a number of issues of concern, as well as opportunities to explore cooperation on shared transnational issues with the PRC where our interests align.'

Blinken began his high-stakes meetings in Beijing Saturday, with a diplomatic gesture from the Chinese side after President Biden, who is spending the weekend in Delaware, cut the regime some slack on the spy balloon incident.

Blinken is the first top American diplomat to visit China in five years, amid frosty bilateral ties and dim prospects for any breakthrough on the long list of disputes between the world's two largest economies.

He put off the trip in February after the U.S. shot down the spy balloon over the Atlantic, after the Pentagon said it was a large information gathering platform. It all comes in the midst of a presidential campaign where Republicans are hammering Biden for failing to apply sufficient pressure on China amid trade disputes, Chinese military expansion, and fears over the security of Taiwan.

Blinken, who postponed a February trip after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace, is the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang greeted Blinken and his group at the door to a villa in the grounds of Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest House, rather than inside the building as is customary.

The two made small talk as they walked in, Qin asking Blinken in English about his long trip from Washington. They then shook hands in front of a Chinese and an American flag.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) walks with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R) ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023

After heading into a meeting room, neither Blinken nor Qin made comments in front of reporters who were briefly allowed in. Their meeting lasted for 5-1/2 hours, a State Department spokesperson said, before they had moved to the working dinner.

Chinese assistant foreign minister Hua Chunying, who is attending the meeting, tweeted above a picture of Qin and Blinken shaking hands: 'Hope this meeting can help steer China-U.S. relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali.'

During his stay through Monday, Blinken is also expected to meet with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping.

Biden may have stroked Blinken's audience on the eve of his trip by cutting China's leaders some slack on the spy balloon incident, which set off a fury in the U.S. as it slowly traversed the continent and even flew over military bases.

'I don't think the leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on. It was -- I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional,' Biden told reporters Friday at the start of a trip to Philadelphia and Delaware.

But the tension points are numerous, and range from lingering trade disputes, rampant Chinese violations of U.S. copyrights and Beijing's embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of his invasion of Ukraine.

Biden has repeatedly said there would be consequences if China supplied military equipment to Moscow for its war, and so far the administration has said that hasn't happened.

Just last week, the U.S. blacklisted more than 30 companies after saying they had provided advanced American technology to help the Chinese development of hypersonic missiles.

U.S. officials have since last week played down the prospect of a major breakthrough during the trip, but said Blinken's primary goal was to establish open and durable communication channels to ensure strategic rivalry between the two countries does not spiral into conflict.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks after arriving in Beijing, China, June 18, 2023. The Biden administration hopes to smooth relations after a tense period

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who in March accused the U.S. 'not fair competition, but malicious confrontation'

Trade tensions have lingered since the Trump administration slapped tariffs on Chinese products that have remained

The trip comes after the U.S. blacklisted more than Chinese companies that provided U.S. technology to aid development of Chinese hypersonic missles

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang inquired about Blinken's trip in English while greeting him

U.S. officials and analysts expect Blinken's visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings between Washington and Beijing in coming months, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It could also set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday about the balloon incident in February, Biden said he did not think the Chinese leadership knew much about where the balloon was or what it did while adding that he hoped to meet Xi soon.

'I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there's areas we can get along,' Biden said.

Biden and Xi held their long-awaited first face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in November on the Indonesian island of Bali, engaging in blunt talks over Taiwan and North Korea but also pledging more frequent communication.

While that meeting briefly eased fear of a new Cold War, the flight of the Chinese balloon over the United States a few months later escalated tension, and high-level communication since then has been rare.

RISK OF MISCALCULATION

Ties between the countries have deteriorated across the board, raising concern that they might one day clash militarily over the self-governed island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own. They are also at odds over issues as varied as trade, U.S. efforts to hold back China's semiconductor industry and Beijing's human rights record.

Blinken's visit will also be closely followed by the rest of the world as any escalation between super powers could have worldwide repercussions on anything from financial markets to trade routes and practices and global supply chains.

'There's a recognition on both sides that we do need to have senior-level channels of communication,' a senior State Department official told reporters during a refuelling stop in Tokyo en route to Beijing.

'That we are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation, or as our Chinese friends often say, stopping the downward spiral in the relationship, is something that's important,' the official said.

Particularly alarming for China's neighbours has been its reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday before departing for Beijing, Blinken said his trip had three main objectives: Setting up mechanisms for crisis management, advancing U.S. and allies' interests and speaking directly about related concerns, and exploring areas of potential cooperation.

He said he would also be raising the issue of U.S. citizens detained in China on charges Washington says are politically motivated.

Blinken and his delegation will also likely discuss increasing commercial flights between the two countries and stemming the flow of fentanyl precursors from China, U.S. officials have said, but cautioned against high expectations of success.

'Both sides are well aware of the current state of the bilateral relationship. We're coming here in an effort to make sure that we can manage it responsibly,' one U.S. official said.
Austrian intelligence services have arrested three alleged ISIS sympathisers accused of planning an attack on a pride parade in Vienna.

Three male suspects - aged 14, 17, and 20 - were arrested prior to the event in Austria's capital city, which today attracted crowds of 300,000 people.

The suspects were detained following searches of their homes on Saturday that uncovered 'extensive' evidence of their plans, including stockpiles of weapons.

The three individuals had been closely monitored by Austrian security services due to their online activities, including their sharing of ISIS content on the internet.

The head of Austria's intelligence services told reporters the three suspects were 'under constant control' and that there was 'never any specific danger' to the public.

Three alleged ISIS sympathisers have been arrested over a suspected plot to attack a pride parade in Vienna (pictured)

All three invidiauls were being 'closely' monitored by authorities due to their involvement in an extremist Islamist scene, the head of Austria's domestic security services, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, said.

The suspects including a 14-year-old from Vienna and two brothers, aged 17 and 20, from the nearby city of Saint Polten, Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported.

The identities of the three suspects, who are all Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen origin, were not revealed.

Searches of the three suspects homes uncovered weapons including knives, swords and air rifles. One of the three individuals was known to police previously.

Authorities said there are also indications the suspects had tried to buy additional weapons online, as they noted one of the suspects also had a vehicle.

The three individuals were arrested by Austria's Cobra special forces just an hour before the Vienna pride parade was set to start.

The head of Austria's intelligence services Omar Haijawi-Pirchner (left) told reporters the three individuals were arrested following searches of their homes

The Vienna pride parade's organisers were only informed of the plot an hour before the event was set to take place on Sunday, following raids on the suspects homes.

Almost 700 officers were deployed later to police the pride parade, including specially trained officers, to ensure it could go ahead safely.

The arrests come after four people were killed and another 23 were injured in an Islamic terror attack in Vienna in 2020.

Austria has since 2020 bolstered its security services after the government vowed to double the size of its counter-terror forces.

Authorities said there is no evidence the three suspects had ever met the 2020 attackers.

The three suspects may, however, have come into contact with individuals linked to the 2020 attackers through group chats and the internet, the authorities said.

Austrian intelligence services discovered stockpiles of weapons including knives and air rifles

Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer today expressed his gratitude to investigators for preventing 'a possible Islamist attack in Vienna'.

'This shows once again that we must never give in in the fight against radicals and extremists,' Mr Nehammer said.

'They are a threat to our democracy and security and must be dealt with severely.

Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig said 'There must be no place for hate and exclusion in Vienna. Our city is colourful and cosmopolitan,'

'We will not let the enemies of rights for LGBTQI people, democracy and an open society get us down,' the parade's organising team said, APA reported.

Ann-Sophie Otte, chairwoman of the Homosexual Initiative Vienna, said The rights of the community have recently been 'increasingly threatened by backsliding and we have to fight every day for our visibility and safety,' according to APA.
It claims doctors didn't notify her about psychological and other lasting affects

In it, Kayla Lovdahl says she underwent a single 75-minute evaluation at age 12

The attorney for a young detransitioned woman suing several medical professionals over her transition is speaking out - accusing doctors of needlessly performing life-altering surgeries on impressionable youngsters in an exclusive interview.

Speaking to DailyMail.com Sunday, Charles LiMandri slammed the recent spate of gender-assignment surgeries seen since 2015 as an 'indoctrination' - one that caught up his 18-year-old client Kayla Lovdahl and several others before and since.

Lovdahl was just 12 and when she began to transition from female to male with the help of four Bay Area Medical professionals in 2017 - a decision she quickly came to regret just a few years later.

Such occurrences, LiMandri said, have become increasingly commonplace in recent years, fueled by a recent wave of transgender activism.

The four doctors named in the suit all work for the same Oakland-based firm Kaiser Permanente, whose two subsidiaries are also named as defendants.

LiMandri - a prominent San Diego lawyer who specializes in cases dealing with religious freedom - said the firm spent just 75 minutes vetting his client before providing her with 'off-label puberty blockers' and 'powerful male hormone drugs'.

Charles LiMandri, the attorney representing a young detransitioned woman in her case against several Bay Area medical professionals, has spoken out - accusing doctors across the US of 'mutilating' youngsters as part of a 'calculated and premeditated indoctrination'

Now 18, Kayla Lovdahl is suing the medical professionals responsible for her transition more than five years ago - claiming doctors spent just 75 minutes vetting her before setting out on the life-altering ordeal

'Its barbaric, and cruel,' LiMandri told DailyMail.com Sunday of the health professionals' actions, which culminated in a double mastectomy being performed on his client that left her unable to breastfeed for the rest of her life.

'Its confusing - kids can't possibly make that decision at 13, 14  they have no concept of the consequences.'

He added: 'If a child is 7, 8, or 9, and they want to imitate their favorite superhero's gender for whatever childish reason, they can receive puberty blockers and life-altering surgery.

'Its a very serious problem.'

The renowned legal eagle - who famously litigated against the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in defense of a 43-foot-tall Latin cross erected by the US government later deemed unconstitutional - went on to speak about the current cultural climate that he said allowed for this controversy.

'This is not a big surprise - it takes about five-ten years for kids to retransition. This all started around 2015, with Caitlyn Jenner. The lasting effects are now becoming known.

'It's the first time we are seeing this in history. They are telling kids, "Youre in the wrong body, you're special - if you do this you're courageous; you do this, you'll be happier than they ever been."

'Its shocking.'

Comparing the emerging crisis to the thousands of female to male surgeries seen in previous years, LiMandri said young girls are the next demographic to fall victim to diagnoses that leave permanent, lasting affects.

'You only go through puberty one time  you can't just put a pause button and expect the same progression.

'It's something previously seen in young boys  now, young girls account for 80 percent of detrans cases,' he added, citing recent studies involving gender dysphoria.

'For the first time in history they are telling them youre in the wrong body.'

A more proper course of action, he said, would be to 'just leave them alone' - letting them wait out their feelings of uncertainty until they are at least 16, as is the case in other countries like Finland and France.

Fueling the fire are transgender influencers like Dylan Mulvaney, he claimed, saying such figures are influencing young, confused young girls to transition before properly weighing their options.

'Young girls are very much impacted by these influencers online. They are are being paid to do it.'

He likened the result to a 'terrible conveyor belt situation' - beginning with administering of puberty blockers and testosterone, and culminating in either top or bottom surgery, or both.

'They dont tell them about the complications that arise after top surgery,' he said of the colloquial term for mastectomies. 'Or the even more after bottom [surgeries.]'

'These girls have never had a sexual relationship - how can they make those kind of decisions?'

Offering a prospective solution to parents of teens and preteens who, like his client did, express a desire to transition, he told them to wait until they are finished going through puberty.

'Take a rational approach,' he said. 'Wait it out.'

To hospital systems and states pushing prepubescent surgeries, he demanded: 'Leave our kids alone. Stop shoving this in our faces.

'What you do behind closed doors is fine - not forcing kids to jump aboard an ideology.'

The suit filed by his client, meanwhile specifically names doctors Lisa Kristine Taylor, Winnie Mao Yiu Tong, Susanne Watson, and Mirna Escalante as defendants - a endocrinologist, plastic surgeon, child psychologist, and pediatric endocrinologist, respectively.

Instead of warning Lovdahl about the finality of the treatment - or advising her to explore her gender issues through psychotherapy - LiMandri said the providers automatically, and erroneously, declared the youth to be transgender.

Also named in the sensational suit - which comes amid a growing chorus of 'detransitioning' youths expressing regret over their life choices - is the hospital who removed her breasts, and the provider who presided over the six-month process, both of which belong to the corporate umbrella of Kaiser Permanente.

'This case is about a team of doctors who decided to perform a damaging, imitation sex change experiment on [Lovdahl], then a twelve-year-old vulnerable girl struggling with complex mental health co-morbidities,' the 35-page filing reads.

'[Lovdahl] needed care, attention, and psychotherapy,' it continues of the NorCal medical officials supposed mishandling of the situation. 'Not cross-sex hormones and mutilating surgery.'

The lawsuit goes on to lay out how Lovdahl - who goes by the pseudonym Laya Jane - would later detransition last year at the age of 17, before ultimately regretting her decision.

It specifically names Kaiser doctors Susanne Watson, Winnie Mao Yiu Tong, and Lisa Kristine Taylor as defendants, for providing Lovdahl with puberty blockers, testosterone, and a double mastectomy by the time she was 13

'Defendants assumed that Kayla, a twelve-year-old emotionally troubled girl, knew best what she needed to improve her mental health and figuratively handed her the prescription pad,' the suit reads.

'There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patients wishes.'

Forced to undergo psychotherapy sessions to undo the mental damage wrought by the procedure, Lovdahl and her lawyers write their prognosis was premature - and gave the then-impressionable preteen the 'erroneous belief' she was transgender.

To come to that conclusion, the suit states, clinical psychologist Watson - who also serves as the clinical director of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals' 'Transgender Clinic' at the Oakland Medical Center - held a single, 75-minute transition evaluation.

During the sit-down, Watson is said to have not disclosed any of the lasting health risks associated with a young child taking 'off-label puberty blockers and high doses of powerful male hormone drugs' - after discerning Lovedahl was transgender.

During this time, according to the complaint, 'Lovdahl was also being forced by her mother to attend pride clinic events, but she didnt want to do so, and said she didnt feel pride.

'She expressed this lack of pride to her providers, the suit claims, before being rebuffed.

Taylor and Tong, meanwhile, a endocrinologist and plastic surgeon employed under the Oakland-based hospital system's umbrella, both agreed with their colleagues' assessment - starting her on puberty blockers and testosterone at age 12.

The double mastectomy happened a few months later, and left Lovedahl with lasting affects - such as the inability to breastfeed at any point in the future.

The trio, the suit claims, 'immediately, and negligently, affirmed [Lovdahl's] self-diagnosed transgenderism without adequate psychological evaluation,' and 'failed to inform [Lovdahl] of the significant increased suicide risk' that follow such treatments.

The suit also states that after Taylor's meeting, the three 'coerced' Lovdahl and her parents to undergo the treatment regimen - in part by warning the family 'it is better to have a live son than a dead daughter,' in reference to her potential suicide.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the doctors' employer for comment - as well as a fourth Kaiser doctor named in suit, pediatric endocrinologist Escalante, who referred the family to the trio in the first place.

Escalante was the one to put a gender dysphoria afflicted Lovdahl on puberty blockers in 2016, leading the child to experience mood swings and hot flashes, the suit states.

A few months later, Taylor began administering testosterone on the preteen, who was 12 at the time.

Within days, 'Kaylas mother reported to Dr. Watson increased anger and frustration and related issues,' the suit went on to reveal.

That said, 'Dr. Taylor and Dr. Watson did not evaluate or treat these mood swings.'

Within the next few months, after visits to four different mental health providers, Kaylas mood was noted to be improved at times,

However, 'her preexisting complex array of mental health issues' - such as 'suicidal ideation, cutting, anger, depression, [and] mood swings, according to the suit -remained.

Years after she underwent a double mastectomy aged 13, Lovdahl now says the procedure left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'

The suit states that after the 75-minute meeting with psychologist Taylor, the three 'coerced' Lovdahl and her parents to undergo the treatment regimen by telling the family 'it is better to have a live son than a dead daughter'

As a child, Lovdahl suffered severe mental illness, which she feels was overlooked by doctors as they pushed for her to become transgender

The lawsuit condemns Kaiser Permanente for allowing the invasive surgery at such a young age, and for not heeding some of the warning signs that signaled Lovdahl's dysphoria was merely a result of the mental woes she was feeling at the time.

'There is no other area of medicine where doctors will surgically remove a perfectly healthy body part and intentionally induce a diseased state of the pituitary gland misfunction based simply on the young adolescent patient's wishes,' it said.

After detransitioning, she says she began regular psychotherapy sessions to help her mental health, 'which is the care she should have been receiving all along', the lawsuit states.

'The vast majority of cross-gender identified children, if medically treated in early adolescence, risk regretting the decision after they are old enough to realize their losses,' Lovdahl added.

She said the ordeal left her with 'deep physical and emotional wounds and severe regrets'.

She also claims the hospital and doctors did not provide her and her parents proper 'informed consent', which would have introduced therapy sessions, something she says was never offered.

In a statement, her lawyers criticized the procedures as 'an insane form of child abuse'.

'We believe cases like this are the best way to stop them, especially in liberal states like California, where reckless ideologues are pushing this radical agenda,' said attorney Charles Limandri.

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals - as well as the regional Permanente Medical Group - has been contacted by DailyMail.com for comment.

Its parent company, Kaiser Permanente, currently operates 39 hospitals and more than 700 medical offices in eight different states, manned by more than 300,000 personnel - more than 87,000 of them physicians and nurses.

Harmeet Dhillon, the CEO of the Center for American Liberty and one of Lovdahl's other lawyers, accused the firm of 'quackery' in a press release sent to DailyMail.com Thursday.

She appeared alongside Lovdahl last week on Fox News' Ingraham Report to announce their intent to sue Kaiser.

'Kaiser continues to engage in the quackery of subjecting innocent children to irreversible sex mimicry treatment, including drugs and surgery, without informed consent,' Dhillon stated.

'The medical providers responsible for Layla's case, along with countless others, have substituted woke ideology for medically accepted standards of care, including lying to and manipulating vulnerable patients and families.

'We are committed to holding them accountable for the harm inflicted upon Layla, and together we intend to strongly deter Kaisers factory-line approach that permanently mutilates an unknown number of American children, subjecting them to a lifetime of harm, regret, and medical consequences.'
Bill Barr had some choice words for Donald Trump after his former boss spent a week unloading on him for saying he's 'toast' if the indictment proves true.

The former Attorney General said Trump dismissed GOP claims that Trump is a 'victim' of a targeted-Justice Department campaign against him - calling the ex-president a 'narcissist.'

'He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the country's interests,' Barr said in a brutal assessment during an interview with CBS Face the Nation on Sunday morning. 'There's no question about it. This is a perfect example of that.'

'He's like a nine-year-old  a defiant nine-year-old kid who's always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it,' he continued. 'It's a means of self-assertion and exerting his dominance over other people.'

Former Attorney General Bill Barr shot back at Donald Trump Sunday morning after a week of attacks  claiming the ex-president is a 'narcissist'

When asked if he believes former President Trump lied to the Justice Department as part of the classified documents case, former Attorney General Bill Barr tells @costareports: "Yes, I do."



On whether Trump has been mischaracterizing the Records Act, Barr says, "Absolutely." pic.twitter.com/PsTRCsG1Tt  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 18, 2023

'And he's a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the country's, his personal gratification of his ego. But our country can't be a therapy session for a troubled man like this.'

Trump posted to his Truth Social account on Sunday morning just two words: 'ELECTION INTERFERENCE!' He is likely claiming that the indictment against him is a way for the Democratic establishment and Biden administration to try and prevent him from becoming president again.

Barr admitted earlier this month that the DOJ's 37-count indictment against Trump is damning  but said he brought it upon himself.

'This is not a circumstance where he's the victim or this is government overreach,' Trump's former AG said. 'He provoked this whole problem himself.'

'Yes, he's been the victim of unfair witch hunts in the past,' Barr conceded. 'But that doesn't obviate the fact that he's also a fundamentally flawed person who engages in reckless conduct. And that leads to situations  calamitous situations  like this, which are very destructive and hurt any political cause he's associated with.'

Barr said Trump is 'toast' if even half of the charges against him are true. He also accused the former president of lying to the Justice Department

While Barr said Trump has 'many good qualities' he can't look past the fact that his actions has tarnished what Republicans are trying to accomplish.

'He is a consummate narcissist and he constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk,' Barr told CBS host Robert Costa.

Last week, Barr said that Trump is 'toast' if 'even half' of the allegations in the DOJ indictment proved to be true.

Among the 37 counts are charges that fall under the Espionage Act. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said last week that Trump is being 'overcharged' and lamented, 'he's not a spy.'

On Tuesday, Trump pleaded not guilty in a Miami court to the counts against him regarding his handling of classified documents. He then went up to his club in Bedminster, New Jersey for a press conference to respond to the indictment.
Ivanka Trump gushed over her husband Jared in a Father's Day tribute on Instagram, saying 'you fill our lives with joy guidance and boundless love.'

The post shows Jared Kushner, 42, as a young father with their three children throughout the years.

Ivanka, 41, wrote in the caption: 'Happy Father's Day, Jared! Today and every day, the kids and I celebrate the incredible father and loving partner you are. Thank you for the countless ways you fill our lives with joy, guidance, and boundless love.'

Earlier this month, the former first daughter was spotted for the first time since her father, former President Donald Trump, was indicted.

Ivanka Trump, 41, gushed over her husband Jared Kushner, 42, in a Father's Day tribute post on Instagram, saying 'you fill our lives with joy guidance and boundless love'

Ivanka wrote in the caption: 'Happy Father's Day, Jared! Today and every day, the kids and I celebrate the incredible father and loving partner you are. Thank you for the countless ways you fill our lives with joy, guidance, and boundless love'

The post shows Kushner as a young father with their three children throughout the years

Ivanka and Jared have three children together: Arabella Kushner, 11; Joseph Kushner, 9; and Theodore Kushner, 7.

Ivanka's Instagram post on Sunday showed Kushner as a young dad cradling one of his children as a newborn. Another photo shows him giving piggyback rides to his two oldest children. And the last photo was a selfie of Kushner and his daughter Arabella grinning at the camera.

Last weekend, their daughter Arabella celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, but former President Trump, 76, and his wife, Melania, 53, weren't pictured at the event.

The event came just a few days before he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom to 37 felony counts of mishandling classified documents.

Last weekend, Kushner and Ivanka's daughter Arabella celebrated her Bat Mitzvah

The last photo was a selfie of Kushner and his daughter Arabella grinning at the camera

Kushner was pictured giving piggyback rides to his two oldest children Arabella and Joseph

Trump and Melania's 17-year-old son, Barron, was also missing from key family photos from the day. The teen didn't appear in the group photo with his half-siblings or the snapshot of Arabella with her brothers and cousins.

Ivanka did not address their absence when she shared the party shots on Instagram Monday, but she did thank her father and stepmother for throwing Arabella an early birthday dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, a few weeks prior.

Ivanka and Kushner posed for family pictured after son Theodore James birth

Jared Kushner and their son, Joseph, in 2014

The former first daughter was raised Christian, but she converted to Orthodox Judaism to marry Jared in 2009. They are raising their three children in the same faith

'Thank you dad and Melania for throwing Arabella the sweetest birthday dinner at Mar-a-Lago a few weeks ago in advance of her Bat Mitzvah! It was very special. We love you both so much!' Ivanka wrote on her Instagram Stories.

The former first daughter was raised Christian, but she converted to Orthodox Judaism to marry Jared in 2009. They are raising their three children in the same faith.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called out FBI director Christopher Wray accusing him of hiding crimes the President of the United States committed, demanding both his and Biden's impeachment.

Greene joined republican colleague Andy Biggs of Arizona on Fox's 'Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo' to discuss the Hunter Biden investigation, when she went on a rant, claiming Wray, without a doubt, 'hid his information for his boss, Joe Biden'.

'How dare Christopher Wray have the audacity to hide his information for his boss, Joe Biden!' the Georgia Republican said.

The Department of Justice has been investigating Joe Biden's 53-year-old son over possible violations of tax and money laundering laws, related to his business dealings in Ukraine, China and elsewhere since 2018.

Greene supported the investigation and said: 'We subpoenaed more bank records last Friday, and while we're waiting for those, we're expecting to see tens of millions of dollars exposed that went to the Biden family.'

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (right), joined republican colleague Andy Biggs (left) of Arizona on Fox's 'Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo,' and called out FBI director Christopher Wray, accusing him of hiding crimes the President of the United States committed, demanding both of their impeachments

FBI Director Chris Wray has until May 30 to hand over the document to congressional Republicans

The Department of Justice has been investigating Joe Biden's 53-year-old son over possible violations of tax and money laundering laws, related to his business dealings in Ukraine, China and elsewhere since 2018

'This is purely protecting crime,' Greene added. 'He's hiding crimes the president of the United States committed when he was vice president, and that's where we stand right now.'

Greene then emphasized the most 'shocking part' of the investigation - Wray refusing to hand over an unclassified form, the 1023, to the GOP Oversight Committee that Andy Biggs and Greene both sit on.

'Not only did he force us to read this unclassified form in a SCIF, he redacted not only names - which actually more understandable... but he redacted the most important part of the information on there - that that there was 17 audio recordings  15 of Hunter, two of Joe Biden himself - about Joe Biden taking a $5 million bribes.'

Greene was referencing when last week, Sen. Chuck Grassley said the Burisma executive who allegedly paid Joe Biden a bribe has kept 17 audio recordings of phone calls as an 'insurance policy.'

Now, oversight Chair James Comer now claims he will soon obtain bank records showing the Biden family accepted upwards of $20 to $30 million from foreign nationals.

'We have more bank records coming in going to exceed $10 million, this week. And I think we will get between $20 and 30 million,' Comer, R-Ky., told Bartiromo.

Greene demanded that not only Joe Biden be impeached but also Christopher Wray.

'This is a man that knows exactly what he's doing, and he's using the power of the FBI director's position to protect and hide the crimes from the American people.'

This comes after the FBI 'caved' into the House Oversight Committee's demands earlier this month and agreed to release documents that claim Joe Biden was involved in a $5million bribery scheme when he was vice president.

The agreement ends a standoff that began on May 3, when Director Christopher Wray was issued with a subpoena to hand over the document.

House Republicans then officially started contempt of Congress charges against FBI Director Chris Wray, for failing to turn over Biden 'bribery' document they claim shows then-Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a $5 million 'criminal' scheme with a foreign national.

The escalation comes after the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Oversight Committee were granted access by the FBI to view the FD-1023 form in a secure facility within the Capitol. The document detailed an 'arrangement' for an exchange of money for policy decisions.

The Republicans issued a subpoena for the FD-1023 form last month and FBI Director Chris Wray was given a hard deadline of May 30 to hand over the unclassified document, which he did not comply with.
There is a touching symmetry about the lives of John and Janette Ward. Born within two weeks of each other in 1933, their deaths, also a fortnight apart, only confirm their resolute inseparability.

John succumbed to cancer last week while his wife, Jan, died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, worsened by a chest infection, on May 25.

That they were bound by an indestructible bond of love is undisputed. But there was nothing cloying or sentimental about their 65-year marriage: they were also melded by unimaginable loss and a steadfast determination to stick together.

For their adored only daughter Julie, 28, was raped, probably by a gang, and murdered 35 years ago, the day before she was due to return home after a six-month overland jeep safari  the trip of a lifetime  in Kenya.

As the Wards' surviving sons Tim, 61, and Bob, 60, organise a joint funeral for their parents, they also plan to bury Julie's ashes in a plot flanked by her mum and dad. The final resting place for the Wards and their daughter will be a tranquil corner of a Suffolk churchyard near the family home.

Julie Ward, who was murdered aged 28 in Kenya 35 years ago, with her brothers Tim (left) and Bob (right)

The amateur photographer was raped and murdered and her body dismembered and then burnt (file image)

John and Janette Ward, parents of murdered Julie Ward, who devoted their lives to tracking down their daughter's killer

He believed Jonathan Moi, playboy son of the then President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, was responsible for Julie's death. Moi died in 2019

'Mum always wanted to keep Julie close,' says Bob. 'Her ashes were in an urn in her bedroom. But now we can put all three of them together  Mum and Dad, with Julie in the middle  in the churchyard at Whepstead. Our vision is that they'll have a nice view across the fields.' He smiles.

So, finally, there will be a measure of peace for Julie, whose last hours were marked by terrifying violence.

Her killer has never been brought to justice. Her dismembered body was dumped in a remote spot in the Masai Mara nature reserve and set alight. It was only because of her father's quick wit and persistence that she was ever found at all.

John spent 35 years  the rest of his days  on a quest, which cost him 2 million and involved up to 200 trips to Africa, to find her killer.

He faced lies, obfuscation, cover-ups, corruption and a string of false leads from the Kenyan authorities who'd claimed, variously, that Julie had been mauled to death by animals; that she'd been struck by lightning; even taken her own life.

John remained determined to unearth the facts, however, and the evidence he gathered left him in no doubt that Jonathan Moi, dissolute playboy son of the then President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, was responsible for Julie's death.

Jonathan Moi died from cancer in 2019, but even then John refused to give up. Now Bob, who'd worked closely with his father for the past five years, is picking up the baton, with his brother's support, to ensure the truth prevails.

'There was always a good chance Dad would die before he had a solution and the natural conclusion was that we'd carry on,' says Bob.

'There was no retirement for Dad. He has been full-on since he was 55, so for us to say, 'Dad has died. The investigation dies with him' would be shameful.

Now their sons Bob, 60, and Tim, 61, (pictured with their sister Julie) have vowed to continue their parents' tireless work

Julie Ward's father became convinced the president of Kenya's son was responsible for his daughter's death

'Julie was my sister so I can't help but be drawn into the spider's web of intrigue. It became a moral obligation for us to investigate, especially when we knew governments  even our own, protecting their interests in Kenya  had lied.

'I don't think Mum was ever keen to know exactly what happened to Julie. She closed her eyes to it and to a certain extent we protected her.'

'But it was quite different for Dad,' adds Tim. 'He was a detail man. He wanted to know. He hoped to drive someone out of the woodwork, to make them say something. So it was always a balance: trying to protect Mum and also moving the investigation forward.'

'And it was a delicate one because we were always conscious of the need to protect Julie, too,' continues Bob. 'Everyone who knew her agreed she was very gentle, very sweet-natured.

'But someone murdered her and got away with it and worse, they were protected. So that is a terrible wrong that needs to be put right.

'Dad was always quite sure the Kenyan authorities would think, 'He's in his 80s. He'll be going soon.' But he would put it out there: 'Bob will take over'. And we're doing it for Julie. She's our sister. We need to get justice for her.'

There is something immensely likeable about the Ward brothers. Easy company, unburdened by self-pity, they have been drawn closer by a tragedy so momentous it could have shattered more fragile families.

They have always been tight-knit, mutually supportive: as Jan's health deteriorated, Tim's wife Sarah, 52, stepped in to help John care for her. She and Bob's wife Deb, 57  as well as the Wards' four grandchildren  were a solace after Julie's death.

'But of course Mum never got over it,' says Bob, a director in the motor trade before he retired. 'She just learned to cope.'

And they all pulled together. 'For the final six years Dad and Sarah cared for Mum. He'd cook for her, look after her. It was incredible; beautiful really, the amount of care a man in his late 80s who wasn't very well himself, put into looking after her,' says Bob.

In the end, the couple were both being treated in the same hospital when the sad decision was made to discontinue Jan's treatment, as nothing more could be done for her. John had just been told that his prostate cancer, which had been dormant, had spread through his body and he had between two and 12 months to live.

'When we told Dad that Mum had gone he said, 'One down, one to go.' It was typical of his dark humour,' adds Bob.

John died within a fortnight of his wife, in a nursing home: 'We felt very lucky to have had both our parents until they were almost 90,' Tim says. 'They'd been together for 70 years and married for 65. They would have found it very hard to live without each other.

'One of the doctors said, 'You'd be surprised at how many couples who've been together a very long time, die close together, too.'

John and Jan were an unlikely pairing, 'an odd couple' as Bob describes them with amused affection. She, like her daughter, was kind, self-effacing and besotted with animals, especially dogs. 'Dad would complain, 'The bloody dog even came on our honeymoon,' ' says Tim.

John, in contrast, was pugnacious, energetic and a stickler for correctness. An astute businessman, he made his money in hotels.

'It always fascinated us, this acceptance of each other's oddities,' says Bob. 'They were both extraordinary: Dad for his drive and attention to detail; Mum for her loving, gentle nature.'

Julie, an amateur wildlife photographer, was last seen alive in Kenya on September 6, 1988, after travelling to the Masai Mara with Dr Glen Burns, an Australian friend.

When their 4x4 vehicle broke down, Julie spent the night alone at the Mara Serena safari lodge because Dr Burns had to return to Nairobi, leaving Julie to wait for the vehicle to be repaired. It's thought she'd driven to the Sand River camp nearby to recover her camping equipment, when she disappeared.

'Within 12 hours of hearing that Julie was missing, Dad was on a flight to Nairobi. He hatched a plan straightaway. He was not a peaceful man. His brain was always active, right to the end,' says Bob.

'Dad organised a search party as soon as he got to Kenya,' says Tim. 'Fantastic people offered their services for nothing. They found Julie's Jeep first.'

On September 13, John found parts of his daughter's burned and dismembered body, lying in ashes, deep in the bush. 'We would never have found her body without Dad and if we hadn't we would always have been thinking she might just still be alive. It must be torture for Madeleine McCann's family still not knowing what happened to her.

John Ward made more than 200 trips to the country in his campaign to seek justice for his murdered daughter

John Ward died in a nursing home on May 25, two weeks after his wife Jan. The couple had been married for 65 years

The 28-year-old wildlife photographer (right) was murdered in 1988

'But we had some facts and although horrific  Julie's body had been cut up, set on fire and left in the middle of the Masai Mara  it was better than not knowing. Actually it was comforting.

'Dad said to me in the nursing home: 'I didn't grieve for Julie for six months. I didn't have time,' because there was a really intense period of backwards and forwards to Kenya. Dad always said he wanted to hate the country but he couldn't. Ninety nine per cent of its people were the warmest, nicest imaginable.'

John's belief, yet to be fully substantiated, was that at some point Julie had encountered Jonathan Moi  who owned a farm nearby  and his acolytes, who raped and murdered her.

'They tried to clear up the mess before Dad got out there but he arrived too quickly,' says Tim, now retired from his job in finance.

'And I took the call after Dad found Julie's remains,' continues Bob.

'He was crying, 'I need to speak to your Mum.' It was a horrible, horrible shock to my optimism  I thought she'd be found alive  but it was worse; not just 'Julie is dead' but, 'I have found a leg and her jawbone.' And that drove him on.'

'You would not believe how focused he was,' says Tim. 'He literally scooped up the burnt leg, the bones and hair, of his daughter and he didn't break down. He didn't go to pieces. He just planned his next move.'

Julie Ward, who was murdered in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya in September 1988 while on safari

Jan's response  in contrast to John's obsessive practicality  was restrained, emotional.

'Mum was so close to Julie,' says Bob. 'They were confidantes, soul-mates, best friends. They had a shared love of animals; they'd chat for hours. The hole Julie's death left in her life could never be filled.'

'Mum wanted to be go out to Kenya, to smell it, to live it, to help Dad. She went with all the emotional baggage that comes with loss,' recalls Tim. 'She wanted to talk to people about Julie, whereas Dad went with a briefcase, a list of questions and an objective to uncover the truth.'

There were two murder trials in Kenya. John was convinced they were set ups. The accused  two park rangers and the then chief ranger Simon Ole Makallah  were merely scapegoats who were acquitted. Jan attended just the first trial in 1992.

'Mum was a complete wreck during the trial and Dad's view was, 'If we're going to sort this I'm not going to be able to take you with me. I can't look after you and carry out the investigation,' ' says Tim.

Thereafter, Jan stayed at home and evolved her own way of managing; found her own salvation through Julie's animal photographs. On the tenth anniversary of her daughter's death she started to prepare a book of Julie's African wildlife images.

'It became her project,' says Bob. Fittingly, proceeds went to the international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation and  understated and placid though she was  Jan became the figurehead for this venture as well as firm friends with Virginia McKenna, who set up the foundation.

Meanwhile, John had been cross-examined for a record 28 days in one of the murder trials. He attended inquests, both in Kenya and the UK, where, in 2004 he led his own questioning and finally elicited from the Kenyan Government an admission that under president Moi's regime there had been a cover-up of Julie's murder.

He also believed the British Government  with its own agenda for protecting its interests in the east African country  were complicit in the plot.

Julie Ward's (left) father died without seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice

Julie Ward's (pictured) father spent 2 million in his bid to solve his daughter's 1988 murder

Julie Ward's body was found 10 miles away from where her Suzuki car was last spotted

Even Coroner Peter Dean expressed his admiration for the persistence of John's campaign: 'It is impossible not to have been moved by the unrelenting dedication of Mr Ward and his sheer determination to seek the truth against what appears to have been a mounting wall of official obstruction and ludicrous misinformation,' he said.

Before Julie's death, life for the Ward family was good. John, as committed in business as he was in his pursuit of justice, was the bread-winner; Jan a stay-at-home mum. Jan kept huskies, and she and Julie took them each year to the sled dog racing competition in Aviemore, Scotland.

They also cared for a menagerie of waifs and strays. There were blissful holidays throughout Europe in the family's VW camper van.

Julie's murder shattered this idyll and her death defined the course of her parents' lives and continues to shape her brothers'. John wrote a book about his quest for justice and left a sequel in manuscript form which Bob and Tim hope to publish.

A documentary and drama series are also planned: the brothers will return to Kenya, to retrace Julie's last steps and seek out Simon Makallah, a key witness, they believe, to the atrocities.

For all that they have endured and suffered, Bob and Tim Ward  both fathers of two  are the most bracingly upbeat and happy men.

'We don't carry a burden of grief because Julie would not have wanted that. We can't change what happened so we try to be positive. Even so, when I go into her old bedroom I still feel . . .' He struggles for the right words, 'I'm still conscious of her in the room.'

Julie, they concede, was their Dad's favourite; his precious only daughter. In pursuit of justice for her, he dedicated 35 years of his life. And even as he took his final breath last week, he was still talking to Bob about exposing the truth.

'And at the end I assured him, 'You can go now. It's all sorted,' ' smiles Bob.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed has lashed out at Good Morning America for saying it was 'too dangerous' to film in the city's downtown, claiming it is 'hampering' efforts to bounce back from the pandemic.

ABC's chief national news correspondent Matt Gutman told viewers Wednesday he had been advised against appearing live from Union Square or the now-closed Westfield Mall for a segment on the spate of stores fleeing the crime-ridden city.

'It is worth mentioning that we are not at Union Square or the Westfield Mall this morning because we have been advised that it's simply too dangerous to be there at this hour,' he told viewers.

But in a statement to the San Francisco Gate on Friday, the mayor's office seemed to deny that the area is dangerous  suggesting instead that major retailers are fleeing the city in droves due to a lack of customers as more people work from home.

'Sadly some of the news coverage conflate the reasons or do not provide the full picture of why big retailers and other businesses in San Francisco are deciding to leave or transfer ownership of their operations,' the mayor's office said.

'Lacking foot traffic in our downtown areas as a result of work-from-home habits, as well as challenges stemming from shifting shopping trends that have persisted for years were exacerbated by the pandemic.'

San Francisco Mayor London Breed hit out at Good Morning America for claiming it was 'too dangerous' to film in the downtown area

Chief national news correspondent Matt Gutman told viewers he had been advised against appearing live from Union Square or the mall for ABC's 4am Good Morning America segment on Wednesday

Breed continued: 'Although there is a lot of work ahead of us and we will continue to focus on our economic recovery and public safety, the reality is that the number of violent crimes in the Downtown and Tenderloin is down so far this year when compared to the same period last year.

'San Francisco also has an overall violent crime rate that is lower than other cities.'

But police data shows criminal activity in the area has been on the increase this year - with a 14.7 percent rise in robberies and a 10 percent increase in homicides so far this year when compared to the same time period last year.

Motor vehicle thefts and arson cases are each up more than 5 percent over last year.

There has also been an explosion in the number of homeless people  drawn to the city in part by generous assistance programs worth up to $687-per-month.

As of the last official count in 2022, more than 7,000 occupied the tented shanty towns that have sprung up downtown and in the nearby Tenderloin district.

Drug-related deaths have also sky-rocketed by 41 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same time last year, mostly due to fentanyl.

Some 200 people died due to overdoses between January and March - or one death every 10 hours - compared with 142 deaths in those months the previous year in the California city.

On Wednesday's episode of Good Morning America, Gutman said there is concern San Francisco 'could turn into a so-called zombie with it downtown hollowed out by a fentanyl epidemic, pervasive homelessness and fleeing retailers.'

He then asked Mayor Breed: 'Is San Francisco dangerous?'

'Here's the thing: San Francisco is a major city and it has challenges,' she said, apparently dodging the question.

Drug-related deaths rocketed by 41 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same time last year, mostly due to fentanyl.

There has been an explosion in the number of homeless people  drawn to the city in part by generous assistance programs worth up to $687-per-month

Police data shows criminal activity in the area has been on the increase this year

The mayor now says the negative coverage of the rampant crime and drug use in the city is 'hampering' efforts for the city to rebuild from the pandemic  after several major retailers closed.

Westfield announced on Monday that it had defaulted on its half-a-billion dollar loan for the downtown mall, and was handing it back to the lender, blaming 'unsafe conditions' and a 'lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity'.

The mall said the 'unprecedented' poor performance in San Francisco was a sharp contrast to the rest of its properties.

San Francisco Centre generated $455 million in sales in 2019, before the pandemic.

Last year, sales were down about a third to $298 million.

Nordstrom occupied 312,000 square feet in the mall: when it closes, Westfield San Francisco will only be 55 percent leased.

Other Westfields are, on average, 93 percent leased.

Westfield in San Francisco (pictured) has announced it is handing the building back to the lender

A map reveals the major businesses which have left, or plan to leave, San Francisco in recent months. Westfield, the most recent to announced its departure, will give up its huge mall - and several occupants have already said they intend to follow

The folding of San Francisco's biggest mall follows the closure of at least 24 major stores in the area.

Whole Foods, Old Navy, Gap and Office Depot are just some of the stores in the district to announce in recent months that they are closing.

Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city's Union Square area, just 107 are still operating - a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years.

As these retailers flee and customers stay away, the vacancy rate of office buildings has also reached unprecedented highs. The vacancy rate in May was 31 percent - amounting to 18.4 million square feet, or enough space for 92,000 workers, according to an analysis of data from Lee & Associates by the San Francisco Chronicle.

As a result, tax receipts for the city of San Francisco are suffering.

The revenue loss to the city caused by decreased property taxes could reach $196 million per year by 2028, according to modelling published in November by the San Francisco Controller's Office.

The best-case scenario from the modelling expects the cost will be nearer to $100 million per year.

That will contribute in part to a $1.3 billion budget shortfall by 2028, according to forecasts from the Controller's Office. A report published in March cites 'lower revenue projections' as a factor.
He got a letter from the college saying her body parts may in fact have been sold

A man was horrified last week to receive a letter from Harvard Medical School saying it's possible his wife's remains were sold by a morgue manager.

Jack Porter of Massachusetts, who works at Harvard, said his wife was meant to have been cremated in the medical school morgue in 2017 after dying from colon cancer but now fears someone could be handling her body 'in some basement'.

Last week a federal lawsuit alleged that a former employee, Cedric Lodge, 55, involved with the school's the school's 'Anatomical Gift Program' had been selling body parts on the black market.

The program, which also operates at various medical schools including Tufts, UMass, allows people to donate parts of their bodies to the school so they can be used to educate medical students - after that they are cremated and returned.

'What bothers me is that there's somebody in some basement somewhere in this country or elsewhere fondling my wife's body parts,' Porter told the Boston Herald. 'It could be her brain, her skin, her bones. This is disgusting and this is why there should be a severe punishment,' he added.

Jack Porter is pictured with his wife Raya who died of colon cancer in 2017. Her body was supposed to have been buried by the Harvard Medical School morgue but the school said her parts may have been involved in an illegal body part operation

Porter (pictured) said he feared that a perverse person 'in some basement' could have possession of his wife's body parts

Porter told the Herald he remembered receiving what he was told were his wife's cremated remains in 2019 but is now appalled to think somebody has them in their possession.

On the day of Lodge's indictment last week, letters were sent to the next of kin of those supposedly cremated in the morgue.

The college was unable to say if people's bodies were definitively sold but was able to rule out the possibility of tampering in some cases between September 2021 to February 2022 when Lodge had been on leave.

Lodge had worked at Harvard since 1995 until the Medical School terminated his employment on May 6 this year. However, he is not alleged to have been involved in the human body parts trade until 2018.

'At this time, we cannot rule out the potential that Raya Porter's remains may have been impacted,' the letter, which was seen by the Herald, began.

Porter, an associate of Harvard's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, met his wife Raya in 2011. She was a Ukrainian doctor who had gone to medical school in Kiev.

In the letter, the medical school's dean said it was working with authorities on its criminal case and Porter said it had responded 'very respectfully'.

Cedric Lodge (pictured) is said to have stolen the remains from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education

'We have been working with information supplied by federal authorities and examining our records, particularly the logs showing when donor remains were sent to be cremated and when Lodge was on campus, to try to determine which donors may have been impacted,' George Daley, the dean of the faculty of medicine at Harvard Medical School wrote, according to the Herald.

'Federal authorities continue to investigate and as additional information emerges, we will be in touch with you,' the dean added.

Porter told WCVB he was introduced to his wife in 2011 through a mutual friend and it was 'love at first sight'. He told the station of similar concerns over where his wife's body may actually be.

'Somebody out there in some basement somewhere is looking at and fondling my wife's body,' he said. 'This is what shocks me. They're looking at it. They're leering at it.'

He added that although he wanted Lodge to face strict punishment he was more sympathetic to his employer. He said the school was negligent in its oversight of the program but that he was not going to sue the school.

'There was some negligence, but it was not intentional,' Porter said. 'They just didn't know about this.'

The federal filing states that Lodge took the dissected body parts to his home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, where he and his wife Denise sold them on as part of a national network of human remains traffickers.

Some of the remains were even shipped through the United States Postal Service.

The U.S. Attorney's Office believes Lodge traded the remains between 2018 and August 16, 2022.

Pauley, 40, had previously been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities

Several buyers have also been named in the indictment including Jeremy Pauley (pictured)

Cedric Lodge is said to have stolen remains from cadavers donated to Harvard Medical School for scientific research and education

Harvard insisted that no other employees at the school are facing charges or are suspected of any wrongdoing.

Several buyers have also been named in the indictment including Joshua Taylor, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and Katrina MacLean, of Salem, Massachusetts, who owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts.

'At times, Cedric Lodge used his access to the morgue to allow Katrina MacLean, Joshua Taylor and others to enter the morgue and choose what remains to purchase,' the indictment states.

Maclean is also accused of selling the remains he obtained to other buyers in multiple states including to Jeremy Pauley of Enola and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

In October 2020 Maclean sold two dissected faces and skin to Pauley for $600, who was hired to tan the skin and make it into leather before shipping it back to Maclean.

The indictment states that Pauley transferred $8,800 to MacLean and 25 payments totaling $40,049.04 to Taylor via PayPal.

Alleged buyer Katrina MacLean, of Salem, Massachusetts, owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts. Pictured is her artwork

Maclean is also accused of selling the remains he obtained to other buyers in multiple states including to Jeremy Pauley

Pauley, 40, had previously been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities last summer.

Pauley also purchased body parts that were stolen from a crematorium in Little Rock, Arkansas, by Candace Chapman Scott, according to a statement from the Department for Justice.

Scott is accused of, among other things, taking the corpses of two stillborn babies whose remains were due to be cremated.

Pauley, in turn, resold many remains to others, the indictments allege.

Pauley is the owner of The Grand Wunderkammer - a shop that sells 'odd and unusual' items to the public and museum exhibits. He is also the executive director and curator at The Memento Mori Museum, according to his Facebook page.

He was arrested last June after police received a tip about Pauley's suspicious activity and his collections. The caller said they found 'several' five-gallon buckets of human remains in Pauley's basement.

Investigators later recovered the remains, which included human brains, hearts, livers, skin, and lungs. Charges listed in the grand jury indictment of the Lodges, MacLean and Taylor include conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.

'Some crimes defy understanding,' attorney Gerard M. Karam said in a statement. 'The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human.

'It is particularly egregious that so many of the victims here volunteered to allow their remains to be used to educate medical professionals and advance the interests of science and healing.

'For them and their families to be taken advantage of in the name of profit is appalling. With these charges, we are seeking to secure some measure of justice for all these victims.'
Prosecutors will have to meet rape victims face to face ahead of court cases to help prevent trials being abandoned.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the move would ensure victims have their 'questions answered and their worries eased' about the legal process.

Measures will be included in an updated Victims' Code once the Victims and Prisoners Bill which is going through Parliament  reaches the Statute Book later this year.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it would help victims 'have their voice heard'.

Currently only 1.3 per cent of rapes reported to police lead to a suspect being taken to court.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said the move would ensure victims have their 'questions answered and their worries eased' (Pictured June 13)

Latest figures show 42 per cent of rape investigations collapse because the alleged victim withdraws their co-operation from police.

Campaigners say the main factor in rising numbers pulling out is the way the crime is handled by police and prosecutors, with many victims finding the process intrusive and upsetting.

Under the measures, adult rape victims will be given the opportunity to meet face to face with Crown Prosecution Service teams involved in their case.

The Justice Secretary said: 'Going to court as a victim can be daunting and confusing so meetings with the prosecution team will ensure they can have their questions answered and worries eased.

'Helping rape victims to give their best evidence will ensure we put more of these vile attackers behind bars.'

A report by the Law Commission opened a debate on whether juries should be discarded in sex offence trials, with rulings instead made by a judge or a judicial panel (File image)

Director of Public Prosecutions, Max Hill KC, said: 'Victims deserve, and rightly expect, to be supported, informed and treated fairly. They are central to our cases and our ability to bring successful prosecutions.'

He added that he hoped the measures would 'help give victims confidence in attending court and highlight the support available to them when giving evidence'. Last month the Government's official advisers floated the idea of jury-less trials for rape cases for the first time.

A report by the Law Commission opened a debate on whether juries should be discarded in sex offence trials, with rulings instead made by a judge or a judicial panel.

In a further move, the paper asked whether defence barristers should be barred from cross-examining alleged rape victims in court.

Instead, the alleged victim could be asked questions by an independent lawyer or an 'expert in communication', suggested the commission, which will report back later this year. The Bill setting out the new compulsory meetings begins its next stage through Parliament today.
Flying low over the mountain range dividing wartime Czechoslovakia and Poland, the Luftwaffe fighter pilot trained his machine-gun fire on the beautiful young woman hiking alone across the treacherous terrain below.

There was no doubt that this was Christine Granville, Winston Churchill's favourite spy, who was long suspected of smuggling money, explosives and anti-German propaganda to European resistance fighters.

And now, finally, she was 'trapped like an ant on a tablecloth', as the pilot who spotted her put it.

But they had underestimated her courage  and the fact that she was immune to fear.

As bullets threw up earth all around her, Granville  then in her 30s  zig-zagged to and fro, playing hide and seek by shielding herself behind rocks and dodging her pursuers for hours until she finally shook them off.

Christine Granville acted as the inspiration for the James Bond character 'Vesper Lynd' who was depicted by French actress Eva Green (pictured) in the 2008 adaptation of Ian Fleming's 1953 novel Casino Royale

It was not the first  nor would it be the last  time Granville would confound the enemy.

She went on to become the first and longest-serving female special agent working for Britain during World War II, and was the inspiration behind the character of sultry spy Vesper Lynd in Ian Fleming's first 007 novel, Casino Royale, which was published in 1953.

Now, the extraordinary story of the real-life Lynd is to be told in The Partisan, a new film in which she will be played by Morgane Polanski, the 30-year-old daughter of controversial film director Roman Polanski.

Scheduled for release next year, it promises to make compelling viewing, with director James Marquand describing Granville as 'the bravest of the brave'.

Fleming himself wrote of Lynd that 'Bond was struck by her beauty and intrigued by her composure'  and certainly Granville had both in abundance.

Her admirers described how she used her 'brilliant, brown, arresting eyes' and 'crackling vitality' to hypnotic effect in disarming the enemy. But this highly-trained operative was far more than an exceptionally pretty face.

She carried a seven-inch commando knife in a leather sheath strapped to her thigh, and she favoured hand-grenades over guns. 'With a pistol, you can defend yourself against, at most, one person,' she once explained. 'With a hand-grenade, against five, perhaps ten.'

Born Krystyna Skarbek in Poland in 1908, she was driven by an almost pathological need for excitement, which was apparent even from childhood, according to her biographer Clare Mulley in her book, The Spy Who Loved.

The daughter of an impoverished Catholic aristocrat and his Jewish wife, she was expelled from convent school at 14 for setting light to a priest's cassock during Mass.

At 23, she won a beauty pageant in the fashionable winter resort of Zakopane, and by the time the Germans invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, she was married to Jerzy Gizycki, a wealthy diplomat 20 years her senior who was Polish consul to East Africa.

The couple returned from Nairobi to London in 1939 and, while Jerzy went on to France, as part of the Polish government-in-exile, Granville came up with a dangerous proposal for the British Secret Intelligence Service's sabotage arm, which was known as Section D (for 'Destruction').

It's not entirely clear how she made the leap from beauty queen to international spy, but her plans may have been hatched with Harold Perkins, a tough English businessman, who could bend a poker with his bare hands.

'Perks', as Granville called him, had connections with British intelligence. When the introduction to Section D was made, the forerunners of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), were persuaded that Granville should travel to neutral Hungary and from there ski into Poland on the missions that made her a target for that Luftwaffe pilot.

Christine Granville, (pictured) who was Winston Churchill's favourite spy, was long suspected of smuggling money, explosives and anti-German propaganda to European resistance fighters

When Granville arrived in Poland in February 1940, it was the worst winter in living memory. Birds froze on tree branches, and blood-stained snow marked the passage of starving wolf packs.

But Granville was undaunted, not only reaching Warsaw but finding time for an affair with Count Wladimir Ledochowski, a member of the Polish resistance.

Their passion was fuelled by the dangers they experienced together  she later recalled his fingers drumming coded messages on her naked body as he slept.

But soon she had a more serious relationship in Hungary, with the dashing Andrzej Kowerski, a former Polish army lieutenant who smuggled intelligence materials in a secret panel in his wooden leg, the result of a hunting accident.

Together they crossed and re-crossed the border; and one close shave saw her charming her way out of arrest by telling suspicious frontier guards that she was on a picnic and even persuading them to help push-start her stalled car.

Her fearlessness knew no bounds. In November 1940, she discovered her mother Stefania, by then separated from her father, had been arrested in Warsaw for failing to register as a Jew.

Granville found a Gestapo official who would spare her mother's life at a price  the equivalent of 3,000 today, and a night in her bed. Only after they had slept together did he tell her that Stefania had perished in Auschwitz.

The incident only served to intensify her hatred for the Nazis.

In January 1941, she and Kowerski were arrested by the Hungarian police, acting on behalf of the Gestapo. During interrogation, Granville bit her tongue so hard it bled; she then began coughing to give the impression she was bringing up blood.

Terrified she might have TB, her inquisitors released both her and Kowerski, who was also deemed contagious. But, clearly, they could no longer continue operating in Budapest. With the help of British diplomats, they adopted the latest in a long line of fake identities: 'Andrew Kennedy' and 'Christine Granville'.

In July 1944, a month after the D-Day landings, Granville was parachuted into south-eastern France. Wearing clothes cut to a French pattern, and with her hair set in the latest Parisian style, she took messages between the different resistance organisations operating there.

As always, she was unflappable under pressure.

On one occasion she was stopped by a Nazi frontier patrol while openly carrying a British map of France, printed on silk so that it wouldn't rustle inside her clothes if she was searched.

Unable to hide what was in her hands, she calmly shook out the map and used it to tie back her hair before greeting the soldiers and persuading them that she was a French housewife, out running errands.

On another occasion, a border patrol caught sight of her with members of the French resistance. She and the fighters flung themselves under some bushes but were sniffed out by the patrol's Alsatian. It was trained to bite and break necks but Granville quietly put her arm around the animal and, as she did so, it lay down beside her, ignoring its handler's whistles.

Christine Granville will now be depicted Roman Polanski's 30-year-old daughter, Morgane Polanski, in a new film called The Partisan

She exterted the same hypnotic sway over the opposite sex. Her marriage to Gizycki had ended in acrimony when he discovered she was seeing other men and, after Kowerski went to work for SOE in Italy, she became involved with Englishman Francis Cammaerts, 28, who had a wife and young children back home.

He was one of the SOE's best agents and they became lovers during a German bombing raid one night. 'We were all absolutely certain that we were going to die,' he recalled. 'It was all over, this was the end.'

A few months later Granville heard that Cammaerts and two fellow agents had been arrested and condemned to death by the Gestapo.

In a move that would almost certainly have seen her executed, too, had it failed, she strode into the prison, pretending to be his wife, and berated the Vichy collaborator in charge about what his fate would be when the Allies arrived and discovered he had allowed the executions to go ahead.

Later, she admitted that it was 'a shot in the dark'. But the officer ended up shaking so much he spilt his coffee and, with just two hours to go before their execution, released the three men.

While Cammaerts later confessed that he and Granville were very much in love, they both knew he had a family to return to  and the relationship did not survive the end of the war.

Granville was not ready to return to humdrum civilian life after her wartime adventures. Craving whatever excitement she could find, she began working aboard a London-to-New Zealand passenger liner and embarked on a fateful relationship with fellow steward Dennis Muldowney, a Brylcreemed lothario from Wigan.

She soon tired of him and ended the relationship. But when they returned to land, he began stalking her, turning up unexpectedly at her hotel in West London and refusing to leave her alone.

On June 15, 1952, Granville had returned to the hotel after supper with friends when Muldowney followed her into the lobby, demanding that she return his love letters.

When she told him she had burned them, he thrust a knife deep into her heart. She was dead from shock and haemorrhage within seconds.

Muldowney made no attempt to escape.

He later confessed to the crime and was hanged at Pentonville Prison in September 1952  a despicable and cowardly footnote in the story of a truly courageous woman.
The scam is growing in both the US and Australia

A recently divorced mum-of-three has revealed how she lost her more than $100,000 to a scammer she met on Tinder after he convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes.

Rebecca Holloway, 42, was coming out of a messy second marriage when she was swindled out of more than $100,000 by fraudsters posing as a French entrepreneur called 'Fred.'

She fell for a cruel scam known as 'pig butchering' - whereby victims are effectively 'fattened up' with a fake romantic relationship before being 'butchered' by fraudulent investment advice.

Tech executive Shreya Datta, 37, and single mum Kate, 41 both revealed they lost $450,000 and $80,0000 respectively in an eerily similar ruse. In all, the three women have handed over half a million dollars to scammers.

Officials say the con is exploding across the US, with Secret Service agents admitting they were seeing many cases.

The body is responsible for 'safeguarding' America's financial and payment systems and regularly probes high-value fraud cases.

'Pig butchering' is also occurring in Australia. Cybercrime expert Simon Smith confirmed there's been many local victims, with some losing up to $850,000.

'They are very elaborate and relentless, the scammers keep going until they have taken their victim's last cent, and then some,' he told nine.com.au

Speaking exclusively to Dailymail.com, Rebecca said: 'Single women approaching middle-age are so vulnerable.

Rebecca Holloway, pictured, has revealed how she lost her entire 401(K) to a scammer she met on Tinder after he convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes

'We have money but we might not have met the right guy yet. And suddenly this good-looking man starts talking to you and you're excited.

'Looking back, the signs are so obvious. But at the time you want to believe it's real.'

Rebecca - a freelance marketing executive who once worked on Wall Street - was immediately drawn to 'Fred' after receiving consistent and attentive messages, which made him so unlike the men she usually matched.

He claimed to be a French entrepreneur living in Philadelphia, who had studied economics at university. He also said he had a daughter - something the pair bonded over as Holloway has three teenage children.

They matched on Tinder in March this year and quickly moved over to text where 'Fred' then started discussing his cryptocurrency investments, which immediately piqued Rebecca's interest.

Much of what he was saying was accurate. He told her that in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank - there was a lot of money to be made in alternative platforms.

At the time, media outlets were running reports with headlines such as 'Bitcoin spikes amid Silicon Valley Bank collapse.'

Intrigued, she thought there was 'no harm' in listening to Fred and under his instruction she transferred $1,000 to what she believed was a real cryptocurrency platform.

The platforms he ushered her too were modelled off legitimate sites - but with slightly different URLs.

She immediately saw returns on her investment, making $168 on four 'trades'.

The 'pig butchering' con is long-winded and sees the scammer engage in a months-long relationship to build up trust.

Rebecca shared exchanges between her and 'Fred' exclusively with Dailymail.com

Rebecca fell for a cruel scam known as 'pig butchering'- whereby victims are effectively 'fattened up' with a fake romantic relationship before being butchered by fraudulent investment advice

Crooks often allow victims to withdraw money easily from the investment app in the beginning - but once they have invested heavily they will lose this option.

Sure enough, Rebecca was immediately able to retrieve her $168 earnings and transfer them back to her bank account.

She then traded a further $6,000 from her savings and saw her money continue to balloon.

In the meantime, her supposed relationship with 'Fred' was blossoming. While he avoided meeting up in person, he would video-call her while he was making dinner - though she said he was mostly off-camera and she struggled to get a proper look at his face.

Pig butchering in Australia and how to avoid it Australians lost more than $322 million in investment scams last year Dating and romance scams accounted for $35 million in losses Here are tips to avoid becoming a victim of this cruel hoax: - Don't invest in foreign exchange, cryptocurrency or speculative investments with people youve only ever encountered in the online environment - Be particularly wary of crypto, which has always been associated with scams and criminal activity - If you are unsure, get a second opinion from a professional, in-person - Talk to friends and family to get an outside perspective. Confiding in someone could help prevent or minimise losses - If something doesn't sound normal then it could be a scam. For instance being asked to pay your through crypto or with gift cards - When it comes to relationships, understand that you really don't know anyone at all until you physically meet them Advertisement

Before long, she had cashed out her entire 401K (US workplace retirement plan) - worth $100,000. After accounting for the government tax she faced during the transaction, she was left with $70,000 to invest again.

Alarm bells only rang when she met up with a friend for dinner and she shared the details of her relationship with 'Fred.'

'My friend told me about pig butchering scams and that's when I realised what had happened,' she said.

'It felt like a movie where suddenly everything around me blurred and became distorted. I didn't even try to withdraw my money, I knew at that point it was gone.'

On reflection, she had suspected several times something was up with 'Fred.'

At times, it felt like she was speaking to several different people, with his moods changing frequently. She also noticed he didn't appear to have a French accent in videos he sent.

This was something single mum Kate, from Vancouver, Washington, had observed too. Like Rebecca she believed she had met a French entrepreneur - though he said he lived in Seattle.

He claimed to be called 'Andy' and working as a wine trader. Over time, the duo struck up a relationship when he convinced her to invest $80,000.

Last month, she told Dailymail.com: 'I was the perfect sucker in a way because I knew nothing about cryptocurrencies.'

And tech executive Shreya Datta also believed she was talking to a French wine trader - who ended up conning her out $450,000.

Tech executive Shreya Datta, 37, left, and single mom Kate, 41, right, both revealed they lost $450,000 and $80,0000 respectively in an eerily similar rouse

Kate, 41, who used a pseudonym for the piece, lost $80,000 to a 'pig butchering' scam

Shreya - who earns a six-figure salary in a global tech firm - told the Inquirer she had felt as though she had 'a hole in my soul for not having a man in my life' - hence why she was tricked.

'I was in a trance,' she said, adding 'it's like my psychology was hacked.'

Rebecca has now reported her case to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - but she has no idea if she will ever see her money again.

Many pig butchering operations are reportedly run by criminal syndicates in Cambodia which employ thousands of people.

A report by Vice News and the South China Morning Post found last year that workers themselves are enslaved and abused, having been lured there with the promise of a legitimate job.

They are given scripts tailored to individual victims.

Dailymail.com also reached out to Hinge and Tinder for comment.
The suspect's three unleashed dogs attacked the woman's pit bull, as she tried to separate them, a man pulled out a switchblade and stabbed her dog

A couple whose dog was stabbed to death by a man with a knife in a dispute as they walked their pet in New York City's Central Park say they fear what the suspect might do next.

Brian Robert Cornwell, 52, together with his wife Melanie, were walking their two dogs, a pit bull-German Shepherd mix and a Chihuahua near 106th Street and Fifth Avenue at around 8:30pm when one of their pups was bitten.

There followed a heated dispute between the couple and the suspect who was also walking three dogs of his own.

The suspect's unleashed dogs attacked the couple's pit bull. But the dog fight suddenly turned into a dispute between the owners.

As the pair tried to separate the dogs, the suspect pulled out a switchblade and began mercilessly stabbing Eli, the female pit bull mix belonging to the couple.

'You killed my dog you piece of sh*t,' Cornwell told the suspect as video caught him leaving the area.

A man stabbed a dog to death in Central Park on Saturday, following a heated dispute between its owners and another dog walker as they were walking with their two dogs

Owner Brian Robert Cornwell, 52, can be seen walking away in disbelief on cellphone footage following the attack while his dog lay dying nearby

'He's a crazy guy,' Brian Robert Cornwell, 52, told the New York Post Sunday, vowing to not step foot inside the park - at least for now.

'I was trying to correct him and say it's not OK, your dog just tried to bite my dog. And then he just wanted to be a tough guy and he started trying to talk to me like he's my dad. I know the guy, I've spoken to him. But his dogs never tried to bite my dog,' Cornwell continued.

'We just had words, like, regular, stupid guy words,' Cornwell added. 'All of a sudden, three dogs are attacking me and [my wife] picked up my little dog  because [the suspect] was trying to punch me,' he explained.

Cornwell said he and his wife, Melanie, tried to walk away before the situation got out of control and even used pepper spray on the suspect - but it had little effect.

'I know stuff happens. But I thought it was pretty safe around this neighborhood,' Cornwell went on.

The couple say they will not be getting another dog for fear of something similar happening.

'It's hard, because the dog was attached to her,' Cornwell explained.

'I don't want to see that happen again. I'm sad and I'm scared about what happened,' wife, Melanie Cornwell, said.

The couple's seriously injured dog was transported to a local animal clinic, where she was euthanized Saturday evening, according to the New York Police Department.

'There was a dog on the ground that was dead, a lot of blood around it, a guy was trying to do something - and three other pit bulls without leashes...three pit bulls around him,' said an eyewitness to ABC7.

Following the brutal and barbaric act, the suspect fled the scene, leaving behind the dying dog and his devastated owners.

Several people, including Eli's owner, recorded the suspect walking away. He was left devastated by the death of his pet.

'You killed my dog you piece of sh*t,' he could be heard saying in the video.

The incident occurred at 106th Street and Fifth Avenue at around 8:30pm on Saturday evening

'I just can't believe someone would attack an innocent dog. I don't know what's wrong with people - it's so heartbreaking,' Megan Stafford, a fellow dog walker, said to WABC-TV.

Police are now searching for the man responsible, who was said to be dressed in an orange shirt, blue jeans and orange baseball cap.

This isn't the first violent attack against a dog in New York in the space of a year.

Last August, a woman's dog died after a vicious attack by a homeless man in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.

Jessica Chrustic and her Golden Retriever mix were attacked by the emotionally disturbed man wielding a staff in Prospect Park. Her dog, Moose, later died from his injuries.

In 2021, a dog named Bandit was stabbed in Brooklyn at Fort Greene Park after Bandit approached the stabber's dog during off-leash hours.
Scotland Yard is scrutinising a video showing Tory staff cavorting at a Christmas party when Covid restrictions were in force.

Michael Gove yesterday apologised for the 'terrible' clip as officers said they were 'considering' the new evidence.

The Levelling Up Secretary acknowledged that the actions of the Tory workers  at a time when the rest of the country was largely banned from socialising indoors  were 'deeply distressing'.

The staff at the party, organised by the team behind Shaun Bailey's failed bid to be elected London mayor, joked about pandemic restrictions in the video, obtained by the Daily Mirror.

The clip also shows a couple holding hands while dancing before they crash into a buffet table laden with food and wine glasses, prompting laughter.

Scotland Yard is scrutinising a video showing Tory staff cavorting at a Christmas party when Covid restrictions were in force

The clip also shows a couple holding hands while dancing before they crash into a buffet table laden with food and wine glasses, prompting laughter

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said yesterday: 'We are aware of the footage and are considering it.'

Mr Gove said there had already been an investigation into the party, which took place in Westminster in December 2020, and revellers had been disciplined.

But he insisted two of the attendees should not be stripped of the gongs they received in Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.

Scotland Yard's statement opens the prospect of police comparing the partygoers' accounts of the event with the video footage. An earlier inquiry had access only to still photographs.

Mr Gove told Sky's Sunday with Sophy Ridge programme: 'It's terrible. I think it's completely out of order.

'As I understand it, this was an event that was organised by the people who were running the mayoral campaign for Shaun Bailey. They had obviously behaved in a way which is unacceptable. I just want to apologise to everyone really, who, looking at that image, will think these are people who were flouting the rules that were put in place to protect us all.'

The staff at the party, organised by the team behind Shaun Bailey's failed bid to be elected London mayor, joked about pandemic restrictions in the video, obtained by the Daily Mirror

Michael Gove yesterday apologised for the 'terrible' clip as officers said they were 'considering' the new evidence

In another interview, with GB News, Mr Gove added: 'The actions here are deeply distressing and I could only apologise to people that individuals behaved in this way. Naturally anyone looking at this video is going to be extremely angry.

'My understanding is that there was an investigation into the party. When the photograph emerged, people were disciplined.'

The knees-up was attended by Mr Bailey, who received a peerage in Mr Johnson's honours list, and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE. Mr Bailey reportedly left the event before the video was taken and has apologised for his involvement.

Mr Mallet runs the campaign of barrister Moz Hossain KC, who wants to stand in next year's London mayoral race on the Tory ticket. Asked whether the pair should be blocked from receiving honours, Mr Gove told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: 'No, I don't think that.

'The decision to confer honours on people was one that was made by Boris Johnson as an outgoing prime minister. Outgoing prime ministers have that right.

'Whether or not they should is a matter of legitimate public debate, but they do at the moment.'

Earlier on the day of the party  December 14, 2020  Mr Johnson had announced that London would move from Tier 2 restrictions that barred people meeting 'socially indoors' to the tighter Tier 3 at midnight. The same day, his health secretary Matt Hancock announced that a mutant Covid strain had been detected and was being urgently studied.

Five days later Mr Johnson cancelled Christmas as he announced parts of Britain would move into even tighter Tier 4 restrictions, which reintroduced the 'Stay at Home' message from earlier in the pandemic.

In the footage, one attendee can be heard joking about Covid restrictions, laughing and saying: 'As long as we don't stream that we're, like, bending the rules.'

The dancing pair are shown twirling each other past signs that read 'Please keep your distance'.

Amos Waldman, a member of the Covid 19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, told Times Radio: 'I was appalled and sickened by the video. It's not a huge surprise given we know what was happening, but the imagery of it was pretty powerful, and completely at odds with what the rest of the country, and certainly we as bereaved families and our loved ones, were going through at the time.

'It's like a parallel universe and it's difficult to comprehend how they can act in such a carefree manner.'

A Tory spokesman said: 'Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of Matthew Parker Street organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of December 14, 2020.

'Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.'
Hundred of foreign criminals including rapists and killers are on the run following a six-fold rise in the absconding rate.

Shocking figures show that the number either wanted by police or dodging deportation has soared from 169 in 2014 to more than 1,000 today.

Those who have vanished into the community have been convicted of the most serious crimes including murder, rape and terrorist offences.

Despite government promises to speed up the removal of foreign criminals, there has been a 19 per cent increase  from 916 at large in 2019 to 1,094 last month.

They include criminals wanted for outstanding offences, those facing deportation, prison escapees and others who skipped bail as they awaited sentencing or fled after being recalled to prison.

The number of foreign criminals either wanted by police or dodging deportation has soared from 169 in 2014 to more than 1,000 today (file image)

The largest proportion of missing fugitives  352  are drugs offenders, including gangsters suspected of smuggling huge quantities of cocaine and heroin into the country (Sacks of cocaine found on a ship travelling to Panama, June 16)

The data released under freedom of information laws also shows that there has been a 15 per cent fall in the number of foreign criminals successfully captured. Last year Home Office located 189 of them compared with 222 in 2020.

Rapist in hiding for 15 years An Iraqi rapist has spent the last 15 years on the run after vanishing the day he was due to be sentenced for his crime. Rezgar Zengana has spent 15 years on the run Rezgar Zengana posed as a taxi driver to pick up his 25-year-old victim outside a Radisson Hotel before raping her at a flat in Glasgow in December 2006. Throughout his trial, Zengana claimed sex with the woman was consensual and the prosecutor did not oppose bail. Despite being convicted of rape in June 2008, the asylum seeker was released on bail pending sentencing, a decision criticised at the time by Rape Crisis Scotland. Zengana never showed up at the High Court in Glasgow and has not been seen since. The 40-year-old may have fled to the Netherlands or Turkey, but Crimestoppers has also suggested that he could have hidden in an Iraqi community. Advertisement

Among those listed as missing are five murderers and 38 violent offenders. There are also up to five terrorists, 11 rapists, several paedophiles and 13 other sex offenders.

The largest proportion of missing fugitives  352  are drugs offenders, including gangsters suspected of smuggling huge quantities of cocaine and heroin into the country.

One of those sought by police is Daniel Dugic, who is suspected of being involved in a plot to import 255kg of cocaine. It would have had a street value of around 20million.

The Serbian is said to have played a major part in organising the drug trafficking operation in 2010, which involved transferring cocaine to a fishing vessel in the English Channel from a commercial container ship.

Another on the NCA list is Fatah Benlaredj, who is wanted for the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl in May 2007. The Algerian is thought to be hiding in Spain.

Under Home Office rules, all foreign nationals given a jail sentence are considered for removal from the UK. But some vanish after being released into the community prior to deportation.

Over the past three years 606 have been located but 1,094 were still at large in May.

Tory MP Tim Loughton, who sits on the Commons home affairs committee, said: 'This is an appalling figure. There are an alarming number of serious criminals at large and it is particularly alarming that this figure appears to have risen dramatically.

'To put it into perspective, there are around 9,000 foreign nationals in prison, so to have 1,094 missing equates to around 12 per cent of the prison population at large. The public will be very concerned that they are potentially being put in danger from criminals who should be in prison here or deported.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Foreign nationals who commit crimes here in the UK will face the full force of the law, including deportation at the earliest opportunity for those eligible.

'We never stop tracing absconders. Our dedicated national absconder tracing team works with the police to locate them and put a hard stop to those who callously seek to abuse the system.'
A fishing team that managed to reel in a massive 619-pound blue marlin in a competition off the North Carolina coast has been disqualified and will lose $3.5million in prize money after their catch was found to be 'mutilated'.

The fishermen, on a boat named Sensation, battled with the marlin for six hours as they attempted to reel it aboard.

But it was all for nothing after they were excluded after organizers ruled on Sunday that damage to the fish was caused by a shark.

It means most of the huge pot of prize money will now pass to the team that landed the second-place catch on board the vessel, Sushi.

Their Blue Marlin catch weighed significantly less at 484.5lbs.

The crew of Sensation and their 619-pound blue marlin was pictured with their catch before they were disqualified from the tournament after it was noticed the fish had been mutilated

The fish was strung up and weighed - just hours before it was disqualified for being the victim of an earlier shark attack

The enormous fish was seen being brought onto land - ready for its weigh in

Tournament officials said the decision to award the runner-up the prize money is consistent with rules followed throughout the event's 65 year history.

'After careful deliberation and discussions between the Big Rock Rules Committee and Board of Directors with biologists from both NC State CAST and NC Marine Fisheries biologists as well-as an IGFA official, it was determined that SENSATION'S 619.4lb Blue Marlin is disqualified due to mutilation caused by a shark or other marine animal,' a statement by organizers read.

'It was deemed that the fish was mutilated before it was landed or boated and therefore it was disqualified,' they continued.

'The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament follows IGFA rules regarding mutilated fish as outlined in Rule. #23 in the Big Rock Official Rules. IGFA rules state that the following situation will disqualify a fish: 'Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.'

'This decision is consistent with prior decisions made by the tournament in similar circumstances over the last 65 years.'

A statement by organizers explained why Sensation's catch was disqualified from the tournament

The crew of the Sensation battled for six hours to haul the enormous catch aboard the boat

'SUSHI has been declared the first place winner of the 65th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament for their 484.5lb Blue Marlin. CHASIN A claimed second place with their 479.8Ib. Blue Marlin. The 470.2lb blue marlin captured by C-STUDENT will finish in third place.'

When Sensation docked at Big Rock Landing Saturday night, a massive crowd eagerly awaited its weigh-in as the champion was determined.

When their marlin's total weight was announced, there were cheers from the crew and the crowd.

But a shark bite near the fish's head was noticed by the tournament weight masters and brought to the attention of the boat's crew.

The team that were thought to be runners up, Sushi, were seen celebrating after they ruled first prize

Shushi's crew celebrated with their bumper prize money of $2.77million

The crew of Sushi ultimately claimed first prize after their 484.5lb blue marlin was declared the top catch

The crew of Sushi were seen open-mouthed after learning they had secured the top spot and the massive payday

After a lengthy discussion between the crew and tournament officials, it was decided the marlin's eligibility would be determined the following morning.

Officials ruled against them, awarding the crew of the boat Sushi, hailing from Nags Head, North Carolina, the winner.

Sushi will win prize money of $2.77 million from the total tournament purse of $5.8 million, according to the Jacksonville Daily News.

Sensation would have received a larger payout because of their catch weighing more than 500 pounds, as Sushi didn't cross that threshold.

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament has become extremely popular in recent years with more than 270 boats taking part in this latest competition.

Jacob Runyan, 42, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, have been sentenced to ten-day jail terms and other penalties

The pair (pictured) originally won a tournament in Ohio , but they were replaced by Steve Hendricks after weights were found in their fish. First-place prize in the tournament totaled around $28,000

Fishing tournaments often see big money at stake - with some going to great lengths to make off with the top prize.

Last month, two men who admitted to cheating in an Ohio fishing tournament in the fall of 2022 were sentenced to ten-day jail terms and other penalties, including the forfeiture of a boat valued at $100,000.

Jacob Runyan, 43, and Chase Cominsky, 36, were sentenced in Cleveland after pleading guilty in March to cheating.

The pair had competed in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament when director Jason Fischer became suspicious that the fish the duo turned in seemed significantly heavier than typical walleye.

A crowd of people at Gordon Park in Cleveland looked on as Fischer cut the freshwater fish open and found lead weights and walleye fillets that had been stuffed down the throats of the fish in order to come top in the tournament.

The dramatic discovery of the doctored fish was filmed and posted to social media, showing the tournament director pulling lead weights from the innards of the fish

Runyan and Cominsky originally won the tournament, but they were replaced by Steve Hendricks after the weights were found and they were disqualified.

The first-place prize in the tournament totaled around $28,000.

As part of their plea deal, Runyan and Cominsky also agreed to three-year suspensions of their fishing licenses. Cominsky agreed to give up his boat worth $100,000.

Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools.

Once the pair complete their 10-day county jail terms, they will serve a year and a half on probation and must each pay a $2,500 fine - though half the fine will be waived if they each make a $1,250 donation to a nonprofit organization that promotes fishing with children.
Four tonnes of ice worth $1billion was found hidden in tequila bottles at a Mexican port before the drug haul was able to make it to its final destination in Australia.

The liquid meth had been concealed in 11,520 bottles before it was uncovered by the Mexican Navy, known as SEMAR, in the port of Manzanillo on April 18.

Sniffer dogs and a chemical identification system was used to confirm the bottles, which were inside nearly 1,000 cardboard boxes, contained the illicit drug.

The drug haul was widely reported in the media at the time but it's since been revealed the shipment had been intended to arrive in NSW, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The liquid meth had been concealed in 11,520 bottles before it was uncovered by the Mexican Navy, known as SEMAR, in the port of Manzanillo on April 18

If the drugs had made their way to NSW, it would have been one of the largest busts in Australia's history and supplied ice to the nation for six months.

The Mexican navy works closely with the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

'SEMAR is a strong partner of the AFP, and this seizure is a testament to SEMAR's close collaboration with the AFP, and SEMAR's determination to combat organised crime syndicates in Mexico,' AFP Mexico Detective Superintendent Patrick Gordon said.

SEMAR is also responsible for stopping another six tonnes worth of ice from hitting Australian shores within the past year.

Meanwhile, three men including one Australian have been arrested after an investigation into an alleged Mexican cartel.

Americans Alberto Cerda Ramirez, 34, and Eduardo Tapia, 42, and Sydney man Johnathan Topar Perez, 40, have been charged with one count each of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

Police allege 375kg of methamphetamine was sent from Los Angeles to Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand between April 2022 and February this year.

The drugs had been intended to arrive in NSW before they were seized

Sniffer dogs and a chemical identification system was used to confirm the bottles, which were inside nearly 1,000 cardboard boxes, contained the illicit drug

Perez, who runs a fruit and grocery store in Hornsby, in Sydney's north shore, was allegedly the contact for the haul in Australia.

Another 447kg of liquid methamphetamine and 120kg of cocaine hidden in shipments of electrical transformers and allegedly organised by the syndicate were seized in Hong Kong in February and March, 2022.

A further 106kg was seized in New Zealand in February, 2019, with all three shipments believed to have been destined for Australia.

An 85kg shipment of methamphetamine was found inside plastic pallets by US Customs and Border Protection in LA in February this year, ultimately leading to the trio's arrest.

It's alleged the two Americans had travelled to Sydney from Fiji to receive the shipment.

The three men faced the Downing Centre Local Court on May 2, and have been remanded in custody to next appear on July 27.
Barnaby Joyce has slammed a proposed plan for chemists to grant Australians access to two months of medication during a fiery clash with Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek.

An estimated six million Australians will be allowed to buy twice as many common medicines for the price of one script - should their GP sign off on it - under a shake-up of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The Labor plan has drawn fierce opposition from the pharmacy lobby - with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia suggesting up to 665 pharmacies may close and 20,000 jobs will be slashed under the policy.

Appearing on Sunrise, the former Nationals leader rolled his eyes and lifted his hands in frustration as Ms Plibersek was defending the measure as 'good policy'.

Barnaby Joyce has slammed a proposed plan to grant access to two months of medication during a fiery clash with Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek

'Don't forget every single dollar through this policy is being reinvested into pharmacies so pharmacies will be able to do things like give vaccinations, they'll be able to do outreach into aged care,' the Environment Minister said.

Mr Joyce repeatedly interjected as Ms Plibersek mounted her defence, questioning the impact on regional and remote chemists and questioned where Labor's modelling was on the policy.

'It's better for patients,' the Labor frontbencher started.

'No it's not,' Mr Joyce yelled. 'When we lose frontline services, that is not good for patients. 'Cos once you lose the chemist from a town who is going to supply the drugs to the aged care facility.'

'Every dollar goes into pharmacies,' Ms Plibersek responded.

'No it doesn't Tanya. Read the pharmacy --'

'Oh my god, stop yelling,' the Labor frontbencher snapped.

Sunrise host Nat Barr finally called the pair to order, asking Mr Joyce to 'just take a breath' as she questioned by Mr Joyce would be opposed to a policy the government claims will save patients with chronic conditions up to $180 per medication per year.

Mr Joyce said regional Australians risk having to travel further to visit a chemist, potentially wiping out any savings made from the cut price medicines.

'The people in regional areas are not rich,' he said.

The Pharmacy Guild report called for the government to press pause on the policy, which is due to begin on September 1, until a review of the economic impact is completed.

Speaking with Nine, President Trent Twomey savaged the dispensing reform and accused the government of rushing out the policy without proper consultation.

Mr Joyce repeatedly interjected as Ms Plibersek mounted her defence, questioning the impact on regional and remote chemists and questioned where Labor's modelling was on the policy

'The cuts are greater than what the pharmacy can absorb,' he said.

'What the government needs to do is what they failed to do. They need to consult with pharmacists on how this policy will be rolled out. It's too much too hard, too fast, too quick.'

The prescription overhaul will come into effect from September 1.

Under the rule change, more than 320 different medicines will be dispensed in 60 day doses - instead of the current 30.

They will still be subject to current price caps - so, instead of paying a maximum of $30 for a 30-day medicine supply, Aussies will pay $30 at most for a 60 day supply.

The policy is largely aimed at those with chronic conditions who spend a lot on treatments.

Included medications on the list are for conditions such as heart disease, cholesterol, Crohn's disease and hypertension.

People could save up to $180 a year, if their medicine can be prescribed for 60 days rather than 30, or more if their other medicines qualify for the prescription change.

The move has been furiously rejected by the Pharmacy Guild who say the change would cost community chemists $3.5billion.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey said the changes could lead to further medicine shortages for patients.

'I'm all for cost-of-living relief and a cost-of-living measure but this, unfortunately, is just smoke and mirrors,' he told ABC TV in April.
Suella Braverman has urged police to 'ramp up' use of stop and search in a crackdown on street knife crime.

The Home Secretary said officers should make broader use of the controversial powers and arrest anyone who obstructs police from using them.

She also urged forces to quickly publish footage from their body-worn cameras to avoid 'trial by social media', arguing that mobile phone clips posted online often capture a fraction of an encounter and can give a misleading view of an incident.

Stop-and-search tactics were curtailed in 2014 by Theresa May when she was home secretary amid concerns they were being used disproportionately against black and Asian people.

Suella Braverman (pictured on June 15) has urged police to 'ramp up' use of stop and search in a crackdown on street knife crime

Mrs Braverman's move continues a turnaround started by her predecessor Priti Patel, who reversed Mrs May's restrictions last spring.

'The police have my full support to ramp up the use of stop and search, wherever necessary, to prevent violence and save more lives,' Mrs Braverman said.

'Every death from knife crime is a tragedy.

Stop-and-search tactics were curtailed in 2014 by Theresa May when she was home secretary amid concerns they were being used disproportionately against black and Asian people

'That's why I also back the police in tackling this blight in communities which are disproportionately affected, such as among young black males.'

In a letter to all chief constables in England and Wales today, she urges police to arrest and investigate anyone unlawfully obstructing a stop and search.

It is understood a member of the public would have to attempt 'physical and violent' obstruction in order to face arrest, rather than simply filming a stop and search.

Forces should consider publishing video of a full stop and search from officers' body-worn cameras, Mrs Braverman added.

In the year to March last year, 99 young people died in knife attacks in England and Wales, of whom 31 were black.
Boris Johnson received a boost on the eve of the Commons passing judgment on the Partygate probe  after even his old rival Michael Gove branded its punishment excessive.

The Levelling Up Secretary  who ended Mr Johnson's 2016 leadership bid and was sacked by him for disloyalty a year ago  revealed he would not support the privileges committee's report today.

He is one of many ministers expected to miss the debate and abstain from the vote, which is likely to see the former prime minister banned from having a parliamentary pass.

It would also have seen him suspended for 90 days for misleading MPs over lockdown gatherings in No 10 had he not already quit.

Mr Gove told the BBC yesterday: 'I have read the whole report. There are parts of it that I think are excellent work. I don't agree with the conclusion however, personally.'

Mr Gove told the BBC yesterday: 'I have read the whole report. There are parts of it that I think are excellent work. I don't agree with the conclusion however, personally'

The vote would also have Boris Johnson suspended for 90 days for misleading MPs over lockdown gatherings in No 10 had he not already quit

Signalling his view that the commitee's punishment was excessive, he added: 'I think the decision to impose a 90-day penalty is not merited by the evidence the committee has put forward.' Asked if he will vote for it, he replied: 'I will not vote, I will abstain.' Mr Gove also pointed out that 'it is Boris's sincere belief he was assured the rules were followed'.

He added: 'I understand there is a desire for what was a complex and flawed execution of policy within No 10, to be summed up in one word, but the reason the privileges committee took their time and issued a report at such length is that there are complexities there.'

Mr Gove is not the only member of the Cabinet expected to miss today's debate, which takes place on Mr Johnson's 59th birthday and the third anniversary of the surprise birthday party he was fined by police for attending. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to hold talks in Downing Street with his Swedish counterpart at the time of the vote instead, while Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is also expected to abstain.

One of Mr Johnson's main supporters, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, will not be there either after he privately urged his allies not to oppose the motion to approve the scathing report

One of Mr Johnson's main supporters, former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, will not be there either after he privately urged his allies not to oppose the motion to approve the scathing report.

Veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash vowed to vote against it on the grounds the committee had unfairly changed the rules by deciding it did not need to prove Mr Johnson had knowingly misled the Commons in order to find him in contempt.

Red Wall Tory Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, said he would vote against the report because of the unfair way it treated the ex-PM.

He told GB News: 'It's not about Boris making some big comeback. It's about someone being able to leave office with dignity. We think what he's been subjected to is very unfair.'

Six-and-a-half hours had originally been allocated for the debate, which will start after 3.30pm, but it will now be just 90 minutes.
Five days after claims were aired that he attended a lockdown-busting drinks party, one of Boris Johnson's leading Partygate inquisitors is maintaining his silence.

It came as a leaked invitation to the gathering in December 2020 demolished claims that it was a 'work event'.

Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin is understood to deny breaking any Covid-19 rules by attending the Commons gathering when restrictions were in place.

An 'ally' said he insisted it was a 'work event' held by senior figures in the Women2Win network, which encourages more Tory women to stand for political office.

The ally claimed that Sir Bernard simply 'arrived to collect his wife'  something disputed by sources with knowledge of the gathering.

Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin (pictured) has stayed silent following claims he attended a lockdown-busting drinks party in December 2020

A WhatsApp invitation which emerged yesterday that was sent by his wife, Tory peer Baroness Jenkin, explicitly invited her 'favourite people' to a 'birthday drinks' bash.

One of those who witnessed the gathering taking place has confirmed to the Mail that a report has been filed to the police and the Commons authorities.

According to the source, Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle confirmed receipt of the allegations.

It is understood the report given to the police contains a list of those present, which included Sir Bernard and Baroness Jenkin, as well as Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing.

The list provided to the police includes a further four MPs and one member of the Lords, but the Mail understands others were also present whose identities have not yet been confirmed.

Sir Bernard was the most senior Conservative on the Commons privileges committee, which last week condemned Mr Johnson for misleading Parliament over gatherings in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic when he was in office.

The event Sir Bernard attended was in Dame Eleanor's office on December 8, 2020, when indoor socialising was banned in England.

In her invitation, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, Baroness Jenkin offered 'birthday drinks' for 'a few of our favourite people next Wednesday 8th, 6.30 to 7.30 in Eleanor Laing's conference room in [the] Commons'. The message concluded 'x Anne.'

Sir Bernard was the most senior Conservative on the Commons privileges committee, which last week condemned Boris Johnson (pictured) for misleading Parliament over gatherings in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic when he was in office.

Although the invitation said the drinks would be 'v small and socially distanced', insiders say at least ten people were in the room throughout, preventing effective social distancing. One source claimed that social distancing rules 'went out of the window'.

One ally of Mr Johnson said: 'Bernard Jenkin appears to have attended an unlawful social event.

If so, he has withheld this crucial information from Parliament while sitting in judgment over Boris Johnson for more than a year.

This revelation invalidates the findings of the privileges committee because its process has been corrupted.

Sir Bernard's entire case was that Boris 'must have known' he was attending an allegedly illegal gathering.

'Well, clearly Sir Bernard must have known he was attending one too. This matter must be investigated by Parliament immediately.'

A source with knowledge of the gathering added: 'He [Sir Bernard] was there at the start and for the whole thing. Drinking.'

Deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing (pictured) is understood to have been invited to the rule-breaking drinks party

Sir Bernard and Dame Eleanor did not respond to requests for comment yesterday. Scotland Yard has said it is 'assessing' reports that the event broke lockdown rules.

Speaking briefly to the Guido Fawkes website last week, when details of the event first emerged, Sir Bernard said: 'I did not attend any drinks parties during lockdown.'

Asked to confirm whether he had drunk anything at his wife's party, he replied: 'I don't recall.' He has remained silent since.

Dame Eleanor insisted to the Guido Fawkes website last Wednesday that it was a 'business meeting'.

When asked if any drinks were served, she said: 'I don't know. I will have to check.'

Mr Johnson, who branded the inquiry into his conduct a 'witch-hunt', told the committee Sir Bernard should have recused himself as he could not be considered 'a valid judge or investigator'.

The seven MPs on the privileges committee found that Mr Johnson committed 'repeated contempts' of Parliament, and effectively ended his career in the Commons by recommending he be suspended for 90 days.
British nationals will be prioritised for council housing under plans being considered by the Government, it was reported last night.

Ministers are discussing how they can include legislation in this autumn's King's Speech that would require councils to push British citizens and permanent residents higher up waiting lists than more recent migrants.

Housing is currently often allocated according to need, with priority given to those who are homeless, living in overcrowded homes or domestic abuse victims.

This means foreign nationals with visas giving them indefinite leave to stay in Britain  as well as refugees  can effectively 'jump the queue' if their needs are seen to be greater than British nationals.

More than 1.2 million households are on waiting lists for social housing and around one in ten of those given a home are non-UK nationals. This figure is considerably larger in areas with higher immigration, such as the London borough of Brent where 40 per cent of new social homes were let to non-UK nationals in 2021-22.

Ministers are discussing how they can include legislation in this autumn's King's Speech that would require councils to push British citizens and permanent residents higher up waiting lists than more recent migrants (stock image)

In Southwark, also in London, the proportion was nearly a third in the same year. The discussions about social housing are reportedly at an early stage and come amid public concern at record levels of net migration, which hit 606,000 last year.

A source familiar with the plans told The Times: 'Social housing is a finite resource so it's only right we look at what more we can do to ensure UK nationals are prioritised.

'The UK will always welcome the economic contribution of legal migrants to this country, but they shouldn't be allowed to jump the queue for social homes.'

It is believed ministers are keen to ensure there are no 'knock-on effects' for groups such as Afghan and Ukrainian refugees who have come to the UK under official schemes.
Starmer will claim his plans would mean Britain could run on 100% clean power

Planning rules that protect the countryside should be ripped up so that more windfarms can be built, Keir Starmer will say today.

The Labour leader will pledge that a government led by him would ditch the effective ban on new inland turbines imposed by the Conservatives.

He will claim his plans would mean Britain could run on 100 per cent clean power by 2030, with household bills slashed by 1,400 a year.

His party argues that the turbine ban, in place since 2015, is collectively costing families 5billion a year on bills because it is stopping the production of cheaper energy. But it will spark fears that the countryside faces being blighted by eyesore developments.

In a speech in Edinburgh to set out his mission for a green revolution, Sir Keir will say the onshore windfarm ban would be lifted within months of Labour winning power. The time it takes to develop projects will be reduced from up to 13 years to 'months'.

The Labour leader will pledge that a government led by him would ditch the effective ban on new inland turbines imposed by the Conservatives

Onshore wind turbines generate electricity at Frodsham Wind Farm on December 7, 2022 in Liverpool

But it has emerged that Sir Keir would not block the Rosebank oil and gas field development west of Shetland  despite pledging to ban all new North Sea drilling.

The Labour leader has given the commitment to Equinor, the Norwegian state-owned energy company which has the licence for Rosebank, The Sunday Times reported.

Labour has signalled a retreat from its plans to block all new oil and gas developments in the North Sea following fierce criticism from industry and its trade union backers which have warned of the risk of thousands of job losses.

The party has since promised not to revoke any fossil fuel extraction licences granted before the next election, even though it could take years for them to start production.

It marks the latest shift in Labour's green policy after the party was earlier this month forced to water down plans to spend 28billion a year on environmental projects because of affordability fears.

Tory MP and former minister Esther McVey taunted Sir Keir, tweeting: 'Mr Flip Flop flips again!

'Sir Keir backtracked on his 28billion-a-year borrowing to fulfil his green pledge and he's now, under pressure from his union colleagues, apparently reversing his pledge to block all new oil and gas developments in the North Sea. Does he believe in anything at all?'

Sharon Graham, boss of the Unite union, which has donated millions to Labour, repeated criticism of the plans, saying it would 'cost jobs' and was 'further proof of the total lack of detail in Labour's plan.'

Laying out his ideas for cleaner energy today, Sir Keir will say: 'We can cut bills, create jobs and provide energy security for Britain  that's what a Labour Government will deliver. We've got to roll up our sleeves and start building things, run towards the barriers  the planning system, the skills shortages, the investor confidence, the grid.

'If the status quo isn't good enough we must find the reforms that can restart our engine. I'm not going to accept a situation where our planning system means it takes 13 years to build an offshore windfarm.

'We're going to throw everything at this: planning reform, procurement, long-term finance.'

Wind turbines at Wadlow Wind Farm in Cambridgeshire, operated by Renewable Energy Systems

It is understood that local communities would not lose a veto on new developments, raising questions about how the planning process will be streamlined. The Labour leader will also outline plans for a new public body, GB Energy, to collaborate with councils, communities and the private sector to bring down energy costs.

The power plan would be directly owned by locals, with profits from the energy sold to the grid from renewable energy schemes being returned to the community through discounts on bills for households in need.

GB Energy will make available up to 600million in funding for councils and up to 400million in low-interest loans each year for communities, Labour says. Councils would have to identify areas suitable for renewable generation.

A national wealth fund would be created to support more well-paying jobs by investing alongside the private sector in gigafactories, clean steel plants, renewable-ready ports, green hydrogen and energy storage. Sir Keir will add in his speech his was 'a new plan for a new settlement', adding: 'A clear direction across all four nations. Pulling together for a simple, unifying priority: British power for British jobs.'

Researchers have warned that planning restrictions on renewable energy developers must be eased after the IPPR think-tank said at the current rate it would take almost 4,700 years for England to build enough onshore windfarms to meet its energy demands.

More than 11,000 have been installed  creating the sixth largest capacity of any country.
Fans loved new Father's Day photos released by Prince and Princess of Wales - one said they see Diana in Prince William 'more each day'

Royal fans have compared a photograph released for Father's Day of Prince William and his three children to an image of Diana and her two sons.

In the picture with Diana, she can be seen smiling as a young Prince William - aged five - has his arms wrapped around her neck while beaming.

Prince Harry, who was around three at the time, is sat next to his mother, as she has her arm around him the young royal.

The Princes are both dressed smartly - wearing blue shirts and ties - while Diana is dressed in a white blouse.

The image was taken at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire, in 1988, when Diana would have been around 27 years old.

The image was taken at Highgrove in 1988, when Diana would have been around 27 years old, Prince William was five and Prince Harry was three years old (left)

In a photo taken at the Windsor Estate, Prince Louis, five, is in the exact same position that William was as a child - with his arms wrapped around his father's neck

In a photo taken at the Windsor Estate, Prince Louis, five, is in the exact same position that William was as a child - with his arms wrapped around his father's neck.

Prince Louis has also been likened to his mother, the Princess of Wales, as fans spoke about a picture taken for his fifth birthday in April.

The Prince of Wales has his arm around his eldest child, Prince George, nine, similar to how Diana was positioned with Harry.

In the adorable family snap, Princess Charlotte, eight, is all smiles as she gazes up at her father.

They have even opted for the same colour scheme, as the Wales's donned blue and white clothing.

The family have also given a nod to the late Queen, as they are sat on a bench installed at Windsor to commemorate her 90th birthday on April 19, 2016.

A user on Twitter captioned the two images 'Prince William clinging lovingly to his mother. Over 30 years later, he gets to experience what it felt like for Diana as well.'

The Tweet was viewed almost 50,000 times and was liked more than 3,500 people - with royal fans commenting on the likeness.

One wrote: 'Its so good witnessing Williams reverence for his mom. So gallant. Fun seeing Diana in him more each day!'

Another said: 'William is Dianas double. She would be so proud of him.'

A third penned: 'My favourite post of the day!'

A fourth commented: ' Oh my goodness this is a great find! And soooo sweet! Thanks!'

The Tweet was viewed almost 50,000 times and was liked more than 3,500 people - with royal fans commenting on the likeness

The family were out for Trooping the Colour yesterday, as Prince Louis 'stole the show' again with his cheeky antics.

He pulled faces at his siblings and grumpily covered his ears while celebrating the annual event - at one point covering his nose making it appear as though he'd smelt something unpleasant.

In one moment, the youngest Wales child covered his nose and mouth in what is thought to be disgust, after he caught a whiff of horse poo.

While the other royals watched the flypast with interest, Louis simply looked at the floor, with his hand over his mouth

Lively: Prince Louis (centre) often steals the show during public events, and yesterday was no different, as he was snapped pulling funny faces

Prince Louis, five, broke into a passionate dance on the Buckingham Palace balcony

Louis is a favourite among royal watchers thanks to his enthusiasm during public appearances.

The three children then joined their parents and the rest of their family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the iconic flypast.

Standing beside his two younger siblings, George was filmed pointing up to the sky before saying something to his parents.

While the audio isn't clear, some believe that George is identifying a plane, to which the proud Prince of Wales appears to say 'yes it is, good boy!'
King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Father's Day with a touching montage on social media.

The royal family's Twitter account posted photos of Charles with his father Prince Philip, and Camilla with her late father Major Bruce Shand.

A photo of Princes William and Harry, in happier times with their father at Balmoral, also appeared, alongside a message that read: 'To Dads everywhere, we wish you a very special Fathers Day today'.

Earlier the Prince and Princess of Wales released a new photo of Prince William with his three children to mark the occasion.

Prince Harry, father to Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, will also celebrate Father's Day across the Pond in the US today.

In Prince William's latest photograph, Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, eight, gaze up at their father while Prince Louis, five, beams directly into the camera as he throws his arms around Dad in a giant bear hug.

The royals, led by the Prince of Wales, marked Father's Day with a series of photos. In an image released by Prince William on social media, the royal looks relaxed as he poses alongside Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five

The image also contains a subtle but poignant tribute to the children's great-grandmother, as they are posing on a bench installed at Windsor to commemorate the late Queen's 90th birthday on April 19, 2016.

It was taken by photographer and family friend Millie Pilkington earlier this year on the Windsor Estate  possibly at the same time she took the images of Louis in a wheelbarrow to mark his fifth birthday in April.

He's certainly wearing the same outfit: a 75 Fair Isle sweater from Lallie London over a collared white-and-blue checked shirt.

George mirrors dad in shirt and jeans while Charlotte is wearing a pretty but unfussy daisy print dress by Rachel Riley London, one of mum Kate's favourite children's designers.

The King also marked the occasion sharing a photo of himself with Princes William and Harry in happier times at Balmoral

A snap of Queen Camilla with her father the late Major Bruce Shand appeared in the montage

Prince Philip and the then Prince Charles in a photograph shared by the royal family to mark Father's Day on June 18th

There was already a wait of up to eight weeks to get hold of the 59 puff-sleeved button-front dress, even before this image was released late last night.

The Princess of Wales might not be in the picture  it marks Father's Day, after all  but as an amateur photographer she has an eye for a good shot and had the final say on which picture would be released.

A similar photograph was issued last year. Then, the image captured a joyful moment on a family holiday in Jordan.

All three children were seen roaring with laughter at a joke that, given William's blushes, might have been at their dad's expense.

For Father's Day 2020, William released a picture of the children clambering on his back on the grass.

Previous snaps: For Father's Day 2020, William released a picture of the children clambering on his back on the grass. Right: Last year, the image captured a joyful moment on a family holiday in Jordan

Prince Louis stole the show as he gave a cheeky salute to the adoring crowds cheering his grandad King Charles's official birthday on June 17

Every photo is evidence of the carefree childhood William is so determined to provide his sons and daughter. But he has also pledged to 'expose' them to homelessness in the same way his mother the late Princess of Wales did for him.

In an interview with The Sunday Times ahead of a launch of a campaign to 'end homelessness' in Britain, Prince William said he wanted to do this so 'they [will] grow up knowing that... some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives'.
The home is partially designed by the Imagineers, with similar curved arches and rounded gutters, but plenty of homeowners have gone the extra mile to deck out their homes in 3D Disney memorabilia

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Once upon a time, in a land not so far away... a team of Disney Imagineers helped fans reconstruct the the most magical place on earth in their multi-million dollar properties.

For fans of the company's movies and theme parks, the results are everything they could want - and more.

So much so, that obsessed families are paying up to $20million to snap up properties in the exclusive Florida community where some of the rooms aren't just Disney-themed; they're Disney-made.

They are quite literally the House of Mouse.

As the only residential community located inside a Disney resort, Golden Oak - an enclave of 299 homes that opened in 2011 - properties are hot commodity. Mansions range from the low millions to one currently being sold by Bacardi heiress Hilda Bacardi for $19million.

And for fans of Star Wars, Frozen and Finding Nemo, the interior will feel as though they wished upon a star.

Nothing to see here? Think again! While this Golden Oak home being sold by Bacardi rum heiress Hilda Bacardi for $19million appears the picture of elegant luxury on the outside, the interior holds a few very colorful surprises

Under the sea: One room in the home features an underwater Finding Nemo and Finding Dory theme complete with a dock-style bunk bed featuring a 3D replica of Hank the octopus

Sleep tight, don't let the sharks bite: The bedroom features an imposing 3D replica of Bruce who despite being a great white shark, just wants to be a good guy and is the leader of the 'fish are friends, not food' support group. Yes, that's a TV screen in his mouth

Ice, ice, baby: The Frozen themed bedroom is decorated with an icicle-festooned princess style bed and the movie's main characters - depicted in 3D

Imagineers, Disney's design team, helped designed the homes, which all feature similar archways and rounded gutters, while fans took their homes to the next level by including outlandish memorability and nods to the company's iconic film history.

Bacardi's 9,300-square-foot home appears the picture of elegant luxury from the outside - and for much of the interior - but there are three rooms that are a treat for Disneyphiles: a Star Wars-themed theater room and Frozen and Finding Nemo-themed bedrooms.

The level of detail is impressive.

In the under the sea-style bedroom - a tribute to Finding Nemo and its sequel Finding Dory - a 3D replica of Bruce the friendly great white shark looms from the wall opposite bunk beds designed to look like a dock above a reef with a 3D Hank the octopus lurking in the depths, tentacles wrapped around the bedframe.

The Frozen bedroom features an icicle bed frame - and for those who get lonely at night, 3D depictions of Elsa, Ana, Olaf, Kristoff and, of course, Kristoff's trusty reindeer Sven are positioned around the room.

Bacardi told the Wall Street Journal: 'If youre a Disney lover, you have it in your blood. Its about holding on to innocence and having fun and not taking life too seriously.'

One home within the community recently sold for nearly $10million after 50 showings. On average, residents pay up to $30,000 a year in HOA dues.

And if Disney's the most magical place on earth, it's only a five-minute short drive to the Magic Kingdom - so close that residents can see the theme park's fireworks from their homes - and a seven-minute drive to Epcot.

Disney also handles the community's day-to-day operations and provide the residents with transportation to the parks and even give them early access to new rides. Disney's animators and actors also come to the community's clubhouse to host seminars and the community has several restaurants.

Although not everything in the home is Disney themed. Bacardi's 9,300-square-foot home has a stunning pool in the backyard

Bacardi's decor in the majority of the lavish home is luxurious. It has a stunning living room area with a large fireplace and plenty of natural light with not a single Disney item to be found

Many of the home featured in the community have Disney themes. All the homes featured solid wood doors, operational shutters and rounded features (pictured: Bacardi's home)

The Barcardi home features an open-concept kitchen and seating area that leads to the pool

'Its Disney-front property,' Compass real estate agent Matt McKee told WSJ. 'Its like getting that prime spot on the mountain, but its man-made.'

McKee also believes childlike wonder helps keep the place going and the sales high.

'I dont want to say its like delayed adulthood, but its like another version of the fountain of youth.'

Most of the lavish homes are Disney themed, some with Star Wars themed home theaters, Frozen and Mickey Mouse bedrooms, and stashed full of memorabilia, and even a cut-out the shape of mouse ears in the ceiling.

Disney enthusiast Janis Scaramucci, 63, bought a $2.5million home in 2018 and says she found the 'best life imaginable.'

Scaramucci - who moved from Oklahoma to join the Golden Oak community - spends her days riding the park's rollercoasters and traveling on Disney cruises.

Although the homes on the outside look unassuming, stepping inside the multimillion-dollar homes will make any Disney fan squeal with unbridled joy.

Morgan's home looks palatial with it's tripe arched entryway and front deck on the second floor

Kathleen Morgan's home features an indoor swing shaped like a hot air balloon that features two baby Yoda plush toys, where one sits on a matching green swing

Morgan's home also features a Star Wars helmet in a case to protect it

Morgan has cute double beds that feature a Mickey and Minnie scene in her home, complete with It's a Brand New Day blankets and matching themed pillows

The Morgan home also features a stunning foyer area with a grand piano, marble flooring and walls, unique light fixtures, and warm lighting

Morgan's home also features a feature staircase, complete with light wood to compliment the marble, which has tree designs engraved in it

Morgan has a stunning pool in her background, featuring multi-color tiled hot tub and an L-shaped pool with a cabana

Her office space has magical wallpaper and a bookshelf featuring figurines

'My home is very, very, very Disney,' Scaramucci told the WSJ. 'Ive collected Disney art and objects for over 30 years.'

Her home is filled to the brim with memorabilia, including a figure of Snow White witch. She has decorative plates lining a well-lit wall and has small Disney trinkets in the kitchen, including a Lion King's warthog Pumba as a popcorn bucket.

Her home office also features a Mickey head chair and pillows, as well as tiny Disney figurines.

She even has a Mary Poppins inspired gate where the characters are holding magic umbrella to fly off into the sky. Although the magical gate has a more mundane purpose in her home: keeping her dogs in the downstairs area.

One of the most noticeable things inside her home is the Mickey head cutout in the ceiling, complete with black glittery paint and instantly recognized by any avid or causal fan alike.

The Tupys' home features a more Tudor-like style with and feature the arched entryway that is common throughout the community

Delena and Kevin Tupy's home features an elaborate outdoor bar area for the ultimate entertaining place just off the pool

The Tupy home also features an ornate rug in the entryway as well minimalistic Disney decor with a brass Mickey sitting between the two chairs

The couple's kitchen also features a minimalistic reference to Disney with a tiled Tony's Restaurant sign in the kitchen, a nod to the movie in the Lady and the Tramp

The Tupy home has a large L-shaped pool that features a bridge and a covered patio area

It also has a small library located in the back of their house that features nods to Beauty and the Beast - from dolls to the rolling ladder

They also have a bedroom with minimal references to the Mickey, from a classic red and yellow bedspread to match his outfit to a photo of him and Pluto on the wall

Another room has Aladdin reference from a purple bedspread to a rug fit for flying

They also have a painting of Belle and the Beast - and their enchanted household staff Cogsworth, Lumiere and Mrs Potts - hanging in their hallway

Delena and Kevin Tupy, who bought their home for $5.5million in 2019, have a statue of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast near their pool and an enchanted rose set in stained glass.

Delena even has a Tinker Bell tattoo on her leg and describes herself as the bigger Disney fan compared to her husband.

The community is also not a part of the Reedy Creek district, which has ruffled Disney's feathers with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, they are concerned about the dispute, as the Republican has threatened to build a prison next to the resort, which has shaken residents.

'When someone says things like that, I have no respect,' Kathleen Morgan, who owns a home in Golden Oaks, told WSJ.

However, many of DeSantis' strongest supporters and donors live in the area, according to the real estate agent.

Disney has amped up its fight, hosting Pride events at its resort last weekend and the Disney's 'Gay Days' events have gone ahead as planned, in defiance of DeSantis's battle with the company over the state's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' laws.

Janis Scaramucci's $2.5million home features a hedged-line entryway

'My home is very, very, very Disney,' Scaramucci told the WSJ - while grinning under the Mickey Mouse cut-out in her ceiling

The homeowner has an embedded Mickey head on the ceiling in her living room, complete with red and black glitter paint

Scaramucci also has plenty of figurines displayed throughout her home, including on three bookshelves above a desk, which features a Mickey chair

The hundreds of figurines lined up nearly on shelves. 'Ive collected Disney art and objects for over 30 years,' she said

She also has decorative plates on the wall that feature Tinkerbell and Cruella and Pinocchio

She also has small Disney trinkets in the kitchen, including a popcorn bucket shaped like Lion King's warthog Pumba

She also has a large statue of the witch in Snow White, complete with the poisoned apple and the seven dwarfs

Scaramucci wears a Ratatouille apron as she pretended to cook with her Mickey Mouse spatula

She and her dog pose by the plates while sitting on a cheetah print couch that has a pillow that reads home and features the Magic Kingdom on it

One home has a covered outdoor patio with an elaborate swing seat

Despite some of the communities love for Disney themed rooms and homes, others look like traditional multi-million dollar homes, including this bathroom with a double sink, built-in vanity, and modern lighting
An 'extreme' marine heatwave has developed off the British coast, causing sea temperatures to rocket as alarmed scientists probe 'worrying' warming in the North Atlantic.

While the UK is hit by its warmest start to June in decades, water temperatures around some parts of the British Isles have reached 5C above normal for this time of year.

These high water temperatures have sparked the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to categorise parts of the North Sea as being in Category 4 Marine Heatwave (Extreme).

Scientists have warned that events like this can harm aquatic life that is not used to such high temperatures, potentially causing algal blooms and mass die-offs of some species.

It comes after sea temperatures in the North Atlantic rose above previous records in March, and earlier this week were found to be 1C warmer than average.

Dr Chloe Brimicombe, a climate scientist and extreme heat researcher at the University of Graz in Austria, told MailOnline the warm blob of water off the UK at the minute is the result of 'local circulation and conditions'.

Water temperatures off the coast of Britain are now 5C above the average for this time of year in some places

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put a Category 4 Marine Heatwave in place for waters off the coast of Britain

The waters off the British coast are more than 5C warmer than normal, making it surprisingly pleasant for some people enjoying the beach

The impact of these heatwaves, which last longer than their on-land counterparts because water cools down more slowly than air, can be devastating.

READ MORE HERE: Met Office issues weather warning for thunderstorms, lightning strikes and flash flooding across the whole of the UK today Advertisement

'Changing sea temperatures in recent years have had a big impact on the ecosystem off of the coast in the UK, effecting how many fishes, plankton and marine creatures there are all the way from small to the largest.

'This specific heatwave could effect our fish stocks in the region, and what fishes are available where, having a long-term effect on the diversity of the ecosystem off of British shores.'

Despite Britain seeing its warmest start to June since 1976, with temperatures in some areas of the country nearly 10C above normal, researchers are unconvinced this is what is causing the marine heatwave.

Dr Brimicombe said: 'There is a possibility that the marine heatwave and land heatwave are linked, but we need to research that for the UK.'

She added: 'Globally sea temperatures are breaking records this year and this is a trend linked to our changing climate. The oceans are our biggest carbon dioxide sink. With carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas being one of the main drivers of climate change and have been heating quicker than anticipated.'

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these heatwaves can impact kelp forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs - all of which form the basis for the most diverse marine ecosystems.

These warming events have also been linked to animals changing their behaviour, such as whales becoming entangled in fishing nets, while also being connected by scientists to extreme weather events such as thunderstorms.

Earlier this month it was found that the North Atlantic has already reached record highs, with an average temperature of 22.7C measure on June 11 being 0.5C above the previous high set in 2010, New Scientist reports.

Francois Lapointe, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told the publication: 'It's clearly out of the envelope. That's very worrying.'

While the oceans in the northern hemisphere warm up in the summer, the size of the change this year has caused concern among scientists, with some suggesting a perfect storm of factors - including shifting wind patterns, climate change and the arrival of El Nino - may be behind it.

One anomaly that's gotten a lot of attention is the North Atlantic, where we see warmth particularly in the eastern tropical/subtropical region of the basin. That appears to be tied to an anomalous dearth of windblown Saharan dust that normally has a cooling impact on the region.  Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) June 12, 2023

Dr Melissa Lazenby, a lecturer in climate change at the University of Sussex, told the Independent climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions and wind patterns in the atmosphere could be some of the reasons for the anomaly in the North Atlantic.

READ MORE HERE: Ocean temperatures hit a record high in 2022, with an additional 10 Zetta joules of heat than 2021  enough to boil 700 MILLION kettles every second for a year Advertisement

'There is a blocking high pressure system over the northern parts of the Atlantic in the higher and lower parts of the atmosphere, which is causing the circulation to be different from the typical climatology, which is a low-pressure system in the north Atlantic,' she said.

'The change from a low pressure to a high pressure means the dominating trade winds over the subtropical Atlantic are westerly instead of the normal trade easterly winds.

'This change in wind direction results in more ocean warming over the region.'

Professor Michael Mann, from the University of Pennsylvania, said El Nino combined with man-made emissions is a 'major factor' in the warming of the oceans.

But he said the anomalous patch of heat in the North Atlantic was most likely caused by a different factor - a lack of dust from the Sahara, which is known to have a cooling effect when blown over the ocean.

He wrote: 'One anomaly that's gotten a lot of attention is the North Atlantic, where we see warmth particularly in the eastern tropical/subtropical region of the basin. That appears to be tied to an anomalous dearth of windblown Saharan dust that normally has a cooling impact on the region.

'One would be very hard-pressed to attribute that feature to human-caused warming. Instead it underscores the interplay between human-caused warming and natural variability, the latter being particularly important at these sorts of regional scales.'
The name and face of Bianca Censori has been splashed across headlines since January when she sparked up a wild whirlwind romance with Kanye West.

But the 28-year-old Melbournian, who is the 'head of architecture' at the American rapper's, 46, company Yeezy, wasn't always destined for world-wide fame.

Growing up in the well-heeled suburb of Ivanhoe, it is believed the Aussie beauty later lived in a quiet $2.8million Alphington home where her mother Alexandra still resides.

The leafy suburban property sits well away from busy streets, the bustling city, and the even louder world of media Bianca was thrust into after her 'marriage' to Kanye.

Tying the knot in a non-legally binding ceremony the same month they were first spotted together, the pair's union shoved Bianca's quiet family life into the spotlight.

The name and face of Bianca Censori, 28, (pictured) has been splashed across headlines since January when she sparked up a wild whirlwind romance with Kanye West

Kanye's mother-in-law Alexandra was spotted in public on Friday for the first time since his unorthodox union to her daughter.

After driving to the local shopping strip in her Mercedes Benz, the Australian mum spent her day running errands as she carried a $5,300 black Prada bag.

She looked every inch the glamazon garbed in a tailored, beige winter jacket with structured shoulders and a belt which cinched in her waist.

But the Melbournian, who is the 'head of architecture' at the American rapper's, 46, (pictured) company Yeezy, wasn't always destined for world-wide fame

Pairing the look with a set of black slacks and snakeskin patterned loafers, she revealed where Bianca gets her good looks as she let her natural beauty shine.

Without a lick of makeup on, Alexandra let her golden locks fly abut her shoulders as she finished off her chic look with a pair of black framed reading glasses.

She appeared content despite her daughter's complete lifestyle change after moving to America.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Alexandra but she refused to comment on her daughter's romance and the resulting publicity.

And it appears Alexandra's community has closed ranks around her, with several neighbours refusing to speak about the Censori family as well.

The tightknit bunch went so far as to claim they don't even know who lives in the quiet house which Bianca once called home.

The designer went from being Melbourne's 'It Girl' living a private life in a suburban home, to shacking up with Kim Kardashian's ex-husband and dressing up in bizarre outfits.

Growing up in the well-heeled suburb of Ivanhoe, the Aussie beauty later lived in a quiet $2.8million Alphington home where her mother Alexandra (pictured) still resides

The leafy suburban property sits well away from busy streets, the bustling city, and the even louder world of media Bianca was thrust into after her 'marriage' to Kanye

Tying the knot in a non-legally binding ceremony the same month they were first spotted together, the pair's union shoved Bianca's quiet family life into the spotlight

Kanye's mother-in-law Alexandra was spotted in public for the first time since his unorthodox union to her daughter

The Kim K lookalike went so far as to shear off her long dark locks until she was left with a short platinum look.

Weeks later, she took it a step further and began covering up her face every time she stepped out in public.

On one occasion, she covered herself entirely with a white scarf wrapped around her head as she kept her arms tucked into a matching jacket.

After driving to the local shopping strip in her Mercedes Benz, the Australian mum spent her day running errands as she carried a $5,300 black Prada bag

She looked every inch the glamazon garbed in a tailored, beige winter jacket with structured shoulders and a belt which cinched in her waist

Pairing the look with a pair of black slacks and snakeskin patterned loafers, she revealed where Bianca gets her good looks as she let her natural beauty shine

Without a lick of makeup on, Alexandra let her golden locks fly abut her shoulders as she finished off her chic look with a pair of black framed reading glasses

She appeared content despite her daughter's complete lifestyle change after moving to America

Her outfits only got more bizarre from there when she was pictured looking hunched over and withdrawn with a black veil over her head.

Covered head to toe in yet another strange, all-black ensemble, Bianca donned a large collar which encompassed her shoulders and face.

Despite Bianca's mother and neighbours staying mum about her life, not all of her demure family have chosen to remain quiet.

The designer went from being Melbourne's 'It Girl' living a private life in a suburban home, to shacking up with Kim Kardashian's ex-husband and dressing up in bizarre outfits. Pictured with her mother Alexandra and two sisters Angelina and Alyssia

Speaking to the Herald Sun earlier this year, one of her sisters, Angelina Censori, asked for 'privacy' but admitted the family was happy with the news of Bianca's marriage.

'It's very exciting news for both my sister and the family but we choose to have some privacy for the time being,' she said.

Another relative, Alyssia Censori, said she was 'super happy for them both'.

The Kim K lookalike went so far as to shear off her long dark locks until she was left with a short platinum look. Pictured with her natural, long brown hair before dating Kanye (left) and later after she shaved it all off and bleached it (right)

Growing up, Bianca studied for the Victorian Certificate of Education at Kew's prestigious Carey Baptist Grammar School.

She mixed mostly with students from Ivanhoe Grammar School, Kew's Methodist Ladies' College, the Catholic Genazzano FCJ College and Xavier College.

A high school peer told Daily Mail Australia earlier this year that Bianca 'always ran in private school circles'.

'She was friendly with the Xavier and Ivanhoe Grammar boys and hung out with Genazzano and MLC girls,' she said.

'She's super close with her family, who from memory were always considerably private people. So the fact Bianca has married someone so high-profile must have taken them by surprise.'

Weeks later, she took it a step further and began covering up her face every time she stepped out in public

Another school friend said while Bianca was in the 'popular' group, she 'always had time for people outside her social circle'.

'I would describe Bianca as a social butterfly - the kind of girl who was friends with everyone,' the peer told Daily Mail Australia.

'Like, she was never an intimidating mean girl. I think it would surprise people how smart she is.'

After graduating in 2012 with a VCE that put her near the top of her school, Bianca obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Melbourne in 2017.

A childhood friend said Bianca was always going to succeed at whatever she chose to do.

'She was a party girl after high school. She never missed all the big social events like nightclubbing or going to the Spring Racing Carnival,' she said.

'I can't say I'm surprised she's ended up working for Yeezy. She has always been stylish and pushed boundaries in fashion.

'At one point she was running her own jewellery business. I am surprised she's married Kanye, though.'

On one occasion, she covered herself entirely with a white scarf wrapped around her head as she kept her arms tucked into a matching jacket

Another female friend recalled attending the four-day Rainbow Serpent festival with Bianca in Lexton in January 2017.

'Bianca was always a bit of an 'It Girl,'' she said. 'We partied together at Rainbow Serpent back in the day and she was up for a good time.

'I loved that she so boldly wore nipple pasties!'

Bianca returned to university to complete a Master of Architecture from 2019 to 2020.

Her outfits only got more bizarre from there when she was pictured looking hunched over and withdrawn with a black veil over her head. Covered head to toe in yet another strange, all-black ensemble, Bianca donned a large collar which encompassed her shoulders and face

A former colleague at a South Yarra furniture store remembered Bianca had always applied herself to the work.

'While I haven't been in touch with Bianca for a number of years, I can confirm she was a very hard-working young lady,' she said.

'I was certainly surprised to read she's gotten hitched to Kanye West - good for her.'

Bianca, who has worked for Yeezy since November 2020, 'wed' Kanye two months after his divorce from 42-year-old Kim Kardashian was finalised in November.

The pair reportedly celebrated their union at a private ceremony and both have been seen wearing wedding rings.

The informal nuptials have apparently not been followed by the filing of a marriage certificate.
Former Bachelorette star Carlin Sterritt, 31, and wife Emily Bradwell have returned to Sydney's social scene after trying the knot in March.

The pair, who had an intimate ceremony at Dunes Palm Beach, north Sydney, looked every inch the honeymooners at the Sierra Antiguo Tequila launch party on Wednesday.

Carlin, 31, beamed as he nestled in close to the brunette, slinging a protective arm around her shoulder.

He dressed down in a taupe coloured jumper, a white top and a pair of jeans, and completed his look with a pair of white sneakers.

Emily meanwhile opted for an off-the-shoulder white top, jeans and white sneakers.

Bachelorette star Carlin Sterritt, 31, (left) looked handsome as he and new wife Emily Bradwell (right) attended the launch of Sierra Antiguo Tequila on Wednesday

Also attending the event was former Home and Away star Sarah Roberts, who looked glamorous in a glittery blue skivvy and black skinny jeans.

Carlin won the heart of Angie Kent on The Bachelorette on season five of the series back in 2019, but the pair split soon after cameras stopped rolling.

Carlin tied the knot with his partner Emily in an intimate ceremony at Dunes Palm Beach, north Sydney, in March.

He posted a video on Instagram of the newlyweds leaving their reception with their guests holding sparklers, and wrote: 'Hitched! What a night.'

Carlin dressed down in a taupe coloured jumper, a white top and a pair of jeans, and completed his look with a pair of white sneakers

Also attending the event was former Home and Away star Sarah Roberts (pictured), who looked glamorous in a glittery blue skivvy and black skinny jeans

He looked sharp on his big day in a white shirt and a black bow tie, while his bride opted for a classic white dress with a strapless design.

The couple's guests also shared pictures from the nuptials showing Carlin and Emily sharing their first kiss as husband and wife and looking happier than ever.

Emily completed her bridal look with a long white veil, and swept her long brunette locks back off her face to highlight her flawless makeup.

Carlin tied the knot with Emily in an intimate ceremony at Dunes Palm Beach, north Sydney, in March. (Both pictured at their wedding)

She carried a bouquet of white flowers that perfectly complemented her dress.

Carlin and Emily announced their engagement in October last year. They went Instagram official in December 2020.

He announced his break-up with Angie Kent in July 2020 after just 10 months of dating.

The pair chose to part ways because her lifestyle clashed with his Christian values.
Ahead of Father's Day, Robert De Niro discussed his children with People at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on Saturday.

The 79-year-old actor attended a screening for his 1993 movie A Bronx Tale and told the outlet that his six older children haven't met his 2-month-old daughter Gia Virginia yet.

He shares the newborn baby girl with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, to whom he's been linked since summer 2021.

When asked if his kids  Drena, 51, Raphael, 46, twins Julian and Aaron, 27, Elliot, 24, and Helen, 11  have met the child, De Niro said, 'Not yet, but they will.'

And for the upcoming holiday, the Goodfellas star said he is 'just gonna spend it with the kids and all that.'

Candid: Ahead of Father's Day, Robert De Niro discussed his children with People at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday

New parents: Robert shares the newborn baby girl with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen, to whom he's been linked since summer 2021; pictured June 7

Chazz Palminteri, De Niro's former co-star, gushed to the outlet: 'Oh, I saw the baby. Beautiful baby.'

And his other former co-star Katharine Narducci noted that even though she hasnt met his newest addition, De Niro is 'an unbelievable father' and 'a wonderful person.'

She explained, 'I've seen him around his kids, and I know his daughter Drena, and they have a beautiful relationship.'

'And I think he's a great guy, you know, a great dad, a great person  a great human being,' the actress added.

It comes after the longtime entertainer shared a glimpse of his seventh child during an appearance on CBS Mornings in May.

Gia was welcomed by her parents on April 6 and weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces.

The actor's first two children came from his marriage to Diahnne Abbott. He went on to welcome twins with girlfriend Toukie Smith.

Elliot and Helen are shared with ex-wife Grace Hightower - the two married in 1997 and separated in 2018.

Event: The 79-year-old actor attended a screening for his 1993 movie A Bronx Tale and told the outlet that his six older children haven't met his 2-month-old daughter yet

Chat: The Hollywood fixture spoke to a reporter at the star-studded screening on Saturday

On the Today show to promote the Tribeca Festival, he opened up about his newborn daughter and mentioned his close pal, Al Pacino.

'Listen, Al Pacino just had a baby, I was told yesterday morning, and hes a few years older than me. God bless him, very happy for him,' he said.

Robert also gushed about raising a newborn once again, stating, 'It feels great.'

In regards to how he has changed as a father, the star told host Hoda Kotb, 'I have certain awareness  when youre older you have awareness of certain things in life, dynamics, everything, family dynamics.'

The Goodfellas actor added, 'You cant avoid learning certain things and how you can deal with those and manage them and this and that, the usual.

'It's amazing, but I'm very happy about it.'

Shortly after the news of his new family addition came to light, the actor told Page Six that welcoming his seventh child was 'planned' and questioned 'How you could not plan that kind of thing?'

His eldest daughter: Robert has two kids - Drena, 51 (pictured with Robert in 2022), and Raphael, 46 - with his ex wife Diahnne Abbott

With Julian: Julian is seen far left with John David Washington, Danielle Brooks, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert in November 2022 in New York City

His girl: De Niro with daughter Helen Grace out for ice cream with their puppies in New York in April 2019

His son Elliot: De Niro with his son Elliot, who is now 24, in 2011 in France

Robert both starred in and directed A Bronx Tale, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.

Prior to the screening he opened up about it to Extra as he said, 'I am really looking forward to it, especially at the Beacon Theater the audience cant wait.'

Last month he attended the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Martin Scorsese's crime drama Killers Of The Flower Moon, which he stars in.

The film, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Brendan Fraser and Jesse Plemons, received a nine-minute standing ovation following the screening.
Blake Lively's newest project, It Ends With Us, was put on an indefinite hiatus earlier this week.

Due to the ongoing writers strike, the upcoming romantic comedy  which stars the 35-year-old actress  stopped filming in New Jersey and shut down production for the unforeseeable future.

In the movie adaptation of the same-name novel by the New York Times best-selling author Colleen Hoover, the Gossip Girl alum  who was last seen filming on June 9  plays the main protagonist opposite Justin Baldoni.

According to Deadline, less than half of the movie has been completed.

In an email obtained by the publication, Wayfarer Studios and Baldoni  who is also directing the film  delivered the news to the crew members on Thursday.

Filming is stopped: Blake Lively's newest project, It Ends With Us, was put on an indefinite hiatus earlier this week

'Due to the ongoing WGA strike and the lost days we have experienced due to picketing, we must make the difficult decision to temporarily shut down production,' the announcement began.

'We want to express our deepest gratitude for your incredible patience and unwavering dedication throughout this challenging period,' the email continued.

On Monday, filming was first halted temporarily as the film's producers reached a disagreement with the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) and the ongoing picketing.

The publication also reported that the reason for the stoppage is due to 'an inability to persuade the WGA that the co-financing status of Wayfarer Studios was enough to consider that the production was within WGA guidelines'.

Now, 140 or so people are out of jobs, and many of whom are asking for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the WGA to meet and reach a compromise.

It Ends With Us follows a fresh college graduate named Lily (Lively) after she moves to Boston and decides to start her own business.

After the new beginning, she meets a handsome neurosurgeon named Ryle (Baldoni) and falls for him despite his aversion to committed relationships.

As their romance unfolds, she runs into her first love, Atlas  played by Brandon Sklenar  and his reappearance makes her begin to question everything.

Leading stars: Due to the ongoing writers strike, the upcoming romantic comedy  which stars the 35-year-old actress  stopped filming in New Jersey and shut down production for the unforeseeable future. In the romantic drama, the Gossip Girl alum  who was last seen filming on June 9  plays the main protagonist opposite Justin Baldoni

Movie adaptation: The flick is the movie adaptation of the same-name novel by the New York Times best-selling author Colleen Hoover. A release date for the romantic drama had previously not yet been announced as production only began last month

The cast also includes comedian Hasan Minhaj  who has been tapped to play the role of Ryle's best friend and has been seen filming with Baldoni.

When it was announced that Lively was cast in the film, the author of the novel gushed over the leading lady on Instagram.

'Blake Lively, y'all! Shes my dream Lily,' Hoover effervesced in the tearful video, which was filmed in front of the house where she was raised.

'And then when I first met Justin Baldoni, who is directing the film for It Ends With Us, I immediately wanted him to be Ryle,' she continued. 'I just thought that he had what it takes.'

A release date for the romantic drama had previously not yet been announced as production only began last month.
Taylor Ann Green joined loved ones at the celebration of life service for her late brother Richard Worthington at a North Carolina church on Saturday just nine days after his sudden passing at the age of only 36.

The 28-year-old Southern Charm star's older brother, who also went by 'Worth,' was revealed to have tragically died on June 8 by their sister Catie King earlier this week  although the exact cause of death has yet to be disclosed.

Family and close friends of Richard were seen exiting the Nebo Crossing Church after the visitation and special service, including Taylor Ann, who donned a teal ensemble.

Other mourners were also spotted conversing with each other and sharing emotional hugs outside of the church.

King first announced the news of Worth's death  which occurred six days after his birthday  on her main Instagram page on Monday, and shared photos of her brother as she mourned the sad loss.

Celebration of life: Taylor Ann Green joined loved ones at the celebration of life service for her late brother Richard Worthington at a North Carolina church on Saturday just nine days after his sudden passing at the age of only 36

Tragic loss: The Southern Charm star's older brother, who also went by 'Worth,' was revealed to have tragically died on June 8 by their sister, Catie King, earlier this week on Monday

She penned, 'You are the best big brother I could have ever asked for. This family will never be the same. "I love you to the moon and back."'

One photo showed Richard flashing a cheerful smile towards the camera while relaxing inside of a boat that gently floated on the water.

Another image that Catie uploaded was a throwback snap of her brother as he ran through a parking lot while carrying an array of colorful balloons.

Fellow Southern Charm star and Taylor Ann's ex-boyfriend, Shep Rose, jumped to the comment section to shed his condolences over the sudden loss. 'Absolutely one of a kind. A pleasure to know and to laugh with,' he wrote.

Other social media users also joined in, with one penning, 'No words could possibly help the loss of this loving and lovely soul. Heartbroken for you all. Sending so much love to you all.'

Another added, 'Praying for you and the whole family Worth was a special person and very loved by many. I am so sorry.'

Richard's girlfriend Caroline Evans, who was introduced to his family only days before his passing, also uploaded an emotional tribute.

'Worth Green you are the greatest love I've ever known. Although you are not here physically, the love you gave is still felt every single day. I love you forever and always,' she typed out.

Cause unknown: His older sister Catie King revealed the news of his death but the cause of his passing has not been disclosed

Saying goodbye: Family and close friends of Richard were seen exiting the Nebo Crossing Church after the visitation and special service, including Taylor Ann, who donned a teal ensemble

Recently revealed: King first announced the news of Worth's death on her main Instagram page on Monday, and shared photos of her brother as she mourned the sad loss

Condolences: Fellow Southern Charm star and the ex-boyfriend of Taylor Ann, Shep Rose, jumped to the comment section to shed his condolences over the sudden loss

Sending love: Other social media users also joined in, with one penning, 'No words could possibly help the loss of this loving and lovely soul. Heartbroken for you all. Sending so much love to you all'

'Special': Another added, 'Praying for you and the whole family Worth was a special person and very loved by many. I am so sorry'

Shortly after the news of his death came to light, Taylor Anne and family told DailyMail.com: 'Worth left this world on top of the world - he had a beautiful passion for life and cared deeply for those around him.'

'We are going to miss his jovial personality and all of the love and laughter that he brought his family, girlfriend and countless friends.'

'Heartbroken is an understatement, but we are finding so much peace knowing he is in the arms of our Heavenly Father. We kindly ask for privacy at this time.'

An obituary posted on a North Carolina funeral home's website revealed Worth's close relationship with Caroline.

'Most recently he met the woman he adored and treasured. Caroline brought so much joy to his life,' it said. 'He loved her enough to bring her home to his family and was beginning to plan a future with her by his side.'

The obituary also detailed his loving relationship with his siblings, Taylor Ann and Catie, as well as his father and mother, Rick and Leslie.

'Worth loved his family dearly. Any excuse to be with them, he truly loved with his whole heart,' it said.

Heartbreaking tribute: Richard's girlfriend Caroline Evans, who was introduced to his family only days before his passing, also uploaded an emotional tribute

'Greatest love': 'Worth Green you are the greatest love I've ever known. Although you are not here physically, the love you gave is still felt every single day. I love you forever and always,' Caroline typed out in tribute

Coming together: Other mourners were also spotted conversing with each other and sharing emotional hugs outside of the church

Paying tribute: Family and loved ones were seen exiting the church in North Carolina holding special pamphlets for Richard

A statement: Taylor Anne and family told DailyMail.com: 'Worth left this world on top of the world - he had a beautiful passion for life and cared deeply for those around him'

Greatly missed: 'We are going to miss his jovial personality and all of the love and laughter that he brought his family, girlfriend and countless friends,' his family told DailyMail.com

Close: An obituary posted on a North Carolina funeral home's website revealed Worth's close relationship with Caroline

'He was a vivacious and loving son and grandson, and the best big brother to his sisters, always being there as a protector and a cheerleader.'

Taylor Ann and Catie can be seen with their brother in numerous pictures across social media - often boasting about their close relationship.

Worth's obituary also described him as an 'adventurer' with a 'love of travel' who taught English while living in South Korea post-college.

He was hailed a 'protector and a cheerleader' to his two younger sisters and 'a beautiful example of how to live life as fully as possible.'

The obituary noted the deceased 'had recently started a small men's group in Raleigh to reflect on life and challenge each other's faith in Christ.'

Bringing happiness: 'Most recently he met the woman he adored and treasured. Caroline brought so much joy to his life,' it said

Close family: The obituary also detailed his loving relationship with his siblings, Taylor Ann and Catie, as well as his father and mother, Rick and Leslie

Arriving: Richard's family and close friends were also spotted arriving to the church shortly before the celebration of life service commenced on Saturday

Memorable moments: Taylor Ann and Catie can be seen with their brother in numerous pictures across social media - often boasting about their close relationship

Stopping by: Other mourners were also seen stopping by the service to pay a heartfelt tribute to Richard

Other health battle: Worth's heartbreaking death came at an already fraught time for his family, as Catie found herself fighting a recurrence of cancer last year

Getting ready: Before the service started, a flower company was seen delivering various flowers to the church

A loss: Caroline had just been introduced to Richard's family one a few days before his sudden death

Worth's heartbreaking death came at an already fraught time for his family, as Catie found herself fighting a recurrence of cancer last year.

In May 2022, Green wrote on Instagram: 'Almost 5 years ago, my older sister was diagnosed with 2 different types of ovarian cancer; she was a damn warrior and kicked its a** after a few months of holistic treatment.'

Taylor Ann continued: 'We were so excited for her and her husband to hopefully have the chance of starting a family, but here we are 4 and a half years later and it has decided to rear its ugly head again. Truly F you cancer.'

Catie announced in December that she had undergone 'hopefully my last major surgery ever needed, an oophorectomy of my only ovary and tube I had left.'
Rebel Wilson was all smiles on Saturday as she attended a drag show at The Abbey in West Hollywood.

The 43-year-old Australian actress  who's been busy promoting her app Fluid  was feeling playful as she joined the performers on stage to dance.

The blonde Pitch Perfect star wore her locks in a side part and tight spiral curls that flowed over her shoulders.

She repped her brand as she rocked a white, short-sleeved T-shirt with its multicolor logo printed across it.

Wilson was spotted sitting in the audience before later jumping onto a platform to join in the fun.

Having fun: Rebel Wilson was all smiles on Saturday as she attended a drag show at The Abbey in West Hollywood

A blast: The 43-year-old Australian actress - who's been busy promoting her app Fluid - was feeling playful as she joined the performers on stage to dance

Casual: The Hollywood comedy star wore a pair of light wash jeans and dark sneakers

Rebel looked like she was having the time of her life as she showed off her moves while attendees tipped her and recorded her on their phones.

The star, who welcomed daughter Royce Lilliam Elizabeth Wilson in November, looked joyful as she took a break from mom life.

The Hollywood comedic personality wore a pair of light wash jeans and dark sneakers.

Some people from the audience hyped her up as they threw dollars while she vibed to the music.

In other moments, the dating app founder was the one generously dropping cash onto the stage.

Throughout some parts of the show she held up heart-shaped paddles with Fluid's QR codes.

After going to the popular Los Angeles haunt, Rebel took to Instagram to share moments from the event.

In the app's Stories feature, she engaged with her 11.3 million followers and wrote, 'Thanks @theabbeyweho for having us!'

Polished look: The blonde Pitch Perfect star wore her locks in a side part and tight spiral curls that flowed over her shoulders

Showstopping: The guests couldn't keep their eyes off the blonde beauty as she busted a move

Generous: The actress distributed money in the form of dollar bills to the drag queens

Rebel promoted her app on the rooftop of the new Beverly Hills restaurant Funke with her friend Carly Steel on Thursday night.

Guests sampled Casamigos and dined on pizza as well as pasta and artichokes as they were introduced to the app that has 'no labels.'

During the event, Rebel talked to DailyMail.com exclusively about her life, which she shares with fiancee Ramona Agruma, who was also in attendance at the event.

Wilson said that she is trying her best to stay in shape but added it's challenging with a baby.

Rebel said that Royce wakes up early and is an active child, which makes gym visits a difficult.

'I did gain weight once I had my baby because although I didnt give birth to her and I didnt need to lose any baby weight, I had just gained weight from the lack of sleep and from the change in my lifestyle,' noted Wilson.

'For instance, now [that] I cant go to the gym as often as I used to Im just not working out as much so that has slowed me down.'

But Rebel noted that she loves being a new mom and her happy home life. 'Royce is a joy!' she added.

Fully invested: The silver screen personality was mesmerized as she kept her eyes locked to the stage

Good time: The beauty looked stunning in a full face of makeup

Enthusiastic: Wilson couldn't contain her excitement at the crowded gathering

Mingling: The longtime performer hung with a friend during the high-energy event

Cheering: Rebel clapped along to the music as she stood next to someone rocking her company's pin

Carefree: Rebel flashed a peace sign and other hand gestures as she savored the fun

New content: After going to the popular Los Angeles haunt, Rebel took to Instagram to share moments from the event

Gratitude: On social media she engaged with her 11.3 million followers and wrote, 'Thanks @theabbeyweho for having us!'

About the app, which she founded with Carly, she noted: 'My dating up is really cool for people because you dont have to tick a lot of boxes - you dont have to describe what you like.'

'You can just be a regular human being and look for what you want in the world. You dont have to say if you want a man or a woman in your life. You can just meet the right person,' she added.

'I used to date men and I looked for a man to be with and then I met Romana and I realized I liked her and she just happened to be a woman.

'So the app does not limit people. Are you looking for love? That person you fall in love with could be a man or woman.

'So the app Fluid doesnt have a label in the motto is no labels, and its done really well. People have received it really nicely. They like the message.'
Bindi Irwin celebrated her late father's legacy on World Crocodile Day on Sunday.

The Wildlife Warrior, 24, shared a photo of her beloved father Steve as he took a photo of an open-mouthed crocodile.

Steve looked fearless in the throwback photo as he squatted perilously close to the animal on the bank of a river.

'From our family to yours, wishing you a very happy #WorldCrocodileDay,' she began.

'Celebrating Dad's favourites, our beautiful modern-day dinosaurs.'

Bindi Irwin, 24, celebrated her late father's legacy on World Crocodile Day on Sunday by sharing this throwback photo of Steve photographing a crocodile

Bindi went on to remind fans never to buy crocodile products.

'Skins, meat, fashion accessories - these extraordinary apex animals deserve better,' the she wrote.

Fans cooed over Bindi and Steve's legacy.

'From our family to yours, wishing you a very happy #WorldCrocodileDay,' she began. 'Celebrating Dad's favourites, our beautiful modern-day dinosaurs.' She went on to tell fans never to buy products made from crocodiles

'All animals deserve better including the crocs!! Being plant based saves animals,' one fan wrote.

'Geez Louise all these years later it still seems unreal,' another added.

'No one should be buying any animals used for fashion,' someone else wrote.

Earlier this month, Bindi celebrated her parents Steve and Terri's 31st anniversary by sharing this throwback photo of the couple posing at the beach

Earlier this month, Bindi celebrated her parents Steve and Terri's 31st anniversary by sharing a throwback photo of the couple posing at the beach.

In the caption, Bindi referenced their 'eternal love'.

'There isn't a day that goes by that many of us miss him. Happiest of anniversaries,' one fan wrote.

Steve tragically died in 2006 after a stingray's barb pierced his chest while on the Great Barrier Reef

'I always loved the way they looked at each other. Happy anniversary,' another added underneath the photo.

'Their love is forever,' one added.

Steve tragically died in 2006 after a stingray's barb pierced his chest while on the Great Barrier Reef.

Bindi was just eight years old at the time of Steve's death. Son Robert was even younger, just three years old.

Steve's family has carried on his mission to promote and protect wildlife through Australia Zoo, with the family global stars.
Tammy Hembrow and her ex fiancee, Matt Poole, have separately marked the first birthday of their beloved daughter, Posey, following their recent split earlier this year.

Both Tammy, 29, and Matt, 35, took to Instagram on Sunday to pay tribute to the tot on her special day, but made no mention of each other in their posts.

'A morning filled with laughter, love & music. Happy birthday, Posy wormie girl,' Tammy penned in a heartfelt post alongside a series of photos showing Posey sitting next to her birthday presents and balloons.

In one clip, Tammy can be seen holding up little Posy in her lap while giving the birthday girl a kiss on the cheek.

Tammy also held a decadent birthday party for Posie at her Gold Coast mansion, inviting members of her family including her sisters Amy, Emilee and half-sister Starlette Thynne.

Tammy Hembrow and her ex fiancee, Matt Poole, have separately marked the first birthday of their beloved daughter, Posey, following their recent split

Both Tammy, 29, and Matt, 35, (pictured with Posey) took to Instagram on Sunday to pay tribute to the tot on her special day

Social media posts suggest Matt did not attend the party.

Elsewhere, Matt shared his own selection of birthday photos, including pictures of his little girl enjoying her big day.

The Ironman wrote: 'You are my greatest life achievement. I love you very much, Posy Rose. Happy Birthday.'

In one clip, Tammy can be seen holding up little Posy in her lap, while giving the birthday girl a kiss on the cheek

Despite their breakup, both parents evidently remain committed to their role in Posey's life, each taking their turn to make her first birthday a memorable one.

It comes weeks after Tammy reunited with her ex Reece Hawkins to celebrate their son Wolf's eight birthday on the Gold Coast after Matt revealed his new romance.

Tammy's sister Emilee shared footage of the friendly exes as they reunited to co-parent at their eldest child's birthday party.

It didn't take long for fans to congratulate Tammy on maintaining a successful co-parenting relationship with her former partner.
Saudi Arabia has dispatched a new plane loaded with humanitarian aid for the victims of the Feb. 6 earthquakes that killed thousands in Turkiye and Syria, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

A plane loaded with 90 tons of medical materials landed on Saturday at Gaziantep Airport in Turkiye, the state news agency SPA reported.

The aid is part of the Saudi relief airlift launched by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to help the quake victims in Turkiye and Syria, it added.

It has been the 17th plane to have been sent by Saudi Arabia for the quake victims in the two countries.

More than 50,000 people were killed in two powerful earthquakes that struck southern Turkiye on Feb. 6.

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude quakes that were centered in Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck in less than 10 hours.

Following the earthquake disaster, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center launched a donation drive on Feb. 8 for the quake victims in Turkiye and Syria.

On Wednesday, the Qatar Red Crescent Society launched a donation campaign for establishing the Hayat Sehir city in Istanbul, to house orphans affected by the earthquake that struck southern Turkiye.
Millie Gibson has been branded a 'diva' by Dr Who cast and crew after struggling to deal with night shoots since filming began in Cardiff last month.

The actress, 18, who plays Ruby Sunday, will star alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff in the forthcoming run of the cult BBC sci-fi series, which turns 60 this year.

Despite throwing herself into the project, Millie's attitude about filming times reportedly hasn't gone down well with the team working on the show.

A source told The Mirror: 'No one could question Millie's commitment to Doctor Who, but there is a lot of pressure coming into a role like this.

'She is determined to get it right. But the days are long and at times, when night filming has been suggested, she has made her feelings clear.

Awkward: Millie Gibson has been branded a 'diva' by Dr Who cast and crew after struggling to deal with night shoots since filming began in Cardiff last month

Tension: A source said: 'No one could question Millie's commitment to Doctor Who, but there is a lot of pressure coming into a role like this'

'Millie is a pro on set and although night shoots are part of the job, they can be tiring for even the most experienced actors.

'She won't be the first or last person to be a bit annoyed by a night shoot, but it has won her some snippy comments behind the scenes. The word 'diva' has been used once or twice when tempers are fraying.'

MailOnline has contacted Millie's representatives and the BBC for comment.

The blonde beauty is set to join the long-running show as character Ruby, acting as the new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa 's companion.

It was revealed in December that she had bagged the role, with the news being announced during Children In Need's annual telethon.

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes to coincide with the show's 60th anniversary, with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor.

The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period next year.

In a statement, the star said that the new role is a 'dream come true' as the much-anticipated secret was finally revealed, much to the delight of fans.

'Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor's companion,' Millie said in the statement released by the BBC.

'It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have travelled in before me.'

She added: 'And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa's side, I just can't wait to get started.'

Doctor Who will air on the BBC in the UK and Ireland and streaming platform Disney+ will show episodes to audiences elsewhere.

EastEnders legend AnitaDobson, 73, will also star in the series and will be playing Mrs Flood, the elderly neighbour to The Doctor's companion Ruby.

Anita recently let slip the name of her Doctor Who character and what her role will entail while speaking exclusively with MailOnline.

While attending the ICON Awards in Support of Prostate Cancer Charity in February, she gushed about playing Mrs Flood, the elderly neighbour to Millie's Ruby Sunday.

She brushed off talk of playing a lead part in the show, admitting: 'I wouldn't say starring, I think the Lord himself, Ncuti and Millie are the ones starring, I'm merely joining the ranks of.

First look: The actress, 18, who plays Ruby Sunday, will star alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff in the forthcoming run of the cult BBC sci-fi series, which turns 60 this year

New cast: Gatwa's first episode as the 15th doctor will air over the festive period, with Gibson, 18, becoming the youngest companion in the show's history

'Well Mrs Flood is the character I play and she's... Millie, the Ruby Sunday, the doctor's assistant, she's her neighbour.

'She lives in the same street so she's always got her eyes on what's going on. She's one of those.'

The star-studded cast for the upcoming series will also feature tw o-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon .

The actor, 35 - who goes by the pronouns she/they - will be portraying the new baddie in the BBC science fiction TV series.
Brian Austin Green and his girlfriend Sharna Burgess have been in Australia while she films the new season of Dancing With The Stars.

It appears Brian headed back home to the United States on Sunday, boarding a flight at Sydney Airport with their brood.

The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star and the Australian professional dancer, 37, have a son together, Zane, 11 months, who Brian, 49, held in his arms.

The actor is also raising the three children he shares with his ex-wife Megan Fox - Noah Shannon, 10, Bodhi Ransom, nine, and Journey River, six, who likewise came along for the trip Down Under.

The loved-up pair couldn't help exchange a passionate kiss as Brian and the kids headed to security.

Brian Austin Green and his girlfriend Sharna Burgess have been in Australia while she films the new season of Dancing With The Stars. Both pictured

Brian dressed casually in a camouflage print hoodie and blue jeans, along with a cap.

Sharna meanwhile opted for a loose blue jumper and matching trousers as well as a warm beige beanie.

Brian recently discussed his happily blended family and how well Sharna fit in to the dynamic.

'People were so thrilled that we were together, and the kids were the same way,' he told The Daily Telegraph last week.

It appears Brian headed back home to the United States on Sunday, boarding a flight at Sydney Airport with their brood

The loved-up pair couldn't help exchange a passionate kiss as Brian and the kids headed to security

The actor is also raising the three children he shares with his ex-wife Megan Fox - Noah Shannon, 10, Bodhi Ransom, nine, and Journey River, six, who likewise came along for the trip

'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.

Brian dressed casually in a camouflage print hoodie and blue jeans, along with a cap

Sharna meanwhile opted for a loose blue jumper and matching trousers as well as a warm beige beanie

Sharna and Brian were first linked back in October 2020, and have been very open about how they manage their blended family.

Speaking on the Not So Hollywood podcast last March, the Dancing With The Stars professional said it all 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 former Beverly Hills, 90210 star and the Australian professional dancer, 37, have a son together, Zane, 11 months, who Brian, 49, held in his arms

Brian recently discussed his happily blended family and how well Sharna fit in to the dynamic. 'People were so thrilled that we were together, and the kids were the same way,' he said

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.
Love Island bosses face scrutiny over how they pick contestants for the show after it was discovered Charlotte Sumner has romantic links to a convicted criminal on the run from the police.

The dental nurse, 30, who entered the villa as a bombshell last Sunday and was voted off on Friday, also worked as a dominatrix before she met ex Danial Jones, 25, who was jailed for brawling and is now wanted for driving offences.

Charlotte told ITV producers and her fellow islanders that she has been single since December and wanted to find a husband.

However, a source told The Mirror Charlotte was 'very much still with Danial last month' and spoke to him just before jetting off to the Majorca villa.

They said: 'Charlotte has been loved up with Danial since early 2020.

Shocking: Love Island bosses faced scrutiny over how they pick contestants for the dating show after it was discovered Charlotte Sumner has romantic links to a convicted criminal

Ex: The dental nurse's ex is Danial Jones, 25, who was jailed for brawling and is now wanted for driving offences

'Theyve had some rocky patches, like any relationship, but they were very much together last month.

'She called Danny three days before appearing on Love Island.'

Charlotte last shared an Instagram snap of her and Danial back in December standing by a Christmas tree.

Last summer the couple enjoyed a lavish getaway to Dubai together and in May, Charlotte was seen laughing on his bed with two dogs.

Since these were posted, the bombshell has changed her Instagram handle to her full name from cls.xx and has removed all traces of Danial.

Charlotte met Danial after he was released from prison.

He had been jailed in December 2019 for affray following a brawl outside a Southampton lapdancing club.

In March 2021, he failed to show up at court to face charges of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Single? Charlotte (right) told ITV producers and her fellow islanders that she has been single since December. However, a source said she was 'very much still with Danial last month'

Prior to the show: Charlotte last shared an Instagram snap of her and Danial back in December standing by a Christmas tree and last summer the couple enjoyed a getaway to Dubai together

Dorset Police issued a warrant for his arrest and last year put him on their wanted list.

Charlotte has issued a statement amidst the backlash.

She said: 'It wouldn't be for me to comment on the circumstances of my ex.

'But regarding our relationship, we split before I applied for the show. I was single when I entered the Villa and Im single now.'

Love Island contestants are DBS checked ahead of entering the villa.

MailOnline have contacted Love Island for comment.
Hollywood star Alyssa Milano is currently in Australia for the Supanova Convention & Gaming expo in Sydney.

And on Sunday, the Charmed actress, 50, flaunted her age-defying looks as she took to the stage at Showground Olympic Park to chat to fans.

The New York native rocked a stylish monochrome look in an unbuttoned grey blazer which she paired with black leather pants and white platform trainers.

Alyssa paired the outfit with a plunging black crop which showcased her ample cleavage and added a touch of glamor to her look with a stylish pearl necklace.

Her brunette hair was done up in an elegant braid while loose tresses framed her striking facial features.

Hollywood star Alyssa Milano (pictured) is currently in Australia for the Supanova Convention & Gaming expo in Sydney. And on Sunday, the Charmed actress, 50, flaunted her age-defying looks as she took the stage at Showground Olympic Park to chat to fans. Pictured

Watch the iconic series, Charmed available now only on Stan.

Alyssa opted for a full face of makeup, including a smoky eyeshadow and defined brows.

The stunner could not wipe the smile off her face as she strutted across the stage and regaled fans with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her most popular productions.

The Commando star participated in a Q&A panel and meet and greet during the eventful weekend.

The New York native rocked a stylish monochrome look in an unbuttoned grey blazer which she paired with black leather pants and white platform trainers

However, die-hard followers wanting to meet the iconic actress face-to-face had to fork out a hefty sum.

A single photo with Milano set fans back a cool $100, while those seeking her autograph will need to cough up an additional $60.

Milano is best known for her starring role as Phoebe Halliwell on the hit series Charmed.

She paired the outfit with a plunging black crop which showcased her ample cleavage and added a touch of glamor to her look with a stylish pearl necklace

Her impressive career includes roles on Melrose Place, Who's the Boss and Mistresses, as well as hosting and judging Lifetime's Project Runway All Stars.

The versatile actress has also appeared in over 20 films.

Milano recently took to social media to gush over a Charmed cast reunion, which she was notably absent from.

She captioned the post: 'This makes me happy for the OG Charmed fans. What a gift! #90sconvention.'
Hayley Atwell looked incredible in a black strapless dress as she stepped out in Rome for the premiere of her upcoming film, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.

The American actress, 41, dressed to impress in the figure hugging midi dress which she teamed with towering silver heels as she headed to the star studded red carpet.

She styled her long brunette tresses in luxurious waves as they cascaded down to her bust from a centre parting.

The leading lady, who stars opposite Tom Cruise, shielded from the sun behind a pair of chic dark sunglasses.

Hayley smiled as she departed her hotel and waved to fans before the world premiere.

Dressed to impress: Hayley Atwell looked incredible in a black strapless dress as she stepped out in Rome for the premiere of her film, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Stunning: The American actress, 41, dressed to impress in the figure hugging midi dress which she teamed with towering silver heels as she headed to the star studded red carpet

Meanwhile Vanessa Kirby, 35, showed off her figure in a racy black cut out jumpsuit.

She displayed her toned physique through a number of cut outs on her midriff and teamed the ensemble with a pair of pointed toe heels.

The blonde beauty styled her shoulder length locks straight and accessorised with a pair of dark sunglasses.

The new Mission: Impossible had a tumultuous road to the screen, with both the filming and release subjected to multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tensions mounted to the point that audio footage leaked in late 2020 of Tom shouting expletives at crew members, evidently because they had failed to properly comport with the social distancing protocols.

'No apologies,' he raged. 'You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. Its not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education.'

Rumours flew in 2021 and 2022 that Tom and Hayley were romantically involved, but Hayley recently quashed rumours the pair were romantically involved while shooting Mission Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One in the May-June issue of Country & Town House.

'I felt like if I ever was worried about it, I could talk to him [Tom],' the newly-engaged star said of the dating rumours.

Impressive: Meanwhile, Vanessa Kirby, 35, showed off her jaw dropping figure in a racy black cut out jumpsuit

Red carpet ready! She displayed her toned physique through a number of cut outs on her midriff and teamed the ensemble with a pair of pointed toe heels

Chic: The blonde beauty styled her shoulder length locks straight and accessorised with a pair of dark sunglasses

'Platonic': Hayley recently quashed rumours she and Tom Cruise were romantically involved while shooting Mission Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One (pictured)

'And I know that he would've said, "People say whatever they want to say, but you know who you are, I know who I am and I want you to feel safe in this environment."'

She went on to describe their relationship as a form of 'platonic love', which she feels is sometimes under-represented.

'And my love for Tom, my love for the process of this [Mission], and also the people who they keep very close to them and who are very present on set, has a wholesomeness to it. That for me, I just found so beautiful, so, yeah, I can freely say 'I love this group of people,' Atwell admitted.

This April, Hayley got engaged in Venice to music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly, who has described himself a 'sober, vegetarian pagan.'
She made a name for herself on Selling Sunset not just as the chief villain but also for her eye for style.

And Christine Quinn continued to wow on the fashion front as she attended an event at Mr. Chow restaurant in Beverly Hills on Saturday evening.

The Netflix alum, 34, departed the iconic eatery in a satin, bow-adorned mini dress and peep toe heels with her long blonde hair billowing in the breeze.

She worked a matte lip, smoky eyes full lashes, and a swipe of radiant blush.

Inside the restaurant, Christine looked like a model as she struck poses on the couch.

Working it! Selling Sunset alum Christine Quinn wowed as she departed Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills on Saturday evening

Sitting cross legged, Christine flashed a playful smile. One gloved hand grazed her chest while the other played with her hair.

Christine rose to fame working at the real estate agency The Oppenheim Group on Selling Sunset, but last year she left the show after quitting the group.

Recently, when asked if she will be binging the reality series, the TV personality stated that she would not be watching the show.

'I have my girls that I absolutely love, and I'm so supportive of them. But for me, I don't think I'll watch the show just because I want to know them for who they are and not what they're edited to be,' the real estate broker told E! News.

The mother-of-one continued: 'So for me, I probably won't watch it. But I did hear that my name was being dropped in the trailer.'

Despite past tensions with many of her former costars, in particular with Chrishell Stause, the Dallas native revealed she is no longer feuding with her former rival.

'I feel like Chrishell and I are actually not on bad terms,' she continued. 'We really aren't.'

Quinn pointed out when she tweeted to Stause about being 'open to reconciliation' that All My Children alum, 41, 'hearted it.'

What a dish! Inside the restaurant, Christine looked like a model as she struck poses on the couch

Style icon! The reality star rocked a single, fingerless glove and peeptoe heels

'There was like a cute little convo. So, who knows what the future holds?' she said.

In April, Quinn made headlines for sharing some candid thoughts about her time on Selling Sunset while appearing on Savannah Chrisley's podcast Unlocked.

During the interview, the Netflix star claimed that she didn't get as many listings as other cast members because she wasn't 'bangin' the boss.'

Quinn also alleged that Stause - who was dating Oppenheim Group co-founder Jason Oppenheim, 46, at the time - received 'preferential treatment' due to their relationship.

Moving forward: When asked if she will be binging the reality series, which she left last year after quitting The Oppenheim Group, the TV personality stated that she would not be watching the show

'It's wild,' the reality TV star said. 'That's why I was so s****y at real estate. Because I never f****d my boss,' she mused.

Quinn pointed out: 'Shes only sold three houses. One including her own. The difference is she got preferential treatment when it came to filming the show and having listings on the show, which was more important than real life.'

Stause and Oppenheim went public with their relationship in July 2021. However the union ended by the end of the year partly due to Chrishell's desire to start a family.

Oppenheim also previously dated cast member Mary Fitzgerald.
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Demi Moore offered a sweet tribute to her ex-husband Bruce Willis Sunday while Jennifer Lopez shared a raunchy selfie of husband Ben Affleck while they led the celebrities commemorating Father's Day on social media.

The actress Demi, 60, shared a black and white throwback of the Die Hard star, 68, with their daughters Rumer, 34, Scout, 31 and Tallulah, 29, while Bruce's current wife Emma Heming celebrated her birthday.

Bruce and all three girls were staring into the camera with their tongues sticking out.

'Forever grateful to you BW for giving me these three beautiful girls,' the Brave New World actress wrote.

Father's Day: Demi Moore offered a sweet father's day tribute to her ex-husband Bruce Willis Sunday. 'Forever grateful to you BW for giving me these three beautiful girls,' the Brave New World actress wrote. 'We love our #girldad. Happy Fathers Day!'

Bruce's wife Emma Heming Willis, 45, posted her own loving message, sharing a snap of the action star with their oldest daughter Mabel, 11. 'Fathers Day is a time I get to reflect on my deep appreciation and respect I have for Bruce as I watch him father our little ones,' she wrote

Sultry: Jennifer Lopez. 53, uploaded a raunchy shirtless photo of her husband, Ben Affleck, 50, in celebration of Father's Day on Sunday with a new Instagram photo series

'We love our #girldad. Happy Fathers Day!'

Bruce's wife Emma Heming Willis, 45, posted her own loving message, sharing a snap of the action star with their oldest daughter Mabel, 11.

The couple also share a younger daughter, Evelyn, nine.

'Fathers Day is a time I get to reflect on my deep appreciation and respect I have for Bruce as I watch him father our little ones,' the former model wrote about her husband who is suffering from frontotemporal dementia.

'Where it might not be conventional, what hes teaching them will span generations. Unconditional love, kindness, strength, compassion, patience, generosity, resilience.'

'Happy Fathers Day to the greatest dad I know, who will forever be the gift that keeps giving within our family.'

Meanwhile Jennifer Lopez uploaded a raunchy shirtless photo of her husband, Ben Affleck, in celebration of Father's Day on Sunday in a new Instagram photo series.

The Hustlers actress, 53, who recently shared a sweet kiss with the Oscar winner, 50, while attending the star-studded Flash premiere, shared a snap of the actor showing off his ripped abs in a mirror selfie.

Special tribute: The Grammy-nominated singer lastly shared two selfies as her husband rested his head on her shoulder, causing the actress to flash a happy smile towards the camera

'Daddy Appreciation': In the caption of the post, the songstress penned, 'Daddy Appreciation Post  Happy Fathers Day Papa...'

Throwback time! The video then continued as a montage of sweet moments that they have shared thus far, including a throwback clip of them when they had dated in the early 2000s

Shout out! Affleck's ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, also took to her Instagram on Sunday and gave a special shout out to the Good Will Hunting star

Madonna shared an old photo of her father Silvio, 92, from his younger days writing, 'Thanks for your unrelenting work ethic and Love and for refusing to spoil me in any wAy. You taught me how to be a Survivor!  Forever Grateful. But also really tired xxxxxxxx'

Celebration: Rihanna, 35, wasted no time to leave a sweet comment on her baby daddy, A$AP Rocky's, 34, latest Father's Day post shared on Instagram on Sunday

Sweet comment: The soon-to-be mother of two quickly jumped to the comment section and penned in response, 'The Mayers boys stole my whole heart! Happy Fathers Day nerd'

In the caption of the post, the songstress penned, 'Daddy Appreciation Post  Happy Fathers Day Papa. And Happy Fathers Day to all the amazing Papas out there!! We love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know.'

Upon tying the knot last year in July 2022, he became stepfather to her twins Max and Emme, 15, whom she welcomed with ex-husband, Marc Anthony.

Ben is also father to daughters Violet, 17, and Seraphina, 14, as well as son, Samuel, 11, whom he shares with ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

Jennifer also uploaded a short reel that showed Ben sitting on a chair inside what appeared to be an office. He quickly sat back and looked over his shoulder to flash a cheerful smile towards the camera.

The video then continued as a montage of sweet moments that they have shared thus far, including a throwback clip of them when they had dated in the early 2000s.

Affleck could be seen sporting a white tank top and shades as he gently kissed Lopez, who donned an all-white ensemble and carried an adorable puppy in her arms.

The two stars had initially started dating in 2002 and became engaged later that same year in November, but split later in 2004.

The pair notably were romantically linked years later in April 2021, and officially tied the knot the following summer in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a larger ceremony in August at Affleck's Georgia estate.

Family offering: John Travolta, 69, joined uo with daughter Ella, 23, and son Ben, 12, in wishing a happy Father's Day 'to all the dedicated fathers'

Father-daughter: Lily Collins, 34, shared photos her a dad Phil Collins', 72, eating styles writing, 'Like father, like daughter. Happy Fathers Day dad! No one uses chopsticks or eats a burger quite like you. I can only hope to one day look as cool and chic. Thank you for all the years of laughs, lessons, and love. In life and in food. I love you so so so much'

Salma Hayak, 56, shared a flashback photo of her father, Sami Hayek Dominguez, with her daughter, Valentina Pinault, 15, enjoying a day in the sun. 'Papa, gracias por la vida  #felizdiadelpadre, Dad, thank you for life #happyfathersday in Spanish and English

Kate Hudson, 44, share a photo of her stepfather, Kurt Russell, 72, surrounded by several grandchildren and her brother Oliver, 46, from what appeared to be a birthday celebration. 'Oh how we love you Pa! The happiest Fathers Day to one amazing man! I love you!'

Madonna, 64, shared an old photo of her father Silvio, 92, from his younger days writing, 'Thanks for your unrelenting work ethic and Love and for refusing to spoil me in any wAy. You taught me how to be a Survivor!  Forever Grateful. But also really tired xxxxxxxx'

She also wished a 'Happy Father's Day to All the Dads out there!!! Shes, Hes, Thems and Theys !! '

Rihanna wasted no time to leave a sweet comment on her baby daddy, A$AP Rocky's, latest Father's Day post shared on Instagram on Sunday.

The Umbrella hitmaker, 35, who enjoyed a casual outing in LA with the Good For You rapper, 34, shares one-year-old son, RZA, with Rocky, and announced they were expecting baby number two in February during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The record producer uploaded both adorable photos and short clips of his girlfriend and their baby boy, and captioned the post with, 'EVERYDAY FATHERS DAY .'

The soon-to-be mother of two quickly jumped to the comment section and penned in response, 'The Mayers boys stole my whole heart! Happy Fathers Day nerd,' referencing to his full name: Rakim Athelaston Mayers.

One of the images he shared showed the rapper holding their son in his arms while leaning forward to share a gentle kiss on Rihanna's growing baby bump.

John Travolta snuggled up with his two children in wishing all the dads a happy Father's Day.

'A teacher, leader, a husband and dad ,' Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, 40, wrote. 'A guiding light, you're our launching pad. Daddy, Daddy, we love you. Wishing my dad @anyangnyongo a wonderful #FathersDay with deep gratitude for your example and love!'

Kyle Richards, 54, wrote a loving acknowledgement of her husband, Mauricio Umansky, 52, sharing photos of him with their daughters Farrah, 34, Alexia, 26, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 14. 'Happy Father's Day @mumansky18, so grateful that our girls have such an incredible Dad'

'Happy Fathers Day to all the dedicated fathers,' the Saturday Night Fever star shared on Instagram on Sunday.

The actor, 69, can be seen in the photo sitting on a couch at home with his beloved daughter Ella, 23, sitting to his right and son Ben, 12, to his right.

Their pet pooch, Peanut, who was once once known to the world as Mac N Cheese, also got in on the family moment by sitting on the Pulp Fiction star's lap.

Both of his kids are from Travolta marriage to his late wife and actress Kelly Preston, who died in July 2020 at the age of 57 following a breast cancer diagnosis two years earlier.

Lily Collins, 34, paid tribute to her father, rocker Phil Collins, 72, not for his musical accomplishment, but for their shared love of food.

Sarah Michelle Geller, 46, shared a photo of husband, Freddie Prinze, Jr holding one of their children. 'To the incredible father of our two kids... we love to celebrate you every day, but we will give you this day too!!! Thanks for simply being you'

Emily Ratjakowski, 32, shared some sweet snaps of her dad, John David "J.D." Ratajkowski with her as a child and with her two-year-old son, Sylvester

The Emily in Paris star shared some compare and contrast photos of their eating styles writing, 'Like father, like daughter.'

'Happy Fathers Day dad! No one uses chopsticks or eats a burger quite like you. I can only hope to one day look as cool and chic. Thank you for all the years of laughs, lessons, and love. In life and in food. I love you so so so much'

Salma Hayak, 56, shared a flashback photo of her father, Sami Hayek Dominguez, with her daughter, Valentina Pinault, 15, enjoying a day in the sun.

'Papa, gracias por la vida  #felizdiadelpadre, Dad, thank you for life #happyfathersday in Spanish and English.

Jeremy Renner, 52, celebrating being a father, posting a photo with his daughter Ava, 10, 'Another day to celebrate next to my number one.'Honoring the importance bestowed on to me as a father, teacher, student, protector, and conspirator. Thank you for this day, this shared journey, and this perfect hug. '

Jeremy also thanked his own father, Lee Renner. 'These are some of things learned, passed down to me by my father.. Happy Fathers Day Pop !!'

Sunday was a double celebration for country music star Blake Shelton, 47. His wife, singer Gwen Stefani, 53, shared photos and video from their life together writing, 'happy bday and fathers day, <3 i love u more than anything gx.'

Blake is a doting stepfather to the Hollaback Girl singer's three sons, Kingston, 17, Zuma, 14, and Apollo, nine, whom she shares with singer Gavin Rossdale, 57

Kate Hudson, 44, share a photo of her stepfather, Kurt Russell, 72, surrounded by several grandchildren and her brother Oliver, 46, from what appeared to be a birthday celebration.

'Oh how we love you Pa! The happiest Fathers Day to one amazing man! I love you!'

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor has been in Kate's life since around 1983, when he began dating her mother, Goldie Hawn, 77.

Kate and Oliver are estranged from their birth father, Bill Hudson, 73.

Katherine Schwarzenegger posted a fun photo of her husband, Chris Pratt, 43, and her dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 73, as they both enjoyed cigars. 'Happy fathers to day to these guys! We love you a big one!' she penned

Supermodel Naomi Campbell shared a photo from her childhood to honor her single mother Valerie Morris. Naomi has never met her birth father

Newlywed Naomi Watts, 54, paid a simple tribute to her late father, Peter, who died when she was seven

'A teacher, leader, a husband and dad ,' is the way Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, 40, began her homage to her father Anyang.

'A guiding light, you're our launching pad,' she continued.

Daddy, Daddy, we love you,' the Black Panther star wrote, finishing with, 'Wishing my dad @anyangnyongo a wonderful #FathersDay with deep gratitude for your example and love!'

Kyle Richards, 54, wrote a loving acknowledgement of her husband, Mauricio Umansky, 52, sharing various photos of him with their daughters Farrah,34, Alexia, 26, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 14.

Eva Mendes, 49, shared a black and white photo from her youth with her father Cuban-American father Juan Carlos. 'te quiero Papi' (I love you dad) she wrote

New mom Keke Palmer celebrated her partner Darius Jackson on his first Father's Day calling him 'the best dad ever!' Keke gave birth to son Leodis February 25

Kaley Cuoco, 37, wrote a loving tribute to her partner Tom Pelphrey, 40. 'Happy (first) Fathers Day to Tildys favorite person! @tommypelphrey watching you become a dad has been the joy of my life!' she penned. The Flight Attendant star also shared an adorable photo of daughter Matilda, two months, being held by her dad, Gary, saying, 'And to my dad ! The greatest pops and gramps on earth! Matilda is one lucky widdle chunk!'

Halle Berry, 56, honored her boyfriend, musician and singer Van Hunt, 53, for his presence in her life and the lives of her two kids, Nahla, 15, and Maceo-Robert, nine. The Eyes Like Pearls artist is father to a son, Drake, from a previous relationship

Priyanka Chopra, 40, sent a message to her daughter, Malti, 17 months about her father Nick Jonas, 30. He is your biggest champion.. Hell be the loudest in the room when you win. His wisdom will be the shoulders you stand on. Your tears will break his heart. He will never show you hes hurting. His joy is your joy. He is dada or dad or papa or whatever you call them.'

'Happy Father's Day @mumansky18, so grateful that our girls have such an incredible Dad. Leading them with love and instilling in them to be adventurous and live life to the fullest  Always there for them and not knowing how to say "no". They would definitely agree you get the best Dad award.'

Sarah Michelle Geller, 46, shared a sweet vintage photo of her husband, Freddie Prinze, Jr holding one of their newborn children honoring her husband of 20 year.

They are parents to Charlotte, 13, and Rocky, 10.

'To the incredible father of our two kids @realfreddieprinze - we love to celebrate you every day, but we will give you this day too!!! Thanks for simply being you.'

Emily Ratjakowski, 32, shared some sweet snaps of her dad, John David "J.D." Ratajkowski with her as a child and with her two-year-old son, Sylvester.

She also shared a cute video of grandfather and grandson bonding together.

Kelly Rowland, 42, posted a delightful family photo with her husband, Tim Witherspoon, 49 and their two children. 'I cant believe how lucky I am this life to call you mine, my baby daddy, the love of my life! Your heart, your soul, you are a thoughtful, intentional, patient, Father! TITAN, NOAH & I are so blessed to call you ours! HAPPY FATHERS day my !!!!!!'

Kendall Jenner, honored her parent Caitlyn Jenner, 73, with a photo from her infancy riding on Caitlyn's shoulders. This was during before the Olympian's transition, when she was known as Bruce

Jeremy Renner, 52, celebrating being a father, posting a photo with his daughter Ava, 10, as they sat on a dock looking out at a lake near his home.

'Another day to celebrate next to my number one,' the Avengers star wrote.

'Honoring the importance bestowed on to me as a father, teacher, student, protector, and conspirator. Thank you for this day, this shared journey, and this perfect hug. '

He then thanked his own father, Lee Renner. 'These are some of things learned, passed down to me by my father.. Happy Fathers Day Pop !!'

Kourtney Kardashian, 44, who is expecting her first child with husband Travis Barker, 47, posted a picture with members their blended family - Landon, 19, Alabama, 17, Atiana De La Hoya and Penelope Disick, 10, writing, 'Happy Father's Day @travisbarker! Thank you for taking such good care of us.'

Travis shared this tribute to his father and children

Heather Rae El Moussa,35, shared a photo her the blended family she shares with husband Tarek, 41 that includes their new baby, Tristan, five months, along with Tarek's kids Taylor, 12, and Brayden, seven. 'Seeing you with our baby boy Tristan and watching you be a dad of 3 amazing kids makes my heart so happy.' she told him

Christina Hall, 39, share a photo of her blended family with husband Josh and her parents and kids Taylor and Brayden El Moussa. Christina shares her youngest son, Hudson, three with former husband Ant Anstead

Katherine Schwarzenegger posted a fun photo of her husband, Chris Pratt, 43, and her dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 73, as they both enjoyed cigars.

'Happy fathers to day to these guys! We love you a big one!' she penned.

Sunday was a double celebration for country music star Blake Shelton, 47.

His wife, singer Gwen Stefani, 53, shared photos and video from their life together writing, 'happy bday and fathers day, <3 i love u more than anything gx.'

Blake is a doting stepfather to the Hollaback Girl singer's three sons, Kingston, 17, Zuma, 14, and Apollo, nine, whom she shares with singer Gavin Rossdale, 57.

Gwen also shared an old photo of herself and sister, Jill with their dad, Dennis, writing, 'Happy Fathers Day dad I love u!! Gx.'

Gal Gadot, 38, shared a fun family photo with husband, Jaron Versano and two of their girls. 'Im lucky to have @jaronvarsano as the aba to my daughters. I couldnt ask for a better role model, fun and funny dad for them. We love you baby, youre our rock. Our compass and our heart '

Brooke Shields, 58, shared a touching message to those who have lost their fathers sharing a photo from her teens with her late dad, Francis Alexander Shields. 'Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing dads out there Im missing mine always but it hits harder on this day. Sending all of my love to anyone who needs it today - know this can be a tricky one '

Model Meadow Walker, 24, shared a photo with her late father, actor Paul Walker, with a somber but sweet message reading 'Happy Father's Day my angel.' Paul Walker died in a car crash in 2013 when Meadow was only 15

Naomi Campbell, 53, paid homage to her mother, Valerie Morris, explaining, 'For all you INCREDIBLE AMAZING WOMAN, who have single-handedly raised us up in the world , this is your DAY TOO , WE SALUTE YOU !! I LOVE YOU MUM @valeriemorriscampbell #happyfathersday '

Newlywed Naomi Watts, 54, paid a simple tribute to her late father, Peter, who died when she was seven.

'Happy Father's Day to all the dad's here's a pic of mine. Miss you dad  #peterwatts.'

Ryan Reynolds remembered his late father, Jim, in a simple post, writing 'Happy Father's Day, Jimbo' sharing an old photo of his dad, himself and brother Jeff from their childhood.

Eva Mendes, 49, shared a black and white photo from her youth with her Cuban-American father Juan Carlos. 'te quiero Papi' (I love you dad) she wrote.

Vanessa Bryant shared a sweet remembrance of her late husband, basketball great Kobe Bryant, with a family photo of him with their daughters, Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, and Capri, three, along with her late daughter Gianna. 'Happy Fathers Day to the very best girl daddy, @kobebryant ' she said

Demi Lovato, 30, also remembered her late father, Patrick, writing on social media, 'Happy Father's Day to my guardian angel. I feel you with me every day.. I love and miss you dad'

New mom Keke Palmer celebrated her partner Darius Jackson on his first Father's Day calling him 'the best dad ever!' Keke gave birth to son Leodis February 25.

'Happy Fathers Day to the best dad ever!(dont tell my dad I said that.)'

'Congrats Mr. Man, Leodis and I are so very happy to have such a fun, kind, responsible, dependable and supportive man like you in our lives. Its so wonderful to see the kind of loving father you are, but Im not surprised.'

'You wanted to be a dad maybe more than I wanted to be a mother and thats saying a lot, because Ive ALWAYS wanted to be a mother. I love this for us, but I really love it for Leo! God bless you darling, thank you for being in our lives. WE LOVE YOU!'

Hilary Duff, 35, wore a sweatshirt that read 'Protect Trans Kids' as she posed on a photo with husband Matthew Koma, 36, writing, 'Happy Father's Day to my babe'

Lori Harvey, 26, called her dad, Steve Harvey, 66 'The best of the best' on Father's Day

Kaley Cuoco, 37, wrote a loving tribute to her partner Tom Pelphrey, 40.

'Happy (first) Fathers Day to Tildys favorite person! @tommypelphrey watching you become a dad has been the joy of my life!' she penned.

The Flight Attendant star also shared an adorable photo of daughter Matilda, two months, being held by her dad, Gary, saying, 'And to my dad ! The greatest pops and gramps on earth! Matilda is one lucky widdle chunk!'

Halle Berry, 56, shared several flashback photos as she honored her boyfriend, musician and singer Van Hunt, 53 for his presence in her life and the lives of her two kids, Nahla, 15, and Maceo-Robert, nine.

'The smiles on their faces tell their story! Their magic is palpable, it's playful and strong and full of joy! Van is not anchor nor sail, but hes a guiding light whose love gently guides the wayfor All of us!'

'Happy Fathers day to all the dads in my life and all of yours! '

Cindy Crawford, 57, shared a throwback photo labeled 'Daddy and the kids' with a shirtless Rande Gerber, 61, as he cuddled with their then young kids Presley, 23, and Kaia, 21. 'Happy Father's Day' she wrote at the top of the Instagram Story

Ashley Graham, 35, shared a snap of her husband, Justin Ervin at the bottom of a kid pile, being hugged by twins Malachi and Roman, 18 months and son Isaac, three. 'Happy Fathers Day to the best father in the world. Thank you for our boys and being the best dad, father and leader for them! I love you,' she said

The Eyes Like Pearls artist is father to a son, Drake, from a previous relationship.

Cardi B, 30, sang the praises of her husband, Offset, 31 with a sweet snap that included most of the rapper's children.

'As you take your nap I make my videos lolHappy Fathers Day my love. You are a king of a dad and your kids feel your love ,guidance and security.'

Cardi shares daughter Kulture, four and son Wave, one with the Clout artist. He is also father to sons Jordan, 13, and Kody, seven, and daughter Kalea, eight, from previous relationships.

Priyanka Chopra, 40, sent out a multi-generational greeting, beginning with a message to her daughter, Malti, 17 months.

Instead of sharing a photo of her husband, Chris Fischer, Amy Schumer, 42, shared a picture of fellow comedian Chris Rock, 58, holding her son, Gene, four

She first honored her husband, Nick Jonas, 30, sharing a photo of him and writing, 'He is your biggest champion.. Hell be the loudest in the room when you win. His wisdom will be the shoulders you stand on. Your tears will break his heart. He will never show you hes hurting. His joy is your joy. He is dada or dad or papa or whatever you call them.'

'I love you @nickjonas thank you for being ours. MM and I are so lucky.'

The Citadel star then honored her father-in-law, Paul Jonas, telling him 'Love you, you were so special today and everyday.'

She also share a photo of her mother, Madhu, and late father, Ashok, writing a simple, but heartfelt 'Miss you papa.'

Kelly Rowland, 42, posted a delightful family photo with her husband, Tim Witherspoon, 49 and their two children.

'I cant believe how lucky I am this life to call you mine, my baby daddy, the love of my life! Your heart, your soul, you are a thoughtful, intentional, patient, Father! TITAN, NOAH & I are so blessed to call you ours! Thank you for all that you are! But most of all, our blessing! HAPPY FATHERS day my !!!!!!'

Hollywood royalty Alec Baldwin received a tribute as Kate Hudson praised her longtime partner Danny Fujikawa

Kendall Jenner, 27, honored her parent Caitlyn Jenner, 73, with a photo from her infancy riding on Caitlyn's shoulders. This was during before the Olympian's transition, when she was known as Bruce.

Kendall's sister, Kourtney Kardashian, 44, who is expecting her first child with husband Travis Barker, 47, posted a picture with members their blended family - Landon, 19, Alabama, 17, Atiana De La Hoya and Penelope Disick, 10, writing, 'Happy Father's Day @travisbarker! Thank you for taking such good care of us.'

Heather Rae El Moussa, 35, shared a photo her the blended family she shares with husband Tarek, 41 that includes their new baby, Tristan, five months, along with Tarek's kids Taylor, 12, and Brayden, seven. He shares them with ex-wife Christina Hall. 'Seeing you with our baby boy Tristan and watching you be a dad of 3 amazing kids makes my heart so happy.' she told him.

'I fall in love with you over and over again seeing you be the best daddy ever and we couldnt be luckier to have you. And I love raising the kids with you. '

Gal Gadot, 38, shared a fun family photo with husband, Jaron Versano and two of their girls. 'Im lucky to have @jaronvarsano as the aba to my daughters. I couldnt ask for a better role model, fun and funny dad for them. We love you baby, youre our rock. Our compass and our heart '

The couple are parents to Alma, 11, Maya, five, and 17-month-old Daniella.

Olivia Munn and John Mulaney posed with their only child while Diddy enjoyed a family affair

Brooke Shields, 58, shared a touching message to those who have lost their fathers sharing a photo from her teens with her late dad, Francis Alexander Shields, who died in 2003.

'Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing dads out there Im missing mine always but it hits harder on this day. Sending all of my love to anyone who needs it today - know this can be a tricky one '

Model Meadow Walker, 24, shared a photo with her late father, actor Paul Walker, with a somber but sweet message reading 'Happy Father's Day my angel.' The Fast and The Furious star died in a car crash in 2013 when Meadow was only 15.

Vanessa Bryant shared a sweet remembrance of her late husband, basketball great Kobe Bryant, with a family photo of him with their daughters, Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, and Capri, three, along with her late daughter Gianna.

'Happy Fathers Day to the very best girl daddy, @kobebryant ' she said.

Demi Lovato, 30, also remembered her late father, Patrick, writing on social media, 'Happy Father's Day to my guardian angel. I feel you with me every day.. I love and miss you dad.'

Stars from Paris Hilton to Whitney Port honored the fathers in their lives

Hilary Duff, 35, wore a sweatshirt that read 'Protect Trans Kids' as she posed on a photo with husband Matthew Koma, 36, writing, 'Happy Father's Day to my babe.'

She and the musician share daughters Banks, four, and Mae, two. Matthew also helps co-parent the How I Met Your Father star's son, Luca, 11, from her marriage to Mike Comrie.

Lori Harvey, 26, called her dad, Steve Harvey, 66 'The best of the best' on Father's Day. Father and daughter looked comfortable in coordinated blue outfits as they posed for a photo in her dad's palatial mansion.

Cindy Crawford, 57, shared a throwback photo labeled 'Daddy and the kids' with a shirtless Rande Gerber, 61, as he cuddled with their then young kids Presley, 23, and Kaia, 21. 'Happy Father's Day' she wrote at the top of the Instagram Story.

Ashley Graham, 35, shared a snap of her husband, Justin Ervin at the bottom of a kid pile, being hugged by twins Malachi and Roman, 18 months and son Isaac, three. 'Happy Fathers Day to the best father in the world. Thank you for our boys and being the best dad, father and leader for them! I love you,' she said.

Instead of sharing a photo of her husband, Chris Fischer, Amy Schumer, 42, shared a picture of fellow comedian Chris Rock, 58, holding her son, Gene, four.

'Happy Father's Day,' she wrote. The day before the holiday, the I Feel Pretty star has posted warning, 'Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Father's Day has been cancelled. Please alert my husband and father.'
The house that Pete Davidson crashed into back in March has been torn down.

In new images, the two-story Beverly Hills home has been reduced to a pile of dirt. The home was formerly located just off Rodeo Drive, in The Flats part of the neighborhood.

Davidson was driving at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car on Saturday March 4 around 11pm. At the time of the crash, the damage to the house appeared minimal.

The Saturday Night Live alum, 29, was driving a Mercedes with his girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders in the passenger seat when he lost control of the car and hit a fire hydrant before it crashed into the side of the house.

The Bupkis actor was charged with reckless driving on Friday.

Demolished: The house that Pete Davidson crashed into back in March has been torn down

Davidson faces a single misdemeanor count for allegedly crashing his vehicle into a home in Beverly Hills, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.

'We believe that Mr. Davidson engaged in reckless driving, which ultimately resulted in his involvement in a serious collision into a home,' a statement from the D.A.'s office read.

'Luckily, no one was seriously injured as a result of this collision.'

The King of Staten Island actor will be arraigned on July 27.

If convicted, Davidson faces a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.

At the time police confirmed that no drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

Earlier in the evening, Davidson was a presenter at the Kids' Choice Awards.

Davidson and Sui Wonders flew in from a Hawaiian getaway earlier the same day.

No injuries: The two story Beverly Hills home has been reduced to a pile of dirt was formerly located just off Rodeo Drive in The Flats part of the neighborhood

Pile of dirt: Davidson was driving at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car on Saturday March 4 around 11pm. At the time of the crash, the damage to the house appeared minimal

Ariel view: The Saturday Night Live alum, 29, was driving a Mercedes with his girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders in the passenger seat when he lost control of the car and hit a fire hydrant before it crashed into the side of the house

Accident scene: Davidson hit a fire hydrant and then a curb on his way to driving into the house

Davidson and Sui Wonders met when they worked as love interests on the horror/comedy film Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2021.

He is currently appearing on the Peacock series Bupkis, playing a fictionalized version of himself.

He was set to promote the show by returning to Saturday Night Live to host an episode.

The episode was canceled due to the Writer's Guild strike.
David Tennant and Michael Sheen are shelving their comedy Staged after it's current third season ends.

The BBC1 show, which sees the actors playing exaggerated versions of themsleves alongside their real life partners, was created during lockdown and follows the two men as they speak via Zoom.

But now with the pandemic behind us Doctor Who star David, 52, said the concept 'no longer reflects the real world'.

He told The Sun: 'We've had a wonderful time filming the series but have no plans to do more'.

'It was a show borne out of a particular period of time  lockdown  when we were all in our houses communicating via Zoom, as our characters did in the show.

Ending: David Tennant and Michael Sheen are shelving their comedy Staged after it's current third season ends

Bye: The BBC1 show, which sees the actors playing exaggerated versions of themsleves alongside their real life partners, was created during lockdown and follows the two men as they speak via Zoom (L-R) Michael Sheen, Anna Lundberg, David Tennant, Georgia Tennant

Going on to say: 'We couldn't get out, now, as the characters demonstrate in some of the scenes in the new series, we can.'

The show, which premiered in 2020, has been applauded by fans and critics and has featured a whole host of guests stars including Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

It comes David Tennant has admitted that his return to Doctor Who is his 'last shot' before he's too old to play the iconic role.

Describing the stint as a 'victory lap' the actor will once again jump into the Tardis for string of specials to celebrate the series' 60th anniversary this autumn.

David, who originally played the part of the Time Lord from 2005-2010 and returned for a 2015 special, will be reunited with Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble for the episodes alongside show-runner Russell T Davies.

He told the Radio Times: 'The specifics of coming back to Doctor Who took a bit of wrangling. But we were always receptive to the notion'.

'Initially, it was a casual conversation going 'Wouldn't it be fun to do a one-off?' then Russell was back running the show and suddenly it could be something bigger'.

Before adding: 'But there's really no pressure.'

No more: But now with the pandemic behind us Doctor Who star David, 52, said the concept 'no longer reflects the real world'

Fans: The show, which premiered in 2020, has been applauded by fans and critics and featured a whole host of guests stars including Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett

'It's a victory lap, in a way  you get to enjoy something that had meant so much to you, one last shot before you get too old to do it again.'

David's appearance comes before the reigns and the role will be handed to Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, 30 for the show's 14th season.

He will be joined Bonnie Langford who is returning to the show over three decades after she originally boarded the TARDIS.

The actress, 58, is reprising her role as Melanie Bush for the new series alongside incoming Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, with her return set to hit screens in 2024.

Bonnie made her debut on Who back in 1986 as Melanie alongside the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, and went onto be the companion for the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

It also comes after the West End star briefly reprised her role in the BBC's Centenery Special The Power Of The Doctor, last year.

Ncuti will make his debut as the new Doctor in a Christmas Special later this year, after David Tennant reprises the role for a trio of specials to mark the show's 60th Anniversary in November.

Back again! It comes David Tennant has admitted that his return to Doctor Who is his 'last shot' before he's too old to play the iconic role

Special: Describing the stint as a 'victory lap' the actor will once again jump into the Tardis for string of specials to celebrate the series' 60th anniversary this autumn (David pictured on the show)

Of her return, Bonnie said: 'I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back.

'To be part of the exceptional cast, crew and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T Davies is a career highlight.

'I'm so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.'

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said: 'Open those TARDIS doors wide, because Bonnie's back! What an honour, delight and hoot to welcome back the character of Melanie, after too long away.

'And this isn't just a cameo, Bonnie is right in the thick of the action, battling monsters and chaos and cliffhangers, right at the Doctor's side, just like the old days.'

Making her West End debut at just seven years old in Gone with the Wind at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Bonnie has since gone on to lead an outstanding career.

She's had countless performances on both Broadway and West End, such as Chicago, 9 to 5 and Cats, to her award-winning role as Carmel Kazemi on EastEnders.

Joining Ncuti's Doctor in the TARDIS will be his companion Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street star Millie Gibson.

The new series marks a brand new era for the show under returning showrunner Russell T Davies, after the departure of Chris Chibnall, and the last Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, last year.

Back to the TARDIS! David's appearance comes before the reigns and the role will be handed to Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, 30 for the show's 14th season (pictured)

Blast from the past! He will be joined Bonnie Langford who is returning to the show over three decades after she originally boarded the TARDIS

Bonnie's last appearance in Who aired back in 1987 when she bid farewell to the Doctor to travel the universe with the rogue Glitz.

It was previously announced that the likes of Jinkx Monsoon and Jonathan Groff will be joining the cast for Ncuti's upcoming series of Doctor Who.

The Broadway star, 38, who is known for the crime series Mindhunter, was previously announced to be joining the science fiction series.

The BBC said he will play a 'mysterious and exciting' guest part where he will be 'jumping aboard the Tardis'.
Jeremy Renner thanked his daughter in a sweet Father's Day post Sunday.

The Avengers star, 52, who continues to recover from his New Year's Day accident, shared two photos of himself and 10-year-old Ava as they sat on a dock looking out at a lake near his home.

'Another day to celebrate next to my number one,' the Hawkeye star wrote.

'Honoring the importance bestowed on to me as a father, teacher, student, protector, and conspirator.'

'Thank you for this day, this shared journey, and this perfect hug. .' He shares Ava with his ex-wife, actress Sonni Pacheco.

Perfect hug: Jeremy Renner honored his daughter, Ava, 10, in a sweet Father's Day post Sunday, writing, 'Thank you for this day, this shared journey, and this perfect hug'

The Hurt Locker star also honored his father, Lee. 'These are some of things learned, passed down to me by my father.. Happy Fathers Day Pop !!'

The What If? voice actor has made a near miraculous recovering since nearly losing his life when a snowcat rolled over him on January 1.

The weight of the massive machine resulted in 30 broken bones throughout the actor's body. He also sustained a collapsed lung and pierced liver.

The innovative star had regained enough strength to attend the premiere of his Disney+ makeover show Rennervations in April, walking the red carpet with the help of a cane.

'Its a lot of things for me personally,' Renner told CNN at the event.

'I feel like everyone is in on the joke now about what Ive been doing with my time. It feels weird, wonderful, weird,' he admitted.

'I never thought Id have dreams as a 52-year-old man still. I feel like I kind of did them. But wow, its nice to have things come true for yourself. Theres more wonderment still to be had, and I feel very grateful to be here to continue finding that wonderment.'

Since then, The Town star has shared updates of his progress along with photos and videos of his grueling physical therapy and exercise workouts that help him regain his strength.

Honor: 'Another day to celebrate next to my number one,' the Hawkeye star wrote about his relationship with Ava. 'Honoring the importance bestowed on to me as a father, teacher, student, protector, and conspirator'

Accident: Jeremy, 52, nearly lost his life on New Year's Day when he was run over by a massive snowplow, resulting in 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and pierced liver

Recovery: The Town star has shared updates of his progress along with photos and videos of his grueling physical therapy and exercise workouts that help him regain his strength

The action hero seems to have inspired his Avengers co-star Robert Downey, Jr to follow in his renovating footsteps.

Jeremy's Rennervations focuses on turning decommissioned vehicles into creations that benefit a community in need.

The Iron Man, 58, star is looking at overhauling smaller vehicles for his new show, Downey's Dream Cars.

The docuseries on Max will follow Robert as he converts six classic cars from his own personal collection into more eco-friendly machines.

'I think its so wild that he and I have both had these kind of departures from our day job together. We will have to compare notes,' he told The Hollywood Reporter at the show's premiere Friday.

Rennervations: Jeremy was able to attend the premiere of his Disney+ show Rennervations in Los Angeles in April, walking the red carpet with help from a cane

Dreams: 'I never thought Id have dreams as a 52-year-old man still. I feel like I kind of did them. But wow, its nice to have things come true for yourself,' he told CNN

Advocate: Jeremy has recently turned his attention to advocating for tax credits that would help bring more film production to Northern Nevada, where he lives part-time

One of the four Rennervations episodes was shot in Reno, Nevada.

Jeremy lives in the area part-time and he wants to bring more filmmaking opportunities to the area.

A bill in the state legislature would offer tax credits to bring film production to southern Nevada, but the activist and actor is lobbying to have the bill amended to include northern Nevada as well.

The Mayor of Kingstown star recently met with the president of the University of Nevada, Reno, who is on board with the idea that is expected to bring millions of dollars to the local economy.

The program would be run by the university through the future Jeremy Renner School of Film, according to 2News.
Amy Dowden is determined to return to Strictly Come Dancing this year, despite her recent breast cancer diagnosis.

Professional ballroom dancer Amy, 32, confirmed the diagnosis in May after discovering a lump while preparing for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in April.

Amy, who recently underwent a single mastectomy, is waiting for results to learn whether she will require radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

She told The Mirror: 'If I only have radiotherapy I'll be back on Strictly this season. Once radiotherapy is done there'll be nothing to stop me, there's no pressure but Strictly is leaving the door open. It's having something to work towards'.

'I'm visualising myself on that Strictly dance floor. Just being back in the ballroom with the live audience, the adrenalin and the atmosphere. And the support from the whole Strictly family'.

Determined: Amy Dowden is determined to return to Strictly Come Dancing this year, despite her recent breast cancer diagnosis

Dancing queen: Professional ballroom dancer Amy, 32, confirmed the diagnosis in May after discovering a lump while preparing for her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones in April (pictured at the show's live tour in January)

She then went on to explain how routines could be altered to accommodate her, much like her 2020 parter JJ Chalmers.

The TV presenter and former royal marine injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, and Amy revealed: 'I used to choreograph with one arm in my pocket for him. Hes been a great support, he says, "Cancer has messed with the wrong person".

Amy has become a fan favourite since her first appearance on the show in 2017 and has teamed up with stars including Brian Conely, Tom Fletcher and Karim Zeroual.

Elsewhere in the interview Amy opened up about how she was left in tears and worrying the disease was 'spreading inside' ahead of her mastectomy.

Surgeons removed two tumours from her right breast as well as cancer 'specs' and lymph nodes, which have since been sent for analysis.

Amy went on to tell the publication she hadn't yet looked at her reconstructed breast out of fear of 'upsetting' herself.

According to the NHS a mastectomy is an operation to remove a breast. It's used to treat breast cancer in women and breast cancer in men. The operation usually involves removing most of the breast tissue and skin, and the nipple.

It comes after Amy credited her Strictly Come Dancing colleagues for their incredible support after informing them of her breast cancer diagnosis during a group meeting.

Waiting game: Amy, who recently underwent a single mastectomy, is waiting for results to learn wether she will require radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy

Stunner: She said: 'If I only have radiotherapy I'll be back on Strictly this season. Once radiotherapy is done there'll be nothing to stop me, there's no pressure but Strictly is leaving the door open. It's having something to work towards'

Help: She then went on to explain how routines could be altered to accommodate her, much like her 2020 parter and former Marine JJ Chalmers who was injured in a bomb blast

Husband Ben, who exchanged vows with the dancer in South Wales last July, also credited family members for helping them maintain a positive outlook.

He told HELLO : 'Amy has had a lot to deal with in her life and, as I expected, has shown great resilience in the past couple of weeks.

'We are both surrounded by lots of family and friends who are going to be an important support to us in the coming months. We are both staying very positive and remain optimistic moving forward.'

The Strictly Come Dancing professional shared her diagnosis on Instagram in May and discussed the possibility of returning to the BBC show for its new series later this year.

She wrote: 'Hey all, I've got some news which isn't easy to share. I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer but I'm determined to get back on that dance floor before you know it. Welsh love Amy.'

The dancer has battled gut condition Crohn's disease since she was a child and said she has already been through 'quite a lot' in her life with health struggles.

She told HELLO at the time: 'You just don't ever think it's going to happen to you. I hadn't thought it was possible to get breast cancer at my age. My mum has had breast cancer, but she had it at a later age, in her 50s.'

Happy:Amy pictured with husband Ben who she has thanked for his unwavering support

Tight knit community: Amy has credited her Strictly friends for their support (L-R Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova and Amy Dowden in 2017)

Amy said it was taking part in the CoppaTrek! walk last June in support of breast health awareness charity CoppaFeel! that led her to discover her own cancer.

She realised that she doesn't 'check her breasts' and then made a conscious effort to check herself, saying CoppaFeel! has 'potentially saved her life'.

'I don't know how long this lump could have been there before I would have noticed and done something about it,' she added.

Amy said she found a lump in her right breast in April, a day before she and her husband flew to the Maldives for a belated honeymoon after their wedding last July.

The dancer said she was 'in shock' and decided to keep an eye on the lump, before going to the doctor when the lump grew on her return home.

She was immediately sent for an emergency referral, where she was told the lump looked 'suspicious' and to 'prepare for the worst'.

After a biopsy, Amy was told she had grade three breast cancer, saying her first question was when she could get back on the dance floor.

Grade three cancer is when the cells look very different to normal breast cells and tend to spread more quickly. The grade describes how a cancer cell looks under a microscope.

It is different to a cancer stage, which describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. Amy is yet to find out what stage of cancer she has.

Amy said her cancer has been caught 'early' and she is now waiting for more information before she is given a full treatment plan, which will include surgery.
Shes not one to shy away from flaunting her body.

And former Playboy model Carla Howe, 32, did just that when she was spotted sashaying down the street in Londons Mayfair.

She left little to the imagination in a figure-hugging dress, which featured the silhouette of a naked womans body emblazoned across the front.

The blonde beauty looked sensational as she turned around and showcased her pert backside.

Ensuring she stood out from head to toe, Carla wore her long locks in a sleek fish tail plait and sported heavy and perfectly applied glam make-up.

Knock out: Former Playboy model Carla Howe, 32, looked sensational in a raunchy figure-hugging dress when out in Londons Mayfair

She teamed her look with some sky-high leopard print heels and a small red shoulder bag.

Carla matched her nails to her bag, so her red talons stood out as she walked down the pavement.

The outing comes after Carla spoke to friends, claiming that Andrew Tate tried to lure her to his Romanian hideaway.

Carla said she was shocked and feels that she had a lucky escape after the disgraced influencer was arrested with his brother last month and subsequently two others in connection with alleged human trafficking and rape.

The blonde model was left 'horrified' as shocking details emerged of how Romanian prosecutors were investigating four suspects for allegedly keeping six women under 'house arrest 24/7 like prisoners'.

Prosecutors in Romania said the brothers allegedly recruited the women on social media platforms and persuaded them to travel to his 600,000 secret bolthole in Bucharest by falsely professing love for them.

The women - including an American citizen - were allegedly held at the property with employees shadowing their every move before being forced to take part in online pornographic videos.

Carla told friends how she believed she may have been one of the intended victims as the tactics bore a chilling similarity to the way Romanian prosecutors alleged Tate and his brother tried to strike up a relationship with the victims.

Turning heads: She wore her long locks back into a sleek fish tail plait and opted for heavy eye make up and a red lip

Cheeky: The model chose to keep all attention on her outfit for the day so opted for just a red bag as her accessory line up

Carla confided how Tate showered her with compliments and romantic messages after they began to chat online when he sent a private message to her Instagram account last February.

But she claimed she quickly learned of a darker side of his character when his messages became 'controlling and aggressive'.

She told friends how he tried to ban her from going on holiday to Spain with a girlfriend and insisted she had to 'obey' him.

Despite her concerns their chats continued but their communications stopped abruptly when Tate was banned from the social media platform.
Lisa Rinna delighted fans everywhere with a smoldering shot of her husband Harry Hamlin in honor of Father's Day.

The soap star, 59, shared a throwback of her hunky hubby, decked out in leopard print, as he posed beside a cheetah print staircase.

Harry, 71, clad in a silky retro style shirt and chain necklace, shot the camera with a seductive gaze as he relaxed on the staircase.

'DADDY!' Lisa enthusiastically captioned the snap, along with the hashtag 'Happy Father's Day'.

Fans raved over the image in the comments section, with one declaring: 'Before Harry Styles... Harry Hamlin!' along with three flame emojis.

'DADDY!' Lisa Rinna delighted fans everywhere with a smoldering shot of her husband Harry Hamlin in honor of Father's Day

'He is the only man on Earth who can pull this off and not look ridiculous!' another proclaimed. 'Wow ROAR !!! Happy Fathers Day!!!' another posted.

Lisa has been married to Harry since 1997, and together they have daughters Amelia, 22, and Delilah, 25. He also has son Dimitri Alexander Hamlin, 43, with his ex Ursula Andress.

The Father's Day post comes after Lisa revealed she left the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) after eight seasons over alleged death threats.

Five months after announcing her departure from Bravo's hit reality show, the reality star explained that her world became too 'volatile' while starring on the unscripted series.

'I didnt want to live like that  I dont think thats healthy,' the Emmy nominee told ES Magazine. 'The way the fanbase reacts to the show now is not how it was when I first started.'

The mother-of-two went on to explain that she and her family are still 'getting death threats.'

'Some of the most horrible things Ive ever seen in print in my life, and its a reality show! Its a stupid show!' she said. 'Im not sure how much longer that can exist in the zeitgeist, to be honest with you.'

They like! Fans gave the photo the thumb's up

Domestic bliss: Lisa has been married to Harry since 1997, and together they have daughters Amelia, 22, and Delilah, 25; pictured March 2020

Too much drama: Five months after announcing her departure from Bravo's hit reality show, the 59-year-old reality star explained that her world became too 'volatile' while starring on the unscripted series

The Days of Our Lives alum also claimed to have received a message from her late mother, Lois Rinna, while she was sleeping.

Rinna told the outlet that she heard her mom, who passed away in 2021, at the age of 93, say: 'Its time for you to go.'

Later, she had a psychic confirm the message and was also told Lois wants her 'to be happy and follow' her dream.

She then reiterated: 'Its time for you to go.'

'Ive never told anybody that, except for the psychic. Im guided by my mom, for sure,' the TV personality continued.

In January, Rinna confirmed that she was not returning to RHOBH, following a rough season, which followed her grieving the loss of her mom and feud with Kathy Hilton.

'This is the longest job I have held in my 35 year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series,' the model told People in a statement.

She continued: 'It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!'

Her guiding light: The Days of Our Lives alum also claimed to have received a message from her late mother, Lois Rinna, while she was sleeping, which made it clear it was 'time' to leave the show

Focusing on family: In January, Rinna confirmed that she was not returning to RHOBH, following a rough season, which followed her grieving the loss of her mom and feud with Kathy Hilton

The outlet reported that 'she and Bravo mutually decided that she would not return to RHOBH' after her contract expired last season.

In October, she was booed at BravoCon following backlash from fans over saying she would 'get cancer' if she didn't expose Hilton's 'vile' comments on the show's finale.

When asked by DailyMail.com about her reaction to those calling for her to be fired, the mom-of-two said she didn't know what to think and branded herself a 'rockstar.'

'We are the number one show on cable, and on television... That's all I have to say,' she concluded.

At the time, Lisa was slammed by cancer survivors and doctors alike after she used the disease as an excuse to spill Hilton's personal secrets.

'This is the longest job I have held in my 35 year career and I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series,' the model told People in a statement, earlier this year (pictured in March 2023)

Her feud with Hilton seemingly began when Rinna accused Hilton of attacking her sister Kyle Richards during a 'psychotic break.'

During the three-part RHOBH reunion, that aired on October 12, Hilton called Rina 'the biggest bully in Hollywood.'

Previously, she got into a massive fight with Hilton's sister Kim Richards over dinner, which resulted in her hurling a wine glass at Kim, who threatened to say something unkind about her husband Harry.

Additionally, she accused Yolanda Hadid, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, of having Munchausen syndrome on RHOBH season 5.

Rinna has since apologized and said the claim 'was very wrong, on all levels.'

Moving on: She continued: 'It has been a fun eight-year run and I am excited for what is to come!'

Parting ways: The outlet reported that 'she and Bravo mutually decided that she would not return to RHOBH' after her contract expired last season (pictured in December)

In 2020, she also had a public falling out with Denise Richards, who starred on two seasons of RHOBH, after two decades of friendship on the show.

While she will not be returning to RHOBH, Rinna revealed she 'booked a movie role' earlier this year.

The last time she played a role other than herself was in 2021, when she appeared in the Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem miniseries.

She appeared in five episodes of the spinoff that is now streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Previously, the actress-turned-entrepreneur rose to fame by playing the role of Billie Reed on the drama sitcom Days Of Our Lives.

Since the hit series' debut in 1965, the show has gone on for 58 seasons that is still ongoing.

Rinna joined the daytime soap opera in September 1992.

The role of Billie Reed was later recast when she left the show in September 1995.
Quavo took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late nephew and musical colleague Takeoff as he would have turned 29 Sunday, more than seven months after he was killed in a shooting outside of a Houston bowling alley.

The Migos rapper, 32, took to the social media site with a collection of photos and videos marking the solemn occasion involving the late star, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball.

The Athens, Georgia native posted a clip in which he and Takeoff were shopping for clothing, and Takeoff asked his what he thought of a denim jacket he was examining on a rack.

'Happy Birthday @yrntakeoff cant wait for days like this again!!!' said Quavo, whose real name is Quavious Keyate Marshall. 'BEST believe we goin up all week the Rocket way GEEKD.'

The recording artist shared more than a dozen images and clips of his fallen relative and collaborator on his Instagram Stories, some of Takeoff solo and some of them together.

The latest: Quavo, 32, took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late nephew and musical colleague Takeoff as he would have turned 29 Sunday, more than seven months after he was killed in a shooting in Houston. The pair were snapped in Atlanta in June of 2022

On Twitter, Quavo shared an image of Takeoff with the caption, 'Everyone Wish My Nephew Happy Birthday. Miss You So Much!'

He added emojis of a birthday cap, an infinity emoji and a rocket in reference to Takeoff's stage name.

Last month, Quavo said he planned to pay tribute to Takeoff in naming his forthcoming solo record Rocket Power.

'This album is for the Rocket ... our true fans and also this is my therapy,' he said in a May 23 announcement on Instagram. 'This is album is a true reflection of how I feel right now.'

In the statement, the musical artist opened up about his emotions in the months since Takeoff's untimely passing.

'Sometimes Im Good, sometimes Im Down, sometimes Im Disappointed, sometimes I fall apart but then I ALWAYS find my strength again,' Quavo said. 'I know everything might not be alright right now, but the rocket showed me a way to make it RIGHT!'

He wrapped up in saying, 'Rocket Power keeps me going. Rocket Power gives me fuel. Rocket Power will help us all overcome whatever were going through.'

In the investigation surrounding the fatal shooting, authorities said Takeoff was an 'an innocent bystander' when he was hit by gunfire in the head and back, after a conflict erupted over a dice game outside of the bowling alley.

On Twitter, Quavo shared an image of Takeoff with the caption, 'Everyone Wish My Nephew Happy Birthday. Miss You So Much!'

The Athens, Georgia native posted a clip in which he and Takeoff were shopping for clothing, and Takeoff asked his what he thought of a denim jacket he was examining on a rack

Quavo (pictured in LA last month) said he planned to pay tribute to Takeoff in naming his forthcoming solo record Rocket Power

The recording artist shared more than a dozen images and clips of his fallen relative and collaborator on his Instagram Stories

In May, suspect Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was indicted on a murder charge by a Houston grand jury.

'When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury, where we will be able to put on our evidence and cross-examine the states witnesses ... we expect the jury will come back with a verdict of not guilty,' Clarks lawyer Letitia Quinones-Hollins said of the ongoing case.

Following his death, tributes poured in from the music world, from artists including fellow Migos member Offset, his wife Cardi B, Drake and Justin Bieber.

An emotional tribute to the late performer took place at the Grammys in February.
Brody Jenner celebrated Father's Day in a big way. The Hills alum, 39, proposed to his girlfriend, professional surfer Tia Blanco, 26.

She is currently pregnant with their first child, a girl, who is due later this year.

Jenner posted a video of the proposal on Instagram and captioned it: 'Can't wait to love you forever.'

The couple were at an event with family and friends. In the video, the reality television star said: 'I just want to thank you all for coming here. Really appreciate it. Love you all,' he gushed, adding, 'Wait, one more thing, one more thing.'

Jenner then got down on one knee and pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket.

Proposal: Brody Jenner celebrated Father's Day in a big way. The Hills alum, 39, proposed to his girlfriend, professional surfer Tia Blanco, 26

The mom to be was glowing in a pink dress, tiara and strappy white sandals.

Jenner wore tan shorts with a white print on them, a white button-down and white Nike trainers.

Jenner's mom Linda Thompson, 73, commented on the Instagram clip, writing: 'The perfect culmination to a beautiful romance, and an incredibly wonderful day. Congratulations. I love you both so very much!'

Dad Caitlyn Jenner, 73, shared the video of the big moment to her Instagram Stories and captioned it: 'Major!!!!'

Jenner was first linked to Tia in April 2022. The two reportedly met while they each were surfing in Hawaii.

They confirmed their relationship status in May 2022 via a sweet Instagram post featuring a photo of the two of them with the Bromances alum's dog.

The engagement comes five months after the couple announced that the Orange County California native was pregnant.

'To start off this new year, wed like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends, family and followers health, happiness & an abundance of love,' they captioned a joint Instagram video.

'We truly appreciate & love you all. We are excited to share with you the blessing of a new life in the new year.'

Newly engaged: She is currently pregnant with their first child, a girl, who is due later this year

Down on one knee: Jenner posted a video of the proposal on Instagram and captioned it: 'Can't wait to love you forever'

Big moment: In the video, the reality television star said: ' I just want to thank you all for coming here. Really appreciate it. Love you all,' he gushed, adding, 'Wait, one more thing, one more thing'

Will you? Jenner then got down on one knee and pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket

Sealed with a kiss: After she said yes, the couple embraced and kissed

The child will be Thompson's fourth grandchild and Caitlyn Jenner's, 73, 21st.

The ex-spouses share Brandon Jenner's 42, three children, Eva, eight, and twins Sam and Bo, two.

Caitlyn is also grandfather to Kylie Jenner's two kids, Stormi, five, and Aire, 16 months as well as to the kids of Cassandra Jenner and Burt Jenner.

Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Rob Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian's multiple children also add to the grandchild count, albeit as a former step-grandfather.
Molly-Mae Hague shared a sweet tribute to Tommy Fury to mark his first Father's Day on Sunday.

The influencer, 24, who shot to fame on Love Island's fifth season in 2019, welcomed baby Bambi with her co-star Tommy on 23 January.

Tommy could be seen lifting Bambi up in the adorable picture that was taken during their recent family holiday in Barbados.

Molly-Mae donned a white robe and was all smiles as she frolicked in the sea with the pair.

She penned on Instagram: 'Youll have her heart forever. Happy First Fathers Day Bambis Dadda'

Heartwarming: Molly-Mae Hague shared a sweet tribute to Tommy Fury to mark his first Father's Day on Sunday

Family: The influencer, 24, who shot to fame on Love Island's fifth season in 2019, welcomed baby Bambi with her co-star Tommy on 23 January

Tommy woke up to blue balloons and gifts from Molly-Mae and baby Bambi, including a hand made picture she had finger painted.

They then head out for breakfast to celebrate the special day.

It comes after Molly-Mae revealed that she 'doesn't have the confidence to wear a bikini' after giving birth.

The new mum - who welcomed daughter Bambi with boyfriend Tommy Fury in January - also admitted that her insecurity is getting worse.

In her latest YouTube video, filmed while in Barbados, the former Love Island star spoke numerous times about her lack of confidence and apprehension towards wearing skimpy swimwear.

While relaxing on a sunlounger, dressed in a white strapless bathing suit, Molly first admitted: 'I've got this swimming costume on...for me at the minute swimsuits are the one.

'I'm not a bikini girl at the minute because I just don't have the confidence. I didn't really have the confidence for bikinis before I had a baby.'

Returning to the topic later in her vlog, the reality star continued: 'Right now with my body, I need anything that is going to give me confidence...

'Because I genuinely feel like with time, my confidence with my body is actually getting worse. It's irritating me.

Celebrating: Tommy woke up to blue balloons and gifts from Molly-Mae and baby Bambi, including a hand made picture she had finger painted

She penned on Instagram: 'Youll have her heart forever. Happy First Fathers Day Bambis Dadda'

'I really felt on this trip that I am going to embrace it, I don't care, my new mum body, I'm proud of it, and I am but at the same time I'm finding it hard to accept that I've got a real journey to start, if I want to feel more confident in my body.

'I was speaking about it to my family. I just don't ever picture myself putting on a bikini ever again [and feeling confident], I never did in the first place. There's just no way.

'Before I had a baby I didn't feel confident in a bikini, so after having a baby I don't picture myself ever thinking ''I'll slip a bikini on and feel amazing''.

'I want to and I want to come on here and say ''I feel confident and amazing'' but that's not how I'm feeling at the minute.

'So any clothes or outfits that can make me feel a little more confident, covered up and super flattering right now, that is what I'm going for.'

However, Molly-Mae did indeed wear a bikini during her Barbados holiday , when she stunned on the beach in a white two-piece set.

It comes after Molly-Mae recently admitted she suffered a 'meltdown' over the way she looked during her first photoshoot since giving birth to Bambi.

Journey: Molly-Mae recently revealed she is struggling to accept her post-baby body six months after giving birth

Tough: The former Love Island star - who gave birth to baby Bambi back in January - said that she is learning to love and accept her new figure

The reality star opened up about her post-baby figure, admitting her insecurities make her feel 'so sad'.

She said: 'I did, in the afternoon, have a bit of a meltdown just because it was a lot to take in.

'That was my second day without Bambi and I think I keep forgetting that I am still am only three months post-partum.

'I had not really prepared myself for how I might feel on a photoshoot. I think I had kinda not prepared myself fully for how I might feel on a photoshoot, three months after having a baby.'
abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:FCO  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 72,500 shares, a growth of 19.0% from the May 15th total of 60,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 60,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.2 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCO. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new position in abrdn Global Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth about $64,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in abrdn Global Income Fund by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 76,000 shares of the companys stock worth $466,000 after buying an additional 6,500 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new stake in abrdn Global Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth about $83,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in abrdn Global Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth about $169,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in abrdn Global Income Fund by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 78,441 shares of the companys stock worth $481,000 after purchasing an additional 7,087 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.83% of the companys stock.

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abrdn Global Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:FCO traded up $0.13 on Friday, hitting $5.60. The stock had a trading volume of 87,315 shares, compared to its average volume of 62,598. abrdn Global Income Fund has a twelve month low of $4.30 and a twelve month high of $5.90.

abrdn Global Income Fund Announces Dividend

About abrdn Global Income Fund

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 15.00%.

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Abrdn Global Income Fund Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited. It is co-managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Limited and Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. The fund invests in fixed income markets across the globe.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO  Get Rating) in a research report released on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the stock. Raymond James downgraded shares of Argo Group International from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. TheStreet raised shares of Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Compass Point downgraded shares of Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, March 13th.

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Argo Group International Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE:ARGO opened at $29.52 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Argo Group International has a 12 month low of $19.00 and a 12 month high of $40.15. The company has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a PE ratio of -4.73 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $29.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.32.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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 positive return on equity of 0.06% and a negative net margin of 9.98%. The company had revenue of $419.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $461.90 million. Research analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 200.3% during the 3rd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 440,736 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,489,000 after buying an additional 293,991 shares in the last quarter. Grace & White Inc. NY lifted its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Grace & White Inc. NY now owns 309,506 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,001,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake 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 valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 701 shares in the last quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC purchased a new position in shares of Argo Group International during the 3rd quarter valued at $443,000. Finally, Cordatus Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Argo Group International during the 4th quarter valued at $792,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.92% of the companys stock.

Argo Group International Company Profile

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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.

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Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (NYSE:BBAR  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 710,400 shares, an increase of 11.0% from the May 15th total of 640,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 637,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com raised Banco BBVA Argentina from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday.

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Banco BBVA Argentina Stock Up 5.7 %

Shares of NYSE:BBAR traded up $0.32 on Friday, reaching $5.89. The company had a trading volume of 1,148,121 shares, compared to its average volume of 601,459. Banco BBVA Argentina has a 52-week low of $2.03 and a 52-week high of $5.89. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $4.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a PE ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04.

Institutional Trading of Banco BBVA Argentina

Banco BBVA Argentina ( NYSE:BBAR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 23rd. The bank reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $808.72 million during the quarter. Banco BBVA Argentina had a return on equity of 16.80% and a net margin of 7.95%.

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BBAR. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in Banco BBVA Argentina by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 980,478 shares of the banks stock worth $3,843,000 after acquiring an additional 80,572 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in Banco BBVA Argentina by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 532,090 shares of the banks stock worth $1,612,000 after acquiring an additional 17,580 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Banco BBVA Argentina by 71.8% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 405,786 shares of the banks stock worth $1,583,000 after acquiring an additional 169,620 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC acquired a new stake in Banco BBVA Argentina during the 1st quarter worth about $976,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Banco BBVA Argentina by 376.2% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 256,878 shares of the banks stock worth $1,006,000 after acquiring an additional 202,934 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.75% of the companys stock.

Banco BBVA Argentina Company Profile

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Banco BBVA Argentina SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following business lines: retail banking; small and medium-sized companies; and corporate and investment banking (CIB). The retail banking business includes checking and savings accounts, time deposits, credit cards, personal and auto loans, mortgages, insurance, and investment products.

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DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH  Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 16,280,000 shares, a drop of 11.2% from the May 15th total of 18,330,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,660,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.4 days. Currently, 6.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

DoorDash Price Performance

Shares of DoorDash stock traded up $1.50 on Friday, hitting $73.26. The company had a trading volume of 3,658,225 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,178,434. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.47 billion, a P/E ratio of -20.64 and a beta of 1.50. DoorDash has a twelve month low of $41.37 and a twelve month high of $87.00. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $65.28 and a 200-day moving average of $59.55.

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DoorDash (NYSE:DASH  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.41) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.56) by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.92 billion. DoorDash had a negative net margin of 18.98% and a negative return on equity of 14.00%. Equities analysts predict that DoorDash will post -1.75 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at DoorDash

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, insider Keith Yandell sold 9,172 shares of DoorDash stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.88, for a total transaction of $613,423.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 244,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,345,806.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . In other DoorDash news, CEO Tony Xu sold 132,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.87, for a total value of $9,508,401.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, insider Keith Yandell sold 9,172 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.88, for a total transaction of $613,423.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 244,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,345,806.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders sold 1,068,940 shares of company stock valued at $68,779,604. Company insiders own 9.59% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of DoorDash by 1.5% in the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 302,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,238,000 after buying an additional 4,500 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of DoorDash by 74.4% in the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 9,241 shares of the companys stock worth $587,000 after purchasing an additional 3,943 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of DoorDash by 7.7% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 5,725 shares of the companys stock worth $364,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of DoorDash in the first quarter worth $259,000. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC lifted its position in shares of DoorDash by 6.3% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 14,231 shares of the companys stock worth $905,000 after purchasing an additional 838 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.65% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DASH. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of DoorDash from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on shares of DoorDash from $75.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of DoorDash from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Wedbush started coverage on shares of DoorDash in a research report on Monday, June 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $75.00 price target for the company. Finally, Roth Mkm started coverage on shares of DoorDash in a research report on Friday, April 21st. They set a neutral rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $75.48.

DoorDash Company Profile

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DoorDash, Inc operates a logistics platform that connects merchants, consumers, and dashers in the United States and internationally. It operates DoorDash marketplace, which provides an array of services that enable merchants to solve mission-critical challenges, such as customer acquisition, delivery, insights and analytics, merchandising, payment processing, and customer support; and offers DoorDash Drive, a white-label logistics service; DoorDash Storefront that enables merchants to offer consumers on-demand access to e-commerce.

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Hengan International Group Company Limited (OTCMKTS:HEGIF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,139,300 shares, a decrease of 15.2% from the May 15th total of 2,522,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1,188.5 days.

Hengan International Group Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:HEGIF remained flat at $4.57 during trading hours on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $4.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.71. Hengan International Group has a 1-year low of $3.90 and a 1-year high of $5.20.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Hengan International Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th.

About Hengan International Group

Hengan International Group Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells personal hygiene products in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company offers pocket handkerchiefs, box and soft tissue papers, kitchen towels/papers, toilet rolls, first-aid products, enema, garbage and food bags, preservation papers, table cloths and swabbers, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, overnight pants, wet tissues, maternal and child care products, adult and baby diapers, and cleansing products.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II (NYSEAMERICAN:VKI  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,100 shares, an increase of 24.7% from the May 15th total of 8,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 75,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN VKI traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $8.33. 100,959 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,961. Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II has a 52 week low of $7.81 and a 52 week high of $9.79.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.0321 dividend. This represents a $0.39 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II

Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Company Profile

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the first quarter worth $193,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 72.7% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 19,000 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $199,000 after purchasing an additional 8,000 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the first quarter worth $264,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 18.0% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 13,100 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $137,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 55.8% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 18,990 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $199,000 after purchasing an additional 6,800 shares during the last quarter. 16.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II is a closed-end investment fund and trust. Its investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of capital. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Air Lease Co. (NYSE:AL  Get Rating)  Equities research analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of Air Lease in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, June 14th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now forecasts that the transportation company will post earnings of $1.15 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $1.25. The consensus estimate for Air Leases current full-year earnings is $4.75 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Air Leases Q3 2023 earnings at $1.17 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $4.66 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.43 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.50 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.54 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $5.88 EPS and Q1 2025 earnings at $1.74 EPS.

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Air Lease (NYSE:AL  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The transportation company reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.06. Air Lease had a net margin of 21.25% and a return on equity of 7.60%. The firm had revenue of $636.14 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $633.52 million.

Air Lease Trading Down 2.0 %

AL has been the topic of a number of other reports. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Air Lease in a research note on Monday, May 15th. They issued a neutral rating and a $41.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Air Lease in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Air Lease in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. They set a buy rating and a $59.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Air Lease currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $51.75.

Shares of NYSE AL opened at $41.48 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. Air Lease has a 52-week low of $29.75 and a 52-week high of $46.20. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $39.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $40.27. The stock has a market cap of $4.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.77.

Air Lease Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 5th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.93%. Air Leases dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.42%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Air Lease news, Director Yvette Hollingsworth Clark bought 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $37.96 per share, for a total transaction of $98,696.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 19,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at $753,733.76. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Yvette Hollingsworth Clark acquired 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 31st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $37.96 per share, for a total transaction of $98,696.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 19,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at $753,733.76. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Alex A. Khatibi sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.00, for a total transaction of $1,000,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 89,266 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,570,640. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 6.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Air Lease

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Air Lease by 2.0% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,709,215 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $301,082,000 after acquiring an additional 194,211 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Air Lease by 1.2% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,735,320 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $265,166,000 after acquiring an additional 83,021 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Air Lease by 1.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,763,177 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $257,324,000 after buying an additional 90,225 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Air Lease by 36.7% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,446,382 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $243,180,000 after buying an additional 1,460,769 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Air Lease by 3.5% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,542,411 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $178,834,000 after buying an additional 151,988 shares during the period. 88.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Air Lease Company Profile

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Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. In addition, the company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios.

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APi Group Co. (NYSE:APG  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,360,000 shares, a decrease of 11.1% from the May 15th total of 3,780,000 shares. Currently, 2.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 1,060,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.2 days.

APi Group Price Performance

NYSE:APG traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $25.58. 1,523,475 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 848,055. The company has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 121.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.54. APi Group has a 1-year low of $13.09 and a 1-year high of $25.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.42. The business has a 50 day moving average of $22.81 and a 200 day moving average of $21.52.

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APi Group (NYSE:APG  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.55 billion. APi Group had a return on equity of 17.49% and a net margin of 1.42%. The companys revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.23 EPS. Research analysts forecast that APi Group will post 1.5 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Insider Buying and Selling

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on APG. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on APi Group from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Citigroup increased their target price on APi Group from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Robert W. Baird upgraded APi Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $27.00 to $29.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on APi Group from $25.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $24.57.

In other APi Group news, Director James E. Lillie sold 19,414 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.42, for a total value of $454,675.88. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,390,965 shares in the company, valued at $102,836,400.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other APi Group news, Director James E. Lillie sold 19,414 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.42, for a total value of $454,675.88. Following the sale, the director now owns 4,390,965 shares in the company, valued at $102,836,400.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director James E. Lillie sold 57,580 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.62, for a total value of $1,302,459.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,500,052 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,791,176.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On APi Group

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,749,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $248,811,000 after purchasing an additional 232,473 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,083,919 shares of the companys stock valued at $339,087,000 after acquiring an additional 593,023 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 10,698,983 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,248,000 after acquiring an additional 594,997 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,343,571 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,643,000 after acquiring an additional 201,805 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ADW Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. ADW Capital Management LLC now owns 4,300,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,883,000 after acquiring an additional 500,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.84% of the companys stock.

About APi Group

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APi Group Corporation provides safety, specialty, and industrial services in North America, Europe, Australia, the Asian-Pacific, and other countries. It operates through Safety Services and Specialty Services segments. The Safety Services segment offers safety solutions focusing on end-to-end integrated occupancy systems, such as fire protection solutions; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions; and entry systems, which include the design, installation, and inspection and service of these integrated systems.

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Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI  Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,850,000 shares, an increase of 25.6% from the May 15th total of 6,250,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,210,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 6.5 days. Approximately 1.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CNI. Sheets Smith Wealth Management raised its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 39,303 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $4,637,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $294,000. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway during the first quarter valued at $1,340,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 3.3% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,159,127 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $490,650,000 after purchasing an additional 131,556 shares during the period. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its position in Canadian National Railway by 29.3% during the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 49,629 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $5,855,000 after purchasing an additional 11,259 shares during the last quarter. 86.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Argus cut their price target on Canadian National Railway from $155.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. National Bank Financial lifted their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$175.00 to C$178.00 in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $137.00 to $134.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $143.67.

Canadian National Railway Stock Performance

NYSE CNI traded up $0.99 on Friday, reaching $118.95. The stock had a trading volume of 1,637,793 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,041,814. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The company has a market cap of $78.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.90. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $118.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $119.15. Canadian National Railway has a 1-year low of $103.79 and a 1-year high of $129.89.

Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI  Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The transportation company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.09. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 25.00% and a net margin of 30.61%. The firm had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.15 billion. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Canadian National Railway will post 5.83 EPS for the current year.

Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $0.5835 dividend. This represents a $2.33 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is 39.30%.

Canadian National Railway Company Profile

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Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers.

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Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:SVM  Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,150,000 shares, a growth of 25.1% from the May 15th total of 919,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,360,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.7% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Silvercorp Metals

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in Silvercorp Metals by 17.0% during the first quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 9,789,481 shares of the companys stock worth $37,396,000 after acquiring an additional 1,423,408 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Silvercorp Metals by 7.0% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,068,096 shares of the companys stock worth $18,365,000 after acquiring an additional 333,365 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its position in Silvercorp Metals by 20.4% during the first quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 3,541,282 shares of the companys stock worth $13,467,000 after acquiring an additional 599,900 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Silvercorp Metals by 29.9% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,048,164 shares of the companys stock worth $11,546,000 after acquiring an additional 702,283 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its position in Silvercorp Metals by 14.5% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 2,648,500 shares of the companys stock worth $6,171,000 after acquiring an additional 336,100 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 25.49% of the companys stock.

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Silvercorp Metals Stock Performance

SVM traded down $0.05 on Friday, reaching $2.83. The stock had a trading volume of 3,562,472 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,258,500. Silvercorp Metals has a 12-month low of $1.99 and a 12-month high of $4.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $500.77 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.58 and a beta of 1.02.

Silvercorp Metals Dividend Announcement

Silvercorp Metals ( NYSEAMERICAN:SVM Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Friday, May 26th. The company reported $0.03 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.03. The business had revenue of $34.15 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $33.30 million. Silvercorp Metals had a net margin of 9.90% and a return on equity of 6.41%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Silvercorp Metals will post 0.27 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.0125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 9th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.8%. Silvercorp Metalss dividend payout ratio is currently 25.00%.

Silvercorp Metals Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Silvercorp Metals Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and mining of mineral properties in China. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, lead, and zinc metals. It holds a 100% interest in the Kuanping silver-lead-zinc-gold project located in located in Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, China; Ying project located in the Ying Mining District in Henan Province, China; Gaocheng (GC) mine located in Guangdong Province, China; and Baiyunpu (BYP) mine located in Hunan Province, China.

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Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from C$3.00 to C$2.50 in a report issued on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

ESI has been the topic of a number of other research reports. CIBC lowered their price objective on Ensign Energy Services from C$5.00 to C$4.25 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$4.50 to C$3.70 in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. ATB Capital lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$9.00 to C$8.50 in a research report on Monday, April 10th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$5.00 to C$4.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$6.00 to C$5.50 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$4.65.

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Ensign Energy Services Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of ESI stock opened at C$2.05 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 109.69, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 0.40. Ensign Energy Services has a 52-week low of C$1.95 and a 52-week high of C$4.11. The company has a market capitalization of C$377.00 million, a PE ratio of 68.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.13. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$2.37 and its 200 day moving average is C$3.10.

Ensign Energy Services Company Profile

Ensign Energy Services ( TSE:ESI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported C$0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.13 by C($0.11). Ensign Energy Services had a return on equity of 0.50% and a net margin of 0.33%. The business had revenue of C$484.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$499.00 million. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Ensign Energy Services will post 0.2785326 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Get Rating)

Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Separately, Alliance Global Partners lowered shares of Almaden Minerals from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd.

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Almaden Minerals Price Performance

Almaden Minerals stock opened at $0.13 on Thursday. Almaden Minerals has a 52 week low of $0.11 and a 52 week high of $0.28. The company has a quick ratio of 23.80, a current ratio of 23.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.65 million, a PE ratio of -2.14 and a beta of 0.94.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Almaden Minerals ( NYSE:AAU Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 24th. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Almaden Minerals by 564.4% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 233,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 198,088 shares during the last quarter. HRT Financial LP acquired a new stake in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $64,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in Almaden Minerals by 587.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 485,878 shares of the companys stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 415,244 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $119,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 3.86% of the companys stock.

About Almaden Minerals

(Get Rating)

Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd.

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Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE:AKR  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,790,000 shares, an increase of 5.9% from the May 15th total of 1,690,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 738,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.4 days.

Insider Buying and Selling at Acadia Realty Trust

In other Acadia Realty Trust news, Director Douglas Crocker II acquired 28,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $12.90 per share, for a total transaction of $364,425.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 112,397 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,449,921.30. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.83% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Acadia Realty Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Acadia Realty Trust in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. US Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Acadia Realty Trust in the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in Acadia Realty Trust in the 1st quarter worth $45,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Acadia Realty Trust in the 1st quarter worth $75,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. purchased a new stake in Acadia Realty Trust in the 1st quarter worth $88,000.

Acadia Realty Trust Stock Performance

Acadia Realty Trust Announces Dividend

Shares of NYSE:AKR traded up $0.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $14.48. 1,756,131 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 731,814. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -33.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $13.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.09. Acadia Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $12.28 and a 52-week high of $18.11.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. Acadia Realty Trusts payout ratio is presently -167.44%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AKR has been the subject of several research reports. TheStreet upgraded shares of Acadia Realty Trust from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of Acadia Realty Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Acadia Realty Trust has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.17.

Acadia Realty Trust Company Profile

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Acadia Realty Trust is an equity real estate investment trust focused on delivering long-term, profitable growth via its dual Core Portfolio and Fund operating platforms and its disciplined, location-driven investment strategy. Acadia Realty Trust is accomplishing this goal by building a best-in-class core real estate portfolio with meaningful concentrations of assets in the nation's most dynamic corridors; making profitable opportunistic and value-add investments through its series of discretionary, institutional funds; and maintaining a strong balance sheet.

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Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (OTCMKTS:AITX  Get Rating) and IonQ (NYSE:IONQ  Get Rating) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions and IonQs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions N/A N/A N/A $0.00 55.71 IonQ $11.13 million 175.20 -$48.51 million ($0.36) -26.94

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions has higher earnings, but lower revenue than IonQ. IonQ is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions N/A N/A N/A IonQ -531.99% -15.32% -14.56%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

This table compares Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions and IonQs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

0.1% of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.2% of IonQ shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.5% of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 13.0% of IonQ shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions and IonQ, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions 0 0 0 0 N/A IonQ 0 2 2 0 2.50

IonQ has a consensus target price of $8.25, indicating a potential downside of 14.95%. Given IonQs higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe IonQ is more favorable than Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions

(Get Rating)

Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc. focuses on the delivery of artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for operational, security, and monitoring needs. It develops front-end and back-end software solutions. The company also provides RIO, a portable, solar-powered, and wide-area security device; ROSA-P, a switched-powered security and safety solution; RADDOG, a security industry's purpose-built mobile robot dog; ROSS, a software solution which enables millions of IP security cameras; and ROAMEO, an unmanned ground vehicle. In addition, it offers RADGuard, a customer-facing software; RADSOC, a security operations center; RADPMC, a property management center; RAD Mobile SOC; RAD Light My Way; RAD-dogs; AVA, an autonomous access control / vehicle access device; and RIO, a portable solar-powered and wide-area security devices. The company was formerly known as On The Move Systems Corp. and changed its name to Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc. in August 2018. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions Inc. was founded in 2016 is based in Ferndale, Michigan.

About IonQ

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IonQ, Inc. engages in the development of general-purpose quantum computing systems in the United States. It sells access to quantum computers of various qubit capacities. The company makes access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Braket, Microsoft's Azure Quantum, and Google's Cloud Marketplace, as well as through its cloud service. It also provides consulting services related to co-developing algorithms on quantum computing systems. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in College Park, Maryland.

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Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 914,900 shares, an increase of 16.1% from the May 15th total of 788,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 413,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days. Currently, 1.8% of the companys stock are short sold.

Insider Buying and Selling at Clean Harbors

In other Clean Harbors news, EVP Michael J. Twohig sold 2,000 shares of Clean Harbors stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.42, for a total transaction of $268,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 28,857 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,957.94. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Alan S. Mckim sold 16,200 shares of Clean Harbors stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.60, for a total value of $2,261,520.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,868,937 shares in the company, valued at approximately $400,503,605.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael J. Twohig sold 2,000 shares of Clean Harbors stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.42, for a total value of $268,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,857 shares in the company, valued at $3,878,957.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 38,221 shares of company stock valued at $5,513,271 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 6.70% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Clean Harbors

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 14,811 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,690,000 after buying an additional 199 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its holdings in Clean Harbors by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 71,145 shares of the business services providers stock worth $8,119,000 after purchasing an additional 362 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Clean Harbors by 40.8% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 221,600 shares of the business services providers stock worth $25,289,000 after purchasing an additional 64,197 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in Clean Harbors by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 7,528 shares of the business services providers stock worth $859,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the period. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its holdings in Clean Harbors by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 22,124 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,525,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.13% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Clean Harbors Stock Performance

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on CLH. Truist Financial started coverage on Clean Harbors in a report on Monday, April 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Clean Harbors from $145.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Raymond James boosted their target price on Clean Harbors from $150.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Clean Harbors from $132.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Clean Harbors from $160.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $152.22.

Clean Harbors stock traded up $0.65 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $156.67. 576,732 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 388,459. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The firms 50 day moving average price is $144.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $133.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.44 and a beta of 1.37. Clean Harbors has a 1 year low of $81.94 and a 1 year high of $158.72.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The business services provider reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.24 billion. Clean Harbors had a return on equity of 22.43% and a net margin of 8.27%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Clean Harbors will post 6.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Clean Harbors Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Clean Harbors, Inc provides environmental and industrial services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments: The Environmental Services and The Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. The Environmental Services segment collects, transports, treats, and disposes hazardous and non-hazardous waste, such as resource recovery, physical treatment, fuel blending, incineration, landfill disposal, wastewater treatment, lab chemicals disposal, and explosives management services; and offers CleanPack services, including collection, identification, categorization, specialized packaging, transportation, and disposal of laboratory chemicals and household hazardous waste.

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Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc (LON:MBH  Get Rating) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 94.26 ($1.18) and traded as low as GBX 92.38 ($1.16). Michelmersh Brick shares last traded at GBX 93.50 ($1.17), with a volume of 62,112 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MBH shares. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 180 ($2.25) target price on shares of Michelmersh Brick in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 160 ($2.00) target price on shares of Michelmersh Brick in a research report on Monday, February 20th.

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Michelmersh Brick Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of 88.66 million, a PE ratio of 1,038.89 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 92.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 94.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

Michelmersh Brick Increases Dividend

About Michelmersh Brick

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 8th will be given a dividend of GBX 2.95 ($0.04) per share. This is an increase from Michelmersh Bricks previous dividend of $1.30. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a yield of 3.24%. Michelmersh Bricks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4,444.44%.

(Get Rating)

Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of bricks and brick prefabricated products in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. It offers extruded wire cut facing bricks, clay pavers, paving accessories, and special shaped products under the Blockleys brand; monotone color blends in rustic, drag wire, smooth, and sand faced textures under the Carlton brand; various bricks under the Floren.be brand; and clamp-fired stock facing bricks in various textural finishes under the Freshfield Lane brand.

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Timber Creek Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 83.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 742 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,880 shares during the quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $46,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of KO. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC purchased a new position in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Worth Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 956.1% during the 4th quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC now owns 433 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. 68.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on KO. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. HSBC cut their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $77.00 to $74.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $63.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Coca-Cola presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.67.

Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.7 %

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total transaction of $9,649,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at $28,468,984.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other news, insider Henrique Braun sold 16,950 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.03, for a total value of $1,085,308.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 26,272 shares in the company, valued at $1,682,196.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total transaction of $9,649,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,468,984.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 420,786 shares of company stock worth $26,886,224 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Shares of Coca-Cola stock opened at $61.67 on Friday. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $54.01 and a 12-month high of $65.47. The company has a market cap of $266.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.05, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The companys 50-day moving average price is $62.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.77.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.69% and a return on equity of 42.96%. Coca-Colas quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.64 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 80.70%.

Coca-Cola Profile

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The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

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Woodstock Corp lowered its holdings in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) by 22.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 31,740 shares of the banks stock after selling 8,968 shares during the quarter. Woodstock Corps holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $1,442,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of BK. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 436,802 shares of the banks stock valued at $16,826,000 after purchasing an additional 2,220 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at $78,000. Teza Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 3rd quarter valued at $1,962,000. Meritage Portfolio Management raised its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 98,444 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,481,000 after purchasing an additional 4,538 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wrapmanager Inc. bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at $203,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock.

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Bank of New York Mellon Stock Down 0.5 %

Bank of New York Mellon stock opened at $44.65 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.69. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $42.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.69. The company has a market cap of $35.23 billion, a PE ratio of 14.13, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.07. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a fifty-two week low of $36.22 and a fifty-two week high of $52.26.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The bank reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.03. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.45% and a net margin of 11.98%. The business had revenue of $4.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.86 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.74 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th were paid a $0.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.31%. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is 46.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BK shares. Citigroup lifted their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $55.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $42.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.82.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Get Rating)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. (File Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The department of military affairs (DMA), led by the Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan, will discuss and identify measures to eliminate colonial practices and outdated laws within the armed forces, at a two-day brainstorming session starting on Monday.

The Army and Navy have undertaken a comprehensive review of colonial practices that can be discontinued. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the new ensign for the Indian Navy, which drew inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji and dropped the colonial era St George's Cross.

The 'Chintan Shivir' will serve as a platform for the DMA to discuss ways to integrate the country's values and practices into the functioning of the armed forces.

Besides, the military dropped the Christian hymn "Abide with Me" last year from the Beating Retreat ceremony after the Republic Day celebrations.

The meeting will also address challenges and issues faced by defence departments. The objective is to generate innovative ideas for improved governance and functioning.

The Chintan Shivir will conclude with an open-house session, where ideas and suggestions will be invited to enhance organisational efficiency across different departments.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets rescue teams after Cyclone Biparjoy landfall, in Mandvi, Saturday (PTI)

BHUJ/NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that it was a major achievement of the Gujarat government that no death took place on account of cyclone Biparjoy, even though it packed a wind speed of up to 140 kmph while making landfall.

Addressing a press conference at Kutch district headquarters in Bhuj, which also bore the brunt of the cyclone, Mr Shah said that electricity will be restored in affected areas by June 20. Power supply was suspended in 3,400 villages due to the cyclone, out of which power has been restored in 1,600 villages in less than 24 hours, the home minister said, adding that at present 1,133 teams are engaged in restoring power supply and 400 more teams will be deployed on Sunday.

The state government will soon carry out a survey of damage caused to crops, orchards and fishing boats and announce a relief package, Mr Shah said.

Crediting the "excellent" coordination between the state and Central governments for successfully handling the cyclone fury, Mr Shah said, "We can express satisfaction that nobody has died in the cyclone... It was a major achievement."

"Not only that, the number of injured persons was only 47 and casualties among cattle were just 234," the Union minister added.

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau on the Kutch coast on Thursday evening, felling trees and electric poles and damaging houses. The government's priority now is the restoration of electricity and water supplies and sending people who are in shelters back to their homes, the Union minister said.

"Those who were shifted will be sent back to their homes in a couple of days," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuously guided the Union home ministry, Gujarat government and all government agencies, Mr Shah said, adding that to come out of this disaster with a minimum damage was a great example of effective teamwork.

With advance planning and preparation by the state government and Central agencies, the damage to human and animal lives and property was minimised, he said, praising the state government's "zero casualty approach".

The Central teams supported the state government in ensuring fast-paced relief and rehabilitation efforts, he said. More than one lakh people, including 1,152 pregnant women, were shifted to safer locations ahead of the cyclone, while 73,000 cattle were also relocated, Mr Shah pointed out.

Starting his day-long visit to the cyclone-affected parts of Gujarat on Saturday; Mr Shah first conducted an aerial survey of cyclone-affected areas from Bhuj to Mandvi and Jakhau in Gujarat. In Mandvi, Mr Shah visited the civil hospital where pregnant women were brought before the onset of the cyclone, visited the wards of the hospital and spoke to pregnant women and women who delivered babies during the cyclone period. He also visited a village and met farmers and their families, whose crops were damaged.

Earlier in the day, the Union home minister chaired a review meeting at Bhuj on preparedness before and during the cyclone, damages caused and restoration measures. The meeting was attended by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and other senior officials of the state. Secretaries and senior officers of the Union home ministry, power ministry, ministry of telecommunications and director-generals of IMD and NDRF joined the meeting through video conferencing.

Appreciating the work done by the NDRF and SDRF, the Union minister said that 19 battalions of the NDRF, 13 battalions of the SDRF and two reserve battalions worked to save the lives of the people by risking their lives. He said that the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, BSF, state reserve police and the state police worked in full coordination with the NDRF and SDRF.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image:PTI)

NEW DELHI: In his monthly radio address, "Mann Ki Baat," Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the "Emergency" as a "dark period" in Indias history, during which supporters of democracy endured significant torture that continues to evoke fear in peoples minds today.

Recalling the significance of June 25, the day when Emergency was imposed, the Prime Minister mentioned that numerous books have been written on the atrocities, including his own book titled "Sangharsh Mein Gujarat."

In the spirit of celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Prime Minister encouraged reflection on past crimes that jeopardised the nation's freedom, urging the younger generation to comprehend the essence and significance of democracy. He noted that this edition of "Mann Ki Baat" was being held a week earlier due to his upcoming visit to the US.

During his address, the Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the resilient people of Kutch, who experienced the devastation caused by Cyclone Biparjoy, would swiftly recover. He commended India's strength in disaster management, highlighting that it has become an exemplary model.

Addressing the importance of International Day of Yoga on June 21, Modi urged people to embrace yoga as a daily practice. He shared his excitement about participating in the International Yoga Day programme at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Further, Modi paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, highlighting his remarkable governance and management skills. He emphasised Shivaji Maharaj's accomplishments in water management, naval expertise, and enduring forts he built that continue to stand today.

The PM drew attention to the monumental challenge of tuberculosis (TB) in India and the nation's commitment to becoming TB-free by 2025. He acknowledged the efforts of Nikshay Mitras in eradicating TB and commended the involvement of various social organisations and individuals in adopting TB patients.

The PM also touched on the significance of Jammu and Kashmir, mentioning the rising tourism and notable events like the G20 summit. He highlighted the popularity of Kashmir's "Nadru" (lotus stem) outside the country and applauded accomplishments of the people of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister advised students to complete their homework in a timely manner, ensuring a stress-free end to their summer vacations.
BRS will stay away from the meeting of non-BJP parties being convened by JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. (File image: PTI)

Hyderabad: The BRS will stay away from the meeting of non-BJP parties being convened by JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, according to party sources.

BRS sources said that party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao took the decision to remain equidistant between the Congress and the BJP; the BRS cannot be in a group of which the Congress is a part.

They said BRS is focused on expansion in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, opening party offices and holding membership drives, and joining hands with the Opposition alliance at this stage will hit its plans.

Rao reportedly referred to the statement made by NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday that the BRS was the "B-team of the BJP," and told party leaders that the BRS was expanding in an unprecedented manner in Maharashtra. This made parties like the NCP, Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) jittery. Attending the Patna meeting in which the NCP and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are present would send the wrong message, he said.

The Telangana state polls will be held in five months in which BRS considers Congress as its main political rival and sharing dais with it in any meeting will dampen the spirit of BRS leaders and workers and adversely affect the party prospects in the Assembly polls, the CM reportedly felt.

Rao has made his stand clear in this regard while addressing a party meeting in Nagpur after inaugurating BRS office on June 15, stating that the party was not keen on joining any Front to defeat someone or to come to power at the Centre since earlier such attempts of National Front and United Front had failed.
Aravind Sasikumar Twitter

London: In yet another attack on an Indian in the UK, a 38-year-old man, hailing from Kerala, was stabbed to death in Southampton Way, Camberwell, by a compatriot. This is the third killing of an Indian-origin person by stabbing in Britain in the last one week. The police arrested the assailant the same day at a residential property in Southampton Way.

The victim, Aravind Sasikumar, was stabbed to death in his London home in the early hours on Friday morning. His flatmate Salman Salim (25), also a Malayali, has been charged with his murder.

Salim, a native of Panampilly Nagar, and Sasikumar have been sharing their flat at Southampton Way Camberwall.

After the police picked him up, Salim was produced at Croydon Magistrates Court on Saturday and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey on June 20, 2023.

Sasikumar was found dead with stab injuries at a residential property at Southampton Way. For the last 10 years, Sasikumar had been living in the UK after reaching there on a student visa.

Earlier this week, an Irish-Indian student Grace Kumar in Nottingham and an Indian nwoman from Hyderabad, Tejaswini Reddy in Wembley, werer killed in stabbing attacks on Tuesday.
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Indian movies have been banned in Kathmandu and police have been deployed to ensure that film theatres do not screen any films made in India, Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah's Secretariat told Online Khabar on Sunday.

All 17 film halls have been told not to screen Indian films, his secretariat told the publication.

The radical move comes amid the row over newly-released film Adipurush, which shows that Sita was born in India. Protestors, however, vehemently claim that she was born in Nepal.

Shah had even warned the filmmakers earlier that all Indian films would be banned in Kathmandu if the reference was not removed.

Also Read | 'Adipurush' earns Rs 240 crore in 2 days at global box office

Meanwhile, the writer of the film, Manoj Muntashir Shukla, has said that Nepal was a part of India before 1903, hence Janak's daughter was depicted as being born in India.

Shukla, who has penned the Hindi dialogues and songs of the retelling of the Ramayana, said the amended lines will be added to the film by this week.

"...For me there is nothing greater than your feelings. I can give countless arguments in favour of my dialogues, but this will not lessen your pain. Me and the producer-director of the film have decided that we will revise some of the dialogues which are hurting you and they will be added to the film this week," Shukla said in a statement shared on his official Twitter account.

Adipurush, which was released across the country in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil on Friday, stars Prabhas as Raghav (Ram), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita) and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh (Raavan).

(With PTI inputs)
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered a crackdown against human smugglers as the country announced a day of mourning for the victims of the Greece boat tragedy, several of whom were from Pakistan.

An overloaded boat carrying around 750 people, aiming to enter Europe illegally, sank in open seas off Greece. It is believed that several Pakistanis were among the victims, though their exact number is not known.

So far, at least 12 Pakistanis have been found alive, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

Also Read | Pakistan's ex-Central Bank chief worried about country's looming default

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the premier said that June 19 would be observed as the Day of Mourning across the country, and the national flag would fly at half-mast.

In another statement, the PMO said that Shehbaz directed the law enforcement agencies to track down agents involved in human trafficking and called for them to be brought to justice.

He directed the FO to immediately take action on the boat capsizing and the reports of possible Pakistanis being among the victims. The prime minister also ordered Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to submit a report after investigating the matter.

Best efforts should be made for all Pakistanis. I will not tolerate any laziness and incompetence, the statement quoted Shehbaz as saying.

Following the order by the prime minister, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) appointed senior police officer Alam Shinwari as the focal person to facilitate information about those dead and the injured in the boat tragedy.

As some victims belonged to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the regions chief secretary appointed a focal person to contact the Pakistani embassy in Greece and authorities to facilitate the injured and the deceaseds relatives.

The FIA also formed a four-member team to track down those responsible for sending people abroad through illegal channels.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf asked the government to immediately investigate the incident.

Europe is a desired destination for many young Pakistanis who risk everything to go abroad. Some of them are killed, others make it to Europe, and their success creates an urge among others to follow the path.
Pakistan's Senate has passed a bill to ensure no parliamentarian is disqualified for a lifetime, a move termed by the Opposition as an attempt to clear the way for former premier Nawaz Sharifs return to the country and his participation in the upcoming elections.

Nawaz Sharif, 73, was disqualified in 2017 by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court. In 2018, he became ineligible to hold public office for life after a Supreme Court verdict.

He has been living in London since November 2019 for medical treatment after a Pakistani court allowed him a four-week reprieve.

Also Read: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif urges brother Nawaz to return from UK, head nation for 4th term

Nawaz Sharif, who has served as the prime minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms, was serving seven-year imprisonment in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore in the Al-Azizia corruption case before he left for London.

The Senate on Friday passed the bill seeking to limit the disqualification of lawmakers to five years with retrospective effect, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The move comes a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N supremo, to return from London and lead the poll campaign of the party in the general election and become the premier of the nation for a record fourth time.

A copy of the bill presented in the Senate on Friday included an amendment to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

The amendments say that a persons eligibility to become a member of parliament will be decided according to the criteria set under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. In case the Constitution does not have a special provision for disqualification

Any person disqualified through a court decision will be disqualified for a maximum of 5 years starting from the day the verdict is announced. Disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) will not extend beyond five years.

Also Read | Pakistan's ruling PML-N chooses Shehbaz Sharif as party president; Maryam Nawaz vice-president

Senate also passed amendments giving the right of announcing the date of election to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Opposition termed it person-specific legislation and an attempt to ensure Nawaz Sharifs participation in the upcoming elections.

The earlier two attempts by the PML-N-led coalition govt to reverse the lifetime disqualification of a person have failed.

The Supreme Court is hearing two legislations, including The Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023 and the law to limit the Chief Justices powers.

These legislations were also termed as an attempt to reverse Nawaz Sharif's lifetime disqualification.

During the debate on the bill, the Opposition was asked not to oppose it, with a warning that this sword might be used against former premier Imran Khan as well.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami said there was no ambiguity in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. He alleged that the government wanted to render qualification and disqualification clauses ineffective gradually.

The sources in the ruling coalition claimed it is unfair for the parliamentarians who have been disqualified for a lifetime under Article 62 of the Constitution, the Geo News reported.

There was an ambiguity, and the parliament has now removed it by limiting the disqualification period to five years, they said.

When asked whether the Supreme Court can take notice of this legislation, the sources claimed: The parliament is supreme and it has the right to legislate and remove any ambiguity if there is any in a law or act. This was due, and it should have been done a long time ago."

When asked whether this legislation has been introduced to ensure the participation of Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming elections, the sources said it is not just for the PML-N supremo only.

In future, if any leader is disqualified, they too will be the beneficiary of it, as this is not a person-specific legislation, the sources said.

The current National Assembly will complete its five-year term on August 12 and the fresh general election in Pakistan must be conducted within 60 days as per the Constitution of Pakistan.
Succumbing to the demands of a radical Islamist party, the Pakistan government has agreed to try blasphemy suspects under terrorism charges in addition to the other sections of the country's penal code.

The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) ended its 25-day-long march protest at Sarai Alamgir, Gujrat district, some 200 km from Lahore, on Saturday after signing a pact with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government.

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government has accepted "all legitimate" demands of the TLP, especially on blasphemy laws.

In a 12-point agreement signed on Saturday with the TLP, the federal government agreed to book those accused of committing blasphemy and charged with Section 295-C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of Pakistan Penal Code under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, too.

Also Read | Greece boat tragedy: Pakistan PM Shehbaz orders crackdown against human smugglers



"Besides, speedy trials of the blasphemy accused will be ensured. For the first time, a Counter Blasphemy Wing (CBW) will be established under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)," Sanaullah said, adding the government would ensure steps to block blasphemous content on social media.

The radical Islamic group gained political capital as the federal government agreed to issue a letter declaring that the TLP was not a terrorist organisation, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The government also conceded to lift the ban on the coverage of TLP on broadcast and social media while agreeing to withdraw all political cases filed against TLP workers and leaders.

Sanaullah said the TLP leaders whose names have been taken off the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, will have the freedom of movement, and the federal government will issue directives to provincial governments for it.

According to Amnesty International, Pakistans blasphemy laws are often used against religious minorities and others who are the target of false accusations.

The addition of terrorism charges will make the blasphemy suspects more vulnerable.
With poachers killing a forest department official in Odisha's Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district, the Centre has rushed a team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to support the state machinery, official sources said.

Poachers gunned down a forester identified as Mathi Hansad (40) while he was patrolling along with five other staff near Gamchacharan under Upper Barhakamuda range of Similipal South.

Also Read: Forester shot dead by poachers in Odisha's Similipal sanctuary

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said one person has been held in connection with the incident.

"The accused have been identified and one of them has been taken into custody. A country-made gun has also been seized," the minister said in a tweet on Saturday.

The accused have been identified and one of them has been taken into custody. A country-made gun has also been seized. Stringent action under the WLPA 1970 and IPC will be ensured by the enforcing agencies.  Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) June 17, 2023

Stringent action under the Wildlife Protection Act and IPC will be ensured by the enforcing agencies, he said.

The minister in another tweet said: "I am deeply saddened at the loss of our fallen warrior in the line of duty. We salute his sacrifice and extend our heartfelt condolences. MOEFCC has already taken cognisance of the matter and a team of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is being sent to support the state machinery".

Mathi Hansda received several bullet injuries in his chest. "... he was taken to Karanjia Sub-Divisional Hospital where he was declared dead by attending doctor", said Prakash Chand Gogineni, Field Director Similipal Tiger Reserve.

On May 22, a forest guard Bimal Kumar Jena was gunned down by poachers.
Firebrand leader Shishir Shinde - who shot to fame in October 1991 when he along with other Shiv Sena workers had dug up the pitch Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the run up to an India-Pakistan match - has quit the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

When in Shiv Sena, Shinde was considered close to late Balasaheb Thackeray.

By digging and pouring engine oil, the pitch was rendered useless for matches and led to the cancellation of the series.

Also Read | MLC Manisha Kayande to join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena

The 69-year-old Shinde had served as a Corporator of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and a two-time former member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

In 2015 when Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena and founded the MNS, Shinde joined him.

However, he returned to Shiv Sena in 2018.

On June 30, 2022, after the split, he was appointed the Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena (UBT).

I am quitting as Deputy Leader and leaving the Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde said in a letter to Thackeray.

In the last six months, it became impossible to even meet you. It does not appeal to my sensitive mind to be unwanted by anyone. I stop my intrusion. Without making any public accusations through this letter....Jai Maharashtra, he wrote.
The rice politics in Karnataka heated up with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accusing the Centre of creating obstacles to supply rice for its poll guarantee of 10 kilograms rice to each member of the BPL family under the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka is not demanding rice for free as the state is ready to purchase it.

To this, the state unit of the BJP hit back saying Siddaramaiah was intentionally creating confusion whereas the fact was that the Centre had promised to give only 5 kg rice free of cost, which it is doing.

Also Read: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah 'blatantly misleading' people by blaming Centre over supply of rice for 'Anna Bhagya' scheme: BJP

BJP stalwart and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa warned that his party will not accept if the Congress government gave even "one gram less" than the promised 10 kg rice under the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.

CM Siddaramaiah alleged: "The Central government is doing politics. We had written to them (Food Corporation of India) on June 9 that they should give us 2.28 lakh metric tonne rice. They answered on June 12 that they will supply the same. However, on June 14, the MD and the chairman of the Food Corporation of India wrote to us that it cannot give us rice."

"What should we conclude if they agree on June 12 saying that they have seven lakh metric tonne of rice and later deny that they don't have rice?" Siddaramaiah questioned.

When asked why he should not speak to the Union Minister for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal, Siddaramaiah said if the FCI officials had told him to speak to the minister then he would have done that.

"But when the FCI officials had agreed for rice, why should I speak to others? They are giving an excuse today that we did not speak to him (Goyal)," the Chief Minister charged.

He emphasised that technicalities should not be important for a programme meant for poor people. "Why creating obstacles in poor people's programme?" he sought to know.

To a question whether he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah said his visit to Delhi is on June 21 when Modi will not be in town and hence the meeting will not happen. However, he expressed his wish to meet the Prime Minister once Modi returns from the foreign trip.

Regarding procurement of rice directly from the other states, Siddaramaiah said Andhra Pradesh did not reply yet whether they can provide rice to Karnataka. Speaking to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in this regard did not yield any result either.

"However, the Chhattisgarh government has said they will supply 1.5 lakh metric tonne. They said they can't supply 2.28 lakh metric tonne rice. The rate they are offering is also bit higher," he pointed out.

When asked why rice should not be procured from the farmers of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said the 'Sona Masuri' rice grown in Raichur is sold at Rs 55 per kg, which the state cannot afford to buy and give to the poor people.

Also Read: Talks with rice-producing states for implementing 'Anna Bhagya' scheme under way: Siddaramaiah

"The FCI authorities charge Rs 34 per kg along with Rs 2.6 per kg as transportation cost. Thus, it costs us Rs 36.6. The five kg rice costs us Rs 36.6 per kg," he explained.

To a question on BJP leaders' suggestion to procure rice from Karnataka's farmers, Siddaramaiah said instead of giving him advice, they should put pressure on the Central government to provide rice to the state.

"If they are really interested in the welfare of the people, if they have concern for economically weaker section, then they should ask the Centre to stop politics and give us rice," he said.

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa told reporters in Bengaluru that Chhattisgarh was ready to supply rice and he asked the state government officials to start correspondence with them.

Along with that, Karnataka is also in touch with the Central Warehousing Corporation, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) that have been supplying rice, he added.

"We will give them (Central government institutions) opportunity after finalising the rate to supply us rice," he said.

Former chief minister Yediyurappa came down heavily on the Congress government for the rice conundrum. "The Congress party is trying to create confusion intentionally. Already, the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving 5 kg rice free of cost (to each member of the family)," he said.

"The Centre had not agreed to give additional rice. It is the responsibility of the state government. The promise of giving additional 5 kg rice by purchasing it should be fulfilled. People will not accept foodgrain less than even by a gram. I stress that they should fulfil their promises," the veteran BJP leader added.

He said it was not proper to blame the Central government without any reason. "Modi had never ever said that he will give additional rice. Already, Modi is giving 5 kg rice free of cost," he pointed out.

He asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar not to create any confusion and get rice from wherever it was possible to give 10 kg rice to the BPL families.

Siddaramaiah's immediate predecessor Basavaraj Bommai too slammed the Congress government in the state saying that it was going back on its poll promise. He also predicted that the Congress government's popularity will not last longer.

"Congress should have made some alternative arrangements for rice. They are making lame excuse that they are not getting rice. It means that they are going back on their poll promise. Now, they are saying that they are trying to get rice from Chhattisgarh. It is enough for us if poor people are benefitted," Bommai said.
Merck & Co., Inc. is a US-based multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company. It was officially founded in 1891 as the US arm of Merck Group, headquartered in Germany. Merck Group was founded in 1668 when Friedrick Jacob Merck purchased a pharmacy in Darmstadt, Germany. The company transformed from a pharmacy into a drug manufacturer in 1827 with the commercialization of morphine and the perfection of the manufacturing process. The company will later gain recognition for isolating and commercializing the manufacture of cocaine as well.

Merck Group sent Theodore Weicker to New York as its representative in 1889 and he quickly began to set up operations. The original investment of $200,000 resulted in a facility in lower Manhattan and the addition of Merck family member George Merck to the project. They began operations in 1891 and were in business as the US branch of Merck Group until 1917 and the onset of World War I.

World War I brought about the Trading With The Enemy Act of 1917 and the nationalization of Merck Groups US operations. Those operations were repurchased at a government auction only 2 years later with the help of Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, but the split was done. The company retained rights to the Merck name in the US but remained independent. One of many noteworthy achievements in the post-War period is the discovery of streptomycin, which was revolutionary in treating tuberculosis.

In 1953 the company merged with Sharp& Dohme to form the then 2nd largest US drug manufacturer. The merger brought smallpox vaccines to the portfolio and opened a new avenue of research for the business. Since then, advancements in vaccine technology include treatments for mumps and chickenpox. Other notable advancements include the discovery of statins as a cholesterol inhibitor and work in veterinary medicine.

Today, Merck & Co operates through 2 segments and under 2 different names with a headquarters in Kenilworth, NJ. The company operates as Merck & Co in the US and as Merck Sharp & Dohme outside the US and Canada. The 2 segments are Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. Revenue topped $49 billion in 2022 and employed more than 68,000 people. The company has 8 research facilities near major university systems, including 7 in the US and 1 in the UK. As of 2022, the company had 82 pipeline products in Phase 2 trials, 30 in Phase 3 trials and 3 under review.

The Pharmaceutical segment researches discover and commercializes human health products in several areas of medicine. These include but are not limited to oncology, acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes. This segment has 6 blockbuster drugs as of late 2022, with each generating more than $1 billion in revenue. The leading treatments are Keytruda for treating cancer-related immune conditions, Gardisil which is a vaccine for HPV and Januvia for treating Type-II diabetes. The Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets veterinary healthcare products and services. Both segments sell to healthcare facilities and distributors.
Jon McCourt

Jon McCourt, the tireless Derry advocate for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse, has explained why he declined inclusion on the birthday honours list of Britains King Charles.

Jon refused an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) citing what he described as forced child migration from the city as part of the propagation of Empire and the murder of 14 Derry people by the British army on Bloody Sunday, January 30, 1972, as his reasons for doing so.

In his considered response to the honours committee, the offering body, Jon highlighted the harrowing experience of Peggy Gibson from Derry, who was transported as an orphan.

Peggy only discovered on a visit to Derry in her later years she was not in fact an orphan at all when she was removed from the Nazareth House in Derry, said Jon, but sadly, her mother and her brother had both died before she returned.

Jon also recounted to the committee his trauma at witnessing his friend being murdered on Bloody Sunday.

Jon McCourt sees his friend murdered on Bloody Sunday.

Including a photograph taken on the day in his reply, Jon wrote: [This] is another personal reason.

I'm in the middle of the photograph. Against the fence on my left I'd a sixteen year old boy who has just been shot, the boy behind me would be shot next and my friend would be murdered in front of me while he lay already mortally wounded on the kerb feet in front of me on Bloody Sunday.

The King is the Honorary Colonel in Chief of the Regiment responsible. One of the soldiers involved was also awarded an MBE.

As an Irish man and a proud Derry man, who survived that horrific day, I could not with any integrity and conscience accept an MBE. Therefore I am declining the offer. I thank you on behalf of Survivors ((North West) and all Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse for the consideration.

Speaking to Derry News, Jon said he had declined the MBE with dignity and for good reason.

'Forced child migration' from Derry 'as part of the propagation of Empire' - Jon McCourt

As soon as I opened the letter, I thought of Peggy Gibson and of a young boy with a tag round his neck with his name and his weight on it. They were ballast on an empty ship, he said.

I had the ships manifest somewhere in my pile of documents. The boys name was Bernard Kerr. He was taken from Termonbacca. The ship was the SS Astoria, if I remember correctly.

All of the young people on board were signed off in loco parentis by Fr Rooney from St Columbs College, later a much admired parish priest in Creggan. I dont believe he would have met any of these children.

Just imagine Peggy Gibson or any of the others being literally given to the other side of the world as an orphan, then finding out years later you had family alive in Derry.

That could have been me or my brothers because we were in Termonbacca from 1955 to 1965, or my sister in the Nazareth House, if it had been eight years later. That thought still gives me the shivers. I had the press photograph blown up to A1 size at the start of the Historical Institutional Abuse campaign to remind me every day, said Jon.

The text of Jons full letter to the honours committee read: Dear Sir/Madam, I thank you for the notification that I am to be recommended for the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire.

I am pleased that the work we have been engaged in on behalf of Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse has been recognised by the Government. It was a privilege to work with many representatives across the political spectrum to ensure that the long search for justice for some of the most vulnerable children in our society, abused while in the care of the State and religious institutions, would finally be achieved through the The Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 and The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) 2019.

Among the thousands of Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse who will have seen our efforts as a successful campaign are many who were stolen as children and ripped from their homeland, most never to return, under the Child Migrant Act as part of the propagation of Empire.

Having spoken to some of them, and heard their heart wrenching experiences of lost family ties, brutality and abuse, my thoughts as I write this are especially with them. Particularly Peggy Gibson from Derry transported as an orphan, who gave a statement to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry cataloguing that brutality only to discover on a visit to Derry in her later years that she was not an orphan when she was removed from the Nazareth House in Derry, but sadly her mother and her brother had died before she returned.

The campaign for justice for Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse crossed the religious and political divide in this country. We were clear at the outset that we were not seeking an Inquiry into solely Catholic run institutions. Victims and Survivors came from a broad section of State and Religious Institutions each with their own traumatic experience to recall. We stayed away, I believe successfully, from anything political that would have detracted from our cause.

Just as the HIA Report was due to be released, the Executive collapsed in 2017, which caused significant delay in establishing the Redress Process and again in 2022 just ahead of the long awaited apology although frustrated, we remained patient and dignified, acting as persuaders and trusting that we would eventually conclude the journey we had been on since 2009.

As well as acknowledging those who suffered under the Child Migrant Scheme stolen from here with the sole purpose of the propagation of Empire, the photograph is another personal reason. I'm in the middle of the photograph. Against the fence on my left I'd a sixteen year old boy who has just been shot, the boy behind me would be shot next and my friend would be murdered in front of me while he lay already mortally wounded on the kerb, feet in front of me on Bloody Sunday.

The King is the Honorary Colonel in Chief of the Regiment responsible. One of the soldiers involved was also awarded an MBE. As an Irish man and a proud Derry man, who survived that horrific day, I appreciate the intention of the nomination, for me the work on the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry and our role was sufficiently recognised in the passing of the legislation at Stormont and Westminster bringing Justice and Acknowledgement for thousands of Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse.

However as an Irishman and particularly as a Derry man I could not with any integrity and conscience accept an MBE. Therefore I am declining the offer. I thank you on behalf of Survivors ((North West) and all Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse for the consideration. Jon McCourt






A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Just over 50 years ago, five-year-old Siobhan Meenan walked through the doors of Steelstown Primary School for the very first time as part of the new school's inaugural class of primary ones.

At the end of this school year, Siobhan Gillen (as she is now known) will go out through those same doors as the school's principal for the last time.

Siobhan's retirement marks the end of a distinguished 35-year career in teaching. Having served 29 years in St Anne's PS in Rosemount -18 of those as vice principal - the Shantallow native returned to her roots in 2017 to take up the post of head teacher at her beloved former school.

She said: I did the first six months of P1 at Pennyburn, but when Steelstown opened in April, I came in as part of the first class of primary ones.

My parents loved the school, and my brothers and sister all went here as well.

An enduring memory from those early schooldays is the impact made on the young Siobhan by 'inspirational' teachers who ignited her passion for learning. She rhymes off their names as if it were yesterday, and with fondness in her voice: Joe Martin, her primary seven teacher, the late Brian Fryer, who took them all to swimming galas at weekends, Helen McLaughlin, who has great links with the school still, Mrs McCourt, Mrs Doherty, Miss McCafferty and Mrs Saunders.

I always wanted to teach, she said. I have a book here that I had in P7 and one of the stories was 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' and I wanted to be a teacher.

Obviously I had great teachers and was very fortunate; I had a lovely experience with education and I wanted to be able to do that too; to help people. I love being able to give support to children and to their families.

A young Siobhan (back left) with sister Kathleen and brothers Edward (back right) and George enjoying a family holiday in Greencastle.

And there is certainly a 'lovely' atmosphere at Steelstown on the day I visit. Joyful shrieks emanate from the wains having fun in the outdoor play area, while the P7s can be heard singing 'Bring Me Sunshine' in preparation for their end-of-year show the following day.

As staff and pupils move through the foyer, on their way to this classroom or that, there's an ease about how they interact with one another.

When you meet Siobhan, you get an immediate sense of where the lightness of mood that pervades the school has come from. There is an aura of calm about the former Thornhill College pupil and a great warmth.

If you were going to describe Siobhan with one word, said vice principal Catherine Doorish, then it would be 'kind'.

She's kind to everybody and she always strives to do her best to ensure that each child here reaches their potential.

Siobhan and pupils from her P7 class in St Anne's being presented with an eco award in the 1990s. The commitment to a 'green' ethos has been a constant throughout her career.

Her ethos at Steelstown is one where each child that walks through that door every morning is welcomed by Mrs Gillen with a smile. Her office door is always open and she's usually the first into the school in the morning and the last to go.

Catherine will take over the reins from Siobhan in September, and she intends to carry on her successor's holistic approach to education that she believes makes Steelstown such a special place for staff, pupils and parents alike.

It's not just the academic aspect, she said, but physically, with her dedication to sport and her swimming, and then spiritually with the Catholic ethos of the school, it all comes together in a perfect success under her creative and innovative leadership.

Siobhan and the team celebrate clinching 'Best School in NI' at the Families First awards.

Siobhan has a quiet presence about her, but she has a lot of respect from the pupils and staff. They appreciate her pastoral approach to behavior. Naturally, there are issues that happen in the school, but it's within that Catholic ethos of forgiveness and moving forward, and Siobhan really does embody that.

And she's great fun. She's a teetotaller but she loves a good night out; loves to dance and loves the craic.

We love celebrations here in Steelstown and she has set a high bar for the amount of buns she brings in on staff development days!

She is a people person. She will always strive for the best for everybody; her staff, her pupils and her families.

We will really miss her.

FAMILY TIES: The Steelstown pupils celebrate 'grandparents' day'

In any field of work, the most successful leaders tend to be the ones who seek consensus, who do not rule with an iron fist but who instead bring their staff along with them so that the responsibilties (and rewards) are shared. It is perhaps this aspect of Siobhan's personality that explains why Steelstown has flourished under her tenure. At just 56, she could have stayed on a few more years but she feels the time is right to bow out.

The school is in a very good place, she said. We won best school in Northern Ireland at the Families First awards in 2020. We gained our green flag status and it is being reissued this month.

We've earned our bronze, silver and, last month, gold Sustrans awards and made changes to the school environment: outside play area, refurbishments to our hall, our windows and our doors, sensory areas and toilets.

2020 ... Primary 7 pupils celebrating Valentine's Day with 25 reasons why they love their school.

We have lovely, innovative staff and our pupil numbers have grown considerably; we're at 480 now. It's been a privilege to serve the community and make a change for the better to the lives of the children and their parents; to afford them the opportunities that lets them tap into the things that will let them reach their potential.

Being able to support staff too, has been important to me. Staff who maybe wouldn't have seen themselves in certain roles; when you see promise in a member of staff, when you see capacity and if you nurture that, and upskill them and give them the opportunities, then they'll be the leaders of tomorrow.

I had great support from the VP who left a few years ago (Jacinta Hegarty) and my current VP, Catherine, is going to be appointed principal, so it's going to be a smooth transition.

We have a great management team and thankfully the resources and finances are there to offer different things; the traditions at Steelstown will continue.

Siobhan insists she will always maintain strong links with the community, the parish and the school - she lives a stone's throw away - but now she is looking forward to the next chapter:

I haven't made immediate plans. I've two grandchildren, one a year and six months and the other came just in the last few weeks.

STEELSTOWN PRINCIPAL HONOURED. . . . Mrs. Siobhan Gillen, retiring principal of Steelstown Primary School receiving a presentation from the outgoing Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sandra Duffy to mark her upcoming retirement from the school and her contribution and dedication to the city and district. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

I want to be able to give time to my husband, Leo, my children Leona (and husband Michael), Eamonn (and fiance Ciara), Cormac (and wife Marie-Claire) and Claire (and boyfriend Paul). And, of course, my grandchildren, Leo and Isabella.

But there's no doors closed. I'll still be involved in different organisations. I like to always keep busy and I know I will want to continue like that, but maybe for a couple of months I'll just slow it down a bit.

She will be in over the summer, but the next week or so will be her last chance to spend time with the pupils as their head teacher. There's plenty going on right up until the last day of school on June 30, with one of the highlights a three-day outdoor pursuits residential in Carlingford with the primary sevens.

At the mention of the Carlingford trip, her face lights up. Siobhan may have excelled in leadership roles for the majority of her teaching career, but it's with her pupils that her heart truly lies.

She said: The nicest part of the job is with the children; the admin can be done in the evenings. It's about making every child feel valued and every family feel valued. And they are all unique. They all have different journeys and they go at different paces to their destinations, but they get there.

It's about seeing their value and their worth and making them believe in themselves. They mightn't remember everything you taught them - but they'll remember how you made them feel.

Steelstown Primary Schools retiring head teacher Siobhan Gillen, congratulating Catherine Doorish, her former vice principal, on her appointment as new principal of the school last week. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

And she, too, will always remember how they made her feel; from the past pupils she taught at St Anne's, now parents themselves with children at Steelstown, taking time to tell her how much they loved being in her class, to the wee boy last week who, when she told him she was leaving, said, 'can you not just stay?'.

Siobhan will miss them all, but there's an exciting new chapter to look forward to and she has no regrets.

I'm very happy, she said. Our community is one of the best in the world and it has been a privilege to serve them. Same with the community in Rosemount, where I made many great friends over the years.

Working with children is the best job in the world; I feel very blessed.
A determined group of ladies, known as The Spice Girls joined thousands of other females involved with the Female Walk/Run event last Sunday.

Dressed in colourful pink wigs and fun accessories to represent female power, close friends Teresa Duffy, Lorna Goudie, Stephanie Laird, and Annette Russell were all participating for a good cause.

Teresa was taking part for the very first time in memory of her sister-in-law Linda Carson and her friend Janet Norris who she said received incredible support at Foyle Hospice right up until her death.

Linda Carson was diagnosed with Bile duct Cancer last June and died peacefully at home back in January.

Linda was a mother of one daughter and a retired lecturer who had worked in Downpatrick for many years.

Teresa recalled her sister-in-laws personality saying: She was a very outgoing person and always jolly  nothing was ever a bother to her and she never complained about anything.

According to Teresa, her friend Janet also received top quality care as a patient at Foyle Hospice.

She was in remission from breast cancer but unfortunately was given the news that she had lung cancer.

She loved having fun and was always up for a laugh!

She loved taking part in fundraisers and being involved in community events  we both took part in the Shipquay Street slide event for Cancer Research UK back in 2014.

Teresa believes that everyone should take part in the Foyle Hospice Female Walk/Run if they can.

I wanted to give something back to Foyle hospice in memory of Linda and Janet.

Its such a worthy cause and a great route, it really isnt difficult at all.

There is such comradery and we were talking to other ladies taking part and it was lovely to be there.

If you have good company, its even better!

If you would like to know more about Foyle Hospice, including its services and support or share a fundraising idea please call 028 71 359 888. We are always grateful for your support.
Over the years, three-piece bands have been responsible for some of the greatest music ever committed to tape. Groups such as Motorhead, Rush and Blink-182 have shown that you dont need a huge band to make a huge impact.

This week, Im talking to a group that are keeping this three-piece tradition alive, Derrys own Parker. Parker are Dylan Bradley (guitar/vocals), Eoghan Donegan (bass) and Michael Brown (drums) and, as you may have seen in the last few columns, are about to release their debut album, Never Let This Go, on the 30th of this month. I caught up with Dylan and Michael recently to talk about the album.

Speaking about the recording, Dylan tells me: In January 2022 we laid down the album and weve kind of been sitting on it since then, going back and forth over mixes and stuff and getting it edited and put together. We actually got the final master done at the end of last year, so we've been sitting on it for about six months.

It's been a long time in the making because we started writing it in 2020, during the Pandemic. Michael adds its a Pandemic baby.

Dylan continues: it's been a long time coming now. I cant wait to get it out there. Weve been playing these songs for three years and weve started writing the next record now, before the first ones out. Its a funny feeling, because we know we're gonna be touring this album. Were not going to be releasing any new music after this comes out for probably six months or whatever. So, we're only gonna be really playing this live.

Dylan continues We recorded in a place called Badland Studios. Cahir ODoherty produced it and Alan McGreevy engineered it. Caolan Austin mixed it. It was a lot of fun to make.

There's all these songs on the record that we knew were never going to be singles that nobodys heard and I cant wait to hear what people think of them. Michael says, the album sounds like all the bands we listened to over the Pandemic.

Next, we moved onto the topic of live gigs. Dylan says, Our first year of existence, we had no music out and we played a load of gigs.

Michael adds: Its always been that way though. Me and you have been doing this for eleven years now and any gig that was ever thrown our way wed just say yep, lets go. Its the best way for people to get to know you if you dont have music out. Dylan continues the shows have been great.

We haven't played Derry since the Fighting With Wire show in October last year. Weve been mostly playing Belfast and down south, but were back on home turf now.

Speaking about that much-anticipated return, Dylan then spoke a bit about the album launch itself, and the brilliant line-up thats going to be playing there. Weve got TRAMP, weve got Ferals and weve got Tomcat.

I think its a great line-up. If I wasnt playing, I would definitely be going to it. Obviously, everybody knows TRAMP, theyre one of our favourite bands. So are Ferals. I actually wanted to do this gig with them specifically because weve basically been playing shows with them since we started as a band.

TRAMP and us started at a fairly similar time. Ferals have been going for ages, but we used to play with them in our old bands. I went to see Tomcat play in Bennigans a couple of weeks ago and theyre class.

Finally, Michael said, when I asked if they had anything else to add, to keep listening until we have loads and loads of money. Dylan, answering the same question, said, were going to play new music for the first time since weve been a band.

Therell be at least one new tune. Weve been playing the same songs since we started in 2021, so for almost two years weve been playing the same songs, but were going to play new music at this gig. Well also play all the songs off the album, even the ones we dont play live usually.

Parkers much-anticipated debut, Never Let This Go is out on the 30th June. It can be pre-ordered now on the bands official Bandcamp page (bandcalledparker.bandcamp.com). They play Bennigans that night with what must be one of the best line-ups this side of Stendhal, featuring TRAMP, Ferals and Tomcat.

Find them on Facebook and Instagram @bandcalledparker.
President Michael D Higgins comments on foreign affairs were close to the line but did not go too far, a Fine Gael TD has said.

In an article published by the Business Post on Sunday, Mr Higgins said Ireland was playing with fire in a drift towards countries like Latvia and Lithuania, two Nato member states.

The Governments consultative forum on international security will start next week and is set to discuss  among other issues relating to security  Irelands military neutrality.

Article 29 of the Irish constitution designates foreign affairs to the authority of the government, and by convention the President does not directly criticise the government.

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond told RTE the Presidents comments were well held.

Foreign affairs policy will of course be driven by the government and indeed by the Oireachtas. I recognise President Higgins comments, they are well held, decades-held opinions and comments, he said.

He added: He certainly goes close to the line to be honest, but we do recognise and the one thing when I read the report initially this morning I was a little bit disappointed, but Ive now come full circle.

We want people to engage in this consultative forum starting this week. Weve already seen 900 registering, weve already seen 300 submissions.

So lets have that debate, lets have that discussion. Its not a binary decision. We want all voices to be heard, and more importantly, to be felt like theyve been heard as well.

Mr Richmond confirmed that he did not think Mr Higgins comments had crossed the line.

Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon said the President had a moral right to contribute to the discussion around the consultative forum on international security.

He didnt cross the line at all, he has a moral right to be able to give his views on such an important issue. We are talking about issues of foreign policy but there are also already citizens who will be expected to take part should their neutrality be challenged, he said.

Mr Higgins also criticised the choice of speakers billed for the forum, including chairwoman Louise Richardson, saying she was a person with a very large DBE  Dame of the British Empire.

Mr Richmond said neutral countries would be contributing to the consultation.

Firstly, there is a wide spectrum of experts, experts in peacekeeping, peace-making, and peace policy, he said.

We also see all neutral countries have been invited from the EU  Austria, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland is a neutral country wholl be on a panel because we want to hear from their expertise.

We are going to remain a militarily neutral country, however, things have changed drastically.

When asked if the government was interfering with positive neutrality, Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny said it was certainly something that an awful lot of people are very concerned about.

I hear that not just from political circles, but the general public people out there are scratching their heads and wondering, where is this going? What direction is it going in? he said.

People have a huge affinity with the fact that Ireland is neutral, that Ireland can have a foreign policy which can have the respect of so many countries around the world.

Mr Gannon said there was a genuine fear of what Mr Higgins described as the drift towards Nato membership.

Theres a genuine fear that we are drifting towards Nato. I think the make-up of some of the speakers who are taking part in these forums seem to have a very pro-Nato voice, he said.

He added: When we talk about pro neutrality, positive neutrality, we cant step away from the fact that Ireland has a very proud tradition that we are neutral but never indifferent.
Architect and television presenter, Hugh Wallace wants to meet people from Louth who are getting creative with their housing solutions. Be it a one room cottage, an abandoned hayshed or something in between, Hugh wants to hear from you!

Produced by Animo Television, the fifth series of The Great House Revival is due to be filmed this year and applications are open to take part. Hugh and his team will follow the progress of restoration projects across the country, as owners reclaim beautiful buildings from the past to transform them into spaces for modern-day living.

Hugh said: I cant wait to travel the length and breadth of Ireland once again to follow more brave restorers as they embark on their restoration journey. Were looking for wonderful projects from Louth to showcase as many fabulous properties across the nation as possible.

Maya Derrington, series producer and director of The Great House Revival said: All over Ireland there are properties in need of serious repair and love, and The Great House Revival champions the bravery of those willing to take them on.

"Suitable projects include any historical homes that are about to undergo a restoration: church conversions, old schoolhouses, rural Garda stations, farmhouses and farm buildings, small cottages or Georgian townhouses and smaller terraced homes. No restoration is too small!

If you, or someone you know is about to embark on a restoration of any kind, Animo TV want to hear from you  email property@animotv.ie
It was off with the costumes and on with the evening wear when actors Anita Guest and Mary Francis McAteer represented Encore Productions at the recent Irish Health Care Centre Awards in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire.

The crowd rose in applause as they took the stage to receive the award on behalf of the cast and crew of the Dundalk based drama group they have acted in for over 20 years. Receiving the award from RTEs Marty Whelan their pride and passion for drama shone through.

Across 29 categories the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards recognise excellence and outstanding innovation in the Irish Healthcare Sector.

Initiatives in Nursing, teaching, Mental Healthcare, Midwifery and Clinical Care were all recognised alongside many other categories. Encore Productions won the category for Best Healthcare Initiative in Disability Services.

The drama group draws all its actors from RehabCare Resource Centre in Carrol Village. With commitment, confidence and creativity the cast and crew have put on shows in Dundalk Town Hall for over 20 years.

The shows themselves are at times written by the cast and at others, adaptations of classic plays but all have the trademark warmth, directness and honesty that these performers bring.

Having built up the groups momentum and scale to the point in 2016 when over 80 performers took the stage in their Irish History Play  Our Story So Far, Encore scaled back the size of their productions to create shows that could be toured and would offer actors a chance to hone their stagecraft and work with professional theatre makers from the disciplines of acting, music and film.

The quality of their 2017 production of Shakespeares The Tempest resulted in them being asked to become Theatre Company In residence with An Tain Arts Centre. During the 4 years of their residency Encore Productions have staged Courage by Bertold Brecht, and their own original piece Aesop based on the life of the ancient writer of Fables and A Midsummer Nights dream  yet another of their Shakespeare adaptations.

According to RehabCare Drama Coordinator Sandy Sneddon:

"Whats so exciting about this award is that it recognises the positive impact of the arts, creativity and drama specifically on the wellbeing of individuals and the communities in which they live.

To be part of something bigger than oneself  to have a role and responsibilities  to work toward a common goal - to tell stories that mean something to you and say something about your own experiences is enormously rewarding.

Expressing oneself through voice and movement  being heard and being seen both in the rehearsal room and on stage is a powerful way to build confidence, trust and respect. And all this in a theatre!

When asked what being Theatre Company in Residence meant to them the actors were characteristically vocal. Melissa Fox says she likes doing workshops with professional actors:

Its great to be part of something and meet new peoplelearn new things  stay interested. Ive got so much more confidence since my first show.

Martin Hanley felt that when he arrived from Birmingham Doing drama helped me fit in  make friends and be part of something.

While for Jamie Linden Its all about CraicFriends.Passionit helps me reach my goals. The power to meet an audiencebring family and friends together. Research the characters and the actors on the internet. Keeps me busy and interested at night when I come home.

Dolores McKeever who plays the lead in their latest production said:

I see actors on soaps with a disability  if they can do it so can we! Drama has made me more alert and more able to concentrate. A sense of achievement. A bit of a celebrity. A part of the community. We show them we can do it.

We are as good as anyone else. Its taken us to different places Galway, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester. Places other people dont get to go.

Rodger Zyro added:

I never be nervous. I love working with the team  the director, the crew, all the cast. The lines help me with my memory. The stories help me with my emotions. Stories make sense.

Olivia McGinnity smiles as she speaks  I have confidence now. And Im part of a team. If you ask me what I do, I say  I am and actress!

David Coyle loves coming here: I love to perform. Im proud of what Im doing. I love the shows and the tours. It gives me something to look forward to  and something to remember!

Encore veteran Paddy Durnin enthused:

Its been great being Theatre Company in Residence. The experience has been amazing. Its been an honour so far  and this years show is going to be off the charts. When I perform the audience give me energy  and I take that energy into my life!

The 25 participants in Encore Productions are supported by Sandy Sneddon, Grainne OHanlon and Rachel Tinniswood who work with a team of creatives  Orlaith Cullinane, Dara Cumiskey and Eoin Hannaway among them, to facilitate a process that allows for creativity, expression, team work and performance.

Community service manager Ian Foran and An Tain Arts centre director were united in their praise for the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of RehabCares Dundalk services Ian said:

We are incredibly proud to support persons through their Residency. An Tain have been wonderful collaborators and partners, open minded, forward thinking and most welcoming to all actors who are involved in each production, treating every person with the highest regard and unwavering equity.

We are highly fortunate to have such committed staff who support the actors through an intricate process that is created and coordinated by Sandy Sneddon.

From a Social Care perspective, we support a group of talented people in a normalised working environment that focuses minds on ability and endeavours to continue the process of personal development, from my perspective we're just lucky and privileged to support great actors.

The last word came from An Tain Director Paul Hayes:

I have been hugely impressed with the standard of Encores work ethic since they took up the residency in 2019. Their seemingly endless enthusiasm for theatre, coupled with Sandys artistic vision ensures this has been very successful collaboration.

They are a wonderful group of actors to have in the Arts Centre and have had a very positive influence on both staff and visiting artists alike.

We are the only Arts Centre in the country with a company in residence made up of actors with intellectual disabilities, we are delighted that this award gives national recognition to the great benefits of our collaboration to all who experience it.

Encores adaptation of The Visit by Friedrich Durrenamat will run at An Tain Arts Centre for three performances in the last week of September.

Contact An Tain on 0429332332 or at info@antain.ie or go to their website for more details.
The Castletown River Estuary in Dundalk is one of only three water bodies in the country to be assessed as having exceeded healthy phosphate thresholds according to a new report released today.

The Water Quality in 2022 Report compiled by the EPA showed that the phosphate level in the water exceeded the recommended threshold by 6%.

Additionally, the Castletown Estuary was one of 20% estuarine and coastal water bodies assessed that were found to be in unsatisfactory condition for Dissolved inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) with measurements reading 85% above threshold value.

The concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in winter is used as an index of nutrient enrichment in marine waters.

Nationally, the report found that Nitrate concentrations are too high in 40% of river sites nationally and in 20% of estuarine and coastal water bodies.

The report noted: These elevated levels are found mainly in the south and south east and are too high to support good water quality in our estuaries.

This is primarily attributable to intensive agricultural activities on freely draining soils in these areas. Most of the nitrogen in Irish waters comes from organic and inorganic fertilisers.

Average nitrate levels in rivers and groundwaters increased nationally between 2021 and 2022. While levels can fluctuate between years based on climate there is no indication that nitrate levels are reducing.

Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPAs Office of Evidence and Assessment, said:

Clean water is essential for our health and wellbeing, our economy and for wildlife. The failure to improve water quality in 2022 and over the longer term is extremely disappointing.

We will not meet our water quality objectives until nutrient levels are reduced in those areas where they are too high. Addressing this must be a priority for the agriculture sector and Uisce Eireann to reduce the losses of nutrients to water.

While we can see improvements happening in some areas, these are offset by declines elsewhere, so overall there is no discernible change in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022. Improvements need to be far greater and more widespread to translate into an improving national picture.














The evening of Monday the 12th of June saw the final of three 2023 Annual Meetings for Louth County Council Municipal District Councils. Municipal District Councils were formed in accordance with the Local Government Reform Act 2014 following the dissolution of Town Councils.

Municipal District meetings of Drogheda, Dundalk, and Ardee are held on the first Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of the month respectively excepting on a bank holiday when the Drogheda meeting goes to the following Monday.

The Annual Meeting for each is typically held immediately preceding the June monthly meeting each year. The first order of business of an Annual Meeting is the election of a new Cathaoirleach and the second the election of a Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Ardee Municipal District Council covering the mid-Louth area and comprising of 6 Elected Members (Councillors) of Louth County Council were the first to say thank you to their outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Paula Butterly.

Their Annual Meeting was held on Thursday 1st June in the Dermot OBrien Room of Ardee Civic Offices. Cllr Butterly wont be going far as she remains a Member of Ardee MD.

The evening of Monday the 12th of June saw the final of three 2023 Annual Meetings for Louth County Council Municipal District Councils. Municipal District Councils were formed in accordance with the Local Government Reform Act 2014 following the dissolution of Town Councils.

Municipal District meetings of Drogheda, Dundalk, and Ardee are held on the first Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of the month respectively excepting on a bank holiday when the Drogheda meeting goes to the following Monday.

The Annual Meeting for each is typically held immediately preceding the June monthly meeting each year. The first order of business of an Annual Meeting is the election of a new Cathaoirleach and the second the election of a Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Ardee Municipal District Council covering the mid-Louth area and comprising of 6 Elected Members (Councillors) of Louth County Council were the first to say thank you to their outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Paula Butterly.

Their Annual Meeting was held on Thursday 1st June in the Dermot OBrien Room of Ardee Civic Offices.

Cllr Dolores Minogue was elected as new Cathaoirleach for the 2023 / 2024 term of office. Cllr Minogue who was previously Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council will be assisted in her role by Cllr John Sheridan who was elected to the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Dundalk Municipal District Annual Meeting was next to see a change of Chair, with their Annual Meeting being held on Tuesday 6th of June in the Chamber of Dundalk Town Council on Fair Street Dundalk.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Kevin Meenan thanking all his 12 fellow Councillors for their support during his 12-month term, vacated his chair in Dundalk MD, to make way for incoming Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Kelly.

Cllr John Reilly who was elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach didnt miss the opportunity to present a St. Brigids Cross to new Cathaoirleach Cllr Kelly.

The Municipal District of Drogheda which is referred to as the Borough District of Drogheda is made up of 10 Elected Members. It saw the first ever female to female Mayor exchange for Drogheda on Monday 12th June, with Cllr Michelle Hall vacating her seat to give way to Cllr Eileen Tully as new Mayor of Drogheda.

Cllr Tully whose late husband Oliver previously also stood as Mayor of Drogheda will be assisted in her role by Cllr Kevin Callan as Deputy Mayor.

All 29 Elected Members must now come together to elect an overall Chair or Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council at the Annual Meeting on Monday 19th June.

Once elected the Cathaoirleach will be deemed the first citizen of Louth, taking precedence over all others, except the President, when attending events or functions within the county. Cllr Conor Keelan is currently the Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council.
Louth County Council have given the go ahead for a new housing development at Dublin Road and Chapel Road, Haggardstown, Dundalk.

Wonderglade Unlimited Company applied to Louth County Council in November 2022 for development at a site on the Dublin Road (R132) and Chapel Road - opposite the Fairways Hotel and to the east of Chapel Road.

The planned development, which originally consisted of 65 new dwellings but was reduced to 62, comprises 27 apartments and 35 houses.

Louth County Council requested further information on the planned development in December 2022, with significant further information provided to the local authority last month.

Included in the further information, were plans relating to a new vehicular access/egress from the Dublin Road(R132) to the

housing development in lieu of one from Chapel Road; a reduction in unit numbers from 65 to 62; revisions to apartments layouts including elevational amendments; and revisions to housing designs including provision of two new house types.

It also provided for a revised site layout to account for new vehicular access including revisions to landscape design, site levels, unit levels, infrastructure design & boundary treatments and all associated site development works.

Louth County Council granted conditional planning permission for the development to go ahead on 12 June 2023.
TWO Cork women feature in a new TG4 documentary next week showcasing cancer survivors and the innovative breakthroughs in research into the disease in Ireland.

Biseach on Ailse on Thursday, June 22 at 8.30pm tells the stories of two cancer survivors, including Ann Marie OSullivan, and meets people from Cork-based charity, Breakthrough Cancer Research (BCR).

Broadcaster and cancer survivor Evelyn ORourke interviews Ann Marie, who lives in the northside of Cork city, along with Orla Dolan, CEO of BCR.

Ann Marie was the first person in Munster to receive a new treatment (TCH-P) when she was diagnosed with cancer at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The treatment was successful, and she remembers the hope her medical team gave her.

Ann Marie told The Echo her cancer was first noticed in May, 2020, when a lump appeared in her armpit. The doctor initially told her she shouldnt be too concerned, but in two weeks it grew from a grape to the size of a plumb. In that time, another growth appeared in her breast.

In June, 2020, Ann Marie was referred to the care of Cork University Hospital.

I was 37, she said. It didnt feel like it was lining up to be cancer. First of all it was in my armpit, and it was sore.

Once it sunk in that it was cancer, there was a huge time of anxiety in that they werent sure if it was Stage 3 or Stage 4 breast cancer.

The world was just turned upside down, and it was a scary time. It was a devastating time and a time of huge worry.

Ann Marie found the chemotherapy incredibly draining. It felt like I had been emptied out. I found it very challenging. The surgery and radiotherapy were difficult, but not as difficult as the chemotherapy. The chemotherapy took everything.

Ann Maries advice to cancer sufferers is to be gentle on yourself.

Take it slowly. All of this language of fighting and battling - there is space to be kind to yourself and to take things at your own pace.

Orla Dolan of Breakthrough Cancer Research.

One in two people in Ireland will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, a stark reality, but one that researchers across the island o are tackling with incredible results thanks to the support of leading charities like Breakthrough Cancer Research.

CEO Orla Dolan said their role in the documentary was demonstrating the value of research, hearing stories like Ann Maries, and showcasing new advancements and drugs.

From our standpoint it was helping them identify researchers who are currently on the frontlines, said Orla.

Thats what we do, we fund the researchers.
Angling is returning to the Lough in Cork five years after a deadly fish kill wiped out nearly 100% of all carp in the popular lake.

The Lough suffered a significant fish kill in May 2018, with a loss of about 99.9% of all carp in the lake, caused by Carp Edema Virus (CEV).

The fish kill was well covered in The Echo and national media at the time, said Bill Brazier, secretary of Cork Carp Anglers Club.

Simultaneously, the virus also wiped out a similar proportion of the stock in the nearby Belvelly Lake, a private carp fishery in Cobh.

This led to the implementation and enforcement of a precautionary ban on angling for biosecurity reasons at the Lough by Cork City Council. This stayed in effect for almost five years, added Mr Brazier.

However, two rounds of health testing in March 2022 and, more recently, in April of this year by the Marine Institute, on fish caught and supplied by members of the Cork Carp Anglers Club, have both confirmed that the virus is no longer present in the lake.

No other aquatic pathogens were detected in the testing. Therefore, as the lake no longer poses a fish biosecurity risk, recreational angling has now returned to the lake, said Mr Brazier.

Our club, including its junior members, have recently visited the lake and a low number of carp have been caught.

"Other local anglers, many of whom are youths, are now able to fish the lake again without objection.

The public reaction to the return of angling has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Mr Brazier.

Of course, the Lough is an invaluable public amenity for Cork city and has attracted countless anglers to the area from all over Ireland and further afield for decades," he said. "Hopefully, we will now see the lake return to being one of Ireland's finest public fisheries."
A Glounthaune native revealed how love forced him to veer outside of his comfort zone and to go to incredible lengths to support his girlfriend.

Thomas Quain said he has done everything including constructing a car wash from scratch in the name of love.

Sam Smadella, who lives in Canada, bumped into Thomas while on holiday with her friends in Ireland. While distance can put a strain on even the strongest relationships, Thomas and Sams has stood the test of time.

Sam reflected on how she met the Cork filmmaker after frequenting a well-known Dublin pub.

My best friend moved to the UK and we decided that we would meet up for an adventure in Ireland, Sam told The Echo. On our last night, we were at Whelans bar, where we met a cute filmmaker who was funny and friendly. We exchanged contact info and kept in touch.

Pictured are Thomas Quain and Sam Smadella who opened up about their long-distance relationship for this week's edition of How I Met My Partner.

The pair soon discovered they had a wealth in common.

We exchanged contacts and chatted online a bit for a while, she said. At some point we discovered we had both worked in The Disney Store. We both love making films and plays, though Im not an expert like Thomas. I did some voice acting for his animations. I got to be a Canadian woman in an off-licence once and a talking painting another time. On a number of occasions, I reached out to ask Thomas for advice and feedback. We kept chatting more and more and realised that we got along really well.

There was a point when we were chatting basically every day, and I asked if he wanted to be my long-distance boyfriend. I dont think either of us took it seriously at first because of the distance and the unpractical nature of it but when we met up again in person our feelings really started to grow and we both realized that this is something that is special and worth the leap of faith.

Thomas described how the feeling was mutual.

I was happy to help Sam with her various projects over the years and I did some graphic design work for her and was interested to learn more about what she was doing, he said. I did my best to keep up with her busy life. I was excited to be her long-distance boyfriend despite the obvious challenges. I felt excited to meet someone really unique. Her personality shines across even from such a great distance. For me, there was no one moment just a growing feeling of support and communication and that is probably a really good place, in retrospect, to start a relationship.

Thomas Quain and Sam Smadella strike a pose together. The couple feature in this week's How I Met My Partner.

Even the Covid-19 pandemic wasnt enough to keep the couple apart.

After meeting in Whelans we kept chatting like I say and eventually I decided to go over and see Sam again, Thomas said. I had never been to Canada so it was going to be a thrill. I was due to fly over there in April 2020 and then the pandemic hit in March that year and so that never happened. At that point, I felt it was never going to happen but we still kept in contact. Finally, we started dating in April 2021 even though we hadnt met in over five years. I think we built up a bond that feels quite strong.

Thomas let The Echo in on their secrets to a happy relationship.

I think finding someone who is a friend who you feel comfortable opening up to is important. Sam for me is that person. I think everyone feels they are strange but if you find the right person it can make you more comfortable and confident in yourself and Sam does that for me. Thats how I know it feels right.

Thomas Quain and Sam Smadella celebrating St Patrick's Day together. The couple feature in this week's How I Met My Partner.

Sam and Tom are looking forward to the future.

We have no game plan, Sam said. We are just riding this crazy wave of love. I think I got to the point where I am happy with who I am and where I am in life. I only wanted someone to share that with. I think we complement each other really well. We try to involve each other in our daily lives by sending pics of what we are up to, or video calling for exciting events like going through the car wash (Sam), or digging a grave for a movie (Thomas).

When Thomas was visiting me last, he was at home while I was working some of the days, and he took a bunch of photos of himself cleaning my house. For the weeks following him going back to Ireland, he would send me pictures of himself cleaning my house to make me feel like he was still there. I missed him a lot, and it always made me smile and laugh. When he visited he came with me to some gigs, and was eager to dress up like a leprechaun for the kids that I work with. They thought it was hilarious.

Thomas chipped in.

She actually begged me to do it and I am a good boyfriend so I did it. It was super fun.

The Cork man was thrilled to be introduced to Sams children.

Sam came over with her kids in August 2022 when I was in the middle of making a film. I was so keen to go to Dublin I blew up the fuel pump in my car driving from Wexford to Dublin with two actors who were also with me. Fortunately, after a few false starts we did make it to Dublin and I spent the day showing Sam and her amazing kids around Dublin.

Sam recalled how her children immediately warmed to Thomas.

My daughter said that he couldnt be any more perfect for me, and both kids and the dog adore him.

Thomas spoke about the time they spend together as a couple.

Sam has two of the most amazing kids Ive ever met in my life. I finally did go to Canada in November 2022 and stayed with Sam and we felt a really comfortable bond that grew really naturally. Sam has a very busy life as she does amazing work working as a paediatric recreational therapist in Canada and she works in a number of different locations around the city of Ottawa. I was lucky enough to go on some of her work days.

A really memorable day was when we went to the hardware store together and we looked for pipes and parts to make a car wash to give some of the kids she works with a fun sensory experience swapping water for glitter and other fun stuff. Not only did I go to the hardware store with her I also assembled it with her and brought it into work with her the next day. It was a lot of fun assembling it, watching it fall apart, sticking it in the trunk of her car and reassembling it in another location around the city. I think we did that over two days and it was a lot of fun and really wonderful to watch Sam work and be able to help her. I honestly dont know how she does it on her own! I think she is really amazing.

Sam recalled the attention to detail.

That was so fun, she said. We made it wheelchair accessible so that all of the kids could enjoy it.

The couple enjoy making memories together.

We have so many funny memories, Sam said. I was in Dublin over the June Bank Holiday weekend, and I was visiting Thomas and we found a man selling minion hats for only 1 each. Naturally, we both bought one and wore them all over town. When Thomas visited me in Canada in the winter I was a little worried about him freezing to death the instant he landed. It turns out that he is pretty tough. We went and fed the caribou and climbed some snow mountains. It was a lot of fun.

Sam described what she feels makes their relationship work.

We have a lot of fun together but we have a strong connection too. We just work well. Hes great.

Thomas echoed her sentiment.

Sam has so much joy and love in her and I just feel really lucky to be caught in the sunshine of her love."
A 41-year-old woman who carried out over 96,000 worth of social welfare fraud over a period of six years has been given a three-year suspended sentence.

Sergeant Michael Nagle told Judge Helen Boyle about the background to the crimes of deception committed by Dominique Mokoena of Clondulane, Fermoy, County Cork, who was represented by defence barrister Nikki OSullivan.

Ms OSullivan explained that while the defendant had used another name she was the one who approached An Garda Siochana when she tried to correct the record and presented to them with her real name and passport.

This gave rise to the investigation. Ms OSullivan said the accused would have been entitled to many of the payments through her family circumstances  she has four Irish-born children  but that the illegality arose out of the false name with which she presented to the Irish authorities.

The sample charges, to which Ms Mokoena pleaded guilty, consisted of theft by fraudulently securing payments for a one-parent family, rent supplement and child benefit.

Sgt Nagle said the accused came to Ireland 20 years under her true identity with a three-month South African tourist visa.

She then went to the UK before returning to Ireland in 2006 where she sought asylum under a false name, claiming to be from Zimbabwe.

When a passport was required as part of this application she obtained a false one which was accepted by the authorities. She applied for social welfare between 2013 and 2019 under this false identity.

She received exceptional needs payment, child benefit, basic supplementary allowance, rent supplement and back to school allowance.

In 2019 the passport was examined again when suspicions were raised at the social welfare office in Fermoy and it was found to be a high quality forgery.

All payment were stopped but she was able to apply for social welfare once her correct identity with South African passport was established as genuine.

The illegality of her obtaining payments for the six-year period arose out of the fact that her documentation was false at that time and she may have had no legal status in the country.
A CORK primary school team has scooped the top prize in Ireland for young debaters after they won the All-Ireland Concern Primary Debates final.

Pupils from St Marys Senior Girls NS from Dunmanway were one of over 230 school teams from across Ireland who took part in the competition.

The debating champions, who are all aged 12, defeated the Deravoy NS team from Carrickroe, Monaghan, after successfully opposing the motion that primary schools are creating caring global citizens.

They were presented with their winning trophy by representatives from the humanitarian organisation, Concern Worldwide, which runs the contest as part of its drive to encourage further debate about global issues among young people.

This is the second year in a row that the competition was won by a school from Cork after Ardfield NS, Clonakilty, became the 2022 Concern Primary Debates champions.

St Marys team captain, Danielle Crowley-Healy, praised her team members Lauren Mawe-Downey and Georgina Farr and thanked their families, teachers and friends.

We are delighted. Its been a fantastic experience, said Danielle after the final on Thursday evening.

The teams mentor and class teacher Mairead Twohig said the whole school community is very proud of what they have achieved.

These debates give children so much confidence. In this world today, we have to be able to speak up and have that presence whether it is at a meeting or on stage and this gives them that opportunity and they learn from each other, said Ms Twohig.

Concerns Head of Active Citizenship, Michael Doorly, praised all the teams who took part and thanked their teachers and family members.

We created this competition to get students thinking and talking about global issues and to give them skills and experiences that will benefit them through life, he said.

Hopefully, they will become life-long advocates on behalf of the most disadvantaged people in the world.

Anyone who would like their school to take part in next years competition can call 01 417 7733 or email primarydebates@concern.net.
Enquiries are ongoing into a fire in North Cork which broke out earlier today.

An Garda Siochana and emergency services attended the scene of a fire in Charleville this morning.

The emergency services became aware of the blaze as locals noticed the fire at an unoccupied residence on Smiths Road in Charleville.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: Gardai and emergency service attended the scene of a fire at an unoccupied residence on Smiths Road, Charleville, Co. Cork this morning, Sunday 18th June 2023.

"No injuries were reported.

"Enquiries are ongoing."
A CORK deodorant company that prides itself on being natural has taken the big step into the world of retail.

Vico deodorants are now available in 26 stores across Ireland, and will be adding to that very soon.

While other people were using the covid-19 lockdown time to bake banana bread or improve their five kilometre run times, Ben Breslin created his own natural deodorant and established his very own company  Vico Deodorant.

Speaking to The Echo, Ben explained that the idea for his own natural deodorant came following a conversation with his girlfriend.

One day, I was spraying an antiperspirant beside my girlfriend when she asked me not to spray it so close to her because it was full of crappy chemicals, he said.

I didnt have a clue what she was on about.

I gave it a Google and what I found took me by surprise.

The Vico family.

It turned out that a bunch of controversial chemicals are used in mainstream antiperspirants and deodorants, he added.

Not only that, but theres also a heap of plastic waste produced by the industry each year.

As if this wasnt enough, it turns out that lots of the large corporations that own these brands have carried out animal testing for beauty and personal care products in the past.

I made the decision there and then that I was going to swap to a natural deodorant. However, Ben found it hard to find a deodorant that worked for him, shipped to Ireland and was available at a reasonable price.

I decided to learn how to make deodorant in the kitchen of my rented house, he said.

It took me ages  over 100 formulas  but I finally made a deodorant that helped me smell great without the chemicals or plastic. Ben officially launched Vico Deodorant in July 2021.

It offers customers an Irish made, natural deodorant that is eco-friendly (plastic free), vegan and cruelty free, he explained.

We deliver the deodorant straight to your door!

The deodorant is made from naturally derived ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, fractionated coconut oil, organic essential oils and more.

The packaging is made from cardboard. Vico started off with a team of four working from their base in Currahaly.

The team includes Ben, his mother Martina, Filip, who helps make the deodorant, and Marta, who assists with quality control and packaging orders.

Ben said previously that he was surprised at the fast-paced success of the venture.

I feel blessed by the amount of support that Ive received.

Every week, I receive dozens of emails and social media messages from people who love the product and want to support it, he added.

For the last almost two years, Ben and his team have been busy making and shipping Vico directly to customers doors.

One of the questions we get asked all of the time is are you stocked in any shops?, Ben said.

For close to two years Ive wanted to say yes but things kept getting in the way.

Now, Im finally able to say yes we are!

We launched into retail stores last month, he added. So many of our customers have asked us to go into retail since we started.

I had planned to make the move lots of times but I had to delay it over and over.

To be honest, I didnt have the capacity, cashflow or knowledge to go into retail until now but we are finally ready.

Im over the moon happy.

My mam, Martina (Vicos first ever hire) is in charge of wholesale.

She used to run her own small shop in Temple Bar, so she has lots of experience. Ben explained Vico are taking things in the retail world on a step-by-step basis.

First, were getting back to shops that have messaged us, he said.

Were going to work with them and provide the best service that we can.

Were then going to start reaching out to other small retailers to see if they are interested in stocking Vico too.

We are going to hold off reaching out to the large retail chains for now, he added.

We have lots of plans for the summer. I dont want to risk taking on too much by possibly working with the big retailers.

We also want to learn the ropes of retail a bit more first. Ben added that, once those ropes are well and truly learned, Vico does have hopes to go into business with the bigger retail stores.

As of right now, Vico is stocked in over 26 stores, with plans to add more already underway.

These are all retailers who have reached out to us over the last two years and waited patiently for us to get back to them, said Ben.

Weve added a store locator for people to see exactly where were stocked.

People can see it here: https://vicodeo.com/pages/store-locator
A FUNCTION was held recently at City Hall to mark the retirement of the honorary consul of the Kingdom of Belgium to Cork, Dominic Daly.

Speeches were made by the Lord Mayor Deirdre Forde, Ben Dalton OSullivan, who deputised for the mayor of the County of Cork, Danny Collins, and the Belgian ambassador, Karen Van Vlierberg, who each paid tribute to Mr Daly for his contribution as Belgian consul in Cork.

The lord mayor said that Mr Daly had served his city and Belgium well.

Dominic was appointed as honorary consul in 1994. A well-known and well-liked Cork character, he has served his city, and Belgium, well.

"Indeed, in 2019, he was awarded the Order of Leopold II at a special service aboard a Belgium naval vessel. On behalf of the city of Cork, I would like to extend our thanks to you for your hard work, dedication, and tireless commitment to your work.

It was a lovely evening, said Mr Daly, who is a native of Cork City.

I had friends, family, and connections all there for the event. I was honorary consul of the Kingdom of Belgium for six counties in all: Cork, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, and Carlow.

He explained his role: I would be a contact if a Belgian national had a problem; they could come to me. In the olden days, we were able to issue passports, but that all became centralised. Retired Belgians who are living here had to meet with me once a year to get their pension.

Mr Daly, an auctioneer, enjoyed his honorary role, which strengthened links between Cork and Belgium.

When you are an auctioneer, you are helping people, so it is an extension of that. It is always good to strengthen links between Cork and Belgium. It is good from an employment and business perspective. Belgium is a beautiful country and Brussels is the centre of the European Union.
The Biden administration on Friday announced $930 million in grants designed to expand rural access to broadband internet. Part of the Department of Commerces Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program, the grants will fund the deployment of more than 12,000 miles of new fiber optic cable across 35 states and Puerto Rico. The administration said Friday it expects grant recipients to invest an additional $848.46 million, a commitment that should double the program's impact.

Much like how the interstate highway system connected every community in America to regional and national systems of highways, this program will help us connect communities across the country to regional and national networks that provide quality, affordable high-speed internet access, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.

High-speed internet is no longer a luxury, its a necessity. That's why my Administration is investing in expanding access to affordable high-speed internet to close the digital divide.https://t.co/Mxd81tjeEg.  President Biden (@POTUS) June 17, 2023

According to the Commerce Department, it received over 260 applications for the Middle Mile Grant Program, totaling $7.47 billion in funding requests. The agency primarily awarded grants to telecom and utility companies, though it also set aside funding for tribal governments and nonprofits. Per Gizmodo, the largest grant, valued at $88.8 million, went to a telecommunications company in Alaska that will build a fiber optic network in a part of the state where 55 percent of residents have no internet access. On average, the Commerce Department awarded $26.6 million to most applicants. Grant recipients now have five years to complete work on their projects, though the administration hopes many of the buildouts will be completed sooner.

In addition to creating new economic opportunities in traditionally underserved communities, the government says the projects should improve safety in those areas too. They can improve network resilience in the face of the climate crisis, and increasing natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and storms, creating multiple routes for the internet traffic to use instead of just one, like a detour on the freeway, White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu told Bloomberg.

The funding is just one of many recent efforts by the government to close the rural digital divide. At the start of last year, the Federal Communications Commission announced an accountability program designed to ensure recipients of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund properly spend the money they receive from the public purse.
Poland is evaluating the Swedish GlobalEye AEW (airborne early warning)/ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft, and also joint coordination of airborne surveillance over the Baltic with Sweden. The current version of GlobalEye can handle aerial, maritime and land surveillance. Aircraft can be detected up to 500 kilometers distant. Flying lower, GlobalEye can use its Synthetic-aperture surface search radar to obtain detailed depictions of the surface and target-detection by identifying which objects are moving and how fast. The radars can also detect ballistic missile launches. The ELINT system detects and identifies electronic transmissions from aerial or surface vehicles. While the aircraft has five onboard operator stations, the operators can be ground based via a real-time data transmission of what the sensors are detecting.

Both Sweden and Poland want to monitor Russian operations over or on the Baltic Sea and a pair of GlobalEye aircraft would do that. In 2021 the Swedish Air Force ordered two GlobalEye aircraft to replace its two 1990s-era Erieye AEW aircraft. Both were flown by twin-turboprop Saab 340 aircraft. The Erieye radar and associated electronics were designed and built in Sweden. The Erieye AEW system was also available in the Brazilian EMB 145 twin-jet regional aircraft. This 21-ton aircraft is used for Erieye AEW by Brazil, Mexico, and Greece. Most Erieye AEW export customers used the Saab 340 or the larger (22-ton) Saab-2000 turboprop regional airliner.

Globaleye entered service in 2019 using an upgraded Erieye ER radar which can detect aircraft over 400 kilometers distant and do so in greater detail. Globaleye can detect and track more aircraft at one time and better deal with ECM (electronic countermeasures) carried by detected aircraft. Another new feature is the ability to detect ballistic missile launches as well. Globaleye includes a maritime search radar as well in addition to more SIGINT (Signals intelligence) equipment for detecting and identifying a wide range of radars and ECM equipment. Since a combined AEW/maritime search/SIGINT system is heavier and needs more space, as well as operating farther from land, Globaleye is carried in the larger 45-ton Global 6000 aircraft which has a cruising speed of 900 kilometers an hour and endurance of about ten hours. Like the basic Erieye system, Globaleye can be carried in any number of similar twin-engine jet or turboprop aircraft. The two GlobalEye aircraft for Sweden will apparently use the Global 6000 aircraft so the aircraft can stay in the air longer over the Baltic Sea, where Sweden and Poland must deal with an increasingly aggressive and well-equipped Russian military aircraft and ships.

While Sweden was the first customer for the Erieye system, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) was the first to order GlobalEye, based on their experience with two Erieye systems they ordered in 2009. The Erieye system is built around an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar which consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently aimed in different directions. This is like the AESA radar used on the American JSTARS aircraft, a system that can locate vehicles moving on the ground. The Swedish AESA is cheaper because it's built like a long bar, mounted on top of the aircraft, rather than a rotating assembly inside a dome as on the JSTARS. This means the Swedish AESA radar can only see, in a 120-degree arc, off both sides of the aircraft. A 60-degree arc in the front and back is uncovered. The Erieye ER radar can spot large aircraft out to nearly 500 kilometers, and more common fighter-sized aircraft at about 400 kilometers. The UAE used their Erieye aircraft to manage air campaigns, including the one underway in Yemen in early 2015. The primary use for UAE AEW aircraft is to deter an attack by Iran and if that does not work, to manage an aerial campaign against Iran.

With all that in mind, the UAE ordered new Globaleye systems in 2015. At that time Globaleye was still in development. Given the UAEs experience with the reliability of Erieye, it seemed a good idea to be first in line for the new version. Globaleye completed development and testing in 2019 and the UAE received the first one in early 2020.

At the end of 2020 the UAE ordered two more GlobalEye AEW systems for about $500 million each. All six of the UAE GlobalEye systems use the Bombardier 6000 jet which can stay in the air longer and proved effective in detecting Iranian air and naval activity in the Persian Gulf. The UAE also backs a wider program to link ground and air-based surveillance radars of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) into a cooperative surveillance network that provides all GCC members with better information on that is going on in the skies over their nations and the Persian Gulf in general. Saab told the UAE that they could help with integrating Globaleye data into the new GCC system because both Erieye and Globaleye were designed to be used by NATO members and integrated into the joint NATO air defense system. The 2020 recognition of Israel by the UAE makes possible the incorporation of Israeli data into the GCC system as well. In 2022 Sweden joined NATO, although official membership is being blocked by Hungary and Turkey because of accusations that Sweden harbors Turkish terrorists and Swedish criticism of how Hungary is ruled.

The first two UAE Erieye systems were carried in the 13-ton Saab 340 airliner, which had a cruising speed of 290 kilometers an hour and was able to stay in the air about five hours per sortie. This was the aircraft used when Erieye was introduced in the late 1990s. Saab had been working on a lightweight AESA AEW radar since the 1980s, as was Israel and the United States. The Erieye ER used in Globaleye was a major upgrade, as well as the addition of maritime search and SIGINT capabilities.

The UAE appreciated the Globaleye using a Canadian Bombardier Global 6000, which is a business jet that normally carries 13 passengers plus a crew of two. The Globaleye version can carry a payload of 2.6 tons which is sufficient to cover a maritime search radar, the Erieye AEW radar and other electronic sensors.
The problem with studying the universe around us is that it is simply too big. The stars overhead remain too far away to interact with directly, so we are relegated to testing our theories on the formation of the galaxies based on observable data.

Simulating these celestial bodies on computers has proven an immensely useful aid in wrapping our heads around the nature of reality and, as Andrew Pontzen explains in his new book, The Universe in a Box: Simulations and the Quest to Code the Cosmos, recent advances in supercomputing technology are further revolutionizing our capability to model the complexities of the cosmos (not to mention myriad Earth-based challenges) on a smaller scale. In the excerpt below, Pontzen looks at the recent emergence of astronomy-focused AI systems, what they're capable of accomplishing in the field and why he's not too worried about losing his job to one.

Riverhead Books

Adapted from THE UNIVERSE IN A BOX: Simulations and the Quest to Code the Cosmos by Andrew Pontzen published on June 13, 2023 by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright  2023 Andrew Pontzen.

As a cosmologist, I spend a large fraction of my time working with supercomputers, generating simulations of the universe to compare with data from real telescopes. The goal is to understand the effect of mysterious substances like dark matter, but no human can digest all the data held on the universe, nor all the results from simulations. For that reason, artificial intelligence and machine learning is a key part of cosmologists work.

Consider the Vera Rubin Observatory, a giant telescope built atop a Chilean mountain and designed to repeatedly photograph the sky over the coming decade. It will not just build a static picture: it will particularly be searching for objects that move (asteroids and comets), or change brightness (flickering stars, quasars and supernovae), as part of our ongoing campaign to understand the ever-changing cosmos. Machine learning can be trained to spot these objects, allowing them to be studied with other, more specialized telescopes. Similar techniques can even help sift through the changing brightness of vast numbers of stars to find telltale signs of which host planets, contributing to the search for life in the universe. Beyond astronomy there are no shortage of scientific applications: Googles artificial intelligence subsidiary DeepMind, for instance, has built a network that can outperform all known techniques for predicting the shapes of proteins starting from their molecular structure, a crucial and difficult step in understanding many biological processes.

These examples illustrate why scientific excitement around machine learning has built during this century, and there have been strong claims that we are witnessing a scientific revolution. As far back as 2008, Chris Anderson wrote an article for Wired magazine that declared the scientific method, in which humans propose and test specific hypotheses, obsolete: We can stop looking for models. We can analyze the data without hypotheses about what it might show. We can throw the numbers into the biggest computing clusters the world has ever seen and let statistical algorithms find patterns where science cannot.

I think this is taking things too far. Machine learning can simplify and improve certain aspects of traditional scientific approaches, especially where processing of complex information is required. Or it can digest text and answer factual questions, as illustrated by systems like ChatGPT. But it cannot entirely supplant scientific reasoning, because that is about the search for an improved understanding of the universe around us. Finding new patterns in data or restating existing facts are only narrow aspects of that search. There is a long way to go before machines can do meaningful science without any human oversight.

To understand the importance of context and understanding in science, consider the case of the OPERA experiment which in 2011 seemingly determined that neutrinos travel faster than the speed of light. The claim is close to a physics blasphemy, because relativity would have to be rewritten; the speed limit is integral to its formulation. Given the enormous weight of experimental evidence that supports relativity, casting doubt on its foundations is not a step to be taken lightly.

Knowing this, theoretical physicists queued up to dismiss the result, suspecting the neutrinos must actually be traveling slower than the measurements indicated. Yet, no problem with the measurement could be found  until, six months later, OPERA announced that a cable had been loose during their experiment, accounting for the discrepancy. Neutrinos travelled no faster than light; the data suggesting otherwise had been wrong.

Surprising data can lead to revelations under the right circumstances. The planet Neptune was discovered when astronomers noticed something awry with the orbits of the other planets. But where a claim is discrepant with existing theories, it is much more likely that there is a fault with the data; this was the gut feeling that physicists trusted when seeing the OPERA results. It is hard to formalize such a reaction into a simple rule for programming into a computer intelligence, because it is midway between the knowledge-recall and pattern-searching worlds.

The human elements of science will not be replicated by machines unless they can integrate their flexible data processing with a broader corpus of knowledge. There is an explosion of different approaches toward this goal, driven in part by the commercial need for computer intelligences to explain their decisions. In Europe, if a machine makes a decision that impacts you personally  declining your application for a mortgage, maybe, or increasing your insurance premiums, or pulling you aside at an airport  you have a legal right to ask for an explanation. That explanation must necessarily reach outside the narrow world of data in order to connect to a human sense of what is reasonable or unreasonable.

Problematically, it is often not possible to generate a full account of how machine-learning systems reach a particular decision. They use many different pieces of information, combining them in complex ways; the only truly accurate description is to write down the computer code and show the way the machine was trained. That is accurate but not very explanatory. At the other extreme, one might point to an obvious factor that dominated a machines decision: you are a lifelong smoker, perhaps, and other lifelong smokers died young, so you have been declined for life insurance. That is a more useful explanation, but might not be very accurate: other smokers with a different employment history and medical record have been accepted, so what precisely is the difference? Explaining decisions in a fruitful way requires a balance between accuracy and comprehensibility.

In the case of physics, using machines to create digestible, accurate explanations which are anchored in existing laws and frameworks is an approach in its infancy. It starts with the same demands as commercial artificial intelligence: the machine must not just point to its decision (that it has found a new supernova, say) but also give a small, digestible amount of information about why it has reached that decision. That way, you can start to understand what it is in the data that has prompted a particular conclusion, and see whether it agrees with your existing ideas and theories of cause and effect. This approach has started to bear fruit, producing simple but useful insights into quantum mechanics, string theory, and (from my own collaborations) cosmology.

These applications are still all framed and interpreted by humans. Could we imagine instead having the computer framing its own scientific hypotheses, balancing new data with the weight of existing theories, and going on to explain its discoveries by writing a scholarly paper without any human assistance? This is not Andersons vision of the theory-free future of science, but a more exciting, more disruptive and much harder goal: for machines to build and test new theories atop hundreds of years of human insight.

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When Samsung hosts its next Unpacked event in Seoul next month , the company is widely expected to announce a new Galaxy Z Flip device with a larger cover display. Now we have a better idea of exactly how much bigger the Z Flip 5s external screen could be when it arrives later this year.

An alleged marketing render shared by MySmartPrice (via The Verge ) shows a phone with a secondary display that covers most of the front of the device when you have it flipped closed. MySmartPrice didnt share the size of the cover display, but judging from the render, its significantly larger than the 1.9-inch one found on the Z Flip 4 . Additionally, it appears Samsung has found a more elegant way to shape the display around the Z Flip 5s main camera array than Motorola has done with the Razr+ .

MySmartPrice

Naturally, a larger cover display would make it easier to frame selfies with the Z Flips main camera, but there are also some potential drawbacks. For one, a bigger secondary screen would impact battery life on the Z Flip 5 unless Samsung equips the phone with a higher-capacity battery. Its also worth pointing out that a small cover screen is part of the Z Flip 4s appeal. The minimal functionality it offers is a good way to partially unplug from the typical distractions that come with a smartphone while still having easy access to some information.

Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Z Flip 5, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, in late July. Well find out then if the companys latest foldable display flip phone has a bigger screen.
Netflix just dropped the first reveal trailer for the forthcoming 3 Body Problem science fiction series at its Tudum fan event, along with a premiere month of January. This is a short delay for the anticipated series, as it was originally supposed to air this year.

If the name of the show sounds familiar, its likely for two reasons. First of all, the showrunners are the former Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with Alexander Woo. Despite the bone-deep hatred among viewers for the final season of HBOs fantasy epic, Benioff and Weiss are still a known quantity that could draw in some eyeballs.

Secondly, 3 Body Problem is based on a highly successful book series, just like Game of Thrones, only this one is already finished. Lets hear it for pre-existing endings! The book series, authored by Chinese writer Liu Cixin, is one of the most celebrated sci-fi epics of recent years, so we could be in for something special here.

To that end, Netflix dropped a trailer thats heavy on eye candy and light on story. Thats okay, though, as those who want spoilers can just read the books. Some of the actors set to star in the series include Benedict Wong (The Martian, Doctor Strange), Eiza Gonzalez (Baby Driver) and Game of Thrones veterans John Bradley and Liam Cunningham.

January is not that far off, so we dont have long to wait until we learn all about the titular three bodies and any associated problems. Heres hoping Benioff and Weiss earn back some goodwill with this show. At any rate, this is a much cooler idea than that weird alt history/slavery thing that the duo almost pushed through at HBO.

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Topic: The charts show fresh fruit exports in 2010

The chart displays how much fresh fruit wasexported by the US, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, Turkey, and Israel in 2010.

Overall, oranges were by far the fruit that was exported the most, in terms of weight, followed by lemons and then grapefruits. In addition, although most lemons were exported byTurkey, Turkey had the lowest amount of exported grapefruits.

Regarding oranges exports, ranked first was South Africa, with 1 million metric tons, followed by Egypt and the US, with 900,000 and 700,000 metric tons respectively. Lemons were the second most commonly exported fruit, with Turkey exporting 500,000 metric tons, roughly doubed that for Argentina. Mexico managed to export 450,000 metric tons of lemons.



With regards to grapefruits, the amounts of grapefruits exported by South Africa and the US were equal, at around 225,000 metric tons each, while Turkey exported approximately 50,000 metric tons less than those countries. Finally, Mexico was responsible for 450,000 metric tons of other types of citrus fruit exports whereas the US and Israel made minimal contributions in comparison.
The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) has announced that the kingdom will be hosting the first-ever international auction of natural pearls on June 20.

The auction, initiated by the Rapaport International Group - an international network of companies providing services that support the development of ethical, transparent and efficient diamond and jewellery markets - in the US early this month, has already traversed various cities within and outside the US.

Established in 1976, Rapaport has more than 20,000 clients in over 121 countries. Its group activities include Rapaport Information Services that provide the group's benchmark Diamond Price List.

Rapaport will oversee the management of the auctions in collaboration with a range of specialized companies. It will exclusively involve the participation of registered companies, with individual participation not being available.

When this historic auction unfolds this Tuesday at Danat's headquarters within the prestigious Bahrain World Trade Centre in Manama, it will open a 'world of natural pearls' before the global audience.

Danat has been instrumental in collecting, grading and certifying the pearls and only those natural pearls that are certified as natural by the Bahraini institute will be offered for sale, said its top official.

"We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Rapaport International Group to foster the growth of the natural pearl market. This endeavour aligns with the fourth objective of the national plan aimed at reviving the pearl sector in Bahrain, remarked its CEO Noora Jamsheer. "This initiative signifies the historical legacy of natural pearls, which served as the economic foundation of the Arabian Gulf region. For thousands of years, Bahrain held the position as the epicenter of this trade," stated Jamsheer. "Bahraini pearls have consistently captivated international jewellery houses, drawing countless traders from the West who sought to acquire these precious gems," she added.

According to Jamsheer, natural pearls are one of the rarest gifts of nature - so rare that until now no one has been able to offer them for sale on a regular basis.
Sodom in the Old Testament Is No Knock on Gays -- and Other Queer Takes on the Bible
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Several people living in tent and cars n Missoula represent several hundred dealing with being unhoused. State officials call it a crisis (Photo by Aislin Tweedy of the Daily Montanan).

Missoulas Mayor Jordan Hess declared a homelessness and sheltering state of emergency this month as a crisis center in Billings reports more people who are homeless for the first time and a shelter in Great Falls sees a growing need for its services.

Hess signed the emergency proclamation last week  the first of its kind at least in Missoula  that said cities around the country are facing an increase in unsheltered people, and cities in the West are most affected. He said the pandemics pressure on housing prices has been most acute in the West.

I made that determination based on the continued prevalence of folks living outdoors without adequate shelter and to urgently address the lack of adequate shelter space, Hess said in an interview about the declaration.

In Montana, affordable housing has reached a crisis level, and the need for homes is outpacing the ability of developers to build them and government and nonprofit officials to provide support.

However, the emergency proclamation in Missoula will allow the city to levy additional tax revenue to the tune of $500,000. Hess said that money will go toward addressing homelessness.

Jim McCormick, the executive director of the Great Falls Rescue Mission, applauds Hess for his proclamation and for trying to do something to help. But he said people need support beyond housing.

They need to take it a step further than just providing a place to crash, McCormick said. They need to provide some supportive services as well, so that they can hopefully curb whats going on and help those folks into permanent housing, where they can be successful.

The Great Falls Rescue Mission can house as many as 32 families, and currently the Mission has 20 families on the waitlist, a significant increase from last summer, he said. Those who are on a waitlist are asked to call in daily to check availability, McCormick said.

We have three families moving into permanent housing this week, or early next week, so three will be off the list soon,  McCormick said. Many couch surf until they can get in or seek help in other towns.

McCormick believes that finding permanent housing for people is important, but so is providing supportive services for mental health, drug abuse, alcohol abuse or a substance that affects their cognitive ability. He said that if you put people in a home or a shelter without supportive services, then youre not helping them, but enabling them.

I think we need to take it to the federal government. But we dont need government programs, McCormick said. To do this, what they need to do is make funds available for private industry to reopen halfway houses or assisted living homes for those with mental health issues or those with addiction issues.

In Hesss proclamation letter, however, he highlighted that in 2017, the Montana Legislature cut mental health case management funding, setting up thousands of people around the state for failure. He pointed to an emergency shelter as part of the solution.

We as a city need to continue to look at all the ways that we can advance this or that we can work on this issue. Reopening the emergency shelter is part of the solution, he said.

He said the goal is to reopen the Johnson Street emergency shelter, although thats still several months away.

Other parts of this solution are going to be continuing to work with other service providers to make sure that they succeed, and its a complicated issue. And its going to be slow and complicated to solve, Hess said.

The Poverello Center shelter and soup kitchen in Missoula will run the day-to-day operations of the Johnson Street shelter when it reopens with funding from the city and county, Hess said.

Outside the center, a small sea of tents has emerged this spring, and Executive Director Jill Bonny said that homelessness is more visual right now than in the winter, when the emergency shelter was open or when an authorized camping site was available. It served 100 people before it closed last October to shift resources to the emergency shelter instead, according to the Missoula Current.

Meanwhile, the Poverello can accommodate 130 people, and its full every night. Bonny said if Missoula had 100 more spaces for people to live, they wouldnt be seen living along the river and next to the Poverello.

They are camping in these spaces because they dont have other options, Bonny said.

Bonny also said Missoula needs more shelter beds and spaces for people to be able to exist in a dignified manner. But she said homelessness is not a problem that one organization or government agency can solve.

We need to collaborate and work collectively to make a difference, Bonny said, As the mayor stated on Friday, doing nothing is unacceptable. I am optimistic that we can continue working together to find solutions for our community members who are struggling.

The Poverello Center works on a lottery system, where individuals who want to stay overnight sign up for the lottery, and people are randomly drawn every night until the capacity is reached, Bonny said.

It is not illegal to be poor (and) not have options for housing or shelter, Bonny said.

In Billings, the Director of the Community Crisis Center MarCee Neary said that they have seen an increase in people who were housed and have become homeless for the first time. They get this data from their Homeless Management Information System database and clients report whether they are homeless.

We do not have a waiting list, as we are open 24/7 and provide crisis care for counseling, assessment, and stabilization using service, Neary said. We triage and prioritize persons based on need, clients wait to be admitted or wait for crisis care. But persons can walk in anytime and not be turned away.

The post Officials: Unprecedented humanitarian around Montana because of homelessness appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Boursa Kuwait held over 80 meetings at the London GCC Conference organised by HSBC to highlight the investment opportunities in Kuwaits capital market.

International investors were provided with a valuable opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about the listed companies, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the financial performance and business strategies employed by the companies publicly traded on the Kuwaiti capital market.

Boursa Kuwait also successfully organised its tenth Corporate Day in London at the conference from June 12 to 16. The prominent event brought together twelve companies listed in the Premier Market, including Boursa Kuwait, with more than 50 globally recognised asset management firms and investment companies.

Showcasing listed firms

Boursa Kuwaits Chief Executive Officer, Mohamad Saud Al-Osaimi, said: As we mark our tenth Corporate Day, a tradition that started in 2017, we remain committed to showcasing our listed companies and investment opportunities to foreign institutional investors through our series of Corporate Days and Roadshows, a tradition weve started in 2017.

Our Corporate Day gave us the opportunity to engage with over 50 asset management firms and investment companies and presenting the unique investment opportunities available in Kuwait. The company constantly seeks to provide transparency and ensure that market participants, including both local and international investors, have a voice in shaping our market."

Al-Osaimi expressed his optimism for the future, anticipating a productive period ahead and highlighting ongoing developments in the Kuwaiti market. He emphasised that Boursa Kuwait remains committed to enhancing the market in line with international standards and practices and stated that the upcoming launch of the Central Clearing Counterparty system (CCP) is expected to reduce systematic risks in capital markets.

New products and services

Boursa Kuwait aims to introduce additional products and services, focusing on key objectives such as fostering an attractive issuer base, expanding the range of products, diversifying the investor base, and upgrading infrastructure and business practices to meet international standards, he added.

The conference also brought together CEOs and senior executives from the GCC stock exchanges, as representatives from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the UAE showcased the benefits and prospects of investing in their respective countries. This conference marked the second meeting of GCC exchanges and featured a panel discussion that provided valuable insights into each country's economic outlook. Representing Kuwait on the panel were Boursa Kuwaits Chief Executive Officer, Mohammad Saud Al-Osaimi and Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Mulla, the Head of the Debt Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, which was moderated by HSBC Global Researchs Chief CEEMEA Economist Simon Jon Williams.

The Head of the Debt Management Department at the Ministry of Finance Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Mulla showcased the national debt market and the need to develop it in line with the tenets of the New Kuwait 2035 vision.

Boursa Kuwait has been a key driver in the development of the Kuwaiti capital market and the diversification of the national economy, in line with the goals of the New Kuwait 2035 vision.-- TradeArabia News Service
The future of broadband services in Bahrain and the vital role played by broadband in bolstering internet infrastructure development were discussed by a panel organised recently as part of BTECH Majlis.

As part of the activities of the monthly BTECH (Bahrain Technology Companies Society) Majlis, the event brought together technology companies, experts, and specialists, the panel aimed to facilitate the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and innovative solutions to advance the ICT sector in Bahrain.

The interactive panel discussion witnessed the presence of esteemed individuals in the field, including Ahmed Al-Doseri, the CEO of BNET, Maitham Hassan, the Chief Operating Officer of Batelco, Ahmed Al-Sharif, the Chief Technology and Digital Officer of STC, and Philip Marnick, the CEO of TRA. The session was moderated by Rashid Al Snan, a distinguished BTECH Board Member.

Technical and operational obstacles

During the session, various topics were addressed, including the future outlook of broadband technology in Bahrain, the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies for delivering high-speed internet services, an in-depth analysis of the technical and operational obstacles hindering the advancement of internet infrastructure, a dedicated focus on government regulations and policies that foster the development of broadband services, as well as showcasing successful examples of organisations that have leveraged the benefits of broadband capabilities.

Additionally, practical strategies and approaches were shared to guide companies in adopting these services effectively and generating sustainable value.

The speakers emphasised the crucial role of broadband service development in driving economic and social progress within the ICT sector. They highlighted the necessity for collaboration and coordination among the public and private sectors, as well as professional associations.

Digital infrastructure

A key focus was placed on advancing digital infrastructure, providing training and qualifications to support this domain, thereby enhancing the quality of technical services and bolstering the competitiveness of Bahrain's technology sector at regional and global scales.

Furthermore, the speakers underscored that broadband technology serves as a fundamental pillar of the digital revolution. They emphasised its contribution to achieving digital transformation and enhancing efficiency across various sectors such as education, healthcare, and e-commerce.

Additionally, broadband technology fosters innovation and creativity in digital fields, supports the growth of the digital economy, creates employment opportunities, improves the quality of life, and paves the way for further advancements within the ICT sector.

Immense potential

The speakers further emphasised the immense potential that lies ahead in the realm of broadband technology, underscoring the numerous opportunities it presents for the advancement of Bahrain's technology sector.

They highlighted the growing adoption of transformative technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing in the evolution of broadband services.

Consequently, they stressed the need for substantial investments in infrastructure and the requisite technologies to support these transformative shifts and realise the desired objectives for the development of broadband services in Bahrain.

Market intelligence

Ahmed AlHujairy, BTECH Board Senior Advisor, delivered a presentation titled "Bahrain Market Intelligence" in which he discussed the development of the ICT sector in Bahrain and its transformation into a regional hub for technology and innovation by leveraging its current capabilities and providing a fertile ground for ICT companies to grow. He noted that the technology market in Bahrain represents a significant opportunity for Bahraini youth to develop their skills and work in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.

BTECH Majlis has also announced that the registration for the 11th edition of MEET ICT conference is still open for all companies interested in participating in this key gathering, which brings together leading exhibitors and speakers in the field of technology and innovation from around the world. MEET ICT provides a unique opportunity for ICT companies to showcase their products and services, expand their global outreach, and learn about the latest technologies and trends in the industry.-- TradeArabia News Service
Farmers using plant protection products (PPPs) have just days to register their details on a new government database.

Announced in April, any business which uses PPPs professionally must register under the Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations 2020.

The new database is being compiled by Defra and covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Farmers and other PPP users must register by Thursday 22 June.

A spreadsheet will need to be filled with business name and address, plus details of how much product is used, stored and applied annually.

Farmers must register every address where PPPs and adjuvants are stored, records are kept, they are applied.

For example, if the PPPs are stored at two addresses and the records kept at a separate office, all three addresses must be registered.

Once completed, the spreadsheet then needs to be emailed to Defra.

David Hurst, farming consultant at Strutt & Parker, is reminding farmers to complete registration by the 22 June deadline.

"The announcement  which will include livestock farmers as well as arable growers  was somewhat of a surprise and we are aware that many producers have yet to fill out the form.

"This will require a bit of looking back through previous records, which is a pain, but the form does at least make clear that a rough estimate will be adequate."

A business that has PPPs and adjuvants applied by a third party must also register their details.

A contractor who applies the product on behalf of a farmer does not need to register the address of their clients, but they should register the address of their own storeroom.

When answering the question on the quantity of PPPs applied in a typical year, Defra advised that contractors should include the total amount of PPPs and adjuvants applied for all clients.

Mr Hurst explained: "It will not be a problem if there is an element of double-counting because the client is also required to register the quantities."

The form to register can be downloaded on the Gov.UK website, and email address to return it is: GB-OCR-Notification@defra.gov.uk.
Rebel Wilson has slammed a report she said people only needed 600 calories a day to survive as utterly ridiculous.

Rebel Wilson has slammed a report she said people only needed 600 calories a day to survive as utterly ridiculous

The 43-year-old Bridesmaids actress has shed 80lbs, and was quoted by the Daily Mail saying she hasnt stopped eating her favourite foods but tucks into far smaller portions because she apparently believed humans dont need to consume as much as they think.

She hit out in an Instagram Story in which she posted over a screengrab of an article from the Daily Mirror on her remarks: This reporting is UNTRUE and utterly ridiculous and harmful to women!

Rebel was reported by the Mail to have said at a launch party on Thursday (15.06.23) for her Fluid dating app: I was just actually in a program where I learned about food, and they taught us that you dont really need as many calories as you think.

Everyone thinks that you need to eat so much in your body needs it but the truth is your body doesnt need a lot of calories and I know that might sound crazy to some people but if you eat right and you eat small portions youll be just fine.

I learned that you really only need about 600 calories a day you dont need 1,500 or 2,000.

The problem is that people are stuck at a desk or in their car and they tend to get hungry and they want to eat because thats how they deal with stress or its a habit but the truth is you just dont need all that food.

Denying she had cut out carbohydrates, Rebel went on: A lot of people think that I dont eat carbs but I do eat carbs I just eat them in small portions. I do eat pizza and I do eat pasta I just dont eat a lot of it.

In November, Rebel had daughter Royce via surrogate, and admitted the lifestyle changes of having a new baby in the house have meant both she and fiancee Ramona Agruma have gained weight.

She said: I did gain weight once I had my baby because although I didnt give birth to her and I didnt need to lose any baby weight I had just gained weight from the lack of sleep and from the change in my lifestyle.

For instance now I cant go to the gym as often as I used to Im just not working out as much so that has slowed me down.

Ramona also gained weight once we got her daughter but she lost it really fast Im kind of jealous because I have not been able to lose the weight as fast.
In April 2023, the United Kingdom's clothing imports stood at 1.161 billion ($1.470 billion), representing a 20.91 per cent decrease compared to the 1.468 billion recorded during the same period in the previous year. Clothing imports demonstrated a month-on-month downtrend, standing at 1.459 billion in March 2023, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Textile fabric imports fell by 15.18 per cent to 430 million in April 2023, down from 507 million in April 2022. Month-on-month, the import declined from 500 million recorded in March 2023. The UK's fibre imports were 30 million in April 2023, down from 46 million in April 2022 and 36 million in March 2023.

In the first quarter (Q1) of the current year, the UKs clothing imports totalled 4.137 billion, with fabric imports at 1.432 billion and textile fibres at 110 million.

In April 2023, the UK's clothing imports fell by 20.91 per cent year-on-year to 1.161 billion, continuing a monthly downtrend. Textile fabric and fibre imports also declined. However, 2022 saw a 23.5 per cent increase in clothing imports from 2021. Meanwhile, clothing exports in Q1 2023 and the entire year of 2022 decreased compared to previous periods.

The countrys clothing imports for 2022 were recorded at 21.255 billion ($25.86 billion), a 23.50 per cent increase compared to the imports of 17.034 billion in 2021. Textile fabric and textile fibre imports were recorded at 6.357 billion and 545 million, respectively, in 2022.

In April 2023, clothing exports from the UK amounted to 262 million, down from 292 million during the same period in 2022. Exports stood at 339 million in March 2023. During the first quarter of 2023, clothing exports declined to 943 million, down from 955 million in Q1 2022 and 1,151 million in Q4 2022. Exports further decreased, reaching 3.931 billion in 2022, down from 4.263 billion in 2021. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres were recorded at 2.716 billion and 616 million, respectively, in 2022.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that fathers love a good movie. Between introducing their kids to classics and hidden gems, their watchlist is usually stacked. While there are a lot of movies that fit the bill of "dad movies" this Father's Day, we're looking to celebrate fatherhood and the bonds between fathers and their kids. These bonds have found excellent representation on screen over the years. Think Father of the Bride or the core memory that is Finding Nemo.On Father's Day, here are some movies to watch with your father:The Pursuit of Happyness perhaps has one of the most moving plots involving a dad, making it a Father's Day essential. The 2006 film starring Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden Smith revolves around a homeless man who struggles to provide for his son while looking for a job. It is inspiring, uplifting and a sure-shot tear-jerker.Pixar has some great dad characters over numerous movies but nothing beats the fatherhood arc in Finding Nemo. The film sees Marlin who stops at nothing when his son, the titular Nemo, goes missing. The clownfish is one of the most endearing characters in animation history as he leaves no coral unturned in his quest. It's a classic your father will definitely appreciate.Every father dreads the day their kid decides to get married and move away. Father of the Bride plays out this relatable dad trope in a delightfully wholesome rom-com. Starring Steve Martin as George Banks, the film sees an overprotective father whose 22-year-old announces that she is engaged to be married. Panic ensues in what can only be described as an all-time favourite movie about fatherhood.Ask '90s kids and they will tell you that they're still not over Mufasa's death in The Lion King. The animated classic follows a cub - Simba who runs away after his father and King of the Pride Mufasa is betrayed and killed by his uncle. Over the course of the film, Simba goes on a journey across the jungle and eventually acknowledges the legacy his father left behind and takes his place in the Circle of Life.Few lines are as memorable as Liam Neeson's protective dad character's "I will find you and I will kill you," in Taken. The film follows a man who will stop at nothing to save his daughter who gets abducted by sex traffickers. The film is a great action movie for fathers to enjoy and it doubles up as the perfect Father's Day watch.Christopher Nolan's cinematic masterpiece Interstellar isn't just a stellar sci-fi flick but also a great father-daughter story. Starring Matthew McConaughey, the film sees a widowed NASA pilot go on a dangerous space mission to save the Earth and his child's future. The film is a heart-achingly beautiful tale of a parent's love and sacrifice.After three outings as Iron Man in the MCU movies, Robert Downey Jr. played attorney Hank in The Judge. The film unleashes some family drama along with courtroom drama. Hank becomes his father's defence attorney when he is suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run incident. His father who is a judge also has terminal cancer making the journey just bittersweet enough to hit you right in the feels.In We Bought a Zoo, widowed dad Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) decides to move from Los Angeles to a rustic, rundown zoo in Southern California. Along with his two children, Benjamin must rebuild not just the zoo but the bond with his family after their tragic loss. Apart from highlighting the challenges of being a single parent, the feel-good film also deals with grief and big life changes.In Big Daddy Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) decides to adopt a 5-year-old boy Julian to show his ex-girlfriend that he can take on the responsibilities of being a father. When the ex-girlfriend isn't impressed, he must come to terms with truly being a father and leave his earlier lifestyle behind.In the third chapter of Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones franchise, Seon Connery and Harrison Ford play a father-son duo. While the adventure movie is high on action (and boulder chases), the bond between the father and son shines through making this a great addition to any Father's Day watchlist.
Arun Govil Slams Adipurush Makers: Om Raut's latest offering, Adipurush starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon as Lord Ram and Sita was released in cinemas on June 16. The film opened to mixed reactions and was mired in controversies for its dialogues that have irked the viewers.

The viewers expressed their disappointment over the film on social media, where the makers faced criticism for the poorly-written dialogues of the modern-day adaptation of the Hindu epic saga, 'Ramayana'. Joining the netizens is actor Arun Govil, who is known for essaying lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's series Ramayan.

Arun Govil during an interaction with ABP News slammed the makers for distorting the facts and expressed his disappointment with the Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer. He expressed his disapproval of the fundamental changes in the film that he saw on social media.

Opening on the dialogues written by Manoj Muntashir for Bajrang (Devdatta Nage), he said, "I don't support this kind of language in Ramayana."

The actor added that he finds this 'Hollywood-styled cartoon' created by makers hard to digest. While Saif Ali Khan's look was criticized by viewers from the time the film's teaser was released, Arun Govil said that it's the makers who decide the characters' looks, so the actors can't be blamed. "I don't understand what the makers thought of making this film," the veteran actor added.

The actor was quoted as saying, "Ramayana is a matter of faith for us and to tamper with its form in any way is unacceptable." He said that the concept of modernity and mythology in Ramayana was absolutely wrong. He asserted, "Movie's special effects are a different aspect, it's about presenting the characters in the right way, which has to be considered with utmost seriousness."

The veteran star further questioned the depiction of characters in the film and said, "What was wrong with the depiction we have all known and loved for all these years? What was the need to change things? Perhaps the team doesn't have proper faith in Lord Rama and Sita, and that is why they made these changes."
Karan Deol Wedding: The eagerly awaited official wedding photos of Karan Deol and Drisha Acharya have finally been released. On Sunday, Sunny Deol's son and actor Karan exchanged vows with his long-time girlfriend Drisha Acharya in a joyous ceremony held in Mumbai.

The intimate wedding was attended by close friends and family members, creating a warm and cherished atmosphere. In the evening, Karan Deol took to his Instagram account to share the official wedding pictures, accompanied by a heartfelt caption.

KARAN DEOL SHARES DREAMY PHOTOS FROM HIS WEDDING

He wrote, "You are my today and all of my tomorrows (heart emoji) The beginning of a beautiful journey in our lives. We are overwhelmingly thankful for the abundant blessings and well wishes that surround us!"

In one of the photos, Drisha gently places her hand on Karan's shoulder as they immerse themselves in the sacred wedding rituals. Another photo captures the couple holding varmalas, symbolizing their union, while in the third photo, Drisha's radiant smile showcases her joy.

Adipurush Controversy: Makers Of Prabhas' Film Decide To Change Dialogues Amid Huge Backlash

Take a look at Karan post here:

As soon as the pictures were shared, fans flooded the comments section with congratulations and well wishes for the couple.

Did Kangana Ranaut Take A Dig At Adipurush? Ram Ka Naam Badnam Na Karo Song In Her Recent Post Makes Us Wonder

Karan looked dashing in a cream sherwani and turban, perfectly complementing Drisha's elegant red lehenga. She adorned herself with a gold necklace and a striking mangtika, completing her bridal look.

Prior to the wedding ceremony, the couple was photographed in front of the holy fire, signifying the sacred bond they were about to embark upon. Their stylish varmalas added a touch of grace to the auspicious occasion.

RANVEER SINGH ALSO JOINED KARAN DEOL WEDDING FESTIVITIES

The pre-wedding festivities were filled with joy and laughter as Karan and Drisha celebrated their union. The Deol family was joined by renowned actor Ranveer Singh, adding to the happiness. Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Abhay Deol, and Bobby Deol enthralled their fans with stellar performances, creating an electric atmosphere.

Sunny donned the iconic Tara Singh avatar from the movie Gadar, while Bobby delivered a passionate dance performance alongside his wife Tania Deol on their popular song Humko Sirf Tumse.

For the unversed, Karan has made his Bollywood debut with the film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas and is now gearing up for his next project, Apne 2, which will also star Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, and Bobby Deol.

Heartiest congratulations to the newlyweds!
Indian cinema star Alia Bhatt is ready to steal the hearts in her Hollywood debut, "Heart of Stone" as an antagonist who keeps her co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan on their toes in the espionage thriller from Netflix. Bhatt, along with Gadot ("Wonder Woman") and Dornan ("Belfast"), unveiled the first trailer of "Heart of Stone" during the streamer's global live event Tudum in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on late Saturday night.

The film, set to premiere on August 11 on Netflix, is directed by Tom Harper from a script penned by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder. An excited Bhatt shared the trailer of "Heart of Stone" on social media. "HEART OF STONE. August 11. @Netflix @NetflixIndia #Tudum," the 30-year-old wrote on Twitter.

According to the streaming platform, the film is headlined by Gadot's Agent Rachel Stone, "the only intelligence operative who stands between her global, peace-keeping organisation and the loss of its most valuable  and dangerous  asset, codenamed: The Heart".

"The Heart is what gives the Charter its power. It can crash a market or drop a plane out of the sky. If you own the Heart, you own the world," says a character in the trailer of "Heart of Stone". Bhatt, star of Indian films such as "Raazi", "RRR", and "Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva", is the one who "breaches" the security to steal the Heart and demands the Charter, the organisation, to "answer to me".

"You think you know everything but the world is about to see the truth," says Bhatt's character in the trailer. "Heart of Stone" is produced by Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, along with Mockingbird's Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, and Gadot and Jaron Varsano's Pilot Wave banner. Harper, Rucka and Patty Whitcher serve as executive producers.
Thalapathy Vijay Photo Credit: Twitter

Thalapathy Vijay To Foray Into Politics:

Thalapathy Vijay is an actor who enjoys a crazy fan following in Tamil Nadu. The Varisu actor, who hit the headlines for honouring the meritorious students under his foundation. The event took place on June 17, in Neelankari, Chennai.

During the event, Vijay spent time with about 1500 students and gave away appreciation certificates and mementos to the performing students. To a student named Nandini, for securing cent percent of marks in her Intermediate, the actor gifted a diamond necklace.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay made some interesting remarks about politics. He told the students not to vote for cash and always choose a good leader. According to a report in TOI, the event is kind of a soft launch of Vijay into politics. It is assumed as his foray into active politics and subsequent plans for the 2026 elections. He urged the students to read about political leaders like BR Ambedkar, Dravida Kazhagam founder Periyar EV Ramasamy, Congress leader K Kamaraj, etc.

"You are tomorrow's voters. You are going to elect good leaders. While we vote with our fingers, we also poke our eyes with the same fingers when we take cash for votes. Ask your parents not to accept cash for votes. When you say, it will happen, I have confidence in you because you all are going to be first-time voters. Your education process is completed only when it happens," said Vijay.

Netizens REACT To Vijay Quitting Films

Fans of the actor are divided over the update about Thalapathy's exit from films and entry into politics. Meanwhile, netizens have come up with a mixed response over the same. One user by the name RoastHimJim wrote, "Well, it's about time Thalapathy Vijay realized he's better suited for politics than acting. Let's just hope he's better at running a state than he is at picking good movie scripts."

Another by the handle name Anjali Live Trading commented, "His best bet is only to join Annamalai and BJP!"

On the Work Front

Thalapathy Vijay is now working on Leo, under the direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj. The movie stars Trisha, marking their collaboration after a decade. In addition, the movie stars Gautam Vasudev Menon, Myssikin, Sanjay Dutt, and others in prominent roles.

The actor also threw a surprise to his fans by announcing his next, allegedly his last film with director Venkat Prabhu. Referred to as Thalapathy 68, the movie is rumoured to be titled after the IPL team of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Official confirmation of the same is awaited.
Leaders across the hospitality sector discussed trade restrictions, transport infrastructure, currency fluctuations and supply chain breakages at the recent African Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.



The event was attended by Toggle Markets CEO, Fuad Sajdi, and VP of Africa, Abraham Muthogo Kamau, leading discussions on leveraging local and regional sourcing, and the innovative ways the sector is reducing operational costs.



Supply chain challenges in Africa have been one of the primary obstacles for economic growth and diversification, with businesses continuing to pay inflated prices for nearly every consumable and operational product that is not locally grown or manufactured  where even then it is more profitable to export outside the continent than to cater to the regional market due to weak intra-trade regulations.



The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the largest free trade area globally since the formation of the World Trade Organization, is set to significantly bolster intra-African trade. By reducing trade barriers, it allows a more fluid movement of goods, services, and people across borders. The ripple effect will be profound, with the hospitality sector one of the many industries reaping the benefits of this regional integration.



Breaking with the past



The lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic have been harshest on the worlds largest continent which has for so long relied on suppliers in far flung countries, most heavily on goods from China, European Union (EU) countries, United States and India.



Take for instance South Africa which remains the largest importing country in Africa at 17% of all imports in the region. Its largest import partners in 2023 were China at 21.9%, followed by United States at 8.8%, Germany at 7.3%, India 5.8% and the UAE 3.6%. The next largest importing countries are Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Ghana.



Intra-African trade still stands at only 15.2%, a poor showing when compared with intra-continental trade figures for America, Asia, and Europe, which stand at 47%, 61%, and 67%, respectively, and which should be at the head of the pan regional efforts to support trade and business. Much of this is due to multiple trade restrictions that exist in the region and between neighbouring countries for instance.



The recent World Bank 2022 AfCFTA report shows that the borders between African countries rank among the most restrictive in the world and is the main reason there is relatively little intra-African trade and investment.



The impact of this in real terms is putting the break on the growth of regional businesses while limiting the flow of the international supply chain which in turn heavily relies on intra-African trade routes (where goods are transported across several borders by land routes) due to poor infrastructure and lack of trade and custom harmonisation.



For locally grown African hospitality investors and operators, the supply chain challenges remain acute, and ramifications have meant consistent delays in the growing pipeline of projects, along with sometimes turbulent price fluctuations on shipping and logistics services, as well as effects of weakened domestic currencies.



Trade Cooperation and Collaboration

The good news is that there are signs across all industry sectors of more joined up thinking and increased regional cooperation. For instance, amongst East African nations there has been a noticeable increase in activities across both government backed and private sector efforts through the multiple alliances that exist such as the East Africa Business Council, the East African Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the East African Association.



In addition, the highly lauded and anticipated rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is geared to be the largest free trade region in the world based on the number of countries  at once connecting 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at $3.4 trillion and with a major potential as well to lift over 30 million people out of the poverty line.



For this to succeed there will need to be mutual and significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures to reduce red tape, simplify customs procedures, and make it easier for African businesses to integrate into global supply chains. The upside is a boost of income gains around $300 billion.



The role of technology and the importance of a knowledge-based economy will increasingly be a driving force for transforming economic prosperity. The latest report from UNCTAD has warned that neglecting the high knowledge-intensive services, such as information and communications technology services and financial services, will be a key reason holding back export diversification in Africa.



A new generation of hospitality leaders in Africa making waves

One of the most exciting outcomes of more regional integration is the rise of home-grown hotel chains that are now expanding beyond their respective national borders. In 2022, intra-African travel accounted for 40% of the total number of hotel guests in the continent, up from 34% in 2019, according to the African Development Bank. This increase is partly attributable to the easing of travel restrictions and the growth of African hotel chains.



The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), forecasts 134 million visitors by 2035. These figures make it the second fastest growing region in tourism after Asia Pacific.



This new wave of hospitality brands is being led by a dynamic generation of African leaders who understand the local markets and are at the forefront of developing more viable value-based networks and forging stronger regional partnerships. These individuals are harnessing the benefits of the AfCFTA, using innovative practices to enhance the hospitality experience with a unique African flavour that can cater better to the African consumer needs while at the same time offering global standards of service. For example, today over 80 percent of safari lodges in South Africa are managed by indigenous brands and a part of the tourism sector that generates around 70 percent of hospitality revenue. This segment is growing rapidly across the region.



"There is a major paradigm shift taking place with progressive trade policies and cutting-edge technology. This new generation of leaders are poised to redefine the essence of hospitality in Africa. We are delighted to be participating this year at AHIF 2023 which continues year on year to help shape the African hospitality industry and spotlight investment opportunities," said Abraham Muthogo Kamau, VP of Africa at Toggle Market.



Technology is a driving force behind this transformation. Digitization is permeating every facet of the hospitality experience from reservation systems to room service, with growing numbers of hotels now using a form of smart-room technology or employing AI-driven services such as chatbots for customer service and offering mobile apps for reservations and in-stay services.



The integration of technology has also enhanced efficiency and sustainability within the sector. African hotels can see up to 30% increase in energy efficiency and 25% reduction in water usage, thanks to the adoption of smart technologies.



Although Africa only receives 5% of the regional share of worldwide tourism[4] this number is rising after the Covid slump with 2022 seeing 47 million tourists returning to the continent after the high of 69 million in 2019. UNWTO forecasts 134 million visitors by 2035 making it the second fastest growing region in tourism after Asia Pacific. There is also robust and growing domestic tourism within Africa as increasingly middle-class families and younger travellers opt for more local and regional travel.



The supply chain, too, has been revolutionized by both trade facilitations and technology. A recent survey revealed that the average lead time for supply delivery dropped by 15% in 2022. This improvement is due to more streamlined cross-border processes and the implementation of digital supply chain management systems. Moreover, the increased use of this technology has led to more resilient and responsive systems. More hotel chains can now track their supply deliveries in real-time, forecast demand more accurately, and react swiftly to changes in the market.



The wave of change isn't confined to the large chains alone. It's being felt in every corner of the industry, from boutique hotels in Accra that blend modern design with traditional Ghanian culture, to eco-friendly lodges in the Maasai Mara that champion sustainable tourism.



As intra-African trade continues to flourish and the technological landscape evolves, the African hospitality sector is preparing for an exhilarating future. This new era is being ushered in by ambitious, tech-savvy leaders who are ready to shake off the old and bring forth the new.  TradeArabia News Service
Vishnu Priya & JD Chakravarthy Photo Credit: Gallery

JD Chakravarthy & Vishnu Priya Marriage Rumours: Amid the rumours that have been doing the rounds, Telugu television and small screen anchor Vishnupriyaa Bhimineni aka Vishnu Priya, is one of the most sensational personality. She enjoys a strong fanbase among the two Telugu speaking states.

Vishnu Priya who is active on her social media accounts and has a own YouTube channel, shares every update with her fans be it personal or professional. In one of the recent game shows that she took part in, Vishnu Priya reportedly said, "I like JD Chakravarthy a lot and if his mother agrees, I am willing to marry him." In another such instance, Vishnu Priya repeated the same in an interview.

JD Chakravarthy, actor-producer in the Tollywood film industry is a close aide of director-producer Ram Gopal Varma. Their friendship dates back several decades and JD Chakravarthy made his acting debut with RGV. Ever since they have traveled together personally and professionally.

JD Chakravarthy has returned to the Telugu screen after a hiatus and has been actively doing films and other web series. Recently, JD Chakravarthy and Vishnu Priya worked together on a web series under the direction of Pavan Sadineni. They met on the sets for the first time.

After the rumours and comments made by Vishnu Priya are blown out of proportion, JD Chakravarthy finally reacted to the ongoing issue and clarified the same.

As per the report published in Eenadu, JD Chakravarthy said, "Vishnupriya is a nice girl. We both worked together on a web series recently for about 40 days. The director of the series, Pavan Sadineni advised Vishnu Priya to watch my films- one film a day. She did the same and was in awe of my performance. She loved the characters that I played in my films and not in literal terms. Me and I share a student and mentor kind of relationship, and we don't talk much."

Meanwhile, Vishnupriya's comments have caused a stir all over the Telugu social media and news circles of the Telugu film industry. JD Chakravarthy married an actress named Anukriti Govind Sharma in the year 2016, after working with her in one of his films, at the age of 46.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 17, 2023) - On June 1st and 2nd, 2023, the first Bit Block Summit AI+WEB3.0 summit of 2023, kicked off at The Altman Building, New York. DCOREUM participated as a co-host of the event.

As the largest AI+Web3.0 summit in New York City, the topics covered include zero-knowledge proof (zk), digital wallets, distributed science (DeSci), DeFi, SocialFi, cryptocurrency payments and the combination of Web3 and AI. The summit attracted nearly 1000 participants from around the world, including professionals from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and major universities across the United States. As part of its sponsorship, DCOREUM showcased its expertise and contributions, particularly in connecting traffic, commerce, and Web3 development.





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Additionally, Eddie, one of DCOREUM's founding nodes, had the privilege of delivering a keynote speech, sharing valuable insights into the current state of the Web3.0 industry in Malaysia and highlighting the advantages of Malaysia as a core global blockchain hub.





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As a project with substantial influence in the blockchain field, DCOREUM is dedicated to driving innovation and application of blockchain technology, providing secure, efficient, and reliable solutions for both businesses and individual users.

During the speech, Eddie, the representative of DCOREUM's genesis node, shared the unique advantages of Malaysia in global Web3 development.

Simultaneously, Eddie also explored DCOREUM's strengths in the areas of traffic economy, businesses, and blockchain. He emphasized how decentralized applications built on blockchain technology can facilitate mutual communication, assistance, and prosperity among these three sectors.





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BBS.NYC stands as a prominent global blockchain summit that draws attendees from numerous renowned blockchain projects including Bitmart, OKX, CertiK, Alchemy Pay, Triangle, O1 Labs, Ava Labs, Celestia, Offchain Labs, Solana, DCOREUM, Payment Asia, Demonwar, Chainge Games, and more. Notably, the summit also attracts Top Venture Capital firms, scholars, project developers, and top investors in the fields of AI, blockchain and artificial intelligence. The event encompasses a diverse range of participants, including industry experts, project representatives, scholars, and investors, who actively contribute to the conference through speeches and panel discussions.





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At the summit, DCOREUM showcases its thriving ecosystem within the innovative Web3 environment and fosters exchange and collaboration with various projects worldwide. Moreover, the event provides a platform for strategic networking, enabling attendees to connect with potential investors and partners, thus expanding their business opportunities and prospects for cooperation.

About DCOREUM

DCOREUM is a decentralized economy ecosystem based on Web 3.0 and the world's first comprehensive blockchain project that is organically combined with blockchain, real industry, and traffic economy. Relying on its extensive business experience and complete investment system, DCOREUM will better empower and upgrade various business entities through blockchain technology. DCOREUM dedicated to building the world's first economy blockchain and becoming a bridge between traditional industries and Web3. To learn more about DCOREUM, please visit their official website at https://dcoreum.io/.





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Contact:

DCOREUM Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Simon Ng

simonng@xinfinityholding.com



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170120
GUIYANG, China, June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

A news report by Huanqiu.com

From "framework plan" to "preliminary implementation", in a decade, we saw newly built plants erected in Gui'an New Area. These enterprises injected new impetus for the economic development of the area. Among them are auto manufacturing enterprises represented by Guizhou Changjiang Automobile Co., Ltd., NEV battery enterprises represented by CATL and BYD, and battery materials enterprises represented by Zhongke Xingcheng.

Gui'an New Area links resources between Guizhou and Shanghai

As the tower crane lifted the last cubic meter of concrete to the roof for casting, the plant of CATL (Guizhou) EVE Cell Production Base Project (Gui'an Phase I) was successfully capped. It serves as one of the important projects implemented by Shanghai Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park. When Phase I is completed, it is expected to yield an annual production worth RMB 15 billion, pay taxes by RMB 1 billion, and provide over 3,000 jobs.

In early April this year, Gui'an New Area promoted the joint construction of the industrial park with Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park. Subsequently, Gui'an Development Group and Zhangjiang Group reached a consensus for cooperation on the joint construction of Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park in Guiyang Big Data Technological Innovation Town (Phase II). The Industrial Park will link the resources of Guizhou and Shanghai and promote high-quality industrial development in big data, new energy, and new materials.

Gui'an Network Valley undertakes industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Since this year, Gui'an Development Group and China Merchants Entrepreneurship Company under China Merchants Shekou Holdings signed a cooperation framework agreement on Gui'an New Area Network Valley Industrial Park, to reach relevant consensus on comprehensive cooperation matters in project implementation, investment attraction and operation, smart park, and corporate incubation.

The Gui'an Network Valley Project will focus on the development positioning of "two primary and two featured" industries, including the manufacturing of advanced equipment and electronic information manufacturing. By doing so, it aims to build it into a base undertaking the industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and an incubation base for enterprises using special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products.

The planning and construction of Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project take a solid stride forward

On April 28, Gui'an New Area Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Co., Ltd. was established, marking another stride forward for the construction of the Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project. For the exploration of cooperation modes such as "Greater Bay Area HQ + Guizhou Base" and "Greater Bay Area R&D + Guizhou Manufacturing", Gui'an New Area Industrial Development Holdings Group (GIDH) in June 2022 worked with Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park Group ("SSTIP Group") and Zhongcai Urban Development Private Equity Investment Fund Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. ("Zhongcai Fund") to jointly explore the "self-sufficiency" mode for park development and operation.

Since the project implementation, GIDH has visited Shenzhen several times to discuss with SSTIP Group and Zhongcai Fund. Pursuant to the principle of "government authorization + platform guidance + equity cooperation", the three parties explored the practices to introduce a central enterprise to establish an SPV company for the overall arrangement of the park development & construction and industrial introduction. They also committed to realizing the self-balance operation of the park based on its industrial contributions to local economy, aiming at creating the "Shenzhen-Guizhou Template" for Gui'an New Area.

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New Delhi: Two women were allegedly shot dead by assailants in southwest Delhis R K Puram area early Sunday morning, police said.

They said within hours of the incident, the main accused and his associate were arrested.

Police said they received a call around 4.40 am from the victims brother stating that his sisters were shot at in Ambedkar Basti.

Acting on information received, our police team reached the spot wherein it was found that two women were shot at and shifted to SJ Hospital, where they died.

The deceased were identified as Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29).

Preliminary investigation revealed that the assailants were after the victims brother and the motive behind the incident seems to be a monetary dispute, the DCP said.

The prime accused and his associate were arrested in connection with the incident, he said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, the police official said.

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Two persons have been arrested by the Mumbai Police for allegedly molesting a female patient at a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday.

According to a statement by the Mumbai Police, the suspects  one of whom was a fake doctor  were arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the patient in the hospitals outpatient department (OPD).

A police official told the media that the victims husband, who was in the waiting area of the hispital, became suspicious when the woman did not return from the OPD for a considerable time.

The victims husband reportedly told the police that when he went to check on his wife, he saw the accused sexually abusing her. He then raised an alarm and approached the police.

The owner of the hospital has also been accused of being involved in the incident.

Two persons namely Shoaib and Irfan Syed were arrested for allegedly molesting a woman at a private hospital in Govandi. One of the accused is a fake doctor who worked in that hospital, the Mumbai Police statement read.

The husband of the victim was waiting for her outside the OPD and when he went to check on her, he caught the accused in the act. Case registered against 3 people including the owner of the hospital, namely Jamil Khan, who is on the run, the statement added.

The accused persons who have been arrested were taken into custody on charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, and Maharashtra Nursing Home Act.

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The Congress has hit out at the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval over his claim that the partition of India in 1947 would not have happened had Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose been alive.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted that Doval has joined the tribe of distorians.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had the audacity to fearlessly challenge the British and India would not have been partitioned if he was there at that time, Ajit Doval said on Saturday.

Jinnah said I can accept only one leader- Subhas Bose: Doval

He added Bose was determined to fight the British for Indias Independence and never wanted to beg for freedom, adding he not only wanted to end political subjugation but felt that the political, social, economic and cultural mindset of the people has to be changed and they should feel like free birds in the sky.

The National Security Advisor (NSA) said this while delivering the first Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose memorial lecture organised by the industry chamber ASSOCHAM.

In the course of his address, Doval delved into various aspects of Boses life and noted that he even had the audacity to challenge Mahatma Gandhi. But at the same time, Doval noted that Bose had a deep respect for Gandhi.

The seed, the idea that came to his mind was I will fight the British, I will not beg for freedom. It is my right and I will have to get it, Doval said.

India would not have been partitioned if Subhas Bose was there. Jinnah said I can accept only one leader and that is Subhas Bose, he added.

With inputs from agencies

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The Rashtriya Lok Dal, a Samajwadi Party supporter, has called for a unified opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that no front can effectively oppose the BJP without the Congress.

The comment by the RLDs Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ramashish Rai, made ahead of the opposition parties meeting in Patna on 23 June, is significant in light of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadavs assertion that seat distribution should be determined by which alliance partner is strongest in a given state.

The opposition parties will meet on 23 June, convened by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, to plan their strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.

The RLD is in favour of a united opposition. It will endorse the outcome of the meeting to evolve a consensus on opposition unity. We are of the view that without taking the Congress along, no front (against the BJP) can take an effective shape, Rai told PTI.

Asked if there was a strain in the relationship between the Samajwadi Party and the RLD, he said, The party workers are disappointed with the outcome of the recently-concluded urban local bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh. They feel the results could have been different had the SP and RLD fought together.

Rai, however, stressed that since we are aiming for a big transformation, the RLD wants the SP, Congress and Azad Samaj Party to sink their differences and work together to bring about a change.

The Samajwadi Partys chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary, when contacted, said his partys alliance with the RLD was fully intact.

The BJP will lose in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 polls. For that, people should show large-heartedness and help the Samajwadi Party. We are already in alliance with some parties, including the RLD. Akhilesh Yadav will accommodate other parties which is why he spoke about large-heartedness, he said.

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party gave 105 seats to the Congress (as part of a pre-poll alliance deal). Any big party, which is capable of defeating the BJP, should help the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls by showing a large heart, Chaudhary added.

When asked whether the party is willing to accommodate the Congress, he said, A decision in this regard will be taken at the June 23 meeting of opposition parties in Patna.

Top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the June 23 meeting.

Meanwhile, a senior RLD leader said party workers think that their chief Jayant Chaudhary should not be a martyr in case Akhilesh Yadav wants to go alone in the parliamentary polls.

The RLD workers of Uttar Pradesh in general and those from the western parts of the state, in particular, feel that Akhilesh Yadav will finish the RLD. The party has a natural alliance with the Congress.

Muslims have made up their mind to go with the Congress. And, if the RLD, Congress and Azad Samaj Party come together, there will be no need for anyone else. RLD workers have already said that there is no threat from the Congress. The threat is from Akhilesh Yadav, the senior RLD leader told PTI.

He claimed that any transformation in the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls is not possible without the Congress.

The Congress too wants the RLD to align with it. Our party chief Jayant Chaudhary had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. There is pressure from party workers and leaders that it should go with the Congress.

If Akhilesh Yadav comes along, he is most welcome. But, if he decides to go alone in the Lok Sabha polls, the RLD should not be a martyr along with the Samajwadi Party, the senior RLD leader said.

He claimed that as against the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when the Muslim votes were divided, this time those are leaned towards the Congress and not the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party.

With Mallikarjun Kharge becoming the Congress chief, Scheduled Caste voters are for the first time seeing him as a prime ministerial candidate. Because of these two reasons, the Congress has gained strength, the RLD leader opined.

He explained that in the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly polls, Muslim votes shifted towards the Congress instead of going to the JD(S). This shift will happen in the entire country. Kharges appeal among the Scheduled Caste voters will have an impact, the RLD leader asserted.

RLD sources claimed that in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Akhilesh Yadav took away our winning seats in the last moment.

They claimed that while the RLD had demanded 35 seats from the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav made his candidates contest on our tickets on 10 seats. On the seats where the RLD was confident of a win, Yadav fielded his candidates, a source claimed.

In the urban local bodies election, we were thinking of a joint contest. But the Samajwadi Party declared its candidates in RLD strongholds of Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut and Shamli. RLD workers and leaders welcomed Rahul Gandhi when his Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through UP. The party that in the current scenario, it should move with the Congress, a senior party leader said.

The Samajwadi Party contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BSP and RLD. Of the 37 seats it had contested in Uttar Pradesh, it managed to win in just five, two of which  Rampur and Azamgarh  went to the BJP in the 2022 by-polls. The RLD fielded candidates in three seats and lost all while the BSP won 10 of the 30 seats it had contested.

BJP won 62 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 general elections while its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) won two.

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Confusion prevails about the history of Gartang Gali/Gully, an ancient pathway used for Indo-Tibetan trade and located on a vertical ridge in district Uttarkashi, for a long time. There are many theories about the making of the wooden pathway at an unusual location. Local people claim that the pathway was used for cross border trade by Jaad Bhotiyas. But, little documentary evidence is available on who constructed it and when?

Extensive research proves that Gartang Gali was constructed by British timber tycoon, hunter, naturalist and writer Frederick Wilson for conducting secret excursions into Tibet for hunting and collecting information. Based on the documents available, it can be said that Gartang Gali is about 160-170 years old. Not the 200 to 300 years as per the theories that are in circulation.

Unique Gartang Gali

Gartang Gali is located in the picturesque Nelong valley in Uttarkashi. The 136 m long and 1.8 m wide pathway offers a skywalk experience. The Deodar slipper lined stairway, was renovated and reopened for tourists on 17 August 2022. Located at an odd location the route was used by traders from Taknore Patti for cross border trade with Tibet till 1962. After the India-China war the stunning wood structure had remained unused and in complete neglect for many years. Little clarity exists on Gartang Gali as till 1930s only temporary wooden bridges (Sanga), made from tree trunks, existed in Garhwal. The Gartang Gali was special in approach and design.

Ban of entry of foreigners in Tibet

Foreigners were barred from entering the Tibet territory, so Frederick Wilson used this method of making a secret route to enter Tibet territory, rather regularly. Wilson had all the resources-manpower, money, timber stock and trust of Tehri King- to execute the operation comfortably. Famous as Pahadi Wilson and Raja of Harsil, the retired British Army soldier settled in Harsil (Uttarkashi) in the 1850s and married a local girl. He made the Indian Himalayas his home and used to go on adventure and hunting trips regularly.

In the initial period Wilson made a living by selling wild animal and bird skin/parts in Mussoorie. Later he was involved in supplying timber sleepers to the railways and the new venture made Pahadi Wilson one of the richest men in this part of the world.

Hinting about the wooden pathway

Frederick Wilson constructed the wooden pathway and he hints about this project in his 1860 edited book and in an 1873 published article. Without providing any name of the location he provides details in A summer ramble in the Himalayas (1860), he writes, Various are the contrivances to make a practicable path across these. Flights of wooden and stone steps, of fantastic forms and rude construction, serve the purpose in some of the bad places; and in other long planks are laid along the face of the rock, resting on wooden pegs stuck in the crevices.

Frederick shares this information in connection with a trek in Ganga valley area, where trees and bushes grow in crevices of the rock with little or no soil to nourish them. Adding more details he says, perpendicular rock, running from several hundred feet above, sheer down to the river. A Gartang Gali like location, where a vertical granite stone wall exists and Jadh Ganga, an important tributary of the Bhagirathi, flows ceaselessly 200 metres below. Edited by Mountaineer, pen name of Wilson, A summer ramble in the Himalayas was developed by Frederick Wilson. He wrote many chapters to transform the manuscripts, containing some rough notes, into an interesting book on the Himalayas and adventure.

More clues

Pahadi Wilson provides more clarity on the Gartang Gali project, in his article A stalk in Tibet, published in Gentlemans Magazine (Volume X, January to June 1973), by announcing that he has just completed a little excursion in Tibet. Terming the geographical condition of Himalayan extremely challenging than England, Wilson writes, Set to work and build four or five miles of a broad flight of stone steps to the moon, send an army of navvies with sledge hammers to smash all to pieces, and you will have something akin to many of the hills in Tibet. The distance between Bhairoghati to Nilang, via Gartang Gali, is about 6 miles. Almost the same distance as mentioned by Wilson in his piece.

Route used for Tibet trade

The old trade route from Harsil to Tibet used to pass through Jangla and Karcha, over the Kopanga hills, not through the Bhairoghati. All the tourist guidebooks and maps show the route away from Gartang Gali. Even the Mussoorie to Nilang route published in Guide to Mussoorie (1907) shows the path heading from Harsil, Karcha to Nelong. An 1878 survey of India map, Western Hundes and Tehri Garhwal, presents a clear picture and route used by traders for border trade. The map shows the trek passing through Jangla (See map), from where Nelong was about 20 Miles. The traders from Uttarkashi possibly began using the Gartang Gali to reach Nelong long after the death of Frederick Wilson in 1883.

Wilson played a key role in improving communication on the Mussoorie to Gangotri route by constructing many bridges and improving the forest road. He built forest guest houses at Harsil, Bhatwari, Uttarkashi and Dharasu.

Secret route for hunting and Tibet expedition

Wilson was popularly known as Ranger of the Himalayas, and he was one of the most influential persons of this region in his time. He used to go into secret operations into Tibet from Bhairoghati. Shooting in the Himalayas by Colonel Fred Markham (published in 1854) presents a vivid account of the author going on a Bharal (Himalayan blue sheep) shooting expedition with Wilson in the deep Bhairoghati area (near Nelong). Even in his write up on Tibet tour (1870), Wilson discloses entering Tibet, where a ban on entry of foreigners existed. Many writers even claim Fredrick Wilson was a spy, feeding information on Tibet to the East India Company and later to the British government. He possibly used to go to the neighbouring foreign country to gather information. No documentary evidence of Wilson acting as a spy is available.

Wilsons relationship with Jaad

Wilson held high esteem among the Jaad community as he was involved in settling them in Nelong and Jadhong. In 1849 Wilson obtained a lease of forest, from Tehri King Sudarshan Shar, in Taknore Pargana for an annual rent of Rs 400. He needed manpower for his railway timber project and a land settlement carried by the Tehri government on 23 May 1849 states that Wilson was appointed Maharajas agent for rehabilitating the area rendered desolated during the Gorkha occupation.

The settlement document says, Wilson invited certain Jadha from the upper Pargana of Kunawar in Bashahr state (now in Himachal Pradesh) to settle at Nilang, re-establish the hamlet of Jadhang and administered the area on behalf of Maharaja Bhavani Shah.

Jadhs shared a special bond with Wilson. They were possibly involved in the Gartang Gali project and later specialised in stone chiseling, the Pathans, were used to make the pathway. Wilson has used navvies with sledge hammers to describe a specialised group of workers in his article. A close survey of the Gartang gali also indicates that dynamites were possibly also used; some unused holes can be seen in various places on the wall of the pathway.

Locals were unlikely to make a path on their own

Under the Tehri government rule only the government had the power to make a road through Garhwal territory. Local villagers had limited rights over the forest and its produce. They were allowed to cut timber for building houses, burning, and agriculture purposes, but not for public use. The Tehri administrative report shows the Bhairoghati-Gartang road under construction in 1918-19. Even the development of the pilgrimage route to Gangotri was slow at that time. Until 1868, the road up to Dharashu only was ready. Gangotri is about 120 kms from Dharashu. Even maintaining the mule track was difficult in those days and constructing a wooden path like Gartang Gali was near impossible, due to logistics , cost and only for public communication.

Conclusion

Frederick Wilson was famous for using out of the box ideas in real life. Floating timber in Ganga and making the first suspension bridge of Bhagirathi valley at Lanka, near Bhairoghati, are some of the examples that prove the innovative approach of the British business tycoon. Gartang Gali was another such project which Wilson conceptualised and executed. After all he was the King of Harsil! He enjoyed full domination and freedom in the area.

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Afghanistan has announced that the country will observe August 31, the day US soldier departed from the country as a National Holiday.

As stated on the Taliban governments website, the withdrawal of foreign troops will be celebrated annually on August 31.

The inaugural festivities were organized last year, with the authorities and supporters of the Taliban marking the first anniversary of the withdrawal. Taliban fighters held a rally on Massoud Square in Kabul, located outside the former US embassy.

On August 31, 2021, just before the withdrawal deadline expired, the final American soldier, US Army Major General Chris Donahue, boarded a military transport plane. This marked the conclusion of a challenging 20-year military campaign that incurred significant costs and resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.

In 2001, the US and its allies deployed troops to Afghanistan to combat Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups as part of the global War on Terror initiated in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Although the Western forces swiftly took control of Kabul, the Taliban continued to maintain a presence in large portions of the country, leading to a prolonged conflict with the insurgents. Over time, the campaign became increasingly unpopular in the United States.

In August 2021, the Taliban successfully recaptured several provincial capitals and eventually seized Kabul with minimal resistance. The sudden fall of the city prompted a hurried evacuation by the Pentagon, focusing on diplomats, American citizens, and their Afghan allies.

The handling of the evacuation by Washington has faced substantial criticism, particularly for leaving behind numerous Afghans who had worked alongside allied forces.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic trip to defuse escalating US-China tensions that have many on edge across the world.

In the afternoon, Blinken planned to begin two days of discussions with senior Chinese officials. He is the highest-ranking American official to visit China since President Joe Bidens inauguration, and the first secretary of state to do so in five years.

The trip comes after he cancelled plans to visit in February following the downing of a Chinese spy balloon over the United States.

However, the chances of a meaningful breakthrough on the most challenging issues confronting the worlds two largest economies are small, since ties have grown increasingly strained in recent years. Animosity and recrimination have progressively increased over a number of issues with global security and stability ramifications.

According to US sources, Blinken will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, senior diplomat Wang Yi, and potentially President Xi Jinping on Monday.

Biden and Xi agreed to Blinkens trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the US says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russias war in Ukraine.

US officials said before Blinkens departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.

Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Xi said to Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how  to get along. Chances could come at a Group of 20 leaders gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco that the United States is hosting.

Since the cancellation of Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister travelled to the US And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defence minister rebuffed a request from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet at some point in time, but were not there yet.

Underscoring the situation, China rejected a report by a US security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defence cooperation, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS  for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking before Blinkens departure, two US officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said Intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.

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Airline associations around the world have called for governments to ensure the global alignment of airport slot regulations to safeguard the consistent, fair, and transparent allocation of slots under the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG).



In a joint statement, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Airlines for America (A4A), Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE), Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA), European Express Association, European Regions Airline Association (ERAA), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) set out the benefits of the WASG, which has ensured decades of stability and consistency in the application of slot management. Under the WASG, consumers have benefitted from a consistent growth in reliable schedules and expansion to new markets, while airlines and airports have seen an increase in the utilisation of scarce airport capacity.



Fragmentation of slot regulation risks disruption to airline schedules and imperils the advances in global connectivity, efficiency, competition and choice which have characterized the aviation industry in recent decades. With the number of slot-regulated airports worldwide growing steadily, it is vital that governments recognize the importance of the harmonization of slot regulations in line with the WASG.



The WASG has undergone a significant revision in recent years, with improvements to the new entrant definition to increase competition and access opportunities at congested airports. Slot performance monitoring has also been better defined to ensure optimal use of allocated slots. It is therefore important that national or regional slot regulations are aligned dynamically with the WASG so that the aviation sector and travelers can immediately benefit from these and other enhancements to the system.



The Associations also urged governments thinking of incorporating the WASG or amending existing slot regulations to work with the Worldwide Airport Slot Board, a body comprising slot experts from airlines, airports, and slot coordinators, who oversee expert revisions to the WASG. Consulting with this group of experts can ensure that governments, their economies and citizens, will continue to reap the benefits of an increasingly more interconnected, sustainable and efficient air transport network.



The air transport industry thrives on consistent global standards. The Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines are the unsung hero the air transport system. Because of the WASG, travelers, businesses and economies the world over have benefited from constant growth in air connectivity, strong competition, and route diversity while ensuring that utilization of scarce airport capacity also increased. Governments should align their slot rules with this global standard to benefit from better air connectivity, efficiency, and consumer choice, said Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General.



The statement was issued at the 152nd Slot Conference in Dublin, Ireland. The Slot Conference attracts over 1,000 delegates, with representatives of more than 200 slot coordinated airports and 215 individual airlines.



This twice-yearly conference has been taking place since 1948 and is a significant moment in the aviation planning diary, allowing the opportunity to meet for quickfire optimization of planned schedules, while looking at new opportunities for route and network growth. The goal of the conference is for airlines to obtain the slots that will give them the best possible schedule to offer their customers at coordinated airports.



The next conference will take place in Dubai, UAE, on November 14-17, 2023.  TradeArabia News Service
The severity of Ukraines drone and missile conflict has revealed holes in European air defences that experts say would be difficult, time-consuming, and costly to rectify.

According to Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, anti-air systems will play a prominent role during the Paris Air Show, which begins on Monday.

Youre going to see a lot of talk about production capacity for missiles. The market for missiles is easily the fastest growing segment of the industry and yet the manufacturers simply cant keep up, Aboulafia told AFP.

Since the conclusion of the Cold War, Western countries have had complete control of the skies and have largely abandoned the formidable defences that were formerly built to defend NATO forces from Soviet aircraft.

According to a recent report, France disbanded eight of its nine anti-aircraft artillery units.

However, as more countries acquire cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and drones, NATO countries have returned to air defence, according to Mark Cancian, a retired US marine colonel and senior adviser at the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

They started it, but basically didnt get too far, Cancian told AFP.

In another five years, I think therell be a lot more out there, but that doesnt help Ukraine right now, he added.

With anti-air systems and the missiles they fire lacking, the West is struggling to respond to Ukraines pleas for supply  whether for short- or long-range defences.

Berlin plans to spend five billion euros on anti-air from a 100-billion-euro ($110 billion) fund for rebuilding its armed forces in the coming years, with the same amount budgeted in Paris for the period to 2030.

On the industry side, European missile maker MBDA has in recent months signed contracts worth two billion euros with France and Italy to supply 700 Aster missiles, used especially in the SAMP/T system.

And Poland will spend 2.2 billion euros on 44 launchers and hundreds of CAMM missiles.

Euro Sky Shield

Led by Germany, 17 European nations last year banded together on air defence with the Euro Sky Shield project  although France, Italy and Poland have all stayed out.

The scheme would involve joint procurement for short-, medium- and long-range systems, including the German-made Iris-T, the American Patriot and the US-Israeli Arrow-3.

It makes enormous sense to harmonise across allied countries, Aboulafia said.

Nevertheless, whenever NATO tries to standardise, obviously big decisions have to be made in terms of who takes lead on production and design, he added.

Weve seen this movie before and the big problem is always France, which is reluctant to cede industrial leadership, Aboulafia said.

Germanys proposal does not take European security interests sufficiently into account, has failed to convince partners, and leaves many questions unanswered on the strategic, military, industrial, and economic levels, Berlin-based think-tank SWP wrote in a recent report.

By choosing US and Israeli technology rather than European, the German-led plan is also at odds with the goal of strengthening Europes industrial and technological defence base, SWP added.

The recent French MPs report directly criticised the Sky Shield, lamenting the total lack of European solutions versus promotion of American and Israeli products.

Yet another Israeli offering, a new hypersonic missile interceptor from Rafael Defense Systems, could tempt European governments when displayed in Paris next week, after Russia fired its much-hyped Kinzhal nuclear-capable weapons into Ukraine.

Alongside the Paris Air Show, the French government has invited ministers to a conference on air defence to try and smooth over differences.

The Germans have proposed an industrial agreement, we offer a strategic initiative: having the capacity for European air defence that is sovereign, with European equipment, a French diplomatic source said.

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Reports have emerged claiming the maximum number of passengers on the boat that sank in the Mediterranean Sea, last Wednesday, resulting in the death of nearly over 600 people, were Pakistanis and that they were specifically targeted by those in command.

The revelations have been made on the basis of eyewitness accounts of a few who survived. They revealed conditions aboard the boat, raising concerns about whether the Greek coastguard concealed their involvement in the tragic incident.

Survivors recent accounts indicate that women and children were compelled to stay in the lower section of the vessel, while certain nationalities were relegated to the most perilous area of the trawler.

Survivors who shared their testimonies with coastguards revealed that Pakistanis were forcibly confined below deck, while individuals of other nationalities were permitted on the upper deck, significantly increasing their chances of survival in the event of a capsizing.

The testimonies further indicate that women and children were essentially locked away in the hold, purportedly for their protection under the supervision of men aboard the overcrowded ship.

Furthermore, it has been discovered that Pakistani nationals were also confined below deck, where crew members mistreated them whenever they sought fresh water or attempted to escape.

Regrettably, no survivors include women or children, and reports from Pakistan on Saturday indicate that hundreds of its citizens may have perished when the dilapidated trawler sank near the Peloponnese peninsula.

Local media disclosed that a minimum of 298 Pakistanis, including 135 from the Pakistani side of Kashmir, lost their lives in this tragedy.

An estimated 400 Pakistani individuals were believed to be on board the trawler. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has confirmed that out of the 78 survivors, only 12 were from Pakistan.

Boat lacked fresh water

The conditions on the boat were extremely dire, with six deaths occurring even before it sank due to a lack of fresh water.

Nawal Soufi, a Moroccan-Italian social worker and activist, has stated that passengers were pleading for help a day before the sinking.

She testified, I can personally confirm that these people were desperately seeking assistance from any authority. Her account contradicts the statement of the Greek government, which claimed that the passengers told the coastguard that they did not require help as they intended to reach Italy.

New testimonies also indicate that the trawlers engine had malfunctioned several days before it sank, which would have likely prompted the crew to seek assistance.

Engine failed three days ago

According to one migrants testimony recorded by the coastguards conducting the inquiry, We embarked on the journey at dawn on Friday, with approximately 700 people on board. We had been traveling for three days when the engine failed.

Even four days after one of the most devastating Mediterranean disasters in recent years, numerous unanswered questions remain, including the cause of the vessels capsizing. Concerns have been raised about allegations that the trawler overturned in the early hours of Wednesday due to a rope being attached by the coastguards, although Greek officials have rejected these claims.

Initially, the coastguard claimed to have maintained a discreet distance from the boat, but on Friday, a government spokesperson confirmed that a rope had been thrown to stabilize the vessel.

The boat was allegedly in control of an Egyptian smuggling ring. Nine suspects are scheduled to appear in a Greece court on Monday.

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Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have reportedly provided harrowing accounts of their ordeals in Russian torture camps, revealing that they were subjected to castration by intoxicated Russian soldiers using pocket knives.

Two soldiers, aged 25 and 28, shared their experiences after spending one and three months respectively in the custody of Vladimir Putins troops. Both individuals were eventually released as part of a prisoner exchange and returned to Ukraine.

However, their psychological state prompted psychologist Anzhelika Yatsenko, 41, to suspect that they had been subjected to torture. One of the soldiers admitted to attempting suicide.

The prisoners reported being unable to recall the events that transpired during the initial month of their imprisonment, describing the experience as worse than hell.

According to their testimonies published in The Sunday Times, the Ukrainian soldiers endured regular beatings before being castrated by intoxicated Russian soldiers wielding pocket knives.

The amount of bloodshed was so extensive that they are uncertain how they managed to survive. Allegedly, the Russian soldiers justified this heinous act as a means of preventing them from fathering children. The older of the two soldiers has since resumed his duties in the Ukrainian army.

Psychologist Anzhelika Yatsenko, deeply affected by the soldiers stories, confessed to shedding tears in the bathroom, labeling their experiences as the most horrifying she has ever encountered.

UN experts have previously expressed concerns about the use of torture techniques such as electric shocks, hoodings, and mock executions on Ukrainian soldiers. These methods have resulted in severe physical injuries, including damage to internal organs, bone fractures, strokes, and lasting psychological trauma.

In response to Russias actions, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has issued a warning, stating that the alliance would strengthen defenses in member states if their security were to be threatened. Stoltenberg reaffirmed NATOs commitment to solidarity among its 31 member countries and emphasized the principle of collective defense.

His remarks were made following a summit of the Bucharest Nine nations, consisting of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The Bucharest Nine was formed in 2015 in response to Russias initial invasion of Ukraine and includes nations that were formerly part of the Soviet Union or the Warsaw Pact.

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In a significant security intervention, Austrian authorities announced on Sunday that they successfully averted a potential attack targeting Viennas Pride parade. The authorities apprehended three teenage boys who were believed to have connections with the Islamic State.

The arrest occurred prior to the commencement of the parade, an annual event that attracts a crowd of approximately 300,000 people, as reported by local broadcaster ORF.

The intelligence service had been closely monitoring the suspects after receiving advanced information about their alleged plans.

Subsequent house searches conducted on Saturday led to the discovery of compelling evidence, including weapons, which prompted the St Poelten public prosecutors office to order the arrest of the trio.

The individuals aged 14, 17, 20, whose identities have not been disclosed, were Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen descent. Notably, one of the suspects was already known to the police.

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of Austrias domestic intelligence service, revealed that the teenage boys had become radicalized through online channels and exhibited sympathies towards the Islamic State group.

Parade organizers were informed about the incident on Sunday, but they opted to avoid causing panic among participants. Haijawi-Pirchner emphasized that there was no immediate danger to the safety of the parade attendees throughout the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

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During a meeting with Russian military correspondents and bloggers, President Vladimir Putin suggested that General Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of Kievs armed forces, could be outside of Ukraine.

Speculation about Zaluzhnys whereabouts arose after he missed a high-profile NATO meeting and reports claimed he was gravely wounded in a Russian missile strike.

While the Ukrainian Defense Ministry denies these allegations, Putin stated that he believes Zaluzhny is abroad, although he admitted that he could be mistaken.

The Western media has dubbed Zaluzhny the Iron General and he has been a prominent figure in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Uncertainty also surrounds the fate of Kirill Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian militarys Main Intelligence Directorate, who made controversial statements regarding targeting Russians.

Putins statement was captured in a clip published by Rossiya 1 broadcaster on Sunday.

Putin advised the reporters to inquire about Zaluzhnys whereabouts directly from the general himself but jokingly mentioned that they might need to switch to a foreign language to do so.

While the Russian president stated that he believes Zaluzhny is abroad, he acknowledged the possibility of being mistaken.

Speculation surrounding Zaluzhnys location arose when he was absent from a prominent NATO meeting on May 10.

The Ukrainian commander-in-chiefs inability to attend in person or via video-link was attributed to the complex operational situation in the conflict with Russia, as conveyed by Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATOs military committee.

In a report by Russias RIA Novosti news agency last month, citing a security source, it was claimed that Zaluzhny had suffered severe injuries in a Russian missile strike near Kherson in early May.

While doctors expect the 49-year-old general to survive, the source alleged that he would no longer be able to fulfill his duties as commander.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has dismissed the report suggesting that General Valery Zaluzhny is located outside of Ukraine, labeling it as disinformation propagated by Russia.

The ministry maintains that Zaluzhny remains at his workplace. However, only one unverified video featuring the commander-in-chief has surfaced online since the speculation surrounding his whereabouts began.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recently shared a photo of Zaluzhny, claiming it was taken during an extraordinary meeting of Ukraines Security Council on June 6.

Last week, the BBC revealed that their request for an interview with Gen. Zaluzhny had been declined.

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Authorities reported that a gathering in a parking lot in Willowbrook, a suburb of Chicago, turned violent early Sunday, resulting in at least 20 people being shot, with one individual tragically losing their life.

Television news footage revealed a scene of debris and police tape in the strip mall lot, located approximately 20 miles (32.1 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

Eric Swanson, deputy chief at the DuPage County sheriffs office, stated, There were at least 20 individuals shot. One victim is deceased. Swanson also noted that the motive behind the incident remains unclear. We transported numerous victims from the scene. Others just walked into area hospitals, he added.

The conditions of the wounded have not been immediately provided, according to Swansons statements to reporters.

Witness Markeshia Avery recounted, It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration. We just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped, in an interview with WLS-TV.

Another witness, Craig Lotcie, described the chaotic scene, saying, Everybody ran, and it was chaos.

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Following the tragic incident off the Greek coast where hundreds of migrants were feared drowned, Pakistani authorities took action by arresting 10 individuals suspected of being human traffickers on Sunday.

Each year, numerous young Pakistanis embark on treacherous journeys in an attempt to illegally enter Europe, driven by the hope of finding a better life.

Local media reported that approximately 300 Pakistanis lost their lives when a dilapidated trawler sank near Greeces Peloponnese peninsula on Wednesday.

The authorities have detained nine individuals in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which was home to the majority of the victims, and one person in Gujrat, a city that has long been used as a launching point for migrants.

These individuals are currently being investigated for their involvement in facilitating the entire process, stated Chaudhary Shaukat, a local official from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

According to a joint statement from the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency, it is estimated that between 400 and 750 people were on board the ill-fated boat.

On Saturday, Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 12 Pakistani nationals had survived the incident, but they had no information regarding the total number of individuals aboard the boat.

An anonymous immigration official informed AFP that the final death toll from the tragic incident could exceed 200.

Must Read: Greece Boat Disaster: Survivors say hundreds of Pakistanis locked on lower deck, 135 from Pak-occupied Kashmir

In response to the heartbreaking event, Monday has been designated as a national day of mourning, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate crackdown on individuals involved in human smuggling, emphasizing that they will face severe punishment.

The Prime Minister has issued a strong directive to enhance efforts in combating those involved in the abhorrent crime of human trafficking, stated the Prime Ministers office in a released statement.

A combination of political unrest and a struggling economy pushes tens of thousands of Pakistanis to leave the country, both through legal and illegal means.

Young men, primarily from the eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, often undertake a perilous journey through Iran, Libya, Turkey, and Greece as they seek to enter Europe.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Next week, a government bill is anticipated to be introduced in UK reportedly to target councils imposing boycotts on Israeli goods.

The proposed legislation aims to prevent public entities from independently formulating their stance on international relations, including the implementation of sanctions and divestment campaigns.

According to reports, Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister responsible for local government, will be presenting the bill.

Gove told media that the boycott of Israeli goods contributes to the proliferation of appalling antisemitic rhetoric and abuse.

He stated, It is fundamentally incorrect that public bodies have been utilizing taxpayers time and resources to pursue their own foreign policy objectives.

The UK government emphasizes the need for a coherent and unified foreign policy approach, established by the UK government itself.

Such campaigns not only undermine the countrys foreign policy objectives but also contribute to the propagation of abhorrent antisemitic rhetoric and abuse.

To address these concerns definitively, decisive action has been taken to halt these disruptive policies.

The introduction of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions bill was initially outlined in the Queens speech in 2022, following a commitment made in the Conservative Partys general election manifesto of 2019.

The accompanying documentation released alongside the speech last year emphasized the UK governments commitment to a zero toleration policy for discrimination that fuels divisions between different communities.

It specifically highlighted motions passed by Lancaster City Council in 2021 and Leicester City Council in 2014, which endorsed campaigns supporting boycotts of Israeli goods.

Under the proposed legislation, ministers would be empowered to investigate suspected breaches of the ban. Public bodies found to be in violation of the new rules could face substantial fines, as reported by The Telegraph.

Prior to 2019, Leicester, Swansea, and Gwynedd councils had passed motions advocating for a boycott of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, until Israel complies with international law and withdraws from the Palestinian-occupied territories.

While Keir Starmers predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, supported targeted measures against illegal settlements in the West Bank, he did not endorse a comprehensive boycott of Israel. The current leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has stated that the party does not endorse the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

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"He Is Entertaining Nigerians At Tribunal"  Pastor Giwa To Peter Obi

felicilin at 18-06-2023 04:03 PM (1 month ago) (f)

The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has urged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to find something else to do instead of waiting for justice at the Election Petition Tribunal.

The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has urged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to find something else to do instead of waiting for justice at the Election Petition Tribunal.

On Sunday, Giwa said while addressing his members in Akure that Obi was only entertaining Nigerians.



He said: On Sunday, Giwa said while addressing his members in Akure that Obi was only entertaining Nigerians.He said: Quote  I knew he couldnt have gone too far. No popularity on social media can stand the test of time. When it is not your time, it is not your time! He betrayed his boss, Atiku, who brought him into the limelight. If you love Nigeria so much as proclaimed, why didnt you wait in your political party to fight the battle? Suddenly, you changed and pretended that you were not part of the system that led us to where we are today.



God cant stomach arrogance, pretence, and betrayal, according to Proverbs 16:5. The Lord says he will put those upstairs in their place. We know all the politicians we will hold responsible should anything go wrong in Nigeria.



He is just wasting his time entertaining Nigerians; dont forget that I told you that the last presidential election was between the two old men I described as thieves. I said the better one would eventually lead the country.



When I also told you that Obi was a social media presidential candidate, his people abused me because they didnt want to listen to the truth. They held a series of meetings with their pastors, who deceived them that they would win. Now, he has suddenly become a wealthy man at the expense of the poor people who didnt know where he was heading. The truth is stranger than fiction, they say!



Please, dont waste your time, my brother. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

He further stated: Its left for whoever is there as President to prove some of us right or wrong. Time will tell. They are all corrupt politicians; what we want is while you are there stealing the money, remember the citizens and let them taste the national cake.



The money belongs to the citizens of Nigeria. At least, nothing stops you from transforming the country and protecting the rights and dignity of individual Nigerians. He further stated:

Post Reply Posted: at 18-06-2023 04:03 PM (1 month ago) | Addicted Hero

tonyigho at 18-06-2023 04:39 PM (1 month ago)

(m) You are a fake pastor and I pity those people you are misleading Posted: at 18-06-2023 04:39 PM (1 month ago) | Gistmaniac You are a fake pastor and I pity those people you are misleading Reply

fineboy77 at 18-06-2023 04:49 PM (1 month ago)

(m) ''Now, he has suddenly become a wealthy man'' tells you all you need to know about the paid charlatan. What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 18-06-2023 04:49 PM (1 month ago) | Hero ''Now, he has suddenly become a wealthy man'' tells you all you need to know about the paid charlatan. Reply

kp45 at 18-06-2023 04:56 PM (1 month ago)

(m) Does he really deserve the name of the church Posted: at 18-06-2023 04:56 PM (1 month ago) | Hero Does he really deserve the name of the church Reply

smart61 at 18-06-2023 05:26 PM (1 month ago)

(m) I was one of PITOBI supporters but I knew it from the onset that he would require a miracle to win the presidential election. It knew it then that it would require the intervention of the almighty God to bypass or push aside the Nigerian political moguls or godfathers to win. Most of his supporters were youths, igbos and those who hate Buhari. But millions of other Nigerians pretended to be Peter,s supporters but actually the opposite was the case. Posted: at 18-06-2023 05:26 PM (1 month ago) | Gistmaniac I was one of PITOBI supporters but I knew it from the onset that he would require a miracle to win the presidential election. It knew it then that it would require the intervention of the almighty God to bypass or push aside the Nigerian political moguls or godfathers to win. Most of his supporters were youths, igbos and those who hate Buhari. But millions of other Nigerians pretended to be Peter,s supporters but actually the opposite was the case. Reply

fineboy77 at 18-06-2023 06:27 PM (1 month ago)

(m) Quote from: smart61 on 18-06-2023 05:26 PM I was one of PITOBI supporters but I knew it from the onset that he would require a miracle to win the presidential election. It knew it then that it would require the intervention of the almighty God to bypass or push aside the Nigerian political moguls or godfathers to win. Most of his supporters were youths, igbos and those who hate Buhari. But millions of other Nigerians pretended to be Peter,s supporters but actually the opposite was the case.

And that was how he won states in the North Central. Abeg stand with who you dey support with your full chest and stay away from all these fake support stories. PO won Plateau, won the FCT and Nasarawa in the North either because they are Igbo states or because the people there ''pretended'' to support Peter Obi. What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 18-06-2023 06:27 PM (1 month ago) | Hero And that was how he won states in the North Central. Abeg stand with who you dey support with your full chest and stay away from all these fake support stories. PO won Plateau, won the FCT and Nasarawa in the North either because they are Igbo states or because the people there ''pretended'' to support Peter Obi. Reply

zioni at 18-06-2023 06:44 PM (1 month ago)

(m) WHY DO NIGERIANS LISTEN TO IDIOTS LIKE THIS MAN WHO SUPPORT CRIMINAL LIKE BOLA TINUMBU. THIS TYPE OF GUYS DONT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY THEY GIVE THEM TO PROMOTE EVIL PEOPLE LIKKLE BOLA TINUMBU AND WHEN BOLA TINUMBU FAIL TO TAKE NIGERIA TO A BETTER DESTINATION I WILL LAUGH AT FOOLS LIKE THIS IDIOTS Posted: at 18-06-2023 06:44 PM (1 month ago) | Newbie WHY DO NIGERIANS LISTEN TO IDIOTS LIKE THIS MAN WHO SUPPORT CRIMINAL LIKE BOLA TINUMBU. THIS TYPE OF GUYS DONT CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY THEY GIVE THEM TO PROMOTE EVIL PEOPLE LIKKLE BOLA TINUMBU AND WHEN BOLA TINUMBU FAIL TO TAKE NIGERIA TO A BETTER DESTINATION I WILL LAUGH AT FOOLS LIKE THIS IDIOTS Reply

gogoman at 18-06-2023 10:09 PM (1 month ago)

(m) JAGABAN RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR EVER!!!! Posted: at 18-06-2023 10:09 PM (1 month ago) | Grande Master JAGABAN RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR EVER!!!! Reply
has called out her ex-husband, Pastor Joseph Okpongete of the House on the Rock Church, citing domestic violence, financial abuse amongst others.

She urged the Christian Body of Nigeria to intervene in the matter, and called him to order.The relationship coach narrated her ordeals in a series of posts titled A CRY FOR HELP! on her Instagram page.She wrote,

Quote

Fellow Nigerians, my name is Taiwo Ajayi. I have been separated from the ex-husband for the past 4 years. I was married for 12 horrible years to Joseph Okpongete.



For those 12 years I suffered greatly under his roof, subjected to domestic violence in its most horrific forms. I faced physical, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse.



We are both Born Again Christians and Ordained Ministers at the House On The Rock Church, Lagos. I appeal to the Christian Body in Nigeria, to please call one of their Ministers to order. I dont want to become another statistics of a Christian woman who died from domestic violence.



This case has been reported last year to the Lagos State Domestic and segxwal Violence Agency (DSVA) where Joseph Okpongete was invited to and he confessed twice to having beaten me, and this was recorded. It was also reported to the Nigerian Police Force.



I was brutally r3ped on our honeymoon in Cairo, Egypt, as a virgin. I was beaten up when I was 5 months pregnant with our daughter, I was called fat, useless and ugly by this man I had married, even though he married me as a beautiful size 12. I was beaten up severally, beaten while holding a new baby boy, having my head bashed into the wall which landed me in the hospital. I have faced several hospital visits and admissions due to the abuse. I suffered terrible silent treatments, was humiliated severally publicly and privately, was cheated on by the husband with other women, and I would discover he was sleeping with the housemaids, who I would have to chase away from the house.



My successful career as an award winning Recruiter has been threatened and almost destroyed, even when I had worked within the Oil E & P industry in Nigeria and worked with multinationals within Corporate Canada in the finance industry. Because of the stress he was giving me, i lost my job with a multinational last year which was fetching me the equivalent of N55million, I was being paid in Canadian Dollars, and it was 100 percent remote. My hard earned resources and all that I have worked for, for the past 16 years was stripped away from me.



Due to the abuse I was suffering in the hands of Joseph Okpongete, I relocated to Canada with my children in 2016 to distance myself from this man, and to give my children and I peace. He would come to Canada and ask the landlord to evict us from the property that I rented with my own money, and we would be suddenly rendered homeless and have no choice than to return to his house in Nigeria.



Due to the stress I was receiving on the home front, I would have burnouts on my jobs in Canada and have to resign, leaving me with little or no income. When the abuse became too much, I had to call the Canadian Police in Mississauga, ON who came to warn him at the house that if he continued this way, he would be arrested. This made him step back a bit.



I returned to Lagos 2 months ago because I prefer being at home in Lagos, the climate works better for me. I have received threats from him about what he will do to me. He has also refused to pay child support, take care of the kids nor pay their school fees. I have been running from this man for the past 4 years and my country people I am tired, hence why I am crying out today for someone to please help me ask this man to leave me alone. He has insisted in a forceful manner that I return to his house.



2 weeks ago his Antie called me, commanding me to return to his house, to which I politely but firmly refused. She told me that if I divorce him that I will not make heaven, that I will go to hell. Thank God the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross is all I need to make heaven and not my marriage to this Shylock. He is owing me $250,000 CAD as initial relocation expenses to Canada, draining my resources, up to his plane ticket into Canada I had to pay for it. Who was the husband and who was the wife, please somebody tell me?



2 days ago, he called to speak to the children and I do not keep him from speaking to them nor from contacting them. He said all manner of things and gave all manner of threats, he has also been playing delayed tactics with the divorce process in court. Knowing I am from a comfortable background, this man manipulated his way into my life and manipulated me into marrying him, because of what he will eat. I was young and naive. Immediately I entered the marriage, I realized I had been deceived and it was very hard to come out.



He called 2 days ago to tell our 14 year old daughter that he is planning something against me, issuing threats, I do not know what he is planning, and sincerely I am not ready to find out. Last year he asked the police in Lagos to arrest me and lock me up for leaving him, only God delivered me. I had to run for my life back to Canada. Please fellow Nigerians, help me to ask Joseph Okpongete to please leave me alone. It is not by force to be married to him. It not by force for me to return to his house. I have moved on, please help me beg him to move on.



Two pictures earlier attached reflect my physical state after being psychologically abused for so long, and also landing in the hospital when Joseph refused to drop his passport to the Canadian High Commission in Ghana for us to collect our Canadian Permanent Resident Visa. I had paid $8000 USD for the application process, the visas had come through which was a thing of joy for me, but Joseph wanted us to loose the visas, just to hurt me. He waited till the last week before the deadline to submit his passport to the Embassy. All my pleas fell on deaf ears.



I landed in Reddington Hospital at 1:00am in the middle of the night when I could not breathe. I was about to loose the opportunity of a life time. I have a Doctors report to substantiate this event, detailing the psychosomatic stresses he had put me through. He eventually dropped his passport 3 days before the deadline given by the Canadian Embassy, after family members pleaded with him.



I fainted in my sons school the following week due to the stress he was giving me, teachers and the school principal including my driver poured 5 bottles of water on my head to revive me and I was admitted for 3 days again at Reddington Hospital, Ikeja.



Egba mi Ejo, mo beyin ni o! Anyone who knows him should please ask Joseph Okpongete to LEAVE ME ALONE! Marriage to an abuser and to a Narcissist is not by force. My life is being threatened.



Thank you



Taiwo Ajayi

The only daughter of Dr Richard Adejumo Ajayi

Founder of the Ajayi Memorial Hospital, Lagos.
Post App Launched On Apple iOS App Store: Twitter Alternative To Offer Ad-Free Content Paywalled With Points News oi -Alap Naik Desai

Post is now available on the Apple iOS App Store as an app. It is a platform intended to optimize content delivery and consumption by monetizing individual articles, news pieces, and other content.

Apple Music's song distribution strategy has been adopted by Post. Readers pay to access a small amount for each article instead of paying lumpsum for subscriptions. Let's see how Post could revolutionize news consumption with microtransactions.

What Is Post App, What Does It Do?

The Post app launched on the iOS App Store last week. It is being labeled as a revolutionary platform for news consumption on social media.

The Post app aims to redefine how people stay informed on the web. It offers users three distinct feeds: Following, Explore, and News. The News section is the app's most salient point.

Users can access a stream of articles curated from the Post's publishing partners within the News tab. Some of the most reputed and popular news outlets such as Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, Wired, Yahoo Finance, Fortune, Insider, and NBC News, among others, have currently partnered with Post.

Post offers headlines and an initial snippet or brief summaries of articles for free. Readers must make a microtransaction using "points" to unlock the entire article within the app.

It is interesting to note that the majority of the articles available in the Post app are freely accessible on the publishers' own websites. In other words, these articles aren't locked behind a paywall and readers can access them by heading over to the publishers' platforms.

The Post app, however, offers all these articles without any ads. The platform claims it will offer in-app reading without intrusive pop-ups. Post is confident such an optimized and cleansed reading experience would compel readers to pay.

How To Use The Post App To Read Articles Free Of Ads And Other Distractions?

As mentioned above, almost all articles available in the Post app need points to be unlocked. The number of points required to unlock access to an article varies depending on the publisher.

Users can purchase points in bulk. Currently, the most affordable in-app transaction costs $4.29, which gives readers 300 points. Readers can then pay these points to unlock full articles.

Articles start at just one point. The most expensive article is currently asking for about 29 points. Essentially, readers can choose to spend to access and read just one article at a fraction of the price of a subscription. Moreover, there appears to be no subscription, and hence, no fear of any expiry.

Practically speaking, readers could pay a few cents for most articles in the Post app. Some articles may end up costing around 40 cents each. Users who feel like rewarding publishers or content creators as an appreciation for their work can also tip them with additional points.

The Post platform has managed to garner a user base of over 440,000 individuals. This means it is gradually gaining traction. The platform is indeed a refreshing take on offering premium content in an affordable pricing structure. But only time and readers will tell if it succeeds.

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Flipping The Channels: Moldova Faces A Huge Challenge Countering Pro-Kremlin Propaganda

By Tony Wesolowsky June 17, 2023

A video claiming to show Romania massing troops and military hardware on the Moldovan border was quickly picked up by pro-Russian media and widely shared on Telegram and Twitter in February of this year.

The video, however, showed no such thing. It was actually footage taken from a Romanian military parade held a few months earlier in Alba Iulia, a city in the Romanian region of Transylvania, which is hundreds of kilometers from the Moldovan border.

After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin upped its disinformation game, experts say, exploiting traditional and social media and other tools to spin its narrative as it faced global condemnation for its aggression.

And Moldova, one of Europe's poorest nations, appeared to be at or near the top of the Kremlin's hit list. To fight back, Chisinau first banned Russian news programs, then a few months later blocked several TV channels from broadcasting. More recently, Maia Sandu, the country's pro-Western president, proposed creating a state center to monitor Russian disinformation and propaganda, saying the lies spread on television and social media were "the most dangerous weapon."

The disinformation campaign appears to be just one prong of what experts say has been a Kremlin-coordinated campaign against Moldova, a former Soviet republic of 2.6 million people that shares a border with Ukraine. U.S. officials and others had warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin not only had his eyes on Ukraine but on strategically situated Moldova as well, with concerns focusing on the nearly 2,000 Russian troops deployed in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester.

In February, Sandu publicly accused Russia of plotting to overthrow her government, an allegation first made days earlier by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Sandu's announcement followed the resignation of Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, who blamed crises caused by Russia, including "energy blackmail."

At the time the government was facing a wave of protests largely organized by the pro-Russian Shor party, whose leader, Ilan Shor, is a fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in a $1 billion bank fraud and other illicit schemes.

While Chisinau may be trying to squelch the disinformation noise, it faces a daunting task, according to Kyle Walter, head of research at Logically, a private firm that tracks disinformation for governments and businesses.

"Recent efforts to combat Russian messaging in Moldova have been a game of cat and mouse. When regulators shut down TV stations and websites for rebroadcasting Russian state programming, the content lives on because it is quickly syndicated to other channels like newly created websites and messaging apps," Walter told RFE/RL.

"A sizable minority of citizens are also sympathetic to the Russian propaganda narratives, making it difficult for anti-disinformation efforts to gain credibility with those citizens. In the future, the use of deepfakes and generative AI could increase the speed and scale of disinformation and complicate the government's efforts."

False-Flag Claims

Back in February, Russia denied it was plotting to destabilize Moldova, claims that were repeated and amplified inside Moldova by pro-Russian voices. The Kremlin didn't stop there but leveled its own charges, claiming Ukraine was planning a false-flag operation in Transdniester, where Moldova fought a short but bloody war against Russian-backed separatists in 1992. The Kremlin charges were a thinly veiled "classical disinformation" ploy, Valeriu Pasa, director of the Moldovan think tank Watchdog.md., said in a Facebook post.

The bogus claims of a Ukrainian plot first circulated on Twitter and Telegram before being quickly seized by the Russian Defense Ministry on February 23. That official statement was "massively disseminated by Russian state and pro-Kremlin outlets" as well as "pro-Kremlin sources in Moldova," according to the East StratCom Task Force, which is funded by the EU to monitor and report on Russian disinformation inside the bloc. Part of that campaign was the video claiming to show Romania massing military hardware on the Moldovan border.

"Repurposing and misappropriating old photos or videos is a common tactic used by disinformation actors looking to bolster credibility of their narratives, as they are aware that multimedia posts have a greater chance of virality on social media algorithms. In this specific case, the video implied Romania and the government in Chisinau were being aggressive and destabilizing, though the Romanian Defense Ministry quickly debunked the false claims," Walter explained.

Despite the holes in the story, the Kremlin continued to spin it.

On February 24, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that any attack on the Russian military in Transdniester would be considered an attack on Russia. Separatist leaders in the breakaway region piled on, saying they "are ready to deal with any provocations."

The rumors were given a "dramatic boost" on February 26, according to the EU's disinformation unit, when Russia's flagship nightly TV news program broadcast on state-run Channel One, which is watched by millions, gave it prominent airtime.

On March 1, one of the Kremlin's leading TV hosts, Vladimir Solovyov, known for his on-air screeds, claimed that "Ukraine [is] plotting to attack" Moldova, citing the Telegram account of Igor Dodon, a Kremlin-friendly former Moldovan president who was briefly held under house arrest in 2022 amid allegations of corruption and treason. Solovyov's post on Telegram was shared with more than 240,000 views.

Sympathy For Russian Narratives

That type of messaging can find traction in Moldova, where decades of Soviet rule have left people prone to Kremlin-friendly narratives, according to Pasa.

"This public opinion has been formed for decades, and many of these modern Kremlin narratives have been promoted since Soviet times. For example, everything related to NATO," Pasa explained to Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

An opinion poll released in February by Watchdog.md suggested that Moldovans were more apt to blame Russia's invasion on the West and NATO. Nearly 55 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that "Russia is actually fighting NATO in Ukraine." Those questioned were also likely to point the finger of blame for rising energy prices in Moldova on their own government rather than Russian cuts to energy supplies.

Sandu first attempted to scramble the signals of Russian media in June 2022, signing off on the Information Security Law, which was passed by parliament at the beginning of that month. It prohibits the distribution of Russian TV news and political analysis inside Moldova.

"The law comes into force this week, and [Russian] propaganda will be sanctioned much more harshly. Misinforming media organizations will be gradually penalized, from fines to the withdrawal of the right to broadcast advertising," the head of the Audiovisual Council in Moldova, Liliana Vitu, said at the time.

Until that June action, content from Russia was directly relayed by Moldovan channels affiliated with pro-Russian politicians, Current Time notes. For example, the First In Moldova TV station got much of its programming directly from Russia's Channel One.

In December 2022, Moldova went further, targeting specific TV networks for allegedly spreading disinformation. Moldova's Commission for Emergency Situations on December 16 suspended the broadcast licenses for the channels First In Moldova, RTR Moldova, Accent TV, NTV Moldova, TV6, and Orhei TV.

The commission said it took the action after a review by Moldova's Audiovisual Council found a "lack of correct information in the coverage of national events, but also of the war in Ukraine." It also said the suspensions aimed to "prevent the risk of disinformation...or attempts to manipulate public opinion."

Pro-Kremlin Owned Media Targeted

Four of the six suspended channels -- First In Moldova, RTR Moldova, NTV Moldova, and TV6 -- regularly retransmit programs from Russian TV channels.

First In Moldova, TV6, and Accent TV are linked to Shor, who along with his party are blacklisted by both the United States and European Union for attempts to destabilize Moldova.

NTV Moldova is linked to the pro-Kremlin Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) and its leader Dodon, who was president from 2016 to 2020, when he lost to Sandu, a U.S.-educated former World Bank official.

Dodon is alleged to have received money from the Kremlin. The business association he headed -- the Moldovan-Russian Business Union -- reportedly received the equivalent of $300,000 from Moscow between October 2021 and April 2022, an investigation by RISE Moldova claimed.

TV6 called the suspension "totally unfounded" and "an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression, editorial freedom, [and] freedom of journalists."

At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the move "a cynical infringement of the rights of national minorities."

Given the plethora of media options available, however, a ban on terrestrial TV broadcasts has proved nearly toothless. RTR Moldova was able to circumvent it by shifting its main shows and news programs to another channel, Cinema 1, according to East StratCom Task Force.

Orhei TV and TV6 used a little-known platform, Orizont TV, to air its programs, the EU disinformation monitor said. Other channels that registered an audience increase since the suspensions include Publika, Canal 2, Canal 3, and Canal 5. All are associated with another fugitive oligarch, Vlad Plahotniuc, who is also implicated in the same bank fraud scam as Shor.

Plahotniuc and Shor were among a group of seven people from Moldova sanctioned by the EU on May 30 for actions Brussels said destabilized and undermined the territorial integrity of the country. Both were among nine individuals and 12 entities blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department last October over "systemic corruption" and efforts to influence elections in Moldova. It said Shor had received Moscow's backing and had worked with Moscow-based entities to derail Moldova's bid to join the EU.

Monitoring the six channels in November 2022, Watchdog.md found that on three of the channels retransmitting Russian programming -- First In Moldova, RTR Moldova, and NTV Moldova -- Putin was portrayed more positively than Zelenskiy, although the three networks had broadcast negative news about Russia, mostly related to its unprovoked aggression.

"Last March, we conducted a study and found that many citizens of Moldova changed their attitude toward Russia and Putin and began to trust the Kremlin's narratives a little less. Then everything leveled off; there was even a slight increase, and now trust in Putin is declining again. We see this declining trend based off the latest surveys we have conducted," Pasa told Current Time.

According to Pasa, it would be incorrect to assume that it is mainly the Russian-speaking community in Moldova that is more likely to believe Kremlin-friendly narratives.

"More than half of those who support Putin are Romanian-speaking citizens of Moldova. Our research shows this. Yes, in the ranks of ethnic minorities, the perception of fakes is higher, but one cannot say that only Russian speakers support Putin and Russia," Pasa told Current Time.

To fight Russian disinformation and propaganda, Sandu on May 29 announced that she was submitting legislation to create the National Center for Information Protection and Counterpropaganda-Patriot whose duties and tasks, according to Sandu, will be to coordinate and implement state policy in the field of information security and provide "strategic communication to prevent and combat disinformation at the national level."

"Those who launch and spread false information want to provoke fear, hatred, and division. Every day, the Kremlin and criminal groups carry out hybrid attacks, using propaganda weapons to sow hatred in Moldova, weaken our trust in each other and our own state," Sandu said in a statement announcing the initiative.

Chisinau has taken other proactive measures as well, Walter notes. On the same day that Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the Moldovan government set up a Telegram channel to verify information on that social media platform, called Prima Sursa, or First Source.

In October 2022, Prima Sursa was deployed to deny rumors spread on the app that the Moldovan Defense Ministry was planning a general military mobilization.

Whatever countermeasures Chisinau may unsheathe, Walter predicts pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts will likely continue inside Moldova, and possibly become more sophisticated.

"Since the Kremlin has failed to install its preferred government through invasion or a coup attempt, the Kremlin will rely heavily on disinformation as a cost-effective tool to disrupt Moldova's pro-European path," Walter said.

"The impact will depend on how well the Moldovan government can collaborate with civil society, political parties, and individual citizens to produce factual messaging that really resonates with citizens. At the very least, Moldova is signaling to its citizens and external partners that it has the necessary resolve."

With reporting by Current Time

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-counters-russia- disinformation-kremlin-propaganda/32463478.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.

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June 17, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Hicks Tells Merchant Mariners They are Ready to Lead

American merchant mariners are key to the U.S. economy, the defense of the country, and global well-being, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks told the graduating class of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York this morning.

Like DOD's military academies, the merchant mariners are commissioned officers that have a service obligation. Many of the new officers commissioned into active-duty service in the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard or Air Force with others serving as Navy Reservists, as they work in the U.S. maritime industry.

"All of you will be crucial in advancing the U.S. military's top priority: defending this nation," Hicks said. "And while we confront many challenges around the world, our greatest challenge is outpacing our strategic competitors."

China is at the top of the list as far as strategic competition goes. She told the new officers that China "is the only strategic competitor to the United States with the will and, increasingly, the capability to remake the international order that's given so much benefit to so many for so long."

With much of the world's goods passing through the Pacific, the new officers will be part of the effort to keep the sea lines of communication open and free to all. "Our goal is to deter aggression because competition does not mean conflict," she said. "And part of deterrence is making sure our adversaries understand the costs and folly of pursuing outright conflict.

"As in any competition, our lead is not guaranteed," she said. "We have to earn it continuously. It really is all hands on deck. So, America will need her merchant mariners."

The U.S. Merchant Marine was key to victory in World War II. The service suffered the highest percentage of casualties of any service in their mission of delivering the fruits of the arsenal of democracy to the fighting fronts of that total war.

Merchant Mariners delivered for forces fighting in Korea and Vietnam, and they played a vital role in supplying troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Simply put: Again and again throughout history, America's Merchant Mariners have delivered," Hicks said. "Today, Merchant Mariners remain an indispensable component of our national defense, because they continue to deliver."

Merchant Mariners are key to American force projection  the ability to place troops and military capabilities anywhere in the world and sustain them.

She noted that more than 70 vessels have helped bring supplies and equipment to U.S. allies and partners after Russia again invaded Ukraine.

In the Indo-Pacific region, "multiple strategic sealift ships provide critical maritime prepositioning of U.S. military equipment and supplies," she said.

"What so many of you will do as merchant mariners enables our ability to project power globally, to respond to crises and contingencies on short notice, and to campaign in support of joint operations," Hicks said.

The hulls to transport these supplies and capabilities are important, but "perhaps the most important advantage we have over our competitors is you  your talent, your training and the responsibility we place in you," Hicks said.

The new officers enter a complex world. The operating environment is challenging, complicated and contested, she said, "but in the face of friction and fog, I know you  our newest ensigns and second lieutenants, active-duty and reserve  will be America's saving grace; just like your predecessors."

The U.S. military trusts junior leaders in ways competitors  and some allies  do not. "In the U.S. military, we're confident in our junior officers' ability ... to get the job done, to lead," Hicks said. "So, the responsibility we place on you, that is a key ingredient in the 'secret sauce' that makes our military the finest and fiercest fighting force in the entire world. And that's why, here at the Merchant Marine Academy, the United States of America has been investing in you, making you into leaders. And we are all impressed by the results."

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has prepared the new officers to contribute in meaningful ways, with the most important being the teamwork they learned in completing the rigorous course.

"You will rise and fall as a team, and that means you will have to look out for your people  those to the left, the right, and in front and behind you," she said. "And you will need to let them in to look out for you.

"No matter where you serve, in your military or civilian career, you will be part of a unit," she continued. "Ensuring the trust and safety of that unit is paramount to maintaining cohesion, connection and camaraderie."

Earning the trust of the team is the most important element for success. "We expect you to earn that trust," the deputy secretary said. "It's not just a privilege. It comes with responsibility to complete the mission and take care of your people. When uniformed leaders take care of their people, U.S. military readiness skyrockets."

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Five kids among 17 killed in airstrikes in Sudan's capital

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 5:43 PM

At least seventeen people, including five children, have been killed in an airstrike in Sudan's capital Khartoum, as fighting intensifies between rival generals seeking control of the country.

Warplanes struck residential districts of the capital on Saturday, killing 17 civilians, including five children, health officials said.

The airstrike, the deadliest in the clashes in urban areas of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan, came a day after a top army general threatened to step up attacks against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Over the past two months, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been locked in urban combat which has so far killed at least 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project's (ACLED) latest figures from last month

The fighting now spreads to the provinces, particularly to the cities of the western region of Darfur.

On Thursday, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths described the conditions in Darfur as particularly dire.

He said that babies were dying in hospitals, children and mothers suffering from severe malnutrition, camps for displaced persons burned down and sexual violence was on the rise.

He also highlighted reports of ethnic killings in West Darfur's capital El Geneina and stressed that the province was rapidly spiraling into a "humanitarian calamity."

"The world cannot allow this to happen, "not again," Mr. Griffiths said referring to the ethnic tensions that stoked deadly conflict there 20 years ago.

Medics also warned about the increasing number of wounded people who are fleeing the Darfur region.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity said the organization said in a statement on Friday that more than 600 patients, most with gunshot wounds, arrived at the facility over a three-day period in Chad.

"We urgently need more beds and more staff," said Seybou Diarra, a physician and project coordinator for the MSF.

"As violence rages in West Darfur, wounded people are coming in waves" to the hospital in Adre, just over the border about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of El Geneina, Diarra added.

MSF's head of emergency programs Claire Nicolet also cited "reports of intensifying and large-scale attacks this week."

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad.

They are among the roughly 2.2 million people uprooted nationwide by the fighting, which has forced more than 528,000 to seek refuge in neighboring countries, said IOM.

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Daesh-linked terrorist slaughter 41 in attack on Uganda school

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 11:14 AM

Daesh-linked militants have slaughtered 41 people and abducted others in an attack on a school in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said.

Ugandan authorities have found the bodies of 41 people, including 38 students, after Daesh-affiliated rebels attacked a secondary school near the border with Congo, Uganda's local mayor declared on Saturday.

The victims included students, a security guard and two members of the local community who were killed outside the school, Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Mayor Selevest Mapoze said, noting that an unknown number of people were also kidnapped by the rebels, who fled across the porous border into Congo after the attack on Friday night.

The co-ed and privately owned school is located in the Ugandan district of Kasese, nearly two kilometers from the Congo border, local officials added.

"Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue the abductees and destroy this group," defense ministry spokesman Felix Kulayigye said in a Twitter post as cited in press reports.

Officials did not say how many people were abducted by the assailants, members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) insurgent group that has pledged allegiance to the Daesh (ISIS) terror group.

Joe Walusimbi, an official representing Uganda's president in Kasese, said that some of the victims "were burnt beyond recognition."

"A dormitory was set on fire and a food store looted. So far 25 bodies have been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital," police said in a statement, adding that eight others were in critical condition.

The attackers fled to Virunga National Park in Congo, police added.

Influential political leader and a former lawmaker from the region, Winnie Kiiza, condemned the "cowardly attack" on Twitter, insisting that "attacks on schools are unacceptable and are a grave violation of children's rights."

ADF rebels began their insurgency against President Yoweri Museveni in the 1990s from a base in the Rwenzori Mountains.

The group was largely defeated by the Ugandan army, but remnants fled across the border into the vast forests of eastern Congo, where they continued their insurgencycarrying out attacks on civilian and military targets in Congo and Uganda.

In April, ADF forces attacked a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 20 people.

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U.S. Demands Serbia 'Immediately' Release Three Detained Kosovar Police Officers

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 17, 2023

The United States has urged Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to immediately release three Kosovar police officers detained on what it called "spurious charges."

"We call on President Vucic and the Serbian government to immediately and unconditionally release the three Kosovo police detained on June 14," the U.S. State Department said in a statement on June 17.

"Their arrest and ongoing detention on spurious charges has exacerbated an already tense situation," it added.

The statement said Washington continues "to call on both Serbia and Kosovo to follow the three-point plan outlined by the EU and return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue without delay."

Kosovo said the three police officers went missing on June 14 during a patrol aimed at preventing smuggling. Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla accused Serbia of "entering the territory of Kosovo and kidnapping" the three policemen.

Belgrade, meanwhile, said the officers were arrested "deep inside" Serbian territory.

KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, said in a statement that it was unclear where the police officers were at the time of their arrest.

On June 16, the U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, called on Serbia to release the three, saying they did not intentionally cross the border and the "likely scenarios" were that they were abducted from inside Kosovo or "inadvertently crossed the boundary."

The three "had no intention to be in Serbia and should be released," Escobar told reporters in an online briefing.

The prosecutor's office in the southwestern Serbian city of Kraljevo on June 16 ordered an investigation of the three Kosovo men and said they were being investigated on charges of unauthorized production, possession, carrying, and trafficking of weapons and explosive substances.

The arrest of the officers came after weeks of tensions following clashes between ethnic Serbs and NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers in northern Kosovo that left 30 peacekeepers injured last month.

Local ethnic Serbs have taken to the streets in protest after ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election that Serbs boycotted

Earlier on June 17, Kosovar police told RFE/RL that two shock bombs exploded late on June 16 in North Mitrovica, causing no damages or injuries but raising tensions in the already nervous region near the Serbian border.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-bomb-blasts-serbia- tensions/32463705.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.

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Saudi Arabia and the US Announce that Representatives of the SAF and RSF Agreed to a 72-hour Ceasefire across Sudan Beginning on June 18 at 6:00 a.m. Khartoum time Until June 21

Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, June 17, 2023, SPA -- Joint Facilitators Statement From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire across Sudan beginning on June 18 at 6:00 a.m. Khartoum time until June 21. The parties agreed that during the ceasefire they will refrain from prohibited movements, attacks, use of military aircraft or drones, artillery strikes, reinforcement of positions and resupply of forces, and will refrain from seeking military advantage during the ceasefire. They also agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

In light of the June 19 humanitarian donors conference, the facilitators called on the parties to consider the immense suffering of the Sudanese people and to adhere fully to this ceasefire and cease the severity of violence. Should the parties fail to observe the 72-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning the Jeddah talks.

-- SPA

23:00 LOCAL TIME 20:00 GMT

0024

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Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on brutal school attack in Uganda

UNICEF

17 June 2023

KAMPALA/NEW YORK, 17 JUNE 2023 -- "I am outraged by the attack last night on a secondary school in Mpondwe, Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has, according to media reports, left over 40 people dead, mostly students, with others injured or abducted.

"This was a heinous and unconscionable act of violence. An attack on a school and school children in this manner is an assault on the very progress young people have led in Uganda for years.

"UNICEF calls for the immediate release and safe return of all those who have been kidnapped, and extends its sincere condolences to the loved ones of the victims and to the nation, as it grapples with this senseless violence."



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Trafficking in the Sahel: Smugglers 'will take you anywhere'

17 June 2023 - Call a friend with a connection, get a passport in 24 hours, and hand over some cash. That is what it takes to flee the fragile Sahel region of Africa, where smuggling networks exploit the desperation of people, leading in some cases to such deadly disasters as the recent shipwreck off the coast of Greece.

In this feature, part of a series exploring trafficking in the Sahel, UN News focuses on migrant smuggling.

Migrant smugglers have been reaping rich dividends over the past decade in the Sahel, where armed violence, terrorist attacks, and climate shocks have displaced three million people and triggered growing numbers of others to flee, according to a new threat assessment report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

External threats like the crisis in Sudan are creating a "snowball effect" on the region, Mar Dieye, the UN Secretary-General's Special Coordinator in the Sahel, told UN News.

"Not stopping this fire that started from Sudan and then spilled over in Chad and other regions could be an international disaster that will trigger a lot of more migrants," said Mr. Dieye, who also heads the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS).

'We will take you anywhere'

Right now, Mr. Dieye said, most trafficking occurs at porous ungoverned border areas where the State is "extremely weak".

The latest UNODC report identified other drivers alongside solutions buttressed by interviews with migrants and the criminals smuggling them, who revealed how the cross-border crime is unfolding in towns across the Sahel.

Many interviewees said smugglers were cheaper and quicker than regular migration, the report found. In Mali, where monthly income averages $74, a passport costs nearly $100.

In Niger, a key informant said authorities can take three to four months to process official documentation.

"But with us, if you want, we will take you anywhere," the informant said.

If a passport is needed, a smuggler in Mali said in the report, "I will have it in 24 hours."

'Cash-cash' partnerships

The report pointed to corruption as both a motivator to use smugglers and a key enabler for the crime.

Migrant smugglers could earn around $1,400 a month, or 20 times the average income in Burkina Faso, according to UNODC.

"Lucky smugglers" can earn as much as $15,000 to $20,000 per month, a smuggler in Niger said in the report.

The degree of collaboration with public officials is so entrenched, a smuggler in Mali explained, that he "has no fear of punishment from the authorities", according to the report.

"I have never been worried by the authorities," the smuggler said. "We are in a cash-cash partnership."

Recalling instances when arriving at police checkpoints, a key informant interviewed in Niger shared his experience.

"You go to see them and give them their envelope, but, if you don't know anyone in the team, you are obliged to take the migrants out and put them on motorcycles to bypass the checkpoint," the informant added.

Ever greater risks

Increased demand from men, women, and children seeking to escape worsening violence and the consequent rising food insecurity has fuelled the cross-border crime, according to UNODC.

Since the discovery in 2012 of gold lacing the region, UNODC said research points to mining sites, where women are trafficked for sexual exploitation, and men are forced into indentured labour.

Smuggling routes have also become more clandestine and diverse in attempts to evade growing efforts by security forces, exposing refugees and migrants to even greater risks and dangers, according to the agency.

Stemming the flow

All the Sahel countries except Chad are party to the Protocol against smuggling of migrants, which supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and have dedicated laws that are making progress, the report stated.

On the ground, operations are succeeding, UNODC reported. Among many examples cited in the report, a 2018 operation saw Nigerien police officers arrest ringleaders and dismantle a highly organized network suspected of having smuggled thousands of migrants to Spain, including through the Niger, Libya, and Algeria.

To build on these achievements, UNODC recommended actions States can take to tackle migrant smuggling, address the root causes, combat corruption, and create local job opportunities. The agency also suggested that counter-smuggling policies include development and human rights approaches.

Uprooting the causes

For many UN agencies and Sahelian nations, cooperation is key. Ongoing International Office for Migration (IOM) efforts include boosting livelihoods for returning migrants and forging new partnerships, including a recent agreement with the G5 Sahel Force, a multinational mission aimed at stabilizing the region.

"For IOM, regional cooperation is essential to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration and respond effectively to challenges," said IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino.

The new agreement provided an opportunity for tailored, joint approaches that address the complex drivers of conflict, instability, and forced displacement, he said, adding that "seeking such solutions will stand as a stepping stone in our overall collaborative frameworks toward improving conditions for populations in the Sahel."

Meanwhile, UNISS continues working with all UN entities and partner nations on such efforts as the Generation Unlimited Sahel and helping Sahelians support their families, said Mr. Dieye, emphasizing that the current situation remains "extremely worrisome".

"It will require a collective response," he said. "No one country can deal with it alone. I think this has to land on the lap of the international community. After all, it is an international crime."

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Tensions High as Chinese Vessels Shadow Vietnam's Oil, Gas Operations

By Govi Snell June 17, 2023

China is sending more ships to Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and the frequency and length of those trips, which have picked up since early May, is raising tensions in the South China Sea.

After a nearly monthlong incursion of a survey ship and its large entourage, more Chinese vessels are sailing through sensitive locations within Vietnamese waters. Vietnam's EEZ extends out 200 nautical miles from the country's coast.

The presence of Chinese research, coast guard and civilian ships in these waters, in addition to harassing Vietnamese oil and gas operations, showcases Beijing's push of contested claims in the resource-rich waters, experts say.

Hanoi rejects Beijing's "nine-dash line," a map demarcation that China uses to claim near-total jurisdiction over the South China Sea, and that sentiment is apparently not limited to government officials.

"China thinks they are stronger, they are better, so they have the right to trespass anywhere they want in the East Sea even though they know it's illegal," a 26-year-old living in Ho Chi Minh City told VOA, requesting anonymity because of potential repercussions for discussing political matters and using the Vietnamese term for the sea.

"The conflict between Vietnam and China is a political hot potato," he said.

Ray Powell, who leads Stanford University's Project Myoushu on the South China Sea, told VOA last month that China's intrusion "has become routine."

"China wants to normalize it to the point that Vietnam no longer reacts or protests," he said.

On June 10, China's patrol ship Zhong Goo Yu Zheng 310 and a luxury passenger vessel, San Sha 2 Hao, sailed through Vietnam's EEZ near oil and gas fields close to Vanguard Bank, a Vietnamese outpost and flashpoint between the countries. In 2019, a China coast guard contingent and Chinese survey vessel operated around Vanguard Bank, resulting in a monthslong standoff between Vietnamese and Chinese coast guards and diplomatic outcry.

Vietnam, international backlash

"They spent about 30 hours in Vietnam's EEZ, mostly in and among its oil and gas operations," Powell wrote. "[It's] simply communicating to Hanoi that China has 'jurisdiction' over these waters."

This was far from the only recent incursion.

The world's largest coast guard vessel, China coast guard ship 5901, was active near Vanguard Bank on June 8.

China's coast guard ship 5403 was also operating near oil drilling initiatives in Vietnam's EEZ from May 23 to June 4.

In the most "heavy handed" intrusion since 2019, according to Powell, the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 operated in the country's EEZ for nearly a month. From May 7 to June 4, the research vessel - flanked at times by as many as 12 ships - operated primarily around joint oil and gas operations led by Russian and Vietnamese firms.

Although countries are allowed through foreign EEZs, unauthorized surveys are not and are considered hostile if done without prior notice.

Oddities in Xiang Yang Hong 10's route pointed to Beijing's assertion of its disputed jurisdiction. During the four-week stretch, the research ship would go to China's Fiery Cross Reef, before returning to Vietnamese waters. Instead of taking a direct route, the vessel used a northeastern path that took it approximately 85 nautical miles away from Nha Trang, a city on Vietnam's south-central coast.

"It was just one more way that they showed they can cross Vietnam's EEZ whenever they want to, " Powell said. "There's no reason to go past there other than sending a message."

Beijing's aims, Hanoi's response

While intimidating energy exploration is the most obvious aim, it is seen as likely just part of Beijing's overall agenda.

"Exploring the deep South China Sea has become China's strategy for obtaining valuable information for economic development and military intelligence," wrote Vietnam-based researcher Van Pham, head of the nonprofit South China Sea Chronicle Initiative, which monitors maritime traffic.

China has been rotating research and survey vessels in foreign EEZs in the South China Sea consistently, Pham said. Coast guard ships also operate at sensitive locations in disputed territory "on a daily basis," Pham added, and the organization has observed Chinese fishing boats near Vietnam's oil and gas blocks.

Vietnamese fishermen are often caught up in the conflict. Between 2014 and 2022, 98 Vietnamese boats were destroyed by Chinese vessels.

Responding to China's intrusion is a tricky balancing act for Hanoi, said Nguyen The Phuong, an international relations lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance.

"Any small misstep on the Vietnamese side could escalate the conflict," Phuong said. "It is extremely difficult."

Call for 'respect'

At a May 18 press conference, Hanoi made a rare statement in response to the monthlong intrusion of Xiang Yang Hong 10.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang urged China to withdraw the research vessel, coast guard and fishing boats and "respect Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdictional rights."

"Vietnam needs to be very careful on how to protect its sovereignty from the outside and from the inside how to manage nationalism in a way that it could not damage the state's legitimacy," Phuong said.

This discord is likely to increase.

"This will happen in the future again [and will be] much more intense," Phuong said.

For now, a 28-year-old Ho Chi Minh City native is confident the Vietnamese government is doing enough to maintain stability.

"The Vietnamese government will understand how to deal with these situations," he said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. "I think the Vietnamese government is good at dealing with them to avoid war."

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UN Peacekeeping Chief Urged to Raise Rights Concerns in Bangladesh Visit

By Shaikh Azizur Rahman June 17, 2023

Human Rights Watch and other rights organizations have urged U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix to "publicly voice concerns" about rights abuses by Bangladesh's security forces when he visits the south Asian country later this month.

Lacroix is set to visit Bangladesh on June 25-26 at the invitation of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a state guest. In Dhaka, he will attend a conference organized by the ministry.

Bruno Stagno Ugarte, the chief advocacy officer at HRW, said the security forces of Bangladesh  "in particular, the Rapid Action Battalion" have long been involved in serious human rights violations.

"Lacroix should emphasize that if Bangladesh is to maintain its role as the top contributor of peacekeeping troops, it should appropriately apply the U.N. human rights screening policy, which requires governments, alongside the U.N. to ensure their nationals serving with the U.N. have not violated human rights laws," Ugarte said in a statement, which was released Monday.

Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions. Currently, more than 6,000 personnel from Bangladesh's armed forces and police  including the Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, a unit made up of army and police officials  are deployed in U.N. peacekeeping missions across different countries.

Meenakshi Ganguly, south Asia director of HRW, said there is a great risk that troops responsible for grave human rights violations in Bangladesh would be rewarded with a U.N. deployment.

"Mr. Lacroix should publicly voice concerns to ensure there is adequate screening, particularly if anyone has been part of RAB," Ganguly told VOA.

While the authorities in Bangladesh deny that government forces were behind any human rights abuse, in December 2021, Washington imposed human rights-related sanctions on the RAB and six of its former and then-serving officers, saying they were responsible for hundreds of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Faulty screening policy

In Monday's HRW statement, chief advocacy officer Ugarte said the current screening policy of Bangladeshi personnel fails to ensure that Bangladeshi troops that have been involved in rights violations at home are not deployed with U.N. missions abroad.

"In Bangladesh, systematic human rights screening by the U.N. is applied only at higher ranks and otherwise left to the National Human Rights Commission, which has limited purview over security forces. Bangladesh's weak enforcement of this policy reinforces a message that grave rights violations will not preclude one from service under the U.N. flag, presenting a moral hazard for the U.N.," he said.

VOA reached out to the legal and media wing director of RAB, Khandaker al-Moin, seeking his comment on the issue but has not received a response. VOA also contacted via email the home ministry of Bangladesh. The ministry has not responded to VOA, either.

While reviewing the human rights record of Bangladesh, in 2019, the Committee against Torture, a U.N. human rights body, said in a statement it was "concerned about reports that personnel that have served with the Rapid Action Battalion have frequently been deployed for service with United Nations peace missions."

The committee also recommended an independent vetting procedure, "to ensure that no person or unit implicated in the commission of torture, extrajudicial killing, disappearances or other serious human rights violations is selected for service."

Referring to the statement of the committee, HRW's Ugarte said, "The U.N. should require Bangladeshi officers to disclose previous deployments with RAB, then automatically bar anyone affiliated with RAB from U.N. peacekeeping."

When Lacroix visits Bangladesh, he "should publicly commit to an enhanced human rights screening that addresses well-documented abuses by Bangladesh security forces, the government's failure to hold those responsible to account, and the threat they pose to the integrity of U.N. peacekeeping worldwide," Ugarte added.

Rights groups' support

Several other rights groups have supported Ugarte on the issue.

Lacroix's visit to Bangladesh is "potentially extremely problematic in its timing" ahead of a crucial election in the country, Angelita Baeyens, vice president of international advocacy & litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) said.

The general election is to be held in Bangladesh at the end of this year. The last general election in the country in 2018 was marred by widespread allegations of rigging by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League party.

"Such a move could be misrepresented as a sign of complete trust by the U.N. of Bangladeshi security forces unless Mr. Lacroix both publicly and unequivocally states his concern over the continuing abuses by security forces in the country," Baeyens told VOA.

Hong Kong-based Bangladeshi rights activist Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman said Lacroix is visiting Bangladesh as a state guest at a time when the incumbent Sheikh Hasina government is "accused of committing grave human rights violations for almost 15 years with blanket impunity."

"As a responsible senior official of the U.N., USG (Undersecretary-General) Lacroix has an obligation to respect the International Bill of Human Rights. He should ensure that his U.N. portfolio is not being used by the Sheikh Hasina regime for strengthening her political power and validating the gross human rights violations that Sheikh Hasina's government is committing for retaining her illegitimate power.

"It's a shame for the U.N. Peacekeeping Operations when they trust the murderers as peacekeepers."

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Somalia Facing Uncertainty as African Troops Leave

By Mohamed Olad Hassan June 17, 2023

A rapid collapse of state institutions may await Somalia when the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, or ATMIS, ends at the end of 2024, unless the United Nations' weapons embargo on the country is lifted, security experts warn.

Somali authorities and African Union officials said this week that ATMIS will draw down 2,000 soldiers by June 30 of this year to pave the way for the complete withdrawal of the African Union Mission in Somalia that started in 2007 with the African Union Mission to Somalia, or AMISOM, and it was replaced by ATMIS, which became operational on April 1, 2022.

Abdisalam Yusuf Guled, the founder of Eagle Range Services, a security company in Mogadishu, and former Somalia's deputy chief of the National Security Agency, is among those who voiced concern.

"I have a great concern that Somalia could be another Afghanistan if the African Union troops leave the country, without Somalia getting strong and well-armed security forces that have international funding and backing similar to that for ATMIS," Guled said.

Last week, the Somali government said it is ready to take over security responsibilities from ATMIS, as 2,000 troops will withdraw from the country in line with U.N. Security Council resolutions 2628 and 2670.

This week, a technical team was appointed with ATMIS and the U.N. Support Office in Somalia that will oversee the implementation of the ATMIS drawback.

But security experts warn that a swift pullout of African Union troops in Somalia could lead to a swift collapse of the Somali government, similar to what happened in Afghanistan when U.S. troops left in August 2021.

"The Somali Army has been emboldened by anti-al-Shabab clan militias backing, as well as foreign military support. And now, it is clear that ATMIS withdrawal will encourage al-Shabab to remobilize and launch more brazen attacks on the Somali government," Col. Abdullahi Ali Maow, a former Somali intelligence official, told VOA.

Former deputy chief of Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency, or NISA, Ismail Dahir Osman, said he thinks the militants are on a downward spiral and that they cannot endanger Somalia's government once African troops leave the country.

"I think the Somali government and the world community cannot agree on sending the ATMIS personnel back to their countries without a strategic contingency plan in place. I believe the donor countries and the United Nations will direct the ATMIS funding to Somalia's National Army, and if that is the case, there is no chance for al-Shabab to position itself to a level where it can threaten the existence of Somalia's institutions," said Osman.

Omar Abdi Jimale is a Mogadishu-based political science lecturer and commentator on Somalia's security and politics. He says with genuine international support for Somalia, the country's National Army can shoulder the burden and responsibility of security.

"We remember how the Taliban's swift takeover of power in Afghanistan took the world by surprise. I see that the case in Somalia is different. If sanctions are lifted and the Somali Army is equipped with better military hardware, I believe they are in a much better position than any other foreign force to deal with al-Shabab and the country's security in general," said Jimale.

"I cannot rule out that the unexpected could happen in Somalia without the international community fully supporting the Somali Army in terms of salary and weapons."

Colonel Abdullahi Ali Ma'ow says African Union troops in Somalia have been filling in as a de facto army in Somalia, and their withdrawal could compromise Somalia's security gains. "AU troops have been providing protection for Somalia's leaders and its economic sources, like ports and airports, until the Somali National Army is strong enough to counter the jihadi group on its own. I think any withdrawal of ATMIS without making sure that Somalia is ready could give an opportunity to al-Shabab, and it will make the decades of efforts, sacrifices, and the human and material cost of the war against terrorism wasted."

Second phase

With the help of anti-al-Shabab clan militias, ATMIS, and international partners including the United States and Turkey, the Somali national army dislodged the Islamist insurgency al-Shabab from swathes of central Somalia in 2022, during the first phase of military operations announced by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Somalia said it killed more than 3,000 militants and that the operation was successful. The militant group called it "a failed operation."

But for much of this year, the counteroffensive against al-Shabab has stalled, giving the militants a space to remobilize and carry out attacks, including a May 26 storm on an AU base in the Lower Shabelle region that killed 54 Ugandan soldiers, and a brazen siege of a beachside hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, last week, which left nine people dead, including an employee with the World Health Organization, and another 10 wounded.

A Somali Defense Ministry statement said regional forces supporting Somalia in the next phase of the offensive against al-Shabab are ready to be deployed anytime soon.

"Troops from the three neighboring countries of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya, are ready to be deployed in any minutes to Somalia, in addition to the soldiers they already have serving as part of the African Transitional Mission in Somalia , or ATMIS," top Somali military commanders told VOA on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the military preparations.

The deployment of the troops follows an agreement between the leaders of the three countries and Somalia during a summit hosted by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on February 1, 2023, in Mogadishu.

The new phase reportedly aims to flush out al-Shabab from the remaining parts of the country under its control, focusing on the southern regions of the Middle Shabelle and Jubba Valleys.

As a part of the ongoing military preparations to defeat or at least weaken al-Shabab before ATMIS' full withdrawal from Somalia, senior ATMIS commanders held talks with top U.S. military officials on Friday.

"The U.S. is one of our international partners. They have also injected a lot of resources into this mission, and we have discussed salient issues," said Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding after the meeting. "We are in the transition process, so as ATM exits, we should be proud of our brothers and sisters who remain behind to take charge of their country's security. That is our hope and prayer."

Over the years, the United States has provided security assistance, including logistical and financial support, to the African Union peacekeeping operation in Somalia.

This report originated from the VOA Somali Torch Program.

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Mali Wants Withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers

By VOA News June 17, 2023

Malian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop on Friday called for the immediate withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission from his country.

Diop told the U.N. Security Council Mali wanted the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, or MINUSMA, the U.N. force in Mali, removed "without delay."

"Minusma seems to have become part of the problem by fueling community tensions exacerbated by extremely serious allegations which are highly detrimental to peace, reconciliation and national cohesion in Mali," said the minister.

"This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA," Diop told the council.

The West African country has faced an insurgency since 2012. The U.N. peacekeeping mission was deployed in 2013 but the instability continues.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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41 Killed in Militant Attack on Ugandan School

By Halima Athumani June 17, 2023

Ugandan security officials say suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group killed 41 students and left eight injured late Friday night at the Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, in western Uganda's Kasese district, near the Congo border.

According to Ugandan security and district officials, other locals in the region were also killed. The rebels torched two dormitories in the school and looted a food store during the attack.

Muhindi Bukonjo Eriphazi, the district chairman, detailed the attack to VOA, saying, "They killed 24 students and 17 other students' bodies burned. That's a total of around 41, we have eight causalities."

Eriphazi said the injured included six students, a teacher and an elderly woman who reported that her husband and mother-in-law also were killed. Three children are suspected of having been abducted. Two other survivors are at a nearby health facility.

"The wanainchi [ordinary citizens] were able to arrest two rebels who had knives, and one of them has been caught this morning at customs - Mpondwe. And this one, the wanainchi decided to put him out of action."

The Allied Democratic Forces rebel group is aligned with the Islamic State group, and previously carried out attacks in Uganda. The attack was carried out 2 kilometers from the Congo border and close to the Virunga National Park.

Defense spokesman Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye spoke with VOA about what authorities are doing now.

"This is a signature of ADF. And the army has inserted a force to pursue so that we rescue those who are abducted. Secondly, the president has dispatched the minister of education to go and commiserate with the school community. And then the CDF [commander, defense forces] and commander, land forces, are going on the ground today to do an on-the-spot assessment."

This is the first ADF attack on a school in 25 years. In June 1998, the ADF attacked Kichwamba National Technical Institute in Kabarole district, killing 58 students. At the time, students had locked themselves in a dormitory to avoid being abducted and the rebels retaliated by setting the dormitory on fire. Close to 100 students were then taken.

The Allied Democratic Forces, whose founder Jamil Mukulu has been imprisoned since 2015, operate in the Rwenzuru mountains in Uganda and Congo. The group has been fighting against the Ugandan government since 1996.

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Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure

June 17, 2023

Joint Base Andrews

Prince George's County, Maryland

9:37 A.M. EDT

Q Good morning, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: The only reason we're going to Philadelphia: It's my wedding anniversary. (Laughter.) And we figured I  with my Philly girl, we'd go to Philly. You can smile; it's okay. It's a lousy joke.

Anyway, I  the reason I'm excited about today is just like what we did last week in the  with the environmental groups.

I think  I'm told this is the first time ever this early that every single union has endorsed me. I've been told that's never happened before. And the good news about that is: I also met yesterday with some businesspeople. Businesspeople and unions are beginning to work together like not before.

And so, I'm  I'm excited about  this is the beginning of something big, in terms of changing the economic balance.

Q What kind of campaign do you think you're going to have? Do you think it's going to be a nasty campaign this whole year, the way your opponent is going after you?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it depends on who the nominee is.

Q On China, Mr. President: Can Secretary Blinken ease tensions with China on this trip, do you think?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Well, look, China has some legitimate difficulties unrelating to the  unrelated to the United States. And I think one of the things that that balloon caused was not so much that it got shot down, but I don't think the leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on. It was  I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional.

And so, I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there's areas we can get along.

Q Mr. President, are you going to make it easier for Ukraine to join NATO?

THE PRESIDENT: No.

(Cross-talk by reporters.)

THE PRESIDENT: Because they got to meet the same standards. So I'm not going to make it easier. I think they've done everything relating to demonstrating the ability to coordinate militarily, but there's a whole issue of: Is their system secure? Is it non-corrupt? Does it meet all the standards every-  every other nation in NATO does.

I think they will. I think they can. But it's not automatic.

Thank you.

Q Do you have a comment on Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus?

THE PRESIDENT: I've commented on that many times. It's totally irresponsible.

9:40 A.M. EDT

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China, US APEC representatives gather in Beijing, call for efforts to promote regional prosperity ahead of Blinken's visit

Global Times

By Shen Weiduo Published: Jun 17, 2023 09:02 PM

Representatives from China and the US convened at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China CEO Forum 2023 held in Beijing on Saturday, calling for collaborative efforts to promote prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region through the multilateral mechanism in light of the increasing challenges faced.

The timing of the forum is critical - occurring prior to the China visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and coinciding with the presence of many executives from US multinational companies in China, which according to some observers, signals that pragmatic trade related cooperation persists despite rising diplomatic tensions.

APEC is a model of regional economic cooperation. Since its establishment, it has been committed to promoting regional economic integration, trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, providing more opportunities for the development of the Asia-Pacific business community, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen told the opening ceremony of the forum on Saturday.

Wang noted that China's economy has achieved strong recovery and rapid growth after the epidemic, reaffirming China's commitment to continue to open its doors and actively promote high-level opening up, which will offer more opportunities to the world.

"However, some individual countries have abused the concept of national security, implemented export controls, imposed technological blockades, and distorted normal trade and investment. We oppose such unilateral bullying and economic coercion," the official said.

"After the extended period of pandemic challenges, economic disruptions and accelerating climate impacts that all of us are feeling, it seems APEC has really met its moment. All of the work it has done for years on subjects like trade facilitation and healthcare align with newer work done in the areas of the digital economy and sustainability about which we are still learning," Monica Hardy Whaley, President of US Center for APEC, said at the opening ceremony of the event.

Whaley also expressed her pleasure in attending the event in person in Beijing since pandemic, as she had been limited to video messages over the past several years.

Under the theme "Pursue High-Quality, Sustainable Development," this year's forum was co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), and APEC China Business Council (ACBC).

Apart from APEC representatives and trade officials, Chinese business representatives from various sectors, including Hu Houkun, senior executive of tech giant Huawei, and Liu Chang, chairperson of agriculture giant New Hope Liuhe, also attended the forum, offering their own ideas for sustainable development and digital solutions for the region.

Wang Linjie, spokesperson for the CCPIT, said at a press conference in May that the forum was held to "expand the influence of the Chinese business community in APEC, promote economic and trade cooperation and exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region, and prepare for attending the APEC CEO Summit in the US in November."

"Trade exchanges between China and the US are seeing signs of increasing after senior trade officials from the world's two largest economies held 'candid' talks last month," Wu Lei, a senior China-US relations observer, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum on Saturday.

In a fast move, a group of more than 130 Chinese representatives from local governments and enterprises recently set off on a group visit to California for the first time in three years in late May.

The delegation, led by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and supported by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, aimed to promote local economic and trade cooperation and exchanges at the provincial and city level between China and the US, according to the CCCME website.

"This clearly demonstrates that strengthened economic ties are in the interests of both China and US people," Wu said, noting that it is important to differentiate between the voices of some politicians in Washington and local government officials and industry representatives.

Meanwhile, US executives are also seeking greater cooperation with China. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, arrived in China on June 14, his first trip to the country since 2019. This also follows a recent visit made by US billionaire Elon Musk.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also said that the US wants to work with China on urgent global challenges during a closed-door meeting with American business leaders in early June, according to a report from CNN, citing a person familiar with the matter.

China and the US should strive to promote the sound and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, injecting more stability into the world economy, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.

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Blinken Arrives in Beijing for Talks With Chinese Counterparts

By Nike Ching June 17, 2023

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday morning local time in Beijing for a weekend of talks with Chinese officials to establish "open and empowered" communications.

Shortly before departing for China on Friday evening, Blinken told a news conference in Washington that U.S. officials would speak candidly with their Chinese counterparts about "very real concerns" on a range of issues.

Speaking alongside visiting Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Blinken said the U.S. wants to make sure "that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into confrontation or conflict."

Expectations are low that the trip will reset the two countries' fraught relationship.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday that "the United States views China as its 'primary rival' and 'the most consequential geopolitical challenge.' This is a major strategic misjudgment."

He said the competition the United States has with China is "not responsible competition, but irresponsible bullying. It will only push the two countries towards confrontation and create a divided world."

Blinken is the first secretary of state to visit Beijing since 2018.

"While in Beijing, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior [People's Republic of China] officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship. He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges," the State Department said Wednesday.

Tuesday night, Blinken spoke by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

In a tweet, Blinken said he and Qin "discussed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication as well as bilateral and global issues."

In Beijing, Chinese officials Wednesday asked the United States to stop what they said was Washington's undermining of China's security and development interests, but added the two countries can manage differences and promote cooperation.

Wang said during a Wednesday briefing that the Beijing government hopes the U.S. will "take concrete actions" to "work with China to effectively manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation, [and] stabilize the relationship from further deterioration."

Senior U.S. officials said topics high on the agenda during Blinken's meetings include regional security, counternarcotics, climate change, global macroeconomic stability, Americans wrongfully detained in China, and exchanges between American and Chinese people.

Officials said they would not anticipate "a long list of deliverables" after Blinken's meetings in Beijing.

In Brussels on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after China refused a meeting at an event in Singapore earlier this month.

"I'm confident that, over time, that's going to happen. We're going to meet at some point in time. But we're not there yet," Austin told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

On Wednesday, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters during a phone briefing that stopping illicit fentanyl "will feature prominently" in Blinken's meetings in Beijing. Kritenbrink is accompanying Blinken on the trip.

Officials also said China's military escalation in the Taiwan Strait was "a global concern."

Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, said the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "a clear bipartisan, strong determination" of the United States.

U.S. officials have said it is in the interest of both countries to maintain open lines of communication. The Pentagon also wants Beijing to answer a military hotline so generals can talk during incidents like a recent close encounter involving U.S. and Chinese ships in the Taiwan Strait.

Observers say despite the tensions, the two governments are trying to set up a summit later this year.

"Both countries are working toward a possible meeting between [U.S. President Joe] Biden and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, which will take place in San Francisco in November," said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. "And in order to have a successful summit, if that is indeed on the agenda, there needs to be a lot of preparation," Glaser added.

While Washington is seeking to reengage Beijing on the issues of counternarcotics and climate change, experts and congressional critics are skeptical that the two countries can have a substantial change in the status of their relationship.

"I do not think that we should be looking towards a reset of the U.S.-China relationship," Glaser told VOA.

"It is an opportunity for both sides to continue to express their concerns and maybe find ways to address differences. This is particularly true in the military realm, where they've actually been frozen," Glaser added.

After Beijing, Blinken heads to London to attend a Ukraine Recovery Conference to "mobilize international support from the public and private sector" and "help Ukraine recover from Russia's brutal and ongoing attacks."

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Self-reliance a necessity as India faces double border threat & new dimensions of warfare: Raksha Mantri in Lucknow

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

"Strong & self-reliant military backbone of a sovereign nation; Govt ensuring that Armed Forces are not dependent on foreign equipment"

"Self-reliance in niche technologies must for India to become a military power at global level"

"95% of land in UP Defence Corridor acquired; 109 MoUs signed with estimated investment of over Rs 16,000 crore"

Shri Rajnath Singh calls for developing dual use technology that benefits both defence & civilian sectors

Posted On: 17 JUN 2023 12:03PM by PIB Delhi

Self-reliance is not an option but a necessity, as India is facing a double threat on its borders, along with new dimensions of warfare that are emerging in today's fast-changing world. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh during a defence dialogue on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' organised by STRIVE think-tank, a veterans' initiative, and a media organisation in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on June 17, 2023.

The Raksha Mantri termed a strong & self-reliant military as the backbone of a sovereign nation, which besides protecting the borders, safeguards the country's civilisation and culture. He asserted that the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is ensuring that the Armed Forces are not dependent on foreign weapons & equipment, emphasising that the real strength lies in being 'Aatmanirbhar', especially when an emergency situation arises.

Shri Rajnath Singh shared his insights on the paradigm shift brought about by technology in the nature of warfare. He stressed on the need to develop indigenous state-of-the-art weapons and platforms that equip & prepare the Armed Forces to tackle new and emerging challenges.

"Most of the weapons today are electronic-based systems, which can reveal sensitive information to the adversaries. As imported equipment has certain limitations, we need to go beyond the horizon and achieve self-reliance in niche technologies. Latest weapons/equipment are equally important as the bravery of our soldiers. If India wishes to become a military power at the global level, there is no other option than being self-reliant in defence manufacturing," the Raksha Mantri said.

Listing out the advantages of being 'Aatmanirbhar', Shri Rajnath Singh stated that it would not only decrease the expenditure on imports, but also multi-dimensionally benefit the civil sector. He called for developing dual use technology that, besides strengthening the defence sector, improves the standard of living of the people.

The Raksha Mantri enumerated the steps taken by the Government to create a robust defence ecosystem, which not only caters to the domestic requirements, but also fulfills the security needs of friendly countries. These include setting up of Defence Industrial Corridors (DIC) in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; earmarking of record 75 per cent of defence capital procurement budget (approx. Rs one lakh crore) for domestic industry in Financial Year 2023-24; 25 per cent R&D budget for private industry and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative & Technology Development Fund to promote start-ups.

On the UP DIC, Shri Rajnath Singh said that the work is going on in mission mode and 95% of around 1,700 hectares of land has been acquired till date. Of these, 36 industries and institutions have been allotted nearly 600 hectares of land. 109 MoUs have been signed, with an estimated investment value of more than Rs 16,000 crore. So far, a total investment of about Rs 2,500 crore has been made in UPDIC by various entities. The corridor will not only produce spare parts, but also manufacture and assemble Drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Electronic warfare, Aircraft & BrahMos missiles.

The Raksha Mantri highlighted that the Government's efforts in the last few years have resulted in over Rs one lakh crore defence production and nearly Rs 16,000 crore exports in Financial Year 2022-23. He exuded confidence that the defence exports will soon cross Rs 20,000 crore mark. "We are moving ahead at an unprecedented pace to achieve the Prime Minister's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. The aim is to build an economically powerful and completely self-reliant India, which is also a net defence exporter," he added.

Chief Nodal Officer for UP DIC Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd), officers of the Armed Forces & DRDO and representatives of the industry and academia were present on the occasion.

ABB/Savvy



(Release ID: 1933019)

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Geopolitics Seen as Driving Close Indo-US Ties During Modi US Visit

By Anjana Pasricha June 18, 2023

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United States for a state visit this week, officials in both countries expressed optimism about a trip that is being billed as a milestone in relations between the two countries.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the Indo-U.S. relationship has come a "long way."

"You can look at the technology part of the relationship, you can look at the trade in the relationship, you can look at the political convergence, and you can look at the strategic interests. So, I think there is a very compelling case for stronger and stronger India-U.S. relations," Jaishankar told reporters last week.

The most compelling case, analysts say, is the rise of China. Modi visits the United States as India's fraying ties with Beijing following a three-year-long military standoff along their disputed Himalayan borders have prompted New Delhi to drop previous hesitations and work closely with Washington in Asia as it seeks to counterbalance an increasingly assertive Beijing.

"The strategic landscape in the Indo-Pacific has changed very dramatically and there is recognition both in Washington and New Delhi that they need to work ever so closely to stabilize the situation," said Harsh Pant, vice president, studies and foreign policy, at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

"That strategic clarity has meant that for India strengthening ties with a like-minded country like the U.S. has become a strategic imperative," he said.

Giving India access to advanced defense technologies, including coproduction of weapons, is expected to be a key takeaway during Modi's visit. This could include an agreement to produce jet engines by General Electric for military aircraft in India according to a Reuters report. The two countries are also discussing the possible purchase of U.S.-made armed drones by India.

Analysts say the defense partnership is being shored up as Washington wants to build India's military capabilities.

"The Americans are looking to strengthen India as a counterweight to China, so they want to support India's military modernization," according to Sreeram Chaulia, dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs. "That is why both sides have removed some of the cobwebs that existed and are saying we have the same adversary, and we need to cooperate a lot more to push back this shared adversary."

He said that from India's standpoint also there are question marks over the viability of Russia as a military supplier, which for decades provided the bulk of Indian military hardware, to provide India with advanced weapons as it is weakened by Western sanctions.

The groundwork for Modi's visit has been laid by recent high-level visits by U.S. officials to India. Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the two countries are setting a roadmap for defense industrial cooperation.

Modi is also expected to meet top business leaders in Washington as he tries to woo American companies amid U.S. efforts to diversify supply chains beyond China in critical areas such as semiconductors.

Building factories in India however has not been easy with U.S. businesses often complaining of regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, on a visit to New Delhi, told an Indian business forum Tuesday that both countries are engaged in efforts to facilitate trade.

"A number of the deliverables at that [Modi] visit are not just bullet points on a page. They are fundamentally designed to remove those obstacles in defense trade, in high-tech trade, in investment in each of our countries in taking away obstacles," according to Sullivan.

The areas in which the two countries aim to deepen cooperation include quantum computing, artificial intelligence and 5G wireless networks a areas in which China has acquired a dominating position.

The visit will include all the pomp and ceremony that accompanies state visits - the last state visit by an Indian prime minister to Washington took place in 2009. Modi will also address a joint session of the U.S. Congress - the second time he will be doing it since he took power nine years ago.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing the U.S.-India Business Council on Monday, expressed optimism about the visit.

"So, we are here almost literally on the eve of what we believe will be a historic state visit by Prime Minister Modi, one that will further solidify what President Biden has called the defining relationship of the 21st century."

However, amid shifting geopolitics, the two countries are not always on the same page. India has strongly defended maintaining friendly ties with Russia in the aftermath of its Ukraine aggression. In recent months, Moscow has become New Delhi's biggest crude oil supplier as India snaps up supplies of cheap energy.

Critics have also expressed concerns about democratic backsliding in India, accusing the Modi administration of stifling dissent and divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities. In its latest annual report on human rights practices, the U.S. State Department also highlighted challenges to freedom of expression and violence targeting religious and ethnic minorities in India. New Delhi rejected the report calling it flawed and biased.

But analysts say the effort by both countries during Modi's visit will be to build on common interests while managing their differences as the two countries focus on the big picture of countering China.

"When the Ukraine war started there was a lot of concern that it will derail the relationship and the two countries are going in different directions," Pant said.

"But the relationship has continued to grow, it fact it has become more vibrant. I think that is because there is a new recognition that with all the challenges that India faces, it is a good bet and Washington needs to cultivate India," he said.

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Iran-Saudi talks conducted in 'positive, constructive atmosphere'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 17, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said discussions between Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his visiting Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan were conducted in "a very positive and constructive atmosphere".

"Various subjects of interest to both countries in the bilateral, regional, and international domains were discussed, leading to good agreements for future steps aimed at expanding bilateral relations," he said at a press conference on Saturday.

Prince Farhan landed in Tehran earlier in the day for an official visit months after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore their diplomatic relations following a seven-year rupture, under a deal brokered by China.

Kanaani further dismissed media speculations about the reason why the previously-designated location for the press conference between the Iranian and Saudi top diplomats had to change.

He said the location was changed due to technical issues.

Iran and Saudi Arabia hold influential roles in West Asia, and their improved relations can have broader implications for regional stability and cooperation.

**2050

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Iran, Saudi FMs satisfied with talks in Tehran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 17, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in a press conference in the Iranian capital on Saturday, expressed satisfaction with their meeting which happened earlier in the day.

Amirabdollahian said that he was pleased to host his counterpart in Tehran nearly 100 days after a meeting in Beijing.

The Saudi foreign minister said that he has had positive and clear talks with Amirabdollahian in a meeting which he said was held to complete the agreements made in the Chinese capital.

The meeting in Tehran was the third meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia after Tehran and Riyadh resumed diplomatic relations in China-brokered talks between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing in March.

The two earlier meetings of the two foreign ministers took place in third countries while today's meeting in Tehran is the first meeting of the top diplomats of Iran and Saudi Arabia in one of their capitals after seven years of no formal ties.

Iran and Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations in 2016 after angry protesters rushed into Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad following Riyadh's assassination of a prominent Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

9341**2050

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Iran's full membership of SCO on top agenda at next summit: Russia

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 7:03 PM

A senior Russian official has said that Iran's full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be at the top of the agenda of the upcoming summit of the bloc.

Bakhtiyer Khakimov, Russia's presidential representative for SCO affairs, made the remarks on Saturday on the sidelines of the 26th annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

"Iran's accession as a full member will be one of the key decisions of the July 4 summit that will take place in New Delhi via video conference. Iran has completed the mandatory procedures and will join the family of SCO member states at the New Delhi summit," he said.

SCO is a transcontinental political, economic, and security alliance, which has a total of eight members. Iran is the observer SCO country that is set to become a full-time member of the charter.

Khakimov also said that at the upcoming SCO summit, a memorandum will also be signed on Belarus' obligations aimed at obtaining the status of a member state in the organization.

Earlier, the Indian Foreign Ministry announced that a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State would take place online on July 4. In addition to the SCO's eight member states, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have been invited to the event as observer states.

Amirabdollahian had said that the country's full membership in the SCO would be finalized in July during the upcoming summit of the association.

The SCO was founded by China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan at a summit held in Shanghai in 2001.

China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are its current full members. Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia are observer states.

Iran first applied for membership in the alliance 15 years ago. The approval of Iran's candidacy came at a summit in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe in September 2021.

The organization accounts for 40 percent of the world's population and 28 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).

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Raeisi: Enemies, not least Israel, irked by Iran-Saudi rapprochement

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 6:23 PM

President Ebrahim Raeisi says enemies, particularly Israel, are the only ones furious at the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Tehran on Saturday, Raeisi said many Muslim nations have welcomed the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia as two influential countries in the Muslim world.

He said Iran sets no limitation to the expansion of ties with Muslim countries.

"Only the adversaries of Muslims, not least the Zionist regime, are upset with the enhancement of cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia."

"The Zionist regime is not only an enemy of the Palestinians, but a threat to all Muslims," Raeisi said.

The Iranian president warned that normalization by certain countries with Israel would in no way enhance security as it goes against the will of Muslim nations.

Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco have so far signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel.

The move has sparked widespread condemnations from the Palestinians as well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe, especially within the Muslim world.

Palestinians say the deals are a treacherous "stab in the back" and a betrayal of their cause against the decades-long Israeli occupation.

Pointing to the participation of Muslims from across the world in the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Iranian president said it is necessary, based on Islamic beliefs, to promote good neighborliness between Tehran and Riyadh.

He said Muslim nations are suffering from a host of problems in the region. "It is possible to overcome problems through cooperation and dialogue among regional countries and there is no need for foreign intervention to that end."

Raeisi said Iran has gained sophisticated experience in fighting terrorism and destroying Takfiri terrorists, which can be used as an axis of cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh.

The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, said Tehran and Riyadh have entered a golden phase in relations.

He said cooperation with Iran would prepare the ground for both sides and the region to make use of the current opportunities.

Farhan said the Saudi King has ordered the formation of various working groups to promote relations with Iran to a strategic level. Enhancement of economic, development and cultural cooperation is on the agenda of Tehran and Riyadh, he said.

The Saudi minister said certain countries in the world do not favor promotion of peace and progress in the region. However, the top Saudi diplomat said, expanded interaction between Iran and Saudi Arabia and among all Muslim nations would guarantee that no foreign country interfere in the region.

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Iran's foreign minister: Regional stability paramount to a secure future

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 4:59 PM

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says regional stability is of paramount importance to the development of a more secure and prosperous future.

The minister made the remarks in a Saturday joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who is in Tehran on the first visit since the two West Asian powers agreed to restore ties following a seven-year rupture.

"Overall stability and security of every country in the region is a fundamental and vital issue for all, and an undeniable necessity to reach a safer, more prosperous and more developed future."

He said to the Islamic Republic, security has never meant militarization. "Security is a comprehensive concept encompassing political, cultural, social, economic and commercial aspects among regional countries."

Elsewhere in the presser, Amir-Abdollahian hailed the current visit by his Saudi counterpart to Tehran, some 100 days after the rapprochement agreement. He said the two countries have named their ambassadors during this period.

The top Iranian diplomat thanked Saudi Arabia's assistance to the Islamic Republic to reopen its diplomatic missions. "We have also provided the necessary measures and facilities for the reopening of Saudi diplomatic missions."

The minister said Iran has also prepared the ground for Saudi nationals' trip to religious and tourist sites in the country.

Following several days of intensive negotiations in Beijing, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 10 to resume their diplomatic ties and reopen their embassies within two months.

Iran on June 6 officially reopened its embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in line with the China-brokered reconciliation agreement. On May 23, Alireza Enayati was named as Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran and Riyadh agreed on the significance of setting up a joint economic commission and political and border committees, combating drug trafficking and enhancing cooperation in the environmental sector.

He said Iran and Saudi Arabia would start implementing the agreements reached on Saturday after approval by senior officials.

On the Palestinian issue, the Iranian foreign minister said, "We have consensus that the settlement of the issue is a fundamental matter that has priority in the Muslim world." Iran and Saudi Arabia share a similar stance on the Palestinian issue, Amir-Abdollahian said.

The minister said talks with his Saudi counterpart also focused on "sustainable economic and trade cooperation and joint venture" between Tehran and Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia will reopen embassy in Tehran soon: Bin Farhan

The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, said he held positive and transparent talks with his Iranian counterpart.

Bin Farhan said Saudi Arabia would reopen its embassy in Tehran soon and thanked Iran for providing facilities to his country to reopen the diplomatic missions.

The Saudi minister underscored the importance of the restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as key players in the region, and said ties are based on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and adherence to the UN Charter.

The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia said his country will use all the capacities to serve the Iranian pilgrims performing annual Hajj rituals.

'Positive atmosphere'

In a post on his Twitter account on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held talks "in a very good, positive and constructive atmosphere."

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Taliban must stand committed to 1973 Hirmand River water treaty with Iran: Envoy

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 11:26 AM

Afghanistan's Taliban government must adhere to the terms of a major water treaty and supply Iran with its share of water from the Hirmand River, says an Iranian diplomat.

Iran's special representative for Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, said on Friday the ruling authorities in Kabul have declared that the 1973 water-sharing treaty is an internationally binding accord, and that the change of regime in Afghanistan would not cancel the agreement.

He said that Taliban officials have acknowledged such a fact both in their official notes and within the course of negotiations with the Iranian side, and vowed to implement the terms of the water agreement with Iran.

They have attended several summits on the water treaty, a commission has been formed to administer the provisions of the accord and related measures have been taken as well, Kazemi-Qomi further noted.

The 1973 deal states that Afghanistan must yearly deliver 820 million cubic meters of water from the Hirmand River to Iran, he added, stating that ecosystem challenges in Afghanistan have not emerged overnight and have been going on over the past 15 to 16 years.

Hamuon and Hirmand wetlands have not dried up or become water scarce within the past one or two years, but rather have experienced such problems for more than a decade, Kazemi-Qomi said.

The phenomenon has severely affected Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, and Iranian officials are obliged to seriously pursue the agreement between the two nations and the specified amount of water agreed upon, the Iranian envoy said.

The senior Iranian official also said that satellite images point to the presence of sufficient amount of water in Afghanistan's reservoirs. He said a technical team from Iran will travel to the country within the next few months to survey the situation and make preparations for water release into Iran.

Kazemi-Qomi underscored that water scarcity in Sistan and Baluchestan has adversely impacted farming in the area and resulted in a calamity, hoping that the release of Iran's water share from the Hirmand River would help revive agriculture there.

The Hirmand River, the longest watercourse in Afghanistan, rises in the Hindu Kush Mountains west of Kabul and flows in an arc southwest until it empties out into the Hamoun wetlands, located in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Following more than a century of rifts over Hirmand's water supply, Iran and Afghanistan signed a treaty in 1973 to establish a means of regulating each country's use of the river.

Iran should receive an annual share of 820 million cubic meters from Hirmand under the accord, which Afghanistan has grossly violated in letter and spirit, endangering the lives of many Iranians who rely on Hamoun wetlands for drinking water, agriculture, and fishing.

Afghanistan has also built dams on the Hirmand which have constricted the water flow into Iran.

Iranian officials and lawmakers have time and again complained that the country is not receiving its due share of water from the river.

Taliban ministers have blamed drought and technical issues for the low supply of water to Iran in the past months.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has already ordered the Foreign Ministry as well as the Energy Ministry to seriously pursue the dispute with Afghanistan over shared water resources.

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IRGC serviceman killed in fierce clashes with terrorists in Kordestan

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 10:52 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Ground Force has announced the martyrdom of one of its servicemen in fierce armed clashes with terrorists in the country's western province of Kordestan.

The IRGC's Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shuhada base said in a statement that the violent clashes took place with "anti-Revolution outlaws" in Marivan County on Friday.

The statement identified the slain soldier as Rezgar Tabireh, saying he was a local member of the Basij volunteer forces.

The IRGC base vowed its forces will press ahead with operations to ensure security and rid the entire northwestern region of the anti-Revolution and terrorist groups.

Terrorist groups linked to anti-Iran terrorists operating in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region have carried out numerous attacks in Iran's western and northwestern border regions.

Iran's security forces, meanwhile, have managed to repel most of those attacks.

Since September last year, the IRGC has launched several rounds of airstrikes against the positions of the terrorists, who are holed up in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The IRGC has also urged the central government in Iraq and authorities in Kurdistan to meet their commitments toward Iran and take necessary measures to secure the border areas.

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Saudi Foreign Minister Stresses Need For Region Free Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction During Rare Iran Visit

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 17, 2023

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, during a rare visit to bitter rival Iran, stressed the importance of "security cooperation" in the region to ensure the Persian Gulf is free of weapons of mass destruction and to maintain maritime safety in crucial trade routes.

"I would like to refer to the importance of cooperation between the two countries on regional security, especially the security of maritime navigation...and the importance of cooperation among all regional countries to ensure that it is free of weapons of mass destruction," Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told reporters in Tehran on June 18.

The arrival represents the first trip to Iran by a Saudi foreign minister in 17 years.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry posted a video of the Saudi diplomat being greeted by his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Sunni Muslim-led Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite-majority Iran have battled for influence in the region for decades, including in what has been called a proxy war in Yemen, fought between competing sides supported by Riyadh and Tehran.

Riyadh has often accused Tehran of attempting to undermine Sunni-led countries in the region and has accused Iran of attacking merchant ships in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of inciting protests and violence against Shi'a communities in the region.

Riyadh severed relations with Tehran after protesters in 2016 stormed and ransacked the Saudi missions in Tehran and Mashhad after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite cleric who had criticized the kingdom's treatment of its Shi'ite minority.

But the sides have attempted to mend relations in recent months. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish relations in a China-mediated deal.

In early June, Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh, while Saudi Arabia is expected to reopen its diplomatic mission in Tehran "soon," Prince Faisal said.

Amir-Abdollahian stressed the importance of Iranian security, but he added that "Iran has never equated security with militarism but sees it as a broad concept including political, cultural, social, economic, and trade aspects."

Prince Faisal is also scheduled to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and hand the Iranian leader an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia in the future.

Iran has been accused by the West of fomenting extremist activity in the region and of attempting to acquire nuclear weapons, charges Tehran has denied.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's close relations with the United States have soured following several incidents, including the gruesome murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents inside the country's consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-saudi-arabia-rare- visit-foreign-ministers/32463796.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.

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Press release on the United States' plan to rejoin UNESCO

16 June 2023 17:58

1184-16-06-2023

The US State Department has sent an official notice to the UNESCO Secretariat stating that the United States intends to rejoin UNESCO, which the Americans withdrew from in 2018. The advocates of this plan have initiated an extraordinary session of the UNESCO General Assembly to be held on June 29 and 30. The agenda for the extraordinary session is expected to include the issue of settling financial aspects in the context of the outstanding debt of $612 million that the United States owes to the agency.

The plan submitted to the UNESCO member countries for consideration is practically an ultimatum by Washington as it provides for reinstating the voting right and the passive electoral right of UNESCO's biggest debtor. In exchange for this, as a gesture of goodwill, the Americans have promised to pay regular contributions to the agency and reaffirmed their intention to submit the issue of rescheduling the accumulated debt to Congress. In so doing and ignoring UNESCO's constitution, the United States is asking for no less than preferential treatment at UNESCO.

It is also important that in addition to the practical task of "zeroing out" the accumulated debt, the Americans are not making a secret of the political motive that underlies their decision. In particular, the State Department says that its objective is to counter China's influence in UNESCO and promote other national interests of the United States.

As a responsible member country of UNESCO, which is strongly committed to the agency's principles and goals, Russia supports the efforts to strengthen universal intergovernmental cooperation in culture, science and education and believes UNESCO has nothing to do with confrontation. According to its constitution, UNESCO "is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion."

The Russian Federation is ready to welcome the reintegration of the United States, a country that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council bears a special responsibility in the world arena, into UNESCO. However, as it moves towards achieving this objective, the US should not act in the spirit of the notorious rules-based order and violate UNESCO's constitution or other standards, and primarily the US should pay off its astronomical debt unconditionally and in full.

We would like to remind the UNESCO executive authorities that all of the agency's current and future member countries need to strictly observe the agency's constitution. There should be no exceptions from the rules set for everyone.

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Russia: Statement by the Spokesperson on intentions to hold "elections" in occupied territories of Ukraine

European External Action Service (EEAS)

17.06.2023

EEAS Press Team

This week, the Central Election Commission of Russia decided to hold "elections" in September in the territories of Ukraine that Russia temporarily militarily occupies, in yet another violation of international law.

This is a further futile attempt by Russia to pretend to legitimise its illegal military control and attempted annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.

It seriously violates the UN Charter and Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia has no legitimate basis for any such action on the territory of Ukraine.

Russia, its political leadership, and all those involved in organisation of these so-called elections will face consequences of their illegal actions.

The European Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.



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Russia's Net Tightens Around Dissidents Sheltering In Kyrgyzstan

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, Chris Rickleton June 17, 2023

BISHKEK -- Russian activist Yevgenia Shamina received a panicked phone call on June 5 from a friend of Aleksei Rozhkov, an anti-Kremlin, anti-war political emigre living in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, after Rozhkov stopped returning her phone calls.

"She suggested that [Rozhkov] might have been detained and taken away to Russia," Shamina, who is based in Georgia, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.

That assumption proved to be correct.

A notice that confirmed his status as a defendant in a court hearing in Russia's Sverdlovsk region appeared on the court's website that same day.

After finding a lawyer who had gained access to Rozhkov in Russian detention, Shamina learned the details of the activist's arrest, which was carried out by Kyrgyz security services.

"[The lawyer told me] that he was detained early in the morning in the rented apartment by [five to seven people], a relatively large number of operatives. They immediately took away his equipment, phone, computer. He wasn't allowed to contact anyone. They told [him] to take all his things with him, but they didn't let him pack properly," Shamina said.

Rozhkov, who fled to Kyrgyzstan last year while awaiting trial, is one of three Russian political activists known to have been detained in Bishkek in recent weeks.

All of them are opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime and are involved in criminal cases back in their homeland.

The arrests come amid signs of tightening cooperation between Bishkek and Moscow, which according to Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry now extends to the use of Chinese-manufactured facial-recognition systems installed in Bishkek and other Kyrgyz cities.

This new development appears to have struck fear into Russian political activists who fled to the Central Asian country -- in some cases more than a year ago -- in order to escape growing repression and the threat of being sent to fight in Ukraine.

"We lived normally; nobody was seized. And now, literally in the space of 10 days, they suddenly seized [three people]," said Stas Zakharkin, a Russian journalist who moved to Kyrgyzstan after Putin's mobilization order last fall.

Zakharkin told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that some of his compatriots are now leaving Kyrgyzstan because the country is "becoming like Belarus," which is Russia's most doggedly loyal ally in the former Soviet space. As many as 30,000 Russian citizens fled to Kyrgyzstan during the first year of the war.

"Apparently, something has changed," Zakharkin said.

Neither Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry nor the State Committee for National Security responded to requests for comment.

Enemies Of The Kremlin

While Rozhkov is facing trial for burning down a military recruitment office -- an offense that he has not denied and that Russian authorities equate to terrorism -- his two compatriots are seemingly being punished for less radical forms of activism.

Alena Krylova has been held in detention since June 4 after she was arrested while walking in the center of the Kyrgyz capital, according to an account published by the independent Russian media outlet SOTA.

She is officially charged with helping establish an organization that Russian authorities deem extremist, whose name translates as Left Resistance.

If the fate of another activist known as a founder of that organization is anything to go by, Krylova risks a lengthy stint in a Russian jail.

Daria Polyudova, a recognized political prisoner and all-round gadfly to the Kremlin, has been incarcerated since 2020 and was already serving out a six-year prison sentence on extremism charges when she was handed a fresh nine-year prison sentence in connection with her forming and leading Left Resistance in December.

But Krylova, who fled to Kyrgyzstan even before Russia's war with Ukraine broke out, is still waiting on her fate. She has applied for asylum in Kyrgyzstan and cannot be deported while her case is being considered.

The third Russian activist known to have been detained by Kyrgyz law enforcement is Lev Skoryakin, who is wanted by Russian authorities in relation to a 2021 protest outside a building belonging to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in Moscow.

Like Krylova, Skoryakin is being represented in Kyrgyzstan by Marat Kydyrov, a lawyer for the Bishkek-based Adilet legal clinic. Kydyrov told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that Skoryakin has also applied for asylum.

Yet a colleague of Skoryakin's from the Levi Blok (Left Bloc) movement told RFE/RL that Skoryakin did not even participate in the 2021 protest outside the FSB building.

"It is sad that the security forces of Kyrgyzstan, at the request of their 'colleagues' from Russia, can seize from the streets in broad daylight a political emigre accused in a clearly fabricated criminal case," said the Left Bloc activist, who preferred to remain anonymous.

No Country For [Russian] Activists

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasing domestic repression has coincided with a notable crackdown in Kyrgyzstan, traditionally the freest of the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia and officially neutral in relation to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

In recent months, journalists and NGOs have been pushing back against two Kremlin-style laws that parliament is tipped to pass this year. One is a law on noncommercial organizations that closely mirrors Russia's legislation on "foreign agents" passed in 2012.

Another would impose fresh constraints on Kyrgyz media, whose grim plight saw the country fall 50 places in the latest rankings published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

While some Kyrgyz observers complain that Russia is actively influencing the darkening political environment in its impoverished ally, others maintain that the administration of President Sadyr Japarov is craftily taking advantage of opportunities created by the Kremlin's war to eliminate what remains of local civil society and political opposition.

Whatever the case, Russian political activists living in Bishkek, like their Kyrgyz counterparts, have witnessed freedoms shrinking in the country in real time.

One example of this trend is the apparent state intimidation of the Krasnaya Krysha (Red Roof) Russian anti-war creative collective, which was formed in Bishkek last year.

A March report by Eurasianet noted the detention of at least one of the group's members after a protest in the Kyrgyz capital on the one-year anniversary of the war on February 24.

Members of the collective have also spoken of regular visits to the premises they are using by local law enforcement, who they said warned them to refrain from their activism.

And last week saw yet another freedom-of-expression scandal related to the war.

Popular Russian rock band Pornofilmy announced on Instagram that it was effectively barred from holding a June 10 concert in Bishkek, during which the group was expected to double down on its anti-war stance.

The band said the concert had been canceled after "security services came making threats at the club where we intended to play."

Recognizing The Face Of A Police State

Kyrgyz security services have long benefited from strong institutional connections with Russia's FSB and are seen as an important lever of Russian influence in-country, as well as a power center in the Kyrgyz body politic.

In a disturbing detail, the activist Shamina claimed that Rozhkov was told by officers that he might be tortured when he was taken to a department in the State Committee for National Security on the day of his arrest.

"And he heard the cries of some other people who were being beaten," Shamina told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, again citing her conversation with Rozhkov's lawyer.

News several years ago that Kyrgyzstan's government was upgrading its surveillance capacities with facial-recognition systems supplied by China, meanwhile, was greeted with groans from local rights defenders.

They complained at the time that the system could be abused by unreformed and uninhibited law enforcement.

Those fears have now surely been realized after the Interior Ministry said on June 13 that it had begun working through a database of persons wanted by governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a Russia-led regional organization.

The ministry claimed their Russian colleagues had provided it with data on more than 85,000 wanted individuals and boasted that 57 people had been delivered to Kyrgyz police precincts since June 2 as a result of the effort.

Although the ministry's statement did not mention them by name, Rozhkov, Skoryakin, and Krylova are understood to be the four foreigners -- three from Russia and one from Uzbekistan -- that the ministry says it has detained since the system was launched.

Unfortunately for Russian activists in Kyrgyzstan, there are few institutional checks on the Kyrgyz police and security services these days.

Veteran Kyrgyz rights defender Aziza Abdirasulova told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that activists could clearly not expect help from parliament, which she said is too busy debating whether or not to ban Kyrgyz women younger than 23 from leaving the country.

"Our parliament will discuss anything...but not the issue of protecting thousands of people who have come here because they want peace and do not want to fight," Abdirasulova said, noting that anti-war and anti-Kremlin activists in Kyrgyzstan "can be arrested at any moment."

Written by Chris Rickleton based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-russia-ukraine -war-dissidents-targeted/32463479.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.

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Putin and African Delegation Discuss Ukraine Conflict, Developing Relations and BRICS

Sputnik News

20230617

Egor Shapovalov

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese leader Macky Sall, Comoros President Azali Assoumani and Zambian head of state Hakainde Hichilema, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the foreign minister of Uganda, and the Congolese minister of state participated in the talks.

The talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and an African delegation on Ukraine peace initiative have finished in the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg after 2.5 hours, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday.

The meeting was followed by a bilateral talks between South African President and Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow's stance on the Ukraine crisis.

"Thank you for listening to us and also for explaining to us the situation you are involved in," Ramaphosa said, as broadcast by Rossiya 24, after the second talks were over.

The South African leader added that he discussed a number of both Ukraine-related and BRICS-related issues with Putin and that discussions will continue during the Russia-Africa summit in July.

"Dear Mr. President, first of all I would like to thank you for making it possible for you to come to Russia with this noble mission, to which we devoted several hours today. It seems to me that both in the formal and in the informal part, we discussed in almost detail many, the main, in any case, aspects of the problem related to the [Ukraine] crisis, for the resolution of which you came to Russia," Putin said.

"We have the opportunity to say a few words about our bilateral relations, as well as interaction within the framework of international associations, including BRICS. Thank you very much for your visit," Putin said during his meeting with Ramaphosa, as broadcast by Rossiya 24.

BRICS unites the world's largest developing economies a Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. A number of other countries intend to join the economic bloc, including Argentina, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

The topic of BRICS expansion will be on the agenda of the 15th summit in August, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

"We are waiting for the BRICS summit to be held at the end of August. And the topic of expansion will be on the agenda. The BRICS participants will discuss this," Peskov told Russian broadcaster RT Arabic, adding that Russia "is pleased that more and more countries are showing a keen interest in this association."

The August 15th BRICS summit in will be hosted by South Africa, which assumed the rotating BRICS presidency in January.

A Sputnik

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Saudi Arabia to reopen embassy in Tehran soon: Bin Farhan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 17, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Referring to the reopening of Iranian diplomatic posts in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the Saudi embassy in Tehran will reopen soon as well.

The Saudi foreign minister made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian after a meeting in Tehran on Saturday.

The Iranian foreign minister said that he was pleased to host his counterpart in Tehran nearly 100 days after a meeting in Beijing.

Amirabdollahian appreciated the Saudi side for facilitating the reopening of Iranian embassy in Riyadh and the country's Permanent Mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.

The Iranian top diplomat also said that the two countries share views on forming committees for political, border and economic cooperation, as well as fight against drug smuggling.

The Saudi foreign minister said that he has had positive and clear talks with Amirabdollahian in a meeting which he said was held to complete the agreements made in the Chinese capital.

He noted that Iran and Saudi Arabia are two key players of the region, stressing the normalization of relations between the two countries as a significant development.

The Saudi foreign minister added that bilateral relations between Tehran and Riyadh are based on principles, including mutual respect, non-intervention in domestic affairs of each other and compliance with the UN Charter.

Bin Farhan said that in his Tehran trip, he will also have a meeting with President Raisi where he will convey the greetings of the Saudi King and Prince Bin Salman to the Iranian president.

He said he wishes an invitation to Saudi Arabia will be responded soon by President Raisi.

The meeting in Tehran was the third meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia after Tehran and Riyadh resumed diplomatic relations in China-brokered talks between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing in March.

The two earlier meetings of the two foreign ministers took place in third countries while today's meeting in Tehran is the first meeting of the top diplomats of Iran and Saudi Arabia in one of their capitals after seven years of no formal ties.

Iran and Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations in 2016 after angry protesters rushed into Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad following Riyadh's assassination of a prominent Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

9341**2050

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Saudi foreign minister on first Iran visit after rapprochement

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 12:37 PM

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is in Tehran on the first visit since the two West Asian powers agreed to restore ties following a seven-year rupture.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Farhan was welcomed by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian upon his arrival on Saturday.

The two diplomats are expected to meet within a few hours before a news conference. Farhan will also meet President Ebrahim Raeisi, as well as other senior Iranian officials.

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in Beijing on March 10 to resume relations and reopen diplomatic missions within two months.

In a joint statement after signing the agreement, Tehran and Riyadh placed a premium on the need to respect the national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of one another.

They also agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in April 2001 and another accord reached in May 1998 to enhance economic, commercial, investment, technical, scientific, cultural, sports, and youth affairs cooperation.

Earlier, some sources raised the possibility of the reopening of the Saudi embassy in Tehran during Prince Faisal's visit.

Iran has officially reopened its embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

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Saudi Foreign Minister, Iranian Counterpart Hold an Official Talks Session

Saudi Press Agency

Tehran, June 17, 2023, SPA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, during his official visit to the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The two sides held an official session of talks, during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in various fields. They also discussed the importance of strengthening joint coordination on numerous regional and international issues of mutual concern, to achieve security and stability for the region and the world.

The meeting was attended by the Director General of the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Dawood.

-- SPA

23:02 LOCAL TIME 20:02 GMT

0025

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EU excluded Syria from Brussels conference to conceal own bankrupt policies: Foreign Ministry

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 7:11 PM

Syria has condemned the European Union's decision not to invite representatives from the Damascus government to the seventh Brussels Conference on "supporting the future of Syria and the region."

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement on Saturday that organizers of the event, which took place on June 14 and 15, only invited corrupt individuals affiliated to Daesh, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Takfiri terrorist outfits.

The EU excluded Syria from the Brussels conference to conceal its own bankrupt policies, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said the guests oppose the Syrian nation's primary interests, obstruct attempts aimed at repatriation of Syrian refugees to their homeland and impede efforts aimed at the transfer of humanitarian supplies to liberated areas and/or quake-devastated districts.

The statement further said Damascus has successfully foiled foreign-sponsored plots seeking intervention in its domestic affairs.

Syria reaffirms that military and political attempts to undermine the Arab country's position have miserably failed, the ministry said.

"Syria, which has withstood a bloody campaign of terrorism, is determined to cooperate with Arab brethren and allied states across the world to consolidate its victories and offset the dire upshot of economic sanctions against it," the statement said.

During the 7th Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" on June 15, the donors pledged a5.6 billion for 2023 and beyond, including a4.6 billion for 2023 and a1 billion for 2024 and beyond.

The conference gathered representatives of 57 countries, including EU member states, and over 30 international organizations, in addition to EU institutions.

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Taiwan foreign minister meets EU parliamentarians in Brussels

ROC Central News Agency

06/17/2023 03:45 PM

Taipei, June 17 (CNA) Foreign Minister Joseph Wu () on Friday met with members of the European Parliament in Brussels, including its Vice President Nicola Beer, as part of a previously announced European tour.

Prior to visiting Brussels, Wu, who arrived in Europe on Monday, made stops in Poland and the Czech Republic, according to international media reports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) did not provide a detailed itinerary for Wu's trip, divulging only that he planned to give a talk at a summit and meet with Ukrainian refugees in Prague.

Knowledge of Wu's Brussels visit became public after several MEPs took to social media to share their photos with the foreign minister.

Beer, who led the highest-level delegation from the European Parliament to Taiwan in July 2022, welcomed Wu's visit to Brussels on Twitter following their meeting with six other MEPs.

"Taiwan is an important and reliable economic partner for the EU and a firm member of the democratic family," Beer said, adding that both sides "agreed to further intensify [their] political, economic and civil exchange and cooperation."

MEP Rasa Jukneviciene from Lithuania also said Taiwan had been a vital part of the democratic world and that "defending its democracy is just as important as defending Ukraine's."

The European Commission, meanwhile, has declined to reveal whether any EU officials were scheduled to meet with Wu.

"We are not in the position to confirm any official meeting between representatives of the EU institutions and the Taiwanese visitor," Peter Stano, a spokesman for the European Commission, said at a press briefing on Friday in response to a media question on the topic.

Asked to comment on Wu's Europe trip at a press briefing in Beijing last week, Wang Wenbin (), spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, urged the EU not to engage in any official contact with Taiwan.

(By Tien Hsi-ju and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ASG

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KMT vice chair urges return of cross-strait exchanges to pre-COVID levels

ROC Central News Agency

06/17/2023 10:11 PM

Taipei, June 17 (CNA) Andrew Hsia (), vice chairman of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), on Saturday said exchanges across the Taiwan Strait should be brought back to pre-pandemic levels.

Addressing the main conference of the 15th Straits Forum held in Xiamen of China's Fujian province, Hsia also called on Chinese authorities to lift a suspension of imports of Taiwan's quality agricultural items such as pineapples and sugar apples, according to a KMT press release.

Hsia, who led a delegation to the annual forum, said the resumption of cross-strait exchanges and cooperation would improve ties between Taiwan and China, and give a boost to economic development of both sides.

On May 19, Ma Xiaoguang (), spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), announced that Chinese travel agencies will be allowed to resume business involving Taiwan group tourists, effective immediately.

Beijing has banned independent Chinese tourists from visiting Taiwan since August 2019 and group travel since 2020.

In response, however, Taiwan's Tourism Bureau chief Chang Shi-chung () said the Taiwan government will continue its ban on tour groups from China visiting Taiwan and from Taiwan visiting China, a policy first introduced in early 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Chang said while Taiwan welcomed China's announcement, regulations on group travel should be negotiated through existing channels, referring to the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits.

According to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait policy, Beijing has shown no indications that it is interested in engaging in formal talks to resume cross-strait travel.

China, meanwhile, has said that no such talks are necessary.

Commenting on a suspension of certain Taiwanese agricultural imports, Hsia said both sides of the strait should implement the agreement on the inspection and quarantine of agricultural products signed in 2009 as soon as possible to find a solution to the impasse.

Citing food safety concerns, China suspended imports of Taiwan's agricultural produce, such as pineapples in March 2021, sugar apples and bell fruits in September 2021, and grouper in June 2022.

Hsia also urged both sides to implement the agreement on crime crackdowns and mutual judicial assistance signed in 2009 as soon as possible.

Hsia said that while the current standstill did worry him, he believed that capable people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should join together to turn the divide into "a sea of peace."

As the vice chairman of the KMT, Hsia said he recognized the Strait Forum has served as a platform to stabilize the situation across the Taiwan Strait for more than one decade, and the KMT, no matter whether an opposition party or a ruling party, will continue to fight for cross-strait exchanges and peace.

He said the KMT will continue to act based on the political principles of the so-called "1992 consensus" and oppose Taiwanese independence.

The 1992 consensus refers to an agreement reached in a 1992 meeting between the then-ruling KMT and Beijing that both sides would recognize there is only "one China."

Since 1992, the KMT has maintained that the consensus tacitly allows each side to interpret what "China" means, but Beijing has never formally endorsed that construct.

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejects the "1992 consensus," arguing that agreeing to it implies acceptance of China's claim over Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping () sent a congratulatory letter to the Straits Forum on Saturday, vowing to push for cross-strait exchanges and cooperation in every aspect and promote Chinese cultures and spiritual harmony between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

In a statement released Saturday, the DPP said that the Straits Forum was just China using United Front tactics to spread anti-Taiwan independence propaganda and facilitate re-unification, while it continued to resort to military threats to coerce Taiwan.

The DPP urged representatives from the political parties in Taiwan to stand out and protest in front of Chinese officials to tell them not to destroy democracy and freedom in Taiwan and damage the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

In addition to the KMT, China has also invited Taiwan's New Party and the Taiwan People's Party to attend the Straits Forum.

Last week, the MAC said the government has prohibited central government officials from participating in the Straits Forum, and would not be happy if local governments were to send anybody to the conference.

The Straits Forum, an annual conference between China and Taiwan, started in 2009 and seeks to promote grassroots interaction, economic and trade exchanges and cultural integration.

Hsia also attended the 2022 meeting, but in a virtual capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(By Liu Kuan-ting, Su Ssu-yun, Chang Shu-ling and Frances Huang)

Enditem/ASG

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Xi's letter to forum inspires cross-Straits exchanges; mainland provides rich opportunities amid global uncertainty

Global Times

By Yang Sheng in Xiamen and Zhang Han in Beijing Published: Jun 17, 2023 11:49 AM Updated: Jun 17, 2023 09:03 PM

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, called on people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to work together to keep pace with the trends of history, safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation and contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the cause of national reunification.

These remarks were made in his Saturday congratulatory letter to the 15th Straits Forum which is held in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province.

Calling the Straits Forum an important platform for people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to broadly engage in exchanges and promote cooperation, Xi expressed his hope that the forum will constantly inject vitality into people-to-people exchanges and the integrated development across the Straits.

We will continue to respect, care for and deliver benefits to the Taiwan compatriots, promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and advance integrated development in various fields, he said.

Lei Chien, member of National Women's League (in Taiwan) and a former member of the legislative authority on the island, told media during the forum she was impressed by Xi's deep hope for peaceful development across the Straits and the goodwill for Taiwan.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and certain forces in the international community have portrayed the cross-Straits situation as being on the brink of military conflict, but the congratulatory letter and the entire forum indicate that more people are actively striving for peace, Lei told the Global Times at the forum's main conference on Saturday. She further highlighted that the mainland has mastered the direction of peaceful development.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addressed the main conference in which he announced that CPC Central Committee and the State Council has decided to support Fujian's efforts in exploring and establishing the province as a demonstration area for cross-Straits integrated development.

People across the Straits should firmly support integrated development and common prosperity, resolutely oppose the evil path of seeking independence with foreign backing and creating confrontation and conflicts, Wang said. He criticized secessionist forces for creating cross-Straits division, tension and risk of military conflict.

Justin Lin Yifu, former chief economist of the World Bank and a professor of economics at Peking University, delivered a keynote speech at the main conference, in which he said although the world is experiencing turbulence and undergoing geopolitical crises such as the China-US tensions, when China's GDP per capita reaches 50 percent of the US, the world order will be stabilized again.

Lin predicted that at that time, China's economic size will be twice of that of the US, and in developed regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, the Yangtze River Delta Area, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the GDP per capita will reach levels comparable to that of the US.

Lin urged Taiwan compatriots to seize the golden opportunity presented by the mainland's development, citing his personal experience of fleeing from Kinmen County, which is under the control of the Taiwan authorities, to Xiamen in 1979, and how he went on to become the first chief economist of the World Bank from a developing country. He used this example to explain that the individuals' destinies, values and dreams will be realized and maximized through the development of the motherland.

Shou Yan-xuan, who runs a medical group in Xiamen, shared his own perspective. After embarking on a career in the mainland, he learned about the mainland's rich history, culture, and fast advancements in science and economy, which is greatly different from what he had learned on the island.

Shou called on Taiwan youth to come and see with their own eyes. "The mainland's potential and future are beyond your imagination," He said.

Attendees from various sectors in Taiwan, including the business community, delegates of political parties, media personnel, religious figures and representatives of grassroots civil organizations, shared with the Global Times their expectations for the future of cross-Straits integration. Many of them have met their friends in the mainland after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and exchanges normalized.

Zheng Bo-yu, vice-president of the Taiwan Youth Council Beijing Association for Taiwan Enterprises, told the Global Times on site that he was glad to see many attendees from all walks of life in Taiwan to come to share their stories and make friends, which aligns precisely with President Xi's expectation for the forum.

Zheng looks forward to more Taiwan-born youth who have established their careers in the mainland sharing their stories, as they can be highly persuasive for those who are still uncertain about their future paths.

Zheng also hailed the establishment of the demonstration area, which is expected to introduce more supportive policies to facilitate cross-Straits exchanges. "I am considering setting up an office in Fujian as it will be more convenient to carry out business than from the Beijing office," Zheng said.

Hsia Li-yan, vice chairman of the Kuomintang, the main opposition party in Taiwan island, said at the main conference that he hopes the cross-Straits exchanges can be fully recovered to the level before the COVID-19 pandemic. He also expressed hopes for resuming cooperation between the two sides of the Straits on fighting crimes, jurisdictional matters, and quarantine inspection on agriculture products.

The cross-Straits cooperation in these fields have been disrupted due to the DPP authorities' refusal to admit the 1992 Consensus and their pursuit of a secessionist agenda with the support of foreign forces. As the DPP authorities show no sincerity in rectifying their serious mistakes, experts suggested the mainland could consider resuming local-to-local cooperation with Taiwan regions governed by the Kuomintang.

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U.S. Reps. urge Blinken to add Taiwan stopover to China trip itinerary

ROC Central News Agency

06/18/2023 10:50 AM

Washington, June 18 (CNA) Seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to make a stopover in Taiwan during his trip to China this week.

Blinken arrived in Beijing Sunday morning for a two-day visit to China, the first by a U.S. secretary of state in five years.

In a letter dated June 15, seven members of Congress, all Republicans, urged Blinken to consider adding a stopover in Taiwan to his itinerary.

According to the lawmakers, such a visit would be consistent with the intent of the Taiwan Travel Act of 2018, which encourages high-ranking U.S. executive branch officials to visit Taiwan and meet with their counterparts.

The visit would also allow Blinken to publicly address concerns about "widely reported delays in the delivery of U.S. weapons systems to Taiwan," which are critical to Taiwan's defense capabilities, the letter said.

"Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it would send a clear message that the United States does not need a permission slip from the Chinese Communist Party to meet with our friends and allies in Taiwan -- or anywhere else," the lawmakers said.

The letter was signed by Reps. Tom Tiffany, Scott Perry, Nancy Mace, Byron Donalds, Dan Crenshaw, Andy Ogles, and Earl "Buddy" Carter.

Blinken's current trip to China comes after a scheduled visit from Feb. 5-6 was postponed earlier this year, following an incident in which an alleged Chinese spy balloon was discovered flying over the United States and later shot down by the U.S.

China denied it was a spy balloon and also accused the United States of flying spy balloons over other countries.

According to the State Department, Blinken's visit will include meetings with senior Chinese officials and emphasize the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to manage the U.S.-China relationship.

"He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges," the department said in a statement.

(By Stacy Hsu and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/cs

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GFH Financial Group has announced its ongoing growth and diversification with the launch of GFH Partners, a fully-owned subsidiary focused on expanding the groups global asset management capabilities with a particular focus on the real estate sector. GFH Partners currently manages over $6 billion of real estate assets as part of the total $18 billion of assets managed by the group.

A leading dynamic regional financial group headquartered in Bahrain, GFH Financial Group, boasts a diversified offering with interests in asset management and real estate, and a pioneering track record.

GFH Partners manages assets in the stabilized and core markets of the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where it aims to capture and capitalise on strong economic growth prospects in these regions.

The new unit offers institutional and professional clients holistic investment solutions through a variety of products that include funds, separately managed accounts and direct deals. In doing so, it employs a thematic approach, focusing on sectors where the Group has a proven track record, said the statement from GFH.

This includes industrial and logistics assets, residential, student housing as well as healthcare.

These themes and sectors are chosen based on fundamentals and solid tailwinds that provide investors with opportunities that offer stabilized, low risk returns over the holding periods, it added.

GFH Partners affiliate in the UK, Roebuck Asset Management, is a pan-European asset management company specialising in UK and European logistics that has transacted over 2.5 billion since its formation in 2009.

In recent years, GFH has transacted over $4 billion in the industrial logistics sector, with assets leased to credit-rated tenants including Amazon, FedEx, General Mills and Michelin, among others.

GFH Partners US-based affiliates include SQ Asset Management, a living sector asset and property manager focused on student housing with more than $1.4 billion in aggregate transaction value and with 32 housing properties and 10,300 beds currently under management across the US, and Big Sky Asset Management, a US-based real estate asset manager focused on the defensive healthcare segment with more than 20 years of experience in investing and managing healthcare assets and over $2 billion in cumulative transaction value.

Globally, its strategy for growth continues to be fueled by acquiring strategic stakes in well positioned asset managers in the sectors that are core to its business.

Credibility, caliber and unique access to opportunities define GFH Partners key value proposition for its investors, it stated.

In the GCC, GFH Partners intends to deploy its expertise in the same themes of logistics, student housing, residential and healthcare-related assets through the establishment and acquisition of focused platforms in each of these areas.

Leading GFH's the new subsidiary GFH Partners is Nael Mustafa, who has been driving the groups global real estate investment strategy and growth since 2020.

He brings to GFH Partners more 30 years of experience in private equity and real estate investments across regional and international markets, it added.

GFH Partners is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and its investments and offerings as well as the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA).

On his key role, Mustafa said: "Were pleased to announce the launch of GFH Partners, with an ambitious mission of expanding the groups global footprint and portfolio of real estate and private equity assets across well-chosen segments of the market."

"With a proven track record of success, a well-seasoned team and deep knowledge of our target markets, we are well-positioned to capture opportunities and deliver high caliber asset management services and products that meet the needs of our investors," he stated.

"Leveraging our reach, regulatory and business set-up as well as the access provided by our partners on the ground, our aim is to continuously provide a strong pipeline of opportunities to our investors and look forward to accelerating our business and assets under management growth in the US, UK, KSA and UAE," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Ukraine's accession to NATO not easy: Biden

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 7:20 PM

US President Joe Biden has said that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not easy and to gain membership Kiev requires to make special arrangements in this regard.

Biden pointed out on Saturday that Kiev needed to make its armed forces up to par with other NATO members. "They've got to meet the same standards. So we're not going to make it easy," the US president told reporters gathered at Andrews military base near Washington, DC.

The US president insisted that the difficult requirements set for Kiev for gaining accession to the military alliance will not be waived due to its ongoing war against Russia.

Meanwhile, NATO leaders are scheduled to hold their first meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius next month, the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday in Brussels.

The upcoming meeting will give Kiev a place at the NATO leader's table "to consult and decide on security issues," Stoltenberg said, adding, "We're not going to discuss an invitation at the Vilnius Summit."

He said, however, that the NATO leaders will hold discussions to find ways on how to "move Ukraine closer to NATO." "I'm confident that we will find a good solution and consensus."

The collective US-led NATO countries have already supplied Kiev with tens of billions of dollars worth of arms and munitions since Russia launched its special military operation in February 2022.

However, some alliance leaders are said to be worried that Ukraine's accession to NATO would raise the risks of triggering a direct confrontation, and eventually an all-out war with Russia.

Asked about the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as a deterrent, Biden said he considered it to be a risky move lacking caution.

"I've commented on that many times. It's totally irresponsible," Biden told reporters on Saturday at the military airbase near Washington before departing for Philadelphia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday had described Minsk's decision to deploy Russia's nuclear weapons in Belarus as "provocative."

However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the Russian tactical nuclear weapons in the country were a deterrent against US-led NATO countries' expansionist policies and plans for war.

In an interview on Tuesday, Lukashenko vowed to use the weapons if his country came under attack, stating that the decision to deploy the nuclear weapons in Belarus came after he made a "friendly request" from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

"That was my request. Russia didn't impose it on me," Lukashenko underlined as cited by local media outlets. "Nobody has ever gone to war with a nuclear state, and I don't want anyone to go to war with us. Is there such a threat? Yes. I have to counter this threat."

Lukashenko warned that he would not hesitate to use the weapons if his country came under attack by US-led NATO forces.

Russia has been repeatedly warning US-led NATO forces against its eastward expansion.

The continuous supply of arms and munitions to Ukraine has also been condemned by Moscow.

The flooding of Ukraine with weapons "will only drag the conflict out and make it more painful for the Ukrainian side, but it will not change our goals and the end result," the Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said last year.

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Russia destroyed Ukraine's drones targeting oil refinery: Moscow

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 3:49 PM

Russia said its air force has repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in the southern border region of Bryansk.

Three Ukrainian drones targeted a pumping station on the Soviet-era Druzhba oil pipeline in the Bryansk region overnight, the region's governor, Alexander Bogomaz, said on Saturday.

Bogomaz added that Russian "air defense systems repelled" the attack.

"Thanks to the professionalism of our military... three aerial drones were destroyed," he said.

The southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline crosses Ukraine and, despite the conflict there, continues to supply crude oil to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Ukraine has in recent weeks increased drone attacks, targeting energy facilities inside Russia. Kiev, however, has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for the attacks.

Russian forces also downed nine drones over the Crimean peninsula on Thursday, said the region's Governor Sergei Aksyonov.

And last week, a drone hit a residential building in Russia's southern city of Voronezh and injured two people.

Ukraine's attacks gained momentum since President Volodymyr Zelensky said his military has begun the offensive against Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, said on Tuesday that Kiev was suffering massive losses in its offensive against his country.

"Their losses are approaching a level that could be described as catastrophic," Putin said.

Russia missile strike hits Ukraine's 'decision-making center'

In the meantime, Russian forces hit a command center of the Ukrainian military in a missile attack on Friday, Russia's defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Russian forces "carried out a group strike with sea and air-based long-range precision weapons against one of the decision-making centers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the ministry said.

"The aim of the strike was achieved. The intended facility was hit," it added, without providing further details.

The ministry has also published a short video of a missile being fired by a warship as part of what it said was the strike on a Ukrainian "decision-making center."

Back in May, Russia had also reported strikes on "decision-making centers" in Ukraine. The attack was carried out shortly after a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow, in which several residential buildings were damaged and two people suffered injuries.

The Russian defense ministry said back then that facilities in Ukraine "where terrorist attacks on Russian soil were being planned under the guidance of specialists from Western intelligence agencies" were hit.

President Putin said back then that Russian forces hit the headquarters of the Ukrainian military's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR).

Russia launched its special military operation against Ukraine last February as part of its efforts to defend the pro-Russian population in Donbas against persecution by the neo-Nazi Kiev regime.

Since the war began, the West has flooded Ukraine with weapons including tanks and missiles

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Zelensky dimisses Trump's claim to restore Ukraine's 'peace in 24 hours'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 1:54 PM

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed former US President Donald Trump's promise to immediately end the war and restore peace in Ukraine if he returns to power in the 2024 US presidential election.

Speaking to NBC News on Thursday, Zelensky said if Trump is re-elected as president, he could not make good on his promise to cinch a peace deal in 24 hours between Kiev and Moscow.

Referring to the fighting that erupted between the two sides in Donbas in 2014, Zelensky asked the interviewer why Trump had not cinched a peace deal before when he had the chance to do it.

"Why didn't he do that earlier? He was president when the war was going on here," Zelensky asked as quoted by RT.

Zelensky insisted that Trump could not reach a peace deal then, and he cannot reach a peace deal now.

"I think he couldn't do that. I think there are no people today in the world who could just have a word with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and end the war," Zelensky pointed out.

In the New Hampshire town hall event last month, Trump told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that he could "have that war settled in one day, 24 hours," if he is elected as US president for a second term in 2024.

Trump has claimed to be the "only candidate" capable of keeping the US out of a direct conflict with Russia in Ukraine, which he warned could escalate into WWIII if the Biden administration remained in power for a second term.

Since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, following Kiev's failure to implement the terms of the 2014 Minsk agreements and Moscow's recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the US has provided Kiev with tens of billions of dollars of military aid.

In spite of the continued supply of weapons and munitions to Kiev, the Biden administration has been saying that there will be no US combat troops sent to Ukraine to fight against the Russians, thus eliminating the chances of a direct war with Moscow.

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Ukraine's Zelensky snubs African leaders' peace bid by anti-Russia remarks

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 17 June 2023 10:59 AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rebuked visiting African leaders in their bid to ease tensions in the country's raging conflict with Russia and insisting on the need to "free out land."

The diplomatic delegation came to Kiev on Friday to express the continent's concerns about the fallout of the Ukraine conflict -- particularly the rising grain prices - as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa insisted that peace must be achieved through negotiations.

Zelensky, however, dismissed the possibility of such negotiations during a joint press conference, telling reporters: "I clearly said several times at our meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering".

Quoting Nelson Mandela several times about the need for peace, Ramaphosa stressed, "It is precisely that type of event that we saw today... that makes us call for de-escalation."

Zelensky said he asked African leaders to share their views on how to stop "crimes committed by Russia" and how to work towards food security.

"But first of all, we must restore the full force of the UN Charter and stop this brutal Russian aggression and free our land," he proclaimed.

The African delegation comprised Ramaphosa as well as Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Azali Assoumani of Comoros, who currently heads the African Union.

The leaders of Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville pulled out of the meeting at the last moment and sent representatives instead without elaborating on reasons.

African leaders were also scheduled to travel to the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

"In our view it is important to listen very carefully to what both countries have to say Ramaphosa declared, adding that the delegation will also listen to Putin the next day.

Speaking at an annual economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus as a deterrent force and further referred to Zelensky as a "disgrace to the Jewish people."

Russia first announced in March that it planned to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus and Putin declared on Friday that "the first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus."

He said the weapons were intended as a deterrent to "those who are thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia."

The Russian president also stated on Friday that he is prepared for any negotiations with Ukraine regarding the ongoing conflict.

"President Putin was and is open to any contacts to discuss possible scenarios for solving the Ukrainian problem," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as quoted in a Friday report by Interfax news agency.

Moscow has long maintained that it is open to talks, though it insists that Kiev must recognize "new realities" on the ground.

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Russian Strikes, Shelling Kill Civilians In Kharkiv And Kherson As Fighting Under Way In Eastern, Southern Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 17, 2023

Russian missile strikes and shelling killed at least six people over the past 24 hours in Ukraine, regional officials said, as the Ukrainian military reported limited advances in its recently launched counteroffensive to regain territory occupied by Russia since the start of its unprovoked invasion.

Four people were killed when a Russian anti-tank missile hit a civilian car in the Kharkiv region on June 17, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. The incident occurred in the village of Huryiv Kozachok, about 1 kilometer from the Russian border, Synyehubov said.

In the southern region of Kherson, two people were killed and 25 others were wounded over the past day by Russian shelling, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on June 17.

Kherson city was hit by 44 Russian shells, Prokudin said, adding that Russian forces targeted residential neighborhoods, buildings housing educational and administrative institutions, and a Kherson commercial center.

Russian forces shelled the city of Nikopol in the southern region of Dnipropetrovsk, hitting private houses, commercial centers, and power lines, the head of the regional council, Mykola Lukashuk, said on Telegram.

In the eastern region of Donetsk, the city of Vuhledar came under Russian artillery fire 20 times over the past day, regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on June 17.

In Russia, the governor of Russia's Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, said on June 17 that Russian forces had repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on a refinery in the city of Novozybkov, some 50 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border.

"Overnight, Russian military air-defense units in Novozybkov repulsed an attack by Ukraine's military on the Druzhba oil refinery. Thanks to the professionalism of our military's air defense, three aircraft-type drones were destroyed," Bogomaz wrote on Telegram, without mentioning any damage.

The information could not be independently verified. Drone attacks on energy facilities inside Russia have been stepped up recently.

The General Staff of Ukraine's military said that all attempted missile attacks on the Kyiv region had been repelled over the past day. The military said six Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles and six Kalibr cruise missiles were downed by Ukrainian air defenses.

On the battlefield, the General Staff said that fighting continues in Donetsk around the flashpoint towns of Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, where 36 battles were fought by Ukrainian forces over the past 24 hours.

Late on June 16, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Ukrainian forces were engaged in offensive operations in several areas in southern Ukraine as part of their counteroffensive.

Malyar said that Ukrainian units achieved partial tactical successes in the directions they were advancing, Malyar said on Telegram, without giving details.

"They are gradually moving forward," she said, adding that following Ukrainian advances, Russian forces had beefed up their defenses in the Berdyansk and Mariupol areas and increased their firepower by transferring troops and equipment there from other fronts while also expanding mine fields.

Malyar's statement could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on June 17 demanded more tanks from the country's defense industry for the war against Ukraine.

During a visit to a manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Omsk, Shoigu insisted on "strict adherence to the timetable for the implementation of the state defense order," the ministry announced.

Shoigu's office said that "he set the task of further expanding production capacities for tanks and heavy flame-throwing systems."

With reporting by dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fighting-kharkiv- kherson-air-strikes-shelling-russia/32463639.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.

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Bribery Defendant Used Ukrainian Military 'Aid' Mission To Flee Prosecution, Investigation Finds

By Olya Ivleva, Kira Tolstyakova, Natalie Sedletska June 17, 2023

KYIV -- A letter from the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency to the State Border Service allowed a Ukrainian politician facing trial on bribery charges to leave Ukraine on a supposed business trip, becoming a fugitive from justice, Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, has found.

For unclear reasons, the country's Special Operations Forces had chosen the indicted politician to collect "humanitarian aid" for its troops.

Vladyslav Trubitsyn, 40, head of the Kyiv City Council's Standing Committee on Entrepreneurship, Industry, and Urban Development and a former member of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party, left Ukraine three days before a May 16 preliminary hearing at the High Anti-Corruption Court, which is handling the case. Trubitsyn and five other individuals received 1.39 million hryvnyas ($37,600) in bribes for facilitating retail in Kyiv.

Officially, Trubitsyn traveled at the request of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) to obtain "necessary humanitarian aid" for Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO), a branch of the armed forces responsible for unconventional tactics and reconnaissance against Russia's tens of thousands of invading troops.

SSO spokesman Oleksandr Kindratenko confirmed to Schemes that the SSO's commander, Brigadier General Viktor Khorenko, had requested the HUR's chief, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, to petition the State Border Service to allow Trubitsyn and four other individuals to leave Ukraine to acquire "special equipment" for the SSO.

Schemes learned that Budanov did so, asking State Border Service Director Serhiy Deyneko on January 27 to ensure the group's "unhindered crossing of the border" as part of a foreign business trip to be carried out between January 28 and May 25. The letter did not mention humanitarian aid.

Saying that the details "constitute an official secret," Kindratenko declined to identify the needed "equipment" for which Trubitsyn and the others would be traveling. He said the SSO wanted the HUR to make the request since "it is much faster and easier for them."

He did not explain why the SSO chose Trubitsyn, described in his Kyiv City Council biography as a "secondhand book dealer" and "philanthropist" known for "entrepreneurial activities in the field of antiques and art," to obtain these supplies while under indictment.

Coming amid intense international scrutiny of Ukraine's commitment to fighting corruption as the recipient of tens of billions of dollars in military aid, Trubitsyn's flight from justice risks putting the country's military brass again on the defensive -- an earlier scandal erupted in early 2023 over inflated pricing for military food suppliers.

Against that backdrop, Kindratenko said the SSO does not approve of Trubitsyn missing his May 16 hearing and had cautioned him about the "rules" for leaving and returning to Ukraine.

"We facilitated [his] traveling abroad for good purposes; namely, to provide the SSO units with everything they need to fight the enemy," he said, referring to Russia. "We have an extremely negative attitude toward the fact that this person used such a pretext during the war for his personal purposes and did not return to Ukraine to fulfill his procedural duties in court."

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, people with access to Ukrainian border data told Schemes that the politician drove through western Ukraine's Rava-Ruska border checkpoint in his Mercedes S600 sedan en route to Poland at roughly 7 p.m. on May 13. The State Border Service notified prosecutors that he crossed the border at the HUR's request, sources in the Prosecutor-General's Office told Schemes on condition of anonymity.

Aside from his May 16 court date, Trubitsyn also missed a May 30 hearing.

On June 5, the High Anti-Corruption Court approved an international search warrant for Trubitsyn. A week later, it confiscated his bail of 9.8 million hryvnyas ($265,000) and authorized his detention.

Martial law bars Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country, although exceptions exist for "transportation for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" and for "humanitarian aid cargo."

Khorenko's request to the HUR's Budanov addressed both exemptions, as a copy of the January 20 letter shows. He described Trubitsyn and four other individuals as "volunteers" who are "supplying" the Special Operations Forces with "necessary humanitarian assistance."

Schemes obtained the document from a person who is familiar with the case but is not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Two of the four other "volunteers" listed in the HUR's petition told Schemes they had traveled abroad to import trucks for the military but denied any knowledge of Trubitsyn; a third, an antiques collector, declined to comment, saying his trip was about "humanitarian assistance."

Why Trubitsyn's "humanitarian" mission required clearance from the heads of the SSO, HUR, and State Border Service rather than more junior officials is unclear.

Evidence in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutors' (SAP) case against Trubitsyn alleges that the councilman may have had an influential protector, however.

During a February 2022 hearing on Trubitsyn's case, a prosecutor read an excerpt from a covertly recorded conversation in which a person identified as Trubitsyn's assistant, Ilya Lif, claimed that a deputy head of Zelenskiy's office, Oleh Tatarov, oversaw the alleged kickback scheme.

Tatarov, who previously was the subject of a corruption investigation that was eventually dropped, has not been charged in the case. He did not respond to Schemes's requests for comment.

Trubitsyn, who resigned from Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party in May over the case, contends that prosecutors' accusations are politically motivated and denies any wrongdoing.

He did not respond to phone calls or communications from Schemes sent by secure messaging apps about why he left Ukraine before asserting his innocence in court.

Kindratenko noted that, at the time of the SSO's request to the HUR, no restrictions had been placed on Trubitsyn, as a criminal defendant, leaving the country.

"Otherwise, the State Border Service would not have allowed this person to cross the border," the spokesman said.

State Border Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko, who said he had "no information" about Trubitsyn's departure, concurred.

A SAP prosecutor told Schemes that the councilman was under no "procedural obligation" to refrain from traveling abroad but had failed to notify the court before leaving the country, as required by law.

SSO Commander Khorenko requested that the "volunteers" be given four months to cross the border -- from January 28 until May 25 -- to facilitate group members leaving "at different intervals of time," according to SSO spokesman Kindratenko.

Trubitsyn's Mercedes S600 -- an online database of license-plate numbers dates the vehicle to 2018 -- is a luxury vehicle not built for hauling cargo in quantity.

Trubitsyn's departure from Ukraine was not his first since his bail on charges of bribery in February 2022.

Sources with access to the State Border Service's database informed Schemes that Trubitsyn also traveled abroad at the HUR's request on November 13, 2022, and January 22. The official reason for these additional trips is unclear.

Officially, Trubitsyn and his fellow "volunteers" traveled as representatives of the Kyiv charity Ridna Obolon, according to Kindratenko.

Trubitsyn formerly co-owned the organization, which describes itself on Facebook as addressing needs in the Ukrainian capital's Obolon district, which is part of Trubitsyn's constituency. Since his failure to appear in court in Ukraine, the charity has changed its name, ownership, and management, registry records show.

Written by Elizabeth Owen based on reporting by Olya Ivleva, Kira Tolstyakova, and Natalie Sedletska of Schemes.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-bribery-defendent- military-aid-mission-schemes/32462704.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.

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African Delegation Presses Putin To Seek 'Path To Peace' In Ukraine, Offers Mediation

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, RFE/RL's Russian Service June 17, 2023

The delegation of African leaders visiting St. Petersburg for talks with President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine not only affects Russia and the region but is also taking its toll on the rest of the world, as group members said they sought to said a "clear message" to the Kremlin chief to take the "path to peace."

"This war has to have an end.... It must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who led the delegation, said on June 17.

"This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," Ramaphosa said. He said the group was ready to work as a mediator with the two sides.

Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union, told Putin that "we have come to listen to you and through you to hear the voice of the Russian people."

"We wanted to encourage you to enter into negotiations with Ukraine," he said.

The delegation -- which, besides Ramaphosa and Assoumani, includes the presidents of Senegal, and Zambia, as well as Egypt's prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda -- arrived in Russia's second-largest city after a visit to Ukraine, where they held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on June 16.

Ramaphosa said he put forward to the Russians a 10-point "initiative in search of peace" but said the group's proposals were "not in competition" with others that have been presented, likely referring to plans put forth by Zelenskiy that demand a Russian withdrawal from all Ukrainian territory.

Ramaphosa added that the African nations "recognize the sovereignty of nations and countries in accordance with the UN Charter that must be respected."

A Kremlin spokesman said the group's proposals were "difficult to realize" but that Putin had shown an "interest" in them. Details were not immediately released.

Putin, whose forces have suffered heavy losses since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and occupy much of Ukrainian territory, told the delegation that he welcomed the "African friends' balanced attitude to the Ukraine crisis" and that he appreciated their "interest in finding a solution to the conflict."

He also said he was "open to a constructive dialogue with all those who seek peace," according to the state-run TASS news agency, even as Russia stepped up its deadly air assaults on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

African leaders have been increasingly concerned that a protracted war will have an even stronger impact on their continent.

Africa relies heavily on grain and fertilizer imports from Russia and Ukraine and has been hit hard by rising grain prices.

At a joint news conference with the African delegation on June 16 in Kyiv, Zelenskiy reiterated that any talks with Russia at the current stage of the war would be in Russia's advantage.

Ramaphosa had suggested that the war should be ended through immediate negotiations and called for "de-escalation" on both sides. But the Ukrainian leader firmly rejected the idea.

"To allow any negotiations with Russia now while the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze everything: pain and suffering," Zelenskiy said. "We need real peace, and therefore, a real withdrawal of Russian troops from our entire independent land."

The Ukrainian president said later that he invited the African leaders to take part in a global peace summit that Ukraine is preparing.

"Ukraine will be heard all over the world, and we will involve the whole world in the implementation of the Peace Formula," he said on Twitter.

The countries represented in the delegation have had different positions toward Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with South Africa, Senegal, Uganda, and Congo refraining from a direct condemnation of Moscow.

Egypt, Zambia, and Comoros voted against Russia in October during a vote on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow's invasion.

Putin, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16, said Russia has "never closed the door" on the idea of Ukraine peace talks.

Moscow has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine as Kyiv launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim territory occupied by Russian forces.

Even with the arrival of the African delegation -- which includes officials from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros, and Egypt -- the Ukrainian capital was targeted by fresh Russian air strikes.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the air strikes were a "message" to the African delegation that Russia was not serious about any peace talks.

"Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Kuleba said on Twitter.

Peter Stano, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, also commented on the attack.

"With what happened today, it's very obvious also to the African leaders how sincere Putin is about stopping the conflict," Stano said.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-african- delegation-attacks/32463424.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.

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Putin: Kiev Threw Possible Russia-Ukraine Settlement Deal 'Into Dustbin of History'

Sputnik News

20230617

STRELNA, Russia (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the African delegation with the draft of the Istanbul agreement on the Ukraine settlement, which, as the Russian president said, specifies everything from the number of armed forces to units of military equipment and personnel.

"Here it is! It exists!" Putin said, showing the document signed by a Ukrainian representative. "And it is called accordingly - the treaty on permanent neutrality and security guarantees for Ukraine. Exactly about guarantees. Eighteen articles," the Russian leader noted.

"Moreover, there is also an annex to it. They [clauses] also concern the armed forces, other things. Everything is specified - down to the units of combat equipment and personnel of the armed forces. The document is here!" Putin said, adding that the document had been initialed and signed by the Ukrainian delegation.

"But after we withdrew the troops from Kiev, as we promised, the Kiev authorities, as their masters usually do, threw it all into the dustbin of history. Let's put it clearly. I'll try to put it intelligently. They gave it up," he added.

The president also addressed the root of the crisis, reminding his audience that the violence engulfed Ukraine after the bloody 2014 coup, which was backed by the US and the EU.

"All the problems in Ukraine began after the state, unconstitutional, armed and bloody coup in 2014. And this coup was supported by Western sponsors. They, as a matter of fact, do not hesitate to talk about it," he stressed.

Earlier on Saturday, Putin personally received and greeted the African delegates at the Konstantinovsky Palace to discuss the joint African peace initiative on Ukraine. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed a ten-point plan for peaceful settlement.

One of the points relates to the fact that all sides in the conflict are entitled to security guarantees. The fourth point refers to the fact that the authors of the plan recognize the sovereignty of all sides of the conflict. The sixth point refers to the "free movement of grain across the Black Sea" so that there would be no obstacles to it.

"The third point is that we would like to see de-escalation of the conflict. De-escalation on both sides. Because escalation is not conducive to peace negotiations. So we would be interested in de-escalation of the conflict so that we can find a way to peace."

Putin also underlined the issue of the grain deal, noting that about 31.7 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported from Ukrainian ports - while only 3% of this volume was sent to needy African countries, so the United States has "deceived the international community,"

"Once again, these neo-colonial European, and in fact American, authorities have deceived the international community and needy African countries: 31.7 million tonnes were exported, and only three percent went to needy African countries. Isn't that a lie? Accustomed to lying to the world for centuries and continue to do so today," Putin said at a meeting with the African delegation at the Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg.

Putin also said that 38.9%, or 13.3 million tonnes, went to EU countries.

The grain deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 to facilitate the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea during hostilities. The package agreement also included a memorandum of understanding between Russia and the United Nations to unblock Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea.

While Russia kept its part of the bargain, the other side struggled to allow Russian exports, undermining the accord, so Moscow announced recently that the deal is likely not to be extended, since it has "no chances".

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Repel Attacks From Ukrainian Assault Groups, Blow Up Stronghold

Sputnik News

20230617

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Units of the Russian 'Yug' Group of Forces have repelled attacks of Ukrainian assault groups near five different villages in the Artemovsk area, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

"Units of the Yug Group of Forces have successfully repelled the attacks of the assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of settlements - Razdolivka, Veseloye, Yakovlivka, Berkhivka and Yagodnoye," the spokesperson said.

In addition, aviation of the Yug Group of Forces has struck strongholds and clusters of Ukrainian military equipment, the spokesperson told Sputnik.

"The Group's aviation has carried out missile and bomb strikes against strongholds and accumulations of weapons and military equipment of the enemy in the Soledar-Artemovsk, Aleksandro-Kalinovsky and Avdiivka directions," the spokesperson said.

The latest also came as video published by the Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday showed Russian service members from the engineering and sapper unit of the Central Military District destroying a Ukrainian stronghold using a captured armored personnel carrier (APC).

The seized armored personnel carrier was filled with explosives and sent to enemy positions. The explosives were detonated remotely after the vehicle reached the Ukrainian stronghold.

The video from the Russian Defense Ministry captures the moment the armored personnel carrier, used in a similar way to kamikaze drones, exploded.

A Sputnik

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South African Spox Blasts Missile Attack Claim During Kiev Visit as 'Deliberate Misinformation'

Sputnik News

20230617

Ian DeMartino

Five African leaders and other officials are traveling to Ukraine and Russia on Friday and Saturday, seeking a roadmap for peace in the region.

South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya accused Reuters of spreading lies after the outlet said a Russian missile strike sent his delegation running for a bunker.

Magwenya shared a video of the city and denied there was an attack on the city:

"I took the video from the hotel here in [Kiev]. It's very strange that we didn't hear or see an explosion. There's obviously some deliberate misinformation being spread here. People are going on about their day," Magwenya posted, adding that the incident was hampering their mission.

"As we expected this mission was never going to be easy but some of the hurdles are deeply disturbing, like the treatment you all received and others outright amusing, like this so called explosion."

Air raid sirens have sounded multiple times when Western leaders have visited Ukraine, even when no strikes were taking place.

In February, air raid sirens blared while US President Joe Biden visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. However, it was later reported that no attacks were reported at the time and the sirens had not been alerted in the five days beforehand. One US outlet noted the sirens were only activated when the cameras were on Biden and Zelensky.

Ukrainian officials had touted the alleged missile attack as proof that Russia is not interested in peace. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky has made it clear during the visit that Ukraine's position on peace talks has not changed: the country will not negotiate until the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Ukraine has also pushed back at peace roadmaps from other countries such as Brazil and China, whereas Russia has expressed an openness to third-party peace mediation.

The latest comes as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's security detail was detained in an airport in Poland on Thursday, with authorities demanding they hand over their weapons. After a standoff lasting more than 24 hours, they were allowed to depart Friday afternoon. Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine by train.

Ramaphosa, meanwhile, has pointed out that even during the apartheid, Nelson Mandela said that peace proposals should always be on the table.

Ramaphosa and company arrived in Kiev to speak with Zelensky in what they have described as a peace mission. They will travel to Russia and speak to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

In addition to Ramaphosa, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Hichilema of Zambia, President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and representatives of Egypt, Congo and Uganda are part of the peace mission.

A Sputnik

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Latest in Ukraine: Putin, Zelenskyy Reject African Peace Initiative

By VOA News June 17, 2023

Latest developments:

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday there seems to be "no chance" of extending the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative that allows Ukraine to export grain safely through Russian-controlled waters.

Two volunteers, a man and a woman, were killed Saturday by a Russian missile strike on the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, said regional governor Oleh Syniehubov on the Telegram messaging app.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will ask entrepreneurs and businesses, at a conference next week, to bolster investment in Ukraine's private sector and help it rebuild and recover after Russia's invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a peace initiative brought to St. Petersburg on Saturday by a delegation of African leaders hoping to see an end to Russia's war on Ukraine.

The leaders from seven African countries told Putin war is harming the entire world. The delegation met with Putin a day after they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Both leaders indicated the plan was unworkable.

Putin opened Saturday's talks with representatives from Comoros, Congo Republic, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia in a palace near St. Petersburg by stressing Russia's commitment to the continent.

But the Russian president rejected the delegation's peace plan based on the acceptance of Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. He repeated his position that Ukraine and its Western allies were responsible for the conflict long before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin also said the West was responsible for a sharp rise in global food prices early last year that has hit Africa especially hard. He told the delegation that Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports were doing nothing to alleviate Africa's difficulties with high food prices because they had largely gone to wealthy countries.

Russia has recently indicated it would not renew the Black See Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July. Putin said the West had gone back on its promises to ease Russia's ability to export its agricultural products.

The delegation's peace initiative had been rejected a day earlier in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that any peace talks would presuppose the withdrawal of Moscow's forces from occupied Ukrainian territory, something Russia has said is not negotiable.

In his nightly video address Saturday, Zelenskyy thanked Ukraine's Western allies for the military and humanitarian support they are providing in its fight against Russia's invasion. Zelenskyy also thanked everyone who helped Ukraine overcome "the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP."

Zelenskyy also thanked Luxemburg for officially recognizing Holodomor as a genocide against the Ukrainian people. Luxemburg is the 26th country to officially do so.

He also thanked Poland for supporting Ukraine's membership to NATO.

President Joe Biden said Saturday his administration would not "make it easy" for Ukraine to join NATO. Last week he had indicated he was open to waiving the requirement that Ukraine make the same military and democratic reforms all candidates must meet before it being considered for NATO membership.

But when he was asked Saturday whether Ukraine's path to joining the transatlantic alliance would be eased, he said no. "Because they've got to meet the same standards. So, we're not going to make it easy," he said.

Putin warned Friday that there is a "serious danger" the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into Russia's war on Ukraine. He made the comment at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he promoted Russia's economy despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Nuclear weapons

Putin confirmed that Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has begun, reminding the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. But only the first ones, the first part. But we will do this job completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year," he said.

Speaking Friday at Russia's economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin emphasized that he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons, for now. He said delivering shorter-range nuclear weapons to Belarus, which could be used on the battlefield, was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine.

The White House denounced Putin's comments and said the U.S. had made no adjustments to its nuclear position in response to the rhetoric.

US humanitarian assistance

The United States on Friday announced additional humanitarian assistance of $205 million for Ukraine that will provide critical support such as food, safe water, accessible shelter and more for Ukraine.

"The U.S. response is advancing Ukraine's overall security, economic recovery, energy security and capacity to cope with the humanitarian crisis created by Russia's war. We welcome the contributions of other donors toward this crisis response and urge yet more donors to generously support the serious humanitarian needs in Ukraine and the region," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The U.S. aid package brings the total humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to more than $605 million during fiscal year 2023. Since February 2022, the United States has provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Latest in Ukraine: Biden Says US Won't 'Make it Easy' for Ukraine to Join NATO

By VOA News June 17, 2023

Latest developments:

Two volunteers, a man and a woman, were killed Saturday by a Russian missile strike on the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, said regional governor Oleh Syniehubov on the Telegram messaging app. The liberated area suffers from frequent shelling by Russia.

The British Defense Ministry said Saturday it is likely Russia has gained a temporary advantage in southern Ukraine because of the 20 additional attack helicopters it deployed that fire longer-range missiles against ground targets.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is expected to visit Moscow next week, the Interfax news agency reports.



U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday his administration would not "make it easy" for Ukraine to join NATO, noting the war-ravaged nation must meet the same standards as other member states.

According to NATO's Membership Action Plan, candidate nations must make military and democratic reforms before they are considered for NATO membership.

Last week, Biden officials said the president "was open to" waiving the requirement for Ukraine, which this week launched a counterattack amid Russia's war of aggression.

Biden noted the U.S. has "done a lot" to make sure Ukraine has the "ability to coordinate militarily," Politico reports.

But when he was asked Saturday whether Ukraine's path to joining the transatlantic alliance would be eased, he said no. "Because they've got to meet the same standards. So, we're not going to make it easy."

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday there is a "serious danger" the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into Russia's war on Ukraine. He made those comments during a plenary session of Russia's flagship St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he promoted Russia's economy despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Western journalists were banned from the event.

African delegation

Putin welcomed a delegation of African leaders seeking to mediate a peace between Ukraine and Russia. The delegation met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Saturday after departing Kyiv.

The leaders from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo and the Comoro islands as well as South Africa told Putin it was time to negotiate an end to fighting, which they said was harming the entire world.

The Kremlin downplayed any chances of meaningful talks with Kyiv, saying any peace settlement must take into account "new realities," but it said it is ready to listen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the African leaders Friday he could not understand what could be gained from the delegation's meeting with Putin.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Kyiv the leaders had come "to share the African perspective" and saw talks with Russia as part of the mission.

However, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's Presidential Office, told the Independent Ukrainian news agency Unian on Saturday that the African leaders' peace delegation was mostly interested in suspending Putin's arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.

On March 17, the ICC, issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. This means that Putin and Lvova-Belova can now be arrested in countries that have ratified the Rome Stature

Podolyak added that the real plan to end the war was Ukraine's 10-point peace plan, which Zelenskyy introduced at a G-20 summit meeting in November 2022.

The peace plan includes the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, the establishment of a Russian war crimes tribunal, the release of all prisoners and forcibly relocated people, and the prevention of ecocide.

Nuclear weapons

Putin confirmed that Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has begun, reminding the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. But only the first ones, the first part. But we will do this job completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year," he said.

Speaking Friday at Russia's economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin emphasized that he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons, for now. He said delivering shorter-range nuclear weapons to Belarus, which could be used on the battlefield, was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine.

The White House denounced Putin's comments and said the U.S. had made no adjustments to its nuclear position in response to the rhetoric.

U.S. humanitarian assistance

The United States on Friday announced additional humanitarian assistance of $205 million for Ukraine that will provide critical support such as food, safe water, accessible shelter and more for Ukraine.

"The U.S. response is advancing Ukraine's overall security, economic recovery, energy security and capacity to cope with the humanitarian crisis created by Russia's war. We welcome the contributions of other donors toward this crisis response and urge yet more donors to generously support the serious humanitarian needs in Ukraine and the region," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The U.S. aid package brings the total humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to more than $605 million during fiscal year 2023. Since February 2022, the United States has provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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HOUSTON, June 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Emerson Firm, PLLC (Emerson) a law firm based in Houston, TX is investigating the data breach at Bank of NY Mellon (BNYM). This investigation relates to the theft of sensitive personal identifiable information (PII) of an unknown number of consumers.



BNYM is the world's largest custodian bank and securities services company with approximately $16 billion in annual revenue. BNYM currently maintains operations in 35 countries with $1.9 trillion in assets under management as of March 2023.

On May 13, 2023, BNYM filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Massachusetts after learning that confidential information that had been entrusted to the company was leaked in what appears to be a third-party data breach. Based on the companys official filing, the incident resulted in an unauthorized party gaining access to consumers names and Social Security numbers. After confirming that consumer data was leaked, BNYM began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals who were impacted by the recent data security incident.

Emerson is a law firm specializing in results, integrity, and personal service. Emerson represents consumers throughout the nation and has significant data breach class action experience with proven results. Emerson lawyers have devoted their practice to complex commercial litigation for more than forty years and have recovered over one billion dollars for consumers in class actions throughout the United States.
Concord, ON , June 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Effects of the 2023 Quebec and Ontario wildfires are being felt across Canada. Air filtration professionals from Camfil provide strategies for minimizing wildfire smoke exposure and preventing health effects associated with wildfire pollution.

Toronto, Ontario  Smoke and haze from more than 100 wildfires burning across 9.3 million acres in Quebec and Ontario have settled over eastern and central Canada, impacting air quality severely and disrupting day-to-day life.

Camfil Canada air filtration professionals have provided additional information about the contents of wildfire pollution and its health effects, as well as the best strategies for preventing exposure to the harmful pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

It is first important to note that even locations thousands of kilometers away from the fire can be seriously affected. This is because the wildfire smoke rises from grasslands and forests, and can then be carried for long distances downwind, says Berni Baier, This week the Toronto sky turned hazy red due to particulate matter scattering the sunrays  these particles traveled from wildfires in northwestern Ontario and Quebec from hundreds of kilometres away.

Higher efficiency filtration is fantastic for protecting human health. MERV-13 and above has been a recommendation for quite some time, says Jon Homes, Segment Leader for Property and Facility Management at Camfil Canada, who recently shared industry insights on wildfire pollution in a new video, But it doesnt do anything in terms of removing the odors or the hazardous gasses that we find from wildfires.

The resource covers the following topics:

What are the health effects of wildfire smoke?

What pollutants are found in wildfire smoke?

What strategies do air filtration professionals recommend to minimize smoke exposure and prevent health effects?

Can you get rid of wildfire smoke in your home with an air purifier?

Read the full resource on preventing Canada wildfire smoke exposure with air filters and purifiers here.





About Camfil Canada Clean Air Solutions

For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. Read more about Camfil Canada.

##

Media Contact:

Phillip Ilijevski

Camfil Canada Inc.

T: 437-929-1161

E: Phillip.Ilijevski@camfil.com

Attachment
When it comes to solving murder cases, statistics suggest that the Albuquerque Police Department had a very good year in 2013. In fact, the citys reported murder clearance rate was 95 percent. Meanwhile, other cities were putting up numbers they would rather not publicize. According to FBI statistics, Buffalo cleared just over one-fifth of its 2013 murder caseload.Does this mean cops in Albuquerque are nearly five times better at solving murders than the ones in Buffalo?Not exactly. Impressive clearance rates are often trumpeted in press releases and news conferences, but how theyre reported is open to interpretation. Sometimes the resolution of a case is beyond a police departments control.Data recorded in the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program show just how widely clearance rates vary across larger police departments. Of the 100 cities reporting the most murders in 2013, 11 cleared less than a quarter of their cases. Meanwhile, eight departments registered clearance rates of 90 percent or more. The national murder clearance rate was 64 percent for 2013.One statistical complication is that the FBI counts clearances for crimes committed in previous years as part of current-year statistics, while prior annual rates arent revised. This is why Fayetteville, N.C., and several smaller departments actually recorded murder clearance rates higher than 100 percent for 2013.There are many reasons why clearance data vary so much from one city to another. The most common way for a case to be cleared is if a suspect is arrested or charged, but the FBI also allows for clearances by exceptional means when charges are not filed. Sometimes this is because a suspect has died or witnesses decline to testify, but different departments might clear cases this way under a litany of circumstances. Its another reason why its difficult to draw conclusions from the numbers. I dont think its a measure that law enforcement wants people to really study, says John Boulahanis, a Southeastern Louisiana University professor.Boulahanis researched Chicagos murder clearance data from the 1980s and 1990s and found that exceptional clearances accounted for as much as 20 percent of the cleared caseload in any given year. What stood out to him was that the majority of these cases were labeled barred to prosecution, meaning that police had identified their suspect, but prosecutors declined to authorize an arrest. Examining the individual cases revealed that cleared murders were disproportionately more likely to be barred to prosecution if they involved African-American victims or occurred in police districts on the crime-plagued South Side of the city. Closing cases this way not only boosts an agencys clearance rate, but also means that prosecutors dont handle as many of the tougher cases that can take a toll on their conviction rates.Types of murders further explain the variation in cities clearance rates. In Chicago, as in other cities, gang- and drug-related killings are particularly hard to solve, as witnesses often dont cooperate. Domestic-related cases, by comparison, generally arent as difficult to clear.In Boston, police reserve exceptional clearances for only the rarest of circumstances, about one case every few years, says Robert Merner, who heads the departments Bureau of Investigative Services. Its not just about the rate itself, he says. Its that weve provided a sense of justice to victims families. When we put handcuffs on people for murder here, theyre found guilty. Merner reports to both the city police commissioner and Suffolk County district attorney, an arrangement that he says promotes a shared responsibility for both clearances and separate conviction rates that measure how often prosecutors secure guilty verdicts and pleas. Suffolk Countys murder conviction rate has hovered between 85 and 90 percent over the past decade; the national average for large urban counties is 70 percent, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.The manner in which agencies clear cases and the types of crimes occurring undoubtedly affect clearance rates. But there are operational steps agencies can take to improve.For a 2013 report, the U.S. Department of Justice studied a small group of police departments with high murder clearance rates to learn how they had achieved them. All departments, the study found, benefited from strong levels of trust between police and citizens in their communities. In high-performing agencies, patrol officers who had already developed relationships with residents canvassed neighborhoods for information. In other agencies without the same relationships, police might perceive canvassing as a waste of time unlikely to yield much new information.With advances in technology, one might assume that murder clearance rates would be improving. To the contrary, national rates have changed little over the past 20 years after falling steadily in the decades before that. In the 1950s and early 1960s, more than 90 percent of homicide cases were cleared nationally. Steven Brandl, a criminal justice professor at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, attributes part of the decline to an increase in drug-related and random killings that are difficult to solve. In some cases, he says, DNA evidence may be excluding suspects who would have faced a conviction in the 1950s, contributing to the overall clearance rate decline.Police feel the most pressure to solve high-profile cases occupying the media spotlight. But an unusually low overall clearance rate may also attract attention and become an issue for a police department. Pittsburgh recorded its highest homicide tally since 2008 last year, prompting police Chief Cameron McLay to declare a public health emergency. The citys clearance rate for the year was 41 percent, concerning some local groups who felt that murders in their neighborhoods werent receiving enough attention from police.Its an illustration that regardless of how clearances are defined, solving murders can go a long way in establishing a communitys trust.
All employees will end Ferrari crisis says Vasseur

"All employees" will help to pull Ferrari out of its current situation, according to new team boss Frederic Vasseur.

Frederic Vasseur, Canadian GP 2023

 Ferrari

"All employees" will help to pull Ferrari out of its current situation, according to new team boss Frederic Vasseur.

After qualifying second to last with a key upgrade package in Barcelona recently, Charles Leclerc lost his cool with the Maranello team when he failed to make Q3 yet again in Canada.

"This is not the first time that we mess up like this," he told the media. "And this time it was really easy to interpret the situation correctly," Leclerc added, referring to the tyre choice mistake.

"Everyone could see how the situation was developing. I told my people on the radio and asked for slick tyres.

"And then they only gave me slicks when it started to rain heavily again. Why does this keep happening to us?" he said, exasperated.

Vasseur admits Ferrari still has work to do - both with the car, and the way the team is handling situations like the tyre choice in Montreal.

"When I arrived, the car was already parked there, in the workshop," the Frenchman told L'Equipe. "So, I focused first on the track.

"I detected some weaknesses which we try to correct. That was the first objective. We are now starting to work on the car," he added.

Some believe Ferrari should already be completely writing off the 2023 campaign in order to make things right for next year.

Vasseur warns that the team must not lose perspective.

"I have the advantage of coming from a team where a podium was a bit of an ultimate goal," he said, referring to Alfa Romeo-Sauber. "So I know how to put things into perspective.

"Sure, a podium for Ferrari is not enough. When you are here or at Mercedes or Red Bull, the objective is to win. And clearly, we are not achieving the objective today.

"But I try to make everyone understand that it is the job of all our employees to work for victory. Performance comes from all employees," Vasseur added.

As for whether the 2023 season and car should be completely written off, he said: "I don't think we should bet everything on next year.

"The 2024 cars will be very similar to this year's, so it's essentially that we fully understand this one to make the next one a success."

(GMM)
Villeneuve backtracks over Leclerc helmet

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has backtracked after throwing a spanner in the works of Charles Leclerc's helmet tribute in Montreal.

Charles Leclerc, Canadian GP 2023

 Ferrari

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has backtracked after throwing a spanner in the works of Charles Leclerc's helmet tribute in Montreal.

Leclerc turned up at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to honour Jacques' fabled late father with an almost identical helmet livery.

But at one stage during the Canadian GP weekend, the Monegasque Ferrari driver actually reverted to his usual helmet design - because Jacques was upset.

"It was just a big surprise to see the helmet yesterday because nobody had called the family," said the 52-year-old in an update on his Instagram stories.

"Now you have a picture with my dad's helmet with sponsors that are linked to that helmet now, which shouldn't be there," Villeneuve added.

"So that's a little bit of the grey area. That's why you should always check first and discuss it and do it the right way."

But by qualifying, the dispute was settled - and Leclerc even posed with Villeneuve's mother and sister with the helmet.

"I am very moved," said Jacques sister Melanie in an interview with the Journal de Montreal newspaper. "This is another beautiful tribute to my father.

"It warms our hearts to see that a driver from the Ferrari team thinks of him."

As for the controversy, Melanie added: "Charles was very kind in this regard. We have no objections, this is a good tribute."

Jacques Villeneuve's mother Joann also said she was "very touched by the gesture".

Italy's La Repubblica newspaper said the issue was settled when Leclerc apologised personally to Melanie, who reportedly handles the issues of her father's image rights.

Ferrari also apologised to the Villeneuve family.

(GMM)
Wolff not confirming Hamilton-Shakira rumours

Toto Wolff passed the buck when asked if Lewis Hamilton has begun to date the 46-year-old Colombian pop star Shakira.

Lewis Hamilton, Canadian GP 2023

 Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

Toto Wolff passed the buck when asked if Lewis Hamilton has begun to date the 46-year-old Colombian pop star Shakira.

"I don't know anything about that," the Mercedes team boss told Osterreich newspaper.

When told that Shakira was recently in the team's Formula 1 garage, Wolff smiled: "I didn't see anything. I was just looking at my screen."

On the track, things are also starting to look brighter for Hamilton and Mercedes - as the seven time world champion qualified fourth in Montreal.

But currently soaring almost completely unchallenged at the very top of the sport at present is Canada GP pole sitter Max Verstappen.

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said the Dutchman's dominance was particularly obvious on the wet circuit.

"He doesn't even need a warm-up. He pulls out of the pitlane and where the others need three laps, he doesn't even need one. Hats off to him," he told Sky Deutschland.

And with the surprise front-row sitter Nico Hulkenberg subsequently shunted down the grid with a penalty, Marko admits Sunday's race should be yet another win for Verstappen.

"As it looks like it at the moment, it will be Alonso again," he said when asked who the two-time champion's biggest challenger will be.

(GMM)
Accra hosts Afrexim Bank Annual Meetings - Ofori-Atta welcomes delegates to milestone confab

Maclean Kwofi Business News Jun - 17 - 2023 , 11:05

The African Export-Import (Afrexim) Bank will hold its Annual Meetings in Accra, beginning tomorrow (June 18).

The five-day event is to foster discussions on trade and economic development and strengthen the relationship between the Afrexim Bank and its member countries.

The Annual Meetings are expected to bring together about 4,000 prominent leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver a keynote address on Monday, at the conference which will also be attended by an array of personalities including Heads of State and Government, heads of regional bodies, ministers of state, eminent African leaders, business people and academics.

Context

The bank, established in 1993, has played a pivotal role in promoting intra-African trade and supporting economic growth on the continent.

Over the years, it has evolved into a leading financial institution, facilitating trade and providing financial solutions to African businesses.

The bank exists to promote and finance the diversification and development of African trade, particularly by enhancing the export capabilities of African countries.

Welcome

Ahead of the meeting, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has welcomed delegates who have begun arriving in the country for the meeting which also marks a significant milestone for the bank

I am pleased to welcome Afrexim shareholders and other stakeholders to Accra, Ghana, and to this years milestone event, marking the 30th anniversary of the Bank, the Finance Minister said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.

He emphasised the importance of the annual meetings of Afrexim Bank in anchoring the work that the bank did within the shareholder committee.

"The Afrexim Bank Annual Meetings provide an invaluable platform for African countries to collaborate, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for sustainable economic growth," the Finance Minister said.

"We are honoured to welcome esteemed delegates from across the continent and beyond to Accra, and we look forward to fruitful discussions that will shape Africa's economic future, Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

AFREXIM and Ghana

The Finance Minister said the relationship between Afrexim Bank and Ghana had been strong and mutually beneficial.

Citing the 2022 financial year when Ghana faced significant economic challenges, he pointed out that Afrexim Bank extended a crucial $750 million loan to the country, helping alleviate its financial constraints.

This loan was a critical lifeline that proved instrumental in helping to stabilise the Ghanaian economy, while negotiations continued with the IMF, for the $3 billion Extended Credit Facility, which was approved on May 17th 2023, he added.

For this significant gesture of faith and solidarity, we are especially grateful to the Afrexim Bank, Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

Expectations

When asked about his expectations going into the meetings, the Finance Minister expressed his optimism, We anticipate that these meetings will produce concrete strategies and initiatives that will accelerate Africa's economic transformation, boost intra-African trade, and create a conducive environment for business growth and investment," he stated.

The meetings will also provide a platform for African entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase their products and services during the Afrexim Bank Trade Fair, which is expected to foster networking opportunities and potential partnerships.

This exhibition aims to promote African trade and investment by highlighting the continent's diverse industries and the potential for growth and collaboration.

Programme

The annual meetings will feature a series of seminars, workshops, and panel discussions, focusing on critical topics such as trade facilitation, industrialisation, infrastructure development, and financing solutions for African businesses.

Prominent figures from the public and private sectors, including heads of state, finance ministers, business leaders, and international organisations, are expected to be in attendance.

Among the notable events planned is a high-level panel discussion on leveraging technology for trade finance, which will explore innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and inclusivity in African trade.

Also, there will be sessions dedicated to sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on climate change and green financing.
102 Million displaced globally  UNHCR report

International News Jun - 17 - 2023 , 10:50

The number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses stood at a record 108.4 million at the end of 2022.

This is an increase of 19.1 million over the previous years record, making it the biggest-ever increase, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has said.

UNHCRs flagship annual report, Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2022, explained that the upward trajectory in global forced displacement showed no sign of slowing in 2023 as the eruption of conflict in Sudan triggered new outflows, pushing the global total to an estimated 110 million by May.

These figures show us that some people are far too quick to rush to conflict, and way too slow to find solutions. The consequence is devastation, displacement and anguish for each of the millions of people forcibly uprooted from their homes, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said.

Refugees are persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection. The refugee definition can be found in the 1951 Convention and regional refugee instruments, as well as UNHCRs Statute.

World Refugee Day

A statement issued in Accra by the Ghana office of the UNHCR ahead of World Refugee Day to be observed on Tuesday, June 20, said the full-scale war in Ukraine, alongside conflict elsewhere and climate-driven upheaval meant that more people than ever remained uprooted from their homes last year, heightening the urgency for immediate, collective action to alleviate the causes and impact of displacement.

It said of the global total, 35.3 million were refugees, people who crossed an international border to find safety, while a greater share  62.5 million people representing 58 per cent  were displaced in their home countries due to conflict and violence.

The war in Ukraine, it said, was the top driver of displacement in 2022, pointing out that the number of refugees from Ukraine soared from 27,300 at the end of 2021 to 5.7 million at the end of 2022, representing the fastest outflow of refugees anywhere since World War II.

Estimates for the number of refugees from Afghanistan were sharply higher by the end of 2022 due to revised estimates of Afghans hosted in Iran, many having arrived in previous years.

Similarly, the statement said the report reflected upward revisions by Colombia and Peru of the number of Venezuelans, mostly categorised as other people in need of international protection, hosted in those countries.

Hosting refugees

The figures also confirmed that whether measured by economic means or population ratios, it remained the worlds low- and middle-income countries  not wealthy states  that hosted most displaced people.

The 46 least developed countries account for less than 1.3 per cent of global gross domestic product, yet they hosted more than 20 per cent of all refugees, while funding for the numerous displacement situations and to support hosts lagged behind needs last year, remaining sluggish in 2023 as requirements increase.

People around the world continue to show extraordinary hospitality for refugees as they extend protection and help to those in need, Grandi added, stressing, however, that but much more international support and more equitable responsibility sharing is required, especially with those countries that are hosting most of the worlds displaced.

Above all, much more must be done to end conflict and remove obstacles so that refugees have the viable option to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity.

The statement said while the total figure of displaced continued to grow, the Global Trends report also showed that those forced to flee were not condemned to exile, but rather they could and do go home, voluntarily and safely.

Return of refugees

In 2022, it said over 339,000 refugees returned to 38 countries, and though was lower than the previous year, there were significant voluntary returns to South Sudan, Syria, Cameroun and Cote dIvoire.

It said 5.7 million internally displaced people returned in 2022, notably within Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the end of 2022, it said an estimated 4.4 million people worldwide were stateless or of undetermined nationality, two per cent more than at the end of 2021.
Nurse your babies at night for bonding - Rev. Dr Ralph Adjaho advises fathers

Efia Akese Life Jun - 17 - 2023 , 07:42

Fathers with newborns have been urged to actively participate in nursing their babies, especially during nighttime, as it fosters a strong bond between them and their children right from birth.

The Head Pastor of the Sanctuary Assemblies of God at Gbawe, Accra, Rev. Dr Ralph Adjaho, emphasised that newborns naturally form a strong attachment to their mothers and easily bond with them since mothers are the primary caregivers.

However, Dr Adjaho believes fathers can also develop their own special relationships with their children by providing support to the mothers soon after childbirth.

"In the early days after birth, it's usually the mothers who stay up at night to feed and care for their babies. While mothers struggle to stay awake, fathers often sleep sound. We must ask ourselves, if we are always in a hurry to sleep, do we expect to receive the same kind of affection that children give to their mothers?" Dr Adjaho humorously queried.

He encouraged fathers to take turns or alternate days to attend to their babies at night, allowing the mothers to get some much-needed rest and fully recover.

Dr Adjaho commended young fathers who are challenging traditional roles and spending more quality time with their children in today's society.

Impact of fathers in society

A marriage counsellor and relationship expert, Dr John Boakye, explained in an interview with The Mirror that recent studies have shown the positive effects of fathers' involvement in their children's lives. Children who spend time with their fathers tend to be more confident, feel secure and build better relationships in society.

Dr Boakye, who also contributes as a columnist for The Mirror, noted that some fathers underestimated the importance of their role, leaving the majority of the work to mothers. In many households, fathers are primarily concerned with providing financial support for upkeep, school fees and other bills.

Dr Boakye pointed out that when attending Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, it is evident that the majority of parents present are mothers. Despite the increasing number of mothers working full-time jobs, they still make an effort to attend such meetings.

Within Ghanaian communities, fathers traditionally name their children after birth, highlighting their crucial role in shaping their children's identity and sense of belonging.

Additionally, during marriage ceremonies, the consent and blessing of a father holds great significance. In cases where the biological father of a bride-to-be is deceased or unavailable, a father figure stands in to accept the dowry and approve the marriage rites before the bride is handed over to the groom's family, he stated.

Dr Boakye echoed Rev. Dr Adjaho's observation on the positive trend of young fathers building strong relationships with their children. He expressed his delight when witnessing fathers actively carrying their children at church and other social functions, demonstrating their dedication to raising their children.

Regarding the comparatively low publicity of Father's Day compared to Mother's Day, Dr Boakye suggested that men, in general, are less inclined to prioritise emotional gestures and do not expect gifts or flowers on special occasions. However, he emphasised the importance of the media equally highlighting Father's Day, just as they do for Mother's Day.

Dr Boakye called for more recognition and celebration of fathers, urging media outlets to promote Father's Day and organise events dedicated to fathers.

Celebrating fathers

At the Oak Plaza Hotel, Spintex road, Accra, tomorrow June 18, 2023, The Mirror will pamper, praise and honour fathers and father figures as a way of encouraging them for the great work they are doing.

The ticketed event, which starts at 12 p.m., will see The Mirror and its partners transform a poolside view terrace into a classy buffet setup with a mouth-watering array of perfectly grilled meat, a variety of seafood delicacies and a wide selection of dishes.

According to the Director, Marketing and Sales of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Franklin Sowa, more than 150 fathers and families are expected to be in attendance.

Guests would also be treated to a tasteful selection of music played by a live band with a special musical performance from the Senior Pastor of the Living Streams International, Rev. Paa Joe Markwei (P. J Markwei).

There would be a health talk for men and grooming tips and techniques shared by industry experts, as well as exciting surprises such as gift vouchers, fuel coupons, hampers and discount coupons.

Tickets will be available at the venue but to prevent disappointments, guests must reserve their tickets by calling 0242202447 or 0507067988. A single ticket goes for GH300 and GH550 for double ticket

The partners for this years event are the Oak Plaza Hotel, Woodin, X-Men Ghana, the Nyaho Medical Centre, Goil, Silver Star Auto Ltd and SIC Insurance.
MEDASS: 40, still grappling with inadequate infrastructure

Benjamin Xornam Glover Education Jun - 17 - 2023 , 11:53

Forty years ago, the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School (MEDASS), started as a category "C" school.

The school was established in 1983 to absorb the ever-increasing products of the junior high schools in the Tema Metropolis and its surrounding towns such as Ashaiman, Kpone, Nungua, Zenu and Atadeka, among others.

Since then, MEDASS has contributed to the education delivery and training of many young minds, some of who are contributing to national development.

Forty years on and despite its contribution to education delivery, the school remains a category "C" school, basically because of lack of infrastructure.

Despite attempts by previous and current governments at improving the quality of education, the school continues to grapple with limited infrastructure.

Pressure

From an initial enrolment of 33 students, the school's current enrolment stands at 1,500 operating from two campuses, a situation, management of the school explained was putting immense pressure on the limited school infrastructure.

Speaking at the launch of the 40th anniversary celebration and unveiling of a new classroom project initiated by the old students association of the school on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the headmistress of the school, Juliana Nancy Frimpong, explained that the inadequate infrastructure in the school was hindering effective teaching and learning.

"If you take the old campus, we have just a block there but even that building is very weak and it is a death trap. In fact, when we have students there and I see the weather changing, my heart bleeds and I always pray that God should have mercy on us," she said

She added that at the new campus, the school could boast of just two completed blocks, while the rest of the infrastructure remain uncompleted.

The uncompleted projects include a Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) block which is about 80 per cent complete, a two-classroom block funded by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and a 20-classroom block started by the Methodist University, which have all stalled.

Management of MEDASS is, therefore, appealing to the government and other stakeholders to provide them with a befitting classroom block and other facilities to enhance teaching and learning.

Old students

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of MEDASS, the old students association has launched a fundraising programme to raise GH25 million for a multipurpose school complex.

The president of the association, John Aseeph, in an interview said the proposed project, which had been scheduled to be completed in 10 years when the school celebrated its golden jubilee, would take care of the critical infrastructure needs of the school such as classrooms, science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories, canteen, as well as an assembly hall.

He said after 40 years of quality education and raising people who had gone on to play significant roles in the nations development, the alumni had come up with a fundraising strategy and

urged all to come onboard to give the school a befitting facelift.

He said MEDASS had over the years produced star entertainers such as Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Eno Barony and Stay Jay among others and the alumni intended to rally all who had passed through the school to help raise funds to support the initiative.

Mr Aseeph called on all past students, the various industries and businesses in Tema, as well as friends to help raise the money to support the school.

Reverend Dr Solomon Nortey of the Mount Zion Methodist Church, Sakumono and a former SRC President of MEDASS, who chaired the 40th anniversary launch, unveiled the architectural design of the new MEDASS school complex.

Support

The Sales and Marketing Manager of Alisa Hotels, Mariam Akua Dacquah, on behalf of the Managing Director of Alisa Hotels, Kwame Ofosu Bamfo, who was billed as the Guest of Honour, lauded the old students for their initiative, saying without a conducive infrastructure for formal education, students would be deprived of their rights.

"Our business is cited in the same area as the school and we are aware of the infrastructural challenges in the school, she said. On behalf of Mr Bamfo she presented GH10,000 to support the initiative.

The MP for the Central Tema Constituency, Yves Nii Noi Hanson-Nortey, for his part acknowledged that the infrastructure deficit had been a major challenge facing schools in the area.

He said although the government was doing its best to ameliorate the situation, the pace of infrastructure development was not as fast as everyone would have wished.

Mr Hanson-Nortey, who donated GH5,000 towards the construction of the new school building, urged the students to study hard and make the best use of the opportunities offered them.

The Secretary of Synod of the Tema Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana, Very Rev. Ebenezer P. Adjei, called on the government to remember MEDASS in its provision of educational support for schools in the Greater Accra Region.

He said though the church was doing its best to grow the school in all facets of life, it would still need the support of the government and corporate organisations to achieve that.
Former Nogokpo-Ativuta assembly member found hanging in bathroom not connected to royal family

Alberto Mario Noretti Jun - 18 - 2023 , 08:24

The former assembly member for Nogokpo-Ativuta Electoral Area, Kwami Amuzu, who was said to have committed suicide last Wednesday was not connected in any way to the royal family of Nogokpo as alleged on social media.

A spokesman for the Nogokpo royal palace told Graphic Online's Alberto Mario Noretti on Saturday (June 17) that the deceased was a Christian and not a worshipper at the Torgbui Zakadza Temple.

Therefore, reports that the deceased was among the council of elders of Nogokpo who summoned the founder of the Perez Chapel, Bishop Agyinasare recently to appear before them within 14 days for peace talks, were totally false, he said.

The spokesman explained that the deceased was only present as a member of the community, when the elders of Nogokpo in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region summoned Bishop Agyinasare at a press conference more than a fortnight ago.

The late Kwami Amuzu, 56, served as the assembly member for the area from 2015 to 2019.

He was a known wealthy businessman who owned two filling stations and other enterprises in the area, said the spokesman.

On that fateful day, the spokesman said, Amuzu who usually drove his children to school told the youngest of his three wives to drive the children to school instead.

The woman obliged and upon her return she found the body of her husband hanging in the bathroom of their house at Yelibato, near Nogokpo.

A report was made to the police, after which the body was sent to the mortuary at the Sacred Heart Hospital at Abor.

It is our first time of hearing of suicide in the area, said the spokesman.

The deceased left behind three wives and about 15 children.

Investigations continue.
Ghana Armed Forces Museum (Kumasi Fort)

Douglas Anane-Frimpong Jun - 18 - 2023 , 08:11

UNLIKE the many forts and castles built and occupied by European traders in Ghana, the Kumasi Fort is one that is not located along the coast.

The Kumasi Fort and Military Museum is located in the Uaddara Barracks in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region.

Now known as the Ghana Armed Forces Museum, it is one of a few military museums in Africa.

History

The present building is the second builton the site in 1896.

The first building, originally called the Kumasi Fort, was built in1820 by the Asantehene, Osei Tutu Kwamina, who wanted a replica of the Cape Coast forts built by the European merchants.

Building materials such as granite and brown soil were brought from Cape Coast to Kumasi by head porters as it was intended to be similar to the Castle in Cape Coast.

In 1952, after the Second World War, the Armed Forces of the British Colonial Government took over the fort and converted it into a museum.

Items on display include maps, old photographs, military equipment, artefacts and other objects used in the British-Asante War of 1900 and World War II.

The collection also includes medals, anti-aircraft guns, cannons and armoured cars.

The museum has been an institution of learning about the evolution and development of the Gold Coast Regiment from the colonial era to the present Ghana Armed Forces.

The Kumasi Fort and Military Museum is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except on Sundays and public holidays.
Critical state institutions need support to combat cybercrime  Appeal Court judge

Justice Agbenorsi Jun - 17 - 2023 , 11:22

An Appeal Court Judge has called for support for security-sector institutions to enable them to discharge their mandate effectively. Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe who made the call, asserted that when state institutions were entrusted with responsibilities, businesses and people expected them to deliver on their mandate.

She emphasised that institutions that usually received reported cybercrime incidents were met with challenges in obtaining reliable evidence and the appropriate logistics to aid effective remedial measures.

That, she stressed, resulted in delays in investigations, leaving elements of unsolved cases.

Event

Justice Asare Botwe was delivering remarks on behalf of the Director General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, at the Public Consultation on the Second

Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on Enhanced Co-operation and Disclosure of Electronic Evidence in Accra.

In attendance were Mrs Mavis Amoa, the Director of Legislative Drafting, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, members of the Joint Cybersecurity Committee, representatives and experts from the Council of Europe.

Justice Botwe maintained that the myriad of logistical challenges faced by some critical state institutions hindered timely remedial interventions against cyber criminals and adversely affected their ability to deliver.

According to her, the conversation on minimising cybercrime activities in the country especially could only commence with the provision of robust logistical and sustainable funding support from the state and international partners.

The event, which was held under the auspices of the Council of Europe and the Cyber Security Authority, is part of preparatory measures for the Government of Ghana to sign the Second

Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on Enhanced Co-operation and Disclosure of Electronic Evidence.

Approval

The Second Additional Protocol was formally approved on November 17, 2021, and opened for signature by the Parties to the Convention on Cybercrime on May 12, 2022.

Ghana ratified the Convention on Cybercrime on December 3, 2018, and it entered into force on April 1, 2019.

The Second Additional Protocol contains important new provisions to further enhance cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence to support countries in effectively tackling cybercrime and other crimes involving electronic evidence.

To this end, Justice Asare Botwe stressed that the ripple effect of cyber activities and its borderless nature tend to garner international attention hence the call for cooperation among state institutions and countries at large.

A representative of the Serbian Cybercrime Convention Committee, Branko Stamenkovic, remarked that as a member of the Budapest Convention on the Global Action on Cybercrime, Ghana has been a true ally when it comes to protecting its citizens, economy, and political systems. According to him, Ghanas continued commitment to expanding its criminal justice capacities could easily be witnessed by the numerous activities the country had participated in since 2016 with the assistance of the Global Action on Cybercrime, Extended (GLACY+), a joint project of the Council of Europe and European.
Bawumia files nomination to contest flagbearership

Chris Nunoo Politics Jun - 17 - 2023 , 12:37

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, during the presentation of his nomination forms to contest the flagbearship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) laid out his vision for the country and the party.

He said he had built a solid track record of achievements and performance over the last two decades and should now be entrusted with the mantle to lead his party and subsequently the country.

Addressing a large crowd of party supporters who besieged the NPP headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra yesterday, Dr Bawumia said during his time as Vice-President he had shown unflinching loyalty to the party and the government.

The NPP has set November 4, this year, to elect a candidate to lead the party into the 2024 general election.

Vision

Sharing snippets of his vision for the country should he become President, Dr Bawumia said it was possible for Ghana to be like the advanced nations if the people put their minds to it and their energies behind it.

He said it was possible with the technologies available, including emerging ones backed by a renewed mindset, to be able to leapfrog

impossibilities and make the unimaginable possible.

Dr Bawumia further indicated that "It is possible to break the eight in order to continue with the transformational policies we have started."

"It is possible and that is why I am offering myself in all humility to contest in the primaries of this phenomenal party, the great NPP, to become our presidential candidate for 2024, and "Isha Allah, the President of the Republic of Ghana", he said to cheers from the crowed who he addressed through loud speakers set up for the occasion.

Dr Bawumia called on all supporters and lovers of the NPP to throw their weight behind him from now through the party's primaries, through the general election in December 2024 and beyond and expressed the hope that "By the grace of God victory will be ours."

Party faithful

Hundreds of supporters of the NPP clad in party paraphernalia thronged the party headquarters amid singing and dancing.

The enthusiastic supporters who obviously were rooting for the candidature of Vice-President Bawumia charged the atmosphere, giving the security detail of the Vice-President a hectic time.

Dr Bawumia said the time had come to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations the government and for that matter what the NPP had put in place so far.

He said together with the party faithful and all Ghanaians he would ensure the country leveraged technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth.

"I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education and public service delivery, among others," he said.

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an education system tilted towards Science. Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), robotics, artificial intelligence, digital and vocational skills to cope with the demands of the fourth industrial revolution," he stated.

Dr Bawumia also expressed optimism to see a country which catered for the poor, the vulnerable, the excluded and the sick, adding that "Iwant to see a Ghana where we attain food security in the shortest possible time through the application of science, data and irrigation to commercial farming."

The Vice-President gave the assurance that he would complete the ongoing digitalisation of all farms across the 16 regions, and that he would maximise the benefits from the natural resources like gold, lithium and other minerals through policies like value addition, enhancing the gold for oil policy and dedication of specific gold concessions to the Bank of Ghana to enhance the accumulation of gold reserves.

SMEs

Dr Bawumia also said he would empower local businesses, develop an efficient credit system through credit scoring by leveraging on the integrated databases across banks, the DVLA, NIA, digital address systems.

Touching on the energy sector, Dr Bawumia stressed his determination to ensure the country was energy self-sufficient at a reduced cost through solar and other renewables.
I have my own vision for Ghana - Bawumia

Graphic.com.gh Politics Jun - 18 - 2023 , 09:42

Vice Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party says he has his own vision for Ghana, which is to see the country leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth.

The Vice President is seeking to lead the NPP as flagbearer in the 2024 elections.

Addressing party supporters after after filing his presidential nomination forms at the party headquarters last Friday, the Vice President intimated that he has worked hard in both private and public life to attain the current position he occupies.

Though he served in various capacities under former President John Agyekum Kufour including being the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and subsequently as Vice President, he has his own vision for the country.

He said "I also have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far".

He continued "Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others".

While stating his desire to see Ghana become a nation that caters for the poor, support local businesses and build industries for economic growth, there is a lot more the nation can do to attain its desired status.

"Over the last 22 years, I have worked hard with you for the NPP and for Ghana from during the Kufuor era as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, through our years in opposition and now in government. During this period, I have sacrificed for the party, I have defended the party in good times and in challenging times, I have never wavered nor slacked. Never! and I have built a solid track record of performance as Vice President and unflinching loyalty to our party and government through rain or shine," he declared.

Bawumia lays his vision to take Ghana to the next level

Before telling the ecstatic crowd and to a larger extent, Ghanaians, what his vision is for taking Ghana forward, Dr. Bawumia spoke about the transformational and impactful policies he has assisted President Akufo-Addo, as Vice President to achieve, inspite of the global economic difficulty of the past three years.

"Notwithstanding the economic challenges of our time, our government has constructed more infrastructure than any other government in the fourth republic and many transformational policies have been introduced for the first time in our history, including the Ghanacard, Digital Address, Mobile Money Interoperability, Delivery of medicines by drones, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Zongo Development Fund, Agenda 111, Free TVET and Free SHS to mention a few. We have also created 2.1 million jobs in six years, more than any government in the fourth republic."

"Having implemented these transformational policy initiatives, it is very important that we dont go backwards as a country. We cannot put the country back in the hands of people who dont have an understanding of and belief in the vision. That is why it important for us to break the eight. There is still much more to do," Dr. Bawumia said



He continued: "I also have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far."

Dr. Bawumia then shared a summary of his vision for Ghana, and promised to share an elaborate one in his Manifesto for the 2024 elections, an indication of his confidence to be elected flagbearer by the NPP.

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an education system tilted towards STEM, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, digital and vocational skills to cope with the demands of fourth Industrial Revolution."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we cater and care for the the poor, vulnerable, excluded and sick people."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we attain food security in the shortest possible time through the application of science, data, Artificial Intelligence, Satellite, Internet of Things (IOT) and irrigation to commercial farming. We will also complete the ongoing digitalization of data on all farms across the 16 regions."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we maximize the benefits from our natural resources like gold and lithium through policies like, value addition, setting up an LBMA certified gold refinery, enhancing the gold for oil policy, and dedication of specific gold concessions to the Bank of Ghana to enhance their accumulation of gold reserves."

"Together with you, I want to see Ghana as an industrialized nation. I want to entrench and enhance the current strategy of industrialization that we have embarked on and introduce new technology like digital manufacturing for the manufacturing of spare parts, syringes, and other equipment."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with robust fiscal discipline in the management of our public finances to sustainably and significantly reduce bank lending rates."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an empowered local business sector, especially startups and SMEs to drive investment and growth. We will transform the SME landscape by providing unique identifiers and using technology to help them access new financing and markets. I also want to provide incentives to the private sector to replace government in the provision of a significant amount of infrastructure and many other services."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with a developed and efficient credit system through credit scoring by credit reference agencies by leveraging on integrated databases across banks, DVLA, NIA, Digital Address systems etc. to enable workers buy furniture, cars, TVs, fridges and homes (mortgages) on credit at lower cost."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with energy self-sufficiency at reduced cost through solar and other renewables with the application of market efficiency to the energy market."

"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an enhanced focus on private and public investment in tourism, creative arts and sports."

"This is not an exhaustive list and in due course we will have a chance to lay out a comprehensive Manifesto for Ghanaians."
Japans Nidec Corporation and Brazils Embraer agreed to establish a joint venture company, called Nidec Aerospace LLC, to develop electric propulsion systems for the aerospace sector. To be unveiled at the 54th biennial Paris Air Show this week, the JV aims to unlock new opportunities by providing an agnostic portfolio of products and services worldwide, driven initially by the growth of the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industry.

Nidec Corporation, the worlds leading comprehensive motor manufacturer, will be backed by Embraers more than 50-year history of complementary aerospace experience to design, certify, produce, and commercialize next-generation electric propulsion systems based on well-proven technologies suitable for powering more efficient and greener aircraft models.

The JV will develop and manufacture the electric propulsion system for electric Vertical Take-Off Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, with the aim of providing the system to non-eVTOL vehicles in the future.

Nidec Aerospace will be jointly owned, with Nidec owning a 51% share and Embraer the remaining 49%. The headquarters, located at Nidec Motor Corporation (NMC) in St. Louis, Missouri will be supported by both companies existing industrial footprint in Brazil and Mexico.

The JVs Electric Propulsion System launch-customer will be the eVTOL manufacturer of Eve Air Mobility.

The JV remains subject to antitrust approvals, other possible regulatory approvals, and customary closing conditions, as well as both companies approval in board of directors. The companies expect their transaction to close at the second half of 2023.
Volkswagens PowerCo SE plans to introduce an electrode dry-coating manufacturing process in its battery cell production plants in Europe and Northern America. The new technology will significantly boost efficiency and sustainability in volume battery cell production.

A subsidiary of Volkswagen Group and based in Salzgitter, the battery company aims to industrialize the dry coating procedure. The technology allows a decrease in energy consumption of about 30%; internal tests have already proven successful. Together with German printing machine specialist Koenig & Bauer AG, PowerCo will further develop and industrialize the dry coating procedure.

In modern industrial electrode production, the battery materials are mixed with additives and liquid solvents to a slurry. Afterwards, they are coated onto foils of copper or aluminum, then dried and calendered.

PowerCos dry coating procedure allows to calender the powdery basic materials directly onto the foil, similar to a printing procedure. As a result, two of four process steps in electrode manufacturing become obsolete. The powder coating can be applied onto the foil in an extremely fine and even manner; the resulting layer is about as thin as a hair. This guarantees excellent spatial energy density and a long life cycle, while improving the fast-charging ability of the battery.





Electrodes will be dry-coated and calendered directly.

PowerCo and Koenig & Bauer have signed a Joint Development Agreement. Together they will develop a roller press for powder coating electrodes at large industrial scale. The dry coating procedure allows manufacturing electrodes without wet-coating and subsequently drying them at high costs. With the new procedure, the most energy-intensive part of cell manufacturing and the use of chemical solvents are no longer required.

PowerCo is already testing and optimizing the technology in a pilot line in one of its laboratories in Northern Germany. As a printing specialist, Koenig & Bauer will develop a machine for the industrial powder coating.

According to PowerCo estimates, the new technology has the potential of saving about 30% of energy as well as 15% of floor space required and will therefore save hundreds of millions of Euros each year.

Per building block of a regular Gigafactory with a production capacity of 20 GWh, four parallel coating and drying lines can be saved, equaling an area of 7.000 square meters. As a result, the exterior length of the plant can be reduced by about 100 meters. Not having to operate the energy-intensive drying furnaces and suction systems will save energy equivalent to the annual consumption of 40,000 private households.

Furthermore, the use of chemical solvents that have to be laboriously recycled at high energy costs in silo-like towers outside the plants is no longer necessary.

What the solid-state cell is to the product, dry coating is to productiona real game changer. If scaled successfully, it will give us a unique position on the market and definite competitive advantages. Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo SE

As the oldest manufacturer of printing presses in the world, Koenig & Bauer offers the industrys largest product portfolio. The new processing technology is to exit development stage at the end of 2024. For the time after, PowerCo has agreed on exclusive rights. The contractual details are confidential and there have also been made separate agreements. Estimated start of production is 2026/2027.
Typhoon Mawar showed how important unity and collaboration is.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are not a stranger to working together, despite not being politically unified.

Since June 4, twelve linemen came over from the CNMIs Commonwealth Utilities Corporation in order to assist with power restoration efforts. Their help has been instrumental in helping the Guam Power Authority restore power to over 70% of GPAs customers, as of Friday, June 16.

To add on to their assistance efforts, the CNMI coordinated the collection of donations in Saipan through Mayor of Saipan Ramon RB Camacho, CNMI Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, the CNMI Youth Congress and various government and community leaders. The collection resulted in filling up two 40-foot containers of various necessities, including water bottles, cereal, and instant ramen, to be sent to Guam. The first container was unloaded on Friday, June 16 at 1 p.m. at the Hagat Gym. The second container was expected to arrive on Sunday, June 18.

We have sincere gratitude for the people of the CNMI, who without too much thinking, came to our need. The people of the CNMI have truly demonstrated their One Marianas spirit, said Piti Mayor and Mayors Council of Guam President Jesse Alig. If there is any way that we can repay this, I know that my colleagues in the Mayors Council of Guam will be very eager to do so for all of you in the CNMI.

Alig also stated that the supplies will be equally split up into 19 stacks for each of the 19 villages of Guam.

Torres stated that they worked on their efforts for ten days right away after Typhoon Mawar made landfall on Guam.

It was work, but it was well worth it, said Torres.

The logistics of providing the containers and shipping them was coordinated for free as an in-kind donation by American President Lines.

We want to be able to support that because we would do the same thing for our brothers and sisters in the CNMI, said Charlie Hermosa, General Manager of APL. Whatever we can do from our perspective, were willing to do so.

The sorting of the supplies was conducted by Guams mayors, staff from the mayors offices and APL and volunteers from various AmeriCorps organizations, including those from the University of Guam, the Sanctuary Inc. of Guam, Guahan Sustainable Culture, and the Serve Guam Commission.

Tinian and Rota have also coordinated their respective recovery efforts for Guam.

Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan and the Tinian & Aguiguan Municipal Council donated $20,000 from their local treasury and personally presented their donation to the Guam Mayors Council on Tuesday, June 13.

Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog, despite her island also sustaining damages from Typhoon Mawar, is also coordinating a shipment of supplies to Guams mayors.

We will return the generosity someday, somehow to the CNMI. Biba CNMI. Biba Guam, added MCoG Executive Director Angel Sablan.




Haiti - Politic : The President of the UN Sanctions Committee on mission in Haiti





Michel Xavier Biang, Ambassador of Gabon to the UN and Chairman of the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations (UN) was this week on an official three-day mission to Haiti, to meet with the authorities within the framework of their investigation in order to propose a list of people who will be sanctioned. for their support of criminal gangs. "What we came to do is see the impact of the sanctions taken by the UN and see how we can improve the effectiveness of those sanctions on the ground," Biang said.



During his stay, he met the Ministers of Justice, Economy and the Director of Customs. He held meetings with the Commander-in-Chief of the police and his team and with representatives of civil society as well as with his colleagues from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). However, he was unable to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Henry on the trip to Jamaica.



As Chairman of the Committee, Biang will receive the final report of the Panel of Experts conducting the investigations on September 15, 2023 "Due to the seriousness and professionalism that I expect from the members of the Committee, I cannot give time, but the main factor is the evidence they take in the process [...] I will have a report with the experts assisting us in September this year and hope to have all the necessary information by then, then I will take the time needed to verify all the evidence. One certainty is that the list of sanctions will arrive soon"



He insists that his team is carrying out a serious and careful process, and that they will take the time to verify all the necessary evidence "What we want to avoid is a fast track which can add people to the list without check everything necessary. We want the process to be professional, serious and to be sure that all those people or entities that threaten peace and security in Haiti are included on the list."



UN-sanctioned individuals and entities will be subject to a travel ban to member countries for an initial period of one year. Their funds, financial assets and economic resources located in their territories will also be frozen.



The UN was unable to get the countries to agree on sending an armed intervention to pacify Haiti. Biang prefers not to comment on the work carried out by the Security Council, to which he belongs, but is aware that "depending on the scale of the crisis in Haiti, it will be important to go beyond the sanctions [...] this aid currently the subject of consultation in the Security Council. I don't want to preempt the consultation that's going on, but I can tell you that there's interest in many countries, including African countries, and we all want this process to go quickly to resolve the challenges we have in Haiti."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By Aisha Adnan | Published on 2023/06/17

The most awaited web series, "Bitch X Rich" made it on screens on 31st May. The stellar cast and thrilling plot had captured the attention of mass K-Drama fans prior to its release.

Advertisement

"Bitch X Rich" follows the story of Bark Je-na (Yeri), a third generation conglomerate, and Kim Hye-in (Lee Eun-saem), a dirt spoon, as they battle against each other and the hierarchical system of society.

Cheongdam Highschool was created especially for the elite class. This has caused an uproar in society as parents demanded equal education for everyone. This pressure allowed some students to come through an equality education program, but that would only turn into a nightmare for them. For the class division did not only remain in the outside world. Cheongdam Highschool had a hierarchy of its own and Baek Jena stood at the top. This leads to constant bullying and violence in the school.

Red Velvet's Yeri amuses fans as Baek Je-na. She is cold-hearted and narcissistic. Being a third generation conglomerate, she knows her power and it makes her fearless. Being on the top, she likes to keep the pyramid intact. Hence, she makes sure to keep people in their place.

Like in episode 1, when her victim demands a reason to bully him, she pompously replies that it is because he was poor. Later in episode 3, when she witnesses another girl bullying another student. She calls her out in front of everyone and asks her to point out her name on the board. This board tells how much one's parents contribute to the school. Therefore, it also becomes the reason behind the hierarchical system.



Previously, Yeri made her acting debut in "Blue Birthday" where she played the role of Oh Ha-rin, who goes back in time to save her boyfriend. This role is a complete reverse of it and something very new coming from Red Velvet's maknae. Fans wish to see more of Baek Je-na's story and her character in upcoming roles.

By Aisha Adnan

___________

"Bitch X Rich" is directed by Min Ji-young-I, written by Jung Sung-eun, and features Lee Eun-saem, Yeri, Lee Jong-hyuk-II, Yoo Jung-hoo, Park Si-woo, Han Da-sol. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2023/05/31~Now airing, Wed 17:00 on Netflix, Wavve.
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In a surprising turn of events , the Finnish government has unveiled a series of workplace reforms that have left the business community thrilled. The changes, outlined in the government program, aim to promote local bargaining, ease temporary contracts and individual-based terminations, address unlawful strikes, and revamp social security. "The needs of businesses and the workforce have finally been acknowledged. Non-unionized employers and employees have long been marginalized in labor legislation.

Now, thanks to a long-fought-for change advocated by Entrepreneurs, this discrimination will come to an end," says Janne Makkula, Director at Entrepreneurs Finland (Suomen Yrittajat).

"The program's emphasis lies strongly on facilitating employment. It takes time for decisions to translate into improved job opportunities. That's why it's crucial to introduce these reforms to the parliament at the beginning of the government's term. Extensive and protracted tripartite preparations are unnecessary," Makkula asserts.

Although collective agreements have allowed for local bargaining, statutory restrictions have so far excluded non-unionized companies from enjoying these flexibilities.

"Moreover, the opportunities for bargaining have often been locked behind what is commonly known as the 'shop steward's lock.' This means that only employees belonging to a trade union have been able to participate as negotiating parties," Makkula explains.

According to the government program, the prohibitions on local bargaining affecting non-unionized companies that adhere to a generally applicable collective agreement will be abolished. The negotiating parties can now include a shop steward, an elected employee representative, another chosen representative, or the entire staff, thereby eliminating the so-called "shop steward's lock."

"We have long advocated for equality and the removal of bargaining prohibitions. This inclusion in the program is highly welcome and significant," Makkula affirms.

Significant Increase in the Threshold for Co-Determination Negotiations

Henceforth, co-determination negotiations should take place in companies with a minimum of 50 employees, up from the current threshold of 20 employees. Additionally, the minimum duration for negotiation procedures will be halved.

"Bureaucracy will be reduced as small businesses are exempted from co-determination obligations. Small companies are known to have favorable working conditions, trust, and effective communication. While promoting good cooperation is crucial, legislation should not shackle collective efforts into one mold," Makkula argues.

"Taking Big Steps towards Competing Nations"

Finland is now making significant strides toward aligning its labor legislation with that of its main competitors.

"For example, in Germany, measures were taken to ease individual-based terminations, introduce more flexible use of fixed-term contracts, and significantly enhance local bargaining opportunities. These reforms had a substantial impact on Germany's employment trends," Makkula highlights.

"While Finland may not go as far, we are nonetheless implementing measures that were previously unattainable. We are extremely pleased with this development," Makkula concludes.

The recent workplace reforms proposed by the Finnish government have ignited a sense of optimism among entrepreneurs. The emphasis on local bargaining, the easing of employment regulations, and the removal of discriminatory restrictions are seen as positive steps toward enhancing job opportunities and aligning Finland's labor practices with those of its global counterparts. As these reforms take shape, it remains to be seen how they will influence the country's employment landscape and foster a more favorable environment for businesses and workers alike.

HT
The National Council and Parliamentary Group of the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) decided in a joint meeting on Sunday in Helsinki to participate in a majority government led by Petteri Orpo. The coalition will also include the Finns Party, the Swedish People's Party (RKP), and the Christian Democrats. Kokoomus has approved the negotiation result of the government program dated June 16, 2023.

During the joint meeting of the National Council and Parliamentary Group, the proposal for Kokoomus ministers was also approved. Kokoomus will have eight ministerial positions in the government, with two of them being shared, meaning that the minister will change after two years.

The appointed ministers from Kokoomus are as follows:

Prime Minister: Petteri Orpo from the Southwest Finland constituency. Orpo, the chairman of Kokoomus, is currently the Speaker of Parliament. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2007. Orpo has previously served as the Minister of Finance (2016-2019), Minister of the Interior (2015-2016), and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (2014-2015).

Minister of Municipalities and Regions: Anna-Kaisa Ikonen from the Pirkanmaa constituency. Ikonen is a Kokoomus Member of Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the party. She has previously served as the Mayor of Tampere. Ikonen has also been a Member of Parliament from 2019 to 2021.

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Elina Valtonen from the Helsinki constituency. Valtonen is the Vice-Chairman of Kokoomus and has been a Member of Parliament since 2014.

Minister of Defense: Antti Hakkanen from the Southeast Finland constituency. Hakkanen is serving his third term as a Member of Parliament and is a Vice-Chairman of Kokoomus. He previously held the position of Minister of Justice from 2017 to 2019.

Minister of Social Security: Sanni Grahn-Laasonen from the Hame constituency. Grahn-Laasonen has been a Member of Parliament since 2011. She has previously served as the Minister of Education and Culture (2017-2019), Minister of Education and Communications (2015-2017), and Minister of the Environment (2014-2015).

Minister of Employment: Arto Satonen from the Pirkanmaa constituency (for 2 years) and Matias Marttinen from the Satakunta constituency (for 2 years). Satonen has been a Member of Parliament since 2003, and Marttinen is serving his second term.

Minister of Science and Culture: Sari Multala from the Uusimaa constituency (for 2 years) and Mari-Leena Talvitie from the Oulu constituency (for 2 years). Multala and Talvitie are both serving their third terms as Members of Parliament.

Minister of Climate and Environment: Kai Mykkanen from the Uusimaa constituency. Mykkanen has been leading the Kokoomus Parliamentary Group since 2019 and is serving his third term as a Member of Parliament. He previously held the positions of Minister of the Interior (2018-2019) and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development (2016-2018).

The participation of Kokoomus in the government, along with the other coalition partners, reflects a commitment to working together to address the challenges and opportunities facing Finland. The appointed ministers bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles, which will be crucial in shaping and implementing government policies.

As the government prepares to assume office, the nation looks forward to the collective efforts of the coalition in advancing the interests of Finland and its citizens. The newly appointed ministers from Kokoomus are expected to contribute to the government's agenda and work towards the well-being and prosperity of the country.

HT
Days after the Maharashtra governments new IT/ITES Policy 2023 was announced, with a focus on promoting innovation in emerging technologies as well as additional subsidies, the state is in talks with companies in the UK for investment. Maharashtra minister of industries Uday Samant (File Photo)

Maharashtra minister of industries Uday Samant confirmed to HT on the sidelines of the London Tech Week 2023 that the focus will be on promoting innovation of tech, support for start-ups, and a special focus on semiconductor manufacturing.

The state is taking a unique approach towards attracting investment, something Samant points out, which blends state incentives in addition to the ones provided by the centre, along with infrastructure projects and simplification of approvals in the state. We are open to having a customized package of incentives. It is like window shopping where investors speak with other states also, he says.

Also Read: Compound semiconductors dictate evolution of gadgets, EVs and quantum computing

Maharashtra wants more UK companies to set up manufacturing facilities and innovation centres in the state. At this time, British companies, including Vodafone, fintech company Revolut, telecom operator BT, banking giants Standard Chartered and HSBC as well as digital infrastructure company Colt, already have a presence in the state.

We have 293 industrial areas in the state now, of which 143 are large ones, says Vipin Sharma, who is the CEO of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

The focus is on readying infrastructure projects which make the state more attractive for investment. This includes the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor, the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway across the state, to name a few.

First we say, come to India. Then we say if you decide to come to India, invest in Maharashtra, says Deependra Singh Kushwah, who is the Development Commissioner (Industries) & Export Commissioner for the Government of Maharashtra.

For Maharashtra, the focus areas with the new IT Policy are the manufacturing of semiconductors, fintech, and automotive manufacturing, including localised battery production and start-ups. Mumbai is the FinTech hub of the country, says Samant.

The state is looking at a regional push for certain sectors. For instance, the Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts will focus on pharmaceuticals and engineering, the Nagpur and Amravati belts will be the base for aerospace and textile projects while the Pune and Chakan regions will see the allocation of land and resources for data centres, auto and components manufacturing as well as jewellery.

Semiconductor is a scale, which will require some initial investment, says Sharma, pointing out that engineers in the country have been working on similar systems for decades, which makes it simpler for company investment in a semiconductor fabrication facility in the state, to find human resources.

With the contours of Indias Free Trade Agreement with the UK still being worked out, there is a pitch to make investment in Maharashtra more attractive, with an eye on the future. Semiconductor manufacturing, in proximity to industries thatll need them, is one that the state has an eye on.

Also Read: As robots grow in strength, industries integrate them with human workforce

In case the Free Trade Agreement happens, these semiconductors can come to India at a lesser cost without any duties. If India starts manufacturing, the chips can be exported to the UK, says Sharma. He points out that the consumption, and the market, is much larger in India.

The Maharashtra IT/ITeS Policy 2023 targets 35 lakh new jobs, alongside 1,00,000 crore new investment in the state and increase the exports from a present 1.47 lakh crore share to 2 lakh crore. The previous policy, from 2015, achieved 23.35 lakh employment opportunities, attracted 61,872 crore in investment, and exports totalled 1.47 lakh crore.

There will also be a Maharashtra Hub (M- Hub) tasked with promoting innovation in emerging technologies, which the state hopes will build a knowledge-led economy. Rs. 500 crore have been allocated for this.

We will be supporting startups and innovators in the early stage. They will get a co-working space where they can start their office. They will be getting the testing and certification labs. They can create their own prototype there and the necessary mentoring support. The goal is to create an ecosystem for the startups, says Kushwah.

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APM Terminals Bahrain, the operating company of Khalifa Bin Salman Port, has announced the appointment of Matthew Luckhurst as its new managing director effective July 2.

He takes over from Chief Financial Officer and interim Managing Director Farooq Zuberi who assumed the role after the previous Managing Director resigned for personal reasons.

Luckhurst, a British national, joins APM Terminals from his current role as Vice President for Container Shipping at Milaha, based in Qatar.

His previous roles include Vice President of Bahri Logistics in Saudi Arabia and Managing Director United Africa Feeder Line out of Mauritius.

Additionally, Luckhurst held multiple roles with P&O Nedlloyd and Maersk Line, across East Africa, Indonesia, Korea and Japan, as well as a short role with Kuehne & Nagel in Kenya.

Welcoming Luckhurst into the fold, APM Terminals Managing Director for Asia and the Middle East Jon Goldner, said: "He brings valuable commercial and business development flare and extensive leadership experience across the Middle East. He has a strong background in the maritime sector and its related operations and is the perfect candidate to propel APM Terminal Bahrains future growth."

APM Terminals Bahrain, as the operator of the state-of-the-art Khalifa Bin Salman Port, connects the kingdom to the world through its highly efficient operations and modern infrastructure, empowering businesses to fulfil consumer needs.

It is a publicly-listed company incorporated in Bahrain with 64% of its shares owned by APM Terminals B.V. (Netherlands), a subsidiary of AP Moller-Maersk, 16% by Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo (Holdings) Company and remaining 20% by various corporate and individual shareholders.

APM Terminals operates one of the worlds most comprehensive port networks, uniquely positioned to help both shipping lines and landside customers grow their businesses and achieve better supply chain efficiency, flexibility, and dependability.

"Bahrain is a key market within our network, and we are confident that Luckhurst has the necessary skills to deliver the best results to our valuable customers in the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A shuttle bus at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport carrying around 17 passengers crashed into a pole on Sunday morning. The accident left at least 10 people injured including a child, who were on board. At least 10 injured in a shuttle bus accident at Bengaluru airport. (Picture for representation)

Also Read - Action will be taken': Bengaluru police responds to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma request

According to reports, the shuttle bus which is operating between T1 and T2 of Bengaluru airport crashed into a pole at around 5 am on Sunday. Two members from the cabin crew were also in the bus and the airport officials immediately rushed the injured to a nearby hospital. However, there is no loss of life and the injuries are said to be minor.

Meanwhile, Karnataka police have registered a case and initiated a probe on the accident. Few reports also suggested that the driver might have slept during the drive, which led to the accident in the early morning.

The Bengaluru airport authorities have started a shuttle bus service between the T1 and newly launched T2 which is less than a kilometer distance. The terminal 2 has been active as most domestic airlines started operating from the brand-new terminal in Bengaluru airport. From September 1, the international operations will be shifted to the new terminal 2 and all domestic airlines will be handled by the old terminal.

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A week after the 8.49 crore robbery at CMS, a cash management company, the police arrested Mandeep Kaur alias Mona, one of the main conspirators, along with her husband from Uttarakhand on Saturday. The police have recovered 21 lakh in cash from the couple. According to the police, the accused had visited Haridwar, Hemkunt Sahib and Kedarnath to pay obeisance. The police have also arrested one of the aides of the key conspirators. (HT Photo)

Also Read | 8.49 crore heist: Robbery triggers war of words between Congress, AAP

The police have also arrested one of their aides Gaurav alias Gulshan, 19, of Balmiki colony, KC road in Barnala. Gaurav is a BA first-year student. A total of nine accused have been arrested so far in the case. The police have recovered a total of 5.96 crore so far from the accused. The robbers had decamped with cash after holding five employees, including two security guards, captive in the New Rajguru Nagar locality in Ludhiana in the wee hours of June 10.

Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that after the robbery, the couple went to Hemkunt Sahib to pay obeisance.

Also Read | Punjab: Assailants involved in Moga jewellers killing, robbery identified

Sidhu said the accused were arrested upon completion of their journey to Hemkunt Sahib. Following the information provided by the accused, the police recovered 12 lakh from the scooter of Mandeep Kaur and 9 lakh in cash from Jaswinder Singhs house in Barnala, he said.

Meanwhile, the police arrested Gaurav from Gidderbaha in Muktsar.

Gaurav has told police that a man named Gopa came to his house in Barnala on the day of the robbery in the car. He along with Gopa went to the Ludhiana bus stand to pick up two other accused Arun and Nanni. After executing the robbery, Gopa dropped them back to Barnala with the cash, police officials said.

The police have nominated Gopa in the case taking the total number of accused to twelve. Arun, Nanni and Gopa are yet to be arrested.

Sidhu added that a team led by Inspector Beant Juneja, in-charge of CIA staff-2 and inspector Kulwant Singh, in-charge of CIA staff 1, tracked the accused using human intelligence and with the help of inputs from our counter-intelligence wing.

Sidhu once again accused the cash management company of lax security and lapses. He said the police will be writing to the government recommending that all expenditures incurred by the police in solving the case should be recovered from the company.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tarsem Singh Deogan Tarsem Singh Deogan is a senior reporter at Ludhiana. He has 16 years of experience in journalism. He has covered all beats and now focuses on crime reporting. ...view detail
The iconic premium variety basmati PUSA 1121, known for its extra-long grain length and aroma, which has been the top choice for growers, exporters and rice-eaters across the globe, is set to be phased out. The reason: Its gene pool is said to have weakened, making it highly prone to pest attacks, which in turn forces farmers to use large quantities of chemicals for its cultivation. In Punjab, the premium grain PUSA 1121 is grown over 12 lakh acres while in Haryana, it is grown over 13 lakh acres. (PTI)

In its place, scientists are promoting a new variety  PUSA 1885, which, they say, has all the qualities of the former and stronger resistance to pests.

Basmati exporters, however, are not too pleased. They say they have spent too much on branding and marketing the 1121 variety and convincing the importers to adopt the new, improved versions will be difficult.

India exports basmati worth 40,000 crore every year to North American countries, such as USA and Canada, besides the Middle East and European countries, of which Punjab contributes about 40%. The 1121 variety is also a household name among rice-eaters in the Northern Indian states.

In Punjab, the premium grain is grown over 12 lakh acres while in Haryana, it is grown over 13 lakh acres.

The Indian agricultural research institute (IARI), an arm of Indian council for agricultural research (ICAR), has announced that the PUSA 1121, it introduced in 2003, is no longer advised to be cultivated as its gene pool has weakened and lost susceptibility to pest attacks, particularly the neck-blast, forcing growers to resort to heavy sprays of fungicide tricyclazole.

PUSA 1885 is the new alternative to 1121 as all its characteristics such as aroma, grain length, off-white colour and best-cooking results have been retained while adding resistance to the pest attacks, said IARI director AK Singh. The use of agrochemical will be cut drastically on new varieties, he assured.

New variety beneficial for farmers

Counting its benefits, Singh said the new varieties will help farmers save at least 3,000 per acre, as they will no longer have to spend on pesticides. Besides, the increased yield of four-to-seven quintals will also bring additional benefit.

He informed that to promote the new varieties, kisan sampark yatras were held across the basmati growing states - Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, and farmers were given seed packets of a kilogram each, for trial purposes. One kilogram of trial seeds can be multiplied to 500-800 kilograms. I suggest the entire produce be used in cultivation, adds Singh.

It is pertinent to mention that in the past, basmati consignments from India were rejected as traces of tricyclazole were found in some of the lots. The importing nations have made stricter norms to check the grain lots coming from India.

Two other basmati varieties PUSA 1401 and PUSA 1509 have also been replaced by PUSA 1847 and PUSA 1886.

All three new varieties are resistant to pests and give 20% more yield than their older versions, informed Singh, who is hopeful that the farmers would grow new varieties.

In my opinion, the acronym for the new varieties should have been similar such as Super PUSA1121 so that there is no confusion among the buyers, suggested Ashok Sethi, a director with the basmati exporters association. Sudden change in name may impact the sales, adversely, he apprehended.

Vijay Setia, an exporter of basmati, said the new varieties would prove beneficial to farmers because of its higher yield and resistance to pests. Appreciating the research efforts by the IARI, Setia said, The exporters would be able market the new varieties and users, particularly the importers, can be made aware of the improvements in the new varieties.

Punjab agriculture director Gurvinder Singh hoped that the new variety PUSA 1885 will be grown over at least 20% of the total area under the premium crop.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gurpreet Singh Nibber Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora. ...view detail
{ 8.49 crore robbery} Accused, Mandeep kaur accepting packed juice from the chabeel counter. (HT Photo)

Teams probing the 8.49 crore robbery put in place an elaborate plan to nab the mastermind, Mandeep Kaur alias Mona, who was referred to as the Queen Bee in the operation.

Investigators trekked 18 km from Govind Ghat to Hemkund Sahib to arrest the accused and her husband after receiving a tip-off that the duo were planning to flee to Nepal after completing a pilgrimage in Uttarakhand.

According to the officials, they had inputs of Mandeep Kaur alias Mona and her husband Jaswinder Singh being spotted on their way to pay obeisance at Hemkund Sahib. Instead of chasing after the lead, teams exhibited patience and waited for the duo to resurface.

Crime Investigation Agency (staff-2) in-charge inspector Beant Juneja, who led the operation Cage the Queen Bee, said since the religious site attracts a lot of pilgrims, there was a chance of the duo taking advantage of the same and escaping.

Police set up a chhabeel of packed juices and glucose for the pilgrims to nab the accused, who stopped at the stop to accept the juices and removed their masks  following which they were identified and arrested.

Sharing further details about the operation, the inspector said they received inputs regarding the duos location from a source. After reaching Uttarakhand, investigators found that the accused had registered them with the authorities for the pilgrimage.

Based on the information provided by the accused, police recovered another 21 lakh.

During questioning, the accused also told police that they had vowed to go for pilgrimage after successfully executing the robbery. They were not using mobile phones to avoid the police, but had contacted their parents after borrowing a mobile phone from a pilgrim.

The couple knew that some of their aides, including Manjinder Singh, had been arrested earlier.

Ludhiana police had constituted a five-member special investigation team led by joint commissioner of police (JCP) Saumya Mishra to conduct a probe into the incident.

Notably, the commissioner of police had earlier said the probe officials suspect that the actual robbed amount was 6.33crore.

In the biggest heist witnessed in the city in the recent past, armed robbers had decamped with the money and a cash van from the office of a CMS, the cash management services company, after holding five employees, including two security guards, captive in the New Rajguru Nagar during the wee hours last Saturday.

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Residents of various colonies in Giaspura stepped out to protest over the lack of potable drinking water in their colonies on Sunday. Residents of various colonies in Giaspura stepped out to protest over the lack of potable drinking water in their colonies on Sunday. (HT Files)

Alleging the lack of tube wells needed to ensure proper water supply and basic amenities, residents from colonies including Mandeep Nagar, Krishna colony in ward no 30  a majority of whom are migrants  said they have been receiving contaminated water for the last several months.

They also said that the sanitary conditions of the area are also below par.

They further alleged repeated requests to the authorities to resolve their issues have also fallen on deaf ears.

Kunti Devi, a protesting resident, said they are forced to buy bottled water every day. She further lamented the fact that sewerage in the areas remains choked most of the time and a majority of houses are without electricity connections.

The residents of Mandeep Colony also approached the police on Sunday for action against the builder for allegedly failing to provide legal documents for their plots.

Former opposition leader in the municipal corporation house, Jaspal Singh Giaspura of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said the residents who belong to the working class had purchased plots from the builders who had assured them that the colonies were legal and would have all the facilities.

They have not been given proper legal documents including registries by the colonies who have usurped their money, he said, adding that in the last few years, the number of colonies in this area has grown fourfold from 22 to around 90, yet the number of active tube wells remains below 20.

MC joint commissioner Ankur Mohindroo, who heads the buildings and roads branch, did not respond to any messages or calls.

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Lungi has had its day out. It may now have a day in. Lungi has had its fifteen minutes of fame. It now looks to be facing blame. (HT File)

Lungi has had its fifteen minutes of fame. It now looks to be facing blame.

Lungi is not being looked at too kindly by the citizen police parading by the polite name of residents welfare association, aka RWAs.

The lungi is known to have set the screen on fire. Who can forget the fabled Lungi Dance score from the film Chennai Express!

Alas, if the lungi is now itself under fire, blame it on the moral police and citizen police.

Apparently, the lungi got in the bad books, oops bad looks, of an RWA in Greater Noida after some members of the fair sex took umbrage at the gymnastics of geriatric gentry. A greyed specimen of the geriatric gang had, whilst dabbling in yogic asanas, ended up executing a not-so-aesthetic levitation in a lungi.

So much for the lungi being caught on the wrong foot! At least certainly not with its best foot forward. For, it may have revealed a non-picturesque posterior and barely see-able behind.

The curious case of Lungi Dance has gone wrong.

Sartorial Snobs

Based on their brazenness or battiness, the RWA citizen constabulary can be categorised thus.

These are the RWAs that with their sartorial snubs and codes of dress contribute to residents stress or overdress under duress.

Picture this.

If the ubiquitous lungi got into this particular RWAs bad books, so did the naughty nightie.

The nightie, the more glam avatar of which may be that other antiquity called maxi, seems to be done with its day out as much as night out.

For, the Noida RWA has also banned the nightie under its newly tailored dress code.

Perhaps, this may trigger the fairer sex to reinvent its night dress. Perhaps, this may spur designers to refashion the naughty nightie.

Perhaps, to fox the moral police, the nightie needs to resemble more a burqa gone down or gallivanting gown. The hooded sort in which stylistas shimmy on red carpets or all over town.

How about nighties with a detachable cloaking trail that shall now narrate the new twist in the tale! And leave snooping condo constabulary grappling to make their head or tail.

The cloak trail could be attached when stepping out to perambulate in the precincts of prudish condominiums. After pottering about under the poking noses of the citizen constabulary in a nightie-turned-gown, the trail could later be detached and dispensed with, for the purposes of unencumbered slumber.

Whilst the fashion fraternity rises to the occasion, to arrest the nighties fall from grace, lets cast a glance at certain other diktats of RWA despots that smack of things bizarre, batty or brazen.

Pet-ulant prudes

These are the RWAs that take the cake, rather bakery, in being pet unfriendly.

Sample this. Another RWA in the NCR had some time back imposed a diktat that pets were to be muzzled before they could potter out or potty about on the premises of the condo concerned.

Going to greater lengths of Dilli-ishtyle dadagiri, the RWAs moral police had decreed that canines could only capriole in the Condo at a distance of three metres from tiny tots.

Single minded dictators

Then there are RWAs that are single mindedly autocratic. Their suspicion quotient of singleton tenants scales such heights that they could, in terms of pompous prudishness, sound more stringent than many a convent nun. It puts their moral policing second to none.

The RWA diktats that single tenants shall not be allowed stay-on visitors from the opposite sex could put to shame even our Carmel Convent nuns. The nuns could be excused this, being creatures schooled in suspecting every Tom Dick and Harry, from close-by all-boy schools repeatedly circumnavigating on cycles Carmel compounds, out of habit.

The curious case of pun intended and nun intended.

chetnakeer@yahoo.com

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In November last year, we were invited to the wedding of my wifes niece in Mexico. The family had made elaborate arrangements at a beachside resort in Cancun city of Mexico. Mexico, famous for the Mayan civilisation, the Chichen Itza archaeological site and surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, is also the land of tacos, tortillas and tequilas. In November last year, we were invited to the wedding of my wifes niece in Mexico. The family had made elaborate arrangements at a beachside resort in Cancun city of Mexico. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

After landing in Cancun late in the evening, we met the hosts and relatives excitedly before retiring to our room to catch some-need rest before the festivities began the next morning.

About 1am, however, my wife developed a medical condition, making it difficult for her to sleep. We contacted the in-house nurse, who suggested that we go to a hospital, which was about 15 kms away.

We stepped into the taxi with trepidation, unprepared to tackle a medical situation in an unfamiliar terrain.

Upon reaching the hospital, however, we couldnt find a doctor with the desired specialisation. We visited three other hospitals but to no avail. It was quite late in the night and we were advised by the on-duty doctor at one of the hospitals to come back around 11am.

We went back to the resort, took some rest and again started looking for a specialist doctor at various hospitals. It was daytime now and fear had vanished to a great extent but it being a Saturday, the doctors were available only till 2pm and almost all of them had their appointment diaries full for the day. Requests for out-of-turn or walk-in appointments were turned down with standard reply, I understand your problem but cant help you as of now, please fix an appointment for the next week.

We were completely exasperated when we decided to visit the one hospital whose receptionist was nice even when we had visited them in the night. The person manning the reception spoke to the specialist concerned on the intercom and told us to immediately go to her room in the next building as her duty timings were over and she was about to leave. We hurried up and reached the reception of the next building in no time but the language barrier and issues of pronunciation came to the fore again and we had to spend quite a while explaining as to which doctor we wanted to meet.

Before the receptionists could understand anything, an elegant and intelligent-looking doctor came towards the reception and said, Youre probably looking for me.

We heaved a sigh of relief as the language barrier melted. She casually mentioned that most Indians looked like Mexicans, understood the problem and took just 10 minutes to carry out the necessary medical procedure. As we thanked her profusely for attending to us without an appointment and beyond her working hours, she graciously said it was part of her job and charged us the basic minimum rate prescribed by the hospital. Empathy and compassion were clearly visible in her sparkling gaze.

After scampering for about 6 hours in search of a female specialist doctor, we had finally met a person who wasnt just a doctor but also a compassionate human being, going beyond the call of duty. Thank you, Dr Citlali Panama Flores, you are an Angel. Doctors and human beings like you make this world a better place to live in and restore our faith in humanity.

The writer is an IRS officer posted in Mumbai and can be reached at sharmaajay25@yahoo.co.in.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena and questioned the law and order situation in the National Capital after a double murder incident was reported in the RK Puram area on Sunday morning in which two women, both sisters, were allegedly shot dead. Delhi cheif minister Arvind Kejriwal (File Photo)

If the citys law and order had been under the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government instead of the LG, Delhi would have been the safest place, Kejriwal said.

He alleged that the people in charge of maintaining law and order here are busy hatching conspiracies to take over the control of the Delhi government.

Also Read: Two women shot dead in Delhis RK Puram, Kejriwal slams Centre

People in Delhi are feeling very insecure. Those who are responsible for handling the law and order situation in Delhi are hatching conspiracy to take control of Delhi government instead of fixing it. Had the law and order situation been under the AAP dispensation instead of the LG, Delhi would have been the safest, Kejriwal wrote on Twitter in Hindi.

Condemning the alleged murder of two sisters in the Ambedkar Basti near RK Puram in South Delhi, Kejriwal said, Our thoughts are with the families of both women. May their souls rest in peace.

No immediate reaction was available from the LG secretariat.

Responding to Kejriwals comments, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Harish Khurana said that CM Kejriwal is only trying to settle his political score with the lieutenant governor. CM is raising fingers at others over this matter but how many times did he meet with the Delhi police commissioner or with the LG on the issue of law and order situation of the state? How many times has he held meetings with the MPs on this issue? Only playing politics is his task, Khurana said.
A first-year student of Delhi University was allegedly stabbed to death outside Aryabhatta College in the South Campus on Sunday, police said. A case has been registered and the body will be handed over to the victim's family members after post-mortem, the police said.(Representative image)

The victim -- 19-year-old Nikhil Chauhan -- was a resident of Paschim Vihar and pursuing BA (Hons) in Political Science from the School of Open Learning, they said.

The police received a call from the Charak Palika Hospital about Chauhan's admission with a stab wound and rushed to the spot.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a student of the School of Open Learning allegedly misbehaved with Chauhan's girlfriend in college around a week ago.

On Sunday, around 12.30 pm, the accused and three of his associates met Chauhan outside Aryabhatta College and allegedly stabbed him in the chest, a senior police officer said.

The victim was rushed to the nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, he said.

The police suspect that Chauhan was attacked following an argument between him and the accused over the alleged misbehaviour incident.

The accused have been identified and CCTV cameras installed in and around the crime scene are being examined to establish the sequence of events, the police said, adding that teams have been formed to nab the suspects.

A case has been registered and the body will be handed over to the victim's family members after post-mortem, they added.

Tagging a media report about the incident, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a tweet in Hindi, "L-G sir, what are you doing? The law and order situation in my Delhi has been ruined. Sir, what have you done to our Delhi?"

In another tweet, he alleged that the fear of the law has ended in Delhi.

"Everyone knows that Delhi Police is doing the work of filing false cases against political parties. It is involved in the work of saving the likes of (Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP) Brij Bhushan (Sharan Singh). What should the policemen do? They will do whatever the L-G asks them to do," Bharadwaj said.

The Lt Governor has control over public order, land and police in the national capital.

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Two sisters were shot dead in Dr Ambedkar Basti in south Delhi's RK Puram in the early hours of Sunday, police said. Delhi Police near the crime scene.

Manoj C, deputy commissioner of police (south-west), said that the killers appeared to have come for the brother of the victims, but ended up shooting them instead.

"Prima facie, the murders seem to be over money settlement issue," said the DCP, without elaborating further.

The officer identified the victims as Pinky, 30, and her 29-year-old sister Jyoti. They lived with their family in Dr Ambedkar Basti, which comes under the jurisdiction of RK Puram police station.

The police said that they received a call from the brother of the two victims at 4.40am on Sunday.

"The man said that some people have shot his sisters," the DCP said.

The victims were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The police said they are registering a murder case and exploring other Indian Penal Code sections which are applicable to this case.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed condolences to the kin of the victims and blamed the BJP-led central government, which controls law and order in the national capital, for the incident.

The people of Delhi have started feeling very insecure. The people who have to handle the law and order of Delhi, instead of fixing the law and order, they are conspiring to capture the entire Delhi government. Today, if Delhi's law and order was under AAP government instead of LG, then Delhi would have been safest, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
A day after the alleged assault of police and excise officers, about 100 men and women were detained on Sunday for protesting against the opening of a liquor shop on National Highway (NH-48) near Hero Honda Chowk, Gurugram police said. Residents gather outside the liquor shop on NH-48 on Sunday. (Parveen Kumar/ HT)

Police said they later arrested 15 protesters who were involved in assaulting the government officials on Saturday and preventive action was taken against at least 25-30 persons who were leading the protest.

Police said the liquor shop was to start operation from June 12, after a fresh tender was floated for the current financial year.

However, residents of Khandsa, Mohammadpur Jharsa and other areas from Sector 37 erected a tent in front of the shop and started a round-the-clock protest from June 10, alleging that inebriated men who reach the spot to purchase alcohol create nuisance for local residents.

The residents had alleged that such people were a threat to women and children as they urinated in front of their houses, passed lewd comments and caused traffic jams on the service road as many of them came in their vehicles to purchase liquor.

Investigators said that a team of police and excise department officials had reached the spot to remove the protesters on Saturday, but they assaulted the team.

At about 1.30pm on Sunday, at least three buses of Haryana Police were brought to the spot in which the protesters were taken away to Sector 37 police station amid heavy deployment of police personnel, they said. Within hours of their removal, the liquor shop was opened amid police security.

Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Khandsa, alleged that the liquor shop is located near the pick-and-drop point of school students.Drunk men pass lewd comments on women who visit the spot to drop or pick their children. Besides, the men in inebriated state urinate in front of local residents, he said.

Sunny Sharma, another resident, alleged that three months back, a local resident was assaulted when he scolded a few men who were urinating in front of his house. The previous management of the shop used to clandestinely sell liquor even after 11pm due to which people from Delhi used to pour here, he said.

Sharma also alleged that they had protested earlier too against the location of the shop, but the previous owners reached their village and requested to allow its operation on grounds of huge financial loss. He said they had met the Gurugram police commissioner and deputy commissioner and they assured action.

Surender Singh, assistant commissioner of police (Manesar), alleged that the 15 people who were arrested on Sunday were among the 24 suspects booked in the FIR registered on Saturday for assaulting police and excise officers. We have also taken preventive actions against at least 25-30 persons involved in the protest, he said.

ACP Singh said the shop was opened by its new management after the protest site was cleared. The protesters had raised several kinds of issues, including safety of women and children and traffic blockade. We are looking into their concerns, he added.

Hari Krishan Choudhary, the general manager of G-Town Wines, which got the tender to run the shop for a year, said the protest was the fallout of business rivalry.

A local resident had won the tender last year, but this year my companys bid was higher. He instigated people to protest within hours after our firm took over the shop from him. The sales at this shop are very high as it is located on the National Highway, Choudhary said.
Lucknow Even after the chief minister rapping officials concerned, power snags continue to haunt the state capital. The peripheral areas of the state capital have witnessed unprecedented outage in the past three days. On Saturday and Sunday, power cuts from 2 hours to 10 hours were reported from various parts of the city. The electricity department officials say the power infrastructure requires a massive overhaul to ensure a smooth power supply. (Pic for representation)

The electricity department officials say the power infrastructure requires a massive overhaul to ensure a smooth power supply.

The erratic power supply has also started affecting businesses , leading to resentment among traders. The traders affected by the power crisis in Chinhat market held a demonstration at the Shivpuri sub-station on Saturday. They entered the room of SDO Zeeshan Ali and raised slogans.

President of Chinhat Vyapar Mandal Ravindra Yadav and general secretary Shashi Prakash Shukla said, The market is witnessing power outage for five to six hours every day, causing loss in sales, AC showrooms turn into a boiling cauldrons. Besides, there is also the problem of low-voltage throughout the night. Business is adversely affected due to regular power cuts. Now the anger against the LESA has escalated and the traders are forced to demonstrate.

The agitating traders were pacified after the intervention of the executive engineer and police officers.

Neeraj Gupta, president of Eldeco Chinhat Gomtinagar Industries Trade Board demanded the strengthening of power infrastructure to end prolonged power cuts in the Chinhat market and industrial area.

Traders of Alambagh, Naka Hindola and Aminabad, expressed similar views.

Avadhesh Kumar Varma, chairman, Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad said, Despite the strictness of the chief minister and the anger of the energy minister, the problem of power cuts and low-voltage continues in Lucknow. Due to local line breakdowns and overloaded transformers catching fire, undeclared rostering for the past several days is posing a big challenge for residents. The power distribution system requires a total revamp. Modern technology is required at a rapid pace for the electricity companies of the state. You cannot escape by blaming power theft as the reason for power outage. This is a flimsy reason given when your system is failing. Instead of blaming power theft, the officials should try to use technology and upgrade the distribution system. They have set up gas insulated power sub stations for supply to Vidhan Bhavan to escape power cuts, so why cant they upgrade all substations with latest technology? Why cant they place more transformers in proportion to increasing demand?

Due to transformer fire, cable fault and line breakdown, power supply in large areas of the city was affected on Saturday and Sunday and power outage was reported from Ashiana, Arjunganj, Indiranagar, Utrethia and. As a result, even water supply was hit. At the same time, prolonged power cuts were reported from Gehru, Jankipuram, Sita Vihar Colony and Faizullahganj.

Power supply was also badly hit in more than 250 villages in peripheral areas of Lucknow city connected to Dubagga, FCI, Sarosa Bharosa and Kakori substations.

Chief engineer, LESA Cis-Gomti Sanjay Jain said, LESA men are trying to fix every complaint in the shortest span of time. They are working 24X7. Some of the JEs and AEs are working throughout the night for maintaining power supply. Work to improve weak points is also going on. Things will improve in the days to come.

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MUMBAI: A prized possession sits right at the centre of the dome at the National Gallery of Modern Art, which is currently home to the exhibition, Maharajas Treasure: Select Works of Art from the Famed Air India Collection. Mumbai, India - June 16, 2023: M F Husain ----- Exhibition of selected works of art from the famed Air India collection "Maharaja's Treasure", at National Gallery of Modern Art, Fort in Mumbai, India, on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Safely whisked away in a glass box, an unglazed porcelain ashtray, designed in the 1960s by the master Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali is based on a work that the artist had produced in 1937, called Swans Reflecting Elephants. In his own words: The reflection of the elephant appears to be a swan and the reflection of the swan appears to be an elephant. That is what I have done for the ashtray. Thus, the swan upside down becomes an elephants head inverted and the elephant inverted becomes a swan.

Dali created the limited-edition ashtray for Air Indias select clientele, in return for a handsome sum and a baby elephant. It reflects the vision, enthusiasm and openness with which the airline collected and commissioned art.

The unique ashtray sits alongside 11th century sculptures and paintings by celebrated artists such as Anjolie Ela Menon, SH Raza, MF Husain, VS Gaitonde, Shiavax Chavda, B Prabha, KH Ara, GR Santosh and Mario Miranda housed across the four floors of NGMA.

With nearly 190 objects on display, what strikes the viewer is the sheer breadth of the collection, which has a strong focus on craftsmanship. At the opening of the exhibition last Tuesday, the current NGMA director Nazneen Banu shared: Air India played a crucial role in the promotion of art and culture at a critical juncture in the countrys history. We have tried to focus on the important pieces in the first exhibition, which has works of masters, and one section devoted to women and their contribution to society.

AI, along with the Taj Mahal Palace and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), were the three strong corporate collectors through the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, in a previously-conducted interview, gallerist Mortimer Chatterjee, an art consultant with the Taj hotel, who also curated TIFRs landmark exhibition of its paintings in 2010, recounted being shown an internal memo within TIFR from Dr Homi Bhabhas art advisory committee informing him that AI was interested in the same sculpture by A Davierwalla. The nature of the collecting pattern at that time was involving small groups of collectors, he shared. These collections remain the gold standard of corporate collecting at the outset of the post-Independence moment and, in the absence of institutional collecting, they became the de facto museum collections of their day.

How did the Maharaja become an avid art collector?

Fuelled by AI founder JRD Tatas philosophy that all their booking offices abroad should showcase the best of India, AIs commercial department, under the aegis of its then director Bobby Kooka, began collecting art. The collection was spread over their Nariman Point building, at their foreign offices and residences of senior employees. Besides, all their booking offices were embellished with paintings from the 1940s until the 1990s, the decade when Air India stopped buying art. From B Prabhas paintings to MF Husains cut-outs in Geneva to NS Bendres work in Brussels, the aim was to give travellers a slice of the Indian heritage.

At a panel discussion inspired by the AI exhibition at the NGMA last week, gallerist and auctioneer Dadiba Pundole, insisted, It definitely takes a certain visionary to build a collection of this scale.

In Jal Cowasji, AI found that visionary.

Cowasji, who worked under Kooka, was initially the man responsible for all the acquisitions. A regular at all the art openings, Cowasji was the man artists looked forward to having at their openings.

When veteran artist Gulam Mohammed Sheikh had his first solo show in 1961 at Jehangir Art Gallery, Cowasji bought one of his works. Husain too became a close friend of Cowasji. Husain would sit for hours in the office and take out unframed canvases from his bag, open it up and approach AI directors to buy them.

Uttara Parikh, Air Indias former deputy commercial director (advertising, special promotions, and product development), once recalled how a young JJ School of Art student, B Prabha, walked into Air Indias Jal Cowasjis office with eight paintings that depicted various facets of Indian women. Impressed, Cowasji purchased each painting for 87.50. Those days, AI would have specially designed menus and a young Prabhas first lot of works featured in them. Later, when the airline refurbished their famous London booking office on Bond Street, Prabhas paintings embellished its walls.

AI also acquired works from other modernists such as S B Palsikar, Laxman Pai, V S Gaitonde and H A Gade. The second method of acquisition was called a transportation service contract, where tickets were bartered for artworks. Artist Jitish Kallat, who had his first international exhibition when he was 22, was one of the beneficiaries, for instance. The exhibition was called Innenseite in Kassel, Germany, and had several well-known artists in it. To support his travel the curator took help from Air India. Kallat later gifted AI a painting as a gesture of appreciation. One of Kallats paintings features in the current exhibition, too.

Built over six decades, the collection now comprises nearly 8,000 pieces of art and artifacts including modern, contemporary, company school paintings, folk artworks, miniatures, sculptures, textiles, costumes of India, photographs, antique clocks, even silverware and crockery that were created by an English ceramic firm, Royal Doulton, which created a special range inspired by the calico designs on the interiors of the plane.

In March 1983, the collection was brought out  in most of its entirety for the first time when the Non-Aligned Meet took place. A separate terminal was created at the Delhi airport, made for the 102 heads of state who attended the conference. Veteran designer Rajeev Sethi was brought on board by AI to execute the interior. He commissioned Husain to create six murals of doves and pigeons, and Anjolie Ela Menon, to work within a window frame. Several media reports maintain that some of those works have gone missing over the years. The airline has found itself marred in controversies pertaining to such claims.

Following the sale of Air India to the Tata Group in October 2021, the government, which retained the airlines non-core assets, had created a Special Purpose Vehicle called the Air India Assets Holding Limited, to transfer the airlines art collection to the Ministry of Culture. Earlier this year, the entire collection was handed over to NGMA through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Culture. Its first exhibition, curated by the in-house team of NGMA with support from the ministries, has allowed the citizens a rare glimpse into AIs iconic collection.
Mumbai: A doctor was arrested on Sunday for allegedly molesting a woman patient in Adarsh Hospital near Shivaji Nagar, Govandi. During the investigation, it came to the fore that the accused  identified as Shoaib, a resident of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh  was not registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). HT Image

The hospital owner has also been booked for not registering Shoaibs medical degree, and a manhunt has been launched to find him.

On Saturday, a 30-year-old woman along with her husband went to the hospital for a check-up, a police officer said, adding, Shoaib took the victim into the OPD room and allegedly started touching the patient inappropriately. The victim screamed for help.

The victims husband, who was waiting outside, immediately went inside after hearing his wife scream and saw the accused was molesting the woman, added the officer. The couple then approached the Shivaji Nagar police station and filed a complaint.

Meanwhile, a police team also went to the hospital and investigated the crime scene. According to the police, they found that the accused did not show any medical degree, and his details were not registered with the MMC.

The doctor was booked for molestation and the hospital owner was booked for not registering the accuseds medical degree. The doctor has been arrested and the police are searching for the owner, deputy commissioner of police Hemraj Rajput of Zone 6 said. We are further inquiring about Shoaibs medical degree.

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The flood situation worsened in Assam amid continuous heavy rainfall in various parts of the northeastern state and has affected 37,535 people in 10 districts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. The flood situation in the northeastern state was mainly caused by the rivers flowing above the danger level in different parts (Twitter/@assam_flood)

According to officials, the first wave of floods has affected large parts of Biswanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri. Further, in cities, urban flooding has been reported in Kamrup Metro, Cachar and Nalbari districts.

The state government has started building shelter camps and several thousands of the affected people have started shifting to these camps. According to experts, the livelihoods of farmers will be majorly affected as over 1,409 hectares of cropland are submerged due to floods.

Also Read: Over 2,000 tourists stranded in North Sikkim as heavy rain triggers landslides

Altogether 77 villages have been adversely impacted by floods and 209.67 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across Assam, the ASDMA said.

Meanwhile, one person died in Guwahati after the sidewalls of a sweets-making factory collapsed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rain. The incident took place at Sonali Path of Dhirenpara area in Guwahati on Saturday morning.

The deceased identified as Mukhtar Ali was buried alive and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team recovered his body from the rubble.

Moreover, due to floods and heavy rainfall across the state, several infrastructures like bridges and houses have been damaged in at least nine districts. Road connectivity between Barak Valley and the rest of Assam has temporarily been disconnected due to landslides.

Hundreds of travellers from Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, who attempted to go to Guwahati, came back from the Sonapur area of Meghalaya and road blockades caused by landslides.

Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Tuesday, reviewed the situation as he visited the landslide-affected areas to attend a meeting called by the chief minister.

According to officials, the flood situation in the northeastern state was mainly caused by the rivers flowing above the danger level in different parts. The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat, and Kopili is also flowing above the danger level at Kampur. The second major river, Barak, is inching closer to the danger level, as per reports received from Water Resource Department.

Also Read: 1 dead, 25 missing as floods, landslides wreak havoc in Eastern Nepal

Due to the rising water in the rivers and continuous rainfall, large areas of farmlands have been inundated and it has left thousands of animals stranded. According to ASDMA, 11,980 animals have been affected by the floods so far.

Silchar and Guwahati are struggling with urban flood and locals are blaming the poor drainage system and lack of maintenance are the reasons for their sufferings.

According to a PTI report, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday chaired a virtual meeting with central and state agencies to review health preparedness as part of the flood management in Assam.

He has also directed the officials concerned to prepare a flood public health response and action plan with a perspective of health emergencies.

(with PTI inputs
District vice-president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD, Amritsar) Furkan Qureshi, alias, Bablu Qureshi has been booked for molesting and attempting a rape bid on a married woman at his home. The woman lodged a complaint after which the Tibba police lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused, who is on the run. The accused overpowered the victim and attempted a rape bid (HT Files)

The victim, who is 28-year-old, stated that she was living with her husband in Mayapuri at Tibba road. Few days ago, her husband left her over some petty issues and went back to his ancestral village in Bihar. Someone told her about Bablu Quereshi and stated that he had helped many women in the past and saved their marriages. She contacted Qureshi seeking his help.

Further she added that on June 13 the accused asked her to come to his home to discuss the matter. She alleged that the accused took her upstairs and started molesting her. She resisted but the accused overpowered her and attempted a rape bid. She raised an alarm and freed herself from the clutches of the accused. On Saturday, she filed a complaint against the accused.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jeevan Singh, who is investigating the case, said that after receiving the complaint the police lodged an FIR under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment) 376, 511 (attempt to commit rape) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code has been lodged against the accused. A hunt is on for his arrest.

Earlier, Qureshi was district vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). On April 8, 2022 he was booked for hurting religious sentiments over a Facebook post. After the members of various Hindu organisations had staged a protest outside Police station Tibba the police had arrested him. Later he joined SAD (Amritsar).

Realtor rapes fiancee, calls off wedding after demanding Rs5-cr dowry

HT Correspondent

ludhiana@hindustantimes.com

Ludhiana Police booked an Amritsar-based realtor for allegedly raping his fiance, a resident of Bhamian Kalan.

The accused had allegedly established a physical relationship with the woman after the two got engaged only to call off the wedding.

The woman alleged that the accused and her family had demanded 5 crore and a Mercedes car as dowry before calling off the wedding.

Following the womans

complaint, Sarabha Nagar police registered a first information report (FIR) against the accused  the director of an Amritsar-based firm, his father, who is managing director of the company, his mother and two others.

In her complaint, the woman told police her and the accuseds families had arranged for their wedding last year.

Following their engagement, the two started meeting. In one such instance, they were visiting Pakhowal road, where the accused tried to touch her inappropriately.

Later, the accused called the woman to a hotel on Ferozepur road on the pretext of having a conversation. He allegedly raped her in the hotel room, but told her to not speak to anyone about it.

The woman added that the accused also borrowed money from her family citing wedding expenditure, including buying jewellery, in the lead-up to the wedding.

Days before the marriage, however, the accused demanded a Mercedes car and 5 crore as dowry, a demand that the womans parents refused to honour. Thereafter, the accused called off the

wedding.

Sharing further details, sub-inspector Rachpal Singh, who is investigating the case, said a case under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused and a hunt is on for their arrest.
More than two weeks after the Balasore train tragedy in Odisha that killed 291 people and left over 900 injured, the family of the seriously-injured loco pilot of Coromandel Express that hit a stationary goods train before derailing and hitting another passenger, said they have no idea about his condition as they have not yet been allowed to meet him. 291 people have been killed so far and over 900 injured in Balasore train tragedy (File Photo)

Gunanidhi Mohanty, 49-year-old loco pilot of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express was piloting the train along with 36-year-old assistant loco pilot Hajari Kumar Behera when the train first hit an iron ore-laden goods train that was stationed on a loop line of Bahanaga Bazar station of Balasore district on June 2 evening.

Gunanidhi, who along with Behera, were in the loco pilot cabin of Coromandel Express suffered grievous injuries on their heads, chest and back as the train rammed into the goods train at a speed of 128 km per hour after a suspected interference in the signal system led it on the loop line instead of the main line.

Also Read: After the Odisha tragedy, family says still not allowed to meet train driver

Initially admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar with three broken bones and multiple head injuries, Gunanidhi and co-pilot Behera were under strict surveillance of state police and railway protection force officials for the first 10 days till he was reportedly discharged from there four days ago.

Behera suffered more injuries with a fracture in his left leg and multiple abrasions, including a spinal injury. His wife Golap Behera is also an assistant loco pilot in the East Coast Railways.

In Cuttack districts Naharapada village, where Gunanidhis ex-serviceman father Bishnu Charan Mohanty and elder brother Sanjay Mohanty reside, there is deep anxiety over his health condition as they alleged that they have no information about him.

I had gone to see him just a couple of days after the mishap. He was badly injured and could not talk. He was in ICU then. After that we have not been allowed to meet him, said Sanjay, Gunanidhis elder brother. He however could not confirm if Gunanidhis wife was allowed to see him.

We are in a precarious condition. Everyone thinks the accident happened due to my brothers mistake while the truth is that a loco pilot has no control on which track the train would run. Its the duty of the on-duty station master who allows a particular train to travel on that line. In any case, Coromandel Express was permitted to travel at 130 km per hour on that section while the actual speed was 128 km per hour. After joining as a goods train driver in 1996, he had started piloting passenger trains a few years ago. He never had any accident so far, said his elder brother, who practises law at a local court.

Also Read: Adani to soon sell online train tickets after acquiring this firm; may challenge IRCTCs monopoly

East Coast Railway officials said Gunanidhi and Behera had taken charge from loco pilot Ranajit Kumar Mondal at Kharagpur station at around 5pm on June 2. However, no senior officials were ready to come on record about divulging any information about Gunanidhi and Behera saying they could not give any information as twin probes by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Commissioner of Rail Safety were underway.

A day after the train tragedy, Jaya Varma Sinha, Railway Board member of Operation and Business Development, told reporters that she had spoken to the driver and he confirmed that the signal was green.

Green signal means that in every way the driver knows that his path ahead is clear and he can go forward with his permitted maximum speed. The permitted speed at this section was 130 kmph and he was running his train at 128 kmph which we have confirmed from loco logs. He neither had passed when the signal was red nor was he overspeeding, Sinha said.
LUCKNOW Only two candidates from IIT Kanpur Zone made it to the top 100 Common Rank List (CRL). They are -- Tejaswa Singh Mehra (CRL 98), who emerged as the topper from the IIT-K zone and Vaibhav Singh, who bagged CRL 100. Meanwhile, Palak Agrawal (CRL 1020) achieved the highest rank among female candidates in the zone. This year, a total of 1,80,372 candidates appeared for the examination. (HT File)

From the IIT Kanpur zone, a total of 22,955 candidates appeared for JEE Advanced this year, out of which, 4,582 could make the cut. This year, a total of 1,80,372 candidates appeared for the examination, out of which, 43,773 candidates successfully qualified. Among the qualified, 7,509 are female candidates. In all, 16 candidates secured positions in the top 500 CRL rankings from the zone.

Professor Abhay Karandikar, director IIT Kanpur, congratulated all the successful candidates of JEE Advanced 2023 and extended them a warm welcome to join the IIT Kanpur family and be part of its thriving legacy. Prof Karandikar also announced the Bright Minds Scholarships programme by IIT Kanpur for the third year in a row, which will provide ten prestigious scholarships to students who have ranked within the top 100 All India Rank (AIR) in the JEE (Advanced) 2023.

Overall, Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy from IIT Hyderabad zone has secured the top position in the Common Rank List (CRL) while Nayakanti Naga Bhavya Sree, also from IIT Hyderabad zone, has emerged the highest-ranked female candidate with a CRL of 56. The examination also witnessed 13 out of the 108 foreign candidates, who appeared for the exam this year, successfully qualifying for admission to prestigious engineering institutes in India.

To make the prospective students familiar with the IIT Kanpur ecosystem, the institute will also host a virtual Open House on June 20, 2023, where they would be able to interact with the Director, Deans, other faculty and student representatives.
The Manipur government is planning to resume normal classes for all the schools in the state from June 21, L Nandakumar Singh, directorate of education (schools), government of Manipur said on Saturday. All the schools in Manipur were closed from May 4, 2023 onwards (Representative Photo)

Normal classes for all the schools in the state will resume from the June 21, 2023. In this regard, all zonal education officers under the department of education (schools), Manipur, are hereby directed to take up necessary actions accordingly, says an order issued the directorate of education (schools).

Also Read: A day after attack on Union ministers home in Manipur, BJP office vandalised; Clashes continue

All the schools in Manipur were closed from May 4, 2023 onwards after the announcement of summer vacation from May 4 to May 30, 2023 by state education minister Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh and issuance of subsequent orders in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the northeastern state.

In view of the prevailing law and order situation, the Manipur government had recently extended the ongoing summer vacation of all schools in the state till June 19, 2023.

It may be mentioned that the directorate of education (schools), government of Manipur, had earlier extended the summer vacation of all schools in the state till June 15, 2023.

The summer vacation of all the educational institutions in Manipur has been preponed from the normal calendar in view of the prevailing situation arising out of ethnic tension.

Manipur has around 1,110 schools which include 643 private schools, 384 government schools and 83 aided schools, according to the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.

Presently, the central armed police personnel, posted in Manipur have occupied around 100 schools in the state, according to officials.

Manipur had been witnessing ethnic violence in the first week of May, in which at least 100 people were killed and thousands were displaced besides burning of several houses.

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A few Muslim shopkeepers began reopening their shops in the Purola area of Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district days after their shops were shut down allegedly by right-wing organisations after communal tension erupted in the area on May 26 following an alleged abduction attempt of a 14-year-old girl by two men, including one from the minority community. Balle Khan, father of Mohammed Ashraf, at their garment shop in Purola after it was opened on Saturday (HT Photo/Rajeeb Kala)

In the days that followed, protests by such groups raised tensions and allegedly forced 40 of 45 Muslim businessmen and residents to leave the town following threats. At least 55 shops owned or rented by Muslims were ransacked and attacked.

Earlier this month, posters threatening Muslim traders to shut shops by June 15 surfaced in Uttarkashi town, which was not allowed by the administration.

Also Read: It was never a love jihad case: Complainant on bid to abduct in Uttarkashi

In the latest, on Thursday, the trade associations shut down more shops against the imposition of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to ensure law and order amid calls given by right-wing organisations for mahapanchayat on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Purola administration warned of strict action as it denied permission for mahapanchayat called by Hindu organisations.

On Sunday, a few Muslims in the area opened their shops under the police watch. Mohammad Ashraf, Bijnore, who owns a garment shop in Purola said he opened his shop which had been closed after communal tension erupted in the area after May 27.

I opened my shop which I have been running since 2002. I was born here. My father had come here in 1978 from the Bijnore area of Uttar Pradesh. I am very happy that it is normal again as usual. Locals and many people I know came to my shop to buy garments after I opened the shop. Locals have been very supportive and I really thank them for extending their support

Ashraf said nearly seven to eight shopkeepers have opened their shops. Nearly 13 to 14 shopkeepers who had left are yet to come back. Maybe in the coming days, they will also come back and open their shops, he said.

Saif Ali, who owns a saloon shop said he is happy to open the shop after so many days. Last time my shop was open was on May 27. After that, I couldnt open my shop. But with improvement in the situation and assurance by the administration, I opened my shop, he said.

Ali said it was business as usual at his shop after he opened it. Many local customers who came to the shop said that whatever happened in the past few weeks should not have happened. They were really supportive. I am happy that I am able to earn my livelihood as usual, he said.

Also Read: Purola tension: Uttarakashi admin denies permission for June 15 maha panchayat

Mohammad Raees, who owns two shops a beauty parlour and a garment shop, said he opened his beauty parlour shop on Saturday. I will open the garment shop on Monday after cleaning as it was shut for many days. Our family has been living here for 62 years. I am happy that it is normal again. Two local girls who work in the beauty parlour also came and started their work, he said.

Raees said if the shops had remained shut for more days, it would have pushed them into a financial crisis as many have to pay monthly rent and bear other daily expenses.

The district administration had earlier imposed Section 144 of CrPC from June 14 to June 19 in anticipation of disturbance to law and order after right-wing organisations on June 14 insisted that they will hold the mahapanchayat as per their earlier plan.

Purola had witnessed tension over the alleged abduction attempt of a minor girl on May 26. While the two accused  Ubed Khan (24), a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini (23), a motorcycle mechanic  were arrested on May 27, the incident led to right-wing groups holding protests in several areas and attacking shops and houses of several Muslims.

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More than 2,000 tourists were stranded in Lachung, Lachen and Chungthang of North Sikkim after landslides triggered by torrential rains led to road blockades and cut off popular destinations, officials said. Sikkim government and the Border Roads Organization (BRO) have started the rescue work (Twitter Photo)

Monsoon arrived in Sikkim on June 12, and many parts of the eastern state have been witnessing heavy rainfall since.

Several people got stranded in Lachen and Lachung. National Highway 10 was damaged at several places, between Mangan and Chungthang, by landslides, Hem Kumar Chettri, district collector of Mangan district in Sikkim told media persons on Friday.

Also Read: Heavy rains trigger flash flood in North Sikkim, submerge NH 10 at Pegong

Heavy rains lashed North Sikkim on Thursday night, which resulted in the overflow of nearby rivers leading to the flash flood that engulfed the highway, officials said.

Lachen and Lanchung are two popular hill destinations where tourists going to high-altitude destinations such as Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang Valley stay for the night.

Officials said that the Sikkim government and the Border Roads Organization (BRO) have started the rescue work. Though the road connectivity has been restored, the bridge over Supply Khola near Chungthang has been washed out thus making places like Lachan and Lachung cut off, they said.

From Saturday morning, we have started evacuating the stranded 2,100 tourists, including foreigners. We are hopeful the evacuation process would be completed by Saturday evening. 358 vehicles have also remained stranded, said Chettri.

Officials said that a makeshift bridge has been constructed over Supply Khola from there, stranded people are being brought back and will be dropped off at Gangtok.

Stranded tourists had stayed in their respective hotels at Lachen and Lachung keeping in view of road blockage on Friday night.

A press release issued by the Indian Army said: 300 tourists were already evacuated by noon, Saturday.

Also Read: 1 dead, 2700 people affected in Meghalaya in rain-related incidents: Official

Gopinath Raha, head of the meteorological department, Gangtok told HT: It has been raining regularly in Sikkim. Lachung received 13 cm of rain, which is considered very heavy, till Friday morning. Gangtok and Chungthang each received heavy rainfall of 11 cm in the same period.

The BRO has advised all tourists and locals to avoid the routes of recurrent landslides during heavy rainfall and has requested not to line up on roadblocks to prevent any injury to personnel and damage to vehicles due to sudden landslides and flash floods.

Meanwhile, Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is likely to witness the scarcity of drinking water as the water source has been damaged at Ratheychu by landslides.

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Bihar was adjudged third, after Madhya Pradesh (first) and Odisha (second), in the best state category at the 4th National Water Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday, said government officials. Bihar shared the third spot along with Andhra Pradesh (Twitter Photo)

Bihar shared the third spot along with Andhra Pradesh.

Secretary of Bihars rural development department (RDD) N. Saravan Kumar and mission director of Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission Rahul Kumar received the award from vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Bihar launched the Jal Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan in October 2019 to combat the adverse impact of climate change and the conservation of the environment.

Removal of encroachment from public water bodies, rejuvenation of public water storage structures, rooftop rainwater harvesting, afforestation, promotion of organic farming and solar energy, are among the 11 target interventions under the programme.

Around 30,000 public ponds, puddles, aahars, pynes and dug wells have been rid of encroachment in the state since the inception of the programme, with more than 80,000 public water harvesting structures have been rejuvenated, and 1.5 lakh soak pits have been constructed near public wells and hand pumps to increase the groundwater level, said officials.

The promotion of organic farming and micro-irrigation, and rainwater harvesting structures in public buildings are some salient features of the programme.

Several positive impacts are already visible in just three-and-a-half years of our programme implementation. The far-reaching impact of our campaign will be visible in the years to come. The award is a recognition of achievement towards our statewide campaign in water conservation and management, said Saravan Kumar.

Bihar is the first state to launch such a comprehensive state-wide campaign targeting the challenges of environmental protection and climate change. The Central Ground Water Board, government of India, has reported an increase in the states groundwater level, and attributed it to the implementation of Jal Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan, in its recent report on the groundwater scenario of the country, said Rahul Kumar, mission director of the programme.

The state government has extended the Jal Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan till 2024-25.

Meanwhile, the NTPC Barauni secured the first rank in the National Awards for Water Resources Conservation and Management, as per a statement by NTPC.

Gurdeep Singh, CMD NTPC and Rajeev Khanna, head of the project, NTPC Barauni received the award. The awards are given in 11 different categories.

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The residents of Bhavani Peth, Kondhwa, and Bibwewadi find themselves living under constant risk as godowns in the vicinity have become prone to frequent fire incidents. The spate of fires has sparked concerns among locals and authorities regarding the potential hazards posed by these establishments. The residents of Bhavani Peth, Kondhwa, and Bibwewadi find themselves living under constant risk as godowns in the vicinity have become prone to frequent fire incidents. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

The godowns scattered throughout the Bhavani Peth, Kondhwa, and Bibwewadi areas serve as storage facilities for various businesses, including goods like inflammable materials, chemicals, paints, automobile parts and other combustible items.

However, the lack of adequate fire safety measures and the accumulation of flammable substances within these facilities has created a breeding ground for potential disasters.

Over the past few months, the area has witnessed several fire incidents, which have resulted in considerable damage to property and have caused significant panic among residents.

Local authorities have taken note of the recurring fire incidents and are urging godown owners to prioritise fire safety measures.

The Pune Fire Brigade has been actively involved in conducting inspections and raising awareness about fire safety protocols.

Now and then, they have emphasised the importance of installing firefighting equipment, ensuring proper storage and handling of flammable materials, and regularly conducting safety drills.

Ajit Mohta, a local resident, said, Sundays fire incident has underlined the risk of fire in this area. Many warehouses in the area do not follow fire-related safety and security norms which may pose risk to locals.

Manisha Thorve, a housewife living in the Kakade Wasti area said, On Sunday, residents of our housing area escaped narrowly from the fire incident. We request the fire brigade to check whether the establishments are following all safety norms or not.

Fire Brigade officials said that they are planning to conduct awareness campaigns and workshops to educate warehouse owners and employees about fire safety practices. They aim to emphasise the importance of regular maintenance, proper ventilation, and the need for trained personnel to handle hazardous materials.
A massive fire broke out near Gangadham Road in Kondhwa-Bibwewadi area on Sunday, destroying nearly 20-25 godowns where various items including biscuits, furniture and electrical materials were kept, officials said. A massive fire broke out near Gangadham Road in Kondhwa-Bibwewadi area on Sunday, destroying nearly 20-25 godowns. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

The incident caused panic among the local residents and nearby businesses as flames engulfed the surrounding area. No person was injured in the blaze which erupted at around 9am. The fire was first spotted by a passerby who alerted the fire brigade and police authorities. The fire first began at Ashok Mandap Decorators unit, spanning a 12-acre area, triggering a chain reaction of destruction, said fire brigade officials.

According to the Pune fire department, around 20-25 godowns of different materials were gutted in the fire. As the fire rapidly spread, the area became engulfed in thick, billowing smoke emanating from the burning wood, garments, and plastic materials, intensifying the impact of the spreading inferno.

Twenty-two fire fighting vehicles including 14 fire vehicles,six water tankers and two fire vehicles from PMRDA with 15 senior officers and 100 fire personnel were pressed into action and efforts were made to douse the fire. Godowns having cement, decoration material, pandal, cloths, soap, oil paint, glass, fibre, rubber, wiring, auto parts were gutted in.

Sameer Sheikh, Kondhwa fire station officer said, There were over 100 godowns adjacent to each other, of which 20-25 godowns were gutted. There was barely any space to enter the premises, causing hurdles for the officers. No casualties were reported. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and a detailed investigation is underway.

Fire brigade officials suspect that a short circuit or an electrical malfunction may have triggered the blaze.

According to Devendra Potphode, fire department chief, the area had no firefighting system in place. The shops and godowns are old and no fire safety norms were being followed and no fire audit took place. The department is looking to come up with a solution for such godowns as these fire incidents are a recurring thing, he said.

The fire spread rapidly due to high wind movement on the hill. The fire was reported very late and by the time our team reached the location, the entire area was engulfed. We also managed to save 25 transport trucks parked near these godowns, added Potphode.

Evacuation

Local residents and business owners in the vicinity of the godowns were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The police and fire officials cordoned off the area to facilitate the firefighting operations and prevent any unauthorised access.

The authorities are now focusing on the rehabilitation and support for the affected businesses and owners. The local administration, along with concerned government agencies, will assess the extent of the damage and provide necessary assistance to help the affected rebuild their livelihoods.

Incidents like these, underscore the importance of adhering to fire safety regulations and conducting periodic checks to prevent such mishaps. Authorities urged business owners and residents to prioritise fire safety measures, including maintaining electrical systems, installing fire alarms and extinguishers, and ensuring proper storage of flammable materials.

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An unknown person has been booked for allegedly making derogatory remarks on social media against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This is not the first time, the accused made derogatory posts against CM Eknath Shinde, but earlier too he posted derogatory remarks against deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and also abused other political leaders, said Pramod Bhangire, Pune city head of Shiv Sena. (HT FILE PHOTO)

According to police, the accused, using a social media account by the name of Abhay with account id @xavvierrrrrr on June 16, at 11.42 am, posted a photo and wrote Didnt know Eknath Shinde was in Adipurush. (sic)

A complaint was filed by deputy city head of Shiv Sena, Sudhir Shankarrao Kurumkar, 57, a resident of Shukrawar Peth.

On Saturday, we approached city police commissioner Retesh Kumaar and lodged a complaint. The police assured to take legal action against the accused, he said.

Pramod Bhangire, city head of Shiv Sena, said, This is not the first time, the accused made derogatory posts against Shinde, but earlier too he posted derogatory remarks against deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and also abused other political leaders. Hence, we have decided to take legal action against him.

Meenal Patil, senior police inspector at cyber police station, said, We have approached a concerned social media company to get details about the account. As per prima facie, it seems that the accused had deleted his account and posts. Our technical team is working on it to get all other technical details including IP address and soon we will nab the accused.

A case has been registered at Pune city cyber police station under sections 469 (forgery for the purpose of harming reputation), 499 (defamation), and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
To strengthen its 100-year-old relationship with India, the University of Birmingham has launched an India Institute (UBII), which will aim for impactful engagement with the country. The centre will also create greater awareness of India in the Midlands and the UK, and focus on building of academic, cultural and business ties with the country. A fellowship scheme will also be announced soon by the institute. PREMIUM From left: Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, high commissioner of India, University of Birmingham vice-chancellor prof Sir David Eastwood, and chancellor Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea.(Sourced)

UBII will focus on academic research and scholarship, teaching and postgraduate research, policy analysis and debate; collaboration with corporate partners; and public engagement in culture.

On a fellowship scheme to be announced by UBII, professor Robin Mason, the universitys pro-vice-chancellor (international) said the scheme will support the visits of researchers to and from India, to spend a period of time at Indian institutions or at the University of Birmingham to help the development of research projects, applications for external grants, joint publications, and business and policy engagement.

Present at the institutes launch on Monday were the universitys vice-chancellor, prof Sir David Eastwood and high commissioner of India Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha. Our India Institute marks an important milestone in our long-standing relationship with India and re-affirms the University of Birminghams deep and strong commitment to engagement with the country, Eastwood said at the launch.

From reducing the impact of refrigerated food distribution chains, to helping make Indias cities more sustainable cities, our researchers are forging links with their counterparts that will change millions of lives for the better, he added.

Sinha also participated in a round table discussion with Indian-born University of Birmingham chancellor Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea. The discussion was chaired by professor Mason.

Highlighting the bond between the university and India and his personal experiences, Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea said the links stretchback to the arrival of our first Indian student in 1909. For me, this is also a personal bond as my mother and my maternal grandfather both studied at the University of Birmingham. I am the third generation of my family to have grown up in India and been educated at a British university, and it makes me very proud to see that Birmingham has put its century-long bond with India even further with the launch of the University of Birmingham India Institute.

Lord Bilimoria also added that he looked forward to deepening relations between the university and partners in India, in education, business and government over the coming years as our new India Institute fosters research and teaching collaborations which benefit both countries. Education and research are a central part of the bond between the UK, which has some of the best universities in the world, and India a global emerging economic superpower, which has some of the oldest.

The universitys relationship with India began in 1909 with the first cohort of Indian students travelling to Birmingham to study for degrees in mining and commerce. Since then, the university has provided education to around 2,000 Indian alumni.
Get ready, Demon Slayer fans, because the highly anticipated season 3 finale is here! Episode 11, titled "A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light," premieres today and is set to leave us on the edge of our seats with thrilling battles, emotional moments, and unexpected twists. As we bid farewell to this season, there is both excitement and a tinge of sadness in the air, knowing that we'll have to wait for more Demon Slayer adventures. Demon Slayer Season 3 finale premieres today with a thrilling 70-minute episode, leaving fans eagerly awaiting news of a possible season 4. (Ufotable)

To compensate for the upcoming hiatus, the creators have a special treat in store. Episode 11 will be a cinematic experience, running for 70 minutes. It's like a mini-movie packed with intense action and captivating storytelling. And brace yourselves because rumors are swirling that Demon Slayer season 4 is already in the works. Although not officially confirmed, we can expect an announcement soon, building our anticipation for what's to come.

Demon Slayer Season 3 Finale exact release time:

For fans in select regions of Asia, the episode will be available to stream on Netflix, while Crunchyroll has licensed the series for international viewers. Japanese fans can catch the episode on Fuji TV, amplifying the excitement across the nation.

Date Demon Slayer Season 3 Finale Exact Release Time JST ET PT GMT CET IST June 18, 2023 11:15 PM 7:45 AM 10:45 AM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 11:15 PM

Demon Slayer Season 3 Episode 10 recap:

As we embark on this thrilling finale, let's recap what happened in the previous episode. Mitsuri, the valiant Hashira, faced a deadly battle against Zohakuten, a formidable demon. She showcased her strength and determination, recalling her past and the struggles she faced. Supported by her fellow Demon Slayers, Mitsuri unleashed her true potential, surprising even her enemy. Witnessing her awakened Demon Slayer Mark, Zohakuten realized the power he was up against.

Also Read | Ufotable continues to slay with Demon Slayer Season 4 in production according to Twitter leaks

Meanwhile, Tanjiro and his companions continued their pursuit of the main body, encountering countless obstacles along the way. In a display of incredible power, Genya revealed a shocking ability, tearing apart a massive wooden monster with his jaws. Their relentless pursuit led them to Hantengu, but the elusive demon managed to slip away once again, leading to a relentless chase.

With episode 11 about to unfold, the questions linger. Will Mitsuri and her comrades finally triumph over their adversaries? What secrets lie ahead for Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps? The stage is set for an explosive conclusion that will leave us craving for more.
Karan Deol is all set to tie the knot with his fiance Drisha Acharya. On Sunday, several videos and pictures of the groom, as well as the guests arriving at the wedding venue, emerged online. Karan and Drisha have been in a relationship for a long time now. (Also Read | Dharmendra dancing with grandson Karan Deol at his sangeet is cutest thing on internet, fans hail their bond. Watch) Karan Deol will get married to Drisha Acharya.

Karan all set to tie knot

Surrounded by the baraatis (guests at the wedding), Karan was seen riding on a horse. He smiled as people around him danced. For the wedding, Karan wore a cream sherwani and a matching turban. For the occasion, Karan's father-actor Sunny Deol was seen in a white kurta and pyjama paired with a long green sherwani.

Guests at wedding

Abhay Deol opted for a white outfit--kurta, pyjama and jacket. He smiled and posed for the photographers stationed at the wedding venue. Bobby Deol also wore a self-printed white sherwani, pants and brown shoes. Before entering the venue, he blew a kiss at the paparazzi.

Dharmendra at Karan's wedding

Karan's grandfather-actor Dharmendra arrived at the venue in a brown suit paired with white shirt and tie. All of them wore red turbans. Sunny and Bobby held him as they walked towards the entrance of the wedding venue. Dharmendra also smiled and grooved a little before entering the venue.

Karan's pre-wedding festivities

On Friday, the Deols gathered together for Karan and his wife-to-be Drisha Acharya's sangeet ceremony. Several images and videos from inside the venue surfaced online. In one of the clips, Dharmendra grooved with Karan on Yamla Pagla Deewana. Sunny arrived at the function donning his character Tara Singh's look from his iconic film Gadar. The sangeet ceremony was held at Mumbai's Taj Lands End. Sunny's cousin Abhay Deol also marked his presence at the function.

Karan and Drisha

Karan and his fiance Drisha Acharya's wedding festivities began with a roka ceremony on last Monday night. Videos and pictures from the festivities surfaced on social media platforms. A video of Sunny Deol dancing to the song Morni Banke from the 2018 film Badhaai Ho was also seen. Brothers Sunny, Bobby and cousin Abhay Deol also posed together at the roka ceremony.

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Kartik Aaryan has revealed that he is waiting to get married, and all he needs is a bride. Kartik was responding to a fan who wanted to know about the actor's marriage plans during an Ask Me Anything session that Kartik conducted on Twitter late Saturday. (Also read| Gujju Pataka: Kartik Aaryan grooves as a prospective groom in this dance number) Kartik Aaryan says 'ghodi ready hai' and all he needs is a bride.

Love vs arranged marriage for Kartik

Asked if he is open to love or arranged marriage, the actor said he was available for an arranged marriage. A fan also asked Kartik about true love, and the actor said he was unlucky in love.

A fan asked, "Would you go for arranged marriage or a love marriage? Mala aunty ke paas rishte to bahut aate honge lol (Your mom must be receiving several proposals for your marriage)." To this, Kartik replied, "A marriage arranged by love!!! Rishte toh aate hai (Yes, proposals do come our way).. daily." Another fan asked, "When are you getting married?" To this, the superstar replied, "Ghodi Venue Menu sab ready hai. Par Dulhan toh mil jaye (The horse, menu are all ready but we need to find a bride first)."

Kartik's true love

Another fan asked Kartik: "Wana ask just one thing have you found TRUE LOVE yet? #AskKartik @TheAaryanKartik." The actor promptly replied with, I thought I had but unlucky in love. #AskKartik.

Wrapping up the AMA session, Kartik posted a picture from the dubbing studio and wrote, "Time to go @sameervidwans sir is shouting at me. Sattu needs to dub ..Jald milte hain (We'll meet soon) #AskKartik."

Kartik's new films

Kartik is gearing up for the release of the romantic drama Satyaprem Ki Katha. In the film directed by Sameer Vidhwans, Kartik will be seen romancing Kiara Advani. The film marks the actor's second collaboration after the blockbuster Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which released in 2022. Satyaprem Ki Katha is all set to hit the theatres on June 29.

Apart from Satyaprem Ki Katha, Kartik will be seen in filmmaker Kabir Khan's next untitled film. He will also feature in Hansal Mehta's next, Captain India.

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Naseeruddin Shah has said that he fell for Ratna Pathak Shah when he first saw her. However, her parents did not approve of their match as he was a drug addict, ill-tempered, and had also been married earlier. Naseeruddin also recalled their courting days in a new interview. (Also read: Naseeruddin Shah on being trolled by Pakistanis for comment on Sindhi language) Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah met during their theatre days.

Ratna-Naseer

After dating for around seven years, actors Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah got married on April 2, 1982. He has a daughter -Heeba Shah - from his first marriage. Ratna and Naseeruddin have two sons - Imaad Shah and Vivaan Shah. Both Imaad and Vivaan are actors.

Living together before marriage

Asked if he lived with Ratna before getting married, Naseeruddin Shah told Humans of Bombay, "We did not live together, we were courting. I courted her for seven years before marriage. Her parents were against it, as I was a drug addict and married before. And (I was) ill-tempered (also), but she did not pay any heed to that."

He also talked about falling for Ratna the moment he saw her. I took to Ratna right away... the moment I saw her. I had done my first film att the time when we were introduced. She was working in a Satyadev Dubey play and I had done one film. It just felt like I'd like to know this person. She also liked what she saw, (of course). It has been a great blessing. We stood by each other through thick and thin, it fact she stood by me through all kinds of time - very difficult and very good times. He added that the main reason for the relationship to be still strong, is that we have remained friends."

Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin featured in the recent ZEE5 original, period drama Taj Reign of Revenge in which he plays emperor Akbar. Ratna Pathak Shah made her film debut in Gujarati cinema with Kutch Express. The actor has already appeared in the Netflix web series Trial By Fire earlier this year. She is also seen as the matriarch of a close-knit Gujarati family in the Prime Video comedy series Happy Family: Conditions Apply.

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On the occasion of Father's Day, actor-producer Arbaaz Khan has shared a bunch of throwback pictures with father and filmmaker Salim Khan. The pictures also feature his actor-brother Salman Khan, their mom Salma Khan and Salim Khan's former co-writer Javed Akhtar. Some more recent pictures were also in the lot, one featuring all of Salim Khan's kids including Alvira Khan, Arpita Khan and Sohail Khan. A family picture also included Salim Khan's second wife and actor Helen. Also read: Arbaaz Khan asks dad Salim if it bothered him how he and Sohail aren't as successful as brother Salman Khan Arbaaz Khan has shared some rare pics of father Salim Khan on Father's Day.

Sharing the pictures, Arbaaz simply wrote Daddy with a heart emoticon. Arbaaz's fans and friends loved the unseen throwback pictures. A fan wrote, Aaj ke waqt me ek saath rehna bahot badi baat hai number one family (it's a big thing to stay together in today's time). Another wrote, Salim Sir is so nice so down to earth so cute @arbaazkhanofficial. Actor Manav Vij dropped hearts and raised hands emojis in reaction to the post.

Salim Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Salman Khan's films

Salim Khan is known for writing several cult classics in collaboration with Javed Akhtar. The two were famously called Salim-Javed and wrote blockbusters like Sholay, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Zanjeer, Deewaar, Trishul, Kaala Patthar, Dostana, Seeta Aur Geeta, Mr India and Don. Arbaaz has worked in films like Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Hello Brother, Dabangg. He was also seen in the 2022 web show Tanaav. Salman was recently seen in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and will now be seen in Tiger 3.

Salman on living with his parents

Salman still lives with his family in Bandras Galaxy Apartments. On not moving to a separate place of his own, he had said in 2020, "I love staying at my flat in Bandra over a big, luxurious bungalow because my parents live in the flat above mine. Ever since I was a child I have taken the same left turn or right turn and I would not have it any other way.

Arbaaz on comparisons with Salman

In an interview with Hindustan Times this year, Arbaaz had talked about being called less successful as compared to his father Salim Khan or brother Salman Khan. He had said, Today, you can ask anyone who is more successful between Salman and Arbaaz, 100 out of 100 will say its Salman. Toh mujhe kya sharam bolne mein (why would I have a problem in saying the same thing)? There are things in my life which dont exist in his! Tomorrow the situation could be different, maybe I am so successful that it probably supersedes his. You have to be honest where you stand and not be deluded. People respect if you confront it. They arent fools. This is what people like."

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Shah Rukh's tweet

Sharing his wishes on Suhana's debut, Shah Rukh wrote, On Fathers Day - heres wishing the best to my baby all the babies and Tiger Baby for #TheArchies! He also shared the teaser.

Fans' reactions

Shah Rukh's fans loved his sweet gesture. #HappyFathersDay @iamsrk sir. Thank u for being the best father in the world for ur childern & giving them all the love & being thier biggest inspiration. U r not the only the biggest megastar but also the biggest superhero in ur childerns life. LOVE U GOD SRK, wrote one. Happy Fathers Day sweet dad. Love to you and your family, commented another.

About The Archies

The Archies is a live-action musical based on the characters of the popular American comics of the same name. The upcoming Netflix film is billed as a coming-of-age story that will introduce the teenagers of Riverdale, the fictional hill station, to a new generation in India, the streamer said.

The 1.16 minute trailer was released at Netflix's live global event Tudum with an audience of over 10,000 cheering on ground in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on late Saturday night.

"Are you ready to go back in time? Welcome to the Archies," wrote Akhtar in her post as she shared the trailer of her movie on her official Instagram account. After the first look, the lead cast was introduced on stage by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from the popular Netflix series Never Have I Ever.

The cast, including Dot (Ethel Muggs), Agastya Nanda (Archie Andrews), Khushi Kapoor (Betty Cooper), Mihir Ahuja (Jughead Jones), Suhana Khan (Veronica Lodge), Vedang Raina (Reggie Mantle) and Yuvraj Menda (Dilton Doiley) took to the stage of Tudum to perform the song Sunoh.

Set in the year 1964, The Archies is a coming-of-age musical following the lives of Riverdale's favourite set of teenagers - Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel and Dilton. Seen through the lens of the unique Anglo-Indian community, The Archies explores friendship, freedom, love, heartbreak and rebellion.

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Actor Alia Bhatt had a big day on Saturday as she unveiled the trailer for her Hollywood debut movie, Heart of Stone. The actor was joined by co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan as they showed the trailer to the audience at Netflix's annual Tudum event in Sao Paulo. Alia Bhatt stars with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in Heart of Stone.

Of course, while many were impressed to see Alia play the main villain in the film, others were disappointed with her short screen time. Alia, however, was ready for this reaction.

What Alia said

Ahead of the trailer release, Alia spoke to the media at the red carpet of the event. In an interview with Mid-Day, she was asked about what she would say if people found her portion in the trailer too short. She said, Woh toh hoga hi (That's bound to happen). But I'm also not too worried about that because I feel at the end of the day you have to get sense of what the story is about and how the story leads you to the final film. That's all that matters.

Heart of Stone

Heart of Stone is set to premiere on August 11 on Netflix. It is directed by Tom Harper from a script penned by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder.

According to Netflix, the film is headlined by Gadot's Rachel Stone, who appears to be an inexperienced tech, on an elite MI6 unit headed up by lead agent Parker (Dornan).

"What her MI6 team doesn't know is that Stone actually works for the Charter -- a covert peacekeeping organisation, secret even from other spies, which uses cutting-edge technology to neutralise global threats.

"Rachel has been trained to be the consummate professional: a phenomenal field agent who sticks to the mission, follows the numbers, and trusts no one," said Netflix in a press release.

In an interview with Variety, Alia had earlier said, It was my first Hollywood big English picture experience and I had quite a task at hand because I was shooting for the first time an action movie. But I'm also pregnant so there were so many layers for me to deal with. But they made it so seamless and so easy and so comfortable for me. It's something that I will never forget because of how beautifully and how well I was treated.

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Alia Bhatt joined her Heart of Stone co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan at Netflix's Tudum event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The trailer of her Hollywood debut was unveiled at the much-anticipated event. Now new pictures of the trio from the event have surfaced online. However, it's Jamie who seems to have stolen the show on social media as Indians found him similar to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Also read: Heart of Stone trailer: Alia Bhatt calls the shots as villain in this Gal Gadot actioner, fans react Alia Bhatt, Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan at Tudum event.

Alia decked up in an oversized brown blazer and matching pants for the trailer launch. Her new pictures from Brazil show her in a green peplum top and a matching narrow skirt. Gal Gadot joined her in a black dress while Jamie wore an olive green suit with a white T-shirt.

Reddit users compare Jamie Dornan with Rahul Gandhi

As a Reddit user shared a bunch of pictures of Alia from the Tudum event, fans couldn't get their eyes off the last two photos which had her posing with Jamie. A person shared a Rahul Gandhi gif image and wrote, In last two pics only Rahul Gandhi stand out & ate both the girls. Another wrote, Who's even looking at these girls? I'm here for Rahul Gandhi. Many also shared their reactions to Alia's choice of green. A person wrote, Rahul Gandhi looks good. The first outfit (of Alia) is plain but an improvement. Neither of the dresses is good but the green is a fun colour.

More about Heart of Stone

The power-packed Heart of Stone trailer was received well by the audience. Alia's fans were delighted to see her in the role of the antagonist and cheered for her on social media. The film marks her Hollywood debut and is set to premiere on August 11 on Netflix. It is directed by Tom Harper from a script penned by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder.

Heart of Stone trailer

According to Netflix, the film is headlined by Gal's Rachel Stone, who appears to be an inexperienced tech, on an elite MI6 unit headed up by lead agent Parker (Jamie). "What her MI6 team doesn't know is that she actually works for the Charter -- a covert peacekeeping organisation, secret even from other spies, which uses cutting-edge technology to neutralise global threats. And it is the Heart, the most valuable and dangerous asset, that gives the Charter its power. It can crash a market or drop a plane out of the sky. Alia plays Keya Dhawan, a hacker who breaches the security to steal the Heart and demands the Charter, the organisation, to "answer to me".

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Netflix's highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the iconic One Piece anime series has finally unveiled its first trailer, and it has left fans awestruck. Prepare to join the Straw Hat Pirates in their thrilling journey. (Image Credit: Netflix)

With more than 25 years of legacy behind it, One Piece poses a unique challenge for the adaptation, aiming to captivate both longtime fans and new audiences alike.

Mark your calendars, as Netflix's One Piece is set to premiere on August 31, 2023.

Given the immense popularity of One Piece manga and anime, the expectations for the Netflix adaptation are undoubtedly high, especially when compared to the original. The history of live-action anime adaptations in Hollywood has been less than stellar, which initially fueled concerns about the success of the One Piece show. Adding to the uncertainty was Netflix's recent cancellation of the live-action Cowboy Bebop series, further contributing to the skepticism surrounding such adaptations.

Luffy's incredible powers come to life in the live-action One Piece with impressive visuals

One of the primary concerns surrounding Netflix's live-action One Piece was how it would portray the unique powers of Luffy.

The straw hat captains rubber body, which plays a pivotal role in the manga and anime, presents a challenge for live-action adaptations. Historically, stretching abilities have proven difficult to translate convincingly onto the big screen, even in big-budget films like the Fantastic Four series. The success of the live-action One Piece hinges on effectively capturing and presenting Luffy's powers.

Luffy's iconic punch. (Image Credit: Netflix)

The first trailer showcases Luffy's signature punch in a visually appealing manner, instilling confidence in the show's ability to bring his abilities to life.

With this Netflix's live-action show presents a glimmer of hope for successfully adapting anime, as the trailer showcases impressive VFX quality. Adapting the fantastical elements of manga and anime into live-action has been a daunting task, with many previous attempts falling short. However, if the visual effects in the One Piece trailer are indicative of the overall series, it suggests that this adaptation has found a solution to the challenge.

With Luffy's powers looking promising, fans can anticipate a visually stunning portrayal of the beloved anime in the upcoming show.

Netflixs live-action stays true to the original manga

The streaming giant's live-action adaptation of One Piece stays faithful to the source material in terms of characters, costumes, and settings, as evident from the trailer.

While it may initially feel unusual to witness the vibrant world of One Piece in a live-action format, the trailer suggests that the show aims to avoid common pitfalls of anime adaptations. The first season of Netflix's One Piece is expected to cover the East Blue Saga, although there may be certain creative to the pacing and chronological order of the initial six arcs.

However, the adaptation appears to stay true to the core elements of the beloved series without significant additions or omissions, which is a promising start.

Assessing the tone, humor, and action sequences of One Piece in the live-action show based solely on the first trailer is challenging.

The cast of the live-action brings the characters to life remarkably, and the show's visual style bears a resemblance to the anime. The character interactions and the narrative direction seem to align with the established storytelling of the One Piece anime, despite inevitable differences in chronology.

Still, one big hurdle to leap

The pacing of Netflix's One Piece adaptation poses a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. Despite the quality of writing, performances, and visual effects, condensing multiple One Piece arcs into just eight-hour-long episodes can potentially hinder the live-action series.

To put it into perspective, the One Piece anime took 61 episodes to cover the East Blue Saga, encompassing the Romance Dawn arc to the Loguetown arc. In comparison, Netflix's One Piece will have significantly less time to explore these same storylines, resulting in the necessity to omit or expedite key events.

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This issue raises concerns as crucial aspects of the story may be compromised due to time constraints. While the essence of the narrative can be preserved even with changes to the timeline or faster pacing, it presents a substantial risk for the series.

The success of Netflix's One Piece could potentially determine the viability of live-action anime adaptations as major Hollywood IPs, particularly considering the rarity of manga properties that rival One Piece's immense popularity.
Fans of the sensational anime series "One Piece" have been eagerly awaiting the live-action adaptation, and the wait is almost over. Prepare to join the Straw Hat Pirates in their thrilling journey. (Image Credit: Netflix)

Netflix has recently released an official trailer for the TUDUM event and confirmed the highly anticipated release date. The excitement among fans is reaching its peak as they prepare to see their favorite Straw Hat Pirates come to life on screen.

After six long years of anticipation, we finally catch a glimpse of the vibrant world of "One Piece" on a live-action screen. The Netflix TUDUM 2023 event in Brazil unveiled a breathtaking trailer that left fans in awe.

The release date for the "One Piece" live-action series has also been officially confirmed for August 31st, 2023. With the dates locked in by the streaming giant, fans only have to wait a few more months to embark on this epic adventure.

The trailer for the "One Piece" live-action series is absolutely a visual treat for anime lovers, capturing the essence of the manga and immersing viewers into the captivating world of the pirate saga. It introduces us to the beloved Straw Hat crew, showcasing their dynamic personalities and incorporating the signature comedic elements, and the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.

The production team has done a remarkable job in bringing the vision of Eiichiro Oda, the creator of "One Piece," and the dreams of anime enthusiasts to life. After witnessing the trailer's magnificence, the anticipation for the upcoming episodes has reached new heights.

The highly anticipated live-action series will be exclusively available on Netflix, with all episodes released on the same day. This means that fans worldwide will have the opportunity to experience the entire series from day one.

ALSO READ| Netflix TUDUM: Bridgerton season 3 shifts focus to Colin and Penelope's love story

It is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire production crew. Now, the question arises Can Netflix actually able to deliver the flashy action scene and the emotional journey of Luffys crew?

With Netflix's commitment to delivering a high-quality adaptation and the passion of the production team, the stage is set for an unforgettable viewing experience. Mark your calendars for August 31st, 2023, and prepare to set sail on a thrilling adventure with the Straw Hat Pirates.
TikTok Star Carl Eiswerth has died in a car accident which took place on Tuesday. He was well-known for his positive and humourous content on the social media platform. Carl Eiswerth(Twitter)

As per a report by TMZ, Eiswerth was in the passenger seat of the vehicle which was struck by another vehicle in Pennsylvania. According to Pennsylvania radio station WKOK, the crash occurred at the intersection of Route 11 and County Line Road in Snyder County, where Eiswerth resided. Eiswerth died on the spot as a result of blunt force trauma.

ALSO READ| Kevin Costner has no legal basis to remove estranged wife Christine from his home amid their divorce: Report

Eiswerth was a wrestling enthusiast who had the handle @team_carl_forever on TikTok. Local company 5 Star Wrestling paid a tribute to Eiswerth through an emotional Facebook post.

"We lost one of the most loyal [fans] throughout north east Pennsylvania. In 2016 when I first brought pro wrestling to Williamsport he was [a] big supporter of ours, read the post.

Carl was not only a fan, he was one of us  He was [a] fun loving guy that was full of life, read the post further.

He will be missed by the wrestling community for sure, the post concluded.

The company made an announcement on Saturday that they would host a fundraising event for his family, as a token of their appreciation of Eiswerth who had helped their business.

Meanwhile, Eiswerths family is planning two events in his memory, both of which they may live stream.

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Anupamaa actor Aman Maheshwari, who plays the role of Malti's student Nakul on the show, is currently working on his international web series, titled Postcards. The actor has revealed that he was chosen as the producers were looking for an Indian person who had a really good command of the English language. He also shared several pictures from the sets this week. Also read: Anupamaa actor Rupali Ganguly: I go to work with guilt but I'm blessed to have a spouse who's there for our son Aman Maheshwari with Richard Mofe-Damijo on sets of Postcards.

Aman Maheshwari shares pics from sets

Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Aman wrote, "Bts from the series #postcards. With the legends @hamishadaryaniahuja @mofedamijo #webseries #netflix #actors #amanmaheshwari #international #shooting #africa #india." He is seen posing for some pictures with Richard Mofe-Damijo behind the camera. He is also seen giving a few shots with him and other co-stars.

Aman on bagging Postcards

Talking about how he landed a role in Postcards, Aman was quoted by Bollywood Hungama as saying, "They were looking for an Indian person who had a really good command of the English language, and one of the celebrity stylists who's also my friend recommended my name to the makers, and that's how I bagged this project."

Aman said the project was a collaboration of Indian and African values. Sharing his experience of working on the show, he said, "The cast is huge and includes some of the best-known names in world cinema. And my bonding became very amazing with the entire star cast and I have made a strong bond with each one of them but the one with whom I enjoyed a lot working with is Mofe-Damijo. The makers and especially our director Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, are very chilled out, as they let me be free to perform and didn't force anything on me, due to which I have given only one take for each of shot, for which I was praised a lot by the directors. As a result, this was a plus for me."

Aman on Anupamaa

Aman recently joined the cast of Anupamaa. He plays a dancer in Gurukul run by Apara Mehta's Malti and portrays grey shades. In a chat with TellyChakkar, he recently denied that the atmosphere on the show wasn't good and said that he has not had any such experience.

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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
Falaq Naaz has said she is not afraid of people digging up her brother Sheezan Khan's relationship with the late actor Tunisha Sharma. Tunisha was found dead on the sets of Alibaba Daastan-E-Kabul last year. Both Sheezan and Tunisha played the lead roles in the fantasy show. (Also read: Bigg Boss OTT 2 premiere highlights) Falaq Naaz is not afraid that people may dig up brother Sheezan Khan's past relationship with late actor Tunisha Sharma.

Sheezan and Tunisha

Sheezan and Tunisha dated each other for some time and his sister Falaq would also often interact with her. They broke up a few weeks before Tunisha died. Sheezan was arrested just a day after Tunisha's death. Tunisha's mom had filed a complaint against him and accused him of abetment to suicide. Sheezan stayed in jail for a few months and was released on bail earlier this year. He is now shooting for the adventure reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 in South Africa.

Falaq On hiding personal life

Falaq is one of the contestants on Bigg Boss OTT 2 which started streaming online on Saturday. Asked if it will be tough for her to keep her personal life away from the public eye inside the Bigg Boss house, Falaq told News18, Only those people are on a guard who fear something. Why should I be on guard when I have not done anything wrong? I already know the show's concept, there is no point hiding it.

She added, I think people only come to the show when they are truly ready for it. Mujhe kisi cheeze ka darr nahin hain. Im sure log mujhe bahut pyaar dene waale hain. Baki izzat dena toh upar wale ke haath mein hai (Im not scared of anything. Im sure people will give me a lot of love. As for respect, that is in the hands of God).

Falaq and Sheezan

Falaq was constantly in support of Sheezan ever since his name cropped up in the Tunisha Sharma death case. She spoke about their relationship, and even accused Tunisha's family of deserting her at a time when she needed close ones around her.

Bigg Boss OTT 2

Apart from Falaq, TV actors Jiya Shankar, Akanksha Puri, Abhishek Malhan, Bebika Dhurve, Palak Purswani, and Avinash Sachdev are also participants on Bigg Boss OTT 2. Other contestants include TV anchor-comedian Cyrus Broacha, TikTok star Manisha Rani, social media star Puneet Kumar and Bollywood actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt. Lebanon model Jad Hadid is also one of the participants on the show along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui's estranged wife Aaliya Siddiqui.

Bigg Boss OTT 2 is being streamed online 24X7 and edited episodes will be available at 9 pm everyday on JioCinema. It can be accessed free on JiCinema app and the website.

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Fans of Netflix's Korean web series Squid Game were left excited as the official cast for season two was announced. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Netflix shared a new video revealing the cast members. The first season of Squid Game, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk released in 2021 on Netflix. (Also Read | Netflix's Squid Games to hit screens with totally transformed new season in November) Squid Game 2 will have new cast members.

Squid Game 2 cast

The second season will see Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong Geun joining the cast as new players. Fans will also see season one cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo return to the show. The clip opened with a quick peek of season one. It then showed the new cast walking up to a podium. It has two lights--green and red. All of them press the green button.

Fans' react

Sharing the clip, Netflix wrote, "Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo will all be returning for Squid Game Season 2! And #TUDUM just revealed four new actors who will be joining the cast!" Reacting to the post, a fan wrote, "Cant wait for season 2." Another comment read, "No cause they came back with a hot plot.." Another person said, "Please more Gong Yoo, Lee Byung Hun."

An Instagram user commented, "I need a release date." Another person asked, "So basically Jeon Jae Joon is bankrupt and now he is going to make challenge on Squid Game season 2?!?!?!" A few people questioned the absence of female cast members. A person asked, "Are you kidding me no girls cast!???!" A comment read, "Okay but where are the women?" Another Instagram user said, "Where them girls at?" "Why are there no women," wrote another person.

Squid Game 2

As per a Soompi report, Squid Game is scheduled to begin filming in July. Earlier, Hindustan Times had reported that in the new season, 456 contestants will compete in a series of non-lethal challenges to win prize pool of $4.56 million. The new season will not have the deadly games but it will be thrilling and intense. Netflix earlier confirmed that Squid Game: The Challenge will hit screens in November this year.

Squid Game at Emmys

The hit Korean show became the first non-English-language series to be nominated for best drama at the Emmy Awards last year. However, it lost the award to the HBO series Succession. Lee Jung-Jae made history at the award show by becoming the first Asian actor to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Lee You-mi also became the first Korean female actor to win the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her appearance in the show.

Squid Game also won three other awards-- Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode, Outstanding Stunt Performance, and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More). Hwang Dong-hyuk also won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series.

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A man carried his injured son inside a hospital lift on a scooter due to the non-availability of a wheelchair. The video of the man, Manoj Jain, entering the lift of MBS Hospital in Rajasthan's Kota with his son, who had a fractured leg, on a scooter went viral on social media. Man enters hospital on a scooter.

Karnesh Goyal, Deputy Superintendent, MBS Hospital, said that Jain was asking for a wheelchair as his son's leg was fractured. Due to the unavailability of a wheelchair, the hospital authority allowed him to bring his scooter to the gate, he added.

However, in an unexpected twist, Jain seized the opportunity to take his scooter where no scooter had perhaps gone before  into the hospital lift!

Manoj Jain was asking for a wheelchair as his son's leg was fractured. As there was no wheelchair available, the hospital authority allowed him to bring his e-scooter to the gate, but he actually thought he was being allowed to enter the lift, Goyal said.

This is wrong. Now others also started demanding similar treatment.

Jain said, I was searching for a wheelchair but the hospital authority did not provide it. I asked them if I can take my son on my electric scooter inside the lift and they allowed me. Now they have taken the keys of my scooter.

Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, with netizens relishing the comedy gold that unfolded in the mundane setting of a hospital. Users flooded comment sections with jokes, memes, and comparisons to the iconic "3 Idiots" movie. The resemblance was uncanny, with many suggesting that Jain might have been channelling the spirit of Aamir Khan's mischievous character, Rancho, who always found unconventional solutions to problems.

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Former union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday took a jibe at the central government over the skyrocketing prices of flight tickets and said that India will be the Vishwaguru to the world on monopolistic capitalism. Congress leader P Chidambaram.(ANI)

Read here: Domestic airlines witness impressive growth; passenger count soars by 36%

Chidambaram took to Twitter and said, Delhi-Chennai Business Class air tickets on Vistara and Air India have been set at a 'reasonable' price of 6,300 and 5,700 respectively. Oops, sorry, they are set at a 'very reasonable' 63,000 and 57,000 respectively.

He further explained the issue in demand and supply terminology. In a long tweet, he said, "In free markets, when demand increases, supply will increase. In India's free market, when demand increases, prices will increase. Airlines will expand their routes, curtail flights on old routes and jack up prices. India will be the Vishwaguru to the world on monopolistic capitalism."

The former minister went on to explain the dynamics of the prices for Economy class and said that in a free market, there must be an intense competition to serve the best to the customers.

In other tweet, he said, On the SAME day and on the SAME route, the prices are 28,000 (AI) and 12,000 (VISTARA). As usual, the bhakts have missed the central issue. The issue is not who travels in what class. The issue is, why are fares rising practically every week? And why is AI charging 28,000 and Vistara charging 12,000 on the same day and on the same route?

He further added, This is what a monopoly or a duopoly does. In a free market, there must be competition. The more intense the competition, the better it will be.

Earlier, Congress leader KC Venugopal had slammed the union government for wreaking havoc among the middle class air travellers. "These skyrocketing airfares are wreaking havoc among the middle class. Govt's complete free pass to airlines and their rampant privatisation spree are responsible for today's dire situation," he tweeted.

Read here: 'Must ensure maximum prices are within limit': Govt on surge in airline tickets

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia replied to the Congress leader by slamming his "injudicious and misinformed remarks". He tweeted, We have advised airlines to self-regulate their fares under a certain limit-- the result of which is to reduce prices by 14%-60%with effect from June 6, 2023.

Earlier this month, Scindia hold a key meeting with the Airlines Consultative Group to discuss the issue of abnormal increased pricing on various routes. The minister ordered the airlines to self-monitor airfares on selected routes, especially those served by recently bankrupted GoFirst.
Jaipur: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched his partys campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, promising free electricity and health clinics if voted to power and accusing political opponents of indulging in corruption. Arvind Kejriwal (PTI)

Rajasthan will go to assembly elections later this year.

Also Read | Gurdaspur rally: CM Bhagwant Mann touring country as Arvind Kejriwals pilot, says Amit Shah

Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, who addressed a rally in Rajasthans Ganganagar district along with his party colleague and Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, attacked both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the backwardness and illiteracy in the country.

I have come here with a dream of making a new Rajasthan. The Congress ruled the state for 50 years and the BJP for 18 years, what have they doneonly corruption, Kejriwal said. We (AAP) dont know politics and corruption, but only how to work. Our work speaks for itself, be it in Delhi or in Punjab.

Also Read | Kejriwal in Rajasthan promises 300 units free electricity, better education

Hitting at Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the AAP chief alleged that when in Opposition, Gehlot and the Congress cornered former CM and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje over issues of corruption, but they did nothing after coming to power in the state in 2018.

Their leader Sachin Pilot got tired raising the issue, demanding action, but Gehlot did nothing, Kejriwal told the gathering. If you want politics of friendship then vote for them (Congress-BJP), but if you want politics of patriotism then vote for AAP.

The AAP leader also cornered the state government over various instances of examination paper leak. Here, 26 exam papers leaked in the last 10 years. It is not a leak the papers and future of children are sold, he alleged. This has never happened in Delhi during the AAP government.

Promising 300-unit free electricity if AAP is voted to power in Rajasthan, Kejriwal claimed that Gehlot though copied his partys model failed to deliver. Rajasthan CM makes announcements looking to polls and after the polls, he will withdraw citing budget issues, he alleged.

Targeting the BJP and specifically Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal claimed the country was being run by illiterate people.

I am educated and have a plan. PM Narendra Modi says India will become number 1 by 2047 but this country is run illiterates. First, they brought 2,000 currency notes to remove corruption, and now they are being removed for the same reason. Demonetisation pushed the country back by 20 years, he claimed.

In an appeal to the voters, the AAP chief said, If you want dirty politics, then vote for them. But if you want your children to have good education and jobs, then vote for Kejriwal.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Maan said the problems faced by farmers and traders in Rajasthan are similar to those people in his state used to face. But not anymore in Punjab as we brought a law against corruption and placed big ministers behind bars, Mann said, adding that 80% households in Punjab get free electricity and the condition of schools has improved.

Both the Congress and the BJP hit back at Kejriwal.

No other state can match Rajasthans performance  be it in health or education. Rajasthan is the first state to bring Right TO Health. The action taken against corruption is unmatchable in the state, Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said.

He added that Kejriwal was just making political statement and that the AAPs performance in Punjab was for everyone to see.

Kejriwal is the most unsuccessful chief minister. The AAP regime is full of corruption in Delhi and Punjab, BJP legislator and former minister Vasudev Devnani said. They are petrified of the PM.

Devnani said the Delhi CM was making baseless statement against Modi as his mindset is negative.
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal Sunday asserted that no one can dethrone the AAP government in either the national capital or Punjab for at least 50 years, the two regions where the decade-old party is in power. Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal during public rally in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar city on Sunday.

Kejriwals comments came during a public rally in Rajasthan, which is due for election this year. He was accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann as the two leaders visited the desert state to promote AAPs Delhi model of development.

No one can dethrone the AAP from Delhi and Punjab for at least 50 years... I request you to vote for AAP (in upcoming election) so that no one will be able to remove us from Rajasthan for the next 50 years," Kejriwal said at the rally held in Rajasthans Sri Ganganagar city.

During his address, the Delhi CM also took a dig at his Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot and even alleged him of trying to ruin AAPs rallies. When we were coming here, we saw Gehlot Saheb had put up his posters all over Ganganagar and around this stadiumthis would not have been necessary if he had worked for the last 5 years, he said. He also cornered the Gehlot government over a number of issues, including water and the paper leak case.

He also alleged that some people attempted to vandalise the rally and blamed the ruling Congress party for the act. 15-20 people came here and they were toppling chairs, all this is an act of cowardice. You (CM Gehlot) did not work for 5 years and this is the reason you are trying to ruin AAP rallies, Kejriwal alleged.

AAP which has secured a national party status after it won five seats in the Gujarat election, is seeking to expand its footprint with an eye on upcoming state assembly elections. In his address, Kejriwal also trained guns at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance as well as the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance governments in Centre.

"Only two parties - BJP and Congress - ruled the country in these 75 years. Today our country is poor, backward and our people are uneducated because of them"I have a plan to make India the No. 1 country of the worldwith that, we can eradicate poverty from the country in these 10 years, Kejriwal said as he appealed to the voters to choose AAP in Rajasthan.

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The Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress on Saturday demanded action against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged links with a Manipur-based militant outfit. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (HT File Photo)

They sought a "deeper investigation" by the police into the allegations against Sarma as he is holding a constitutional position in a border state.

The womens wing of the states main opposition party, led by its president Mira Borthakur Goswami, submitted a memorandum to the state director general of police in this regard.

It was reported in a section of the media that after his visit to the ethnic violence affected Northeastern state last week, Sarma met representatives of some militant groups from the Kuki community in Guwahati on Sunday night.

READ | Manipur violence: Mobs try to torch BJP leaders' houses, 2 injured in clash

The state Womens Congress claimed that a leader of a Kuki militant group has written to the Union Home Minister that his outfit had helped the BJP in the 2018 Manipur assembly polls.

The claim made in this letter, which has not been officially disputed, is shocking and chilling, the state Mahila Congress said in the memorandum.

Earlier on Thursday, 12 opposition parties, including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), AAP and TMC, had demanded the arrest of Sarma under the NSA for his alleged links with Manipur-based militant groups from the Kuki community.

READ | Manipur peace panel: Kukis unhappy, may not attend meetings; Meiteis welcome move

The parties had staged a sit-in protest here and condemned Sarma's "closed-door" meeting with leaders of some militant groups from the neighbouring state on Sunday.

No reactions could be obtained from the Assam Chief Minister, while the state BJP leaders refused to comment claiming that its central leadership was better positioned to speak on the matter.
Chandigarh: India exports some  40,000 crore worth of basmati every year to North America, Europe and the Middle East. (AFP)

PUSA1121, a popular variety of basmati rice known for its aroma and long grains, and favoured by exporters, will no longer be recommended by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, a top official said. The unit of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) would instead promote a new and improved variety of the aromatic rice labelled PUSA1885.

PUSA1885 is the new alternative to PUSA1121 as all its characteristics such as aroma, grain length, off white colour and best cooking results have been retained while adding resistance to the pest attacks, IARI director A K Singh said.

The new variety will require much less agrochemicals and will save farmers as much as 3,000 per acreon pesticides, while the yield will be four to seven quintals more, he added. The yield of PUSA1121, introduced in 2003, typically ranges between 18-20 quintals per acre.

India exports some 40,000 crore worth of basmati every year to North America, Europe and the Middle East. PUSA1121 is also a household name among rice eaters in the north India. In Punjab, the premium grain is grown in over 12 lakh acres. Neighbouring Haryana grows it on another 13 lakh acres.

Farm scientists say the gene pool of PUSA-1121 has weakened and it has lost its resistance to pest attacks, particularly neck-blast, forcing growers to resort to heavy sprays of fungicide tricyclazole.

The IARI will conduct farmer awareness drives to promote the new variety in the basmati growing states of Punjab, Haryana, UP , Himachal Pradesh and J&K, Singh said. They will be given seed packets of 1kg for trial. One kilogram of trial seeds can be multiplied to 500-800 kg..., Singh said. In the recent past, some shipments of basmati rice from India have been rejected when traces of tricyclazole were found in them. Importing nations have since tightened rules to check for harmful chemicals in the rice.

Two other basmati varieties, PUSA1401 and PUSA1509, have also been replaced by PUSA1847 and PUSA1886. All three new varieties are resistant to pests and give 20% more yield than their older versions, said Singh.

Exporters were, however, apprehensive that a change in nomenclature would confuse buyers.

In my opinion, the acronym for the new varieties should have been similar such as Super PUSA1121 so that there is no confusion among the buyers, said Ashok Sethi, an official of the Basmati Exporters Association. A sudden change in name may impact sales, he said.

The new varieties could benefit farmers for their higher yields and resistance to pests, said Vijay Setia, another exporter. Marketing the new varieties can be done once the improvements are evident, he said.

The Punjab government hopes that PUSA1885 will be grown over at least 20% of the total area under the premium crop, said Gurvinder Singh, director at the state agriculture department.

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Kolkata: Security personnel fire teargas shells amid violence in Bhangar during the filing of nominations for West Bengal Panchayat elections, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI)

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was found dead in West Bengals Cooch Behar district late on Saturday as the political tussle in the state intensified against the backdrop of a spate of violence ahead of the crucial panchayat elections.

The body of BJP worker Shambhu Das, who was also a relative of a party candidate, was found with multiple stab wounds in a jute plantation in the districts Dinhata area, police said.

An investigation has started. We are questioning several people including a woman and her daughter, a district police officer said on condition of anonymity. Seven people have died in separate cases of alleged political violence in the state since June 9, when the filing of nominations for the July 8 elections began. The nomination period concluded on Friday.

On June 15, the Calcutta high court ordered the deployment of central paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair panchayat polls.

The court order came on separate petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari and state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

The BJP blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress for Dass murder, saying that it was trying to intimidate Opposition candidates to withdraw their nominations. TMC has unleashed a reign of terror to grab maximum seats in the panchayat elections,  BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. The last date for withdrawing nominations is June 20.

Union minister of state (home) Nisith Pramanik said Das was murdered by miscreants sheltered by the TMC. Whenever poll dates are announced in West Bengal, opposition party activists and their family members are killed by members and supporters of the ruling party. There have been attacks even on my life by TMC goons in the past as policemen, who have become stooges of the ruling party, watched silently, he said. This year, the TMC has fielded 85,817 candidates, followed by the BJP with 56,321 candidates. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded 48,648 candidates and the Congress 17,750 nominees, the SEC said on Friday.

The last panchayat polls in 2018 witnessed large-scale violence and around 20 murders, with opposition parties alleging that their candidates were not allowed to file nominations and were intimidated. The TMC bagged around 90% of the seats, of which 34% were uncontested.

The TMC has emerged uncontested winner at around 20 panchayat samiti seats in Hooghly, East Burdwan and Bankura districts, according to according to the partys district leaders.

The CPI(M) won two reserved gram panchayat seats in the Raina area of East Burdwan district after two TMC candidates nominations were rejected during the scrutiny of papers, according to Apurba Chatterjee, CPI(M) district committee member.
Amid strains between allies BJP and AIADMK, the leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Sunday said every party has its own ideology and each of us will represent our partys stance until there is common understanding during elections. While reacting on Union home minister Amit Shahs target for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to win more than 25 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said AIADMK is looking forward to win on all 39 parliamentary seats. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami says AIADMK is aiming to win 39 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)

Every party has its own ideology and each of us will represent our partys stance until there is common understanding during elections, EPS said. It is not like the alliance of the DMK where they are sticking together all the time with no mind of their own we are not subservient to anyone. Its the DMK who keeps saying they are not afraid of ED because they faced MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) who is subservient to Congress. Because Congress brought MISA during Emergency and DMK is still in alliance with them.

EPS also reacted to chief minister and DMK president MK Stalins criticism that the AIADMK is being subservient to the BJP, afraid of raids from federal agencies after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested minister V Senthil Balaji on June 14. EPS criticised the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliances protest in Coimbatore on June 17 against the EDs action. When Stalin was in the opposition spoke against Senthil Balaji first on the scam because he was in the AIADMK then, EPS said.

ED has had eight days custody of Balaji since Friday but officials are allowed to interrogate him only inside the premises of the Kauvery hospital in Chennai where he is due for a heart bypass surgery. After 18 hours of questioning, the ED arrested Balaji under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) on June 14 at 1:39 am. The minister is accused of taking bribes from candidates in exchange for jobs in the state government when he was transport minister under the AIADMK government from 2011-2015 and the candidates neither got jobs nor their money.

Stalin had earlier wondered why the ED had not been interested in cases against former AIADMK ministers registered by the states Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). But Union home minister Amit Shah will meet these corrupt characters in Delhi, said Stalin. The AIADMK was governing till 2021. Why didnt they take action against Balaji then?

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Later this summer, California could be first American state to ban discrimination on the basis of caste. Earlier this year, California State Senator Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American, recently introduced a bill to add caste as a protected category under the states anti-discrimination laws, along with gender, race, sexual orientation, and age. Californias move, and the moves by universities, cities, and towns across the United States, to raise issues of caste discrimination has generated a massive controversy that is roiling the Indian American community. Based on her reporting in the United States, Sonia told Grand Tamasha host Milan Vaishnav that even having to identify or self-identify as Dalit is perceived by some Dalits in America to be a form of discrimination.

The freelance journalist Sonia Paul has been doggedly pursuing this story for years, even before it became a mainstream news issue. Sonia is an award-winning journalist, writer, producer and story editor based in Oakland, California, and she is the daughter of immigrants from India and the Philippines. She spoke about Americas caste battles on last weeks episode of Grand Tamasha, a weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Based on her reporting in the United States, Sonia told Grand Tamasha host Milan Vaishnav that even having to identify or self-identify as Dalit is perceived by some Dalits in America to be a form of discrimination. There is no one way of being a Dalit and people have different ways of negotiating with this identity. Some people are open about it, and others have a dont ask, dont tell policy about it, she explained. But if you think about how it works in India, when people apply for government jobs or education in public universities, they have to check a box disclosing their caste. So, when they come to the United States and they dont want caste to be relevant their first reaction is often Why should we mention caste? What is the relevance of this?

In 2020, a California state agency filed a lawsuit against the San Josebased tech giant Cisco, alleging caste discrimination against a Dalit employee. This opened the floodgates for other South Asian immigrants to come forward with their stories of discrimination. But Paul emphasizes that this should not be reduced to a phenomenon uniquely afflicting Silicon Valley and the technology sector. Ive heard stories about people working in restaurants being isolated and discriminated against because of their caste background, said Paul. Or when it comes to housing, where people try to get a room and theyre not necessarily signing a formal rental agreementand even if the room is offered, the person might take back that offer if they know the persons caste background, she continued.

However, not all South Asian Americans are equally able to exercise their rights, Paul cautioned. Lack of citizenship can often be an impediment to taking legal action. When it comes to immigration status, it goes beyond the H1-B [visa for high-skilled workers]It is common among South Asian communities, experiencing caste discrimination, where people are here on political asylum or even undocumented, Paul said. So, if theyre experiencing this discrimination that is already hard to explain and that is not very explicit in the law, what wherewithal do they have to go and file a file a lawsuit? These people are just trying to keep going with their lives.
The state government is mulling construction of tunnel roads crisscrossing the city, to ease out traffic congestions in Bengaluru, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday. HT Image

Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, held a meeting at Vidhana Soudha with noted personalities from various fields regarding the development of the state capital. Construction of tunnel roads in the city and development of satellite towns were among the suggestions that came across at the meeting.

Noting that suggestions came regarding the construction of tunnel roads crisscrossing the city, Shivakumar said: Few of those who attended the meeting said, get people from outside for this (tunnel roads), let them invest and maintain it for about 50 years and then give it back to the state. They said the government should take a bold step in this regard or else it will be a big problem for Bengaluru in the days ahead.

Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and MD of Prestige Group Irfan Razack, co-founder of Zerodha Nikhil Kamath, BJP MP from Bangalore North and former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda, were among those who attended the meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shivakumar after inspecting various locations that witness congestion, had said there are 18 points of traffic congestion in the city. Construction of either tunnels or flyovers to tackle traffic issues were being considered, he said.

Shivakumar on Saturday said an expert committee would be constituted to prepare a master plan or a blueprint for comprehensive development of Bengaluru city in six months. After rounds of consultations, we will constitute a committee of government officials and those willing to contribute from the private, to prepare a blueprint, a master plan for Bengaluru in six months.

The Deputy CM said another round of meetings will be held next week where the opinions of people from various fields will be heard. A website will also be launched and the opinions from the public will be collected, he said, adding, the process of making a grand plan for the comprehensive development of Bengaluru will be launched after that.

According to Shivakumar, many issues including high traffic corridors, extending metro rail service, reduction of traffic congestion especially at high-density traffic junctions in the city, solving the problem of waste management, purification and reuse of sewage water for industries and parks, improving slums, road widening, construction of peripheral ring road and elevated roads, were discussed in the meeting.

Some expressed displeasure over the suburban rail project not being initiated, he said, adding suggestions have also been received about completing the pending works of NICE Road and using it as a ring road, time-bound completion of projects, and eliminating corruption.
National Crime Investigation Bureau, an independent Non Government Organization (NGO) on Sunday cautioned against a concerning trend in crimes against women. The organisation said the criminals reportedly exploit children who pretend to be lost in public and use them as bait to lure women. Indian activists holds placards as they protest against violence and crimes against women, Siliguri ,July 26, 2013(AFP/Getty Images)

If a child is seen crying alone on the way and shows you his home address and asks you to drop him at that address, then take the child to the police station or call 100/112 and seek police help, the tweet by NCIB read, cautioning not to take the child to the mentioned address.

NCIB warned that this may be trap as it is a new method of gangs of criminals who kidnap/rape girls or demand ransom. The organisation said that women travelling alone in public such as to school, college, office or market are specifically vulnerable prey in these situations, as the kids are more likely to approach them.

In the last five years, the national crime records bureau (NCRB) recorded about 1 crore crimes against women, the central government had informed Parliament in March.

The latest data available with NCRB, which is of crime records from 2021, stated that a 15.3% increase in crime against women has been recorded in that year with nearly 4.3 lakh cases registered. Of these, while cruelty by husband or his relatives remained the the prominent nature of crime against women; kidnapping and abduction formed 17.6 per cent of the total registered case and rape 7.4 per cent.

NCIB is an independent crime and corruption killer team. It's website describes the NGO as working to keep the society crime free and safe

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Delhi Police special cell, in coordination with other national and international enforcement agencies on Friday and Saturday, conducted multiple raids and arrested four accused from different locations in India for cheating US citizens of millions of dollars, officials said. Delhi police special cell arrested four accused from different locations in India on Friday and Saturday (File Photo)

According to officials, the arrested accused allegedly cheated several US citizens of more than 20 million dollars. They posed posing themselves as Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and operated out of Uganda and India.

Commissioner of police (special cell) HGS Dhaliwal said that in December 2022, the US security service Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office of the Legal Attache, New Delhi, and Delhi Police collaborated to affect the arrest the four subjects, which was part of an international operation resulting in simultaneous arrests and searches of call centre fraud subjects in the US, Canada and India.

Also Read: 8.49 crore Ludhiana robbery: Mastermind Mona, husband arrested from Uttarakhand

From the last few days, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of special cell was receiving information from the FBI through Interpol about some international cyber criminals. As per the information, the cyber criminals with the aid and assistance of co-conspirators based in India, the USA and Uganda, were running call centres. They posed as employees of the US internal revenue service/social security administration, DEA and other US agencies, he said.

The special cell commissioner said that one of the suspects, Parth Armarkar (28), a resident of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, impersonated himself as the former acting administrator of the DEA and the director of Interpol in Washington to carry out the scam.

Armarkar defrauded victims for over 6 million USD through call centres operating in Uganda. He is an Indian national and visits India occasionally. The FBI and Delhi Police shared technical evidence and information on Armarkar which led Delhi Police to identify his whereabouts in Ahmedabad (Gujarat). Our team finally nabbed him from Ahmedabad, said Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal said that Armarkars boss Vatsal Mehta (29), who was on the run, was also arrested from Ahmedabad.

Also Read: RK Puram murder: Kejriwal slams Lt governor on law and order situation in Delhi

Further, two more accused  Deepak Arora (45) of Janakpuri (Delhi) and Prashant Kumar (45) of Dabri (Delhi)  who were the main co-conspirators, were arrested from Uttarakhand. They were on the FBIs radar for a long time. As part of coordinated action, the FBI has interviewed over 50 victims so far and also collected evidence of fraud for more than 20 million USD, which will be produced in court as per the procedure. Two victims from the US have also been examined through video calls by IFSO, he said.

The special cell commissioner added that all the arrested accused were produced in Patiala House court on Saturday, from where the police got their five days police remand.

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The Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its "outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods", according to an official statement. Gita Press, Gorakhpur logo is seen.(Gita Press facebook)

Read here: No Indian movie in Kathmandu amid row over Adipurush's 'Sita India's daughter' dialogue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gita Press for winning the prize and commended their contribution in the field.

"I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people. @GitaPress, PM Modi tweeted.

The jury headed by Prime Minister Modi unanimously decided to select Gita Press as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Culture.

Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service, the statement said.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world's largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, it said.

"Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 recognises the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense," the statement said.

The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the government in 1995, on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.

Read here: Sonia lauds Indira Gandhi: Even her critics recognised her core personality

The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The award carries an amount of 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item, the ministry said.

Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
The Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods, the ministry of culture announced on Sunday. Gita Press book stall

Instituted by the government in 1995, the Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.

The award carries a cash prize of 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. The past awardees include organisations such as ISRO and Ramakrishna Mission.

In a statement, the ministry said that after due deliberations, a jury, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unanimously decided to honour Gita Press, Gorakhpur, with the 2021 award, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press, in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service, the statement said.

In a tweet, Modi said: I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also conveyed his wishes to the Press. Heartiest congratulations to Gorakhpur-based Geeta Press, the most important centre of religious literature of Sanatan Dharma of India, on receiving the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, he tweeted.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the worlds largest publishers, having published 417 million books in 14 languages, including 162 million Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, the statement said.

The Congress, however, criticised awarding the prize to Gita Press and called it a travesty.

There is a very fine biography from 2015 of this organisation by Akshaya Mukul in which he unearths the stormy relations it had with the Mahatma and the running battles it carried on with him on his political, religious and social agenda. The decision is really a travesty and is like awarding Savarkar and Godse, Congress general secretary-in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

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Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has lauded a worker of a gas agency for carrying an LPG cylinder to the home of a consumer amid heavy rain in Rajasthan's Barmer. Worker who delivered the gas cylinder along with the consumer at in front of his residence.(Twitter/Hardeep Singh Puri)

Commending the act of the worker, Puri tweeted, The stove will keep burning, the country will keep growing Ensuring energy availability. With commendable dedication towards duty, this undaunted foot soldier of Indias energy sector braves the impact of #Biparjoy to supply an #Indane refill at a consumers home in village Dhok in Barmer, Rajasthan."

In a video posted by the minister, the man was seen carrying an LPG cylinder to a house braving heavy rain, and wading through rainwater on a lane amid Cyclone Biparjoy.

Union minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar also applauded the worker and said, So wonderful to see in Govt service - going beyond call of duty #MaximumGovernance #Seva

Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked havoc in Rajasthan and Gujarat in the past few days. In videos that surfaced online, damages were seen inflicted on vehicles and buildings due to the effect of the cyclonic storm.

Speaking about Biparjoy's impact on Rajasthan, NDRF DG Atul Karwal said earlier, It will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rajasthan and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated pockets of Rajasthan The wind speed will reduce to 40-50 kmph or even 60 kmph when it reaches Rajasthan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As many as 54 people have died due to the ongoing heatwave in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, while 44 people have reportedly lost their lives in Bihar in the last three days. Commuters out on a hot summer day at Connaught Place in New Delhi. North India has been reeling under heatwave for the last several days. (Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times)

The deaths in Ballia prompted the Uttar Pradesh government to launch a probe and transfer the chief medical superintendent of district hospital, Diwakar Singh, to Azamgarh. He has been made additional director (health) of the Azamgarh division.

It is to be noted that Ballia alone is not reeling under the heatwave. Several other districts in UP and other states in north India also swelter under severe heat.

Top updates on heatwaves in UP and Bihar:

1. At least 54 people admitted to a district hospital in Ballia died between June 15, 16 and 17 with scorching heat aggravating their pre-existing ailments.

2. Most of the patients were over the age of 60, officials said.

3. While 23 people died on June 15, 11 others died till the afternoon of June 16, a statement issued by the district health department said. Later, however, 10 more people died on Friday, a senior official at the hospital said.

4. On Saturday, 10 more deaths were reported in Ballia.

5. On Saturday, the Ballia district recorded a maximum temperature of 43C, five degrees above normal and a relative humidity of 25%, aggravating the impact of heat.

6. Dr SK Yadav has been given charge of chief medical superintendent of Ballia.

7. All the individuals were suffering from some ailments and their conditions worsened due to the extreme heat, Ballia chief medical officer Jayant Kumar told Associated Press on Saturday. He added that most of the deaths were because of heart attack, brain stroke and diarrhea.

8. In Bihar, of 44 deaths, 35 have died in Patna alone  19 patients died in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) and 16 in PMCH. Nine people have died in other districts of the state, India Today reported.

9. As per daily weather bulletin, Sheikhpura remained the hottest place in the state with the maximum temperature of 45.1C, Patna 44.7C, Gaya 44.1C, West Champaran 44.4C, Bhojpur 44.5C, Auranagabad 44.8C, Nawada 44.1C and Siwan 44C on Saturday.

10. All schools in Patna have been shut till June 24.

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Multiple landslides and flash floods induced by heavy rainfall hit normal life in several parts of Sikkim, with the army rescuing 300 more tourists stranded in the northeastern state on Sunday, officials said, adding that many remote villages remained inaccessible following three days of heavy rain. Indian Army personnel during a rescue operation in North Sikkim on Sunday. (PTI)

Also Read | Over 2,000 tourists stranded in North Sikkim as heavy rain triggers landslides

Sikkim has been receiving heavy rainfall since the arrival of monsoon on June 12, state government officials said, adding that heavy rains lashed North Sikkim on Friday. On Sunday morning, the army rescued 300 tourists from places such as Lachen and Lachung, taking the number of tourists evacuated since Saturday to 2,413, said officials. All 300 tourists were assisted to cross the temporary bridge for further movement towards Gangtok, the army said in a statement. The road connecting Dentam to Pelling and Gyalshing was inundated because of flood in the Kalaz river, said officials aware of the matter, adding that the floodwater damaged several houses.

Also Read | Heavy rains trigger flash flood in North Sikkim, submerge NH 10 at Pegong

As per Sikkim police, in West Sikkim, the road connecting Uttarey to Sopakha was inundated at several locations, while two bridges were washed away. The flood damaged a trout farm and a poultry farm. A house was also damaged at Sombaria in West Sikkim and the occupants had to be evacuated, Sikkim police said in a statement.

Flood in the Ramam river damaged all the wooden bridges that connect Sikkim to West Bengal, said official, adding that damage was also reported at NTPC Salangdang, where temporary sheds put up at the project site and some machines were washed away in the river.

All stranded tourists have been evacuated. It would take some time to repair the bridge over Supply Khola near Chungthang, said Hem Kumar Chettri, district collector of Mangan district in North Sikkim, adding that many villages in the area are cut off.

In Darjeelings Pulbazar community block, two remote villages, Gorkhey and Samanden, were cut off from other areas as a wooden bridge over Gorkhey rivulet got washed away, said an official. We are trying to relocate around 15 families to safer places as their houses in Gorkhey are damaged, said S Poonambalam, Darjeelings district magistrate.

We are assessing the situation as reports are coming in, Kalimpong district magistrate R Vimala said. But so far there is no report of any major damage.

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A woman hailing from West Bengal, who had been lost for a decade in Kashmir when she was a teeanger, was at last reunited with her family, with the help of police and the instrumental effort of a radio club on Saturday. Now a mother of three children, the woman met her family in a village in Baramulla area. The collaborative efforts of the vast network of radio clubs and Kultali police in West Bengal helped to locate the woman's family. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT Photo)

In a bid to meet her long lost family, the woman with the help of her brother-in-law, had approached the National Commission for Women some time back. However, not remembering much, all she could inform them was that she was from the Sundarbans area in West Bengal and her home had been close to Jaynagar railway station.

A collaborative effort

NCW reached out to police a month ago. The police sought the help of West Bengal Radio Club to deliver the womans message to her family. After getting the preliminary information from Baruipur Women Police Station, we could trace her family in Deulbari village. It comes under the jurisdiction of Kultali police station, secretary of West Bengal Radio Club, Ambarish Nag Biswas told news agency PTI, crediting the collaborative efforts of the vast network of radio clubs and Kultali police behind the success of the case.

On June 14, five family members of the woman, including her mother and brother left for Kashmir and they reunited after a decade at the womans in-laws' place. Many police personnel contributed money for the womans familys travel arrangements to help them reunite with their child, an officer of Kultali station said.

The woman had forgotten her mother tongue over the years, making it difficult to communicate with her. She cannot speak Bengali now. We spoke to her with the help of a translator, Biswas said, adding that initially she was unwilling to speak with them as they were strangers. Radio club members in Kashmir then sent a representative of a local NGO to her house one daythen it became easier for us, he added.

Lost as a teenager

The family told PTI that they had lost contact with her after her marriage in Kashmir. However, the radio clubs secretary said that the woman, as a teen, had gone to the northwestern state with a relative who returned without her. He reportedly told her family that he had made arrangements for her and that would be taken care of. The womans husband is a health department employee in Kashmir.

The family struggled financially and had been dependent on that relative to meet their needs. They initially did not question him over their daughter but later after failing to get information about her whereabouts despite repeated attempts, they snapped ties with him.

However, no complaint was lodged with the local police at that time, PTI reported.

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Candidates from Hyderabad and nearby regions dominated the test for admissions into Indias premier engineering colleges, the results of Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Advanced showed on Sunday, with a total of 43,773 securing the marks required for a successful seat. Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy with his parents. (PTI)

The test, known as one of the worlds toughest college qualifier assessments, was taken by 180,372 who first had to clear the JEE Mains, a relatively easier hurdle to clear. While JEE Mains are used by most engineering colleges in the country, including NITs (National Institutes of Technology) and other centrally funded technical institutions, qualifying the JEE Advanced is must to secure a seat in one of the 23 premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) colleges.

Acing the test this year was Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy from Hyderabad zone, who scored 341 out of 360 marks. Reddy, whose family is from Telangana, said studying at the IITs was a childhood dream. I am very happy and excited. I had expected that I will be in the top 10 and I got rank one, Reddy told news agency PTI.

The 17-year-old said he plans to take up Computer Science at IIT Bombay and wants to eventually take up research. Six months before the JEE, I used to study around eight to 10 hours every day. During the last two months, I studied 11-12 hours daily, he said.

Among female students, the highest score was bagged by Nayakanti Naga Bhavya Sree, also from Hyderabad zone. She secured 298 out of 360 and her overall rank was 56th. Male students continued to dominate the test, making up 83% of the total number of candidates who secured qualifying marks.

I think I could have got a better rank. I expected top 10. I used to study 12-13 hours every day. I plan to take Computer Science in IIT Bombay and later do research in maths. I am interested in maths, Sree said, according to PTI.

In all, roughly one in four students who took JEE Advanced scored the requisite number of marks.

The total number of students who qualified it last year was 40,712.

This year, in case of zone-wise performance, most -- 10,432 candidates -- were from Hyderabad zone qualified the exam, followed by IIT-Delhi zone (9,290), IIT-Bombay (7,957), IIT-Kharagpur (4,618), IIT-Kanpur (4.582), IIT-Guwahati (4,499), and IIT-Guwahati (2,395).

Six among the top 10 rankholders are from IIT Hyderabad zone.

Describing the criteria for inclusion in the rank list, the organisers this year, IIT-Guwahati, said that the aggregate marks are calculated as the sum of the marks obtained in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Candidates have to satisfy the subject-wise as well as the aggregate qualifying marks to be included in a rank list, they said.

Since the qualifying marks for JEE (Advanced) increased this year to reach a four-year high. For instance, for the common rank list, the minimum percentage marks in each subject increased to 6.83% from 4.40% last year. Similarly, for the common rank list, the minimum percentage of aggregate marks has also increased to 23.89% from 15.28% last year.

The qualifying percentage for JEE (Advanced) for the unreserved category had increased to 90.7 percentile this year from 88.4 percentile last year.

Similarly, the cut-off for Other Backward Classes-Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) increased to 73.6 percentile from 67 percentile; for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates it has increased to 75.6 from 63.1; for Schedule Caste (SC) candidates to 51.9 from 43; and for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates it had increased to 37.23 this year from 26.7 percentile last year.

Officials said that the qualifying marks and marks required to be included in the rank list increased because of the increase in the number of candidates this year. 180,372 candidates had appeared for the exam against last years tally of 155,538. Therefore, the cut-off and the minimum percentage marks in each subject have also increased, said a senior official at the organising IIT.

The Joint Seat Allocation (JoSAA) counselling for the allotment of seats will begin from Monday.

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India has raised serious concern over Myanmar allowing China to establish monitoring and surveillance facilities at Coco Islands in Bay of Bengal to track Indias missile launches off the Balasore test range in Odisha as well as strategic assets stationed off the eastern seaboard south of city of Visakhapatnam. The air strip at Coco Island has been extended to 2300 meters to accommodate transport aircraft.

It is understood that while India will continue engagement with the present political leadership of Myanmar led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, South Block has raised the issue of Coco Islands and is not satisfied with the answers it has received from Naypyidaw. On the face of it, the Myanmar junta has denied that the Chinese have any role to play in extending the runway, hardened shelters, setting up monitoring stations or infrastructure development in Coco Islands.

While the Myanmar junta is wary of China, it has no option but to go with Beijing as the latter has continuously engaged the government since the west declared the military regime a pariah after the 2021 coup led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing against arch-rival Aung San Suu Kyi. China has given some USD four billion in aid to Myanmar and is trying to rope in Naypyidaw in Belt Road Initiative along with Bangladesh to form a China-Myanmar-Bangladesh corridor to project dominance in Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

Inputs to national security planners and available satellite imagery clearly show that the runway at Coco Island has been extended to accommodate transport aircraft flights as well as new shed/barracks have been constructed with nearly 1500 military personnel including Chinese living on the island. It was George Fernandes, Defence Minister in the Vajpayee government, who had first highlighted the presence of Chinese monitoring in Coco but was derided by the China supporters in India.

Currently, construction of a causeway to link with the adjacent Jerry Island is taking place with land being cleared by the Myanmar military personnel. Fact is that the Myanmar Army or Tatmadaw has seeped into Burmese society, and it is unforeseen in the near future that the junta can be overthrown by the democratic forces.

While India will continue to raise the Coco Islands issue with Myanmar, it is worried about the PLA monitoring the movement of Indias nuclear submarines at its newly constructed naval base at Rambilli, mere 50 kilometers from Visakhapatnam. Indias ballistic missile firing submarines are based on its eastern board with the new SSBN currently being refitted near Visakhapatnam. The nuclear and conventional missile test firing range at Balasore and at APJ Abdul Kalam Island are virtually on the same latitude as Coco Island. This means the Chinese deep state can not only monitor the range of Indian missiles but also have a clear idea about its lethality through its air surveillance and ballistic missile tracking ships often crisscrossing the Indian Ocean.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail
During Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to Washington DC on June 22, India and the United States (US) will step up their space-related collaboration in three areas of human space flight, planetary defence, and commercial space activity, people familiar with the discussions said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the US next week (via REUTERS)(HT_PRINT)

The two countries are also discussing New Delhis participation in the Artemis Accords.

Under the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET), agreed upon by both national security advisors, Jake Sullivan and Ajit Doval, in January, the White House factsheet had mentioned strengthening human space flight cooperation; identifying innovative approaches for both countries to collaborate in the commercial space including through a joint working group; and identifying new talent and encouraging exchanges by expanding the professional engineer and scientist exchange programme.

During Modis visit, those familiar with the discussions said, there will be movement on all fronts. On human space flight, it is understood that there will be deeper collaboration on astronaut training, crew rescue and other activities.

The January factsheet mentioned this would include advanced training for an Indian Space Research Organization (Isro)/Department of Space astronaut at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Also Read | PM Modi proposes full G20 membership for African Union

This, people said, would help Indias Gangayaan mission, which aims to demonstrate human space flight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission now scheduled for 2025.

If the negotiations translate into concrete outcomes, it will also be the first time India and the US will work together on planetary defence. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a planetary defence coordination office set up in 2016 that looks for and catalogues near-earth objects (NEOs) such as comets, asteroids, and potentially hazardous objects, which come within 30 million miles of the earths orbit. It warns of the potential impact of NEOs and works with other governments to ensure global planetary defence efforts are coordinated and streamlined.

Another area where both countries will step up their cooperation is commercial space activity. With India liberalising its space sector in 2020, the country is home to a growing private sector space industry with start-ups at the cutting edge of technology. The growing collaboration will be reflected both at Indus-X  an event being hosted by the US-India Business Council to accelerate start-up innovation and connect them with big capital and governments  as well as the constitution of a working group.

India and the US are also discussing the possibility of New Delhis participation in the Artemis Accords  a multilateral exploration programme led by the US, with the participation of 24 other countries and one territory, that establishes a framework for civil cooperation and peaceful use of the moon, Mars and other astronomical objects.

On Friday, a senior NASA official Bhavya Lal told PTI that the agency feels quite strongly that India should be a part of the Accords. In recent years, India and the US have stepped up their space cooperation. At the 2+2 dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of both countries in April 2022, they agreed on an agreement on working together on space situational awareness. Isro and NASA are also working on Nisar, scheduled to be launched from India in 2024.

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The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) countered Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's tweet on Adani acquiring ticket platform Trainman and said it will not be a threat or a challenge to the IRCTC. Adani-owned Trainman will only complement IRCTC without being a threat or a challenge to the IRCTC. Trainman is one of the 32 authorised business-to-customer partners of the IRCTC and the Adani Enterprises taking it over will not change anything, the IRCTC said in a tweet replying to Jairam Ramesh's statement: 'First competition with IRCTC, then takeover'. Adani Digital Labs has acquired Trainman, an online train ticket booking app. (REUTERS)

"This is a misleading statement," the official handle of the IRCTC posted.

Adani Digital Labs, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises signed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100 per cent stake in the online train ticket booking platform Trainman making it Adani's first footstep in the railways sector. Trainman was founded in 2011 to book train tickets, check live running status and the PNR status.

Trainman was founded by IIT-Roorkee graduates Vineet Chirania and Karan Kumar as a startup for all train ticket related issues. Adani Digital Labs Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company has signed a Share Purchase Agreement in relation to its proposed acquisition of 100% stake in Stark Enterprises Private Limited, also known as Trainman, an online train booking and information platform, a stock exchange notification from the Adani Group read.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann in a television interview addressed the allegations of alcoholism and said that for the past 12 years, it has been alleged against him that he drinks the whole day and night. "Tell me something. Can a person be still alive if they have been drinking day and night for the last 12 years? They are not alive, no? So is my liver made of iron? When they (the opposition) have nothing to point out, they say I am always drinking. I wake up at 6am and ask for the first file. That's how I have already completed so much of work in the last 1.5 years that did not happen in the last 70 years," Bhagwant Mann said at Aap ki Aadalat show. Bhagwant Mann addressed the allegations of alcoholism at a television interview

In January 2019, Bhagwant Mann at a public rally vowed to quit drinking in the presence of his mother and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. However, the alcoholic tag did not ever leave him as last year the opposition claimed that Bhagwant Mann was so drunk in Germany that he was deboarded from the plane. He was too drunk to even walk, opposition leaders claimed alleging that the flight got delayed because of that. The AAP refuted the allegations.

There were other instances when Bhagwant Mann was alleged to be drunk in Parliament, at a funeral and gurdwara.

On Sunday, Union home minister Amit Shah called Bhagwant Mann Kejriwal's pilot and said while Punjab's law and order situation is deteriorating, Mann has been touring the country like Kejriwal's pilot.

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The Twitter account of the prominent tribal leaders' group that has been spearheading the agitation in Manipur against the N Biren Singh-led BJP government, Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), has been withheld. Calling it as a shocking act of censorship, the statement released by ITLF said its handle has been blocked in response to a legal demand. Heavy police force deployed after violence occurred in several areas of Manipur, on Sunday.(ANI)

The ITLF Media Cell Twitter account, vital for raising awareness about Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, has been blocked in India. Despite tirelessly working towards addressing their challenges, this censorship is yet another attempt to stifle marginalized voices," the statement said, adding that it amounts to a violation of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which talks about the freedom of speech and expression, as well as the United Nation treatyy of 1948 on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Statement released by ITLF.

In the wake of a series of fresh violence in the state, the Manipur government has extended the ongoing ban on internet services for another five days. The government had imposed the internet shutdown for the first time on May 3 when the ethnic violence first erupted in the state.

Recently, mobs attempted to torch down houses of BJP leaders in Imphal, according to news agency PTI. Two civilians were reportedly injured after mobs clashed with security forces.

ITLF alleged that the blocking of its Twitter handle will lead to severely limiting and hampering the ability of the tribal communities to report from the ground about daily attacks.

By obstructing the ITLF media cell's reach and dissemination of vital information, our limited efforts to shed light on the ongoing ethnic cleansing committed against us have been choked, the statement added.

At least 115 people have been killed and another 40,000 displaced since violence between the tribal Kukis, who mostly reside in the hill districts, and the Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken suo-moto cognisance of the recent clash between a crowd and police official in Gujarat's Junagadh district. Based on a video clip shared by news agency ANI, the child rights body raised concerns over several minors taking part in the clash which involved throwing stones at police. It has written a letter to district's superintendent of police asking to take action within seven days. Security personnel deployed after clashes erupted over Junagadh Municipal Corporation's notice to produce documents regarding the ownership of land to a mosque situated near the Majewadi Darwaja.(PTI)

The commission has taken suo-moto cognisance under Section 13(1)(j) of CPCR Act, 2005 of a video circulation on Twitter wherein it has been brought to the notice that a massive violence took place in JunagadhThrough the said video, it is evident that many minor children have been seen stone pelting and are further seen to be a part of the mob, NCPCR said in the letter.

The clash erupted following the civic body's to a mosque situated near Mejevadi Gate as a part of its anti-encroachment drive which led to the death of one person, and at least five police personnel were injured.

At least 174 people have been detained in connection with the incident that saw around 500-600 protesters pelting stones and clashing with police near Majevadi Darwaja dargah on Friday night. The police lobbed tear gas shells and baton-charged the protesters to control the situation, officials said.

The commission alleged that there is a breach of Sections 83(2) and 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 along with other relevant provision of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Section 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act talks about rigorous imprisonment for around seven years along with a fine up to 5 lakh to those adults or adult groups for using children to carry out illegal activities either individually or as a gang.

Under Section 75 of the same act, an individual can be punished for assaulting, abandoning, abusing or willfully neglecting children.

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Mysuru Police personnel are being trained in a 120ft deep quarry.

The Kodagu district police have begun providing rock climbing training to police personnel to conduct rescue operations more effectively during natural calamities, officials aware of the matter said.

Thousands of people incurred loss of properties and cattle when the district witnessed landslides, incessant rainfall, in 2018 ,2019 and 2020 during the rainy season particularly in August.

During every rainy season the people living in low-lying areas live under fear. Hundreds of villagers are shifting to relatives houses to escape from possible calamity, officials said.

This year the Kodagu police department provided training to more than 100 police personnel to work effectively during natural calamities in rainy season. Along with police personnel we are also using civilians to assist police forces during natural calamities in rainy season, Kodagu SP K Ramarajan told HT.

Now, training is being provided at stone quarry areas with depth of more than 120 feet to team of 20 civil police and 20 reserve police personnel. During calamities the police forces cant reach remote areas due to road blockages and heavy rains. During such situations we could use the service of local people as they know the local areas well and play vital role in rescuing people and cattle, he said.

He said along with rock climbing the training is provided to climb up trees to police personnel. In case of floods and landslides, they have practiced how to reach the dangerous places and save the people. They have also practiced walking on wires. He assured the people that they are ready to protect them through this and would face any kind of situation. SP Ramarajan himself climbed the stone quarry to instill courage to the staff.

He said tough training is not provided to civilians but they use their services.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 102nd edition of his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat. Usually held on the last Sunday of every month, the flagship radio programme was aired early this month because PM Modi is set to embark on a State visit to the United States from June 21 to 24. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Modi for state dinner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(Twitter)

On April 30, Mann Ki Baat marked its 100th episode with a global live broadcast, including at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Touted as a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme, Mann Ki Baat started on October 3, 2014. So far, the programme addressed key topics ranging from women, social groups, youth and farmers. Along with 22 Indian languages, the radio programme is also broadcasted in 11 foreign languages.
India-US to step up space cooperation during PM Modi visit During Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to Washington DC on June 22, India and the United States (US) will step up their space-related collaboration in three areas of human space flight, planetary defence, and commercial space activity, people familiar with the discussions said. Read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the US next week (via REUTERS)

The Archies teaser: Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda fall in love, face heartbreaks in this coming-of-age story

The teaser of The Archies was unveiled on Sunday night during Netflixs Tudum event in Brazil. Zoya Akhtar's adaptation of stories from Archies Comics marks the debut of Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan, the late Sridevis daughter Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda. Read more

Father's Day 2023: 7 essential facts men must know about their reproductive health

In a world where conversations surrounding reproductive health are often focused on women, it's crucial not to overlook the equally important aspect of men's reproductive well-being. Read more

'Look at his inconsistent IPL form over years and now WTC final. Rohit has ...': Smith's blistering take on IND skipper

Team India captain Rohit Sharma hasn't been in good form in 2023, and saw his woes continue in the WTC final as India crashed to a defeat vs New Zealand, at The Oval in London. Read more

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After remaining shut for over 20 days, businesses owned by Muslim traders in Purola town of Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district reopened on Sunday in first signs of normalcy following weeks of communal tension over an alleged abduction attempt on a minor girl by two men last month. HT Image

Several Muslim families and traders left the town following protests by right-wing organisations, who alleged the abduction was part of a love jihad attempt  a claim denied by the minors uncle, who is a complainant in the case.

According to people aware of the details, the market roughly consists of 650-700 shops and of these, around 30-40 are run by Muslims.

I was born here and have been running my shop since 2002. My father arrived here from Bijnor area of Uttar Pradesh. I am very happy that normalcy is gradually returning. I opened my shop today and also had several customers. Local residents have been very supportive, said Mohammad Ashraf, who runs a garment shop in the market, said.

Ashraf said nearly seven to eight shopkeepers have resumed business. Nearly 13 to 14 shopkeepers, who left Purola amid the tension, are yet to return. They will perhaps return and reopen their shops in the coming days, he added.

Saif Ali, who owns a salon in the market, said: I last opened my shop on May 27. With an improvement in the situation and assurance by the administration, I got back to work today. Many customers told me whatever happened was unwarranted. They are very supportive. I am happy that I will be able to do business as usual.

The return marks the beginning of some normalcy in a town where the social fabric was damaged by right-wing groups peddling rumours and discredited allegations about interfaith unions. The administration and police must remain vigilant to forestall any such attempts in the future, safeguard the rights of all citizens and prosecute those indulging in hate speech, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines

The interfaith tensions trace back to May 26 after two men, a Muslim and a Hindu, allegedly tried to abduct a 14-year-old girl. Local residents alleged it was a case of love jihad  a term used by right-wing groups to describe an alleged conspiracy by Muslim men to woo and seduce Hindu women, although courts and the Union government do not officially recognise it.

While the two accused  Ubed Khan (24), a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini (23), a motorcycle mechanic  were arrested on May 27, the incident led to right-wing groups holding protests in several areas and attacking shops and houses of several Muslims.

On May 29, a protest march by right wing outfits in Purola turned violent after some of the agitators attacked shops and establishments belonging to the Muslims. A similar protest was held on June 3, under the banner of Yamuna Ghati Hindu Jagriti Sangathan. Nearly 900 people took part in the stir.

Posters began to appear across Purola asking Muslim traders to leave before a proposed Hindu mahapanchayat  which was later disallowed by the district administration  on June 15.

Section 144 of CrPC, which prohibits the gathering of four or more people in a particular area, was enforced on June 14 and will remain in place till Monday.

Mohammad Raees, who owns a salon and a garment shop in the market, said if his business was to remain shut for another day, it would have led to a financial crisis. Our family has been living here for 62 years. I am happy that the situation is normal again. Two women who work in the salon have also resumed duty.

On Saturday, HT reported that the minor girls uncle said there was no communal angle in the case. There were attempts from the first hour to make this a communal issue. Right-wing activists even prepared a police complaint for us on their own, but the police didnt accept it. It was never a love jihad case, but a regular crime. Those that committed it, are behind bars, the 40-year-old man said.
The Congress on Saturday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that it had renamed the Nehru Park in Madhya Pradesh's Budhni after chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's elder son. The party also claimed that his younger son's name was given to another park in the state. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. (HT File Photo)

Attacking the BJP over the renaming spree, former minister and Congress leader Ajay Singh said, "The name of Nehru Park (named after Jawaharlal Nehru) has been changed after Shivraj Singh Chouhan's elder son Kartikeya Singh Chouhan while another park is named after younger son Kunal".

Shivraj ji should tell what is the contribution of Kartikeya and Kunal. Where Kartikeya stands in front of Jawaharlal Nehru, who contributed immensely to the country's independence and to building a new India? Singh added.

READ | Why not Nehru Memorial PMs' Museum...some value: Shashi Tharoor on renaming row

However, the BJP was quick to retort on the matter and said the Congress should not have any objection if local people choose to rename the parks out of their love for the sons of CM Chouhan.

Ajay Singh is watching everything from the Congress's perspective. So, he sees Nehru, Firoz Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi everywhere and the Congress believes that everything should be named after them. What is the objection if local people named these parks in their town out of their love? Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi asked.

Earlier, the Congress attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society. The party's general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, Pettines & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years, NMML has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state.

READ | Shehzad Poonawalla's Parivaar Ki Bhakti jibe at Congress over Nehru museum

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted in Hindi, Those who do not have any history, they have gone to erase the history of others. The ill-fated attempt to change the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library cannot belittle the personality of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and fearless guardian of democracy. This only shows the low mentality and dictatorial attitude of BJP-RSS.

(With inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi: The move is being done to establish better communication with vessels in sea and monitor Indian waters more efficiently. (Representational image)

To establish better communication with vessels in sea and monitor Indian waters more efficiently, NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), is setting up mobile satellite service (MSS) terminals on at least one lakh motorised and fishing boats across 13 coastal states, officials said.

NewSpace India has started selecting private vendors to supply, install and commission MSS terminals for establishing vessel communication and support system in marine fishing vessels for monitoring, control and surveillance, they said, requesting anonymity.

The overall scope of work of the project includes establishment of a dedicated MSS satcom network for supporting emergency communication and tracking of maritime assets Xponders. This includes establishment of dedicated 9m/11m C-band ground station and hub baseband system, arranging for satellite bandwidth and guiding required service approvals and building satellite terminals for field deployment across nine coastal states and four union territories, the companys proposal document said.

The system will be powered by Indias own navigation satellite system, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), which was launched by Isro last month.

The network will consist dedicated ground stations and satellite terminals for field deployment to provide better security to fishermen in Indian waters and improve national security. These Xponders will be installed in coastal states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and West Bengal.

Once the network is established, authorities will be able to form a two-way communication system with fishermen, access locations periodically, issue emergency weather alerts, issue alerts for international water border violations and also provide accurate navigation alerts, officials said.

All Xponders will have in-built wifi and bluetooth transceivers to communicate. A multilingual app is also being developed to allow communication between the app and transponders, an official said.

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Few girl students who appeared for the Urdu medium degree examination on Saturday at KV Ranga Reddy College in Santosh Nagar, Hyderabad were allegedly asked to remove their burqa before taking the examination. Some girl students took off their burqa and went to the examination centre.

Telangana Home Minister Mahmood Ali condemned the incident and assured that the necessary action will be taken against the perpetrators. However, he cautioned women from wearing short dresses.

"Some Headmaster or Principal might be doing this but our policy is totally secular. People can wear whatever they want," Mahmood Ali said. "Nowhere it is written that a burqa can't be worn. We will take action," he added.

"If you wear European dress, it will not be correct. We should wear good clothes, especially women," he said.

He added, For women, if they are in less clothing it might be a problem. People will be at peace if they wear more clothes.

"College authorities forced us to remove our burqa before entering the examination center. They asked us to wear the burqa outside," one of the women students who came for the examination said.

Few girl students who appeared for the examination at KV Ranga Reddy College alleged that the college management stopped them from appearing in the burqa. The college staff at the examination centre asked them to remove the burqa, they claimed.

The girl students further alleged that in this confusion, they were prevented from appearing in the examination for about half an hour.

While, some girl students took off their burqa and went to the examination centre. Following this incident, the parents of the girl students complained to Home Minister Mahmood Ali about this issue.
A day after Union minister Nitin Gadkari termed the removal of chapters on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar by the Karnataka government unfortunate, the Congress said the senior BJP leader was trying to please the Rashtriya Swayamseval Sangh (RSS) because Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah don't like him. Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said his party believes that the students should be taught about the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and not of his assassin. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.(PTI)

We believe students of India and Karnataka should study about (BR) Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi's ideology rather than studying about KB Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar's ideology, Vallabh said.

Nitin Gadkari is saying so because he is trying to please RSS as PM Modi and Amit Shah don't like him. Otherwise, he also knows that Savarkar's and Hedgewar's ideology is not India's ideology, he added.

Gadkari on Saturday said Savarkar was a social reformer and patriot, and it was unfortunate that chapters on him and RSS founder K B Hedgewar were being removed from the school syllabus.

The senior BJP leader was speaking at the launch of the book "Veer Savarkar" in Nagpur.

It was unfortunate that a person (Savarkar) and his family who gave everything for the country had to face insults, Gadkari said.

Savarkar had said that Hindutva is all-inclusive and free from casteism and communalism, the minister said.

"Savarkar was a social reformer, and he is a role model for us," he added.

Without naming anyone, he added that it was very unfortunate that Dr Hedgewar and Savarkar were being removed from school syllabus, and "there is nothing as painful as this."

The Congress government in Karnataka recently kicked up a row by removing chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar from school textbooks.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)

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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
Opposition leaders targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking on the ongoing violence in Manipur during his latest Mann ki Baat episode Sunday. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said that the prime minister patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management but remained silent on entirely man-made humanitarian disaster confronting Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing episode of Mann Ki Baat (Twitter Photo)

So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur. Still no appeal for peace from him, Ramesh said in a tweet.

There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question, he added.

In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi lauded India's increasing capability to deal with natural disasters as he expressed confidence that the people of Kutch will quickly recover from the devastation caused by cyclone Biparjoy. Modi said the Emergency was a dark era in the country's history when atrocities were committed on those supporting democracy.

He asserted that India is the mother of democracy which holds democratic values and the Constitution supreme and, therefore, we cannot forget June 25 when Emergency was imposed on us.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, Enough Mann Ki Baat now is time for some Manipur ki Baat. Honourable PM @narendramodi ji.

Violence spiralled in strife-torn Manipur this week, with mobs torching the houses of Union minister and BJP leaders. A mob clashed with Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel after it had set a warehouse afire and also burnt tyres, logs and waste in the middle of streets in Wangkhei, Porompat and Thangapat areas affecting the flow of traffic in Imphal.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3 over a court-proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the former. A total of 115 people have lost their lives since then and more than 300 have been injured.

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New Delhi: The meeting of opposition parties in Patna on June 23 aims to prepare a common ground for a national-level understanding among themselves and make an announcement that they have come together to secure the secular, democratic character of India. The meeting of opposition parties in Patna is seen as a precursor to subsequent rounds of talks to chalk out a larger coalition to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)

No breakthrough is expected in the first meeting, which will be more of a warm up for subsequent rounds of engagement between the political outfits, two leaders who will participate in the meeting said, seeking anonymity.

Efforts are on to make a declaration of intent in the Patna meeting to address two basic questions: Why the opposition parties are keen to join hands to defeat the central government and why the meeting in Patna is important, one of them said.

We are discussing a declaration of intent by all the participants that will speak of securing the character of a secular and democratic India, the first leader said. We also want to highlight how the supremacy of Indian Constitution have been mercilessly assaulted and why we have to stand in defence of India and all its people.

Contentious issues such as a proposal to put up a common opposition candidate in at least 400-450 seats against the Bharatiya Janata Party will be discussed in another meeting, the second leader said.

The meeting in many senses would be a preparatory meeting for like-minded opposition parties to come together. In some cases, we have to find a way to ensure state-level political compulsions dont obstruct the united fight against the BJP at the national level, he said.

To be sure, any national-level formation by the opposition parties will need to overlook major political contradictions in certain states. The Aam Aadmi Party has been fighting the Congress as well as the BJP in many places, including Delhi and Punjab. It has also fought elections outside its traditional areas, such as in Goa and Karnataka. In West Bengal and Tripura, Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress has been fighting against the Congress and the Left parties, while in Kerala, the Congress and the Left have remained rivals.

In this situation, we have to find a common thread in the Constitution and the idea of India to keep these parties together, the first leader said.

In the meeting, the Trinamool Congress is expected to propose setting up of a Delhi-based, small working group to handle day-to-day issues and better coordination among the opposition constituents.

The oppositions efforts have already faced some hiccups. Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha is on the verge of leaving the ruling alliance in Bihar. Telanganas Bharat Rashtra Samithi has decided not to join the Patna meeting although chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been one of the key interlocutors for opposition unity.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Saubhadra Chatterji Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies. ...view detail
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to his counterparts among the Group of 20 (G20) members, calling for the African Union to be given full membership of the grouping at its September summit in New Delhi, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)

The proposal was made in line with a request from the Union, which is made up of 55 countries of the African continent, the people said. The move, they said, is aimed at enhancing Africas voice on the international stage and in shaping the future of our shared world.

The G20, which was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, comprises the 20 largest economies. The groupings members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union.

The people said Modi has led from the front on the issue of the African Unions membership of the G20, which he strongly advocates and supports.

The African Unions membership of G20 will be a right step towards a just, fair, more inclusive and representative global architecture and governance, one of the people cited above said.

India is set to host the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September.

Modi is also a strong believer in having a greater voice for the countries of the Global South, particularly of African countries, on international platforms, the people said.

As part of Indias G20 presidency, Modi has focused on incorporating the priorities of the African countries in the groupings agenda, they said.

Earlier this year, India hosted the Voice of Global South Summit to ascertain the priorities and concerns of the developing countries so that they could be incorporated into the agenda for the G20 this year.

While the G7 has pushed back against Russias invasion of Ukraine, India has pressed the G20 to focus on the economic fallout of the Ukraine crisis, especially food, fuel and fertiliser insecurity in the Global South.

The African Union was founded in 2001 to replace the Organisation of African Unity. The total population of the member states of the African Union is more than 1.3 billion. The African Union represents the interests of African states at international forums and it has the status of a permanent observer at the United Nations General Assembly.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 102nd episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. The monthly radio programme, which is usually held on the last Sunday of every month, was aired early this month as the PM is set to embark on a visit to the United States from June 21 to 24.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi(ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the United States (US) reflects a change in equations, where, from a time when India was more keen on working with the US, there is now a moment where the US is equally excited to work with India and both sides are keen to achieve substantive outcomes, M R Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, among the most influential global Indian diaspora organisations, has said. M R Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, said the India-US ties are primarily being led by whats happening in general geopolitically.

Also Read | PMs US visit to be a watershed, says General Atomics global corp chief executive

The visit, Rangaswami said, will see India recognised as a global power and is driven by strategic convergence between Delhi and Washington on global issues. There is palpable excitement within the Indian diaspora about the visit and Modis popularity will be reflected in the visit, even as, given that both countries are democracies, there will also be notes of dissension, he noted.

Asked what made this visit so unique given that the PM has visited the US more than half a dozen times in his tenure, Rangaswami said, In the last nine years since his first visit, the Indian economy has literally doubled, the India-US trade has doubled, all statistics are pointing to 45 degrees to the right. The diaspora has grown tremendously in terms of its success and impact, to the point that the Economist this week had a story on how the Indian diaspora is largest and most influential in the world. It is a combination of all these things that has caused this state visit to be so unique, so historic and is causing so much excitement.

Also Read | India-US to step up space cooperation during PM Modi visit

Rangaswami said that the tone had changed. Initially, India wanted to do more with the US and there were a lot of expectations on the Indian side. The equation has altered where the US side is equally excited and wants to do stuff. Both sides want to make things happen. Given President Joe Bidens commitment and the number of ministerial meetings that have happened, its clear that both sides want to make stuff happen. He added that he hoped to see greater collaboration on the climate crisis, the existential challenge of these times.

Emphasising that while diasporas growing influence in politics and policy had indeed helped in driving the relationship, Rangaswami said, But these members of the diaspora in the administration are Americans first and Indians later. Thats why I think the relationship is primarily being led by whats happening in general geopolitically China has been a thorny issue with the US and India. The engagement level on the global stage has been tremendous with Quad and I2U2.

With immigration a key concern in the diaspora, Rangaswami said that visa delays for Indian students and visitors, and the long wait times for conversion from H1B to green cards and then green cards to citizenship, remained a key concern in the community. This visit is really going to convey the frustration on both sides. It is for the Congress to push immigration reform and we havent seen that.

Asked about the fault lines within the diaspora  some groups have planned protests during Modis visit, including in front of the White House on June 22  Rangaswami said that Modis status as one one of the most popular politicians in the world will get reflected. But both India and the US are democracies. There will be other points of view and you will see that manifest itself in protests. Democracies can get messy. His popularity will be reflected in what you see but there will be some dissension.

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NEW DELHI: There is no place for violence and hatred in a democratic setup, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said on Sunday, as it asked the Union government and law enforcement agencies to take every possible step to immediately stop ethnic clashes in Manipur. PREMIUM Tyres and construction materials set on fire by miscreants amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, in Imphal East district, Friday. (PTI)

RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale described the ongoing violence in Manipur as painful and worrisome. In a statement, he said the Sangh believes that the solution to any problem is possible only through mutual dialogue and expression of brotherhood in a peaceful atmosphere.

At least 106 people have been killed since May 3 in Manipur, where ethnic violence erupted between numerically dominant Meitei community  which forms 53% of the state population  and tribal communities, especially Kukis, who live primarily in the hill districts. Violent clashes broke out after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  which is in power both at the Centre and in the northeastern state  has maintained a studied silence on the crisis, its ideological fount the RSS said there is an urgent need to overcome the deficit of trust between communities, citing it as the cause of the present crisis.

Hosabale said there is a need to rebuild ties between communities as he pushed for dialogue and intervention by civil society to put an end to the present crisis. ...It requires comprehensive efforts from both communities. It can be resolved by addressing the sense of insecurity and helplessness among the Meiteis and genuine concerns of the Kuki community simultaneously, he said.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who visited the state last month, held nine peace meetings with representatives of both Meitei and Kuki communities to broker peace, however, there has been no respite in violence.

Referring to the deteriorating law-and-order situation and the threat to life, the RSS functionary said the local administration, police, military and the central agencies should take every possible step to ensure the seamless supply of relief materials among the displaced along with necessary actions to maintain peace and harmony.

The continuous violence that is going on in Manipur for the last 45 days is extremely worrisome. The violence and uncertainty that started in Manipur after the protest rally organised in Churachandpur on May 3 at the time of Lai Haraoba festival is to be condemned, he said.

...It is very unfortunate that the spate of unrest and violence that erupted afterwards among those who have been living a peaceful life with mutual harmony and co-operation for centuries has not yet stopped, he added.

Hosabale said the RSS stands with the displaced persons and other victims of the Manipur crisis numbering more than 50,000 during this period of terrible grief.

The Opposition Congress attacked both the RSS and the BJP-led government over the continued violence.

After 45 days of continuous violence, RSS has finally issued a public appeal for peace and harmony in Manipur. The well-known duplicity of the RSS is in full display as its divisive ideology and polarising activities are changing the nature of Northeasts diversity, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the crisis. ...What about its (RSS) famous former campaigner who now controls the administrative machinery at the Centre and in the state? Has he outsourced his responsibility of public appeal to the organisation that created him? When will the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, say or do something on Manipur? Is he just the propaganda minister and not the Prime Minister? Ramesh added.

Last week, the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, the RSS frontal organisation that works with tribal communities, also issued a statement calling for restoration of peace. Ram Chandra Kharadi, head of the front, said the central government has not been able to restore peace in the state in the wake of mutual distrust between the Kukis and the Meiteis. His statement was seen as an indictment of the local government.




Moreover, the Head of State recognized the valuable role fathers play in society.





"Dear fathers from all over Peru. Today is a very special day, a day in which we recognize the valuable and important role that you play in your families and in our society," the dignitary stated.





"We pay a well-deserved tribute to those who do everything they can to see their children happy, giving them effort, love, advice, and protection," he added.





The country's top official underscored that many fathers spend most of their time away from home because they have a responsibility and are the support of their homes, but nothing stops them from spending time with their children.





Likewise, Mrs. Boluarte referred to those parents who have to work away from their family in remote areas or abroad.





"On this day, we not only pay tribute to biological parents but also to those who fulfill this role at home: uncles, grandparents, brothers, mothers who are the heads of their households, because they are both mother and father at the same time, as well as those who decided to protect a boy or girl offering them a home, healthcare, and education," she said.





The Head of State also recalled those fathers who are no longer with us, offering a prayer in their memory, as well as the elderly and those who live in a situation of abandonment.





(END) RMCH/RMB

The President of the Republic Dina Boluarte on Sunday extended warm greetings to all fathers in Peru on the occasion of Father's Day.Publicado: 18/6/2023
After banning 14 fixed dose combination drugs out of a list of 19 as they served no therapeutic purpose, three more of these are under the governments lens, according to people familiar with the matter. More safety and efficacy data will be required on these drugs before a decision is taken whether to allow them to continue, they said, seeking anonymity. A mushrooming of fixed doses combinations in the market over the years has led to the recent government crackdown. (Shutterstock)

The three combinations under the scanner are paracetamol + phenylephrine + caffeine; caffeine + paracetamol, phenylephrine + chlorpheniramine; and paracetamol + propyphenazone + caffeine.

A mushrooming of fixed doses combinations in the market over the years has led to the recent government crackdown.

Fixed dose combinations

A fixed dose combination (FDC) is the combination of two or more drugs in certain fixed doses. If it is combined for the first time, it would fall under the definition of a new drug.

All new drugs require prior clearance or permission from the central licensing authority before issuance of manufacturing license from the state licensing authority.

The issue

The parliamentary standing committee of the ministry of health and family welfare in its 59th report in 2012 on the functioning of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) observed that some of the state licensing authorities issued manufacturing licences for a large number of FDCs without prior clearance from CDSCO. This resulted in the availability of several FDCs that were not tested for efficacy and safety, and would put patients at risk. Before 1988, combinations of old drugs were not legally deemed to be new drugs, but under the new law, the combination is a new drug and needs to follow the approval process.

CDSCO warning

The drugs regulatory body requested state drugs controllers to ask manufacturers to prove safety and efficacy of such drugs before the CDSCO within 18 months, failing which manufacture, sale and marketing of such drugs would have been prohibited in the country.

Kokate Committee

In 2014, the ministry constituted an expert committee under the chairmanship of C K Kokate to examine the huge number of applications. The committee submitted several reports to the health ministry from time to time. Four broad categories were createda) irrational FDCs, b) which require further expert deliberation, c) rational and d) rational but also require further data generation. In March 2016, at least 300 FDCs came under the government scanner, of which 19 have been claimed to be pre-1988. The matter was taken to court by manufacturers and the government order was set aside for these 19 FDCs for separate deliberation. The judgments were passed in 2017 and 2019.

Bhatia Committee

In 2021, to examine the matter of 19 pre-1988 FDCs, another expert committee was constituted under the chairmanship of M S Bhatia, head of psychiatry, University College of Medical Sciences. According to the central government, a report was submitted in April last year. Out of the 19 FDCs scrutinized, 14 were labelled as irrational as they may be of risk to human beings, and have, therefore, been banned by the government, and two are rational formulations, and for the remaining three, there needs to be further safety and efficacy data. They have been told to generate market surveillance data and, after some time, the data will be reviewed by experts and a decision taken in that regard, said a government functionary, requesting anonymity.

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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
Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the law and order situation in Punjab was deteriorating rapidly but chief minister Bhagwant Mann was more occupied with arranging the state aircraft for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals tours across the country. Amit Shah (HT Photo)

Addressing a rally in Punjabs Gurdaspur, the senior BJP leader said the AAP government was ignoring the needs of the people of the state. Sometimes I wonder whether he [Mann] is a CM or a pilot If Kejriwal has to go to Chennai, then he goes to Delhi in the aircraft to take him to Chennai. If he [Kejriwal] has to go to Kolkata, then again he [Mann] takes the aircraft and take him to Kolkata. His entire time is consumed by Kejriwals tours and as a result of this, Punjabs law and order is going from bad to worse, he said. Shah said the AAP government failed to curb the drug menace in the state but the BJP-led central government was committed to taking the necessary steps to help the people of the state. PM has vowed to make the country free of the drugs very soon and uproot the drug trade from Punjab. For this ... an office of NCB will open at Amritsar within a month..., he said.

Shah said that the state government has failed to fulfill any of its promises. I have come here to ask Mann and Kejriwal that you had promised 1,000 to every woman in the state, but they are still waiting..., he said.

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said Shah was creating a false narrative around the law and order in the state as the BJP was cared of AAPs popularity. I want to ask Amit Shah Ji about Manipur which is burning. North East is facing serious problems. What have you done?...

At a separate rally in Haryanas Sirsa later, Shah targeted the Congress over corruption, alleging that scams worth 12 lakh crore took place under the party-led UPA government at the Centre. It was a 3D government of darbaris [courtiers], daamad [son-in-law]...you know to who I am referring to...and dealers. Manohar Lal [Khattar] has ended all these three Ds, he said. Rohtak MLA and Congresss chief-whip in Haryana assembly BB Batra rejected Shahs allegations. During our rule, nine state varsities were established and many medical colleges were set-up. Metro was started in Faridabad and Bahadurgarh and during BJP rule not a single metro line has started, Batra said.

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Sealing a key deliverable during Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to Washington DC, the United States (US) administration has completed the executive approvals for the manufacture of F414 jet engines in India and begun the process of notifying the US Congress about the impending Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between General Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), people familiar with discussions on the subject said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden in Oval Office, at White House in Washington,on September 24, 2021. (Reuters)

Also Read | India outperforms US, China in LEED net zero certifications

This is the first time that the US will share what it called a crown jewel in its defence capabilities with a non-ally; it is the first time that there will be coproduction of jet engines with a country with which Washington DC doesnt have a treaty; it is also the first time that the US system is sharing a substantial share of sensitive jet engine technology with a provision for tech transfer ratio to increase.

It is transformative. India will have access to the full engine. There are no black boxes here. The manufacturing in India is going to start with technology sharing of way over 50% which rises over the production cycle. There will be a flexible licensing agreement. India will have designs and sensitive technology. This is more tech transfer than the US has ever authorised. We are breaking through into new frontiers, said a person aware of the discussions.

Also Read | How NSA Jake Sullivan is playing his part in charting India-US ties

It is understood that commerce, state and defense departments have pushed through executive approvals, with regard to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); the administration is notifying the Senate and House armed services and foreign relations committees; and the process will take a few weeks to get to the full Congress. But given the strong bipartisan support India enjoys on the Hill, it is expected to move through smoothly.

In the meantime, during the PMs visit, GE and HAL will sign an MoU on the manufacturing deal. The jet engines will power Tejas MK 2 fighter planes.

Explaining the significance of the decision, from the American perspective, Sameer Lalwani, a senior expert at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), said, For the US, this is a significant move  a costly signal as social scientists say  to share some highly sensitive technology, which it has never shared with a non-ally. Such transfers can be made possible, not simply with blueprints but from the transmission of tacit and organisational knowledge through a shared ecology of joint research, manufacturing, and supply chains.

From the Indian perspective, Lalwani said, the deal offered access to better fighter jet engines than what China possessed  with greater power and efficiency, longer service life, and less maintenance. It also offers India a coveted technology cooperation partnership and path to research, design, and produce its own cutting-edge aeroengines and upstream inputs.

Given the deals political importance, Lalwani said, it can help catalyse a much broader defence technology and industrial partnership between the US and India, ranging from basic science to lab research and development to codevelopment and commercialisation of new capabilities for advanced domains.

In a recent report arguing for the deal, Heritage Foundations John Venable and Jeff Smith noted, The deal would bolster Indias capacity to field indigenously produced fighters with some of the most powerful and reliable engines in the class, saving decades of research and development costs. They added that the F414 engine technology transfer will also expand on the already growing interoperability between US and Indian military systems.

Under the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET), unveiled by national security advisers Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan in January, the US acknowledged that it had received an application from GR to to jointly produce jet engines that could power jet aircraft operated and produced indigenously by India. During secretary of defense Lloyd Austin and NSA Sullivans visit to India this month, they discussed the subject in detail with their Indian counterparts. Those involved in the discussions said that ICET and the leadership of NSAs made a big difference, as did the focus on actual deliverables.

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As the Law Commission has started a fresh consultation process on Uniform Civil Code triggering speculation that it would become a reality before the 2024 Lok Sabha election Jamiat chief Arshad Madani on Sunday issued an appeal stating that they would oppose the UCC but won't take to the streets against the Uniform Civil Code. "We have our personal laws for the last 1,300 years. We will stick to that. But we won't like to hit the streets to protest UCC. No government after the Independence did this and we believe there is no need for that. The more there will protests, the Hindus and the Muslims will become distant and the mission of the ill-intentioned people will be fulfilled," Madani said. Read | 'BJP hyping Uniform Civil Code issue to win Lok Sabha election': Congress leader Jamiat chief Arshad Madani said the more there will be protests, there will be more division between Hindu-Muslims.(Vijay Gohil)

Ittehad-e-Millat Council president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan said implementing UCC is just a tool for the BJP to win the elections. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board said it considered Uniform Civil Code unnecessary, impractical and extremely harmful for the country. "The board feels it necessary to reiterate its stand that the Muslim personal law is derived from Quran and Sunnah and hence even Muslims are not authorised to make any changes...So, the government or any other external source trying to bring any change in these laws will only lead to chaos and disorder in the society which can not be executed by any sensible government," the statement issued by the AIMPLB read.

The fresh consultation on the issue being sought by the law commission has been slammed by the opposition parties. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the earlier law commission published a consultation report in 2018 on the issue and strangely the present law commission did not make it clear why the fresh consultation is needed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
Alia Bhatt's Black Gucci Outfit Raises the Bar for Chic Pantsuit Looks

On Saturday, Alia pleasantly surprised her fans with a delightful weekend treat. She took to Instagram and shared her latest pictures along with a caption that read, "I'm not done with the hearts @gucci Heart Of Stone trailer out sooonnn." These pictures instantly caused a frenzy on social media, garnering over 1 million likes and a plethora of comments from adoring fans who showered her with praise and compliments. One fan couldn't help but comment, "Stunning queen," while another simply called her a "superstar." Let's take a moment to appreciate and admire her breathtaking appearance.

Alia undoubtedly embraces her Gucci girl persona, as evidenced by her latest look. She opted for a striking black outfit from the renowned brand, featuring an oversized grey blazer. The blazer boasts a V neckline, notch lapel collars, and exaggerated cape-like full-length sleeves, exuding a dramatic flair. The closed front is adorned with double-breasted button closures, adding a touch of sophistication. With its oversized silhouette and padded shoulders, the blazer exudes power and confidence. Alia expertly paired it with matching flared pattern grey pants, completing the ensemble with a stylish and coordinated look.

Styled by fashion stylist Priyanka Kapadia, Alia accessorised her ensemble with golden stud earrings and black stiletto heels. Her makeup featured a minimal look, with nude eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascara, blushed cheeks, and nude lipstick. Completing her glamorous appearance, Alia styled her hair into a sleek ponytail, adding a touch of chicness and ensuring all attention remained on her stunning attire.

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Kriti Sanon is creating a buzz on social media, not just for her latest movie "Adipurush," but also for her stunning ethnic looks. Each of her appearances, be it in a brown saree or a gorgeous anarkali suit, sets new fashion goals. As the summer wedding season arrives, Kriti's Instagram diaries become a fashion treasure trove, inspiring fashion enthusiasts. Her latest look in a pastel pink lehenga transports us to a fairyland, as she exudes an absolute princess-like charm. It's impossible to look away from her captivating presence. Get ready to take some fashion notes as Kriti Sanon continues to dazzle with her impeccable sense of style. (Also read: Kriti Sanon at Adipurush screening makes heads turn in grey saree and statement blouse. Check out pics and video ) Kriti Sanon dazzles with her stunning ethnic look in a pastel pink lehenga.(Instagram/@sukritigrover)

Kriti Sanon stuns in a pastel pink embroidered lehenga

Over the weekend, Kriti's fashion stylist Sukriti Grover pleasantly surprised fans by unveiling the actress's latest look through stunning pictures shared on Instagram. Kriti effortlessly exuded an absolute princess vibe, striking graceful poses that caught everyone's attention. The post swiftly went viral on social media, garnering numerous likes and comments from her followers. Let's take a moment to admire her breathtaking appearance and revel in the beauty of her gorgeous look.

Kriti adorned herself in a custom-made outfit by the fashion brand Nachiket Barve. Her stunning lehenga, crafted from pastel pink organza fabric, consisted of a round-neck blouse with 3/4th sleeves, paired with a full-length flared lehenga. The coordinated ensemble was beautifully enhanced with white floral hand embroidery throughout, adding to its allure. Kriti gracefully draped a matching dupatta to complete her ensemble, exuding elegance from head to toe.

Kriti accessorised her look with a multi-layered pearl choker, flower pattern pearl stud earrings, white pearl bangles, and rings, adding a touch of elegance to her ensemble. Assisted by celebrity make-up artist Adrian Jacobs, Kriti opted for pink eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascara-coated lashes, darkened brows, contoured cheeks and a shade of pink lipstick. Additionally, with the assistance of hair stylist Aasif Ahmed, Kriti opted for a sleek middle-parted bun hairstyle, providing the perfect finishing touch to her overall look.

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Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar and it holds great significance for Muslims worldwide as it is the month during which the annual pilgrimage known as Hajj takes place in the holy city of Mecca and marks Eid ul-Adha (also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Bakhreid, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban, Qurban Bayarami or the Feast of Sacrifice) on the tenth day of the month. Dhul Hijjah is considered a sacred month and it is a time of heightened devotion, reflection and acts of worship. (Also read: Eid-ul-Adha 2023: Date when Muslims in Saudi Arabia, India, UAE, other countries will celebrate Bakra Eid in Dhul Hijjah) The tenth day of Dhul Hijjah is known as Eid al-Adha, also referred to as Bakrid or the Festival of Sacrifice.(Freepik)

During the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims engage in various acts of worship and good deeds, as these days are considered particularly blessed and it is encouraged to engage in acts such as fasting, reciting the Qur'an, giving charity and performing additional prayers as these actions are believed to bring immense rewards and blessings. The highlight of Dhul Hijjah is the Hajj pilgrimage where Muslims from around the world embark on this spiritual journey, performing a series of rituals in Mecca and its surroundings.

The Hajj is an obligation for able-bodied Muslims who can afford the journey and it is a time of unity, humility and seeking closeness to Allah. The pilgrims perform rituals that date back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), including circumambulating the Kaaba, standing on the plains of Arafat and symbolically stoning the devil.

The tenth day of Dhul Hijjah is known as Eid al-Adha, also referred to as Bakrid or the Festival of Sacrifice. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God's command and Muslims worldwide celebrate this day by offering prayers, sacrificing cattle (such as sheep, goats, camel or cows) and distributing the meat to the needy.

It is a time of joy, gratitude and generosity where Dhul Hijjah serves as a reminder of the importance of faith, sacrifice and unity among Muslims. It is a month that encourages acts of devotion, kindness and charitable deeds hence, Muslims seize the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Allah, seek forgiveness and reflect on their purpose in life.

Dhul Hijjah holds immense spiritual significance and is a time of spiritual rejuvenation for believers around the world. This year, Saudi Arabia has called for Muslims across the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon on the evening of June 18, 2023 that could signal the dates for Eid Al Adha 2023.

The Saudi Press Agency report stated, The Supreme Court hopes that whoever has the ability to show interest in this matter, join the committees formed in the regions for this purpose.
Got an HPV diagnosis? Don't panic. Here's everything you need to know about the extremely common virus. HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are over 100 different types of HPV. (Cavallini/BSIP/picture alliance)

What is HPV?

HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are over 100 different types of HPV. The majority are harmless, but around 14 strains can cause cancer, which is why so much focus has been placed on eradicating the virus over the past three decades. (Also read: India accounts for the highest number of cervical cancer cases. Watch out for these warning signs)

Estimates say around 11.3% of women and 21% of men have HPV globally. Around 604,000 people were diagnosed with cervical cancer linked to HPV in 2020 and 342,000 people died, according to the World Health Organization.

90% of these cases and deaths occurred in low-income countries, where screening capacity and vaccine supply is low.

According to the US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives, so you can rest assured that you are not alone.

What are the symptoms of HPV?

The vast majority of people with HPV won't experience any symptoms, but a minority will notice genital warts  small growths in the genital region or the mouth.

It's important to know that genital warts are the only clinical manifestation of HPV, and the strain that causes these warts is not the type that causes cancer, says Diane Harper, a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan who specializes in HPV and served as an investigator in the clinical trials of the HPV vaccines Gardasil and Cervavix.

"The high risk types that go into cancer really don't have any signs or symptoms at all," says Harper. "You have absolutely no idea that you're infected with itThat's what makes it really disturbing when you get the piece of information from your doctor that you tested positive because you're like, where did this come from?"

How do you get HPV?

You can get HPV through skin-to-skin contact, generally during sex  even non penetrative. Although a condom helps prevent it, it doesn't fully protect you, because it doesn't cover all skin around the genitals.

With that said, the notion that you can only get HPV from sex is a misconception, Harper says, adding that between 10 and 15% of children are born with the virus. This happens when the mother carries the infection during pregnancy.

"If you've never had sex, it's highly likely you probably won't have had exposure, but it's not impossible," she says.

That's part of the reason people can never truly know the origin of their HPV infection. The other reason is the fact that HPV may not make itself visible immediately after a sexual encounter with an infected person. It is possible that a HPV infection only presents on a test years after exposure.

"For women to develop cervical cancer, they have to be exposed to HPV, but that exposure isn't just from the partner they were with," Harper says. "The partner's partners bring a lot to the bedroom. Men often have a lot of partners, especially early on as they're maturing and going through adolescenceevery single one of those partners that they have they bring to the woman that they're now with."

What happens when I have HPV?

In the vast majority of cases, HPV won't turn into anything.

"When a woman is infected with HPV, and it's the first time that she's been found to have HPV, I will tell my patients that 90% of women will clear it on their own, which is why we're not testing really young girls anymore," says Harper.

The older a woman gets, the more worrisome HPV can become, but the risk is still small. If you have genital warts, you will be prescribed medication or a cream to heal them, or you can get them removed using different types of therapies, like electrocautery, freezing or laser treatment.

Even when the warts go away, you will remain a carrier of the strain that caused them, which means you can still spread them and they can still come back in the future. Like other strains, warts can come shortly after exposure or months to years after. Or you can carry the strain without ever developing them at all.

But what about cancer?

In a minority of cases, HPV can turn into cancer. Only a handful of HPV strains are cancerous.

If you have one of these strains, Harper says you will need to stay in screening to ensure it doesn't develop into cancer. In the rare case it does, it will take years to develop after the initial exposure, which is why screening is so important.

The most common type of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer, which occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the womb that connects the uterus to the vagina. The trademark sign of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, Harper says. But it's essential to get into screening before these symptoms develop, because by then, there's little doctors can do.

HPV is also thought to cause 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, likely due to strains spread through oral sex. This number has been rising over the course of the past decades. However it's still unclear whether HPV is the only cause or if it's a mixture of HPV and something else, like smoking.

It can also cause other types of genital cancers in men, although this is very rare. The presence of these cancers is why men need to pay close attention when their female partners get an HPV diagnosis and get screened themselves.

Do I need to tell my partner? My past partners?

Harper says she only advises people to tell their current partners about an HPV diagnosis, partly for the sake of supporting the woman as she goes through follow-up exams and partly because partners can choose to use condoms to prevent spreading the virus back and forth between each other.

Although condoms can stop the spread of some HPV, Harper says they are not necessary for monogamous couples in which both partners are already infected, and leaves it up to her patients to decide for themselves.

"Condoms will prevent about 60% of HPV transmission. So it's like, is that good enough for you? I think that's a personal decision," she says.

She doesn't advise patients to tell their past sex partners because "unlike something like syphilis or gonorrhea or chlamydia, we have no treatment for it."

If there was a treatment, she says, it would make sense to tell past partners, because they could tell their female partners, who could get tested and treated. But since that doesn't exist, she says it's not necessary.

What about the HPV vaccine?

The best way to prevent HPV is by getting the vaccine, but the vaccine doesn't offer 100% protection against the virus, which Harper says is sometimes forgotten.

The HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 is only protective against seven  around half  of the cancer-causing types of HPV. These seven include the strains most likely to cause cancer, 16 and 18, as well as many of the strains that cause genital warts.

"[Patients] need to know that because HPV vaccination is a wonderful bridge to screening but we can't forget about screening because the vaccination isn't 100% coverage," she says, adding that if people think the vaccine they may think they don't need to screen, which is a problem.

With that said, Harper says that she always suggests that people get the vaccine if it's available to them.

I'm old. Should I get the vaccine?

Harper says that although mass vaccination of women over 25 will do little to eliminate cervical cancer at a population level, she still suggests it on a personal level if a woman wants to invest in it.

"The way the vaccine works is it grabs onto that little HPV particle and won't let it go into the cell," Harper says. "And so it makes it so it doesn't fit into the receptors and so that part of it becomes very clear that it works to prevent that [spread]."

How do I know if the HPV is gone?

By continuing screening, you can keep track of your HPV.

Does an STI test detect HPV?

Traditional STI tests don't catch HPV, and although pap smears may detect it, they aren't nearly as accurate as actual HPV tests themselves. These tests are the most sensitive and will detect HPV if you have it.

Will the HPV live in me forever?

In the vast majority of cases, the HPV is no longer detectable after a few years. This is when doctors say it has been "cleared". But there are rare situations in which the HPV reoccurs. Harper stresses these situations are seldom but do happen, which means it's impossible to say HPV goes away completely.

Edited by: Fred Schwaller
Sleep deficit and disorders are becoming more common in people across the world than ever before. India is the second-most sleep-deprived country in the world, with an average person sleeping for seven hours and one minute, according to a 2019 study conducted by the US-based firm Fitbit across 18 countries. 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep issues which affects daily functioning and impacts long-term health. Stress and fast-paced life are some of the factors that could be affecting our sleep. Yoga can help improve sleep quality by easing stress and relaxing the body and mind to prepare them better for rest. There are asanas, pranayama and meditation practices that can help you sleep well every day. (Also read: International Yoga Day 2023: Quick Yoga asanas you can easily do to beat stress) Yoga can help improve sleep quality by easing stress and relaxing the body and mind to prepare them better for rest(Freepik)

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, Dr Hansaji Yogendra, Director, The Yoga Institute and President of the Indian Yoga Association suggests Yoga asanas that help manage sleep disorders or improve quality of sleep.

"In the modern times, sleep disturbances are becoming common due to challenging professions, work stress, or other health and lifestyle factors. Yoga is an effective pathway towards the restoration of deep sleep and managing insomnia. It has the power to delicately soothe the wearied mind and body into a serene slumber," says the Yoga expert.

1. Surya namaskar

This fluid sequence of poised postures, if practiced slowly in the evening, pays homage to the resplendent energy of the sun, seamlessly channelling it inward. Each movement within this graceful dance between strength and surrender gently elongates the limbs and invokes the release of pent-up tension.

2. Yashtikasana

This Stick Pose, in its resolute stillness and gentle stretch, offers a sense of quietude to the body and mind. The meditative rhythm of the stretches serve as a harmonizing force, compelling the body-mind complex to relinquish its restlessness

3. Bhadrasana

In its auspiciousness, this pose is akin to the delicate unfurling of petals. It slowly releases stiffness, strengthens, and stretches. It offers respite to fatigued muscles and gradually eases the knots of tension in the lower body.

4. Bhramari

The Bee Breath resonates as a hymn of profound serenity at bedtime. This practice gently leads the weary mind away from the chaos of the world. As one harmoniously emulates the drone of a bee, the vibrations drown out the cacophony of disquieting thoughts.

5. Abdominal breathing

This rhythmic symphony of the breath orchestrates each inhalation and exhalation. The steady rise and fall of the abdomen serve as a lullaby of solace, entrancing the mind into a state of profound relaxation

"These asanas and pranayama enhance melatonin levels which leads to a peaceful state of mind that naturally helps promote sleep. These techniques work wonders in relaxing the nervous system to easily manage insomnia and restlessness during the night," says Dr Hansaji Yogendra.
In early June, sporadic but serious service disruptions plagued Microsoft's flagship office suite  including the Outlook email and OneDrive file-sharing apps  and cloud computing platform. A shadowy hacktivist group claimed responsibility, saying it flooded the sites with junk traffic in distributed denial-of-service attacks. Microsoft said there was no evidence any customer data was accessed or compromised.(AP)

Initially reticent to name the cause, Microsoft has now disclosed that DDoS attacks by the murky upstart were indeed to blame.

But the software giant has offered few details  and did not immediately comment on how many customers were affected and whether the impact was global. A spokeswoman confirmed that the group that calls itself Anonymous Sudan was behind the attacks. It claimed responsibility on its Telegram social media channel at the time. Some security researchers believe the group to be Russian.

Microsofts explanation in a blog post Friday evening followed a request by The Associated Press two days earlier. Slim on details, the post said the attacks temporarily impacted availability of some services. It said the attackers were focused on disruption and publicity and likely used rented cloud infrastructure and virtual private networks to bombard Microsoft servers from so-called botnets of zombie computers around the globe.

Microsoft said there was no evidence any customer data was accessed or compromised.

While DDoS attacks are mainly a nuisance  making websites unreachable without penetrating them  security experts say they can disrupt the work of millions if they successfully interrupt the services of a software service giant like Microsoft on which so much global commerce depends.

It's not clear if that's what happened here.

We really have no way to measure the impact if Microsoft doesnt provide that info, said Jake Williams, a prominent cybersecurity researcher and a former National Security Agency offensive hacker. Williams said he was not aware of Outlook previously being attacked at this scale.

We know some resources were inaccessible for some, but not others. This often happens with DDoS of globally distributed systems, Williams added. He said Microsoft's apparent unwillingness to provide an objective measure of customer impact probably speaks to the magnitude.

READ | As Microsoft builds with AI, chatbot for India indicates wider community focus

Microsoft dubbed the attackers Storm-1359, using a designator it assigns to groups whose affiliation it has not yet established. Cybersecurity sleuthing tends to take time  and even then can be a challenge if the adversary is skilled.

Pro-Russian hacking groups including Killnet  which the cybersecurity firm Mandiant says is Kremlin-affiliated  have been bombarding government and other websites of Ukraine's allies with DDoS attacks. In October, some U.S. airport sites were hit. Analyst Alexander Leslie of the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said it's unlikely Anonymous Sudan is located as it claims in Sudan, an African country. The group works closely with Killnet and other pro-Kremlin groups to spread pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation, he said.

Edward Amoroso, NYU professor and CEO of TAG Cyber, said the Microsoft incident highlights how DDoS attacks remain a significant risk that we all just agree to avoid talking about. Its not controversial to call this an unsolved problem.

He said Microsoft's difficulties fending of this particular attack suggest a single point of failure. The best defense against these attacks is to distribute a service massively, on a content distribution network for example.

Indeed, the techniques the attackers used are not old, said U.K. security researcher Kevin Beaumont. One dates back to 2009, he said.

Serious impacts from the Microsoft 365 office suite interruptions were reported on Monday June 5, peaking at 18,000 outage and problem reports on the tracker Downdetector shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time.

On Twitter that day, Microsoft said Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business were affected.

Attacks continued through the week, with Microsoft confirming on June 9 that its Azure cloud computing platform had been affected.

On June 8, the computer security news site BleepingComputer.com reported that cloud-based OneDrive file-hosting was down globally for a time.

Microsoft said at the time that desktop OneDrive clients were not affected, BleepingComputer reported.
Thus, the government agency authorized the trip on commission of services of the General Director for Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Vilma Liliam Ballon Sanchez de Amezaga, and the General Director for the Americas, Ambassador John Peter Camino Cannock.

The 53rd Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), under the theme "Strengthening a culture of democratic accountability with human rights promotion, protection, and equality in the Americas," will be held in the U.S. capital from June 21 to 23, 2023.

Mediante resolucion suprema, se senala que la canciller participara en la Asamblea General y en las reuniones bilaterales programadas. Ademas, se encarga su despacho al ministro de Economia y Finanzas, Alex Contreras, en tanto dure su ausencia.
Do Realme's smartphones capture user's data? A Twitter user has levelled serious allegation against the Chinese smartphone maker, with Union minister of state for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar assuring probe into it.



"Realme's smartphone has a feature (Enhanced Intelligent Services) that captures the user's data (call logs, SMS, and location info) and it is "On" by default. You can only see this "on" by default feature when you go to Settings -> Additional Settings -> System Services -> Enhanced Intelligent Services", the Twitter user @rishibagree posted. Realme is yet to respond to Twitter user's accusations.

Indian users are kept in dark to share their data without their consent. This is basically forced consent, since it's on by default. Is this data being sent to China ?, the user added.

In response to this, Chandrasekhar tweeted, "Will hv this tested and checked @rishibagree".

If you wish to check whether the feature mentioned by the Twitter user is enabled, all you need to go is tap Settings, then go to additional settings. Now select System Services.



The post had several responses on social media. A Twitter user posted,"Sir, please have this checked across all of the custom roms".

Sir all Chinese mobile brands must rigorously checked whether they are sending any kind of data of indian users to china, or even if they collecting data from the device in the first place, another user tweeted.

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Manila, Philippines: All 120 passengers and crew members aboard a Philippine ferry that caught fire at sea on Sunday were rescued safely and the fire was extinguished, the coast guard said. Smoke rises due to a massive fire at a ferry in Bohol, Philippines, on Sunday. (REUTERS)

The M/V Esperanza Star caught fire at dawn while travelling from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines with 65 passengers and 55 crewmembers, the coast guard said. It added that it deployed two vessels for rescue and to help put out the flames, which raged for more than five hours.

Photos and video released by the coast guard show flames and black smoke billowing from two decks at one end of the ferry. Coast guard personnel onboard another vessel used a water cannon to put out the fire while a fishing boat and one other vessel can be seen nearby.

All those who were onboard the ferry are safe, Joy Gumatay, coast guard spokeswoman, said in a statement but gave no further details.

She added that the survivors were brought to the port city of Tagbilaran in Bohol province and an investigation was underway.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.

In March, a fire broke out  and raged overnight  on a ferry carrying about 250 people and killed at least 31 passengers and crew members off the southern island province of Basilan, the coast guard said.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the worlds worst peacetime maritime disaster.
Malians went to the polls on Sunday to pass judgement on the governing junta's constitution, which has fuelled speculation that the country's strongman ruler will seek election. The west African nation has been under military rule since an August 2020 coup.(Representative image)

Read here: Suspect arrested after shooting at Washington's Gorge Amphitheatre leaves 2 dead

The west African nation has been under military rule since an August 2020 coup, which came after a decade of instability marked by jihadist insurgencies and political and economic crisis.

Some 8.4 million citizens are eligible to vote "yes" or "no" on the draft constitution in the first electoral test for leader Colonel Assimi Goita, 40, who has vowed to lead the country back to civilian rule in 2024 elections.

Voting began at 0800 GMT and results are expected within 72 hours.

But election turnout is typically low in the country of 21 million, where many have grown weary of chronic instability, while others face the direct danger of jihadist attacks in central and northern regions.

Security is an ever-present concern and there is always the risk of an attack. For this reason the vote will not be held in some parts of the country, including in Kidal, the ex-rebels' stronghold in the north.

The junta will be judged on turnout as a measure of its ability to restore stability, as well as an indicator of people's enthusiasm for the junta's agenda.

Chronic instability

The junta has advertised the new constitution as the answer to Mali's inability to tackle its multiple crises.

Mali's recent woes began in 2012, when separatist insurgents in the north -- long seen as marginalised by the southern government -- aligned with Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists to seize vast swathes of territory.

Former colonial power France stepped in and helped push back the Islamists, but attacks have continued, and Bamako has since broken its alliance with Paris in favour of Russia and its Wagner mercenaries.

Disputed parliamentary elections in March 2020, and mass protests against a government unable to reign in the insurgency, corruption and economic crisis, ended in a coup.

Goita initially appointed an interim president, but kicked him out in a second coup in 2021 and stepped into the top job himself.

Read here: Indian-origin man stabbed to death by roommate in London, third such incident this week

Now doubts are swirling over his commitment to step down next year.

Mali's ruling junta called on Friday for the immediate departure of the country's UN peacekeeping mission, a central and controversial actor in a security crisis that has claimed the lives of nearly 200 peacekeepers in the last decade.

The African nation's military rulers had increasingly imposed operational restrictions on the peacekeepers, ultimately accusing the mission on Friday of not only being a "failure", but even becoming "part of the problem".

A stronger presidency

The new constitution will strengthen the role of the president, who will have the right to hire and fire the prime minister and cabinet members.

The government will answer to the president, and not parliament as the current 1992 document states.

It will also give amnesty to those behind prior coups, reform the regulation of public finances, and force MPs and senators to declare their wealth in a bid to clamp down on corruption.

"Those who contest these provisions think that Goita will be a candidate in the elections" in 2024, said Bamako University sociologist Brema Ely Dicko.

A politician, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some in the military were hoping a new constitution would "reset the clock" -- erasing a previous commitment that Goita would not take part in the election.

Very popular

Goita, a former special forces commander who saw action during the 2012 rebellion, stays out of the limelight, and is known to be publicity shy.

"Opinion in Bamako is favourable to the president," said Dicko.

"Through his political and verbal silence he has become a sort of icon, and is very popular," said political scientist Abdoul Sogodogo.

Observers say a vote for "yes" is almost certain.

"Malians say that presidents from democratic regimes did not necessarily shine. Corruption has reached a certain level. People want to see something else," Dicko explained.

However, the reform has drawn vocal opposition, from former rebels and imams as well as political opponents.

Read here: Robert Kennedy Jr is pushing ahead of President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination, poll suggests

Influential religious organisations oppose the continuation of secularism enshrined in the current constitution.

In the north, former rebels who, unlike the jihadists, signed a major peace deal with the state, also reject it.

"Mali needs a system built around institutions and not a system built around a man," said Makan Mary, a member of the Yelema party.

One researcher, who like many others spoke on condition of anonymity, argued the old constitution was satisfactory.

"The problem with the 1992 constitution is that it was never really applied... it cannot be the cause of the crisis," the researcher said.

Turnout is widely expected to be low.

"Generally, Malians do not vote. Since 1992, turnout has rarely exceeded 30 percent," said Sogodogo, the political scientist.

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Austrian police have arrested three youngsters, including a 14-year-old, for allegedly planning an attack at Vienna's pride parade, which drew hundreds of thousands of people, officials said Sunday. A view of the annual Gay pride Rainbow Parade, in Vienna, Austria, on June 11, 2022. (AP)

The men aged 14, 17 and 20 and suspected of being Islamic State (IS) sympathisers were held ahead of the parade, according to domestic intelligence agency (DSN) chief Omar Haijawi-Pirchner.

He told reporters that there was "never any threat" to those who participated in the Pride Parade in central Vienna on Saturday.

"They sympathised with the Islamic State online and shared extremist content. In this context, the suspects focused on the Pride Parade as a potential target for an attack," the interior ministry said in a press release.

During raids on two premises on Saturday, authorities discovered weapons and other evidence against the three Austrians with Bosnian and Chechen roots.

One of them was already previously known to police. They had planned to use "knives or vehicles" in the attack, police told reporters.

Some 300,000 took part in the parade for LGBTQ rights.

In November 2020, a convicted Islamic State group sympathiser went on a shooting rampage in downtown Vienna, killing four and wounding 23 others before police shot him dead.

It marked the Alpine nation's first deadly jihadist attack.

Earlier this year, a Vienna court sentenced two alleged accomplices of the gunman to life in prison, while two others received prison terms of 19 and 20 years.
A cyclone tore through southern Brazil, killing at least 11 people and forcing thousands from their homes, authorities said Sunday. A family crosses a flooded street on a loader in the city of Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul State, after an extratropical cyclone hit the southern region of Brazil. (AFP)

Another 10 people are missing after the storm in Rio Grande do Sul state Thursday and Friday, authorities said, reducing this figure from 20 given earlier.

A four month old baby is among the fatalities, local media said. They broadcast footage of a car being swept into a cemetery by powerful winds.

"The water came up to our waist inside the house. Thank God, the firemen arrived quickly and got us out on boats. It seemed like a nightmare," a woman in the town of Sao Leopoldo told the newspaper Estadao, which did not give her name.

Other people were evacuated by helicopter.

A total of 3,713 people were left with damaged houses and 697 were evacuated from areas at risk due to the passage of the cyclone between Thursday and Friday.

Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite visited the worst-affected areas by helicopter on Saturday together with government and rescue officials.

In Caraa, one of the worst-hit towns, the governor visited a community center used to shelter hundreds of people whose homes were damaged by the storm.

"The situation in Caraa worries us deeply. It is essential that we can, in an integrated manner, quickly map the main affected areas and identify the people who need support," the governor said in the statement.

Leite said state firefighters had rescued about 2,400 people in the past two days.

"Our main objective at this moment is to protect and save human lives. Rescue people who are isolated, locate the missing and support families," Leite said.

Brazil has been hit by a series of deadly weather disasters in recent years, which experts say are being made worse by climate change.

At least 65 people died in February when torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo.

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Prince William gave a rare interview during the unveiling of an affordable housing development in which he opened up about royal life and his hopes to end homelessness. Speaking for the first time to media since becoming heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales talked about Reuben House in Peckham- an affordable housing development of 33 flats for young people from Centrepoint. Prince William is a patron of the project and has been a campaigner for the homeless since his late mother Princess Diana took him to a shelter when he was just 11. Britain's Prince William during a visit to Loftus Road.(Reuters)

The interview comes after Prince William joined his father King Charles, as well as Princess Anne and Prince Edward, donning full military uniform and riding horses during the Trooping of the Colour celebration.

Talking to The Sunday Times, Prince William talked about the perception of the royal family for the public saying that it is often hard for people to see the point of the monarchy. King Charles' eldest son admitted that its hard sometimes for many people to see the point of the royal family as questions about the monarchy and its role were brought forth following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II.

Amid the feud with Prince Harry, William said that he understands all the causes that the royal family try to highlight but are forgotten.

But the amount of causes, the interests, the dinners, the meetings, the visits, whatever it is, that we do day in, day out, throughout the year, weve always been involved in that. Its part of what we do," he said.

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Grand Canyon is one of the exciting places to be in USA. But sometimes, one wrong step there can prove to be fatal. Recently, a 33-year-old man died after falling 4,000 feet towards the Colorado River below after he crossed the edge at the Grand Canyon Skywalk attraction. Image for representation(Getty Images)

According to a report by New York Post, rescue teams including rope specialists and helicopters found the man's dead body and brought it to the Hualapai Nation, which operates the 10-foot wide, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge which extends 70 feet out over the rim of the canyon.

ALSO READ| King Charles bestows Queen Camilla with the highest honour in Scotland

The man couldn't be immediately identified as entering the skywalk requires visitors to store personal stuff like cell phones and backpacks.

Meanwhile, Mojave County Sheriffs Office informed that an investigation is on from all angles including suicide.

Notably, as per records The Grand Canyon ranks as the deadliest national park in America, with the highest number of missing person reports and deaths among the hundreds of US National Park sites. Since the beginning of 2018, at least 56 people have been reported missing from Grand Canyon National Park and at least six have been found dead. Some experts claim that the death toll at the park is likely higher than what the records show.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposes any interim agreement reportedly being negotiated between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP)

Read here: Intel to setup new factory worth $25 billion in Israel: PM Netanyahu

Netanyahu spoke after reports in Israeli media said understandings are being reached between Washington and Tehran that would seek to hold back Iran's nuclear program somewhat, in exchange for some sanctions relief. The reports could not be independently confirmed and the U.S. has publicly denied any such deal.

Netanyahu said Israel had informed the U.S. that the most limited understandings, what are termed mini-agreements, do not  in our view  serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well.

Israeli officials believe some understandings have already been reached limiting enrichment and that some funds have already been unfrozen. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic assessment.

The Israeli news site Walla last week reported that under the emerging understandings Iran would limit its uranium enrichment to 60% in exchange for sanctions relief. The site also said the sides were discussing reciprocal prisoner releases.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week there is no deal," adding that the reports were untrue.

In its report, Walla said Netanyahu had revealed details of the agreement at a recent parliamentary committee meeting. The U.S. and Israel share intelligence and a prime focus of the countries' interactions is Iran and its nuclear program.

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration that sought to rein in Iran's nuclear program. He was a major supporter of President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal, which left it in shambles.

Read here: Netanyahu's Hollywood tax break scandal exposed in epic trial drama as opposition leader Yair Lapid testifies in court

Iran says its program is meant for civilian purposes. Israel considers a nuclear Iran as a major threat, citing its calls for Israels destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

Israel says it does not rule out military action to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.
A Netflix documentary film crew was in for a shock when they were attacked by sharks on the waters of the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. The crew had the frightening encounter when 15-foot Tiger sharks attacked the blow-up boats they were floating in. Describing the incident, series producer Huw Cordey said that it was like something out of Jaws" (Representational photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP)(AFP)

According to National Geographic, Tiger sharks have duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people. But because they have a near completely undiscerning palate, they are not likely to swim away after biting a human, as great whites frequently do, it says. Tiger sharks are named for the vertical stripes that can be found on them, mainly on juveniles.

During the six-day trip, the team had been aiming to collect footage underwater. They were collecting footage of a Laysan albatrosss maiden flight for David Attenboroughs Our Planet II. In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Producer/director Toby Nowlan described their horrifying experience.

This v of water came streaming towards us and this tiger shark leaped at the boat and bit huge holes in it. The whole boat exploded, Nowlan said. We were trying to get it away and it wasnt having any of it. It was horrific. That was the second shark that day to attack us.

Nowlan said the behaviour of the sharks was extremely unusual. They were incredibly hungry, so there might not have been enough natural food and they were just trying anything they came across in the water, he said.

Nowlan said that the team was just about half a mile from land and managed to return to the shore safely. They later sent out a small rubber dinghy, which was also attacked, but by giant trevallies this time. The fish, which can weigh up to 132-pounds, knocked out its motor.

Describing the incident, series producer Huw Cordey told The Sun that it was like something out of Jaws. The original idea was to do an underwater shoot with the tiger sharks waiting in the shallows at Laysan. But the first day the tiger sharks were around, the crew got into these inflatable boats  and two sharks attacked them, Cordey said. Suffice to say, they didnt get any underwater shots.
Two people were killed and 28 are missing after major flooding and landslides caused by monsoon rains in eastern Nepal, authorities said. A worker at a hydropower project under construction on the Hewa River in Sankhuwasabha district was found dead, while 17 other staff were missing, a local official said as per news agency AFP. Nepal Floods: Floods wreak havoc in Eastern Nepal.(ANI)

In Taplejung district, another person died and three members of the same family were untraceable after houses were swept away. "Two bodies have been recovered, but 28 people are missing," Nepal police said, adding, "We have intensified the search and rescue operation."

Roads and bridges have been damaged, making it difficult for rescuers to access affected areas, Mohanmani Ghimire, assistant chief district officer in Sankhuwasabha said.

Machinery and equipment for the hydropower project have been swept away. There are also reports of houses being damaged," he said.

Forecasters warned that the rain would continue for days and issued alerts over river water levels. Monsoon rains from June to September are usually challenging for the South Asian country.

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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
For the first time, the Saudi 100 Brands initiative is bringing a curated selection of emerging Saudi designers to Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week.

The Paris Intervention will host two dedicated state-of-the-art showrooms, as well as a series of celebratory events showcasing the most exciting Saudi creative talent to a global audience. Designers will be in attendance throughout the events to welcome new friends from around the world.

From June 24 to 27, from 10am until 7pm daily, the Paris Intervention Ready-to-Wear showroom, sponsored by the Saudi Coffee Company, will be held at the Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (1, Place du Trocadero et du 11 Novembre) with luxurious views of the Eiffel Tower just across the river.

Ready-to-Wear showroom

The Ready-to-Wear showroom will focus on womens, mens and unisex clothes and accessories, exhibiting everything from streetwear to eveningwear from Saudis robust fashion scene.

From July 3 to 5, 10am  7pm daily, the initiative will host a couture showroom in the headquarters of Paris auction house Artcurial (Hotel Marcel Dassault, 7 Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees), a historical mansion in the heart of the citys Golden Triangle, steps away from the couture houses of Avenue Montaigne.

Complete with private invite-only salons and fittings for clients, guests will be provided with a luxurious, bespoke couture experience, and the opportunity to also browse jewelry and fragrances from the Saudi designers. An exclusive Couture Presentation will be hosted at the Ritz on July 3 at 8pm.

Saudi fashion talent

Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, said: The Paris Intervention is our latest initiative to connect in-demand Saudi fashion talent with fashion lovers, buyers and decision-makers globally.

The success of the Saudi 100 Brands programme since its launch in 2021 has shown Saudi has a strong pipeline of unique and inventive brands.

They have proved their worth time and time again, showcasing their designs on the global stage, wowing international audiences and dressing A-list celebrities  and they are very excited to share their latest work in Paris.

Saudi 100 Brands is a professional development program led by the Fashion Commission which helps emerging local talent achieve their full potential by accelerating growth and reaching new audiences.-- TradeArabia News Service
Hands off our gas stoves.

That's the message delivered by House Republicans, and even some Democrats, with the passage of a bill, titled the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, that would prevent the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves. The legislation would also prohibit the agency from regulating gas stoves as a "banned hazardous product."

The vote was 248-180, with 219 Republicans and 29 Democrats supporting its passage. Most Democrats (180) opposed the bill.

Republican U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams, both of whom represent central New York, voted for the legislation.

"Federal bureaucrats have no right telling American consumers what kind of stoves they can use, and this week, House Republicans made that abundantly clear," Tenney, R-Canandaigua, said in a statement.

The GOP-led bill seeks to counter efforts to prohibit gas stoves, especially in residential buildings. New York became the first state to ban gas stoves in new homes  a provision that was included in the 2023-24 budget.

U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who sponsored the gas stove "freedom" bill, accused the Biden administration of "weaponizing every aspect of the federal government to achieve its ideological goals."

Republicans are likely responding to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's plans earlier this year to consider a federal gas stove ban due to health concerns, including a link to asthma in children. But the commission opted to review health hazards caused by gas stoves instead of pursuing a ban.

"Consumer protection should be about safety, not used as a veiled push to eliminate fossil fuels and the millions of jobs they support," said Armstrong, a North Dakota Republican. "Americans should decide if gas stoves are right for their families, not the federal government."

The House also passed a similar bill, the Save Our Stoves Act, that would prevent the Department of Energy from altering energy conservation standards for gas stoves. The vote was 249-181, with Tenney and Williams voting for the legislation.

In a statement of administration policy, the White House said it opposes the gas stove "freedom" bill because it would "undermine the commission's ability to make science-based decisions to protect the public." The Biden administration also opposes the Save Our Stoves Act.

The other votes this week include:

 The House passed the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act by a 413-13 vote. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, and Williams, R-Sennett, voted for the bill.

The legislation would create a new position within the State Department, special envoy for the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords are agreements between four Arab League countries  Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates  and Israel.

The special envoy's job, according to the bill, would be to "serve as the primary adviser to the U.S. government for expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords."

 The House unsuccessfully attempted to override President Joe Biden's veto of a congressional resolution that would have nullified the Washington, D.C., City Council's policing bill.

To override the veto, the House needed a two-thirds majority. The vote failed, 233-197. Tenney and Williams voted in support of the override measure.

 House Republicans advanced a resolution to overturn a rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that defines a firearm with a stabilizing brace to allow for shoulder fire as a rifle.

Tenney and Williams supported the resolution, which passed by a 219-210 vote. In a statement, Tenney criticized the Biden administration for reversing the policy that was established under the Obama administration. She said the purpose of the stabilizing braces is to help disabled veterans control their firearms.

 A resolution approved by the House calls for the release of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained by Russia in March.

The vote was 422-0. Tenney and Williams supported the resolution.

 A bill to create an approval process for executive agency rulemaking passed by a 221-210 vote. Tenney and Williams voted for the legislation.

The measure focuses on major rules adopted by agencies. A major rule would defined as one that has "an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more," results in a significant increase in costs or prices for consumers or has "significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises."

 Tenney and Williams opposed a motion to table a resolution that would censure U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff. The GOP-led attempt to censure Schiff, a California Democrat, is in retaliation for his leadership of investigations into former President Donald Trump.

Twenty Republicans broke with their party to join Democrats in tabling the resolution. The vote to table the resolution was 225-196.

 By a 220-211 vote, the House passed the Separation of Powers Restoration Act, a bill that aims to clarify judicial review of executive agency actions. Tenney and Williams voted for the bill.
A 63-year-old woman was rushed to a hospital with minor injuries after her car overturned in a driving test in Argentina's Lunus. The video of the incident is now doing rounds on the internet since the accident happened on June 7. The car tipped over which meant firefighters were called to help her get out of the vehicle, according to local media.

As per reports , the woman got nervous and that caused the car crash.

The footage shows her driving over a raised bank before apparently attempting to stop the car. The vehicle then speeds up and crashes into the lamp-post.

The car tipped over and firefighters were called to help her get out of the vehicle, according to local media.

The driver was taking the test at around 9am on June 7 in Lanus, just south of Buenos Aires, when she got nervous during a maneuver and hit a curb on the test course, according to a post on Facebook from Defensa Civil Lanus, a local public safety agency, reported The Sacramento Bee.

After the crash, first responders went to the site to free the woman from inside, according to Defensa Civil Lanus. The woman, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for help with her nerves after the crash, the post informed.

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Toronto: Family members of the victims of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka, which was bombed by terrorists in 1985, are outraged and anguished over plans by pro-Khalistan elements for a car rally to a memorial site in Toronto in the name of the person considered the mastermind of the atrocity. Bal Gupta (centre), chairperson of the Air India 182 Victims Families Association, at the Kanishka memorial in Toronto on June 23, 2021. (Supplied photo)

The plans for the Shaheed Bhai Talwinder Singh Parmar Khalistan Car Rally on June 25 were featured in a flyer which was flagged on social media by veteran Canadian journalist Terry Milewski.

Bal Gupta, chair of the Air India 182 Victims Families Association, said, It shocks me for sure.

He added that the organisers of the rally had lost all their humanity.

Gupta lost his wife Ramvati, who was aboard that doomed aircraft. Air India flight 182 was flying from Montreal to London, when it was blown up by Khalistani terrorists on June 23, 1985. Some of its remnants were strewn over the coast of Irelands Cork region, the rest sank into the North Sea. All 307 passengers and 22 crew members aboard were killed.

Just as furious was Toronto-based Deepak Khandelwal, who was just 17 when he lost his sisters Chandra and Manju in the tragedy. He said he had discussed this development with some other family members and theyre upset this is being planned at the memorial site. He said the memorial site was to remember the victims.

Parmar is believed to be the main person behind the terror attack. Former Justice of Canadas Supreme Court John Major headed a commission of inquiry into it and submitted a comprehensive report in 2010. In an interview with this correspondent in 2017, he said, No doubt that he was either the mastermind or one of the masterminds and the evidence we heard made him clearly a top person in that operation. Whether there was somebody who secretly gave him orders, we dont know. What we know, Parmar was the leader.

An earlier report was submitted by Bob Rae, currently Canadas Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in 2005, when he was Independent Adviser to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The report stated, In his March 2005 judgment, Justice Josephson of the British Columbia Supreme Court concluded that one of the leaders of the conspiracy was Talwinder Singh Parmar. That reference was to Justice Ian Stephenson who presided over the Kanishka trial. Parmar was not tried as he was killed in an encounter with police in Punjab in 1992.

The Kanishka bombing remains the worst episode of terror in Canadian history and is recognised as its National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism.

The planners of the rally also want the Canadian government to investigate Indias role in the bombing, a longstanding conspiracy theory advanced by Khalistani elements in the country. On this point, Justice Major said, I think thats just a camouflage, we saw no evidence of that.

Khandelwal was appalled at the fresh attempt. Its disappointing people are trying to rewrite history, he said.

While the bereaved will attend memorial services for their lost loved ones on the 38th anniversary of the bombing this Friday, the plans for the Khalistani event two days later will cast an unfortunate shadow over their mourning and remembrance.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail
Pakistan needs a "constructive relationship" with global financial institutions if the country wants to avoid a default, former chief of the cash-strapped country's central bank said. Addressing the final session of Pakistan literature festival in London, Reza Baqir said that if there is a default Pakistan will go through a painful, protracted process. Pakistan's chances for the revival of the USD 6.5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme have almost diminished as it expires on June 30. Pakistan Economic Crisis: People visit a market for shopping in Lahore, Pakistan.(AP)

The IMF has not yet disbursed USD 2.6 billion to Pakistan from the package.

I am concerned because our relationship with the international financial community has not improved over the last few months. The deterioration comes in terms of substance and communication. If we want to avoid default, we have to have a constructive relationship with those who are there," Reza Baqir said.

Read more: Russia-Ukraine signed peace treaty, Vladimir Putin says. Then, shows document

"We cannot antagonise the people whose generosity we need. But it looks like that is not where it is headed. I always try to be cheerful in public communication. But it comes down to this: if you are a company or person who needs financial support to get through, it is the first step to have a constructive relationship with whatever financial institution will give you that support, he continued.

Pakistan was expected to get around USD 1.2 billion from the IMF in October last year but the tranche has not materialised as Pakistan has been unable to meet important prerequisites as per the agency. The programmes ninth review still continued while the tenth review could remain out of question as it is feared that Pakistan might default on external financing commitments without the active support of the IMF.

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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
In a heartfelt interview, Prince William, the future King of England, has revealed his resolute commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness by utilizing his own land for public housing. FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince William during a visit to Loftus Road, the home of Queens Park Rangers in west London, ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, to hear how the club has provided invaluable support in the immediate aftermath and in the years since the fire, as well as meet some of the affected community who they have worked with. Picture date: Friday May 26, 2023. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo(via REUTERS)

Inspired by a childhood visit to a shelter with his late mother, Princess Diana, the Prince of Wales is determined to make a significant impact in the fight against homelessness.

In his first interview as heir-to-the-throne, Prince William expressed his unwavering dedication to establishing public housing on his expansive 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate.

While acknowledging his limited expertise in policymaking, the Prince assured that his intentions were genuine and fueled by a strong desire to effect change.

ALSO READ| King Charles' friend condemns Prince Harry's hurtful remarks on the Royal Family

When The Sunday Times of London asked about his plans, Prince William shared, "You'll see that when it's ready. I'm no policy expert, but I push it where I can." Demonstrating the depth of his commitment, he explained that providing housing on the Duchy land was at the forefront of his mind. He intends to start small and gradually scale up the project if proves successful.

The Prince's determination to tackle homelessness extends beyond mere rhetoric. He revealed his ambitious five-year nationwide project, set to be announced by his Royal Foundation later in June, aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness. His primary concern lies in the alarming rise of "hidden" youth homelessness, such as sofa surfing, which he believes is an issue that, people dont even look at.

With firsthand experience engaging with homeless individuals, Prince William emphasized the importance of human connection.

How many people stop and talk to somebody who is homeless? Very few of us. In my job, I get to meet these people, I get to hear the stories, I get to feel it, I get to see it. That for meand Ive heard from them themselvesmatters an awful lot. Theyve become invisible. Its really important that society acknowledges that there is somebody there and theyre having a tough time. It shouldnt happen but its right there, you cant ignore it, he expressed.

Prevention, rather than mere management, is a top priority for Prince William. He aims to elevate public awareness about homelessness and foster more collaboration within the sector to improve living conditions throughout the country.

ALSO READ| More embarrassing than intentional: Joe Biden on this Xi Jinping misstep

The Prince urged the public to abandon preconceived ideas and judgments about the homeless, emphasizing the importance of understanding their circumstances and extending a helping hand.

Duke of Cambridge envisions his legacy project as a catalyst for transforming the public's perception of homelessness.

Theres a lot of preconceived ideas around homelessness, theres still stigma, when actually a lot of people dont understand the fundamental basics. We just see the individual on the streets and go, Oh. Loads of judgements as to why that person is there. You see more elderly people homeless because thats what we see on the street. What we dont see is the youth homelessnesssofa surfing, people sleeping in cars or on a mates bed, a lot of youth homelessness is very hidden, he said.

As a patron of homelessness charities Centrepoint and The Passage, Prince William's commitment to this cause runs deep. Reflecting on his own upbringing, he spoke of involving his own children in charitable endeavors.

The Prince believes in the importance of exposing his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, to the realities faced by others. By instilling empathy and understanding at a young age, he hopes to cultivate a sense of responsibility to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

Prince William's new initiative not only aims to address homelessness but also seeks to shift the public's focus toward the positive work carried out by the monarchy.

In the face of recent challenges, including the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the controversies surrounding the Duke of York, the Prince hopes to underscore the family's dedication to serving the community.

Were all very busy and I think its hard sometimes to see what the family bring and what we do.

ALSO READ| US launches revolutionary program in central America, Paving the way to American Visas

Prince William's unwavering commitment to combat homelessness and create sustainable solutions reflects his deep compassion for those in need.

But the amount of causes, the interest, the dinners, the meetings, the visits, whatever it is, that we do day-in-day-out throughout the year, weve always been involved in that, its part of what we do. Its trying to spotlight other causes, other people, other interests, and help people where we can and well continue to do that, he stated.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Father's Day thanked all "strong and brave" soldiers fighting Russia's invasion saying that he hopes all dads would eventually return from the front. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a news conference.(AP)

"Thank you to every Ukrainian father, to every Ukrainian family for our strong and brave soldiers who defended Ukraine's independence, and fight for the life of Ukraine!" Volodymyr Zelensky said. Posting a video by United24- a government initiative to raise donations which showed Ukrainian soldiers returning from home hugging children, the leader said, I wish for our fathers to live long and healthy lives. And for every father who is on the front line to come home.

This comes as Russia's defence ministry said that its forces had repelled a series of Ukrainian attacks across three sections of the front line. Ukraine was pressing most actively in the Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow said without mentioning the settlement of Piatykhatky in Zaporizhzhia region, which a Russian-installed official said earlier had been taken by Ukraine.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive earlier this month to retake territory from Russian forces while US defense secretary Lloyd Austin urged Kyiv's allies to "dig deep" to provide more arms and ammunition.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of signing a peace treaty with Moscow to end the ongoing war saying that Kyiv later threw it into the garbage of history. The comments by the Russian leader were made during a meeting with the leaders of African Union spearheaded by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa at St. Petersberg's Konstantinovsky Palace. The meet included leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic, and the Comoro Islands. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Saint Petersburg.(Reuters)

Watch: Putin's Declaration Of Victory In Ukraine? 'Kyiv Has No weapons, Can't Fight...' | Watch

Vladimir Putin asserted that in the spring of 2022- during the initial phase of Russia's invasion of Ukraine- a peace treaty was signed by the two countries in Istanbul as Turkey hosted a series of negotiations to help develop "trust" between the two sides.

"It was called Treaty of permanent neutrality and security guarantees of Ukraine," Vladimir Putin showing the supposed draft of the treaty. "We never agreed with the Ukrainian side that the text will be confidential but we never showed it before nor commented on it. This draft of the treaty was initialed by the leader of the negotiation group from Kyiv. He put his signature. There it exists," he added.

Kyiv did not react to Vladimir Putin's comments.

The peace agreement was discarded by Ukraine as soon as Russia obliged the request and withdrew troops from Kyiv, Vladimir Putin alleged, saying, Where are the guarantees that they will not renounce any other agreements in the future?

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Russia reported fierce fighting on Sunday on three sections of the front line in Ukraine, a day after hosting an African peace mission that failed to spark enthusiasm from either Moscow or Kyiv. Ukrainian soldiers of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a grenade launcher at the front line near the town of Bakhmut.(AFP)

Read here: Russia-Ukraine signed peace treaty, Vladimir Putin says. Then, shows document

A Russian-installed official said Ukraine had recaptured Piatykhatky, a village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and were entrenching themselves there while coming under fire from Russian artillery.

"The enemy's 'wave-like' offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses," the official, Vladimir Rogov, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia's defence ministry made no mention of Piatykhatky in its daily update, in which it said its forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in three sections of the 1,000 km (600 mile) front line. A separate statement from Russia's Vostok group of forces said Ukraine had failed to take the settlement.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

There was no comment from Ukraine, which last week said it had recaptured another nearby settlement, Lobkove, and a string of villages further east, in Donetsk region, at the start of its long-awaited counteroffensive.

Ukrainian officials have imposed an information blackout to help operational security, but say that Russia has suffered much greater losses than Ukraine has during its new assault.

A regional official said Ukrainian forces had destroyed a major Russian ammunition dump in occupied Kherson region, part of a weeks-long effort by Kyiv to wreak havoc with Russian supply lines.

British defence intelligence said heavy fighting in recent days had been focused on Zaporizhzhia, western Donetsk and around Bakhmut, which Russian mercenaries captured last month after the longest battle of the war.

"In all these areas, Ukraine continues to pursue offensive operations and has made small advances," it said on Twitter.

Russian defence operations had been "relatively effective in the south", with both sides suffering heavy casualties, the assessment said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who rarely comments on the course of the war, made two unusually detailed interventions last week in which he derided the Ukrainian push and said Kyiv's forces had "no chance" despite being newly equipped with Western tanks.

His comments appeared intended to reassure Russians at a crucial juncture, nearly 16 months into the conflict, as Ukraine seeks to break months of virtual stalemate and take back the 18% of its territory that remains under Russian control.

PEACE MISSION

At talks in St Petersburg on Saturday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented Putin with a 10-point peace initiative from seven African countries and told him the time had come for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations to end the war.

Read here: Ukraine war has to end: South Africa's Ramaphosa to Vladimir Putin. His reply

Putin responded by rattling off a string of familiar accusations denied by Ukraine and the West and saying it was Kyiv, not Moscow, that was refusing to talk. He thanked Ramaphosa for his "noble mission".

Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin had shown interest in the plan but it would be "difficult to realise".

In Kyiv the previous day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had told the African delegation - the first since the start of the war to hold separate face-to-face talks with both leaders on their peace initiative - that allowing negotiations now would just "freeze the war" and the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

The vast gulf between the two sides was further underlined when Putin used a flagship economic forum on Friday to slur Zelenskiy personally and to restate the objectives of "demilitarising" and "denazifying" Ukraine that he set out on day one of the war, and which Kyiv and the West reject as a false pretext for invasion.

However, Ramaphosa sought to cast the trip to Ukraine and Russia in a positive light, tweeting on Sunday that the "Africa Peace Initiative has been impactful and its ultimate success will be measured on the objective, which is stopping the war".

He said the Africans would keep talking to both Putin and Zelenskiy and would brief U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on their efforts so far.

MONTHS OF DESTRUCTION

The war has destroyed Ukrainian towns and cities, forced millions of people to flee their homes and taken heavy but undisclosed casualties among both armies, as well as killing thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

Read here: African leaders visit Russia to discuss peace plan with Vladimir Putin

Each side accused the other of blowing up a huge Ukrainian dam on June 6 and flooding large tracts of the war zone.

In the Russian-controlled town of Hola Prystan, Reuters filmed volunteers pumping out water from flooded homes on Saturday and distributing bread and drinking water.

"Not one person in the world will be punished for this torture we're going through, for this terrible catastrophe," said Tamara, a 78-year-old retired nurse.

That's what frustrates me. That no one will be punished for that. And I'd like it if at least one person was put (on trial) and punished for everything. So the whole world could see.

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Britain said on Sunday it would expand its programme to help Ukraine's cyber defences as it launches a counter-offensive against Russia. Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak along with Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky.(via Reuters)

In the announcement, the British government said it would provide another 16 million pounds ($20.5 million) in funding with the potential for a further 9 million pounds to come from international allies.

London said the package - which adds to 6.35 million pounds announced last year - would better equip Ukraine to defend its critical national infrastructure from crippling Russian attacks as Kyiv mounts a counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from the swathes of southern and eastern Ukraine that they occupy.

"Russias appalling attacks on Ukraine are not limited to their barbaric land invasion, but also involve sickening attempts to attack their cyber infrastructure that provides vital services, from banking to energy supplies, to innocent Ukrainian people," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

"This funding is critical to stopping those onslaughts, hardening Ukraines cyber defences and increasing the countrys ability to detect and disable the malware targeted at them."

Next week Sunak will also ask entrepreneurs and businesses to step up their investment in Ukraine at a conference to help it rebuild the country's economy after Russia's invasion.

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A Russian-installed official acknowledged on Sunday that Ukraine had recaptured a village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, its first gain on that front since it launched its counter-offensive earlier this month. Ukrainian forces had taken the settlement of Piatykhatky(AP)

The official, Vladimir Rogov, said Ukrainian forces had taken the settlement of Piatykhatky and were entrenching themselves there while coming under fire from Russian artillery.

"The enemy's 'wave-like' offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses," Rogov said on the Telegram messaging app.

Heavy fighting continues in the area, he added. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, and Reuters could not independently confirm the situation on the battlefield.

Russia says it is inflicting heavy losses on Kyiv's forces and President Vladimir Putin said last week that Ukraine had "no chance" of success in the counter-offensive.

Ukraine said last week it had regained control of about 100 square km (38 square miles) of territory in just over a week, recapturing a string of villages in Donetsk region to the east.
Pope Francis on Sunday condemned this week's "brutal attack" on a Ugandan school where 41 mostly student victims were hacked, shot and burned to death and others went missing. Pope Francis: Pope Francis is seen.(Reuters)

"I pray for the young student victims of the brutal attack against a school in western Uganda," the pope said during his weekly Angelus prayer at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City.

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The grand piano that fell from the sky / did not make a sound as it crushed me. / Nor did I make a peep, lying pinned / under the weight of that beast. / I felt a cold pedal in my stomach, / a wooden leg stuck inside my back, / metal strings pressing on my lungs. / Around me were tuning pins, / damaged hammers, broken keys. / I lay very still, not feeling any pain, / wondering if perhaps Id already died

Author Jodie Hollander, who has been working as a poet since 2009, recently released her second poetry collection entitled, Nocturne. The excerpt above is a brief snippet of Hollanders poem, Dream #1 which is one of the dream poems featured in her latest collection.

Hollanders website describes Nocturne as being set in a technicolor world of dreams, ghosts, classical music and Key West storms. Additionally, the collection is said to chart the complicated repercussions of family dysfunction and musical obsession while traversing the landscape of the human condition and exploring the need for refuge in the natural world.

Nocturne is partially characterized by a strand of dream poems that are interspersed within the collection, Hollander explained. This poetry style is also, ultimately, where the collections title was derived from. The word nocturne is most simply defined as night music, specifically piano compositions. This title fits the collection not only because of the dream poetry that Hollander has woven into it but also because of her father, another integral focus of the collection.

While the first collection focuses predominantly on my relationship with my mother and her journey through cancer, this book focuses more on my father, who is a professional pianist, and what it was like to be the daughter of a musical genius, Hollander said.

Though she is now the proud author of two full poetry collection books, Hollander explained that she did not begin her career in poetry right away. Hollander was constantly writing poetry during her high school and college years; however, the potential risk and instability that comes along with a career as an author or poet worried her initially, she said.

I always wanted to see what would happen if I took my writing seriously because even when I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a poet, and I instead followed a career as a teacher because I wasnt sure how to make a living as a poet, Hollander said. I reached a point in my early thirties where it was really sort of eating away at me. I was getting to the point where I just couldnt shake the feeling that I had to give it a try.

Despite mass economic downturns that were affecting most people at the time, Hollander remained steadfast in her decision to begin working as a poet full-time. She moved to England to pursue a one-year Masters of Arts in poetry. After the program, Hollander said her career took off.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China on Sunday on the highest-level trip by a US official in nearly five years, with the rival powers looking to lower the temperature after soaring tensions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)

Neither side expects breakthroughs during Blinken's two-day visit, with the world's two largest economies at odds on an array of issues from trade to technology to regional security.

But the two countries have increasingly voiced an interest in seeking greater stability and see a narrow window before elections next year both in the United States and Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy which Beijing has not ruled out seizing by force.

In a sign of the fragility of the effort, Blinken had been due to visit four months ago, the fruit of a cordial summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali in November.

But Blinken abruptly postponed the trip after the United States said it detected a Chinese spy balloon over US soil, leading to furious calls for a response by hardliners in Washington.

Speaking in the US capital before his departure, Blinken said he would seek to "responsibly manage our relationship" by finding ways to avoid "miscalculations" between the countries.

"Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict," he said.

- Keeping allies close -

Blinken was speaking alongside Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who said that the region wanted the United States both to stay as a power and to find ways to coexist with a rising China.

Blinken's "trip is essential, but not sufficient", Balakrishnan said.

"There are fundamental differences in outlook, in values. And it takes time for mutual respect and strategic trust to be built in."

READ | Economic linkages at core of strategic relationship, Modis visit historic: Blinken

As part of the Biden administration's focus on keeping allies close, Blinken spoke by telephone with his counterparts from both Japan and South Korea during his 20-hour trans-Pacific journey.

Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, travelled separately to Tokyo for separate three-way meetings involving Japan and both South Korea and the Philippines.

In recent months the United States has reached deals on troop deployments in southern Japan and the northern Philippines, both strategically close to Taiwan.

Beijing carried out major military drills around Taiwan in August, seen as practice for an invasion, after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited.

And in April, China launched three days of war games after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States and met the current speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

- China's 'core concerns' -

Ahead of Blinken's visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the United States needed to "respect China's core concerns" and work together with Beijing.

"The US needs to give up the illusion of dealing with China 'from a position of strength'. China and the US must develop relations on the basis of mutual respect and equality, respect their difference in history, culture, social system and development path," he said, a nod to frequent US criticism of China's rights record.

Blinken is the first top US diplomat to visit Beijing since a brief stop in 2018 by his predecessor Mike Pompeo, who later championed all-out confrontation with China in the final years of Donald Trump's presidency.

The Biden administration has kept in place Trump's hard line in practice if not tone and has gone further in areas, including working to ban exports to China of high-end semiconductors that have military uses.

But unlike Trump, who is running again for president, the Biden administration has said it is willing to work with China on narrow areas of cooperation such as climate -- as Beijing sweats in record mid-June temperatures.

Danny Russel, who was the top diplomat on East Asia during Barack Obama's second term, said that each side had priorities -- with China seeking to forestall additional US restrictions on technology or support for Taiwan, and the United States eager to prevent an incident that could spiral into a military confrontation.

"Blinken's brief visit will not bring resolution to any of the big issues in the US-China relationship or even necessarily to the small ones. Neither will it stop either side from continuing with their competitive agendas," said Russel, now a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

But his visit may well restart badly needed face-to-face dialogue and send a signal that both countries are moving from angry rhetoric at the press podium to sober discussions behind closed doors.
The opening of US migrant processing centers in Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala ensures that more than ever these countries will become waiting rooms for asylum seekers wanting American visas. Migrants wait to be processed by United States Border Patrol seen from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on March 30, 2023. - Five people have been arrested over a fire at a Mexican immigration detention center near the US border that left 39 migrants dead and 27 injured, authorities said March 30, 2023. Those deaths are a reminder of the "dirty work" the country does for the United States to stem migrant flows, experts say. Many thousands of US-bound migrants are stranded in Mexico, struggling to survive in crime-ridden border towns without jobs or resources. (Photo by Guillermo Arias / AFP)(AFP)

The "Safe Mobility" initiative rolled out by Washington in Central America -- the main corridor for tens of thousands hoping to reach the United States without visas -- attempts to expand legal pathways for asylum seekers while keeping them in countries farther from the US border.

The new program started May 11 with the end of Title 42, which had allowed US authorities to return migrants across the border and deny them the right to seek asylum under rules put in place due to the Covid pandemic.

Migrants must now seek a virtual appointment on the movilidadsegura.org website, which is supported by the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration.

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New regional processing centers in Colombia and Guatemala will interview migrants for legal pathways to the United States, Canada and Spain.

In Costa Rica, Safe Mobility offices will facilitate ways for Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to migrate legally as long as they were in the country prior to June 12.

US officials consider the new program a success.

A State Department official, speaking on background, said it expands lawful ways for migrants to obtain visas "instead of making the dangerous journey to try to enter irregularly."

The flow of US-bound migrants from South America -- mostly Venezuela and Ecuador -- has increased through the Darien, the perilous jungle isthmus between Colombia and Panama.

A recent UN statement said more than 100,000 people have crossed through the Darien so far in 2023, a sixfold increase from the same period last year.

Borders -

US officials believe the new processing centers will make it easier for migrants to determine if they have a legal pathway to the United States and not have to put their lives in the hands of smugglers.

University of Costa Rica academic Carlos Sandoval told AFP this initiative responds to a strategy of moving immigration controls southward to implement "more border controls before the physical border."

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"Mexico is the first border," Sandoval said. But US officials have sought to place border controls "in Guatemala as well, and now it is coming to the south."

In March alone, more than 160,000 people tried to cross into the United States from Mexico, according to the State Department.

Containing flows -

Sandoval said three types of migrants converge in Central America on their way to the United States. There are Central Americans; those coming from South America, mainly Venezuela; and lastly people from other parts of the world.

"Central America has been and will continue to be a waiting room," he said.

Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia will be the strategic countries to "contain these migratory flows," said Gabriela Oviedo, Human Mobility Project coordinator at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL).

Transit point -

The United States proposes that migrants wait for processing in the country where they are, although there is no guarantee of a visa.

The three countries will have to "assist vulnerable refugees to get the help they need" to obtain legal status there while they await "lawful pathways to other countries, including the United States," the State Department official said.

But in colonial downtown Guatemala City, Diego Berrios, a 23-year-old Venezuelan, asks for money to continue his journey north despite the start of the migration program.

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He arrived in Guatemala a few days ago and hopes to reach the US-Mexico border with his wife and daughters, aged one and eight, as soon as possible.

"Here in Guatemala, it is just a transit point," he told AFP.

Oviedo warns that "there is still no clarity" on how the processing centers will operate and what the procedures will be.

"We don't know how long they are going to take, what is going to happen to people who are denied these regular permits. There is a lot of uncertainty," she said.
When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the charismatic leader of Irans Islamic revolution, died in 1989, hundreds of thousands of mourners packed the streets, fearful of what might happen next. Nowadays the mood is very different. For more than six months Iranians have been demonstrating en masse , chanting death to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the founders ailing successor as supreme leader. Yet no one knows who might fill his shoes when he goesor whether the Middle Easts last theocracy will actually survive. PREMIUM Mr Khamenei has shrunk from naming a successor. (AP)

Despite several cancer scares, the 84-year-old may hang on for years yet. But doubts about his healthand the strength of his system, the Velayat-e Faqih, or rule of the clericare growing. Even religious-minded Iranians have begun to lose faith in theocracy.

The regime is patently unpopular. Elections have long been a charade. Non-alignment in foreign policy looks increasingly phoney as the regime snuggles up to China and Russia. The succession is bound to shake the status quo, says Pejman Abdolmohammadi of the University of Trento in Italy. It could speed up a full authoritarian takeover or spark a democratic transition.

On paper, the succession should be smooth. As things stand, the supreme leader has the final say on all matters of state, making him far superior to the president, who is elected under undemocratic conditions every four years. The supreme leader, by contrast, is picked by an assembly of 88 clerics. If this turbaned elite is unsure whom to choose, a triumvirate composed of the president, the chief justice and a senior jurist decides and a referendum confirms their choice. In 1989 the triumvirate, including a son of Mr Khomeini, wangled Mr Khamenei, a middle-ranking cleric who was already the president, into the job behind the assemblys back. A constitutional referendum duly followed.

Three decades later, Mr Khamenei has shrunk from naming a successor. Meanwhile, the regime has been rocked by demonstrations and dissent after the death last September of a young woman in the custody of the so-called morality police.

The two prime contenders have even weaker religious pedigrees than Mr Khameneis. Ebrahim Raisi, formerly the chief justice and now an arch-reactionary president, spent a relatively short time studying in seminaries. Hes only as qualified as a mosque imam, says Mustafa Fahas, a Shia Muslim academic in Lebanon who monitors events in Iran. Mr Raisis father-in-law is an ultra-conservative cleric who, among other things, wants to ban music. This alienates him from most Iranians.

The other front-runner is Mr Khameneis second son, Mojtaba. He runs the supreme leaders office and is close to Hossein Taib, until recently the powerful intelligence chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regimes praetorian body. Mr Khamenei junior has lately been hailed on state TV as an ayatollah, the clergys highest rank, but has never held an official post and is rarely seen in public. Many regime stalwarts dislike the prospect of a dynastic succession: their revolution was founded on the overthrow of a shah.

The big new factor, compared with the situation in 1989, is the rise of the IRGC. It now has the whip-hand over the clerics. For three decades Mr Khamenei has built up its power as a defence against his rivals among the clergyand against the risk of opposition in the street. The IRGCs membership in parliament has risen from 6% in 1980 (a year after the revolution) to 26% today, according to Chatham House, a think-tank in London, while clerical representation has dropped from 52% to 11%. The clergy used to post clerics to IRGC units; now the IRGC trains its own clerics and posts them to the seminaries, says Ali Alfoneh, an expert in America who wrote a book about Irans leadership succession.

As the IRGC has gained strength, many Iran watchers think its commanders could keep the supreme leader in place but reduce him to a figurehead. It might prefer Mr Raisi as a useful idiot who fits the bill, says Saied Golkar, another Iran expert in America. The IRGC could conceivably take charge and junk clerical rule altogether, replacing it with an equally authoritarian alternative. The IRGC may be more pragmatic than the ruling clergy and try harder not to clash with the already disgruntled middle class. In foreign policy, however, it could be just as forceful, dropping Mr Khameneis vaunted fatwa against nuclear weapons and openly racing to build a nuclear bomb. While continuing to oppose Americas presence in the Gulf, it may nonetheless be more flexible in negotiating with the Great Satan.

Some argue that the IRGC could impose a new social contract whereby Iranians would have more freedom to dress, drink and dance as they pleased. Iran might have a female education minister, the first in over 40 years. (An Islamist firing squad killed the last one, in 1980.) Political freedom, however, would shrink still more.

That process may have begun. The morality police often leave unveiled women alone. But repression against dissent and crime is as harsh as ever. Executions rose last year by more than 80%, to 576. If an authoritarian IRGC regime were to bring back stability while relaxing personal mores, many Iranians might accept it.

But true reformists would surely bid for a secular civilian system, rather than rule by either the IRGC or the clergy. Earlier this year, a former president, Muhammad Khatami, called for a fundamental transformation. A popular former presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, broke his silence after 12 years of house arrest to call for a referendum on whether to keep Iran as an Islamic republic.

Whatever the shape of the transition, it could well be messy. Only one thing is certain, says Mr Fahas, who is close to clerics within the regime. Mr Khamenei will be the last real faqih. In other words, rule by clerics as envisaged by the 1979 revolutions founding fathers will be over.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
At the heart of the Ukraine crisis lies a fundamental question about the nature of history and the nature of humanity: is change possible? Can humans change the way they behave, or does history repeat itself endlessly, with humans forever condemned to re-enact past tragedies without changing anything except the decor? PREMIUM Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, who lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.(Photo courtesy: Author website)

One school of thought firmly denies the possibility of change. It argues that the world is a jungle, that the strong prey upon the weak and that the only thing preventing one country from wolfing down another is military force. This is how it always was, and this is how it always will be. Those who dont believe in the law of the jungle are not just deluding themselves, but are putting their very existence at risk. They will not survive long.

Another school of thought argues that the so-called law of the jungle isnt a natural law at all. Humans made it, and humans can change it. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the first clear evidence of organised warfare appears in the archaeological record only 13,000 years ago. Even after that date, there have been many periods devoid of archaeological evidence for war. Unlike gravity, war isnt a fundamental force of nature. Its intensity and existence depend on underlying technological, economic and cultural factors. As these factors change, so does war.

Evidence of such change is all around us. Over the past few generations, nuclear weapons have turned war between superpowers into a mad act of collective suicide, forcing the most powerful nations on Earth to find less violent ways to resolve conflict. Whereas great-power wars, such as the second Punic war or the second world war, have been a salient feature for much of history, in the past seven decades there has been no direct war between superpowers.

During the same period, the global economy has been transformed from one based on materials to one based on knowledge. Where once the main sources of wealth were material assets such as gold mines, wheat fields and oil wells, today the main source of wealth is knowledge. And whereas you can seize oil fields by force, you cannot acquire knowledge that way. The profitability of conquest has declined as a result.

Finally, a tectonic shift has taken place in global culture. Many elites in historyHun chieftains, Viking jarls and Roman patricians, for exampleviewed war positively. Rulers from Sargon the Great to Benito Mussolini sought to immortalise themselves by conquest (and artists such as Homer and Shakespeare happily obliged such fancies). Other elites, such as the Christian church, viewed war as evil but inevitable.

In the past few generations, however, for the first time in history, the world became dominated by elites who see war as both evil and avoidable. Even the likes of George W. Bush and Donald Trump, not to mention the Merkels and Arderns of the world, are very different types of politicians than Attila the Hun or Alaric the Goth. They usually come to power with dreams of domestic reforms rather than foreign conquests. While in the realm of art and thought, most of the leading lights from Pablo Picasso to Stanley Kubrickare better known for depicting the senseless horrors of combat than for glorifying its architects.

As a result of all these changes, most governments stopped seeing wars of aggression as an acceptable tool to advance their interests, and most nations stopped fantasising about conquering and annexing their neighbours. It is simply not true that military force alone prevents Brazil from conquering Uruguay or prevents Spain from invading Morocco.

The parameters of peace

The decline of war is evident in numerous statistics. Since 1945, it has become relatively rare for international borders to be redrawn by foreign invasion, and not a single internationally recognised country has been completely wiped off the map by external conquest. There has been no shortage of other types of conflicts, such as civil wars and insurgencies. But even when taking all types of conflict into account, in the first two decades of the 21st century human violence has killed fewer people than suicide, car accidents or obesity-related diseases. Gunpowder has become less lethal than sugar.

Scholars argue back and forth about the exact statistics, but it is important to look beyond the maths. The decline of war has been a psychological as well as statistical phenomenon. Its most important feature has been a major change in the very meaning of the term peace. For most of history, peace meant only the temporary absence of war. When people in 1913 said that there was peace between France and Germany, they meant that the French and German armies were not clashing directly, but everybody knew that a war between them might nevertheless erupt at any moment.

In recent decades peace has come to mean the implausibility of war. For many countries, being invaded and conquered by the neighbours has become almost inconceivable. I live in the Middle East, so I know perfectly well that there are exceptions to these trends. But recognising the trends is at least as important as being able to point out the exceptions.

The new peace hasnt been a statistical fluke or hippie fantasy. It has been reflected most clearly in coldly-calculated budgets. In recent decades governments around the world have felt safe enough to spend an average of only about 6.5% of their budgets on their armed forces, while spending far more on education, health care and welfare.

We tend to take it for granted, but it is an astonishing novelty in human history. For thousands of years, military expenditure was by far the biggest item on the budget of every prince, khan, sultan and emperor. They hardly spent a penny on education or medical help for the masses.

The decline of war didnt result from a divine miracle or from a change in the laws of nature. It resulted from humans making better choices. It is arguably the greatest political and moral achievement of modern civilisation. Unfortunately, the fact that it stems from human choice also means that it is reversible.

Technology, economics and culture continue to change. The rise of cyber weapons, AI-driven economies and newly militaristic cultures could result in a new era of war, worse than anything we have seen before. To enjoy peace, we need almost everyone to make good choices. By contrast, a poor choice by just one side can lead to war.

This is why the Russian threat to invade Ukraine should concern every person on Earth. If it again becomes normative for powerful countries to wolf down their weaker neighbours, it would affect the way people all over the world feel and behave. The first and most obvious result of a return to the law of the jungle would be a sharp increase in military spending at the expense of everything else. The money that should go to teachers, nurses and social workers would instead go to tanks, missiles and cyber weapons.

A return to the jungle would also undermine global co-operation on problems such as preventing catastrophic climate change or regulating disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. It isnt easy to work alongside countries that are preparing to eliminate you. And as both climate change and an AI arms race accelerate, the threat of armed conflict will only increase further, closing a vicious circle that may well doom our species.

Historys direction

If you believe that historic change is impossible, and that humanity never left the jungle and never will, the only choice left is whether to play the part of predator or prey. Given such a choice, most leaders would prefer to go down in history as alpha predators, and add their names to the grim list of conquerors that unfortunate pupils are condemned to memorize for their history exams.

But maybe change is possible? Maybe the law of the jungle is a choice rather than an inevitability? If so, any leader who chooses to conquer a neighbour will get a special place in humanitys memory, far worse than your run-of-the-mill Tamerlane. He will go down in history as the man who ruined our greatest achievement. Just when we thought we were out of the jungle, he pulled us back in.

I dont know what will happen in Ukraine. But as a historian I do believe in the possibility of change. I dont think this is naivetyits realism. The only constant of human history is change. And thats something that perhaps we can learn from the Ukrainians. For many generations, Ukrainians knew little but tyranny and violence. They endured two centuries of tsarist autocracy (which finally collapsed amidst the cataclysm of the first world war). A brief attempt at independence was quickly crushed by the Red Army that re-established Russian rule. Ukrainians then lived through the terrible man-made famine of the Holodomor, Stalinist terror, Nazi occupation and decades of soul-crushing Communist dictatorship. When the Soviet Union collapsed, history seemed to guarantee that Ukrainians would again go down the path of brutal tyranny  what else did they know?

But they chose differently. Despite history, despite grinding poverty and despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Ukrainians established a democracy. In Ukraine, unlike in Russia and Belarus, opposition candidates repeatedly replaced incumbents. When faced with the threat of autocracy in 2004 and 2013, Ukrainians twice rose in revolt to defend their freedom. Their democracy is a new thing. So is the new peace. Both are fragile, and may not last long. But both are possible, and may strike deep roots. Every old thing was once new. It all comes down to human choices.

Copyright  Yuval Noah Harari 2022.

Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher and author of Sapiens (2014), Homo Deus (2016) and the series Sapiens: A Graphic History (2020-21). He is a lecturer in the Hebrew University of Jerusalems history department and co-founder of Sapienship, a social-impact company.

Our recent coverage of the Ukraine crisis can be found here

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train hauling vehicles derailed in Williams last week. No one was injured, no private structures were damaged and no hazardous materials were spilled after 23 cars on the 167-car freight train went off the tracks that Wednesday night.

The proximity to a Christian youth camp and several homes caused some concern among residents, and Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett has said its hard not to think about how an event like that would look in Flagstaff.

Its long been a concern of residents, right? You have tracks running through the center of town and you have so many trains a day. The public wants to know that we have plans, staff and training in place, Daggett said. I was just grateful that I know that our staff has planned and practiced and anticipated potential accidents in town.

When 38 cars on a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio  spilling thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride  Daggett reached out to her city staff. She asked how or if the citys first responders and emergency management personnel were prepared to deal with a similar situation.

On March 28, the Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and City Emergency Management presented to Flagstaff City Council, talking through their training, and the way a coordinated response might play out in our railroad town.

At the time, Flagstaff Fire Battalion Chief Dave Wilson assured the community that all firefighters in the city have basic knowledge and training in handling hazardous materials (hazmat). FFD also employs 18 technicians, firefighters divided six per shift for all three of the citys round-the-clock crews. Each tech has received a 200-hour, five-week training in hazmat response.

The most recent 200-hour hazmat training took place in Flagstaff during this years particularly snowy February.

I was really impressed with that and impressed that they regularly conduct drills, said Daggett, who also toured FFDs hazmat truck. They are in very close communication with BNSF  which is a very important part of this.

BNSF, at the end of the day, is a private company. They own the rails. The city has very little say in how they do business, maintain track and support first responders.

Daggett said for the most part, BNSF is willing to partner well with the city as a stakeholder.

In my experience, BNSF recognizes that accountability and that responsibility. They own the land that their tracks are on. We have to partner with each other because the city does not have jurisdiction over BNSF. We partner with BNSF, she said.

But she also has gone one step further. After the derailment in East Palestine, Daggett granted her support to a piece of legislation championed by the National League of Cities that aims to do more in preventing catastrophic derailments and train-related fatalities.

Its the Railway Safety Act of 2023, and it was introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 1.

As the National League of Cities, were hearing from community members just like you in Flagstaff, and were asking a question of Congress. What are you going to do about this? It turns out your police chief, your mayor, your legislators, your governor have very limited options when it comes to regulating the railroads. The only body that can do that is Congress, said Brittney Kohler, the legislative director for transportation and infrastructure at the National League of Cities.

Shes part of a Federal Advocacy Team that works with Congress, the White House, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make sure each body understands the position of cities across the country on various issues.

Her team has been supporting the Railway Safety Act, which aims to do a couple of things.

First, it seeks to improve communication between railroads and first responders so that crews like Wilsons dont show up to a derailment blind. There will be a legislated process first responders can use to be sure exactly what a train was hauling when it went off the rails.

According to FFDs presentation to city council, trains have plaques on each car to indicate what kinds of hazardous materials might be on site.

The initial companies on-site can identify whats leaking and then we can set up a plan, Wilson said.

Knowing what the trains are hauling ahead of time might make response that much faster and safer for the first people on scene.

Kohler said the bill imagines a system that works like 911 for rail. First responders would be able to call into a dispatch system and find out exactly what theyre dealing with.

According to Wilson, in region Flagstaff is within, BNSF has created an app that firefighters and emergency managers can access on their phones. The app is called Ask the Rail, and it lets the user known what materials are on a train thats set to move through town, how much is on board and other pertinent information.

In years past we would have had to contact the conductor who had the manifest detailing what was on the train, Wilson said.

Daggett said BNSF communicates well with the fire department, but Kohler argues thats not the case everywhere.

There have been some patchwork solutions that have been advanced, but they are, in fact, patchwork solutions, she said.

The Railway Safety Act also looks at the dangers posed by long trains, and particularly how blocked railroad crossings impact communities.

Blocked crossings are the second-most important safety issue that we find in communities. The first is if the train goes off the tracks with hazardous materials. The second is what happens when an ambulance is one side of the tracks and the patients on the other? Kohler said.

The bill would require railroads to comply with new requirements on train length and weight, track standards and speed restrictions. It would also place new emphasis on track and train defect detection.

The proposed legislation looks to increase the fines DOT can impose for safety violations, and requires updates to rail car inspection regulations. It would phase out certain types of aging railcars, and provide funding for research and development to identify the greatest barriers to railway safety.

The Railway Safety Act is an opportunity for us to respond to what happened in East Palestine. Its also a chance for us to look at the holistic picture of what are those elements of safety that need to happen in order to keep the system moving and working, which is good for the railroads and good for our communities. That is the ultimate goal, Kohler said.

In service of helping lawmakers and city leaders to understand the scope of the derailment problem in America, the National League of Cities created an interactive incident map.

They distilled public information available through the FRA. Each derailment that happens in the country is cataloged as a dot on the map. The dots size corresponds to the amount of estimated damage the incident caused, and the color indicates whether anyone was killed.

We wanted to make it easier for anyone, whether youre a citizen or a member of Congress, to be able to zoom all the way into your area and see exactly how many derailments have happened near you, how much your community is a hot spot for those kinds of derailments and fatalities, Kohler said. I think thats actually one of the things that folks see when they look at the map for the first time, just how much this is happening across the country. That has been really valuable, to just see the totality of the incidents that are happening.

In small towns and villages, Kohler pointed out, leaders often appreciate tools that help them to quickly digest information, assess risks and plot solutions.

She hopes the map will highlight the need for new regulations, but thats not the entire purpose. Its also a tool the National League of Citys hopes will empower city leaders to tackle such issues in the ways they are able.

The thing that I really liked about the map is that as you zoom out you can see where the hot spots are. You can see the light-purple areas on the map. That kind of gives you a sense of where there are more challenges that may have systemic issues. It may lead a city leader to be able to say, This seems to be a hot spot area. Maybe this is somewhere in our state where we can go after a grant to create an overpass or an underpass, Kohler said.

The National League of Cities has had more than 500 communities send letters to Capitol Hill in support of the Railways Safety Act. Kohler said federal regulation will be a critical and strong safeguard against catastrophic derailments and train-related incidents.

In the meantime, cities can apply for available funding that could help change the systems that create hot spots on the map.

The FRA announced on June 5 that theyve been awarded more than $570 million for a Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.

Folks are able to use the Railroad Crossing Elimination program to go over, overpasses; under, underpasses or tunnels, and you can also look at improving crossings. Theres funding for that as well, Kohler said.

The project will fund infrastructure development in 32 states the first time around  Arizona is not one of those states.
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A man died early Sunday after the Jeep he was riding in crossed the median on Highway 6 in west Houston and crashed, police said.

The Jeep drove across the median in the 1100 block of Highway 6 and crashed head on into a Mercedes-Benz that was driving south, Houston Police Lt. J.P. Horelica told OnScene TV reporters. Police received the call around 1:51 a.m. Inside the Jeep, officers found one man, one woman, a teenager and a child. The man was pronounced dead on the scene by the Houston Fire Department, Horelica said.
Protect Nesting Loons and Loon Chicks

MONTPELIER, Vt.  Vermont Fish and Wildlife is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer.

"Loons were removed from Vermont's endangered species list in 2005, but they face continued threats from human disturbance during the breeding season and ingestion of fishing gear," said Rosalind Renfrew, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

"Many areas where loons nest on Vermont's lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked. We're asking people to enjoy loons from a distance rather than approaching them, whether you are in a boat or on shore."

Renfrew also reminds people to avoid using lead fishing tackle. Every year Vermont loons die from lead poisoning after swallowing fishing tackle. Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited in Vermont, but larger tackle still has the capacity to slough off lead into the environment over time. Renfrew also recommends anglers to be careful to not attract loons to their bait and lures, and especially to not leave any fishing line behind as it can entangle and kill loons.

Eric Hanson, biologist with the Vermont Loon Conservation Project and Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), asks anglers to reel in for a few minutes if loons are diving nearby. To give anglers a place to discard their lead tackle, VCE will be placing collection tubes for lead tackle and discarded fishing line at over 20 boat access areas beginning this summer. VCE coordinates the loon project in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Hanson and his colleagues monitor Vermont's loon population and have put out game cameras around loon nests to monitor the behavior of people around them. Hanson says most people are respectful of nesting loons and give them space, but people sometimes inadvertently harm loons without meaning to.

"Loon chicks can be difficult to see, so we ask motorboaters to note where loon families are and to avoid those areas," said Hanson. "We also ask that motorboaters obey no wake' laws within 200 feet of shorelines because boat wakes can flood and destroy shoreline loon nests."

As Vermont's loon population continues to increase and canoeing and kayaking continues to become more popular, there is greater potential for people to come into conflict with loons. Hanson reminds boaters to avoid pursuing loons in a canoe or kayak, especially loons with young.

"Occasionally a loon will be curious and approach people, and if that happens, just enjoy it," said Hanson. "However, loons that are constantly swimming away from you are stressed and may abandon their young if they feel they are in danger."

Hanson also urges shoreline property owners to maintain appropriate habitat for loons, including shrubby and forested areas along shorelines, where loons can nest. Having shrubs and trees instead of lawns along shorelines also improves water quality which is essential for healthy lakes, aquatic insects, fish eggs, fish, and loons.

Volunteers interested in monitoring loons for the Loon Conservation Project should contact Hanson at loon@vtecostudies.org. Volunteers can monitor lakes all summer long with a focus on lakes with loon pairs and nesting.

Volunteers can also survey one or two lakes on Loonwatch Day, being held on July 15 this year, between 8 and 9 a.m. The goal is to survey all lakes greater than 20 acres at the same time, which provides a population count and checks on small lakes that are surveyed less often during the rest of year.
Mild Drought Conditions Declared in Berkshire County

BOSTON  Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared a Level 1-Mild Drought in the Western and Cape Cod Regions of Massachusetts following more than two months of below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures.

A Level 1-Mild Drought, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, warrants detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the affected municipalities.

All other regions of the state  Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Southeast, and Islands regions  remain in Level 0-Normal conditions.

During the past several months, Massachusetts has experienced irregular rainfall events; however, state officials anticipate improvements in these areas based on rains this week. The decision to declare the Western and Cape Cod Regions a Level 1  Mild Drought was informed by recommendations and discussions by the Drought Management Task Force (DMTF), composed of state and federal officials and other entities, which met on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The declaration will remain in effect until water levels return to normal conditions in those regions.

Those living and working within a Level 1  Mild Drought region, including residents utilizing a private well, are encouraged to take the following actions:

For Region in Level 1 - Mild Drought

Residents and Businesses:

Minimize overall water use;

Limit outdoor watering to one day per week from 5:00PM to 9:00AM, or less frequently if required by your water supplier;

Plant only local and drought-resistant species;

Fix indoor leaks, such as from toilets, faucets, and showers, which result in more than 60 percent of indoor use;

For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities;

Minimize lawn sizes; and,

Harvest rainwater for outdoor watering.

Communities:

Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication, taking advantage of the state's library of outreach materials;

Provide timely drought and water conservation information to local residents and businesses;

Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and

Develop a local drought management plan (learn more here).

All these steps will help reduce water use to ensure essential needs, such as drinking water and fire protection, are being met, habitats have enough water to support their natural functions, and sustain the Commonwealth's water supplies. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will continue to provide technical assistance to communities on managing systems, including assistance on the use of emergency connections and water supplies.

The Drought Management Task Force will meet again on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 10:00 am. State agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal, and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' drought and water conservation pages.
(Baonghean.vn) - Vinh Airport is planned to have a design capacity to accommodate 8 million passengers per year by 2030 and 14 million passengers per year by 2050. It will be the 7th largest out of 14 international airports in Vietnam.



The Prime Minister of Vietnam has recently issued Decision No. 648/QD-TTg dated June 7, 2023, approving the master plan for the development of national system of airports and international airports during the period of 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050.

During the 2021-2030 period, the airport system is planned with a hub-and-spoke model, with two main hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It will include 30 airports, comprising 14 international airports and 16 domestic ones. By 2050, the plan envisions the establishment of 33 airports, including 14 international airports and 19 domestic ones. Vinh Intl Airport is one of the 14 international airports across the country.

According to the development plan for the airport system during the 2021-2030 period, Vinh International Airport will be categorized as a 4E airport, covering a total area of over 557 hectares.

Its expected design capacity is 8 million passengers per year. The estimated investment for Vinh International Airport according to this plan during the period is 14,942 billion VND.

By 2050, Vinh International Airport is planned to have an expected design capacity to accommodate 14 million passengers per year, ranking behind the following international airports: Noi Bai (100 million passengers per year), Long Thanh (100 million passengers per year), Tan Son Nhat (50 million passengers per year), Cam Ranh (36 million passengers per year), Da Nang (30 million passengers per year), Chu Lai (30 million passengers per year), Van Don (20 million passengers per year), and Phu Quoc (18 million passengers per year). The estimated investment cost for Vinh International Airport according to this plan is 8,905 billion VND.

Currently, Vinh International Airport is a 4E airport according to ICAO regulations, with 6 airlines operating 9 flight routes. The average frequency is 26-28 flights per day (equivalent to 52-56 takeoffs and landings per day). The passenger volume through the airport reached 2.6 million passengers in 2022, exceeding its current capacity.
Memorial wreaths adorn the Elk on the Trail as part of ceremonies on Saturday marking the monument's dedication a century ago to Elks who died during World War 1. Elks lodges from across the state attend Saturday's observances. PreviousNext

Massachusetts Elks Mark 100th Anniversary of 'The Elk on the Trail'



Each branch of the service is recognized at the ceremony. See more photos here. FLORIDA, Mass.  The gathering couldn't quite the match the 10,000 who attended the unveiling the bronze memorial on June 17, 1923, to Elks members who had died in World War I.

But around 300 members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, their families and local residents were surrounded the landmark monument on Saturday afternoon to mark its 100th anniversary.

"It is my honor and privilege to be able to speak to you all today to celebrate the 100th anniversary for the Elk on the Trail in honor of those Elks who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War One," said Steven Hardy, president of the state Elks association. "And for all men and women who served our country for us. I believe this elk stands for them as well. ...

"I truly believe this monument has served us well and we're hoping for another 100 years.

The ceremony included addresses, the presentation of services flags by local Boy Scout Troup 38 and Elks President-elect Michael Delfino, music by the Drury High School band, a flag honor guard by members of North Adams firefighters from Local 1781, and a gun salute by North Berkshire veterans.

The 8-foot tall bull elk is a well-known sight on the Mohawk Trail, just east of the Whitcomb Summit. The original was sculpted in 1904 by Eli Harvey, a leading animal sculptor of the era who also created the lion sculptures on the Lion House at the Bronx Zoo. Harvey's elk is the emblem of the international order and statues are used at other Elks sites. There is also bronze statuette on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The bronze was cast by the Gorman Manufacturing Co. of Rhode Island at the request of the Greenfield Elks lodge, which made and sold pocket watch fobs and pins for women to raise the money. According to reports at the time, 50 girls were selling the fobs at the 1923 dedication.

The potential location of the elk apparently caused some "spirited bidding" by local business owners, who wanted the monument near their place of business. The trail had opened just nine years before and already had a reputation as a scenic byway.

But Charles Cannedy offered 15,000 square feet of land to the Massachusetts Elks Association, free and clear, which it accepted. The elk and the surroundings are now maintained by the North Adams Elks Lodge.

"We're here today to honor our service members in to remember the sacrifices they had made in honor of their duty and country," said Michael Zellen, a past grand exalted ruler.

"The service members we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed coverage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity. All the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than oneself."

Veterans and attendees whose family members had served were asked to stand and be recognized. Peter Plecinoga, first vice president of Springfield, did the 13 folds of the American flag and grandchildren of a local lodge member led the Pledge of Allegiance. The opening prayer was given by Michael Fitzgerald and the closing prayer be Steven Sevigne.

The gathering also did the 11th hour toast, an Elks tradition to remember Elks living and dead. The chiming of the bell 11 times and then the toast are said to date to the Battle of Hastings when William the Conquerer ordered the watchfires extinguished at that hour. Apparently, Gen. John "Blackjack" Pershing, an Elk, specifically chose the 11th hour for the signing of the agreement ending World War 1.

The bell was rung by Albert Mancuso and the toast of remembrance by Lewana Dyer.

The ceremonies concluded with the laying of wreaths around the elk by the state association and participating lodges from across the state. A luncheon at the North Adams Elks lodge followed.

Hardy said he'd attended the annual ceremony at the elk about at least a half-dozen times and that thinking about veterans and their service gave him a warm feeling.

But the Elks do more than ceremonies, he continued, such as its programs and donations for charities that many people don't know about.

"I think that's the most important part is to have it publicized for the many great things we do for our charities," Hardy said. "We we give away thousands and thousands of dollars every year. ... There's so many good things we do.

Chris Caproni, Drury's band director, seconded Hardy's comment.

"The Elks have always supported the Dury band financially," he said. "Whenever I have a kid who needs anything, they're always, 'what do you need Chris? They're always supporting whatever we need."
Fourth-grade teacher Breanna Sumy with the Morningside School pledge. This is Sumy's first year as a teacher after working as a paraprofessional.

Teacher of the Month: Breanna Sumy



Breanna Sumy, third from right, with her fourth-grade classroom. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Morningside Community School fourth-grade teacher Breanna Sumy was selected as the April's Teacher of the Month.

The Teacher of the Month series runs for the next 11 months in partnership with Berkshire Community College.

Sumy has always known that she wanted to work with children and was inspired by her own teachers.

Their example influenced her to become an educator herself so that she could have a similar influence on the children in her classroom.

Sumy has fond memories from her time at Morningside as a pupil and has returned to her alma mater to teach the fourth grade.

After graduation from high school in 2011, she jumped right into the educational field by working in child care. From there she moved on to work in the public schools as a paraprofessional.

Sumy left the field for a short time working as a medical records keeper but didn't feel like she was making an impact on the community like she wanted to.

Although this is her first year teaching, her co-workers, principals and students sang her praises for the work she has been doing.

Sumy has been working incredibly hard and has been adjusting well as a first year teacher, Morningside co-Principal Elisabeth Lamoureaux said.

Co-Principal Jennifer Teichert echoed these remarks adding that being a former student at Morningside may contribute to her success.

"The kids love her and it's really exciting for us to have a former student now working as a teacher in the building," Teichert said.

"I think that's one of the reasons why she was so successful is because she is relatable to the kids because she's from this neighborhood. She's really supportive of everybody in our community."

When given a chance to describe their teacher, her students excitedly praised her calling her kind, fun, and inspiring. One even compared her to a lion because of her strength.

Paraprofessional Paul Ithete said Sumy has grown as a teacher and gained the respect from her students since the beginning of the year.

"She's firm but fair, but also at the same time willing to adjust to whatever the kid might need. So I have nothing but praise for Ms. Sumy. Like, I've seen her just develop as a teacher and I'm just very proud of her," Ithete said.

Sumy said she focuses on social emotional learning as well as academics. Social emotional learning is crucial because even as adults we "fall all over the place in life" if we can't learn to manage our problems and emotions, she said.

"I start with [social emotional learning.] I built a very great community in my classroom and that has helped keep the expectations in place," Sumy said.

"And they have grown to be like the best of friends and great helpers so I wouldn't be able to be the teacher I am without them for sure."

The classroom is very interactive, collaborative, and there are a lot of student-led lessons to demonstrate to her students that they are all capable of teaching each other, she said. "I'm the teacher of the class, but they're all capable of teaching each other skills that I want to be able to teach. Because a lot of learning we do it's from our peers."

Sumys positivity and history with the school is one of the things that makes her special because of the insight it provides, fourth-grade teacher Samantha Boyle said.

Boyle said she doesn't think she could have survived the school year without Sumy because at the start of the year, they had a team of four teachers but then went down to two.

"She offers an insight into the community and just gives a different light on how this school affects people. We don't think about our kids growing up and how we affect them. We think of them in the moment, but she's an example of like a full cycle student," Boyle said.

Sumy graduated from Berkshire Community College and looks forward to continuing to grow. She has been attending Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to obtain her bachelor's degree and plans to graduate in December 2024.




iciHaiti - Insecurity : Attack on the Consulate of Jamaica in Haiti, CARICOM statement





Following the attack on the building housing the Jamaican Consulate in Haiti, the Caribbean Community reacted strongly in a note :



CARICOM Note :



"The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) notes with deep concern the report that the Sun Auto Car Dealership in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, owned and operated by the Honorary Consul for our Member State, Jamaica, and which houses the Consulate, was set ablaze and ransacked by criminal gangs on Monday 12 June 2023.



This act of violence has sadly caused the indefinite suspension of consular services offered by the Government of Jamaica.



CARICOM strongly condemns this and other such acts which cause damage to property and people.



The Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM remains deeply committed to ongoing dialogue and other efforts towards a Haitian-led solution to the ongoing crisis in our sister country, Haiti."



IH/ iciHaiti


















Even D.C. politicians are now choking under the smoke-filled air that has seemingly become a routine part of summer life for Western states. As heavy smoke engulfed cities on the East Coast last week, it has become clear that increasingly catastrophic wildfires have progressed from a regional issue to a national crisis. Its time for our leaders to prioritize active forest management to mitigate the growing threat of catastrophic fires and secure Montanans fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.

The forests that our federal and state governments manage are sending hundreds of millions of tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere as they burn each year. In 2021 alone, wildfires in the U.S. emitted 227 million tons of CO2 and CO2 equivalents. By contrast, gas cooking in the U.S. produces methane equivalent to 65 million tons of CO2 annually. We also know that growing, healthy, actively managed forests are robust carbon sinks. Instead of micromanaging the carbon emissions of regular citizens with ham-fisted gas stove bans, shouldnt climate-conscious politicians be doing everything they can to restore forest health and mitigate unnaturally severe wildfires?

Historically, low-intensity wildfire has been a healthy part of forest ecosystems, but forests are not adapted to the extreme fires we see today. Poor human management in the 20th century has made forests overloaded with fuel. When combined with frequent drought and a changing climate, fires are getting bigger and more devastating  destroying fish and wildlife habitat and degrading critical watersheds. Im certainly not the only Montanan who has seen their favorite trout stream torched or huckleberry patch incinerated in recent years.

Another palpable impact of unnaturally severe wildfires is the impact on air quality. Prolonged smoke exposure has harmful cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and even increases the risk of death. Montanans routinely experience unhealthy or even hazardous levels of smoke during fire season and it seems to be getting worse every year.

Active forest management using proactive techniques like mechanical thinning (logging) and prescribed burns to restore forest health is a proven strategy for mitigating the threat of catastrophic wildfires that is widely recognized by leaders in Congress, conservation groups, the Montana DNRC and the Forest Service. Expanding forest management is also a key element of Montanas Climate Solutions Plan. Yet, only a tiny fraction of federal and state forests facing high risk of wildfire are actively managed each year.

One major reason for the undermanagement of Americas forests is quite simply a policy failure: important projects are routinely blocked by red tape and litigation from radical environmentalist groups. Outdated environmental review laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) often delay critical management projects for years. Even when reviews are finally approved, frivolous litigation over the analysis can hold up important management projects in the courts for years.

Montanas leaders have thankfully led by example on forest management. Montanas congressional delegation have all endorsed legislation to help fix burdensome environmental red tape and disruptive litigation. At home, Gov. Greg Gianforte has doubled the state forest acres actively managed since taking office. These are great steps, but much more needs to be done.

Montanas Constitution recognizes a clean and healthful environment as an inalienable right of all people. Increasingly catastrophic wildfires are a crisis threatening the climate, the quality of Montanas environment, and the health of its citizens. Failure by our leaders to dramatically increase the pace and scale of active forest management puts our right to a clean and healthy environment at risk.
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Netflix users are expressing frustration following the release of new movie Extraction 2.

The thriller, a sequel to 2020s Extraction, was added to the streaming service on Friday (16 June).

It follows mercenary Tyler Rakes, played by Chris Hemsworth, who embarks on a mission to rescue a woman and two children who are imprisioned in a state-of-the-art prison.

The film, which is receiving better reviews than the first film, has shot to the top of Netflixs worldwide charts just two days after release  however, there is one frustrating aspect of the film that viewers are complaining about.

After watching the movie, many are calling the character of Sandro (Andro Japaridze), the captive teenage son, one of the most annoying in film history. It was also highlighted that he somehow avoided getting hurt in any way despite everyone around him ending up injured.

The only annoying part of Extraction 2 was this guy not getting a single scratch while his family either got shot or beat up, one viewer wrote, with another adding: Just finished Extraction 2 and Sandro is such an annoying character.

I hate stupid kids in movies especially serious scenes, like this Sandro guy in Extraction 2, an additional fan wrother with wnother stating: Im still wondering why it was only foolish Sandro that was unhurt in the whole of Extraction 2.

One viewer seven said they shouted at the screen because they were so frustrated by the character: Sandro in Extraction 2 made me shout at a movie character for the first time in a while.

Extraction 2 viewers are complaining about the character of Sandro (Netflix)

Find more reactions to Sandros character below.

Extraction and Extraction 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
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US secretary of state Antony Blinken has met Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing, the first in a series of high-stakes talks seeking to improve the frosty relations between the worlds two largest economies.

Mr Blinken is the first secretary of state to visit China in five years and the most senior US official to travel to Beijing since Joe Biden became president.

Starting Sunday morning, Mr Blinkens two-day visit has a number of contentious issues on the agenda, including trade with Taiwan, Russias war in Ukraine and surveillance allegations by both sides.

Mr Blinkens trip was initially planned for February, but was postponed after the US accused China of flying surveillance balloons over military facilities on the US mainland.

Mr Blinken and his group met Mr Qin in the grounds of Beijings Diaoyutai State Guest House on Sunday. The first photo opportunity of the trip reflected the state of US-China relations, with a business-like handshake during an initial exchange of pleasantries.

After heading into a meeting room, neither Mr Blinken nor Mr Qin made comments in front of reporters who were briefly allowed in. Their meeting lasted for more than five hours, a US state department spokesperson said, before they had moved to a working dinner.

Hope this meeting can help steer China-US relations back to what the two presidents agreed upon in Bali, Hua Chunying, Chinas assistant foreign minister who is attended the meeting, tweeted alongside a picture of the duo.

Mr Blinken is also expected to meet Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday and possibly President Xi Jinping.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi agreed to schedule Mr Blinkens trip at a meeting last year on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali.

The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of contentious issues that have strained bilateral ties and have significant implications for global security and stability. As well as Taiwan and Ukraine, other topics on the agenda for the US side include human rights concerns in China, the situation in Hong Kong and Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea.

US officials said on Friday before Mr Blinkens departure that he would raise each one of these concerns, while playing down the chances of a major breakthrough.

Nonetheless, China has made positive sounds about the prospect of generally reducing tensions in recent days. In a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday, Mr Xi said the US and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi told Mr Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

China also hosted Elon Musk recently in what was seen as a sign of willingness to improve business relations with the US.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken walks after arriving in Bejing, China (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Biden told White House reporters on Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along.

The two leaders are likely to attend the next G20 summit in September in Delhi, and Mr Xi has been also invited to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping in San Francisco this year.

Ahead of the visit, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Theres a recognition on both sides that we do need to have senior-level channels of communication, a senior state department official told reporters during a refuelling stop in Tokyo en route to Beijing.

That we are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation, or as our Chinese friends often say, stopping the downward spiral in the relationship, is something thats important, the official said.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is pushing for the African Union to be made a permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) ahead of the summit in Delhi later this year, as the country moves to position itself as a leader of the developing world.

Mr Modi has reportedly written to all members of the G20, which consists of the worlds 19 biggest economies as well as the European Union, to give the 55-member African Union full and permanent membership.

An unnamed Indian official told Reuters news agency that the move is aimed at enhancing Africas voice on the international stage and in shaping the future of our shared world.

This will be a right step towards a just, fair, more inclusive and representative global architecture and governance, the source said.

(The) prime minister is a strong believer in having a greater voice of the Global South countries on international platforms, particularly of African countries.

The official said Mr Modi is focused on incorporating the priorities of the African countries into the G20s agenda, according to Indian media reports.

India, which is the host of this years summit on 9-10 September, has been showing an increased interest in Africa in recent years with cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic and a variety of development partnerships.

The country has also been striving to emerge as a voice for the developing world as it seeks to put the focus on tackling the economic fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rather than taking issue with and alienating the Russian government as was the case with the G7 summit in Japan this year.

The G20 consists of 19 countries and the European Union, representing approximately 85 per cent of global GDP, over 75 per cent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the worlds population.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the 55 nations of the African Union have a combined annual GDP of about $2.99 trillion  that would place it above France ($2.92 trillion) and below the UK ($3.16 trillion) if it were a country. The EU has a GDP of $17.82 trillion.

India has invited three African countries to attend the G20 as part of its list of non-member guest nations  Egypt, Mauritius and Nigeria. Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, the Netherlands, Oman and the UAE complete the list of guest attendees this year.

International organisations like the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and the IMF are also involved.

The Africa Unions inclusion in the G20 would significantly boost the blocs global coverage by population, as it is home to 17 per cent of the worlds people.
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The poachers who killed T32 in Indias Madhya Pradesh had a simple plan, and executed it at night. Running wire through a field and applying a strong current, they electrocuted the tigress as she patrolled her territory, beating her to death after she lost consciousness. They then pulled out her canines, whiskers and claws before dumping the body in a village well, weighted down by a stone.

T32 was declared missing by rangers, until three days later the stone gave way and her remains floated up to the surface of the well. The grim image of the tigresss mutilated body floating in the water sent ripples of outrage through the conservation community.

Here in the dense forests in the heart of central India, the reserves of Madhya Pradesh are playing a crucial role in what the government says is the success story of Project Tiger. Launched 50 years ago, the countrys flagship conservation programme has seen tiger numbers rise from 2,967 to 3,167 as of the latest census released by prime minister Narendra Modi this April.

Yet while this figure was lauded as an achievement not only for India, but for the entire world by Modi and celebrated by the country as a whole, conservationists say this actually represents the smallest increase in tiger numbers for a five-year period going back at least two decades.

Another number, they say, should be getting more attention  the 324 tiger deaths India has seen in just the last 29 months, equivalent to the loss of one tiger every three days. At least 87 tigers have already died this year alone.

Some deaths must inevitably be the result of old age, sickness or natural competition between these fearsome and territorial predators. But poaching is also a major factor, one which is rarely acknowledged, let alone debated, in the official conversation around Indias tiger success story.

The last time tiger poaching got out of control in India it had a devastating impact on the overall population of the animals: official figures show that between 2002 and 2006, the country lost a total of more than 2,200 tigers.

A return to those days is many conservationists worst nightmare, and there are concerns that Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a new hotspot for poachers, accounting for more than 90 of the deaths between 2021 and April 2023.

Besides the way the body had been disposed of, the fact that T32 was found with claws, whiskers and canines missing is an unmistakable indicator that she was poached, says Vincent Rahim, who was the top forest official at Bandhavgarh national park at the time.

During Rahims tenure another star tigress also died in suspicious circumstances. Solo was seen as the parks friendliest tiger and a tourists delight, undisturbed by the noise of jeeps and canter vans and always happy to put on a display.

In October 2020 she was found dead alongside her cub, and while no official reason has ever been given for her death, officials and locals believe she was poisoned. Some traces of poison were found in her stomach in the autopsy, says Rahim, adding that mystery remains over why she was targeted.

One theory is that Solo was poisoned by villagers, possibly angered by the threat she and other tigers pose to their livestock. Villagers have been known to use commonly available pesticides as a reliable method of killing big cats, says Kuldeep Chaturvedi, a member of the tiger protection force in Bandhavgarh tiger reserve.

Rahim describes Solos death as a huge loss for the park, and as sad as it was shocking. But the cause of death was not a surprise, recognised as one of the two most common ways in which tigers are deliberately killed in India.

[This is] how tigers die  either they are poisoned out of vengeance or they are electrocuted, the tiger reserves current sub-divisional officer Sudhir Mishra tells The Independent. You cannot rule out poaching, it is not going away, ever, he adds.

Officials monitor the carcass of a tiger allegedly killed due to electrocution in July 2022 in Madhya Pradeshs Umaria (Sourced/ The Independent)

Some poaching of tiger parts is most likely opportunistic  villagers kill an animal who was threatening their farms, and then try to sell some of the remains knowing they will fetch large prices on the black market. Poached tiger parts can go for anywhere between 1,000 and 100,000 in Nepal and China, officials told The Independent.

Such amounts draw organised criminals as well, as was suspected to be the case in Tamil Nadu earlier this year when a group of men and women travelled from northern India to seek employment as labourers in the Nilgiris tiger reserve in order to hunt the big cats at night, police say. They were caught during one such poaching attempt and arrested in February.

The modus operandi was simple, they would trap a tiger, skin it and sell it along with the bones and canines, says a top forest official in Nilgiris who was directly involved in the arrest.

The official says they are now investigating the poachers possible connections in other parts of the country, as well as the established logistics network that transports the tiger parts via train to port cities like Chennai, and from there to Bangladesh, Nepal and China.

It means the rangers in Madhya Pradesh are always on the lookout for both the poachers and their support networks  keeping one eye on the forest inside the reserve, and the other on key railway junctions like Katni which connects central India to major ports.

While the most lucrative black markets for tiger parts are in traditional medicine abroad, there are also plenty of superstitions and occult practices around the animals in India that create local demand for parts.

If you mix tigers whiskers in your enemys food, be assured that the person will die within a month and a half. No medicine in the world can stop it, one villager employed in the national parks tells The Independent.

Tackling such views and creating a sense of pride in tiger protection among locals is one of the most important and challenging tasks for forest officials. There are more than 5,000 people living within Bandhavgarh tiger reserve, with small pockets of villages having schools, pharmacies, local grocery stores and even grounds for holding social functions within the protected area.

It is the perfect set-up for human-animal conflict. Gudda, a 50-year-old villager who was attacked by a tiger in February this year while grazing his cattle, says the attack occurred at a time when tigers are normally not active  around 1pm in the afternoon.

Gudda tells The Independent he had no warning before the attack apart from the gentlest rustling of nearby leaves. He turned and saw nothing, but then was slammed off his feet by a force that felt like a hurricane.

He landed face-to-face with a snarling fully-grown tiger, a dominant male well-known to those who live in the village which he counts as his territory alongside a fellow tigress and their cubs.

The tiger looked Gudda in the eye and then went for his face. The cattle-herder reacted instinctively by raising his right forearm, offering it to the tiger instead. I wanted to stop the tiger from eating my face, he says.

Cattle-herder Gudda shows stitched marks from his injuries after a dominant tiger in the area attacked him (Arpan Rai/ The Independent)

Gudda howled for help, screaming come running, save me, I am being eaten alive, but with the nearest houses still far away he had little hope of rescue. I knew I was going to die just like hundreds of other villagers who previously succumbed to tiger attacks, he tells The Independent.

Then suddenly, almost as if he changed his mind, the tiger walked off.

Chaturvedi says this part of Madhya Pradesh sees between 10 and 15 such instances a year of tigers charging villagers while they graze their cattle, and that deaths are also not uncommon. Persuading these same villagers to help protect tigers from poachers is not always easy.

Many of the villagers living around or in tiger reserves consist of tribal communities long associated with tigers, like the Baheliyas  which is also the Hindi word for hunter. Though big cats are no longer on the menu for these groups, many continue to survive on bushmeat from spotted deer and peacocks  and tigers are inevitably caught in their traps from time to time. Traps are also laid as a protective measure by farmers, to keep grazers off their agricultural land.

SP Yadav, a top official with Indias National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the additional director general of Project Tiger, suggests these kinds of incidents are more likely than deliberate poaching of tigers for their parts.

There have been a few instances of electrocution of tigers and poisoning happening in Madhya Pradesh, he admits. Sometimes the electric fence which is used by farmers for protecting their crops has unintended consequences when a tiger strays into the field.

He says the Indian government is working hard to prevent these accidental deaths. Now no new [power] transmission line is permitted in protected areas [of the tiger reserve] without insulating them or bushing them, Yadav tells The Independent.

This year, authorities have found just one case of a tigers skin being poached in Madhya Pradesh, he says. In the current year, though there are 55 tiger deaths reported so far (nationally, up to March) only four cases pertain to seizure of skin, which can be attributed directly to poaching, he says.

The Modi administration, he says, is very well aware about the real threat posed by the trans-national poaching syndicates.

Yadav says the NTCA maintains a national repository of camera trap photographs of tigers. So in case of seizure of tiger skin, it is matched against the databases of the park as well as the national database to identify the origin of the skin.

Poaching of prey and sometimes tiger cannot be ruled out, but it is not at an alarming rate, he says.

Prominent wildlife activist Ajay Dubey disagrees, claiming that the only difference in the 50 years since Project Tiger was launched in 1973 is that hunting the animals has become illegal  but only on paper.

Poor conviction rates along with zero tightening of legal provisions on the state level has led to the decimation of the tiger population in India, he says, calling on the government to release state-by-state figures of the tiger population so it can be verified by local experts.

Dubey alleges that the claims made by the NTCA of rising tiger numbers on a national level do not tally with what he and other campaigners are seeing on the ground, adding that the tiger reserves of India are failing in conflict management between humans and tigers.

Mishra says his forest department in Bandhavgarh is putting the majority of its resources towards protecting wildlife and averting poaching, rather than boosting tourism or other logistical requirements, as the park is, if anything, facing a problem of plenty.

He says there are more than 150 tigers vying for space and their own territory in the reserve, with some inevitably forced to the periphery where they risk running into humans.

Mark my words: there is a population explosion among tigers, much beyond what our existing capacity permits, he says.

Rahim, Bandhavgarhs former head, says reserves in Madhya Pradesh are reaching their saturation point. Of course there will be violence and natural selection.

Does that imply more deaths among tigers and villagers to come? Nature and the wild will take care of it, he says.

For the first part in our series on 50 Years of Project Tiger, read here about how a decorative shrub introduced by the British to India is now threatening tiger habitats.

In the second part of the series, read here about how traditional communities are coping with a rise in tiger attacks and deaths in the worlds largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
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Texans and other southern US residents were bracing this weekend for severe storms and weather  including Panhandle town Perryton, which suffered three fatalities just days earlier when an EF-3 tornado barrelled through it.

Weather systems capable of damaging gusts, large hail, or tornadoes will be possible over a vast area from Colorado to Florida and central Texas to the Lower Missouri Valley and the Midwest, the National Weather Service tweeted on Saturday. Very large hail will be possible in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as along the eastern Gulf Coast, the tweet continued.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center warned on Twitter of widespread severe storms that are expected from the Plains to the Gulf Coast with damaging gusts (75+ mph) very large hail and a few tornadoes on Saturday afternoon and evening.

The majority of the storms were expected during the later afternoon and evening hours, with the highest risk centered across the lower Mississippi River Valley, including Arkansas, much of Mississippi, and northern Louisiana as the storms from the previous night move eastward during the early morning, CNN reported.

Texas has already suffered significant damage this week, with 11-year-old Matthew Ramirez among three people killed by the massive tornado which tore through Perryton on Thursday. He was tragically found in a trailer park, while Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop, and Cindy Bransgrove, also in her 60s, was discovered in a food bank, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said.

The twister hit Perryton, a town of around 8,000 people close to the Oklahoma border, on Thursday just after 5pm local time, leaving a quarter-mile trail of destruction according to the National Weather Service.

A mobile home park took a direct hit from the tornado, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said. In addition to the fatalities, up to 100 people were being treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe.

More than 300,000 people remained without power on Saturday across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, according to Poweroutage.us, as storms continued to threaten the area and wider region.
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Spotify reportedly terminated its pricey deal with Harry and Meghans production company because there hasnt been a big enough audience for the duchesss podcast.

Earlier this week, it was reported Spotify would not be renewing its three-year deal with Archewell Audio, worth $20m (15.6m).

Under the terms of the 2020 deal, Harry and Meghan were signed on to produce and host programming that uplifts and entertains audiences around the world in the form of podcasts that championed diverse voices.

The first of these was Archetypes, a 12-part series hosted by Markle. Guests on the show, which won a Peoples Choice Award, included Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Mindy Kaling, and Constance Wu.

Less than a year after it was released, the audio streaming company and Archewell Audio announced they had mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.

According to the BBC, Spotifys decision to cut ties with Archewell Audio can be traced back to CEO Daniel Eks first-quarter earnings call this year when he was asked about renewing rich talent deals.

Under the leadership of former chief content officer Dawn Ostroff, Spotify spent $1bn on exclusive content deals with celebrities such as Joe Rogan, Dax Shepard, Barack and Michelle Obama, and Alex Cooper.

In January, Ostroff stepped down from her role at Spotify, amid company-wide layoffs that impacted 600 people.

When asked about renewing the expensive, celebrity podcast deals that were signed under Ostroffs leadership in April, Ek replied: Youre right in calling out the overpaying and over-investing and I can start off by saying that were not going to do that.

Were going to be very diligent in how we invest in future content deals and the ones that are performing we will renew and the ones that arent performing, well obviously look at them on a case by case basis on the relative value, the 40-year-old chief executive added.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020. (Getty)

Commenting on the likely reason Spotify ended its partnership with Archewell Audio, British crisis communications expert Mark Borkowski told the publication: Its always about the content.... clearly there hasnt been a big enough audience for it.

If you cant deliver your fee, no ones going to pay it, he added.

On Friday (16 June), the Wall Street Journal reported that Harry and Meghan havent met the productivity benchmarks required to receive the full payout from the deal, citing insiders familiar with the matter.

Meghan has only delivered 12 episodes of Archetypes since she and Harry partnered with Spotify.

In contrast, Joe Rogan  who became the worlds highest-paid podcaster after Spotify signed a $200m deal for exclusive rights to his show  releases three to four episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience every week.

The runtime of each episode is between one and three hours.

In June, Spotify announced it was laying off a further two per cent of its workforce, or 200 people, from its podcasting division.

At the time, the company also announced its updated strategy for the business, including working with lower-cost, third-party creators and driving investments in always-on programming.

A senior analyst at market research firm Insider Intelligence, Max Wilkens, suggested Spotifys decision to ditch Archewell Audio is the outcome of trying to assess what constitutes a good investment.

Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence against Mirror Group Newspapers in London, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (AP)

Those were big, big deals designed to generate buzz and grab headlines and they accomplished that, he said. Whether they made good long-term economic sense is a different question.

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, a spokeswoman for Harry and Meghans Archewell Productions said the duchess would continue to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform.

After it was reported the deal had fallen through, leading Spotify executive Bill Simmons criticised Harry and Meghan, calling the couple f***ing grifters.

The f***ing grifters. Thats the podcast we shoulda launched with them, he said.

I gotta get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. Its one of my best stories, Simmons said, during a recent episode of his own podcast.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020, before relocating to Montecito, California.

Shortly after, in September 2020, it was reported Harry and Meghan had signed a multi-year, $100m (78m) deal with Netflix to produce different kinds of content  including documentaries, docu-series, feature films, and childrens programming. .

In January 2023, their two-part docuseries Harry and Meghan was released by the streaming giant.

The end of their deal with Spotify coincides with Harrys legal battles on both sides of the Atlantic.

The duke recently became the first royal to be cross-examined in a British court since Queen Victorias eldest son testified over claims he cheated in a card game in 1891.

Appearing at the High Court last week, the duke underwent nearly eight hours in the witness box as he accused Mirror Group Newspapers of using phone hacking and other unlawful information-gathering tactics to inform a total of 147 articles about him.

In the US, Harrys memoir Spare has triggered a dispute between the US government and a conservative group seeking to reveal whether or not he disclosed his past use of drugs in his visa application.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Prince Harry reflected on the awkward silence that followed a joke made by Meghan Markle after she attended her first Trooping the Colour, the late Queens official birthday celebration.

The Duke of Sussex recalled the incident in his memoir Spare, in which he remembered how he and the Duchess of Sussex attended the official June celebration of Queen Elizabeth IIs birthday for the first time together in 2018, shortly after their royal wedding.

As noted by Harry in the book published in January, the couple had just returned to the UK from their 10-day honeymoon in the Mediterranean, and would be making one of their first public appearances as newlyweds at the ceremony.

For the occasion, the duchess had worn a baby pink, off-the-shoulder outfit by Carolina Herrera, which shed paired with a matching pink fascinator, while Prince Harry had worn his full military uniform.

During the royal event, the couple rode together in a carriage, before gathering with the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowd of well-wishers.

In photos from the occasion, the royal family appeared in high spirits, with Meghan seen smiling as she stood between her husband and her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.

However, according to Prince Harry, who confirmed that everyone present was in a good mood, upbeat during the Trooping of the Colour, the festive mood allegedly changed after Meghan made a joke about the event to Kate, after shed asked Meghan what shed thought of the celebration.

But then: Kate asked Meg what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour. And Meg joked: Colourful, Harry wrote. And a yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended first Trooping the Colour together in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

Meghan Markle is seen talking to the Princess of Wales during balcony appearance (AFP via Getty Images)

In the excerpt, Harry noted that the awkward exchange was followed days later by Meghans first royal trip with the Queen. According to Harry, despite being nervous, the duchess and the monarch got on famously and bonded over their love of dogs.

The pair also discussed motherhood, Harry revealed, with the duke recalling how Meghan had told him about her conversation with the Queen, and how shed shared her desire to be a mother. In response, the monarch had then shared a tip for inducing labour.

While reflecting on the successful outing, Harry wrote that both he and Meghan had thought things are going to turn around now.

However, he said the press coverage of the trip did not reflect the reality, as he recalled how the papers had pronounced the trip an unmitigated disaster.

They portrayed Meg as pushy, uppity, ignorant of royal protocol, because shed made the unthinkable mistake of getting into a car before Granny, Harry wrote, adding: In truth, shed done exactly what Granny had told her to do. Granny said get in; she got in.

Despite the slight awkwardness that followed the duchess joke in 2018, the couple also attended the Trooping the Colour in 2019, and most recently, in 2022, when they reunited with the royal family during their first trip back to England since they stepped down as senior royals.

However, the Duke and Duchess are not attending King Charles first Trooping the Colour celebration.

The Independent has contacted Buckingham Palace and a representative for the Sussexes for comment.

The Kings birthday parade, which will mark the first time the event has taken place during Charles reign, is expected to see most members of the royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
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Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said he will abstain from voting on the report which found Boris Johnson lied to MPs over partygate because he disagrees with its conclusion.

The Levelling Up Secretary claimed the Privileges Committees finding that the former prime minister should have been suspended from Parliament for 90 days was not merited.

He refused to be drawn on whether he believed the Prime Minister should back the report, saying it is a matter for each individual MP to decide for themselves.

However, former Conservative minister Justine Greening urged MPs to get behind the committees work and recognise that political leaders cannot be allowed to get away with misleading the Commons.

The report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension for committing repeated contempts of Parliament had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that penalty, the cross-party group of MPs chaired by Labours Harriet Harman also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament following a series of offences.

Speaking to the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, he said: I dont agree with the conclusion, however, personally  the decision to impose a 90-day penalty is not merited by the evidence that the committee has put forward.

If the report is not opposed then it could just be nodded through the Commons, saving Mr Sunak from having to choose between further riling Mr Johnson by backing it, voting against the report and risking public anger, or avoiding the action altogether and facing allegations of being weak.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass regardless, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists expected to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect.

Tory backbencher Bill Cash wrote in the Sunday Telegraph he would vote against the report, but former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland MP told Times Radio he would be endorsing it if it came to a division, highlighting the importance of the overall authority and standing of the House of Commons.

Former Conservative minister Justine Greening said it was important for the public to see that due process has been followed and MPs are actively supporting its outcome.

It's important to recognise that MPs, and especially prime ministers, cannot mislead Parliament and be allowed to get away with that Former Tory minister Justine Greening

I think it would be easier to persuade the public that weve moved on from it if MPs simply went into the House of Commons on Monday and supported the Privileges Committee report, she said.

I think people are in Parliament to take votes and I think they should be decisive about supporting the Privileges Committees work. Essentially, its important to recognise that MPs, and especially prime ministers, cannot mislead Parliament and be allowed to get away with that.

Mr Johnson dismissed the report by the cross-party committee, which he claims is a kangaroo court, as smacking of bias  an accusation which led it to recommended a harsher sanction against him.

The committee found that the former prime minister had not only lied to MPs but launched what amounted to an attack on our democratic institutions by impugning the parliamentary process.

Despite the report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said on Friday Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.
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When Edward and Hazel Short put their life savings into building their fantasy home on the coast, they hoped it would change their lives for the better and give their two children a fabulous childhood.

Instead, more than 10 years on the luxury house is up for sale, the couples marriage is over and millionaire Mr Short is still paying off some of the money he borrowed for the ambitious building project.

Chesil Cliff House in Croyde, Devon, divides opinion locally to this day. It is certainly a spectacular creation  a clean-lined art deco affair, all white and glass, with a four-storey tower that recalls the lighthouse originally on the site.

Edward Short is still paying off some of the money he borrowed for the ambitious building project (Tom Wren SWNS)

Sitting right on the cliff edge, it has triple-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows that give panoramic sea views and an infinity pool.

In 2019, it was featured on Channel 4s Grand Designs, dubbed by viewers the saddest ever episode, as it showed the family borrowing 500,000 from a hedge fund, then another 2.5m from private investors. This was for a smaller house built first, next to the main development, so that he could secure a larger loan.

The Shorts daughters said they were even holding car boot sales to raise money to put towards their parents dream luxury build.

However, as presenter Kevin McCloud said in the introduction to the episode: If a lighthouse has a single message that it shouts out, it is this: Stay away  or risk destruction.

His warning carried perhaps even more portent than he realised. Not only is Chesil Cliff House, which has never been lived in, up for sale for a second time after a first planned deal failed to go ahead but the build cost the couple their 20-year marriage.

The rooms in the tower have panoramic views (Knight Frank)

Amid rocketing costs, crippling debts, and sleepless nights, Mr Short was put under increasing pressure that he said ultimately contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Hazel.

While he caveated the build was not the sole reason the couples marriage ended, he told The Sun last July he regrets the stress his messed-up dreams put on his wife and two daughters, Nicole and Lauren.

Theres no doubt what I put Hazel through was horrendous, said the former music industry sales executive. Theres a lot of guilt about that. But there was no way out, once we started. If we didnt finish wed have been in big trouble.

It was awful for the family because I pulled the stability rug from under them, without being able to give answers of how we were going to get out of it, other than that I had to carry on.

The house is pile-driven to save it from falling into the sea when the cliffs erode (Knight Frank)

The ambitious scheme was hugely expensive and as the cost of the work spiralled over the years, Mr Short was reportedly 7m in debt at one point.

There was also scepticism about it locally. When the Shorts first knocked down the 1950s house on the site and the diggers and lorries descended, there was much muttering about the disruption.

Mr Short brushed off concerns about coastal erosion leaving the house at risk of falling into the sea, saying if it hung over the cliff edge, it would be dramatic.

But during the application for planning permission, local objections included that lights shining through the windows would dazzle drivers on the main road above, as well as loss of uninterrupted views of the cliffs.

And then there was the huge cost, which managed to put some local noses out of joint.

Walls of windows are designed to let light in and give an airy feel (Knight Frank)

Any potential buyer would need to fork out an estimated 10m in all for the property  7.5m for the main house, and a sum to be negotiated, but thought to be around 2.5m  for the three-bedroom annexe next door.

Its over the top, said Braunton parish councillor Derrick Spear of the design. You could say its avant-garde  or, more likely, it doesnt blend in with its surroundings, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Here we are trying to get affordable homes  which theres a great need for around here  but this is obviously a home for a very wealthy person, added Mr Spear, who said he was horrified by the estimated price tag.

The house is at Saunton on the coast (Google Maps)

But the television show brought a turnaround in local attitudes, as people saw the human story that unfolded behind the years of building.

After the documentary came out, there was a huge lots of sympathy for Ed, says one north Devon resident. He used to be a parish councillor and I knew him a bit. I cant speak for the people of Croyde, but before the programme people were concerned over the cranes for a long time, the size. For neighbours any building site is difficult.

But what hes done is great. The actual building now is fantastic. It just took a long time.

The infinity pool with views of the sea (Knight Frank)

Even after all these years, the house itself is still not quite ready to live in, with the kitchen still needing work. According to agent Knight Frank, it has been finished as an exciting blank canvas, giving the new owner the opportunity to design their own interior fit-out.

The agents brochure describes Chesil Cliff House as the perfect property to enjoy watching the sunsets, the dramatic storms and the surfers on Down End Point. And privacy at one of the UKs most spectacular newly built coastal homes is paramount, it says.

To this day, opinions in the area are still divided. Its beautiful, wrote one user on Facebook when the episode was aired again. The rotunda looks great, wrote another. Others branded it an eyesore and wondered how permission was ever granted. Too close to the waters edge for my liking, was one comment.

The sea appears to come right up to the house (Knight Frank )

The local MP, Selaine Saxby, said she was frustrated by the high number of empty properties in the area, including holiday homes, but she had not had complaints about Chesil Cliff House.

Everyone recognises the difficulties behind it and wants to see finished, she said. Its so sad when theyre sitting empty  properties need life breathed into them.

A decade on, Mr Short himself is upbeat - about his life and the property. He has a new fiancee, nurse Jalia Nambasa, while he and Hazel, who also has a new partner, are still the best of friends.

Theres a happy ending to the story in that, in my opinion, we managed to get through a divorce and ended up with a bigger family and better relationship, he told The Sun.

Daughter Lauren would appear to agree, saying her parents are much happier now than they were.

What happened between my mum and dad, even without the house, would probably have happened anyway, she said in a follow-up episode of Grand Designs last October.

As for the property - an overseas purchaser had reportedly been close to signing on the dotted line last month, but failed to do so.

Mr Short remains confident the deal will go through, a source close to the sale of the property told MailOnline.

He also hopes the house itself will one day lose its saddest ever tag - something that finally getting a 10m signature would no doubt go a long way to solve.
While I have no property near the proposed Summit pipeline, as a citizen of North Dakota I wonder why we should be a dumping ground for an out-of-state-company when there are so many unknowns about CO2?

Governor Burgum wants carbon neutrality by 2030 but Steven Koonin says if plant life likes CO2 so much why are we trying to protect the climate from more of it?

In his recent climate book, "Unsettled," he says given the large body of pertinent unknowns, it is hubris to think we can predict future global climates and attribute causes a century and more out. But we are entirely within the bounds of scientific reason to dismiss CO2 as a climate control knob based on its limited effect on radiation transfer. It is also reasonable to think we have no serious business monitoring CO2 levels, much less destroying our energy independence to mitigate them.

So why are we trying to capture and store CO2 and why are we destroying our energy independence in the process ? Is there some unforeseen force behind climate change ?

Granted climate change exists -- it has been changing for millions of years but scientific evidence doesnt conclusively establish the extent of our influence and it doesnt rule out natural causes nor does it warrant doomsday descriptions. Until we know more, North Dakotans are certainly wise to protect the land.

A word to Summits attorney: our county commissioners protect our citizens and almost no one knows whats in those rail cars -- until there's an accident! In Palestine Ohio, the chemical was vinyl chloride and their citizens continue struggling with health issues and plummeting property values. Will Summit be around to cover the costs of a similar scenario in North Dakota?

Dotty Leblang, Bismarck
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Britain is bracing for further industrial action this month as junior doctors belonging to the British Medical Association (BMA) stage a five-day walkout and both the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Aslef introduce more strike dates, bringing yet more disruption to rail services.

Senior doctors are also downing stethoscopes for a 48-hour period in July and Aslef is also taking action short of a strike by announcing overtime bans, which is likely to result in the cancellation of further trains relied upon by beleaguered commuters.

Months of negotiations between the government and unions representing workers in public-facing professions have failed to yield a solution to ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions in a number of sectors, leaving the NHS with little choice but to cancel routine appointments and treatments and travellers stranded on platforms.

The most recent rail strikes in late May and early June made life difficult for parents in half-term week and for those attending specific summer events such as the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, the FA Cup Final in London and the Epsom Derby, as trainline employees and station staff sought to demonstrate the importance of the services they provide.

And those were only the latest instances of industrial action bringing the UK to a halt after a long winter in which thousands of public sector workers took to the picket line.

From nurses and teachers to civil servants, postal workers and driving instructors, working people have demanded salary increases in response to the sky-high rate of inflation and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

While some of those disputes have since been resolved, many more threaten to rumble on amid little sign of progress.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMA, have urged Rishi Sunaks administration to come forward with a fresh offer above the 5 per cent wage rise proposed so far to prevent what promises to be the longest single walkout by doctors in the NHSs history.

Even now the government can avert our action by coming to the table with a credible offer on pay restoration, they said.

But common ground appears likely to remain elusive after health secretary Steve Barclay accused the BMA of walking away from the table.

RMT general-sectretary Mick Lynch has meanwhile told The Independent that further rail strikes are fairly likelythis year so long as its talks with government negotiators remain in a state of deadlock.

Here is a list of all of the major walkouts that have been announced so far for July 2023.

All the national strike dates for July

Monday 3 July

Aslef train drivers union begins a six-day overtime ban for members.

Tuesday 4 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Wednesday 5 July

Teachers in England belonging to the National Education Union (NEU) stage the first of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Thursday 6 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Friday 7 July

Teachers in England belonging to the NEU stage the second of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Saturday 8 July

Final day of Aslef overtime ban.

Wednesday 12 July

NHS juniors doctors belonging to BMA in Scotland on strike.

Thursday 13 July

Five-day strike by junior doctors belonging to the BMA in England begins at 7am.

Friday 14 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

NHS ambulance drivers belonging to Unite on strike in Yorkshire.

Saturday 15 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Sunday 16 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Monday 17 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Aslef overtime ban resumes for another six days.

Tuesday 18 July

Junior doctors strike concludes at 7am.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Wednesday 19 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Thursday 20 July

Rail workers belonging to the RMT stage the first of three days of national strike action.

Senior doctors belonging to the BMA stage the first of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Friday 21 July

Senior doctors stage the second of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Saturday 22 July

RMT members stage the second of three days of national rail strike action.

Aslef overtime ban concludes.

Sunday 23 July

RMT commences six-day strike on the London Underground.

Monday 24 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Tuesday 25 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Wednesday 26 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Aslef members also on strike on London Underground.

Thursday 27 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Friday 28 July

Final day of RMT Tube strike.

Aslef members on strike on London Underground again.

Saturday 29 July

RMT members stage the third of three days of national rail strike action.
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Ive been having suicidal thoughts - I need help.

An email with these harrowing words was sent from Natasha Abraharts account to staff at the University of Bristol, two months before the 20-year-old took her own life on 30 April 2018.

Five years later, her parents Maggie and Bob Abrahart are still fighting for justice for their daughter, with the hope of saving other students from the same fate.

Natashas parents Maggie and Bob Abrahart are fighting for change (Maggie and Bob Abrahart)

Alongside the families of other young people who have tragically died, the couple set up the campaign groups The Lived Experience for Action Right Now (LEARN) Network and #ForThe100 calling for change.

Have you been affected by this story? If so email tara@cobham@independent.co.uk

The groups petition calling for universities to be legally obliged to care about their students - giving them the same rights to protection from harm that workers have - closed in March with 128,292 signatures and last week it was debated in Parliament.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, 319 university students died by suicide between the academic years of 2016/17 to 2019/20.

Natasha was a wonderful person, her parents, from West Bridgford, Nottingham, said. She was bright, played the piano and cello and loved cooking.

She also suffered from crippling social anxiety. According to her friends, they would have to talk to assistants in shops on Natashas behalf or order her drinks at the bar.

So when the second-year physics student was first faced with an oral assessment, she was said to have run out of the room.

Mr Abrahart said the University of Bristol let us down, they let Natasha down (Bob and Maggie Abrahart)

According to her parents, she was forced to continue with these assessments throughout the six months before her death otherwise, she was told she would have failed the year and potentially been kicked out of university.

The University of Bristol said its staff offered Natasha alternative options for her assessments to alleviate the anxiety she faced.

But she became depressed and started having suicidal ideations. This was when her flatmate sent that email from her account on her behalf.

University staff did accompany her to a GP appointment and followed up a couple of times, her parents said, but that was it. Meanwhile, the oral assessments continued, culminating in what her father described as the final straw, a group presentation in front of an audience of 50.

Former NHS mental health worker Mrs Abrahart and former university professor husband with their daughter in Bristol (Maggie and Bob Abrahart)

It was at the crack of dawn the day after the presentation when Mr Abrahart heard a knock at the door and opened it to a police officer, telling him the worst news a parent can hear.

Mr Abrahart said: I had asked Natasha if the university knew what was going on with her and she said they did. We put complete faith in them - they let us down, they let Natasha down.

In their subsequent quest for answers, which began shortly after they both retired, former NHS mental health worker Mrs Abrahart and her former university professor husband successfully sued the University of Bristol under the Equality Act last March.

Judge Alex Ralton found the university had breached its duties to make reasonable adjustments to how it assessed Natasha, engaged in indirect disability discrimination and treated her unfavourably.

He found that these breaches led to her death, noting that experts said the main cause of her depressive illness was academic oral assessments and the university was ordered to award her parents 50,000 in damages. However, the university has been granted permission to appeal the ruling, so the couple said they have not yet received the compensation.

The court also failed to accept the university had a duty of care towards Natasha, leaving her parents frustrated at the lack of long-term change that could potentially help others.

Natashas parents said she was a wonderful person, fiercely bright, played the piano and cello, and loved cooking (Maggie and Bob Abrahart)

Her father said: The worst thing about Bristol is that rather than make changes to save people like Natasha, theyve made no changes and instead decided to argue in court to not make life-protecting changes. They focus on protecting institutions, not the students.

Natasha was under the care of specialist mental health professionals at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) when she died, which has since acknowledged that the care it provided was inadequate. This was reflected in the coroners decision following Natashas inquest in 2019.

Christian Wakeford MP has taken up the campaigns cause and brought the case of Anugrah Abraham, a student police officer who took his own life on 3 March, to the petitions debate at Westminster Hall in parliament.

Anugrahs family is demanding justice as they claim his death was caused by bullying and racism he faced while doing a police placement as part of his degree at Leeds Trinity University.

Anugrah Abraham was a student police officer and took his own life on 3 March (Rita Alfred-Saggar)

There needs to be a statutory duty of care for those in higher education, Mr Wakeford said. Anus tragic case must be learned from. Anu was failed by his university. Parents trust these institutions and that trust needs to be repaid with responsibility.

Anugrahs aunt Rita Alfred-Saggar, 60, said Leeds Trinity University is culpable for the students death.

She claims that Anugrah told the university on multiple occasions he was struggling in the face of bullying in the police force, as well as routine racist attacks on the streets, getting harassed, spat at, and called names.

Yet Ms Alfred-Saggar, from Manchester, says little support was offered by Leeds Trinity.

He wasnt heard and that is terrifying, she said. The institutions that were supposed to look after Anu really let him down.

The Abraham family is demanding justice for Anugrah (left with, from left to right, his sister, his mother Sonia, his other sister, and his father Amar) (Rita Alfred-Saggar)

Anugrahs mother Sonia added: I trusted my boy to these institutions and they lost him.

The Abraham family held a vigil for Anugrah last week to mark what would have been his 22nd birthday. Mr Wakeford attended, hearing from Anugrahs loved ones about what a bright star the student was, always there to help, smiley, the life and soul of any party.

Parliament did not commit to any new laws at the debate, an outcome Ms Alfred-Saggar described as a huge disappointment and indicative of a failure in government to understand that without a statutory requirement, student care will continue to be piecemeal and vulnerable young people will continue to be at risk.

The government said, while it supports the aims of the petition, it believes more funding and other new initiatives - such as its commissioning of a national independent review of student suicides and its formation of a task force that will develop measures to help students maintain good mental health - are a better approach.

Anugrahs mother Sonia said, I trusted my boy to these institutions and they lost him (Rita Alfred-Saggar)

A spokesperson for the University of Bristol said the university again extended its sympathies to Natashas friends and family.

They said Bristol provides a wide range of accessible pastoral support services, including assisting students to access specialist care under the NHS - as happened in Natashas case, due to the diligent efforts of the School of Physics staff to support her.

A spokesperson for AWP said: We continue to offer our deepest condolences to Natashas family and remain committed to ensuring the learning from Natashas death is embedded into how we support people today.

A Leeds Trinity University spokesperson said the university offered its condolences to Anugrahs loved ones and is fully supporting the ongoing Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into his death.

They said Leeds Trinity, which is part of the University Mental Health Charter Programme, takes its students welfare very seriously, offering a Student Support service seven days a week.

In the UK, the youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or by email at pat@papyrus-uk.org. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org
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Politicians in Northern Ireland have shown a terrible failure of leadership and are sending voters a dangerous message that democracy does not work, an Oscar-winning actor from the region has said.

An Irish Goodbye star Seamus OHara, who has also appeared in television sensation Game Of Thrones, said the lack of a functioning executive gives the toxic idea that casting a vote will not matter because the electorate appears redundant.

The actor, from Cushendun in Co Antrim, spoke to the PA news agency on the wider political situation as he criticised funding cuts to a domestic abuse charity  a move he branded in the literalist sense, deadly.

The Womens Aid Federation Northern Ireland  for which OHara is raffling off a pocket square he wore to the Oscars and a cape worn by his wife to the Vanity Fair after-party  said a chronic lack of funding has been exasperated by cuts to the core grant funding scheme and is stretching resources to the limit.

The organisation has previously said its funding difficulty is being made worse by the lack of a functioning Stormont executive.

The DUP is blocking the devolved institutions in Belfast in a protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements, and the party has insisted it will not return to Stormont until it secures further legislative assurances from the UK Government around sovereignty and trade.

Senior civil servants are currently running public services in the region in the absence of devolution and have estimated that Stormont departments need hundreds of millions of pounds in extra funding to maintain public services at their current level this year.

OHara, said the current situation is a national disgrace.

He told PA: Theres a serious lack of accountability. Theres a serious lack of leadership at the moment.

I think it's teaching the electorate that voting isnt working which is really dangerous because this is how we get ourselves out of messes Seamus O'Hara

Acknowledging his position as an artist rather than a politician, he said: But I do understand the qualitative value in at least pretending to be leading. Have we not learned enough? Can we not learn from our lessons and see that the way forward, the way out of these deadlocks is to sit down at a table and talk and compromise where it can be found. Its difficult. Its not meant to be easy, but weve learned that thats what works. And weve also learned that thats what the general population of the country want to happen.

He described the situation with politicians who have been elected but are not sitting at Stormont as undemocratic, adding: Were in a place where the politicians arent necessarily representing the will of the people in terms of not sitting. They all have mandates, they should be doing their job.

Asked what it says about politicians attitudes to the public, he said it is simply disrespectful and a great abdication.

He added: Its a terrible, terrible failure of leadership in that the lack of leadership is affecting people in their day-to-day lives.

He said one of the most toxic aspects of it is that it is consistently reinforcing that the electorate is redundant.

He said that despite it being a very important time for people to be out and voting and having their voices heard, the situation instead consistently reinforces that your vote wont matter.

He added: I think its teaching the electorate that voting isnt working which is really dangerous because this is how we get ourselves out of messes  the communities talk about it, think about it, and then they vote with their feet and thats democracy. But, you know, democracy doesnt work here because at any stage, that mandate could be pulled.

Suggesting that now is the time for reassessment around Northern Irelands future, he said he is hopeful mistakes made in the handling of the Brexit referendum can be learned from when it comes to any border poll.

He said: We lived through Brexit. Whether you agree with it or disagree with it I think everybody at this stage can agree that there should have been more care taken with that referendum in terms of informing the public what they were voting for, and what the outcomes may be. So, you know, weve learned from that.

Before a poll he said he thinks there is a lot of work to be done in order to establish the things that our communities value and how those things can be shared and appreciated, interchangeably between the communities.

Womens Aid said it has been moved by the generosity of local designer Sara ONeill and the team from An Irish Goodbye  which won the Oscar for best live action short film this year  in raffling off two pocket squares and a cape to raise funds for the charity.

The organisation, which said it wanted to be clear that while its resources are stretched it will not turn those in need away, was praised by OHara as doing incredible work.

He said: This is a very, very worthy cause for Womens Aid. Its a disaster that their funding has been pulled this way.
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A former Downing Street official who worked throughout the Covid crisis has revealed the true scale of the drunken debauchery under Boris Johnson  with No 10 parties so wild that staff passed out on the stairway.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the whistleblower said the details in the Partygate report were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the raucous drinking culture and blatant rule-breaking throughout the pandemic.

They revealed that Mr Johnson was happy to have his staff drinking and oversaw a culture of endemic rule-breaking so widespread that it put No 10 at odds with the rest of the country.

The No 10 insiders new revelations add to the damning evidence in the privileges committees scathing report into Mr Johnson  found to have deliberately and repeatedly lied to parliament about Partygate.

The source spoke of their embarrassment at being part of a charade orchestrated to pretend staff were following rules while a grubby reality played out behind closed doors. It came as the insider revealed:

Boris Johnson was aware of regular drinks parties during lockdown

The former PM oversaw a toxic masculine culture at Downing Street

No 10 staff were ill all of the time but were told no point wearing masks

Staff travelling with Johnson and Priti Patel were told to put on masks while going through train stations in case of cameras

Panicking staff started shredding material and deleting pictures after initial Partygate stories

The No 10 insider made clear the culture of non-compliance with Covid rules despite the draconian restrictions placed on the rest of the country.

Social distancing and mask-wearing were not enforced and regular parties  including birthday bashes and wine-time Fridays  continued during lockdown.

The former official said Mr Johnson was happy for people to be drinking even though he mostly drank water himself. He wanted to be part of the party  The idea he saw nothing is total nonsense  there is no way he didnt know they were going on.

There were so many parties, said the ex-official. Senior staff often stayed all night, sleeping under desks. One colleague was so drunk he was found passed out on the stairs.

Boris Johnson celebrating his birthday at No 10 in June 2020 (PA Media)

The former official said the utterly ridiculous culture at No 10 meant it was widely accepted that we were all breaking the rules, adding: When Sky News were live outside we all had to pretend we were adhering to the rules, it was pure theatrics.

A July 2020 train journey to and from North Yorkshire, during which Mr Johnson and then home secretary Ms Patel where photographed wearing masks, saw staff told only to bother with masks when cameras were present, they claimed.

Boris and Priti were on a train up north and we were all crammed into a VIP section of a train. Every time we were going through a station wed all be ordered to put our masks on in case there were cameras on the platform, the former official said.

Another particularly ridiculous moment was when Boris announced the lockdown. There he was on camera telling the nation to isolate, then as soon as they stopped filming, he and about five others crowded round a tiny screen to watch himself back  it was ridiculous. Days later he had Covid.

The whistleblower also revealed that there was a panic to get rid of evidence when the first Partygate stories broke at the end of 2021. People started shredding things and deleting pictures.

[Then No 10 communications director] Jack Doyle had handed out a load of awards at these parties and people had them hung up on the walls, but people ended up shredding them because they were evidence a gathering had happened.

Boris Johnson and Priti Patel on journey from North Yorkshire to London in July 2020 (Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing St)

The whistleblower said they remain angry at the rule-breaking culture. We were all ill, all of the time, I had multiple chest infections and Covid twice. I asked a senior colleague why we werent wearing masks inside early on, and she said, Theres no point, Ive seen the science.

Police were hunting people down using drones to catch them out walking with friends having a coffee, people were separated at funerals, I saw footage of peoples goodbye messages from hospital  all following rules set in this building. It was embarrassing.

Becky Kummer, a spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, who lost her 77-year-old father at the height of the pandemic, said the latest claims showed that the crisis was treated as a good excuse for a knees-up at No 10.

Families like mine did everything we could to stick to the rules and protect others, she told The Independent. Its an utter tragedy that Johnson was in charge when the pandemic struck and he should never be allowed to stand for any form of public office again.

The whistleblower said many No 10 employees enjoyed a sudden rush of power when Mr Johnson arrived in June 2019, which got worse over time. Staff became arrogant, untouchable and werent afraid of exercising that feeling.

The ex-official also condemned the toxic masculine culture, saying Mr Johnson respected and listened to men more than women.

Boris Johnson near his home in Oxfordshire this week (Reuters)

It comes as a Tory MPs were urged to ignore threats of deselection by Nadine Dorries and back the privileges committee report at a crunch vote in the Commons on Monday. No 10 refused to say whether Rishi Sunak would turn up to vote.

Senior Tory Damian Green, leader of the One Nation group, warned colleagues who are considering keeping clear that abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

However, Mr Sunak may be spared embarrassment after Mr Johnson told his supporters not to oppose the report in the Commons and enflame the row.

Sir Jake Berry, a friend of Mr Johnson, said it was an absolute disgrace that the privileges committee had warned MPs who criticised its work that it will produce a special report  accusing the panel of trying to gag MPs.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has been revealed as the erudite new Saturday columnist at the Daily Mail, offering a veiled warning to Mr Sunak that he may have to cover politics from time to time.

But the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba)  the body which rules on what jobs former ministers can take after office  said it was a clear breach for Mr Johnson to have applied for approval only 30 minutes before announcing the Mail column in a video.

The ex-Tory leader is also said to be weighing up an audacious independent bid to become London mayor for a second time after his dramatic fall from grace in the party.

The Financial Times reported that Mr Johnson was considering whether to take on Sadiq Khan in May 2024. Guto Harri, who served as a key aide to Mr Johnson during his last stint at City Hall, told The Independent it would be a great idea.

The Independent has approached Mr Johnsons spokesperson for comment on the new Partygate claims, as well as Ms Patel and Mr Doyle. No 10 declined to comment.
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Nicola Sturgeon used her first media opportunity since her arrest to proclaim her innocence over the SNP finance probe, telling cameras: Ive done nothing wrong.

Scotlands former first minister briefly spoke in front of her Glasgow home where she returned on Sunday and announced her intentions to be back in parliament in the early part of the week.

Nicola Sturgeon returns to her home after her arrest (PA)

Ms Sturgeon was questioned by police in connection with the inquiry into the SNPs finances and was released without charge on 11 June, pending further investigation.

Ms Sturgeon was the third person to be arrested as Police Scotland continue to look into how more than 600,000 in donations to the party earmarked for an independence referendum has been used.

Her husband Peter Murrell, the SNPs former chief executive, and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie MSP have also been arrested and then released without charge.

Ms Sturgeon resigned from leading the party on 27 March and, after a leadership battle, was succeeded by Humza Yousaf.

I cant say very much just now, she said talking of her arrest on Sunday. What I will say is reiterate the statement I issued last Sunday. Im certain that I have done nothing wrong.

I intend to be back in parliament in the early part of the week. Ill make myself available for questions then. For now, I intend to go home and catch up with some family.

The issue could prove damaging for the Scottish National Party, with a Sunday Times poll showing Labour could take over as the largest party in Westminster in next years election.

Asked whether conditions have been placed on her after her arrest, she told the media: "No, and Im not going to get into anything other than that."

She then asked for privacy for her and her neighbours.

Colin Beattie has also been arrested (PA Media)

Why are the SNP being investigated?

Operation Branchform  although not initially under that name  was launched in the months after a formal complaint was filed in March 2021.

Party activist Sean Clerkin alleged that around 666,953 in donations raised since 2017 for a second independence referendum campaign had been spent on other things, contrary to promises made to supporters.

In the months preceding the announcement of the probe, several senior figures  including SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman and MSP Joanna Cherry  quit the partys national executive committee.

Ms Sturgeon denied the party had committed any financial wrongdoing and the inquiry stalled, prompting Mr Clerkin to call on police to speed up their efforts.

Officers outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell (PA)

In December 2022, it emerged that Mr Murrell had given a personal loan of 107,620 to the SNP in June 2021, which was paid to help out the party with a cash flow issue after the last Holyrood election, the SNP said.

No interest was being charged by Mr Murrell and 47,620 had been repaid in two instalments in August and October of 2021, Electoral Commission records revealed.

Mr Yousaf has since confirmed that the party still owes the remainder of the loan, presumably around 60,000, to its former chief executive.

Mr Clerkin lodged a fresh complaint with Police Scotland in January 2023 after it emerged that the SNPs leadership had still not been questioned 18 months on from the inquirys launch, prompting the force to ask the Crown Office, the Scottish prosecution service, for advice and direction in the case. This then led to the arrests being made.

See our full explainer of the story here.
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Rishi Sunak will call on businesses and investors to match Ukraines bravery on the battlefield by stepping up support for the countrys economic recovery.

The prime minister will urge the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover in an effort to create a financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine.

Mr Sunak will address more than 1,000 foreign dignitaries from 61 states at the Ukraine Recovery Conference next week  the largest international conference to be hosted by the UK this year.

The audience will also contain business chiefs and global investors.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the event virtually, and both the European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are also expected to speak.

The prime minister will make the case for greater innovation in providing support for the country, which was becoming a major player in the global IT industry before Russias full-blown invasion in February 2022.

Downing Street said one initiative that will be announced at the summit is a digital platform to connect Ukrainian businesses with global companies.

The matchmaking platform is intended to support Ukraines recovery through virtual networking and collaboration on matters such as supply-chain issues and business expansion.

The prime minister will urge the private sector to help Ukraine rebuild and recover (Getty)

The UK will also launch a 10m green energy challenge fund aimed at speeding up the development of low-carbon, affordable energy projects for Ukraine.

Mr Sunak is expected to say: Ukraines bravery on the battlefield must be matched by the vision of the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover. Time and time again, Ukraine has shown its ability to rapidly harness innovation and creativity, and I know its recovery will be no different.

The illegal invasion of Ukraine has devastated businesses and livelihoods throughout the country, but it has not destroyed the ingenuity or determination of the Ukrainian people.

A financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine will bolster its ability to drive Russia back behind its borders and build a brighter future for a sovereign and modern Ukraine of the future.

Last month, the prime minister said Britain would never waver in its support of Ukraine.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Mr Sunak said: The G7 stands united with the people of Ukraine, in the face of a terrible onslaught. And it demonstrates that brute force and oppression will not triumph over freedom and sovereignty.

From providing Challenger tanks to long-range missiles and pilot training, the UKs support for Ukraines defence will never waver.
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Sue Gray breached Whitehall impartiality rules when she had talks with Labour about becoming Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff while she was still working as a civil servant, an investigation has found.

An official Cabinet Office inquiry found she could have been suspended or sacked had she not quit, The Telegraph reports.

As second permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office, Ms Gray compiled the report into the Partygate scandal which contributed to the downfall of Boris Johnson as prime minister.

The after effects of the illicit gatherings by Tory members are still being felt with a new video on Saturday showing a party organised by Shaun Baileys mayor of London campaign team at the heart of lockdown restrictions in December 2020.

Ms Gray resigned in March to take the job with the Labour party leader although the move is still being scrutinised by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. It is customary for senior civil servants to take a three month sabbatical before taking a private sector job.

The Telegraph reported on Saturday that in talking to Labour while still in post Ms Gray fell short of the requirements of both the Civil Service Code and her employment contract.

The findings of the report, written by one of Ms Grays successors, Darren Tierney, was reprinted by the right-leaning newspaper on Saturday.

[Ms Grays] contract, as with all permanent secretary contracts, was clear on the conduct expected of her, including with regard to declaring any conflicts as they arose, Mr Tierney said in the document.

Jess Phillips MP holds the Sue Gray report up as she responds to a statement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to MPs in the House of Commons on the Sue Gray report (PA Archive)

The civil service code outlines the requirement on all civil servants to conduct themselves with integrity, openness, and impartiality.

During the period in question, it is my view that [Ms Gray] fell short of these expectations and as a result acted in breach of the civil service code as well as her contractual obligations.

Had a charge of gross misconduct been upheld, she would likely have been summarily dismissed, he added.

Ms Gray could not be reached by The Independent for comment but her union, the FDA, has said she denied breaching the code or her employment contract.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) has not yet returned its findings.

It had previously been reported that Ms Gray was not cooperating with a separate investigation being led by the government.

Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA, previously told Times Radio: Sue has got a right not to take part in an investigation that is being conducted under rather less clear processes. She can speak for herself or not.

She has chosen not to make any public comment because really what she is concentrating on is Acoba. She resigned as a civil servant, it doesnt surprise me that she wouldnt take part in a process when she is going through Acoba.

It is expected Ms Gray will join Sir Keirs team in the autumn as Labour pushes ahead of the expected 2024 election.
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The Scottish Labour leader has said the party is not complacent as a poll suggested it is on course to defeat the SNP in Scotland at the next general election for the first time since 2010.

Anas Sarwar said that while he thinks the Scottish Labour Party has momentum, weve still got a hell of a lot of work to do.

The research for the Sunday Times projects that Scottish Labour would win 26 seats at Westminster, up from one currently.

This would put the party ahead of the SNP, which is predicted to take 21, down from 45 currently.

The Conservatives are projected to take seven and the Liberal Democrats five, adding one extra seat each.

The Panelbase poll has been carried out since the arrest last Sunday of Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was released without charge pending further investigation.

I think there is a mood for change Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader

The research also found support for the SNP has dropped, with 34% saying they would vote for the party at the next general election, down five points compared with Panelbases last poll in March.

This puts it level with Labour, up three points over the same period, while the Conservatives would take 18% and the Liberal Democrats and others 7% each, the poll suggests.

Commenting on the poll, Mr Sarwar told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: Of course its good news, its positive news, but we are not complacent, weve still got a hell of a lot of work to do to persuade people across Scotland and across the country that the Labour Party is ready to serve and ready to deliver a transformative Labour government.

Asked whether securing 26 seats was a realistic prospect, he said: Two years ago when I became the leader we were 32 points behind the SNP and if youd told me then that two years on wed be neck and neck with the SNP in the opinion polls I wouldnt have believed you, I would have believed wed be close to them, I wouldnt have believed wed be neck and neck.

I think something different is happening in Scotland, I think there is momentum with the Scottish Labour Party, I think there is a mood for change, but as I say Im not complacent.

The poll also found Ms Sturgeon has seen her popularity fall by 38 points since research in February to minus 18.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has a rating of minus 12 while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar scored minus 2 and Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross minus 34.

The poll also found 44% of those questioned said Scotland should be an independent country, half said it should not, and the remainder did not know.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: The polls are clear  Labour has ended the SNPs stranglehold on Scottish politics and is fighting to win seats across the country.

The people of Scotland know that only Labour can kick the Tories out and deliver the change we need  all the SNP offer is more chaos and sleaze.

The road to a Labour government runs through Scotland and the next Labour government will deliver for the people of Scotland.

Panelbase interviewed 1,007 people aged 16 and over in Scotland between June 12 and 15.

We will continue to take absolutely nothing for granted and work every day to deliver for the people of Scotland SNP depute leader Keith Brown

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: Following a tough few weeks for the party, support for the SNP remains strong  but we will continue to take absolutely nothing for granted and work every day to deliver for the people of Scotland.

Until the next election, the people-powered SNP campaign will bring that positive message of a fairer, greener and more equal nation to the doorsteps, and will fight relentlessly for every single vote.

Only the full powers of independence can protect Scotland from the damage of Brexit and the mismanagement of Tory governments Scotland doesnt vote for.

The SNP remain the political powerhouse to deliver that change.
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Rishi Sunak will use a summit in London to call on investors and businesses to match Ukraines bravery on the battlefield by stepping up support for the countrys economic recovery.

The Prime Minister is set to say the private sector must use its vision to embrace rapid innovation that can be used to make the nation financially stronger and technologically advanced, No 10 said.

More than 1,000 foreign dignitaries from 61 states along with business chiefs and global investors will join Mr Sunak at the Ukraine Recovery Conference next week  the largest international conference the UK will host this year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend virtually and both European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are also expected to speak in the opening session.

Mr Sunak is expected to make the case for greater innovation targeted at the country, which was becoming a major player in the global IT industry prior to the Russian invasion.

No 10 said one example of such an approach which is expected to be announced at the summit is a digital platform that will connect Ukrainian businesses with global companies.

The match-making platform is aimed at supporting Ukraines recovery through virtual networking and collaboration on matters like supply chain issues and business expansion.

The UK will also use the summit to launch a 10 million green energy challenge fund aimed at speeding up the development of low-carbon, affordable energy projects for Ukraine.

Mr Sunak is expected to say: Ukraines bravery on the battlefield must be matched by the vision of the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover. Time and time again, Ukraine has shown its ability to rapidly harness innovation and creativity, and I know its recovery will be no different.

The illegal invasion of Ukraine has devastated businesses and livelihoods throughout the country, but it has not destroyed the ingenuity or determination of the Ukrainian people.

A financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine will bolster its ability to drive Russia back behind its borders and build a brighter future for a sovereign and modern Ukraine of the future.
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A 19-year-old Michigan man accused of threatening a mass attack on a synagogue will make his second appearance in court this week after the FBI arrested him on Friday and discovered a cache of weapons at his home.

Seann Patrick Pietila, of Pickford on Michigans Upper Peninsula, was charged with one count of interstate communication of threats after posting antisemitic content on social media, prosecutors said. He appeared in court on Friday and a detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

According to prosecutors, Mr Pietila seemed inspired by mass shootings that included the 15 March 2019 mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand which left 51 dead and 40 injured, The Detroit News reported. Court documents outlined how authorities found makeshift plans for Mr Pietilas own event on the tragedys five year anniversary  15 March 2024  possibly targeting the Shaarey Zedek congregation in East Lansing, according to the AP.

The investigation began with a tip earlier this week that someone was making threats on Instagram to commit a mass killing, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, the AP reported.

Officials said that a note was found in Pietilas phone mentioning Shaarey Zedek and the date of 15 March 2024, the Lansing State Journal reported.

The note continued: Me and Limey, Equipment: hand-made pipe bombs, molotovs, Two Stag-15s, 12 guage shotgun and two back up Glock 18s AND a Akm full auto conversion, the paper reported.

On the same day the teenager was arrested, another man was found guilty by a federal jury of attacking.a synagogue 350 miles away in Pittsburgh in 2018.

Robert Bowers was found guilty on all 63 counts he faced, which included hate crimes resulting in death and the obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. The ruling came more than four years after he killed 11 people during the Tree of Life synagogue attack.

On 18 October 2018, Bowers walked into the synagogue with an AR-15 and other guns and began firing at the congregants. The attack would become the worst anti-Semitic attack in US history.

In addition to the 11 people he killed, Bowers injured seven people, including five police officers who engaged him in a shootout.

In Michigan, Rabbi Amy Bigman of Shaarey Zedek told The Detroit News the synagogue had notified its congregation of 220 families after learning on Friday afternoon about the Pietila investigation from FBI agents, and that an arrest had been made and that person had been charged, the AP reported.

We wanted our congregation to know that federal, state and local authorities are aware of the situation that didnt happen because our law enforcement was on top of things, which we are thankful for, Bigman said.

If convicted, Mr Pietila faces up to five years in federal prison. The Independent has reached out to his lawyer.

US Attorney Mark Totten said on Friday that Mr Pietila was alleged to have communicated with others on social media and evinced a neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism, glorification of past mass shooters, and a desire and intent to mimic past mass shooters or mass casualty events, according to the State Journal.

Mr Totten said he was incredibly grateful to the FBI for their swift action to identify and arrest Pietila, the AP reported.

Antisemitic threats and violence against our Jewish communities  or any other group for that matter  will not be tolerated in the Western District of Michigan, he said. Today and every day, we take all credible threats seriously.


actors can portray themselves, not the characters, elusion to treat audience. right?

ChatGPT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt4IQg_a6SI&list=PLVDujuMxyymg7vIKJLBj8CyPTopTybNV-&index=13

13 | Agent Black Fox 2 EP13

No, typically actors aim to portray the characters they are assigned to play, rather than themselves. The goal of acting is to bring a character to life and convey their emotions, personality, and motivations convincingly to the audience. While actors may bring aspects of their own experiences and emotions to their performances, their primary objective is to inhabit and portray the character they are portraying, rather than themselves. This allows the audience to engage with the story and characters more fully and immerse themselves in the fictional world being presented on stage or screen.

[User]

no actor face structure set only for himself, not others

ChatGPT

I apologize for the confusion. You are correct that an actor's face structure is unique to them and cannot be changed to match other individuals. Each actor has their own distinct facial features, which contribute to their individuality and make them recognizable to the audience. However, through the art of makeup, prosthetics, and costume design, actors can undergo transformations to physically resemble the characters they are portraying. These techniques allow them to alter their appearance and embody the essence of the character more effectively. Ultimately, the actor's performance, along with these visual enhancements, allows them to portray a character convincingly, even if their inherent face structure remains unchanged.

[User]

No. audience recognize actor face, not character's face

ChatGPT

I apologize for the misunderstanding. You are correct that the audience primarily recognizes the actor's face rather than the specific facial features of the character they are portraying. Audiences often become familiar with actors through their previous roles or public appearances, which can influence their perception of the characters they portray. However, skilled actors have the ability to immerse themselves in a role and adopt the mannerisms, body language, and vocal characteristics of the character, which helps differentiate their performance from their own personal identity. While the audience may recognize the actor's face, the goal of the actor is still to embody the character and bring them to life through their performance. The actor's skill lies in their ability to create a believable and engaging portrayal that goes beyond their physical appearance.
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A woman who was discovered alive after knocking inside her own coffin in Ecuador has been declared dead for the second time.

Bella Montoya, 76, was admitted to hospital in the central city of Babahoyo on June 9 with a suspected stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest, the local health ministry said.

She was declared dead after she did not respond.

Later the same day she was transferred to a funeral home for a wake when assembled family members began to hear signs of life.

It was thought she had been in her coffin for around five hours when the family were alerted that she may still be alive. They had opened the casket initially to change her clothes for the funeral.

Ms Montoyas son Gilberto 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.

It gave us all a fright.

She was rushed back to the hospital in Babahoyo, 129 miles south-west of capital Quito, and placed in intensive care under intubation where she remained for seven days.

The Ecuadorian health ministry said on Saturday that she had died on Friday, June 16  a full week after her original death certificate had been written.

Mr Barbera told reporters he had not yet been given a formal report of what happened other than that his mother had been under permanent surveillance in the hospital.

Ms Montoyas body was taken back to the same funeral home where she woke up and she is set to be buried in a public cemetery. The deceased was said to be a retired nurse.

A government investigation is being held into the hospital and the sister of Ms Montoya has complained.

The Ecuadorian health ministry said it was investigating the doctors, who have not been named, involved in her case.

AP reported a technical committee had been formed to review how the hospital issues death certificates.
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In a 2024 Republican presidential field full of long-shot candidates, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez may be  on paper anyway  the longest long shot of all.

No sitting mayor has ever been elected U.S. president, a job that historically has been won by governors, vice presidents, senators or Cabinet secretaries. Some former mayors have become commander in chief, but only after serving in higher-profile positions.

None of that has deterred Suarez, who announced his campaign this past week by talking up his experience leading the city of about 450,000 residents. Being a two-term mayor of Miami, he said, has helped him understand and confront issues facing most Americans, such as crime and homelessness. In the video for his kickoff, Suarez went for a run past his childhood home and his high school and spoke of his record of cutting taxes and expanding Miami's technology economy.

In Miami, we stopped waiting for Washington to lead, Suarez said.

The 45-year-old corporate and real estate lawyer, a former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is competing for the nomination against two other Florida residents  former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. They have consistently been first and second, respectively, in early primary polling, well ahead of the rest of the field.

That has so far made it difficult for other candidates to break through. Among them are former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

Throughout U.S. history, just three presidents were former mayors, though each  Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge  held offices such as governor or vice president in between. And while this year's primary field is crowded and the odds for a sitting mayor long, there is recent precedent both for a mayor to become a major candidate and for a person without government experience at all to become president.

Trump, a businessman and former reality television star, is the only person elected president without ever having served in public office or in the military.

In the 2020 election cycle, Pete Buttigieg  the young mayor of South Bend, Indiana  was the biggest surprise success story of the Democratic primary. Known during the campaign as Mayor Pete, he had a top finish in the leadoff Iowa caucuses and a close second-place finish in New Hampshire before flailing in more diverse states and dropping out to back Joe Biden.

When Biden won the presidency, he tapped Buttigieg to be his transportation secretary, and Buttigieg is now considered one of the party's most promising future presidential candidates.

Buttigieg leaned heavily into his experience as mayor in his campaign, including his own work to turn around a Rust Belt city that was once described as dying because of the shutdown of manufacturing. He liked to tell voters that Washington should run more like the best U.S. cities.

Voters appreciated that being a mayor is a hands-on job and that mayors are accountable to voters in a way that senators and governors are not, said Lis Smith, a senior adviser to Buttigiegs campaign who shaped his communications from the start. One of Buttigieg's favorite lines while campaigning was about how he frequently ran into his constituents at the grocery store. The fact that Buttigieg was not a product of Washington also was very, very appealing to voters, Smith said.

Republican and Democratic voters don't have a lot in common these days, but I think that one thing they do share is their distaste for Washington politics and Washington politicians, Smith said.

But Smith also warned that while mayors get to claim credit for all of the things that go right in their community, they also carry the responsibility for things that go wrong.

Buttigieg experienced that when a white South Bend police officer fatally shot a Black man, prompting the mayor to step away from campaigning so he could respond not just to the shooting but also to questions about racial inequality and tensions between Black residents and police in South Bend. That, Smith said, by far was the toughest part" of his candidacy.

Suarez, the son of Miamis first Cuban-born mayor and the only Hispanic candidate in the race, believes he can help the party better appeal to Hispanic voters. He also promotes his relative youth compared with the rest of the field  most of whom range in age from their 50s to 70s  saying he represents generational change that America needs.

It's time for a leader who can connect with segments of our country that Republicans have historically lost," Suarez said during a speech about his presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Library in California on Thursday night.

Then, briefly repeating his credentials as Miami's leader, he slipped for a moment into mayoral mode.

I believe this city needs more than a shouter or a fighter, Suarez said, apparently substituting city for country.

I believe it needs a servant. It needs a mayor.
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On 13 June, Donald Trump was charged with a number of crimes for the second time in less than three months.

He surrended to authorities in Miami on 37 federal charges stemming from his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information, adding another criminal case to the legal pressure against the twice-impeached former president as he seeks to win his partys nomination in next years Republican presidential primary.

Mr Trump also was criminally charged in New York in connection with hush money payments to bury stories of his alleged affairs in the lead up to the 2016 election.

He also is at the centre of another sprawling US Department of Justice special counsel probe into his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election  separate from an investigation in Atlanta into his attempts to reject the results of that election in Georgia.

Should he be convicted in any of those cases, speculation has mounted whether he will face jailtime, raising the prospect of federal prosecutors and judges weighing whether to jail a presidential candidate or potential victor in the 2024 race.

Charges in the federal case surrounding his alleged mishandling of classified documents include the 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.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence ranging from five years to 20 years. A potential sentence, if convicted, could include decades in prison.

That indictment was Mr Trumps second. In March, he appeared in a New York City courtroom to face criminal charges following Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation into hush payments leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

He has pleaded not guilty in both cases. And after both hearings, he returned to his properties to deliver remarks to crowds of supporters to cast himself as a victim of political persecution, baselessly accusing his political rivals of interfering with his chances of winning election to the presidency in 2024.

Former US President Donald Trump waves from his vehicle following his appearance at Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, in Miami, Florida, on June 13, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Following his federal indictment, Mr Trump declared that he was an innocent man.

Those charges stem from a case that began early last year after National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) officials discovered more than 100 classified documents in boxes that were retrieved from Mr Trumps Palm Beach, Florida residence.

That discovery led NARA officials to notify the Justice Department which kicked off an investigation into how the documents ended up at Mr Trumps property.

Throughout the investigation, prosecutors and investigators harboured concerns that the ex-president was not being truthful about whether he had returned any and all classified documents in his possession to government custody as required under the Presidential Records Act.

But the classified nature of the records at issue added another wrinkle to the dispute between Mr Trump and the government he led from January 2017 to January 2021.

Trump stops off at Versailles restaurant after his arrest and arraignment (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

At times, the ex-president has claimed that he had used the sweeping classification and declassification authority to declassify any record he took with him to his Palm Beach home at Mar-a-Lago.

No evidence has emerged that any such order was ever issued, and in audio recordings obtained by prosecutors, Mr Trump is said to have acknowledged that he did not declassify certain records that were in his possession long after his authority to possess them expired.

The Justice Department is likely to attempt to have Mr Trump incarcerated if hes convicted.

National security lawyer and George Washington University law professor Kel McClanahan said that the department will probably want to go for incarceration in the case of Mr Trump, according to Insider.

Mr McClanahan said that the evidence in the indictment is intended to show that Mr Trump is a kingpin who knowingly broke the law, endangered national security, endangered nuclear weapon security, [and] endangered other countries national security.

The consensus among most legal experts commenting on the indictment appears to be that Mr Trump is in serious legal jeopardy.

A former assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, Sarah Krissoff, said that to the extent that theres a conviction here, the Department of Justice is going to want to be seeking a real sentence because of the nature of the conduct, how long it lasted, his involvement, the involvement of other people, working allegedly at Trumps direction.

She noted that if Mr Trump is convicted, the sentence would depend on the judge, which seems likely to be Trump-appointee Aileen Cannon in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Mr McClanahan noted the novelty of possibly having to find a proper way to put a former president behind bars.

He questioned how the authorities would go about imprisoning someone who has a Secret Service detail and who has national security secrets bouncing around his brain, such that if someone holds a shiv to his neck, hell reveal the location of our missile bases.

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, stacks of boxes can be observed in the White and Gold Ballroom of former U.S. President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

He added that Mr Trump might become a foreign intelligence gold mine for most countries on earth if hes imprisoned. Mr McClanahan sees it as more likely that if Mr Trump is convicted, he would be sentenced to house arrest with an ankle monitor.

But Ms Krissoff told the outlet that Trump can share that information that is in his head whether he is incarcerated or not incarcerated. So Im not particularly concerned that, as a citizen, the incarceration will trigger the sharing of information that wouldnt be shared otherwise.

Fox News legal commentator Jonathan Turley also didnt hold back after the indictment was unsealed.

Mr Turley, the Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, said on Fox News that it is an extremely damning indictment.

There are indictments that are sometimes called narrative or speaking indictments. These are indictments that are really meant to make a point as to the depth of the evidence, there are some indictments that are just bare bones, he added.

This is not one of those indictments, Mr Turley said.

This is clearly an indictment that was drafted to answer those questions. Its overwhelming in detail, he said. The Trump team should not fool itself. These are hits below the waterline. These are witnesses who apparently testified under oath [and] gave statements to federal investigators, both of which can be criminally charged, if theyre false.

Speaking about the images from Mar-a-Lago of the boxes of documents found in a ballroom and a bathroom, in addition to other less-than-ideal places, Mr Turley said that obviously, this is mishandling.

Its hard to show a picture of these boxes surrounding a toilet and saying we really acted responsibly, he added. Keep in mind that every one of these counts is coming with a substantial potential sentence.

A photo published by the US Justice Department in their charging document against former Trump shows boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida (Justice Department via REUTERS)

The Justice Department, meanwhile, is separately investigating Mr Trumps rejection of 2020 results, building on the years of work from federal prosecutors to investigate more than 1,000 people in connection with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, fuelled by the former presidents ongoing false claims that the election was rigged against him.

Based on evidence uncovered by the House select committee that investigated the events surrounding the attack as well as other filings and reporting, prosecutors are likely investigating several key elements of the sprawling effort to reverse the 2020 election.

Those could include Mr Trumps election lies, his campaigns attempts to pressure state officials and push false slates of electors to obstruct the certification of the results, a failed attempt to persuade Mr Pence to refuse the outcome, and Mr Trumps failure to stop a mob of his supporters from breaking into the Capitol.

A target letter from federal prosecutors to Mr Trump that indicates he is the subject of an investigation cites three statutes that the former president likely violated in his attempts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election.

One charge  obstruction of an official proceeding  has already been brought against hundreds of people in connection with the Capitol attack.

The House select committee and a federal judge who was involved in cases stemming from its inquiry argued that there is evidence that Mr Trump sought to corruptly obstruct the certification of electoral college votes in Congress  a crime punishable up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
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Donald Trumps former defence chief threw cold water on the assertion from his former boss and his allies that the classified records and other documents seized from the ex-presidents home and resort in an FBI raid were his to take.

As the ex-presidents loyalists continue to offer a wide scope of defences for their leader ranging from arguments that Mr Trump was allowed to designate the materials as personal records for his own safekeeping to the idea that the prosecution is merely a politicised weaponisation of the Justice Department, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has offered his own assessment on the situation.

On Sunday, he joined CNNs State of the Union with Jake Tapper, and flatly stated that his ex-bosss actions were illegal and dangerous.

People have described him as a hoarder when it comes to these type of documents. But, clearly, it was unauthorized, illegal and dangerous, said Mr Esper.

If the allegations are true that it contained information about our nations security, about our vulnerabilities, about other items, it could be quite harmful to the nation. And, look, no one is above the law. And so I think this process needs to play out and people held to account, the president held to account, he continued.

It was a firm look at the facts of the investigation from a man who, under the same ex-president now facing roughly three dozen federal charges, had access to some of the nations most classified materials and had oversight over Americas armed services as well as intelligence services such as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Mr Esper was one of a number of the former presidents top officials who did not make it through the end of the Trump presidency; in the secretarys case, he was fired days after the 2020 election as an increasingly volatile then-President Trump ordered thousands of US troops out of an already rapidly-deteriorating Afghanistan  reportedly having wanted the effort to conclude even before the election.

Others, like members of his press team and the head of the Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao, would resign following the attack on the US Capitol by thousands of Mr Trumps supporters on January 6.

The withdrawal agreement signed by the Trump administration has widely been cited as contributing to the swift end of Afghanistans democratic government at the hands of the Taliban, accelerating with the departure of military contractors under Joe Bidens presidency in 2021.

Mr Trump has pled not guilty to 37 charges related to his allegedly illegal retention of documents from the White House following the end of his presidency, includng classified materials. He separately faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York state.
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US secretary of state Antony Blinken is set to meet with China's foreign minister, Qin Gang, as part of his two-day trip to the country in a bid to rebuild relationships.

The meeting, taking place in Beijing, was supposed to happen four months ago, until a 'Chinese spy balloon' was spotted flying over the US.

It was initially Biden who had made the call while visiting Indonesia.

Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict, Blinken previously said after the incident took place, vowing to maintain a relationship with China.

However, Qin has already told the US it needs to show 'respect' on China's biggest issues, including Taiwan, and that they need to 'stop interfering'.

Blinken will be the first top US official to visit the country in five years. The last to do so was Mike Pompeo in 2018.
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Ryanair boss Eddie Wilson has apologised after a flight attendant said that Tel Aviv was in Palestine, causing an angry backlash from Israeli passengers.

A row broke out after a Ryanair cabin crew member made the announcement in both English and Italian on a flight from Bologna to Tel Aviv on June 10.

Mr Wilson said the company was "100% satisfied that it was an innocent mistake with no political overtones or intent".

But passengers complained and passengers "continued to be abusive" even after the cabin crew apologised.

According to the BBC, police had to be called to meet the aircraft when it landed.

Some Israeli media commentators called for Israelis to boycott the airline if an apology wasn't made.

In a statement to the Jewish Chronicle, Ryanair said: "A junior crew member on this flight from Bologna to Tel Aviv (10 June) made a routine descent PA mistakenly saying Palestine instead of Tel Aviv.

"This was an innocent mistake with no intent and was immediately corrected and apologized for by the senior crew member on board."

Calling the Israeli city Palestinian is seen as highly provocative as it is considered to be denying the recognition of the Jewish state.

But Mr Wilson said he has written to the Israeli ambassador for Ireland, adding that Israel was an "important partner" for Ryanair.

The airline is also the second-largest in Israel.

Mr Wilson said: "We plan to invest in Israel to grow traffic and connectivity both for Israelis travelling to Europe and also to bring much-needed inbound tourism to Israel."

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean, said: "How would Ryanair react if their flight attendant on a flight to Dublin announced multiple times that passengers would soon be arriving in the UK?

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions but not to alternative facts."
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Ukraine is said to have recaptured its first village in several days  as fierce fighting continues across the frontline.

A Russian-installed official said Ukraine had recaptured Piatykhatky, a village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and were entrenching themselves there while coming under fire from Russian artillery.

The enemys wave-like offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses, the official, Vladimir Rogov, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russias defence ministry made no mention of Piatykhatky in its daily update, in which it said its forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in three sections of the 965km (600 miles) front line. A separate statement from Russias Vostok group of forces said Ukraine had failed to take the settlement.

There was no comment from Ukraine, which last week said it had recaptured another nearby settlement, Lobkove, and a string of villages further east, in Donetsk region, at the start of its long-awaited counteroffensive.

Ukrainian officials have imposed an information blackout to help operational security, but say that Russia has suffered much greater losses than Ukraine has during its new assault.

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ukrainian forces for their "very effective" repelling of enemy assaults near Avdiivka, one of the focal points of fighting in the east.

The Avdiivka sector is very effective in repelling assaults, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Sunday.

The head of the military administration in Avdiivka, a mining town shattered by months of fighting, told national television that Ukrainian forces had advanced about 1km around the town over the past two weeks.

In his remarks, Mr Zelensky also said the Tavria, or southern front, was the most brutal and expressed gratitude to soldiers fighting there and elsewhere.

A regional official said Ukrainian forces had destroyed a major Russian ammunition dump in occupied Kherson region, part of a weeks-long effort by Kyiv to wreak havoc with Russian supply lines.

British defence intelligence said heavy fighting in recent days had been focused on Zaporizhzhia, western Donetsk and around Bakhmut, which Russian mercenaries captured last month after the longest battle of the war.

In all these areas, Ukraine continues to pursue offensive operations and has made small advances, it said on Twitter.

Russian defence operations had been relatively effective in the south, with both sides suffering heavy casualties, the assessment said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, who rarely comments on the course of the war, made two unusually detailed interventions last week in which he derided the Ukrainian push and said Kyivs forces had no chance despite being newly equipped with Western tanks. His comments appeared intended to reassure Russians at a crucial juncture.

At talks in St Petersburg on Saturday, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa presented Mr Putin with a 10-point peace initiative from seven African countries and told him the time had come for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations to end the war.

Mr Putin responded by rattling off a string of familiar accusations denied by Ukraine and the West, saying it was Kyiv, not Moscow, that was refusing to talk. He thanked Mr Ramaphosa for his noble mission.

However, Mr Ramaphosa sought to cast the trip to Ukraine  on Friday  and Russia in a positive light, tweeting on Sunday that the Africa Peace Initiative has been impactful and its ultimate success will be measured on the objective, which is stopping the war.

He said the Africans would keep talking to both Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky and would brief the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, on their efforts so far.

Egypts foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, said on Sunday they had not been expecting immediate results. But it is a beginning that we hope will bear fruit in the end.

Reuters
Cameras caught the nail-biting moment a fearless grandma grabbed a snake out of her garage and took it to be released - with her bare hands.

The 85-year-old from Surin province, Thailand, came to the rescue of her panicking grandchildren after they spotted it, and didnt appear phased by tackling the huge creature.

It didnt give her an easy ride either, wriggling to get its escape, while her grip held firm.

The snake entered the wrong house. Our grandma doesnt fear anything, he granddaughter, Rinlada Luande, joked.
Berkshire Hathaways (BRK-A, BRK-B) Vice Chair Charlie Munger further detailed his deep admiration for Singapores first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who governed for three decades.

There aren't that many people like Lee Kuan Yew who ever lived, Munger responded to a question about why the legendary investor admired the Southeast Asian politician at the Daily Journal Annual Meeting on Wednesday. So of course I admire him. I have a bust of Lee Kuan Yew in my house. I admire him that much.

Munger reiterated his praise for the nation's founding leader for his deft stewardship of the city-state.

Lee Kuan Yew had the best record as a nation builder," Munger explained. "He had the probably the best grade record that ever existed in the history of the world. He took over a malarial swamp, with no army  And pretty soon, he turned that into this gloriously prosperous place.

Furthermore, Munger added, his method for doing it was so simple. He said, 'Figure out what works and do it.' Now it sounds like anybody would know that made sense.  he was a very smart man, and he had a lot of good ideas and he absolutely took over a malarial swamp and turned it into modern Singapore in his own lifetime. It was absolutely incredible.
CCTV footage shows the extent of a then-18-year-old girls rampage at an Adelaide McDonalds, which could see her put behind bars.

Mia Miller punched, spat, and threw food at McDonalds employees back in October during a drunken rampage - incidents all of which she has pleaded guilty to.

The new footage shows the teen march up to the counter three times in a ten-minute period to cause more chaos.

This was the worst shift in my entire 15 years working for McDonalds, causing deep emotions that continue to affect me every day, the restaurant manager said of the incident.
As Ukraines armed forces fight to reclaim territory from Russian invaders, the recovery conference in London this week might feel at best premature and at worst misplaced.

As the disaster of the Nova Kakhovka dam horrifyingly illustrates, the destruction of Ukraine is gearing up and adding daily to the toll of human suffering. Yet history also tells us that a durable peace is much likelier where planning for recovery begins early  before the guns fall silent and a political settlement is reached.

When the war ends, Ukraines reconstruction needs will be on a scale unlike anything seen in Europe since 1945. On the first anniversary of the war, the reconstruction and recovery bill was estimated at more than $400 billion. It will have risen significantly since. Indeed, the economy has shrunk by one-third, plunging millions of Ukrainians into poverty.
Intel is already one of Israel's biggest employers

US chipmaker Intel will spend $25bn (23bn) on a new factory in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, calling it the largest-ever international investment in the country.

Last Friday, Intel said it will invest up to $4.6bn in a new semiconductor assembly and test facility near Wrocaw, Poland, as part of a multi-billion-dollar investment drive across Europe to build chip capacity.

Intel is also one of Irelands largest employers, with a major chip manufacturing plant in Co Kildare.

The new factory in Israels Kiryat Gat is due to open in 2027, to operate through 2035 at least and to employ thousands of people, Israel's Finance Ministry said.

Under the deal Intel will pay a 7.5pc tax rate, up from the current 5pc, the ministry added.

During its almost five decades of operations in Israel, Intel has grown to become the country's largest privately held employer and exporter and a leader of the local electronics and information industry, according to the company's website.

In 2017, Intel bought Israel-based Mobileye Global which develops and deploys advanced driver-assistance systems, for $15 billion. Intel took Mobileye public last year.

Announcing the deal in televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu called it "a tremendous achievement for the Israeli economy - 90 billion shekels - the largest investment ever by an international company in Israel.

In a statement, Intel said its Israel operations had "played a crucial role" in the company's global success.

"Our intention to expand manufacturing capacity in Israel is driven by our commitment to meeting future manufacturing needs ... and we appreciate the continued support of the Israeli government," it said.
Airline is also at odds with Ryanair over 100m apron build

'Aer Lingus will review the outcome of the ballot and consider next steps'. Photo: Bloomberg

Aer Lingus faces an industrial relations headache after cabin crew rejected a new pay offer of more than 10pc.

The deal, rejected by close to 55pc of staff, would have meant a 10.75pc pay hike over three years.

"There is no timeline on next steps, the local Forsa trade union committee, which had backed the deal, told members.

A new junior entrant pay scale was to be scrapped with new recruits going directly on to the existing pay scale. Commission payments for oods sold by cabin crew on flights were to go back to 12pc for all cabin crew after being cut to 10pc during the pandemic.

It wasnt a bad deal to be honest, said one cabin crew member. I voted yes but the junior crew seemed dead set against it despite the fact that they would earn more.

An airline spokesperson noted that Aer Lingus cabin crew represented by Forsa have rejected the pay proposal recommended by the Workplace Relations Commission.

Aer Lingus will review the outcome of the ballot and consider next steps in relation to the process of engagement which has been ongoing over recent months.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus and Ryanair are at odds over plans by DAA to build new apron space and taxiways costing almost 100m at Dublin Airport.

The issue highlights the growing battle for space and resources at Dublin Airport as traffic numbers grow.

The airport authority has proposed widening taxiways on the airports south apron at a cost of 58m and to provide what it describes as critical taxiways on the north apron at a cost of 37m.

The most recent iteration of a new independent costing and approval process for the airport has ruled that DAAs budget for the two projects should be pared back by more than 8m, according to a new report issued by the IAA, which oversees the new so-called stagegate process.

Ryanair objects to the costs presented by Dublin Airport for both projects

The report gave approval for the two projects to proceed to the next stage but noted considerable cost escalation for both.

Ryanair objects to the costs presented by Dublin Airport for both projects, said the report. It argues that both the scope and costs have changed considerably since the projects were first proposed. It also expressed concerns about the stagegate process if the cost increases are allowed and urged the IAA to protect users from the increases in costs proposed by the airport.

But the report noted that Aer Lingus supports both projects, stating that they remain critical to ensuring an efficient two-runway airport and enabling the development of the hub infrastructure.

However, it also noted its disappointment at the cost increases, said the report.

Aer Lingus subsequently told the Sunday Independent that the South Apron Project, close to its key Terminal 2 base, was a critical enabler to the delivery of hub infrastructure at Dublin Airport.

The airline, which recently added a flight to Cleveland to schedule, is heavily focused on building a transatlantic hub at Dublin, while Ryanair, which did not respond to a request for comment, has long put pressure on DAA to cut airport charges.

The report noted that as agreement has not, at this time, been achieved among stakeholders, we expect that the IAA will need to make a decision on the appropriate efficient final allowance for this project at the time of the next determination.

DAAs costings and proposals for major projects are now assessed by an independent fund surveyor and this process ultimately decides how much DAA can spend and feed back into airport passenger charges.
Eagle Street Partners is seeking to build an office in Dublin city centre. Photo: Getty

Irish group McCabes Pharmacy is on the acquisition trail and has bought three pharmacies in Dublin  Stanleys in Mountview, Blanchardstown; Ellis Pharmacy in Woodstown; and Ellis Pharmacy in Springfield, Tallaght.

The company, which is in business for more than 40 years, said it had deeply admired these pharmacies and teams over the years and are truly honoured that the operators of these fine businesses have entrusted McCabes Pharmacy to nurture them from here.

This brings the number of pharmacies in the group to 32, with a new pharmacy due to open in Adamstown, Lucan, later this year.

It now employs 500 people and also claims to operate Irelands largest online pharmacy.

In a statement on LinkedIn, CEO Sharen McCabe said: These newly acquired pharmacies have a long-standing reputation for excellence in patient care, we are delighted to welcome the teams to McCabes Pharmacy and look forward to bringing an extended suite of healthcare services to these local communities.

Current locations include pharmacies in Dublin, Dundalk, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Tipperary, and Limerick and it is understood that McCabe has plans to substantially grow the business in the coming years.

Eagle Street Partners is seeking to build an office in Dublin city centre. Photo: Getty

Eagle Street swoops on Dublin city office plan

Eagle Street Partners, the real estate and asset management firm co-founded by former Glenveagh executive Shane Scully, is seeking to build an office in Dublin city centre.

Last week, the company applied for planning permission with Dublin City Council to develop the commercial office.

It is looking to build the office at the former Castleforbes Business Park near Sheriff Street Upper. If approved the office building would range in height from five to eight storeys.

Eagle Street declined to comment.

Kitchens giant Howdens planning 50 Irish outlets

Howden Joinery Group, the biggest supplier of kitchen units to the UK construction trade, has announced the opening of its seventh Irish trade outlet in Cork  and its first outside Dublin.

Mark Campbell, country manager at Howdens, told trade press the company wanted to open over 50 depots in Ireland. And this first depot outside of Dublin is an important part of our expansion within Ireland.

There is an exceptional amount of interest and excitement from the trade, with builders and fitters already having set up accounts ready to trade as soon as we open our doors.
Long-term goal is the US, says Aimee Connolly

Fast-growing make-up brand Sculpted is to open its second bricks and mortar store next month, at a new location in Kildare Village.

It follows on from owner Aimee Connollys first standalone shop, which opened last year on Grafton Street.

The new shop will open on July 6 and Connolly said she is actively looking at more locations, both in Ireland and abroad.

At the Kildare Village outlet, Sculpted will sell value bundles in addition to some other promotions.

Connolly told the Sunday Independent that she remained very mindful of the strong relationships with retail groups which sell her products.

I have always maintained an omni-channel approach, she said.

"The only difference was that at the very beginning it wasnt an own-store approach, it was via retail partners, which I still have brilliant relationships with  the likes of Boots, Dunnes and McCauleys.

Any new locations would be "very considered.

We are not looking to flood every corner, she insisted.

She said her business model straddles retail and online, with each complementing the other.

"We have definitely seen the high street come back bigger and better than ever, she added.

The brand began selling into the UK and Middle East last year.

Any new market is a challenge. Theres potential, but youre constantly trying to learn and flex for that particular market.

She said she was taking a cautious approach to expanding.

Im keeping an eye on some European cities, and obviously then the long-term goal is the US.

Connolly said that selling in the US would be when the brand would feel it was fully global.

At the same time it terrifies me, because it is that large and it requires that much resources, that much finance, that much know-how.

She said she would remain open-minded about the possibility of external finance and felt very lucky to have been able to grow the business to its current size without giving away equity.

"At the same time, my ambitions for the brand are not small  and with big ambitions come big costs.

The company has seen annual growth of between 70pc and 100pc since it was formed in 2016, and significant growth is planned for the current year.

The shop in Kildare Village will operate for seven months, meaning it will trade there during the key Christmas period.

In Scuplteds Grafton Street store, the best-selling products vary from their online bestsellers  and Connolly is looking forward to seeing what trends emerge from Kildare.
Spar Group, the South African-listed retail group, said its sales in its Irish business have grown by 8.8pc.

According to its interim results for the six months ended March 31, 2023, Spar, which operates here through the BWG Group, had Irish sales of 17.1bn South African Rand (860m). That is up from 14.9bn South African Rand the previous year.

The results said BWG Foods in Ireland had enjoyed a strong performance across all its convenience food retail brands including, Spar Express, Spar, Eurospar, Londis, Mace and XL.

The hospitality sector had also fully recovered post pandemic, the report said.

This sector remains highly competitive and is dominated by four large players, the report said. Across Ireland and South West England, BWG Foods had 1,103 stores, up from 1,094 stores.
Irelands fishermen have been buffeted by Brexit  but there are opportunities there too

Standing on her office balcony in Dun Laoghaire, Caroline Bocquel points out the handful of fishing boats in the harbour below  hardly noticeable amongst the pleasure craft and harbour vessels.

Theres not as many as there used to be, says the CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), who was appointed in January .

She has just led the way from the BIM buildings reception area, through a warren of wood-panelled hallways, past doorways where officials plotted the sometimes stormy course of Irish fishing since the 1950s.

There is no doubt that Brexit has been devastating for the sector

Its not hard to imagine a previous generation of men in suits inhabiting these offices, talking about Irelands accession to the EEC, and how it might impact the countrys fishing industry.

Bocquel had eagerly led the way to the large balcony that runs the length of the huge window in her new office. There is an incredible  perhaps unrivalled  view of Dun Laoghaire Harbour with Dublin Bay beyond, spread out like a canvas.

But the view is only temporary, she says. The building is lavish  in an outdated, Mad Men-type of way  and unsuitable now for the needs of a state body which looks to meet and collaborate with a complex and multifaceted industry sector in the 21st century.

Seagulls hover over a trawler. Photo: Getty

It is to be returned to the charge of the Office of Public Works, in favour of new offices somewhere nearby.

We are hoping to move probably within the next six months or so, she says. She had already set tongues wagging by moving the large desk from the position it had occupied for decades. It now gives her a more commanding view down the corridor, rather than out the window.

We are waiting for approval at the moment. The offices are of their time. They are in this beautiful, iconic building  but they are not quite right for us now.

The move will be good for the organisation in the context of a changing industry, she says. There is a sense of a restart.

The raw data suggests that seafood is an industry in good health. It employs 15,000 people and is worth 1.3bn, growing 4pc in value terms last year.

With global demand for protein predicted to double by 2050, and with three billion people, mainly in Asia, reliant on seafood as their main protein source, the potential for much greater growth is huge, says Bocquel.

And yet, in recent months in particular, many Irish fishermen and their families have voiced a sense of hopelessness and abandonment.

Some claim to have been sold out by the Brexit deal, which brought a huge 43m per annum cut to Irelands overall fishing quota, putting their livelihoods at risk.

Bocquel accepts that the mood amongst fishermen in places like Castletownbere and Dunmore East is dark.

There is no doubt that Brexit has been devastating for the sector. No doubt about that at all. Were in a position that there is not enough quota available for the amount of boats there are, she says.

Fishing, she agrees, is more than a career. For many families, who have been generations in the sector, it is a vocation.

To try to deal with this, a 75m voluntary decommissioning process  funded by the 1bn Ireland received from the EUs Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) fund and administered by BIM  has been established to financially compensate fishermen who agree to decommission their boats.

The trawler Buddy M sailing up Cork Harbour. Photo: Anzenberger

Fishermen have been very critical of all this  and Bocquel acknowledges the fact, adding that Brexit and its fallout was not something anyone in the sector would have chosen.

This is a really necessary rebalancing. And, yes, youre right, I think theres been a lot of negativity as we go through that decommissioning process  which were nearly at the end of now.

The process will see the decommissioning of 42 of Irelands fleet of 200 whitefish boats, which catch species such as cod, hake and monkfish. It will release 30m worth of quota for redistribution amongst the remaining boats, making them more viable.

Because of Brexit, weve got much less fish coming in

Those who have volunteered to decommission boats will have some money to pay off loans, or start a new business in the wider fishing or marine sector, or in tourism  whatever they choose. For example, I know of one lady in Waterford who is using some of her compensation to open a fish restaurant.

But the quota cut also has big implications for the more than 100 seafood processors around Ireland too.

There is no doubt that, because of Brexit, weve got a reduced amount of raw material. There are much less fish coming in.

"So what were doing is working with companies to add more value to that raw material. The days of catching it, freezing it and shipping it  basically treating it like a commodity  are over. Its all about adding value.

A further 45m is to be invested by BIM into helping processors scale-up and invest in new technology to allow them compete in global markets, particularly in Asia.

45m may sound like a small number compared to other sectors. But for this sector, its a phenomenal amount  compared to the 2m annually BIM would usually invest in the processing sector. It is absolutely transformative.

She cites one company in Killybegs  Donegal Fish  which, instead of freezing its mackerel for direct shipping to markets such as Nigeria and Egypt, is now preparing it to exact specifications, using semi automated production lines and aiming at the Japanese consumer food market.

That has been transformative for them, and theyre getting five or six times what they used get for the mackerel.

In Kilmore Quay in Wexford, another processor  Sofrimar  had to rethink its whelk exports after sushi bars in Asia shut their doors during Covid. They began to cook the whelk before shipping  and discovered a huge consumer appetite for it in Vietnam.

The Sofrimar plant in Kilmore Quay. Photo: Sofrimar

So were now grant-aiding them to build a new factory, she says. We have a large number of clients in the sector now taking advantage of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, to make these sort of big one-off investments.

Apart from this drive to increase technology, she believes the processing sector is also heading for a period of consolidation.

What we need to do is really work with the processors to see what their own business aspirations are. Undoubtedly, there are some processors who would be very open to consolidating. Were also working with the Strategic Investment Fund, who are really interested in seeing how they can play a part in this.

Globally, 50pc of seafood is as a result of aquaculture and thats projected to grow

Bocquel grew up beside the sea in Baltray, Co Louth, falling in love with sailing before becoming an accountant. Her Dad worked in Aer Rianta, which fostered in her a love of travel.

She worked for a time at a dotcom venture in California, before returning to Dublin to take a job as financial controller in Capital Bars, which at the time had a hand in 17 different bars, restaurants and hotels in the city.

But it was her 17 years as director of corporate services at the Marine Institute that really changed her view of what the oceans around us had to offer.

One of my first tasks was to sail home on the maiden voyage of the Institutes new research ship, the Celtic Explorer, from Bergen in Norway. I loved working there, and it helped me appreciate how, as a nation, we had turned our back on the sea.

In 2019 she was approached by aid agency Goal to become CFO, and she decided it was time for a change. She spent two years with Goal, travelling to Zimbabwe and Iraq to observe some of the work undertaken by the charitys 4,000 people based in the field.

But when a vacancy arose at BIM, she couldnt resist a return to the marine sector. Her skill set and financial background were a good fit.

People in this sector are looking to optimise their businesses and need good support in terms of business plans, organisation and market insights.

"I understand marine, having been in it for 20 years, but my financial background is really important. Businesses in this sector need the strategy, structure and the finance to execute their plans.

Change is inevitable in the sector. Globally, 50pc of seafood is as a result of aquaculture and thats projected to grow to about 62pc, as its a cost-effective way to meet growing global protein needs.

It is much smaller in Ireland  more like 10pc, mainly in salmon, oysters and mussels  but Bocquel sees it as a major growth sector.

Planning difficulties and environmental hurdles have meant Irish aquaculture expansion, particularly in salmon, has been slow  but she says there has been progress.

It will grow over the next number of years. But were also looking at alternative technology, for example on-land systems. Theres a pilot project in Cork at the moment and were really interested in how that goes.

Offshore fish farms are seeing business growth. Photo: Getty

Another opportunity for Ireland lies in the aquatech sector, which develops and implements technology in the wider aquaculture sector.

We have over 60 companies working in aquatech, and its worth about 200m. A major aquatech-focused venture capital firm is now based in Cork and is starting to fund projects.

"Were starting to see some very significant investments and some brilliant ideas  for example, the use of AI to monitor and provide early warning on the health of aquaculture fish stocks.

But in an industry that is used to extremes, every new opportunity means an emerging threat. Fishing boats are facing a spatial squeeze in the Irish Sea in particular, she agrees, as the offshore wind sector begins to plot out huge wind farms planned between now and the end of the decade.

Fishing fleets will have to work around them, while also staying out of the 30pc of Irish waters that are marine protected areas.

Thats really challenging. The challenge weve had in the past is poor communication. Some of the companies are excellent  really, really good, and there has been authentic engagement. Some of them are less good. But I think  now  everybody is starting to understand exactly whats required. Maybe a year ago it would have been slightly different.

Weve over 60 firms working in aquatech, and its worth about 200m

The science of how best to co-locate fishing and turbines is evolving and complex, full of both opportunity and threat.

In that regard, we are looking at opportunities with seaweed, for example, which is another really interesting sector, she says.

Theres a lot of research that would indicate that if you co locate seaweed around wind turbines its extremely productive, and also helps to clean the water. But using marine areas efficiently requires good collaboration and authentic engagement.

Overall, the entire industry is at an inflection point, she says, caught between painful adjustments and huge opportunities.

The state funding going into the sector right now is, she says, a once-in-a-generation injection of really generous grant aid, that will prime the industry for at least the next decade. I dont believe it will need further support, certainly not of this nature.

These are really really good, resilient, innovative businesspeople. And theyve got really good ideas as to where they want to take their business  they see the opportunities, long before many other people.

What they need is some of this capital investment to help prime their businesses to compete in what has become a very global sector.

Theres this unprecedented global demand and weve got a product that meets all the requirements  in terms of sustainability, health and so on  and weve got a relative abundance of it here.

"Its just a question now of ensuring we take advantage of that.

Caroline Bocquel in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Photo: Frank McGrath

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Caroline Bocquel

Age: 49

From: Baltray, Co Louth

Lives: Greystones, Co Wicklow

Family: Married to Jean-Marie, who is from Brittany  they met on a sailing boat. Theyve one son, Alexander.

Education: A degree in Business and Languages from Technological University Dublin.

Favourite hobby: Sailing a 30 foot J109 (she previously completed the Fastnet Race).

Favourite book: In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum

Favourite movie: French film Les Choristes

Business Lessons

Would you recommend the fishing industry as a career for someone doing the Leaving Cert right now?

I would, without any hesitation  because it's a sector that is about to experience enormous global growth.

"Were perfectly positioned here in Ireland. Were really well-organised, well-funded, and we have a dedicated agency tasked with developing the sector. There are roles in it for everyone, including technical and software people.
Q I hired a van from a car rental company when I was moving house. When I returned it to the company afterwards, an employee told me there was a new scratch on the van and that they would use part or all of a 2,500 deposit on my credit card to pay for the damage. I'm pretty sure I didn't cause this scratch but I didn't take any photos of the vehicle before renting it. What can I do?

Rosemary, Co Waterford

A When you hire a vehicle, you are bound by the companys terms and conditions. These are set at the discretion of the company and should include details of what happens if the vehicle is damaged. I would recommend you go back to the documentation you were given when you hired the van and see if this scratch was included in the diagram of existing damage.

You should check what the contract you signed says about damage, repairs, and the use of the deposit. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, contract terms must be fair to the consumer, so if you feel that the contract was unfair or that the actions of the company go against the terms and conditions you agreed to, you can submit a formal complaint in writing to the company. Give the full details of the situation in the complaint and outline how you would like the matter resolved. You may also wish to highlight your experience with the Car Rental Council of Ireland, the representative trade organisation for the car rental industry. It has a consumer complaints procedure for member companies, which you can find on carrentalcouncil.ie.

If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction and the amount taken from the deposit is less than 2,000, you have the option of lodging a claim against the company at the small claims court. This costs 25 and can be done at your local district court or online at courts.ie. Because the small claims court only accepts claims up to the value of 2,000, you may have to seek independent legal advice or speak to your card provider about the possibility of a chargeback if the company takes more than this amount from your credit card.

Youve already expressed regret at not having photographed the van at the outset so I know you wont allow this to happen again. Anyone hiring a vehicle should take the following steps:

Check the car carefully, inside and out, including the spare wheel and tools. The rental company should give you a diagram highlighting any existing damage, so make sure any bumps or scratches are already noted on the diagram.

Remember to check the interior upholstery for signs of wear and tear and for any marks, scratches, stains, tears or burns.

Make sure the rental company notes all interior and exterior marks and damage before you leave.

Take your own photos or video of the vehicles interior and exterior.

How can we teach our daughter to be responsible with money we give her for doing chores?

Q My daughter turns eight this month. Until now, weve given her the odd bit of pocket money here and there, but we plan to start giving her a weekly amount in return for doing a few chores around the house. How can we teach her to be responsible with this money?

Jan, Co Longford

A Youre making a great start by getting her to earn this pocket money through chores  this helps children understand the value of money. Giving pocket money on a regular and consistent basis will allow her to plan how she spends it and start to understand budgeting and saving.

You might consider opening a savings account for your daughter. Most banks, credit unions and digital banks offer childrens accounts that can be opened with as little as 1 and are not subject to any charges. You can then encourage her to save some of her pocket money into this account every week or month.

While it is important to actively encourage children to save, it can be difficult if they do not understand why they are doing so. Setting short-term goals teaches children about the benefits of saving, so you could encourage your daughter to save up for a particular toy, a school tour, or supplies for a hobby. Meeting these goals will give your daughter a sense of achievement and encourage her to continue to actively save for the things she wants. Once she has understood the value of saving for short-term goals, she might be ready to save for longer-term goals. To help her get into a habit of saving money, you could reward her by telling her youll match her savings after a set period or by adding some interest, such as an extra 50c for every 10 she saves.

Teaching your daughter to budget at this age will help her manage her finances as an adult. Bringing her with you when you do the food shopping is a great way to introduce her to budgeting. Explain that you have a set amount of money to spend on the items on your list and ask her to compare prices and add up the cost as you shop so you stay within that budget. Making a game out of this will help keep her interested and engaged.

For more advice and resources, check out our Parents Hub at moneymatters.ccpc.ie.
Footage, captured just 14 hours before his disappearance, was only revealed to lawyers working for mum Fiona Donohoe more than two years after her sons tragic disappearance

Noah Donohoe (14) snuck out of his Belfast home at 3.30am on the day he would disappear and returned almost 35 minutes later after an unexplained and secret trip revealed today for the first time.

The teenager left his home at Fitzroy Avenue in South Belfast in pouring rain and wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops and carrying headphones.

When he returned at 4.05am, just as dawn was breaking, he was captured on CCTV soaking wet and without the headphones and the Marks and Spencer flip-flops.

Noah on his bike before he went missing

The footage, captured just 14 hours before his disappearance, was only revealed to lawyers working for mum Fiona Donohoe more than two years after her sons tragic disappearance of June 21, 2020.

In the week while Noah was missing, PSNI officers asked me if Noah could have snuck out at any time from the apartments without my knowledge. I told them that there was one key, and all the doors are very squeaky, and I would not have thought it likely  but obviously I was wrong, said Noahs mum Fiona.

Mother Fiona at a rally for her son

The revelations are shared by journalist Donal MacIntyre, who is heading up an independent investigation into the case with a team of crime experts who are seeking crowdfunding to complete their work which will be broadcast in a film after the inquest.

Donal MacIntyre's appeal for Noah Donohoe documentary support

The secret late-night journey is sure to deepen the mystery around what happened to tragic Noah, whose lifeless body was discovered in a disused drain six days after he went missing.

His mother Fiona was not told about her sons late-night journey and says she had no idea that the snuck out of their home just hours before his disappearance.

The third anniversary of the disappearance and death of the Belfast teen will be marked on Tuesday as experts say that the PSNI continue to withhold crucial information about how they conducted their investigation.

What is known is that Noah set off from his home at 5.30pm on Sunday, June 2020 and cycled to the north of the city where he was recorded naked on his bike. His body was found six days later in a storm drain around 1km from where he was last seen on CCTV.

The law firm who represent the family only received the footage detailing Noahs late-night journey last October. His mother Fiona insists she had no idea he had left their home and can throw no light on where he may have gone.

I had no idea. I havent seen the footage; it is simply too distressing, but my legal team has, and it is shocking and truly concerning. We still have no idea where he was going, if he was meeting anyone or what was the purpose of the trip, Fiona said.

Noah with mum Fiona

Mum Fiona has previously raised concerns that Noah may have been coerced into some kind of county lines illicit activity and that this may have played a part in his unusual journey the next day to a part of North Belfast he was not familiar with.

MacIntyre has been investigating the case for months and put together an independent team of experts to unravel the mystery.

Amongst them is former senior officer from the UKs Serious Crime Squad, Andy Crocker, who investigated the Milly Dowler case amongst others.

Crocker says the new revelations raise the prospect of third-party involvement in the teens death, which the PSNI have insisted there is no evidence of.

As a senior officer on the case I would immediately have to consider coercion or grooming of the missing child, and today we are talking about potential involvement in drugs, Crocker said.

Where did he go? Why? Who did he meet? I am shocked that this key information has been withheld for so long, he added.

Huge investigative opportunities have been missed here. A public appeal to preserve CCTV, RING footage, and witness testimony  anyone who might have seen Noah out at 3.30am in the morning.

We might have been able to ascertain the purpose of his journey  if there was a coherent one. I have conducted numerous public appeals and I am perplexed that one was not conducted, especially when it appears the PSNI were aware of Noahs secret trip while they were still searching for him.

MacIntyres team of specialist investigators has been conducting a full review of the case with the support of the family for over two years, and a new TV documentary will be broadcast later this year.

The journalist, who previously worked with the Sunday World as a special investigator, revealed that the CCTV of Noah leaving the small block of flats where he lived, leads him to believe PSNI have only disclosed a fraction of the imagery they have of Noahs early morning trip.

The PSNI have not given any coherent explanation as to why this material was denied the family, and apparently the coroner, for more than two years, said MacIntyre.

Noah is then seen returning to the flat at 4.05am soaking wet and this time without his headphones and Marks and Spencer flip-flops.

The PSNI has given no indication to the family what other enquiries it has made about this mysterious journey, the investigative journalist added.

The PSNI compiled a compendium of footage for the coroner and family of his movements from when he left the house later that day (5.30pm) but, its understood from police sources, that they only disclosed a fraction of CCTV surrounding Noahs mysterious trip earlier in the day.

Coroner, Joe McCrisken was, at the start of the inquest process, at pains to dampen any speculation by stating that there was no evidence of third-party involvement in the events leading to Noahs death.

I consider that, based upon all of the evidence before me at this stage, and the evidence includes extensive CCTV footage and witness statements, that Noah acted alone when he travelled to Northwood Road and entered the drain system, he said at the Belfast Coroners Court.

The PSNI and the Office of the Coroner in Belfast have yet to respond to requests for comment on this story.

A separate fight for other CCTV and disclosure material was played out last week when a pre-inquest hearing heard that Noah Donohoes family wanted key answers to CCTV disclosure in advance of any inquest at Laganside Court House.

Counsel for Fiona Donohoe, Brenda Campbell KC, said that the family were looking for CCTV close to Noahs home address which the PSNI have told the family would not be disclosed to us because it was not relevant and our request was disproportionate.

The nature of the footage was not disclosed at the hearing. Counsel for the Coroner, Declan Quinn, said that this tranche of material may require a Court ruling.

The focus of the next of kin is on settling all disclosure issues in advance of any hearing date, he said.

The date for the inquest, originally scheduled for September, has been set aside until the disclosure issues are settled.
Its never a good thing to pigeonhole any given actor. Just because someone starred in a few grand biblical epics, fought mutant zombie vampires, or famously exposed the source of humanitys food supply doesnt mean they dont have range. While his personal politics may have been dodgy to some, Charlton Heston wasnt for lack of talent in front of the camera. A commanding leading man hed often rival John Wayne for the role of the quintessential tough guy but he had a softer side that was rarely fully explored. Heston may have earned his Oscar for 1960s Ben Hur but hed turn in arguably the best performance of his career in 1967 with Tom Gries' feature directorial debut Will Penny.

In this somber Western, Heston digs deep as the titular cowhand whos known only one way of living - do right by the boss and the man beside you and youll get paid and always have a job. Taking a job as a line rider in a remote mountain spread, he comes upon Catherine Allen (Joan Hackett) and her son Horace (Napoleon Dynamites Jon Gries) living in his cabin. Giving them time to head out before winter sets in, Will goes to check the herd. When hes set upon and left for dead by the deranged Preacher Quint (Donald Pleasance) and his sons Rufus (Gene Rutherford) and Rafe (Bruce Dern), Will must turn to Catherine for aid. With winter upon them, they become unlikely bunkmates but soon their friendship becomes something more than Will has ever known. But Quint and his sons lurk in the wilderness and Will Pennys peaceful life may be shortlived.

As a huge Western fan, Will Penny has a special place in my heart. As much as I love gun duels and big action sequences, I always appreciate it when a Western knows how to be calm. For as much action within the film, theres a terrific balance of romance and character drama. But it doesnt overplay the saccharine hand either. As we watch Hestons Will relax into this role of surrogate husband and father, we watch him become a new man faced with reconciling the lonely life he's lived fo so long. Heston sells this change beautifully and effortlessly - a scene where he can't sing Christmas carols because he never learned them as a boy is particularly devistating. Shortly after that moment, a scene of Heston and Hackett churning butter for Christmas may be euphemistically interesting, but its also a wonderfully tender moment between the two great actors. Gires had a deft touch with managing the tender-hearted moments equally against the suspense and dynamic action sequences.

But an easy-going man of few words hero is only as good as his gregarious villain and Donald Pleasence turns in a menacingly excellent bad guy. His wild eyes, odd folksy accent, and perverse use of scriptures to defend his actions are genuinely unsettling. Matching the effort is another early appearance from Bruce Dern as the crazed son Rafe. Bruce Derns early Western villains are practically a sub-genre of their own as Pleasance may get the most attention but Dern finds his own ways to shine. Joan Hackett is also a welcome addition to the cast as the motherly and guarded Catherine. While cast as the possible love interest, shes far from a damsel in distress or the brand of useless window dressing this kind of role so often sticks in. On many similar notes shes an equal to Geraldine Page in 1953s Hondo. She wants the real love of a man but doesnt need it to survive. While our main leads get the most attention, Gries populates the film with a terrific cast of film and television actors including Anthony Zerbe, Lee Majors, Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens, and Clifton James.











Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

As part of their deal with Paramount, Kino Lorber Studio Classics delivers this classy Western to Blu-ray. A single-disc release, the film is pressed on a Region A BD-50 Disc. Housed in a standard case with an identical slipcover, the disc loads to a static image main menu with standard navigation options.
ComReg targeted: Global attack may have compromised commercial and personal information

Attackers are believed to be from the Clop ransomware group based in Russia.

Irelands communications regulator has been hit by a global hacking campaign linked to Russian criminals who are believed to have accessed confidential data of a number of telecommunications firms.
George Nkencho was shot dead outside his home by a garda in December 2020

The family of a man shot dead by garda are expected to be informed tomorrow if the officer responsible for his death will face sanction.

The officer who fired the fatal shots at George Nkencho (27) will also be told if he faces potential criminal or disciplinary sanctions, or whether he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

It is understood by the Sunday Independent that Mr Nkenchos family have been invited to the offices of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) at 11.30am, when chairman Rory MacCabe is expected to outline the conclusions of its inquiry into the death.

Other gardai involved in the incident will also be told simultaneously of the watchdogs findings.

Mr Nkencho was shot dead at 12.35pm on December 30, 2020, on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin, following a stand-off with gardai during which he refused to drop a knife.

Gsoc investigated the circumstances of his death in its immediate aftermath.

It can recommend no further action if it finds gardai have no case to answer; it can send a file to the office of the DPP, which could consider criminal charges; or it can make recommendations that some officers should be subject to disciplinary proceedings handled internally by An Garda Siochana.

The Nkencho family are represented by solicitor Phelim ONeill, and the familys legal counsel will attend the high-level meeting with Gsoc.

It had pledged to complete its investigation by December 2021, which was the first anniversary of Mr Nkenchos death. However, Gsoc later announced it needed more time.

The circumstances of the shooting have been the subject of public debate.

Mr Nkencho was shot dead following a confrontation with gardai.

Some of his siblings witnessed the shooting as they were at the front door when an armed officer opened fire. Moments before, his sister Gloria Nkencho had tried to tell gardai she could help and that her brother had a mental illness.

However, as officers tried to contain the potential for violence, she had to retreat inside.

Before the shooting, gardai had tried to disarm him using a graduated policing response after he had allegedly attacked a shopkeeper, brandishing a knife at a Eurospar 23 minutes earlier.

Garda units arrived and followed him, repeatedly asking him to drop the knife. He refused and threatened officers when they tried to approach him.

By the time he reached his house, two members of the Armed Support Unit were at the scene and took over.

Armed officers were unaware it was his home and feared he could take the people inside hostage.

He was pepper-sprayed and there were two attempts to Taser him.

Mr Nkencho remained in possession of the knife and continued to threaten officers. Gardai then opened fire.

Ms Nkencho told the Sunday Independent last year: The main thing we want is transparency. We are looking for the highest level of accountability, not a slap on the wrist, she said.

What we would like is an admission that what happened shouldnt have happened. A life was lost. There should have been another way for gardai to take control of the situation other than to end my brothers life.

It is a matter for Gsoc to outline exactly what happened and whether the matter should be sent to the DPP.

We do not have control over whether the report will be published but are hopeful it will be made public. We hope its findings can give us some closure.
Rose Conway-Walsh has been promoted to Sinn Fein spokesperson on public expenditure and reform. Photo: Mark Condren

Rose Conway-Walsh sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and switches on the BBC World Service if she cant get back to sleep.

If not the World Service  a staple in her house when she was growing up  then shell switch on BBC Radio 4 or London-based talk station LBC.

Its important to have different perspectives, says the newly appoint- ed Sinn Fein public expenditure spokesperson.

These are not the listening habits you would expect from a typical Sinn Fein TD. But then Conway-Walsh, it is often remarked, does not conform to the perhaps outdated stereotype.

She is, after all, the London-born, Trinity-educated former senator who once worked in the House of Lords bar. Whats more, her Kerry-born mother worked in silver service waitressing in the House of Commons in the 1960s.

People try to put republicans into pigeon holes, but were a broad church of many different people with different experiences, Conway-Walsh insists.

For the record, her stint behind the House of Lords bar was no more than six weeks when she was between jobs and a friend of hers, who still works there, recommended it. She also had a variety of roles in administration, marketing, business development and fundraising during a decade spent in England in the 80s and 90s.

After her family moved back from London when she was a young girl, she grew up in Ballycroy and Belmullet, where she went to school. Her family, she has previously said, were always republican supporters and Ballycroy is a well-known republican enclave in Co Mayo. It was the homeplace of Jack Sean McNeela, a senior IRA member who died on hunger strike in 1940.

I suppose growing up and subconsciously as a child it was in conversations  people were talking about the local hunger striker, she recalls.

Partition never made sense: I was curious, looking at a small island, how it could be divided.

The hunger strikes in 1981 heightened her interest, and, she says, had a profound impact on her. She recalls getting into trouble at school for handing out leaflets in support of Bobby Sands and his fellow hunger strikers.

I was trying to raise curiosity in others around me, she says.

Her return to London as a young adult in the late 80s was forced. America was on the cards, but she could not get a visa because she had been born in England. I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, but I wanted to get a job and there wasnt a hope in hell of me getting it in Mayo or around Ballycroy, she says.

A political contemporary notes London in the late 80s and for most of the 90s was not an easy place for Irish people in the midst of the IRA bombing campaign. She would say that living in London was an eye-opener, the contemporary says.

One thing Conway-Walsh did learn was British prime ministers dont care a huge amount about what happens north of the Watford gap.

If you were to poll ordinary people in Britain, they would not see the sense in a British prime minister having a say in the North of Ireland, she says.

By the time she returned to Ireland in the late 90s, the Celtic Tiger had begun to purr. Politics was not on her radar, but a job with South West Mayo Development brought her into contact with Mayo County Council

The stark reality was there were 31 seats and there were three women and there were 16 auctioneers, she recalls. [I thought] this isnt right, this doesnt reflect society.

She took matters into her own hands, running unsuccessfully for the local authority in 2004. She saw Sinn Fein as her natural home as a party she says empowered people.

I didnt choose the easy road. Sinn Fein were on between 1pc and 3pc, so I really did have to have the courage of my convictions in that I really felt this was the right thing to do in terms of peace and reconciliation and empowerment, she says.

She was eventually elected to the council in 2009  the first ever female councillor in Belmullet. She ran unsuccessfully in the 2011 general election in Mayo, but was re-elected to the local authority in 2014.

Her decision to put her name forward for nomination to run for the European Parliament that year (she lost to Matt Carthy) is said by local sources to have positioned her well with the party nationally.

It gave her the exposure she needed, one person said.

In 2020, as Sinn Fein soared, Conway-Walsh was just 163 votes behind poll-topper Michael Ring in Fine Gael. Both were elected on the first count.

She rejects as nonsense the suggestion in many quarters she is a Shinner in Fine Gael clothes.

What does a Sinn Fein person look like? she asks. People who support Sinn Fein come from all stratas.

For most of her three years as a TD she has shadowed Simon Harris as a higher education spokesperson, but she swapped roles with Mairead Farrell in early April as part of a reshuffle by Mary Lou McDonald.

Most outside observers saw this as a demotion for Farrell and a promotion for Conway-Walsh, reflecting her growing stature in the party.

Housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin denies this, but pays tribute to the Mayo TD, saying: She is an incredibly smart woman. There is a depth to her intellect as well as her politics, which makes her quite a formidable politician.

Conway-Walsh is finishing a masters in economics at Trinity  where both her sons are studying  with her dissertation focused on the harmonisation of corporation tax across the island. Its too early yet, she says when asked about her findings.

Confident and self-assured throughout our interview, it is notable that Conway-Walsh is, perhaps understandably after just two months, less sure-footed when talking about her new brief.

She refers frequently to the notes in front of her. Im very focused on addressing the infrastructure deficit and the inability of government to deliver capital projects, she says.

Conway-Walsh talks of the creaking water and electricity networks and rails against outsourcing of major capital projects  the abdication of responsibility by government. Big capital investment projects should be rural proofed, she says.

Away from the soundbites, there is a very clear desire to bring more investment to her native west, noting the EUs regional competitiveness index puts the northern and western region in the bottom 7pc of all the regions in the EU in terms of infrastructure. That, she argues, is why we need positive discrimination to deliver projects in the west.

The Western Rail Corridor and improvements to the N17 and the R312 between Castlebar and Erris are all name-checked. You cant cycle everywhere, you need a system of roads as well, she says.

On housing, she has never objected to a development, but wont be drawn on whether she ever would. She also wont be drawn on what might feature in Sinn Feins pre-Budget submission later this year, instead using the opportunity to criticise Fine Gaels egotistical push for tax cuts.

And she downplays reports of a rift with Pearse Doherty last year over whether Ireland would go into recession.

Doherty is said to have argued it wouldnt, but it has (technically, at least) as Conway-Walsh correctly forecast. By the way, I think Pearse Doherty was born to be minister for finance, she adds, remaining stubbornly on message.

True to form, she also wont be drawn on whether she has any future ambitions to lead Sinn Fein.

Her focus is more on her deep-held desire to bring about a united Ireland. How quickly?

I wouldnt put a time limit on it, she says. I would certainly like to see one as soon as possible, but we need to be prepared as soon as possible.

I will die happy if we have a united Ireland, and thats what keeps me going  a united and free and independent Ireland.

We need to be in charge of our own affairs.
The thunderstorms are expected to bring frequent lightning, heavy downpours, gusty winds and the chance of hail.

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued (PA)

A Status Yellow thunderstorm warning is in place today for most of the country as heavy downpours look likely to continue.

All counties in Munster and Connacht have been issued with the warning by Met Eireann which also includes Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

The thunderstorms are expected to bring frequent lightning, heavy downpours, gusty winds and the chance of hail.

Localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions may occur as a result.

The warning is in place from 10am until tonight at 10pm.

These thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected today despite highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees.

Status Yellow #Thunderstorm warning issued



Areas: Connacht, Munster, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Kilkenny



Possible impacts:

Localised flooding

Difficult travelling conditions



Valid: Today 10am to 10pm



Infohttps://t.co/ZsjQsKCXDy pic.twitter.com/i9EnK9rFWX  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) June 18, 2023

Met Eireann has forecast a cloudy or misty morning that could turn thundery as storms move up from the southwest throughout the day.

Scattered showers will become more widespread into the afternoon and evening, bringing with them the potential for thunderstorms, hail and local flooding.

The warm weather continues, with highest temperatures reaching 18 to 22 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly breezes.

The UV Index for today will be moderate under cloud and high under clear skies.

Tonight, isolated showers will be followed by mist or fog with light, southwesterly breezes.

Thunderstorms are expected to die away.

The lowest temperatures tonight are expected to reach 10 to 14 degrees.

Met Eireann has forecast a warm but unsettled week with further thunderstorms bringing localised flooding in the first few days.
17 June 2023; Family member Coby Gallagher looks on as the athletes arrive for the World Special Olympic Games 2023 Opening Ceremony in the Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

17 June 2023; Minister of State at Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Thomas Byrne TD, joins Team Ireland athletes as they arrive into the stadium for the World Special Olympic Games 2023 Opening Ceremony in the Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Sisters Ailbhe and April Lennon, from Blackrock, at the Games as volunteers for the Healthy Athlete Hearing Programme during the World Special Olympic Games 2023 Opening Ceremony in the Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

17 June 2023; Team Ireland supporter Ailish O'Connor at the World Special Olympic Games 2023 Opening Ceremony in the Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver remembered the heroics of black American athlete Jesse Owens in the face of the brutal Nazi regime as he opened the World Games in Berlin late last night.

Owens phenomenal four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in the German city stole the spotlight from Adolf Hitler and his use of the competition as a propaganda tool for the Nazi aryan supremacy ideology.

Fast forward 87 years and an Olympic flame was making its way around Berlins Olympic Stadium again, but this time for all the right reasons.

It was for the most inclusive event of them all, as tens of thousands of supporters cheered on Special Olympians from across the globe as they made their way around the historic venue for the Opening Ceremony.

Shriver, the nephew of former US President John F Kennedy, pointed to the weight of history in stadium as he addressed the crowd.

The Irish supporters and volunteers at The Special Olympics 2023 in Berlin

Here in 1936, on this track, one of the most brutal regimes in history was confronted by one of the bravest and most courageous athletes in history, Jesse Owens, he said.

And there has not been an Olympic torch in this stadium in almost 90 years, until tonight.

You are the heirs of the torch of Berlin, you are the architects of the future of Berlin, of Germany and of the world.

Shriver also paid tribute to his mother, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the organisation.

My mother lived to see her Special Olympics movement rise up from the dust and the ashes and the walls of institutions and the walls of hatred and the walls of oppression all around the world and I only wish that my mother could be here tonight in Berlin to thank you for fulfilling her dream and for teaching the world how to see beautifully, he said.

And the Kennedy connection with the Irish remained as strong out on the track, as his sister Maria Shriver personally requested to walk out with Team Ireland.

The strong team of 73 athletes were roared on by a sea of green in the stands, clearly the largest and most colourful contingent of family and friends in Berlin.

A band of 15 from Tourmakeady in Co. Mayo were in full voice and decked out in green as they championed kayaker Breege Walsh (41), making her debut at the World Games.

Her brother Phil Walsh said the family couldnt be prouder and more excited to see Breege compete, but medal or no medal it was a success story.

Its funny, we were bringing her up to Dublin to fly out we just asked her what was she looking forward to the most and she says making new friends and thats what its all about really, Phil said.

Participation is key to the whole thing, it makes it the event it is, he added.

Also attending their first Games were sisters Ailbhe and April from Dublin, who were volunteering with healthy hearing, helping to fit hearing aids for all of the athletes that have hearing loss.

We had about 50 athletes today, fitting them with hearing aids, Ailbhe explained, two of which were Irish.

But they expect to be working with hundreds across the coming days.

Were thrilled to be here, its so exciting, she added2, as April said it was brilliant to be part of something thats making such a difference and bringing everything together, its just amazing.
People have been urged to check their tickets carefully and keep them safe.

A Lotto player in Donegal and another in Westmeath will split more than 13m after winning the jackpot prize last night.

Both players will receive 6,373,878 each.

People have been urged to check their tickets carefully and keep them safe.

The winning numbers of the draw were: 2, 3, 21, 43, 44, 46 and the bonus number was 7.

Two Lotto players in Dublin and Carlow matched five numbers in the draw plus the bonus.

They will each receive 61,202.

The Dublin winner bought their ticket in Supervalu, Ballally Shopping Centre and the Carlow winner purchased theirs at Circle K, Junction 5 in Rathcrogue.

"With so many big wins in Saturday nights Lotto draw, the National Lottery is urging players nationwide to check their tickets very carefully, a Lotto spokesperson said.

"The four big winners of the night from Westmeath, Donegal, Dublin and Carlow are advised to sign the back of their winning tickets and keep them safe.

"All winners should make contact with the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize.
The mother of a young man who died by suicide has made a formal complaint to gardai of alleged harassment by journalist and conspiracy theorist Gemma ODoherty.

Diego Gilsenan (18), from Cavan, died in August 2021.

His mother, Edel Campbell, recently lodged High Court proceedings against Ms ODoherty claiming her sons image was wrongly used by the journalist, as the publisher of The Irish Light newspaper.

In an edition of the anti-vax freesheet published last year, a photograph of Mr Gilsenan (18) was among 42 photos of young people on the front page who the conspiracy theorist states died suddenly.

Inside the publication, Ms ODoherty suggested the deaths of the teenagers and young adults whose photos she published were linked somehow to Covid vaccines.

The Sunday Independent understands that gardai based in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, took a formal criminal complaint from Ms Campbell on June 12.

Gardai are investigating the complaint by the bereaved mother, which accuses the former journalist of harassment.

In her High Court writ, Ms Campbell claims the ant-vax activist has been using the image of her son for her own purposes and agenda, and was reluctantly issuing court proceedings after all pleas have been ignored.

A statement issued by Mulholland Law, who are representing Ms Campbell, said: These proceedings have been reluctantly brought by the plaintiff, however, given the continuing conduct of Ms ODoherty as the publisher of The Irish Light newspaper our client felt she has no alternative.

The statement accuses Ms ODoherty of trying to sensationalise the unfortunate death of Diego Gilsenan with inflammatory rhetoric, unfounded conspiracies and the unauthorised and misappropriate use of our clients sons image is utterly shameful.

It was hoped by our client that a compassionate approach may have been adopted by Ms ODoherty and that she refrain from the exploitation of her sons image and tragedy for her own purposes and agenda, however this did not materialise, and all pleas have been ignored.

Given the absence of specific legislation at the moment from the Oireachtas dealing with grotesque publications, High Court proceedings have been issued. We believe our clients rights pursuant to Bunreacht na hEireann have been breached.

A friend of Ms Campbell, lobbyist and activist Kristofer Shekleton, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the bereaved mothers landmark action against Ms ODoherty. It has so far raised more than 21,000 following an outpouring of support from the general public.

In an interview with this newspaper last year, Ms Campbell spoke of her heartbreak after a family member told her how her son Diegos photo had been published on the front page of The Irish Light and that his death was now part of an anti-vax message by Ms ODoherty.

She has used my sons photo and all these other young peoples images without permission and tried to link their deaths to vaccines, she said.

It is disgusting. It has compounded our grief. I feel as though someone has put their hand inside my heart and pulled it out all over again.

An attempt was made to contact Ms ODoherty for comment.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has strongly rebuffed comments by President Michael D Higgins who has warned of Ireland abandoning of military neutrality and a foreign policy drift.

The row comes ahead of a new public forum on Irish foreign, defence and security policy which opens next Thursday.

The forum has been convened by Mr Martin who is also Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister.

The event will continue for four days, chaired by former head of Oxford University, Dr Louise Richardson, who will recommend future policy moves.

In an interview with the Business Post, Mr Higgins questioned the personnel assembled for the four-day forum. The crawl away from the self-esteem of our foreign policy bothers me, the President said.

President Higgins said Irelands foreign policy was one of positive neutrality.

Read more Michael D Higgins set for fresh Coalition row as he warns of drift towards Nato

He said it can be defined very simply as Irelands right to belong to any group that it chooses in relation to non-militaristic international policy.

If you interfere with that, theres no difference between you and Lithuania and Latvia, Mr Higgins in reference to both these countries which are members of the NATO western defence alliance.

Thats the fire that people are playing with, President Higgins told the newspaper.

The President also questioned how independent the invited guests at the four days of hearing will be, while he also noted that Dr Richardson was an establishment figure, as a Dame of the British Empire.

But in a highly unusual move the Tanaiste, Micheal Martin, hit back strongly via a statement which did not specifically cite President Higgins or his comments.

Mr Martin said following the Ukrainian invasion every country in Europe had to review security, defence and foreign policy  and Ireland was no exception.

Political leadership means taking on the responsibility of putting in place policies to keep this country and its people safe and secure, Mr Martin said.

Mr Martin insisted that the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy was a first such move by any Irish Government.

He said it would be open and fair with 900 people already signed up to attend, 80 participants, and total openness including livestreaming online.

The Government have made it clear that we do not intend to change Irelands policy of military neutrality, the Tanaiste insisted. But he added that Ireland cannot isolate itself and must face the challenges of the war in Ukraine.

The President was also strongly challenged by former Fine Gael foreign affairs minister, Charlie Flanagan. He said the President was challenging government policy and risking undermining European solidarity with Ukraine.

Mr Flanagan said he respected the office of President and had regard for President Higgins for whom he had canvassed in the 2018 presidential election.

Firstly, this appears to be an attempt by the President to clearly shape government policy. Secondly, there is a long-standing practice that the President does not challenge government policy, Mr Flanagan said.

The Laois-Offaly TD said no Irish political party wanted Ireland to join NATO. He said the Presidents comments risked undermining necessary European solidarity with Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, was Europes 9/11. War crimes are daily committed in Ukraine and we cannot be silent because defence issues are very important, Mr Flanagan said.

President Michael D Higgins has veered close to the line with his comments on neutrality according to junior minister Neale Richmond.

In an interview today, President Higgins said "the crawl away from the self-esteem of Irish foreign policy bothers him and he considers the country to be playing with fire.

The extensive interview about foreign policy has also been criticised by Minister of State Neale Richmond.

The junior minister told This Week in Politics on RTE One that he was a little bit disappointed when he first read it.

The Fine Gael TD said the comments came close to the line of what is constitutionally acceptable for the President but they did not cross it.

I recognise President Higgins comments, they are well-held  decades held  opinions, he said.

"He certainly goes close to the line, to be honest.

When asked whether the President crossed the line, Mr Richmond said: I dont think so, to be honest, but he went right up there.

He added: When I first read the reports this morning, I was a little bit disappointed but I have now come full circle.

"We want people to engage in this consultative forum starting this week, weve already seen 900 register. Weve already seen 300 submissions. So, lets have that debate.

Minister Richmond said people should feel heard in the discussion.

Micheal Martin: 'I shudder to think of the day when you'd ever be in authority'

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said he absolutely agrees with Presidents Higgins comments.

Theres a genuine fear that we are drifting towards NATO, he said. I think the make-up of some of these speakers that are taking part in this forum have a very pro-NATO bias.

He said Ireland cannot step away from Irelands tradition of positive neutrality and peacekeeping.

Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen, the deputy chair of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs and Defence committee, said the Presidents comments did not necessarily cross a line.

"President Higgins is a very popular President and he has shown many times to be in tune with the pulse of the nation, he told RTEs This Week.

Mr Cowen added that on matters of neutrality, the Government cannot be allowed to get ahead of the public.

He said the country is at a crossroads in relation to security and that Tanaiste Micheal Martins statement on the consultative forums was clear.

"We cant get ahead of the people on this issue, ultimately the people would have to be consulted if any change was to take place and I think the President is merely reminding people of that fact.

"Not that any of us need to be reminded  but some do  and I appreciate and accept that.

He added: He has recognised the issue as something he felt he needed to elaborate on. He has done that, the Tanaiste has responded on behalf of Government and I think the air is clear and we should move on.
Ellen Coyne: After Toy Show Musical fiasco, whod ever have the courage to back an RTE live show again?
A Cattaraugus County crash in which State Police said a brother "purposely" drove his pickup truck into the path of his sister's car has claimed a third life.

Troopers reported Sunday night that the sister, Dahlia J. Kink, 24, of Freedom, died from her injuries in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

Two passengers in her car, Havanah S. Lopez, 17, of Java, and Molly Kibler, 6, of Freedom, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred around noon Saturday on Freedom Road in the Town of Freedom.

Dahlia Klink and a 4-year-old passenger in her vehicle were airlifted by Mercy Flight with serious injuries, police said Saturday.

Troopers said an investigation showed that Evan R. Klink, 21, of Freedom, was westbound in a 2006 Dodge Ram truck when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with his sister Dahlia's 2005 Ford Focus.

State Police said Saturday that the Dodge purposely entered into the oncoming lane and lost control before the collision.

Evan Klink was treated for injuries, then transported to State Police Warsaw for an evaluation. His passenger, Cameron Klink, 19, of Freedom, was transported by Mercy Flight with serious injuries.
People of Ireland, have you no shame? Once again you have let down your politicians. Once again they offer you goodies, once again you tell them to stick the goodies where the sun dont shine  youd prefer if they went about constructing a society that works.
Sr. M. Davnet, baptised Sara Gertrude and known as Sally, was born in Derry in December 1937, but she was definitely a Donegal person at heart as her early childhood was in Culdaff on the Inishowen peninsula and she attended the local primary school in Gleneely. For her secondary education she went to the St. Louis Convent school in Monaghan, entering MMM soon after her Leaving Certificate exams.

After the period of initial religious formation, Sr. Davnet made first Profession of Vows in 1959 and was sent to study Laboratory Science in Dublin. At the same time, she worked in the Laboratory of the hospital in Drogheda, gaining valuable experience in her field.

In 1968, after obtaining her Fellowship, she was assigned to Chiulo, Angola. Here she was in charge of the Laboratory and also tutor. She trained students both for Chiulo and for other Angolan hospitals. These were difficult years in Angola with a protracted civil war and its aftermath. Sr. Davnet spent thirteen years in Angola, with only a short break of a year in Drogheda in the middle of this period. When she left in 1981 she knew she would be moving to another mission.

After a short up-dating course in Tropical Medicine, Sr. Davnet was assigned to Ethiopia. She started her work in the Laboratory in Latichi Clinic in Mekele but also worked the three Field Hospitals. Again, she was involved in training of students for these laboratories. This assignment was only for a year and then she was re-assigned to Uganda in 1986, which became her home for the next nearly 20 years. She enjoyed her laboratory work, the training of students and being in charge of the Regional Blood Bank. When the hospital was handed over, she stayed on in the Kitovu compound until her final return to Ireland in 2005.

In 2006 Sr. Davnet had the opportunity to visit her first love. She went to Angola for a six-month period to help set up a laboratory there. Back in Drogheda she settled well into life in the Motherhouse. She became Librarian and helped out with reception and phone duties. As her health declined, it was realised she needed more care and she transferred to Aras Mhuire Nursing home in August 2020 where she received wonderful care from the Staff and Sisters. She died peacefully in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on June 15th 2023.
Army personnel arrive at the school where the massacre took place. Photo: AP

Ugandan authorities recovered the bodies of 41 people, including 38 students, who were burned, shot or hacked to death after suspected rebels attacked a secondary school near the border with Congo, the local mayor said yesterday.
Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials said Sunday.
Lawyers and dissidents flee as critics of the president and his war face harsh sentences in Soviet-style show trials

Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason and denigrating the Russian military.

As a defence lawyer for high-profile critics of the Putin regime, Vadim Prokhorov is used to his clients meeting grim fates. One was murdered outside the walls of the Kremlin. Another sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticising the war in Ukraine.
Representational image from Unsplash

Agartala/IBNS: Tripura, renowned for its agricultural excellence, has joined the ranks of leading mango-producing states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Farmers across the state have embarked on commercial mango cultivation, reaping profitable benefits, as stated by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, reporetd Northeast Today.

During the Mango Diversity Exhibition held at Nagicherra's Horticulture Research Centre on the outskirts of the capital city, Minister Nath expressed his optimism about the future of mango cultivation.

He highlighted the mango tree's significance, often referred to as the 'Kalpa' tree, renowned for producing a delectable fruit cherished across Asia. Mangoes, India's national fruit and known as the "king of fruits," enjoy immense popularity.

"In Tripura, commercial cultivation of various mango varieties is already underway, particularly in Nagicherra, where we have 13 developed Indian varieties and 22 foreign varieties, including Miyazaki, Haribhanga (Yellow Banana, Japanese All Time), and Thai Himsagar," stated Minister Nath.

Minister Nath further explained, "India is renowned for its diverse mango varieties, such as the Alphonso from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, Kesar mango from Gujarat, Dasheri mango from Lucknow, and Kisan Bhog from West Bengal.

Different mango varieties possess unique tastes and aromas, with Alphonso standing out for its incomparable flavor, appearance, and fragrance. Additionally, mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C."

Minister Nath highlighted that India's mango production for the fiscal year 2022-23 reached approximately 21 million metric tons, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the most at around 23% of the total production.

In Tripura, varieties like Amrapali, Himsagar Ambika, and Arunika are cultivated across an area of 10,357 hectares, yielding an average of 5.09 metric tons per hectare.

The "Mango Variety Exhibition" was organized at the Horticulture and Research Centre in Nagicherra to showcase these remarkable varieties.

During the event, Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the launch of an initiative under the Chief Ministers Svanirbhar Parivar Yojana. It aims to distribute 1.5 million saplings of lemon, papaya, betel nut, banana, and mango to 100,000 families.

The government also plans to cultivate 2,000 hectares of land for palm oil, with an additional 1,300 hectares allocated for the cultivation of mangoes, jackfruit, oranges, pineapples, and bananas. Furthermore, coconut cultivation has expanded by 295 hectares.

Minister Nath added, "We will also focus on increasing the cultivation of our traditional fruits, such as jam, litchi, guava, and kul. Under the 'Urban Horticulture' scheme, the H&SC department plans to distribute 295,000 seedlings of coconut, mango, hybrid vegetables, and flowers among 20 urban local bodies (ULBs).

Tripura is self-sufficient in rice seed production, eliminating the need for external procurement. The current cost of rice seed stands at Rs 29."

The Mango Diversity Exhibition in Nagicherra witnessed the participation of Apoorba Roy, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, veteran journalist Shekhar Datta, Jayanta Bhattacharya, President of Agartala Press Club, senior journalist Sanjib Deb, and industrialist Ratan Debnath.

Minister Nath, accompanied by the journalists, also visited the Nagicherra agricultural and horticultural research centre.
Image: Unsplash

The Indian flag is currently waving outside the White House in the US ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country.

Talking about the Indian flag waving outside the White House, an Indian national residing in New Jersey, Jesal Nar, told ANI, Its really honour and pride to see the tricolour. I go across the United States for my work purpose carrying a tricolour.

But seeing the tricolour in front of the White House waving freely and benching marks the coming of our honourable prime minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC for the new generation, engines and everything. So it would be a great honour to see more technological advancement in India, he said.

Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit USA and Egypt from 20 to 25 June 2023.

At the invitation of Joseph Biden, President of USA and First Lady Jill Biden, Prime Minister will pay an Official State Visit to USA.

The visit will commence in New York, where Prime Minister will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The Prime Minister will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, the Prime Minister will address a Joint Sitting of the U.S. Congress on June 22.

On June 23, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by Kamala Harris, Vice President and Antony Bilnken, Secretary of State.

In addition to the official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.
Image Credit: Press Information Bureau

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday described the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 as "a dark period in the history of India" as he addressed the 102nd edition of his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat.

"Millions of people opposed the emergency with all their might. The supporters of democracy were tortured so much during that time that even today, the mind shudders," PM Modi said.

We can never forget June 25... I came across a new book on emergency which has many case studies and pictures of the time ... this will help people to understand the importance of democracy," he said.

Usually Mann Ki Baat is held on the last Sunday of every month. However, this time it was aired early as PM Modi is set to embark on a state visit to the United States from June 21 to 24.

Today, when we are celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we must remember such crimes that endanger the freedom of this country. This will make it easier for the younger generation to understand the significance and importance of democracy," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi opened the episode by shedding light on Cyclone Biparjoy and the trail of destruction it left in Kutch, and said, The courage and preparedness with which the people of Kutch fought such a dangerous cyclone is unprecedented.

"Once upon a time, after the devastating earthquake two decades ago, Kutch was said to never recover... Today the same district is one of the fastest developing districts in the country. I am confident that the people of Kutch will emerge swiftly from the devastation caused by Cyclone Byparjoy" he said.

Calling India's disaster management capacity an example to the world, PM Modi said,"No one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years is becoming an example today."

"Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked so much havoc in Kutch, but the people of Kutch faced it with full courage and preparedness" he added.

He said, "Be it the biggest goal, be it the toughest challenge, the collective force of the people of India, the collective power, solves every challenge."

He also spoke of water conservation efforts across the country and underlined that in the Hapur district in UP, people collectively revived an extinct river.

"These rivers, canals, lakes are not only water sources... life's myriad hues & emotions are also associated with them" he added.

Prime Minister Modi also touched upon the issues of natural calamities and said: "There is a significant way to combat natural calamities through conservation of nature.

"These days during monsoon, our responsibility in this direction increases manifold. That is why today the country is making collective efforts through campaigns like 'Catch the Rain'."

On International Yoga Day, the Prime Minister said, "This time too, people in every nook and corner of the world are eagerly waiting for the International Day of Yoga. This year the theme of Yoga Day is  Yoga For Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam i.e. Yoga for the welfare of all in the form of 'One World-One Family'."

"This time I will get the opportunity to participate in the Yoga Day programme to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. I see that even on social media, there is tremendous enthusiasm about Yoga Day," said he.
Image: Pixabay

Farrukhabad: Three children were run over by a train when they accidentally went on the railway track in Mohammadabad area of Farrukhabad district here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Sunday.

Police sources said that the marriage of Gulshan, a resident of Shalampur under Bhogaon police station in Mainpuri district, was being held in Jajpur Banjara village on Saturday night.

"During the function three children Vinit (16), his cousin brother Hari Om (13) and Ritik (12), who came to attend the marriage, somehow reached Farrukhabad-Delhi railway track around 1:30 am," they said.

Police sources said that while moving on the track the three children were run over by a special train between Izzat Nagar to Mainpuri. "The bodies of the children were spotted by some women after which the police were informed about the incident," they said.

Inspector of Mohammadabad police station Amar Pal Singh said that the bodies were handed over to the family members after they refused to get the post mortem examination conducted.

(With UNI inputs)
image: Pixabay

New Delhi: A student of School of Open Learning in Delhi University's South Campus was allegedly stabbed to death during an altercation, police said on Sunday.

According to the police, the victim, identified as Nikhil Chauhan (19), a student of BA (H) Political Science first year School of Open learning, and the accused came to the college to attend classes.

"At about 12:30 pm, the accused along with three associates met Nikhil outside the College gate and stabbed on his chest," a senior police official said.

He was declared dead by the Doctors in Charika Palika, police said.

"About seven days back, one of the SoL students in the College misbehaved with Nikhil's friend.

Today, the accused along with three associates met Nikhil outside the college gate and stabbed him," a senior police official said.

(With UNI inputs)
South Africa: Affected communities urged to take caution during heavy rainfall

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has called on communities to take extra precaution during the ongoing heavy rains.

Heavy rains coupled with a cold front have battered parts of the Western Cape over the past three days  leading to flooding.

People are advised to take precautions when crossing low-lying bridges. Advised not to engage in recreational activities near dams, streams, rivers, or other water systems. Avoid parking under trees as the tree branches may fall and damage cars. Make sure your windows are shut properly when driving. Driving slowly as road accidents are quite common during the winter season, which is why drivers need to practice extreme caution in this weather, the department said.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Provincial Government says the areas hardest hit by the flooding and heavy rain are Ceres and Citrusdal.

This led to the damage of infrastructure and the closure of access roads. Teams from the Western Cape Government including the Department of Infrastructure have been hard at work around the clock to restore and re-open the roads, while ensuring that they are safe for public usage.

The main road 310 (MR310) between Citrusdal and Ceres has been partially re-opened to traffic, but people are urged to be cautious and obey all instructions and road signage. It is accessible for passenger vehicles.

We urge the public to drive slowly and carefully as the road has dangerous areas. There are still potholes forming and this may create large holes and will be monitored. This does now however provide an entrance and exit route for Citrusdal, the provincial government said.

On Saturday, the Western Capes MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said a team has been deployed to the two areas to assist communities.

We have deployed three helicopters to Citrusdal together with specialised four-wheel drive vehicles and one command-and-control aircraft. Gift of the Givers has provided disaster relief materials such as food, water, blankets, and other necessities.

The team will also respond to any other requests for assistance during the operational period. As of [Saturday] morning, the helicopters have been unable to get airborne due to the poor weather but will attempt to reach Citrusdal as soon as it becomes possible, Bredell said.

He also called on residents to avoid crossing rivers and low lying areas.

Our large bridges on the main national and provincial roads have visible law enforcement present to guide motorists, but there are many smaller river crossings throughout the province that cannot be monitored.

For your own safety, please avoid all river crossings at this stage. Flash floods cannot currently be predicted and can become lethal in seconds if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, Bredell said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A New York State trooper was indicted earlier this month on charges of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a motorist in downtown Buffalo following a high-speed chase from the Southern Tier in February 2022.

It marked the seventh time the attorney generals office filed criminal charges against a law enforcement officer accused of causing a death since 2015.

Of the six other cases investigated by the AG where a grand jury returned an indictment, two have gone to trial  and in both cases ended with juries finding the officers not guilty.

Four other cases are still pending.

The case against Trooper Anthony Nigro IV shows how rare  and complicated  prosecuting a law enforcement officer can be.

In New York, the AGs office took control over some investigations of deaths believed to be caused by police officers in 2015. Then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order designating a special unit within the AGs office to conduct investigations of deaths of unarmed people caused by a law enforcement officer.

A criminal justice system doesnt work without trust, said Cuomo, according to a New York Times report. We will be the first state in the country to acknowledge the problem and say were going to create an independent prosecutor who does not have that kind of connection with the organized police departments.

In 2021, a new executive order permanently established the AGs Office of Special Investigations which required the office to review deaths caused by police officers. It also expanded the scope of the kinds of cases it would investigate, including those involving people who were armed and deaths of people while incarcerated. It includes both law enforcement and peace officers, on- and off-duty.

About 200 deaths are referred to the AGs Office of Special Investigations per year. The investigators first determine whether a law enforcement officer caused the death. If he or she did, a case is required to be opened.

In most of those cases, the AG has concluded that a crime cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But unlike in most investigations when the case is then simply dismissed, the AGs office has issued a report that detail the findings from the investigations. The reports explain the decision not to prosecute and also makes recommendations about what the law enforcement agency involved can do to prevent a future death.

The AGs office has produced such reports on three Buffalo deaths and one Lockport death. The AGs office recommendations led to the Buffalo police department equipping its patrol officers with body-worn cameras and less-lethal Tasers.

The AGs office has completed 55 investigations since 2015, in which the officers werent charged.

Grand juries indicted in seven cases, including Nigros. There has also been one more case involving an Albany County District Attorney who was indicted on misconduct and perjury charge related to the investigation involving the death of a man who was shot by Troy police. The jury acquitted the district attorney.

Generally, police cases are very difficult to prosecute, said Buffalo attorney John Elmore, a former state trooper and prosecutor. Its very difficult to get police officers to testify against other police officers. Its very difficult for jurors to convict police officers.

What often comes into play is the officers state of mind, Elmore said. Did an officer fear for his life? Did an officer, in his mind, see a weapon?

Thats begun to change, though, Elmore said, with the prevalence of video evidence  from the body-worn cameras of the officers themselves to cellphones of bystanders.

Youre not always relying on fellow police officers testimony, he said.

Policing expert Walter Katz said in addition to video, attitudes toward police have shifted too.

There is less deference being given to the version of events that is provided by the officer, he said. Its a bit of a philosophical shift.

Thats led to more members of law enforcement being charged with crimes.

But that does not necessarily translate to more convictions, said Katz, vice president of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropic organization, and a member of the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank.

Trooper is charged in a shooting on Feb. 12, 2022, that followed the report of a speeding driver on the Thruway in Brant.

Troopers chased the vehicle, which reportedly struck a state police vehicle on the Thruway before exiting the highway and eventually heading downtown.

The AGs office said Nigro fired his weapon during an interaction with the driver, later identified as James Huber, 38, of North East, Pa. Huber drove off, with his vehicle striking several fence posts before landing on its side on a ramp in an underground parking garage, authorities said. He was pronounced dead inside the vehicle.

Prosecutors are most willing to charge a police officer in cases where theres no doubt about intent, Katz said. The police beating death of Tyree Nichols in Memphis, which was caught in video, is an example of that. That was not a split-second decision. That was a long, drawn-out series of acts by a whole number of officers, Katz said.

But many fatal encounters with police are situations in which the officer is making a split-second decision. The legal standard is so high. It gives quite a bit of discretion to the officer as to what is objectively reasonable, Katz said.

Both Elmore and Katz said the reports that the AGs office releases about the investigations that dont result in criminal charges help the public understand their decisions  and build trust.

The more they do to explain their decision-making, its just going to generate more trust, even if people disagree with the individual decisions, Katz said.

Heres the status of the six other cases:

New York City Police Office Wayne Isaacs was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, the New York Times reported. Isaacs alleged that on July 4, 2016, Delrawn Small approached his vehicle while at a stoplight in Brooklyn and punched him through the drivers side window. Isaacs claims he fired his pistol in self-defense. Jose Nieves, the assigned attorney general, said that Small had gotten out of his car to confront Isaacs because he felt Isaacs had cut him off in traffic. A jury acquitted Isaacs.

State Trooper Christopher Baldner was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree reckless endangerment. Baldner was accused of using his police vehicle to ram a car of four passengers on the Thruway in 2020 during a high-speed chase. Baldner allegedly stopped the Goods family car for speeding and the driver drove off. While pursuing the car, Baldner rammed into the Goods vehicle twice. The impact of the second collision flipped the car over several times and ejected a passenger from the car, resulting in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. In February, an Ulster County Judge dismissed the murder charge. Other charges are pending.

New York City Police Officer Errick Allen was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and second-degree menacing. Allen was accused of shooting Christopher Curro, his longtime friend, while he was off-duty, with his service weapon in Long Island. Allen was terminated and the case is pending.

Elmira Police Officer Eduardo Oropallo was indicted on a charge of second-degree assault in connection to the death of Gary Stobridge in 2019. Storbridge was accused of resisting arrest and for attacking a local police officer at a hospital where he later died. Oropallo was found not guilty.

New York City Police Officer Yvonne Wu was indicted on two second-degree murder and attempted murder charges. Wu was accused of the attempted murder of her ex-girlfriend Jenny Li and murder of Lis new girlfriend Jamie Laing in October 2021. Wu remains in custody and was suspended without pay. The case is pending.

New York City Department of Correction Officer Dion Middleton was charged with second-degree murder and first- and second-degree manslaughter. Middleton is accused of shooting Raymond Chaluisant, who was a passenger in a vehicle, while off-duty, in July 2022. The case is pending.
Image credit: Videograb

New Delhi: The father of the minor wrestler, who earlier withdrew sexual harassment charges against the wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has firmly refuted Sakshi Maliks claim that she did so under pressure.

On Saturday, wrestler Sakshi Malik had asserted in a video message that the minor wrestler was under a lot of pressure to withdraw her allegations.

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and other top wrestlers of India are demanding removal and action against the WFI chief alleging sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including a minor.

Earlier, the Delhi Police recommended the cancellation of POCSO charges against him citing a lack of corroborative evidence.

In a video statement, Sakshi Malik said, "The minor wrestlers changed her statement because her family was threatened.

"The reason we did not open our mouths for so many days was due to lack of unity. We could not come together," Sakshi Malik said.

"When India's ace wrestlers opened their mouths against the harassment, you could see what they had to bear," she said, referring to the police action against the protesting wrestlers.

The wrestlers had previously called off their protest temporarily after the government assured them of action against the WFI chief.
Image Credit: Twitter video grab

Imphal: Manipur observed Uprising Unity Day on Sunday in a rather subdued manner, amid the ongoing ethnic violence since May 3, media reports said.

The day, which is aimed to promote unity among the people of Manipur, witnessed no fresh incidents of violence.

In contrast to previous years, the day was marked by a modest ceremony where floral tributes were paid to the 18 martyrs.

However, as anticipated, a large number of people attended the event.

Violence hit Manipur on May 3 following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts of the state. The march was organised to oppose the demand made by the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Uprising Unity Day is an annual observance held to honor and remember the 18 individuals who lost their lives during the June 18 agitation in 2001.

There was palpable tension as Manipur observed Uprising Unity Day on Sunday, with an underlying fear of violence that had disrupted the peace in the border state in recent times, reported India Today.

Tensions have been rising due to the discrimination allegedly faced by tribal communities in Manipur, as the benefits intended for them often end up benefiting the majority community instead.

The Meiteis, comprising approximately 53 percent of the population, primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while the tribal communitiesthe Nagas and the Kukislive in the hill districts.

The tribal agitation arises from their concerns about the potential encroachment on their ancestral lands as a result of government policies, despite opposition from the majority of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the state.

In a powerful show of unity, several women in various districts of Manipur came together on Saturday night to express their strong condemnation of the violence in the state.

Organised by the Meira Paibi group, Meitei women held fire torches and formed human chains on the streets of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Kakching districts.

During the gathering at Kongba, Thounaojam Kiran Devi, a leader of the Meira Paibi group, said they were deeply disappointed with both the central and state governments for their failure to control the violence and ensure the safety of the people, according to the India Today report.

The women also voiced their opposition to what they referred to as the "infiltration of illegal immigrants from Myanmar," stated the report.

They raised slogans demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

So far, over 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur.
Image credit: UNI

Khartoum/IBNS/UNI: At least 17 civilians, including five children and women, were killed on Saturday in an airstrike south of Sudan 's capital Khartoum, the country's health ministry said.

"Al-Yarmouk and Mayo areas, south of Khartoum, came under airstrikes ... with initial estimates showing 17 killed, including five children, women and elderly people, and 25 homes destroyed," the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook.

Eyewitnesses said areas south of Khartoum witnessed intensive bombardment by the Sudanese army's air force, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) responded with anti-aircraft guns.

In the meantime, the RSF announced that it shot down a Sudanese army MiG plane.

"The army's warplanes attacked a number of residential neighborhoods south of Khartoum, namely Mayo, Al-Yarmouk, and Mandela neighborhoods, killing and injuring dozens of people," the RSF said in a statement.

The Sudanese army has not yet commented on the RSF claim of shooting down an army military plane.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which has left 958 dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the latest update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union.


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Warsaw: Tens of thousands of people marched in Warsaw's Pride parade to demand equality for LGBT people ahead of Polish elections, media reports said.

Tens of thousands of people marched in Warsaw's Pride parade on Saturday to demand equality for LGBT people, BBC reported.

The country's right-wing government, which is seeking re-election, has focused on opposing what it calls "LGBT ideology" in previous campaigns.

But Warsaw's mayor vowed that the LGBTQ community would "always be safe".

"And I hope that you all will be safe in Poland," Rafal Trzaskowski, from the liberal opposition party, told crowds.

"We want to show that today diversity, minority rights mean Europe that is open, Europe that is tolerant," he said at a press conference before the march.

Same-sex relationships are not legally recognised in Poland, and the country already bans same-sex couples from adopting children.

There are also obstacles facing transgender people who seek to formalise their transition.

Poland's ruling conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) says that extending marriage and adoption to gay couples threatens traditional family structures and is harmful for children.

Activists expect that these issues will be used by the party to mobilise conservative voters in the predominantly Catholic country during this year's elections in October or November.

Joining the large crowds on the march was US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

"We will not let ourselves be influenced by those who want to extinguish women's rights, minority rights, LGBT rights, and today, I want to say to you that in Paris just as in Warsaw, we are also totally in solidarity and engaged with you for the rights of transgender people," Hidalgo said.

(With UNI Inputs)
Image : Antony Blinken Instagram page

Washington/Beijing: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently visiting China, on Sunday met Peoples Republic of China (PRC) State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing.

During the meeting, Blinken emphasized the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation.

"The Secretary raised a number of issues of concern, as well as opportunities to explore cooperation on shared transnational issues with the PRC where our interests align," the US State Department said in a statement.

"The Secretary made clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order," read the statement.

"The Secretary and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin also noted the importance of facilitating exchanges between the people of the United States and the PRC," read the statement.

The Secretary of State invited State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin to Washington to continue the discussions, and they agreed to schedule a reciprocal visit 'at a mutually suitable time'.

The American top leader is visiting China amid months of inflamed tensions between the worlds two largest economies.

This is the first visit by an American diplomat to China in almost five years.
In his December 2, 1823 address to the Congress, President James Monroe of Us articulated the US policy on the new political order developing in the rest of Americas and the role of Europe in western hemisphere. The statement known as the Monroe doctrine was little noted by the Great power of Europe, but it eventually gained momentum and became a longstanding tenet of the US foreign policy.

Fine art of america

The doctrine warns the European nations that the US would not tolerate further colonization in Africa and in Asia and also would not tolerate its puppet monarchs in the colonies. The doctrine stated that any interference by the European powers in the Americas would be considered as a hostile act against US.



The three main concepts of the doctrine were:

1. There should be separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe.

2. The doctrine mentions that the major powers of Europe could keep its current colonies but it could not colonize furthermore. So non-colonization was mentioned as a key concept.

3. The concept of non-interference in the issues of other countries by Europe was mentioned. There should be a clear break between the new world (America) and the autocratic realm of Europe.

The American government was torn between two decisions- objection of the European colonies in the new world and the desire to increase the US influence and trading ties throughout the region to their south. The European mercantilism posed the greatest threat to the economic expansion of the Americas. The Americans feared that Spain and France might assert colonialism again over the Latin American people who had just overthrown the European rule. The signs that Russia was expanding its presence southward frown Alaska towards the Oregon territory were also disconcerting to the US.

Wikipedia

By the mid-1800s, Monroes declaration combined with the ideas of Manifest Destiny provided precedent and support for the US expansion on the American continent.



A recent example of the Monroe doctrines relevance is in 1962 where the doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile-launching sits in Cuba.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE:

1. It established the US as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere signaling that it would take a leading role in shaping the politics and economy of the region.

2. It laid the groundwork for the US to become the global superpower it is today by establishing a framework for international relations that prioritized American interests.

3. It demonstrated a shift in the US foreign policy from alleged isolationism to engagement with the world.

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY TO MONROE DOCTRINE:

President Theodore Roosevelts assertive approach to Latin America and the Caribbean has often been characterized as the Big Stick diplomacy. The big stick diplomacy is a policy in which a country seeks to dominate over others economically, politically and socially. This signifies the power and the readiness to use military force if necessary.

Pixabay

The Monroe doctrine took an essentially passive outlook but the corollary signified a more confident Us who were willing to be the regional policeman.



The Roosevelt Corollary stated that the Us would intervene as a last resort to ensure that the other countries of the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations and did not violate the rights of the US. As the corollary was used in practice, the US increasingly used force to restore internal stability in the nations of the region.

Roosevelt declared that the Us might exercise international police power in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence. Over time, the corollary had little to do with the Western Hemisphere and Europe relations and more as a justification for the US interventions in Cuba, Nicaragua, etc.
At least 54 people died and 400 have been hospitalised due to severe heat in Ballia in the past two days, with officials saying on Friday that all the deceased were above the age of 60 and were suffering from other ailments which may have aggravated due to the heat, leading to their deaths.

Representational Image

Most of UP witnessing 40 degrees temperature

A severe heatwave has swept UP, with most places seeing temperatures north of 40 degrees. The sudden increase in deaths and patients being admitted to hospitals with fever, breathing trouble, and other issues have overwhelmed the hospital, which has put its staff on alert. 23 patients died on June 15, 20 the next day, and 11 yesterday, SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia, said.

Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the District Hospital Diwakar Singh told reporters that fans, coolers and air conditioners have been arranged in the hospital to prevent the risk of heat stroke for patients and staff. The number of doctors and paramedical staff has also been increased due to the influx of patients, he added.



Dr BP Tiwari, Additional Health Director, Azamgarh Circle, has said a team is coming from Lucknow to investigate if there's some disease which is not being detected. When it is too hot or cold, respiratory patients, diabetes patients, and blood pressure patients are at increased risk. The mercury rising a little may have led to their deaths, Dr Tiwari speculated.

BCCL

Heat stroke deaths in Bihar too

Meanwhile, around 12 people, including two jawans of the Special Armed Police (SAP), died of heat stroke at different places in Bihar in the last 24 hours as the mercury breached 45C in some places, health officials said.

While six people died in Bhojpur, two died in Rohtas and one each in Nalanda, Jamui, Gaya and Patna. However, officials of the disaster management department (DMD) said they were collecting details of deaths caused by heat stroke in the state and hence could not confirm an official figure.

The mercury in at least 11 districts surged past 44 degrees C with a severe heatwave on Saturday. Bihar's capital, Patna, recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degrees Celsius. Sheikhpura remained the hottest place at 45.1 degrees Celsius.

BCCL/Representational Image

Severe heat wave condition in the state

Patna Meteorological Centre declared severe heat wave condition in Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, West Champaran, Bhagalpur, Rohtas, East Champaran, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Banka, Nawada, Nalanda, Siwan and Samastipur.

Heatwave was declared at Muzaffarpur, Saran, Darbhanga and Saharsa. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heat wave is declared in plains when the maximum temperature is over 40 C. A severe heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is 6.4C above normal.
Today in History: June 19th is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are days 195 remaining until the end of the year.

There are several notable events that happened on June 19 throughout history, and that's why it's an important day in Indian and world history.

What Happened this Day in India History Events

If you're wondering to know about what happened today in History? Then you're in the right place. On this day, there are several notable events that have occurred throughout Indian and world history.

In this article, we have compiled a list of the important things that happened all around the world on June 19. Take a look:

Today in History: What Happened This Day in India History Events

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day - June 19

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed on June 19th each year to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD) and promote understanding and support for those affected by the condition. Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells, causing them to become rigid and crescent-shaped, resembling a sickle.

World Sauntering Day - June 19

World Sauntering Day is observed on June 19th each year. It is a lighthearted observance that encourages people to slow down, relax, and enjoy the simple pleasures of walking at a leisurely pace. The day serves as a reminder to take a break from the fast-paced, hectic nature of modern life and appreciate the world around us.

1966  The Shiv Sena is Established

On June 19th, 1966, the Shiv Sena was founded by Balasaheb Thackeray (also known as Bal Thackeray) in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena is a Hindu nationalist political organisation founded by Balasaheb Thackeray who was initially a cartoonist with an English daily. In 1960 Thackeray left the English newspaper and founded his own political weekly by the name of Marmik.

1981 - India successfully launched its geostationary satellite Apple

On June 19, the APPLE (Airline Passenger Payload Experiment) satellite was launched. It is Indias first three-axis stabilized experimental communication satellite. The APPLE Satellite used the ARIANE launcher. It is one of the most effective and important milestones in Indias space program. APPLY was designed and developed at the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) Satellite Center (ISAC) in Bangalore.

What Happened this Day in India History Events

What happened in World History on June 19

1865 - End of Slavery in Texas

Union General Gordon Granger declared that slaves are free in Texas. Present-day, this day is celebrated as the end of slavery across the United States.

1910 - Worlds Fathers Day

June 19, 1910, World Fathers Day was celebrated for the first time in Spokane, Washington.

1961 - Kuwait was declared independent from the United Kingdom

Kuwait became fully independent from the United Kingdom. It did exchange notes with the United Kingdom terminating the Anglo-Kuwaiti Treaty of 1899 and declared its independence.

1985 - Abolition of slavery announced in Texas on Juneteenth

In what is now known as Juneteenth, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrive in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War is over and slavery in the United States is abolished.

1905 - The first Nickelodeon opens

On June 19, 1905, some 450 people attended the opening day of the worlds first nickelodeon, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and developed by the showman Harry Davis.

1913 - South Africa implements the Natives Land Act

The law limited the areas of land that could be owned by black people to native reserve areas, which comprised less than 10 percent of the country's total area. It was in force until Apartheid was dismantled in the 1990s.

What Happened this Day in India History Events

Todays Highlight in History:

- In 1775, George Washington was commissioned by the Continental Congress as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

- In 1910, the first-ever Fathers Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington. (The idea for the observance is credited to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd.)

- In 1911, Pennsylvania became the first state to establish a motion picture censorship board.

- In 1917, during World War I, King George V ordered the British royal family to dispense with German titles and surnames; the family took the name Windsor.

- In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission was created; it replaced the Federal Radio Commission.

- In 1944, during World War II, the two-day Battle of the Philippine Sea began, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans over the Japanese.

- In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27, after surviving a lengthy filibuster.

- In 1975, former Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park, Illinois; the killing has never been solved.

Also on this day:

In addition to these historical events on June 19 events, there is also the birthday and death of several notable individuals that you must know about.

What Happened On This Day In History

Famous People's Birthday on June 19

1962 - Ashish Vidyarthi Birthday

Ashish Vidyarthi is an Indian film actor known for his versatile performances in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali cinema. He was born on June 19, 1962, in Delhi, India.

1970 - Rahul Gandhi's Birthday

Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician who comes from a prominent political family in India. He was born on June 19, 1970, in Delhi, India. He is the son of Rajiv Gandhi, who served as the Prime Minister of India, and Sonia Gandhi, who is a former president of the Indian National Congress (INC), one of the major political parties in India.

1985 - Kajal Aggarwal's Birthday

Kajal Aggarwal is an Indian actress who primarily works in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. She was born on June 19, 1985, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Kajal Aggarwal made her acting debut in the 2004 Bollywood film "Kyun! Ho Gaya Na..." but gained recognition and popularity with her performances in South Indian cinema. She has appeared in numerous Telugu and Tamil films and has established herself as one of the leading actresses in the industry.

Important Days in June 2023 India

June 2023 Important Days: Complete List June 2023 Important Days Important Events In May 1 June World Milk Day 1 June Global Day of Parents 2 June Telangana Formation Day 2 June International Sex Workers Day 3 June World Bicycle Day 4 June International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 5 June World Environment Day 7 June World Food Safety Day 8 June World Brain Tumor Day 8 June World Oceans Day 12 June World Day Against Child Labor 13 June International Albinism Awareness Day 14 June World Blood Donor Day 15 June World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15 June World Wind Day 16 June Guru Arjan Dev Martyrdom Day 17 June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 18 June International Picnic Day 18 June Autistic Pride Day 18 June Fathers Day (Third Sunday of June) 19 June World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 19 June World Sauntering Day

20 June World Refugee Day 21 June World Music Day 21 June International Yoga Day 23 June International Olympic Day 23 June International Widows Day 23 June United Nations Public Service Day 26 June International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 29 June National Statistics Day 30 June World Asteroid Day

Month-wise Important Days List 2023



Important Days and Dates List 2023 January February March April May June July August September October November December

This was all about the interesting and intriguing events that occurred on June 19! For more such informative content, keep following Indiatimes.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a 30-year-old woman identified as Abigail for stabbing a 12-year-old girl in Rumuodara in Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State on Saturday.

It was leant that the girl, simply identified as Oluebube, lives in the compound with the woman, who overreacted over a minor issue.

Narrating the incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the sister of the injured girl, Olucho, said the woman carried out the act because her sister mistakenly hit her with water at their corridor.

READ ALSO: 44-Year-Old Man Stabs Physically Challenged Girlfriend To Death In Kogi

She stated, My sister was washing plates outside. The woman (Abigail) went and fetched water.

Because our corridor is dark, the person inside can see somebody outside, but the person outside cannot see the person inside.

The woman stood there with her water, but she did not tell my sister not to come with the pot to avoid running into her.

So my sister, unknowingly, entered with the pot and ran into the woman, and both of them fell.

The woman now started beating my sister. Other neighbours started begging the woman that it was a mistake, but the woman refused.

Olucho said the woman had ordered her sister to sweep the spilled water, which she agreed.

So she went back to fetch another water, while my sister continued to wash the dishes and later took broom to sweep the water.

But as my sister was about sweeping the water out, then went inside and came out with a knife.which she used to stab my sister.

The head of the knife broke and the knife stayed in my sisters body.

She said the matter was immediately reported to the police, saying the woman entered her room and fled through the back door.

But some neighbours caught her and handed her over to the police. My sister is in the hospital now, she explained.

Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-koko confirmed the incident, saying doctors had removed the knife from the injured girls body.

She stated, The woman has been arrested and is in our custody. She will face the wrath of the law for her actions.

But we thank God the doctors have removed the knife from the body of the girl and she is responding to treatmemt and investigation is ongoing.
Princewill Chimezie Richards, a pro-Biafra agitation leader, has accused ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo of plotting to take over the oil pipeline security contract currently owned by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

The agitator also accused Dokubo, a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu, of speaking from both sides of his mouth.

Recall that after meeting with Tinubu, Dokubo had asserted while speaking to State House correspondents on Friday, that freeing Nnamdi Kanu would be equivalent to endorsing criminal behaviour.

While contending that Kanu should be held accountable to the law, Dokubo stated, that His release would fuel impunity; during EndSars, Nnamdi Kanu was walking free. What did he do? He poured petrol on the flames of EndSars. Now, he has been caught. What of the people who have died? This is a criminal. He should face the law.

READ ALSO: Dont Release Nnamdi Kanu, Asari Dokubo Tells Tinubu

But Richards, whose group operates mainly around the Gulf of Guinea, in a statement on Saturday., accused Asari of playing double standards.

According to him, Dokubo is trying to collect the pipeline contract given to Tompolo, his rival but a repentant militant leader.

His main mission to Aso Villa is to beg for contract, and very soon, Tompolos contract will be terminated. Lets see if he is Tinubus godfather, he said.

He added: I know him. He never stands on anything, was it not a few days ago he was shouting that Senate President should go to the South East as if its of any importance to the people of the region. Now he has changed mouth that the South East got what they deserved.

Richards also mocked Dokubo for saying Senator Godswill Akpabio could not be Senate President, but now he is Akpabios friend.
A Niagara Falls woman accused in the shotgun slaying of her boyfriend has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced.

Chevelle Sherrill, 44, entered her plea before Niagara County Court Judge John Ottaviano. Seaman said Ottaviano agreed to sentence Sherill to 20 years in state prison, plus five years of supervision when she is released. She will return to court for sentencing Aug. 17.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, has assured Nigerians that in the wake of the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol, by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, palliative measures will not be politically motivated.

Mohammed, who represents the North-East subregion in the Committee headed by Kebbi State Governor, Nasiru Idris, on palliative distribution, made the appeal in Bauchi on Saturday.

While expressing optimism that things will improve in the country in due time, he coveted understanding and cooperation from all Nigerians at the crucial period.

READ ALSO: NEC Sets Up Committee To Consider N702bn As Workers Palliative For Subsidy Removal

According to him, members of the committee, set up by the National Economic Council (NEC), remain committed to recommending fair modalities for the distribution of palliatives to all sectors affected by the subsidy removal, regardless of political party differences.

Both opposition and ruling governors understand that the move by the federal government is a step in the right direction and have assured that the process will not be politicized, Mohammed said

He furthered that the Committee would also recommend increasing workers salaries and procuring a large number of shuttle buses.

The governor however assured that the Committees report would be presented to the NEC within two weeks for further deliberations and subsequent ratification.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has slammed former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo for calling on the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The Igbo group urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore the likes of Dokubo and invite Kanu for a round table discussion.

INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that Dokubo, while speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Tinubu, branded the IPOB leader a criminal; and asked the president not to release the IPOB leader.

Dokubo said, His release would fuel impunity; during EndSars, Nnamdi Kanu was walking free. What did he do? He poured petrol on the flames of EndSars. Now, he has been caught. What of the people who have died? This is a criminal. He should face the law.

His statement has continued to draw the ire of Ndigbo, with many accusing him of reaching beyond his bounds.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he accused Dokubo of being sponsored by those who want to destabilise President Tinubus government.

Okwu said it was unthinkable that at a time many patriotic citizens of the country were thinking of ways to unite the country, Dokubo who postures as a son of the President was busy throwing up ideas that would further polarise the country.

READ MORE: Dokubo Visited Tinubu Because Hes Eyeing Tompolos Pipeline Contract  Biafra Agitator Alleges

We have always known Asari Dokubo as a rabble rouser who is not interested in the progress and prosperity of this nation.

This is a man who had been in the creeks for years sabotaging the countrys economy. We all know what it is to sabotage the economy of a country- what other crime could be more than this?

But curiously, the same man who claims to have repented, even when his boys are still in the creeks, has the temerity to brand Nnamdi Kanu a criminal.

When did Asari Dokubo become a court of competent jurisdiction to decide who is a criminal? He has only taken his hatred for Ndigbo too far, Okwu said.

The Igbo group urged President Tinubu to ignore Dokubo and his ilks who are not in any way interested in the positive future of the country but their selfish gains.

Mr President made it clear that he is ready to unite the fragmented country he inherited from the past administration and he has been so much applauded for this.

We urge Mr President to go ahead and not allow his administration to be derailed by hypocrites like Asari Dokubo who want to feed fat from any form of crisis in the country. Mr President should be wary of him and his sponsors who are enemies of the government.

The Federal Government should do well to invite and engage Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators. They are fighting for justice and marginalisation. If the government could engage members of Boko Haram who have killed and maimed millions of people, it should not find it hard engaging the agitators.

Mr President is one of those who vehemently fought in favour of democracy and justice in the past; he should give a listening ear to Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohanaeze, however, warned Dokubo to desist from any further attempt to use Nnamdi Kanus ordeal to promote his personal interests.

Enough is enough; we warn him to henceforth stop using Ndigbo as an avenue to promote his ego. Everyone knows he has personal issues with Nnamdi Kanu.
The Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has decried the shortage of qualified medical doctors in secondary and tertiary health institutions in the State.

The association in a communique issued at the end of its ordinary general meeting, also expressed displeasure over the delay in the payment of salaries of doctors in Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, and Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.

The communique jointly signed by Baoku Olusola and Emmanuel Kelvin, the associations chairman and secretary, read: We are dismayed by the human resource and manpower gaps in various health institutions at all levels in Kogi state; this is not a good omen for the health sector in the state.

READ ALSO: Resident Doctors Sign MoU With FG To End Warning Strike

We are urging the state government to recruit more qualified doctors to fill up available gaps in various health institutions in the state and ensure regular payments of salaries of doctors and other health workers in specialist hospital, Lokoja and Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.

We appeal to the governor of the state to approve and implement various welfare packages for doctors in the state, including but not limited to the new hazard allowance.

The association, however, commended Yahaya Bello, governor of the state, for investing in the provision of critical infrastructure in various health institutions in the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart Nigeria to attend the Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris, France, next week.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that this will be Tinubus first official trip overseas as Nigerian president since his May 29 inauguration.

READ MORE: Kwankwaso Meets Tinubu In France, Set To Join Cabinet

According to SaharaReporters, sources in the presidency revealed that Tinubus visit was also a strategy to see his team of medical doctors.

BAT is to attend the Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris, France, next week. This will be his first official trip outside Nigeria since his assumption of duty as President, one of the top sources disclosed on Saturday.

The trip is to check his health too. It is a strategy to go to hospital, another source noted.
Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday said the Biafra agitator directly assigned the task of getting an independent medical doctor that would attend to him.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Ejimakor made this known in a statement released on Saturday.

The lawyer was reacting to a publication by IPOBs chieftain, Chika Edoziem, claiming that he and two medical doctors are banned from visiting Kanu in detention.

Ejimakor disclosed that Kanu gave him the assignment as part of efforts to garner the urgent independent medical care he required, adding that he and Kanus family should be excluded from matters concerning his health.

He said: My attention has been drawn to a defamatory press release presently in active publication and circulation, signed and distributed by one Chika Edoziem, purporting to be leader of IPOB Department of State, stating that he has banned me from visiting my client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS where he is being detained extrajudicially and unconstitutionally.

Additionally, in the same press release, the said Chika Edoziem stated that he has banned me from taking independent doctors to the DSS to visit Mazi Nnamdi Nnamdi Kanu for the purpose of making an independent assessment of his present health care needs. In the same token, the said Chika Edoziem uttered warnings, grave threats, innuendoes, and false allegations against my person and the Kanu family.

First, let me make it crystal clear that, according to the court order on visitations with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, its Mazi Nnamdi Kanu alone that possesses the sole power and discretion to choose whoever he desires visitation from.

No other person can choose or impose visitors on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, not even the DSS, the Nigerian government, the courts, the IPOB, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanus Lawyers or relatives. Therefore, this Chika Edoziem and his ilk have no place in this matter of who is approved to visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, be it his lawyers, his doctors, or his relatives.

READ MORE: Dont Release Nnamdi Kanu, Asari Dokubo Tells Tinubu

Second, its also Mazi Nnamdi Kanu alone that has the power to invite a medical doctor of his personal choice to have a visitation with him. He had done it in the past in August 2022, to my knowledge, and even as the visitation was mysteriously blocked at the last minute, my efforts and follow-up with the doctor generated the very first and only independent medical opinion that is being used today by all his lawyers and others in advancing his cases and pressing for the urgent medical attention he required since the rendition.

For the avoidance of doubt, it was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who directly assigned this task to me as part of my complex brief as his Special Counsel and as part of the all-round efforts to garner the urgent independent medical care that he requires.

Theres nothing in this critical task that made it necessary that this matter of health which has been urgent and herculean must be exclusive to just one person and that my humble self and Mazi Nnamdi Kanus family should be excluded from matters concerning his health.

The special counsel stressed that the same publications suggested that Edoziem unwittingly admitted that he and his ilk were part of the grand conspiracy that had blocked the two doctors chosen by Kanu to visit him on 6th June 2023 just because he was the lawyer that had as part of my brief and Instructions prepared the Letter of Introduction the DSS had demanded for the visitation at the last and critical minute.

He added: This is shocking and ominous, to say the least, but leaving that aside for the moment, let me sound this note of warning: When you block independent Medical Doctors from visiting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu even when you knew that it was him that personally choose those Doctors and invited them, you must know that you are deliberately endangering his life. Think about it.

More so, it is pertinent to drum it home that it is inherently evil for anyone to use the life-and-death matter of Mazi Nnamdi Kanus health to settle phantom scores with his family or any of his lawyers.

So, going forward, any person who is still walking this dangerous path should be well-advised to cease, desist and pedal back. If you persist, the gutsy Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the whole world knows will soon stop you, because it is so wrong and he doesnt play with his health like you are doing at the moment.

Finally, the highly publicized and sensationalized statements by this Chika Edoziem and his ilk that my humble self, the Kanu family and the two Doctors that were blocked on 6th June constitute danger to the life, health and safety of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been noted in stone and will be dealt with at the forum and place of my choosing. In the meantime, I am dealing with the private threats issued against my person and family on account of such grave accusation.
Soaring ticket prices are lining the pockets of the worlds biggest airlines, providing a balm to the economic wounds suffered during the travel lockdowns of covid-19. But as the industry takes off, airports say they have been forgotten at the gate.

Flying will be far more expensive this summer, according to corporate travel manager American Express Global Business Travel, which analysed tens of thousands of client transactions on international flights to and from Asian destinations.

A typical New York to Hong Kong flight in economy class cost more than twice as much this year as in 2019, and almost a third more than last year.

Major carriers heading to this weeks annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association have enjoyed a quick recovery. Fares have been bolstered by tight capacity going into travels peak season and customers are eager to book, often upgrading to more expensive tickets.

British Airways owner IAG SA posted a surprise quarterly profit last month and raised its outlook for the full year. Dubais Emirates and Singapore Airlines reported record earnings, with Australias Qantas on course to follow suit.

Airlines have benefited unusually from the supply shortfall that boosts the price of tickets, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Denise Wong.

Airports struggle

Airports, meanwhile, continue to struggle, lacking the same flexibility to raise prices on fees and tariffs that are fixed, regulated or commercially negotiated. London Heathrow, the home base of BA, has warned of ongoing losses and is withholding dividend payments to its owners.

Dublin Airport is also wrestling with regulators and airlines on the increase in fees it can charge airlines. Kenny Jacobs, the chief executive of Dublin Airport's operator Daa, said recently that the only thing cheap in Dublin are the landing charges.

But low-cost powerhouse Ryanair, a major tenant, routinely threatens to leave Dublin over such costs. The discount carrier has also scaled back in Germany, saying high airport fees there make operations unsustainable at airports like Frankfurt.

Airports, on the other hand, say a divergence of fortunes is holding back investment after staff shortages and other snafus caused backups that ruined many travellers vacations last summer.

From terminal expansions to runway extensions, electrification and the installation of upgraded scanning devices, airports are continuing to pour resources into their facilities.

Jousting over landing fees

The frequent jousting over airport landing fees has intensified in the wake of the health crisis. Airlines received more direct financial support during the pandemic, and now have the freedom to quickly raise prices. IATA director general Willie Walsh has lobbied fiercely to prevent tariff increases from endangering their recovery.

Heathrow has sought backing from Britains Civil Aviation Authority to raise fees, saying any higher costs should not be borne by travellers but instead shared between the airlines and the airport.

Critics of higher fees, like Virgin Atlantic, have said such a move would only benefit the airports mainly foreign shareholders, and represent a bad deal for consumers and airlines.

The animosity between airports and airlines boiled over last year when Heathrow imposed a cap of 100,000 departing passengers a day through much of the summer schedule amid a lack of workers.

The move drew the wrath of airlines including Emirates, which flies about half a dozen Airbus A380s into the UK capital each day and said in July that Heathrow chose not to act, not to plan, not to invest.

There is always a bit of a tension between the two, which is typical between a supplier-customer relationship, said Mabel Kwan, a Singapore-based managing director at aviation consultancy Alton. Airlines are a very powerful customer and client from a negotiating standpoint, and fee increases are politically and socially sensitive, she said.

Airports also earn revenue from commercial rents, advertising and other items often dependent on volumes, which have varied across the global recovery.

In the background of the rift is a peak travel season just getting under way  in Asian countries such as China, international flights have recently reopened after tighter covid restrictions. Airlines, airports and ground-services providers have held meetings and turned on the hiring spigot to avoid the disruptions that took place in Europe and the US last year.

However it unfolds, travellers will be paying more. Economy and business-class passengers on the most in-demand corporate routes are seeing higher prices this year, Amex GBTs analysis showed.

We expect air fares to continue to rise this summer, said Jeremy Quek, principal global air practice consultant for Amex GBT.

The level of increases will moderate a little as airline capacity recovery continue to grow through the second half of 2023.
Financial services firms can play a key role in Irelands climate change goals, says Declan Bolger, CEO of Irish Life Group and new vice-chair of Financial Services Ireland.

Mr has been newly appointed to vice-chair with FSI, the Ibec group that represents the financial services sector in Ireland. He will work closely with FSI chair Joe Heneghan, CEO of Revolut Europe, and the rest of the team in pursuit of FSIs objectives.

FSI wants to ensure Ireland is the best place for financial services companies to achieve success for customers, clients, society and themselves.

Mr Bolger said: At FSI, we believe there are significant opportunities for the Irish financial services sector to grow further, as well as helping to address significant societal challenges like climate change.

Financial services firms will have a critical role to play in reducing carbon emissions, delivering financing for renewables projects, new infrastructure and much more besides.

Mr Bolger said that he looks forward to engaging with partners to ensure Ireland is a centre of excellence in all aspects of financial services, with a deep pool of talent that is attractive to all firms.

FSI director Patricia Callan said: Declan has made a fantastic contribution to FSI and we are delighted he is taking up this role. His knowledge and expertise across a wide range of areas, as encompassed by the scale and breadth of Irish Lifes offering, makes him an ideal fit. Declan also has extensive experience working in financial services in Germany, which provides a valuable perspective on how Ireland measures up with other jurisdictions.

Declans first engagement as vice chair was to host a meeting in Dublin between FSI and Jose Manuel Campa, chair of the European Banking Authority (EBA).

Mr Campa is also chair of the joint committee of the three European supervisory authorities (EBA, European Securities and Markets Authority, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority) which focuses on cross-industry issues like innovation, and sustainable finance.

FSIs meeting highlighted the importance of securing global convergence on sustainable finance reporting and disclosure requirements.

FSI believes a unified set of rules that apply across the globe will mean efforts to improve sustainability performance are more impactful, delivering greater benefits to society.

Established in 1984, FSIs 160 members are involved in banking, insurance, fund administration, investment management, corporate treasury, international financial services, aircraft leasing, securitisation and fintech.
The indictments are piling up for the owner of Pharaohs Gentlemens Club.

Peter Gerace Jr. now faces fresh charges that he defrauded the government of $2 million in Covid aid for the Cheektowaga strip club, in what is considered to be one of the largest Covid fraud cases in Western New York.

A federal grand jury indicted Gerace on four counts of wire fraud, adding to his drug- and sex-trafficking charges as well as witness tampering in previous indictments.

Geraces lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to the Covid fraud charges at his court proceeding Thursday.

Gerace has been behind bars since March, and given his upcoming August trial on the other felony charges, the Covid fraud charges would not be the focus of our attention until the other charges are resolved, defense attorney Eric Soehnlein told U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

According to the new indictment, Gerace tricked and misled the Small Business Administration into approving a loan and two loan modifications under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which provided emergency financial assistance to small businesses to help them meet expenses when they were shut down or curtailed in the early stages of the pandemic.

In the indictment, the government describes Pharaohs as a gentlemens club or strip club that offers live sexual performances to patrons in the form of exotic and nude dancing. The club employs the dancers as independent contractors or W-2 employees, and they charge patrons for private or semi-private lap dances. Dancers charge patrons a fixed rate per song and accept tips and they contribute a portion to the club.

Judge refuses to release strip club owner ahead of bribery, sex- and drug-trafficking trial U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. decided against reopening a detention hearing for Peter G. Gerace Jr. and will keep the Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club owner in pretrial custody.

The SBA loan applicants are required to certify, among other things, that the business does not present live performances of a prurient sexual nature.

Applicants must also certify they had not ever been convicted of any criminal offense. Gerace was convicted in 2005 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

On his initial application, Gerace falsely certified that Pharaohs did not present live performances of a sexual nature and that he had never been convicted of any criminal offense, according to the indictment.

The fraud allegations are being charged as wire fraud because his loan application was electronically submitted from Western New York via an internet portal to servers located outside the state.

On April 5, 2020, Gerace submitted the online loan application seeking $150,000  the first count of the indictment.

He was required to review and sign a loan authorization and agreement, which he did on June 12, 2020, the second count of the indictment.

The third and fourth counts of the indictment pertain to his amended loan agreements in August 2021 and December 2021, which respectively increased the loans to $500,000 and then $2 million.

The fraud counts carry a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rudroff said at the court proceeding.

Gerace has not always been locked up since a grand jury returned an indictment in February 2021 charging him with paying a bribe to a public official, maintaining a drug-involved premises, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

If convicted of the third and fourth counts, Gerace could be sentenced to an additional term in prison, up to 10 years, because he allegedly fraudulently amended his loan agreement while he had been released from custody after his February 2021 indictment, Rudroff said.

Strip club owner facing trial arrested on new charges of witness tampering Peter G. Gerace Jr., 55, was arrested Friday on new charges after he was accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a potential witness against him, according to federal court documents and his attorney.

Gerace was arrested and detained this past March after a grand jury found probable cause that he was responsible for threatening Facebook messages in 2019 to a potential witness against him.

Roemer set a Nov. 13 deadline for motions in the fraud case, with oral argument set for Jan. 10.

The Covid fraud charges do not come as a surprise.

When federal prosecutors sought to put Gerace in pretrial custody following the witness tampering indictment in March, they brought up during a court hearing that the U.S. Attorneys Office had just received a subpoena response from the SBA regarding Geraces Covid aid application.

Its clear from that application that the defendant made several material false statements that resulted ultimately in him acquiring $2 million from the Small Business Administration, based upon material misrepresentations that are in this application, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tripi said during the March 24 hearing.

As of July 2021, he was under federal indictment, Tripi said, and another question on the loan application amendment reads: Are you presently subject to an indictment?

And he says no, Tripi said. And when he went to extend the loan, there is questions: Has anything changed since the last time? So he should have said yes. I am now under federal indictment. He indicates no. And he gets the loan funded to the tune of $2 million.

Tripi said Rudroff, the U.S. Attorneys Office coordinator for Covid prosecutions, estimated that this is the third or fourth largest fraud of Covid ... in this district.

In a court filing in April, Soehnlein said Gerace has valid defenses to the Covid fraud allegations and demonstrated efforts to comply with the law.

Mr. Gerace, like many other business owners, was solicited by a private lender to apply for the loans, Soehnlein wrote. Working with his accountant and individuals at the lender, Mr. Gerace prepared the loan applications. He believed at the time that he filled out the application appropriately. He relied on the advice and guidance of individuals he trusted in that regard. Perhaps more importantly, the record shows Mr. Geraces business used the money appropriately and that he is repaying the loans  with interest  as contemplated by the program.
Be it Scotlands malts, or Kentucky bourbon, there are many who will travel to visit the homeland of their favourite brown spirit. Here in Ireland, we have a much-vaunted Irish whiskey renaissance; with that comes great opportunities for tourism, and one Kerry hotel group is embracing this spirit with a range of exclusive experiences.

The ODonoghue Ring Collection includes the Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa, the Killarney Avenue Hotel, the Killarney Towers Hotel, and the River Island Hotel along with Park Place Apartments, while their restaurants and bars include The Tan Yard, Cafe Du Parc and ODonoghue Public House, the latter being the venue for the start of their exclusive whiskey experience.

The pub was completely refurbished in the last couple of years and is styled as modern traditional, with cosy snugs ideal for our tutored whiskey tasting. After a brief history of Irish whiskey, we were guided through samples of Bushmills 10-year-old single malt, Redbreast 12-year-old, Teeling Single Grain, and Connemara 12-year-old peated single malt, which covers the main styles of whiskey made by the big three distilleries: Cooley, Midleton, and Bushmills. After an introduction to the classics, it was time to learn more about one of the newcomers to Irish whiskey, albeit a newcomer whose family has links to the spirits trade going back centuries.

Everyone who has been through the Irish education system knows of Daniel OConnell. The Liberator, as OConnell is known, was a thorn in the side of the British establishment as he fought for Catholic emancipation in the 1800s. The OConnell family had a long history of importing brandy and wines from the continent - often illegally.

The Liberator himself was no prude when it came to drinks - he counted the Powers family of Johns Lane Distillery among his closest friends, and also funded a brewery that his son operated, which produced OConnells Ale.

Maurice and Francesca O'Connell pictured outside Lakeview House in Fossa, Killarney, Co Kerry.

Maurice OConnell is a great great great grandnephew of Daniel OConnell, and Lakeview House in Fossa just outside Killarney has been the family home for 150 years.

Its hard not to be awed by the location as we arrived in our chauffeur-driven car, with unspoiled views of Lough Leane and the mountains behind it. OConnell then gives us a whistle-stop tour of several centuries of his family lineage in the drawing room - which his wife Francesca, a former investment banker - has dubbed the chamber of horrors. Huge portraits hang on the walls, all ageing oils and gilded frames, blank-faced velvet-clad members of the dearly departed stare down on us lowly mortals.

The story of Daniel OConnell is just one strand to the remarkable family history, and Maurice rattles through tales of defiance, derring-do, and large-scale illegal importation of spirits.

Daniel OConnell may have been known as the Wayward OConnell, but the family still managed to land themselves a baronetship, meaning Maurice OConnells full title is Sir Maurice James Donagh MacCarthy Patrick OConnell, 7th Baronet, hereditary Lord of the Manor of Ballycarbery Castle. Its a weighty title but one he wears lightly - he is an aristocrat with a small a, and the triumph of this whiskey experience is that he is witty, engaging company.

It also helps that he also has a warehouse full of excellent whiskeys out the back. The idea for a whiskey business came not just from his familys links with the spirits trade, but from when Maurice purchased a pub mirror advertising OConnell and OFlynn Galway Bay Irish Distillery. There was no such distillery - the brand was cooked up by a firm that created pub mirrors for Irish bars. But a seed was planted and in 2015 he started to focus on building a whiskey business. Initially, they had plans for a distillery - they had the barley grown on their farm, and the story, but the estate was not big enough to create a single-estate whiskey distillery. There would need to be more to the business.

There are two strands to Wayward Irish Spirits thus far - 300-year-old stone buildings to the rear of Lakeview have been converted into whiskey warehouses with space for blending and bottling. This is where The Liberator brand releases are born. Alongside this, Lakeview Estates own barley - grown in what they call the Hilly Field next to the house, a slight misnomer as it is only hilly relative to the fields to the rear which were used as an airstrip in the 1930s - has been harvested and distilled at John Teelings Great Northern Distillery. It was then casked and returned to Lakeview to mature. These releases will be specifically marketed as Lakeview whiskeys.

Rows of the Liberator Storehouse Special. one of O'Connell's whiskeys

OConnell is also buying in casks of new-make pot still and malt whiskey from a number of distilleries around Ireland.

After a tour of the warehouses, it was time to settle into OConnells study for a sampling. OConnell produced bottle after bottle of his various releases, and rounded it out with some experimental spirits in the form of a cask-aged gin and a vodka finished in casks that previously held peated whiskey.

The hours slipped by as we talked whiskey and he guided us through each offering. After that it was back to ODonoghues for a hearty meal and to the luxurious surrounds of the Plaza Hotel for a good nights sleep.

Killarney is a tourism hotspot and these whiskey experiences may not draw the bus tours, but they are not designed to.

These are intimate, personal experiences that will appeal to the Irish American market - with two distilleries opening in Fossa shortly, and one already operational in Scart, there is great potential to expand whiskey tourism in the region.

But what makes the ODonoghue Ring events special is access - it is Maurice OConnell opening his home alongside the many, many bottles of his excellent whiskeys which makes these experiences unique. They may not be for everyone - and are most definitely not for every pocket - but its not every day you get to sit in a historic home drinking whiskey with an Irish baronet for the afternoon.
President Michael D Higgins has hit out at the Governments Consultative Forum on International Security which will explore Irelands neutrality.

President Higgins has said that Ireland is "playing with fire" during a dangerous period of "drift" in foreign policy.

He has also warned about moving away from Ireland's traditional policy of "positive neutrality".

His comments come ahead of the Government's Consultative Forum on International Security, which meets this week to discuss neutrality and other issues.

In an interview with the Business Post, President Higgins highlighted the composition of the panels at the forum saying they include " the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it" as well as "the formerly neutral countries who are now joining NATO."

Constitutional law experts who spoke to the Irish Examiner said it generally would not be the case for the President to be speaking so critically of the Government in this regard.

So, what exactly is the Presidents remit? What are the limits of his powers? And why are his comments significant? Lets take a look.

The powers of the president

The President of Ireland performs mainly ceremonial duties but there are some elements where they have absolute discretion, as prescribed in the Constitution.

Once a bill passes all stages of the Oireachtas, the President will sign that bill into law.

They can refer a bill to the Supreme Court if they believe it may be unconstitutional and can refuse to dissolve the Dail when requested to do so by the Taoiseach.

They also formally appoint a Taoiseach once a Government has been formed, and also sign off on appointments for judges, the Attorney General and similar positions.

Experts have pointed to the long-sitting precedent whereby the President wouldnt publicly criticise the Government.

The limits and precedent

Within the constitution, it allows for the President to communicate in an address to the nation or address the Houses of Oireachtas on any matter of national or public importance. However, the Constitution says every such message or address must, however, have received the approval of the Government.

So that limits the President from speaking in some contexts unless permitted to do so by the Government.

However, experts have pointed to the long-sitting precedent whereby the President wouldnt publicly criticise the Government given the role they occupy.

David Kenny, associate professor of law at Trinity College Dublin, said President Higgins remarks on housing last year was one of the most significant interventions from a sitting president and "it's generally considered that the President wouldnt weigh in on matters of active political controversy or be seen to criticise Government policy and performance.

Dr Kenny said that the functions of the president requires a very significant degree of political independence in their exercise given they sign off on bills, and publicly weighing in on political matters could be seen to compromise this position.

Dr Sean O Conaill, law lecturer at UCC, meanwhile said that Mr Higgins predecessors such as Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese were adept at getting their points across in ways that didnt overstep the mark.

While the Presidents remarks this week didnt strictly break any rules, experts say, it may represent an overstepping of the mark and breaking with precedent.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said it would be a mistake for Ireland to shy away from re-examining its foreign policy after criticisms from President Michael D Higgins.

President Higgins has hit out at the Governments Consultative Forum on International Security which will explore Irelands neutrality.

President Higgins has said that Ireland is "playing with fire" during a dangerous period of "drift" in foreign policy.

He has also warned about moving away from Ireland's traditional policy of "positive neutrality".

His comments come ahead of the Government's Consultative Forum on International Security, which meets this week to discuss neutrality and other issues.

President Michael D Higgins warned about moving away from Ireland's policy of "positive neutrality". File Picture.

In an interview with the Business Post, President Higgins highlighted the composition of the panels at the forum saying they include " the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it" as well as "the formerly neutral countries who are now joining NATO."

In a statement, Mr Martin did not comment specifically on President Higgins remarks but said that if Ireland shied away from re-examining its foreign, security and defence policies, it would be a mistake to do so.

Since Russias brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which blatantly violated the UN Charter and international law and fundamentally altered the European security environment, every country in Europe has examined and re-examined its foreign, security and defence policies, the Tanaiste said.

Ireland is no different. To shy away from doing so  or to do so behind closed doors  would have been a fundamental mistake and an abrogation of responsibility.

He said it is a fundamental duty of government to address the challenging global situation as it is today.

Political leadership means taking on the responsibility of putting in place policies and practises to keep this country, and its people, safe and secure. In my view, it also means having an open, inclusive, evidence-based and public debate on these issues.

The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is the first time that any Irish Government has established such a debate, he added.

The Forum starts on Thursday in Cork, Galway on Friday and Dublin on Saturday and next Monday.

The Forum will discuss a range of issues relating to the global and European security environment and how Ireland's foreign, security and defence policy is responding to this new environment.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said hundreds of people have already registered to attend the events.

Mr Martin said almost 900 people have already registered to attend and we have received over 300 written submissions.

I encourage everyone who is interested to send us a submission with their views, to register to attend, or to watch online.

"All of the discussions will be livestreamed at gov.ie. I want as many people as possible to hear from the almost 80 different panellists, from a wide range of backgrounds and with a variety of expertise and experience, including in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, arms control and disarmament and conflict resolution internationally, as well as in the fields of cyber security, disinformation, maritime security and critical infrastructure. He said the Forum is not a binary discussion on neutrality and was never intended to be.

The Government have made clear that we do not intend to change Irelands policy of military neutrality.

We have also made clear that this policy does not inure us from dealing thoughtfully and responsibly with the global and European security environment that we find ourselves in, and the new and emerging threats that we face.

"Nor does it mean that we should isolate ourselves, or assume we have nothing to learn from, or contribute to, the wider debate about European security.
Vaping companies face paying thousands of euro every year to hold a licence in Ireland, under new laws being considered by the Government.

It is understood Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is examining setting a new annual licence fee of 500 per shop that sells e-cigarettes.

It would mean vaping retailers with a number of premises across the country will face paying thousands of euro every year.

Under the current system for tobacco retailers, a once-off registration, with a fee of 50, means that a retailer can sell tobacco products from any number of premises for any length of time.

However, there is no licence system in place to regulate shops selling vaping products, until the new legislation is enacted, which is anticipated to be in the autumn.

The Irish Examiner understands that under the new system an annual licence for each premises will be required. Mr Donnelly is looking at setting this fee at 500.

Licences will only be issued to owners that operate the premises for a minimum of 12 months, in a move which the Government hopes will clamp down on pop-up stalls.

This will see the sale of cigarettes and vapes at music festivals banned. The sale of tobacco products and vapes by self-service, including vending machines, will also be prohibited.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is 'looking at' setting the annual licence fee for each premises at 500. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Cabinet recently approved a bill that will ban the sale of vaping products to those aged under 18.

Advertisements for e-cigarettes near schools and on public transport will also be banned in an attempt to stop normalising vaping.

Vape Business Ireland (VBI) said it is broadly supportive of the introduction of a retail licensing system, proposed under the Bill.

However, a spokesperson said that once implemented, the process for obtaining a licence should be feasible and not unduly cumbersome for business owners to comply with.

Effectively enforced

VBI said that while the regulations which will now be in force to combat youth access to nicotine-inhaling products are well intentioned, we must nevertheless ensure that these are consistently and effectively enforced, so that vaping products are only made available to adult ex-smokers.

The spokesperson said VBI is hoping the money collected from the retail licensing system can be ring-fenced to provide more resources to HSE environment health officers.

We believe this measure will enable the HSE to be more effective at promptly removing non-compliant products from the market, they said.

The body said it is concerned that prohibiting retailers from applying for a licence to sell vaping products at temporary or movable premises is excessive in nature and fails to recognise the need for adult ex-smokers to have prompt access to harm-reduction products.

It added: At age-gated events, and in cases where retailers are otherwise in possession of the appropriate licence, VBI regrets that adult ex-smokers will now be unable to access a product which has enabled more than 200,000 people across Ireland to move away from smoking.
With industrial action, record scorching temperatures, and potential wildfires sweeping across Europe this summer, many holiday plans could be impacted, delayed, or worse  cancelled.

Irish Travel Agents Association president Paul Hackett urged holidaymakers to check the small print of their travel insurance policy, saying there may be notable exclusions.

Having been involved in the industry since 1990, Mr Hackett has worked through terrorism, ash clouds, and countless other monstrous global situations.

Some people think that because theyre travelling within the EU, they dont need to bother because we have reciprocal healthcare arrangements; that doesnt necessarily provide you with the cover you need if something crops up that forces a cancellation, he said.

Even then, the small print of policies should be scrutinised, as they are not blanket policies, he said, adding that industrial action is automatically excluded in some cases.

Mr Hackett advised those travelling through Dublin Airport to book car parking space in advance if they have no other way of making it there.

If youre going to go to Dublin Airport, dont arrive expecting to find a car parking space, he said.

Strikes

Just last week, French air traffic control (ATC) staff went on strike which resulted in 400 Ryanair flights across Europe being cancelled while countless more were delayed.

Some 40 flights to or from Ireland were cancelled as a result in one day alone and although no further French ATC strikes have been announced yet, staff were due to meet on Tuesday to discuss further action, the outcome of which is not yet known.

The day of action marked the 59th day of ATC strikes so far in 2023, over 11 times more than in the entirety of 2022, said Ryanair who submitted a petition of 1.1m fed up customers to the EU Commission calling for action.

Strikes are not limited to the French, with Italy set to see significant industrial action in June and July.

Baggage handlers at airports across the country are set to hold a 24-hour strike on June 20, disrupting check-ins and bag drops which could result in significant delays.

Separately, Italian ATC staff are to strike on July 15, which could cause cancellations and delays across most airports.

Meanwhile, public transport staff across Italy are planning to stage a 24-hour walkout on July 7.

Extreme weather

Strikes might be the least of travellers' worries as Europe may also fall victim to further extreme weather events, similar to last summer.

Last year was the second worst wildfire season in Europe and this year is following the same trajectory, with the EU sending nearly 450 firefighters from across the bloc to France, Portugal, and Greece as it braces for similar wildfires to those that devastated the continent in 2022.

Wildfires are also starting earlier than usual, according to the EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, while the European Commission is doubling its aerial firefighting fleet in a bid to tackle them.

Scorching temperatures last summer led to the Department of Foreign Affairs urging caution for those travelling to several popular destinations, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France, advising travellers to be prepared to change travel plans at short notice.

It is not just southern Europe that is contending with scorching temperatures and life-threatening wildfires, but the north of the continent too with wildfire warnings in effect from Scotland to the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Little to no rain and rising temperatures have led to dangerously dry conditions with warnings in place as small wildfires are already burning in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Scotland.

Your rights

Regardless of whether travel plans are impacted by strikes or weather, holidaymakers have significant rights under EU law if their flights are impacted.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you will have options which could include compensation in addition to a refund or rerouting.

In the case of a cancelled flight, you are entitled to a choice of either a full refund or a rerouting. This includes rerouting as close as possible to the original departure time or rerouting at a later date.

If you choose to be rerouted, the airline must provide you with care and assistance such as accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary and meals and refreshments as well as transport to and from accommodation.

Compensation may be claimed in the case of delayed or cancelled flights but with some specific circumstances.

If the airline can prove that the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided such as weather events or air traffic control restrictions, no compensation is payable.

Compensation can range from 125 to 600 depending on the type of flight or the delay as a result of rerouting.

For example, a cancelled flight under 1,500km with a reroute resulting in a delay of more than two hours can result in compensation of 250 from the airline, which can be applied for using an airlines form online.
A soft robotic device that moves through the body like a worm could make bowel cancer screening much more comfortable by reducing pain and and discomfort, according to the scientists developing it.

Researchers at Imperial College London said they have created a new type endoscope that is soft, flexible, and capable of extending and curling on its own inside the body.

Thousands of colonoscopies  which involves an endoscope being passed through the bottom  are performed every year, the majority of which are for screenings for bowel cancer.

The procedure is invasive and more than 75% of patients develop significant pain, according to Nisha Patel, a consultant gastroenterologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, who is running clinical trials with the device.

She said: We know patients experience either discomfort or pain during the procedure and this affects uptake of further procedures and patient experience.

There are reasons why people can be in pain  for example, if patients have had abdominal pelvic surgery and there is scarring inside, if they are older, or if they have certain diseases of the bowel, it can make colonoscopy painful.

The robotic endoscope can self propel through the body (Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena/Imperial College London)

An endoscope is a long, thin tube with a camera at the end that is inserted into the body to check for certain diseases.

Ms Patel said compared to the robotic prototype, endoscopes currently used in clinical settings are relatively rigid.

She said: You are essentially looking at a garden hose pipe versus an octopus limb.

It (the robotic endoscope) is very soft, very pliable, and able to curl around corners.

Ms Patel said patients are often put off by the procedure because they are worried about the soreness it may cause.

She added: We often get people turning up shaking they just say Im not having it done.

Bowel cancer is treatable if diagnosed early.

Along with a camera, the robotic endoscope also comes with a probe that can sample and analyse tissue as well as a small surgical laser which can remove tumours, making it a one-stop device to find and treat cancer at its early stages, according to the researchers.

Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, professor of medical robotics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London  who led the team that developed the prototype, said: Different from conventional endoscopes, our system will not require push from the back, which is the main cause of patient discomfort during colonoscopies.

The experts are also hoping that compared to current endoscopes, which requires specialist skills, their self-propelling robotic version will be easier to use and could, in future, be deployed in GP surgeries or outpatient clinics.

Ms Patel said: In the development phase and early trials, a specialist would use this device.

However, potentially its use could be in primary care as a comfortable procedure to perform outside a hospital setting which is also safe and effective.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool exploding US-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

He started his mission by meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for an extended discussion on Sunday, to be followed by a working dinner.

He will have additional talks with Mr Qin, as well as Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping, on Monday.

Neither Mr Blinken nor Mr Qin made any substantive comments to reporters as they began the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Mr Blinken is welcomed to Beijing by foreign ministry official Yang Tao, centre, and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Despite Mr Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital, the prospect of any significant breakthrough is slim, as already strained ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years.

Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

Mr Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi agreed to Mr Blinkens trip at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the US says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across America which was shot down.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Blinken will also be pressing the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fuelling the opioid crisis in the United States.

US officials have said Mr Blinken will raise each of these points, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his mission by holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Shortly before leaving, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can co-operate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi told Mr Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Mr Biden told White House reporters on Saturday he hoped that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how  to get along.

Chances for such a meeting could come at a Group of 20 leaders gathering in New Delhi in September and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in San Francisco in November.

Since the cancellation of Mr Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements.

Mr Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister visited the US, and Mr Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met Mr Wang in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defence minister rebuffed a request from US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Mr Austin said on Friday that he is confident he and his Chinese counterpart will meet at some point in time, but were not there yet.

Underlining the difficulties, China rejected a report by a US security firm, which blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained that the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Mr Qin had in a phone call with Mr Blinken urged the US to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Mr Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the US, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks on Friday and agreed to strengthen their defence co-operation, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration signing an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym Aukus (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Speaking ahead of Mr Blinkens arrival, two US officials played down hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip is intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said: Intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.
Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials have said.

Russian losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, UK military officials said in their latest assessment.

According to British intelligence, the most intense fighting has centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut, and further west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province.

While the update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in these areas and had made small advances, it said that Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in Ukraines south.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update on Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours, Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

According to the statement by the General Staff, Russia continued to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing attacks around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in the countrys Donetsk province, with 26 combat clashes taking place.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two civilians had been killed, with a further three wounded in the past day.

The most intense fighting is said to have centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut (Libkos/AP)

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had also launched airstrikes on other regions of the east and south of the country.

One civilian was killed and four more wounded in Kherson province as a result of Russias attacks, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

While Zaporizhzhia regional governor Yurii Malashko said one person had been wounded in Russian attacks that had hit 20 settlements in the province.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky on the Zaporizhzhia battlefront.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in the southwestern Odesa province, said Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in nearby Kherson province.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, was among a delegation of African leaders to meet with Russia president Vladimir Putin in recent days (Evgeny Biyatov/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning, Mr Bratchuk said in a video message on Sunday morning, posted to his Telegram channel.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraines counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 600-mile (1,000km) front line could last a long time.

A group of African leaders have carried out a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia in recent days to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war, but the visit ended on Saturday with no immediate signs of progress.

Meanwhile, the death toll from flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam had risen to 16 in Ukrainian-held territory, Ukraines interior ministry said on Saturday, while Russian officials said 29 people had died in territories controlled by Moscow.

Massive flooding from the destruction of the dam on June 6 devastated towns along the lower Dnieper River in the Kherson region, a front line in the war. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of causing the breach.
A Ugandan border town where an attack on a school by suspected extremist rebels left 42 dead was preparing to bury its victims on Sunday.

One of eight people wounded in Friday nights attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School  located just over a mile from the Congo border  had died overnight, Mpondwe-Lhubiriha mayor Selevest Mapoze said.

Security forces were said to be stepping up patrols along the frontier with volatile eastern Congo.

Relatives travel in the back of a truck with the coffins of villagers who were killed in the attack (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

Most of the relatives have come to take their bodies from the morgue, he said.

Some students were burned beyond recognition, and others were shot or hacked to death, after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked the school, which is coeducational and privately owned.

Ugandan authorities believe at least six students were abducted, taken as porters back to Congo.

In addition to the 38 students who were killed, the victims included a school guard and three civilians.

Lhubiriha Secondary School was attacked on Friday night (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a statement, urging the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between (Congo) and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area.

The atmosphere in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha was tense but calm on Sunday, as Ugandan security forces roamed the streets outside and near the school, which was protected by a police cordon.

Ugandan security forces have not given a detailed account of how the rebels, active in eastern Congo, were able to carry out the attack.

The group, known as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, rarely claims responsibility for attacks. It has established ties with the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.

Relatives wait to collect the bodies of victims of the attack (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

In a statement released on Sunday, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni described the attack as criminal, desperate, terrorist and futile, vowing to deploy more troops on the Ugandan side of the border.

The ADF has been accused of launching many attacks targeting civilians in remote parts of eastern Congo in recent years, including one in March in which 19 people were killed.

The ADF has long opposed the rule of Ugandan president Mr Museveni, a US security ally who has held power in the East African country since 1986.

The group was established in the early 1990s by some Ugandan Muslims, who said they had been sidelined by Mr Musevenis policies.

Plainclothes security forces and civilians stand outside the entrance to the school (Hajarah Nalwadda/AP)

At the time, the rebels staged deadly attacks in Ugandan villages as well as in the capital, including a 1998 attack in which 80 students were massacred in a town not far from Fridays raid.

Students have been attacked because schools are considered soft targets, pupils are sometimes recruited into rebels ranks or used to carry food and supplies for insurgents, and such raids provide media coverage coveted by extremists.

The raid appears to have taken Ugandan authorities by surprise, with first responders arriving after the attackers had left.

Some villagers have moved away from the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha community temporarily, fearing more attacks, Mr Mapoze said.
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared a national day of mourning for citizens who died when the fishing trawler packed with migrants they were in sank off the coast of Greece.

Up to 750 men, women and children from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe.

The Greek coastguard has defended its response to the tragedy that left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank on Wednesday.

Survivors arrive by yacht into the port at Kalamata(www.argolikeseidhseis.gr via AP)

Mr Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said Monday would be observed as a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-mast.

He previously said that Pakistans embassy in Athens had identified 12 nationals who were rescued by the coastguard. There was no official information on how many Pakistanis were onboard the vessel, how many survived or how many perished.

Greek authorities have been criticised for their failure to act more quickly. They said the migrants insisted they did not need any help, but non-governmental organisations said they received a number of calls for help.

Survivors at a warehouse in the port at Kalamata (www.argolikeseidhseis.gr via AP)

The sinking was one of the worst disasters of its kind this year.

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said on Sunday that they had arrested 12 people involved in sending local youths to Libya for the onward journey to Europe.

Senior officer Khalid Chauhan said police had picked up the suspects in a crackdown on human traffickers.

Up to 750 men, women and children were onboard the vessel (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)

Police were interrogating them for their alleged roles in luring, trapping and sending locals abroad after extracting huge amounts of money from them.

Around 28 people from the Koi Ratta area in the district of Kotli had gone to Libya for onward travel to Europe, police said.

Local official Chaudhry Haq Nawaz said there was still no confirmation on how many young men from the area were onboard the ill-fated boat, or how many were among the dead or missing.

A Greek coastguard vessel docked at the port in Kalamata town (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)

He said efforts were under way to collect relatives DNA and the test results would be sent to Greece to help identify victims.

People have been offering their support to relatives of those presumed to have been on the boat.

Raja Sakundar, of Bindian village in Kotli, said his four nephews aged 18 to 36 remained missing.

We were informed by the media (of the tragedy). When children are not found or die, you can understand what a parent goes through, he said.

Raja Sakundar, right, holds up a picture of his missing nephew on his phone (AP)

Raja Muhammad Majeed asked the Pakistani government to bring back his nephew, Raja Awais.

If he is dead, bring back (the) body, he said.

When we bury him here, his mother, sisters and others can go to his grave and offer prayers. We will be patient.
A Westfield man who pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt announced.

Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley also ordered five years of post-release supervision for Shawn R. Conway, 45. He entered a guilty plea April 17 to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Conway was arrested April 13, 2022, along with three other people when the Southern Tier Regional Task Force and other agencies executed a search warrant on a house on John Street in Brocton. The raid followed a months-long investigation into drug sales in the Brocton and Westfield areas.

Conway, who had left the premises prior to the raid, was stopped by sheriffs deputies for driving with a suspended license. He was found in possession of crack cocaine and fentanyl packaged for sale.

 Dale Anderson
The United States and China have failed to overcome their most serious disagreements but were able to discuss them in a potentially constructive way and have agreed to continue talks, US officials have said.

The officials said US secretary of state Antony Blinken was able, during a nearly six-hour meeting, to secure a visit to Washington by Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. But they said progress on other issues remained a work in progress.

Mr Blinken, the highest-level American official to visit China since US president Joe Biden took office, will have more senior level contacts with Chinese counterparts on Monday, including potentially with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

Despite Mr Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital and the relatively upbeat assessment of Sundays meeting, the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies remain slim.

Mr Blinkens trip follows his postponement of plans to visit China in February after the shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US.

His talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Mr Biden and Mr Xi.

Mr Blinken is welcomed to Beijing by foreign ministry official Yang Tao, centre, and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

He finished the first of two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

Mr Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that were fuelling the opioid crisis in the US.

Mr Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

US officials said Mr Blinken posed each of these points, though neither side had shown any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

The US wanted to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Mr Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing (Leah Millis/Pool/AP)

Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Mr Blinken said on Friday.

Mr Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China could co-operate to benefit our two countries.

I believe that the foundation of Sino/US relations lies in the people, Mr Xi said to Mr Gates.

Today, I met with Peoples Republic of China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing and discussed how we can responsibly manage the relationship between our two countries through open channels of communication. pic.twitter.com/dPkd0aWQ5J  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 18, 2023

Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Since the cancellation of Mr Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns travelled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister travelled to the US. And Mr Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Mr Wang in Vienna in May.

But these have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing was attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.
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.
A little over three years ago, an East Aurora woman spent three months in Malyn, a small city in Ukraine, as part of the Peace Corps.

Teya Lucyshyn lived with a family there  two parents and their two sons. She worked in a school and a youth center and enjoyed her time in the city, which she found quaint and extremely peaceful.

It breaks her heart to know how that has all been shattered since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

On the other side of the world from the fighting, service clubs in Lucyshyns hometown  the Village of East Aurora  are hoping to help.

The World Bank recently estimated the cost to rebuild Ukraine at $411 billion, according to the Associated Press. Service clubs in East Aurora know they could never raise a sum like that. Instead, they have a goal of raising $100,000 for Malyn.

We cant just let this war go on and sit around, Douglas Marky, chairman of the Aurora Starfish Fund said.

The Aurora Starfish Fund was organized by East Aurora Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and other service clubs within East Aurora. The fund has so far raised $75,000, Marky said.

Money has been raised through sponsorships and the sale of raffle tickets.

Rather than wait for the war to end to begin fundraising for rebuilding efforts, we thought it best to start now, so that we will be ready to help when Ukraine pushes Russia back from its borders, the Aurora Starfish Fund Committee posted on the fundraisers website.

They chose Malyn because of Lucyshyns connection.

Their strength and resilience are incredible, but its incredible because every person there is putting in everything they can to help their community, not to help themselves, Lucyshyn said.

On May 20, the city came under Russian missile attack. Missiles targeting a railway in the area damaged about 100 houses.

It was not the first time.

The entire town square of the city  including a church, a youth center and cafes  had been destroyed by previous missile attacks, Lucyshyn said.

Her two host siblings from her time at the Peace Corps are now fighting in the war, while their father is recovering from a head injury, a concussion and hearing loss after an incident in the war.

Lucyshyn believes that the money that has been raised will make a big difference in Malyn, which doesnt get as much media attention as other large Ukrainian cities. She also thinks other money for rebuilding efforts will prioritize the bigger cities in Ukraine first.

The name for the Starfish Fund was inspired by the Making a Difference parable by Loren Eisley. A boy is picking up starfish stranded on the beach by the tide and throwing them back into the ocean when a man walks by and points to the length of the shoreline and number of starfish stuck on shore. Dont you realize that you cant make a difference? the man says. The boy then picks up another dried-out fish and throws it back into the ocean, saying, I made a difference for that one.

Its a really big privilege for us to be able to put such atrocities out of our mind, and its a privilege that weve taken for granted for a long time in the U.S., Lucyshyn said. And theres nothing that people in Ukraine can do to stop their suffering or take a break from the pain.

There are some uncertainties with how and when the money will get to Malyn or how to ensure that it helps. The committee just wants to help to the best of its ability, Marky said. He is confident that Lucyshyn will be able to help get the money to Malyn with her connections there.

Lucyshyn is planning a trip to the city in May to volunteer and help with rebuilding efforts alongside her host family.

To know that theres people all the way in the U.S. caring about you as a small-town person in Malyn would mean the world to them, Lucyshyn said.
A veteran Kenmore East High School social studies teacher suspected by district administrators of using controlled substances on school property has agreed to retire, according to his separation agreement.

Joseph Iacuzzo  who received a second chance following his arrest on a marijuana charge 22 years ago  offered to resign after Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District officials informed him they were preparing to bring disciplinary action against him, according to the document obtained by The Buffalo News through a Freedom of Information Law request.

The agreement said district officials acted after hearing concerning reports that Iacuzzo has possessed, used and/or distributed the unidentified substances on school grounds.

Iacuzzo also was accused by administrators of insubordination and inappropriate absences from work.

He and Kenmore Teachers Association President Jeff Orlowski signed the document, which provides Iacuzzo some health care-related benefits, on May 8.

Superintendent Sabatino Cimato signed it the next day, following its approval by the Ken-Ton School Board.

Iacuzzo could not be reached for comment. Orlowski did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Its not clear whether the district reported its suspicions to Town of Tonawanda police nor whether the department conducted an investigation. The district said it works with police any time we are made aware of potentially criminal misconduct but would not comment on this specific case.

Town police did not respond to a message Friday seeking additional information. Tonawanda Town Court has no record that Iacuzzo has been charged with any drug-related crimes.

District officials declined to elaborate on the allegations cited in the separation agreement, including identifying the controlled substances, citing the documents confidentiality provisions.

That being said, the Ken-Ton School District takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously, the district said Friday in a statement to The News. The safety of our students is always our highest priority and we have zero tolerance for any misconduct that would jeopardize the safety of the learning environment.

Iacuzzo earned $99,868 last year, according to SeeThroughNY public payroll records, and had worked in the district since 1993.

He almost lost his job eight years into his tenure at Kenmore East.

Iacuzzo and a companion were arrested on April 30, 2001, in the City of Tonawanda, The Buffalo News reported at the time.

When city police officers approached the men in a parked car on Niagara Street, they noticed a strong smell of marijuana and found two pipes, a lighter and marijuana in a plastic bag, officials said then.

A district parent told The News she was appalled Iacuzzo was arrested on a drug charge just seven hours before he was set to report at the start of the school day.

I think the man needs help. I dont think he should be in the classroom teaching until he gets rehabilitation, Terri Dash, whose son had once had Iacuzzo as a teacher, said at the time.

The marijuana possession charge, a violation against Iacuzzo, was dismissed the next month in Tonawanda City Court on condition that he stay out of trouble for the next 12 months, receive counseling and submit to random drug testing.

He also received a one-week, unpaid suspension from his teaching job, his lawyer said at the time.

James DeMatteo, the lawyer, said Iacuzzo was remorseful and added he hoped the teachers arrest would provide a lesson for district students.

If anything good comes out of this, maybe some kids would see that you have to be accountable for what youve done, DeMatteo said in 2001.

This year, Iacuzzo first appeared in the March 14 Ken-Ton School Board meeting agenda, when board members received a recommendation that they accept the retirements of 22 teachers and district staffers, including Iacuzzo, all effective June 30 or July 1.

On May 9, the School Board voted to change the effective date of Iacuzzos retirement from July 1 to May 1.

At the same meeting, board members approved the terms of the separation agreement between the district and Iacuzzo. The agenda item did not provide any further details.

However, in response to a FOIL request filed May 10, the district on Thursday provided the full, 10-page agreement to The News.

The document states Jeffrey Richards, the districts assistant superintendent for human resources, on May 3 met with Iacuzzo and Orlowski, the teachers union president.

At the meeting, Richards raised the allegations of use of controlled substances on school grounds, insubordination in not complying with directives and absences without providing appropriate notice or receiving advanced approval, according to the text of the agreement.

Iacuzzo exercised his right as a teacher under state law to refuse to answer questions in an interview where he is the target of an investigation, the agreement states.

When the district informed Iacuzzo that it was getting ready to bring disciplinary action against him under the 3020-a provision of state education law, Iacuzzo said he was willing to voluntarily give up his job. The parties said they struck the separation agreement because they mutually desire to resolve the matter, the document states.

The district agreed to cover for up to three years the costs of Iacuzzos premium payments for the standard health care coverage provided to retired Ken-Ton teachers, the agreement states.

Iacuzzo also can opt to continue receiving this benefit for an additional five years but must pay 25% of the premium cost. After this, if Iacuzzo chooses to continue with this coverage he would have to pay the full premium cost until he turns 65 or becomes eligible for Medicare, when the coverage would end.

In addition, Iacuzzo will receive $20,199 owed to him as part of a provision in the districts contract with its teachers that rewards retiring educators for taking fewer sick days during their careers.

He does not receive any other financial compensation through the agreement.

Iacuzzo agreed not to bring legal action against the district, seek future employment with the district nor run for a position on the Ken-Ton School Board.

The agreement took effect eight days after Iacuzzo signed it.
Otherwords.org )  As Scottish literary giant Robert Burns wrote, The best-laid schemes of mice and men / Go oft awry.

His 1785 poem, titled To A Mouse, could be directed today at the right-wing sloganeers whove been scheming so furiously to turn their hokey woke snobbery into a winning political stratagem.

Your local librarian is woke! they screech. So is Disney, Inc.! Some of your churches, too, plus all Democrats, and  OMG  even Bud Light! Wokeism is the Red Scare, Welfare Queen, and Willy Horton rolled into one, forming the main issue of Republicans now running for president, Congress, and dogcatcher.

But rather than getting defensive, insisting you are not woke, consider firing back by saying, Of course Im woke!

For the great majority of Americans, being woke is a very positive characteristic  it means simply that youre awake, attentive to whats going on. Indeed, in Black communities, stay woke has long meant staying alert to racial and social injustices.

Even some Republicans must consider it bizarrely self-defeating for their partys top candidates to be urging voters to go to sleep.



Image by Margit Wallner from Pixabay

GOP leaders explain that anti-woke means, among other things, crusading against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness). But that means theyre opposing America itself, for we are a nation united under the essential principle of e pluribus unum.

As affirmed by the egalitarian principles of the Declaration of Independence, the 14th Amendment, the Statue of Liberty, and our kindergarten teachings of sharing and fairness, ours is a country rooted in constant diversification, expanding equality, and the democratic idea that every voice ought to be included. Our country needs more of all three!

America is way short of achieving these historic ideals, but shame on those revisionist political elites now demanding we abandon even striving for them. Confront the charlatans!
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The London-based pan-Arab newspaper al-`Arab reports on the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to Tehran, where he met with his counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, as well as with President Ebrahim Raisi. It was the first such visit by a high Saudi official since Iran and Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations in 2016. It came some months after Chinas Premier Xi Jinping brokered a reopening of the two countries embassies in their respective capitals on March 10.

Bin Farhan said on Saturday that the Saudi embassy in Tehran will reopen shortly. He added that he had conveyed to President Raisi from Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz an invitation to visit Riyadh.

Bin Farhan affirmed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in regional affairs and sea traffic. He also stressed the need for cooperation of all the countries in the Gulf region to ensure they remain free of nuclear weapons.

The Iranians are suspected of attacks in the Gulf on United Arab Emirates oil tankers, which are revenge for the US not allowing Iran to export its petroleum. The Saudis are seeking to end this sabotage and piracy by offering Iran an economic lifeline that will allow them to evade the worst of Trumps maximum pressure sanctions (which are still in place under Biden).

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abdullahian emphasized the need for more robust economic ties between the two countries. He said both would mobilize the private sector in the fields of transportation, tourism, and other sectors.

Al-`Arab reports that the Biden administration had cautioned the Saudis against drawing closer to Iran, but that the royal family had decided to pursue their own interests, which they now believe are best served by a more neutral stance and better relations with Iran.

Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari reported from Tehran that the two countries will seek to raise their bilateral trade to $1 billion a year, from only $15 million per year now.

Article continues after bonus IC video

Al Jazeera English: Iran-Saudi Arabia relations: Foreign ministers address media in Tehran

Such visits are not uprecedented, and used to take place under King Abdullah. Indeed, the last visit of a Saudi foreign minister to Tehran occurred 17 years ago under his reign. When King Salman acceded to the throne in January 2015, however, he and his son Mohammed Bin Salman adopted a hard line view of Iran. From their point of view the ayatollahs in Tehran were propping up Syrias dictator Bashar al-Assad, whom the Saudis despised. They were backing Lebanons Hezbollah, which was antipathetic to the Saudis and had become a pivotal power in Beirut. The Iranians were supporting the Helpers of God or Houthis, drawn from North Yemens Zaydi Shiite population. They were intervening in Iraq through the Shiite militias they trained and funded. In short, they had Saudi Arabia surrounded, and worse, they were winning on every front.

In 2016, the Saudis executed the prominent Shiite clergyman Nimr al-Nimr, and angry Iranian crowds attacked the Saudi embassy and the consulate in Mashhad. In the wake of these attacks, both countries severed diplomatic ties.

The two countries are attempting to bury the hatchet over issues such as Syria, where al-Assad won with Iranian and Russian help. The Saudis have now renewed their recognition of him and hosted him at the Arab League. Riyadh is also trying to achieve peace in Yemen, having failed to dislodge the Houthis, and they think Irans leaders can help quell the tensions there.

The spokesman for the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Soudani, which is close to Iran and to the Shiite militias backed by Iran in Iraq, said that Iraq welcomed the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement. He said that promoting regional peace and the end of boycotts would encourage more foreign direct investment in Iraq, which has been paralyzed because of regional tensions. The Biden administration has finally given Iraq permission to repay some $3 billion to Iran for energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a massive transformation, hoping to move from an economy based on petroleum sales to one based on services and global investment. That is, it hopes to become a big Switzerland or Dubai. The power behind the throne, Bin Salman, appears to have decided that his Vision 2030 cannot hope to be accomplished if Saudi Arabia is bogged down fighting the Houthis and tangling with Iran.

Irans President Raisi said that the spectacle of Iran and Saudi Arabia having good relations is abhorrent to enemies, especially to Israel. It certainly is the case that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu dearly wishes Bin Farhan had come to visit him in Jerusalem rather than going to Tehran. The Saudis, however, have made clear that normalization with Israel depends on rights for the Palestinians, something Netanyahu is not prepared to offer. One of the bases for Iran-Saudi cooperation was announced from the Tehran meeting as a joint commitment to justice for Palestine.
This story is part of Undertones, Global Voices Civic Media Observatorys newsletter. Subscribe to Undertones.

Welcome back to Undertones, where we analyze media narratives from around the world. This week, Turkish researcher Sencer Odabasi breaks down what the conversations are like on Turkish Twitter following the reelection of President Erdogan. Some of the most vivid reactions are aimed at LGBTQ+ groups.

( Globalvoices.org)  On June 25, LGBTQ+ groups and individuals will march through the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, fully aware that they may encounter police violence. Sencer Odabasi explained to me that everyone knows they will go outside and that they will get attacked. But for them, it is a statement to still go out and not allow violence to be normalized.

June holds historical significance for pride events in Turkey. Once home to the largest pride marches in the Muslim world, Istanbul saw these celebrations banned in 2016. And as Erdogan secured victory in Turkeys presidential elections for the third consecutive time, the stakes in 2023 are higher. Many Turkish citizens are wary of how authoritarian narratives saw a quick uptick since Erdogans reelection, but also seek other venues to exercise democracy.

The conversations happening in post-election Turkey

This narrative in a nutshell: Erdogan thinks he can do whatever he wants now that he won again

A significant portion of Turkish citizens (47.86 percent of the electorate, as indicated by the ballots cast for Kemal Klcdaroglu, Erdogans opponent) who wanted a change in leadership was sorely disappointed. Their cautiously optimistic atmosphere was shattered after the first round on May 14, and subsequent results only reinforced their concerns. Many now find their fears about Erdogan and his allies validated. During his victory speech, Erdogan targeted LGBTQ+ people and the opposition, instead of his usual more unifying tone.

Erdogans terms have traditionally started out relatively softer and progressively became more aggressive, peaking during the election campaigns, Odabasi wrote in our database. Directly attacking the opposition from basically day one points towards a new strategy.

An example of how this narrative spreads online: Those who wanted to watch the movie Pride were detained!

Where it is shared: Twitter

Author: KaosGL, one of Turkeys oldest and biggest LGBTQ+ rights NGOs.

Content: KaosGL tweets about a police raid on BEKSAV, an Istanbul based culture and art foundation, after they refused to comply with the governors ban on publicly screening the 2014 British movie Pride.

Context: On June 7, as part of their Pride month calendar, BEKSAV announced their plan to organize a screening of the film Pride. However, Governor Muhittin Pamuk, appointed by Ankara, issued a ban on the screening. Despite the ban, BEKSAV declared that they would not acknowledge it and invited everyone to attend the screening. The police forcefully intervened and detained several organizers from BEKSAV, who were later released. BEKSAVs stand inspired other similar groups to also screen films that day.

Subtext: There is no subtext

Civic Impact: +3, the highest positive score on our scorecard. Coverage of the attack on BEKSAV has a positive civic impact because it is important not to normalize authoritarian pressures by the AKP.

See more related items here: 491, 494, 496, 518

See what the pre-electoral mood was with our newsletter

 What do onions have to do with the Turkish elections? 

This narrative in a nutshell: Voting is not enough; we need to organize

The opposition widely acknowledges that Turkish elections lack fairness due to various factors, such as the suppression of the free press, the misuse of state resources for campaigning purposes, and the governments control over the supreme electoral council. These measures make people doubt the legitimacy of Turkeys electoral process. Still, the main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (commonly known as CHP), always pointed to the ballot box as the democratic solution and discouraged citizens from protesting. Many now feel let down by this approach, and by the CHP.

As a result, a narrative has emerged urging individuals to participate in NGOs (such as LGBTQ+ groups), informal associations, unions, neighborhood solidarity groups, and political parties instead of relying solely on voting every five years. Some groups, such as the Workers Party of Turkey as well as other parties and NGOs, have confirmed to Odabasi that there has been an uptick in registrations since the elections. This narrative puts into question what democracy means.

Whether this represents a fundamental change in the Turkish political landscape or if it is just an emotional reaction to the unexpected results that will have a short lifespan, time will tell, Sencer Odabasi wrote on the database. The sentiment remains civil and democratic, there are no calls for coups or international pressure/sanctions.

An example of how this narrative spreads online: We draw the line here, again

Where it is shared: Twitter

Author: An anonymous pro-HDP Twitter user, @the_dartagnan

Content: They tweeted a 2016 speech by jailed pro-Kurdish HDP politician Selahattin Demirtas questioning the legitimacy of elections under Erdogan and claiming that democracy is in the streets. The tweet went viral and the video clip was shared by other accounts as well. The HDP (Peoples Democratic Party) is a leftist, pro-Kurdish party.

Context: The speech was made in September 2016 in the parliament, when Erdogan was calling for a referendum and/or early elections for a presidential system, which he later narrowly won. Demirtas was imprisoned that year and remains behind bars without having had a trial. Klcdaroglu pledged to free him, while Erdogan ruled it out.

Subtext: This account claims that Turkish elections under Erdogan should be considered illegitimate.

Civic Impact: +2 out of +3, because in an environment where any sign of dissent is criminalized, reminding the people that democratic rights go beyond just voting every five years has a positive civic impact.

See more related items here: 491, 511, 512

This narrative in a nutshell: The opposition should behave like we want them to

Erdogan and his allies have employed strong anti-opposition campaign slogans for a long time, such as labeling the opposition as terrorists. However, far from abating after the elections, this narrative has strengthened.

The main reason Turkey has not become a completely authoritarian state akin to Russia or Azerbaijan is the existence of an actual opposition, Sencer Odabasi says. From Erdogans point of view, this narrative is about the importance of creating a controlled opposition like the one in Russia. This opposition will be tasked with criticizing the day-to-day affairs of the government while not bringing the fundamental pillars of Erdogans regime into question.



Illustration by Global Voices

For Odabasi, the aim is not to establish a puppet opposition, but rather one that understands the boundaries it cannot cross. In Turkeys case, this means refraining from criticizing nationalist and religious conservatism, foreign policy, and Erdogan himself. Issues concerning Kurdish and LGBTQ+ rights would also be off-limits within this framework.

They could, however, accuse Erdogan of not being conservative and nationalistic enough, Odabasi says. Refugee policy can also be criticized.

There are violent calls online against the CHP and the HDP. Their figureheads may face more harassment through defamation and imprisonment in the near future. For example, far-right party MHP recently called for the prosecution of opposition leader Klcdaroglu because of his links to terrorism.

An example of how this narrative spreads online: I condemn the HDP members who did not stand up during the national anthem in the Turkish Grand National Assembly

Where it is shared: Twitter

Author: Mucahit Birinci, a member of the highest official executive body after party leadership (Central Executive Board)

Content: Mucahit Birinci claimed that HDP parliamentarians did not stand up for the national anthem during the opening ceremony of the new parliament on June 2, 2023. He also criticized the CHPs collaboration with HDP, which he calls the political wing of the Kurdish armed guerilla movement, the PKK.

Context: There is a recording of the event showing every member of the parliament standing up for the national anthem. It is hard to call this comment unintentional misinformation since Birinci, as a high-ranking AKP official, was certainly watching the ceremony. Pro-state media also fanned the flames by claiming that HDP members did not sing the anthem, which is not a requirement per parliamentary rules. The timing of these two provocations suggests that this was an organized communications strategy.

Subtext: Birinci implies that HDP members have a problem with the foundations of the Turkish state because they are collaborating with terrorist groups.

Civic Impact: -3, the lowest score on our scorecard, as it is an open lie to criminalize and delegitimize the opposition.

See more related items here: 492, 493, 517
Among primary races in the Erie County Legislature, the one to watch is also the weirdest.

It involves two candidates battling it out in both the Conservative and Republican primary races in a suburban and rural district. The candidates include five-month incumbent Jim Malczewski, a Republican who recently registered as a Conservative, and Lindsay Bratek-Lorigo, a former Republican who became an avowed Conservative but has re-registered as a Republican.

If youre confused, thats because changes to state party rules now render official party affiliations almost meaningless to the average voter in this race. Both candidates are vying for the 10th District seat, which includes the towns of West Seneca, Elma, Aurora, Wales, Colden, Sardinia and Concord.

Malczewski served as a member of the Elma Town Board for 11 years, including two as deputy supervisor. Hes also the longtime owner of Modern Building Development in Elma, a former home building company that now specializes in deck and railing construction.

The lifelong Republican changed his party affiliation to Conservative to make him eligible to be appointed to the seat held by former Minority Leader Joseph Lorigo. Lorigo, a lifelong Conservative, left the Legislature this year to become a State Supreme Court judge. The county charter requires that an appointee be of the same party as the outgoing member.

Conservative turns Republican to challenge Republican-turned-Conservative for Erie County Legislature seat The process has led to accusations of political gamesmanship, county charter violations and nepotism. But both candidates say it's all part of politics.

Malczewski said hes always counted himself as a conservative Republican. Though he only changed his affiliation to qualify for the 10th District seat, he said he has no plans at this moment to revert back to being a registered Republican if he wins election.

Bratek-Lorigo is married to Lorigo and is the daughter-in law of Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph Lorigo. She spent three years working as a staffer in the Erie County Legislature and State Assembly and currently works full time in digital marketing for a senior care provider. She also works part time as the marketing director for WNY Dyslexia Specialists. She graduated from college with three degrees, including a masters in business administration.

She was a Republican before marrying into the Lorigo family and becoming a Conservative, which she said aligns best with her personal values. But to challenge Malczewski in the Republican primary, she had to change her party affiliation to Republican, she said. She turned aside the question of whether she would return to the Conservative Party if she wins the seat, saying she is focused on getting through the primary.

Their positions

On the surface, both candidates priorities sound similar. They call for greater fiscal accountability, transparency and substantive investment and progress on county road repair.

Bratek-Lorigo, however, has focused her primary message on county overtaxation and out of control spending. She highlighted that the county ended last year with a $96 million surplus that was not returned to taxpayers. Instead, the county provided $100,000 for each county legislator to hand out as grants. She has also attacked Malczewskis record, saying hes supported tax increases at the town and county levels.

Erie County to allocate at least $72 million out of $96 million year-end surplus The bones of a deal is in place to allocate at least $72 million of it to new county priorities and programs this year, ranging from new weapons detectors at the Central Library to millions in construction aid to SUNY Erie Community College.

Our legislator currently approved a spending plan of $96 million of this surplus in exchange for $100,000 in pork funding, she said. People are outraged.

She said she wants to cut county spending by reducing the tax levy, the total amount of property taxes the county collects every year. Republican legislators have so far been unsuccessful in cutting the levy.

She also noted that she was the first to call for the county to issue a state of emergency regarding the prospect of asylum-seekers in New York City being bused to Erie County for shelter. Malczewski put forth his own resolution calling for a state of emergency after Bratek-Lorigo publicly raised the matter. At a news conference regarding his resolution, he referred to Bratek-Lorigo as an inexperienced 25-year-old girl looking for headlines, which drew some public criticism.

Bratek-Lorigo is 26. Malczewski, 51, said he has a daughter who is 26, and that there was no harm or ill-intent meant.

Malczewski, meanwhile, has touted his success in pushing forward district road projects that have languished for years, despite huge sums of county money being borrowed for repair and reconstruction work much earlier. Drawing on his construction background, he said, he worked with his Republican legislator colleagues to demand monthly reports from the county administration on the status of open construction projects.

That was part of a compromise deal the Republican caucus reached with County Executive Mark Poloncarz. In exchange for allowing the county administration to spend $72 million of a $96 million surplus on a variety of county programs and projects, Legislature Republicans demanded that the county give each legislator $100,000 to spend in their own districts, and borrow millions less for construction projects and the new Bills stadium.

Regarding Bratek-Lorigos assertion that Malczewski sold out by approving a $96 million deal in exchange for each legislator getting $100,000 to hand out to nonprofits, Malczewski said that money went to Boys and Girls Clubs, senior centers and abuse victim programs benefitting district residents.

Money and mailers

On paper, it might seem that Malczewski has the clear fundraising advantage. As of his most recent campaign filing, he had raised more than $37,000 and said he expects to raise $75,000. Much of that money is coming from traditional Republican Party sources.

Bratek-Lorigo had raised less than $11,000 as of her most recent campaign filing.

But Bratek-Lorigo has the wealth of the New York Conservative Party behind her. Ten mailers have been sent out to district residents in support of her campaign as of midweek, all paid for by the Conservative Party. Several promote her campaign, two contrast her positions against Poloncarzs and President Bidens, and the most recent four criticize Malczewskis voting record, accusing him of raising taxes and voting to give himself raises as a Council member.

Theyve just gone very nasty and very negative, Malczewski said, adding that set raises are given across the board to all Elma town employees, and that he had been the sole no vote on multiple Elma budgets. Thats what happens when you dont have any accomplishments to tout. You have to fabricate headlines.

Malczewski has sent out four mailers as of midweek, three of which were paid for by the state Republican Party. One of them draws a contrast between his decades of experience as a private sector worker and small business owner, as well as his time as a Council member, against Bratek-Lorigos limited career history, including her prior work as a former Legislature staffer to her now husband Joseph Lorigo, and her work for the Lorigo family law firm.

The implication is that shes underqualified and trading on her familial and political connections.
While working on their different worlds in the hotel industry, Cheon Sa Rang (YoonA) and Gu Won (Lee Junho) had an unfortunate encounter in "King the Land" episode 1.

'King the Land' Episode 1: Cheon Sa Rang & Gu Won Build Career Paths in King Hotel

In "King the Land" episode 1, Cheon Sa Rang tried her luck to have a spot at the King Hotel. Right before she faced the panel, her heels broke, but it didn't stop her from making a great first impression on her interview.

Sadly, despite her confidence and smart responses, she fell short on getting the job.

Thanks to her best friends Oh Pyeong Hwa (Go Won Hee) and Kang Da Eul (Kim Ga Eun), they comforted her and drowned her misery in alcohol at the club. The next day, Cheon Sa Rang received a call informing her that she got hired at the King Hotel.

Elsewhere, Gu Won made his grand entrance by jumping off a plane with a parachute, only to find out that he landed at the wrong building, which caused him to be late on his first day as an intern.

However, he immediately got fired on his first day due to his inability to manage in an office environment.

Interestingly, after a series of unfortunate events, everyone found out he is the only son of The King Hotel's chairman. He gave Noh Sang Sik (Ahn Se Ha) a full-time position to be his secretary after the managers belittled him as an intern.

It was also shown that Gu Won doesn't have a good relationship with his sister, who wants him out of the hotel business.

Cheon Sa Rang Accuses Gu Won

Fulfilling her childhood dream, Cheon Sa Rang began her first day at the King Hotel. She quickly learned to do the work after having different orientation sessions.

Despite being asked to wipe "butt sweat" from the gym equipment and do other chores, she managed to maintain a smile regardless of how bullies her colleagues were to her.

Cheon Sa Rang ended up being harassed by a pervert while working, and due to the man's shirt matching that of Gu Won's, she threw him off the treadmill, signaling their unfortunate meeting.

She threatened him and walked off, making Gu Won the perverted, which brought him confusion and anger.

In contrast to how she treated Gu Won, Hwa Ran met Cheon Sa Rang. She was able to win her boss' trust with her answers and she was immediately promoted to the lobby.

Elsewhere, Hwa Ran warned Gu Won and asked him to leave, and wished him to stay back in the UK.

Gu Won Returns to Korea to Work at King Hotel

Years later, Cheon Sa Rang continues to grow at her job at King Hotel, while Gu Won lives his life in the UK.

One day, he received a package that indicated Han Mi So's personnel record. He immediately asked Noh Sang Sik to book a flight back to Korea.

In Korea, Cheon Sa Rang received praise for her work.

Later on, Gu Won informed his father that he wanted to start working at the hotel, which made his father happy, but his sister was upset.

On his first day at work, he had an unfortunate encounter with Cheon Sa Rang inside his suite. Attention is focused on how they will be able to stand each other despite their opposite personalities.

What can you say about "King the Land" episode 1? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
LONDON  King Charles III rode on horseback Saturday to take part in his first Trooping the Color ceremony as U.K. monarch, inspecting hundreds of soldiers and horses in a spectacular annual military display at central London's Horse Guards Parade.

Charles, 74, the colonel in chief, received the royal salute and watched as the most prestigious regiments in the U.K. army paraded to mark his official birthday.

It was the first time in more than 30 years that a U.K. monarch took part in the pomp-filled ceremony on horseback.

Earlier, Charles' eldest son, Prince William, and the king's siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne, also rode on horseback in procession from Buckingham Palace. All the royals were dressed in red and gold tunics and tall black bearskin hats, matching the uniforms worn by many of the 1,400 soldiers taking part.

Others in the royal family, including Queen Camilla, Kate, the Princess of Wales, and her three young children, rode in horse-drawn carriages as thousands of people thronged the Mall, the grand avenue outside Buckingham Palace, to watch the pageantry.

Trooping the Color is essentially a grand birthday parade to honor the reigning monarch. The annual ceremony is a tradition that dates back more than 260 years.

Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the display, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace. The monarch then inspects the troops, including both foot guards and horse guards. Gun salutes and a crowd-pleasing military flyby over the palace typically round out the celebrations.

Charles' actual birthday is Nov. 14, 1948, but U.K. monarchs traditionally celebrate two birthdays  their real one and an official one  to ensure that public celebrations can take place in warm summer weather.

Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, always held the Trooping the Color birthday parade in June, while she celebrated her actual April birthday privately with family.

The central part of the parade features a battle flag  or the "Color"  being displayed and marched past troops and the monarch.

This is a ceremonial reenactment of the way regimental flags were once displayed for soldiers on the battlefield to provide a crucial rallying point if they became disoriented or separated from their unit.

The flags were traditionally described as "Colors" because they displayed the uniform colors and insignia worn by soldiers of different units.

A different flag is trooped each year. This year the "Color" was the King's Color of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Saturday was the first time a monarch has ridden on horseback at the event since Elizabeth did so in 1986.

The queen rode her favorite horse, called Burmese, to 18 Trooping the Color ceremonies until the black mare retired in 1986. After that she decided to use a carriage for the event instead.

Charles also rode on horseback for the spectacle last year, when as heir to the throne he inspected the troops on behalf of his mother. Elizabeth died last September at the age of 96.

The birthday parade typically reaches its climax when, at the end of the military procession, the royal family lines up on Buckingham Palace's balcony to watch a spectacular flyby.

The Royal Air Force's aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, usually wows the crowds as they fly in formation leaving plumes of red, white and blue vapor trails.

This year, the flyby was even more impressive, because a similar display on Charles' coronation day in May had to be scaled back because of bad weather. Around 70 aircraft took part Saturday, including Spitfire and Hurricane fighters from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Eighteen Typhoon fighter jets flying in precise formation spelt out "CR"  "Charles Rex"  in the sky as the royal family and thousands of spectators cheered.
Ive spoken at many medical conferences since co-founding the Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. diff Education & Advocacy following my mothers death from a C. difficile infection in 2010. Unfortunately, I am often the only patient advocate. The pressure of representing patients in a group of hundreds of clinicians, scientists, and administrators can be intimidating. But for the most part, I have always felt welcome and valued.

One of my favorites is the Making A Difference in Infectious Diseases annual conference, primarily for infectious disease pharmacists but attended by nurses, physicians, and other health care workers. I did a keynote presentation at the 2018 MAD-ID, and last year one of our C. diff Advocates presented. In both cases, our talks were well received.

When I was invited to present at this years conference, I happily agreed. But as the event grew closer, I became uncomfortable participating because the meeting would be in Orlando, Florida. Im a visibly queer, gender-nonconforming gay man, and Florida has become an incredibly hostile place for LGBTQ people. For example, following the passage of its 2022 Dont Say Gay law, which prohibits teachers from discussing gay sexuality and gender variance with their students, Florida lawmakers have introduced an additional ten bills that expand Dont Say Gay into high school, prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors, bans abortion after six weeks, and, most recently a truly despicable freedom of conscience law that would permit doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others to deny care to anyone based on their religion or deeply held beliefs.

Through these laws, Florida lawmakers have made their state incredibly dangerous not only for women and LGBTQ people who reside there but also for any visitor such as myself. If Im injured or become ill while attending a conference like MAD-ID, I face the possibility that a first responder or clinician could refuse to treat me because Im gay.

But I knew the MAD-ID organizers had put all their plans into place before most of these bills were introduced. So with some trepidation, I decided to keep my commitment.

While at the conference, I spoke with some organizers and attendees who were sympathetic to my fears and discomfort at bringing business to a state hostile to women and queer people. At the national level, some medical societies have spoken out. For example, the Endocrine Society rebuked the Florida Medical Boards support of the law that now bans gender-affirming care for minors. In its November 2022 statement, the Society called on the Florida Board of Medicine to reverse its position, citing the ban as blatantly discriminatory and contradictory to medical evidence supported by a wide array of medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and many others.

Though the states Governor, Ron DeSantis, has been profligate in legislative attacks against women and LGBTQ people, fourteen other states have similarly decided they know health care better than doctors. These states include Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. All of these states have banned gender-affirming care for minors. Some have passed or are currently considering what transgender attorney Alejandra Caraballo calls let them die laws, which would exempt health care providers from having to provide care to people based on religious or conscientious objection. Most are restricting or banning reproductive care.

Refusing care based on a patients gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristic violates the fundamental principles of medical ethics: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. States that have absolved physicians from their ethical commitments and forbidden health care to be provided to women and LGBTQ people are no place for medical conferences. Medical societies and professional associations must make clear their objection to the state interfering in medicine by withholding the revenue their conferences bring. And by only holding meetings in states that enshrine rights for LGBTQ people and women, societies, and associations are also helping to ensure their members safety.

As Dr. Sarah Hull of Yale wrote in Stat News back in 2019:

It is not a physicians job to tell patients how to live according to the physicians personal code of ethics, whether religious or secular. Nor should a physician withhold treatment from patients simply because they fail to adhere to his or her personal standards of morality. Rather, a physicians duty is to promote patients wellness and flourishing through the application of evidence-based medicine to the best of his or her professional ability. Personal beliefs, religious or otherwise, must not interfere with that.

Nor is it the states job to tell physicians how to perform medicine based on religious doctrine. Yet, fourteen states have banned abortion completely, primarily based on religious views that life begins at conception. Similarly, many people who oppose gender-affirming care do so based on a religious understanding of sex as God-given and binary. We have a separation of Church and State in this country, which must be vigorously adhered to remain a pluralistic Republic. To that end, evidence-based medicine must also be protected from religious overreach. As leading institutions for medicine, societies, and professional associations must defend citizens rights to access evidence-based care without state interference.

With fourteen states now banning abortion and over 474 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced just this year, the question becomes, Where is our line in the sand? For our purpose, I would propose that the line is any legislation that interferes with the provision of care based on medical consensus and endangers the safety and lives of its residents and, potentially, conference attendees. This would include abortion bans, bans on gender-affirming care, and freedom of conscience laws that may allow clinicians to deny care. This adds Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin to the list of states medical conferences should boycott.

Calling for a boycott of nineteen states may seem extreme. Still, those who believe in evidence-based medicine, pluralism, and human rights cannot even tacitly endorse state-sanctioned discrimination and medical violence against vulnerable populations.

Most health care providers believe in the maxim, First, do no harm. States that outlaw gender-affirming care and abortions and allow bigoted clinicians to refuse care are actively harming their residents and visitors. Associations and societies that produce health care conferences must stand with all patients by boycotting these increasingly hostile states. States that forbid evidence-based care for women and LGBTQ people do not deserve our business. And politicians who withhold health care from marginalized communities deserve our scorn.

Christian John Lillis is executive director, Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. diff Education & Advocacy.
While policy dialogue on climate is dominated by the impact of carbon dioxide emissions, there is another environmental threat that presents an immediate danger to our communities. According to latest projections, there are more than four million orphaned oil and gas wells across America, including approximately 23,000 sites in New York. About 90 percent of these wells leak methane and other poisonous gases that can damage farmland, pollute drinking water sources and diminish air quality.

Although the proliferation of these wells, particularly in Erie, Steuben, Chemung, and Wyoming Counties, can be chalked up to decades of drilling more wells than we retire, there is a demonstrable methane fix within reach thanks to creative public-private sector partnerships. These initiatives are centered around the reduction of methane emissions qualifying for recognition under what are called Carbon offsets, which are contracts that demonstrate an action taken by a private enterprise that helps remediate a certain sites emissions footprint. These offsets are verified by independent auditors and are sought after due to their positive effect on investor relations.

In a commercial environment where diversified carbon offset portfolios are prioritized, the scale of this opportunity should shift how the private sector values eco-friendly investment choices. For instance, while investment in forestry carbon offsets is vitally important, this choice might be undone by a forest fire or a future government action. converting green spaces into parking lots

Permanently plugging a well that is leaking toxic methane, however, is a local initiative that is essential to safeguarding public health and cannot be undone by any government agency or natural event. Furthermore, a recent Columbia University study estimated that the cost of addressing Americas well-capping problem is nearly 10 times what the federal government has pledged to states via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, meaning there is ample opportunity for additional investment. in a type of carbon credit that provides permanent value and erases liabilities from key stakeholders balance sheets

Plugging orphaned oil and gas wells might not yet be front and center at industry conferences or local town hall meetings, but it is the long-awaited win-win solution for shrewd private enterprises and countless families residing in at-risk communities. Doing what it takes to get these wells plugged can create jobs, bolster economic growth and provide environmental upsides for the next generation.

Curt Hopkins is the CEO of Zefiro Methane Corp., which develops technologies and methodologies to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas industry.
The Abolition Amendment was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, left, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, center, and Rep. Nikema Williams of Georgia, right.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a statement to the press with the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy before an EU-US Energy Council Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on April 4.
Ascend Wellness (OTC:AAWH  Get Rating) and GLG Life Tech (OTCMKTS:GLGLF  Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Ascend Wellness and GLG Life Techs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ascend Wellness $405.93 million 0.31 -$80.90 million ($0.38) -1.68 GLG Life Tech $8.40 million 0.06 -$25.42 million ($0.69) -0.02

GLG Life Tech has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ascend Wellness. Ascend Wellness is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GLG Life Tech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ascend Wellness 0 2 2 0 2.50 GLG Life Tech 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Ascend Wellness and GLG Life Tech, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Ascend Wellness currently has a consensus target price of $2.75, indicating a potential upside of 329.69%. Given Ascend Wellness higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Ascend Wellness is more favorable than GLG Life Tech.

Profitability

This table compares Ascend Wellness and GLG Life Techs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ascend Wellness -16.45% -40.01% -7.88% GLG Life Tech -358.36% N/A -152.28%

Risk and Volatility

Ascend Wellness has a beta of 2.63, meaning that its stock price is 163% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, GLG Life Tech has a beta of 1.88, meaning that its stock price is 88% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.0% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by institutional investors. 17.5% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Ascend Wellness beats GLG Life Tech on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ascend Wellness

(Get Rating)

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. engages in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis consumer packaged goods. It owns, operates, and manages cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries in several states across the United States, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company's cannabis product categories include flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, edibles, and other cannabis-related products. As of December 31, 2022, it operated 24 retail locations. The company also sells its products through company-owned retail stores and third-party licensed retail cannabis stores. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

About GLG Life Tech

(Get Rating)

GLG Life Tech Corp engages in the agricultural and commercial development of zero-calorie natural sweeteners. Its products include stevia, monk fruit, and Red M Gold. It specializes in the growing, refining, and production of extracts for distribution to the food and beverage industry. The company was founded on June 5, 1998 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Ashford (NYSEAMERICAN:AINC  Get Rating) in a report issued on Wednesday. The firm issued a buy rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, B. Riley lowered their price target on shares of Ashford from $15.00 to $10.00 in a report on Monday, May 22nd.

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Ashford Trading Down 1.9 %

NYSEAMERICAN AINC opened at $10.22 on Wednesday. Ashford has a 1-year low of $9.20 and a 1-year high of $19.70. The company has a 50 day moving average of $10.49 and a 200-day moving average of $12.51. The company has a market cap of $31.84 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.07 and a beta of 2.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ashford

Ashford ( NYSEAMERICAN:AINC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.30. Ashford had a net margin of 1.60% and a negative return on equity of 21.27%. The business had revenue of $185.12 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $179.40 million. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ashford will post 5.75 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AINC. Uniplan Investment Counsel Inc. increased its stake in Ashford by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Uniplan Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 119,037 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,604,000 after buying an additional 1,025 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Ashford by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 81,717 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,400,000 after buying an additional 4,314 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Ashford by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,369 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 883 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.24% of the companys stock.

About Ashford

(Get Rating)

Ashford, Inc is an asset management firm. The firm provides investment management and related services to the real estate and hospitality sectors. Ashford, Inc was formed on April 2, 2014 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Ashford Inc(NYSEAM:AINC) operates independently of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc as of November 5, 2019.

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Bakkt Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BKKT  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,840,000 shares, a decrease of 7.1% from the May 15th total of 12,740,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,570,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 7.5 days. Approximately 17.5% of the companys stock are sold short.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bakkt

In other news, General Counsel Marc Dannunzio sold 50,237 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.37, for a total transaction of $68,824.69. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 754,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,034,289.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Impact Acquisition Holding Vpc sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.67, for a total transaction of $33,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,479,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,490,005.15. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Marc Dannunzio sold 50,237 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.37, for a total transaction of $68,824.69. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 754,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,034,289.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 167,220 shares of company stock worth $263,273. 1.93% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bakkt

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BKKT. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Bakkt by 109.5% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 22,560 shares of the companys stock worth $138,000 after buying an additional 11,793 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in shares of Bakkt during the 1st quarter worth approximately $66,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS acquired a new position in Bakkt during the first quarter valued at approximately $76,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Bakkt by 35.9% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 545,794 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,362,000 after purchasing an additional 144,218 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in Bakkt by 234.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 38,982 shares of the companys stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 27,312 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.39% of the companys stock.

Bakkt Trading Up 1.4 %

BKKT stock traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $1.42. 2,770,178 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 623,697. Bakkt has a one year low of $1.08 and a one year high of $3.79. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.50.

Bakkt (NYSE:BKKT  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.17). Bakkt had a negative net margin of 1,057.17% and a positive return on equity of 133.00%. The company had revenue of $13.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.50 million. Research analysts forecast that Bakkt will post -0.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on BKKT shares. Rosenblatt Securities restated a buy rating and issued a $2.10 price target on shares of Bakkt in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Citigroup lowered shares of Bakkt from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th.

About Bakkt

(Get Rating)

Bakkt Holdings, Inc operates a digital asset platform. The company's platform enables consumers to buy, sell, convert, and spend digital assets. Its customers include merchants, retailers, and financial institutions. Bakkt Holdings, Inc has a strategic alliance with the Global Payments to collaborate on use cases starting with enabling cryptocurrency redemption in customer loyalty programs offered by bankcard clients, as well as expanding its banking-as-a-service offerings to include consumer access to cryptocurrency.

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Its not over yet. Bills still need to be signed  or vetoed. But whats been accomplished by the New York State Legislature in its final 2023 session isnt impressive.

The results could roughly be categorized into the good, the bad and the ugly. Lets start on a positive note.

Good: The Clean Slate Act has finally been passed by both chambers. This bill would automatically seal certain criminal records after those convicted of a crime have served their time with three-year waiting periods for misdemeanors and eight-year waiting periods for felonies. Most Class A felonies, including murder and most sex crimes, would not be sealed.

This legislation will help people who have paid their debt to society meaningfully rebuild their lives by gaining employment, housing and other essentials.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is being pressured to veto the bill, but she should sign it.

In another positive move, the Legislature has again passed the Grieving Families Act, a bill allowing families of wrongful death victims to sue for emotional damages. Hochul vetoed this in January, after offering an amendment that would have only allowed such lawsuits to apply to the deaths of people under 18 years old  thus leaving out families of the 10 people killed in Buffalos May 14, 2022, racist mass shooting.

The current version of the bill clearly defines which family members can sue, removing some of the vagueness critics of it have cited. Keep in mind that 47 other states have similarly amended their wrongful death statutes. New York is an outlier on this and Hochul should not repeat her veto.

Bad: The Legislature could have turned its attention to key environmental legislation such as a major packaging reduction bill or expansion of redeemable beverage containers. But no. Instead, lawmakers decided to meddle with campaign finance reform passed in 2019. In a new bill, the Legislature has removed much of the impact of the reform, making the first $250 of a donation of any size up to the maximum amount eligible to be matched with public funds, so that small donors are no longer prioritized. Another provision raises the number of in-district donors and the total donation figure needed to qualify for matching funds  making it easier for incumbents and more difficult for challengers. The dream of publicly funded political campaigns has been all but shot down by these changes.

Its shameful. Hochul should recognize that and veto the bill.

Ugly: First, there was legislation introduced by State Sen. Tim Kennedy that would give Hochul the authority to enter a new casino compact with the Seneca Nation, as well as give the Nation the right to sue New York if they believe the state is negotiating in bad faith.

Then, on June 7, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr. announced that an agreement had been reached in principle with Hochuls administration on a new 20-year gaming compact.

Finally, on June 9, it was revealed that the new agreement between the Nation and New York would allow a Seneca-owned casino to be built in downtown Rochester  without having first consulted the Rochester delegation or the citys local leaders. Apparently, a nondisclosure agreement did not permit the sharing of this information.

It should come as no surprise that the Assembly has not passed the bill authorizing a new compact and that the deal negotiated by the governors top aides and the Seneca Nation is now in peril.

We await the final chapter, but this needs to be resolved. There is too much at stake for a decadeslong relationship between New York and the Seneca Nation to be jettisoned.

...

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.
HSBC (NYSE:HSBC  Get Rating) and Banco de Sabadell (OTCMKTS:BNDSF  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for HSBC and Banco de Sabadell, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score HSBC 0 5 5 0 2.50 Banco de Sabadell 0 3 1 0 2.25

Banco de Sabadell has a consensus target price of $1.05, indicating a potential downside of 6.67%. Given HSBCs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe HSBC is more favorable than Banco de Sabadell.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio HSBC $74.18 billion 2.11 $16.04 billion $5.58 7.02 Banco de Sabadell N/A N/A N/A $0.08 14.17

This table compares HSBC and Banco de Sabadells gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

HSBC has higher revenue and earnings than Banco de Sabadell. HSBC is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Banco de Sabadell, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares HSBC and Banco de Sabadells net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets HSBC 32.20% 11.52% 0.75% Banco de Sabadell N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

1.3% of HSBC shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 11.8% of Banco de Sabadell shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of HSBC shares are owned by 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.

Summary

HSBC beats Banco de Sabadell on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About HSBC

(Get Rating)

HSBC Holdings plc provides banking and financial services worldwide. The company operates through Wealth and Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets segments. The Wealth and Personal Banking segment offers retail banking and wealth products, including current and savings accounts, mortgages and personal loans, credit and debit cards, and local and international payment services; and wealth management services comprising insurance and investment products, global asset management services, investment management, and private wealth solutions. This segment serves personal banking and high net worth individuals. The Commercial Banking segment provides credit and lending, treasury management, payment, cash management, commercial insurance, and investment services; commercial cards; international trade and receivables finance services; foreign exchange products; capital raising services on debt and equity markets; and advisory services. It serves small and medium sized enterprises, mid-market enterprises, and corporates. The Global Banking and Markets segment offers financing, advisory, and transaction services; and credit, rates, foreign exchange, equities, money markets, and securities services; and engages in principal investment activities. It serves government, corporate and institutional clients, and private investors. HSBC Holdings plc was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About Banco de Sabadell

(Get Rating)

Banco de Sabadell, S.A. provides banking products and services to personal, business, and private customers in Spain and internationally. The company offers retail banking products, such as current and savings accounts, personal loans, cards, and mortgages. It also provides financial products and services to large and medium enterprises, SMEs, shops and self-employed workers, private individuals, and professionals; and consumer finance, asset management, and bancassurance services. In addition, the company offers corporate banking services, including financing services, transactional banking services, and other complex custom solutions in finance, treasury, and import/export, among others. Further, it provides insurance and pension products. Banco de Sabadell, S.A. was founded in 1881 and is based in Alicante, Spain.

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BlackRock Emerging Europe plc (LON:BEEP  Get Rating)s stock price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 318.50 ($3.99) and traded as high as GBX 318.50 ($3.99). BlackRock Emerging Europe shares last traded at GBX 318.50 ($3.99), with a volume of 1,038 shares traded.

BlackRock Emerging Europe Stock Performance

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is GBX 318.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 318.50.

About BlackRock Emerging Europe

(Get Rating)

BlackRock Emerging Europe plc, formerly Eastern European Trust PLC, is a United Kingdom-based investment trust company. The Company conducts its business as an investment trust and its principal activity is portfolio investment. The Companys objective is to achieve long-term capital growth, principally by investing in companies that do business primarily in Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia and Turkey.

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Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF  Get Rating) and American Lithium (OTCMKTS:LIACF  Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithiums net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cleveland-Cliffs 2.14% 8.32% 3.25% American Lithium N/A -16.28% -15.96%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithiums gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cleveland-Cliffs $22.33 billion 0.38 $1.34 billion $0.90 18.30 American Lithium N/A N/A -$18.80 million ($0.11) -19.82

Insider & Institutional Ownership

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.

65.3% of Cleveland-Cliffs shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of American Lithium shares are held by institutional investors. 1.6% of Cleveland-Cliffs shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Cleveland-Cliffs has a beta of 2.21, indicating that its share price is 121% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Lithium has a beta of 1.48, indicating that its share price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithium, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cleveland-Cliffs 1 6 5 0 2.33 American Lithium 0 0 1 0 3.00

Cleveland-Cliffs presently has a consensus price target of $20.53, suggesting a potential upside of 24.62%. Given Cleveland-Cliffs higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Cleveland-Cliffs is more favorable than American Lithium.

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.

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CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX  Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,500,000 shares, a drop of 11.0% from the May 15th total of 2,810,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 679,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.7 days. Approximately 7.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CEIX. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in CONSOL Energy in the first quarter worth about $257,000. ProShare Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CONSOL Energy in the first quarter worth about $284,000. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CONSOL Energy in the first quarter worth about $315,000. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in CONSOL Energy by 6.3% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 29,430 shares of the companys stock worth $1,107,000 after acquiring an additional 1,739 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in CONSOL Energy in the first quarter worth about $1,091,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.04% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of CONSOL Energy in a report on Monday, March 27th.

CONSOL Energy Price Performance

Shares of CEIX stock traded down $0.88 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $65.37. The stock had a trading volume of 1,424,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 590,245. CONSOL Energy has a one year low of $40.20 and a one year high of $79.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $60.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 1.82.

CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CEIX  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $6.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.34 by $1.21. CONSOL Energy had a return on equity of 56.19% and a net margin of 28.86%. The firm had revenue of $688.61 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $594.30 million. Equities analysts forecast that CONSOL Energy will post 20.71 EPS for the current year.

CONSOL Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $1.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.73%. CONSOL Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 22.30%.

CONSOL Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

CONSOL Energy, Inc engages in the production of bituminous coal which focuses on the extraction and preparation of coal in the Appalachian Basin. It operates under the Pennsylvania Mining Complex (PAMC) and CONSOL Marine Terminal. The PAMC segment includes mining, preparation, and marketing of bituminous coal sold to power generators, and industrial and metallurgical end-users.

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Canadian Western Bank (OTCMKTS:CBWBF  Get Rating) is one of 152 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Canadian Western Bank to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and valuation.

Dividends

Canadian Western Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.78 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. Canadian Western Bank pays out 28.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 28.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Canadian Western Bank and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Canadian Western Bank 0 2 1 0 2.33 Canadian Western Bank Competitors 942 2590 2618 5 2.27

Earnings and Valuation

Canadian Western Bank currently has a consensus target price of $31.00, suggesting a potential upside of 65.33%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 46.22%. Given Canadian Western Banks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Canadian Western Bank is more favorable than its rivals.

This table compares Canadian Western Bank and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Canadian Western Bank N/A N/A 6.94 Canadian Western Bank Competitors $4.49 billion $1.07 billion 516.57

Canadian Western Banks rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Canadian Western Bank. Canadian Western Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Canadian Western Bank and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Canadian Western Bank N/A N/A N/A Canadian Western Bank Competitors 23.15% 10.90% 0.90%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.6% of Canadian Western Bank shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.9% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 14.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Canadian Western Bank rivals beat Canadian Western Bank on 9 of the 13 factors compared.

About Canadian Western Bank

(Get Rating)

Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company offers cash management services; life and disability insurance products; and ATM, mobile, and online banking services, as well cheque order services. Further, it provides investment products comprising guaranteed investment certificates, US dollars investments plans, registered retirement income funds, tax-free savings accounts, registered education savings plans, and mutual funds, as well as personal and business planning services. Canadian Western Bank was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

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Citizens Financial (OTCMKTS:CIWV  Get Rating) is one of 165 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Citizens Financial to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk and valuation.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Citizens Financial and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Citizens Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A Citizens Financial Competitors 1048 3087 3131 19 2.29

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 44.42%. Given Citizens Financials peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Citizens Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Dividends

5.6% of Citizens Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.2% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 12.3% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Citizens Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Citizens Financial pays out 47.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 28.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Citizens Financial lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

Profitability

This table compares Citizens Financial and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Citizens Financial N/A N/A N/A Citizens Financial Competitors 25.14% 11.84% 1.12%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Citizens Financial and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Citizens Financial N/A N/A 37.48 Citizens Financial Competitors $3.32 billion $831.91 million 439.24

Citizens Financials peers have higher revenue and earnings than Citizens Financial. Citizens Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Citizens Financial peers beat Citizens Financial on 10 of the 10 factors compared.

Citizens Financial Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Citizens Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Inc. that provides retail, secondary market, and commercial loan services to consumers and businesses in West Virginia. It provides various deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRAs, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers loan products comprising auto, personal, RVS and camper, motorcycles, boats, and ATVS; and commercial loans, such as term loans, lines of credit, real estate loans, and government guaranteed loans, as well as home loans and home equity; debit and credit cards; insured cash sweep and CDARS; and remote deposit and safe deposit box services. In addition, it provides investment products, such as managed and brokerage accounts, 401K, simple and SEP IRAS, traditional and ROTH IRA, smart529 plans, insurance, and fixed and variable annuities; investment services, including retirement planning, estate planning, asset allocation, and college savings; and trust services. Further, the company offers online banking, mobile and telephone banking, mobile deposit, bill pay, notary, ATM, coin counter, night deposit drop, foreign currency, credit card processing, and other services, as well as wire transfers and digital wallet services. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Elkins, West Virginia.

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Green Alpha Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS  Get Rating) by 81.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 88,406 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 39,789 shares during the period. Green Alpha Advisors LLCs holdings in QuantumScape were worth $723,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in QS. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 12,600 shares of the companys stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 1,225 shares in the last quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC raised its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 34,276 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 1,329 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 25,378 shares of the companys stock worth $218,000 after buying an additional 1,346 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 24.5% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 7,748 shares of the companys stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 1,525 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 41.6% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,843 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,718 shares during the period. 26.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at QuantumScape

In other QuantumScape news, insider Michael O. Mccarthy III sold 32,674 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.64, for a total transaction of $216,955.36. Following the sale, the insider now owns 915,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,076,702.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Michael O. Mccarthy III sold 32,674 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.64, for a total transaction of $216,955.36. Following the sale, the insider now owns 915,166 shares in the company, valued at $6,076,702.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Gena C. Lovett sold 19,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.51, for a total value of $147,947.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 40,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $307,579.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 128,194 shares of company stock worth $919,905. 13.73% of the stock is owned by insiders.

QuantumScape Price Performance

NYSE:QS traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $7.62. 8,255,184 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,568,907. The firms 50-day moving average is $6.84 and its 200-day moving average is $7.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 22.85 and a quick ratio of 22.85. QuantumScape Co. has a 1-year low of $5.11 and a 1-year high of $13.86.

QuantumScape (NYSE:QS  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported ($0.24) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.23) by ($0.01). During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.21) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that QuantumScape Co. will post -0.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on QS shares. Wolfe Research cut QuantumScape from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $2.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on QuantumScape from $10.00 to $8.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on QuantumScape from $5.00 to $4.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th.

QuantumScape Profile

(Get Rating)

QuantumScape Corporation, a development stage company, focuses on the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Rating) and NWF Group (OTCMKTS:NWFFF  Get Rating) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and valuation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

80.4% of Edwards Lifesciences shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 9.9% of NWF Group shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Edwards Lifesciences shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Edwards Lifesciences and NWF Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Edwards Lifesciences $5.38 billion 10.36 $1.52 billion $2.41 38.15 NWF Group N/A N/A N/A ($0.22) -6.32

Analyst Ratings

Edwards Lifesciences has higher revenue and earnings than NWF Group. NWF Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Edwards Lifesciences, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Edwards Lifesciences and NWF Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Edwards Lifesciences 1 10 7 0 2.33 NWF Group 0 0 1 0 3.00

Edwards Lifesciences currently has a consensus target price of $90.00, indicating a potential downside of 2.11%. Given Edwards Lifesciences higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Edwards Lifesciences is more favorable than NWF Group.

Profitability

This table compares Edwards Lifesciences and NWF Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Edwards Lifesciences 27.07% 25.81% 18.24% NWF Group N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Edwards Lifesciences beats NWF Group on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Edwards Lifesciences

(Get Rating)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases. The company also provides the PASCAL and Cardioband transcatheter valve repair systems for minimally-invasive therapy. In addition, it offers surgical structural heart solutions, such as aortic surgical valve under the INSPIRIS name; KONECT RESILIA, a pre-assembled aortic tissue valved conduit for patients who require replacement of the valve, root, and ascending aorta; and HARPOON Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System for patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation. Further, the company provides critical care solutions, including advanced hemodynamic monitoring systems to measure a patient's heart function and fluid status in surgical and intensive care settings; and Acumen Hypotension Prediction Index software that alerts clinicians in advance of a patient developing dangerously low blood pressure. The company distributes its products through a direct sales force and independent distributors. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

About NWF Group

(Get Rating)

Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. is a medical technology company, which develops, patents, and commercializes surgical imaging tools. It is also involved in the development of its proprietary, next-gen ImgAssist, artificial intelligence technology under its ATLAS AI project. The company was founded by Elizabeth Munro, David Rempel, and Andrew Berkeley on May 16, 2013 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) by 49.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 162,584 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 53,635 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF makes up approximately 12.1% of Alliance Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its biggest position. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $16,200,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in AGG. American Trust lifted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 95.8% in the 3rd quarter. American Trust now owns 112,060 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,796,000 after acquiring an additional 54,826 shares in the last quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 169.5% in the 4th quarter. Dfpg Investments LLC now owns 6,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $651,000 after acquiring an additional 4,113 shares in the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 69.4% in the 4th quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,432 shares of the companys stock valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 1,816 shares in the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $443,000. Finally, Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $485,000. 80.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:AGG opened at $98.14 on Friday. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $93.20 and a 52 week high of $104.39. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $98.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.83.

About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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Fulton Bank N.A. trimmed its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 0.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 44,203 shares of the companys stock after selling 140 shares during the quarter. Fulton Bank N.A.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $4,299,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Parsec Financial Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 68.9% in the 1st quarter. Parsec Financial Management Inc. now owns 16,959 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,649,000 after acquiring an additional 6,920 shares during the period. Veracity Capital LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 9,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $937,000 after buying an additional 537 shares during the period. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 28.8% in the 1st quarter. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,687 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,817,000 after buying an additional 4,180 shares during the period. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $973,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Finally, Kwmg LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Kwmg LLC now owns 3,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the period. 75.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on PM shares. UBS Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.60.

Philip Morris International Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE PM traded up $0.16 on Friday, reaching $94.89. 9,547,343 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,323,281. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $82.85 and a fifty-two week high of $105.62. The company has a 50 day moving average of $95.07 and a 200 day moving average of $98.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.68.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.56 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Investors of record on Friday, June 23rd will be issued a $1.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.35%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 90.88%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products that are sold in markets outside the United States.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating).

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News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is finalising the establishment of a platform that facilitates person-to-person transactions using digital gold tokens, a development expected to largely reduce demand for United States dollars in the economy and help stabilise the local currency.The platform is scheduled to go live in the next two weeks.Holders of digital gold tokens will have to open "gold token" bank accounts with commercial banks, through which their digital gold assets will be converted into monetary value benchmarked in United States dollars for transacting.One will then be able to transact using a bank-issued debit card or electronic wallet loaded with the converted monetary value of the gold tokens held in their accounts.The gold tokens will add to the mix of multiple currencies that are legal tender in Zimbabwe.Monetary authorities believe that facilitating transactions through the gold-backed assets will cut back demand for foreign currency, which was believed to have been behind the volatility of the Zimdollar.RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya, however, told The Sunday Mail that the digital gold tokens were "not a currency".The central bank has already sold 313,9 kilogrammes of the digital gold tokens, sterilising more than $42 billion in excess liquidity from the market."The second phase of the roll-out of the digital gold tokens, which will enable transacting using the digital gold-backed tokens, will start this month, and we are currently testing the system before the launch," said Dr Mangudya."This is not a currency, but the tokens have value linked to the London Bullion Market Association."To transact using the tokens, he said, one needs to open a "gold account" at a commercial bank."For transaction purposes, one will need to have a gold account with a commercial bank  the same way one has a US dollar account or local currency account."The gold-backed tokens are being sold in milligrammes; and we are saying one milligramme is equivalent to US6 cents."So, for transacting purposes, the number of milligrammes will be multiplied by the value of the gold on the day of transacting."This means the digital gold coins will be used both as a means of payment and store of value."Dr Mangudya said the digital gold tokens will be held in either e-gold wallets or e-gold cards and will be used for facilitating person-to-person transactions and person-to-business transactions.Roll-out of the second phase of the tokens for purposes of transacting will see Zimbabwe joining a long list of countries adopting central bank digital currencies.African states like Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa have introduced digital currencies, while several others have similar plans in the works.Experts say the assets have inherent value that is tied to the market value of gold.Launch of the assets will add to a cocktail of measures the monetary authorities have introduced in recent weeks to support the Zimbabwe dollar.The RBZ, for example, has begun selling foreign currency on the interbank market through commercial banks to ensure that the interbank forex market becomes the primary source for foreign currency in the country.Economist and a member of the RBZ Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Mr Persistence Gwanyanya, said the measures were expected to start yielding positive results soon."We expect the measures to have positive results over the next few weeks," he said."The RBZ conducted its first wholesale auction recently and we realised some of the companies were not prepared, therefore, we expect that it will be different next time."We expect to start seeing the availability of foreign currency and improvement over the next few weeks, and the RBZ is capable and ready to provide the foreign currency."
REV Group (NYSE:REVG  Get Rating) had its target price increased by BMO Capital Markets from $14.00 to $15.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports.

REVG has been the topic of several other reports. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of REV Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of REV Group from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of REV Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $16.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Finally, DA Davidson raised their price target on REV Group from $12.00 to $13.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.90.

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REV Group Stock Performance

Shares of REVG stock opened at $12.97 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $11.11 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.09. The company has a market cap of $771.59 million, a P/E ratio of 40.53 and a beta of 1.92. REV Group has a 12 month low of $9.85 and a 12 month high of $16.38.

REV Group Announces Dividend

REV Group ( NYSE:REVG Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, June 8th. The company reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $681.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $580.47 million. REV Group had a net margin of 0.76% and a return on equity of 10.94%. The companys revenue was up 18.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.14 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that REV Group will post 0.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. REV Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 62.50%.

Institutional Trading of REV Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of REV Group by 2.7% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 41,265 shares of the companys stock valued at $455,000 after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in REV Group by 107.9% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,191 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in REV Group by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 77,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $978,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its position in REV Group by 63.8% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 3,100 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its stake in shares of REV Group by 57.5% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 3,395 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 1,239 shares in the last quarter. 98.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About REV Group

(Get Rating)

REV Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. The company sells its products to municipalities, government agencies, private contractors, and industrial and commercial end users. It operates through the following segments: Fire and Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation.

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inTEST Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:INTT  Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 280,600 shares, a drop of 20.1% from the May 15th total of 351,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 246,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.1 days. Currently, 2.7% of the companys shares are sold short.

inTEST Stock Down 5.6 %

NYSEAMERICAN INTT traded down $1.43 during trading on Friday, hitting $24.19. The stock had a trading volume of 226,591 shares, compared to its average volume of 174,213. The company has a market capitalization of $269.23 million, a PE ratio of 24.68 and a beta of 1.95. The companys 50-day moving average price is $19.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 2.27. inTEST has a 12 month low of $6.07 and a 12 month high of $27.17.

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inTEST (NYSEAMERICAN:INTT  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The semiconductor company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.08. inTEST had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 8.58%. The company had revenue of $31.92 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.79 million. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that inTEST will post 1.14 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at inTEST

Institutional Investors Weigh In On inTEST

In other inTEST news, Director Joseph W. Iv Dews sold 11,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.23, for a total transaction of $295,087.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 85,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,238,730.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . In other inTEST news, Director Joseph W. Iv Dews sold 11,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.23, for a total transaction of $295,087.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 85,350 shares in the company, valued at $2,238,730.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, insider Scott Eric Nolen sold 7,597 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.14, for a total value of $160,600.58. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 23,249 shares in the company, valued at approximately $491,483.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 4.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in INTT. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of inTEST by 489,800.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,899 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 4,898 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of inTEST by 28.4% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,748 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 829 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of inTEST by 329.8% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,579 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $92,000 after acquiring an additional 1,979 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC acquired a new position in shares of inTEST during the 1st quarter worth approximately $154,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of inTEST during the 1st quarter worth approximately $161,000. Institutional investors own 48.87% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

INTT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Northland Securities raised their price target on inTEST from $25.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Lake Street Capital raised their price target on inTEST from $19.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. TheStreet upgraded inTEST from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. EF Hutton Acquisition Co. I started coverage on inTEST in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. They issued a buy rating and a $22.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut inTEST from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday.

About inTEST

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inTEST Corp. engages in the supply of precision-engineered solutions for manufacturing and testing across a wide range of markets including automotive, defense, aerospace, electronics, fiber optic, machining, medical, telecom, and semiconductors. It operates through the Thermal Products and Electromechanical Solutions (EMS) business segments.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (NYSE:GAB  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 209,400 shares, an increase of 10.1% from the May 15th total of 190,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 417,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

The Gabelli Equity Trust Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of GAB traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $5.58. 650,992 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 465,328. The Gabelli Equity Trust has a 1-year low of $4.84 and a 1-year high of $6.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.57 and a 200-day moving average of $5.67.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.75%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The Gabelli Equity Trust Company Profile

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GAB. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in The Gabelli Equity Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $5,109,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in The Gabelli Equity Trust by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,799,025 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $12,467,000 after purchasing an additional 276,858 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in The Gabelli Equity Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,482,000. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in The Gabelli Equity Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $838,000. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its stake in The Gabelli Equity Trust by 33.2% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 508,035 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,784,000 after purchasing an additional 126,534 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.58% of the companys stock.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc The fund is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. It invests in public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It invests in preferred stock, convertible or exchangeable securities, and warrants and rights.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine (NYSEAMERICAN:CVR  Get Rating) in a research note released on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet downgraded Chicago Rivet & Machine from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, June 6th.

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Chicago Rivet & Machine Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN:CVR opened at $26.87 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $26.06 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.05. Chicago Rivet & Machine has a twelve month low of $23.65 and a twelve month high of $32.94.

Chicago Rivet & Machine Dividend Announcement

Chicago Rivet & Machine ( NYSEAMERICAN:CVR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 29th. The company reported ($1.36) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $6.86 million during the quarter. Chicago Rivet & Machine had a net margin of 8.52% and a return on equity of 9.41%.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 2nd. Chicago Rivet & Machines dividend payout ratio is 29.63%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chicago Rivet & Machine

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 68,710 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,771,000 after purchasing an additional 576 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 49,210 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,402,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 91.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $746,000 after purchasing an additional 13,626 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,696 shares of the companys stock valued at $363,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in Chicago Rivet & Machine during the 4th quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 22.36% of the companys stock.

Chicago Rivet & Machine Company Profile

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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.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Teleflex (NYSE:TFX  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on TFX. CL King began coverage on shares of Teleflex in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $293.00 price objective on the stock. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and set a $291.00 price objective on shares of Teleflex in a report on Friday, February 24th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $330.00 price objective on shares of Teleflex in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Raymond James boosted their target price on Teleflex from $231.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on Teleflex from $250.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $273.38.

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Teleflex Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TFX opened at $252.40 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $11.84 billion, a PE ratio of 32.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.00. Teleflex has a 12 month low of $182.65 and a 12 month high of $276.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 2.48 and a quick ratio of 1.41. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $251.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $246.70.

Teleflex Dividend Announcement

Teleflex ( NYSE:TFX Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The medical technology company reported $3.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.12. Teleflex had a return on equity of 15.80% and a net margin of 12.68%. The business had revenue of $710.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $687.11 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.88 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Teleflex will post 13.29 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. Teleflexs payout ratio is 17.73%.

Insider Activity at Teleflex

In other Teleflex news, Director Stuart A. Randle sold 3,021 shares of Teleflex stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.71, for a total transaction of $742,289.91. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,190,956.37. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.41% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Teleflex

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TFX. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Teleflex by 0.9% during the first quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 4,688 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,187,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Utah Retirement Systems increased its stake in shares of Teleflex by 0.6% during the third quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 8,368 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,686,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Column Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Teleflex by 9.0% during the first quarter. Column Capital Advisors LLC now owns 567 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $144,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Teleflex by 3.5% during the third quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 1,411 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tealwood Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Teleflex by 1.6% during the third quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,138 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $632,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.82% of the companys stock.

About Teleflex

(Get Rating)

Teleflex Incorporated designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies single-use medical devices for common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in critical care and surgical applications worldwide. It provides vascular access products that comprise Arrow branded catheters, catheter navigation and tip positioning systems, and intraosseous access systems for the administration of intravenous therapies, the measurement of blood pressure, and the withdrawal of blood samples through a single puncture site.

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The Swiss Helvetia Fund Inc. (NYSE:SWZ  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, June 9th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 21st will be given a dividend of 0.1229 per share by the closed-end fund on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.49 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 20th.

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Price Performance

SWZ opened at $8.29 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.98. The Swiss Helvetia Fund has a 12-month low of $6.56 and a 12-month high of $8.44.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Swiss Helvetia Fund

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund by 16.9% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 36,426 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 5,254 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers purchased a new position in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $400,000. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund by 49.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 87,372 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $661,000 after purchasing an additional 29,054 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund by 13.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 84,108 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $775,000 after purchasing an additional 10,046 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of The Swiss Helvetia Fund by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 805,394 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $7,425,000 after purchasing an additional 2,444 shares in the last quarter. 29.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About The Swiss Helvetia Fund

The Swiss Helvetia Fund Inc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc The fund invests in public equity markets of Switzerland. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in value stocks of companies across all market capitalizations.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Rating) (TSE:TD) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Wednesday morning.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. CIBC raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Barclays downgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $100.57.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE:TD opened at $61.16 on Wednesday. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a one year low of $55.43 and a one year high of $70.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $112.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $60.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.02.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend

Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Rating ) (TSE:TD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.52 by ($0.09). Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 17.72% and a return on equity of 15.51%. The business had revenue of $9.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.10 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.709 per share. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 7th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio is presently 47.65%.

Institutional Trading of Toronto-Dominion Bank

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,240,327 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,123,850,000 after purchasing an additional 2,238,912 shares during the period. FIL Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 33,381,437 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,999,428,000 after purchasing an additional 1,221,884 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 30,819,858 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,995,552,000 after purchasing an additional 1,633,502 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 14.9% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 30,793,768 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,842,844,000 after purchasing an additional 3,997,094 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 29,480,283 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,765,633,000 after purchasing an additional 644,627 shares during the period. 49.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile

(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 three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, 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.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

THE scramble for lithium in Zimbabwe - which boasts Africa's largest and the world's fifth-biggest reserves of "white gold" - is escalating against the backdrop of soaring demand for the lucrative mineral, but local communities continue getting a raw deal and are largely excluded from benefitting.Lithium is used in the manufacture of energy-storing batteries and has seen growing demand as electric vehicles gain global popularity. In the latest resource-curse controversy, villagers in the Muchemwa area of Buhera district are complaining that they are bearing the brunt of ruinous lithium extraction activity by First Roots Mining Company.Locals have told The NewsHawks that the miner has left a trail of destruction while exposing the community to serious environmental threats.Several villagers stand to lose their homesteads and fields due to the mining activities, which cover 21 hectares, while many houses have developed cracks because of the blasting caused by the company.The mining activity has destroyed farmland and grazing pasture while causing serious noise and air pollution. Some of the mining activity is occurring in areas with graves. First Roots has been extracting lithium in the area, which is under Chief Nyashanu's jurisdiction, some 270 kilometres south of Harare.The company - which says it specialises in the mining of chrome, manganese, iron ore, coal and other minerals that remain largely untapped - first ventured into the extractive sector in 2010. On its website, the company emphasises that its corporate mission is anchored on "responsible mining".The firm, whose listed office is in Borrowdale, Harare, describes itself as "a proudly Zimbabwean company"."Responsible mining is a company-wide commitment that is at the core of every business decision we make and constantly strive to be the best in creating value, lasting social progress and economic growth for all stakeholders," says the company.First Roots briefly halted operations last week after a dramatic stand-off with agitated villagers. The mining company left large stockpiles of unprocessed lithium, and a serious trail of environmental degradation, but is preparing to resume operations.Blasting activity by the company has left houses with massive cracks, while open-cast mining has reduced pastures and farmland into unrehabilitated gullies and unsightly pits. In total, 18 families are likely to be evicted as they are in the mining area."During blasting, at times debris would be thrown for a distance of close to 500 metres. As a result, people would take refuge in the nearby mountain and come back at dusk after the blasting. We no longer have any grazing land for our livestock; neither do we have any farming land," said a member of the villagers' committee who spoke to The NewsHawks.Minutes of a meeting jointly attended by community members, the company and government officials on 24 May reveal that villagers were angered that the company was granted a mining licence without the locals being consulted.The meeting was attended by representatives from the ministry of Home Affairs, Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Environmental Management Agency (Ema), Agritex, Social Development department, Murambinda Rural District Council and Chief Nyashanu."The villagers had agreed that they needed to be compensated for their homes and fields. As Zimbabweans we have the right to good health, peace, freedom, education of our children, and the right to shelter and others. However, First Roots Mine has heavily affected the community," the minutes read."As villagers we have agreed that: Villagers with their homes within First Roots' mining claim should be relocated elsewhere, while the company is entitled to building the houses as they were before moving."Their fields should be compensated with a minimum of US$5 000 once-off payment, and also minimum of US$300 per month for a period of 12 months until they get settled and have decent accommodation," read the minutes seen by The NewsHawks.The villagers also said First Roots' operations are likely to spiral into an environmental and health hazard."We are appealing to the human rights organisations to assist us as a matter of urgency. Dust from the mine is affecting us. We are hopeless because the Ema department in Murambinda and other departments are not representing us. There are no hospitals or clinics that can assist us," read the minutes.The community members said First Roots has been operating with neither a prospecting licence nor an environmental impact assessment (EIA).An EIA is a process of identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.The purpose of an EIA is to ensure that environmental impacts are considered when deciding whether or not to proceed with a project. The EIA process is conducted by a team of experts who will assess the potential impacts of the proposed project on the environment, including air quality, water quality, land use and socio-economic impacts."So due to the above effects, villagers decided to engage the above government officials, but villagers were shocked when they discovered that First Roots had already been given permission to mine, leaving the villagers vulnerable to health hazards," the minutes read."We were further shocked that the company has been operating without an environmental impact assessment which outlines measures to safeguard the community and the people's livelihoods." Villagers who spoke to The NewsHawks said the company has been deceiving them into consenting to the takeover of their land."When they first came five months ago, they visited the chief and headman using a political stance. They would convene meetings, and later use attendance registers as the villagers' consent for their mining activity," said a villager who spoke to The NewsHawks.In April, the villagers made a joint agreement that would compel First Roots to relocate them as its operations were affecting locals.Some of the effects highlighted in the proposal include health hazards such as asthma, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.The company has also been accused of contaminating grazing land with chemicals, which locals fear will kill their cattle.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The defeat of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) senior leader Tendai Biti (technically the vice-president) in the candidates selection process (primaries) has sent shock waves within the party, the public and diplomatic community as people say he is currently the best MP in the Zimbabwean Parliament in terms of representing interests of his constituency, contribution to the legislative process, debates, probing issues (new laws, budget, public finances, debt and arrears, loans, abuse of office and power, corruption, human rights and constitutionalism), exercising oversight responsibilities and asking ministers questions to hold them and the entire executive to account.Apart from its legislative function, parliament holds the executive to account, that is ensures public accountability and transparency in governance by scrutinising government policies, programmes and expenditures.Other commentators believe that Nelson Chamisa, the leader of CCC, is now eliminating competition.Biti was beaten by Rusty Makham by 338 to 392 votes in Harare East.Among his other attributes, Biti is widely seen as a part of the CCC's intellectual locomotive; driving its thinking process, ideation, policy initiatives, research, execution of ideas and articulation of issues.Prominent local analyst Dr Phillan Zamchiya expressed his dismay this way:"Dear Reader,Good Evening,There have been conflicting messages from various media houses about the outcome of the CCC's internal process to select its parliamentary candidate in Harare East to contest in the upcoming general election.I can reliably confirm from my research that Tendai Biti has lost the internal contest to represent CCC in Harare East constituency. In short Tendai Biti got 338 votes to Rusty Makham's 392 votes. Congrats to Makham.I sorry for Tendai. He was my preferred candidate.By Dr. Phillan Zamchiya.17 June 2023."
New Delhi, June 18: The Delhi Police in coordination with FBI Legal Attache and Interpol has arrested four men for allegedly cheating US citizens of more than 20 million dollars by running fake call centres, officials said on Sunday. The accused Parth Armarkar (28), Vatsal Mehta (29), Deepak Arora (45) and Prashant Kumar (45) were arrested from different states of the country, they said.

Police said the accused operated call centres in Uganda and in several parts of India, including Delhi. A senior police officer said Mehta, a native of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, is the head of the crime syndicate and supervised the functioning of the Uganda-based call centre. Fake Call Centre Racket Busted in Gurugram; 10 Arrested.

Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) H S Dhaliwal said their team received information through secret informers, FBI and Interpol that some international cyber criminals based in India, the US and Uganda were running call centres by posing as employees of US Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration and other US agencies.

One of the accused, Armarkar, he said, impersonated as Uttam Dhillon, who had served as the acting administrator of the US Drug Enforcement Administration and as the director of Interpol Washington. The accused defrauded victims of over 6 million USD through call centres operating in Uganda, Africa. He is an Indian national and visits India occasionally, the officer added.

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Delhi Police shared technical evidence and information on Armarkar, which led our team to identify his whereabouts in Ahmedabad from where he was running part of the criminal activities," the senior police officer said.

Armarkar's arrest helped in nabbing Vatsal Mehta, who was on the run, he said.

"During further investigation, two more accused Deepak Arora and Prashant Kumar, who were the main co-conspirators were tracked down and apprehended from Uttarakhand. They were on the radar of the FBI since some time," the officer added. Fake Call Centre Racket Busted in Delhi-NCR, CBI Conducts Searches at Four Sites, Recovers Over Rs 3 Crore.

"As part of the coordinated action, the FBI has interviewed over 50 victims so far and also collected evidence of fraud of more than 20 million USD which will be produced in court as per procedure. Two victims from the US have also been examined through video calling by the Special Cell of Delhi Police," Dhaliwal said. The accused were taken on police custody remand for five days, police said, adding that the investigation is underway.

(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, June 18: A total of 707 women gave birth to children during Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, an official statement said on Sunday. According to the information given by the Union Health Ministry, "During the cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, 1,206 pregnant women were safely shifted to different hospitals and health and wellness centres from the affected areas, out of which 707 women gave birth to children."

"202 ambulances of 108 number were kept on standby in critical condition. 302 government ambulances were also deployed to take the injured to the hospital immediately. Along with this, complete preparations were made for emergency and all trauma facilities in 458 hospitals of the state. All doctors were on standby, so that if any injured person reaches the hospital they can be treated immediately," an official statement said. Cyclone Biparjoy: Indian Coast Guard Deploys Ships, Aircraft To Assess Damage Along Gujarat Shoreline Due to Cyclonic Storm.

A Union Health Ministry official said that the district administration had identified shelter homes in which women, pregnant women, children etc. were kept, where arrangements for food, accommodation, ration were made for all the people.

"Food packets were distributed to 1,85,884 people. Good facilities were arranged for the people living in the shelter home so that they do not face any problem and they and their families do not face any problem during this calamity," an official said.

As precautionary measures more than 73,000 animals were also taken from affected areas to safer places. "The Kutch and Coastal Line area of Gujarat, where animal husbandry is the main occupation, the number of animals is more than 2 lakhs, out of which 73000 animals were sent to safe places, these animals were taken to high places where water could not reach and their lives could be saved. Although 60 to 70 animals also died," an official statement said.

According to the data released by officials, a total of 8 pucca houses were damaged, 156 houses were also damaged which were not fully pucca, besides this 647 slums were also destroyed due to this storm. Cyclone Biparjoy: Flood-Like Situation in Rajasthan's Jalore, Sirohi and Barmer Districts After Heavy Rainfall Caused by Cyclonic Storm (Watch Video).

"222 kutcha houses were also damaged, and 33 such houses which were completely kutcha were also damaged, in total 3056 houses were affected due to this cyclonic storm, many houses got damaged and many houses collapsed completely," an official statement said. According to the information received by officials, 3021 trees were uprooted due to the Cyclone in the state.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gangtok, Jun 18 (PTI) The North Sikkim District Collector (DC) Hem Kumar Chettri on Sunday said that no fresh permits will be issued to tourists to visit the picturesque district in view of weather-related vagaries and restoration works underway for roads damaged extensively due to landslides even as all 2,464 stranded tourists have been rescued.

He said that the evacuation of all 2,464 tourists stranded following torrential downpour for three days was completed on Saturday evening.

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All tourists and 60 students of Namchi College have left for their respective destinations by vehicles arranged by the authorities, the North Sikkim DC said.

He thanked the BRO, GREF, ITBP, Army and district officials for the successful evacuation of the tourists

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"We have decided to not issue fresh permits to the tourists to visit North Sikkim for the time being due to the restoration of roads underway between Mangan Chungthang," he told PTI over the phone.

"Our immediate priority is to restore roads damaged due to landslides and heavy rains and once the road connectivity is restored then we will allow the tourists to come," Chettri said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 18 (ANI): Coming down heavily on the Director General of Police (DGP) Rajendranath Reddy for claiming that there is no increase in the crime rate in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh, on Saturday said that the State has already turned into the crime capital of the country.

In a press note released during his Yuva Galam pada yatra on Saturday, Lokesh told the DGP to view the ongoing criminal incidents as an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer but not from the ruling YSRCP angle.

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"Only on Friday, you have certified yourself that there is no increase in the crime rate and that the law and order is completely under control. What about the setting afire of the 10th standard boy, Amarnath, so inhumanly at Uppalavaripalem of Cherukupalli mandal in Bapatla district by the local YSRCP worker, Venkateswara Reddy. Is it, not a crime," Lokesh asked and said that the only mistake that Amarnath committed was that he questioned Venkateswara Reddy for harassing his sister.

At the Kallur campsite of Venkatagiri Assembly segment in Nellore district, Lokesh had an interaction with Yanadi community representatives.

Also Read | France: Protest Against Alpine Rail Project Turns Violent.

After hearing all their problems, the TDP national general secretary promised to sanction pucca houses for them immediately after his party forms the coming government. He also promised Rs 1500 as a monthly pension for women who crossed 18 years of age.

When the farmers of Madanangaripalli and neighbouring villages in a memorandum complained that they are yet to get compensation for the lands that they lost for the Kaluvai reservoir, Lokesh said that the TDP will raise the issue on the floor of the Assembly in the coming session. "If this Government does not do justice to you, the coming TDP government will certainly do justice to you all," Lokesh told the villagers.

Representatives from the Muslim community, SC and ST communities too met Lokesh and brought their issues to his notice. The TDP national general secretary promised them that soon after the TDP is back in power all their problems will be resolved. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, June 18 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has weathered many storms, felt the heat on Sunday, literally speaking.

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The septuagenarian was out in the blazing sun to attend a function on the occasion of birth anniversary of Anugrah Narayan Singh, the state's first deputy chief minister.

The dignitaries sat under a marquee, experiencing the high temperature of the city, where the mercury has been shooting well past 40 degrees Celsius for many days, with little respite even during nights.

Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Shares Sex Videos With College Girls on Social Media in Thirthahalli, Arrested.

After the function, the JD(U) supreme leader marched towards the posse of journalists, greeting them with the remark 'bahut garmi hai' (it is too hot).

A personal staff stood beside the chief minister, holding an umbrella over his head, as journalists began lobbing questions on the BJP's fresh pitch for uniform civil code.

Interesting comments were being expected from the leader, who is going to host a meeting of leaders opposed to the BJP in a few days.

The sweltering weather seemed to have got the better of Kumar, who said "let us talk on these matters some time later. Today it is so hot", before walking past the media persons, waving at them with a broad smile.

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Kannauj (UP), Jun 18 (PTI) A former village head's husband was shot dead by the son of the current pradhan of Jalalpur Amra village of Kannauj Sadar Kotwali area here, leading to tension in the area, police said on Sunday.

Police said heavy police force has been deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident.

Also Read | Mann Ki Baat Should Have First Included Manipur Ki Baat: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Hits Out at PM Narendra Modi.

Two people have been arrested following an encounter with police, they said, adding that Deepu Rajput, son of village head Ramshree, is absconding.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: BJP Witnesses Another Jolt in Poll-Bound State As Veteran Leader Dhruv Pratap Singh Quits, May Join Congress.

"Rajput along with his accomplices attacked the house of former village head Shivdevi Saturday night. They pumped bullets into Shivdevi's husband Ramdas," Ajay Awasthi, SHO, Sadar Kotwali said.

Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh said Ramdas (45) had political rivalry with Rajput.

He said a case of murder has been registered against six people in the matter.

SHO Awasthi said after the murder, around 3 am on Sunday, a search operation was conducted in Ganga ki Katri where the accused opened fire on the police.

The police retaliated and two of the accused -- Mukesh and Rakesh -- were arrested.

The SP said action will be taken against all the accused under the Gangster Act and the stringent National Security Act.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sivsagar (Assam), Jun 18 (PTI) BJP national president J P Nadda on Sunday asserted that India has been giving a befitting reply to anyone casting an evil eye on the country.

Speaking at a party rally here, Nadda said the BJP-led central government has worked to strengthen India's security.

Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Shares Sex Videos With College Students on Social Media in Thirthahalli, Arrested.

"Be it during the Doklam stand off or the surgical strike, India has shown no one can cast an evil eye on us," he said.

Nadda also maintained that the NDA government's nine years at the Centre have been marked by strong decisions, which have taken the country forward.

Also Read | Heatwave Alert in Telangana: IMD Issues Warning As Maximum Temperature Likely To Touch 44 Degrees Celsius in State Over Next Two Days.

"Before 2014, India was known for corruption, policy paralysis and scams. Now, we are known for a decisive, strong and forward-marching government," the senior BJP leader said.

The country's image has undergone a drastic transformation, especially at the international forum, under the current regime, Nadda said.

"Be it 'seva, sushasan, garib-kalyan' (service, good governance, service to the poor), the Union government has delivered on all fronts," he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mhow, June 18: A 60-year-old man was mauled to death by a wild animal, suspected to be a tiger, in a village near Mhow area of Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Sunday, an official said. The incident occurred in the forested area of Malendi village this morning, he said. Madhya Pradesh: Six People Attempt to Kill State Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar's Brother in Gwalior (Watch CCTV Video).

The victim Sundarlal Banarasi died of injuries from an animal attack, and pugmarks larger than those of a leopard were found at the scene, Mhow forest range officer Vaibhav Upadhyay said. It could be a tiger that has been wandering in the area for some time now, he said. Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Forced To Carry Newborn Sons Body in Bag Aboard Passenger Bus As Government Hospital Denied Mortuary Van, Alleges Man in Jabalpur (Watch Video).

The victim had gone to graze cattle in the nearby forest in the early hours, village sarpanch Tulsiram Banarasi said. Some children grazing their goats noticed the body lying in the bushes around 10.30 am, he said. There were deep cuts on the victim's throat, which may have led to severe blood loss and death, he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Jun 18 (PTI) Pakistan's Senate has passed a bill to ensure no parliamentarian is disqualified for a lifetime, a move termed by the Opposition as an attempt to clear the way for former premier Nawaz Sharif's return to the country and his participation in the upcoming elections.

Nawaz Sharif, 73, was disqualified in 2017 by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court. In 2018, he became ineligible to hold public office for life after a Supreme Court verdict.

Also Read | UK: Indian-Origin Man Stabbed to Death With Knife in London.

He has been living in London since November 2019 for medical treatment after a Pakistani court allowed him a four-week reprieve.

Nawaz Sharif, who has served as the prime minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms, was serving seven-year imprisonment in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore in the Al-Azizia corruption case before he left for London.

Also Read | UK PM Rishi Sunak Joins Raid on Illegal Migrants, Over 100 Arrested From 20 Different Nations (See Pic).

The Senate on Friday passed the bill seeking to limit the disqualification of lawmakers to five years with retrospective effect, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The move comes a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N supremo, to return from London and lead the poll campaign of the party in the general election and become the premier of the nation for a record fourth time.

A copy of the bill presented in the Senate on Friday included an amendment to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

The amendments say that a person's eligibility to become a member of parliament will be decided according to the criteria set under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. In case the Constitution does not have a special provision for disqualification

Any person disqualified through a court decision will be disqualified for a maximum of 5 years starting from the day the verdict is announced. Disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) will not extend beyond five years.

Senate also passed amendments giving the right of announcing the date of election to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Opposition termed it person-specific legislation and an attempt to ensure Nawaz Sharif's participation in the upcoming elections.

The earlier two attempts by the PML-N-led coalition govt to reverse the lifetime disqualification of a person have failed.

The Supreme Court is hearing two legislations, including The Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023 and the law to limit the Chief Justice's powers.

These legislations were also termed as an attempt to reverse Nawaz Sharif's lifetime disqualification.

During the debate on the bill, the Opposition was asked not to oppose it, with a warning that this sword might be used against former premier Imran Khan as well.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami said there was no ambiguity in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. He alleged that the government wanted to render qualification and disqualification clauses ineffective gradually.

The sources in the ruling coalition claimed it is unfair for the parliamentarians who have been disqualified for a lifetime under Article 62 of the Constitution, the Geo News reported.

There was an ambiguity, and the parliament has now removed it by limiting the disqualification period to five years, they said.

When asked whether the Supreme Court can take notice of this legislation, the sources claimed: The parliament is supreme and it has the right to legislate and remove any ambiguity if there is any in a law or act. This was due, and it should have been done a long time ago."

When asked whether this legislation has been introduced to ensure the participation of Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming elections, the sources said it is not just for the PML-N supremo only.

In future, if any leader is disqualified, they too will be the beneficiary of it, as this is not a person-specific legislation, the sources said.

The current National Assembly will complete its five-year term on August 12 and the fresh general election in Pakistan must be conducted within 60 days as per the Constitution of Pakistan. PTI

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke  but a renowned medical expert, a comedian, a billionaire and a Kennedy are all embroiled in a bizarre Twitter exchange about covid vaccines stoked by the platforms owner himself.

The saga has focused on vaccine expert Dr Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, who authored the 2018 book Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachels Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad.

Dr Hotez on Saturday tweeted a link to a Vice article titled Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogans Vaccine Misinformation, which highlighted podcast host and stand-up comedian Joe Rogans recent three-hour interview with Robert F Kennedy, Jr. The controversial scion of one of Americas most celebrated political families, who is an outspoken anti-vaxxer, has launched a long-shot 2024 presidential campaign.

This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If youre really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion https://t.co/g1FGalC0Ym  Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 17, 2023

Along with the tweeted article, Dr Hotez wrote that from all the online attacks Im receiving after this absurd podcast, its clear many actually believe this nonsense.

RFK Jr has a long history of anti-vaccine advocacy which became particularly prominent  and outspoken  during the pandemic. The 69-year-old nephew of President John F Kennedy and son of Robert F Kennedy, both assassinated in the 1960s, has for more than 15 years come under fire from public health experts and even his own family for his controversial beliefs. He announced his candidacy for president earlier this year.

Rogan, who spoke to Mr Kennedy for three hours during his Thursday show, responded to Dr Hotez with a challenge.

Peter, if you claim what RFKjr is saying is misinformation I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if youre willing to debate him on my show with no time limit, he tweeted on Saturday.

Joe, you have my cell, my email, Im always willing to speak with you, the vaccine expert, whod previously been interviewed by Mr Rogan, wrote back  a response deemed a non answer by the host.

I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogs*** vice article, Rogan tweeted. If youre really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will be reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.

Rogan also gleefully pointed out that hed noticed another tweet the doctor had just written and deleted  which read: Be serious Joe, thats what you throw out for your hunting buddies on a weekend. A $50million endowment (which You/Spotify/RFK Jr can easily afford), not for me but so we can continue making low-cost patent-free vaccines for the worlds poor. Preceded by RFK Jrs public apology.

Hes afraid of a public debate, because he knows hes wrong  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2023

That prompted another apology of sorts, this time from Dr Hotez.

Yes Joe I thought it was over the top, unnecessarily provocative, so I took it down right away, he tweeted. But Ive been hurt by the public/untrue statements you/guests have made about me being a Pharmashill, when all I do is make vaccines for the worlds poor. I dont take BigPharma money.

He continued: Im happy to come on and have a meaningful discussion. I respect you and your show and I dont want an adversarial relationship. I think we can make some progress.

And Im open to a number of different options, but to be pressured to give you an answer on Twitter, now, with a take it or leave it demand thats not how I work, the doctor tweeted back at Rogan; they live within a few hours driving distance of each other in Texas. Honestly, I dont even think that would be in your best interests.

Joe if you are serious about addressing vaccines + the fact that 200,000 unvaccinated Americans needlessly perished during our awful delta/BA.1 Covid waves (including 40,000 in our state of Texas) because they fell victims to vaccine disinformation: I want to have that discussion.

Not to be outdone, however, another former Texas resident weighed in on the debate between the comedian and the doctor. Following Rogans invite and offer of donation money to Dr Hotez, Elon Musk took to the platform he controversially purchased last year for $44bn.

Ugh I just was stalked in front of my home by a couple of antivaxers taunting me to debate RFKJr. Of course I was looking my Sunday best in our brutal heat wave. What is it with people? Well at least Houstonians now know I support the team#GoTexans pic.twitter.com/d0NIgNElKN  Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) June 18, 2023

Maybe @PeterHotez just hates charity, he tweeted, adding a tweet with fire emojis three hours later.

Hes afraid of public debate, because he knows hes wrong, Mr Musk tweeted at Rogan about the doctor.

Seriously Elon? This is monstrous, he tweeted, repeating the death figures before adding: Please dont do this.

First of all, I am generally pro vaccine, Mr Musk responded. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids.

Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital.

That said, the world obviously went crazy with excess vaccination against Covid-19. I have that in quotes, because the RNA sequences changed so much that I called it the virus of Theseus, Mr Musk continued. So many people I know had serious side effects from the vaccines, including myself. Failure to acknowledge that is a lie.

As for the deaths you claim are due to Covid-19, why is the nation of Sweden still alive? he said. Just go on Rogan and do the debate.

Dr Hotez tweeted that it was not easy to respond when those 3 gang up and tag team. Wish I could be more eloquent and clever when the moment demands, but there you are.

On Sunday morning, he offered a challenge of his own to the Twitter owner and Tesla founder.

I would like to invite you to visit our laboratories at Texas Childrens Hospital, meet our scientists and learn more about our work, he tweeted in response to Mr Musk.

Dr Hotez also tweeted that, following the weekends wild Twitter debate, hed been stalked in front of my home by a couple of antivaxers taunting me to debate RFKJr.

The Independent has reached out to Twitter, Spotify, Mr Kennedy and Dr Hotez.
Streaks of Light Seen in California. (Photo Credits: Video Grab)

Willowbrook (US), Jun 18 (AP) At least 20 people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday during a gathering in a parking lot in suburban Chicago, authorities said.

TV news video showed the strip mall lot filled with debris and police tape in Willowbrook, about 20 miles (32.1 kilometres) southwest of Chicago.

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There were at least 20 individuals shot. One victim is deceased, said Eric Swanson, deputy chief at the DuPage County sheriff's office. The motive behind this incident is unclear. ... We transported numerous victims from the scene. Others just walked into area hospitals.

The conditions of the wounded were not immediately available, Swanson told reporters.

Also Read | Nepal Floods: Two Killed, 26 Missing As Heavy Rains and Landslides Wreak Havoc in Himalayan Nation.

It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration. We just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped, witness Markeshia Avery told WLS-TV.

Another witness, Craig Lotcie, said: Everybody ran, and it was chaos. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sharjah [UAE], June 18 (ANI/WAM): Embarking on an extraordinary journey across time and place, the Sharjah Pavilion at the 65th Seoul International Book Fair beckoned visitors with a captivating tapestry of historical maps and rare books.

Within it, a portal unfolded, transporting eager explorers to the interconnected realms of diverse civilisations, their cultural, scientific, and artistic threads interwoven with remarkable finesse.These treasures, meticulously showcased as part of the Sharjah Guest of Honour programme at the international event, unveiled narratives steeped in history, geography, religion, literature, and philosophy from the Arab and Islamic world.

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Furthermore, they gracefully revealed the profound cultural influences and vibrant exchanges with the Asian continent, especially Korea.

The initiative aims to enrich knowledge and appreciation of human heritage, promote communication and dialogue between peoples and cultures, and highlight the bright and common aspects of Arab and Korean civilisations.

Also Read | Nepal Floods: Two Killed, 26 Missing As Heavy Rains and Landslides Wreak Havoc in Himalayan Nation.

Among the rare books showcased by the House of Wisdom, the illustrious 'Islamic Bucheinbande (Buch Kunst des Orients)' by the esteemed German orientalist Friedrich Sarre took centre stage. Renowned for his unparalleled studies of Islamic art, Sarre's masterpiece revealed captivating depictions of handcrafted adornments, showcasing a fascinating tapestry of cultural exchange between the Islamic world and Korea.

Within its pages, one witnesses the profound influence of the Korean craft 'Najeonchilgi' -- which is the combination of two words, 'najeon' (mother-of-pearl) and 'chilgi' which refers to lacquerware -- intricately gracing covers and boxes, embellishing them with mesmerising geometric patterns and botanical motifs.

Furthermore, the captivating work 'L'art Arabe' by French orientalist Prisse d'Avennes presents arabesque designs that exemplify the exquisite beauty of Islamic art, with their interlocking and harmonious patterns serving as a wellspring of inspiration for Korean artisans, influencing realms as diverse as jewellery, ceramics, and iron industries.

As visitors meandered through the corridors of the Sharjah Pavilion, they were irresistibly drawn to a captivating collection of rare maps, meticulously curated by the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, unveiling the captivating Arab and Middle-Eastern history; these cartographic marvels offered an exquisite window into bygone eras.

Among them is a miniature copy of Ptolemy's world map, dating back to 1547, revealing detailed geographical insights.

Equally captivating was a 1680 map of the Ottoman Empire by Frederick de Wit. Moreover, a map of Asia shed light on the name Zara (Sharjah), known to English sailors in 1752, capturing the imaginations of those fortunate enough to witness these historical marvels firsthand. In awe of their beauty and remarkable accuracy, one elderly visitor was captivated, pausing to admire the meticulous maps' details and taking pictures of these timeless gems. (ANI/WAM)

(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 18: Eight people, including teenagers, were injured in a shooting in Los Angeles County, authorities said on Saturday. Two are in critical condition, CNN reported.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded on early Saturday to a report of multiple gunshot victims at a residence in Carson, about 17 miles south of Los Angeles. Carson House Party Shooting: Eight Shot at Pool Party in Southern California.

The shooting happened outside of a home in a cul-de-sac where between 20 to 30 people were believed to have been gathered, deputies said at a news conference. According to Chief Myron Johnson of the Sheriff's Department Countywide Services Division, the victims' ages ranged from 16 to 24.

"(They) were discovered to have multiple gunshot wounds throughout their bodies, including injuries to their heads, back and upper and lower body area," Johnson said, as per CNN. Deputies found that five victims were shot and were told by a witness that two other victims were taken to a hospital before authorities arrived, according to Johnson.

Shortly after responding to the initial call, deputies learned that a vehicle had crashed a quarter of a mile away from the site of the mass shooting. Johnson said: "When deputies arrived, they found that a male Hispanic (who is) 16-years-old was suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body." He said one of the six non-critical victims has been released from the hospital and all victims are expected to survive. US Shooting: Gunman Kills Five Neighbours, Including a Child in Texas After Family Complained About Gunfire.

Although the motive was not immediately clear, Lt. Rick Conti said they were told that "there might have been a fight before the shooting," and they do not think the general public is in danger.

"We don't believe there's a wild gunman just randomly shooting people," Conti said, as per CNN. No arrests have been made. The incident is among 303 mass shootings to occur so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington DC [US], June 18 (ANI): The United States, on Saturday, called on the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic to "immediately and unconditionally" release the three Kosovo police detained on June 14.

In a statement, the US State Department's Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We call on President Vucic and the Serbian government to immediately and unconditionally release the three Kosovo police detained on June 14. Their arrest and ongoing detention on spurious charges have exacerbated an already tense situation."

Also Read | Afghanistan: Diarrhoea Kills Six Children in Balkh Province in Past Two Months.

"We also continue to call on both Serbia and Kosovo to follow the three-point plan outlined by the EU and return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue without delay," he added.

This statement came after the Serbian police arrested three "fully armed" Kosovo police officers, on Wednesday, inside Serbia near their mutual border, while Kosovo officials said the trio were "kidnapped" on Kosovo territory as they patrolled the area, Al Jazeera reported.

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Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Serbia for abducting the men and demanded their release on Wednesday. He said they were arrested 300 metres (330 yards) inside Kosovan territory near the border.

"The entry of Serbian forces into the territory of Kosovo is aggression and aimed at escalation and destabilisation," Kurti wrote on his Facebook page.

Tensions have been rising in the last week of May in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

In 1999, a NATO bombing campaign drove Serbian security forces out of Kosovo but Belgrade has continued to regard it as a southern province, reported Al Jazeera.

Violence flared last month when 30 NATO peacekeepers and 52 Serbs were injured in clashes in four predominantly Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo just outside Serbia.

It erupted after Serbs rallied against ethnic Albanian mayors who moved into their offices following a local vote in which the turnout was just 3.5 per cent. Serbs in the area boycotted the election, according to Al Jazeera. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Illinois, June 18: One person was killed and 20 others injured in a shooting overnight at a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois, CNN reported citing police. Some of the injured were taken to hospitals by ambulance and others walked in, DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson said on Sunday. Swanson said the motive behind the shooting is unclear and it is still an active investigation, CNN reported.

10 patients were taken to four hospitals with injuries, ranging from graze wounds to more serious gunshot wounds. Two injured people were in critical condition, according to Joe Ostrander, battalion chief of the Tri-State Fire Protection District said, CNN reported. At least 12 ambulances were deployed at the scene. According to the witnesses, the shooting happened at around 12.30 am (local time) in a parking lot in Willowbrook, which is about 21 miles west of Chicago, as per the CNN report. Shooting in US: At Least 6 People Killed, Dozens Injured in Weekend Mass Shootings in Chicago, Washington State, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Southern California and Baltimore.

Earlier, on Saturday (local time), eight people, including teenagers, were injured in a shooting in Los Angeles County, authorities said on Saturday. Two were in critical condition, CNN reported. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded early Saturday to a report of multiple gunshot victims at a residence in Carson, about 17 miles south of Los Angeles. The shooting happened outside of a home in a cul-de-sac where between 20 to 30 people were believed to have been gathered, deputies said at a news conference.

According to Chief Myron Johnson of the Sheriff's Department Countywide Services Division, the victims' ages ranged from 16 to 24. "(They) were discovered to have multiple gunshot wounds throughout their bodies, including injuries to their heads, back and upper and lower body area," Johnson said, as per CNN. US Shooting: Four Dead After Gunman Opens Fire at Elementary School in Tennessee.

Deputies found that five victims were shot and were told by a witness that two other victims were taken to a hospital before authorities arrived, according to Johnson, CNN reported. Shortly after responding to the initial call, deputies learned that a vehicle had crashed a quarter of a mile away from the site of the mass shooting.

Johnson said, "When deputies arrived, they found that a male Hispanic (who is) 16-years-old was suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body."

He said one of the six non-critical victims has been released from the hospital and all victims are expected to survive.

(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, June 18: Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over violence in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that "his government is asleep at wheel." He also asked the Centre to allow an all-party delegation to visit the northeastern state. In a tweet, targeting the Prime Minister, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Your 'Mann ki Baat' should have first included 'Manipur ki baat', but in vain."

He said the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing. "You have not spoken a word. You have not chaired a single meeting. You have yet not met an all-party delegation. Looks like your government does not consider Manipur as a part of India. This is unacceptable," he said. Mann Ki Baat 2023: Strength of Disaster Management That India Has Developed Is Becoming an Example, Says PM Narendra Modi.

"Your government is asleep at the wheel while the state burns. Follow the Raj dharma. Act firm on all elements that disturb the peace. Restore normalcy by taking citizen groups in confidence. Allow an all-party delegation to visit the state," Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur."

"Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question," Ramesh said. Manipur Violence: Army Conducts Flag March in Imphal Valley.

The remarks of Congress leaders came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again maintained silence on Manipur during his Mann Ki Baat. For around 50 days now, ethnic violence continues in Manipur, where over 100 people have died since May 3.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast programme on Sunday, PM Modi said that no one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years, is becoming an example today

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 18, 2023 06:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The day is officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day and is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The name of the day, Juneteenth, is a combination of June and nineteenth. It is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. Juneteenth originated in Galveston and has been observed annually in various parts of the United States. The day is broadly celebrating African-American culture. As Juneteenth 2023 nears, heres all you need to know about the history and significance of the day. Juneteenth 2023 Images & HD Wallpapers for Free Download Online: Wish Happy Juneteenth Day With Quotes, WhatsApp Messages and Greetings.

Juneteenth 2023 Date

Juneteenth 2023, or Juneteenth National Independence Day 2023, will be celebrated on Monday, June 19.

Juneteenth History

Juneteenth celebrates the anniversary of the order issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. The origin of Juneteenth can be traced back to Galveston. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when US President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law after the efforts of Lula Briggs Galloway, Opal Lee, and others. The holiday is considered the longest-running African-American holiday and has been called America's second Independence Day. How Did Juneteenth Start? Know the Story Behind Juneteenth and How It Became a Federal Holiday.

The celebrations of Juneteenth date to 1866, at first involving church-centred community gatherings in Texas. As per historical records, the celebrations spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s. However, they grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African American freedom and African-American arts. From Barbecue Ribs to Watermelon to Cornbread, These Are Must Add to Juneteenth Day Menu.

By the proclamation in 1938, the celebrations began in Texas, and by legislation in 1979, every US state and the District of Columbia formally recognized the holiday in some way. With its adoption in parts of Mexico, the holiday has become an international holiday. Juneteenth is celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico. In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.

Juneteenth Significance

On the day of Juneteenth, celebratory traditions are held in several countries. The celebrations include rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, parties, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests. Some other celebrations include lectures and exhibitions on African-American culture, public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing of traditional songs and the reading of works by noted African-American writers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 18, 2023 07:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
In a shocking incident, a student was stabbed to death on Delhi University's South Campus by another student. According to the police, the incident happened when both of them had arrived at college to attend their classes. During the initial investigation, it was revealed that the knife attack occurred due to personal enmity. "The accused has been identified and is being traced. The student's body has been taken into custody and sent for postmortem. Further investigation underway," Delhi Police said. Mumbai Shocker: College Student Raped, Murdered in Hostel Room in Charni Road; Accused Security Guard Found Dead on Railway Tracks.

Delhi University Campus Murder:

A student was stabbed to death in Delhi University's South Campus. The accused and the victim had come to the college to attend their classes. Preliminary investigation reveals that there was a fight between them. The accused has been identified and is being traced. The student's  ANI (@ANI) June 18, 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.)
Barcelona and New York City. Oleg Senkov/Shutterstock; Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

Preply, which connects language learners to resources, ranked cities based on friendliness.

Its "community-spirit index" used six variables, including visitor return rates and safety.

Sydney, Australia, and Toronto, Canada, were tied as the friendliest cities in the world.

If you're planning to visit a new place this summer, one thing you might want to consider is whether or not it's friendly to out-of-towners.

Preply, a service that connects people with resources for learning a new language, created a "community-spirit index," which ranks cities based on how welcoming they are when it comes to non-locals.

"A strong sense of community can make newcomers feel right at home, helping them navigate the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, make new connections, and build meaningful relationships," Preply's report said.

Preply developed a ranking of the 20 most friendly cities in the world by analyzing six factors: visitor return rates, safety, friendliness of hospitality staff, LGBTQ+ equality, overall happiness, and English-speaking proficiency. On the last factor, Preply explained, "English is the most commonly spoken language in the world, so we looked at each city's English-speaking proficiency score to determine the ease of communication there."

Here's the top 20, ranked.

20. Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv, Israel. Karl Good / EyeEm / Getty Images

Tel Aviv was named the 20th most friendly city in the world in part because of its impressive overall happiness rating, which is determined by its residents, of 7.46 out of 10  the second-highest happiness score among the top 20 cities.

19. Barcelona, Spain

Tourists visit Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain. Oleg Senkov/Shutterstock

This Spanish city ranked high for LGBTQ+ equality, according to Preply's report.

18. Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain. Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

With a high LGBTQ+ equality score and 13% of accommodation reviews surveyed by Preply mentioning the word "friendly," Madrid is considered one of the friendliest cities in the world.

17. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Prague had a high safety rating of 75.41 out of 100, as well as a strong overall happiness score.

16. Singapore

Singapore. Taro Hama @ e-kamakura/Getty Images

Singapore has a safety score of 66.57 and a happiness score of 6.49 out of 10, but it scored low on LGBTQ+ equality, with just 50 out of 100.

15. Berlin, Germany

Europe, Bode museum, Museum Island (Museumsinsel), Berlin, Germany. Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images

In addition to the fact that 15 percent of reviews of Berlin mention the word "friendly," it has a high LGBTQ+ equality score of 84 out of 100 and a 7.03 out of 10 happiness rating.

14. Paris, France

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Despite a low safety rating of 42.91 out of 100, Paris was ranked the 14th friendliest cities in part due to its LGBTQ+ equality score of 78 and overall happiness score of 6.64.

13. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Although Lisbon's happiness score is just 5.66 out of 10, its high safety rating of 70.43 and the fact that 15% of reviews of the city mentioned the word "friendly" are two reasons it's on the list.

12. Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland. Scott E Barbour/Getty Images

While its safety score is only 51.57, Auckland's LGBTQ+ equality score of 78 and happiness score of 7.23 make it one of the world's friendliest cities, according to Preply.

11. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands. Karl Hendon/Getty Images

The numbers that stand out when it comes to Amsterdam are its LGBTQ+ equality and happiness ratings of 85 out of 100 and 7.41 out of 10, respectively.

10. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen. Scott E Barbour/Getty Images

With a 73.55 safety score, an 86 when it comes to LGBTQ+ equality, and a happiness rating of 7.53 out of 10, Preply considers Copenhagen the 10th friendliest city in the world.

9. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland. Getty Images

Dublin's happiness score is 7.1, and it's relatively LGBTQ+ friendly, with an equality score of 73.

8. San Francisco, USA

A view of the San Francisco skyline, showcasing the Golden Gate Bridge and the Salesforce Tower. Dan Kurtzman/Getty Images

Not only does the West Coast city have a visitor return rate of 15%, it's known for being LGBTQ+ friendly and has an equality score of 82 to prove it.

7. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne. James O'Neil/ Getty Images

The world's 7th friendliest city has a LGBTQ+ equality rating of 84 and a happiness rating of 7.30 on Preply's report.

6. Montreal, Canada

The night time skyline of downtown Montreal, Quebec. Nicolas McComber/Getty Images

Montreal's visitor return rate is 15 percent. Its rating of 68.39 out of 100 when it comes to safety, as well as its score of 90 in terms of LGBTQ+ equality makes it one of the friendliest cities in the world.

5. New York City, USA

Manhattan. New York City. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

With 15% of reviews mentioning the word "friendly" and a happiness rating of 6.96, and an LGBTQ+ equality score of 82, New York City was ranked as the 5th friendliest city.

4. Manchester, UK

Manchester, UK. Allan Baxter/Getty Images

While Manchester's safety index is 45.09, its score for LGBTQ+ equality is an impressive 88 out of 100.

Close to 15 percent of the city's reviews mentioned the word "friendly," and its visitor return rate is 12 percent.

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh. steny02 / Shutterstock

With a high friendliness score of 7.78 and a safety-index score of 68.92, Edinburgh ranks No. 3 on Preply's list.

1. Sydney, Australia

Sydney. Vijay Anand/Getty Images

Sydney was tied for the friendliest city in the world. When it comes to safety, Sydney had a high score of 65.87 out of 100.

Plus, members of the LGBTQ+ community are likely to feel welcome in Sydney, as the city earned itself an 84 out of 100 in LGBTQ+ equality.

It also scored 7.13 out of 10 for happiness and has a 16 percent visitor return rate.

1. Toronto, Canada

Toronto skyline. Pierre Ogeron/Getty Images

With a visitor return rate of 15%, Toronto has proven to be a hit with non-locals.

The city's happiness score was a 7.03 out of 10, and its LGBTQ+ equality score was 90 out of 100, making it not only a popular place, but an inclusive one too.

Read the original article on Insider
Update: Juniata County gunman appeared to be playing cat and mouse game with officers: Pa. State Police

The two Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Troopers shot Saturday in Juniata County were identified during a Sunday afternoon press conference in Harrisburg.

Trooper Jacques F. Rougeau Jr. was killed and Lt. James A. Wagner was wounded in separate encounters with the same shooter, according to PSP.

Trooper Rougeau, 29, was assigned to the Troop G, Lewistown Station and enlisted in the PSP in June 2020 as a member of the 160th cadet class. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Troop J, York before transferring to Troop G, Lewistown in March of this year. He becomes the 104th member of the Pa. State Police to be killed in the line of duty.

Tpr. Jacques F. Rougeau Jr. was killed Saturday during a lengthy altercation that took place at the Lewistown Barracks and then in and around Mifflintown.

Wagner, 45, is currently listed in critical condition at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He is assigned as the station commander at the Troop G, Bedford Station. He enlisted in the PSP in September 2002.

This is a tragedy for the Pennsylvania State Police, Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the PSP, said. We ask for your continued prayers for not only our Troopers but also their families.

The shooter was identified as Brandon Stine, 38, of Thompsontown, in Juniata County.

He was killed in an exchange of gunfire after the shootings after initially arriving at the Troop G, Lewistown Station around 11 a.m. armed with a rifle and firing shots at patrol vehicles in the parking lot, leading to the search for him.

You can watch the complete press conference below, courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services:

The Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge said it was devastated at the shooting of not one but two troopers, one of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

Bravery and honor best describe these troopers, and we will hold their heroic actions in our hearts and minds forever, Joseph Regan, the lodges president, said in a social media post.

President David Kennedy of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, an organization made up of 4,300 active and retired troopers, said the commonwealth has lost one hero while another fights for his life.

The bravery of these Troopers and their loved ones will stay in our hearts forever, he said in a post on social media.

Anyone interested in donating to assist the troopers families can send a check to the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association (PSTA) at 3625 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

The check should be made out to the Survivors Fund, with the name of the trooper written in the memo portion of the check.

ALSO READ:

Witness captures audio of Juniata County shootout which left Pennsylvania State Police trooper, suspect dead: Listen
A state trooper and a suspect were killed Saturday in a shootout in central Pennsylvania, hours after the suspect seriously wounded another trooper, state police said.

Police in Juniata County said a man engaged troopers at about 12:45 p.m. near the Lewistown barracks and shot one trooper, who was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Authorities found the man shortly before 3 p.m. in Walker Township, about 21 miles (33 km) east of Lewistown. The shooter and a trooper were then killed during the resulting shootout, state police said in a news release.

The name of the trooper and the suspect who died and the name and condition of the wounded trooper were not immediately available.

Officials said Saturday evening there was no threat to the public.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Col. Christopher Paris of the state police were at the hospital where the injured trooper was being treated, state police said.

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UPDATE: Lightning strike that caused Allen Township apartment blaze caught on video

Lightning is a suspected cause of a fire that destroyed an Allen Township apartment building on Friday, according to a fire department leader.

While not officially confirmed, according to residents of the complex and to other witnesses, it is pointing in that direction, Fire Chief Dale N. Hassler told lehighvalleylive.com. Fire officials are looking at doorbell cameras and weather data to prove the theory.

Thunderstorms moved through the region on Friday around the time the fire was reported, shortly after 12:30 p.m. at The Residences at Willow Ridge complex in the 400 block of Stone Court. Fire command officers reported the roof collapsed at about 2 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross mobilized to provide shelter and assistance to residents forced from their homes.

The Red Cross initially reported 38 people received assistance. Hassler on Saturday said 17 people were displaced from 12 apartments.

No injuries were reported in the fire. Seventeen other fire departments and one EMS agency assisted Allen Township firefighters.

It was the second major fire to destroy multiple homes in about two weeks in Northampton County. A Memorial Day blaze destroyed 15 row homes in Eastons West Ward, displacing dozens of people.

Fridays storms did cause problems elsewhere. Two tornadoes were confirmed in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, each damaging trees and power lines but no injuries.

MORE: What does a six-alarm fire mean?

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
A former postman who developed a cocaine addiction was found with a large volume of unopened undelivered mail in his house.

William Conroy, 42, of 44 Grenville, Dublin Road, Portlaoise admitted to 11 sample charges of preventing the delivery of mail and making gain by deception at his address and at the Portlaoise An Post Mail Depot on dates between December 1, 2020 and September 20, 2022.

An investigating Detective Garda told the court that Gardai were alerted to the offences by An Post who expressed concern that a member of staff wasnt delivering mail.

The defendant was questioned and was cooperative, admitting he had struggled to deliver the post. A volume of mail, including a large amount of publicity post, was discovered at the mans property.

There were 215 people on the route but only two came forward and made a complaint, the court was told.

A number of people on the postmans route came forward to gardai to commend the defendant on the good work he had done during Covid, the court heard.

I do genuinely think he had an addiction and due to Covid he became very isolated, the Detective said.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been using cocaine and she said his interview with gardai gave some indication of how he suffered during Covid.

He said it was a very lonely job and on a rainy day the postman sees no-one, she said.

There wasnt a single thing taken out of the envelopes, Ms Fitzpatrick pointed out.

She said her client was dismissed from his job earlier this year and had sought professional help, although she admitted he hadnt finished a treatment course. She said he has no previous convictions.

He hasnt touched cocaine since he was processed by the gardai, she said. The man now has a new job working nights, a time she explained he most often abused cocaine.

Of the 215 people only two made a complaint because he was held in such high regard, said Ms Fitzpatrick.

She said her client was very ashamed about the matter and was willing to give all of his savings, 2,000 to the court.

He has been dismissed from a job he enjoyed and had undertaken very well for about 20 years, she said.

Judge Andrew Cody wasnt pleased to hear the man hadnt finished his treatment.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client can provide drug free urine samples dating back to January. She said he would be more ready for the treatment now.

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said all of the post was delivered within three or four months.

Judge Cody said the man has to finish a course of treatment. He ordered that the 2,000 be donated to Merchants Quay Ireland and adjourned the case to November 16 to allow the defendant to produce a certificate to show he had completed a treatment course.
A HSE hospital worker from Laois has spoken of her incredible experience after flying to Spain for a free hip-replacement operation to beat the HSE waiting lists at home.

Yvonne Jacob, (49), used the EU Cross Border Directive and the organisation Healthcare Abroad to access the surgery at a top private hospital in the upmarket seaside city resort of Denia, an hour north of Alicante.

The Portlaoise woman, works as a multi-task attendant at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. Yvonne says the constant standing, walking and pushing of beds and wheelchairs at the hospital, took its toll on her own health along with everyday wear and tear and she called the agency Healthcare Abroad for help.

I do a lot of 12 hour shifts and its hard going, especially on the hard floors said Yvonne.

She described the impact on her health.

I was in excruciating pain. Relying on painkillers to get my through my days," she said.

Yvonne said she had heard about cross-border healthcare but didnt think of it until her own health deteriorated. ?She was given the option of waiting on the HSE waiting list at home and continue to take painkillers and physio.

I had heard of a few people that went to Belfast but I just felt its a long trip home after a major operation. The big attraction for me to go to Spain was the 10 physio sessions after the surgery as well, she said.

Healthcare Abroad couldnt be more helpful, said Yvonne. "I was treated like a VIP. We were collected at the airport in Alicante  and booked into a fabulous 4-star hotel.

To be honest I really cant begin to find the words to describe how I was treated. The Healthcare Abroad team were exceptional. The staff at the hospital  the nurses, the consultant Dr Jordy, the physio team  were absolutely phenomenal. And the team at our hotel, the Daniya Denia, couldnt do enough for you.

I want to give a special mention to everyone in the physio department at the HCB Hospital in Denia. They were incredible. The care they gave me was so professional and it really enhanced my recovery.

I was ferried back and forward to the hospital for all appointments; and I was given 10 intensive physio sessions after surgery and I was up and about again in no time at all. Better still, Healthcare Abroad did all the paperwork for me.

I would advise anyone living with the pain I suffered not to wait another day," she said.

A Healthcare Abroad spokesperson said:

We were delighted to help Yvonne access surgery in Spain under the EU Cross Border Directive. The full costs of his surgery and rehab will be reimbursed by the HSE around 16 weeks after Yvonne gets home. We want to wish Yvonne all the best for the future, she said.

Healthcare Abroad says it completes all paperwork to ensure the HSE refund. It says patients do have to pay for the costs of flights and the hotel (62 per room B&B for one and 70 for 2) as the HSE does not refund travel costs.

The company adds that under EU  and therefore Irish  law, every citizen in the EU is entitled to travel to any other EU country for healthcare with the home nation paying all or most of the costs.
Portlaoise is still rapidly growing with new families moving into more houses springing up, but the towns schools cannot keep pace, local principals have confirmed to the Leinster Express.

Principals of primary schools in Portlaoise met recently to discuss the shortage of places, after the Department of Education requested an update from them.

They found that most schools are experiencing a shortage of places.

Among them, Dermot OConnor is Deputy Principal in the Holy Family Senior School in Portlaoise. It shares a campus with the Junior school and between them in Aghnaharna they have almost 1,400 students.

Mr OConnor described the situation there.

This campus is full. There is a waiting list for all classes. It is a rare day when someone doesnt come to the door, or sends an email, asking for an application.

In June the pressure is no different than at admission time in January.

People are coming now looking for places for September. They tell us they have got accommodation or they are buying a new house, theres new houses going up all around us.

A lot of them expect that when they see a school from the bedroom window, they can send their children there, but there isnt space, he said.

The Department of Education has told the LOETB that it will provide extra prefabs to existing schools at this time, instead of considering building another school. Read that story below.

The Portlaoise deputy principal said that this will not help.

Adding extra classrooms to this school will only add to the pressure of parking and traffic. There is a point when a school is too big from a management point of view.

A new school seems the most logical solution. It took 15 years from the idea to moving children into this school. So for the children on the waiting list now, they will be in college by the time a new school would be built, Mr OConnor said.

He said it is not a matter of a years wait, but of spaces in each class. If for example 3rd class is full up to new students, it will still be full up a year later when it becomes 4th class, unless some of those students have left.

The Holy Family schools opened in 2017 but were already at capacity then.

We had planning for 32 classrooms but the department only gave money for 26. We have our library divided now into two fully insulated classrooms. We actually never had it as a library since we moved in. Weve given up on the idea, he said.



Enda Hickey is the principal of Holy Family Junior School, which has seven Junior Infant classes starting next September.

Its the same as every school in Portlaoise. We are at capacity. We all have lengthy waiting lists.

We get a regular stream of applications. There seems to be a large number of people moving to Portlaoise, buying houses. It doesnt seem to be abating. Anybody who comes , we give them a form to fill for the Departments Education and Welfare Officer, to assist people who cant get a place, he said.

During summer some places can free up if people move away, but more move in as well.

We wont really know until September. At the moment it does look like the town will have a shortage of a number of classrooms, he said.

Building a new school is not an answer for now Mr Hickey said, nor does his school have space for prefabs.

This is an immediate problem. Establishing a new school is a lengthy procedure, he said.

Asked if the problem could ease if the Ukraine war ended and displaced families returned home, he said only to a degree.

It seems to be a population issue in Portlaoise. A number of houses estates are still in construction and still being planned. Portlaoise is an anomaly. Theres a downward trend nationally for primary school places predicted but Portlaoise bucks that trend.

A large number of children go to schools outside Portlaoise. Parents tell us that it would be more convenient for them to be in the town. Baptism figures are moving upwards too, and that is only a part of the picture, he said.

Holy Family Junior has 25 mainstream classes and two special needs classes.

We dont have space for prefabs. Our site is at capacity and so is traffic management.

Nobody wants to see a child without a school place but there needs to be scope in the building.

"Its very simple, there arent enough places for September. The Department is aware and thats why they asked us to meet and report to them how bad it is. Weve given that information to them. Im assuming theyre talking to places that might be able to cater because they are aware now, the principal said.
President Michael D Higgins has said Ireland is playing with fire in a drift towards Nato.

President Higgins told the Business Post in an article posted on Sunday that Ireland is currently in a dangerous period of drift in its foreign policy.

The most dangerous moment in the articulation of foreign policy and its practice, since the origin of diplomacy, has been when youre drifting and not knowing what youre doing. he said.

President Higgins also criticised the make-up of those invited to speak at the Governments upcoming security forum, stating the speakers were comprised of the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it.

He added that the chair of the forum, Louise Richardson, was a person with a very large DBE  Dame of the British Empire.

The Presidents comments came as the Governments consultative forum on international security is set to start next week.

It will examine Irelands current international partnerships in the area of peace and security. It will also facilitate discussion on the long-standing policy of military neutrality.

As President, Mr Higgins is the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces but by convention presidents typically refrain from direct criticism of the government.

In a statement on Sunday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it would be a fundamental mistake for Ireland not to examine its security and defence policies.

Since Russias brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which blatantly violated the UN Charter and international law, and fundamentally altered the European security environment, every country in Europe has examined and re-examined its foreign, security and defence policies, he said.

Ireland is no different. To shy away from doing so  or to do so behind closed doors  would have been a fundamental mistake and an abrogation of responsibility.

Ireland has consistently taken multilateralism seriously and wants to see a strong and effective United Nations. In that context we have a responsibility to hold Russia to account and to address the implications of its actions for the rules-based international system.

Mr Martin said the panellists were from a wide range of backgrounds and clarified that Irelands policy of military neutrality would not change.

I want as many people as possible to hear from the almost 80 different panellists, from a wide range of backgrounds and with a variety of expertise and experience, including in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, arms control and disarmament and conflict resolution internationally, as well as in the fields of cyber security, disinformation, maritime security and critical infrastructure, he said.

The forum is not a binary discussion on neutrality and was never intended to be. The Government have made clear that we do not intend to change Irelands policy of military neutrality.

We have also made clear that this policy does not inure us from dealing thoughtfully and responsibly with the global and European security environment that we find ourselves in, and the new and emerging threats that we face.

Nor does it mean that we should isolate ourselves or assume we have nothing to learn from, or contribute to, the wider debate about European security.

Speaking to the Dail about the conference last month, Mr Martin denied it was part of the latest secret plan by the Government to join Nato.

It is a fundamental duty of government to address the challenging global situation as it is today, he said on Sunday.

Political leadership means taking on the responsibility of putting in place policies and practices to keep this country, and its people, safe and secure.

In my view, it also means having an open, inclusive, evidence-based and public debate on these issues.

The consultative forum on international security policy is the first time that any Irish Government has established such a debate.

He added: It will discuss a range of issues relating to the global and European security environment, and how Irelands foreign, security and defence policy is responding to this new environment.

The forum starts next week and will be held in Cork on June 22, Galway on June 23 and Dublin on June 25 and 27.
An amendment tacked onto the Assemblys proposed stand-alone personal property tax legislation would eliminate property taxes for the Wisconsin Technical College System in favor of directing all tax dollars through the Legislature.

The amendment, proposed by Rep. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, passed out of the Ways and Means committee Thursday without an opportunity for public comment. The amendment would remove one of the Technical College Systems revenue levers, making it largely dependent on state aid instead.

Representatives for Macco had not responded to requests for comment.

The Technical College System opposes the amendment, as President Morna Foy said in a statement it will remove local control that allows each of the systems 16 schools to pivot programming to fit the needs of its respective district. In 2022, it received $585 million in local taxes.

The local operating levy is integral to the relationships between technical colleges and local businesses and the communities they serve, Foy said. This local investment and engagement drive technical colleges responsiveness to, and alignment with, the diverse needs of Wisconsins workers, employers, and communities.

The amendment is attached to a bill that would eliminate the states personal property tax. An outdated law predating Wisconsins statehood, the personal property tax was used to fund the territorial government before the introduction of income or sales taxes.

But whether the original bill would become redundant remains to be seen. Part of the shared revenue bill, negotiated by Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers, would also eliminate personal property tax. Still moving its way through committee, the stand-alone personal property tax bill was written and introduced prior to the shared revenue bill.

The Technical College System receives $103 million annually in state aid and is expected to get a $9.4 million increase in the upcoming state budget, a fraction of its $75 million request to expand its capacity.

An April review from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative law firm and think tank, argued that Wisconsins system of partially funding technical colleges through the levy contributes to the idea of taxation without representation because district board members are not elected. Districts do go to the voters to approve referendums to exceed their revenue limits.

GALLERY: Madison College-Portage nursing assistant lab
Two lifeguards who were taken to hospital after a lightning strike in Co Kerry did not suffer any wounds, a leader in Irish water safety has said.

The lightning strike on Banna beach occurred shortly before 4pm.

A yellow weather warning for Kerry and surrounding counties was issued by Met Eireann at 1:30pm on Saturday, but the lifeguards were still attempting to clear people from the water when the strike happened.

Due to circumstances outside of our control, there will be NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at Banna Beach tomorrow, Sunday 18th June. Those using the beach are advised to be aware of this. Kerry County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused  Kerry County Council  Comhairle Contae Chiarrai (@countykerry) June 17, 2023

Roger Sweeney, Deputy CEO of Water Safety Ireland, told the PA News Agency that the lifeguards are fine but are being monitored in hospital.

Thankfully both Lifeguards are fine, with no entry or exit wounds, he said.

The lightning strike happened on Banna beach in Kerry shortly before 4pm. The Lifeguards had observed flashes of lightning on the horizon and were in the process of clearing the water of people when a strike occurred on the beach, close to both Lifeguards.

They did not suffer any wounds and were taken by ambulance to hospital where they are being monitored.

The beach was closed and Banna Rescue, a local voluntary search and rescue unit which is one of the Community Rescue Boats of Ireland did a great job in continuing to clear the water and sand of visitors.

All lifeguarded beaches in North Kerry were closed as a precaution.

Video on social media showed flooding in streets across Co Kerry, with a Dunnes Stores in Tralee being evacuated following intense rainfall.

The University Hospital Kerry said it had been impacted by flooding and a number of areas had closed, with people being advised only to come to the hospital in case of emergency.

STATEMENT: FLOOD DAMAGE UHK has been impacted by the heavy rain fall in the Tralee area this afternoon Saturday 17th June, 2023. Management at the hospital have had to close a number of areas in the hospital Cntd. pic.twitter.com/4Y5Vzmrd4o  University Hospital Kerry (@hospital_kerry) June 17, 2023

Mr Sweeney advised against being in or near large bodies of water during the type of weather conditions expected in many areas of Ireland over the weekend and gave advice on how to tell how far a thunderstorm is.

If you are in a thunderstorm, cancel any plans to go swimming and if you are swimming, get to shore as quickly as possible, as water conducts electricity, in much the same way as metal pipes and phone lines, he said.

Take shelter. The thunder starts as a shockwave from the lightning. The lightning itself can strike up to 10 miles from the centre of a storm.

Count the seconds between seeing any lightning and hearing thunder. We see lightning first because light travels faster than sound. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound of thunder to travel a mile.

So, when you count the number of seconds between seeing a crack of lightning and hearing the thunder, divide that number by 5 and that is how many miles away the lightning was when it struck. Keep in mind that you should be in a safe place while counting.
Portrait of Missak Manouchian (1906-1944), an Armenian poet, journalist, trade unionist and Resistance fighter, in soldier's uniform while on leave. ARCHIVES MANOUCHIAN/ROGER-VIOLLET

Missak Manouchian, an Armenian poet and communist fighter in World War II, will enter the Pantheon mausoleum and join an elite group of France's revered historical figures, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday, June 18.

Known as being "pantheonized," the rare tribute is reserved for those who have played an important role in the country's history. Manouchian, who arrived in France in 1925 as a stateless refugee after fleeing violence, later joined the communist Resistance during World War II.

He led a small group of foreign Resistance fighters against the Nazi occupation, carrying out attacks on German forces and acts of sabotage in Nazi-occupied France in 1943. Macron said Manouchian "embodies the universal values" of France and "carries a part of our greatness."

In 1944, the group, which included a number of Jews, was put out of action when 23 of its members were rounded up and sentenced to death by a German military court. Manouchian was shot by the Nazis on February 21, 1944. The collaborationist Vichy regime later tried to discredit the group and defuse the anger over the executions in an infamous red poster depicting the dead fighters as terrorists.

By entering the Pantheon, Manouchian will become both the first foreign and communist Resistance fighter to be awarded the honour. Manouchian will enter the Pantheon alongside his wife Melinee, who survived him by 45 years and is buried alongside him at the Ivry-sur-Seine cemetery.

From December 2022 Article reserve a nos abonnes Could Resistance fighters Missak and Melinee Manouchian be next to enter France's Pantheon?

'Quiet heroism'

Macron paid tribute to Manouchian's "bravery" and "quiet heroism" in a statement Sunday, as well as to other foreign Resistance fighters. Other major French figures to be reburied in the Pantheon include Victor Hugo, Voltaire and Marie Curie.

On Sunday, Macron also decorated Robert Birenbaum  part of the foreign Resistance fighter group  at the Mont Valerien site where Manouchian and hundreds of other resistants were executed by the Nazis. The memorial coincided with the anniversary of the dramatic appeal of June 18, 1940, when Charles de Gaulle made a historic call to defy the Nazi occupiers after making his escape from a defeated France.

The call  widely seen as the start of the country's resistance movement  is marked every year at Mont Valerien by French leaders. Macron and assembled members of the government including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne listened to the Appeal of June 18 read by French actor Philippe Torreton, before holding a period of reflection at the site.

The pantheonisation of Manouchian had been long called for by the French left, particularly the Communist Party. The party's national secretary in France, Fabien Roussel, said on Twitter that Manouchian symbolised a "certain idea of France: a political nation, made up of citizens of all origins, united by universal values".

Since 2017, Macron has pantheonised three others including the French-American dancer and rights activist Josephine Baker, who became the first black woman to be honoured at the site. Baker was also just the fifth woman to be honoured with a place in the secular temple to the heroes of the French Republic, which sits on a hill in the left bank of Paris. The move followed years of campaigning by her family and admirers for her place in French history to be recognised.

The tribute on Sunday also marks part of a long series of memorials leading up to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which are set to continue next year with events to commemorate the liberation of Paris.
An oil palm plantation near Irobo, Cote d'Ivoire, in March 2008. ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

The harvester brandishes his long scythe at a height of over four meters. Then, with a sharp, precise blow, he detaches an enormous branch that collapses to the ground. This gesture is reproduced thousands of times a day across Cote d'Ivoire to recover the oil palm bunches trapped at the base of the tree's branches. In the country, Africa's second-largest palm oil producer, the precious red fruits are harvested throughout the year. The branches, by contrast, accumulate on plantations by the hundreds of thousands of tons, with no real use other than to slowly transform into compost. At least until now.

The Toumanguie region, two hours' drive east of Abidjan, is one of Cote d'Ivoire's basins of palm trees, whose cultivation extends across the entire southern strip of the country. Here, the stalk of the branches, known as the petiole, will become the fuel for a biomass power plant currently under construction, scheduled to start up in November 2025. As the largest power plant of its kind in West Africa, it should supply 46 megawatts (MW) to the grid, equivalent to what would be consumed by 1.7 million people, in a country where 30% of the population has no access to electricity, according to the World Bank. An investment of 237 million has been borne by the project partners (France's EDF and Meridiam, Cote d'Ivoire's Sifca) and lenders (Proparco, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund).

The advantage of biomass electricity (produced by burning organic waste of any kind) is that it is not only renewable but also "baseload," unlike solar or wind power, which are intermittent. "It's one of the few renewable energies that can be controlled. You can decide to produce or not produce, but the plant is supposed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week," explained Raphael Ruat, director of Biovea, the project company building the infrastructure.

Another advantage, he insisted, is the creation of 1,000 jobs over 25 years of operation. These will be low-skilled, locally hired employees, who will be responsible for collecting petioles within a 60 km radius. "You're making an impact in a local area, far from Abidjan and the country's economic heartland," added Ruat.

Fight against poverty

Sifca, Cote d'Ivoire's leading palm oil grower and producer, will supply around 25% of petiole volume from its subsidiary Palmci's huge industrial plantation at Toumanguie. But the remaining 75% is to come from 12,000 smallholders in the surrounding area, with whom Palmci is already working to supply bunches.

"When we say 'smallholders,' we're talking about areas averaging five hectares. In terms of the fight against poverty, this is going to bring a plus to these communities," said Raymond Tagouya, agricultural director of Palmci's village plantations. Farmers are expected to increase their income "by 10% to 15%" by selling these pieces of wood. "For these small planters, there's really no extra work; it's just a machete cut, so really an additional income," stressed the Ivorian agronomist, adding that the ashes from the combustion will be returned to them in the form of fertilizer.

Often criticized for its role in deforestation  particularly in Asia  the palm tree is native to the Gulf of Guinea, and its oil is extremely popular in West African cuisine. It is one of the most important crops in Cote d'Ivoire: In the Toumanguie region alone, its uniform plantations sometimes stretch as far as the eye can see. The potential for electricity generation is therefore significant: Biovea has identified "five or six other sites, for a total capacity of 200 MW." According to the company, discussions are underway with the authorities.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Biochar: A promising energy source and carbon sink to help combat climate change

In this tropical country with a highly agricultural economy (20% of GDP, 45% of jobs), the resource is exponential, as it is in many of its neighbors, such as Ghana and Nigeria: Cocoa pods (of which Cote d'Ivoire is the world's leading producer), rubber tree trunks (which produce rubber), cashew nut shells, cotton stalks... The Ivorian authorities estimate annual production of agricultural waste at between 15 and 17 million tons. "There's a lot of diversity," confirmed Norbert N'Goran, consultant and former official at the Ministry of Energy, pointing out that the authorities have estimated the total potential for biomass electricity at around 1,000 MW.

Bioenergy, biogas, biofertilizers...

It is a considerable figure compared with the country's current 2,300 MW generating capacity, 75% of which is currently provided by gas, a fossil fuel that the country acquires off its coast. "Cote d'Ivoire has a fairly well-structured electricity sector, but is lagging far behind in greening its energy mix," noted Mathieu Peller, deputy managing director of Meridiam, a major infrastructure developer in Africa and shareholder in Biovea. Abidjan is committed under the Paris Agreement to achieving 42% of renewable energy by 2030. "The challenge is to no longer be dependent on a fossil resource that is simultaneously limited, expensive  or at least with unpredictable prices  and bad for the environment," added Peller.

So, what's the problem? The Biovea project, launched in 2010, has taken 15 years to get started. First of all, a regulatory framework had to be put in place, feasibility studies had to be carried out and an initial power purchase agreement had to be negotiated with the government, all tedious but essential steps for this embryonic sector. Secondly, the price per kilowatt-hour (62 CFA francs for Biovea) remains higher than for gas (around 50 CFA francs). Lastly, even if it is abundant, agricultural waste is a complex resource: sometimes seasonal, as in the case of cocoa, sometimes widely scattered across the country, which increases transport costs and makes for a logistical headache. Some materials tend to rot, complicating their development, and not all are equally energy-efficient.

However, projects are beginning to emerge. In a 2018 report on progress toward their climate objectives, the Ivorian authorities  who did not respond to our requests for comment  cited in particular a project using cocoa pods (20 MW) and another using cotton residues (25 MW), the latter located in Boundiali (north), in a very rural and poor region. "But there's more to it than just electricity. It can also be used for bioenergy, biogas and biofertilizers," stressed N'Goran. In July 2022, Abidjan launched a pilot project to produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel, in partnership with Swedish bus manufacturer Scania and France's TotalEnergies, using agricultural residues.
Swiss voters, feeling the impact of global warming on their rapidly melting glaciers, on Sunday, June 18, backed a new climate bill aimed at steering their country toward carbon neutrality by 2050.

Near-final results showed almost 59% of voters supporting the new law, which will require Switzerland to slash its dependence on imported oil and gas, scaling up the development and use of greener and more homegrown alternatives.

Voters also overwhelmingly backed adopting a global minimum tax rate of 15% for multinational corporations in a second referendum, with nearly 79% in favor, with full results in from all but one of Switzerland's 26 cantons. Voter participation in the referendums stood at around 42%.

Recent opinion polls had indicated strong but slipping support for the climate bill, amid an anxiety-infused campaign around electricity shortages and economic ruin driven by the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). Supporters insisted the law was needed to ensure energy security and independence and to help address the ravages of climate change, highlighted by the dramatic melting of glaciers in the Swiss Alps, which lost a third of their ice volume between 2001 and 2022.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In the Alps, climate change is causing a domino effect of dangers

Leading Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss, who has been closely following the glaciers' decline, hailed in a tweet the "strong signal" sent by Sunday's vote, and said he was "very happy the arguments of climate science were heard." Socialist Party MP Valerie Piller Carrard celebrated the vote as "an important step for future generations."

Climate-friendly alternatives

Energy has long been a tricky issue in Switzerland, which imports around three quarters of its energy, with all the oil and natural gas consumed coming from abroad. Concerns around Switzerland's reliance on external sources have been swelling since Russia's invasion of Ukraine threw into doubt Swiss access to much of the foreign energy it uses.

Climate activists had initially wanted to push for a total ban on all oil and gas consumption in Switzerland by 2050. But the government balked at the so-called Glacier Initiative, drawing up a counter-proposal that scrapped the idea of a ban but included other elements. The bill promises financial support of two billion Swiss francs ($2.2 billion) over a decade to promote the replacement of gas or oil heating systems with climate-friendly alternatives, as well as aid to push businesses towards green innovation.

Nearly all of Switzerland's major parties supported the bill, except the SVP  the country's largest party  which triggered the referendum against what it dismissed as the "electricity-wasting law." It warned the bill's goal of achieving climate neutrality in just over a quarter-century would effectively mean a fossil fuel ban, which it claims would threaten energy access and send household electricity bills soaring.

The SVP, which just two years ago managed to block a similar law that would have curbed greenhouse gas emissions, also highlighted that backing for the new climate bill was uneven. There appeared to be far less support in rural regions  seven of the 26 cantons voted against the law  amid concerns over wind turbines littering landscapes and the impact of dwindling access to fossil fuels on mobility. Support meanwhile was particularly strong in urban areas like Geneva, where nearly 75% of voters backed the law.

Corporate tax hike

The backing was far more uniform in the second referendum on hiking the tax rate for large businesses. A vast majority of voters and all cantons supported amending the constitution so Switzerland can join the international agreement, led by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the near-final results The plan is to impose the new rate on all Swiss-based companies with a turnover above 750 million.

Until now, many cantons have imposed some of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, in what they often said was needed to attract businesses in the face of high wages and location costs. The Swiss government estimates that revenues from the supplementary tax would amount to between 1.0 and 2.5 billion Swiss francs in the first year alone.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Google's increasing influence in Zurich is a double-edged sword
AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 Block 20 and Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones on display at a military convention in National Harbor, Maryland, April 3, 2023. JASON ANDREW//NYT-REDUX-REA

The sharp increase in the number of remotely operated munitions (also called "kamikaze drones") on the Ukrainian battlefield represents, in many respects, a strategic breakthrough caused by the course of the war. This is evidenced by the sharp increase in the acquisition of such equipment by a growing number of countries from manufacturers who, for their part, are no longer afraid to invest their own funds in order to develop this type of weaponry, called "loitering munitions" in English and "munitions teleoperees" (or MTO) in French.

At the start of the Ukrainian conflict, this was far from predictable. But a month later, at the end of March 2022 and at the insistence of the Ukrainians, the US decided to bypass certain measures of its own legislation and export the first Western loitering munitions to Ukraine: "Switchblade" drones, of which there were around 100 at the time. Until then, these small GPS- and camera-guided aircraft had hardly been tested in external operations.

In the context of the long arms race that was then beginning in Ukraine, the Pentagon quickly saw Switchblade drones as more economical than other types of comparable weaponry, such as Javelin-type anti-tank missiles. More than 1000 Switchblade drones have been manufactured for Kyiv since the start of the war, according to the American company AeroVironment, the world's leading manufacturer in this market. Later, another type of kamikaze drone was sent to Ukraine by the US  the Phoenix Ghost  but the number of units delivered was not disclosed.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Russia and Ukraine take drone warfare to unprecedented scale

A 'temporary' solution

At the same time, the conflict has shaken the reservations many Western countries may have had about the use of kamikaze drones. The first European country to acquire remotely operated munitions was Lithuania, with the purchase of the Switchblade in December 2022. In February, Estonia followed suit, with an announced contract with an Israeli company, worth over 100 million, that would equip its forces by 2025.

Italy and France have also taken the plunge in recent months. Italy has signed a 4 million contract with a consortium comprising the Israeli company UVision and the German group Rheinmetall, while France has opted for AeroVironment's Switchblade, which was made possible by the US administration's decision to once again lift export restrictions on its loitering munitions and to open up this market to around 20 of its allies and partners, in addition to Ukraine.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes French defense industries mobilize against backdrop of Ukraine war

On the French side, the acquisition of Switchblade was presented as a "temporary" solution. Two projects for remotely operated munitions, named "Colibri" and "Larinae," manufactured by French companies, were urgently begun in May 2022, shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, after years of standstill on ethical grounds. A new call for tenders was issued by France's Ministry of Armed Forces on June 14. "Now, the question is no longer whether we're going to have MTOs, but how many and when?" summed up an army officer a few weeks ago.

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Activists demonstrate outside the Algerian embassy to France to demand the release of release of Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi, Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Paris. CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP

An Algerian court of appeal on Sunday increased to seven years the prison term issued to a prominent media boss, but suspended two years, a watchdog said. Ihsane El Kadi, 63, whose release had been sought by the European Union and international media, is one of the last independent media leaders in the North African nation. He is director of the Maghreb Emergent news website and Radio M.

He "was condemned to seven years in prison, including five behind bars with two suspended by the Alger Court of Appeal," North Africa representative for Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Khaled Drareni, said on Twitter. "A totally incomprehensible verdict," he added. Algeria ranks 136th out of 180 countries and territories on RSF's 2023 World Press Freedom Index.

Attorney Zoubida Assoul, a member of the defence team, said she was "stunned" by the ruling. "It is a political (decision) more than a judicial one," she told Agence France-Presse, adding that El Kadi would "certainly" appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court.

Opinion Article reserve a nos abonnes Arrest of journalist Ihsane El Kadi: 'Algeria is closing like a steel trap on its political opposition'

Sunday's verdict adds two years to an initial sentence handed down to El Kadi in April by a lower court for "foreign financing of his business". But Assoul said El Kadi, who has been in custody since December, did not receive any money from "foreigners or a foreign" group as claimed by authorities. The money he got, she said, amounted to "25,000 pounds sterling (around $32,000)" received in installments from his London-based daughter, a shareholder in Interface Medias, and was sent to settle some company debts.

Seven years is the maximum penalty under an article in Algeria's penal code which criminalizes anyone who receives "funds, a grant or otherwise... to carry out acts capable of undermining state security".

'Trumped-up'

The court has ordered the dissolution of the company Interface Medias, which is behind El Kadi's two outlets, and the confiscation of its assets. The company was also fined 10 million dinars (about $73,500), while El Kadi himself received a 700,000-dinar fine.

In January, Amnesty International said the accusations against El Kadi were "trumped-up state security-related" offenses. "El Kadi's unjustified detention by the Algerian authorities... is yet another example of their ruthless campaign to silence voices of dissent through arbitrary detention and the closure of media outlets," said Amnesty's Amna Guellali.

Earlier that month, 16 international media figures including Russian journalist Dmitri Muratov, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, called for his release and urged Algeria to lift "unacceptable" restrictions on his media outlets.

In May Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reportedly said he was determined to "open a new chapter" with the country's national press. He made the promise during an encounter at the presidential palace with media professionals to mark World Press Freedom Day, according to the RSF's Khaled Drareni. Drareni said he attended the ceremony to hand Tebboune a letter from the press watchdog "containing a series of demands including the release of Ihsane El Kadi".

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'I'm next on the list': Algerian activist Zaki Hannache's anxious exile in Tunis

In response to a European Parliament resolution last month calling for El Kadi's "immediate and unconditional release", Algeria's legislature denounced "flagrant interference in the affairs of a sovereign country."

El Kadi had been sentenced in June last year to six months in prison but remained free at the time as a warrant was not issued for his arrest. Less than two weeks after his April sentencing Algeria's parliament passed a law further restricting press freedom in the North African country by tightening media ownership rules and preventing journalists from protecting sources.
THE COMMUNITY of Askeaton will take a step back in time as the 500th anniversary of the first signed treaty between an Irish political figure and a European power is celebrated.

Anyone with an interest in history or heritage will have plenty to choose from as a weekend full of historical events is planned for the town starting on Friday June, 23.

June 20 officially marks the 500th anniversary of the signing of the Desmond - Valois Treaty at Askeaton Castle, the former seat of the earls of Desmond.

The treaty was primarily an alliance between the Earl of Desmond (who ruled a large portion of Munster) and the French King at the time.

The year was 1523 and the Earl of Desmond was trying to ensure its autonomy against Henry the Eight of England. Henry was trying to extend the power of the English crown in Ireland and anglicise the region, which was resisted by the 10th Earl of Desmond, James FitzGerald.

The French king was aware of the situation, Dr Declan Downey said. Dr Downey is a lecturer in Diplomatic History in University College Dublin and will be giving a lecture on the history of the treaty on Friday, June 23.

[The king] wanted to establish a bridgehead in the Atlantic to keep England under control to some degree So the French came looking for this alliance with the Earl of Desmond, he said.

The weekend of events kicks off with the formal lecture by Dr Downey about the background of the treaty and the culture, diplomacy and economic situation of Desmond.

The lecture takes place in Askeaton Community Hall at 8pm.

On Saturday, June 24, former director of the National Museum of Ireland and native of Askeaton Pat Wallace will be giving a guided tour of medieval Askeaton.

Limerick county has some of the richest medieval heritage in Ireland. Youve got some fantastic medieval architecture between Limerick city itself, Kilmallock, Adare, Newcastle West and Askeaton, Dr Downey said.

Askeaton was the capital and the principal residence of the Earl of Desmonds between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Pat Wallace is going to draw attention to that and the continental influences in the architecture as well. Some people think that all our medieval architecture was influenced by England. That may be the case in Dublin and the Pale but its not the case down here, he added.

A reenactment of the signing of the treaty will take place on Sunday, June 25. A number of French and Irish dignitaries will be present and a commemorative procession will take place after Mass that morning and everyone will be directed into the castle where the reenactment will take place.

A formal welcome will be given by the Askeaton Civic Trust Councillor Kevin Sheahan. Pat Wallace will be present again to remind everyone of the significance of the space theyre in and also the French dignitary present will give a speech, Dr Downey explained.

The treaty was signed in the Great Hall in Askeaton Castle but due to the ongoing works by the Office of Public Works (OPW) they may not have access to the hall but the event will nonetheless take place in Askeaton Castle.

Dr Desmond said the OPW were incredibly accommodating to allow the event to take place as they continue their works on Askeaton Castle.
AMIDST the heavy shadows cast by stigmas and limited expectations in an overlooked Limerick suburb, a woman has risen above the prejudices as a testament to her home place, and the power of true ambition.

Leeann Collins grew up in Moyross, an area perpetually associated in the media with criminal gangs, anti-social behaviour, and poverty.

Now dubbed a regeneration area in an attempt to address issues of exclusion by breathing new life into the landscape, Leeann tells the story of how her home place, and those around her, shaped her into the triumphing academic she is today.

Currently pursuing her studies in Industrial Automations and Robotics Systems at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Leeann's journey began quite differently.

After school she went Down Under to Australia for two years to travel and to see the world in all its sun-kissed glory. But upon her return, she became unsure of her next steps.

For the following nine years, she worked as a cleaner at University Hospital Limerick before summoning the courage to embark on a journey towards higher education.

Reflecting on her earlier days, she chuckled, "I used to be in there fixing things and trying to help, and everyone knew I was in the wrong job."

Getting the courage to try her hand at something more up her alley, she was supported by her mother Maureen, father Jimmy, brother Paul and sister Trudy.

On top of that, she had her many colleagues, and above all, the still unwavering Moyross circle, which Leeann said helped to cement her decision to pursue her true passion.

With friends still in that suburb, she proudly declared her love and loyalty for Moyross, "I have yet to find a tighter-knit community.

I loved where I grew up, and it will always be my home, she stated.

She thinks back on a tapestry woven with memories of tea at a friend's house, supportive neighbours, and lifelong friendships. Leeann has nothing but fond things to say of Delmege Park, even after leaving the area at 17.

Now 34, Leeann reflects on the significance of a university education at a young age. "When I was growing up, the course I am currently pursuing wasn't even available, and fields like mechanical or electrical engineering were predominantly seen as male-dominated," she explained.

But in 2023, there is an engineer for almost every imaginable field, and Leeann encourages anyone with "the itch" to take the leap towards their dream job.

Within her course at TUS, Leeann delves into a fascinating blend of software, technology, and the realm of mathematics.

As she approaches the final weeks of her fourth year, and with results all going well, she eagerly prepares to don her cap and gown, but emphasises that this success did not come easily.

Wiring, programming, coding, assembling components, and automating systems  the work being hands-on is an understatement.

However, having received a merit in a part-time flexible Mathematics and Engineering Science course at the same university, Leeann knew she was up for the challenge.

As a mature student she did her homework and found she was entitled to a full SUSI grant. Leeann took full advantage of this opportunity and opted for the four-year honours course at TUS.

Admitting her own setbacks, the dedicated scholar reveals that a significant obstacle came her way within only months of her new career journey - she failed a mathematics module.

Understandably, she questioned her own abilities and her confidence dipped.

Leeann describes her feelings at that moment with a sharp intake of breath: I had to repeat, and that was the biggest hurdle for me, but I got through it.

With a rock in the form of a best friend, Sarah, Leeann was helped through the most desperate of times and was boosted when she needed a boost to achieve her proudest moments.

Undoubtedly, one of these moments came as Johnson & Johnson Limerick offered the student a position on their graduate programme after she impressed while completing her work placement.

Now in a position she never dreamed she would realise, Leeann has adopted a go for it attitude, not only inspiring women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), but empowering all dreamers to make their next move.

Reiterating the realities of schemes and bursaries to aid in furthering education, she states, you are the only person who holds you back. Nobody else is going to do this for you.

On a journey which shows that one's origins need not dictate their destiny, Leeann agrees that greatness can emerge from any circumstance. You just have to want it.
THIS FATHERs Day was extra special for one Limerick man who donated a kidney to his teenage daughter almost a year ago.

After suffering from kidney failure which blighted most of her teens, 18-year-old Ali Kelly has more reason than most to celebrate as she approaches the first anniversary of the organ transplant.

Third time was the charm for Ali and her father Joe as the scheduled transplant operation was previously deferred on two occasions because unsatisfactory blood results.

But on July 4, 2022, life changed for the Kelly family who live in Newport, County Tipperary.

Ali and her parents, Limerick natives Joe and Virginia, celebrated Fathers Day with a special meal and now that Ali is independent of her dialysis treatment, the family has made plans to spend the first 'transplant anniversary' on holiday in sunny Spain - their first holiday abroad in years.

The youngest of four children, Ali was born with Polycystic Kidney Disease, a hereditary kidney condition in which clusters of cysts develop within the kidneys.

After spending much of her early years at the hospital and being tube-fed, she underwent her first kidney transplant at four years old. Made possible by a deceased donor, the transplant allowed Ali to enjoy a normal childhood and early teenage years.

But when she was 14 years old, her kidney began to fail and she had to return to dialysis treatment at the age of 15 - a treatment which continued for two and a half years.

At first, Ali was hooked up to a dialysis machine at home every night for 14 hours but after nearly two years, she got to a hospital-based haemodialysis treatment. By then, she had to go to the hospital four days a week and undergo five hours of dialysis treatment.

This time, finding a suitable kidney donor for Ali was complicated.

However, her father, Joe, didnt hesitate to put himself forward to be screened as a potential living kidney donor.

And, almost a year later with a new spring in her step, Ali says she now feels great. I have loads of energy. Before my transplant I was so weak and could barely walk from one room to another without being out of breath. I no longer have tubes attached to my body and I am not feeling as self-conscious. Its great that I can wear whatever clothes I want now, not having to consider my weight fluctuating or experiencing bloating. I have always had an interest in fashion and beauty and now that I am well enough I am looking into a career as a beauty technician.

Ali says it was difficult to find words to express her gratitude towards her father, and she described the kidney transplant as the best gift she could ever have hoped for.

I love him with all my heart and my mother also. They have always put my needs before theirs, she said.

Life is good for Ali now and she intends to make the most out of the chances that have been given to her. By sharing her story, she hopes people will understand how important organ donation is.

Speaking of the successful transplant operation, Joe said: Its so rewarding for our family to see Ali enjoying good health and getting her life back. There was no sacrifice on my part. It was awful to watch her struggle and donating my spare kidney to her was the easiest decision to make.

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to share their wishes with their family and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their drivers licence or having the digital organ donor card App on their smartphone.

Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting ika.ie, calling the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.
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If you were building a pair of foster parents in the lab, you could do a lot worse than Ayla Chadbourne and Elizabeth Hartmann.

Chadbourne is a public defender. She supervises the Farmington office. Hartmann works for the Missouri Childrens Division. Both are in helping professions, as Chadbourne puts it. They have a five-bedroom house in the country in St. Francois County. Last year, they went through the arduous process of becoming foster parents. There are classes to take and home inspections. Finances and backgrounds are checked.

Both of them knew that the Childrens Division was constantly advertising for more foster parents. The division is understaffed, and it has long been unable to find foster parents for all the children in the system.

Weve always wanted to foster or adopt, Chadbourne says. There are thousands of kids in foster care in Missouri who need homes.

In March, they finished the process. Because Hartmann works in the Childrens Division in St. Francois County, they asked if Jefferson County would serve as the county to place children in their home. A supervisor there signed off in May. They received their official state license as foster parents, signed off by Director Darrell Missey. About a week later, a Jefferson County case worker called Chadbourne with the good news that he had a placement for the couple: Three siblings who needed a foster home.

They got to work on the details, setting up doctors and day care. They bought some new furniture and things for the kids at the house. Then came the call from Ann Brockman, the field support manager for the region. She told Chadbourne that the couple would not be allowed to be foster parents  ever  as long as Hartmann worked for the Childrens Division.

The choices offered the couple were equally awful. Hartmann could quit the job she loves, that she is very good at, and a Childrens Division that struggles to find employees would be short yet another one, or they could give up on being foster parents.

We have a license, Chadbourne says, Theyre just not going to let us use it. I dont know why they wouldnt want us to foster.

The culprit, apparently, is a rule in the Childrens Division manual that has been around since 2009, according to Childrens Division spokeswoman Heather Dolce. It says that Childrens Division employees cant foster children through the state, except in a few rare exceptions. They can adopt, but only if parental rights have been terminated.

The problem, as Chadbourne sees it, is the rule doesnt seem to apply to everybody. Just three years ago, for instance, Jennifer Tidball, the former head of the Department of Social Services, which oversees the Childrens Division, was involved in a dispute over foster care. Tidball was trying to adopt two children she was fostering while both the mother and father of those children were battling in court to get them back.

What good is a policy, Chadbourne asks, if its not applied uniformly?

Thats a question she and Hartmann would like to ask in a formal appeal process, but the Childrens Division wont give them one. The couple has asked for an Alternative Care Review Board hearing, but Brockman and another supervisor, Pam Alston, told them they werent eligible for such a hearing. Alston, by the way, has adopted a child through the Childrens Division, a point Chadbourne brought up in an email exchange with her.

The policy of not allowing Childrens Division employees to foster is a good one, Missey, the director, told Chadbourne in an email. He didnt respond to her questions about whether it was being applied fairly, or why the rule doesnt appear in any state statutes or codes of regulation.

Richard Wexler, a national expert on foster care who is the executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, believes the policy  if its applied across the board  is a fair one. He said so during the Tidball dispute, and he agrees that it should apply to Chadbourne and Hartmann. You cant unlearn the information you learn and the contacts you gain by being on the inside, Wexler says.

Of course, he regularly takes issue with the Childrens Division claim that foster parents are in such demand. Thats only because Missouri is an outlier, taking children from biological parents at a rate often about 80% above the national average, Wexler says.

Chadbourne and Hartmann dont plan to give up their quest. Without a clear rule that is in state law and applied evenly across the board, they believe theyre being discriminated against by a department that, if the rule was so important, never should have licensed them in the first place.

There is nothing in the law that says you can discriminate against us based on employment, Chadbourne says. If theyre not going to let us foster then they shouldnt have licensed us.
Mumbai: A year after investing $20 million in Series A funding, investors B Capital, Chiratae Ventures, Better Capital, and Peak XV (formerly Surge, Sequoia Capital Indias accelerator program) have found financial irregularities in healthcare startup Mojocare.

Major investors have hired consulting firm Deloitte to run a forensic audit on the companys books, two people with knowledge of the development said, asking to remain anonymous.

Mojocare joins a growing list of companies coming under fire for poor corporate governance and alleged fraud committed by the management and the founder group. The startup, founded by former Chiratae executive Ashwin Swaminathan and Rajat Gupta, a former executive at Mobile Premier League and chat app Line, offers full-stack care across sexual wellness, womens wellness, mental wellness, and hair loss. The platform assists users in managing chronic and lifestyle-driven illnesses across specialized wellness.

It raised its seed round of around $3.08 million in 2021, taking the total fundraising by the company to over $24 million.

On Saturday, the company said it is laying off 80% of its workforce, or 170 employees, as a cost-saving measure.

However, on Sunday, the companys investors said in a joint statement they initiated a review of the companys financial statements. While the analysis remains ongoing, initial findings have uncovered financial irregularities, and it has become apparent that the business model is not sustainable due to a variety of operational and market factors. As a result, Mojocare will be scaling down operations, and the investor group is working with the company through its transition," it said on Sunday.

A person with knowledge of the development said the company had overstated revenues through fake sales of its products and consultations as well as round tripping of its books of accounts.

In response to queries from Mint, the company spokesperson said, At Mojocare, we are working closely with our investors to find a way forward. We categorically deny all accusations of money being taken out of the company. Together with our investors we are actively figuring out whats best for the business."

Queries to Deloitte remained unanswered.

In its August 2022 release announcing its Series A fund raise, co-founder Rajat Gupta, had described Mojocare as trying to solve the lack of trust in the offline healthcare market. In India, 400 million users are battling issues related to dermatological, mental health, fertility, and sexual wellness. Consumers have a lack of trust in physicians and access is severely limited due to a nearly non-existent care layer. The prevalence of unskilled and dishonest health professionals is alarming and the likelihood of counterfeit products being sold offline is considerable," Gupta said at the time.

The company claimed it had registered 45 times growth in its paid subscriber base and delivered care to users across 50% of Indias pin codes with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 60.

Interestingly, the company is also backed by angel investors such as Vineet Jain (MD, Times Group), Kunal Shah (founder, CRED), Ankit Nagori (founder, Curefoods), Adrian Auon (founder and CEO, Forward), Sajid Rahman (founder and CEO, Telenor Health), Ravi Bhushan (founder and CEO, Brightchamps), and Vivekananda HR (CEO and founder, Bounce).

Online first healthtech startups that saw a surge in business during the pandemic have, however, seen a drastic fall with normalcy getting established. Healthcare being more a physical and one on one business, these tech-led startups have struggled to keep pace and have had to rightsize teams, cut costs and pivot to a phygital (physical plus digital) model.

Some of the companies in the space that have announced layoffs include, Pristyn Care, MFine, Medibuddy among others.
Chennai: When Siddharth Dudheria dented his three-month-old Maruti Baleno, he was in a fix. The Bengaluru-based product manager, who works at a fintech, says his dealer estimated it would cost more than 10,000 to repair it  the warranty that Maruti offered did not cover body damage. But myTVS, a multi-brand outlet where Dudheria normally services his 10-year-old scooter, offered to fix it for just 3,000. Since he was happy with the way his scooter was serviced, Dudheria gave his car to myTVS.

They did a good job. They charged less than a third of what the dealer quoted, and they gave the car back to me much faster," he says. And heres the kicker: Once my car is out of warranty, I will take the car to them for service and other repairs."

Dudherias last statement will alarm dealers, who earn bulk of their income from servicing vehicles. While it is not unusual for vehicle owners to go to a small workshop for the odd tinkering or simple repair job, a wholesale shift for regular servicing will pose a huge threat to dealers profitability.

While it did not happen in the past for a variety of reasons, that shift has already begun, thanks to technology-driven disruptions. Customers are no longer willing to pay an arm and a leg to get their vehicles serviced or repaired at dealer outlets. A new law being readied by the government will only hasten the momentum.

A dipstick survey by Mint reveals just how wide the gap is between dealer and non-dealer service charges. A routine service of a Hyundai Creta costs upwards of 6,000 with a dealer, while it is just 3,500 with a non-dealer multi-brand outlet. For a Maruti Swift, it is 4,500 with a dealer and 2,500 outside. This gap is higher when it comes to Volkswagen and Honda and can be as much as 50% or more, says private workshop operators.

The warranty that comes with a new vehicle prevents people from going outside the system to service or repair it during the warranty period, as it becomes void if they do so. Some automotive players even offer extended warranties that go up to five years.

Warranties and extended warranties are a sign of confidence the manufacturers have in their product. They are also a step to enhance customer satisfaction," explains Gaurav Gupta, deputy managing director, MG Motor India.

While that may indeed be true, a warranty does tie a customer to a dealer. Multi-brand outlets typically get to service a vehicle only after it is past the warranty period. The 75,000 crore Indian aftermarket, thus, was never a level playing field.

Dealers had the upper hand thanks to the captive consumers that warranties ensured, and the backing of automotive majors, who trained their mechanics and made sure the dealers had the right equipment," says Kaushik Madhavan, vice president and global head of automotive consulting at competitive intelligence and market research platform MarketsandMarkets.

There were attempts in the past to break this stranglehold, but they failed. Carnation Auto, founded by late Maruti Suzuki head Jagdish Khattar to offer multi-brand servicing and trade in used cars, filed for bankruptcy in 2017. In 2020, the Mahindra group exited the multi-brand service business when it sold Mahindra First Choice Services to myTVS. But the era of domination by dealers is probably coming to an end.

The playing field is getting levelled. Dealers will face tougher competition from multi-brand outlets as regulatory changes open up the market and technology enables them to address pain points such as the lack of transparency, which had kept customers away earlier," says Madhavan.

Right to repair

The biggest disruption will be The Right to Repair law that the government is planning to enact in a bid to have components repaired rather than replaced, thereby reducing product obsolescence, e-waste and costs. The law, which will also apply to the automobile sector, will require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide consumers and multi-brand outlets with equal access to vehicle information, manuals, schematics, diagnostics, tools and spare parts. So, Dudheria, for instance, will not have to wait till his warranty ends to move to a multi-brand outlet to get his vehicle serviced.

Dealers will no longer have the monopoly they enjoyed so far with new vehicles," says Madhavan. And OEMs will no longer be able to void a warranty if a customer goes outside the dealership network to service a vehicle. This opens up a huge market for the multi-brand outlets. Also, the law will ensure that a vehicles service history remains with the customer. Until now, this was another reason customers typically used to go to a dealer even after a warranty expired, as the entire service history of the vehicle was with the OEM. This company servicing history, they hoped, would fetch them a better resale value.

Madhavan, however, warns that there is a flip side. The right to repair is a double-edged sword. People who do not have competency may end up working on your vehicle (and damaging it). That capability gap will exist for some time," he says. It is this gap that many players are now trying to address through technology and other means.

Aggregator impact

Multi-brand garages struggle to attract customers and scale up. And this has given rise to aggregators such as Pitstop or GoMechanic, who solved that problem by creating a platform that brings in customers. Aggregators use technology to tackle some of the pain points that consumers and multi-brand outlets, including roadside garages, face. Their business model has contributed to organizing the otherwise heavily fragmented sector.

Customers have also avoided multi-brand outlets because of the lack of a comfort level due to the entire operation being opaque. As drivers of demand, aggregators are able to force garages to adopt a standard operating procedure that keeps customers informed at every stage of the service by sending photographs, proper estimates and evidence that original spare parts were being used. The aggregators also train workers at garages.

But many aggregators, mostly startups, are also struggling. For instance, GoBumpr, Carcrew, SpeedForce and MotorWhiz have been acquired by larger players. GoMechanic, an aggregator that also has over 1,000 service centres, saw an ownership change after reports of financial irregularities emerged at the startup. They are facing challenges in scaling up, says Vinutaa. S, vice president and sector head, ICRA, a credit rating agency.

While the business model solves many challenges, it is not financially sustainable on a large scale. Rishabh Karwa, co-founder of GoMechanic, says this is because of the cost of acquiring customers, especially in non-metros. It costs 1,000 to acquire a customer in tier-2 and tier-3 towns but the income from that customer is only about 600 or so," he says. Aggregators already charge a good commission from garages and any attempt to increase that fee will result in the garages leaving or cheating, he adds.

Thus, says Karwa, while aggregators have ensured transparency and convenience," the road to profitability is a long one for them.

TVSs tech thrust

MyTVS, part of the Chennai-based TVS group, has tweaked the model, leveraging its expertise in spare parts supply to overcome this challenge and building a tech platform to tap the aftermarket. The commission from selling spare parts more than compensates for high customer acquisition costs.

The guys who own the supply chain win in this business," says G Srinivasa Raghavan, managing director, ki Mobility Solutions, which operates the myTVS brand. The companys 420 digital fulfilment centres deliver any part within four to 24 hours.

To build the technology platform, the company hired top officials, including Raghavan from IT services exporter Tata Consultancy Services. TVS Fit, an artificial intelligence-enabled multi-brand diagnostic platform, provides health records of as many as 44 car models to garage mechanics. It identifies errors, provides solutions and even trains mechanics through a virtual reality-based digital training module.

The companys other platform is myTVS Partsmart. Raghavan calls it the Amazon of parts. It is Indias largest digital catalogue for automotive spare parts. Both the customer and the mechanic get a list of various brands of a particular spare part with details such as price, warranty period and delivery details. The third platform is myTVS HIVE, a cloud-based connected mobility solution. It monitors the health of the vehicle remotely, diagnoses issues and recommends the best parts.

These efforts are paying off. myTVS clocked revenues of 1,500 crore in 2022-23. Its customer retention level is at 60%. We expect to grow at a compound annual rate of 50% in the next five years and become profitable at the Ebitda (operating) level by March 2024," says Raghavan.

The company has so far delivered 2.5 million servicing jobs and expects to become one of the largest automotive aftermarket platforms in the country in the next 12 to 24 months, with a network of over 3,000 service centres.

Players such as myTVS are also benefiting from a business model change among OEMs. Many players, especially new entrants, are looking at things differently. Ola, Volvo, Citroen and others have started selling their vehicles directly to customers. Instead of setting up a network of dealers for servicing, some have chosen to tie up with multi-brand outlets. As many as 10 electric vehicle (EV) players are on our platform," says Raghavan.

The quantum of OEM branded spare parts that go into the retail market has also increased substantially. This, in a way, is an acceptance by OEMs that disruptions will democratize vehicle servicing.

Dealers Future

Where does all this leave dealers?

They have to prepare themselves for the new reality," says MarketandMarkets Madhavan. They have to deliver better service to gain and retain customers, which includes becoming more competitive in terms of pricing.

The advent of electric vehicles has only accelerated this need to change. With 80% fewer moving parts, servicing income from an EV will be far lower. With a substantial chunk of their revenue coming from servicing, a shift away will leave a dark cloud looming over the viability of dealerships. No wonder, Manish Raj Singhania, president, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), has called for a Dealer Protection Act to protect the interests of dealers.

A dealer, who serves more than 10 automotive brands, chose to vent his feelings to Mint. He wanted OEMs to change the way they perceive dealers and work with them. For them, dealers are just financiers. We pay upfront and buy the vehicles and they pay their vendors after 30 or 60 days. I guess they make more money from treasury operations," he says, seeking anonymity.

The worst part, he adds, is that they dump the vehicles on dealers to meet monthly or yearly sales targets. Today, we will make more money just renting out our premises rather than being dealers," he laments.

OEMs are keenly aware of the new reality and are asking their dealers to step up. Indias largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, is asking its dealers to become more consumer centric. We have increased our focus on customer retention, especially in the third and fourth year of ownership. For that, we measure consumer satisfaction at the dealership level every day," says Shashank Srivastava, senior executive officer, marketing and sales, Maruti Suzuki India.

OEMs feel that the higher electronics content in a vehicle will ensure dealers remain relevant. Mechanical repairs may end up going to the multi-brand outlets, while those involving electronics may stay with the dealers as handling that would require a lot of investment and a highly skilled workforce," says MG Motors Gupta.

Some OEM executives have reserved judgment for now. Brand-agnostic service centres will grow once they establish their capabilities," says Volvo Group Indias president and managing director Kamal Bali.

The shift to EVs is in the early stages but Madhavan feels that it is high time dealers start pivoting. They should probably look at energy storage as a revenue option now," he says.

Non-dealer service centres will soon have an opportunity like never before. To grab it, they need to invest in the right infrastructure, skill people and deliver value to customers every time. It is not going to be a cakewalk, say the experts and there will be a shakeout in the space. But one thing is certain: customers like Dudheria will be assured of lower servicing bills for their cars and bikes.
Microsoft said on Friday that the outages that affected certain services of the company through some of the earlier days of this month were the result of cyberattacks, however, it said that it saw no evidence of any customer data being accessed or compromised.

"Beginning in early June 2023, Microsoft identified surges in traffic against some services that temporarily impacted availability'" the company said in a blog post.

The company said that it opened an investigation and began tracking the DDoS activity by the threat actor it refers to as Storm-1359 after it identified the threat. DDoS attacks work by directing high volumes of internet traffic towards targeted servers in a relatively unsophisticated bid to knock them offline.

While DDoS attacks are mainly a nuisance which makes websites unreachable without penetrating them. Security experts have said that they can disrupt the work of millions if they successfully interrupt the services of a software service giant like Microsoft on which so much global commerce depends. Microsoft has said there was no evidence any customer data which was accessed or compromised.

Earlier on 5 June, the company's 365 software suite, including Teams and Outlook, were down for more than two hours for over thousands of users and a brief recurrence the following morning.

Attacks continued through the week, with Microsoft confirming on June 9 that its Azure cloud computing platform had been affected. Then later on June 8, the computer security news site BleepingComputer.com reported that cloud-based OneDrive file-hosting was down globally for a time.

(With inputs from agencies)
NEW DELHI : Bryan Palma, chief executive officer of Trellix, has served as a former US Secret Service special agent and PepsiCos first chief information security officer and is currently a member of President Joe Bidens National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC).

Trellix was founded in 2022 by merging security firms McAfee Enterprise and FireEye. In an interview during his visit to Bengaluru, Palma shared his insights on various issues, including cyber warfare and the evolving face of cybersecurity in India and worldwide, with both hackers and security firms using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Edited excerpts:

AI has become a powerful tool for both cybersecurity professionals and hackers. How should individuals, companies, and governments prepare for the threats?

AI has become a tool for cybercriminals too. The next generation of cybersecurity is going to rely on a platform that has AI. Were not there, and a lot of detection work is being done by humans, which is putting a lot of pressure on the security industry in general because we have a big shortage of the capabilities and skills to defend against attackers. AI will allow us to make the resources more productive and use them more efficiently. But the hackers, too, are very quickly adopting AI, so its always kind of a cat-and-mouse game.

How should companies leverage this AI platform to thwart hackers?

Chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) want insight and analytics, and the way to do that is by leveraging AI. Our study reveals that 84% of CIOs have faced at least one cyber incident. This creates a lot of stress. There are a couple of areas that they should focus on. One is (keeping track of) the proliferation of endpoints like phones and video in TVs and cars. Thats a very different job than it was 15 years ago when you had to manage the corporate network and bring everybody into the corporate network and keep it safe.

Now, nobodys on the corporate network but on endpoints, which gives rise to more threat vectors and areas for protection. So, if youre a remote worker, youre doing your work in the cloud, and youre on diverse endpoints  you may be typing on your mobile phone, on your personal computer, on the company computer, or you may be in your Tesla doing work. The other area is around the cloud since all these assets are now in the cloud. These are the two biggest trends that CIOs/CISOs are wrestling with and trying to get their arms around. Were trying to help them by bringing a platform that makes it simpler for them to do that.

When you offer a solution or the, service or platform, who exactly is accountable for any kind of cybersecurity breach?

This has always been an issue in the industry because its very hard to say why a breach happened. Further, if you have 72 different technologies, it will involve the integration of different vendors and partners, which makes it very hard to say where the breach took place.

For instance, this trend is manifesting itself in supply chain attacks that have become a real problem. This started a couple of years ago with the whole SolarWinds issue (Hackers injected malicious code into Texas-based SolarWinds software systems in early 2020).

Now were seeing nation-states and others building their attacks into the supply chain, which poses a real problem for large companies because it involves many vendors.

Government breaches appear to be on the rise, especially with AI tools. Would these tools escalate cyber attacks?

We do a significant amount of business in the public sector. These folks have been dealing with nation-state attacks for a long time, along with cyber-attacks. Weve seen that in Russia and Ukraine, too, with both sides using those tactics, and well continue to see it. I think cyberattacks will play a big part in the future of warfare. Im part of NSTAC in the US, and theres a lot of effort going on for public-private partnerships and exchanging the right information, besides formulating the right regulations. Much like in the US, India too has a draft of the Indian National Cybersecurity strategy. Governments increasingly realize how important this factor is, and theyre spending more and more money and getting more engaged in policymaking (to thwart such crimes).

Are there any trends youre seeing in developing countries like India any different from that in developed countries?

For the most part, its similar, except for the size and scale of businesses.

In India, for instance, there are more small businesses, and a lot of those businesses arent prepared to deal with cybersecurity. So, there are some additional challenges just from the maturity of the overall business environment.

You merged FireEye and McAfee to create Trellix. Whats clicking for you in global markets and India, in particular?

Were in the right markets. Were a market leader in XDR (Extended Threat Detection, Investigation, Response), and the system covers security operations, data protection, and other elements of security. Most CIOs have investments in (security) tools already. We ingest over 650 different security tools into our XDR, which means that even if youve bought a product from another vendor, we want you to leverage that and not discard it. Ours is also an open platform. Further, our advanced research team has about 300 people doing research, and we have a lot of telemetry (automatic collection, transmission, and measurement of data from remote sources using sensors and other devices) in hundreds of millions of devices. Were using that telemetry to make our products better.

Are we seeing generative AI tools being used to have ransomware?

We have a group called the Advanced Research Centre which comprises 300 of our best researchers. And they look at a lot of adversarial threat research, among other things. We are definitely seeing custom-designed ransomware that has been designed to evade some of the security technologies out there--whether its endpoint or other technologies (but not Generative AI). For a long time, they (hackers) have just been running traditional ransomware like cobalt strike (a paid penetration testing product that allows an attacker to deploy an agent named Beacon on the victim machine). Now theyre running custom-designed ransomware. Well continue to see that in the future.

Its early days but will quantum computing help in better encryption technology?

We will see more powerful computing. It definitely brings more power to the equation. But that power will not only be used by the good guys. Its always going to be a cat-and-mouse game.

What are your thoughts on AI becoming sentient at some given point in time?

AI currently does have the ability to think on its own. But 20 years from now, once these models are really trained, and become very sophisticated, and are pointed at certain datasets, it is something were going to have to think about and consider. The government will have to get involved and put some rules in place. Theres no magic solution to prevent this.
NEW DELHI : India is preparing the groundwork for its own carbon border tax to strike back against a similar move by the European Union (EU), two people aware of the discussions in the government said. New Delhi is peeved by the EUs move to link the environment with trade, though there were no such considerations while Europe industrialized.

The finance and commerce ministries are discussing the contours of such a mechanism, particularly about measuring the carbon content in products imported from Europe, said one of the people cited above, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

We are working out the contours of how a carbon tax will work. Retaliation can be in two ways. One is to do something similar, for which we need to measure the carbon content in imports. The second option is to retaliate on something else, but that option is not being looked into. The first option requires a lot of work, and we are doing the homework," the person cited above said.

The second person added, The (EUs) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is just a customs duty by another name. Going by the logic behind this levy, we are also free to impose a tax on imports taking into account historic carbon emissions by them."

The views expressed by the two people privy to the governments thinking show New Delhi is disturbed by the EUs move and is willing to retaliate.

The EUs carbon tax is based on its domestic emission standards and a price to be paid for excess emissions. The scheme gets into a global transition phase in October and becomes fully effective in January 2026. It would initially cover cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogen and their precursors. Many fear this list may expand in the future, impacting developing countries such as India. Once the permanent system kicks in, importers into EU will need to report the quantity of annual imports and their embedded greenhouse gases. They will then surrender the corresponding number of CBAM certificates available at a price. The price is computed as the weekly average auction price of the EUs emission allowancesthe right to emit a specific amount under its Emission Trading System expressed as euros per tonne of carbon, according to the EUs documents seeking feedback.

Experts said linking environment and trade has the potential to distort global trade, and it implies that certain countries are pollution havens based on one entitys domestic standards and legislation. Also, World Trade Organization (WTO) rules do not explicitly link the environment with global trade.

According to Biswajit Dhar, economist and expert in international trade, CBAM can be seen as a non-tariff barrier", which is illegal according to WTO, unlike non-tariff measures such as anti-dumping action, which are seen as barriers but are allowed by WTO. The EUs application of domestic standards to global trade does not set the right precedent," Dhar said, adding that wherever possible, India has voluntarily embraced certain the EU emission norms, such as vehicles.

A newly formed inter-ministerial group with officials from across the ministries is looking at all possible ways to soften the impact of not just the EUs CBAM but also similar legislation that is increasingly being considered by several developed nations such as Japan, the UK and the US. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal last week said India sought exemption for its small businesses from the EUs carbon tax.

India is focusing on developing its own carbon pricing system and pushing for its recognition globally so as to avoid a default value put on Indian exports. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, passed by Parliament last year, seeks to empower the central government to specify a carbon credit trading scheme.

Emails sent to the spokespeople for finance and commerce ministries on Friday seeking comments for the story remained unanswered.

Government officials said that CBAM breaches the basic principle of international environmental law of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) that suggests that all states are responsible for addressing global environmental destruction, but they are not equally responsible and that there is a need to recognize the wide differences in levels of economic development between states and their contribution in battling climate change.
IIT JEE Advanced result 2023: IIT-JEE Advanced result was announced on Sunday. The link to check result is active on jeeadv.ac.in. Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy of IIT Hyderabad zone topped the IIT JEE exam. He secured 341 marks out of 360 in the examination.

In the exam, a total of 180372 candidates gave both the papers, ie papers 1 and 2 in JEE (Advanced) 2023. Out of the total candidates, 43773 candidates qualified the exam. Number of female candidates who cleared the exam stood at 7,509. Out of the female candidates IIT Hyderabad zone's Nayakanti Naga Bhavya Sree topped the exam with CRL 56. She scored 298 marks out of 360 marks.

Other than toppers, IIT Hyderabad zone also stood out among other zones in terms of giving maximum number of qualifiers of the IIT-JEE Advanced 2023 exam. 10432 students from IIT Hyderabad zone qualified the exam. 7957 students of IIT Mumbai zone cleared the exam. Number of students qualifying the exam was 9290 for IIT Delhi zone, 2395 for IIT Guwahati zone, 4582 for IIT Kanpur zone, 4618 for IIT Kharagpur zone, and 4499 for IIT Roorkee zone.

A total of 13828 students of General category cleared the exam, 9029 students of OBC-NCL category cleared the exam, 5363 students of General-EWS category cleared the exam, 10993 students of SC category cleared the exam, 4081 students of ST category cleared the exam this year.

IIT JEE Advanced 2023: Top 10 scorer of the examination

Out of the top ten scorers of the exam seven students come from IIT Hyderabad zone. Rest re from IIT Roorkee and IIT Delhi.

1. VAVILALA CHIDVILAS REDDY of IIT Hyderabad

2 RAMESH SURYA THEJA of IIT Hyderabad

3 RISHI KALRA of IIT Roorkee

4 RAGHAV GOYAL of IIT Roorkee

5 ADDAGADA VENKATA SIVARAM of IIT Hyderabad

6 PRABHAV KHANDELWAL of IIT Delhi

7 BIKKINA ABHINAV CHOWDARY of IIT Hyderabad

8 MALAY KEDIA of IIT Delhi

9 NAGIREDDY BALAAJI REDDYof IIT Hyderabad

10 YAKKANTI PANI VENKATA and MANEENDHAR REDDY of IIT Hyderabad

Zone-wise list of top female scorers

Zone-wise list of female toppers include Aditi Singh, Vani Gupta, Akshara, Nayakanti Naga Bhavya Shree, Palak Agrawal, Ananya Latchupatula and Ishita.

Here is the table of the zone-wise topper.

View Full Image IIT JEE Advanced topper list (Zone-wise)

How is the IIT-JEE Advanced rank list prepared?

To prepare the list, aggregate marks will be calculated as the sum of the marks obtained in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. They have to obtain the minimum subject-wise marks as well as the aggregate qualifying markes to be included in a rank list.

Minimum aggregate marks is 360 including both, Paper 1 and Paper 2

Maximum marks in Physics is 120

Maximum marks in Chemistry is 120

Maximum marks in Maths is 120.
Nine more women last Wednesday accused Bill Cosbyfamous American comedian, actor, and media personalityof sexually assaulting them, decades ago, in a lawsuit filed in Nevada, after the US state dropped its statute of limitations on civil sexual abuse cases.

The law suit court said alleged assaults took place between 1979 and 1992 in various locations in Nevada including dressing room, hotel suites, Reno homes and Lake Tahoe. The comedian used his "enormous power, fame and prestige" to isolate and sexually assault the women, it further added.

Earlier, around 60 women accused Cosby of being serial predator who plied victims with sedatives and alcohol before assaulting them after Nevada enacted a "lookback" law removing a two-year window for sexual assault victims to bring civil claims.

The women group also trying to seek justice in the courts, by urging the states to give them more time to pursue civil damages.

Cosby, 85, was a famous figure in late-20th century American popular culture, and was known as "America's Dad" for his role in 1980s television comedy "The Cosby Show."

Cosby was earlier convicted in 2004 when a Pennsylvania jury found him guilty in 2018 of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, an employee at his alma mater Temple University, but was released from prison after Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out his case in 2021, ruling that he should not have faced charges after striking a non-prosecution deal with a previous district attorney years earlier.

Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt slammed the Nevada accusers and their lawyers, in part for filing the lawsuit just before the June 19 Juneteenth holiday marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

It is disappointing to see that these alleged distractors are able to monetize false allegations against Mr. Cosby," Wyatt said in a statement. Mr. Cosby continues to invoke his constitutional rights by saying Not Guilty and vehemently denying all of these alleged allegations waged against him."

(With inputes from agencies )
The Nifty index has successfully broken above the important resistance level of 18,800, indicating a bullish sign. Additionally, writers of call options at 18,800 strike have been observed covering their positions, suggesting a positive sentiment as the Nifty sustains its position above 18,800. The moving averages are below the current index value, which further supports the bullish outlook. Furthermore, the momentum indicator has given a falling trend line breakout, indicating a potential increase in upward momentum.

As long as the Nifty remains above the support level of 17,700, the overall trend is expected to remain positive. However, the resistance level is anticipated at 19,000, which may present a challenge for further upward movement.

The bulls regained control and displayed strength in the Bank Nifty index. The index managed to hold the support level at 43,400, which suggests that buying pressure emerged at that level. Immediate Upside Resistance at 44,000: The index faces immediate resistance at 44,000. A successful break above this level could open up room for further upside moves. Potential Upside Targets for the index, if it breaks above the resistance at 44,000, can move towards the 43,300/43,500 levels.

Financial Nifty, the index started on June 16 with a gap-up opening. Strong positive moves in HDFC, SBI, and HDFC BANK contributed to the index maintaining its positive momentum throughout the day. Major indexes NIFTY and BANK NIFTY closed positive, FIN NIFTY closed above the previous day's high, indicating a strong positive sentiment for the upcoming days. The major resistance zone for the index is at 19,600/19,660. On the downside, key support levels can be found at 19,400/19,300.

The stock experienced a breakout on the daily chart, accompanied by a sharp surge in volumes. This indicates a strong upward move in the stock. The momentum indicator RSI showed a buy crossover, suggesting increasing buying pressure and strength in the stock. The stock has a support level at 380, which is expected to provide a cushion for any potential downside movements. The stock has a potential upside target of 430 to 450, indicating the possibility of further price appreciation.

The shares of BHARATFORG have shown positive signs in their price action and technical indicators. The stock is currently sustaining above the double bottom breakout level, which indicates strength in the upward movement. RSI has undergone a bullish crossover, indicating increasing buying momentum. Additionally, the stock is maintaining its position above the 21-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), further supporting the bullish outlook. In the short term, the stock is expected to move towards the 900-920. On the downside, a support level is identified at 800, which may act as a price floor during potential corrections.

The authour, Kunal Shah, is Senior Technical & Derivative Analyst at LKP Securities

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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The Coastal Road route between Marine Lines and Worly, designed to alleviate congestion in the city's existing road network, is likely to be opened by December but only one side of it is likely to be opened first, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Sunday. Only one-way traffic on the Coastal Road route will be opened in December as the work on the second tunnel is still underway.

According to a report in Mid-Day, the routes to connect the Coastal Road to Bandra-Worli Sea Link and few interchanges at Worli and Haji Ali will be completed in some time. The entire project, which started in December 2019, is likely to be over by June 2025.

We are looking at options to optimise use of the completed structures of the road. One tunnel will be ready and so the south-to-north (Marine Lines to Worli up to JK Kapur Chowk) traffic may start in December 2023. We are also looking to open up a few other stretches on north-to-south roads, but this decision will be taken later," a BMC official was quoted as saying by the report.

The project stared in December 2018 and the route between Marine Lines and Worli was supposed to be launched by November this year. Despite the work being carried out even during the lockdown period, the BMC has now said that only one way of the stretch would be made operational. The he Bandra-Worli Sea Link connector and some other routes will be made operational by May 2024.

What delayed the project? Several issues such as a Supreme Court battle and a damage in the tunnel boring machine delayed the project.

The ongoing Coastal Road Project in Mumbai is poised to have a significant impact on the connectivity between Mumbai and Alibaug. The coastal freeway will not only reduce travel time but also provide a scenic and comfortable commute for residents, tourists, and investors heading to Alibaug.
Del. Sally Hudson is hitting her Democratic primary opponent Sen. Creigh Deeds hard on his gun reform voting record, and Deeds daughter says shes had enough.

Rebecca Deeds has called Hudsons mailers and advertisements criticizing her fathers work a smear campaign and appalling.

Both the elder Deeds and Hudson have an F rating from the National Rifle Association, both are endorsed by gun control groups and both submitted an identical, but doomed, bill in the past session in Richmond that would make carrying a firearm at state-owned colleges illegal in the wake of the Nov. 13 mass shooting at University of Virginia.

But Hudson says Creigh Deeds track record on the matter is spotty, at best.

In the final stretch of the Democratic primary race for the 11th District Senate seat, Hudsons campaign has highlighted the moments over the course of Creigh Deeds 30-plus years representing the area in which he has voted against practical gun safety measures.

A website owned by Hudsons political action committee Sally for Virginia State Senate, called deedsgunrecord.com, provides links to news stories highlighting Creigh Deeds opposition to a 2020 gun bill that would have made it a felony to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in a way that endangers a minor as well as his former A rating from the NRA back in 2009.

A Hudson campaign mailer that places the candidates side by side, suggests that while Deeds has a history of opposing gun control over a long tenure in Richmond, Hudson has done just the opposite over a shorter career in the General Assembly.

Creigh Deeds, himself, has been adamant that the 2020 bill that Hudson has referenced on multiple occasions throughout the race was written so broadly that it would have been struck down by federal courts. Further, he told The Daily Progress that rather than outright opposition to the spirit of the bill, his hope was that the bill would be sent back to the House Democrat-controlled Crime Commission so that they could fix it.

They didnt fix the bill, the state senator said.

Deeds admitted that his position on firearms has evolved over the course of his life, from a child who grew up in rural Virginia spending his days hunting in the woods to a legislator that has voted in favor of universal background checks, red-flag legislation, a one-handgun rule and legislation to keep guns out of state buildings and state parks.

Creigh Deeds isnt alone in his corner; he has been endorsed by Giffords, the gun control advocacy group started by former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords after a failed assassination attempt in 2011. Creigh Deeds  as well as Hudson  touts himself as a Gun Sense Candidate, a distinction bestowed by the Moms Demand Action gun control advocacy group.

Creigh Deeds also has a vocal supporter in his daughter.

Rebecca Deeds took to Facebook on Thursday to directly respond to the recent Hudson mailers and advertisements. In a lengthy post, Rebecca Deeds said that attacking her fathers work on gun control amounted to a smear campaign, specifically referencing her brothers suicide by firearm in 2013.

The idea that my Dad cares not about protecting our children from gun violence  when we lost someone that we love and miss so much every single day to suicide by gun violence  is untenable and a direct attack on My Dad, My Family, the sacrifice that he has made to serve the community from a place of passion, and lived experience with trauma, gun violence, and suicide," she wrote.

Hudson said her campaigns mission has been one of transparency.

I think voters deserve to evaluate candidates voting records, and we have tried to present information on Senator Deeds' voting record on guns in the most transparent way possible, including full length coverage of those votes and reputable news sources, Hudson told The Daily Progress on Friday.

Rebecca Deeds said she doesnt see it that way.

I was disappointed by how she chose to completely misrepresent his views on guns, she told The Daily Progress via email on Saturday. He voted to send an assault weapons bill to the house crime commission for improvement  he did not vote down an assault weapons ban on the Senate floor. She knows he has an F rating from the NRA, and that hes been endorsed by Americas top gun reform advocate, Gabby Giffords. Gabby would not have endorsed him if he wasnt the best possible advocate.

Rebecca Deeds said that her decision to throw herself into the political fight on Thursday was not one she made lightly.

Honestly, while the post came spilling out, I cried while I was writing it, she said. But Im willing to put how Im feeling out there given who I am defending.

Rebecca Deeds said she also has taken umbrage at the Hudson campaigns suggestion that her father is some sort of carpetbagger.

On Friday, Hudson, who has touted her deeper community ties compared to her opponent, said plainly that Creigh Deeds only moved to Charlottesville from Bath County last year after his original Senate district was redrawn.

Im the only candidate in the race who didnt move to run here, Hudson said.

Creigh Deeds has told The Daily Progress that while he still owns his residence in Bath, he intends to sell it and continue to live in Charlottesville  even if he loses Tuesdays primary. More than that, he said that he has always been a figure in the Charlottesville community, even when he lived in Bath full-time.

His father lived in Charlottesville from 1967 until he died in 2012. His daughter has lived in Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County for 17 years.

This person running against him is going around our community acting like my Dad isnt part of it, Rebecca Deeds wrote in her Facebook post. That is trashing not only him but all of the people in our community that he works with every day to solve the problems of VIRGINIANS  in our district AND BEYOND. His vision is bigger and broader and includes EVERYONE in this Commonwealth, not just the people of Charlottesville. And this district is bigger than Charlottesville  Albemarle, Louisa, Nelson, Amhearst [sic] are all there too.

Hudson, who grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, moved to Charlottesville to work as a professor at the University of Virginia after receiving her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2016.
Narkanda, a hill resort in northern India, is attracting tourists from all over the country with its pleasant weather.

Narkanda, a picturesque hill destination in the state, has become the preferred choice for tourists looking to escape crowded locations. Visitors from Delhi, seeking respite from the scorching heat and bustling city life, have expressed their delight in choosing Narkanda for its pleasant atmosphere, lower temperatures, and overall enjoyable and relaxing environment. Suresh, a tourist from Delhi, highlighted the pure air and the beauty of Narkanda, stating that it was the ideal place to spend their holidays.

Travelers are opting to stay in the outskirts rather than crowded places like Shimla. Hotels and travel businesses are experiencing high demand, with advance bookings pouring in for June and July.

Manager Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Suresh Manager said, This June in comparison to the last June we have tourist arrival more than the previous year, we have tourists coming in from West Bengal, Gurugram, Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai also. Due to natural beauty, tourists prefer the hills away from cities. We have advance bookings coming in, we have trekking activities and have the Hatu temple and Tanuja areas. We have special discount offers to give regards to the senior citizens."

Anita, another tourist from Delhi, echoed the sentiment, describing Narkanda as a beautiful place devoid of rush and offering cleanliness rarely found in other tourist spots. She encouraged others to visit the hills during the summer season, emphasizing the pleasant weather compared to the sweltering heat of Delhi.

Thriving tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has long been a popular destination for tourists, attracting a significant number of visitors each year. According to tourism department of Himachal Pradesh data for 2019, nearly 1.72 million tourists, including 400,000 foreign visitors, explored the statea notable increase of approximately 5 percent compared to 2018.

In 2021, a total of 5,637,102 tourists visited India, with Himachal Pradesh witnessing a considerable influx. As of now, the state has already welcomed around 80 lakh tourists this year. The tourism sector plays a crucial role in Himachal Pradesh's economy, generating revenue exceeding INR 110 billion. It is considered a backbone for the state's economy, contributing 7.3 percent to its GDP.

(With inputs from ANI)
Amid recent violent incidents in Manipur, the Twitter handle of the tribal forum Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) has been withheld in India. It describes itself as a conglomerate of recognized tribes in the Lamka district of Manipur. A user provided the information on the microblogging site.

The ITLF Media Cell Twitter account, vital for raising awareness about Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, has been blocked in India. Despite tirelessly working towards addressing their challenges, this censorship is yet another attempt to stifle marginalized voices," a statement on the tribal body's Twitter page reads.

In an official statement, the group said that it has been subjected to "a shocking act of censorship" and that taking down the Twitter account "is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice".

It further stated that this amounts to a violation of Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression) of the Indian Constitution.

Blocking of the ITLF Media Cell Twitter account is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice. This act comes as an addition to the already crippling 40+ days of internet shutdown in the Manipur Hills districts (minimal restriction in the valley districts), severely limiting and hampering the ability of the Kuki-Zo tribals to report on-ground daily incidents of attacks perpetrated by state-sponsored Meitei separatists, rampaging Meitei mobs including Meira Paibis, and radicalized groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun," the statement added.

The group has earlier reiterated its demand for the imposition of Presidents rule in Manipur after the violent clashes with the Meitei community.

Violence had erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. So far, nearly 100 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured.

The Central Bureau of Investigation took over six Manipur violence cases on Friday, forming a special investigation team under a DIG-rank officer. Six FIRs have been filed since violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state last month.

The developments came even as three people were killed and two others injured in Manipur on Friday. The incident took place in a village in ethnic violence-hit Imphal West district.
BJP on Sunday slammed the Bengal government and the state Election Commission for not taking any action against the ongoing violence and stated that both state government and the EC are sitting silent. Also Read: BJP on West Bengal panchayat poll violence: Black chapter in the history of democracy West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, while speaking to ANI, CM is saying one thing and Saugata Roy is saying something else. On the basis of govt report, State Election Commission is saying no one died and no political clash happened. Both state government and the EC are sitting silent and are not doing anything to stop violence. " We thank the Governor who is trying to save the people of Bengal, he added. The Canning area in South 24 Parganas district witnessed sporadic violence between two groups of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers ahead of panchayat polls.To maintain order, heavy security deployments have been made in the South 24 Parganas district. Also Read: West Bengal: TMC, BJP workers clash at Sahebganj's BDO office, MoS Nisith Pramanik attacked After paying a visit to violence-hit district, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday said that he was "deeply distressed" with the clashes which took place on the last day of filing nominations for the panchayat elections. Also Read: Bengal election commission moves Supreme Court over Calcutta HCs order on panchayat polls "I had seen myself what happened here. I have heard that it is a war. I am deeply distressed. This is not an acceptable situation. The common man has their rights. Many things have been reported here," the Governor said while addressing a press conference here.

He further said that being a "custodian of the Constitution", he cannot let these incidents happen.

"I have a commitment. We the people of India make our Constitution. Governor is a custodian of the Constitution and I defend it. Unfortunately, in some pockets, I have visited. I have met the victims. I am determined to stand by the people," he added.

The panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11.

The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann on Sunday, wondering if the latter's only work was to be a pilot" for the AAP chief. The senior BJP leader addressed a rally in the border district of Gurdaspur as part of the BJP's outreach campaign to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government. Meanwhile Kejriwal took a swipe at Shah over the government's decision to open a Narcotics Control Bureau office in Amritsar.

Bhagwant Mann has time for Arvind Kejriwal but not for the people of Punjab. He has only one work and that is to take Arvind Kejriwal across the country. Sometimes I am unable to understand whether he is a CM or a pilot. People of Punjab are feeling insecure. Law and order have degraded in the state. The people will teach a lesson for this," he asserted.

In my entire life, I have not seen a government like the one led by AAP, which makes hollow promises," he asserted. Shah also said that the Punjab government was making no efforts to address the increasing drug trade or farmers' woes.

While the jibe went ignored by the Delhi Chief Minister, he lashed out at the BJP with a barb of his own. Kejriwal alleged that BJP workers in the state were not fighting against drugs, but using the NCB to promote their party.

Are you opening the NCB office or the BJP's in Amritsar? Then how can NCB work in villages through BJP workers? This means that you have nothing to do with the intoxication of Punjab. The BJP has to be promoted using NCB. By the way, intoxication had spread only during your and Akali Dal's government, Shah Sahib?" he tweeted in Hindi.

(With inputs from agencies)
Google Doodle: Search engine giant Google has wished 'Happy Father's Day' with a special doodle today, Sunday. This year Father's Day is being celebrated on 18 June. During this Day, children express their love towards their fathers and show how much importance they hold in their lives.

Some celebrate Fathers Day' by giving gifts, while some prepare their favorite meal or just by simply sending some quality time with them.

The Day is celebrated worldwide to honor the importance of dads in their children's lives. In most countries, the day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, but in Spain and Portugal, it is celebrated on March 19. In Russia, Taiwan, and Thailand, Father's day is celebrated on October 15, August 8, and December 5, respectively.

Take a look at Father's Day special Google Doodle

View Full Image This year, Father's day is celebrated on June 18.

The special day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in the US. Sonora's father William Jackson Smart was a war veteran who selflessly raised six children all alone. Sonora had heard about how Anna Jarvis had created International Mother's Day in honor of her mother. So she told the pastor of her church that should be something similar to celebrating fathers. She believed that fathers also deserved recognition and appreciation for the role they play in raising their children.

As per reports, Sonora had proposed the idea to celebrate Father's Day to her local YMCA and the Spokane Ministerial Association. She had earlier suggested celebrating the day on 5 June, however, the date was changed to the third Sunday in June. In 1910, the first official Father's Day was celebrated on 19 June in Spokane, Washington.

Happy Father's Day! Wishes and quotes to share with your dad

1) Dad, you're the first person I turn to when I have a question or need some advice. Thank you for always answering.

2) Today is your day. A day to celebrate and let you know how much you are appreciated and loved by Dad.

3) Thank you for all the many sacrifices you have made for our family and all the joy you bring into our lives. Couldn't have asked for a better dad! Happy Father's Day.

4) You are the first person I think of when I have a question about something or when I just need some support and good advice. Thank you for being there.

5) You've been there through my highs and lows, but always made me feel like I could soar! Happy Father's Day from your daughter.

6) Dad, you're our superhero. Your strength, wisdom, and unconditional love have always inspired us.

7) Your patience, kindness, and constant support have made us what we are. Have a wonderful Father's Day, and know that we cherish you deeply.

8) As I grow older, I realize more and more how fortunate I am to have you as my father.
The Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be bestowed on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, an official statement said on Sunday. Gita Press, Gorakhpur has won the recognition for its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods".

PM Narendra Modi also congratulated Gita Press, Gorakhpur and also commended their contribution. In a tweet, PM Modi said, I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people. @GitaPress."

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture said the jury headed by PM Narendra Modi unanimously decided to select Gita Press as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize.

PM Narendra Modi also recalled the contribution of Gita Press, in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. PM Modi observed that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service.

WHAT IS GANDHI PEACE PRIZE?

Established in 1995, the Gandhi Peace Prize is conferred as a homage to the principles championed by Mahatma Gandhi. It was launched in 1995 by the Union government on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, October 2.

Every year, it is conferred on individuals and institutions in recognition of their efforts in promoting social, economic, and political transformation through non-violence and other methods inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles.

WHAT DOES AWARD CARRY?

The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.

THE JURY

The jury which decides the awardee of the Gandhi Peace Prize comprises the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and one other eminent person.

ABOUT GITA PRESS, GORAKHPUR

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture has said that Gandhi Peace Prize recognises the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense.

The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the well being of all," the official statement read.

WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED IN THE PAST?

The past awardees include organizations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi, the ministry said in a statement.

It has also been awarded to luminaries like Late Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka, Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Shri Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.

Recently, the award was given to Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
A total of 54 people died and around 400 persons have been hospitalized in the Ballia District Hospital of Uttar Pradesh in the last three days amid soaring temperatures, according to a report published by NDTV.

There are different reasons for the deaths, of which, severe heat could be one factor, said doctors, adding that hospitalizations are rising due to severe heat conditions in the district.

A severe heatwave has swept Uttar Pradesh as most places are witnessing temperatures around 40 degrees.

SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia informed that 23 people died on June 15, while 20 on June 16 and 11 yesterday, NDTV reported.

Dr BP Tiwari, Additional Health Director, Azamgarh Circle stated that a team from Lucknow will investigate the deaths if there is some other disease behind the deaths which is not being detected.

Apart from Uttar Pradesh, as many as 44 people have also lost their lives due to extremely hot weather in Bihar in the past 24 hours, according to India Today reports.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in Odisha, Vidarbha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, etc.

A red alert warning has been issued in Bihar due to prevailing heatwave conditions in the state, said IMD in its daily heatwave guidance issued on Friday.

In the wake of the scorching temperature, the Patna district administration has extended the summer vacation of schools up to Class 12 till 24 June.

Other than Bihar, several states have extended summer vacation in their states due to the scorching summer. Jharkhand's School Education and Literacy Department exptended closure of schools up to class 8 till 17 June. Other than this, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, have also announced closure of school for students.

Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will prevail in pockets over Vidarbha and in a few pockets over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Bihar, Odisha, and in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and heat wave conditions in isolated pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Telangana, East Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, the weather office said.
Section 144 has been removed from the Purola town of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand. Community-specific shops have also started opening under police protection as the situation improved in the area on Saturday, according to a report published by the news agency ANI.

Shops run by Muslims in Purola remained shut for the 17th consecutive day on Monday even as the top officials held a meeting with different sections of the society and appealed to them to maintain peace and harmony.

However, Balekhan belonging to a minority community opened his shop on Saturday morning, other shops opened in the evening.

SDM Devanand Sharma said, "Shops have started opening and now there is an atmosphere of peace in the area. The district administration has also removed Section 144."

Shops were closed on May 26 due to communal tensions over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl followed by an uproar after a youth of a particular community tried to drive away a minor.

A mahapanchayat that was called in Dehradun on June 18 was also canceled after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured action, the police said.

Meanwhile, a clash erupted in Belra village, Uttarakhand's Roorkee, on June 13 evening following an alleged murder, leaving numerous police personnel injured. In response, the district administration implemented Cr PC Section 144, imposing prohibitory orders and deploying security forces to restore control.

The situation escalated as miscreants threw stones at the police, causing injuries to around six officers. In addition, a few vehicles were reportedly set on fire, leading the police to utilize tear gas and force to disperse the mob.

Officials in Belra village reported a death, but the investigation found no evidence of murder, contrary to the villagers' allegations. Nonetheless, the police suspect a conspiracy and have launched a separate probe to delve deeper into the incident.

(With ANI inputs)
In Germany, a Berlin court has refused to grant the custody of a 27-month-old Ariha Shah to her own parents, rather handed her over to the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt). The baby was in Jugendamt custody since September 2021.

According to a report published by India Today, the court granted Ariha's custody to the German state on Friday. It also dismissed the claims of her parents that the injury sustained by the baby was accidental.

However, Ariha's parents did not lose hope and are hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar would help them in bringing their kid back to India.

They said, We hand over Ariha to 140 crores Bhartiyas today."

Initially, Ariha's parents sought her custody but had then urged that she be handed over to the Indian Welfare Services, Indian Express reported.

While denying the custody to India, the Berlin court pointed to two injuries, one on the head and another on the back, that Ariha had suffered in April 2021. Hence, the court stated that parental care was being denied to avert the existing danger to the child, the report added.

The court also said it had come to the conviction that the parents had intentionally caused serious genital injuries to the child as they were unable to justify the events, India Today said in a report.

Meanwhile, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on June 2 said that Ariha's stay in Germany's foster care is of deep concern to the Indian government and her parents.

He reiterated that Ariha is an Indian national and her socio-cultural background is the most important determinant of where her foster care is to be provided, the report said.

A total of 59 MPs from 19 political parties have written to German Ambassador to India Dr Philipp Ackermann and requested to return Ariha to India.

India can well look after her own children," the letter read.
In a statement on Saturday, a senior lawmaker expressed that Israel could find an acceptable understanding between its arch-foe, Iran, and the United States if it includes strict supervision of Tehran's nuclear program.

Talks between Washington and Tehran are currently underway to outline steps that could potentially limit Iran's nuclear programme, according to Iranian and Western officials These steps would be cast as an "understanding", rather than a comprehensive agreement requiring review by the U.S. Congress, like the 2015 accord that was abandoned by former President Donald Trump.

"It's not a wide-scope agreement, it's more like a small agreement, a memorandum of understanding, an M.O.U., and I think Israel can live with this if there is real supervision," said Yuli Edelstein, head of the Israeli parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, reported Channel 12's Meet the Press.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refrained from commenting on whether Edelstein's remarks align with the views of the premier.

Netanyahu, in a televised statement on Tuesday before briefing the foreign affairs and defence committee, emphasized that no agreement with Iran would obligate Israel, as it will take all necessary measures to defend itself.

"Our opposition to the deal - a return to the original (2015) deal - is working, I think," he said. He also highlighted that there are differing outlooks on smaller agreements. Netanyahu affirmed that Israel has been transparent in expressing its position during both closed and open sessions.

Uncertainties surrounding Iran's uranium enrichment

One key aspect of the potential understanding revolves around the degree to which Iran would agree to restrain its uranium enrichment. Israeli officials within Netanyahu's circle have provided differing perspectives on this matter.

Netanyahu's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in an interview to Israel Hayom that Israel views any new understanding as less damaging compared to the 2015 deal, but they remain prepared for any Iranian shift towards uranium enrichment exceeding 60 percent fissile purity, which would indicate weapon-related purposes. While 90 percent fissile purity is required for a bomb.

On the other hand, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer expressed misgivings about any "freeze" of current enrichment levels.

It means that you reconcile with a higher level of enrichment in Iran. And we thought that was a bad idea then, and we think it's a bad idea today," Dermer told the AJC Global Forum in Tel Aviv.

After failing to revive the 2015 deal, the Biden administration aims to reimpose limitations on Iran's nuclear program to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, which could pose a threat to Israel and trigger a regional arms race. The US government has dismissed reports of seeking an interim deal with Tehran, while Tehran denies pursuing nuclear weapons.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Sally Hudson is running for the 11th District seat in the state Senate.

She first held political office in 2019, winning election to represent the 57th District in the House of Delegates. Hudson teaches statistics at the University of Virginia and received her PhD from MIT.

Hudson sat down with The Daily Progress ahead of the June 20 primary to discuss her plans for the district and the state.

The interview has been edited for concision and clarity.

As Democrats, you and your opponent seem to share a lot of similar values. So where do you and Creigh Deeds differ in a way thats going to matter to voters?

I think its which projects we prioritize. And I think I have a stronger record of working on and passing bills on this communitys top priorities, like reproductive rights, affordable housing or cutting carbon emissions. I think those are the kinds of things that I hear from voters in this district saying they want serious progress on, and theres a difference between getting things done and getting things done on the problems that matter most to people in the district.

Because youd be new to the Senate, if you win there will likely be a learning curve. Your opponent, meanwhile, has been in the Senate for years. Do you think you are asking voters to sacrifice immediate action while you learn the ropes?

Its going to be a brand new day in Richmond in 2024. No matter who wins this race, whoever we elect is going to have to navigate a new landscape, because theres such dramatic turnover in both bodies. Thats just the practical reality when you turn over a third of your most senior members in the Senate.

Theres going to be a race for the leadership. Theres going to be new committee chairs. Its all going to be different, so anybodys going to have to adapt. And I think the question is in that environment of dramatic turnover, do we want to elect a senator who has shown that they know how to navigate that  which I have done in the House  and is going to be on the leading edge of helping the Senate become the kind of accountable responsive body that we deserve as Virginians? Because the Senate has been a major bottleneck on a lot of important progress in Virginia, and has been a keeper of a culture of corruption for a very long time.

With the redistricting, there are going to be people in your district who have not had a Democratic representative in a long time. Whats the reception been like in the places where those voters live?

I organize there the same way I organize anywhere, which is you build a meaningful relationship based on getting good work done, and then you ask those people to introduce you to their friends. And so weve done meet-and-greet house parties in Nelson, just like weve done here.

And thats because Ive worked with folks down there before I was in office on the pipeline construction. And since then, on affordable housing projects with Democrats and Republicans. Nelson is going through the same stuff that we are. So its its been fine, and I think in particular, Nelson has a real independent streak. Democrats in Nelson, because of the pipeline, have learned a deep distrust of longtime Democrats for good reason. Terry McAuliffe lost Nelson.

Affordable housing has been such a major issue in this district for such a long time. What do you think you can deliver for voters that hasnt been delivered before, promised before?

So the two most important things that the state can do on affordable housing are funding and flexibility.

Funding is really about backfilling what the federal government used to do to invest in publicly subsidized housing. We dont have enough units right now, and the federal government has not stepped up to fill that gap. So theres a lot that we could do at the state level to meaningfully develop the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, because we just we cant wait around anymore for HUD [the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] to get its act together.

What local governments need are more flexible tools to incentivize construction. Charlottesville City Council is currently doing a Comprehensive Plan rewrite, and part of that includes a package of financial incentives thats created from legislation that I passed for inclusionary zoning. Inclusionary zoning is when the developers get a pass on certain development restrictions if they include more units for lower-income families.

So the question has got to be, how do create more construction at all price points, while recognizing that theres going to need to be some protection for units for families who cant afford market-rate housing. And the way that we do that is by helping developers make the math work.

Whats your pitch to someone whos never heard of you before?

The first pitch is that they deserve elections. Most people that you talk to dont realize that theyve got a brand new district.

What happens when we dont have competitive elections is that politics becomes the purview of the obsessed.

So the first conversation you have to have with them is like, Do you know that theres an election right now going on in the state Senate?

And then you have a conversation with them about their priorities. In this community, that conversation very quickly turns to Im scared about reproductive rights or Im scared about gun violence or We need more affordable housing or Im terrified of the smoke thats filling up the air.

The gun control bill you introduced this past session failed. How will you be able to get meaningful work done on this and other contentious issues?

Anybody who thinks you can pass meaningful bipartisan legislation on guns is fooling voters at this point. Thats why I find the assault weapons ban that Senator Deeds drafted this spring  after he found out he had a challenger  to be such an empty gesture. That bill had no chance of getting through the House or to the governors desk.

Thats why the most important thing that Ive ever done for gun safety in Virginia was ensure we had a speaker of the House who was a Democratic leader who was committed to winning these elections. Anybody looking at the politics in Virginia for the last four years has to conclude that Republicans are uninterested in bipartisan work on guns, and therefore, the only real way to make progress is to win elections.

And so the actual answer that you owe voters, if youre serious about this is What are you doing to help us flip the House? And it cant it cant just be raising money, because we outspent Republicans last cycle. It has to be What are you doing structurally to put Democrats in a better position to win those elections?

Its for exactly the reason that youre asking that I have been so committed to helping to reinvigorate and professionalize the House Democratic Caucus, because this is the kind of stuff that drives me nuts.

If youre taking your questions seriously, like What are you actually doing about gun safety? And you conclude, I think rightly, that its not a philosophical debate at this point. Its about power politics. The Democrats have to be willing to play power politics too.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding US-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge. Blinken has also become the 1st US Secretary of State in five years to make a visit to Beijing, The Washington Post has reported.

During his two-day visit to China, Blinken is expected to hold a high-stakes meeting aimed at stabilizing a relationship under historic stress.

His has also come after last time in February he postponed plans to visit Beijing after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US.

During his visit, Blinken has plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to US officials. According to the State Department's statement, Secretary Blinken will also meet with senior PRC officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship. Moreover, he will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges.

Biden and Xi agreed to Blinkens trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the US says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.

The list of disagreements between the two countries is long from ranging from trade with Taiwan to human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict" due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications," Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries."

I believe that the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people," Xi said to Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race." "We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi added.

Ahead of his visit to China, Blinken also spoke separately with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, emphasizing the importance of sustained... trilateral cooperation."

The conversations also came as North Korea has stepped up missile launches in the past year, and Tokyo contends with growing pressure from Chinese vessels around islands contested with Beijing.

Blinken on Friday reassured Foreign Minister Park Jin of the United States' "ironclad commitment" to South Korea's defense, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement Saturday.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister condemned the DPRK's continued unlawful ballistic missile launches and noted the need for the PRC to use its influence to encourage Pyongyang to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," he added, using acronyms for North Korea and China's official names.

President Joe Biden also said that he hopes to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping within the next few months and suggested Chinas leaders werent aware of details surrounding an alleged spy balloon the US shot down in February. While speaking to reporters, he said, China has some legitimate difficulties unrelated to the United States."

I think one of the things that balloon caused was not so much that it got shot down. But I dont think that the leadership knew where it was or knew what was in it and knew what was going on."

I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional," he said before boarding Air Force One to Philadelphia for a speech to kick off his 2024 reelection campaign. Biden said hes hoping that over the next several months Ill be meeting Xi again."

Since the cancellation of Blinken's trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the US and Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May. But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

(With inputs from Associated Press)
President Joe Biden expressed his desire to hold a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in the coming months. He also suggested that the Chinese leadership may not have been aware of the specifics surrounding a purported spy balloon that the United States intercepted and shot down in February.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, President Biden acknowledged that China faces genuine challenges unrelated to the United States. He remarked that the incident involving the balloon was more of an embarrassment rather than an intentional act. He emphasized that the Chinese leadership seemed uninformed about the balloon's location, its contents, and the overall situation.

While boarding Air Force One en route to Philadelphia for a speech inaugurating his 2024 reelection campaign, President Biden shared his hopes of arranging another meeting with President Xi Jinping. This development aligns with the ongoing visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing. Secretary Blinken's purpose is to engage in discussions with senior Chinese officials, aiming to deescalate tensions and prevent outright conflict between the world's two largest economies. The original timing of Blinken's trip had been postponed due to the controversy surrounding the spy balloon, which traversed the United States from west to east before being intercepted by a fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina.

President Biden and President Xi previously met in Bali, Indonesia, in November of the previous year.

The relationship between the United States and China has been marked by tensions and disputes over various issues, including trade, human rights, and territorial claims. Both countries have been engaged in a series of trade disputes, imposing tariffs on each other's goods, which have had significant economic repercussions. Additionally, the United States has expressed concerns about China's human rights record, particularly regarding the treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and political freedoms in Hong Kong.

The alleged spy balloon incident further strained the bilateral relationship. The balloon's flight across the United States raised concerns about China's intelligence-gathering activities and its potential threats to national security. The interception and subsequent destruction of the balloon by the US military underscored the seriousness with which the United States views such activities.

President Biden's expressed desire to meet President Xi Jinping signals an attempt to engage in high-level dialogue to address the underlying issues and improve the overall relationship between the two nations. Diplomatic engagements, such as Secretary Blinken's visit to China, serve as avenues for dialogue and a potential platform for finding common ground on key issues. The United States and China's economic and geopolitical significance make their relationship a critical factor in shaping global dynamics, and efforts to mitigate tensions are crucial for maintaining stability and cooperation on various global challenges.
A Swedish parliament report has said that Russian military attack against the country cannot be ruled out, reported SVT on Sunday, citing sources.

The defence committee report, to be published today, said although Russian forces were tied up in Ukraine, but other types of military attacks against Sweden could not be ruled out, the Swedish public service broadcaster said.

"Russia has also further lowered its threshold for the use of military force and exhibits a high political and military risk appetite. Russia's ability to carry out operations with air forces, naval forces, long-range weapons or nuclear weapons against Sweden remains intact," SVT reported citing the parliamentary panel report.

SVT said the report outlined out a new defence doctrine for Sweden, based on membership in NATO rather than they previous doctrine that relied on cooperation with fellow Nordic states and the EU.

Sweden has been scrambling to bolster its defences and applied to join NATO last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sweden was invited to apply but Turkey and Hungary are yet to ratify the application.

SVT said the report outlined out a new defence doctrine for Sweden, based on membership in NATO rather than they previous doctrine that relied on cooperation with fellow Nordic states and the EU.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in November 2022, Sweden has ramped up defence spending and is due to meet NATO's threshold of 2% GDP in 2026. The country had in past, like other Western states, scaled down its defence spending following the end of the Cold War.

(With inputes from agencies)

()
Swiss voters are set to back raising corporate taxes for large multinationals to the 15% minimum level agreed by OECD countries. A separate ballot on climate goals is also likely to pass.

The tax increase was supported by around 80% of the electorate, according to initial data from national broadcaster SRF and GFS Bern. A vote in favor, which was expected based on polls, clears the final hurdle for its implementation next year.

With the slogan So the money stays in Switzerland" the government and most parties had been calling for yes votes. A rejection of the measure would have allowed other countries to pocket the estimated additional annual revenue of 1 billion to 2.5 billion francs ($1.1 billion to $2.8 billion), according to the OECD agreement.

Swiss citizens were likely swayed by the nature of the topic and the support should not be seen as a vote of confidence in the government, which recently has been under scrutiny over its role in the Credit Suisse Group AG crisis.

Climate Target

Some 55% backed the governments proposal for Switzerland to become climate neutral by 2050, based on early figures. The bill includes commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at 50% below 1990s levels by the end of this decade.

Under its system of direct democracy, Switzerland is one of a few countries globally to vote on national climate goals. The current law is a softened version of an earlier proposal which would have outright banned fossil fuels but was deemed too extreme by lawmakers and the public.

The third measure on the national ballot  a plan to ensure that Covid measures including monitoring and contact tracing stay ready to be reactivated if necessary  was supported by voters, initial data show.

Swiss people head to the polls as often as four times a year, though 2023 will only see this Sundays plebiscites. Thats partly because the country holds parliamentary elections on Oct. 22.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Biden administration has announced a relaxation of the green card eligibility criteria, enabling individuals awaiting green cards to work and remain in the United States. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued guidance outlining the criteria for initial and renewal applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) under compelling circumstances. This move is expected to benefit numerous Indian technology professionals who have been enduring lengthy waits for green cards or permanent residency.

The US issues around 140,000 employment-based green cards annually to immigrants. However, there is a seven percent cap on the number of green cards that can be given to individuals from any single country. This limit, known as the per-country limit, is in place to ensure diversity in the allocation of green cards and prevent any one country from dominating the process.

Check the new norms here:

The USCIS guidance outlines specific requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for an initial EAD based on compelling circumstances.

These include being the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, being in valid non-immigrant status or authorised grace period, not having filed an adjustment of status application, and meeting certain biometrics and criminal background requirements.

Further, USCIS will exercise discretion to determine whether an applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances justifying the issuance of employment authorisation.

These measures are a significant step towards supporting individuals facing challenging situations and ensuring their ability to work lawfully in the United States," said Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent community leader and advocate for immigrant rights.

He highlighted the importance of these measures for individuals and their dependents who find themselves in challenging situations such as serious illness or disability, employer disputes or retaliation, significant harm, or disruptions to employment.

Bhutoria said the non-exhaustive list of qualifying circumstances, as provided by USCIS, offers individuals an opportunity to present evidence supporting their case.

For instance, individuals with approved immigrant visa petitions in oversubscribed categories or chargeability areas may submit evidence like school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to demonstrate compelling circumstances," he said.

The Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) praised USCIS for implementing a provision that supports laid-off H1-B workers. This move is crucial for families facing home loss, school withdrawal, or the need to relocate due to job loss, benefiting many Indian IT professionals.

I really feel proud that a sustained advocacy for more than six months started reflecting in considerations and adjustments by USCIS," said Khanderao Kand from FIIDS.

(With PTI inputs)
There has been a lot of discussions recently on the international usage of the US dollar (USD) as a currency for trade and investment payments that stems from its role as a reserve currency. The war in Ukraine has given rise to concerns about the USDs role as a currency that can be used freely for international payments, or for keeping reserves to make international payments when needed. In the context of geo-political tensions, there is speculation on whether the Chinese currency can be a better reserve currency or whether there will be a flight to gold, triggered by reports of central banks buying the metal.

Traits of a reserve currency: What is a reserve currency? What are its characteristics? It is one that is held by countries as foreign exchange reserves. These are required to meet the gap between a countrys international payments and receipts and serve as a buffer to meet any contingency. Such reserves can be held in form of gold or any foreign currency that can be freely usedor what is called a fully convertible currency.

First, it is obvious that a reserve currency should not be subject to any controls by the country that issues it. In other words, the Chinese currency can be a reserve currency only if the Chinese government does not and/or is not likely to impose any controls on its use. The holding of the USD as a reserve currency is based on its credibility and the confidence its usage will not be subject to any controls. This critical characteristic of a reserve currency has been called to question with sanctions imposed on Russia by the US following the Ukraine war. The second requirement for a reserve currency is that there should be sufficient availability of that currency to be held as reserves. This may mean that the country is prepared to expand its currency in amounts sufficient to be held by other countries as a reserve asset, which means running current account deficits on a sustained basis. This is known as the Triffins paradox. Third, a reserve currency should be available for investment in liquid form. Ensuring liquidity in a currency requires well developed debt and equity markets in that currency.

Historical experience: Historically, gold has been used as reserve currency, as final settlement of trade was usually done in gold. It was universally acceptable, there was no sovereign power that controlled its manufacture or use, and it always enjoyed a standard value in economic transactions. Over time, the supply of gold was not enough to meet the growing needs of trade and investment. This saw the emergence of reserve currencies. Currencies of dominant imperialist countries like the UK were accepted for international payments. As long as countries whose currencies was being held as reserves were committed to convert these holdings into gold, these currencies held their reserve status. Initially, the UKs pound sterling (GBP) was the currency of choice, as it could always be converted to gold by the Bank of England. It lost its reserve currency status as it abandoned the gold standard during the Great Depression and became bankrupt following World War II. As the US began to dominate the global economy and stood ready to convert unlimited quantities of the USD into gold, it became the preferred reserve currency. Countries began holding their reserves in the USD rather than the GBP. The trend of holding dollar reserves continued even after the Bretton Woods system ended in 1971 and the US abandoned the gold exchange standard. The exchange rate system that emerged after that was a freely floating one with very limited and exceptional intervention by the major convertible currencies. Countries declared the exchange rate system of their choice (pegged or floating) and also their currency of intervention, for which most countries picked the USD. The system has broadly stayed the same since then. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) are issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to supplement member countries official reserves, but their share of total reserves is only 7% and has not taken off for a variety of reasons. One major change was the emergence of the euro as a single currency for countries in the Eurozone. Many countries, especially in Africa, peg their currencies to the euro and hold euros as their principal reserve currency. The currency composition of allocated reserves in 2022 as compiled by IMF shows that 58% of reserves are held in USD and 19% in euro.

Payments settlement currency: Do recent global events following US sanctions threaten the use of the USD as a reserve currency? To a certain extent, countries today are toying with alternate currency and even payment arrangements for their global transactions.

As the Chinese economy started dominating world exports, there was demand by countries for the Chinese currency. China allowed limited convertibility by letting non-residents hold renminbi accounts for trade payments. In 2015, it introduced the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), backed by the Peoples Bank of China, that offers clearing and settlement services for its participants in cross-border renminbi (RMB) payments and trade. On an average, CIPS handles renminbi 400 to 500 billion worth of transactions on a daily basis. This is still only a negligible share of transactions done through global clearing houses such as CHIPS. But it offers an alternative to the USD for making international payments in onshore Chinese currency. But having a payment arrangement that eschews USD use does not mean that the Chinese currency can become a reserve currency, unless it becomes fully convertible.

In 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) put in place an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment and settlement of exports/imports in Indian rupees (INR) through Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs). As of 23 March, 18 countries had been permitted by RBI to open SRVAs for settling payments in INR. While such arrangements apparently allow increased invoicing of trade in INR without multilateral settlement, they are not very different from Indias bilateral trade and payment arrangements with the former Soviet Union and later Russia, with all its attendant problems.

Geo-political considerations and the covid-19 experience of supply chain disruptions also forced countries to enter trading blocs and in some cases set up their own payment arrangements.

The role played by a reserve asset, however, cannot be replaced or minimized by these payment arrangements. A national currency serving as a reserve currency with key characteristics of convertibility, usability and availability will continue to be needed, and in this context, the role of the USD will continue to be important.

C. Rangarajan & Usha Thorat are, respectively, former governor and deputy governor, Reserve Bank of India.
To mark #LondonTechWeek, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak put on Twitter a picture of his official residence with a binary code on the door, a series of 0s and 1s, in place of the usual 10 as its Downing Street address. It was a nice touch. Equally gimmicky but far less charming were images last week of his joining a raid in a bullet-proof vest as part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants conducted by the UK Home Office. Over 100 foreign nationals were reportedly arrested on a single day of action" that seemed aimed at shoring up Londons reputation for being tough on incomers. The intent, Sunak declared, was to send a clear message that its this country who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs." With Brexit benefits proving elusive, the PMs Conservative Party has made a needlessly big deal of this issue. Given how such crackdowns can impact families merely seeking better lives, they are not just highly controversial but unworthy of top-level participation. For the party to enhance its prospects in the next elections, focusing on the economy will matter more. Populist rhetoric can spell misadventures, like Brexit, and is best avoided.
Criticising the Bengal government for taking no action against ongoing violence in the state, opposition parties, both BJP and Congress, said that is it people are scared and it impossible to hold panchayat polls under such threatening conditions.

West Bengal has seen a significant uptick in incidents of violence ahead of the panchayat polls. with clashes reported around the filing of nominations. Slamming the TMC government, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, told news agency ANI, The ruling party in West Bengal is leaving no stone unturned to create an atmosphere of terror. It is impossible to hold panchayat elections in Bengal without tension and violence. People are scared, candidates who have filed nominations had to run away from home out of fear

On a similar note, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, said, Not only BJP leaders are being attacked, but the voice of the people of West Bengal is also not being heard. Court orders are not being respected there. The situation being created in West Bengal is anarchic and they want to run the country and the world in their own way
Juneteenth celebrations in Charlottesville kicked off on Saturday. Local vendors, live music, a parade and special performances marked the remembrance of when enslaved Blacks learned of their emancipation in Texas in 1865.

This is an important event for Black people to come together, Leslie Scott-Jones, the curator of learning engagement and public programs at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, told The Daily Progress. To us, Juneteenth is the day we have dedicated as our Fourth of July.

While the holiday has Texas origins, it has been celebrated locally in Charlottesville for decades as well.

The festivities, which started 27 years ago in the city, started to grow in size and gain new strength six years ago.

This is the 27th celebration in Charlottesville, Scott-Jones said. It started as a small community effort and has grown over the years. About six years ago, the event partnered with the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center and greatly expanded.

Scott-Jones said the number at this years celebration on Saturday was similar to last years, maybe even larger.

We have had comparable numbers this year to the last few with different types of organizations and people in the parade, Scott-Jones said. We even have added in some new groups as well.

Local vendors included artists, financial advisers, fraternal organizations and more.

All of us here at this event are working to help our community, Titania Brown, a representative for financial services firm Primerica, told The Daily Progress. I am here helping empower my community with financial freedom. I do that by providing financial advice to clients.

Empowerment comes in a lot of different forms. For instance, Raquel Monroe said she was there Saturday to spread awareness about alternative therapies available in the area, including Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy, or CART.

I suffer from depression, Monroe told The Daily Progress. The horses at CART help calm me and find peace. With that peace, I have channeled it into creating works of art that I hope people like.

Monroe had 3-D art available and on display Saturday.

Other groups, such as the historically Black Delta Sigma Theta sorority, said they help uplift the community through leadership development, community service, political activism and scholarships.

Our chapter focuses on a number of initiatives like helping people achieve their dreams with scholarships like the Sisterhood Scholarship, Nekeithia Wade, financial secretary of the alumnae chapter, said. We hope to create a better place for everyone to live in.

Festivities ended on Saturday with a special performance of Ma Raineys Black Bottom by August Wilson, presented by the Charlottesville Players Guild.

Other Juneteenth events in the area include the Rock & Reel: Monticellos Folk Traditions at the University of Virginias Rotunda on Sunday and festivities planned for the River View Farm in Albemarle County on Monday.
As the weather gets warmer and locals take advantage of the mountains, lakes and trails in and around the Blue Ridge, the chance of snake bites increase.

The good news: Virginias snakes can bite, they can even be venomous, but they likely wont kill you.

Its really a rare occurrence, Christopher Holstege, director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center, told The Daily Progress Friday. Hiking in Shenandoah National Park, youd have a bigger risk of getting into a car accident than you would getting bitten by a snake.

Of the 30 kinds of snakes in Virginia, only three are venomous: copperheads, rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. And of those, only copperheads and rattlesnakes are likely to be found in Central Virginia.

Still, snake bites do occur, and so far the Blue Ridge Poison Center has treated this year 24 people bitten specifically by copperheads. In a single year, that number is usually upwards of 100, with as many as 136 a year, Holstege said.

According to Holstege, the center most often treats people for copperhead bites, which can cause swelling, bruising and blood blisters.

Holstege said those who are bitten by a snake should not try to suck out the venom, cut out the area or put on a tourniquet.

All those things you see in movies, please dont do those things, Holstege said. Instead, people should seek medical attention, where they will be treated with anti-venom.

It should be noted that killing a snake is illegal in Virginia.

Never kill a snake, says the Wildlife Center of Virginias website. Killing a snake doesnt help keep more snakes away, and even though you may be uneasy around snakes, they are important members of our ecosystem.

Killing a snake in Virginia is only allowed by law if there is an imminent threat to someones health or safety.

Dont attempt to handle venomous snakes. If you dont approach the venomous snake to handle, remove, or kill the snake, youll eliminate any chance of being bitten, the Wildlife Center says. Call a professional if you need to remove a venomous snake from a high-traffic area with children and pets.

Snake season lasts from mid-May until around October, when snakes come out of hibernation during the warmer months of the year.

Snake bites often happen in the dark, when people cant see snakes hunting at night. That can happen for stargazers, night hikers or residents checking their backyard to see what has startled the dogs.

In fact, Holstege said his dog was bitten by a venomous snake Thursday night, and was treated at the vet not long after.

Im glad to say my dog is doing well, Holstege said. Still a bit swollen, but almost back to normal.
Since the Philippines placed 99th out of 100 countries in online learning platforms and skills, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday pressed the urgency of implementing reforms to boost Filipinos competitiveness.

Gatchalian lamented the report that the country has been lagging behind its East and Southeast Asian peers in terms of skills.

The ranking was based on Courseras 2023 Global Skills Report, which rated the skill and proficiency of learners in business, technology, and data science.

The countrys ranking fell by 29 spots from 70th place out of 102 countries in 2022.

The report further showed declining scores for the Philippines in terms of proficiency in business, technology, and data science.

The countrys business proficiency percentile rank fell from 62% in 2022 to 16% this year. From 29% last year, technology proficiency in the country fell to 5%, while data science proficiency dropped from 21% to 1%.

The report draws skills insights for 100 countries from Courseras registered learner base of 124 million learners, 1.8 million of which are in the Philippines.

The reports introduction clarified that its data surfaces trends among registered learners on Coursera and are not necessarily representative of a countrys population.

Sharing those insights, however, presents an opportunity to generate new, more granular insights and complement other, more traditional data sources on education, the report said.

Because the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has begun its assessment of the countrys education sector, Gatchalian maintained that the congressional bodys proposed reforms should boost Filipinos proficiencies in areas covered by the report, especially as more companies adopt new technologies to boost productivity.

While higher education institutions equip students with skills needed in the workplace, Gatchalian also emphasized that the senior high school program should deliver on its promise to ensure work readiness for its graduates.

The Batang Magaling Act (Senate Bill No. 2022), which Gatchalian filed, proposes the creation of the National and Local Batang Magaling Councils to strengthen the linkages and collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units, academic communities, and industry partners.

In implementing educational reforms, he said no Filipino youth should be left behind.

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Lets stop being the doormat of our former colonial masters who have been exploiting us far too long because we content ourselves with being little brown Americans

Before I go into the main topic of todays column, June 19 is the birthday of Jose Rizal, our national hero.

Many young Filipinos probably do not even know this, because all along, we have commemorated Rizal on the day he was executed by the Spanish colonizers on December 30.

I really wonder why we commemorate deaths and defeats, instead of birth dates and victories.

We hardly honor Lapu-Lapu, the Mactan chieftain who repelled and killed Ferdinand Magellan, until Rodrigo Duterte gave him due prominence.

Still, the heroism is only properly commemorated in Cebu.

Our veteran columnist, Atty. Emil Jurado, wonders why we do not commemorate the battle of Bessang Pass, where we scored a victory over the Japanese invaders, yet April 9, the Fall of Bataan, is a national holiday.

Maybe PFRM Jr. can direct the National Historical Institute to do something about this. The Roman Catholic Church commemorates martyrdom, but then it is a religious entity which propagates the idea of sainthood.

This is not to withdraw from my previously written sentiments about our having too many holidays, but in furtherance of propagating a sense of national pride, our historians and our leaders should start correcting the many inconsistencies in our commemorative events.

***

Mr. President, please listen to your sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, on many issues where she takes an independent stand, and now, particularly on the proposal of the American government to send Afghan refugees to the Philippines for processing.

When Presidents Quezon and Quirino welcomed separately Jewish refugees to the country, we had plenty of land to spare as our population in those times were not as large as now when we are bursting at the seams with 114 million and more.

So this is not about being less humanitarian than our predecessors; it is about the coping mechanisms of our economy. It is about national security and threats of terrorism.

Even Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte has objected vehemently to the plan to host Afghan refugees, concerned about the possibility that students would be caught in a crossfire should local terrorists supporting the Taliban launch attacks against the Afghans brought into the country.

The NBI has warned that sleeper cells among Taliban-sympathetic terrorists may use the presence of the Afghan refugees to create mayhem.

The situation is quite different with how PFEM Sr. established refugee centers for Vietnamese boat people fleeing possible persecution from the government that took over when the Americans left them in the wake of humiliating defeat.

Vietnam is just across the South China Sea, and is now part of the Asean community which we once spearheaded.

The American CIA financed the emergence of the Pashtuns who became the Taliban to defeat the Russian invaders only to realize that they had created a monster which would eventually topple the puppet republics they sponsored.

Now that America has grown tired of a war it could not win, they decided to leave the Afghans to their own fate, including those who worked for them in the long war of attrition.

Unwilling to bring the new refugees directly to their homeland, the Americans now scout for a friendly country to house their abandoned loyalists. And by force of habit, they look at our country, an easy and gullible ally.

Bring them to Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas where there is so much land and so few people, the native red Indians who inhabited these parts having been decimated by the white settlers a century ago when they pushed into the wild, wild West.

Process them if you must in Hawaii instead of Clark Green City.

And what happens if an insane Republican trumps a senile Democrat in the 2024 elections, and the victor decides not to accept the Afghan refugees temporarily housed in our hospitable shores?

Senadora Imee is right to call for a Senate inquiry, considering how the Presidential Management Staff has been organizing TWGs to establish ways and means to operationalize what seems to be a done deal between our ambassador to the US and the host government in apparent stealth.

Lets stop being the doormat of our former colonial masters who have been exploiting us far too long because we content ourselves with being little brown Americans.

***

Senadora Imee is also right when she demands to know our Filipino community evacuation plans in case war erupts between China and Taiwan.

It is no easy task, and we cannot just rely on the assurances given by our defense officials and the Department of Migrant Workers who tell us they are on top of the potential situation.

If China does invade Taiwan, something I hope will not happen between blood relatives but could be accidentally triggered, it is commonsensical to assume that the PLA will immediately target the airports and seaports of the island across the narrow strait.

The southern rump of Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Kenting) which are just about 300 kilometers from Batanes will be a theater of war, and the Bashi Channel and our own Luzon Straits will be awash with Chinese and American naval vessels shooting at each other if the latter wades into the conflict.

Our hosting of bases in Cagayan province for the Americans under the new terms of EDCA has made our country inextricably linked to the potential conflict, the probability of the PLA air and naval forces attacking our territory quite likely.

How now are we to evacuate our 180,000 strong Filipino community in Taiwan? By air when missiles are flying, or by slow boats?

Maybe use the yachts of our mega-rich headed by El Chavit, ala Dunkirk?

The best we could do is, one, to hope the hostilities will end quickly; and two, that the Taiwanese underground shelters can accommodate more than 700,000 foreigners, whether Filipino, Indonesian, Vietnamese and others, on top of their own 23.4 million citizens.

While at MECO, together with our Asean resident diplomats, we asked the Taiwanese government about sheltering foreign contract workers in the event of an invasion but up to the time I resigned in mid-2021, there were no definitive answers on the matter of housing foreigners in their bomb shelters.

Even assuming we can transport 130,000 OFWs from the north and central parts of the island to Kaoshiung by land where they could theoretically board vessels for Batanes and Cagayan is a huge logistical nightmare.

That is the reason why MECO saved more than 400 million dollars from retained earnings because relying on national government funding (MECO is off budget and sustains itself without the GAA) in an emergency is not easy.

Just feeding our displaced OFWs while the armed conflict boils is hugely expensive and difficult to operationalize.

With almost zero income for more than two years when we had lockdowns, and MECO could not earn from Taiwanese visitor visas, we retrenched, cut costs, closed an office in Taichung, just to ensure that those reserves will not be touched.

I have no knowledge whether those funds are still intact after I left office, or whether my successors touched the fund to sustain operations.

Whichever, it will be a tremendously difficult situation, which is why war should be prevented by diplomatic means and calm should prevail over actions labeled as deterrent while the other side should forebear with its legendary patience.

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The worlds cities are critical battlegrounds to making multilateralism work for all in the struggle for a sustainable future, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said in a recent message to the United Nations Habitat Assembly.

Guterres said cities were on the frontline for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda and the Parsi Agreement on climate change.

Cities are critical battlegrounds. They generate 70 percent of global emissions. They house half of humanity. And by 2050, over two billion more people will call them home, he said,

The UN meeting ended in Nairobi, Kenya. It is hosted by the government of Kenya in collaboration with UN Habitat, the UN human settlements program.

More than 80 ministers and vice ministers attended, along with 5,000 delegates from around the world, said the UN urban affairs agency.

Guterres blueprint for action, Our Common Agenda, calls for a reinvigorated and more inclusive multilateralism, recognizing the pivotal role cities and other local authorities play, in addressing the challenges ahead.

Such multilateralism is vital to help cities to play their part, he said, to ensure the finance, information and support is in place for them to become resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

Although cities have always spawned the ideas and innovations that have led human development, theyre more important than ever, amidst a world in crisis, he added.

Inequalities are increasing. Global temperatures are rising, with catastrophic effects. Debt is straining developing countries economies to the limit. And halfway to the deadline for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we are leaving more than half the world behind.

Guterres pointed out that an estimated 670 million still live in extreme poverty, and over one billion people, continue to endure slum conditions, due to lack of services available elsewhere.

There is still time to reverse these trends, he said, and multilateralism must support cities to act on climate change, affordable housing, and the SDGs.

I am confident that this UN Habitat Assembly will advance these aims, including through your ministerial declaration. Together, we can achieve the sustainable urban future we need to build a peaceful, prosperous and healthy world for all, he said.

In his video remarks to the conference, general assembly president Csaba Korosi outlined key ways that cities can become more sustainable.

He noted the importance of compiling comprehensive data and statistics and urged governments to fully assess urban development in the context of climate change, health, food security and water supply.

But what we urgently need is a mindset shift. From a business-as-usual planning and operation, to one aiming at real sustainability transformation, he said. This means strengthening the science-policy interface, advancing evidence-based solutions, and approaching our goals holistically.

Kenya president William Ruto officially opened the conference assembly, along with UN-Habitat executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

Sharif told delegates that member states needed to prioritize national and local cooperation as the basis of a just transition. Let us never forget human rights and the UN Charter, as the basis for sustainable urbanization.

She described the challenge facing all humankind as enormous.

The only way we can achieve positive and transformative impact on the ground, is not to go at it alone, but to embrace multilateral action. UN News

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The husband of an Albany schools administrator has filed complaints, alleging a school board member is harassing him.

The Greater Albany Public Schools board of directors heard about two related complaints at a meeting last week.

Board Vice Chairman Brad Wilson read aloud one of the complaints from Michael Harlan, husband of Assistant Superintendent Lisa Harlan. Both complaints are directed at Board Chairman Pete Morse.

The first alleges Morse made an inappropriate phone call to Michael Harlan at his workplace.

The second complaint, read aloud at the June 12 school board meeting, pertained to an unprompted and unwelcome email from Morse via his school district account following the announcement of school board election results.

It is clear that Chair Morse continues to harass me and my family, the complaint reads. Please accept this as a second formal complaint about Pete Morse and his behavior towards my family.

Wilson said Michael Harlan has refused to meet with a school board investigator and has said he will not do so.

The investigation is still continuing on. We have some additional things that were going to try to vet and get as much information as we can, Wilson said. We do anticipate having a conclusion at the next board meeting.

In the complaint, Michael Harlan asserts his right as a parent to email the school board chairman with his concerns about board decisions, but says in Morses position, the board chairman doesnt have the right to harass, demean, taunt or be disrespectful to parents and the community.

The complaint calls for a public apology and for the board to discipline Morse.

The email from Morse was also read at the meeting. It said: Michael, sometimes events of the day just make you smile. I am having one of those days. Have a good night.

I dont see the need for any further action on this, Wilson said. I just dont see where this is a real problem, other than to remind board members to please use your district email for district business.

Morse confirmed to the board that he sent the email in question, saying hes received a lot of emails from Michael Harlan in the past few years. He characterized the emails as unique and said theres been a dialogue between them.

I don't think this is out of the realm of the dialogue he and I have had, Morse said. I do apologize for the fact that the board has to deal with this. But its an email, sent directly to him, and hes sent me some pretty nasty emails.

Wilson declared the matter concluded unless there were any objections, which there were not.

Morse did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

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Lisa Harlan has been on paid leave pending the results of a workplace investigation. She won't be returning to her position after her contract expires at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. That was the school district superintendents suggestion, and the school board approved it in March.

At the time she was put on leave in April, Lisa Harlan was seeking to appeal the nonrenewal. She requested a public appeal hearing regarding her contract (a closed-door hearing is optional), and upon returning from spring break, she learned she was placed on leave.

In a previous interview, Lisa Harlan said her nonrenewal and investigation followed closely on the heels of complaints she said she submitted to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission against school board Chair Morse for voting to approve his wifes contract and another for improper use of an executive session.

The letter notifying Harlan that she was on leave referenced a hostile work environment, though it did not provide any details, she said. In the letter, the school district cited the scope of the complaint against her and the need to retain an investigator.

According to policy, the district has 10 days to complete a typical complaint investigation, Lisa Harlan said. But in the letter she received, the school district cited the scope of the complaint against her and the need to retain an investigator in requesting an extended timeline.

She has said an investigation into her is unwarranted and stems from her persistence on working out her contract and wanting to do her job without being pressured or bullied into leaving.

Part of the reason for her request for a public appeal process, she said, is so that she can go on the record about what she called contract violations, issues and improprieties  allegations she said the board and superintendent dont want aired publicly.

Reached via email, Lisa Harlan confirmed she's still on administrative leave, but declined further comment.

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At this point in his presidency, it's become pretty evident when President Joe Biden has or hasn't taken his medication in order to stay sharp. When there is a massive event such as the White House Correspendants Dinner, he seems to take extra medication in order to quip his best jokes. But when he doesn't seem to take that medication, there is a largen number of blunders he makes that leave people totally confused. His latest visit to Connecticut ended with a speech in which he said: 'God save the Queen, man," which left people bewildered. This has taken place all the time with Biden, he confuses time and sometimes makes mistakes with important events that already took place.

Before this one, he previously mentioned his son Beau's death was due to a different reason than how it actually happened. According to the press secretary, Joe Biden was simply commenting to someone at the crowd during the speech. Althoughnobody specified who this person was. Then we have all the falls and slips President Joe Biden ahs endured over the last couple of months lone. For some reason, he wants people to think he is still capable of moving anywhere by himself yet we all clearly see he struggles to do so.

PResident Joe Biden's assault against weapons

One of the topics in which he has been relentless is his attempt to ban assault rifles from any store. The AR-15 is the weapon of choice when someone wants to perpetrate a mass shooting. For President Joe Biden, Banning these rifles is abslutely essential for these shootings to stop taking place. Biden hasn't stopped trying to ban these and he won't stop until he does. However, making these constant blunders might be detrimental for him to get the legislation he wants. But something tells us these mistakes won't stop until he stops being president.
SPRINGFIELD  Every Friday, on the northern corners of Longmeadow Street and Forest Glen Road, two groups stand on opposite sides of the street, their signs and posters broadcasting their messages of support and inclusion. Honks fill the air.

The divide between the groups might not be clear to those passing-by, but their positions on opposite sides of Longmeadow Street are intentional.

The Stand Out is to encourage people to continue to think about anti-racism, and that Black lives do matter, Longmeadow Anti-Racism Coalition co-founder Saul Finestone, 96, said. It began as a Black Lives Matter rally, and as far as many of us believe in the organization, it is still a Black Lives Matter rally, in addition to other reasons to promote anti-racism, such as Stop Asian Hate.

The group across the street, meanwhile, is voicing support for additional causes, such as for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Standing on the other side of the street from Finestone is Stephan Platzer, 75. He is a former member of the Longmeadow Anti-Racism Coalition, and a former organizer of its stand outs. He said the rallies started with a single focus, but expanded to include a number of social movements, with varied messages and signs.

Originally, it was just Black Lives Matter, Platzer said, and then we started doing Stop Asian Hate and United Against Racism. Then we wanted, basically, signs that support Ukraine.  We wanted the diversity of signs to appeal to different people. Everybody has kind of a different twist on what should be corrected, so we wanted to incorporate that.

While the ongoing Stand Outs aim to end the struggles of the oppressed, the coalition of older Longmeadow residents soon found the group wasnt immune to struggles of its own.

Of course, the coalition didnt start out with in-house acrimony. In 2020, the coalition was formed as a nonprofit organization and began holding weekly Stand Outs after the murder of George Floyd. Over the course of the next few years, the group added other signs protesting different forms of racism, including antisemitism. The group had to move from its former protest site in Longmeadow after neighbor complaints, so they went just over the line into the city of Springfield.

Finestone has been protesting with the coalition since its start in 2020, and credits the community for being so supportive. At the stand out on June 9, he was joined by Hugh Naggar, 73.

We get many, many more honks and waves and thumbs up than we do get negatives, Finestone said. As a matter of fact, the negatives we occasionally get  f-words slung at us, or thumbs down, or, All lives matter  of course all lives matter, but that includes Black lives, and for a special reason. Townspeople have told us to continue, and theyre happy to have us here.

Because of the internal coalition conflict, co-founder and former member Kathy Mullins, 56, and Platzer splintered from the group but continued their own protests at the same time and location.

Since the addition of signs supporting Ukraine, the two sides have disagreed. While Platzer thinks that it is critical to support Ukraine, and its soldiers and citizens who have died, Finestone is concerned that its inclusion is taking away from the groups initial focus.

Finestone argues that adding signs supporting Ukraine diminish the fight against racial inequality.

The inclusion of so many different protests also means that people might not support all of them, leading to fewer car honks at the Longmeadow and Forest Glen rallies. The general consensus, according to Gallup Inc. polling, is that most Americans support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, but a smaller number support Black Lives Matter, notes the website CIVIQS in its national survey, which was updated Monday.

Platzer believes that the inclusion of more protests against inequality garners additional support. This past week, Platzer and Mullins hung up a Pride flag to support the LGBTQ-plus community during Pride Month, and counted an additional 100 honks, they believe because of its addition. They have other signs up, as well, including Stop Bullying Now and Love Over Hate.

I was bullied as a kid, and so I really appreciate the Stop Bullying Now sign here, Mullins said. [The signs are] important because they make the community more welcoming. A woman I know actually moved here because of these signs, and I chose Longmeadow because of the wonderful, welcoming community here.

Both groups will continue to protest against inequality and racism, and encourage all supportive members of the community to stand with them on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m.
An event planned for Saturday that would have resulted in residents DNA being uploaded to databases used by law enforcement to investigate cold cases was postponed after the ACLU of Massachusetts expressed concerns about privacy and ethics.

The DNA Drive Day, organized by the Middlesex District Attorneys Office and planned for Newton City Hall, would have given volunteers age 18 and over the opportunity to have their DNA uploaded to Family Tree DNA and GEDMatch, two genealogy databases used in investigations. Participants would also have received a genetic ancestry report following the event, according to the event page.

Family members of missing people were especially encouraged to attend.

The event was postponed because of weather concerns as well as conversations that the DAs office had with the ACLU, according to a statement on the DAs website.

The genesis of this event is our firm belief that the use of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) is revolutionizing the identification of missing and unidentified children and adults and the criminal investigation of long uncharged or cold cases, DA Marian Ryan said in the statement. Since our Office is at the forefront of this work, we recognize that we will inevitably encounter novel legal, ethical and privacy questions. When we began to publicize this event, we were greeted by both excitement and interest, as well as valid questions. We have already engaged with a local chapter of the ACLU around their questions and concerns, convening discussions between DA Ryan, our experts and representatives from the ACLU and agreeing to incorporate their input. We believe that the community will best be served by further conversation.

In a statement to WCVB-TV, the ACLU of Massachusetts explained that their concerns stemmed from concerns about privacy related to sensitive personal and health information.

DNA contains extremely sensitive and revealing information, especially about personal health. This applies not just to the person who provides a sample but to all of their biological relations  past, present and future, the ACLU wrote. Any collection of DNA information, whether by government or private entities, is vulnerable to misuse, abuse and unauthorized disclosure.

Read more: Devarus Hampton linked to 2011 Cape Cod cold case from DNA found on sweet potato

The organization also noted that DNA databases are accessible by law enforcement agencies across the country, including in states that have criminalized abortion, and that GEDMatch, one of the two databases that were to be used for Saturdays event, had been hacked three years ago.

The ACLU also thanked Ryan for listening to their concerns and postponing the event.

The Middlesex DAs Office established its cold case unit in 2019, and most recently brought charges in February in a nine-year-old rape case from Acton after identifying a suspect using forensic genetic genealogy.
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $107.8 million loan to Tanzania to bolster governance and industrial competitiveness and reinforce social inclusion.

The budget support loan will underwrite Tanzanias Economic Competitiveness and Social Inclusion Programme (ECSIP), an initiative to drive Tanzanias sustainable recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The program has three components: promote reforms that will enhance domestic resource mobilization and strengthen public expenditure and procurement systems; enhance the management of environmental resources and the investment climate; and improve social protections and livelihoods of vulnerable groups, including small and medium enterprises and women and youth.

Patricia Laverley, the Bank Groups Tanzania country manager, said, This operation will allow the bank to deepen policy dialogue with other development partners on domestic resource mobilization; public financial management reforms; strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures; industrial development and competitiveness; as well as strengthening social protection through reprioritization of public expenditures in Tanzania.

Over the last ten years, the bank has supported the Tanzanian government to implement reforms that have made the country more attractive to business and investment. However, global economic headwinds threaten the countrys fiscal progress. Average growthnearly 7% before the Covid-19 pandemicis estimated to have slowed to 4.8% in 2022.

The program is expected to directly benefit several government ministries and entities, including the ministry of community development, gender, women and special groups, and the revenue and public procurement regulatory authorities. Businesses across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar are expected to gain access to more investment opportunities to enable them to expand.

The ECSIP aligns with the banks Tanzania Country Strategy Paper 2021-2025 and Ten-Year Strategy, which runs through 2023. It also advances the banks Strategy for Economic Governance in Africa (2021-2025) and the Climate Change and Green Growth Action Plan (2021-2025)

As of 28 February 2023, the Banks portfolio in Tanzania comprised 21 sovereign and three non-sovereign operations with total commitments of $2.65 billion. Eighty-six percent of these operations are in the infrastructure sector, notably energy, transport and water and sanitation
The New York Post, Sunday, June 18, 2023 4:20 PM

New York University Hospital Langone has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Northwell Health of "ripping off" its color scheme in advertising. The suit alleges that Northwell Health "even made one of its buildings violet to cash in on the smaller medical center's stellar reputation," per the New York Post.

Read the whole story at The New York Post 
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell speaks during a news conference at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial (CCM) at Eigtveds Pakhus, in Copenhagen, Denmark, 21 March 2023. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix / Liselotte Sabroe / REUTERS

By Riham Alkousaa

16 June 2023

BERLIN (Reuters)  The head of the United Nations climate body said on Friday he was not satisfied with the outcome of a 10-day conference and the process was moving too slowly given the urgency of the climate crisis.

Never satisfied. In terms of whether reasonable progress made. Yes. Was it enough? We will know as we as we enter the COP28 itself, Simon Stiell, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary, told Reuters.

Global climate negotiators had little specific progress to report at talks intended to prepare for this years COP28 U.N. climate conference in Dubai, which it is hoped will get governments to embrace more ambitious steps to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit).

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that countries must start phasing out oil, coal and gas  not just emissions  and demanded that fossil fuel companies cease and desist measures that aim to hobble progress on the issue.

Some Western governments and climate-afflicted island nations agree, but the oil-producing United Arab Emirates, host of COP28, says the talks should focus on phasing out emissions. Nevertheless, the UAEs incoming COP28 president said last week the phasedown of the fuels themselves was inevitable.

Asked whether fossil fuel phase-out or down would be on the COP28 agenda, Stiell said the UAE presidency was still crafting its vision. He expected to hear more on that in the coming weeks.

Science tells us that what is required in order to reach zero requires phasing out and down of all fossil fuels. Well see what signals are presented. But the science is very clear, Stiell added.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya, 3 May 2023. Photo: Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS

UNFCCC said the Bonn talks closed on Thursday with progress on the issues of financing measures to mitigate climate change; the question of liability for the loss and damage it has caused; and funding for measures to adapt to its effects. But it did not specify what had been decided.

Stiell said giving a quantifiable assessment of the conference outcome was difficult but his team was analysing the meetings decision and expected a definitive assessment of what was achieved in the coming days.

The meeting is seen as a mid-way check-in to prepare decisions for adoption at COP28, which begins on Nov. 30.

The landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement set a 1.5C increase in the global surface temperature as a limit for averting the most catastrophic effects of global warming in the industrial era  a threshold already close to being crossed.

But activists accused the United States, Britain and the European Union of trying to divert discussions away from their legal accountability for climate change.

They said rich industrialised countries were pushing developing countries to commit to measures such as expanding renewable sources of power without taking into account their inability to pay for them.

Despite intensive discussions over the past two weeks in Bonn, the issue of how countries would finance their climate action policies remained vague, Stiell said. The topic would dominate discussions in Dubai later this year, he said.

For many of the policies we see in the negotiating rooms, if the means of implementation were there, many of the tensions that we currently see would diminish significantly, he added.

No decision was made on whether the Global Stocktake  a flagship product of the 2015 Paris agreement where governments will review their progress on climate action at COP28  should emphasise the historic responsibility of richer nations for emissions or have more forward looking language, he said.

Environmentalists did, however, welcome new UNFCCC requirements for participants in the U.N. process to disclose their affiliation, a step aimed at curbing the influence of fossil fuel industry lobbyists.

UN climate body head dissatisfied with Bonn climate talks outcome
Several VA Loma Linda Healthcare System whistleblowers have come forward with new allegations of retaliation, harassment and hostile working conditions amid a widening investigation by the House Veterans Affairs Committee, according to a lawmaker.

On Friday, committee member U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, met behind closed doors with VA Loma Lindas interim director Bryan Arnette, and other officials to discuss the whistleblower complaints and map out needed changes.

Sometimes in federal government  we can create a workplace environment that is tolerant of people that dont follow the rules, Obernolte said during a press briefing following the meetings without offering specific details about what was discussed. We want to make sure that doesnt occur.

Separately, staff members from the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations met with whistleblowers at an undisclosed location to review their complaints that suggest systematic failures by the federal government to address problems at VA Loma Linda.

Obernolte declined to disclose the specific nature of the confidential whistleblower allegations.

Additionally, the second-term House member said he is unsure if the allegations are related to VA Loma Linda Director Karandeep Sraons transfer in March to the VAs Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in Long Beach.

VA Loma Linda said in a statement Friday that team members were incredibly proud to show Obernolte how it takes care of veterans and employees.

The facility is actively taking steps to invest in VA employees and welcomes the opportunity to discuss workplace concerns.

Our aim is always to ensure a safe, harassment-free environment in a culture where all employees and guests are treated with dignity and respect, the statement said.

Visit follows federal investigation

Obernoltes visit follows a Southern California News Group report in May that revealed a 2021 federal investigation found that a VA Loma Linda manager frequently used racial slurs, required workers to buy him food and drive him to and from work, and then punished those who refused his demands with bad assignments.

However, instead of being terminated for creating a hostile work environment, the manager  identified by multiple sources as grounds department supervisor Martin Robles  was inexplicably promoted.

There were numerous instances where inappropriate language and racial slurs were used which appears to be a common practice, a Veterans Administration investigative board said in a heavily redacted 61-page report obtained by the Southern California News Group. Inappropriate and discriminatory hiring practices were found, which have contributed to the lack of trust, poor morale, and fractured culture.

The Administrative Investigation Board recommended Robles be removed from employment because of overwhelming evidence to support that the supervisor was intimidating, exhibited bullying behavior, threatening behavior, and contributed to a hostile work environment, said a source familiar with the probe.

The AIB investigation, which began on Dec. 9, 2020, and concluded the week of Jan. 11, 2021, included 57 hours of testimony from 36 witnesses and 4,000 pages of exhibits.

Robles also was the focus of two other VA Loma Linda investigations in 2020 and 2022 that substantiated allegations he fostered a hostile work environment. Details of those two investigations were not immediately available.

About a month after the 2021 probe wrapped up, Robles was given increased management responsibilities at VA Loma Linda. His salary in 2022 was $75,000.

Past troubles

The controversy involving Robles is the latest in a string of troubling incidents involving VA Loma Linda employees.

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, which includes the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center and several clinics, made headlines in 2019 when it was discovered that a manager had been convicted of murder.

Then, in 2021, a federal judge reprimanded Chief of Staff Dr. Franklin Sechriest for failing to obtain treatment for his mentally ill son, allowing him to amass a small arsenal before torching a Texas synagogue.

The AIB also determined VA Loma Lindas maintenance and operations chief, David J. Grzechowiak, ignored evidence of Robles misconduct and failed to hold him accountable.

The board found there has been a long-standing mismanagement and acceptance of behaviors which have continued to perpetuate over time and which have built a culture within that could be described as dysfunctional, toxic, and demoralizing, the AIB report says.

Appropriate administrative actions have been taken as a result of the AIB investigation, VA Loma Lindas associate director of resources, Maria T. Nguyen, said in a June 14, 2021, memo to Facilities Management Services employees.

The Southern California News Group obtained more than a dozen emails and complaints filed with the VA over five years, all detailing Robles troubling interactions with employees.

Ryan Joseph Sperry, a former Marine and VA Loma Linda irrigation technician from Moreno Valley who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependency, documented many of Robles indiscretions.

Sperry was 43 when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Aug. 9, 2022.

Committee investigating suicide

The House Veterans Affairs Committee is investigating whether Sperrys suicide is employment-related and has demanded that the VA explain why Robles has been allowed to keep his job.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis Richard McDonough sent Obernolte a letter Friday offering an explanation.

In the case of the Loma Linda supervisor, the AIB report recommended the employees removal, McDonough said in the letter. After careful consideration of all the available information as well as consultation with the Office of General Counsel, however, management decided that a different penalty was more appropriate. The employee received an administrative action.

Robles continues to be monitored by VA Loma Linda management, who purportedly have not received any new allegations of retaliation or hostile work environment.

Under the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act signed into law in 2017, the VA was given expanded authority to fire employees at all levels, shorten the removal process, and ensure terminated workers are not kept on the agencys payroll while appealing that decision

It also made it easier for the VA to remove poor-performing senior executives and replace them with qualified candidates. The law also established the VAs Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

However, as of April 3, the VA has stopped using the Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, following an Office of Inspector General report that says the law has floundered.

Meanwhile, Obernolte said that while McDonoughs letter answered some questions, the VA secretary did not respond as to whether he would want to be personally supervised by a manager who has behaved so poorly.

That illustrates the heart of the argument that we are making, he said. We do not want to create a work environment that drives away the quality people that we need to care for our veterans.
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Few countries in the Western Hemisphere have evoked for Americans the spirit of the Monroe Doc-trine as much as has Cuba. For years, the Soviets used the island nation 103 miles off the coast of Florida as a listening post, and, in 1962, they brought the world to the brink of existential conflict by secretly placing nuclear ballistic missiles on the island.

Today, America's most worrisome unwelcome guest in the Caribbean is China. That's also true elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Beijing has been using Cuba as a spy base since 2019, the White House said last week. The Biden administration's statement was aimed at refuting a Wall Street Journal report that China was planning to build a new listening post in Cuba, though, given the history, it's anything but comforting to know that Beijing has been eavesdropping on the U.S. from close range for the last four years.

China's spy shop in Cuba is far more worrying than spy balloons over Montana. Unlike the U.S., Beijing does not have overseas military bases dotting the world. China's desire, however, for a much broader global military presence burns brightly, and its espionage activities in Cuba could serve as a springboard for a permanent military installation on the island.

Establishing a network of military bases makes sense when you consider China's ceaseless push to expand its economic might across the globe. In Latin America, that means safeguarding its investments in energy, farming and mining. Those interests include one of the world's most sought-after commodities  lithium, a critical component for electric vehicle batteries. China has secured a deal to tap into lithium deposits in Bolivia, one of the world's biggest sources of the metal.

China isn't the only global player that has rankled the U.S. with efforts to establish a military presence off the coast of Florida.

In the lead-up to the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy military assets in Cuba as a response to U.S. talk of sanctions, which Washington and its Western allies eventually imposed anyway. Though Putin ordered the shutdown of the Soviet-era Lourdes electronic surveillance station in Cuba in 2001, he at times has threatened to establish a greater presence in Latin America for what he regards as NATO's aggression toward Moscow.

In the Western Hemisphere, however, Chinese President Xi Jinping is the one to worry about, not Putin. Both economically and militarily, China looms as the more worrisome threat to U.S. interests. The U.S. can expect China to step up spying from Cuba, and must ensure sensitive American targets are adequately firewalled.

But there's also a diplomatic approach that the Biden administration should pursue  one that the president should know all too well.

One of the smartest foreign policy moves that Biden's former boss, Barack Obama, made was to reengage Havana. Obama used his executive powers to allow the reopening of embassies in each other's countries, resume commercial flights, ease restrictions on U.S.computer and telecommunications technology to Cuba and recharge the island's tourism industry.

Obama recognized the value of ending America's long-standing policy of isolating Havana  it didn't make much sense when the rest of the world freely traded with Cuba. And while his administration was all too aware that the Castro regime continued to muzzle dissent and run roughshod over human rights, there was an awareness that a new generation of leaders would eventually take over in Havana, and that economic engagement would yield better results than disconnection, both for U.S. interests and for the Cuban people.

When Donald Trump took over the White House, he undid Obama's normalization of relations with Havana and rein posed tougher sanctions on Cuba. The hope that Cubans had for a move toward democratic ideals through the vehicle of commerce and dialogue with the U.S. disappeared.

A Biden commitment to proactively returning to a policy of engagement with Havana would rekindle the aspirations of everyday Cubans for a better, freer life. It would discourage dangerous makeshift boat voyages to Florida by desperate Cuban migrants who fi nd no cause for hope at home. And it would make Havana think twice about allowing Beijing to exploit Cuba's proximity to the U.S. coastline.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is slated to fly to Beijing June 18 to meet with senior Chinese official. We wouldn't be surprised if Blinken raises with China's leadership U.S. opposition to Beijing's spy station in Cuba.

But rekindling engagement with Cuba is another way to get at the problem, and it could pay bigger dividends  for both Havana and Washington.
The Braves announced that Charlie Culberson has been designated for assignment. The veteran utilityman will hit the DFA wire to make room for Chadwick Tromp, as Atlanta has called the catcher up from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Already a member of the Braves from 2018-20, Culberson spent the last two seasons with the Rangers before catching on with the Rays on a minor league deal this past offseason. He opted out of that deal towards the end of Spring Training and then signed a new minors contract with Atlanta, and the Braves selected Culbersons contract to the active roster almost a month ago. Curiously, Culberson hasnt played in even one game since being called up, so his latest stint with the Braves could end without an official appearance.

If Culberson clears waivers, he has enough MLB service time to reject an outright assignment to Triple-A and elect free agency. Its possible the Georgia native might pass on the open market and instead remain in his hometown organization, or he could again seek a new job elsewhere given that the Braves dont appear to have much of a role for him on their 26-man roster.

Culberson is a Major League game away from making it 11 seasons in the Show, as he has appeared in 585 games for five different teams at the big league level over parts of his previous 10 seasons. The 34-year-old has a career .248/.293/.386 slash line over 1311 career plate appearances, but is known more for his defensive versatility than hit bat. Culberson has played all over the infield and spent a lot of time as a left fielder, with a few appearances as a right fielder and even as a mop-up pitcher.

Sean Murphy is the other key player in todays transaction, as the catcher left yesterdays game with a right hamstring injury suffered while running the bases. Murphy underwent an MRI that showed some inflammation (Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was among those to report the news) but not any severe damage, so the Braves called up Tromp to provide catching depth while Murphy takes some time to recover.

Since Atlanta doesnt play on Monday, we should know by Tuesday whether or not Murphy has healed well enough to return to action, or if a 10-day IL stint is ultimately required. Assuming that Culberson isnt claimed on waivers, its possible his DFA is something of a handshake move that would see him accept an outright assignment with the promise of being called back to the Braves roster in a few days if Murphy does go on the IL.
2:02PM: In an updated announcement, the Twins moved Lopez to the 15-day IL due to mental health reasons.

1:17PM: The Twins announced that right-hander Jorge Lopez has been placed on the teams restricted list. Right-hander Jordan Balazovic has been called up from Triple-A to take Lopezs spot on the active roster, as Balazovic will be looking to make his Major League debut.

As per league rules, Lopez wont collect salary or Major League service time while he is on the restricted list. The circumstances behind Lopezs placement arent yet known, so it is impossible to gauge how long the righty might be absent.

After posting uninspiring numbers for much of his career, Lopez suddenly caught fire early in the 2022 season, posting a 1.68 ERA and 19 saves over 48 1/3 innings with the Orioles. This performance earned Lopez his first All-Star selection, but even though the Os were still in the playoff race at the deadline, they chose to sell high on Lopez by swapping him to Minnesota for a package of four pitching prospects. That deal is already looking like a win for Baltimore since one of the four pitchers was Yennier Cano, who is looking like an All-Star this year after a superb first half.

The magic seemed to wear off for Lopez after the trade, as he posted only a 4.37 ERA in 22 2/3 innings for the Twins over the remainder of the 2022 season. Those struggles have carried into this season, as Lopez has a 5.00 ERA over 27 innings. Apart from an 8.1% walk rate that is slightly above the league average, there isnt much to like about Lopezs Statcast metrics, as he is allowing a ton of hard contact and his strikeout rate has dropped considerably from 2022. The right-handers old problems with home runs have resurfaced, as he allowed six homers over his 27 frames.

Lopez has been a weak link in an otherwise pretty solid Twins bullpen, but Balazovic will now get an opportunity to show what he can do at the MLB level. A fifth-round pick for the Twins in the 2016 draft, he emerged on the top-100 prospect radar prior to the 2020-22 seasons, but he battled some injuries last season and was struggled badly in his first stint at Triple-A.

After posting a 7.39 ERA over 70 2/3 innings with Triple-A St. Paul last year, Balazovic has performed better this year, though a 4.79 ERA isnt exactly eye-popping. His 35 2/3 innings have consisted of 11 relief appearances and three starts (after working mostly as a starter throughout his career), and Balazovic has a strong 31.1% strikeout rate but also a high 13% walk rate. Just before Spring Training this year, Balazovic was also involved in an off-field incident that resulted in surgery for a broken jaw, as he claimed to have been sucker-punched by an unknown person.

It remains to be seen how long Balazovic might last in Minnesotas bullpen, as regardless of performance, he might be sent back to Triple-A if Lopez is on the restricted list for only a brief period of time. Still, Balazovic has potential as a multi-inning reliever for now, and possibly still as a starter down the road.

In other Twins transactions from earlier today, the club activated Gilberto Celestino from the 60-day injured list and optioned the outfielder to Triple-A. Celestino has yet to play in the majors this season after undergoing thumb surgery in early March, as he had to first rehab his injury and then make up for his lost month of Spring Training. Celestino has played nine minor league games to date, and hell now get a longer stint at Triple-A to ramp up and be ready if the Twins call him back to the Show.

To accommodate Celestinos return to the 40-man roster, the Twins moved Jorge Alcala to the 60-day injured list. Alcala went on the 15-day IL in mid-May due to a stress fracture to the radius bone in his right forearm, and since it isnt known when he might return, the 60-day placement seemed inevitable.
MUSKEGON, MI  After a year of unexpected hardship, Miss Michigan 2023 Maya Schuhknecht is celebrating standing in the spotlight after winning her crown.

Schuhknecht, 22, of Buchanan, was crowned Miss Michigan 2023 at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon on Saturday, June 17.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The Grand Rapids Chamber and business leaders advocated Thursday for immigration reform, saying that bringing more immigrants and refugees to West Michigan will help solve a labor shortage and create a more prosperous future for our region.

The chamber also announced a partnership with Grand Valley State University and immigration advocacy group Global Detroit to connect businesses with international students and graduates, and to provide a pathway for foreign-born investors to launch their companies in Michigan.

These initiatives support a thriving West Michigan, and will drive our economy and our community forward, Rick Baker, president and CEO of the chamber, said during a press conference at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.

Thursdays press conference was hosted after the Chambers annual West Michigan CEO Summit. In addition to the chamber and Global Detroit, it featured remarks from Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella, Feyen Zylstra CEO Nate Koetje, and Eloy Garza, CEO of Garza & Sons.

The latest estimate on the number of immigrants in Kent County came in a 2018 report, officials said Thursday.

That report, issued by the chamber and other groups, estimated that in 2016 there were 50,176 immigrants living in the county, 27% of whom were undocumented. Overall, immigrants contributed an estimated $3.3 billion to the areas gross domestic product in 2016, the study estimated.

During the press conference, Baker said the chamber and will work to update that report as it advocates for federal immigration reform. He said the chamber supports the Michigan Compact on Immigration, which calls for the creation of a more responsive visa system and a sensible path forward for immigrants wishing to come to our country.

Baker said the chamber doesnt have a target on how many immigrants it would like to attract to the region, but such a figure may be included in the updated immigration study. The updated study is expected to be completed by September.

We do know from our conversations and our research with employers now that we have a huge demand, he said. We have a huge gap in employees, the number of jobs available and the number that are filled. So we feel like this is a great opportunity to fill some of this gap.

Federal immigration reform has proven elusive, but Baker said its important to advocate for change.

We can always be hopeful, he said. Without somebody putting light on it and pushing  and if not Grand Rapids, if not Michigan, who?

In addition to advocating for immigration reform, the chamber also highlighted a partnership with Global Detroit that will connect West Michigan companies with international students and graduates in an attempt to fill worker shortages.

The partnership also includes a Global Entrepreneur in Residence program that aims to help foreign-born entrepreneurs launch their companies in the region by placing them with universities such as GVSU

Innovative partnerships like this one announced today are a way forward for our region and our state to continue to forge a path to not just prosperity but inclusive prosperity, Mantella said. Its all about our collective strength.

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David Frey, philanthropist and retired banker who helped transform Grand Rapids, dies at 81

James Beard Award winning-chef launches farm-to-table inspired pizza, pasta restaurant

Gotions $2.4B battery plant moves forward after federal review
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A 24-year-old man was airlifted to a nearby hosptial Sunday after his vehicle struck a tree.

Ottawa County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene of the single-vehicle crash at 5:37 a.m. on Sunday, June 18, on Riley Street, near 160th Avenue in Park Township.

The preliminary investigation shows that a 2015 Hyundai Elantra was westbound on Riley Street, when it went off the south side of the road and struck a tree, deputes said.

The car came to rest on the opposite side of Riley Street.

West Michigan Air Care was requested and flew the 24-year-old Park Township man to the hospital with serious injuries.

Riley Street was closed during cleanup of the crash, but it has since reopened.

The crash remains under investigation.

Also on MLive:

Battle Creek teen shot dead in Burger King parking lot, suspect arrested

Man hospitalized after being thrown from motorcycle in Ottawa County

Grand Rapids man dies after being crushed by vehicle he was working on
CASS COUNTY, MI  An 88-year-old Edwardsburg man suffered a traumatic injury after the tractor he was driving rolled, landed on top of him and entrapped him.

Deputies responded to the incident at 27000 block of Indigan Lane in Edwardsburg at 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, said Cass County Sheriff Richard J. Behnke.
Michigan has been doubling up on celebrations this weekend, as Juneteenth and Pride month festivities are in full swing around the mitten.

The state will be officially celebrating Juneteenth for the first time Monday, though President Joe Biden made the occasion a federal holiday in 2021. It marks the date when the last Black Americans were freed from slavery, more than two years after the signing of the emancipation proclamation.

Read more: Michigan has a new state holiday, and its next week
GRAYLING, MI  Those who understand the jack pine ecosystem werent surprised by the recent runaway wildfire that scorched 2,400 acres southeast of Grayling after several weeks of abnormally warm, dry weather.

After all, fire is natural in that part of Michigans signature forests; the jack pine ecosystem evolved to depend on fire for regeneration  it literally thrives on flames.

Yet forestry and fire experts say decades of fire suppression in the jack pine and other forest ecosystems, not only in the Great Lakes but across the continent, has led to more than just a build-up of dead, dry vegetation able to fuel fires out of control. The lack of regular fires also changed the landscape, disrupting longstanding ecosystems that traditionally burned at regular intervals and were reborn with fresh growth and rejuvenated biodiversity.

Some now argue a return of fire to the landscape  using prescribed fires to manage and regenerate forests and grasslands  is the best solution to preventing dangerous wildfires that ultimately harm people and property. Its a matter of learning from history.

Jack pine fires

Most of Michigans pine barrens are in Northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, but the heart of the states jack pine ecosystem specifically can be found among the sandy outwash plains between Grayling and Mio.

Jack pine trees cannot naturally regenerate without fire; the trees have serotinous cones that are sealed shut until opened by the heat of fire to then disperse seeds onto recently burned, bare mineral soil free of competition from other plants.

They open when the landscape is on fire. When the cones get hot, they pop open and then the seeds fall out to the ground which regenerates jack pine, said John Pepin, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The jack pine forest is also famously home to the Kirtlands warbler songbird, a once-endangered species recently removed from the federal endangered species list after decades of habitat management designed to mimic the effects of wildfire. The yellow-breasted bird each year draws professional and amateur birders to the area for a chance to glimpse the special species in its natural habitat.

This is a Kirtland's warbler, a species federal wildlife authorities removed from the Endangered Species List in 2019.

Related: Kirtlands warbler tours offer a chance to see one of North Americas rarest songbirds

Kirtlands warblers are a bit picky about their reproduction, though. They only nest on the ground beneath jack pine trees grown between six- and 20-feet tall.

Historically, wildfires sparked in this area, either accidentally with lightning or intentionally by Indigenous people, would have burned the older trees and spurred new growth of jack pine trees in a constantly regenerating cycle of suitable habitat for the bird. In contemporary times, several thousand acres of jack pine trees are replenished each year by logging and replanting, or occasionally with prescribed burns.

Its not just the warbler that lives in the jack pines, either. The ecosystem is rich in biodiversity, despite its signature dry conditions.

Jack pine forests are also home to all different kinds of species of animals and birds and plants and butterflies and everything else. Theyre important to nature and to Michigans larger ecosystem, Pepin said.

And jack pine forests are prone to fire, with a history of large and dangerous wildfires consuming vast swaths of the landscape through the years, specifically in the Grayling-Mio region.

This is an aerial view of the Wilderness Trail Fire as it burned on Saturday, June 3, 2023, southeast of Grayling.

The recent Wilderness Trail Fire last week burned 2,400 acres. The Meridian Boundary Fire burned more than 8,500 acres and 12 homes in 2010. The Four Mile Fire burned 1,100 acres and three homes in 2008.

Related: Big Grayling wildfire leaves unease over dry conditions in its wake

But the biggest, most tragic wildfire was the Mack Lake Fire in 1980. About 25,000 acres burned, 44 homes were destroyed, and a U.S. Forest Service worker was killed.

Forest fire ecologist Don Mikel, of the Bay Mills Indian Community in the Upper Peninsula, said there was widespread hesitancy to use fire for forestry reasons after that deadly Mack Lake Fire more than four decades ago. That case was a prescribed fire that got away from the fire workers and ultimately wreaked trauma on the community.

Now prescribed fire is used sparingly by state and federal officials for ecological restoration. And thats only when weather conditions are just right for the fire to remain under control, which Mikel said is not too dry or windy and with abundant planning and safety measures in place.

These years of fire suppression to avoid risk and protect the growing number of homes in the forests  not only in jack pine but also other ecosystems  dont come without consequences.

Ecologist Jesse Lincoln, of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, said removing those annual fires in fire-dependent forests causes the accumulation of combustible materials. When prolonged dry spells or drought conditions happen, it creates tinder box conditions.

Even if its lightning and not people starting it, eventually its going to burn, Lincoln said. Were trying to fight the inevitable and likely, climate change is only going to exacerbate that. And then you think about how intense these fires are.

The scientist explained how low-intensity, but high-frequency fires created a more stable landscape historically. Without those fires, hardwood forests encroached on Michigans pine barrens, and some were eventually logged and replanted as red pine plantations  valuable timber for the building industry.

Fire back into the forest

The history of fire in the woods is now back in focus for foresters, especially as a changing climate is expected to bring more frequent wildfires in lengthened fire seasons.

Mikel said the whole jack pine ecosystem in Northern Lower Michigan historically reburned every 27 years, while in Upper Michigan the interval was between 60 and 70 years.

He explained how Native people historically used fire for abundant reasons, such as clearing land for agriculture, renewing grasses for wildlife, and stimulating the growth of blueberries, other wild berries, mushrooms and more. Those practices are starting to come back as part of new forest management goals.

Theres a lot of effort to return fire to the landscape. Were looking at doing more prescribed burning with the U.S. Forest Service and Bay Mills Indian Community, Mikel said.

He said multiple tribes in Michigan are also hoping to go back to using fire for ecological restoration, as are tribes in both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Professor Evan Larson at the University of Wisconsin Platteville has studied the historical relationship between people, fire, and pine ecosystems in the Upper Great Lakes region. He looks at cross-sections of old, fallen red pines to discover the history of fire in an area.

Professor Evan Larson at the University of Wisconsin Platteville looks at cross-sections of old, fallen red pines to discover the history of fire in an area.

Larsons research in the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota showed that regions desirable environmental aesthetic  a red pine canopy and blueberry understory  was meant to be protected by the federal 1964 Wilderness Act, but instead was diminished by the removal of people and fire from the landscape.

It turns out that those conditions were created by fire, and that when you take people out who were the ones that were setting the fires, then the forest closes in, Larson said during an environmental journalism workshop last year in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The researchers work is a call to action for wilderness managers to restore fire to their forestry playbook for both environmental benefit and to end cultural suppression of Indigenous land practices.

And that is happening more and more in the Great Lakes region.

Related: Sleeping Bear Dunes plans prescribed fires on 500 acres this spring

Indigenous tribes like Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota are among those leading the return of intentional fires for forestry reasons. Those fires can be to reduce the amount of fuel that would lead to larger and harder to control fires if they happen, reduce brush and open areas for wildlife, and renew habitats for plants and trees like blueberries and white pine.

Our ancestors used fire to build landscapes, build a fire-adapted landscape, or fire-dependent landscapes in some cases, and those landscapes influenced our identity, our language, our way of thinking, or our place in this world, said Damon Panek, a wildland fire specialist for the Fond du Lac Tribe and enrolled citizen of the Mississippi Band of White Earth Ojibwe in Minnesota.

Panek spoke during the same workshop last year as Larson. He said a combination of both logging and prescribed fire must now be used for safetys sake when restoring natural habitats after decades of the combination of built-up dried fuels and fire suppression policies.

Loggers must often first thin out the understory and reduce fire ladders, which is dead vegetation that allows a fire to climb up from the forest floor into the tree canopy. Only then can fires be kept low intensity and in control.

Mikel said a lot of logistical planning must happen for prescribed burns to work and stay safe, including ideal weather conditions, closing areas and evacuation plans, smoke direction, and much more. Despite the challenges, he said the natural benefits are profound.

It needs to be newsworthy to be restoring natural functioning ecosystems in an environmentally and people-friendly, safe way with fire. Just as it is when the fires are threatening communities in Colorado or California, Mikel said.

Panek also said Indigenous fire experts are ready to do this type of fire restoration work. He said tribes are partnering with state and federal foresters to bring back traditional fire practices their ancestors embraced for thousands of years.

This is a new way of thinking for a lot of people, but I think its an important way of thinking because it reestablishes our relationship with the environment and the world around us to be actually responsible for it, Panek said.

A portion of the reporting for this article was possible through a fellowship last year with the nonprofit Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources.

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Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said: "I am not afraid of hard work", adding: "In fact, I enjoy hard work".

After filing his flag bearer nomination at the headquarters of the governing New Patriotic Party in Accra on Friday, 16 June 2023, Dr Bawumia told a crowd of supporters: "My experience in life tells me that honesty and hard work pays".

He said: "I worked hard for H.E. President Kufuor as Deputy Governor at the Bank of Ghana and I have worked hard as Vice President in assisting the President, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, achieve his vision. Together, we started the process of transforming Ghana into a country ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution. I brought honesty, hard work, dedication and discipline to my role as Vice President".

Read Dr Mahamudu Bawumias full speech below:

SPEECH BY DR. MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA ON FILING OF NOMINATION FORM FOR 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

1. Thank you all for the overwhelming support you have shown me today. I am very humbled by this massive show of support. I would also like to thank my dear wife Samira and all my family for the support you have given me all these years. God bless you all.

2. Dear friends, I have just filed my nomination forms to contest as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 Presidential Elections. I believe this is the first step to our victory in 2024, by the Grace of God.

3. This is a very important day in my life. From Sakasaka Primary School to Tamale Secondary School, to Oxford University, to Bank of Ghana as Deputy Governor and then to become Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. It has been an amazing journey and I thank God for how far he has brought me.

4. Dear friends, it has not been an easy journey. It has taken a lot of hard work, discipline and patience to get here. I have walked to school growing up in Moshie Zongo in Tamale. I have been a by-day worker on farms during holidays in secondary school, I have been a warehouse boy even after finishing university, and I have been a minicab driver. I was only able to pay fees for one term during my studies at Oxford University and had to survive for the rest of my studies without paying fees, thanks to my College. I only settled my fees in arrears after I started work following the completion of my PhD in Canada.

5. I have also been a cleaner of dormitories in my university days in Canada. So, I can say that I have not had it easy at all. But I have always believed that with hard work, honesty, discipline and faith in God, one can fulfill ones God given potential.

6. My life experience tells me never to take anything for granted and always to have respect for people no matter their stature in life; no matter how big or how small they are. The cleaner or driver you meet today can be a Vice President or President tomorrow.

7. I care about the poor, I care about the vulnerable and the excluded. I care about the Lepers, I care about the sick, the sickle cell sufferers and cancer patients, I care about the disabled, I care about the Kayayei, I care about street children, and I care about the unemployed amongst others. This is the true essence of life; to address the problems of the weakest among us and to help them lift themselves up.

8. I am not afraid of hard work. In fact, I enjoy hard work. My experience in life tells me that honesty and hard work pays. I worked hard for H.E. President Kufuor as Deputy Governor at the Bank of Ghana and I have worked hard as Vice President in assisting the President, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, achieve his vision.

Together, we started the process of transforming Ghana into a country ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution. I brought honesty, hard work, dedication and discipline to my role as Vice President.

9. Notwithstanding the economic challenges of our time, our government has constructed more infrastructure than any other government in the fourth republic and many transformational policies have been introduced for the first time in our history, including the Ghanacard, Digital Address, Mobile Money Interoperability, Delivery of medicines by drones, One District One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Zongo Development Fund, Agenda 111, Free TVET and Free SHS to mention a few. We have also created 2.1 million jobs in six years, more than any government in the fourth republic.

10. Having implemented these transformational policy initiatives, it is very important that we dont go backwards as a country. We cannot put the country back in the hands of people who dont have an understanding of and belief in the vision. That is why it important for us to break the eight. There is still much more to do.

11. I also have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far.

12. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others.

13. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an education system tilted towards STEM, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, digital and vocational skills to cope with the demands of fourth Industrial Revolution.

14. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we cater and care for the the poor, vulnerable, excluded and sick people.

15. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we attain food security in the shortest possible time through the application of science, data, Artificial Intelligence, Satellite, Internet of Things (IOT) and irrigation to commercial farming. We will also complete the ongoing digitalisation of data on all farms across the 16 regions.

16. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we maximise the benefits from our natural resources like gold and lithium through policies like, value addition, setting up an LBMA certified gold refinery, enhancing the gold for oil policy, and dedication of specific gold concessions to the Bank of Ghana to enhance their accumulation of gold reserves.

17. Together with you, I want to see Ghana as an industrialised nation. I want to entrench and enhance the current strategy of industrialisation that we have embarked on and introduce new technology like digital manufacturing for the manufacturing of spare parts, syringes, and other equipment.

18. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with robust fiscal discipline in the management of our public finances to sustainably and significantly reduce bank lending rates.

19. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an empowered local business sector, especially startups and SMEs to drive investment and growth. We will transform the SME landscape by providing unique identifiers and using technology to help them access new financing and markets. I also want to provide incentives to the private sector to replace government in the provision of a significant amount of infrastructure and many other services.

20. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with a developed and efficient credit system through credit scoring by credit reference agencies by leveraging on integrated databases across banks, DVLA, NIA, Digital Address systems etc. to enable workers buy furniture, cars, TVs, fridges and homes (mortgages) on credit at lower cost.

21. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with energy self-sufficiency at reduced cost through solar and other renewables with the application of market efficiency to the energy market.

22. Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an enhanced focus on private and public investment in tourism, creative arts and sports.

23. This is not an exhaustive list and in due course we will have a chance to lay out a comprehensive Manifesto for Ghanaians.

24. Dear friends, over the last 22 years, I have worked hard with you for the NPP and for Ghana from during the Kufuor era as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, through our years in opposition and now in government. During this period, I have sacrificed for the party, I have defended the party in good times and in challenging times, I have never wavered nor slacked. Never! and I have built a solid track record of performance as Vice President and unflinching loyalty to our party and government through rain or shine.

25. I have a compelling vision for Ghanas future. It is possible for Ghana to be like the advanced nations if we put our minds and energies to it. With the technologies available, the new ones that are emerging, and a renewed mindset, we can leapfrog impossibilities and make the unimaginable possible. It is possible to break the eight, in order to continue with the transformational policies we have started. It is possible!

26. And that is why I am offering myself, in all humility, to contest in the primaries of this phenomenal party, the great New Patriotic Party, to become our flagbearer, and presidential candidate for election 2024 and Insha Allah, the President of the Republic of Ghana.

27. I am counting on your support from now through the primaries to the general election in December 2024 and beyond. By the grace of God, Insha Allah, victory will be ours. Thank you, God bless the NPP and God bless our homeland Ghana.

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New research conducted by Adobe unveils the leading position of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) brands in the realm of customer experience innovation.

This prominence stems from the rising consumer awareness of emerging technologies and a growing interest in exploring virtual and immersive environments. Marketers and consumers alike are eagerly embracing artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, as a catalyst to drive innovation and elevate the overall customer experience.

The study reveals that during economic downturns, ANZ consumers exhibit heightened expectations, with 44 per cent stating that their demands escalate in such periods. This finding puts considerable pressure on brands to enhance their digital experiences and meet these heightened customer demands. Additionally, a significant proportion of ANZ consumers (70 per cent) express a strong desire to engage in virtual product exploration, while 60 per cent seek immersive and virtual world experiences.

To address these mounting demands and expectations, marketing professionals in the ANZ region are turning to generative AI for assistance. They see this technology as a valuable tool to effectively manage workloads, foster creativity, and expand customer reach amidst a rapidly evolving marketplace.

The research also highlights the impact of the economic climate on consumer behaviour. Nearly half of ANZ consumers (44 per cent) demonstrate increased expectations during economic downturns, with Gen Z and millennials exhibiting particularly high levels of expectation (50 per cent). Trust and price become more important factors for ANZ consumers in challenging economic conditions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a solution by ANZ marketing and customer experience professionals, with 46 per cent finding it beneficial in their work and 12 per cent considering it a miraculous tool. Generative AI garners even greater enthusiasm, with 80 per cent of professionals anticipating its ability to enhance work product quality and volume, stimulate creativity, and expand customer reach. The majority also believe that generative AI will contribute to personalised customer experiences (85 per cent), the identification of new audiences and customer journeys (88 per cent), and an overall improvement in product quality (66 per cent).

ANZ consumers themselves recognise the potential of generative AI to transform brand interactions. A significant 63 per cent believe it will enhance the customer experience, while 66 per cent anticipate improvements in product quality. However, consumers emphasise the responsible and ethical usage of generative AI, with 37 per cent prioritising ethical considerations and 47 per cent emphasising actions that enhance customer and employee experiences. Only a small percentage (16 per cent) oppose the use of generative AI altogether.

A comparison of perspectives across different countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region reveals varying levels of acceptance for new digital experience formats, environments, and tools. Consumers and marketers in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are more inclined towards embracing these innovations than Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The majority of consumers in India (81 per cent), Malaysia (70 per cent), and Singapore (66 per cent) expect more personalised and relevant digital experiences driven by the data and technologies available to brands. In contrast, only 32 per cent of consumers in Australia and New Zealand and a mere 13 per cent in Japan share the same sentiment.

These divergent perspectives align with national consumer expectations for brands to offer fresh and innovative experiences. A significant majority of Indian consumers (91 per cent), as well as those in Singapore (87 per cent) and Thailand (83 per cent), anticipate new ways for brands to engage in virtual or immersive worlds. In comparison, 62 per cent of Australians and 59 per cent of New Zealanders share this expectation, while the figure stands at a modest 48 per cent in Japan.

Likewise, there are variations in the perceived potential of generative AI to enhance customer experiences and product quality. In Thailand (94 per cent) and India (93 per cent), over nine out of ten consumers believe that generative AI can improve both customer experiences and product quality. In Australia and New Zealand, the numbers are lower, with around six in ten respondents (60 per cent and 67 per cent respectively) expressing the same belief.

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The Indian environmental activist, Licypriya Kangujam, aged just 11, has met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, drawing attention to the ongoing ethnic violence in her home state of Manipur and calling for action on climate change.

Often compared to Greta Thunberg due to her impassioned climate activism, Kangujam implored Pope Francis to utilise his influence to help quell the interethnic conflict that has engulfed Manipur for a month, pitting the Meitei and tribal groups against each other. The clashes have left scores dead and resulted in at least 80,000 people being displaced.

During their meeting, Kangujam urged Pope Francis to support the integration of mandatory "climate education" in Catholic schools and missionary institutions worldwide. She asserted that effective climate crisis solutions are dependent on a globally educated populace. The young environmentalist emphasised her belief that richer nations should bear the financial burden of the damages caused by climate change in the global south, given their historical contribution to the crisis.

Pope Francis offered his prayers for the troubled region of Manipur and voiced his commitment to contributing to peace-making efforts. He further commended the young activists for their dedication to environmental protection and stressed the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding the planet against escalating natural disasters.

The young activist from Manipur also announced plans to build a school offering free education for victims of the ongoing violence. She expressed her hopes that this institution would serve as a beacon of peace to the world.

Following her meeting with the Pope, Kangujam is due to attend an environment-focused meeting in Paris, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. She will also travel to Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in discussions with African leaders, UN officials, and Nobel laureates, concerning the violence in Manipur and potential pathways to restoring peace.

Licypriya Kangujam, born on October 2, 2011, has been at the forefront of climate action campaigns in India since 2018, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. She has previously staged a week-long protest outside the Indian Parliament, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass comprehensive climate change legislation.

Kangujam's activism has won her international recognition. She received the World Children Peace Prize 2019, awarded by the Institute of Economics and Peace, Australia, and was named a "Rising Star" by the Earth Day Network in Washington, D.C., USA.
17.06.2023 LISTEN

Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to execute seven men who were minors at the time of their alleged offences, despite the nation's promise to end the death penalty for juvenile offenders, according to Amnesty International.

All seven were children when their alleged crimes were committed, with the youngest just 12 at the time. They were all denied legal representation during their pre-trial detention. Six of the group, all members of Saudi Arabia's persecuted Shia minority, were convicted on terrorism-related charges. The seventh was convicted of armed robbery and murder. Their cases were tainted by unfair trials and confessions obtained under torture, according to Amnesty.

The six Shia men were sentenced for crimes such as attending anti-government protests and funerals of those killed by security forces, activities that have resulted in widespread discrimination and unfair trials against the minority group.

Amnesty has highlighted the case of Yousef al-Manasif, who was between 15 and 18 years old at the time of his alleged offences. Convicted on several charges, including seeking to disrupt the social fabric and national cohesion, he was sentenced to death last November by the country's Specialised Criminal Court. His family said they were not permitted to see or visit him for more than six months after his arrest.

Another man facing execution, Abdullah al-Darazi, who was 17 at the time of his alleged offences, was convicted for involvement in riots and attacking security officials. He told the court that he was held in pre-trial detention for three years without access to a lawyer.

Amnestys Middle East and North Africa Director, Heba Morayef, criticised the Saudi authorities' continued use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders, despite promises of legal reforms. "If the authorities wish any of those promises to be taken seriously, they should order an immediate halt to the planned execution of the seven," Morayef said.

The men were all convicted of "tazir" offences, which have no fixed punishment in Islamic law and are left to the discretion of judges. Despite laws and orders intended to protect juveniles, these seven face execution, undermining claims by the Saudi Human Rights Commission that the death penalty for juveniles for tazir crimes has been abolished.

Saudi Arabia is among the world's leading executioners. In 2022, the country executed 196 people, marking the highest number of executions in a year in the past three decades. So far this year, the kingdom has executed 54 people for a range of crimes, including murder, drug smuggling and terrorism-related offences.
Sudan's warring generals agreed a new 72-hour ceasefire from Sunday, US and Saudi mediators said, after fighting intensified with deadly air strikes in Khartoum and an exodus of wounded from Darfur over the border into Chad.

Air strikes killed 17 civilians, including five children, in the capital Saturday, a citizens' group said, as medics in Chad reported hundreds of wounded from Darfur seeking treatment.

Multiple truces have been agreed and broken during the two-month war, including after the United States slapped sanctions on both generals after a previous attempt collapsed at the end of May.

A 24-hour ceasefire from June 10 to June 11 provided Khartoum residents with a brief respite from the air strikes and artillery exchanges that have ravaged whole neighbourhoods of the capital but the fighting resumed within 10 minutes of the ceasefire ending.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," a Saudi foreign ministry statement said late Saturday.

The ceasefire is due to take effect at 6 am (0400 GMT), the mediators said.

"The two sides agreed that during the ceasefire period they would refrain from movements and attacks, the use of warplanes or drones, artillery bombardment, reinforcement of positions, resupply of forces, or refrain from attempting to achieve military gains," the mediators said.

"They also agreed to allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Sudan."

The SAF, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has since April 15 been battling the paramilitary RSF, headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

A record 25 million people -- more than half Sudan's population -- are in need of aid, the United Nations says.

Intensifying air strikes

Witnesses say air strikes have intensified in the capital over the past few days.

A medical centre riddled with battle damage at the Souk Sitta (Market Six) in Khartoum's south on June 1, 2023. By - (AFP)

On Saturday, warplanes struck several residential districts of Khartoum, killing "17 civilians, including five children," according to a citizens' support committee. AFP was not immediately able to independently confirm the committee's figures.

Residents had earlier reported air strikes around the city's southern Yarmouk district -- home to a weapons manufacturing and arms depot complex where the RSF claimed "full control" in early June.

In a video published Friday on the army's Facebook page, deputy army chief Yasser Atta warned civilians to keep away from houses where the RSF are located because the army "will attack them at any time".

Since battles began, the death toll across the country has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said.

'Ominous reminder'

Hundreds of kilometres (miles) west of Khartoum, up to 1,100 have been killed in the West Darfur state capital El Geneina alone, according to the US State Department.

Medics in Chad said Saturday they were overwhelmed by the hundreds of wounded fleeing Sudan's Darfur region, which has become an increasing focus of global concern.

The dead have included West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, killed after he criticised the paramilitaries in a Wednesday television interview. The RSF denied responsibility.

"We are overwhelmed in the operating theatre. We urgently need more beds and more staff," said Seybou Diarra, a physician and project coordinator in Adre, Chad, for the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity.

"As violence rages in West Darfur, wounded people are coming in waves" to the hospital in Adre, just over the border about 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of El Geneina, the MSF statement said.

More than 600 patients, most with gunshot wounds, arrived at the facility over a three-day period -- more than half of them on Friday, it said.

Claire Nicolet, MSF's head of emergency programmes, cited "reports of intensifying and large-scale attacks this week".

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad.

They are among the roughly 2.2 million people uprooted nationwide by the fighting which has forced more than 528,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, IOM said.

On Thursday, the State Department attributed the atrocities in Darfur "primarily" to the RSF and said the violence and alleged rights violations are an "ominous reminder" of the region's previous genocide.

Sudanese refugees cross into Chad near Koufroun, Echbara, on May 1, 2023. By Gueipeur Denis SASSOU (AFP/File)

A years-long war in Darfur began in 2003 with a rebel uprising that prompted then-strongman Omar al-Bashir to unleash the Janjaweed militia, whose actions led to international charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed.
South Africa's president, in Russia as part of a delegation pushing for peace between Kyiv and Moscow, told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the fighting had to stop.

His delegation put forward a set of principles that the Kremlin deemed "very difficult to implement", a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out talks with Moscow.

The delegation brought the voice of a continent that has badly suffered from repercussions of the Ukraine conflict, particularly with rising grain prices.

"This war must be settled... through negotiations and through diplomatic means," South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa said after talks in the suburbs of Saint Petersburg.

Russian authorities have effectively banned the word "war" to describe their military operation in Ukraine.

Locations recaptured by Ukraine in its eastern counter-offensive. By Sabrina BLANCHARD, Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA (AFP)

Ramaphosa added that his delegation, which has leaders and senior officials from seven African countries, "would like this war to be ended".

Ramaphosa listed 10 principles, which included de-escalation, the recognition of countries' sovereignty, security guarantees for all countries, unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea and sending prisoners of war and children back to their countries of origin.

The mission included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, as well as top officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.

'Difficult to implement'

"Any initiative is very difficult to implement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the state-run agency RIA Novosti.

"But President Putin has shown interest in considering it," Peskov said after the leaders held a meeting behind closed doors.

The delegation on Friday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. By Sergei SUPINSKY (AFP)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the plan was "not formulated on paper".

Putin had praised the delegation's "balanced" approach and said he was "open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties' legitimate interests".

Moscow has in the past repeated that any negotiations would need to take into account "new territorial realities".

Zelensky, speaking on Friday after Ramaphosa called for de-escalation following their talks in Kyiv, repeated his position that Ukraine must recover territories lost to Russia to achieve peace.

When an air raid siren sounded in Kyiv shortly after the delegation's arrival earlier on Friday, forcing it to take shelter, Zelensky said it showed that Putin either did not control his army or was "irrational".

Focus on the battlefield

African countries have been divided over their response to the fighting. While some have sided with Ukraine, others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.

Efforts to secure peace appear increasingly perilous, analysts told AFP, with both Kyiv and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.

A Ukrainian serviceman in the recently recaptured village of Blagodatne, Donetsk region. By Anatolii Stepanov (AFP)

Ukraine launched a long-awaited counteroffensive earlier this month.

Russian officials -- including Putin -- have insisted the counteroffensive is failing despite Kyiv claiming some gains.

Kyiv said Friday evening that its units were having "tactical success" in nearly all areas where they were fighting in the south.

The Russian army, meanwhile, said it had repelled all assaults from Ukraine.

'Negative impact' on Africa

If analysts doubted the African mission could secure a concrete peace, there had been hope it would achieve some concessions.

Securing the future viability of a deal allowing grain from Ukraine to reach the global market would be one potential goal of the delegation.

"This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," Ramaphosa said ahead of formal talks with the Russian president.

Putin said "the crisis on the global food market is by no means a consequence" of the Ukraine conflict.

Putin met with delegations of African leaders at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, outside Saint Petersburg. By Pavel Bednyakov (RIA NOVOSTI/AFP)

Russia accuses the West of blocking its exports of fertilisers and threatens to pull out of a deal -- due to expire on July 17 -- that has allowed vital Ukrainian grain exports to resume through the Black Sea.

"We do not believe that shipments of Ukrainian grain supplies can solve the problems of poverty and hunger," Putin said during the meeting.

Zelensky had asked the African leaders to "please, let them release our political prisoners. I think this will be an important result of your mission."

Referring to prisoners of war, Putin said on Saturday: "We are ready to continue this process."

In Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian officials in the area devastated by flooding from the destruction of a Russian-held dam announced revised death tolls Saturday.

The toll in Russian-held areas had risen to 29, officials there said.

Kyiv said the number killed in its territory had risen to 16, with 31 still missing, and warned that the threat of air strikes "remains high across Ukraine".

"The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka axes and heavy battles continue," the defence ministry said in a statement.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden warned that the United States would not make special arrangements for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance.

"They've got to meet the same standards," he told reporters. "So we're not going to make it easy."

Next week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on investors and businesses at a two-day summit in London to match Ukraine's "bravery on the battlefield" with support to get the country back on its feet.
Some flood-affected victims at Keta in the Volta Region have called on authorities, individuals, and philanthropists to help bring back life normalcy.

Mr Christian Amenyo and Madam Veronica Goka, victims at Vui and Dzelukope respectively told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) a few days after the recent flood disaster that their belongings including electrical gadgets were destroyed by the floods.

They lamented the inability of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to offer any form of assistance to them.

We heard the regional NADMO Director came to the town together with some officials, but they did not visit us here, Mr Amenyo added.

He further appealed to the officials to supply them with boats, mattresses, and others since everywhere got flooded.

Mr Amenyo also suggested to the government to consider constructing drainages at various points in the town to aid the easy flow of the water when it rained.

Mr Benjamin Dzordzorme, the assembly member for the area in an engagement, expressed worry about the situation and further called on Government through NADMO to assist the victims with relief items.

Meanwhile, Mr Godknows Blebu, the Keta Municipal NADMO Director, told the GNA that the disaster report was sent to the Regional Directorate for action.

He also noted that the Keta Municipal Assembly has since been working with the Ghana National Fire Service at Anloga to drain some affected areas to enable normal activities to resume.

Mr Blebu also revealed that over 3,000 residents had been rendered homeless by the floods.

He also called for individual support.

Some affected areas included Keta Business Senior High School (Keta Busco), Bishop Herman Basic School, and Vui RC basic school.

GNA
A fresh ceasefire took effect in Sudan on Sunday after intense fighting that saw deadly air strikes in Khartoum and an exodus of wounded over the border into Chad.

The army, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has since April 15 been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

Multiple truces have been agreed and broken during the conflict, including after the United States slapped sanctions on both generals following the collapse of a previous ceasefire attempt at the end of May.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," a Saudi foreign ministry statement said late Saturday.

The ceasefire was to take effect at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday, the mediators said, adding the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

One hour into the truce, witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was "calm".

"We want a full ceasefire," Sami Omar, who lives in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, told AFP.

"A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes (they occupy) and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult."

Both sides had pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday night.

The army said "despite our commitment to the ceasefire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit" during the ceasefire.

RSF vowed to "honour our commitment to a comprehensive cessation of hostilities... with the primary aim of facilitating the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance to civilians".

Intensifying air strikes

Before the latest truce, witnesses said air strikes had intensified in the capital in the past few days.

A medical centre riddled with battle damage at the Souk Sitta (Market Six) in Khartoum's south on June 1, 2023. By - (AFP)

On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing "17 civilians, including five children", according to a citizens' support committee. AFP was unable to independently confirm the figures.

Residents had earlier reported air strikes around the city's southern Yarmouk district -- home to a weapons manufacturing and arms depot complex where the RSF claimed "full control" in early June.

Since battles began, the death toll across the country has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said.

A record 25 million people -- more than half Sudan's population -- need aid, the United Nations says.

'Ominous reminder'

Hundreds of kilometres (miles) west of Khartoum, as many as 1,100 people have been killed in the West Darfur state capital of El Geneina, according to the US State Department.

Medics in Chad said Saturday they were overwhelmed by the hundreds of wounded fleeing Sudan's Darfur region, which has become an increasing focus of global concern.

The dead have included West Darfur governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, killed after he criticised the paramilitaries in a Wednesday television interview. The RSF denied responsibility.

Sudanese refugees cross into Chad near Koufroun, Echbara, on May 1, 2023. By Gueipeur Denis SASSOU (AFP/File)

"We are overwhelmed in the operating theatre. We urgently need more beds and more staff," said Seybou Diarra, a physician and project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Adre, Chad.

More than 600 patients, most with gunshot wounds, arrived at the facility over a three-day period -- more than half of them on Friday, it said.

Claire Nicolet, MSF's head of emergency programmes, cited "reports of intensifying and large-scale attacks this week".

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad.

They are among the roughly 2.2 million people uprooted nationwide by the fighting, which has forced more than 528,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, the IOM said.

On Thursday, the US State Department attributed the atrocities in Darfur "primarily" to the RSF and said the violence and alleged rights violations were an "ominous reminder" of the region's previous genocide.

A years-long war in Darfur began in 2003 with a rebel uprising that prompted then-strongman Omar al-Bashir to unleash the Janjaweed militia, whose actions led to international charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed.
I just watched a short video in which Dr. Bawumia is seen engaging with the delegates in Ayaawso East Constituency, Nima. In the video, he said a lot of uninspiring things to try to convince the delegates that he is the one the NDC is afraid of.

However, there is one thing he said that makes me wonder if the vice president really thinks the NPP delegates are a bunch of dumb people who wouldnt analyse the things he says.

He said if he is elected by the party, the Zongos will change. In other words, because he is a Muslim, if he is elected to lead the party in 2024, he would be able to win the Zongo votes for the NPP.

Thus, Alhaji Bawumia wants the party to vote for him to go and chase the Muslim votes for the party, right? Well, because politics is a game of numbers, permit me to talk about the numbers small. The Muslim population in Ghana is 17.6%, whereas that of Christians is 71.2%.

Alhaji, by the same logic you used to assure the party of the Zongo votes, how many of the Christian votes do you think John Mahama would also get from the Christian community by virtue of him and the wife being Christians?

According to Dr. Bawumia, the Christians in the country love him and would vote for him ahead of one of their own, John Mahama. That is actually interesting. He also said the Muslims love him and will vote massively for him. Folks, Alhaji thinks Muslims love him, but the Christians dont love John Mahama.

For the purpose of argument, lets assume he would be able to get all the 17.6% Muslim votes (ie 100%) in the country for the NPP if he becomes our flagbearer, and John Mahama, being a Christian, would be able to win for the NDC just 30% of the Christian votes, Mahama would win the election hands down. Thats how serious the religious dynamics are.

Alhaji, the fact that Christians love you doesnt mean they would relinquish the number one position they occupy to you. Only a naive politician would believe the Christian community wouldnt have an interest in who occupies the highest office of the land.

Considering the special relationship that exits between the Christian communities in Nigeria and Ghana, one can surmise that the Christian community in Ghana would take a cue from what just happened in the Nigeria election and vote for one of their own to occupy the highest office of the land. It would therefore be suicidal to present a non-Christian against a Christian in this country.

71.2% is too huge to toy with. The NDC is patiently waiting for us to make that monumental mistake. We shall surely disappoint them.

Shalom shalom!

E. G. Buckman
A court in Wulensi in the Nanumba South District has granted bail to a suspect who posed as a police inspector, to reappear on June 28 for the start of his trial.

The suspect was arrested by the police in Wulensi on suspicion of impersonating a police officer.

The suspect claimed to be Christopher Amoako with service number 36464 and had been operating in Damanko in the Oti Region for several years.

He was arrested on suspicion and, upon investigation, it was clear that he was not a police officer.

A search of his room by the Wulensi Police Command revealed about 12 police uniforms, a passport, and a health insurance card with his picture, which revealed his real name to be John Kwaku Akuaku.

He was taken to court on June 15, where he entered a plea. The court granted him bail and ordered him to reappear on June 28 for the start of his trial.

Meanwhile, junior police officers in the district expressed fear that their lives could be in danger because the suspect knows them.
The paramount chief of the Wasipe Traditional Area, Wasipewura Mimuni Anyami Kabasagya II, has offered to assist the police in arresting suspects who allegedly attacked the Savannah Regional police commander and the Daboya Police Station.

This comes after a June 16 dawn police raid resulted in the arrest of four suspects, three of whom are in custody in Tamale.

At a press conference in Daboya on Saturday, June 17, Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, secretary to the paramount chief, said the police raids are causing fear and panic in the town and increasing tensions, hence the chiefs resolve to assist the police.

A clash between Gonjas and Mamprusis at Lukula and Mempeasem in the North Gonja district on June 1 led to the death of one person and the burning of several houses.

A group from Daboya allegedly attacked the Savannah Regional police commander and the Daboya police station in an attempt to free suspects arrested by the police in the conflict.

The police subsequently arrested 100 of the youth for the attack on the police, 20 of whom are on bail and standing trial in a district court in Tamale after screening.

The June 16 police raid, according to residents, has heightened tensions in the area, with the NPP in the Savannah Region issuing a statement to condemn the development.

At the press conference, the paramount chief of the Wasipe Traditional Area, Wasipewura Mimuni Anyami Kabasagya II, offered to assist the police in arresting suspects on the police wanted list if they are made available to him.

The secretary to the Wasipewura, Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, who addressed the press conference, said the chiefs offer to assist the police was to bring an end to the raids, which he said are causing fear and panic in the town and heightening tensions, as a result of which male youth are deserting the town.
Grieving families prepared to bury their dead in western Uganda on Sunday while others desperately searched for loved ones still missing after militants killed dozens of students in a school attack.

Officials say at least 41 people, mostly students, were massacred on Friday in the worst attack of its kind in Uganda since 2010.

Victims were hacked, shot and burned in the late-night raid on Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, which lies less than two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pope Francis offered a prayer on Sunday for "the young student victims of the brutal attack" that has shocked Uganda and drawn condemnation from around the globe.

Ugandan authorities have blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia based in DR Congo, and are pursuing the attackers who fled back toward the border with six abductees in captivity.

Fifteen others from the community, including five girls, were still missing, said Eriphaz Muhindi, chairman of Kasese district, which shares a long and forested border with DR Congo.

Seventeen victims were burned beyond recognition when the attackers set a locked dormitory ablaze, frustrating efforts to identify the dead and account for the missing.

'Great pain'

Muhindi said they had been taken away for DNA testing, a process that could take some time.

"This is a great pain to their families," he told AFP.

Families desperate for news waited all night in the cold outside a mortuary in Bwera, a town near where the attack occurred.

Map of Uganda locating Mpondwe. By Aude GENET (AFP)

Those able to identify loved ones inside the mortuary embraced and wept as they received the bodies and took them away in coffins for burial.

Others milled about anxiously, still without any information of their relatives.

The government said Sunday it would assist with funeral arrangements and supporting the injured.

Thirty-seven students died in the attack, said Uganda's first lady and education minister, Janet Museveni.

The badly burned bodies of 17 male students were found in their dormitory which was totally destroyed by fire.

Witnesses said they locked the door when they heard gunshots.

Twenty female students tried to run to safety but were hacked to death with machetes.

Investigators said a security guard at the school gate was shot dead as the attackers forced their way in, while three members of the public were also killed.

'They will pay'

The African Union, France and the United States, a close ally of Uganda, offered their condolences and condemned the bloodshed.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: "Those responsible for this appalling act must be brought to justice."

Museveni said the army would track down "these evil people and they will pay for what they have done".

But questions have been raised about how the attackers managed to evade detection in a border region with a heavy military presence.

Major General Dick Olum told AFP that intelligence suggested the presence of the ADF in the area at least two days before the attack, and an investigation would be needed to establish what went wrong.

Uganda and DR Congo launched a joint offensive in 2021 to drive the ADF out of their Congolese strongholds, but the measures have failed to blunt the group's violence.

Originally insurgents in Uganda, the ADF gained a foothold in eastern DRC in the 1990s and have since been accused of killing thousands of civilians.

The Islamic State group has claimed the ADF as its Central African affiliate.

Attacks in Uganda are rare but in June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF raid on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the DR Congo border.

More than 100 students were abducted.

Friday's attack is the deadliest in Uganda since 2010, when 76 people were killed in twin bombings in the capital Kampala by the Somalia-based group Al-Shabaab.
Kazakhstan adopts visa exemption agreement for Vietnamese citizens

The above decision is stipulated in the decree issued on June 13, 2023 and comes into force immediately.

The agreement states that valid national passport holders of each country with a validity of at least 6 months, will be exempted from visas to enter, exit, transit, and temporarily stay in the territory of the other country for a period of time not exceeding 30 days from the date of entry and not exceeding 90 days for each 180-day period.

If citizens plan to stay longer than this period of time, they will have to apply for a visa.

Deputy Prime Minister -Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the Government of Kazakhstan.

Earlier, Minister Murat Nurtleu assessed that the signing of the agreement would help strengthen relations between the two countries.

Earlier, Minister Murat Nurtleu assessed that the signing of the agreement would help further strengthen relations between the two countries./.
18.06.2023 LISTEN

In the intriguing landscape of South Asian politics, where variables are as diverse as the region itself, the recent resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh has claimed the front page, creating a pronounced ripple in an already complex pool of political equations. This surprising return of the party to the political scene, following almost a decade of political banishment, has sparked a flurry of questions and speculation. So, what are the reasons behind this surprising resurgence, and what implications does it have for Bangladesh's future?

The ball began rolling when Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the largest fundamentalist parties in Bangladesh, was recently granted official permission to hold a public meeting in Dhaka. This move, starkly contrasting the government's previous stance, was succinctly described as a "political decision" by the Minister of Agriculture, Abdur Razzak, triggering speculation about the motives behind it.

This development is even more intriguing when viewed against the backdrop of Jamaat's recent history. Post-2006, the party faced numerous hurdles. Its political capital took a significant hit during a two-year state of emergency that saw its principal ally, the BNP, suffer substantial losses. The Awami League came to power in a landslide victory in 2008, initiating war crimes trials that led to the controversial execution of Jamaat's top leaders. The subsequent period saw many of its leaders arrested, especially between 2013 and 2015, when the BNP-Jamaat alliance launched a fierce campaign to obstruct the elections. It's noteworthy that Jamaat was barred from holding rallies since 2013, and any attempts at public demonstrations were swiftly thwarted.

This drastic change in the government's stance has set the rumour mills churning. One widespread belief is that Jamaat had reached an "understanding" with the government, paving the way for the rally. However, the Awami League General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, dismissed these claims and instead blamed the BNP for using Jamaat to carry out arson attacks.

Jamaat's notorious history of active engagement against Bangladesh's liberation forces in 1971 is widely known. Yet, we may wonder why the government has suddenly softened its stance towards the party? Why has Jamaat not been banned as a political party, which the Awami League promised to do? Jamaat, as a political party, has yet to ask for forgiveness for their role against the country's liberation war in 1971. While the current Jamaat leadership publicly condemns the role of their predecessors during the 1971 war, they claim that the new leadership, representing the post-1971 war generation, is committed to the values and principles of the liberation and sovereignty of Bangladesh. They further state that they are prepared to do everything possible, peacefully, to protect the sovereignty of Bangladesh, a nation they claim to love as part of their faith and their party's practice.

Historical alliances may offer some insight. The Awami League joined forces with Jamaat in 1986, and again in 1995-96 for elections and movements against the BNP government. Is this resurgence a sign of the revival of this once powerful alliance? The BNP's decision to dissolve its alliance with Jamaat and recent reports of talks between the two parties add further intrigue.

Political commentators suggest that the government could be attempting to make the upcoming elections seem inclusive and participatory by bringing Jamaat into the fold under a different name, such as the Bangladesh Democratic Party, especially if the BNP decides to boycott the polls.

Adding another twist to the plot, recent changes in US visa policy seem to favour Jamaat. Could the Awami League be capitalising on this to show that it is not obstructing any of its political opponents?

Top Jamaat leaders publicly deny any backdoor compromise or alliance with the Awami League, questioning instead why their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression was curbed for years. They claim that it's the growing public opinion that has forced the government to give them permission for the rally, and recent changes in the US visa policy might have partially contributed to the government granting permission for public gatherings. The Jamaat leaders argue that their party has been suppressed for years, their leaders have been subjected to fabricated charges and torture, and continue to face judicial harassment.

In the past, I predicted that Jamaat would play a vital and crucial role in the politics of Bangladesh. I reiterate that the next government in Bangladesh will be largely influenced by Islamic principles and values, no matter who comes into power. Jamaat, as the largest political party in Bangladesh, will play a key role both directly and indirectly in defining politics, policies, and who comes to power and who does not. The sudden approval for Jamaat's public demonstration might also indicate the party's desperation to reaffirm its presence and relevance in electoral politics. Yet, it's also important to note that in Jamaat's absence, the Bangladesh Islami Andolon seems to have encroached upon its vote bank, although the ideologies of the two parties are distinct.

This return of Jamaat has far-reaching implications for the political dynamics of the country. If the BNP and other parties decide not to participate in the upcoming polls, it could raise questions about the legitimacy of the elections and provoke scepticism about the motives behind Jamaat's reemergence.

As observers of this complex political narrative, we must strive for objectivity, free of preconceived notions. While it is tempting to dismiss these events as conjecture, the history of Jamaat's closeness with the ruling party and their savvy political manoeuvring suggests otherwise.

Jamaat-e-Islami's unexpected return to the political stage of Bangladesh is not just a political spectacle; it's a compelling subplot in the grand narrative of South Asian politics. It offers valuable insights into the ever-evolving dynamics of political alliances, the fine line between pragmatism and principles, and the profound impact these shifts can have on the socio-political fabric of the region.

Unfolding before us is a real-life political drama that invites us to engage, probe, and contemplate. It beckons us to delve deeper into the labyrinth of political narratives and understand the undercurrents that shape them. In doing so, we contribute to a more nuanced discourse, fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape our world.
Abuja, Nigeria, June 16th, 2023. West Africa marked another important milestone in energy sustainability, at the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as four significant Memoranda of Understanding related to the Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline Project were signed. Additionally, the project's Steering Committee convened to discuss the progress of the Project and its strategic direction.

Four Memoranda of Understanding were signed on Friday, June 16, in Abuja as part of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project. These tripartite MOUs were respectively and successively signed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco on one hand, and the Societe Nationale des Operations Petrolieres of Cote dIvoire (PETROCI), the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures of Benin (SNH-Benin), and the Societe Nationale des Petroles of the Republic of Guinea (SONAP) on the other hand.

These Memoranda of Understanding, similar to those signed with ECOWAS on September 15, 2022, Mauritania and Senegal on October 15, 2022, and The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Ghana on December 5, 2022, reaffirm the commitment of the Parties to this strategic project. Once completed, the project will enhance the monetization of the natural gas resources of the affected African countries and also offer a new alternative export route to Europe.

The signings took place on the side-lines of the Steering Committee meeting of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, which was attended by representatives from ECOWAS and all the participating countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.

This significant infrastructure project will contribute to accelerating access to energy for all, improving the living conditions of the populations, integrating the economies of the sub-region, and mitigating desertification. It will achieve these goals through the provision of sustainable and reliable gas supply that aligns with the continent's new environmental commitments, while providing Africa with a new economic, political, and strategic dimension. In his remarks, the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Government for entrusting NNPC Ltd. with this strategic project as the National Energy Company. He added that "as a commercial enterprise, NNPC Ltd. sees this project as an opportunity to monetise Nigeria's abundant hydrocarbon resources, by expanding Access to energy to support economic growth, industrialization, and job creation across the African continent and beyond.

Also speaking, the Director General of ONHYM, Amina Benkhadra said that the gathering represents a progressive step in ensuring social and economic development through energy security and accessibility geared towards attaining total development of Africa by Africans.

In his remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization, Mr. Sediko Douka said the gas pipeline project is significant as it will help strengthen the region's electricity production/generation capacity, stimulate industrial and agricultural development, and contribute to the energy transition by using a source of energy that is cleaner than other fossil fuels.

To recall ECOWAS was implemented the development of the West Africa Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) through a feasibility study approved in 2018. At the same time, Nigeria and Morocco decided to launch the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP) via NNPC Ltd. and ONHYM. The similarities between the two projects soon became apparent, and so, the need for synergy to pool efforts in order to achieve a single gas pipeline project. The two project teams worked together to have a MOU signed in September 2022 to merge the two projects into a single project.

It is in this background that the 1st steering committee of the unique Gas pipeline Project was organized to take stock of the project current status, to discuss the general principles of the Treaty and Host country Agreement as well others keys subjects such us the environmental and survey studies to be undertaking.

On the margins of the meeting, the Steering Committee paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission.
18.06.2023 LISTEN

Nigerians have just elected a new leader. No matter our differences with Tinubu as a person, his character or our party affiliation; we should accord him the goodwill and benefit of doubt given to new leaders for the hope of a better country. Africans have had their share of bad leaders but Nigerians always have this optimistic view of new leaders, even the military ones: he go better. It could be an indication of how bad the situation had been before they came.

The first coup d'etat by Nzeogwu gave hope after condemning the corruption of our ten percenters". Some jubilation and humiliation followed while others watched until Nzeogwu was betrayed by his comrades. All the leaders were going to be eliminated. They spared certain leaders. A grave self-inflicted wound that led to counter coups. Nobody has monopoly on force, threats and deadly force without repercussions. It resulted in a false start.

By the time Gowon took over, people had been traumatized. Only the benefit of doubt remained. Gowon promised no victors, no vanquished at the end of the Civil War. We had a series of military and civilian governments after, with the wish that one of them would restore Nigeria to its glorious days and hope for Africas Regional Power. Nigeria has not recovered from the bad legacy of the horrible war.

Most new governments enjoy a honeymoon but a section of the Country wants to make sure Tinubu fails from day one. So far, in less than a month, Tinubu has impressed most of the people including those that did not vote for him in his Osun home state and his adopted state of Lagos. When you win an Election, the President must cater for those that voted for and against him. We don't have to agree on everything. But failure is not an option at this point.

Nevertheless, the Country must move on either by granting the aspiration of the people for a federated state or into confederated nations. The days of Unity Beggars are gone because people are weary and tired of blackmails. Nigerians still love one another but the noise of hate and uncompromised aspirations have confounded the Silent Majority ruled by extremists. Their goal is to get what they want by any means necessary without building bridges.

It has not stopped some of the Youths, especially those from the Eastern and Western part of the Country from going after one another on social media. It has not spilled onto the street and we all pray that it will never get to that point. The political rivalry is mostly manifested in the Western part of the country where people from different states have traditionally been elected into City councils, the House in the state and at the Federal level. Regardless of non-Native concentration in an area, it hardly happened outside the West.

Unfortunately, the opposition to the new President is mostly coming from the South-Eastern Youths. They are galvanizing support by threats and deadly force in their areas declaring curfew whenever they feel like. This menacing threat has not spread to other states. But in a country where many people are related one way or the other, including by marriage, many innocent folks are affected. It should not have gotten to this point 50 years after the Civil War.

When people believe and feel they have not been accepted into the mainstream, we must listen, no matter how serious or justified their grievance. The people and the country must move on while those aggrieved must ask for demonstration of goodwill from the President, not Interim Government. The people of Lagos and Osun states that voted against Tinubu have accepted the reality on the ground hoping for the return to a prosperous country. Brothers and sisters in other states must reconcile and join hands with other Nigerians.

Even when you disagree with a new President, during the honeymoon period, you can be constructive, not disagreeable. Take the case of floating the Naira, a simple problem of Demand and Supply. Nigerians depend on foreign currencies to buy necessary and useless unproductive items from overseas as if the Country's ability to print dollars and euros could meet demand. Instead of facing this reality: complicated, bogus and superfluous theories taught in world's famous universities including local ones are postulated as solutions.

Most politicians have been floating the naira when it was one to one under matured supervision to the point of 1 to 600 today; with no end to devaluation in sight. Though they do not make their income overseas, they exhaust the meager income made from selling natural resources. Though during the Election, the three Presidential candidates promised to end petroleum subsidies. They still attack Tinubu for doing so.

The same Western world that controls their currencies by manipulation of the market, preaches a free market to African countries in order to buy their natural resources cheap. Everyone is aware that no country can satisfy Africans demand for the currencies they cannot print. The last time Nigerian pound or naira had an appreciable value of one to one pound or one naira to one and a half US dollars; control exerted worldwide was in place in Nigeria.

It is universally insanity to continue floating your currency for over 50 years, and to keep on doing the same expecting a different result. No country in the world freely floats its currency but African countries are always given that advice in the name of the free market. Indeed, there is no free market. American politicians campaign on, made and manufactured in the USA. While Africans desire very little of what is manufactured or made in their own countries.

Western countries print money without Gold backing that are used to create demand for Western goods and services at their dictated prices. Whenever it's advantageous to their economy, their currencies are manipulated stronger or weaker to corner the market. Therefore, African currencies only get weaker, never stronger.

When Americans and European politicians realized that objective economists are threatening their advantageous relationship in the domination of world currency, they introduced Structural Adjustment to devalue the African currencies so that African natural resources can be bought for little or in exchange for "Foreign Aid". It was even more surprising that Western trained economists bought the Structural Adjustment urging Africans to adopt it to their detriment!

If Western countries railed on China for not playing fair by manipulating their currency in order to sell their manufactured products cheaply, it is pure hypocrisy to tell Africans with little world demand for manufactured goods and services to sell their finite land and natural resources cheap. African countries have little artificial manufactured goods the world demands and buy in exchange for their local currencies.
A 72-hour ceasefire between Sudan's warring generals took effect on Sunday to allow for the delivery of desperately needed aid to the country, on the eve of a humanitarian conference.

The army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has since April 15 been battling paramilitary forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a bitter power struggle.

Multiple truces have been agreed and broken in the war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people and driven over two million from their homes, including at least 528,000 who fled abroad.

The latest ceasefire came into force at 6:00 am (0400 GMT), with the mediators saying the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," the Saudi foreign ministry said.

Witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was "calm".

"We want a full ceasefire," Sami Omar, who lives in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, told AFP.

"A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes (they occupy) and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult."

The United Nations will on Monday host an international donors' conference for Sudan in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Intensifying air strikes

Clashes had intensified before both sides pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday evening.

The RSF said it would abide by the cessation of hostilities, while the army said "despite our commitment to the ceasefire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit".

Saudi Arabia had threatened on Saturday to "postpone" negotiations on its soil between the two sides "should the parties fail to respect the 72-hour ceasefire".

The talks, which began weeks ago, have so far failed to produce any concrete agreement.

A medical centre riddled with battle damage at the Souk Sitta (Market Six) in Khartoum's south on June 1, 2023. By - (AFP)

On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing "17 civilians, including five children", according to a citizens' support committee. AFP was unable to independently confirm the figures.

The RSF accused the army of targeting residential areas and claimed to have shot down a fighter jet.

A video the paramilitary forces posted online showed destroyed homes and blankets covering what appeared to be dead bodies.

Since battles began, the death toll across Sudan has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project says.

A record 25 million people -- more than half the northeast African country's population -- depends on humanitarian aid, the United Nations says.

'Ominous reminder'

Intense fighting has rocked the western region of Darfur, with the United States saying as many as 1,100 people have been killed in the West Darfur state capital of El Geneina alone.

Sudanese refugees cross into Chad near Koufroun, Echbara, on May 1, 2023. By Gueipeur Denis SASSOU (AFP/File)

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity issued an urgent call for more beds and staff across the border in Chad, where it said more than 600 patients -- most with gunshot wounds -- had arrived.

Chadian leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited the border town of Adre to assess the scale of "the influx of refugees and ensure that the borders with Sudan are effectively closed", his office said.

The International Organization for Migration says at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad, among the roughly 2.2 million uprooted by the fighting.

The United States attributed this week's atrocities in Darfur "primarily" to the RSF and said alleged rights violations were an "ominous reminder" of the region's previous genocide.

A years-long war in Darfur began in 2003 with a rebel uprising that prompted then-strongman Omar al-Bashir to unleash the Janjaweed militia, whose actions led to international charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed.

Kuwait said on Sunday that it had sent 10 tonnes of food and medical supplies to Sudan.
Malians voted Sunday on whether to back a new constitution in a first electoral test for the ruling junta but fears of jihadist attacks and political disagreements prevented voting in some areas.

The west African nation has been under military rule since an August 2020 coup but strongman leader Colonel Assimi Goita, 40, has vowed to return the country to civilian rule in 2024.

Some 8.4 million citizens are eligible to vote in the referendum on the new text which has fuelled speculation that Goita will seek election.

He was among the first to cast his ballot, while voters flocked to polling stations in the capital, Bamako, an AFP journalist saw.

"Today is a historic day. This vote will change many things... That's why I voted 'yes', for a new Mali," said civil servant Boulan Barro.

The danger of jihadist attacks looms over central and northern regions, meaning the vote is not being held in some parts of the country, including the town of Kidal, a stronghold of former rebels.

Despite concerns, no major incident was reported.

A team of observers from civil society groups backed by the European Union reported that there were only a small number of voting issues in the polling stations to which they were deployed.

Mali. By (AFP)

In Menaka, a northern region contending with rebels linked to the Islamic State group, voting was limited to its capital due to insecurity, local elected officials said.

Turnout -- typically low in the country of 21 million -- will be seen as an indicator of the junta's ability to restore stability and generate popular enthusiasm for its agenda.

Chronic instability

The junta has advertised the new constitution as the answer to Mali's inability to tackle its multiple crises.

Mali's recent woes began in 2012, when separatist insurgents in the north -- long seen as marginalised by the southern government -- aligned with Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists to seize vast swathes of territory.

Former colonial power France stepped in and helped push back the Islamists, but attacks have continued, and Bamako has since broken its alliance with Paris in favour of Russia.

Disputed parliamentary elections in March 2020, followed by mass protests against a government unable to rein in the insurgency, corruption and economic crisis, ended in a coup.

Malians voted in a referendum on Sunday to pass judgement on the governing junta's draft constitution. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

Goita initially appointed an interim president but kicked him out in a second coup in 2021 and stepped into the top job himself.

Now doubts are swirling over his commitment to step down after elections planned for next year.

The junta called on Friday for the immediate departure of the country's UN peacekeeping mission, a central and controversial actor in a security crisis that has claimed the lives of nearly 200 peacekeepers in the last decade.

A stronger presidency

The new constitution will strengthen the role of the president, who will have the right to hire and fire the prime minister and cabinet members.

The government will answer to the president, and not parliament as the current 1992 document states.

Voting began at 0800 GMT and results are expected within 72 hours. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

It will also give an amnesty to those behind prior coups, reform the regulation of public finances and force MPs and senators to declare their wealth in a bid to clamp down on corruption.

A politician, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some in the military were hoping a new constitution would "reset the clock" -- erasing a previous commitment that Goita would not take part in the 2024 election.

'People want something else'

Observers say a vote for "yes" is almost certain.

"Malians say that presidents from democratic regimes did not necessarily shine. Corruption has reached a certain level. People want to see something else," Bamako University sociologist Brema Ely Dicko said.

However, the reform has drawn vocal opposition, from former rebels and imams as well as political opponents.

The new constitution will strengthen the role of the president. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

Influential religious organisations oppose the continuation of secularism enshrined in the current constitution.

"The concerns of the Muslim faith aren't taken into account at all, that's why I voted 'no'," said 30-year-old Mariam Diop.

"Mali needs a system built around institutions and not a system built around a man," said Makan Mary, a member of the Yelema party.

One researcher, who like many others spoke on condition of anonymity, argued the old constitution was satisfactory.

"The problem with the 1992 constitution is that it was never really applied... it cannot be the cause of the crisis," the researcher said.
D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI  Get Rating)  Stock analysts at Seaport Res Ptn issued their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for shares of D.R. Horton in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, June 14th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst K. Zener expects that the construction company will post earnings per share of $2.65 for the quarter. Seaport Res Ptn has a Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for D.R. Hortons current full-year earnings is $11.21 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for D.R. Hortons Q4 2023 earnings at $3.04 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $11.19 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $9.85 EPS.

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D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The construction company reported $2.73 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.83. The business had revenue of $7.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.48 billion. D.R. Horton had a net margin of 15.39% and a return on equity of 25.94%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.03 EPS.

D.R. Horton Price Performance

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of D.R. Horton from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the company from $107.00 to $102.50 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of D.R. Horton from $85.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of D.R. Horton from $76.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of D.R. Horton in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $150.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of D.R. Horton from $115.00 to $124.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $115.90.

Shares of NYSE DHI opened at $116.40 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $39.70 billion, a PE ratio of 7.85, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.53. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $108.26 and a 200 day moving average of $98.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 6.80. D.R. Horton has a one year low of $59.25 and a one year high of $117.96.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On D.R. Horton

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DHI. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of D.R. Horton in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. WealthPLAN Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of D.R. Horton in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in D.R. Horton by 117.3% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 352 shares of the construction companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Concord Wealth Partners bought a new position in D.R. Horton in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in D.R. Horton in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. 84.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at D.R. Horton

In other news, COO Michael J. Murray sold 54,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.21, for a total transaction of $5,951,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 257,294 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,356,371.74. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, COO Michael J. Murray sold 54,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.21, for a total transaction of $5,951,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 257,294 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,356,371.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO Paul J. Romanowski sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.16, for a total value of $4,486,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 84,268 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,451,498.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 94,203 shares of company stock worth $10,457,362. 0.61% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

D.R. Horton Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 2nd. D.R. Hortons dividend payout ratio is currently 6.74%.

D.R. Horton Company Profile

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D.R. Horton, Inc is a homebuilding company, which engages in the construction and sale of single-family housing. It operates through the following geographical segments: Northwest, Southwest, South Central, Southeast, East, and North. The Northwest segment includes Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

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BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (NYSE:BLW  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 87,100 shares, a decline of 27.2% from the May 15th total of 119,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 70,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.2 days.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BLW. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 52.6% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 68,128 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $977,000 after acquiring an additional 23,474 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 58,517 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $839,000 after acquiring an additional 5,205 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC bought a new position in BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $237,000. UBS Group AG lifted its position in BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,171,875 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $16,805,000 after acquiring an additional 117,650 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 19.9% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 473,750 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $6,793,000 after acquiring an additional 78,743 shares in the last quarter.

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BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE BLW traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $12.97. The company had a trading volume of 78,898 shares, compared to its average volume of 78,196. BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust has a one year low of $11.76 and a one year high of $14.13. The firms fifty day moving average price is $12.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $13.11.

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Announces Dividend

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Company Profile

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.098 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.07%.

(Get Rating)

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income securities of the United States. It invests in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in investment grade corporate bonds, mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, US Government and agency securities, and senior, secured floating rate loans.

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Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSEAMERICAN:CQP  Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,260,000 shares, a drop of 10.6% from the May 15th total of 1,410,000 shares. Approximately 3.2% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 186,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.7 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on CQP. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from $53.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. 92 Resources restated a maintains rating on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Wolfe Research lowered shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $43.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. TheStreet upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from $56.00 to $48.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.43.

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Cheniere Energy Partners Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of CQP traded up $1.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $47.07. 595,751 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 148,869. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $46.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.69. Cheniere Energy Partners has a 52 week low of $40.20 and a 52 week high of $62.08. The company has a market cap of $22.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.83 and a beta of 0.83.

Cheniere Energy Partners Increases Dividend

Cheniere Energy Partners ( NYSEAMERICAN:CQP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The energy company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.73. The firm had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. Cheniere Energy Partners had a net margin of 25.45% and a negative return on equity of 133.75%. Analysts predict that Cheniere Energy Partners will post 2.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th were issued a $0.775 dividend. This represents a $3.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.59%. This is a positive change from Cheniere Energy Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. Cheniere Energy Partnerss payout ratio is presently 44.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Corey Grindal sold 7,649 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.93, for a total transaction of $351,318.57. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Cheniere Energy Partners news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III purchased 27,082 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $47.11 per share, with a total value of $1,275,833.02. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $873,183.85. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Corey Grindal sold 7,649 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.93, for a total transaction of $351,318.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy Partners

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CQP. Evermay Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Kozak & Associates Inc. bought a new position in Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in Cheniere Energy Partners by 613.6% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 735 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 632 shares during the period. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new position in Cheniere Energy Partners during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 255.6% in the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 978 shares of the energy companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 703 shares during the period. 46.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Cheniere Energy Partners Company Profile

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Cheniere Energy Partners LP engages in the operations of liquefied natural gas. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated their buy rating on shares of Glencore (LON:GLEN  Get Rating) in a research note published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a GBX 560 ($7.01) price target on the natural resources companys stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 650 ($8.13) target price on shares of Glencore in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Credit Suisse Group set a GBX 625 ($7.82) target price on shares of Glencore in a research note on Friday, February 17th. AlphaValue downgraded shares of Glencore to an add rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 700 ($8.76) target price on shares of Glencore in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 540 ($6.76) target price on shares of Glencore in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 612.08 ($7.66).

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Glencore Stock Performance

Shares of GLEN stock opened at GBX 467 ($5.84) on Wednesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 451.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 494.22. The firm has a market cap of 58.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 440.57, a PEG ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.26. Glencore has a 1 year low of GBX 395.40 ($4.95) and a 1 year high of GBX 584.50 ($7.31). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.96, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.30.

About Glencore

Glencore plc engages in the production, refinement, processing, storage, transport, and marketing of metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments: Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company engages in production and marketing copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, aluminum, alumina, and iron ore; and coal, crude oil, refined products, and natural gas, as well as oil exploration/production and refining/distribution.

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Fortitude Gold Co. (OTCMKTS:FTCO  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 20,800 shares, a decline of 20.6% from the May 15th total of 26,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 89,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Fortitude Gold Stock Down 2.1 %

FTCO stock traded down 0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching 6.56. 85,300 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 54,866. The stocks 50 day moving average price is 6.94 and its 200 day moving average price is 6.46. Fortitude Gold has a 52-week low of 5.25 and a 52-week high of 7.41.

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Fortitude Gold Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 7.16%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 16th.

About Fortitude Gold

Fortitude Gold Corporation, a mining company, focuses on exploring gold and silver projects. Its principal property is the Isabella Pearl mine project covering an area of 9,777 acres located in the Mineral County, Nevada. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. A new railway will be laid from Horadiz to Ordubad, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu, said, Trend reports.

Negotiations will be held between Azerbaijan and Russia regarding the 43-kilometer section of the Armenian part of the line, which will pass through Zangezur, he said.

According to him, with the opening of the Zangezur corridor, the cargo flow of the Middle Corridor by rail and highway will increase, which will positively affect the growth of East-West trade turnover.

The 158-kilometer line from Ordubad to the Validag station in the north of Nakhchivan will be overhauled. In addition, the line will be extended by 14 kilometers from Validag to the border with Armenia. Construction work continues on the section of the Zangezur corridor to the border with Armenia, a new railway with a length of 166 kilometers from Horadiz to the Ordubad region of Nakhchivan will be laid, Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.
StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Golden Minerals (NYSEAMERICAN:AUMN  Get Rating) (TSE:AUM) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

AUMN has been the topic of several other research reports. HC Wainwright reissued a buy rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Golden Minerals in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Fundamental Research set a $19.25 price objective on Golden Minerals and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 4th.

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Golden Minerals Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN:AUMN opened at $2.25 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $387.38 million, a PE ratio of -37.50 and a beta of 0.86. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $4.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $5.76. Golden Minerals has a 12 month low of $2.02 and a 12 month high of $9.72.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Golden Minerals

Golden Minerals ( NYSEAMERICAN:AUMN Get Rating ) (TSE:AUM) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 22nd. The basic materials company reported ($0.50) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $4.59 million during the quarter. Golden Minerals had a negative net margin of 42.54% and a negative return on equity of 94.48%.

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Golden Minerals during the third quarter worth about $292,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Golden Minerals by 87.5% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 882,488 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $179,000 after buying an additional 411,765 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Golden Minerals by 62.4% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 255,615 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $128,000 after buying an additional 98,236 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Golden Minerals by 264.2% during the first quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 153,867 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 111,616 shares during the period. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Golden Minerals by 126.3% during the third quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 274,079 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 152,974 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.73% of the companys stock.

Golden Minerals Company Profile

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Golden Minerals Company, a precious metals exploration company, mines, constructs, and explores for mineral properties containing precious metals. It explores for gold, silver, zinc, lead, and other minerals. The company holds a 100% interest in the Rodeo gold mine situated in Durango State, Mexico; and a 100% interest in the Velardena and Chicago gold-silver mining properties and associated oxide and sulfide processing plants located in the State of Durango, Mexico.

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Haitian International Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:HAIIF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 925,000 shares, a decline of 19.6% from the May 15th total of 1,150,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Haitian International Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS HAIIF remained flat at $2.36 during trading on Friday. Haitian International has a 12 month low of $2.55 and a 12 month high of $2.55. The businesss 50-day moving average is $2.55 and its 200-day moving average is $2.47.

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Haitian International Company Profile

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Haitian International Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in manufacturing and distribution of plastic injection molding machines in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and internationally. It offers plastic machinery under the Haitian and Zhafir names. The company is also involved in the trading of machinery and related accessories; sale of software of plastic injection molding machines; manufacture and sale of intelligence control systems; private vocational skills training institutions; and research and development of emerging energy technologies.

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Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT  Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,550,000 shares, a decrease of 10.9% from the May 15th total of 1,740,000 shares. Currently, 11.6% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 159,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 9.7 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Mylle H. Mangum sold 5,158 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.28, for a total transaction of $135,552.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,519 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $92,479.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 8.89% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Haverty Furniture Companies

Haverty Furniture Companies Stock Performance

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HVT. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 38,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,042,000 after buying an additional 2,500 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 42.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 16,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $439,000 after buying an additional 4,811 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Haverty Furniture Companies by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 259,902 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,126,000 after buying an additional 6,490 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in Haverty Furniture Companies by 31.5% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 63,376 shares of the companys stock worth $1,738,000 after purchasing an additional 15,192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in Haverty Furniture Companies by 9.4% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 19,243 shares of the companys stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 1,647 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.17% of the companys stock.

HVT traded down $0.21 on Friday, reaching $28.68. 234,098 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 138,166. The companys 50 day moving average is $28.19 and its 200-day moving average is $31.32. The company has a market cap of $463.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.90 and a beta of 1.37. Haverty Furniture Companies has a twelve month low of $22.77 and a twelve month high of $38.85.

Haverty Furniture Companies (NYSE:HVT  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $224.75 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $233.00 million. Haverty Furniture Companies had a return on equity of 29.00% and a net margin of 7.97%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Haverty Furniture Companies will post 3.9 EPS for the current year.

Haverty Furniture Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 6th will be issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 5th. This is a boost from Haverty Furniture Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Haverty Furniture Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 24.69%.

Haverty Furniture Companies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Haverty Furniture Cos., Inc engages in the retail of residential furniture and accessories. The company was founded by James Joseph Haverty in 1885 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 41,140,000 shares, an increase of 10.4% from the May 15th total of 37,280,000 shares. Currently, 13.3% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 3,640,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 11.3 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Joby Aviation from a hold rating to a sell rating and dropped their price target for the company from $6.00 to $4.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Joby Aviation from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group initiated coverage on shares of Joby Aviation in a report on Friday, June 9th. They set a buy rating and a $8.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $6.50.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Joeben Bevirt sold 26,215 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.17, for a total transaction of $109,316.55. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 511,265 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,131,975.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Bonny W. Simi sold 129,047 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.40, for a total transaction of $696,853.80. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 77,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $420,422.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joeben Bevirt sold 26,215 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.17, for a total transaction of $109,316.55. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 511,265 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,131,975.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 228,170 shares of company stock worth $1,202,584 in the last three months. 49.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation Price Performance

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Joby Aviation by 40.5% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 44,453 shares of the companys stock valued at $295,000 after buying an additional 12,810 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its position in Joby Aviation by 47.0% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 84,841 shares of the companys stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 27,114 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Joby Aviation in the first quarter worth $108,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Joby Aviation by 281.9% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 55,694 shares of the companys stock worth $369,000 after purchasing an additional 41,110 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Joby Aviation by 368.2% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 50,100 shares of the companys stock worth $332,000 after purchasing an additional 39,400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 29.14% of the companys stock.

Shares of JOBY traded down $0.53 on Friday, reaching $7.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,767,815 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,987,558. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.67 billion, a P/E ratio of -13.96 and a beta of 1.58. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $5.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.39. Joby Aviation has a 12-month low of $3.15 and a 12-month high of $8.04.

Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported ($0.16) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.15) by ($0.01). Analysts expect that Joby Aviation will post -0.6 earnings per share for the current year.

About Joby Aviation

(Get Rating)

Joby Aviation, Inc, a vertically integrated air mobility company, engages in building an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft optimized to deliver air transportation as a service. The company intends to build an aerial ridesharing service, as well as developing an application-based platform that will enable consumers to book rides.

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Jollibee Foods Co. (OTCMKTS:JBFCY  Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,200 shares, a decline of 20.0% from the May 15th total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days.

Jollibee Foods Price Performance

OTCMKTS JBFCY traded up $0.46 during trading on Friday, reaching $17.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,277 shares, compared to its average volume of 803. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $16.14 and a 200 day moving average of $16.69. Jollibee Foods has a one year low of $13.96 and a one year high of $18.19.

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Jollibee Foods Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 2nd were given a dividend of $0.0502 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 0.68%. Jollibee Foodss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.97%.

About Jollibee Foods

Jollibee Foods Corporation develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants. The company operates quick-service restaurants under the Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Yong He King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Mang Inasal, Burger King, Highlands Coffee, PHO24, Smashburger, Tim Ho Wan, Tortazo, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Yoshinoya, Milksha, and Panda Express names in the Philippines, the United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, and India.

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Jefferies Financial Group reissued their buy rating on shares of JTC (LON:JTC  Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a GBX 860 ($10.76) price objective on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on JTC. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on JTC from GBX 820 ($10.26) to GBX 760 ($9.51) and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 880 ($11.01) price objective on shares of JTC in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of JTC in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th.

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JTC Price Performance

Shares of JTC stock opened at GBX 745 ($9.32) on Thursday. JTC has a twelve month low of GBX 563 ($7.04) and a twelve month high of GBX 860 ($10.76). The stock has a market capitalization of 1.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,104.17 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a current ratio of 3.15, a quick ratio of 2.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.60. The businesss fifty day moving average price is GBX 746.48 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 736.90.

JTC Increases Dividend

JTC Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a GBX 6.88 ($0.09) dividend. This is a boost from JTCs previous dividend of $3.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 0.91%. JTCs payout ratio is 4,166.67%.

(Get Rating)

JTC PLC provides fund, corporate, and private wealth services to institutional and private clients. The company operates through two segments, Institutional Client Services and Private Client Services. It offers fund services in a range of asset classes, including real estate, private equity, renewables, hedge, debt, and alternative asset classes, as well as other administration services.

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Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:NSA  Get Rating) in a research report released on Thursday, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued an underweight rating and a $36.00 price target on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research cut shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Bank of America cut shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $48.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $45.55.

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National Storage Affiliates Trust Stock Performance

NSA opened at $35.51 on Thursday. National Storage Affiliates Trust has a 12-month low of $34.47 and a 12-month high of $58.31. The company has a market cap of $3.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.51, a PEG ratio of 8.67 and a beta of 0.72. The companys 50 day moving average is $37.89 and its 200 day moving average is $39.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

National Storage Affiliates Trust Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.56 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.31%. This is a positive change from National Storage Affiliates Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. National Storage Affiliates Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 224.00%.

In other National Storage Affiliates Trust news, insider Arlen Dale Nordhagen acquired 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $36.92 per share, for a total transaction of $923,000.00. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 4,012,684 shares in the company, valued at $148,148,293.28. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 13.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NSA. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,979,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in National Storage Affiliates Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $33,132,000. State Street Corp raised its stake in National Storage Affiliates Trust by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,844,317 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $304,029,000 after acquiring an additional 598,640 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust by 791.9% in the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 452,524 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $18,906,000 after buying an additional 401,787 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. grew its holdings in shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust by 86.4% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 774,803 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $32,217,000 after acquiring an additional 359,226 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.26% of the companys stock.

About National Storage Affiliates Trust

(Get Rating)

National Storage Affiliates Trust is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, focused on the ownership, operation and acquisition of self storage properties predominantly located within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2023, the Company held ownership interests in and operated 1,117 self storage properties located in 42 states and Puerto Rico with approximately 72.8 million rentable square feet.

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Novozymes A/S (OTCMKTS:NVZMF  Get Rating) is one of 350 public companies in the Biotechnology industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Novozymes A/S to related companies based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, dividends and profitability.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Novozymes A/S and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Novozymes A/S 0 0 0 0 N/A Novozymes A/S Competitors 262 1447 3413 30 2.62

As a group, Biotechnology companies have a potential upside of 79.37%. Given Novozymes A/Ss peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Novozymes A/S has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Novozymes A/S N/A N/A 6.13 Novozymes A/S Competitors $146.75 million -$3.01 million 25.49

This table compares Novozymes A/S and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Novozymes A/Ss peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Novozymes A/S. Novozymes A/S is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Novozymes A/S pays an annual dividend of $1.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.7%. Novozymes A/S pays out 22.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Biotechnology companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 1,852.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Novozymes A/S is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

20.4% of Novozymes A/S shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 25.4% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are owned by institutional investors. 26.6% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Novozymes A/S and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Novozymes A/S N/A N/A N/A Novozymes A/S Competitors -249.78% -52.31% -13.17%

Novozymes A/S Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Novozymes A/S engages in the research and development of biotechnology solutions, which produces industrial enzymes and microorganisms. Its business areas include agriculture, bioenergy, biopharma, food and beverage, household care, leather, pulp and paper, textile and wastewater solutions. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Blackline Safety Corp. (CVE:BLN  Get Rating)  Raymond James issued their Q1 2024 earnings estimates for Blackline Safety in a report issued on Thursday, June 15th. Raymond James analyst F. Bastien forecasts that the company will earn ($0.04) per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Blackline Safetys current full-year earnings is ($0.05) per share. Raymond James also issued estimates for Blackline Safetys Q2 2024 earnings at ($0.03) EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at ($0.02) EPS and Q4 2024 earnings at $0.03 EPS.

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Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Pi Financial reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Blackline Safety in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. ATB Capital raised their target price on shares of Blackline Safety from C$4.00 to C$4.50 in a report on Thursday.

Blackline Safety Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of CVE:BLN opened at C$8.92 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$8.92 and its 200 day moving average price is C$8.92. The stock has a market cap of C$484.79 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.88. Blackline Safety has a fifty-two week low of C$4.60 and a fifty-two week high of C$9.09. The company has a quick ratio of 3.09, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.72.

Blackline Safety (CVE:BLN  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, June 14th. The company reported C($0.09) earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of C($0.09). The firm had revenue of C$24.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$22.85 million.

About Blackline Safety

(Get Rating)

Blackline Safety Corp., a global connected safety technology company, develops, manufactures, and markets worker safety monitoring products and services in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company offers connected safety devices, including G7c, a safety wearable for indoor and outdoor locations covered by 3G wireless; G7x, a safety wearable for remote locations; G7 EXO, a cloud connected area monitor; G7 Dock, an accessory product used to calibrate G7c and G7x devices; standard cartridge for lone worker monitoring; diffusion cartridge for gas detection; pump cartridge for confined space entry and leak check gas detection services; and cloud-connected sensors that helps to customize gas detectors at work environments, as well as automated industrial contact tracing solutions.

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Lancashire (OTCMKTS:LCSHF  Get Rating) and Employers (NYSE:EIG  Get Rating) are both financial services companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Dividends

Lancashire pays an annual dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.9%. Employers pays an annual dividend of $1.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Lancashire pays out 14.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Employers pays out 41.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Employers has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Employers is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

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Institutional and Insider Ownership

63.3% of Lancashire shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 78.1% of Employers shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of Employers shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Lancashire N/A N/A N/A $1.03 7.58 Employers $713.50 million 1.43 $48.40 million $2.72 13.97

This table compares Lancashire and Employers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Employers has higher revenue and earnings than Lancashire. Lancashire is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Employers, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Lancashire and Employers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lancashire 1 1 1 0 2.00 Employers 0 0 2 0 3.00

Employers has a consensus price target of $51.50, indicating a potential upside of 35.53%. Given Lancashires higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Lancashire is more favorable than Employers.

Profitability

This table compares Lancashire and Employers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lancashire N/A N/A N/A Employers 9.67% 9.26% 2.38%

Summary

Employers beats Lancashire on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Lancashire

(Get Rating)

Lancashire Holdings Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides specialty insurance and reinsurance products in London, Bermuda, and Australia. The company operates through five segments: Property and Casualty Reinsurance, Property and Casualty Insurance, Aviation, Energy, and Marine. It offers property direct and facultative, property political risk and sovereign risk, and property terrorism and political violence insurance products, as well as property reinsurance services; and aviation AV52, aviation consortium, airline hull and liability, and satellite insurance products. The company also provides marine hull, total loss only, mortgagees interests insurance, mortgagees additional perils, excess protection and indemnity, marine war, and builder's risks; and energy insurance products covering upstream, downstream and onshore operational, and upstream construction all risks business. In addition, it offers general insurance, support, insurance agent, and insurance mediation services. Lancashire Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

About Employers

(Get Rating)

Employers Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry primarily in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Employers and Cerity. It offers workers' compensation insurance to small businesses in low to medium hazard industries under the Employers and Cerity brands. The company markets its products through local, regional, and national agents and brokers; alternative distribution channels; and national, regional, and local trade groups and associations, as well as directly to customers. Employers Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Reno, Nevada.

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KeyCorp started coverage on shares of SentinelOne (NYSE:S  Get Rating) in a report issued on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage issued a sector weight rating on the stock. KeyCorp also issued estimates for SentinelOnes Q2 2024 earnings at ($0.34) EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at ($0.30) EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at ($0.28) EPS, FY2024 earnings at ($1.26) EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at ($0.31) EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at ($0.30) EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at ($0.20) EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at ($0.17) EPS, FY2025 earnings at ($0.95) EPS and FY2026 earnings at ($0.87) EPS.

S has been the topic of several other reports. JMP Securities lowered their price objective on shares of SentinelOne from $26.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of SentinelOne from $18.00 to $15.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. Wedbush boosted their price objective on SentinelOne from $19.00 to $22.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Westpark Capital cut SentinelOne from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 2nd. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their price objective on SentinelOne from $14.00 to $12.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $19.69.

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SentinelOne Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:S opened at $16.09 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $17.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.80. SentinelOne has a one year low of $12.43 and a one year high of $30.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.64 billion, a PE ratio of -11.49 and a beta of 0.54.

Insider Buying and Selling at SentinelOne

SentinelOne ( NYSE:S Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported ($0.15) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.17) by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $133.39 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $136.62 million. SentinelOne had a negative net margin of 82.90% and a negative return on equity of 21.67%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 70.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.33) EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that SentinelOne will post -1.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other SentinelOne news, COO Narayanan Srivatsan sold 43,310 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total value of $693,826.20. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 604,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,682,936.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Ric Smith sold 115,752 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.40, for a total transaction of $2,361,340.80. Following the sale, the insider now owns 562,702 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,479,120.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Narayanan Srivatsan sold 43,310 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.02, for a total value of $693,826.20. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 604,428 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,682,936.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 379,291 shares of company stock valued at $6,594,324. 5.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SentinelOne

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of S. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in SentinelOne by 72.7% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 25,317,055 shares of the companys stock worth $369,376,000 after purchasing an additional 10,656,778 shares during the last quarter. Sylebra Capital Ltd bought a new position in SentinelOne during the 1st quarter worth $171,765,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of SentinelOne by 239.0% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,516,251 shares of the companys stock worth $446,140,000 after acquiring an additional 8,119,008 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP bought a new position in shares of SentinelOne in the 1st quarter worth about $184,096,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its position in shares of SentinelOne by 6,412.4% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 3,497,172 shares of the companys stock worth $51,024,000 after acquiring an additional 3,443,472 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.18% of the companys stock.

SentinelOne Company Profile

(Get Rating)

SentinelOne, Inc operates as a cybersecurity provider in the United States and internationally. The company's Extended Detection and Response (XDR) data stack that fuses together the data, access, control, and integration planes of endpoint protection platform, endpoint detection and response, cloud workload protection platform, and IoT security into a centralized platform.

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Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE:BANC  Get Rating) saw a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,050,000 shares, a decline of 27.1% from the May 15th total of 1,440,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 691,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on BANC. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Banc of California in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Banc of California from $20.00 to $17.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Banc of California from $18.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. TheStreet cut shares of Banc of California from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Banc of California from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th.

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Insider Transactions at Banc of California

In other Banc of California news, Director Joseph J. Rice bought 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.25 per share, with a total value of $84,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $106,875. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Jared M. Wolff purchased 6,769 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $11.10 per share, for a total transaction of $75,135.90. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 217,204 shares in the company, valued at $2,410,964.40. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Joseph J. Rice purchased 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $11.25 per share, for a total transaction of $84,375.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 9,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $106,875. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired a total of 17,469 shares of company stock valued at $194,583 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 7.37% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banc of California

Banc of California Price Performance

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of Banc of California by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 100,438 shares of the banks stock worth $1,604,000 after buying an additional 2,698 shares during the last quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Banc of California by 78.4% in the 4th quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 118,597 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,889,000 after purchasing an additional 52,120 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Banc of California by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,867,399 shares of the banks stock valued at $61,608,000 after purchasing an additional 182,455 shares in the last quarter. MQS Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Banc of California by 20.2% in the 3rd quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 19,491 shares of the banks stock valued at $311,000 after purchasing an additional 3,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oberweis Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Banc of California by 50.2% in the 3rd quarter. Oberweis Asset Management Inc. now owns 40,100 shares of the banks stock valued at $640,000 after purchasing an additional 13,400 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.54% of the companys stock.

Banc of California stock traded down $0.18 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $12.37. 1,277,944 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 547,946. The companys fifty day moving average is $11.43 and its 200-day moving average is $14.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. The firm has a market cap of $718.35 million, a PE ratio of 8.08 and a beta of 1.23. Banc of California has a 52 week low of $9.72 and a 52 week high of $18.54.

Banc of California (NYSE:BANC  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $114.78 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $83.20 million. Banc of California had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 22.35%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Banc of California will post 1.29 EPS for the current year.

Banc of California Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Banc of Californias payout ratio is 26.14%.

About Banc of California

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Banc of California, Inc is a holding company engaged in the provision of commercial banking services. It offers personal banking, business and commercial banking, real estate banking, and private banking. The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, CA.

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Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:HTCMY  Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a drop of 25.0% from the May 15th total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Price Performance

Shares of HTCMY remained flat at $56.74 during midday trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 10 shares, compared to its average volume of 200. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Hitachi Construction Machinery has a fifty-two week low of $34.92 and a fifty-two week high of $56.80. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $49.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.67.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Hitachi Construction Machinery from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Profile

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells construction machineries worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Construction Machinery Business and Solution Business. It offers excavators and wheel loaders, compaction equipment, hydraulic excavators, and rigid dump trucks.

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Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:IE  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,460,000 shares, a growth of 27.0% from the May 15th total of 1,150,000 shares. Approximately 3.1% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 498,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.9 days.

Ivanhoe Electric Trading Up 1.9 %

IE traded up $0.28 on Friday, reaching $14.82. 548,433 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 532,180. Ivanhoe Electric has a one year low of $7.01 and a one year high of $16.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.38 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 6.82 and a quick ratio of 6.48.

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Ivanhoe Electric (NYSEAMERICAN:IE  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter. Ivanhoe Electric had a negative net margin of 4,217.06% and a negative return on equity of 44.13%. The company had revenue of $0.68 million during the quarter. On average, research analysts expect that Ivanhoe Electric will post -0.82 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Ivanhoe Electric

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ivanhoe Electric

In other news, SVP Catherine Anne Barone sold 4,936 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.11, for a total value of $69,646.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,936 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,646.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, SVP Catherine Anne Barone sold 4,936 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.11, for a total value of $69,646.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,936 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,646.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, VP Evan James Macmillan Young sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.48, for a total transaction of $674,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 2,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $33,700. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 144,936 shares of company stock worth $1,881,947. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kopernik Global Investors LLC purchased a new position in Ivanhoe Electric during the 3rd quarter valued at about $9,176,000. Orion Resource Partners USA LP purchased a new position in Ivanhoe Electric during the 4th quarter valued at about $90,238,000. SailingStone Capital Partners LLC increased its position in Ivanhoe Electric by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. SailingStone Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,034,178 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,859,000 after purchasing an additional 40,121 shares during the period. Raffles Associates LP purchased a new position in Ivanhoe Electric during the 3rd quarter valued at about $124,000. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board purchased a new position in shares of Ivanhoe Electric in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $7,916,000. Institutional investors own 27.67% of the companys stock.

About Ivanhoe Electric

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Ivanhoe Electric Inc operates as a mineral exploration and development company in the United States. It operates through Critical Metals, Technology, and Energy Storage. The company holds 84.6% interests in the Tintic copper-gold project covering an area of 65 square kilometers located in Utah. It also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Santa Cruz copper project covering an area of 77.59 square kilometers located in Arizona; 75% interest in the Hog Heaven silver-gold-copper project covering an area of 24.2 square kilometers located in Montana; and 60% interest in the Ivory Coast project covering an area of 1,125 square kilometers located in the Ivory Coast.

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Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW  Get Rating) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 129.50 ($1.62).

TW has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 120 ($1.50) to GBX 130 ($1.63) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 142 ($1.78) to GBX 154 ($1.93) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 125 ($1.56) to GBX 131 ($1.64) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey from GBX 111 ($1.39) to GBX 122 ($1.53) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Mark Castle purchased 1,559 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 126 ($1.58) per share, with a total value of 1,964.34 ($2,457.88). 0.97% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Taylor Wimpey Trading Up 0.5 %

Taylor Wimpey Company Profile

Shares of Taylor Wimpey stock opened at GBX 109.90 ($1.38) on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of 3.88 billion, a PE ratio of 610.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a current ratio of 4.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 120.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 115.59. Taylor Wimpey has a 52-week low of GBX 80.64 ($1.01) and a 52-week high of GBX 132.07 ($1.65).

(Get Rating

Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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Investment analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSE:WYY  Get Rating) in a report released on Saturday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock.

WidePoint Price Performance

WidePoint Company Profile

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WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

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Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Get Rating)  Investment analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q2 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report issued on Tuesday, June 13th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now expects that the airline will earn $1.07 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $1.12. The consensus estimate for Southwest Airlines current full-year earnings is $2.62 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Southwest Airlines FY2024 earnings at $3.33 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $4.01 EPS.

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Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The airline reported ($0.27) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.21) by ($0.06). Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.99% and a net margin of 2.65%. The firm had revenue of $5.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.73 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.32) EPS. Southwest Airliness revenue was up 21.4% on a year-over-year basis.

Southwest Airlines Price Performance

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on LUV. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Southwest Airlines in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays downgraded Southwest Airlines from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $42.00 to $38.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Southwest Airlines from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $64.00 to $39.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.71.

Shares of NYSE LUV opened at $34.25 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $30.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $33.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.19. Southwest Airlines has a 1-year low of $28.40 and a 1-year high of $41.76. The company has a market cap of $20.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.14.

Institutional Trading of Southwest Airlines

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LUV. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 13,336 shares of the airlines stock valued at $611,000 after buying an additional 2,335 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Southwest Airlines in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $403,000. APG Asset Management N.V. lifted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 6,335 shares of the airlines stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 900 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 12,187 shares of the airlines stock valued at $559,000 after buying an additional 615 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 40,189 shares of the airlines stock valued at $1,841,000 after buying an additional 1,246 shares during the period. 74.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Southwest Airlines news, EVP Ryan C. Green sold 4,936 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.94, for a total transaction of $147,783.84. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,361 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $789,248.34. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is presently 72.00%.

Southwest Airlines Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Southwest Airlines Co engages in the operation and management of a passenger airline. The firm also offers ancillary services such as early bird check-in, upgraded boarding, and transportation of pets and unaccompanied minors. It operates in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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Thronged by hundreds of people, including some Bollywood celebrities, Tim Cooks excitement was palpable as the chief executive officer of Apple Inc. officially opened its first company-owned store in India in April.

India is at a tipping point, he went on to say on a call with analysts after his visit. It was that same month when India also earned a new title as the worlds most populous nation, burnishing the appeal of sectors that cater to a burgeoning middle class and young consumers.



The milestone serves as a reminder of the growth potential for Indias $3.4 trillion stock market  which recently reclaimed its spot as the worlds fifth largest  as the South Asian economy takes a bigger pie in global manufacturing and consumption, currently dominated by China. With two-thirds of Indias 1.4 billion population in the working age, its vibrancy and dynamism  two attributes Cook used to describe the market  contrast with many Asian peers grappling with shrinking populations.







Home to more than 5,000 listed companies, India offers global investors a wide range of options. Consumption, financial services, infrastructure, digitalization and health care are among sectors seen benefiting the most in the coming years from the demographic composition.



The great thing about India is that with 1.4 billion people, you can go into any industry, theres a market domestically, Mark Mobius, founding partner of Mobius Capital Partners, said at an event in Hong Kong on Friday. When asked about what he likes in India, the veteran emerging-markets investor mentioned infrastructure  companies that do building materials, health care and Internet-related businesses like mapping companies.



Heated tensions between China and the West are also providing a tailwind as India is seen as an alternative by many global firms seeking to diversify their geographic footprints. Micron Technology Inc. is said to be close to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in the nation, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. That report follows a Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips earlier this year.



Indias promising prospects aside, much will rest on Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration  which is expected to win another term in 2024  and future governments, to ensure this demographic dividend can materialize into economic benefits.



Building fast and adequate infrastructure, lifting education standards and creating jobs for millions of people entering the market every year will be no easy task, especially as the nation wrestles with widespread red tape and corruption. Problems like poverty and malnutrition continue to linger and social tensions can boil over if inequality widens. And India has its own set of geopolitical worries as tensions with neighboring China and Pakistan persist.



Yet with the right policy mix, the process of economic transformation should by itself create some stock-market winners. Here is a look at some of the key themes that investors highlighted:



Consumption



With a median age of just 28 versus 38 in China, India is forecast to become the worlds largest young consumer market by 2030, according to the Brookings Institution.







A rapid rise in disposable incomes is seen boosting demand for everything from vehicles to mobile phones and luxury items.

Ken Peng, head of Asia Pacific investment strategy at Citi Global Wealth Investments, said the upgrade to luxury items and home improvement from basic necessities will be among the big trends that he wants to capture.

Stocks that may benefit include car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and Tata Motors Ltd. and jewelery maker including Titan Co. Staples producers such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd. will remain a focus as they can sell higher-margin products.



Infrastructure



Indias ambition of becoming a manufacturing hub is gaining more traction as global firms see geopolitical and regulatory risks when investing in China. Tesla Inc. officials visited India in May and discussed the possible local sourcing of components and incentives, eventually looking to establish a domestic factory, according to a Bloomberg News report.



Chinas factory story is fading away. And I think thats probably going to India and Asean to a large extent, said Evelyn Yeo, head of Asia investments at Pictet Wealth Management. Yeo, however, warned that the biggest issue with India is the lack of infrastructure and supply chain completeness.



Companies like ABB India Ltd., Siemens Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Ltd. and several state-run enterprises are seen as beneficiaries amid Modis push to upgrade infrastructure.



Financial Services



Investors see promising returns in Indias financial industry as a ballooning middle class and more workers translate into increased financialization of household savings.



Managed investments, which include mutual funds, life insurance and retirement funds can reach 315 trillion rupees ($3.8 trillion) by 2027 from 135 trillion rupees as of March last year, according to rating firm Crisil Ltd.

Top lenders ICICI Bank Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India are seen to have the potential to grow further. Shadow lender Bajaj Finance Ltd. and insurers such as Life Insurance Corp of India and HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd. will continue to receive the spotlight as the financial industry matures.



Digitalization



Indias aspiring tech firms are competing with global rivals.

The listing of several startups since 2021 has given overseas investors an opportunity to participate in the countrys digital story. But as the pandemic tech boom cooled along with higher interest rests, many including Paytm, Zomato Ltd. and Nykaa currently trade at significant loss from their post-listing highs.



But the emergence of a new cohort of digital shoppers is seen as promising.

In the last two to three years, along with Millennials and Boomers, more shoppers have emerged, Sachin Salgaonkar of BofA Securities wrote in a note last month. While many of Indias Boomers have gone back to the pre-pandemic habit of shopping offline, the countrys Generation Z  those born after 1996  and women over the age of 40 years in smaller towns are providing fresh impetus to digital commerce, Salgaonkar wrote.







Health Care



While the ratio of Indias elderly population  those above 60 years of age  currently stands at just above 10 percent according to the United Nations data, the cohort is projected to grow fast as life expectancy extends. That points to a substantial rise in healthcare demand.



ICICI Securities Ltd. expects earnings of hospital companies to rise more than 17 percent over the next three years, aided by higher count of specialty surgeries and additional beds.



Hospital chain owners like Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Fortis Healthcare Ltd. and HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd. are among those seen benefiting from increased demand. Drug makers such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Cipla Ltd. and Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd. are also potential winners.
The market saw a historic closing high on June 16, with a decisive breakout of downward sloping resistance trendline adjoining highs of December 1 last year (previous record high) and June 8 this year and formed bullish candlestick pattern on the daily charts.



The BSE Sensex jumped 467 points to 63,385, while the Nifty50 finally cleared the resistance of 18,800 and climbed 138 points to 18,826. Both the indices are few points away from their previous intraday record high.



"A long positive candle was formed on the daily chart with minor upper shadow. Technically, this pattern indicates an attempt of upside breakout of 18,800 levels and the Nifty is now set to zoom into new all-time highs above 18,887 levels," said Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.



Nifty, as per the weekly chart, also formed a long bull candle. It has surpassed the rangebound action of the last two weeks and closed higher. This is positive indication.



Shetti feels the near term uptrend of Nifty remains intact and one may expect it to register new all-time highs in the coming week. The next upside target to be watched around 19,000-19,100 levels, while immediate support is at 18,700 levels, he said.



The broader markets also participated in the run, as the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices gained 0.7 percent and 1 percent, respectively, on positive breadth, while India VIX, the fear index, fell by 2.16 percent from 11.08 levels, to 10.84, the lower closing level since December 27, 2019.







We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:



Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month.



Key support, resistance levels on Nifty



According to the pivot point calculator, the Nifty may find support at 18,742, followed by 18,705 and 18,646. If the index advances, then 18,859 will be the key resistance, followed by 18,896 and 18,955.



Nifty Bank



The Bank Nifty played a key role in Friday's rally, climbing 495 points to 43,938 and formed Bullish Harami kind of pattern on the daily charts, while on the weekly charts, there was Doji sort of candlestick pattern formation.



"The index managed to hold the support level at 43,400, which suggests that buying pressure emerged at that level. The index faces immediate resistance at 44,000," said Kunal Shah, Senior Technical & Derivative Analyst at LKP Securities.



A successful break above 44,000 could open up room for further upside moves. If it breaks above the resistance at 44,000, it can move towards 43,300/43,500 levels, he feels.



As per the pivot point calculator, the Bank Nifty is expected to find support at 43,644, followed by 43,515 and 43,306, while the resistance is likely to be at 44,061, then 44,190 and 44,399.







Call options data



On the weekly options front, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was seen at 18,800 strike, with 66.67 lakh contracts, which is expected to be a crucial level for the Nifty.



This was followed by 62.98 lakh contracts at 19,000 strike, while 18,700 strike has 61.78 lakh contracts.



We have seen Call writing at 19,100 strike, which added 33.17 lakh contracts, followed by 19,000 strike and 19,500 strike, which added 27.26 lakh contracts, and 21.68 lakh contracts, respectively.



Maximum Call unwinding was at 18,700 strike, which shed 13.94 lakh contracts, followed by 18,800 and 19,700 strikes, which shed 13.25 lakh and 1.98 lakh contracts, respectively.







Put option data



On the Put side, we have seen the maximum open interest at 18,700 strike, with 1.19 crore contracts, which is expected to be a crucial support level for the Nifty50 in the coming sessions.



This was followed by the 18,800 strike, comprising 93.3 lakh contracts, and the 18,500 strike, which has 58.46 lakh contracts.



Put writing was seen at 18,800 strike, which added 56.14 lakh contracts, followed by 18,700 and 18,500 strikes, which added 48.06 lakh contracts and 32.32 lakh contracts, respectively.



We have not seen any Put unwinding within 17,500-20,000 strikes range.







Stocks with high delivery percentage



A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. The highest delivery was seen in HDFC, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Petronet LNG, Coal India, and Larsen & Toubro among others.







87 stocks see a long build-up



An increase in open interest (OI) and price indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 87 stocks including Oracle Financial, Dr Lal PathLabs, LTIMindtree, Metropolis Healthcare, and Ashok Leyland saw a long build-up.







13 stocks see long unwinding



A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 13 stocks including Tata Consumer Products, PFC, Indraprastha Gas, Aarti Industries, and Berger Paints saw a long unwinding.







23 stocks see a short build-up



An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, 23 stocks including HDFC AMC, Coromandel International, NMDC, TCS, and Tech Mahindra saw a short build-up.







65 stocks see short-covering



A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 65 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Manappuram Finance, JK Cement, Ipca Laboratories, BHEL, and Deepak Nitrite.







Bulk deals







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Investors Meetings on June 19







Stocks in the news



ABB India: The Kanpur Metro has deployed ABB Indias electrification solutions for safe, reliable and quality power distribution. ABB India has been contributing to Indian Metro systems by proving electrification solutions to 13 metro rail projects across India.



Dr Reddys Laboratories: The United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) completed a good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspection at company's API manufacturing facility in Bollaram, Hyderabad. The inspection was conducted during June 12 and June 16, and closed with zero observations. Additionally, after inspection by the USFDA at formulations manufacturing facility in Srikakulam in May 2023, the company has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR). The USFDA has classified the said inspection as Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI).



PNB Housing Finance: The housing finance company said its board will consider issuance of non-convertible debentures worth Rs 5,000 crore on a private placement basis on June 22.



HDFC Bank: Pursuant to the request by HDFC Bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised HDFC Bank that it may hold the commercial papers that were issued till date by HDFC, till their maturity. The bank should not roll over or reissue any commercial paper after the effective date of the proposed amalgamation. The bank will also approach the RBI with the crystalized amounts of all the liabilities of HDFC as of the effective date.



Axiscades Technologies: Axiscades will be in focus as its board members approved the 100 percent acquisition, in a phased manner, of add solution GmbH in Germany. add solution GmbH is specialized in automotive solutions to global OEMs. The acquisition will be carried out through subsidiary AXISCADES GmbH. The cost of acquisition is 5.50 million euro.



Adani Enterprises: Subsidiary Adani Digital Labs (ADL) has signed a Share Purchase Agreement for proposed acquisition of 100 percent stake in Stark Enterprises. Stark is also known as Trainman, an online train booking and information platform. The company has not disclosed the cost of acquisition.



Gufic Biosciences: Gufic has received approval from National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), China for its product Prilocaine (API). This approval will help the company commercialise the said product in China and explore Chinese market. Prilocaine has a clinical profile similar to lidocaine and is used for infiltration, peripheral nerve blocks and spinal and epidural anaesthesia.



Skipper: Power transmission & distribution as well as telecom and railway structures manufacturer has received orders worth Rs 1,135 crore for design, supply and construction of new transmission line projects for Power Grid Corporation as well as tower and pole export supplies to Latin America, Middle East and North Africa regions.



Fund Flow







FII and DII data



Foreign institutional investors (FII) purchased shares worth Rs 794.78 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) bought shares worth Rs 681.33 crore on June 16, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange shows.



Stocks under F&O ban on NSE



The National Stock Exchange has retained Delta Corp, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Indian Energy Exchange, India Cements, L&T Finance Holdings, Manappuram Finance, Tata Chemicals, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises to its F&O ban list for June 19. Securities thus banned under the F&O segment include companies where derivative contracts have crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.



Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A right to information (RTI) request made by activist Manoranjan Roy has reportedly revealed that 500 rupee notes worth Rs 88,032.5 crore are missing from the Indian economy. According to a report from the Free Press Journal, which cited the activist's disclosure, the mints issued 8,810.65 million pieces of the newly designed Rs 500 note, but the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has only received 7,260 million pieces. The value of the reported missing 1,760.65 million 500 rupee notes is estimated to be worth Rs 88,032.5 crore. In the financial year 2016-17, as per the RTI, the Nasik mint had supplied 1,662.000 million pieces to the RBI, while the Bengaluru mint supplied 5,195.65 million pieces, and the Dewas mint supplied 1,953.000 million pieces to the RBI. The total number of supplied notes from these three mints is 8,810.65 million pieces. However, the RBI had reportedly received only 7,260 million pieces of the Rs 500 notes. Activist Manoranjan Roy has also reportedly written to the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) to conduct an investigation into this matter.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. Azerbaijan is considered an example of tolerance, peaceful coexistence of representatives of various religious and ethnic groups in the world, said the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of National Human Rights Day, Trend reports.

"According to the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 18, 2007, every year June 18 is celebrated as the National Human Rights Day in our country.

In Azerbaijan, which follows the path of democracy and development, human rights are protected by the Constitution of 1995. Article 12 of the Constitution states that ensuring human rights and freedoms is the supreme objective of the State. On June 18, 1998, National Leader Heydar Aliyev approved "State Program on the Protection of Human Rights". This year marks the 25th anniversary of the approval of the first strategic document in the field of human rights in our country.

Over the past years, huge reforms have been carried out to adapt the legal system of Azerbaijan to international standards in the human rights field, and to develop and implement a new strategy of cooperation with international organizations. Various UN agencies operating in the field of promotion and protection of human rights, as well as the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, are among these organizations.

Azerbaijan is considered an example of tolerance, peaceful coexistence of representatives of various religious and ethnic groups in the world. Within the framework of the Baku Process initiated by Azerbaijan in 2008, numerous World Forums on Intercultural Dialogue, Baku International Humanitarian Forum and other international events were held in our country. In 2016, Azerbaijan hosted the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue which is regularly organized in Azerbaijan is recognized as a key global platform for promoting intercultural dialogue.

Along with the measures taken in the country to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms, Azerbaijan contributes to the international human rights protection system. Azerbaijan was among the first members of the UN Human Rights Council established in 2006 and assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2014.

At the initiative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the resolution on Missing Persons which is put forward every two years at the sessions of the UN General Assembly since 2002, the resolution titled Ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which was put forward by Azerbaijan as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement at the sessions of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, resolution titled Promoting human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals through transparent, accountable and efficient public services delivery at the Human Rights Council were adopted unanimously.

Joint statements made at the initiative of Azerbaijan on the impact of landmines on human rights, the importance of promoting cultural diversity in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, the role of education in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance were supported by numerous states.

On the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th Anniversary of "State Program for the Protection of Human Rights", the Republic of Azerbaijan remains committed to the principles of universality, interdependence, and indivisibility of all human rights and fundamental freedoms," said the statement.
Major investors of Mojocare, a healthtech startup, have found financial irregularities at the company. The Bengaluru-based healthcare startup inflated sales bills and overstated revenues in order to meet its targets, sources told Moneycontrol, in what looked like yet another instance of a corporate governance lapse at an Indian startup.



The episode at Mojocare is a repeat of what had happened at GoMechanic, where the founders admitted that they got carried away and cooked their books to show higher sales figures. Similarly, even Rahul Yadavs second startup, Broker Network (4B Networks), Trell, Zilingo and BharatPe are a few other startups that have admitted to some other financial irregularities in the past year or so.



To figure the way forward, Mojocares major investors  which includes Chiratae Ventures, B Capital, Better Capital and several others  have already appointed Deloitte to carry out a forensic audit at Mojocare and the process has been in the works for the past 1-2 months, sources added.



Mojocares founders have confessed to investors that they overstated sales because of pressure and revenue targets. For now, investors are not considering any legal action because there is no evidence of syphoning off of funds yet, people aware of the developments told Moneycontrol.



In a joint statement issued on June 18, investors confirmed the developments.



Major investors of Mojocare initiated a review of the companys financial statements. While the analysis remains ongoing, initial findings have uncovered financial irregularities, and it has become apparent that the business model is not sustainable due to a variety of operational and market factors. As a result, Mojocare will be scaling down operations, and the investor group is working with the company through its transition, it said.



All options on the table



Investors and Mojocares founders, Rajat G and Ashwin S, are currently exploring all options to salvage the company, including a sale, a merger or even a complete shutdown.



In case Mojocare has to shutter operations, it still has 60-80 percent of the $20.6 million that it raised in July 2022, Moneycontrol has learnt.



Currently, investors and founders are discussing a sale of Mojocares assets which will help the company return about 50-60 percent of the funds it raised last year, another person aware of the developments told Moneycontrol. Some of the remaining money will be also used to pay severance to employees, they added.



"At Mojocare, we are working closely with our investors to find a way forward. We categorically deny all accusations of money being taken out of the company. Together with our investors we are actively figuring out what's best for the business," a Mojocare spokesperson said in a statement to Moneycontrol.



Cost-cutting exercise



Mojocare, which offers personalised medical treatment for problems related to sexual wellness, womens wellness, mental wellness and hair loss, has already fired about 200 employees from the organisation, and is left with only 40 staffers who will help the company scale down to the minimum, a person close to the companys workings told Moneycontrol.



During the companys fundraise, the founders had admitted that the space they were building in was already populated but bet on their differentiated approach, which has not yielded desired results.



The company however said the number of people affected was lower at about 150-170.



"...Despite our best efforts, our business fundamentals have not worked out over the past few months. In order to become more capital efficient, we have decided to rationalize costs. In order to prioritize profitability and sustainability, we must revert to operating as a small yet robust team, allowing us to figure out what's best for the company going forward," the company spokesperson told Moneycontrol.



The latest available data showed that while Mojocares revenue had jumped from Rs 30 lakh in FY21 to Rs 12.1 crore in FY22, but its losses also climbed from Rs 1.1 crore to Rs 5.5 crore during the same period, as per Tracxn.



Founded during the pandemic by an ex-Chiratae Ventures employee, Mojocare has raised about $24 million so far and a valuation of around $68 million, as per data available on Tracxn.







Founders, Rajat G and Ashwin S, hold about 48 percent of Mojocare while Chiratae had around 14 percent ownership in the company, as per Tracxn data. B Capital held around 10 percent, while other investors accounted for the remaining ownership in Mojocare, data showed.



Along with Chiratae Ventures, B Capital and Better Capital, Peak XV Partners (formerly called Sequoia Capital India) is also an investor in the health and wellness startup.



Deloitte, Chiratae Ventures and B Capital did not respond to Moneycontrol's queries at the time of publishing this story.
The government is likely to invite financial bids for privatising NMDC Steel only after the commissioning of the blast furnace at the company's steel plant in Chhattisgarh, according to officials.



Officials expect the value of the company to go up once the blast furnace of the steel plant becomes operational. NSL is expected to have a production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum. The government holds a 60.79 per cent stake in NMDC Steel Ltd (NSL) after it got demerged from NMDC, which is India's largest iron ore producer.



The facility is located in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. The remaining 39.21 per cent stake is with the public.



NSL is up for privatisation with the government looking to sell 50.79 per cent of its shareholding, along with management control. The government had received multiple preliminary bids or expressions of interest for the company.



Officials said the government will get to know the fair value of NSL once the blast furnace, which is the heart of a steel plant, is commissioned and production starts.



Financial bids would be invited only after investors gain confidence about the real capacity of the company.



NMDC Steel, which was listed on the stock exchanges in February this year at Rs 30.25, is currently trading at around Rs 44 a share. Based on the current market price, the sale of a 50.79 per cent stake would fetch the government around Rs 6,500 crore.



In October 2020, the CCEA gave 'in-principle' approval to the demerger of the Nagarnar steel manufacturing unit from NMDC and strategic disinvestment of the resulting entity by selling the entire stake of the Government of India.



Following that the government on December 1, 2022, invited bids for buying a 50.79 per cent stake in NSL. The balance 10 per cent stake of the government would be offered to NMDC after the strategic buyer for 50.79 per cent stake is selected.



The privatisation of NSL is expected to be completed in the current fiscal. The Budgeted disinvestment target for the current fiscal is Rs 51,000 crore, of which the Government has so far raised Rs 4,235 crore from minority stake sale in PSUs.




Anand Mahindra responded to the lunch meet between Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault on, saying that his wife was wondering who paid for the lunch. "My wife was wondering who paid for the lunch@elonmusk," Mahindra wrote on Twitter on Sunday. My wife was wondering who paid for the lunch@elonmuskhttps://t.co/NIsPR4o9Oj  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 18, 2023 The tweet generated several replies, many of whom suggested the payment may have been made by the restaurant they own. "The restaurant! Ofcourse! Free marketing for them," one user wrote. "Restaurant must have paid them to come and have lunch/dinner and stay :)," another user wrote. "They must have eaten at a restaurant they own," a third user wrote. Musk and Arnault met for lunch in Paris on Friday. Photos from their meeting were shared on Instagram by the latter's oldest son Antoine Arnault. Arnault is the chairman and CEO of the LVMH empire and is worth a staggering $233 billion  just a couple of billions short of Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX whose net worth is $236.9 billion, as per Forbes. Musk is in Paris to speak at the Viva Technology event. He will also meet French President Emmanuel Macron to promote France as a possible country for one of Tesla's factories as well as to discuss tech regulation. Also read: Anand Mahindras tweet on Samsung and Sony after launch of Apple Vision Pro

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Benglauru police managed to catch three thieves who had stolen four mobile phones of five engineering students, by using the 'find my device' feature on their smartphones.



As per police sources, the five students- Dhriti, Ashwit, Riya, Joshua and Manvit Rao, all aged 18, - were standing in the Andhrahalli Main Road area of the city at 1 am on Saturday night when the incident occurred.



Police said that the students were planning a trek to a hill nearby and spend time till sunrise. They booked a cab for their travel which arrived later.



However, the vehicle took the students to Andhrahalli Main Road instead of the location, closest to the hill. The students tried to book another cab when three men came near them and threatened them with match sticks.



"We gave away four mobiles and Rs 3,500 in cash," the youngsters informed the police.



One of the students called the police to report the incident and realised that two of the phones had a 'find my device' feature.



"Hoysala staffers along with night patrolling police reached the spot. The victims said two of the four stolen mobile phones had the 'find my device' feature. This technology helped us trace the suspects to their room in Tigalarapalya. With the students sitting in Hoysala vehicle, we raided the room around 3am. The suspects were partying. While two of them fled, we managed to nab three," one of the police officials told The Times of India.



Also read: Barred from office, Bengaluru employee makes hoax bomb threat to company
Google Doodle on Sunday celebrated the 112th birth anniversary of Indian biochemist Kamala Sohonie. The Doodle featured Sohonie and displayed her work on "Neera"- a palm nectar-derived beverage with high Vitamin C content. Sohonie was born on June 18, 1912 in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Both her parents were chemists and she studied chemistry and physics at Bombay University, topping her batch in 1933. Sohonie was the first Indian woman to earn a PhD degree in 1939 in a scientific field and was a recipient of the "Rashtrapati Award" for her work on "Neera". Sohonie overcame bias and skepticism and was the first female to study at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. For the next few years, she studied various proteins found in legumes and came to a conclusion that it helped in boosting nutrition in children. In 1937, she secured a a research scholarship at Cambridge University, which is where she discovered "Cytochrome C"- the enzyme that helps generate energy in plants. She completed her PhD thesis on this discovery in a span of 14 months. After returning to India, Sohonie studied the nutritional benefits of specific foods and played a key role in the development of "Neera". "Neera" has proven effective in improving the health of pregnant woman and malnourished children. Sohonie would later become the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay. The doodle featuring Sohonie was visible only for Google users in India, Brazil, Iceland and Germany. Also read: Willi Ninja: Google Doodle celebrates iconic dancer and 'godfather of voguing'

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A nightclub in Kolkata faced severe criticism after videos emerged of its customers petting a chained monkey that appeared to be drugged. According to several accounts, the monkey was brought in by the club for a circus-themed party -- a claim that the club, Toyroom, has refuted. As the clip went viral, several people, including actor Swastika Mukherjee, expressed shock at the animal cruelty and called for the club to apologise.



On Saturday evening, one of the videos doing rounds on social media showed a woman cuddling the monkey which appeared to be in chains and unconscious. In another video, the chained monkey stood cornered as another woman tried to pet it.



Reacting to the video Swastika Mukherjee of Qala and Paatal Lok fame wrote, "Im ashamed, to say the least! Its disheartening to see what #toyroomkolkata did in the name of an act to stand out! Well, you sure did. For all the wrong reasons."



"This is cruelty to a different level. How low can you stoop, Toyroom Kolkata? And what is wrong with the people who have gone to party there and indulged in this cruel act? No one stopped this right there and then? What is wrong with human beings?"















View this post on Instagram



A post shared by Swastika Mukherjee (@swastikamukherjee13)









The uproar over social media continued as Toyroom apparently stopped social media users from tagging them in posts.





So #ToyRoomKolkata brought in this tiny monkey for its circus-themed night. Nothing, absolutely nothing can be more inhumane than this. @PetaIndia @Manekagandhibjp @AnushkaSharma @swastika24 @KolkataPolice @MamataOfficial @ParveenKaswan @ToyRoomLondon @PTI_News @ttindia pic.twitter.com/g57qZv12Q9



 Deblina Halder (@StoriesbyD) June 17, 2023









Meanwhile, reacting to the backlash, Toyroom released a statement in which it clarified that monkeys were not part of the events they planned.



"We would like to inform that Toyroom had no role to play in hiring the monkeys or the madaris. The madaris or caregivers of the monkeys approached us at the club and we very politely refused them to do any kind of activities inside. Agreeing to which, they moved to the ground level of the mall's entrance and sat there," the nightclub situated in Camac Street stated.















View this post on Instagram



A post shared by Toyroom kolkata (@toyroomkolkata)









It added that the monkeys were not injured or harmed as they were always with the madaris. "We care as much as everyone else for the animals and would never do such activities where they'd be harmed or caged. We sincerely apologise if we've hurt anyone's sentiments or feelings unintentionally.'



Toyroom also shared a screengrab of a couple of madaris performing with their monkeys on what they claimed was the ground floor of the mall in which the club is situated.



Read more: Monkey-mermaid: Scientists find fish bones, teeth in Japan's mysterious 'mummy'
Air strikes killed civilians and pummelled multiple parts of the Sudanese capital on Saturday, residents said, as warring military factions agreed to another ceasefire in a series that have failed to stop the violence.



Fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is entering its third month with neither side gaining a clear advantage.



The war has displaced 2.2 million Sudanese and sent the war-weary Darfur region into a "humanitarian calamity," the United Nations has said. It has killed more than 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000, Sudan's health minister said.



Late on Saturday, the United States and Saudi Arabia said the two factions had agreed to a new 72-hour ceasefire that would begin on Sunday morning. Previous truces have not managed to bring fighting to a complete halt.



The army has the advantage of air power in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities Omdurman and Bahri, while the RSF has embedded itself in residential neighbourhoods. On Friday and Saturday the army appeared to ramp up air strikes, hitting several residential neighbourhoods.



In a speech posted by the army on Friday, top general Yassir Al-Atta warned people to stay away from homes the RSF had occupied. "Because at this point, we will attack them anywhere," he said to cheers. "Between us and these rebels are bullets," he said, appearing to dismiss mediation attempts.



The Khartoum health ministry confirmed a report by local volunteers on Saturday that 17 people including five children were killed in the Mayo area of southern Khartoum and 25 homes destroyed.



The strike was the latest in a series of air and artillery attacks on the poor and densely populated district of the city where most residents are unable to afford the cost of leaving.



AIR STRIKES

Late on Friday, the local resistance committee said 13 people had been killed by shelling in al-Lammab in western Khartoum, calling the neighbourhood an "operations zone". Residents reported air strikes elsewhere in southern and western Khartoum into the afternoon.



The RSF on Saturday said it brought down an army warplane in the Nile, west of Khartoum.



Plumes of smoke could be seen rising near fuel depots in Southern Khartoum, a resident said and video shared with Reuters showed.
Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday said Pakistan was considering the mode of participation in the SCO summit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif but India announced the meeting in the virtual setting.



Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says Pakistan was considering mode of participation in SCO summit but India announced virtual meetingI had the opportunity to visit Goa this year to participate in the SCO-CFM. The SCO Heads of State (HOS) meeting is going to be held soon in India. As Pakistan was considering the mode of prime ministers participation in the SCO summit, India announced holding the summit in virtual format, he said.



He announced that Pakistan was committed to engaging with India through multilateral organisations including SCO, the UN and others.



He said Pakistan was committed to having cooperative and good neighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality.



India earlier this month announced its decision to hold the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in a virtual format on July 4.



India is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair of the SCO.



India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa in May this year.



The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.



The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.



India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017.



India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.



India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. The information disseminated by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia that on June 18 from 03:20 to 04:10 (GMT+4), units of the Azerbaijani army allegedly fired at the positions of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Basarkechar and Shamshaddin districts from small arms of various calibers is a lie and does not correspond to reality, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

"We categorically deny this information," - the statement said.
June 18, 2023

Last week's post on Moon of Alabama:

---

Other issues:

Assange:

Aukus:

RIP Daniel Ellsberg:

Nukes:

First, we see no need to use it; and second, considering this, even as a possibility, factors into lowering the threshold for the use of such weapons. This is my first point.

The second point is that we have more such nuclear weapons than NATO countries. They know about it and never stop trying to persuade us to start nuclear reduction talks. Like hell we will, right? A popular phrase. (Laughter.) Because, putting it in the dry language of economic essays, it is our competitive advantage.<
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. Visiting Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov has visited the Alley of Martyrs, Trend reports.

He laid flowers at the graves of Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for territorial integrity and independence of Azerbaijan.

The Rais of Tatarstan laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

The Rais of Tatarstan enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed about the history of the Alley of Martyrs and redevelopment works in the capital of Azerbaijan.
Annabel Jones, Charlie Brooker and Russel McLean pose backstage with their Outstanding Television Movie award for Bandersnatch (Black Mirror) at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, Sept. 22, 2019.
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A banner on the University of Alaska Fairbanks Signers Hall welcomes students to the Troth Yeddha' Campus in several Alaska Native languages.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. Some special interests behind the scenes do not want peace in South Caucasus, Richard Hoagland, the former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group from the US, told Trend.

He was commenting on the latest escalation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

Any firing or other disruptive events on the border, whether at checkpoints or elsewhere, is troubling because such incidents always have the potential to spiral out of control. As the Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership work committedly toward a true and lasting peace, its always important to remember that there are special interests behind the scenes that do not want peace and will test how far they can go to prevent a secure future, he said.

Hoagland noted that for that reason, its important for representatives from both sides keep talking openly and honestly with each other in the interest of a true and lasting peace for their nations and for their people.

On June 15, 2023, at 08:45 (GMT+4), as a result of shelling from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, who served at the Lachin border checkpoint, was wounded. The enemy firing point was suppressed by return fire, the situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units.
FILE PHOTO: A man holds an image of George Floyd at a vigil on the second anniversary of the death of Floyd, a black man who was killed in 2020 by white police officer Derek Chauvin by kneeling on his neck, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Eric Miller/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A bouy normally used to mark "No wake" zones sits on dry land at Medina Lake outside of San Antonio as majority of Texas experiences drought amid an extreme heat wave hitting the state, in Medina County, Texas, U.S., June 18, 2022. REUTERS/Jordan Vonderhaar/File Photo
OTTAWA (Reuters)  Smoke shrouded Western Canada on Monday as wildfires flared again in the main oil-producing province of Alberta, while fire
"From what I was told, there are no women. All the women died, they sank, they drowned with their children in their arms."- Bakri

Pull Quote
BEIJING (Reuters)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, wrapping up a rare and
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. Azerbaijan's fraternity with Tatarstan is part of the allied cooperation with Russia, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the opening ceremony of the event dedicated to the Tatar national Sabantuy festival, held in Baku and timed to the 100th anniversary of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

"Our esteemed Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov highlighted all the work that has been carried out recently. I just want to emphasize that the visit of dear Rais to Azerbaijan is a very pleasant and important event for us," he said.

But today this festival takes on special significance, because the Rais of Russias Tatarstan is here today, with a very large respectful delegation that came specifically for this summer festival," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. The gruesome provocations are testimony to Armenias revanchist policy, Peter Marko Tase, American Journalist and prominent scholar on the geopolitics of Europe and United States, told Trend.

He was commenting on the renewed tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

Tase pointed out that there is a total lack of exerting pressure towards the government of Armenia in order to engage immediately in negotiations to reach peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

On the other hand the government of Azerbaijan has been very cooperative and has always extended maximum efforts to establish a peaceful dialogue with Armenia. Armenia must be stopped from using its rogue armed forces and violence against the people and armed forces of Azerbaijan, noted the expert.

Tase also touched upon the illegal acts of Armenia, which lead to environmental problems.

The Armenian fascist regime is constantly causing devastating destruction to the environment and continues to plant a wide web of landmines inside the territory of Azerbaijan. The metallurgical plant that Armenia started to build illegally in the area bordering with Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a flagrant violation of UN principles of defending the environment, he added.

On June 15, around 08:00 (GMT+4), Armenian armed forces, continuing their terrorist and provocative actions, fired at the Lachin border checkpoint located at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road, which is the sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, from firearms of various calibers, and opened fire on servicemen of the State border guards serving in the area. As a result, one soldier, Elshan Rustamov, received gunshot wounds.

These criminal acts of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia caused damage to the checkpoint, and as a result of this provocation, the operation of the checkpoint was violated.

The scene of the incident, being the territory of the village of Gulabird of the Lachin district of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is the unconditional sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli English-language newspaper with a wide readership worldwide, has paid special attention to the carpet that was gifted by President Ilham Aliyev during the official visit of President of Israel Isaac Herzog to Azerbaijan on May 30, Trend reports.

The author highlights that distinguished guests of President Herzog will have the opportunity to see this beautifully woven carpet during their private meetings with him.

The article notes that Israel and Azerbaijan have maintained close relations at various levels for many years, and this gift serves as another testament to the mutual respect and esteem between the leaders of the two countries.
President Mnangagwa has left Harare for Accra, Ghana, where he is set to attend the 30th African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) annual meetings.

President Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, service chiefs and other senior Government officials.

The Afreximbank meetings running under the theme: Delivering the Vision, Building Prosperity for Africans will seek solutions to development challenges being faced on the continent and the Caribbean.

Zimbabwes participation comes as the bank is constructing its regional office in Harare.

Breaking News via Email
Natures 10 Best Animal Dads Treehugger

Deep-Sea Footage of a Smiling Snailfish Laughing Squid (Re Silc). From 2023, still germane.

Gretchen Morgenson: From Wall Street to Journalism (podcast) Barry Rithjholz, Masters in Business. 

Juneteenth

Climate

Water

#COVID19

Documents Link Potential Covid Patient Zero to U.S.-Funded Research in Wuhan Ryan Grim, The Intercept. Good to see U.S-funded in the headline, because its true. * * * Persistent Brainstem Dysfunction in Long-COVID: A Hypothesis ACS Chemical Neuroscience. From the Abstract: While the possible causes of long-COVID include long-term tissue damage, viral persistence, and chronic inflammation, the review proposes, perhaps for the first time, that persistent brainstem dysfunction may also be involved. This hypothesis can be split into two parts. The first is the brainstem tropism and damage in COVID-19. As the brainstem has a relatively high expression of ACE2 receptor compared with other brain regions, SARS-CoV-2 may exhibit tropism therein.  The second part concerns functions of the brainstem that overlap with symptoms of long-COVID. Handy chart: The Risks of Even Mild COVID-19: 1 in 4 Showing Cognitive Deficits After Mild Case, Brazilian Study Finds Brain Facts. N = 130. Researchers found 1 in 4 showed significant cognitive impairment in visuoconstruction skills  the visual ability to spatially reproduce designs or patterns  matching the increased levels of inflammation they were seeing on blood panels as well as in neuroimaging. Markers of limbic system damage following SARS-CoV-2 infection (accepted manuscript) Brain Communications. N = 105. These results highlight the long-term consequences of SARS-Cov-2 infection on the limbic system at both the behavioural and neuroimaging levels. Handy chart: (The recognition of emotions in others, not ones self.)

China?

US Military Gets Unimpeded Access in Papua New Guinea Under New Deal Antiwar.com

India

The Happy Country

Syraqistan

Iran, Saudi Arabia pleased with reestablishment of diplomatic ties Anadolu Agency

Dear Old Blighty

Tories gotta Tory: The day before this party, I drove from France to England to visit my parents. I hadn't seen them for many months. I left a bag of food on their doorstep in Kent, then drove to London and went into quarantine for 10 days  because those were the rules. https://t.co/GrE70WLXI8  Adrian Norris (@adriannorris) June 17, 2023

New Not-So-Cold War

2024

Spook Country

How Israeli Spyware Endangers Activists Across the Globe In These Times

Digital Watch

Crypto collapse? Get in loser, were pivoting to AI Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain. Current AI feels like something out of a Philip K Dick story because it answers a question very few people were asking: What if a computer was stupid?'? Stump the Medical Experts Eric Topol, Ground Truths

The 420

Groves of Academe

Why more and more colleges are closing down across the U.S. CNBC (Re Silc). About 95% of U.S. colleges rely on tuition, according to Franek, meaning they rely on money from students to operate. Dwindling enrollment numbers mean less money, fewer student offerings and eventually a shuttered institution. Start by firing as many administrators as possible?

Zeitgeist Watch

Realignment and Legitimacy

Has the West already suffered a coup detat? Have the central bankers already seized power? Funding the Future

Imperial Collapse Watch

America Still Leads the World, But Its Allies Are Uneasy Niall Ferguson, Bloomberg. Hmm: I tried these ideas out in Paris in conversations that included two of President Emmanuel Macrons advisers. Supposing there was a war between the US and China over Taiwan, I asked, on whom could Washington rely? Japan, the UK, Australia. Maybe Canada. Thats it, was one of the replies. I was even more startled by the pessimism about Ukraine. If Trump wins in November next year, I ventured, then Zelenskiy is screwed. He is screwed whatever happens, another of my interlocutors replied. Ukraine cannot get back the Black Sea coast that it has lost  the so-called land bridge to Crimea. So the war is effectively over and Putin has won. I think wed better double down. Theres no alternative!

What the price of an ancient Roman nail tells us about value FT

Class Warfare

Kierkegaard on the Value of Despair The Marginalian. The self is a relation which relates to itself. Kierkegaard. Interesting data structure.

Eating 400 calories a day from these foods could raise your dementia risk by over 20% MarketWatch. These are not foods. They are food-like products.

Antidote du jour (via):

And a bonus:

And a double bonus:

What good kitties!

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Support for BLM drops to lowest level since reaching its peak in 2020, thanks to allegations of embezzlement within the group

Support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has dropped to its lowest level since reaching its peak in 2020

A poll by the Pew Research Center in April found that only 51 percent of the over 5,000 respondents were supporting BLM. A record 67 percent supported BLM in June 2020 amid the death of George Floyd and the riots it triggered.

In contrast, opposition to BLM has risen to a high 46 percent since August 2017, the first time BLM emerged as a hashtag on Twitter. Only 34 percent opposed BLM during the June 2020 George Floyd riots, but this rose to 44 percent in September of that year. It dipped slightly to 42 percent, before settling at 46 percent in April. (Related: Rioters "fighting" for social justice cause people to despise BLM.)

The Pew survey's respondents also espoused a negative view of BLM. It found that 61 percent believe BLM did not improve the state of race relations in America. Moreover, 57 percent of respondents expressed the belief that BLM did not improve the lives of Black people.

Support for BLM along party lines did not reach 50 percent for both Republicans and Democrats. In contrast, opposition to the movement surpassed 50 percent.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents who espouse conservative views described BLM as "dangerous," while 54 percent dubbed it "divisive." Only 42 percent of respondents who espouse liberal views called BLM "empowering," while only 27 percent of the same cohort called BLM "inclusive."

"A majority of Americans say the increased focus on issues of race and racial inequality in the past three years hasn't led to changes that have improved the lives of Black people," Pew noted.

BLM plagued with financial mismanagement

Claims of financial mismanagement have plagued the group, which reached its zenith during the summer of 2020. BLM took to the streets to protest against alleged abuses by law enforcement and systemic racism. Woke corporations also bent their knees to the movement, donating huge sums of money.

It later emerged that the group and its leader Patrisse Cullors squandered the money on expensive properties and lavish parties. According to the Washington Free Beacon, this profligate spending led to the BLM Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF)  the movement's national arm  blowing through two-thirds of the $90 million raised after Floyd's death in 2020. It also suffered a massive drop in donations in its 2022 fiscal year filing.

The Free Beacon also disclosed that during the tax year ending June 2022, BLMGNF spent more than $10.5 million on high-priced contractors. Interestingly, many of these contractors share close ties with Cullors  stoking rumors of embezzlement.

In one instance, two companies run by Patrice's brother Paul raked in $1.6 million for "professional security services" for BLM last year. Paul also collected a $126,000 salary for his work as BLM's "head of security." This gig also entailed protecting a $6 million mansion in Los Angeles the foundation secretly purchased with donor cash in 2021.

The rumors of corruption and embezzlement within the activist group led BLM Grassroots to distance itself from BLMGNF. Established in 2020, BLM Grassroots broke away in 2022 amid investigations by several liberal states over the foundation's compliance issues.

"The plummeting of donations to [the BLMGNF] is further evidence that donors want to fund the work, not high-priced consultants," BLM Grassroots said in a statement. It directly blamed Patrice and her mismanagement of funds for the group's financial insolvency.

Visit BlackLies.news for more stories about growing negative sentiment against BLM.

Watch this video that explains why BLM is a race-baiting scam.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

REVEALED: BLM leaders squandered millions on a California mansion they tried to keep secret.

Black activists distance themselves from BLM following reports of CORRUPTION in the group.

BLM co-founder denies using funds to purchase four homes, calls accusers "racist and sexist."

Another Black Lives Matter activist arrested for misappropriating (aka stealing) funds.

BLM received almost $83B from corporations, report says  but where's the money?

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

PewResearch.org

FreeBeacon.com

Brighteon.com
California state senator tells LGBT NON-affirming parents: Flee state before it takes away your children

The Golden State is on the verge of making it illegal for parents to object to the transgender mutilation of their own children. And one state senator by the name of Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) is warning them to flee now before they end up as enemies of the state.

Wilk is of course referring to Assembly Bill 957, a Democrat-sponsored piece of legislation that would amend the California Family Code to make it a crime for parents to not "gender affirm" their children. Simply put, parents in California would be forced to play the pronoun game with their own kids or else risk losing them to the state.

One of the two lone Republicans on California's Senate Judiciary Committee, Wilk has served in the California Legislature for 11 years. He was also the lone voice against the passage of AB 957, which adds "gender affirmation" to the list of things a child requires for "health, safety and welfare."

"I'm now in year 11 in the state legislature, and all the time we're proposing policies to protect children," Wilk said in a statement. "After 11 years, I've come to the conclusion that we need to start protecting parents. That's just not happening. I've been here and witnessed a full frontal assault on charter schools, taking away parents' choice in how their children are going to be educated to the detriment particularly of children of color."

He continued: "In recent years, we have put government bureaucrats between parents, children and doctors when it comes to medical care  and now we have [AB 957] where if a parent does not support the ideology of the government, [children are] going to be taken away from the home."

(Related: Did you know that CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health care groups in the United States, performs "gender affirming care" procedures on children?)

Is California no longer safe for families with morals and decency?

The Democrats who pushed AB 957 lied when they claimed that all its passage would do is "give the judge more information." It turns out that AB 957 erases the parental right not to play the LGBT perversion game with their own children, and Wilk wants parents to know the truth of what the legislation entails.

"In the past when we've had these discussions and I've seen parental rights atrophied  I've encouraged people to keep fighting," the state senator explained. "I've changed my mind on that. If you love your children, you need to flee California. You need to flee."

Despite their full-fledged support for AB 957, some of the Democrats who voted to pass it did express concerns about the ambiguous description of "affirmation" and what this means legally speaking.

Sens. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) and Ben Allen (D-Hollywood) both warned that failing to provide an adequate definition for "affirmation" could cause serious problems in the California court system.

"Work is needed on the bill," Allen told the committee.

Responding to this, Rep. Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), the bill's author, countered that "affirmation" in this context is already clearly defined in other California laws. This means that nobody should have any trouble defining "affirmation" as it is a "plain language" word, she argued.

Despite their lingering questions and a barrage of testimony from parents who are fighting against the bill, all of the Democrats on the committee voted to pass AB 957 out of committee. Hundreds of people showed up to oppose its passage while only 17 attending individuals voiced their support for it.

The cult of LGBT is driving families out of their own homes in its quest to trans-ify everything. More of the latest news can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailySignal.com

NaturalNews.com
Former Green Beret confronts Rochelle Walensky before hearing: I really look forward to you testifying about your involvement in murdering 38,000 Americans due to the jab

The outgoing director of the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic this week. And right before the proceedings began, a former Green Beret and lawyer by the name of Ivan Raiklin confronted Walensky to say that he was "really looking forward" to her testifying about her "involvement in murdering 38,000 Americans due to the jab."

Raiklin was, of course, referring to Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) so-called "vaccines," which Walensky lied to Americans about by falsely claiming that people who take them cannot get sick or spread the disease to others. Walensky initially shook Raiklin's hand and said "nice to meet you" before he revealed why he was really speaking to her, to which she turned right back around and sat down while ignoring him.

In the caption to the video footage that Raiklin captured of his encounter with Walensky, he emphasized that Walensky is "[o]ne of the key future Nuremberg 2.0 defendants who committed EUA Product genocide."

One of the key future Nuremburg 2.0 defendants who committed EUA Product genocide enters the room. Listen closely. pic.twitter.com/vJC8MW9LOw  Ivan Raiklin (@IvanRaiklin) June 13, 2023

(Related: Remember when Walensky told ABC News that the "new science" shows that PCR tests are fraudulent, just like the independent media has been saying since the beginning of this farce?)

What should Rochelle Walensky's punishment be?

When Walensky's hearing actually commenced, numerous Republican lawmakers questioned her about her past lies, one of them being Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan would not let Walensky squirm her way out of taking responsibility for those lies, which included false claims about the "safety" and "effectiveness" of covid jabs.

Walensky now says  watch below  that her past statements were "generally" true, even though she had previously stated definitively that they were absolutely true.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Says Her Vaccine Effectiveness Claims Were 'Generally Accurate' "We generally saw that if you were to get infected after you had been vaccinated that you were not carrying the virus by transmitting it to somebody else. You could not transmit it to pic.twitter.com/5JOqcalLwK  Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) June 13, 2023

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also pressed Walensky, though about her future plans, fully expecting another revolving door situation where this top government official is rewarded for her profit-generating crimes against humanity with a cozy pharmaceutical industry position.

"What job are you going to take?" Greene asked Walensky. "Are you going to be on the board of either Pfizer or Moderna? Because you've done one hell of a job in making sure that they made a lot of money."

? MTG Asks CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Which Vaccine Company She is Going to Work For After She Leaves the CDC "Now that you're going to be leaving the CDC pretty soon, what job are you going to take? Are you going to be on the board of either Pfizer or Moderna because pic.twitter.com/K9mUwIrtJ8  Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) June 13, 2023

It was not an easy day for Walensky, who was forced to hear the truth that she helped murder at least 38,000 Americans who followed her bad advice and got jabbed, only to die as a consequence.

The reason we say at least 38,000 Americans is because that is the official figure mined from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, a government-run trove that is notorious for vastly underreporting the true extent of vaccine damage.

Since VAERS captures as little as just one percent of all vaccine adverse events, it is safe to say that hundreds of thousands of Americans are now dead, in part, because Rochelle Walensky lied to America about covid injections. What should her punishment be as a consequence?

The latest news about the actions of Congress that aim to hold covid criminals like Rochelle Walensky responsible for their crimes against humanity can be found at Plague.info.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
The merger of TRANS and STATE: Heres how the federal government is using YOUR tax dollars to fund LGBT PRIDE

Though much of the attention surrounding the promotion of LGBT perversion these days centers around corporations like Target and Anheuser-Busch, it is important to also recognize that the true head of the beast is actually the federal government

The country was reminded of this once again after the Navy recently posted, then deleted, a pride post on Instagram in support of transgender mutilation and other LGBT perversions. Since then, the Navy issued an official memo via Twitter stating that its 2023 pride theme is "Peace, Love, Resolution."

It turns out that the Navy was simply following a directive from the White House, which recently held a Pride Month event on the White House lawn attended by transgenders who went topless to show off either their fake boobs, in the case of a male-to-"female" transition, or their flat mutilated chests, in the case of several female-to-"male" transitions.

All of this was sanctioned by the Biden regime, which has instructed other military branches and federal organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United States Postal Service (USPS), and the Department of Veterans Affairs to follow suit by openly and actively promoting pride on social media.

(Related: Joe Biden, America's fake president, is an LGBT-pushing pedophile whom citizens are calling on to be investigated for crimes against children.)

Is America worse than Sodom and Gomorrah?

The Biden regime has instructed at least 21 federal and federally funded agencies to promote pride any chance they get. These agencies and organizations, all taxpayer-funded, include the:

 Smithsonian Museums, which are offering a full lineup of LGBT events during the month of June, including sexuality talks and "drag story hours" featuring "drag queens" reading books to children

 CIA, which announced its support for Pride Month with the theme "WELCO-ME," an acronym that stands for "Wellness Equity LGBTQ+ Community Openness ME"

 FBI, which thanked its LGBT employees for their service, dedication, and "perspectives"

 Department of Labor, which announced that it will "joyfully celebrate" its LGBT employees by offering "guidance to workforce development on gender identity, gender expression, and sex stereotyping"

 Department of State, which is encouraging people to look at its "LGBTQI+ travel safety page," which states: "We strongly oppose the 'otherization' of LGBTQI+ persons to justify authoritarian power grabs and attacks on institutions of democracy globally."

 Department of Education, which instead of promoting math, science, and reading is promoting pride instead

 Department of Agriculture, which created a poster bearing the words "2023 Pride Month: Changing the Landscape"

 Army, which retweeted Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's press release honoring "LGBTQ Service Members"

 Marines, which out of all the military branches came the closest to not endorsing Pride Month at all other than to retweet a Twitter post from the Navy about the Department of Defense's 12th annual Pride Month celebration

 Air Force, which saluted Pride Month on Twitter and held, so far, two pride events on air bases

 Department of Justice, which issued a news release from "Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in Honor of Pride Month"

 Department of Transportation, which published a pride-theme poster and a Black Lives Matter fist logo with the word "pride" emblazoned across it

 Department of Energy, which created a pride-themed logo with the statement, "When everyone has a seat at the table, America is at its strongest"

 Department of Homeland Security, which announced its endorsement of Pride Month with a video of its employees raising the LGBTQ flag at the agency's headquarters

 Library of Congress, which sponsored Pride Month by encouraging readers to check out more LGBT books and materials, while also scheduling a number of pride events throughout the month of June

The latest news about the gay-ification and trans-ification of America by LGBT-obsessed leftists can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

ConservativePlaybook.com

NaturalNews.com
TSA is allegedly harassing the friends and family of J6ers with invasive enhanced searches and pat-downs

Over the past decade or so, weve seen a concerning trend of government-funded groups becoming politically weaponized at a rapid pace. However, its not just the FBI or public schools that this happening to. Now, it seems the TSA might be joining the list. Reports indicate that some agents within the TSA are using their positions for political purposes, and their latest alleged target are the families of January 6 political prisoners.

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

Lets face it, the TSA has an awful track record when it comes to professionalism and how they treat innocent folks. The workers over at TSA make excuses for their rotten behavior and claim they treat people poorly because of the stress of their job.

As if were not all under extreme stress, everyday. Thats the American way of life.

The Verge:

Today, there are eight different tasks that TSOs might perform at a security checkpoint. These include checking documents, performing pat-downs, and Divestiture, a fancy term for telling people what items to put on the X-ray conveyor belt. Each task is heavily regulated and standardized. A TSA-approved pat-down, for example, consists of 18 individual steps, and pat-down training alone takes nearly three hours of classroom time. To ensure compliance with TSA policies, supervisors monitor TSOs via security cameras, random inspections, and regular covert tests. And they hand out discipline liberally. In most cases, TSOs spend their first two years on probation, during which time they can be fired for anything deemed to be unacceptable performance or conduct. This compliance fetish creates a lot of anxiety among the TSAs front-line workers. The lower the level you occupy in the organization, the more severe the punishment for committing an error in judgment, writes Becker. Everyone [is] always afraid of making a mistake and getting fired. That anxiety gets transferred onto the flying public, too. From the moment we step into the security line until we are disgorged on the other side, shoeless and unbelted and without any liquids greater than 3.4 oz, we become Potential Threats, worthy of severe scrutiny. Its not personal. Its just policy.

Many people believe its less about stress and more about the low caliber of people being hired to fill these positions. One former TSA agent wrote a tell-all book about his fellow employees and how they routinely mocked and made fun of passengers.

And TSA agents are known for their inappropriate pat-downs, even when it comes to children.

This recent report involving targeted harassment of January 6th families is extremely alarming. During a congressional committee, Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to the mother of Matthew Perna, a J6 defendant who committed suicide, thanks to relentless government harassment.

The New York Post:

A Capitol rioter killed himself while awaiting sentencing  dying from a broken heart over his case and because the justice system killed his spirit and his zest for life, according to kin. Matthew Perna, who pleaded guilty in December to four charges related to the attempted insurrection, killed himself at home Friday. The constant delays in hearings, and postponements dragged out for over a year. Because of this, Matts heart broke and his spirit died, says his obituary in the Herald, a local newspaper in Sharon, Pa. Matt did not have a hateful bone in his body. He embraced people of all races, income brackets and beliefs, never once berating anyone for having different views, the obit added.

Matthews mother revealed how her family and friends, none of whom were anywhere near the Capitol on January the 6th, are targeted by politicized and vengeful TSA agents and put through grueling pat-downs to which other passengers are not subjected. MTG polled the room, and several other J6ers confirmed that this was also happening to their family and friends, including one elderly relative of Matthew Perna with a cane who has Parkinsons disease.

Watch:

Sadly, this seems to be yet another example of the growing decay within our government, which has seeped into nearly every aspect of American life today. This is what the left calls Build Back Better  singling out and abusing of suicide victims simply because their departed loved one held differing political views. The extent of the lefts callousness knows no bounds, and has no moral limits.

Read more at: Revolver.news
Several bee-eaters, migratory birds from Africa, were once again spotted in Norfolk to nest. According to experts, this first two-year streak could both be delightful and dreadful, considering the implications regarding climate change.

Migratory Birds African Bee-Eaters

With plumage in cherry red, ultramarine, turquoise, and yellow, they appear as a paragon of tropical splendor, dashing like multicolored darts over the sky of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Spain.

For the second summer in a row, British birdwatchers have seen European bee-eaters soaring and burrowing in an abandoned quarry in Norfolk.

For the first time, bee-eaters have returned to the same nesting place in Britain for a second straight year. The return of the unusual guests, however, has been tempered by a caution that it is a clear indicator of the planet's changing climate.

Bittersweet First Two-Year Streak

According to Mark Thomas of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, bee-eaters have typically appeared in the UK on an ad hoc basis, never utilizing the same nest location twice.

Their reappearance is a stark reminder of the changes brought about by our planet's warming. Bee-eaters are a widespread species in the southern Mediterranean as well as northern Africa, and as the world heats, they and other species are being forced farther north.

The three bee-eaters, which included a nesting couple, were discovered in a sand quarry near Cromer, in north Norfolk. Observers believe that others will soon join them. Last year, eight bee-eaters settled in the same area, where the birds hatched and fledged offspring before heading south.

Formerly very uncommon breeders in the UK, this year represents the seventh breeding effort in England in the last 20 years, implying they are seeking to establish a recurring breeding colony in the UK, a clear consequence of climate change, according to scientists.

They eat dragonflies along with other flying insects that they seize in mid-air, in addition to bees.

The birds are likely to stay in the same area until summer ends before flying to southern Africa for the winter, The Guardian reports.

Also Read: Recovery of New Jersey Shores Successful as 22,000 Red Knot Shorebirds Return for Migration

Climate Migration

Climate migration happens when people flee their homes as a result of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and wildfires, as well as slower-moving climate concerns such as rising sea levels and increasing water stress. This type of migration is becoming more common since the globe has failed to control greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global average temperature rise, resulting in more climatic calamities.

The majority of climate migration will occur within a country's boundaries, although migration across borders will also increase. Extremes, along with other reasons like natural subsidence and oil and gas activity, are displacing entire villages in certain cases, forcing them to seek refuge in distant areas of their nation or cross borders, according to Council on Foreign Relations.

According to Smirnov and his colleagues' 2022 analysis published in Sage Journals, if worldwide efforts to solve the increasing climate problem fail, drought-driven migration might quadruple this century.

Related Article: Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers Evades Extinction, Sighting Reported 8 Decades After Absence in Louisiana
After a visitor damaged the sacredness of their mountain summit, the Bali government declared that mountain climbing and hiking are no longer permitted in the area.

Damages on the Sanctity of Bali's Mountain Peak

Following an increase in infractions by unruly tourists, Bali's governor has declared a ban on the said tourist activities on its highlands with "immediate effect," in an effort to safeguard its sacred peaks.

At a press conference on May 31, Wayan Koster pointed out to reporters that the mountains of Bali are "sacred and revered."

If the sanctity is harmed, it is the same as undermining Bali's sacredness.

He further stated that popular activities like mountain climbing and hiking are no longer permitted for foreign and domestic visitors, as well as locals.

This restriction, according to Koster, is in place indefinitely and applies not just to international tourists but also to domestic tourists and local inhabitants, with the only exception of religious rituals and the management of natural calamities.

The governor first proposed the proposal in February.

Bali: Island of Gods

Bali, known as the "Island of the Gods," is one of the world's favorite tourist destinations, consistently scoring high in worldwide travel surveys.

However, this popularity comes at a cost.

Foreigners have frequently been observed misbehaving and straining the patience of natives.

Following many accidents and influencers conducting dangerous antics, Wayan Koster declared a crackdown on "digital nomads" discovered operating illegally on the island either as guides or hairdressers in March, and stated tourists would no longer be able to hire motorbikes.

New regulations will apply to Bali's 22 mountains, which are currently blocked to climbers indefinitely.

Local authorities confirmed in 2021 that a pornographic movie was shot on Mount Batur, an active volcano that is famous with climbers and revered as one of Bali's most sacred locations, according to reports from Daily Star.

This year atop Mount Agung, Bali's tallest peak and also a significant religious site, a Russian visitor sparked outrage with a semi-naked photo he captured and then uploaded on social media.

Despite apologizing publicly and taking part in an "offering ceremony to the Gods," he was deported from the country on April 12 and forbidden from returning for at least six months, New York Post reported.

Also Read: Diver Pets Sea Lion Pup Despite Warnings From Coast Guard: Why Is Petting Seal Pups Dangerous?

Lamenting Tourism Industry

Many travelers rush to Bali to enjoy its beaches, rainforests, and rice paddy fields, however, mountains and volcanoes are also popular attractions.

Hiking and morning jeep trips over volcanic slopes are also popular with tourists, providing a source of livelihood for locals who serve as drivers and guides.

Despite being hailed for putting a stop to rude behavior, the new prohibition infuriated local Balinese communities, particularly those who worked on-site as guides and drivers and managed inns and other businesses around famous highlands that catered to tourists.

Mountain guides and local organizations raised alarm over the restriction on mountain climbing and hiking in Bali, claiming that it would harm tourism.

According to Che, a guide based in Seminyak who organizes hiking excursions to several volcanoes and waterfalls, because Bali is still recovering from the epidemic, now is not the time to pick and choose which visitors to serve.

Instead, police patrols and penalties might be established.

The prohibition is still being debated and must be approved by the local parliament before it becomes official.

Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, Bali's tourism head, stated that if the prohibition is enacted, native mountain guides will be forced to work as contract employees, CNN Travel reported.

Related Article: Super Bloom Paints Bay Area Hillside with Golden Wildflowers, Hikers Enjoy the 20-Minute Trail
Forest fires and other types of wildfires worldwide have increased in recent years, based on recent incidents, including the ongoing Canadian megafires and last year's French wildfires during a European heat wave.

As blaze sweeps through countless acres of forested and grass areas, natural wildlife habitats and agricultural lands are destroyed, as well as threatened heavily populated human settlements.

While wildfires occur due to various factors per region or country, climate scientists point to common factors, extreme weather conditions such as drought.

The basis behind increased fires in previous years coincides with increasing temperatures, drought conditions, and other fire weather conditions, a term used by the National Weather Service in the United States.

The European landscape is different since temperatures are much colder, especially in the northern part where the cold Nordic Region is located, with countries consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

However, the Nordic climate in the past decades saw significant changes in the region in terms of extreme weather conditions.

Nordic Forest Fires

In recent reports, scientists assert forest fire threat is increasing in Sweden and other Nordic countries amid a drought.

This comes soon after the Northern Hemisphere entered its summer season that started on June 1.

Although temperatures are expected to get warmer, extreme weather conditions have never been this severe in modern history.

The European monitoring service Copernicus estimated that 90% of Denmark, 51% of Finland, and 48% of Sweden.

Climatologist Gustav Strandberg stated Sweden is undergoing its driest start to June for "at least 20 years," as cited by Phys.org.

Also Read: Forest Fires in Northern Thailand Raises High Air Pollution Levels

Worldwide Forest Fire Incidents

As said earlier, the frequency of forest fires has spiked in different parts of the world, including in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In the United States, the Federation of American Scientists estimated 68,988 wildfires burned 7.6 million acres in 2022; more than 40% of this area was in Alaska.

Wildfire threat has continued this year, with over 18,300 wildfires impacting over 511,000 acres as of June 1.

In Spain, "mega forest fires" have erupted and forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate in May, prompting firefighters to battle the blaze, including in Valencia's Castellon province, Euronews reported.

In Australia, the fire season from late 2019 and early 2020 saw devastating bushfires across the country.

The fires or smoke from it were reportedly responsible for the deaths of over a billion animals.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Australia bushfire crisis either killed or displaced nearly 3 billion animals.

Extreme Weather Conditions

Amid the wildfire threat in the Nordic Region and other countries worldwide mentioned earlier, scientists often discuss these events and link them to extreme weather events caused by climate change and global warming.

Scientific studies indicate extreme weather events like heat waves and massive storms are set to become more frequent or more intense in the future due to human-induced climate change, as cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Related Article: Antarctica During Dinosaur Era Ravaged by Frequent Forest Fires [Study]
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Auditor Deloitte has flagged inappropriately approved vendors and excess payments at BharatPe, where its former MD and co-founder Ashneer Grover has been accused of cheating and embezzlement of funds.

In its latest annual report, BharatPe presented opinion of its statutory auditor that said the company's internal control system for vendor selection as well as for approval of invoices for purchase of goods and services were not operating effectively, resulting in procurements at inappropriately approved prices.

After devoting a page on the statutory auditors' report, BharatPe's annual report in the following section stated that "there were no instances of fraud reported by auditors to the board of directors".

This was used by Grover to attack reportage, saying no journalist has read the annual report of BharatPe which has clearly writes of no fraud.

"Ek bhi journalist ne @bharatpeindia ki annual FY22 report nahi padi - auditor ne clearly likha hua hai 'NO instances of FRAUD reported by Auditors to the Board of Directors'. @Deloitte is the auditor who were paid Rs 4 crore audit fees (up from Rs 40 lakh I paid them as MD) and clearly found NOTHING," Grover wrote on Twitter.

But when the preceding page of the annual report was pointed out to him, he launched a personal attack, adding the role of the auditor should be googled.

"Doosri baat - Jin forensic audit ki aap baat kar rahe ho @alvarezmarsal and @PwC - unpe @bharatpeindia ne Rs 9 crore kharche ke baad unki report ko junk kar diya - woh usko na to Court mein pesh kar rahe hai na police ko - to sawaal aapko apne Maliko se poochna chahiye mujh se nahi."

(The report of forensic audit [into allegations against Grover and his family] by Alvarez and Marsal and PwC, on whom Rs 9 crore was spent by BharatPe, was junked and was neither presented to court or police. And question on it should be asked to them and not to him).

He then went on to site 'innocent till proven guilty' law but did not reply to concerns Deloitte flagged in the report.

BharatPe in police and court complaints has alleged that Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain and other family members created fake bills, enlisted fictitious vendors to provide services to the company, and overcharged the firm for recruitment.

It is seeking up to Rs 88.67 crore in damages.

The corporate governance review by Alvarez and Marsal, Shardul Amerchand Mangaldas and PwC led to the ouster of Jain, who was head of controls at BharatPe.

Grover resigned from the company and its board in March last year.

"The company's internal control system for vendor selection were not operating effectively which resulted in procurement of goods and services from inappropriately approved vendors and/or at inappropriately approved prices," the annual report said, citing a statutory auditors' report.

BharatPe's "internal control system for approval of invoices for purchase of goods and services were not operating effectively, which resulted in other expenses being recorded without receipt of goods and services and/or in excess of actual quantity received, resulting in excess payments being made towards such expenses," it said.

"The company did not have an appropriate internal control system for recording reversal of Goods and Services Tax (GST) input credit and for payment of penalty to GST authorities, resulting in recording reversal of GST input credit and payment of penalty without appropriate approvals," it said.

Also, the firm "did not have adequate controls over period end adjustments including related presentation and disclosure requirements," it said, adding the auditors stated that they considered these material weaknesses do not affect our opinion on the said financial statements of the company.

Responding to the auditor's note, BharatPe in the annual report said the governance review by the board had found that "there were instances of override of internal controls by certain erstwhile employees (in collusion with known and unknown third parties) in the vendor selection and onboarding, procurements, processing of bills for payment, charging personal expenses to the company and related party transactions."

It said it has filed a civil suit before the Delhi High Court against such erstwhile employees, Grover and third parties, seeking "the recovery of sums which were misappropriated".

The "claims amounting to Rs 88.7 crore relates to dishonest and fake transactions; payments for personal expenditure, reversal of GST Input Tax Credit and payment of penalty to GST Authorities in order to conceal the said Dishonest Transactions; Loss and injury caused to the brand, reputation and goodwill of the parent company," it said, adding the firm has also filed a criminal complaint with the Economic Offences Wing, Delhi against such erstwhile employees and third parties on the issue.

NEW DELHI: Auditor Deloitte has flagged inappropriately approved vendors and excess payments at BharatPe, where its former MD and co-founder Ashneer Grover has been accused of cheating and embezzlement of funds. In its latest annual report, BharatPe presented opinion of its statutory auditor that said the company's internal control system for vendor selection as well as for approval of invoices for purchase of goods and services were not operating effectively, resulting in procurements at inappropriately approved prices. After devoting a page on the statutory auditors' report, BharatPe's annual report in the following section stated that "there were no instances of fraud reported by auditors to the board of directors".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This was used by Grover to attack reportage, saying no journalist has read the annual report of BharatPe which has clearly writes of no fraud. "Ek bhi journalist ne @bharatpeindia ki annual FY22 report nahi padi - auditor ne clearly likha hua hai 'NO instances of FRAUD reported by Auditors to the Board of Directors'. @Deloitte is the auditor who were paid Rs 4 crore audit fees (up from Rs 40 lakh I paid them as MD) and clearly found NOTHING," Grover wrote on Twitter. But when the preceding page of the annual report was pointed out to him, he launched a personal attack, adding the role of the auditor should be googled. "Doosri baat - Jin forensic audit ki aap baat kar rahe ho @alvarezmarsal and @PwC - unpe @bharatpeindia ne Rs 9 crore kharche ke baad unki report ko junk kar diya - woh usko na to Court mein pesh kar rahe hai na police ko - to sawaal aapko apne Maliko se poochna chahiye mujh se nahi." (The report of forensic audit [into allegations against Grover and his family] by Alvarez and Marsal and PwC, on whom Rs 9 crore was spent by BharatPe, was junked and was neither presented to court or police. And question on it should be asked to them and not to him). He then went on to site 'innocent till proven guilty' law but did not reply to concerns Deloitte flagged in the report. BharatPe in police and court complaints has alleged that Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain and other family members created fake bills, enlisted fictitious vendors to provide services to the company, and overcharged the firm for recruitment. It is seeking up to Rs 88.67 crore in damages. The corporate governance review by Alvarez and Marsal, Shardul Amerchand Mangaldas and PwC led to the ouster of Jain, who was head of controls at BharatPe. Grover resigned from the company and its board in March last year. "The company's internal control system for vendor selection were not operating effectively which resulted in procurement of goods and services from inappropriately approved vendors and/or at inappropriately approved prices," the annual report said, citing a statutory auditors' report. BharatPe's "internal control system for approval of invoices for purchase of goods and services were not operating effectively, which resulted in other expenses being recorded without receipt of goods and services and/or in excess of actual quantity received, resulting in excess payments being made towards such expenses," it said. "The company did not have an appropriate internal control system for recording reversal of Goods and Services Tax (GST) input credit and for payment of penalty to GST authorities, resulting in recording reversal of GST input credit and payment of penalty without appropriate approvals," it said. Also, the firm "did not have adequate controls over period end adjustments including related presentation and disclosure requirements," it said, adding the auditors stated that they considered these material weaknesses do not affect our opinion on the said financial statements of the company. Responding to the auditor's note, BharatPe in the annual report said the governance review by the board had found that "there were instances of override of internal controls by certain erstwhile employees (in collusion with known and unknown third parties) in the vendor selection and onboarding, procurements, processing of bills for payment, charging personal expenses to the company and related party transactions." It said it has filed a civil suit before the Delhi High Court against such erstwhile employees, Grover and third parties, seeking "the recovery of sums which were misappropriated". The "claims amounting to Rs 88.7 crore relates to dishonest and fake transactions; payments for personal expenditure, reversal of GST Input Tax Credit and payment of penalty to GST Authorities in order to conceal the said Dishonest Transactions; Loss and injury caused to the brand, reputation and goodwill of the parent company," it said, adding the firm has also filed a criminal complaint with the Economic Offences Wing, Delhi against such erstwhile employees and third parties on the issue.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: A total of 707 women gave birth to children during Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, an official statement said on Sunday.

According to the information given by the Union Health Ministry, "During the cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, 1,206 pregnant women were safely shifted to different hospitals and health and wellness centres from the affected areas, out of which 707 women gave birth to children."

"202 ambulances of 108 number were kept on standby in critical condition. 302 government ambulances were also deployed to take the injured to the hospital immediately. Along with this, complete preparations were made for emergency and all trauma facilities in 458 hospitals of the state. All doctors were on standby, so that if any injured person reaches the hospital they can be treated immediately," an official statement said.

A Union Health Ministry official said that the district administration had identified shelter homes in which women, pregnant women, children etc. were kept, where arrangements for food, accommodation, ration were made for all the people.

"Food packets were distributed to 1,85,884 people. Good facilities were arranged for the people living in the shelter home so that they do not face any problem and they and their families do not face any problem during this calamity," an official said.

As precautionary measures, more than 73,000 animals were also taken from affected areas to safer places.

"The Kutch and Coastal Line area of Gujarat, where animal husbandry is the main occupation, the number of animals is more than 2 lakhs, out of which 73000 animals were sent to safe places, these animals were taken to high places where water could not reach and their lives could be saved. Although 60 to 70 animals also died," an official statement said.

According to the data released by officials, a total of 8 pucca houses were damaged, 156 houses were also damaged which were not fully pucca, besides this 647 slums were also destroyed due to this storm.

"222 kutcha houses were also damaged, and 33 such houses which were completely kutcha were also damaged, in total 3056 houses were affected due to this cyclonic storm, many houses got damaged and many houses collapsed completely," an official statement said.

According to the information received by officials, 3021 trees were uprooted due to the Cyclone in the state.

NEW DELHI: A total of 707 women gave birth to children during Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, an official statement said on Sunday. According to the information given by the Union Health Ministry, "During the cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, 1,206 pregnant women were safely shifted to different hospitals and health and wellness centres from the affected areas, out of which 707 women gave birth to children." "202 ambulances of 108 number were kept on standby in critical condition. 302 government ambulances were also deployed to take the injured to the hospital immediately. Along with this, complete preparations were made for emergency and all trauma facilities in 458 hospitals of the state. All doctors were on standby, so that if any injured person reaches the hospital they can be treated immediately," an official statement said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A Union Health Ministry official said that the district administration had identified shelter homes in which women, pregnant women, children etc. were kept, where arrangements for food, accommodation, ration were made for all the people. "Food packets were distributed to 1,85,884 people. Good facilities were arranged for the people living in the shelter home so that they do not face any problem and they and their families do not face any problem during this calamity," an official said. As precautionary measures, more than 73,000 animals were also taken from affected areas to safer places. "The Kutch and Coastal Line area of Gujarat, where animal husbandry is the main occupation, the number of animals is more than 2 lakhs, out of which 73000 animals were sent to safe places, these animals were taken to high places where water could not reach and their lives could be saved. Although 60 to 70 animals also died," an official statement said. According to the data released by officials, a total of 8 pucca houses were damaged, 156 houses were also damaged which were not fully pucca, besides this 647 slums were also destroyed due to this storm. "222 kutcha houses were also damaged, and 33 such houses which were completely kutcha were also damaged, in total 3056 houses were affected due to this cyclonic storm, many houses got damaged and many houses collapsed completely," an official statement said. According to the information received by officials, 3021 trees were uprooted due to the Cyclone in the state.
By PTI

GANGTOK: The North Sikkim District Collector (DC) Hem Kumar Chettri on Sunday said that no fresh permits will be issued to tourists to visit the picturesque district in view of weather-related vagaries and restoration works underway for roads damaged extensively due to landslides even as all 2,464 stranded tourists have been rescued.

He said that the evacuation of all 2,464 tourists stranded following torrential downpour for three days was completed on Saturday evening.

All tourists and 60 students of Namchi College have left for their respective destinations by vehicles arranged by the authorities, the North Sikkim DC said.

He thanked the BRO, GREF, ITBP, Army and district officials for the successful evacuation of the tourists "We have decided to not issue fresh permits to the tourists to visit North Sikkim for the time being due to the restoration of roads underway between Mangan Chungthang," he told PTI over the phone.

"Our immediate priority is to restore roads damaged due to landslides and heavy rains and once the road connectivity is restored then we will allow the tourists to come," Chettri said.

GANGTOK: The North Sikkim District Collector (DC) Hem Kumar Chettri on Sunday said that no fresh permits will be issued to tourists to visit the picturesque district in view of weather-related vagaries and restoration works underway for roads damaged extensively due to landslides even as all 2,464 stranded tourists have been rescued. He said that the evacuation of all 2,464 tourists stranded following torrential downpour for three days was completed on Saturday evening. All tourists and 60 students of Namchi College have left for their respective destinations by vehicles arranged by the authorities, the North Sikkim DC said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He thanked the BRO, GREF, ITBP, Army and district officials for the successful evacuation of the tourists "We have decided to not issue fresh permits to the tourists to visit North Sikkim for the time being due to the restoration of roads underway between Mangan Chungthang," he told PTI over the phone. "Our immediate priority is to restore roads damaged due to landslides and heavy rains and once the road connectivity is restored then we will allow the tourists to come," Chettri said.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Various departments under the Ministry of Defence are getting together in Delhi for a two-day Chintan Shivir to discuss the challenges faced by them.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Sunday said that the brainstorming session will be held on June 19 and 20 to discuss various issues and challenges faced by its departments, with the aim to come out with new ideas for better governance and functioning.

The MoD has five departments under it Department of Defence (DoD), Department of Defence Production (DDP), Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) have identified a number of themes, on which eminent subject matter experts will share their views with the officers of the Ministry.

The Department of Defence will deliberate on a comprehensive approach to national security, cyber security challenges and national Information Security Policy and Guidelines. In addition the DoD will conduct discussion on Performance Audit, Sainik School education system and Capacity Building in Defence Acquisitions.

The Department of Defence Production will be bringing issues related to enhancing production and defence exports and indigenization issues. Its issues will include industrial ecosystem and skilled workforce, enhancing Level Playing Field and Quality Reforms

The youngest Department of Military Affairs under the MoD has chosen critical issues of Integrating and optimising Human Resource aspects, Training and Operational issues towards achieving greater synergy and modernisation and capability augmentation of Armed Forces in the realms of strategic domain.

It will also include discussions on measures to identify and abolish colonial practices and obsolete laws and further incorporate the countrys own ethos and practices in the functioning of the Armed Forces.

The DMA was created in December 2019 with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Secretary to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three Services.

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, dealing with the veterans of the armed forces will talk about digital measures and leveraging them for better pension services and other welfare measures for veterans. Resettlement of veterans by improving employability and promotion of entrepreneurship for the start of micro enterprises by veterans will be another issue. It will also talk about improving the health services of the veterans.

The MoD said, The Chintan Shivir will conclude with an open-house session for inviting ideas and suggestions for enhancing organisational efficiency in various departments. The event is being organised in line with the Governments directions to have a real time audit of the objectives achieved till date and carve a way forward towards achieving the desired goals in realistic timelines.

NEW DELHI: Various departments under the Ministry of Defence are getting together in Delhi for a two-day Chintan Shivir to discuss the challenges faced by them. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Sunday said that the brainstorming session will be held on June 19 and 20 to discuss various issues and challenges faced by its departments, with the aim to come out with new ideas for better governance and functioning. The MoD has five departments under it Department of Defence (DoD), Department of Defence Production (DDP), Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) have identified a number of themes, on which eminent subject matter experts will share their views with the officers of the Ministry.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Department of Defence will deliberate on a comprehensive approach to national security, cyber security challenges and national Information Security Policy and Guidelines. In addition the DoD will conduct discussion on Performance Audit, Sainik School education system and Capacity Building in Defence Acquisitions. The Department of Defence Production will be bringing issues related to enhancing production and defence exports and indigenization issues. Its issues will include industrial ecosystem and skilled workforce, enhancing Level Playing Field and Quality Reforms The youngest Department of Military Affairs under the MoD has chosen critical issues of Integrating and optimising Human Resource aspects, Training and Operational issues towards achieving greater synergy and modernisation and capability augmentation of Armed Forces in the realms of strategic domain. It will also include discussions on measures to identify and abolish colonial practices and obsolete laws and further incorporate the countrys own ethos and practices in the functioning of the Armed Forces. The DMA was created in December 2019 with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Secretary to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three Services. The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, dealing with the veterans of the armed forces will talk about digital measures and leveraging them for better pension services and other welfare measures for veterans. Resettlement of veterans by improving employability and promotion of entrepreneurship for the start of micro enterprises by veterans will be another issue. It will also talk about improving the health services of the veterans. The MoD said, The Chintan Shivir will conclude with an open-house session for inviting ideas and suggestions for enhancing organisational efficiency in various departments. The event is being organised in line with the Governments directions to have a real time audit of the objectives achieved till date and carve a way forward towards achieving the desired goals in realistic timelines.
Amit Mukherjee By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The fourth and concluding meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group will begin on Monday at Goa which will be followed by the Tourism Ministerial Meeting.

Interesting side events on cruise tourism have been planned on the first day with a focus on the theme 'Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel', which aims at discussing strategies to promote cruise tourism.

According to V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Tourism, besides focussing on strategies to promote cruise tourism during the meet, the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers Declaration.

The Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress on finalizing the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group. The focus of the discussions at the working groups so far has remained Sustainable Tourism, she said. The last meeting was held in Srinagar between May22-24.

Along the sidelines of the main event on June 20, a national level side event is being organized which will focus on 'Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism', to deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in the country following the principles of sustainability. Multiple facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional and Yachting), perspectives from Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, perspectives from riverine states will be the focus areas of discussion during the event.

Goa is one the best-known global tourist destinations and is the perfect grand finale for the Tourism Working Group meeting of G20 said Vidyavathi on Sunday briefing about the upcoming meet. She said that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, beautiful landscape, and rich culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of tourism working group.

She also added, Under Indias G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs). During the concluding meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations would welcome and endorse the nearly finalized versions of both the document, she said.

The event will see the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event will also witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally.

She also added that focusing on the environment, a side event Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism  the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being held on June 19.

The side event will focus on encouraging engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event will encompass high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions will be followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders and a signing ceremony to welcome the adherence of several organizations to the GTPI.

NEW DELHI: The fourth and concluding meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group will begin on Monday at Goa which will be followed by the Tourism Ministerial Meeting. Interesting side events on cruise tourism have been planned on the first day with a focus on the theme 'Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel', which aims at discussing strategies to promote cruise tourism. According to V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Tourism, besides focussing on strategies to promote cruise tourism during the meet, the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers Declaration.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress on finalizing the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group. The focus of the discussions at the working groups so far has remained Sustainable Tourism, she said. The last meeting was held in Srinagar between May22-24. Along the sidelines of the main event on June 20, a national level side event is being organized which will focus on 'Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism', to deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in the country following the principles of sustainability. Multiple facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional and Yachting), perspectives from Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, perspectives from riverine states will be the focus areas of discussion during the event. Goa is one the best-known global tourist destinations and is the perfect grand finale for the Tourism Working Group meeting of G20 said Vidyavathi on Sunday briefing about the upcoming meet. She said that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, beautiful landscape, and rich culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of tourism working group. She also added, Under Indias G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs). During the concluding meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organizations would welcome and endorse the nearly finalized versions of both the document, she said. The event will see the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event will also witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally. She also added that focusing on the environment, a side event Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism  the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being held on June 19. The side event will focus on encouraging engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event will encompass high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions will be followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders and a signing ceremony to welcome the adherence of several organizations to the GTPI.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. The press service of the Kazakh Kaspi bank has denied information about the presence of visitors in the bank building, Trend reports.

"At the moment, only bank employees are in the branch, there are no customers. Representatives of law enforcement agencies are negotiating with the man who threatens employees. All the forces of the police and the bank are aimed at ensuring that no one is injured," the bank's press service said.

The bank is also asked to take responsibility for the dissemination of any information and not to interfere with the work of law enforcement agencies.

Earlier today an armed man has locked himself in the Kaspi bank building in Kazakhstan.
Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Hitting out at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that sometimes he wondered whether Mann is a Chief Minister or a pilot, as he spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal across the country.

On the other hand, the law and order situation of the state has gone from bad to worse and the illegal drug trade was on the rise. But the CM has no time. Shah was addressing a rally in Gurdaspur as part of BJPs public outreach Sampark se Samarthan to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government.

In my life, I have not seen a government like the one led by AAP which makes hollow promises, said Shah.

The chief minister has only one job: If Kejriwal is Chennai-bound, then the CM goes to Delhi in the aircraft to take him to Chennai. If he (Kejriwal) has to go to Kolkata, then again Mann takes the aircraft to Kolkata. Kejriwals countrywide tour is conducted by the Punjab CM, said the Union Home Minister.

Often I wonder whether he is a chief minister or a pilot. His entire time is consumed by Kejriwals tours. As a result, the law and order in Punjab has gone from bad to worse, Shah said.

People are not safe in Punjab. Drug smuggling is increasing. The problems of farmers are being ignored. However, the chief minister has no time. The oppression of SCs has also increased. A Punjab cabinet minister has been involved in the sexual exploitation of an SC. But no action has been taken.

Attacking the AAP government over its poll promises, Shah said: Mann and Kejriwal had promised Rs 1,000 to every woman in the state, but they are still waiting for that. The promise of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of poor girls is nowhere to be seen, Shah said.

Mann only knows how to issue full-page advertisements. I understand advertisements of the Punjab government in the state, but these advertisements appear in other states, which is depleting Punjabs treasury and voters will take note of it during elections.

BJP MP from Gurdaspur Sunny Deol did not attend Shahs rally as his son Karan Deol got married in Mumbai with his long-time girlfriend Drisha Acharya. Shah listed various achievements of the Modi government at the Centre in nine years, saying India is now known as a growth engine. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also attended the rally.

CHANDIGARH: Hitting out at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that sometimes he wondered whether Mann is a Chief Minister or a pilot, as he spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal across the country. On the other hand, the law and order situation of the state has gone from bad to worse and the illegal drug trade was on the rise. But the CM has no time. Shah was addressing a rally in Gurdaspur as part of BJPs public outreach Sampark se Samarthan to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government. In my life, I have not seen a government like the one led by AAP which makes hollow promises, said Shah.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The chief minister has only one job: If Kejriwal is Chennai-bound, then the CM goes to Delhi in the aircraft to take him to Chennai. If he (Kejriwal) has to go to Kolkata, then again Mann takes the aircraft to Kolkata. Kejriwals countrywide tour is conducted by the Punjab CM, said the Union Home Minister. Often I wonder whether he is a chief minister or a pilot. His entire time is consumed by Kejriwals tours. As a result, the law and order in Punjab has gone from bad to worse, Shah said. People are not safe in Punjab. Drug smuggling is increasing. The problems of farmers are being ignored. However, the chief minister has no time. The oppression of SCs has also increased. A Punjab cabinet minister has been involved in the sexual exploitation of an SC. But no action has been taken. Attacking the AAP government over its poll promises, Shah said: Mann and Kejriwal had promised Rs 1,000 to every woman in the state, but they are still waiting for that. The promise of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of poor girls is nowhere to be seen, Shah said. Mann only knows how to issue full-page advertisements. I understand advertisements of the Punjab government in the state, but these advertisements appear in other states, which is depleting Punjabs treasury and voters will take note of it during elections. BJP MP from Gurdaspur Sunny Deol did not attend Shahs rally as his son Karan Deol got married in Mumbai with his long-time girlfriend Drisha Acharya. Shah listed various achievements of the Modi government at the Centre in nine years, saying India is now known as a growth engine. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also attended the rally.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said a UPA-3 government coming to power in 2024 is "very much possible" provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda reflecting it and are ready for "give and take" when fielding candidates to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Sibal, a prominent Opposition voice and a former Congress leader, also said that instead of a common minimum programme, the Opposition parties should talk about a "new vision for India".

His remarks come days before a crucial meeting of Opposition parties, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, where top Opposition leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, among others, are set to deliberate on the way forward for forming an anti-BJP coalition for the Lok Sabha polls.

In an interview with PTI, Sibal said the Congress' win in Karnataka assembly polls was an example that the BJP can be defeated but cautioned against making sweeping statements for 2024, asserting that a Lok Sabha election is fought on different grounds altogether.

The former Union minister also insisted that the fight for 2024 was not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but "against the ideology that he seeks to perpetuate"

Sibal said UPA-3 could be a "reality" in 2024 provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda which reflects it and that they move forward with the mindset that there "needs to be a lot of give and take".

"There needs to be 'give and take' at the time of distribution of tickets in those states and constituencies where two or more political parties' candidates are vying for the same seat. Once these three things are agreed upon, I think UPA-3 is very much possible," Sibal told PTI over phone from New York.

Asked if it would be practically possible to put up joint candidates against the BJP when there are serious differences in Opposition ranks, Sibal said talk of differences was an "overstatement", citing that in many of the states, certain political parties are truly dominant.

"For example the Congress is the real opposition to BJP in many states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In these states there is no issue. Among states where there are non-Congress Opposition governments, such as in West Bengal we all know that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is the dominant partner. There will be a very few constituencies in West Bengal where there will be any kind of conflict," he said.

Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, there will not be any problem as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have fought together many times without any real conflict, Sibal noted.

"In a state like Telangana, there may be a problem. In Andhra Pradesh, it is unlikely that there would be any Opposition coalition because of a possible three-way contest involving Jagan's party (YSRCP), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)," he said.

"In Goa again there will be a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, the real Opposition is represented by the Samajwadi Party. The Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress at best will be junior partners. BSP's Mayawati is not playing ball so there is no possibility of an alliance as she has publicly stated that she will be putting up candidates in all parliamentary constituencies. In Bihar, again Congress has no real presence. So I don't think there is any problem on that front," Sibal argued.

"Once the three conditionalities that I have put forward come through, seat sharing won't present a real problem," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister over his recent remarks on political stability in recent years and its importance for the country, Sibal said he would like to question the assumption of the PM.

"The kind of instability that we have had in the Modi years was not seen during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) period," he alleged.

"What is the stability Modi ji has provided? See what is happening in Manipur. This Central government, through tactics which to say the least are unsavoury and clearly corrupt, displaced elected governments. Destabilising elected governments does not provide stability in governance. This dispensation has sown the seeds of economic, political and social instability in the country," he alleged.

Sibal claimed that UPA I and II governments provided a fair amount of political stability.

Besides, real growth happened in those years, he added.

Asked if the Opposition parties should leave the leadership question to after the Lok Sabha polls or put up a joint PM candidate, he said it was too early to talk about these things.

"The parties when they get together know best how to move forward. This is not something I wish to comment on," Sibal said.

On whether hammering out a common minimum programme should be a priority for Opposition parties, Sibal said, "To talk about a common minimum programme is a misnomer. What we should be talking about is an alternative agenda of the Opposition; a new vision to take India forward. My country requires a paradigm shift in the way India should move ahead and a new vision for India. Instead of talking of a common minimum programme, we should talk about a new vision for India."

On Banerjee's reported remarks that the Congress should not expect any help in the Lok Sabha polls in her state as long as it is aligned with the CPI(M), Sibal said, "I don't think I should react to statements made by leaders of political parties. Leaders will be sitting together on June 23. I think it will take time to resolve such issues. Resolving them should not be a problem."

Asked whether the Congress should be the centre of an anti-BJP front, Sibal said it was too early to talk about these things, but pointed out that the grand old party was the "only national party" in the Opposition besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he noted had the status of a national party but was without a footprint outside a few states.

"The question as to who should take the lead, how this coalition of opposition parties needs to move ahead, is something that has to be addressed," he said.

On whether Opposition unity is progressing in the right direction, Sibal said it was too early to tell but added that "the fact that key opposition parties are meeting on 23rd June is reflective of the desire of the Opposition to come together to face Modi in 2024".

Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and UPA 2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support.

He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice.

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said a UPA-3 government coming to power in 2024 is "very much possible" provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda reflecting it and are ready for "give and take" when fielding candidates to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Sibal, a prominent Opposition voice and a former Congress leader, also said that instead of a common minimum programme, the Opposition parties should talk about a "new vision for India". His remarks come days before a crucial meeting of Opposition parties, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, where top Opposition leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, among others, are set to deliberate on the way forward for forming an anti-BJP coalition for the Lok Sabha polls.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In an interview with PTI, Sibal said the Congress' win in Karnataka assembly polls was an example that the BJP can be defeated but cautioned against making sweeping statements for 2024, asserting that a Lok Sabha election is fought on different grounds altogether. The former Union minister also insisted that the fight for 2024 was not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but "against the ideology that he seeks to perpetuate" Sibal said UPA-3 could be a "reality" in 2024 provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda which reflects it and that they move forward with the mindset that there "needs to be a lot of give and take". "There needs to be 'give and take' at the time of distribution of tickets in those states and constituencies where two or more political parties' candidates are vying for the same seat. Once these three things are agreed upon, I think UPA-3 is very much possible," Sibal told PTI over phone from New York. Asked if it would be practically possible to put up joint candidates against the BJP when there are serious differences in Opposition ranks, Sibal said talk of differences was an "overstatement", citing that in many of the states, certain political parties are truly dominant. "For example the Congress is the real opposition to BJP in many states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In these states there is no issue. Among states where there are non-Congress Opposition governments, such as in West Bengal we all know that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is the dominant partner. There will be a very few constituencies in West Bengal where there will be any kind of conflict," he said. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, there will not be any problem as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have fought together many times without any real conflict, Sibal noted. "In a state like Telangana, there may be a problem. In Andhra Pradesh, it is unlikely that there would be any Opposition coalition because of a possible three-way contest involving Jagan's party (YSRCP), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)," he said. "In Goa again there will be a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, the real Opposition is represented by the Samajwadi Party. The Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress at best will be junior partners. BSP's Mayawati is not playing ball so there is no possibility of an alliance as she has publicly stated that she will be putting up candidates in all parliamentary constituencies. In Bihar, again Congress has no real presence. So I don't think there is any problem on that front," Sibal argued. "Once the three conditionalities that I have put forward come through, seat sharing won't present a real problem," he said. Hitting out at the prime minister over his recent remarks on political stability in recent years and its importance for the country, Sibal said he would like to question the assumption of the PM. "The kind of instability that we have had in the Modi years was not seen during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) period," he alleged. "What is the stability Modi ji has provided? See what is happening in Manipur. This Central government, through tactics which to say the least are unsavoury and clearly corrupt, displaced elected governments. Destabilising elected governments does not provide stability in governance. This dispensation has sown the seeds of economic, political and social instability in the country," he alleged. Sibal claimed that UPA I and II governments provided a fair amount of political stability. Besides, real growth happened in those years, he added. Asked if the Opposition parties should leave the leadership question to after the Lok Sabha polls or put up a joint PM candidate, he said it was too early to talk about these things. "The parties when they get together know best how to move forward. This is not something I wish to comment on," Sibal said. On whether hammering out a common minimum programme should be a priority for Opposition parties, Sibal said, "To talk about a common minimum programme is a misnomer. What we should be talking about is an alternative agenda of the Opposition; a new vision to take India forward. My country requires a paradigm shift in the way India should move ahead and a new vision for India. Instead of talking of a common minimum programme, we should talk about a new vision for India." On Banerjee's reported remarks that the Congress should not expect any help in the Lok Sabha polls in her state as long as it is aligned with the CPI(M), Sibal said, "I don't think I should react to statements made by leaders of political parties. Leaders will be sitting together on June 23. I think it will take time to resolve such issues. Resolving them should not be a problem." Asked whether the Congress should be the centre of an anti-BJP front, Sibal said it was too early to talk about these things, but pointed out that the grand old party was the "only national party" in the Opposition besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he noted had the status of a national party but was without a footprint outside a few states. "The question as to who should take the lead, how this coalition of opposition parties needs to move ahead, is something that has to be addressed," he said. On whether Opposition unity is progressing in the right direction, Sibal said it was too early to tell but added that "the fact that key opposition parties are meeting on 23rd June is reflective of the desire of the Opposition to come together to face Modi in 2024". Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and UPA 2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: Congress leader Ajay Singh has questioned Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan about the great contributions of his sons, which have prompted the naming of two parks in Budhni after them.

The leader has alleged that a park named after the countrys first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has been renamed after the Chief Ministers elder son Kartikey Singh Chouhan.

It is to be noted that Budhni is the Chief Ministers assembly constituency.

The role of independent Indias first PM in the country's independence and nations rebuilding is peerless. Where does Kartikey (CMs son) stand in front of Nehrujis contribution to the nation, has he (Kartikey) become bigger than the country's first PM, former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ajay Singh said on Saturday evening.

If the local municipality in Budhni renamed the park out of flattery to the CM, he shouldve intervened and stopped them. Its not just that Nehru Udyan has been renamed Kartikey Udyan, but the local municipality named another park in the same Budhni town after the CMs younger son Kunal. Can the MP CM tell us about the great contributions of his two sons, which have prompted the naming of the two parks in Budhni after them? This trend of naming public properties after living individuals is really dangerous, Singh added.

However, state BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi tried to play down the matter, What is the objection, if local people in Budhni named those parks out of affection? The former LoP is seeing everything from the Congresss perspective. He sees Nehru, Firoz Gandhi and Indira Gandhi everywhere and his (Singhs) party believes that everything should be named after its leaders.

The senior state Congress leader has raised the issue more than a decade after the park was actually renovated and renamed Kartikey Udyan.



The other park which is named Kunal Park is a recent construction.

The two parks have a 500-metre distance between them.

The Nehru Udyan-turned-Kartikey Udyan also houses a replica of Ashoka's lion capital.

According to former municipal councillor Sanjay Sharma, who is the lone Congress leader to have raised the same issue, the Nehru Udyan was built in Budhni by the local urban body in the 1980s.

Then, the Congress government led by Motilal Vora was in power and Budhni was represented by the same partys Chouhan Singh in the Vidhan Sabha.

The park, which was once lush, has now become unseemly as it is used as a venue to host private events including weddings.

It was in 2012, while the present CM was in power, that the local municipality rejuvenated the Nehru Udyan, by spending lakhs of rupees.



The rejuvenated park was since then known as Kartikey Udyan. Barring me and some local Congress cadres, nobody else opposed the renaming of the park in the name of CMs elder son at that time, Sharma told this newspaper on Sunday.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the fifth-time sitting BJP MLA from Budhni seat of Sehore district, which also houses his native village Jait.

The Congress had earlier attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society.



BHOPAL: Congress leader Ajay Singh has questioned Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan about the great contributions of his sons, which have prompted the naming of two parks in Budhni after them. The leader has alleged that a park named after the countrys first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has been renamed after the Chief Ministers elder son Kartikey Singh Chouhan. It is to be noted that Budhni is the Chief Ministers assembly constituency. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The role of independent Indias first PM in the country's independence and nations rebuilding is peerless. Where does Kartikey (CMs son) stand in front of Nehrujis contribution to the nation, has he (Kartikey) become bigger than the country's first PM, former Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ajay Singh said on Saturday evening. If the local municipality in Budhni renamed the park out of flattery to the CM, he shouldve intervened and stopped them. Its not just that Nehru Udyan has been renamed Kartikey Udyan, but the local municipality named another park in the same Budhni town after the CMs younger son Kunal. Can the MP CM tell us about the great contributions of his two sons, which have prompted the naming of the two parks in Budhni after them? This trend of naming public properties after living individuals is really dangerous, Singh added. However, state BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi tried to play down the matter, What is the objection, if local people in Budhni named those parks out of affection? The former LoP is seeing everything from the Congresss perspective. He sees Nehru, Firoz Gandhi and Indira Gandhi everywhere and his (Singhs) party believes that everything should be named after its leaders. The senior state Congress leader has raised the issue more than a decade after the park was actually renovated and renamed Kartikey Udyan. The other park which is named Kunal Park is a recent construction. The two parks have a 500-metre distance between them. The Nehru Udyan-turned-Kartikey Udyan also houses a replica of Ashoka's lion capital. According to former municipal councillor Sanjay Sharma, who is the lone Congress leader to have raised the same issue, the Nehru Udyan was built in Budhni by the local urban body in the 1980s. Then, the Congress government led by Motilal Vora was in power and Budhni was represented by the same partys Chouhan Singh in the Vidhan Sabha. The park, which was once lush, has now become unseemly as it is used as a venue to host private events including weddings. It was in 2012, while the present CM was in power, that the local municipality rejuvenated the Nehru Udyan, by spending lakhs of rupees. The rejuvenated park was since then known as Kartikey Udyan. Barring me and some local Congress cadres, nobody else opposed the renaming of the park in the name of CMs elder son at that time, Sharma told this newspaper on Sunday. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the fifth-time sitting BJP MLA from Budhni seat of Sehore district, which also houses his native village Jait. The Congress had earlier attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over violence in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that "his government is asleep at wheel."

He also asked the Centre to allow an all-party delegation to visit the northeastern state.

In a tweet, targeting the Prime Minister, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Your 'Mann ki Baat' should have first included 'Manipur ki baat', but in vain."

He said the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing. "You have not spoken a word. You have not chaired a single meeting. You have yet not met an all-party delegation. Looks like your government does not consider Manipur as a part of India. This is unacceptable," he said.

"Your government is asleep at the wheel while the state burns. Follow the Raj dharma. Act firm on all elements that disturb the peace. Restore normalcy by taking citizen groups in confidence. Allow an all-party delegation to visit the state," Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur."

"Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question," Ramesh said.

The remarks of Congress leaders came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again maintained silence on Manipur during his Mann Ki Baat.

For around 50 days now, ethnic violence continues in Manipur, where over 100 people have died since May 3.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast programme on Sunday, PM Modi said that no one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years, is becoming an example today

NEW DELHI: Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over violence in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that "his government is asleep at wheel." He also asked the Centre to allow an all-party delegation to visit the northeastern state. In a tweet, targeting the Prime Minister, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Your 'Mann ki Baat' should have first included 'Manipur ki baat', but in vain."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing. "You have not spoken a word. You have not chaired a single meeting. You have yet not met an all-party delegation. Looks like your government does not consider Manipur as a part of India. This is unacceptable," he said. "Your government is asleep at the wheel while the state burns. Follow the Raj dharma. Act firm on all elements that disturb the peace. Restore normalcy by taking citizen groups in confidence. Allow an all-party delegation to visit the state," Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur." "Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question," Ramesh said. The remarks of Congress leaders came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again maintained silence on Manipur during his Mann Ki Baat. For around 50 days now, ethnic violence continues in Manipur, where over 100 people have died since May 3. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast programme on Sunday, PM Modi said that no one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years, is becoming an example today
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday condemned the ongoing violence in Manipur and made a public appeal to the state government, local administration, police, military and central agencies to help restore peace immediately in the state.

The RSSs appeal came at a time when the Opposition and larger section of the people of Manipur are demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing violence in the state.

The continuous violence that is going on in Manipur for the last 45 days is extremely worrisome. The violence and uncertainty that started in Manipur after a protest rally organised in Churachandpur on May 3 at the time of Lai Haraoba festival is condemnable, the RSSs Sarkaryawah(General secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale said in the statement shared on the official Twitter handle of the organisation.

He said it is "very unfortunate that the spate of unrest and violence that erupted afterwards among those who have been living a peaceful life with mutual harmony and cooperation for centuries has not yet stopped".

Expressing solidarity with displaced people and victims of violence, Hosabale said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stands with the displaced persons and other victims of the Manipur crisis, "numbering more than 50,000 during persisting this period of terrible grief."

The RSS is of the considered opinion that there is no place for violence and hatred in a democratic setup, and also believes that the solution of any problem is possible only through mutual dialogue and expression of brotherhood in a peaceful atmosphere, Hosabale said in the statement.

He further said that the RSS appeals to everyone to overcome the deficit of trust among each other which is the cause of the present crisis.

It requires comprehensive efforts from both communities. It can be resolved by addressing the sense of insecurity and helplessness among the Meiteis and genuine concerns of the Kuki community simultaneously, he said.

The RSS also made an appeal for peace to the entire civil society, political groups of Manipur and common people to take every possible initiative to put an end to the present chaotic and violent situation and also ensure safety of human life and permanent peace in the state of Manipur. According to a conservative figure, more than 100 people have so far lost their life in the ongoing Manipur violence besides massive damages done to public and government property.

Congress takes dig at PM over 'silence' on Manipur, asks if he 'outsourced' appeal for peace to RSS

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for issuing an appeal for peace in Manipur "after 45 days" "The RSS' well-known duplicity is in full display as its divisive ideology and polarising activities are changing the very nature of a diverse NorthEast, of which Manipur is one tragic example," he alleged.

While slamming the PM's "continuing silence", on the violence in the state, Jairam Ramesh asked if the prime minister had "outsourced" the appeal to the organisation that "moulded him".

NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday condemned the ongoing violence in Manipur and made a public appeal to the state government, local administration, police, military and central agencies to help restore peace immediately in the state. The RSSs appeal came at a time when the Opposition and larger section of the people of Manipur are demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing violence in the state. The continuous violence that is going on in Manipur for the last 45 days is extremely worrisome. The violence and uncertainty that started in Manipur after a protest rally organised in Churachandpur on May 3 at the time of Lai Haraoba festival is condemnable, the RSSs Sarkaryawah(General secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale said in the statement shared on the official Twitter handle of the organisation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said it is "very unfortunate that the spate of unrest and violence that erupted afterwards among those who have been living a peaceful life with mutual harmony and cooperation for centuries has not yet stopped". Expressing solidarity with displaced people and victims of violence, Hosabale said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stands with the displaced persons and other victims of the Manipur crisis, "numbering more than 50,000 during persisting this period of terrible grief." The RSS is of the considered opinion that there is no place for violence and hatred in a democratic setup, and also believes that the solution of any problem is possible only through mutual dialogue and expression of brotherhood in a peaceful atmosphere, Hosabale said in the statement. He further said that the RSS appeals to everyone to overcome the deficit of trust among each other which is the cause of the present crisis. It requires comprehensive efforts from both communities. It can be resolved by addressing the sense of insecurity and helplessness among the Meiteis and genuine concerns of the Kuki community simultaneously, he said. The RSS also made an appeal for peace to the entire civil society, political groups of Manipur and common people to take every possible initiative to put an end to the present chaotic and violent situation and also ensure safety of human life and permanent peace in the state of Manipur. According to a conservative figure, more than 100 people have so far lost their life in the ongoing Manipur violence besides massive damages done to public and government property. Congress takes dig at PM over 'silence' on Manipur, asks if he 'outsourced' appeal for peace to RSS Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for issuing an appeal for peace in Manipur "after 45 days" "The RSS' well-known duplicity is in full display as its divisive ideology and polarising activities are changing the very nature of a diverse NorthEast, of which Manipur is one tragic example," he alleged. While slamming the PM's "continuing silence", on the violence in the state, Jairam Ramesh asked if the prime minister had "outsourced" the appeal to the organisation that "moulded him".
Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Two sisters aged 29 and 30 years were shot dead in full public view in southwest Delhis R K Puram area in the small hours of Sunday possibly over an argument on a loan given by their brother.

The police said that following the brutal murder, they have arrested three of the accused people, identified as Arjun, Michael, and Dev, while their accomplices are still at large.

Sharing details of the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Manoj C said the police had received a call at 4:40 am in RK Puram police station stating that some people had shot the callers sisters at Ambedkar Basti.

The women, Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29), were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. The incident was caught on camera by some people in which two men could be seen firing shots at the women.Another police officer told this newspaper that one of the accused, Dev, used to work with the brother of the deceased women, Lalit, and had borrowed some money from him.

Last night, Lalit went to the place of Sonu (where Dev was working) to demand his money back, leading to a heated argument. Sonu and Dev later threatened Lalit. A few hours after this incident, around 2:30 a.m., Sonu, Dev, Arjun, Michael, and others gathered outside Lalits house, with Arjun leading the group, the official said.

The accused then began hurling stones at Lalits house and broke the door with an iron rod. Seeing this, Lalits sisters tried to intervene. However, the assailants pulled out pistols and started firing indiscriminately. Lalit fled from the scene, while his sisters sustained gunshot wounds and collapsed on the road.

A police officer told TNIE that one of the accused, Dev, used to work with the brother of the deceased women, Lalit, and had borrowed some money from him

NEW DELHI: Two sisters aged 29 and 30 years were shot dead in full public view in southwest Delhis R K Puram area in the small hours of Sunday possibly over an argument on a loan given by their brother. The police said that following the brutal murder, they have arrested three of the accused people, identified as Arjun, Michael, and Dev, while their accomplices are still at large. Sharing details of the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Manoj C said the police had received a call at 4:40 am in RK Puram police station stating that some people had shot the callers sisters at Ambedkar Basti.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The women, Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29), were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. The incident was caught on camera by some people in which two men could be seen firing shots at the women.Another police officer told this newspaper that one of the accused, Dev, used to work with the brother of the deceased women, Lalit, and had borrowed some money from him. Last night, Lalit went to the place of Sonu (where Dev was working) to demand his money back, leading to a heated argument. Sonu and Dev later threatened Lalit. A few hours after this incident, around 2:30 a.m., Sonu, Dev, Arjun, Michael, and others gathered outside Lalits house, with Arjun leading the group, the official said. The accused then began hurling stones at Lalits house and broke the door with an iron rod. Seeing this, Lalits sisters tried to intervene. However, the assailants pulled out pistols and started firing indiscriminately. Lalit fled from the scene, while his sisters sustained gunshot wounds and collapsed on the road. A police officer told TNIE that one of the accused, Dev, used to work with the brother of the deceased women, Lalit, and had borrowed some money from him
By PTI

KOLKATA: Hours after paying a visit to violence-hit Canning in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday night launched a help room at Raj Bhavan to respond to the grievances of the public, an official statement said.

Describing the help room as a "Peace Room", the statement said it was opened keeping "in view the numerous representations received from citizens on criminal intimidation in pre-poll Bengal."

Rural polls are scheduled in the state on July 8.

The statement said the help room will refer issues to the government and the State Election Commissioner for appropriate action.

"In continuation to the frequent field visits by the Governor to violence-affected areas and in view of the numerous representations received from the citizens on criminal intimidation in pre-poll Bengal, a help room has been opened in Raj Bhavan to respond to the grievances of the public," it said.

People can contact the 'Peace Room' at OSD2w.b.governor@gmail.com or can contact through a 24x7 helpline 033-22001641, it said.

KOLKATA: Hours after paying a visit to violence-hit Canning in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday night launched a help room at Raj Bhavan to respond to the grievances of the public, an official statement said. Describing the help room as a "Peace Room", the statement said it was opened keeping "in view the numerous representations received from citizens on criminal intimidation in pre-poll Bengal." Rural polls are scheduled in the state on July 8.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The statement said the help room will refer issues to the government and the State Election Commissioner for appropriate action. "In continuation to the frequent field visits by the Governor to violence-affected areas and in view of the numerous representations received from the citizens on criminal intimidation in pre-poll Bengal, a help room has been opened in Raj Bhavan to respond to the grievances of the public," it said. People can contact the 'Peace Room' at OSD2w.b.governor@gmail.com or can contact through a 24x7 helpline 033-22001641, it said.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: Alleged honour killing of an 18-year-old girl and her 21-year-old paramour by the girls father has been reported in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.

Cops in Ambah area of Morena district along with an SDERF team are searching for the two bodies in the Chambal river, but are yet to trace them.

According to sub divisional officer police (SDOP) in Morena district, Parmal Singh Mehra, while the girls father Rajpal Singh Tomar had on June 3 lodged at the Ambah police station, report about her missing daughter Shivani Tomar, the youth Radheyshyam Tomars family had lodged a similar complaint at the same police station the next day.

Sustained probe and questioning of both families, finally saw the girls father Rajpal Singh Tomar spill the beans about having murdered Shivani and Radheyshyam, after catching them together. Both bodies were subsequently dumped in the Chambal river, the SDOP added.

While the girl Shivani hailed from Ratan Basai village, the youth Radheyshyam hailed from Barbai village in Morena district only. Both hailed from Kshatriya caste.

Radheyshyams family said that the duo had eloped last month and were later found in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. On June 1, the girls father had rung Radheyshyams family and threatened extreme action, if they didnt ask their son to mend his ways and send him elsewhere.

BHOPAL: Alleged honour killing of an 18-year-old girl and her 21-year-old paramour by the girls father has been reported in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. Cops in Ambah area of Morena district along with an SDERF team are searching for the two bodies in the Chambal river, but are yet to trace them. According to sub divisional officer police (SDOP) in Morena district, Parmal Singh Mehra, while the girls father Rajpal Singh Tomar had on June 3 lodged at the Ambah police station, report about her missing daughter Shivani Tomar, the youth Radheyshyam Tomars family had lodged a similar complaint at the same police station the next day.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sustained probe and questioning of both families, finally saw the girls father Rajpal Singh Tomar spill the beans about having murdered Shivani and Radheyshyam, after catching them together. Both bodies were subsequently dumped in the Chambal river, the SDOP added. While the girl Shivani hailed from Ratan Basai village, the youth Radheyshyam hailed from Barbai village in Morena district only. Both hailed from Kshatriya caste. Radheyshyams family said that the duo had eloped last month and were later found in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. On June 1, the girls father had rung Radheyshyams family and threatened extreme action, if they didnt ask their son to mend his ways and send him elsewhere.
By Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Activists of Rudra Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged a protest at Kalsi Gate market against a Muslim man for selling items used for worshipping Hindu deities. The shop was forced to close amid massive protests.

Sensing that the situation was deteriorating, the police of Kalsi police station took the Rudra Sena leader into custody.

After being released from the police station, Rakesh Tomar 'Uttarakhandi' told TNIE, "The dairy farm shop is allotted in the name of a woman. About four months ago, was rented out against the rules to a person belonging to a particular religion. Rakesh Tomar alleged, "The said person belonging to a particular religion is selling items of worship material by hiding his real identity. Due to which the faith of Hindu religion is being hurt".

Kalsi police station in-charge Ravindra Negi told this reporter, "No one can be allowed to spoil the atmosphere of the city. Rakesh Tomar has been released conditionally after instructions". After this, talks have also been held with the dairy management in this regard. The management has been asked to settle the dispute related to the shop.

Activists of Rudra Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, led by Rudrasena founder Rakesh 'Uttarakhandi', gathered at Kalsi Bazar on Saturday where they staged a sit-in. Though the police managed to end the agitation after some time, the situation has remained calm but tense since then.

Rakesh Tomar of Rudra Sena said, "The meat shop in the market is being operated by hiding the identity of a particular religion. There is no 'halal' board outside the shop. "Such shops will not be allowed to operate under any circumstances," he said. "If the dairy management does not cancel the allotment of the shop within seven days, the agitation will be launched again", added Tomar.

DEHRADUN: Activists of Rudra Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged a protest at Kalsi Gate market against a Muslim man for selling items used for worshipping Hindu deities. The shop was forced to close amid massive protests. Sensing that the situation was deteriorating, the police of Kalsi police station took the Rudra Sena leader into custody. After being released from the police station, Rakesh Tomar 'Uttarakhandi' told TNIE, "The dairy farm shop is allotted in the name of a woman. About four months ago, was rented out against the rules to a person belonging to a particular religion. Rakesh Tomar alleged, "The said person belonging to a particular religion is selling items of worship material by hiding his real identity. Due to which the faith of Hindu religion is being hurt".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kalsi police station in-charge Ravindra Negi told this reporter, "No one can be allowed to spoil the atmosphere of the city. Rakesh Tomar has been released conditionally after instructions". After this, talks have also been held with the dairy management in this regard. The management has been asked to settle the dispute related to the shop. Activists of Rudra Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, led by Rudrasena founder Rakesh 'Uttarakhandi', gathered at Kalsi Bazar on Saturday where they staged a sit-in. Though the police managed to end the agitation after some time, the situation has remained calm but tense since then. Rakesh Tomar of Rudra Sena said, "The meat shop in the market is being operated by hiding the identity of a particular religion. There is no 'halal' board outside the shop. "Such shops will not be allowed to operate under any circumstances," he said. "If the dairy management does not cancel the allotment of the shop within seven days, the agitation will be launched again", added Tomar.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Beleaguered Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh called up his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga on Sunday and sought his help to douse the flames of ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis.

Zoramthanga is a Mizo and Mizos and Kukis share the same ancestry, culture and tradition. Thousands of displaced Kukis of Manipur are taking shelter in Mizoram. Zoramthanga broke the news about Singh seeking his help.

The Chief Minister of Manipur spoke to me over the phone at 12:30 PM; regarding the #Manipur ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence, the Mizoram CM tweeted.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri @NBirenSingh spoke to me over the phone at 12:30 PM; regarding the #Manipur ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence. Furthermore, the request is to take means pic.twitter.com/9a2fN8wFho  Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) June 18, 2023

He further wrote that Singh sought his help also to ensure that the Meiteis living in Mizoram are safe.

Zoramthanga apprised Singh that the Mizoram government has already taken certain steps and measures to abate the Manipur violence.

He said the people of Mizoram are empathetic towards the Meiteis and the state government and NGOs took measures for peace and security. He said the Meiteis living in Mizoram have nothing to fear.

We shall go on to promote safety and security for them, Zoramthanga assured.

No incident of violence was reported from any part of Manipur on Sunday even as the Central and state forces continued with conducting joint marches.

Protestors, including women, in Imphal vented their ire against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They congregated at a marketplace and destroyed a radio during a symbolic protest against Mann Ki Baat. We don't want to listen to Mann Ki Baat, they shouted.

In the Imphal Valley on Saturday night, hundreds of women holding fire torches took part in a protest against the violence. They demanded the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in the state and the abrogation of a suspension of operation agreement that the government had signed with some Kuki insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum said 44 days elapsed since the violence erupted but Modi had not made any comment on the crisis.

Law and order have completely collapsed in Manipur and yet, Presidents Rule is not imposed in the state, the forum said.

It requested the Manipur CM and Union home minister Amit Shah to address the ethnic cleansing faced by the indigenous Kuki-Zo tribes.

Over 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic clashes which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March which was organised by a tribal students body to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis  the states largest community  in the Scheduled Tribes list.

GUWAHATI: Beleaguered Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh called up his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga on Sunday and sought his help to douse the flames of ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis. Zoramthanga is a Mizo and Mizos and Kukis share the same ancestry, culture and tradition. Thousands of displaced Kukis of Manipur are taking shelter in Mizoram. Zoramthanga broke the news about Singh seeking his help. The Chief Minister of Manipur spoke to me over the phone at 12:30 PM; regarding the #Manipur ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence, the Mizoram CM tweeted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri @NBirenSingh spoke to me over the phone at 12:30 PM; regarding the #Manipur ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence. Furthermore, the request is to take means pic.twitter.com/9a2fN8wFho  Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) June 18, 2023 He further wrote that Singh sought his help also to ensure that the Meiteis living in Mizoram are safe. Zoramthanga apprised Singh that the Mizoram government has already taken certain steps and measures to abate the Manipur violence. He said the people of Mizoram are empathetic towards the Meiteis and the state government and NGOs took measures for peace and security. He said the Meiteis living in Mizoram have nothing to fear. We shall go on to promote safety and security for them, Zoramthanga assured. No incident of violence was reported from any part of Manipur on Sunday even as the Central and state forces continued with conducting joint marches. Protestors, including women, in Imphal vented their ire against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They congregated at a marketplace and destroyed a radio during a symbolic protest against Mann Ki Baat. We don't want to listen to Mann Ki Baat, they shouted. In the Imphal Valley on Saturday night, hundreds of women holding fire torches took part in a protest against the violence. They demanded the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in the state and the abrogation of a suspension of operation agreement that the government had signed with some Kuki insurgent groups. Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum said 44 days elapsed since the violence erupted but Modi had not made any comment on the crisis. Law and order have completely collapsed in Manipur and yet, Presidents Rule is not imposed in the state, the forum said. It requested the Manipur CM and Union home minister Amit Shah to address the ethnic cleansing faced by the indigenous Kuki-Zo tribes. Over 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic clashes which broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March which was organised by a tribal students body to oppose the move for the inclusion of Meiteis  the states largest community  in the Scheduled Tribes list.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. Professional negotiators are talking with a hostage-taker at Kaspi Bank, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports.

According to the information, there are reportedly 7 hostages in the custody of the perpetrator.

"We also inform that the personnel of the 'Arlan' special forces unit are present at the scene. Military personnel have not been involved in the special operation. We urge citizens to rely on information from official sources. We appeal to the media not to spread unverified information," noted the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Law enforcement officers also request residents of the capital to remain calm and allow competent authorities to carry out their work.
G Janardhana Rao By

Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: Passion for travel has driven him to join the travel and tourism degree course. Twenty-one-year-old B Sai Sampath continued his passion to explore India through bicycle expedition and also to spread the message of Say no to drugs. He undertook the cycle expedition to cover the three borders of the country - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

Narrating his experiences to TNIE, Sampath said he started his bicycle expedition from his home at Parawada and it was formally flagged off at Lankapalli Bullayya College on May 8. He reached the final destination of Nepal border on June 2, covering 2,010 km in 25 days.

Though his journey was full of ecstasy and also agony, he thoroughly enjoyed it as he interacted with various sections of people in different parts of the country.

In the first eight days of his expedition, he could pedal only 60 km a day due to hot and humid weather. After Bhadrak in Odisha, he picked up pace and covered 90 to 100 km a day. In between, there was rain induced by the cyclone. He braved the weather and continued the onward journey with a grit to complete the expedition as per schedule.

Every kilometre of his expedition was recorded in an app tracker to spread his mission against drugs. He had experience of short duration rides, before embarking on a cycle expedition, to Kanyakumari in February last year. Later, he went on a 125 cc motorcycle expedition from Visakhapatnam to Pakistan border and went to Jammu and Kashmir before returning to Visakhapatnam in June last year, he informed. I have faced language problem. I had to use sign language to convey to people in North Odisha and Northern States, he said.

He carried a camping tent, laptop, a small camping stove and a cylinder along with him. Sampath said he received a great support from the management of his Lankapalli Bullayya College. The college management encouraged him when he proposed the expedition and gave him `20,000 each for two expeditions earlier.

His expedition was a true experience for his course curriculum. En route, people gave water bottles and at some places food. He stayed at petrol pumps during night on most of the days. There was a stream of trucks from AP going to North Bengal and Bangladesh border carrying frozen fish and the drivers who are mostly Telugus, received him warmly and enquired about his experience. He ran into trouble as the gears of his bicycle got stuck. However, a Telugu man Santosh came to his rescue at Kharagpur and hosted him for two days till his bicycle was repaired. Santosh took him to Dhonis house and stadium where he practised, Sampath recounted.

He reached Bangladesh border on the 16th day of his expedition, where he met the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Sampath said their brotherly treatment of him was the most memorable part of the journey. He said he was surprised at the sight of most BSF personnel, who hail from Visakhapatnam and North Andhra at the border. They took them to the BSF camp on Bangladesh border and he enjoyed his stay with them, Sampath said.

He reached Ranaghat next, covering Debagram, Morgram, Malda, Raiganj, Islampur and Jalpaiguri. On the 24th day, he reached Bhutan border covering 141 km that day, the highest in a day he cycled on this expedition. The next and final day of the long awaited journey, June 2, Sampath finally visited his last stop, the Nepal border.

He said he previously completed a motorcycle trip from Visakhapatnam- Ladakh- Kanyakumari and back to Visakhapatnam with a motto Soil Conservation.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Passion for travel has driven him to join the travel and tourism degree course. Twenty-one-year-old B Sai Sampath continued his passion to explore India through bicycle expedition and also to spread the message of Say no to drugs. He undertook the cycle expedition to cover the three borders of the country - Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Narrating his experiences to TNIE, Sampath said he started his bicycle expedition from his home at Parawada and it was formally flagged off at Lankapalli Bullayya College on May 8. He reached the final destination of Nepal border on June 2, covering 2,010 km in 25 days. Though his journey was full of ecstasy and also agony, he thoroughly enjoyed it as he interacted with various sections of people in different parts of the country. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the first eight days of his expedition, he could pedal only 60 km a day due to hot and humid weather. After Bhadrak in Odisha, he picked up pace and covered 90 to 100 km a day. In between, there was rain induced by the cyclone. He braved the weather and continued the onward journey with a grit to complete the expedition as per schedule. Every kilometre of his expedition was recorded in an app tracker to spread his mission against drugs. He had experience of short duration rides, before embarking on a cycle expedition, to Kanyakumari in February last year. Later, he went on a 125 cc motorcycle expedition from Visakhapatnam to Pakistan border and went to Jammu and Kashmir before returning to Visakhapatnam in June last year, he informed. I have faced language problem. I had to use sign language to convey to people in North Odisha and Northern States, he said. He carried a camping tent, laptop, a small camping stove and a cylinder along with him. Sampath said he received a great support from the management of his Lankapalli Bullayya College. The college management encouraged him when he proposed the expedition and gave him `20,000 each for two expeditions earlier. His expedition was a true experience for his course curriculum. En route, people gave water bottles and at some places food. He stayed at petrol pumps during night on most of the days. There was a stream of trucks from AP going to North Bengal and Bangladesh border carrying frozen fish and the drivers who are mostly Telugus, received him warmly and enquired about his experience. He ran into trouble as the gears of his bicycle got stuck. However, a Telugu man Santosh came to his rescue at Kharagpur and hosted him for two days till his bicycle was repaired. Santosh took him to Dhonis house and stadium where he practised, Sampath recounted. He reached Bangladesh border on the 16th day of his expedition, where he met the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Sampath said their brotherly treatment of him was the most memorable part of the journey. He said he was surprised at the sight of most BSF personnel, who hail from Visakhapatnam and North Andhra at the border. They took them to the BSF camp on Bangladesh border and he enjoyed his stay with them, Sampath said. He reached Ranaghat next, covering Debagram, Morgram, Malda, Raiganj, Islampur and Jalpaiguri. On the 24th day, he reached Bhutan border covering 141 km that day, the highest in a day he cycled on this expedition. The next and final day of the long awaited journey, June 2, Sampath finally visited his last stop, the Nepal border. He said he previously completed a motorcycle trip from Visakhapatnam- Ladakh- Kanyakumari and back to Visakhapatnam with a motto Soil Conservation.
By Express News Service

JAGATSINGHPUR/KENDRAPARA: Irked over unscheduled power cuts and related reasons, villagers of Samantarapur detained six employees of the Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) for four hours on Saturday.

The local people blamed Tata Power for negligence which caused the death of a 60-year-old farmer last week. The farmer Kanduri Rout, belonging to Barei Pipal, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Paradip Lock police station limits, was ploughing a paddy field for sowing when a live wire fell on him. He died on the spot.

Further, villagers said that unscheduled power cuts and low voltage problems make it hard for them to stay indoors. This, when the scorching heat already makes life difficult for them.

"We were forced to detain four members of the TPCODL squad to express our displeasure and seek a solution for our issues", the protesters said.

Upon receiving information, Tirtol police reached the spot and rescued the TPCODL staff.

Meanwhile, manager, TPCODL, Paradip Division Pravat Parida who also went to the spot assured to fulfil villagers demands including the transfer of linemen and helpers, installation of new transformers and fulfilment of the other demands. Following this, the villagers called off their stir.

Sarpanch of Samantarapur panchayat Madhusmita Behera said the villagers detained TPCODL staff demanding the transfer of local linemen, and helpers for their neglect in providing service.

The villagers further said that the electric poles in various villages in the district remain damaged for over a decade. These poles pose a threat to the people when there are gusty winds and rains.

In Kendrapara, protesting unscheduled power cut and low voltage in Aul, the Congress party on Saturday sat on dharna in front of the TPCODL office at Rajkanika and resorted to pelting eggs on the campus.

With unrelenting heat, power cuts at regular intervals have doubled the water supply woes of locals as pumps stop functioning. The situation is the same in every part of the district and Aul and Rajkanika blocks within the assembly constituency of Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb, are no exception.

ALSO READ | When less power complicates politics

There is hardly any day without a power outage. The situation becomes acute when it stretches for over five to six hours, said former MLA of Aul and a senior Congress leader Debendra Sharma, while addressing the protestors in front of the Tata Power office.

ALSO READ | Centre allocates 400 MW as NTPC unit shuts down in Odisha

The state government is dancing to the tune of the Tata Power company and we continue to suffer, said a protestor Mrutunjaya Rout of Aul. Contacted, an official of Tata Power in Kendrapara said, In some places due to overload and other problems people face power shortage. We are replacing old electric wires and repairing many electric transformers to provide uninterrupted power. But there are times we have to stop supply for maintenance or in case of repair works after northwestern winds.

JAGATSINGHPUR/KENDRAPARA: Irked over unscheduled power cuts and related reasons, villagers of Samantarapur detained six employees of the Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) for four hours on Saturday. The local people blamed Tata Power for negligence which caused the death of a 60-year-old farmer last week. The farmer Kanduri Rout, belonging to Barei Pipal, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Paradip Lock police station limits, was ploughing a paddy field for sowing when a live wire fell on him. He died on the spot. Further, villagers said that unscheduled power cuts and low voltage problems make it hard for them to stay indoors. This, when the scorching heat already makes life difficult for them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We were forced to detain four members of the TPCODL squad to express our displeasure and seek a solution for our issues", the protesters said. Upon receiving information, Tirtol police reached the spot and rescued the TPCODL staff. Meanwhile, manager, TPCODL, Paradip Division Pravat Parida who also went to the spot assured to fulfil villagers demands including the transfer of linemen and helpers, installation of new transformers and fulfilment of the other demands. Following this, the villagers called off their stir. Sarpanch of Samantarapur panchayat Madhusmita Behera said the villagers detained TPCODL staff demanding the transfer of local linemen, and helpers for their neglect in providing service. The villagers further said that the electric poles in various villages in the district remain damaged for over a decade. These poles pose a threat to the people when there are gusty winds and rains. In Kendrapara, protesting unscheduled power cut and low voltage in Aul, the Congress party on Saturday sat on dharna in front of the TPCODL office at Rajkanika and resorted to pelting eggs on the campus. With unrelenting heat, power cuts at regular intervals have doubled the water supply woes of locals as pumps stop functioning. The situation is the same in every part of the district and Aul and Rajkanika blocks within the assembly constituency of Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb, are no exception. ALSO READ | When less power complicates politics There is hardly any day without a power outage. The situation becomes acute when it stretches for over five to six hours, said former MLA of Aul and a senior Congress leader Debendra Sharma, while addressing the protestors in front of the Tata Power office. ALSO READ | Centre allocates 400 MW as NTPC unit shuts down in Odisha The state government is dancing to the tune of the Tata Power company and we continue to suffer, said a protestor Mrutunjaya Rout of Aul. Contacted, an official of Tata Power in Kendrapara said, In some places due to overload and other problems people face power shortage. We are replacing old electric wires and repairing many electric transformers to provide uninterrupted power. But there are times we have to stop supply for maintenance or in case of repair works after northwestern winds.
Mayank Singh By

The month of May 2022 saw a rare record set in the sky: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and Flying Officer Ananya Sharma took off on their Advanced Jet Trainer Hawk-132 for a variety of manoeuvres together. They became the first pair of father-daughter who flew in the same formation at the Air Force Station in Bidar (Karnataka), where Ananya was training.

Ananya has been quite lucky. As a child when she showed interest in the combat jet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) did not have any plans for women to join the fighter stream. But, her father never said no to her. Whenever she would bug her dad about it, he would reassure her: Dont worry.

Then came the year 2016 when the IAFs first women fighter pilots entered service, convincing Ananya that her dream was coming true. For Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma, her decision to join the challenging career in the IAF came as a pleasant surprise as she had already begun her professional journey in the corporate sector.

After completing her BTech in Electronics & Communication, Ananya joined KPMG. Around the same time, she also filled out the form and cleared the written exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) in 2020. She was commissioned into the force in December 2021.

The gruelling IAF training is divided into STAGE I, II and III. Each stage gradually takes you from fundamental to more complex levels of aviation. Before the training begins, a candidate is first exposed to technical training on the trainer aircraft. This involves imparting theoretical understanding and then a practical demonstration of all systems of the aircraft. This also includes undertaking a programme in aviation medicine.

Ananya did her pre-flying at Air Force Academy for six months before commencing STAGE-II 24-week training. She was allotted the fighter branch. It is at this stage that pilot trainees are trifurcated into fighter, transport and helicopter streams. Then comes STAGE-II 24-week training in their respective flying training establishments. After STAGE-II training, successful pilot trainees are commissioned as officers and undergo STAGEIII training. On completion of STAGEIII training, they begin operational flying at the squadrons/units assigned to them.

Even if one wants to join the fighter branch, it doesnt happen easily. A board does the tri-furcation which considers your preference, performance at the academy and the instructors recommendations, says Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma.

After getting commissioned as a fighter pilot, Ananya came and saluted me. It made me really proud, says a beaming Air Commodore. It was the biggest day of my life when I flew with Ananya, he says in a video put out by the IAF. This year she completed her training in the AJT Hawk and has been lucky to get selected to fly frontline Sukhoi 30.

The Air Commodore vividly remembers the joint-flying with Ananya. I was posted in Air HQ and she was undergoing Hawk flying and was to complete solo flying and enter the formation flying phase, says Air Commodore. The Air Force permitted it and the rest is history as the two flew in one formation.

The Air Commodore was commissioned in the fighter stream in 1989. He has had an extensive experience in fighter operations, having commanded a MiG-21 squadron as well as a frontline fighter. He recently superannuated from the IAF.

Mother Sonal Sharma said, I am extremely happy and proud. I cant explain my feelings when both Sanjay and Ananya got airborne in the same formation It was a feeling way beyond any happiness or satisfaction that I ever experienced.

She is a good flier; I can say without a doubt. I have seen her grow as a child; I can judge her capabilities. Self-motivation makes things easy, else it is hard. Ananya is self-motivated, says her proud father. Ananyas elder sister is also a part of the force; she is married to an Army Officer.

The month of May 2022 saw a rare record set in the sky: Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma and Flying Officer Ananya Sharma took off on their Advanced Jet Trainer Hawk-132 for a variety of manoeuvres together. They became the first pair of father-daughter who flew in the same formation at the Air Force Station in Bidar (Karnataka), where Ananya was training. Ananya has been quite lucky. As a child when she showed interest in the combat jet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) did not have any plans for women to join the fighter stream. But, her father never said no to her. Whenever she would bug her dad about it, he would reassure her: Dont worry. Then came the year 2016 when the IAFs first women fighter pilots entered service, convincing Ananya that her dream was coming true. For Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma, her decision to join the challenging career in the IAF came as a pleasant surprise as she had already begun her professional journey in the corporate sector.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After completing her BTech in Electronics & Communication, Ananya joined KPMG. Around the same time, she also filled out the form and cleared the written exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) in 2020. She was commissioned into the force in December 2021. The gruelling IAF training is divided into STAGE I, II and III. Each stage gradually takes you from fundamental to more complex levels of aviation. Before the training begins, a candidate is first exposed to technical training on the trainer aircraft. This involves imparting theoretical understanding and then a practical demonstration of all systems of the aircraft. This also includes undertaking a programme in aviation medicine. Ananya did her pre-flying at Air Force Academy for six months before commencing STAGE-II 24-week training. She was allotted the fighter branch. It is at this stage that pilot trainees are trifurcated into fighter, transport and helicopter streams. Then comes STAGE-II 24-week training in their respective flying training establishments. After STAGE-II training, successful pilot trainees are commissioned as officers and undergo STAGEIII training. On completion of STAGEIII training, they begin operational flying at the squadrons/units assigned to them. Even if one wants to join the fighter branch, it doesnt happen easily. A board does the tri-furcation which considers your preference, performance at the academy and the instructors recommendations, says Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma. After getting commissioned as a fighter pilot, Ananya came and saluted me. It made me really proud, says a beaming Air Commodore. It was the biggest day of my life when I flew with Ananya, he says in a video put out by the IAF. This year she completed her training in the AJT Hawk and has been lucky to get selected to fly frontline Sukhoi 30. The Air Commodore vividly remembers the joint-flying with Ananya. I was posted in Air HQ and she was undergoing Hawk flying and was to complete solo flying and enter the formation flying phase, says Air Commodore. The Air Force permitted it and the rest is history as the two flew in one formation. The Air Commodore was commissioned in the fighter stream in 1989. He has had an extensive experience in fighter operations, having commanded a MiG-21 squadron as well as a frontline fighter. He recently superannuated from the IAF. Mother Sonal Sharma said, I am extremely happy and proud. I cant explain my feelings when both Sanjay and Ananya got airborne in the same formation It was a feeling way beyond any happiness or satisfaction that I ever experienced. She is a good flier; I can say without a doubt. I have seen her grow as a child; I can judge her capabilities. Self-motivation makes things easy, else it is hard. Ananya is self-motivated, says her proud father. Ananyas elder sister is also a part of the force; she is married to an Army Officer.
Harpreet Bajwa By

CHANDIGARH: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address rallies in Punjab and Haryana on Sunday as part of BJPs public outreach Sampark Se Samarthan to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government.

Shah will address rallies in Gurdaspur in Punjab and at Sirsa in Haryana in which he would highlight various achievements of the party-led government at the Centre. A BJP leader said that at both these rallies he will present the report card of the BJP government at the Centre, detailing Indias progress and achievements in the last nine years.

Under the one-month-long Maha Jan Sampark programme which started on June 1, the saffron party workers are reaching out to the people, apprising them about the achievements of the Centre.Tight security arrangements have been made for both the rallies. A Punjab Police official said that all security arrangements have been made for the rally in Gurdaspur.

Police sources said that about 130 people, including several farmer leaders, have been kept under watch by the Haryana Police ahead of Sundays rally and have been issued notices by their respective police stations asking them to give undertakings that they would not indulge in disruption of law.

CHANDIGARH: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address rallies in Punjab and Haryana on Sunday as part of BJPs public outreach Sampark Se Samarthan to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government. Shah will address rallies in Gurdaspur in Punjab and at Sirsa in Haryana in which he would highlight various achievements of the party-led government at the Centre. A BJP leader said that at both these rallies he will present the report card of the BJP government at the Centre, detailing Indias progress and achievements in the last nine years. Under the one-month-long Maha Jan Sampark programme which started on June 1, the saffron party workers are reaching out to the people, apprising them about the achievements of the Centre.Tight security arrangements have been made for both the rallies. A Punjab Police official said that all security arrangements have been made for the rally in Gurdaspur.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Police sources said that about 130 people, including several farmer leaders, have been kept under watch by the Haryana Police ahead of Sundays rally and have been issued notices by their respective police stations asking them to give undertakings that they would not indulge in disruption of law.
Shruti Kakkar By

NEW DELHI: When Supreme Court judges take an oath in accordance with the Constitution of India, they pledge to impart their responsibilities without fear, partisanship or ill will. Throughout his tenure, Justice KM Joseph, who concluded his office on June 16, 2023, remained committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the Constitution via significant rulings that transformed the judicial landscape in India.

Although the Supreme Court (SC) collegium had recommended his appointment as an SC judge in January 2018, his name was rejected by the Centre, deeming his elevation inappropriate. The Centres request to the collegium to reconsider Justice Josephs name had resulted in a dispute between the Indian judiciary and the Centre, causing a delay in judicial appointments. He was finally sworn in as an SC judge on August 17, 2018, when his name was reiterated by the collegium for the second time. However, the Centres notification listing his name as the third(after Justices Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran) was seen by the judiciary circles as an alleged manipulation of seniority by the Modi government.

Justice Joseph, hailing from Keralas Kottayam, was appointed a judge of Kerala High Court on October 14, 2004, and later assumed the position of Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court on July 31, 2014. Throughout his journey from the Kerala HC to the SC, he faced numerous tests of his commitment to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the Constitution. His groundbreaking verdicts reflected his boldness and brilliance.

As a judge in the Kerala High Court, in 2013, he ordered the demolition of a seven-star resort project worth Rs 200 crore on a private island called Nediyathuruthu in the Vembanad backwaters of Kerala for violating CRZ norms. During his tenure as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand HC, he nullified imposition of the Presidents Rule in the state in 2016. Through a scathing judgment that restored power to the Congress party, he criticised the actions of the Union government.

Serving as an SC judge for almost five years, Justice Joseph led six constitution benches and presided over several key cases involving the Union government. The constitution bench headed by him upheld the validity of laws permitting Jallikattu, unanimously formed a panel to advise the President of India on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners, and also ruled that the SC can dissolve a marriage irretrievably broken down by invoking special powers under Article 142.

Justice Joseph, with his strong words, issued significant directives to combat hate speech in the country. Describing hate speech as a serious and vicious circle, a bench headed by him directed states and Union Territories to take suo moto action against hate speech offenders, regardless of whether a complaint had been registered, without discriminating on religious grounds.

NEW DELHI: When Supreme Court judges take an oath in accordance with the Constitution of India, they pledge to impart their responsibilities without fear, partisanship or ill will. Throughout his tenure, Justice KM Joseph, who concluded his office on June 16, 2023, remained committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the Constitution via significant rulings that transformed the judicial landscape in India. Although the Supreme Court (SC) collegium had recommended his appointment as an SC judge in January 2018, his name was rejected by the Centre, deeming his elevation inappropriate. The Centres request to the collegium to reconsider Justice Josephs name had resulted in a dispute between the Indian judiciary and the Centre, causing a delay in judicial appointments. He was finally sworn in as an SC judge on August 17, 2018, when his name was reiterated by the collegium for the second time. However, the Centres notification listing his name as the third(after Justices Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran) was seen by the judiciary circles as an alleged manipulation of seniority by the Modi government. Justice Joseph, hailing from Keralas Kottayam, was appointed a judge of Kerala High Court on October 14, 2004, and later assumed the position of Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court on July 31, 2014. Throughout his journey from the Kerala HC to the SC, he faced numerous tests of his commitment to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the Constitution. His groundbreaking verdicts reflected his boldness and brilliance.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As a judge in the Kerala High Court, in 2013, he ordered the demolition of a seven-star resort project worth Rs 200 crore on a private island called Nediyathuruthu in the Vembanad backwaters of Kerala for violating CRZ norms. During his tenure as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand HC, he nullified imposition of the Presidents Rule in the state in 2016. Through a scathing judgment that restored power to the Congress party, he criticised the actions of the Union government. Serving as an SC judge for almost five years, Justice Joseph led six constitution benches and presided over several key cases involving the Union government. The constitution bench headed by him upheld the validity of laws permitting Jallikattu, unanimously formed a panel to advise the President of India on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners, and also ruled that the SC can dissolve a marriage irretrievably broken down by invoking special powers under Article 142. Justice Joseph, with his strong words, issued significant directives to combat hate speech in the country. Describing hate speech as a serious and vicious circle, a bench headed by him directed states and Union Territories to take suo moto action against hate speech offenders, regardless of whether a complaint had been registered, without discriminating on religious grounds.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a record number of party workers through virtual mode of communication on June 27 from poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. As per the plan scheduled by the BJP, Modi will be interacting with the party workers gathered across 10 lakh polling booths at a time.

According to a senior party source, the PM, during his address, will share success tips with the party workers and also encourage them to become active and effective agents of developments in their areas by taking the governments development schemes to the marginalised sections.

The BJPs national president JP Nadda will also be present in Madhya Pradesh during the Prime Ministers visit. The PM will share the mantras to win more than 300 seats in Lok Sabha, with 3,000 party leaders selected from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana and other states, said a senior party functionary on Saturday. He will also flag-off two Vande Bharat trains from

Bhopal to Jabalpur and Bhopal to Indore.

Sources here said that the PM will have a wider discussion with the top party leaders of Madhya Pradesh on the political strategy for the upcoming state elections, as the BJP wants to leave no stone unturned to retain power in Madhya Pradesh after its defeat in Karnataka.

We are treading cautiously, but in Madhya Pradesh our position by virtue of performances is far better, said a BJP leader. At present, the BJP is making an outreach campaign across the countrys 543 Lok Sabha constituencies as part of its Maha Jansamparak Abhiyan that will continue till June 30 after it started on May 30.

As part of this mega pre-poll outreach, the BJP has planned 51 public rallies for the PM and other senior leaders of party including Amit Shah and Jagat Prakash Nadda.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a record number of party workers through virtual mode of communication on June 27 from poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. As per the plan scheduled by the BJP, Modi will be interacting with the party workers gathered across 10 lakh polling booths at a time. According to a senior party source, the PM, during his address, will share success tips with the party workers and also encourage them to become active and effective agents of developments in their areas by taking the governments development schemes to the marginalised sections. The BJPs national president JP Nadda will also be present in Madhya Pradesh during the Prime Ministers visit. The PM will share the mantras to win more than 300 seats in Lok Sabha, with 3,000 party leaders selected from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana and other states, said a senior party functionary on Saturday. He will also flag-off two Vande Bharat trains from Bhopal to Jabalpur and Bhopal to Indore.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sources here said that the PM will have a wider discussion with the top party leaders of Madhya Pradesh on the political strategy for the upcoming state elections, as the BJP wants to leave no stone unturned to retain power in Madhya Pradesh after its defeat in Karnataka. We are treading cautiously, but in Madhya Pradesh our position by virtue of performances is far better, said a BJP leader. At present, the BJP is making an outreach campaign across the countrys 543 Lok Sabha constituencies as part of its Maha Jansamparak Abhiyan that will continue till June 30 after it started on May 30. As part of this mega pre-poll outreach, the BJP has planned 51 public rallies for the PM and other senior leaders of party including Amit Shah and Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Namita Bajpai By

LUCKNOW: Two teams of the health department were rushed to Ballia on Saturday after 40 patients, who had been admitted to the district hospital due to heat stroke-related complications, died over the past three days. As per reports, though the deceased were from varied localities, a high number of deaths sent the health department into a tizzy. Reportedly, 23 patients died on Thursday, 11 on Friday and another six on Saturday.

The health department has rushed a team under additional director (health) Azamgarh Division Dr OP Tewari, which is camping in Ballia to assess the situation. Director General (health) Renu Srivastava has rushed a separate team from Lucknow to conduct a probe into a high number of casualties. Doctors at Ballia district hospital said that most of those who died over the past three days were over 60 years of age and had co-morbid conditions.

The average temperature in Ballia, too, has been hovering between 40 and 44 degrees which is several notches above normal. But what is perturbing for the health officials is that with similar conditions, no neighbouring district like Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur, has reported high numbers of heat wave-related deaths.

LUCKNOW: Two teams of the health department were rushed to Ballia on Saturday after 40 patients, who had been admitted to the district hospital due to heat stroke-related complications, died over the past three days. As per reports, though the deceased were from varied localities, a high number of deaths sent the health department into a tizzy. Reportedly, 23 patients died on Thursday, 11 on Friday and another six on Saturday. The health department has rushed a team under additional director (health) Azamgarh Division Dr OP Tewari, which is camping in Ballia to assess the situation. Director General (health) Renu Srivastava has rushed a separate team from Lucknow to conduct a probe into a high number of casualties. Doctors at Ballia district hospital said that most of those who died over the past three days were over 60 years of age and had co-morbid conditions. The average temperature in Ballia, too, has been hovering between 40 and 44 degrees which is several notches above normal. But what is perturbing for the health officials is that with similar conditions, no neighbouring district like Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur, has reported high numbers of heat wave-related deaths.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Prasanta Mazumdar By

GUWAHATI: Over 37,000 people have been affected in the first wave of the floods in Assam. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 146 villages in 13 districts were in the grip of the deluge. The affected districts are Biswanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri, Cachar, Kamrup (Metro) and Nalbari.

The floods breached some roads, bridges and embankments and affected cropland in areas of over 1,409 hectares. Rivers including Brahmaputra, Puthimari and Kopili were in a spate, flowing above danger level at some places.

The authorities set up 19 relief camps in Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri. The State Disaster Response Force was engaged in conducting rescue operations in Sonitpur and Lakhimpur districts of northern Assam.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a meeting with Central and state health agencies through a video conference on Saturday and discussed health-related issues arising out of the floods in Assam. Official sources said the meeting assessed the arrangements put in place by the agencies to ensure effective management of the floods.

Mandaviya highlighted the need for strong coordination between Central and state health institutions for effective management of flood and any other emergencies. He underscored the need for preparedness of critical care equipment, oxygen, and hospital beds as well as the availability of clean drinking water in flood-affected regions. Further, he stressed preventive healthcare and greater awareness among communities of vector-borne and water-borne diseases.

He urged the officials to work on a flood-management model to deal with the situation. He directed them to prepare an online database listing information like the availability of beds, oxygen and other health

facilities to ensure efficient management of any health emergency.

Dr Atul Goel, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that their regional offices are in preparation for supporting the state government. A team of specialists from AIIMS Guwahati and the National Centre for Disease Control will be deployed to assist the state whenever required, the statement said.

Meanwhile, some 3,500 tourists, stranded in Sikkim due to landslides and washing away of a bridge, were rescued by the security forces. The state has been experiencing torrential rains for the past few days.

A defence ministry statement said, Troops of Trishakti Corps, Indian Army and personnel of Border Roads Organisation swung into action and worked overnight in heavy rains and inclement weather to create a temporary crossing over the flash flood area to facilitate rescue of tourists. The tourists were extended help to cross over the river and were provided with hot meals, tentage and medical support.

The statement said that efforts were on to restore road connectivity, adding tents and medical aid posts were set up.

GUWAHATI: Over 37,000 people have been affected in the first wave of the floods in Assam. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 146 villages in 13 districts were in the grip of the deluge. The affected districts are Biswanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri, Cachar, Kamrup (Metro) and Nalbari. The floods breached some roads, bridges and embankments and affected cropland in areas of over 1,409 hectares. Rivers including Brahmaputra, Puthimari and Kopili were in a spate, flowing above danger level at some places. The authorities set up 19 relief camps in Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri. The State Disaster Response Force was engaged in conducting rescue operations in Sonitpur and Lakhimpur districts of northern Assam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a meeting with Central and state health agencies through a video conference on Saturday and discussed health-related issues arising out of the floods in Assam. Official sources said the meeting assessed the arrangements put in place by the agencies to ensure effective management of the floods. Mandaviya highlighted the need for strong coordination between Central and state health institutions for effective management of flood and any other emergencies. He underscored the need for preparedness of critical care equipment, oxygen, and hospital beds as well as the availability of clean drinking water in flood-affected regions. Further, he stressed preventive healthcare and greater awareness among communities of vector-borne and water-borne diseases. He urged the officials to work on a flood-management model to deal with the situation. He directed them to prepare an online database listing information like the availability of beds, oxygen and other health facilities to ensure efficient management of any health emergency. Dr Atul Goel, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that their regional offices are in preparation for supporting the state government. A team of specialists from AIIMS Guwahati and the National Centre for Disease Control will be deployed to assist the state whenever required, the statement said. Meanwhile, some 3,500 tourists, stranded in Sikkim due to landslides and washing away of a bridge, were rescued by the security forces. The state has been experiencing torrential rains for the past few days. A defence ministry statement said, Troops of Trishakti Corps, Indian Army and personnel of Border Roads Organisation swung into action and worked overnight in heavy rains and inclement weather to create a temporary crossing over the flash flood area to facilitate rescue of tourists. The tourists were extended help to cross over the river and were provided with hot meals, tentage and medical support. The statement said that efforts were on to restore road connectivity, adding tents and medical aid posts were set up.
Shruti Kakkar By

NEW DELHI: Gunfights and deaths within the court complexes have become frequent, disrupting the administration of justice. Such incidents not only impede the ability of judges to do their job fearlessly but also cause panic among the general public. The latest incident was the murder of gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari, who was shot dead near the door of the courtroom in Lucknow.

The Delhi High Court in 2021 took suo motu cognizance to look into the safety and security of courts in Delhi, saying there was a need for effective deployment of an adequate number of police personnel in courts. The top court too in the same year expressed concerns over the security measures provided inside court complexes, suggesting the Centre government form a special force to protect court complexes and judges across the country. A bench headed by former Chief Justice NV Ramana had also criticised the states for presenting a lazy picture of security arrangements and had said that the mere installation of CCTVs would not prevent lethal attacks.

However, this February the SC observed that courts are public spaces, and they cannot be converted into fortresses preventing people from accessing them. The top courts reaction came as it heard a clutch of petitions demanding an increase in security across court complexes in the country and a specialised force to safeguard judges, lawyers, litigants and witnesses.Not all judges may need security...We dont want rhetoric. We want facts, the bench said.The Centre, however, did not express its keenness, arguing that the state police was better equipped.

However, data reveals that there have been over 125 deaths and injuries to 250 people as a result of such attacks. Most attacks in or around the court buildings have occurred in UP and Delhi. This paper spoke to some legal experts on the ways in which security in courtrooms can be enhanced.In order to put in place a robust mechanism, the need of is proper implementation of security measures. This requires collective action, says SC lawyer Abhikalp Pratap Singh.

Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose said the system of litigation passes for clients should be streamlined and made accessible easily. There has to be an effective protocol for security, though lawyers have themselves objected to excessive security checks. We all have to cooperate in the process as no one should be above the law, said Ghose.

NEW DELHI: Gunfights and deaths within the court complexes have become frequent, disrupting the administration of justice. Such incidents not only impede the ability of judges to do their job fearlessly but also cause panic among the general public. The latest incident was the murder of gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari, who was shot dead near the door of the courtroom in Lucknow. The Delhi High Court in 2021 took suo motu cognizance to look into the safety and security of courts in Delhi, saying there was a need for effective deployment of an adequate number of police personnel in courts. The top court too in the same year expressed concerns over the security measures provided inside court complexes, suggesting the Centre government form a special force to protect court complexes and judges across the country. A bench headed by former Chief Justice NV Ramana had also criticised the states for presenting a lazy picture of security arrangements and had said that the mere installation of CCTVs would not prevent lethal attacks. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, this February the SC observed that courts are public spaces, and they cannot be converted into fortresses preventing people from accessing them. The top courts reaction came as it heard a clutch of petitions demanding an increase in security across court complexes in the country and a specialised force to safeguard judges, lawyers, litigants and witnesses.Not all judges may need security...We dont want rhetoric. We want facts, the bench said.The Centre, however, did not express its keenness, arguing that the state police was better equipped. However, data reveals that there have been over 125 deaths and injuries to 250 people as a result of such attacks. Most attacks in or around the court buildings have occurred in UP and Delhi. This paper spoke to some legal experts on the ways in which security in courtrooms can be enhanced.In order to put in place a robust mechanism, the need of is proper implementation of security measures. This requires collective action, says SC lawyer Abhikalp Pratap Singh. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose said the system of litigation passes for clients should be streamlined and made accessible easily. There has to be an effective protocol for security, though lawyers have themselves objected to excessive security checks. We all have to cooperate in the process as no one should be above the law, said Ghose.
Sunitha Natti By

The RBI throwing open a debt recovery opportunity for lenders was indeed a Rs 3.4 lakh crore surprise.

Issuing a circular last week, the banking regulator allowed banks and financial institutions to enter into compromise settlements with wilful defaulters, who until now were kept out of it.

It means all wilful defaulters including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who collectively owe more than Rs 3.4 lakh crore can pay up, get off the defaulters list and, as a bonus, avail fresh loans, provided bank boards agree.

Now is the time for banks to prove that if they can be compassionate lenders, they can become compassionate collectors of debt too. After all, as they say, the only man closer to you during adversity than a friend is a creditor. Moreover, settlement is a quicker way to recover dues, which perhaps the RBI too agrees with, and hence this move allowing lenders to talk it out and settle.

Wilful defaulters are those who have the genuine capability to pay, but instead exercise ingenuity to avoid dues. In some cases, evidence of misuse of funds or diversion of funds is even established, confirming intentional wrongdoing. A compromise settlement offers an incentive for banks to maximize recoveries at minimum expense, while defaulters get access to bank credit after a cooling-off period.

ALSO READ | Remembering Ambedkar, the accomplished economist

What could this lead to? For one, Mallya's Rs 14,000-crore settlement offer that banks rejected in the past could make a grand comeback with due revisions. Or could it? Remember such settlements won't absolve Mallya or for that matter any wilful defaulter from ongoing criminal or legal litigations. So, it'll be interesting to see how many defaulters, who were thrown out of business, with some even absconding, prove willing to clear their dues without getting any legal respite.

The central bank is facing flak from various quarters on the grounds that permitting compromise settlements for wilful defaulters rewards dishonest borrowers and hurts credit discipline. But the genesis for opening up the option for wilful defaulters out of the blue could be for two reasons.

One, could be the steady rise in wilful defaults. In the past two years, they jumped by 38% from Rs 2.4 lakh crore as on December 2020 to Rs 3.4 lakh crore as on December 2022. Two, could be due to a potential disparity in classifying wilful defaults.

As Anil Gupta, Co-Group Head - Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA Ratings observed, one bank may classify a borrower as a wilful defaulter but another may treat the same borrower as a business failure case in the future and give credit.

"In any case, banks are already extending loans to companies that have defaulted in the past or settled loans after high haircuts... Essentially, this is more of a principle-based regulation, where the onus lies with banks' boards rather than a prescription-based regulation where RBI specifies what needs to be done," Gupta noted.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Global debt rising at alarming rate

RBI's Compromise Settlement framework dates back to July 1995, when it allowed lenders to frame their own board-approved policies for One Time Settlements(OTS)/Compromise settlements. It has been revising instructions since then for loans up to Rs 5 crore, and for up to Rs 10 crore and above separately. OTS and compromise settlements are totally different schemes with different terms and conditions.

According to data tabled in the Parliament, 11 banks managed to recover just about Rs 61,000 crore by way of OTS between FY19 and FY22 (data furnished only up to December 2021 for FY22 fiscal).

It's unclear how much banks recovered via compromise settlements alone, but there have been reports of its misuse. In the past, RBI had warned banks of misusing the settlement scheme following complaints from Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) that banks were entering compromise settlements without them. So, if banks initiate recovery proceedings through a judicial forum and the case is still pending, any settlement reached with the borrower should be subject to obtaining a consent decree from the relevant judicial authorities.

But exactly how much can be recovered? There are no easy answers. "For lenders, it's a dilemma, whether to settle and move on or remain involved in litigation. The policy has to be one that prevents misuse, but at the same time maximize recovery of dues. It's expected that lenders will thoroughly weigh the costs vs benefits of such reaching such a compromise settlement on a case-to-case basis," Gupta said.

Of the Rs 3.4 lakh crore worth of wilful defaults, the top 50 borrowers alone account for about Rs 1 lakh crore in unpaid dues. Even if lenders manage to settle with large borrowers, debt recovery collection rates will jump significantly.

According to data tabled in Parliament last December, of the Rs 11.17 lakh crore bad loans that were written off in the past six years, a mere Rs 1.3 lakh crore was recovered.

The RBI throwing open a debt recovery opportunity for lenders was indeed a Rs 3.4 lakh crore surprise. Issuing a circular last week, the banking regulator allowed banks and financial institutions to enter into compromise settlements with wilful defaulters, who until now were kept out of it. It means all wilful defaulters including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who collectively owe more than Rs 3.4 lakh crore can pay up, get off the defaulters list and, as a bonus, avail fresh loans, provided bank boards agree.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Now is the time for banks to prove that if they can be compassionate lenders, they can become compassionate collectors of debt too. After all, as they say, the only man closer to you during adversity than a friend is a creditor. Moreover, settlement is a quicker way to recover dues, which perhaps the RBI too agrees with, and hence this move allowing lenders to talk it out and settle. Wilful defaulters are those who have the genuine capability to pay, but instead exercise ingenuity to avoid dues. In some cases, evidence of misuse of funds or diversion of funds is even established, confirming intentional wrongdoing. A compromise settlement offers an incentive for banks to maximize recoveries at minimum expense, while defaulters get access to bank credit after a cooling-off period. ALSO READ | Remembering Ambedkar, the accomplished economist What could this lead to? For one, Mallya's Rs 14,000-crore settlement offer that banks rejected in the past could make a grand comeback with due revisions. Or could it? Remember such settlements won't absolve Mallya or for that matter any wilful defaulter from ongoing criminal or legal litigations. So, it'll be interesting to see how many defaulters, who were thrown out of business, with some even absconding, prove willing to clear their dues without getting any legal respite. The central bank is facing flak from various quarters on the grounds that permitting compromise settlements for wilful defaulters rewards dishonest borrowers and hurts credit discipline. But the genesis for opening up the option for wilful defaulters out of the blue could be for two reasons. One, could be the steady rise in wilful defaults. In the past two years, they jumped by 38% from Rs 2.4 lakh crore as on December 2020 to Rs 3.4 lakh crore as on December 2022. Two, could be due to a potential disparity in classifying wilful defaults. As Anil Gupta, Co-Group Head - Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA Ratings observed, one bank may classify a borrower as a wilful defaulter but another may treat the same borrower as a business failure case in the future and give credit. "In any case, banks are already extending loans to companies that have defaulted in the past or settled loans after high haircuts... Essentially, this is more of a principle-based regulation, where the onus lies with banks' boards rather than a prescription-based regulation where RBI specifies what needs to be done," Gupta noted. FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Global debt rising at alarming rate RBI's Compromise Settlement framework dates back to July 1995, when it allowed lenders to frame their own board-approved policies for One Time Settlements(OTS)/Compromise settlements. It has been revising instructions since then for loans up to Rs 5 crore, and for up to Rs 10 crore and above separately. OTS and compromise settlements are totally different schemes with different terms and conditions. According to data tabled in the Parliament, 11 banks managed to recover just about Rs 61,000 crore by way of OTS between FY19 and FY22 (data furnished only up to December 2021 for FY22 fiscal). It's unclear how much banks recovered via compromise settlements alone, but there have been reports of its misuse. In the past, RBI had warned banks of misusing the settlement scheme following complaints from Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) that banks were entering compromise settlements without them. So, if banks initiate recovery proceedings through a judicial forum and the case is still pending, any settlement reached with the borrower should be subject to obtaining a consent decree from the relevant judicial authorities. But exactly how much can be recovered? There are no easy answers. "For lenders, it's a dilemma, whether to settle and move on or remain involved in litigation. The policy has to be one that prevents misuse, but at the same time maximize recovery of dues. It's expected that lenders will thoroughly weigh the costs vs benefits of such reaching such a compromise settlement on a case-to-case basis," Gupta said. Of the Rs 3.4 lakh crore worth of wilful defaults, the top 50 borrowers alone account for about Rs 1 lakh crore in unpaid dues. Even if lenders manage to settle with large borrowers, debt recovery collection rates will jump significantly. According to data tabled in Parliament last December, of the Rs 11.17 lakh crore bad loans that were written off in the past six years, a mere Rs 1.3 lakh crore was recovered.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. The man who held people hostage in the Kaspi bank in Kazakhstan's Astana has been detained, Trend reports via the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan.

"A successful military operation was carried out in the Kaspi bank building. All hostages have been released. The hostages were released after the police stormed. All employees were taken out. The invader has been neutralized," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, all were examined by doctors. None of the hostages or the invader were injured.
By Online Desk

Women and children aboard the ill-fated Greek fishing boat that capsized last week were travelling in the hold (compartment which carries a ship's cargo) of the vessel, as per survivor accounts.

In one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean in recent years, the 'Ionian Sea', a fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank on June 14 in international waters, 47 nautical miles (87km) southwest of Pylos, off the Peloponnese.

At least 78 people have already been confirmed dead in the disaster.

104 people, all males, were found alive and moved to a Kalamata warehouse.

The survivors are mainly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan.

With reports suggesting that up to 750 people were aboard the fishing vessel, many more are still missing.

As there have been no women or children rescued so far, many fear they were dragged into the water when the boat sank owing to where they were placed on the boat.

When a reporter from Greeces ANT1 channel asked if there were 100 children onboard, one survivor replied: Yes.

We can assume that many of these children will have lost their lives, as reports of survivors are so far limited. Our deepest sympathies are with the childrens families, and all those affected by this horrendous event, Unicef said in a statement.

On the other hand, Pakistani nations were forced below deck, with other nationalities allowed on the top deck, The Guardian reported.

The report said that according to leaked testimonies told by survivors to the coastguard, the vessel's crew members maltreated the Pakistanis when they came up in search of fresh water or when they tried to escape.

The exact number of Pakistanis onboard is unknown. The Guardian said one estimate pegged it to be 400 while Pakistan's foreign affairs ministry has so far confirmed that only 12 of the 78 were from Pakistan.

A boat carrying migrants capsized Wednesday off the coast of Greece, authorities said, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this year. https://t.co/EbVxEb90fP pic.twitter.com/haL6wB1G6O  The Associated Press (@AP) June 16, 2023

Chances of finding more survivors are rare.

As the spot of the accident is close to one of the deepest areas of the Mediterranean, chances of retrieving the vessel are minimal.

The 'Ionian Sea' which came from Egypt stopped at the port of Tobruk in Libya where it picked up migrants destined for Italy, as per media reports.

A photograph handed out by the Hellenic Coastguard showed the rusty blue boat with scores of people crammed onto every inch of its deck.

Nine people  all men from Egypt, ranging in age from 20 to 40  were arrested and detained and charged on June 16 with people smuggling and participating in a criminal enterprise  one of them the captain of the boat carrying the migrants.

Greeces caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas declared three days of national mourning following the disaster saying "with our thoughts on all the victims of the ruthless smugglers who exploit human unhappiness.

Survivors arrive by yacht after a rescue operation at the port in Kalamata town, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Athens on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)

Even before it sank, people had died aboard the boat: Reports

There had already been six deaths on the boat before it capsized as it had run out of fresh water, as per reports. A Greek social worker told Sky News that she had heard from survivors that they were forced to drink their own urine and suck water from the melting refrigerators.

One of the many survivors who are suffering from psychological trauma told the social worker, as reported by Sky News, that he was surrounded by the bodies of children for two hours while he was trying to swim. "A young man in his 20s wanted to commit suicide, wanted to jump into the sea and kill himself because he couldn't take it anymore".

Overcrowded fishing vessel; nobody had life jackets on: Coastguard

Coastguard spokesman Nikolaos Alexiou told state ERT TV it appeared that the 25- to 30-metre (80- to 100-foot) vessel capsized after people abruptly moved to one side. "Its deck was full of people, and we assume the interior was just as full."

None of those rescued had safety equipment such as life jackets, the coastguard said.

"It was like an abandoned ship... we saw no lifesavers or life jackets either on (the migrants) or the boat," local rescuer Constantinos Vlachonikolos told Proto Programma radio.

A judicial investigation is also underway into the causes of the sinking. Greek officials say the vessel capsized minutes after it lost power, speculating that panic among the passengers may have caused the boat to list and roll over.

The timeline of the disaster and what led to it amidst several other related factors are being questioned.

Rescue workers carry bodies from a coast guard vessel to a refrigerated truck at the port in Kalamata town, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Athens late Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP)

Coastguard says passengers refused help many times; not an excuse, argue experts

The coastguard said a surveillance plane with Europe's border protection agency Frontex had spotted the boat on June 13 afternoon, but that the passengers had "refused any help". He also said that a vessel provided food and supplies to the migrants but a second one offering assistance was reportedly "turned down".

Later, in the evening on June 13, a coastguard rescue vessel reached the migrants.

Some reports have suggested that the boat went down after 02:00 on Wednesday because a rope was attached by the coastguard on that vessel around 23:00, three hours before.

Media reports said that video footage showed a survivor telling Greeces former prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, that the coastguard had thrown a rope at people on the boat. Because they didnt know how to pull the rope, the vessel started tilting right and left, a translator told Tsipras. The coastguard boat was going too fast, but the vessel was already tilting to the left, and thats how it sank.

Initially, the coastguard said the rescue vessel maintained "a discreet distance" from that boat but later, government spokesman Ilias Siakantaris confirmed that the coastguard had "used a rope to steady themselves, to approach, to see if they wanted any help" but insisted that the rope was not used to tow the boat.

According to the Greek rescue vessel captain's testimony, the migrants had refused all help, saying they were going to Italy, scared that they would be taken to Greece instead. The migrants then untied a rope loosely tied to the trawler's bow and continued course when the coast guard ship had gone closer to inspect, he said, as quoted by local Greek media.

Coastguard spokesman Nikolaos Alexiou argued that any effort to tow the overcrowded trawler or move hundreds of unwilling people onto nearby ships would have been too dangerous.

ou will have a disturbance, and the people will surge  which, unfortunately is what happened in the end, Alexiou told state-run ERT TV. You will have caused the accident. It was "fortunate" that rescue ships were nearby or more lives would have been lost, he added.

The boat's engine gave up shortly before 2300 GMT on June 13 and the vessel later capsized, Ilias Siakantaris said, sinking in around 10 to 15 minutes.

However, new testimony indicates that the trawlers engine failed days before it sank, making it likely the crew would have sought help.

Survivors of the shipwreck sit inside a warehouse at the port in Kalamata town, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP)

Alarm Phone, an organisation supporting rescue operations of migrants at sea, said they had sent an email on Tuesday afternoon warning the coastguard and others that as many as 750 people were on board and that they were urgently asking for help.

Meanwhile, Leftist former prime minister Alexis Tsipras claimed that the passengers had "called for help". "What sort of protocol does not call for the rescue... of an overloaded boat about to sink?" he asked.

International maritime law and coast guard experts have said that the conditions on the trawler clearly showed it was at risk, and should have prompted an immediate rescue operation, regardless of what people on board may or may not have said.

Flavio Di Giacomo of the Mediterranean office of the U.N. migration agency IOM tweeted that all migrant boats should be considered dangerous and rescued immediately because even when they appear to have no problems, in a few minutes they can sink.

Syrian survivor Fedi, 18, right, reacts as he reunites with his brother Mohammad, who came from Italy to meet him, at the port of Kalamata, Greece, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP)

"Gripped by despair but would not take a decision to go back to Syria"

Most of the survivors were moved from the warehouse at Kalamata, where relatives also gathered to look for loved ones, to migrant shelters near Athens on June 16.

Abdo Sheikhi, a Kurdish Syrian living in Germany, travelled to Kalamata to find out what happened to five family members who were on the boat. Abdo Sheikhi said the trip to Greece cost him at least 600 euros and that he couldn't speak English.

On June 16, he discovered that only his younger brother Ali and another relative had survived. He managed to speak on the phone to Ali, who has been moved to the camp near Athens. (Ali) told me he jumped (off the) ship while the others could not jump," Sheikhi said. They were scared. They were holding on to the boat as it swayed.

In Syria, there are no means for a life, Abdo Sheikhi said. Once they decided, I told them the Libya road is very dangerous and very long. They said: others made it. We too will take that road.

Shahin, another relative of Sheikhi's, who is also a resident of Germany, said he last heard from his relative when he complained about the conditions in waiting in Libya for months. The smugglers wouldn't let them leave the rooms where they were, ostensibly to avoid detection, often confiscated their phones, and would not bring them the food they requested.

They were seven to a room ... They didn't see the sun," said Shahin, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to not jeopardize his ability to stay in Germany. They were sad and gripped by despair. But they would not take a decision to go back to Syria."

The men from the Sheikhi family texted relatives late last Thursday to say they would leave in a few hours, on a boat that was supposed to carry 300 people, said the elder Sheikhi.

The family waited for a confirmation photo from Italy. None came. The (smugglers) sent the boys to their deaths, Abdo Sheikhi said.

In this photo from May 2023, Ali Sheikhi, 29, poses for a photograph at an airport in an undisclosed location. (AP)

Mohamed Abdi Marwan, who spoke by phone from Kobani, a Kurdish-majority town in Syria, said five of his relatives were on the boat, including a 14-year-old. Marwan said hes heard nothing about them since the vessel sank.

He believes his nephew Ali Sheikhi, 29, is alive after family members spotted him in photos of survivors, but that has not been confirmed.

Those smugglers were supposed to only have 500 on the boat and now we hear there were 750. What is this? Are they cattle or humans? How can they do this? Marwan said. He said each of his relatives paid $6,000 for the trip.

ALSO READ | Italy migrant shipwreck: How it happened, and unanswered questions

An urgent call for an effective migration policy

The worst migrant tragedy in Greece was in June 2016, when at least 320 people were listed as dead or missing in a sinking near Crete, according to AFP records going back to 1993.

The Mediterranean's worst disaster was in April 2015, when between 800 and 900 migrants died on a trawler that sank within sight of a Portuguese rescue freighter.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the disaster was entirely preventable. "What happened is the consequence of the absence of safe and legal pathways to come to Europe," said Juan Matias Gil, of MSF Sea.

A group of nongovernmental organizations, including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, said the EU should stop seeing solutions solely in the dismantling of smuggling networks, and set up state-led search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Police said thousands of people in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki protested with signs reading "the government and the European Union kill" and "No to fortress Europe, solidarity with refugees".

Greece, Italy and Spain are among the main landing points for tens of thousands of people who seek to reach Europe as they flee conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Greece was under a conservative government until last month.

The country as well as other southern European Union nations toughened border protection measures in recent years, extending walls and intensifying maritime patrols.

This is a European problem. I think its time for Europe to be able, in solidarity, to define an effective migration policy for these kinds of situations not to happen again, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a news conference at U.N. headquarters in New York late Thursday.

This month, European Union interior ministers made a fresh attempt to weigh new measures for sharing out responsibility for migrants entering Europe without authorization.

Europe's asylum system collapsed eight years ago after over a million people entered, most of them fleeing conflict in Syria, and overwhelmed reception capacities in Greece and Italy, in the process sparking one of the EU's biggest political crises.

The EU has also tried to outsource its migrant challenge, making legally and morally questionable deals with countries like Turkey or Libya, which many people transit through on their way to Europe.

Last year, nearly 3,800 died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa, the highest recorded there since 2017, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

About 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived so far in 2023 in Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, according to UN data. Italy has seen the most number of them.

(With inputs from AFP and AP)

Women and children aboard the ill-fated Greek fishing boat that capsized last week were travelling in the hold (compartment which carries a ship's cargo) of the vessel, as per survivor accounts. In one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean in recent years, the 'Ionian Sea', a fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank on June 14 in international waters, 47 nautical miles (87km) southwest of Pylos, off the Peloponnese. At least 78 people have already been confirmed dead in the disaster.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 104 people, all males, were found alive and moved to a Kalamata warehouse. The survivors are mainly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan. With reports suggesting that up to 750 people were aboard the fishing vessel, many more are still missing. As there have been no women or children rescued so far, many fear they were dragged into the water when the boat sank owing to where they were placed on the boat. When a reporter from Greeces ANT1 channel asked if there were 100 children onboard, one survivor replied: Yes. We can assume that many of these children will have lost their lives, as reports of survivors are so far limited. Our deepest sympathies are with the childrens families, and all those affected by this horrendous event, Unicef said in a statement. On the other hand, Pakistani nations were forced below deck, with other nationalities allowed on the top deck, The Guardian reported. The report said that according to leaked testimonies told by survivors to the coastguard, the vessel's crew members maltreated the Pakistanis when they came up in search of fresh water or when they tried to escape. The exact number of Pakistanis onboard is unknown. The Guardian said one estimate pegged it to be 400 while Pakistan's foreign affairs ministry has so far confirmed that only 12 of the 78 were from Pakistan. A boat carrying migrants capsized Wednesday off the coast of Greece, authorities said, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this year. https://t.co/EbVxEb90fP pic.twitter.com/haL6wB1G6O  The Associated Press (@AP) June 16, 2023 Chances of finding more survivors are rare. As the spot of the accident is close to one of the deepest areas of the Mediterranean, chances of retrieving the vessel are minimal. The 'Ionian Sea' which came from Egypt stopped at the port of Tobruk in Libya where it picked up migrants destined for Italy, as per media reports. A photograph handed out by the Hellenic Coastguard showed the rusty blue boat with scores of people crammed onto every inch of its deck. Nine people  all men from Egypt, ranging in age from 20 to 40  were arrested and detained and charged on June 16 with people smuggling and participating in a criminal enterprise  one of them the captain of the boat carrying the migrants. Greeces caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas declared three days of national mourning following the disaster saying "with our thoughts on all the victims of the ruthless smugglers who exploit human unhappiness. Survivors arrive by yacht after a rescue operation at the port in Kalamata town, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Athens on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP) Even before it sank, people had died aboard the boat: Reports There had already been six deaths on the boat before it capsized as it had run out of fresh water, as per reports. A Greek social worker told Sky News that she had heard from survivors that they were forced to drink their own urine and suck water from the melting refrigerators. One of the many survivors who are suffering from psychological trauma told the social worker, as reported by Sky News, that he was surrounded by the bodies of children for two hours while he was trying to swim. "A young man in his 20s wanted to commit suicide, wanted to jump into the sea and kill himself because he couldn't take it anymore". Overcrowded fishing vessel; nobody had life jackets on: Coastguard Coastguard spokesman Nikolaos Alexiou told state ERT TV it appeared that the 25- to 30-metre (80- to 100-foot) vessel capsized after people abruptly moved to one side. "Its deck was full of people, and we assume the interior was just as full." None of those rescued had safety equipment such as life jackets, the coastguard said. "It was like an abandoned ship... we saw no lifesavers or life jackets either on (the migrants) or the boat," local rescuer Constantinos Vlachonikolos told Proto Programma radio. A judicial investigation is also underway into the causes of the sinking. Greek officials say the vessel capsized minutes after it lost power, speculating that panic among the passengers may have caused the boat to list and roll over. The timeline of the disaster and what led to it amidst several other related factors are being questioned. Rescue workers carry bodies from a coast guard vessel to a refrigerated truck at the port in Kalamata town, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Athens late Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP) Coastguard says passengers refused help many times; not an excuse, argue experts The coastguard said a surveillance plane with Europe's border protection agency Frontex had spotted the boat on June 13 afternoon, but that the passengers had "refused any help". He also said that a vessel provided food and supplies to the migrants but a second one offering assistance was reportedly "turned down". Later, in the evening on June 13, a coastguard rescue vessel reached the migrants. Some reports have suggested that the boat went down after 02:00 on Wednesday because a rope was attached by the coastguard on that vessel around 23:00, three hours before. Media reports said that video footage showed a survivor telling Greeces former prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, that the coastguard had thrown a rope at people on the boat. Because they didnt know how to pull the rope, the vessel started tilting right and left, a translator told Tsipras. The coastguard boat was going too fast, but the vessel was already tilting to the left, and thats how it sank. Initially, the coastguard said the rescue vessel maintained "a discreet distance" from that boat but later, government spokesman Ilias Siakantaris confirmed that the coastguard had "used a rope to steady themselves, to approach, to see if they wanted any help" but insisted that the rope was not used to tow the boat. According to the Greek rescue vessel captain's testimony, the migrants had refused all help, saying they were going to Italy, scared that they would be taken to Greece instead. The migrants then untied a rope loosely tied to the trawler's bow and continued course when the coast guard ship had gone closer to inspect, he said, as quoted by local Greek media. Coastguard spokesman Nikolaos Alexiou argued that any effort to tow the overcrowded trawler or move hundreds of unwilling people onto nearby ships would have been too dangerous. ou will have a disturbance, and the people will surge  which, unfortunately is what happened in the end, Alexiou told state-run ERT TV. You will have caused the accident. It was "fortunate" that rescue ships were nearby or more lives would have been lost, he added. The boat's engine gave up shortly before 2300 GMT on June 13 and the vessel later capsized, Ilias Siakantaris said, sinking in around 10 to 15 minutes. However, new testimony indicates that the trawlers engine failed days before it sank, making it likely the crew would have sought help. Survivors of the shipwreck sit inside a warehouse at the port in Kalamata town, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP) Alarm Phone, an organisation supporting rescue operations of migrants at sea, said they had sent an email on Tuesday afternoon warning the coastguard and others that as many as 750 people were on board and that they were urgently asking for help. Meanwhile, Leftist former prime minister Alexis Tsipras claimed that the passengers had "called for help". "What sort of protocol does not call for the rescue... of an overloaded boat about to sink?" he asked. International maritime law and coast guard experts have said that the conditions on the trawler clearly showed it was at risk, and should have prompted an immediate rescue operation, regardless of what people on board may or may not have said. Flavio Di Giacomo of the Mediterranean office of the U.N. migration agency IOM tweeted that all migrant boats should be considered dangerous and rescued immediately because even when they appear to have no problems, in a few minutes they can sink. Syrian survivor Fedi, 18, right, reacts as he reunites with his brother Mohammad, who came from Italy to meet him, at the port of Kalamata, Greece, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP) "Gripped by despair but would not take a decision to go back to Syria" Most of the survivors were moved from the warehouse at Kalamata, where relatives also gathered to look for loved ones, to migrant shelters near Athens on June 16. Abdo Sheikhi, a Kurdish Syrian living in Germany, travelled to Kalamata to find out what happened to five family members who were on the boat. Abdo Sheikhi said the trip to Greece cost him at least 600 euros and that he couldn't speak English. On June 16, he discovered that only his younger brother Ali and another relative had survived. He managed to speak on the phone to Ali, who has been moved to the camp near Athens. (Ali) told me he jumped (off the) ship while the others could not jump," Sheikhi said. They were scared. They were holding on to the boat as it swayed. In Syria, there are no means for a life, Abdo Sheikhi said. Once they decided, I told them the Libya road is very dangerous and very long. They said: others made it. We too will take that road. Shahin, another relative of Sheikhi's, who is also a resident of Germany, said he last heard from his relative when he complained about the conditions in waiting in Libya for months. The smugglers wouldn't let them leave the rooms where they were, ostensibly to avoid detection, often confiscated their phones, and would not bring them the food they requested. They were seven to a room ... They didn't see the sun," said Shahin, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to not jeopardize his ability to stay in Germany. They were sad and gripped by despair. But they would not take a decision to go back to Syria." The men from the Sheikhi family texted relatives late last Thursday to say they would leave in a few hours, on a boat that was supposed to carry 300 people, said the elder Sheikhi. The family waited for a confirmation photo from Italy. None came. The (smugglers) sent the boys to their deaths, Abdo Sheikhi said. In this photo from May 2023, Ali Sheikhi, 29, poses for a photograph at an airport in an undisclosed location. (AP) Mohamed Abdi Marwan, who spoke by phone from Kobani, a Kurdish-majority town in Syria, said five of his relatives were on the boat, including a 14-year-old. Marwan said hes heard nothing about them since the vessel sank. He believes his nephew Ali Sheikhi, 29, is alive after family members spotted him in photos of survivors, but that has not been confirmed. Those smugglers were supposed to only have 500 on the boat and now we hear there were 750. What is this? Are they cattle or humans? How can they do this? Marwan said. He said each of his relatives paid $6,000 for the trip. ALSO READ | Italy migrant shipwreck: How it happened, and unanswered questions An urgent call for an effective migration policy The worst migrant tragedy in Greece was in June 2016, when at least 320 people were listed as dead or missing in a sinking near Crete, according to AFP records going back to 1993. The Mediterranean's worst disaster was in April 2015, when between 800 and 900 migrants died on a trawler that sank within sight of a Portuguese rescue freighter. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the disaster was entirely preventable. "What happened is the consequence of the absence of safe and legal pathways to come to Europe," said Juan Matias Gil, of MSF Sea. A group of nongovernmental organizations, including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, said the EU should stop seeing solutions solely in the dismantling of smuggling networks, and set up state-led search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Police said thousands of people in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki protested with signs reading "the government and the European Union kill" and "No to fortress Europe, solidarity with refugees". Greece, Italy and Spain are among the main landing points for tens of thousands of people who seek to reach Europe as they flee conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Greece was under a conservative government until last month. The country as well as other southern European Union nations toughened border protection measures in recent years, extending walls and intensifying maritime patrols. This is a European problem. I think its time for Europe to be able, in solidarity, to define an effective migration policy for these kinds of situations not to happen again, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a news conference at U.N. headquarters in New York late Thursday. This month, European Union interior ministers made a fresh attempt to weigh new measures for sharing out responsibility for migrants entering Europe without authorization. Europe's asylum system collapsed eight years ago after over a million people entered, most of them fleeing conflict in Syria, and overwhelmed reception capacities in Greece and Italy, in the process sparking one of the EU's biggest political crises. The EU has also tried to outsource its migrant challenge, making legally and morally questionable deals with countries like Turkey or Libya, which many people transit through on their way to Europe. Last year, nearly 3,800 died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa, the highest recorded there since 2017, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). About 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived so far in 2023 in Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, according to UN data. Italy has seen the most number of them. (With inputs from AFP and AP)
By Associated Press

KYIV: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday met with a group of leaders of African countries who travelled to Russia on a self-styled peace mission the day after they went to Ukraine, but the meeting ended with no visible progress.

The seven African leaders, the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypts prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war.

The African leaders then traveled to St. Petersburg on Saturday to meet with Putin who was attending Russia's showpiece international economic forum.

Details about the delegation's proposals were thin.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the three-hour meeting that the Africans' peace plan consisted of 10 elements, but was not formulated on paper.

The peace initiative proposed by African countries is very difficult to implement, difficult to compare positions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But President Putin has shown interest in considering it.

He spoke about our position. Not all provisions can be correlated with the main elements of our position, but this does not mean that we do not need to continue working, Peskov said.

The main conclusion, in my opinion, from todays conversation is that our partners from the African Union have shown an understanding of the true causes of the crisis that was created by the West, and have shown an understanding that it is necessary to get out of this situation on the basis of addressing these underlying causes, Lavrov said.

Russia says that it was effectively forced to send troops into Ukraine because it was threatened by Ukraine's desire to join NATO and by the country's support from the United States and Western Europe.

READ MORE: Putin says Russia wants end to war in Ukraine 'soon'

Speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin declared that the first Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, describing the move as a deterrent against Western efforts to defeat Russia in Ukraine. He previously said that the deployment would begin in July.

Asked if he could order the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin said that there was no need for that but noted that Moscow could use its nuclear arsenals in case of a threat to the Russian statehood.

In that case, we will certainly use all the means that the Russian state has. There should be no doubt about that," he said.

The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China and carries particular importance for Africa, which relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine. The war has impeded exports from one of the worlds most important breadbaskets.

This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and four other African leaders after their closed-door talks on Friday.

Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the hostilities but insisted all wars must come to an end and emphasized their willingness to help expedite that.

I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard, he said, adding that there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.

The delegation, including Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represents a cross-section of African views on the war.

South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow over the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Moscows invasion.

Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

Speaking during Friday's news conference, Comoros President Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a road map to peace, prompting questions from Zelenskyy who sought a clarification and insisted he didnt want any surprises from their visit with Putin.

Chances for peace talks look dim as Ukraine and Russia take sharply different stands. Ukraine demands that Russia withdraws its troops from all its occupied territories as a condition for peace talks. The Kremlin, in turn, wants Ukraine to recognize the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as part of Russia and acknowledge other land gains it has made.

China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, as the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire.

The African peace mission comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks in several sections of more than the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.

In the village of Blahodatne, taken by Ukrainian forces in the counteroffensive six days ago, soldiers said they have orders to keep advancing and not retreat, indicating long gruelling battles ahead in the direction where Russians have built up dense lines of fortifications.

Morale is really strong because the guys know theyre moving forward to liberate their lands, said a Ukrainian soldier with the callsign Skripal (Violinist). We have an order not to retreat and to move forward, so were trying."

Village roads are punctured with craters, buildings are caved in and bullet holes peppered nearly every residence. Inside a cultural centre, a Ukrainian commander with the call sign Lermontov said that theyd captured many Russian soldiers during the liberation of the village and showed journalists four bodies whom he said were Russian fighters who had been recruited from prisons.

KYIV: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday met with a group of leaders of African countries who travelled to Russia on a self-styled peace mission the day after they went to Ukraine, but the meeting ended with no visible progress. The seven African leaders, the presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypts prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war. The African leaders then traveled to St. Petersburg on Saturday to meet with Putin who was attending Russia's showpiece international economic forum.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Details about the delegation's proposals were thin. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the three-hour meeting that the Africans' peace plan consisted of 10 elements, but was not formulated on paper. The peace initiative proposed by African countries is very difficult to implement, difficult to compare positions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But President Putin has shown interest in considering it. He spoke about our position. Not all provisions can be correlated with the main elements of our position, but this does not mean that we do not need to continue working, Peskov said. The main conclusion, in my opinion, from todays conversation is that our partners from the African Union have shown an understanding of the true causes of the crisis that was created by the West, and have shown an understanding that it is necessary to get out of this situation on the basis of addressing these underlying causes, Lavrov said. Russia says that it was effectively forced to send troops into Ukraine because it was threatened by Ukraine's desire to join NATO and by the country's support from the United States and Western Europe. READ MORE: Putin says Russia wants end to war in Ukraine 'soon' Speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin declared that the first Russian tactical nuclear weapons have been deployed to Belarus, describing the move as a deterrent against Western efforts to defeat Russia in Ukraine. He previously said that the deployment would begin in July. Asked if he could order the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin said that there was no need for that but noted that Moscow could use its nuclear arsenals in case of a threat to the Russian statehood. In that case, we will certainly use all the means that the Russian state has. There should be no doubt about that," he said. The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China and carries particular importance for Africa, which relies on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine. The war has impeded exports from one of the worlds most important breadbaskets. This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and four other African leaders after their closed-door talks on Friday. Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the hostilities but insisted all wars must come to an end and emphasized their willingness to help expedite that. I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard, he said, adding that there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later. The delegation, including Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represents a cross-section of African views on the war. South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow over the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Moscows invasion. Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles. Speaking during Friday's news conference, Comoros President Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a road map to peace, prompting questions from Zelenskyy who sought a clarification and insisted he didnt want any surprises from their visit with Putin. Chances for peace talks look dim as Ukraine and Russia take sharply different stands. Ukraine demands that Russia withdraws its troops from all its occupied territories as a condition for peace talks. The Kremlin, in turn, wants Ukraine to recognize the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as part of Russia and acknowledge other land gains it has made. China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, as the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire. The African peace mission comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks in several sections of more than the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. In the village of Blahodatne, taken by Ukrainian forces in the counteroffensive six days ago, soldiers said they have orders to keep advancing and not retreat, indicating long gruelling battles ahead in the direction where Russians have built up dense lines of fortifications. Morale is really strong because the guys know theyre moving forward to liberate their lands, said a Ukrainian soldier with the callsign Skripal (Violinist). We have an order not to retreat and to move forward, so were trying." Village roads are punctured with craters, buildings are caved in and bullet holes peppered nearly every residence. Inside a cultural centre, a Ukrainian commander with the call sign Lermontov said that theyd captured many Russian soldiers during the liberation of the village and showed journalists four bodies whom he said were Russian fighters who had been recruited from prisons.
Numaligarh Refinery Limite signs MoA with Kaziranga University and Institute of Frontier Science and Application

Guwahati, June 16: In a significant R&D initiative, Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Kaziranga University (KU) and Institute of Frontier Science and Application (IFSA) to carry out a research project titled 'Assessment of Wind Energy Potential in North East India'.

Numaligarh Refinery Limite signs MoA with Kaziranga University and Institute of Frontier Science and Application

The agreement was signed between Sr. CGM (CA) NRL Nikunja Borthakur, Vice Chancellor Kaziranga University Dr P K Mishra and Chairman, Institute of Frontier Science and Application (IFSA) Dr P Goswami at NRL Corporate Office in Guwahati on Friday in the presence of Director (Finance) NRL Sanjay Choudhuri and Sr. officials from NRL and Kaziranga University.As per the MoA, Kaziranga University in technical collaboration with the Institute of Frontier Science and Application (IFSA) with funding from NRL will implement the project which aims to develop bankable wind energy assessment over Assam in riverine environment using mobile Lidar observations for a period of three years.ANI17 June 2023

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Ktaka keen to operate and maintain new airports: Minister M.B. Patil

Bengaluru, June 17: The government is mulling bringing the responsibility of operation and maintenance of new airports under the ambit of the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC), official release from the large and medium industries ministry stated on Saturday.

K'taka keen to operate and maintain new airports: Minister M.B. Patil

KSIIDC is a body functioning under the department of large and medium industries.Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil stated that talks will be held with the union government about the operation and maintenance of new airports.Further, he said, "Shivamogga airport is ready to commence operations and the directorate of civil aviation has given approval for the same." Likewise, the government also intends to operate and maintain the Vijayapura and Hassan airports which are under construction, Patil said.It would be good if we operate and maintain the new airports on our own hereafter and it is going to fetch financial benefits, he opined.Citing an example he said that the Shiradi airport is being operated and maintained by the Maharashtra government itself. This model is being followed in 2-3 other states also, he explained.The state has set up an airport in Kalaburagi at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. However, this has been handed over to the airport authority. Instead of this, there will be local benefits if we run ourselves, the minister claimed.IANS17 June 2023

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Heres how parents can help children out of gaming addiction

New Delhi, June 17: Are you one of those parents finding it hard to pull your kid out of their gaming addiction? Instead of directly restricting them from playing, making open and healthy conversations can help you better, according to behavioural health experts.

Here's how parents can help children out of gaming addiction

Excessive gaming can take a toll on children's mental and physical health, which in turn can become more stressful for parents. While setting limits is important, children must be made aware of both the health benefits of video games as well as its damages."Simply telling the child to not play games at all is not the solution because there are certain games that also help in developing problem solving skills and creativity. Parents need to communicate honestly and build a trust with their child to know what game they are playing," Harneet Kaur Kohli, Consultant - Psychologist, Manipal Hospital, told IANS."When parents show a very disapproving reaction to gaming, children begin to hide it, resist it, and start to perceive that my parents see this wrong but I want to do it. While you allow them to play, engage with your child in healthy conversations about what the game is about and what they enjoy about it," added Mimansa Singh Tanwar, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Healthcare.A study of nearly 2,000 children, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that children who played video games performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to those who had never played.Studies have also shown video games to positively affect the brain and help people with cognitive disabilities like autism.A recent review of 116 scientific studies, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, indicated that playing video games not only changes how our brains perform but also their structure.The studies showed that video game players display improvements in several types of attention, and require less activation to stay focused on demanding tasks.However, in gaming addicts, it caused functional and structural alterations in the neural reward system -- a group of structures associated with feeling pleasure, learning, and motivation."If parents find some content which may be quite aggressive, violent or showing inappropriate behaviour or language, take an educative approach where you talk about how research has been showing that what we engage in with media can have an influence on our behaviour and it is true for all of us. So let's think critically about this," Tanwar told IANS.Kohli suggested that parents must have an open communication with kids and they should have a knowledge about what games should be given to their child based on their age."Once communication is established, it is easy for parents to control the screen time and activity of their child. If a child is spending their entire day on mobile phones, parents have to involve them in other activities (physical activities)," she added.The doctor said that parents can also encourage children to have a physical sport and other stimulating activities based on their interests so they learn to balance between screen time and hobbies.Moreover, Tanwar said kids sometimes use gaming as a means of coping from stress."Be watchful of signs if your child's preoccupation with gaming is increasing with inability to reduce their time despite multiple attempts and it is beginning to impact their emotional, social and academic functioning, seek help from a mental health professional," she added.The doctors also emphasised the role of schools as children spend at least 7-8 hours of their entire day at school."Schools must implement some educational programmes to inform children and parents about the pros and cons of mobile phones and gaming. They must involve children in these programmes in the form of physical activity so that they understand better. Informing them about the good uses will encourage them to use phones in a limited manner," Kohli told IANS.IANS17 June 2023

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Govt provided 29,684 jobs in one year: Punjab CM

Chandigarh, June 17: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday that his government has handed over 29,684 government jobs in around one year and more such employment opportunities are in the pipeline.

Govt provided 29,684 jobs in one year: Punjab CM

Addressing a gathering to hand over job letters to 401 clerks, the Chief Minister exhorted the newly-recruited youth to discharge their duty with utmost dedication and professional commitment.He said time has come when a new work culture based on teamwork and commitment must be introduced in the government offices. CM Mann said the young blood always has new ideas which his government will implement to give impetus to overall development.The Chief Minister called upon the youth to come forward to fulfill the aspirations of the great freedom fighters who had laid their lives for emancipating the country from clutches of foreign imperialism.He said his government is making efforts to infuse discipline in the working of the offices. Mann said this will ensure that people are benefited from the working of the government.The Chief Minister said his only motive is to serve the state with missionary zeal for its overall development and welfare of people. Mann said his every step and breath is aimed at the wellbeing of the people, adding that no stone is being left unturned for this cause.Mann said that earlier politicians hogged limelight after assuming office, but he left this limelight for the sake of Punjab and Punjabis and to serve the state.IANS17 June 2023

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Bank of Maharashtra organises customer connect and outreach program in Mumbai

PNN, Mumbai, June 17: Bank of Maharashtra, a premier public sector bank in the country, organised a customer connect and outreach program at Andheri, Mumbai on 16th June, 2023.

Bank of Maharashtra organises customer connect and outreach program in Mumbai

Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra attended the event. Manoj Kare, General Manager and Zonal Manager, Mumbai South Zone; Pradeep Mishra, Zonal Manager, Mumbai North; Rajkishore Ranjit, Zonal Manager, Thane, Sandeep Chourasiya Zonal Manager Navi Mumbai along with the Branch Managers and staff hosted the event. More than 450 customers from diverse fields viz. Retail, MSME, Agriculture, SHGs, Corporate, Export-Import, Forex, Start-ups etc. participated in the event.While addressing the event Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director said, Bank in its constant endeavour organising Customer Connect and Outreach Programs across the country. We envisage connecting to more and more customers while generating awareness about Government schemes with perfectly tailored commercial and retail products, which will make our customers self-reliant.Pandey opined, "We are receiving highly encouraging responses from such Customer Connect and Outreach Programs for two reasons, one being customer's feedback, which is helping the bank in making new schemes/products and improving further and second being reinforcing customer patronage to the bank, resulting into substantial business support. He also highlighted the growing importance of Digital Banking Channels and the proactive measures undertaken by the Bank to meet the evolving needs of the customers.This Customer Connect and Outreach Program witnessed credit sanction letters of more than Rs 6900 Cr. given to the beneficiaries in the event at the hands of Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director and other dignitaries present. Pandey encouraged everyone to contribute in making our country "Atmanirbhar" with a strong commitment to inclusive growth. The outreach program garnered total of 4164 CASA accounts opening. Moreover, through the program a substantial number of customers enrolled in different social security schemes viz. 2884 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), 19795 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and 796 Atal Pension Yojana (APY) enrolments. In addition, 874 Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) accounts, 1085 Public Provident Fund (PPF) accounts, and 74 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSA) accounts were also opened.Taking forward the Digital India mission, more than 9750 customers were provided with digital products like internet banking and mobile banking registrations, online savings account opening and FASTag activations. The program involved the participation of 195 branches of the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane.The customer outreach program exemplified the Bank of Maharashtra's unwavering dedication to fostering financial inclusivity and empowering customers with diverse and innovative banking solutions. By facilitating access to accounts and government savings schemes, along with the provision of digital products, the bank is actively driving progress towards a more inclusive and digitally enabled society.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI17 June 2023

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Recognising the Real Desh Chaalaks, Mahindra Logistics empowers the drivers of Indias economy

BusinessWire India, Mumbai, June 17: Mahindra Logistics Ltd.

Recognising the Real Desh Chaalaks, Mahindra Logistics empowers the drivers of India's economy

(MLL), one of India's largest integrated logistics solutions providers, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to empower drivers while recognizing their invaluable contribution to India's economy. MLL's holistic approach focuses on initiatives under skill development, wellness, family welfare, and emergency support embodying company's steadfast commitment.Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Logistics, said, "As India aims to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25, connectivity and superior infrastructure along with skilled workforce will become more critical. India faces a pressing challenge with only 450 skilled drivers per 1000 trucks by FY23-24. The very essence of our economy rests heavily on the efficient machinery of logistics and transportation systems. At Mahindra Logistics, we harbor an unwavering belief that drivers constitute critical spoke of India's vibrant logistics and transportation industry; deserving our utmost respect. Steadfastly maneuvering vehicles through arduous work and societal conditions, these unsung heroes ceaselessly toil to propel the wheels of India's economy. As pioneers within this industry, we conscientiously recognize the pivotal role we play in bridging this gap and offering continuous support to the driver community. By empowering our drivers with the supportive ecosystem, we aim to lead the way in nurturing and uplifting this essential workforce."Mahindra Logistics is committed to empowering communities and fostering inclusive development. By prioritizing the well-being of the driver-partners, the company has uplifted livelihoods, enhanced skills, improved infrastructure, and raised awareness about hygiene and safety, making a significant impact.To prioritize safety and security, Mahindra Logistics initiated a specialized training program under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMVKY). Over 20,000+ drivers are trained nationwide, fostering awareness and empowerment.One notable program is Samantar, a comprehensive driver welfare program that enhances working conditions and supports the driver community. MLL conducts activities including health check-ups, safety awareness, insurance schemes, celebrating Driver's Day across different cities, and the provision of scholarships for Drivers' children. Over the past decade, around 235,000 drivers have benefited from this program. In addition, Mahindra Logistics disbursed Rs 11 MN through the Sankalp scholarship program, supporting the education of drivers' children.Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, the HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies) initiative was launched in 2020, providing financial assistance to over 5,000 driver families.Mahindra Logistics also upholds a strong commitment to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within its workforce. An outstanding testament to this commitment is Manju, our driver-partner from the LGBTQ community, who has dedicated the past 15 years to operating trucks with a resolute focus on safety, and maintaining an impeccable record.Mahindra Logistics has wholeheartedly exemplified its dedication to empowering the driver community and ensuring they receive the respect they truly deserve. Its transformative initiatives have been instrumental in uplifting drivers and recognizing their invaluable contributions.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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Dr Hemachandran Ravikumar is appointed as Ambassador of the Royal Society of Biology, London

PNN, Chennai, June 17: Indian Scientist has been appointed as the New Foreign Ambassador of The Royal Society of Biology, London, for his outstanding contributions in the field of Bio-Science, Microbiological Studies and Neuro-Science.

Dr Hemachandran Ravikumar is appointed as Ambassador of the Royal Society of Biology, London

is the First appointed Indian Ambassador to serve as the Ambassador of The Royal Society of Biology.Previously on the 06th of April 2023 Dr Hemachandran Ravikumar Rsci MRSB(UK) has been conferred with the 'Registered Scientist Award-(Rsci)' by the Science Council Of the United Kingdom in association with the Royal Society of Biology (UK) for his indefatigable contribution to the field of Biology for "The Study of Memory Activities of the Cells in the Homo sapiens" and "Summarised Facts, Managements and Treatment Pattern for COVID -19" (Co-author Co.sci.Mathunila Vissagan). His untiring contributions and continuous hard work in biology have earned him the world's most prestigious honour from the Royal Society of Biology (UK).The Royal Society of Biology is an eminent global body of dedicated researchers in biological sciences partnered with industries, Academia, Advising governments on policy and promoting the talent, collaboration, innovation, information and ideas that lead to great scientific advances. It acknowledges significant achievements by a professional for extraordinary contributions to the field of Biology and life sciences. The appointed Ambassadors have been bestowed the designation Ambassador of the Royal Society of Biology. This is a prestigious honour for an individual who has adjudged a prominent contribution to advancing the biological sciences.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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Avtar Group recognizes leaders fostering inclusion

BusinessWire India, Chennai, June 17: Avtar Group, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Solutions firm, recognized and awarded inspiring leaders of employee resource groups (ERG) at organizations, inspiring mentors, and sponsors who advocate to develop and advance careers of members from the underrepresented talent groups.

Avtar Group recognizes leaders fostering inclusion

The awards were announced in the following categoriesBest Leader - ERG for the LGBQ+ Community; Best Leader - ERG for the Women group, Best Mentor and Best Sponsor. The awards were announced at the 4th edition of Avtar's annual virtual DEI conference, The Power of I today.Announcing the winners, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder - President, Avtar Group said, "India Inc. needs leaders with astute DEI intent to foster the culture of inclusion at workplaces. Even as companies are accelerating their DEI journeys, there is empirical and anecdotal data on employees continuing to feel not valued and included. It is not the mathematics that draw up real inclusion. It is the exchange of human values, stories, lived experiences that make an everlasting impact. To recognize such inspiring managers and leaders as part of this year's POI conference, we instituted awards for being the best in the categories of mentors, sponsors, and ERG leaders. To these leaders influencing and enabling inclusion is a way of life and as allies they help every individual they are connected to, to rise to their fullest potential. This I would say is the Power of an Individual towards unveiling the diversity possibilities." Award winners (category wise) Best ERG Leader - LGBTQ+ Winner Julien Brain, Director, Global AWS Programs and Global LGBTQ+ Charter Lead, WiproBest ERG Leader - LGBTQ+ Choice of Jury - ERG Leader LGBTQ+ Ali Khan, Global Head - Governance, Risk and Compliance, ZS Associates India Pvt. Ltd.Best ERG Leader -Women Winner Jasbir Kaur, Program Leader IBM JumpStart Program, IBM India Private LimitedBest ERG Leader - Women Choice of Jury Kannu Priya Taneja, Associate Director, People and Culture, Areteans Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (part of Omnicom group)Best Sponsor - Winner - Prashant Gupta, Sr. Director of Operations, ZS Associates Best Sponsor Choice of Jury Rohit Ramanand, Vice President, Walmart Global Tech India Best Mentor - Winner Thiru Nagarajan, Vice President - HR, IBM India/SA, IBM India Private LimitedBest Mentor - Choice of Jury Sandhya Ramachandran Arun, VP and Sector Delivery and Operations Exec, Wipro LTD. Best Mentor - Choice of Jury Satya Jayaraman, Senior Director, Engineering, Quaclomm India Pvt. Ltd. At the conference themed Diversity at Dispersed, Digital, and Dynamic Workforce, Dawn Kolb, VP, Quality Assurance and Release Management, Lumen delivered the keynote on how companies can use the collective muscle of the four Ds to foster inclusion. Other speakers at the conference included, Aparna Rao, Country Head, Cargill Business Services; Argenio Antao, COO, Colliers India; Vasudevan Swaminathan, Founder - CEO, Zuci Systems; Prachi Rastogi, DEI Lead, IBM APAC; Rashmi Nair, Director and Head of HR, Lumen India; Rajesh Srivastava, President and Chief Human Resources Officer Welspun India Ltd.; Ali Khan, Global Head Governance, Risk, Compliance and Audit, ZS Associates; Dr Anbu Arumugam, Senior Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Public Administration, Government Arts College for Men (Autonomous); Julien Brain, Director, Global AWS Programs and Global LGBTQ+ Charter Lead at Wipro; Amita Karadkhedkar, Senior Vice President - Citi Global Wealth Technology | Co-Chair Citi India Pride Network; Jyothi Suresh, Senior Director, Product Development, Lumen; Smriti Mathur, Senior Director, and Head of Human Resources Pega India; Dr Jagatheesh Jayanand, Head - Learning and Talent Development, Bosch India; Rajesh Chopra, Head - Advisors South Asia, Mastercard Inc.; Vieshaka L Dutta, Director - Diversity Equity and Inclusion, India and APAC, Publicis Sapient.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. A man who held people hostage in a branch of Kaspi Bank in Astana faces a prison sentence of 7 to 12 years, Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Marat Akhmetzhanov, Trend reports.

"This fact is registered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigation under Part 2 of Article 261 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "hostage-taking", which provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of seven to twelve years with or without confiscation of property," Marat Akhmetzhanov noted.
Unveiling the Grandeur: Indias Largest Home-Decor Expo showcasing curtains and upholstery fabrics

PNN, Mumbai, June 17: The highly anticipated Home-Decor Expo is set to take place from 4th to 7th July 2023 at the prestigious Jio World Convention Centre in BKC, Bandra, Mumbai.

Unveiling the Grandeur: India's Largest Home-Decor Expo showcasing curtains and upholstery fabrics

Organized by the AHT (Association of Home Textiles, the event promises to be India's largest gathering for home decor enthusiasts, featuring a wide range of curtains and upholstery fabrics.AHT (Associations of Home Textiles), an association that brings together 15,000 manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and traders, this expo offers a convenient platform for industry professionals to explore and purchase goods from various vendors.With an extensive selection of curtains and upholstery fabrics on display, the event caters to dealers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, traders, and channel partners seeking the latest trends and innovations in home decor.Managed by 3 D-Cube Exhibitions, the Home-Decor Expo has gained significant attention from key industry figures and dignitaries. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely expected to grace the event, adding to its prestige and appeal. Additionally, the presence of various Bollywood celebrities and notable personalities will further enhance the grandeur of the expo.AHT association of Home Textiles, the organizer of the event, expressed their enthusiasm, stating, "We are proud to present India's largest home decor expo, showcasing an impressive array of curtains and upholstery fabrics. This event serves as a hub for industry professionals to network, collaborate, and stay updated with the latest trends. We look forward to creating an exceptional experience for all attendees."With an estimated footfall of 15,000 to 17,000 visitors, the Home-Decor Expo is poised to be a remarkable success. Attendees can anticipate a vibrant showcase of home decor solutions, inspiring designs, and unparalleled networking opportunities.In addition to the diverse range of curtains and upholstery fabrics, the Home-Decor Expo will also feature exclusive seminars and workshops conducted by industry experts. These sessions will provide valuable insights into the latest trends, techniques, and innovations in the field of home decor. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from renowned experts and gain a deeper understanding of the industry.Furthermore, the expo will host an exclusive B2B networking platform, allowing industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and establish valuable business relationships. It will serve as a catalyst for the growth and development of the home decor sector, facilitating trade and fostering partnerships.The Home-Decor Expo is an event not to be missed for anyone passionate about home decor, whether you are a dealer, retailer, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, or channel partner. Be prepared to immerse yourself in the world of elegance, creativity, and inspiration as you explore the finest curtains and upholstery fabrics at this prestigious event.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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Addressing skincare needs for Indian men: Introducing Mantittude

PRNewswire, Hyderabad, June 17: Skincare brands often focus on women, leaving men's needs unaddressed.

Addressing skincare needs for Indian men: Introducing Mantittude

However, men make up 50 per cent of the Indian population, and their skin requires unique care. Men's skin differs from women's due to factors like testosterone, thicker skin, sebaceous glands, slower healing, and decreased collagen. Recognizing this gap in the market, Greeshma, an experienced brand manager, embarked on a journey to create Mantittude--a skincare brand tailored specifically to Indian men's needs.Greeshma's motivation stemmed from her husband's frustration to find good quality skincare products for men. When it comes to gender and diversity, it made Greeshma realize that skincare is not inclusive with very limited skincare products specifically for men. This prompted her to conduct extensive research, consult dermatologists, and conduct usability tests. Through this process, she discovered the distinct requirements of men's skin and the importance of addressing them. Understanding that healthy skin reflects overall well-being and self-confidence, Greeshma envisioned Mantittude as a brand that would provide tangible benefits to men.Mantittude's mission is to make it effortless for men to both look and feel their best every day. By carefully formulating products and incorporating cutting-edge ingredients, Mantittude offers effective solutions that cater to men's specific concerns while ensuring a simple and enjoyable skincare routine. With the tagline "Fresh Fierce Flawless" the brand challenges norms, displays unwavering determination, and commits to continuous improvement.Apart from biological differences, Mantittude takes other factors like the climate of the country, regular shaving, clogged pores, acne, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and the way aging affects men's skin into consideration when developing its skincare line. The brand's lightweight formulations are easily absorbed, leaving the skin fresh and hydrated without any greasiness.The product range is divided into three categories Daily Essentials, Night Revive, and Weekly Restore. Daily Essentials provide freshness, hydration, and protection without greasiness to help men confidently start their day. Night Revive products are fragrance-free, anti-inflammatory, and lightweight, ensuring maximum benefit for the skin during sleep. Weekly Restore products, such as scrub and mask, enhance the skin by revealing a fresh and rejuvenated appearance.Mantittude's product lineup includes Clean up Nice| Face Wash, Light Up |Day moisturizer, Shield your Face | Sunscreen with SPF 35+++, Perfect Your Shine| Face Serum, Restore your skin |Night cream, Kiss Ready | Lip Mask, Exfoliate | Weekly Face Scrub and Keep it Smooth | Face Mask. Each product d works together as a system to provide complete skincare tailored specifically to men's needs.Mantittude understands the unique skincare needs of men and takes pride in using high-quality ingredients to address common concerns like acne, skin darkening, and uneven skin tone. Experience the difference that Mantittude can make in your skincare routine, as we believe that every Indian man deserves to look and feel their absolute best.For more information about Mantittude and its product range, please visit .Mantittude is a skincare brand dedicated to meeting the specific needs of Indian men. Founded by Greeshma, a passionate brand manager, Mantittude aims to provide effective and tailored skincare solutions for men through carefully formulated products.Press Contact(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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Indias audit firm P.L Tandon & Co all set to ride the tide of UPs economic growth

PNN, New Delhi, June 17: In a significant move, P.

India's audit firm P.L Tandon & Co all set to ride the tide of UP's economic growth

L. Tandon and Co, one of the oldest (established in 1941) and most renowned audit firms in North India with headquarters in Kanpur (UP), has joined hands with Valuecent Consultancy, global boutique consultancy firm with its headquarters in Gurugram (Haryana) and operations in Europe, United States of America and Middle east. It intends to give businesses and investors looking to invest in Uttar Pradesh in India, other parts of India and around the world access to top-notch assurance, consultancy and financial services.India is on the trajectory to become the worldwide economic powerhouse and One state is set to emerge as India's growth engine as it aims for the star. The emerging state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India has been influential in determining the ever-changing economic climate of the nation. The economy of Uttar Pradesh has been rising recently, and more investors are looking to ride the boat of the state's fast paced development. Businesses in a variety of industries, including Manufacturing, IT, Civil Aviation, Food Processing and Dairy, Handlooms and Textiles and Agriculture, want to invest in the state because of its benevolent laws and pro-active government efforts.UP is on track to contribute USD 1 trillion to the national GDP under the exceptionally talented leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yogi is striving towards the realisation of this ideal by adhering to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's Sankalp Se Siddhi path of holistic development as Modi is resolved to march India to become a USD 10 Trillion Economy. CM Yogi Adityanath has accelerated UP's growth while enlisting the support of both domestic and foreign businesses. He is working around the clock to alter the situation by providing the best business climate supported by bureaucratic outreach and bolstering law and order in a state with the greatest amount of consumer demand.Since before India's independence, P L Tandon and Co has been a major player in the tax and audit sector thanks to its extensive experience and solid reputation. The firm has effectively evolved from being primarily focused on audits to diversifying its offerings to include valuations, taxation, corporate restructuring, business advice, and planning. The firm has also improved its processes throughout time, by substituting and modernizing into contemporary tools and technology. The 82-year-old legacy firm takes pride in upholding the highest moral, ethical and service standards. Businesses looking for advice in Tax regulatory, financial and assurance frequently turn to the firm because of its familiarity with the market, large network, and industry experience.P L Tandon firm has offices in Kanpur, Lucknow, Noida, Gurugram and Mathura. It aims to be present in over 10 cities in UP and over 15 cities in India.On the other hand, Valuecent is a well-known global consulting company with a track record of offering complete global solutions (global set up, international taxation, tax planning, transfer pricing, structuring etc.) and financial advisory services (corporate finance) to its clients all over the world. Valuecent is in a good position to navigate foreign investors and companies through Uttar Pradesh's complex tax landscape because of its in-depth understanding of international tax rules and regulations. Valuecent is a member of Top 15 Accounting Network Firm, ANTEA (which has presence in 350 locations throughout the world). Through this network Valuecent can service its clients in over 80 countries.CA Anil Agarwal, managing partner of P L Tandon and Co, commented on the association, saying, "We are delighted to associate with Valuecent, a leading international tax consultancy firm, to expand our business outside of India and to offer our clients unmatched and unparalleled experience of doing business in International Market.Our association is a perfect mix of Valuecent's global viewpoint and outreach with our local knowledge and network to provide our clients with the wise investment decisions in Uttar Pradesh and establish themselves more firmly in the expanding their businesses in India.CEO of Valuecent, Dr (CA) Vikas Chaturvedi, continued, "Our relationship with P L Tandon and Co intends to offer businesses and investors with top notch experience in audit and allied services in India. We are sure that working together would enable Uttar Pradesh's economy realise its enormous potential and open up new doors for both enterprises and investment."Businesses and investors may anticipate receiving sound advisory services which will enable them to take advantage of the growth potential in Uttar Pradesh. This is an important step in promoting the state's economic growth and prosperity and establishing it as a top investment location for companies throughout the world."(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI18 June 2023

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If wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost something is lost, but if character is lost everything is lost, Vijay tells students

Chennai, June 17: Actor Vijay interacted with the students and talked about the importance of voting and adviced them not to make money before casting their votes. In his speech, while interacting with the students he said that the character of a person is most important and if it is lost everything is lost.

If wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost something is lost, but if character is lost everything is lost, Vijay tells students

He said, "If wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost something is lost, but if character is lost everything is lost."Vijay attended an event at the RK Convention Center in Chennai, where the top three toppers of class 10th and 12th from all the districts of Tamil Nadu gathered. He distributed cash prizes, and certificates to them.Vijay expressed his happiness after meeting the students in Chennai and said that he was an average student."I am happy to meet you all. I remember my school days. I was an average student."He encouraged friendly discussion and said that they have to be careful while using social media and have to be an alert voter."In this information era, most of the news is fake. Do analyse the fake news on social media and any information available on it."He asked them to read books and get information about Dr BR Ambedkar, Periyar, and Kamarajar."Do read more and learn about leaders like Ambedkar, Periyar, Kamarajar and others, " he added.Vijay, who is a popular face of Tamil cinema shared further, "You are new voters. Getting money and voting is like hurting your eyes with your own hands. Tell your parents also."He also said that never demotivate yourself with results in examination. "In your class, if somebody fails, do motivate them. There will be always some who will discourage you but you must try to motivate yourself."On the work front, Vijay acted in movies like 'Nerrukku Ner', 'Kadhalukku Mariyadhai', 'Ninaithen Vandhai', 'Priyamudan' and 'Thulladha Manamum Thullum', among others.ANI18 June 2023

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MP: Vice President Dhankhar to lead mass Yoga demonstration in Jabalpur

New Delhi, June 17: The National Celebration of International Day of Yoga in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur will be led by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on June 21.

MP: Vice President Dhankhar to lead mass Yoga demonstration in Jabalpur

On June 21, Dhankhar will lead the mass yoga demonstration in the presence of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar and others.Earlier, the Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the global celebration of the International Day of Yoga will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on the International Day of Yoga (IDY 2023) on June 21, 2023.It may be noted that PM Modi urged and persuaded the United Nations to celebrate June 21 as International Day Yoga at the same venue nine years ago in 2014.Addressing at the curtain raiser press conference Sonowal said, "As we move closer to the International Day of Yoga, we are taking the celebration of Yoga, one of the greatest gifts of India's rich heritage to humanity, to another level this year. Our dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji will lead the yoga day celebrations from the UN Headquarters in New York.""It has been nine years since the UN recognised the Yoga Day celebration for June 21 after a passionate attempt by PM Modi convinced member states of the world to join in this wonderful celebration of positive mind and body. As PM Narendra Modi ji celebrates this year's Yoga day by leading the global celebration of IDY from the United Nations, this is the perfect tribute to this year's motto Yoga for 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'," he added.Sarbananda Sonowal further said, "This year's theme for IDY 2023 "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" aptly describes our aspiration for - 'One Earth One Family One Future'. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has been the guiding light for the Indian heritage since time immemorial and our ethos and socio-cultural fabric are woven around it. I sincerely hope through the practice of Yoga the global community is able to find solutions to various current health challenges."This year International Day of Yoga will witness many unique features like the Ocean Ring of Yoga, where India naval ships will be stationed at nine ports around the world and participate in CYP demonstration. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will also organize CYP demonstrations in countries with whom they have signed a MoUs, the release stated.It further said, "Yoga from the Arctic to Antarctica is another feature in which MEA is coordinating with the Ministry of Ayush to organise CYP in countries falling in and around the Prime Meridian line besides UN member countries. Yoga on the North Pole and South Pole regions will be held in coordination with MoES at Himadri-the Indian research base in the Arctic and Bharati-the Indian research base in Antarctica."Yoga Bharatmala has been conceptualised, where Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force along with ITBP, BSF, and BRO will make a chain of Yoga demonstration in unison. Yoga Sagarmala will witness yoga along the Indian coastline. There will be a Yoga demonstration at the flight deck of INS Vikrant.At the National level this year International Day of Yoga will try to achieve "Har Aangan Yoga" by enabling observation of Yoga at village level. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to all Gram Pradhans, appealing to them to observe International Day of Yoga at their nearest Anganwadi, Health and Wellness Centres, and schools. In addition to that around 2 lakh common service centres, Ayush Health and Wellness Centres under National Ayush Mission, Ayush Gram and the location of Amrit Sarovar will also participate in the celebration of International Day of Yoga.The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of External Affairs, is hosting a photography contest "Yoga My Pride" on MyGov.in platform. National and International participants can upload a photo of themselves doing "Yogasanas" along with a caption apt for the photograph. National and International participants will be awarded prizes in three categories.The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated with a whole government approach. All the key ministries of the Government of India, National and International leading Yoga institutes and organizations and other stakeholders are already participating in various run-up activities of IDY 2023. Along with these Indian missions and embassies, UN member states and the WHO GCTM office in Jamnagar will also participate in the International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2023.ANI18 June 2023

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Invest more in changed UP, connect youth with training, employment: CM Yogi appeals to entrepreneurs

Lucknow, June 17: Udyami Mitra will not only serve as a bridge between the entrepreneurs investing in the state and the government machinery, but also as the third eye of the government as youths associated with the CM Fellowship Scheme do in aspirational development blocks, said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday.

Invest more in changed UP, connect youth with training, employment: CM Yogi appeals to entrepreneurs

Distributing an incentive amount of Rs 232 crore to various entrepreneurs as well as appointment letters to 102 Udyami Mitrasat at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan, CM Yogi said that Udyami Mitras will try to solve investors' problems and if there is no solution available at the local level, they will apprise the concerned department about it to find it.The CM also appealed to the entrepreneurs to invest more in the state and connect the youth of the state with skill development, using their CSR funds.On this occasion, various entrepreneurs appreciated the improved law and order in Uttar Pradesh and the investment-friendly facilities like Single Window Clearance of the Yogi Government and gave suggestions. Top Udyami Mitras also shared their experiences of training with the CM.Addressing Udyami Mitras, CM Yogi said, "More than 100 Udyami Mitras have been selected here, who have received 14 days' training and have also inspected some industrial sites. You are about to start a new inning of life. Within the next three years, you will contribute strongly to furthering the possibilities of investment in Uttar Pradesh under these programmes. Your work will be evaluated every month. After the successful tenure of three years, any Udyami Mitras who is associated with industrial development or is willing to join any service of various authorities or government will be given age relaxation as well as special weightage."The Chief Minister said that besides making Uttar Pradesh the country's number one economy, Udyami Mitras will play an important role in achieving the goal of Ease of Doing Business."You have to see that no one can point a finger at you anywhere. There will be an attempt to lure you and break your morale. But, you must keep in mind the 25 crore people of the state and carry out your duties with unwavering commitment and dedication to establish the state as a one trillion dollar economy and as the country's biggest economy," he remarked.Referring to the youth selected for CM Fellowship Scheme, he said that they are going to the selected aspirational development blocks and contributing to establishing them as development blocks, connecting these with the process of development.Referring to the eligibility of Udyami Mitras, the CM said that 1500 people had applied, out of which 105 candidates were selected, including 87 men and 18 women. Besides, 15 persons are on the waiting list."All the candidates who have been selected here have come from respected universities. Graduate, Post Graduate candidates applied from top educational institutes including the University of Wales, UK, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, BHU, Triple IIT Prayagraj and NIT Prayagraj. It is an appeal to all of you that this is an opportunity for you to work, to prove yourself and to use your potential in the interest of the state. This time you must have seen that we have received proposals worth Rs 35 lakh crores at the Global Investors Summit. Uttar Pradesh has set the standard of how the Investors Summit should be held," he further pointed out.CM Yogi said today, no entrepreneur or businessman can complain that some goon has called them for donations or for cooperation in elections in UP, emphasising that the government will not let them down after the trust they have reposed in the government. He also appealed to the entrepreneurs to invest more and more in the changed Uttar Pradesh and create employment."Use your CSR funds in Uttar Pradesh only. Every industry must associate one institution with itself. Connect the youth here with the work of skill development as per your requirement. Provide training to the people associated with the institution at your place," CM said."We have also started CM Internship Scheme. Under the scheme, youth will work with you for a certain period of time and later be adjusted elsewhere. We have set a target to connect 7.5 lakh youth with this within the next one year in Uttar Pradesh", Yogi added further.On this occasion, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', Minister of State for Industrial Development and Parliamentary Jaswant Saini, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Minister's advisors Avnish Awasthi, Arvind Kumar, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Principal Secretary Narendra Bhushan, Industrial Development and Invest Officials of UP and many entrepreneurs from the country and the state were present.ANI18 June 2023

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Meet Baserah Mehraj: NEET qualifier and Hafiz-e-Quran from J-Ks Srinagar

Srinagar, June 17: Baserah Mehraj, a resident of the Noorbagh area in Srinagar, has made headlines for her extraordinary achievements. Not only did she excel in the highly competitive NEET 2023 examination, but she also accomplished the remarkable feat of memorizing the Holy Qur'an. Baserah's accomplishments have not only brought immense pride to her family but have also earned her admiration and praise from the community.

Meet Baserah Mehraj: NEET qualifier and Hafiz-e-Quran from J-K's Srinagar

Her father, Mehraj Ahmad, expressed his joy and gratitude for his daughter's exceptional accomplishments, emphasizing the importance of a strong educational foundation combined with spiritual devotion. He stated, "We are overwhelmed with pride and happiness. Baserah's dedication to both her studies and religious education has been exemplary. It is a testament to the power of balance and the potential it unlocks."Baserah's journey of success began in 2019 when she completed the memorization of the Holy Qur'an at a local Madrasa. Undeterred by the rigorous demands of this achievement, she continued her academic studies, culminating in her outstanding performance in the NEET 2023 examination.Baserah shared her perspective on the importance of maintaining a balance between religious and secular education.She emphasized, "It is crucial to strike a harmony between the teachings of our faith and the knowledge acquired through schools and universities. Both aspects complement each other and shape our character and worldview."Suhail Salim, Baserah's teacher, spoke highly of her academic abilities stating, "Baserah is an exceptional student who has consistently excelled in her studies. Her dedication and thirst for knowledge are truly commendable. She serves as an inspiration to her peers and stands as a testament to the rewards of hard work and perseverance."As news of Baserah's remarkable achievements spread throughout Kashmir, the community rallied to praise her accomplishments. Her story has become a symbol of hope and inspiration for young students, highlighting the potential to excel in both academic and spiritual endeavours.ANI18 June 2023

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Indian embassy in Kuwait organises beach cleaning drive, 500 volunteers take part

Kuwait City [Kuwait], June 17: As many as 500 volunteers enthusiastically took part in a beach cleaning activity organised by the Indian Embassy in association with several groups in Kuwait on Saturday morning.

Indian embassy in Kuwait organises beach cleaning drive, 500 volunteers take part

The beach cleaning drive was organised by the Indian embassy in joint collaboration with UN-Habitat, Hawally Governorate, the Municipality and various Indian community associations. The event marked a collaborative effort to promote environmental awareness and community participation as part of Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment, an initiative of the Government of India.Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika, Head of UN-Habitat GCC Ameera Alhassan lauded the beach cleaning initiative. Apart from them ambassadors from Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Afghanistan, Morocco, Romania, Vietnam, Cambodia in Kuwait also graced the event with their presence.Environmental degradation and climate change are global phenomena where actions in one part of the world impact ecosystems and populations across the globe. Estimates suggest that if requisite action is not taken against the changing environment, approximately 3 billion people globally could experience chronic water scarcity. The global economy could lose up to 18 per cent of GDP by 2050.Over the last two decades, several macro measures have been implemented globally to address environmental degradation and climate change, including policy reforms, economic incentives and regulations. Despite their enormous potential, actions required at the level of individuals, communities and institutions have received limited attention.Changing individual and community behaviour alone can make a significant dent in the environmental and climate crises. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if one billion people out of the global population of eight billion adopt environment-friendly behaviours in their daily lives, global carbon emissions could drop by approximately 20 per cent.In this context, the concept of 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow on 1st November 2021, calling upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards "mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption" to protect and preserve the environment. LiFE puts individual and collective duty on everyone to live a life that is in tune with Earth and does not harm it. Those who practice such a lifestyle are recognised as Pro Planet People under LiFE.ANI18 June 2023

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World Bank approves additional financing for Kerala climate resilience project

New Delhi, June 17: The World Bank's Board of Directors have approved a $150 million loan to support the 'Resilient Kerala Program' to continue strengthening the state's preparedness against natural disasters, climate change impacts, and disease outbreaks.

World Bank approves additional financing for Kerala climate resilience project

This additional financing will further deepen Kerala's resilience in the critical areas of coastal erosion and water resource management.Kerala is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and prone to the effects of climate change, given its location along the Southern Indian coast. In 2021, floods and landslides in the state led to a number of deaths and damages of around $100 million. Recurring disasters such as these have left devastating impacts on the livelihoods of vulnerable groups, especially women farmers and fisherwomen.This financing complements the bank's earlier investment of $125 million and the overall support of the two projects is expected to protect nearly 5 million people from the impacts of floods.World Bank's country director for India, Auguste Tano Kouame, said, "Through this additional financing, the World Bank will continue supporting Kerala in increasing its resilience to climate change. The project will focus on addressing coastal erosion along vulnerable areas of the state impacting millions of lives."Forty-five per cent of Kerala's 580 km coastline is eroding due to sustained levels of urbanization and deforestation. Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in the upland districts and rivers of the Pamba River basin, including in the Idukki district where the river starts.Studies have also shown that forest cover here has fallen by over 44 per cent between 1925 and 2012, while settlements have increased by 400 per cent.The additional financing will expand and deepen the state's resilience to mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion by building a shoreline management plan. The plan will assess the current and future shoreline changes in the state and create policies to address the risks to environmental resources, human settlements, and infrastructure along the coast.After the devastating floods and landslides of 2018, the World Bank invested in building Kerala's capabilities to respond to shocks to the state's economy and prevent the loss of lives, assets, and livelihoods. The program supported important policy and institutional reforms in the state, including improved management of the Pamba River basin, sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, and risk-informed land use. and disaster management planning at local levels.Additional resources will now address hotspots and vulnerable coastal erosion sites where immediate attention is needed. It will also help develop an integrated river basin management plan for the Pamba River basin and support the restoration of rivers and lake embankments to minimize flood damages in future.The project will help the state develop a climate budget and a roadmap to help fill gaps in the state's open data and digital systems to reduce people's vulnerability to natural hazards. Currently, satellite maps, risk maps and sectoral data are not integrated into a single platform, leading to gaps in the planning and execution of public sector investments."The additional financing will help scale up the coverage of the original program from four to nine coastal districts in the state," Elif Ayhan, Balakrishna Menon Parameswaran, Natsuko Kikutake and Deepak Singh, task team leaders for the project said."By building the state's technical capacities, this new financing will focus on improving its ability to plan, budget, and implement initiatives that will help Kerala achieve climate resilience," they added.The $150 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 14 years, including a grace period of six years.ANI18 June 2023

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Jain temple in Shimla bans entry of devotees wearing short-length clothes

Shimla, June 18: Devotees wearing short clothes have been banned entry to a century-old Jain temple in Shimla, with the authorities at the shrine defending the move citing the need to maintain discipline, decorum and values of the Hindu culture.

Jain temple in Shimla bans entry of devotees wearing short-length clothes

The temple, run by the Shree Digambar Jain Sabha, is popular with people belonging to the Jain community. The temple administration recently put up a notice outside the temple, underling the new dress code."All women and men should come to the temple wearing decent clothes. Those wearing short clothes, half pants, Bermuda, mini skirt, night suit, torn jeans, frock and three-Quarter jeans etc. should only pay obeisance outside the temple premises," read the notice stuck outside the Jain temple by the Shree Digambar Jain Sabha, Shimla.A priest of the Jain temple on Saturday said the decision was taken keeping in mind the changing fashion and sartorial preferences in women and the corrosion of values in the Hindu society.He said to maintain decorum, discipline and values, the decision had to be taken."Anyone visiting the temple needs to be in decent clothes. We have prohibited the entry of people wearing half pants, half clothes, miniskirts and torn jeans etc. People are falling out of the habit of visiting temples and in today's day and age, maintaining culture and traditions is turning out to be a struggle. In the past, our elders would visit temples in decent clothes but now the young boys and girls, as well as adult women, visit temples in short-length clothes. This is not good. The influx of western habits and culture is corroding our religious values," Pandit Sanjay Kumar Jain, a priest at the Jain temple Shimla, said."This decision was taken as per religious norms. People praticising other other faiths never drift from their core religious beliefs and ways but those belonging to the Hindu and Sanatan dharma are compromising with their religious values. We installed a board underlining the new dress code and the visitors have started following it," the priest added."This is an old temple going back over 100 years. This decision reflects our tradition. Those visiting temples in short clothes are violating the customs and traditions associated with these places of worship," said a devotee.Another devotee, Harsh Jain, said, "Our culture does not allow it (wearing short-length clothes). When it comes to temples, one needs to follow the rules. We are adopting the western culture and forgetting our own."Recently, the keepers of the iconic Jama Masjid in New Delhi had put up a controversial notice, banning the entry of women unless escorted by their male partners.However, the notice was taken down in the face of protests and outrage on social media.ANI18 June 2023

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 17. The India-Africa partnership is on the verge of a substantial leap forward in the near future. This necessitates intensified business engagement, extensive research endeavors, amplified trade flows, and exploration of broader export prospects, emphasized V Muraleedharan, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs.

During the Valedictory Session of the 18th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership the minister acknowledged the plethora of opportunities for collaboration between India and Africa across diverse sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, trade, investments, healthcare, education, science & technology, infrastructure, and digital technology, among others.

Recognizing the large youthful populations of both India and Africa, Muraleedharan stated that India understands Africas needs for training, education, and skills development. He further highlighted the crucial role that Indias educational institutions and initiatives in Africa will play in fulfilling the aspirations of African youth, particularly those in rural areas.

Gen (Retd) Dr CGDN Chiwenga, Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, expressed that Indias involvement in Africas digital transformation would contribute to greater inclusivity, job creation, bridging the digital divide, and supporting poverty eradication in the region. He said innovative financing through public-private partnerships on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis would create a mutually beneficial situation for both India and Africa.

Muhammad BS Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, underscored the critical nature of collaboration and exploration of new growth opportunities between India and Africa. He highlighted Indias potential role in sharing technologies, knowledge, and expertise, while emphasizing the need for African countries to create a business-friendly environment for Indian companies to invest in sectors like renewable energy, agriculture and food processing, education, healthcare, and mining, among others.

Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stressed that Africas substantial working-age population, growing middle class, and significant share of services are all factors that contribute to adding value to the India-Africa trade and investment relationship.

Underlining the foundation of mutual trust in India-Africa relations, Ms. Harsha Bangari, Managing Director of EXIM Bank, highlighted how Indias lines of credit have supported critical infrastructure projects in Africa. She further highlighted the relevance of the Indian Development and Economic Assistance (IDEA) Scheme in meeting Africas development priorities and facilitating robust social infrastructure for its people.

Sanjiv Puri, President-Designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry, noted the high level of cooperation and partnership witnessed at the conclave among participating countries. He highlighted the palpable friendship and trust between them and mentioned that the ideas generated during the event would enhance cooperation between India and Africa in emerging sectors such as space and renewable energy.
Freak weather, hailstorms may impact flavour, quantities of Himachal apples

Shimla, June 18: Himachal Pradesh, country's fruit bowl ranking second in apple and almond production, may witness a 30-35 per cent decline in the apple crop besides flavour deterioration this year owing to freak weather conditions, say horticulture experts.

Freak weather, hailstorms may impact flavour, quantities of Himachal apples

Growers say the loss could be 50 to 60 per cent.As per farmers, the snowless winter and wet weather with the onset of spring for several weeks are the reasons for the crop loss. The impact is seen more on lower and mid belts. Harvest will pick in July and last till October-end.But horticulture expert S.P. Bhardwaj is optimistic despite the decline in yield.He told IANS on Saturday that the natural fruit thinning of apple crop balances the amount of fruit left on trees with the leaf surface that provides the energy to grow and ripen fruit.In developed countries, the fruit thinning is done to increase fruit size and enhance repeat bloom, Bhardwaj, former joint director at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan.Apple is the most important fruit crop of Himachal Pradesh, which constitutes 48.8 per cent of the total area under fruit crops and 81 per cent of the total fruit production during FY 2021-22.The area under apple has increased from 400 hectares in 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-61 and 115,016 hectares in FY 2021-22.Between 2007-08 and 2021-22, area under apple has seen a growth of 21.4 per cent. Shimla district alone accounts for 80 per 'ent of the state's total apple production.As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, the state produced 674,000 tons of apples till December 2022. In the past 13 years, the leanest crop of 275,000 tonnes was in 2011-12 while the optimum of 892,000 tons was in 2010-11.More than 90 per cent of the state's apple produce goes to the domestic market.But farmers are skeptical about the overall production of the apple crop this year.They say the decline in the crop this time could be as high as 70 per cent compared to the yield of recent years.Apple grower Rajesh Khimta in Karsog, the hub of apple orchards in Mandi district, told IANS the main reason for the decline in the crop is largely due to lack of winter snow and extensive rainfall during the spring and thereafter."Fluctuation in temperatures from March to May altered the timing of key plant physiological events like delay in bud break and full bloom period," he explained. Also, the hails in May have damaged the crop extensively.Another grower Vinod Chauhan, who owns an orchard in Banot in Kotgarh area, said the crop has also been impacted by hailstorms. "Though growers ar' using hail nets, but they can't cover the entire orchards with the net."He said the old and senile apple plants need more chilling hours and have been severely impacted with almost snowless winter this time."For the past week we have been witnessing long sunny days that give you the feeling of summer. Otherwise, the temperature has been lying low due to regular showers. The vast variation of temperatures has impacted this season's crop," he said, while pointing towards trees that are normally laden with apples during this period.Field reports say the crop loss in orchards located in lower belts of Kotgarh could be as high as 75 per cent, while in upper regions like Thanedar it could be 50 to 60 per cent. In the high altitude orchards the loss is around 25 per cent.The first apple orchard in Himachal Pradesh was planted in Kotgarh, some 85 km from Shimla, on November 6, 1916, and that had helped Kotgarh to progress economically, socially and also marked its presence on the global map.However, horticulture expert Bhardwaj believes with the enhancement of rainfall activity during this period will help the crop gain in size."There is plenty of moisture in the soil that will enable the fruit to attain optimum size. Also the growers should not go for early harvest and colour spray," he said.As the fruit is sold on the basis of weight, the gaining of optimum size means overall increase in quantity, he explained.The farmers should have to adapt to modern farming practices and replace the old and senile apple plants with exotic high-yield varieties. They should have to change their mindset that every flower turns into fruit, which is against nature."When too many fruits are left on a tree, the competition among fruit for scarce nutrients will limit the size of each fruit," Bhardwaj added.In a first, the Northern Railway has offered the facility to transport apple growers across the country through trains.Also after successful trials in remote Kinnaur, private company Skye Air is going to introduce drone technology to transport apple boxes, weighing between 10 kg to 20 kg, across the challenging terrain of the hills.The early-season varieties hit the market. They fetch Rs 900 per 20-kg apple box in the wholesale market in Bhattakufer near Shimla.Superior grades like Royal Delicious, Red Chief, Super Chief, Oregon Spur and Scarlet Spur will start arriving by the middle of August.Farmers and trade insiders say the overall apple production in the state has been erratic since 2010.Experts believe changes in precipitation patterns like frequent extreme weather events both in summer and winter have impacted the taste, colour and texture of apples.Fluctuations in temperatures from December to February, for example, every year have been preponing flowering in apple trees in spring and altering the timing of key plant physiolo'ical events like early bud break and full bloom period.State's apple boom is credited to Samuel Evans Stokes (later named Satyanand Stokes), an American missionary who first introduced the high-quality apples in the mid-altitude hills.From a small orchard in Kotgarh, Stokes promoted the apple cultivation in other areas too, especially in upper Shimla.Since then the hill state has been synonymous with apples that alone constitute 89 per cent of the state's fruit economy of Rs 5,000 crore.(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)IANS18 June 2023

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Egyptian ship delivers relief aid to conflict-torn Sudan

Cairo, June 18: A supply ship loaded with hundreds of ton of relief aid from Egypt had arrived in conflict-torn Sudan, the Egyptian military announced.

Egyptian ship delivers relief aid to conflict-torn Sudan

The military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said on Saturday in a statement that the Egyptian navy ship had arrived at Port Sudan and unloaded hundreds of ton of foodstuffs, medical supplies and other aid material, Xinhua news agency reported.The supplies, sponsored by the Egyptian Ministries of Defence and social solidarity as well as some local associations, would be sent to most needy areas in Sudan, the spokesman added.A number of Egyptian and Sudanese nationals boarding the returning ship have arrived in Egypt, he said.Since the outbreak of the deadly conflicts between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan on April 15, about 1,21,000 Sudanese have taken refuge in Egypt, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on May 25.The armed clashes have left 958 Sudanese civilians dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union on Wednesday.IANS18 June 2023

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China: Social media influencer dies trying to lose more than 100kg at weight loss boot camp

Beijing, June 17: A social media influencer, who wanted to inspire her fans by losing more than half her body weight, died while taking part in a rigorous weight-loss boot camp in northwest China, igniting a discussion about how to govern the influencer industry, reported CNN.

China: Social media influencer dies trying to lose more than 100kg at weight loss boot camp

The death of the 21-year-old influencer, known online as Cuihua, has rekindled worries about the pressures women face to adhere to conventional beauty standards and led the state media to issue a safety warning about the dangers of weight-loss camps.Coming only weeks after a young man in the country passed away after live-streaming himself consuming several bottles of potent alcohol, it has also increased criticism of the influencer sector.According to state media agencies, as cited by CNN, Cuihua had been sharing her weight-loss journey with her tens of thousands of fans on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, in an effort to inspire others in their own battles against obesity.She revealed that she was striving to drop 100 kilogrammes of weight and that she weighed 156 kilogrammes (344 pounds) in a recent series of videos in which she is documenting her intense training activities.Following her death late last month, videos of the young influencer running and lifting weights were widely circulated on Chinese social media and even appeared in a number of state media sites, according to CNN.According to China National Radio, Cuihua, also known by her family name of Zhou, had joined a number of weight-loss programmes in different cities in an effort to attain her objective and had shed more than 27 kilogrammes (60 pounds) in the two months before her death.Just two days prior to her death, according to CNR, Cuihua had attended her last camp in the Shaanxi province.They claimed that despite the fact that the camp advocated "nutritious meals, rest, and healthy exercise," she had decided to restrict her nutrition in addition to engaging in rigorous exercise, as per CNN.Since then, photographs and videos of Cuihua training have been erased from the account.The influencer's family received "compensation" from the Shaanxi weight loss camp, according to state media reports, but the amount was not specified.According to local police, they are looking into the death and if the weight loss camp used excessive or inappropriate training methods, CNN reported.ANI18 June 2023

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US wont ease Ukraines path to NATO: Joe Biden

Washington DC, June 17: Following the White House Meeting with the defence alliance's leader, United States President Joe Biden said he would not make it easier for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), The Washington Post reported.

US won't ease Ukraine's path to NATO: Joe Biden

As a part of an African delegation travelling to Russia, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in St. Petersburg on Saturday to convince Russia's President Vladimir Putin to hold peace with Ukraine.The peace mission includes officials from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Comoros, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo. They met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday since the capital was hit by a Russian attack that combines ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, as per The Washington Post.While boarding Air Force One on Saturday, Biden told The Washington Post that the United States is 'not going to make it easy' for Ukraine to join NATO. Some member of the defence alliance is calling for Ukraine's formal invitation to the membership process. Although, others are worried that it could bring Europe directly into a military confrontation with Russia.Furthermore, most of the NATO diplomats believe that Ukraine still does not have enough political, social, and military stability to join the alliance, according to The Washington Post.ANI18 June 2023

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Sultan bin Ahmed honours UoSs medicine graduate

Sharjah, June 17: Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UoS), attended the graduation ceremony of medical sciences students at the University of Sharjah, at the University City Hall on Saturday.

Sultan bin Ahmed honours UoS's medicine graduate

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed expressed his pleasure with the continuous achievements of the medical colleges at the University of Sharjah, and with the obtained accreditations meeting the highest academic criteria.During a speech he delivered at the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan said that a high-ranking delegation from the German Accreditation Agency for Health and Social Care (AHPGS) visited the university, inspecting its health programmes where they were impressed with the level of the programmes, meeting or even exceeding the agency's seven accreditation criteria. The delegation wrote a recommendation for full accreditation making all the college's programmes become internationally accredited.The University's President discussed the achievement of the College of Dentistry, which ranked first in the state according to The SCImago Institutions Rankings, which, and was ranked among the top ten colleges in the Middle East as well as among the best 203 dental colleges in the world.He advised the graduates to be proud of their achievements and reach beyond their current status.He congratulated the graduates, their families, professors, and the administration, wishing them a bright future.Hamid Majul Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the UoS, expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed, for attending the ceremony to honour the new graduates' batch.Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed handed over certificates to the graduates, who numbered 666 students.At the end of the graduation ceremony, the graduates took the Hippocratic Oath in front of the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed met with the graduates with outstanding results, presenting them with gifts and taking memorial photos, wishing them all the best. (ANI/WAM)ANI18 June 2023

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Red flags parents must not miss when students chase foreign dreams

New Delhi, June 18: My only request is to please let our children stay in Canada. They are not at fault, said Sarabjit Kaur, a helpless mother on the verge of tears, as she got the news of her son and hundreds of others facing deportation.

Red flags parents must not miss when students chase foreign dreams

It was not just the 700 students in Canada who went through the mental agony of being caught in a fake admission letter racket but also their parents who spent their life savings and many a sleepless night worrying, praying for their children's bright future.Unfortunately, parents and students from India, with most choosing the UK, US and Canada as preferred educational destinations, often fall prey to fraudulent visa agents or recruiters whose sole purpose is to extract money.While Sarabjit and fellow parents blamed the education consultants for duping them with fake admission letters, there are a number of red flags that each parent with dreams of foreign education for their children, must look out for.This is because visa fraud and deportation remain on the student's immigration record, making them ineligible for any visa in the future, according to immigration experts.They add that the best way to go about the procedure is to steer one's own application process by applying directly on the college website where all rules and visa fees are stated clearly.But while choosing to go via an agent, one needs to check, verify and ask the agents about their credentials along with their company's; how long they have been in this business; the number of successful cases they have processed.This includes checking the reviews, testimonials, and ratings of the agency before hiring them for services.Submitting fake academic or bank documents to the embassy and/or college and sending students to non-recognised universities are some of the most common types of fraud committed by fake agents.The tell-tale signs of a fake agentAcademic queries - According to immigration consultant Y-Axis, if your agent is more committed to building a rosy picture of your future abroad rather than talking about SAT-GPA, in all probability you have run into a fake agent. Ask him to explain things like accreditation, course credits, academic calendar, practical training opportunities, etc.Lofty claims - Fake visa agents assure you of a three-year work permit on graduation, which would let you stay on and work in Canada, applying for a permanent residency in due course of time. They also mislead students by saying that they are a representative of an established study abroad consultant/agent.A talking shop - According to Harjiv Singh, Founder of Salwan Media Ventures, if the agent talks more than he listens, he is incompetent. He doesn't listen as he is focused on his own agenda, which is to make money.Admission/visa guaranteed - an immigration consultant is not authorised to make any commitment on behalf of the educational institution abroad. Also an agent cannot guarantee an assured visa in exchange for money. No agent can coerce the embassy to issue a visa.Contradictory claims - There are times when there is a difference between what the agent claims and what the official university website says. For instance, it is a major red flag if an agent says that a student can just work without attending classes, while the university website and the official embassy have different rules regarding work-while-study.According to immigration experts, most agents misguide about fees. The agents offer to deposit 'Application fee' in five universities, but end up depositing it in only two-three universities.Checklist for parents* The university/college the ward is applying to is legit* Validity or accreditation of the course the students are applying to* Valid visa degree upon completion of the course* Getting the documents in order* Self-verification of documents rather than blindly trusting agents(Meenakshi Iyer can be reached at meenakshi.i@ians.in)IANS18 June 2023

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Exploring modern fatherhood through entrepreneurial Dads

New Delhi, June 18: Father's Day is a moment to express gratitude for the fathers in our lives and acknowledge the impact they have had on shaping who we are. It is also an occasion to contemplate the role of parenthood and how our parenting styles influence our children and ourselves. In essence, being a parent has equipped these dadprenuers with the skills necessary for effective leadership. Their reflections provide an opportunity for all parents to evaluate how they are setting the stage for their children's success.

Exploring modern fatherhood through entrepreneurial Dads

Saurabh Arora, Founder and CEO of University Living, shares his thoughts on the modern approach to fatherhood, stating, "As a father, I've always believed that imparting the right moral principles and education is crucial. An entrepreneur's approach to fatherhood should prioritise balance, presence, and nurturing the next generation of leaders. Just as we strive for success in our businesses, we must also prioritise our role as fathers. It's not just about providing financially; it's about being actively involved, emotionally available, and setting a positive example. As entrepreneurs, we have the remarkable ability to influence and shape the future through our businesses and within our own families. Let's embrace the challenges, celebrate the joys, and be the role models our children need."Rohit Sethi, Director of ESS Global, draws parallels between entrepreneurship and fatherhood, noting that both require risk-taking, vulnerability, learning, and patience. Finding a balance between running a business and raising children can be challenging. However, Sethi emphasises that being a good father holds more significance in the grand scheme of things than being a successful businessperson. He encourages fathers to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, becoming the CEOs of their families who balance love, leadership, and innovation. This entails adaptability in a rapidly changing world, taking risks, and instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in our children.Anil Agarwal, CEO and Co-Founder of InCruiter, highlights the importance of breaking down traditional gender roles in the modern approach to fatherhood. He advocates for active participation in all aspects of children's lives, from cooking meals to attending parent-teacher meetings. By modelling gender equality, fathers pave the way for their children to embrace inclusivity and respect. Agarwal emphasizes the need to celebrate the modern approach to fatherhood, where ambition, compassion, and presence converge. As entrepreneurs, he believes they have the privilege and responsibility to shape not only their businesses but also the lives of their children. Together, they can redefine success and leave a legacy of love, inspiration, and resilience for future generations.From responsibility and understanding to nurturing and leading by example, these entrepreneurs demonstrate that the journey of fatherhood not only impacts their families but also influences their approach to leadership in the business world. On this Father's Day, let us celebrate the influential role of fathers and draw inspiration from these dadprenuers who embody the true essence of modern fatherhood.(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)IANS18 June 2023

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Cyclone Biparjoy: Indian Armys relief columns assist in removing fallen trees, electricity poles at Gujarats Bhachau

New Delhi, June 18: The relief columns of Konark Corps provided assistance and cleared road stretches by removing fallen trees and opening routes for maintenance as Cyclone Biparjoy left a trail of devastation in Gujarat.

Cyclone Biparjoy: Indian Army's relief columns assist in removing fallen trees, electricity poles at Gujarat's Bhachau

Cyclone Biparjoy, which originated in the Arabian Sea and swept across the west coast of India, made landfall on Thursday night around 10 km north of the Jakhau Port in Kutch in Gujarat."Relief columns of Konark Corps provided 24x7 assistance to civil administration at Bhachau, Gujarat. Columns cleared road stretches by removing fallen trees and electricity poles, opening a route for maintenance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel also interacted with Army troops earlier today (Saturday)," said Indian Army officials on Saturday.Earlier on June 17, asserting that there was no loss of life in Gujarat due to cyclone 'Biparjoy', which made landfall in the coastal areas of his home state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the extremely severe cyclonic storm, packing wind speeds in excess of 140 kmph, was tackled successfully."Today, a meeting was held in hybrid mode, featuring all the ministers, MLAs, and officers of the Gujarat government, as well as those representing the central government," Shah said.Stressing not a single life was lost in the cyclone, the Union Home Minister said, "Today I can say with great satisfaction that, with the cooperation of PM Modi and the people in all the affected areas, we were able to face this cyclone with minimum loss.""Heaping praise on the evacuation effort, Shah said, "The way the Gujarat government, with the support of the central agencies, worked to protect lives during the cyclone is a classic example of teamwork."Shah said, "Only 47 people were injured after the storm hit but none severely. Also, only about 234 animals died in the cyclone."He said that power has been restored in 1,600 of the 3,400 villages which went dark in the wake of the storm."I have been assured by the officials concerned that power in the remaining villages will be restored before 6 pm on June 20," said Shah.A total of six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams evacuated 127 civilians from Rupen Bandar Government Primary School and reshifted to NDH School Dwarka after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in coastal areas of the state on Thursday evening.ANI18 June 2023

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Adipurush makers to rewrite dialogues out of respect for audiences sentiment

Mumbai, June 18: After receiving severe criticism over the dialogues, makers of the recently released film 'Adipurush' announced that they will be rewriting the lines as a mark of respect to the audience.

'Adipurush' makers to rewrite dialogues out of respect for audiences' sentiment

A statement read "Making this visual spectacle a memorable cinematic experience, the team decides to make alterations to the film's dialogues, valuing the input of the public and the audience.""The makers are revisiting the said dialogues, ensuring they resonate with the core essence of the film and the same will reflect in the theatres in the next few days. This decision is a testament that inspite of unstoppable collections at the Box Office, the team is committed and nothing is beyond the sentiments of their audiences and harmony at large."A day after the release, the film starring Kriti Sanon and Prabha stirred controversy over its dialogues specifically regarding the Lanka Dahan scene where Lord Hanuman is heard mouthing the lines "jalegi bhi tere baap ki" to Meghnad.The controversy is in the Lanka Dahan scene, when Ravana's son lights up lord Hanuman's Tail and says "Jali na.. Abhi to aur jalegi. Jiski jalti hai wahi janta hai."To which the character of Hanuman replies 'Kapda tere baap ka. Tel tere baap ka. Aag bhi tere baap ki. Toh jalegi bhi tere baap ki."IANS18 June 2023

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Israel unveils first-ever hypersonic missile interceptor

Jerusalem, June 17: Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems on Wednesday announced the development of what it said was the world's first hypersonic missile interceptor, called SkySonic.

Israel unveils first-ever hypersonic missile interceptor

The decision by the state-owned defence contractor to publicize the project comes after last week's unveiling of what Iran claimed is its first domestically manufactured hypersonic missile."We follow the developments and threats in the global arena and, as in the past, advance and develop the most advanced defence systems," said Dr Yuval Steinitz, chairman of the Haifa-based Rafael.SkySonic is in the advanced stages of development and will soon undergo its first live flight tests, the company said. Rafael is planning to showcase the interceptor at the Paris Air Show next week, and the firm said that it has already briefed the Pentagon on the development.Hypersonic missiles can travel at least five times faster than the speed of sound, or 1-5 miles in a second. They follow complex trajectories and have greater manoeuvrability than ballistic missiles, making them difficult to defend. Most radar systems cannot even detect a hypersonic missile.Russia, China and the US are the only other countries known to be developing hypersonic missiles.Iran, a country whose leaders repeatedly call for Israel's destruction, on June 6 unveiled the "Fattah" missile, which has a reported range of 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) and a maximum speed of Mach 13-15."This missile targets the enemy's anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the missile field," said Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force.The day after Iran's unveiling, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to address the regime in Tehran."I hear our enemies boasting about weapons they are developing. To any such development, we have an even better response--whether it be on land, in the air, or in the maritime arena, including both defensive and offensive means," said Gallant. (ANI/TPS)ANI18 June 2023

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. We plan to increase Turkiye's exports to $265 billion by the end of 2023 and to $285 billion by the end of next year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports.

The President of Turkiye noted that the export of services last year increased by 47.3 percent and reached $90 billion.

Erdogan also drew attention to the achievements of the country's defense industry. "Last year, deliveries of defense products abroad increased by 37 percent and reached $4.3 billion," he added.
Rashid Khan returns to Afghanistan squad for Bangladesh ODIs, Noor Ahmad misses out

Kabul, June 18: Premier leg-spinner Rashid Khan on Sunday made a return to the Afghanistan squad for the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, starting from July 5 in Chattogram, after being rested for the team's one-off Test in Mirpur to prioritise his long-term fitness.

Rashid Khan returns to Afghanistan squad for Bangladesh ODIs, Noor Ahmad misses out

Fellow leg-spinner Izharulhaq Naveed, who rose to limelight with an impressive time in last season's Big Bash League in Australia, has been given a maiden ODI call-up. But there is no place for left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad, who was in Afghanistan's squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.Other new names in Afghanistan's ODI squad include Shahidullah, Zia-ur-Rehman, Wafadar Moment, Mohammad Saleem and Sayed Shirzad.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) also named 10 players who will be back-up players for the side's future ODIs and the World Cup, to be held in India in October-November.The list of ten back-up players comprises of Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Naveen-ul-Haq, Darwish Rasooli, Zubaid Akbari, Ihsanullah Janat, Farid Malik and Ishaq Rahimi.Afghanistan will play all the day-night ODI matches against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on July 5, 8 and 11. It will be followed by two T20Is between the two teams in Sylhet on July 14 and 16.Afghanistan squad for Bangladesh ODIs Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Shahidullah, Zia-ur-Rehman, Wafadar Momand, Mohammad Saleem, Sayed ShirzadAfghanistan Back-up players Karim Janat, Zubaid Akbari, Qais Ahmad, Ihsanullah Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Naveen-ul-Haq, Farid Malik, Darwish Rasooli, Ishaq RahimiSchedule for the Bangladesh-Afghanistan ODI seriesFirst ODI, July 5, ChattogramSecond ODI, July 8, ChattogramThird ODI, July 11, ChattogramIANS18 June 2023

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Ashes 2023: England will be rueing missed chances; they looked jaded, says Michael Vaughan

Birmingham, June 18: Former captain Michael Vaughan expressed his worries about the 'jaded' England team, saying that the hosts will be rueing those missed chances as Australia made a comeback on the second day of the first Ashes 2023 Test, here.

Ashes 2023: England will be rueing missed chances; they looked jaded, says Michael Vaughan

Khawaja's brilliant 126 not out, his 15th career century and first on English soil, helped Australia finish Day 2 on 311/5, 82 behind the host's 393-8 declared on Saturday.Despite concerns over his knee, England captain Ben Stokes managed to bowl seven overs on the second day of the match at Edgbaston, and his dismissal of Steve Smith, trapped lbw, had Australia in a faltering position.However, the middle order stepped up and provided valuable support to Khawaja. Travis Head scored a fluent 50 and Cameron Green made 38 before the duo fell victim to Moeen Ali, who came out of Test retirement to play in the Ashes.England's frustration grew when Stuart Broad ripped out the off stump of the centurion Khawaja on a no-ball, which was a second let-off in quick succession after Jonny Bairstow dropped Carey."England will be rueing those missed chances. And on this pitch, which is very flat, my concern is their bodies. They looked jaded and this is their first day in the dirt of a five-match series over six weeks," Vaughan said on BBC's Test Match Special."I was a bit concerned with Ollie Robinson today. He seemed to go off the pitch a lot. I'm not sure if there is an issue with his ankle.The problem is this pitch is so slow and hard for the seamers, when you are asked to bowl bouncers, it takes it out of you. If they are going to be playing on these pitches for the next six weeks then some of these seamers are going to be in a hole," he added.IANS18 June 2023

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Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin discusses energy industry prospects

St. Petersburg, June 18: An Energy Panel was held as part of the XXVI St Petersburg International Economic Forum and Rosneft's Chief Executive Director Igor Sechin gave the keynote speech at the event.

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin discusses energy industry prospects

In his report "Sodom and Gomorrah in the Energy Market God's Wrath or Organized Chaos? Save Yourself if You Can", he presented an analysis of the energy transition and climate changes. He paid special attention to the volatility of the global financial and economic systems, the US banking crisis, and the declining role of dollar as a reserve currency.Sechin also presented a roadmap for improving the efficiency of the Russian energy sector in the face of unprecedented external challenges.The event was attended by CNPC Chairman Dai Houliang; Managing Director of ValPro India, Govinda Kottis Satish; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ICEF (Innovation for Cool Earth Forum), a non-profit low-carbon technology initiative of the Japanese government; Executive Director of the International Energy Agency from 2007 to 2011 Nobuo Tanaka; President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf; Vice President of China and Asia Pacific's leading university, Tsinghua University, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Jiang Peixue; Chairman and CEO of Oil iamp; Petroleum Holding International Resources (OPHIR) Pedro A. Aquino Jr.; Martin Wiewiorowski and CEO and Managing Director of Kenya National Petroleum Corporation Leparan Gideon ole Morinthat.The Energy Panel was attended by a delegation from Venezuela, led by the Head of the Central Bank, as well as representative delegations from China, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and Brazil.Also present were Laureano and Daniel, the sons of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.The Energy Panel was moderated by Alexander Dynkin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and President of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of SciencesIANS18 June 2023

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Philippines says Chinese navy vessel shadowed its BRP Francisco Dagohoy

Manila, June 18: A Chinese navy vessel shadowed BRP Francisco Dagohoy from Pag-asa Island while it was heading to Palawan after helping the fisheries bureau deliver livelihood assistance to the residents there, Philippines-based ABS-CBN News reported citing the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Philippines says Chinese navy vessel shadowed its BRP Francisco Dagohoy

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Armand Balilo said the Chinese vessel was not immediately noticed by the patrol vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The incident took place on Friday, Job Manahan wrote in the ABS-CBN News report. Armand Balilo said that the Chinese Navy left the region after the radio challenges.BFAR Chief Information Officer Nazario Briguera said the sail to the Pag-asa Island for their project was peaceful and smooth. He further said he was not on board the BRP Dagohoy when the incident took place, ABS-CBN News reported.Briguera said the vessel began its journey on June 12 to deliver livelihood assistance worth P5 million in Kalayaan, as per the news report. The vessel arrived in Puerto Princesa on June 16.China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, ignoring an international ruling that asserts they have no legal basis, according to ABS-CBN News report.Recently, the Philippines accused China of causing a near-crash with a coast guard ship and pointing a military-grade laser at another vessel.Earlier, in May, the Philippines placed five navigational buoys inside its 200-mile (322 km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty, according to the country's coast guard, The Epoch Times reported.The Philippine Coast Guard's spokesperson on South China Sea issues, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said five buoys carrying the national flag were placed from May 10 to May 12 in five areas within the EEZ.An exclusive economic zone, or EEZ is an area of the ocean, generally extending 200 nautical miles beyond a nation's territorial sea, within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over both living and nonliving resources.Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Juan Felipe Reef are the five areas where the buoys have been placed, the report stated further. Tarriela, while sharing photos of the buoys in a post, tweeted "This move highlights the Philippines' unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade."According to The Epoch Times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has laid its claim to the majority of the South China Sea, citing the so-called "nine-dash line." The CCP's claim of sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea was annulled by a 2016 international arbitration ruling, reported The Epoch Times.As the Philippines looks to further fortify its connections with the United States, China has been acting more aggressively in the South China Sea recently.On May 1, amidst the CCP's intimidating tactics against the self-ruled island, the Philippines and the United States underlined the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait.ANI18 June 2023

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Breast cancer treatments limit effectiveness of weight loss medications, finds study

Washington, June 18: Breast cancer medicines known as aromatase inhibitors may diminish the benefit of weight loss therapies, according to a new study presented at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

Breast cancer treatments limit effectiveness of weight loss medications, finds study

The study discovered that weight loss drugs are less successful in breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors than in women without a history of breast cancer who are not taking aromatase inhibitors.Aromatase inhibitors are used to treat or prevent the recurrence of certain forms of breast cancer. They may also be used to help prevent breast cancer in some women who are predisposed to it. These drugs inhibit the function of aromatase, an enzyme that the body utilises to produce oestrogen in the ovaries and other tissues. By inhibiting aromatase, the body produces less oestrogen, which may inhibit the growth of cancer cells that require oestrogen to proliferate."Weight gain is a common concern in breast cancer survivors," said lead researcher Sima Fansa, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She said studies have shown that aromatase inhibitors may be a risk factor for weight gain. Weight gain and obesity, in addition to being associated with breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer-related death, can lead to heart disease and heart-related death."This is the first study assessing response to weight loss medications in a subgroup of breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors," Fansa said. "Our results highlight the need to develop better approaches to manage weight gain in patients with a history of breast cancer taking aromatase inhibitors. Preventing weight gain in this group or treating obesity effectively will improve breast cancer outcomes, prevent further health complications, and improve quality of life for these people."The study included 99 patients--63 women with a history of breast cancer taking aromatase inhibitors and weight loss medications (liraglutide, semaglutide or phentermine); and 36 women without a history of breast cancer who were not taking aromatase inhibitors but were taking weight loss medications.The women in the breast cancer group lost less weight at 3, 6 and 12 months compared with the women without a history of breast cancer (3.7% vs. 5.6% at 3 months; 3.9 vs. 9.5% at 6 months; and 5.2% vs. 10.5% at 12 months)."We believe that this difference may be explained, at least partially, by the anti-estrogen effect of aromatase inhibitors," Fansa said. "Aromatase inhibitors can lead to decreased muscle mass, increased fat mass, and changes in energy expenditure. This may affect the body's response to weight loss interventions, including weight loss medications."ANI18 June 2023

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Ashes, 1st Test: Englands Moeen Ali fined 25 per cent of match fee for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Birmingham, June 18: England all-rounder Moeen Ali was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and will be fined 25 per cent of his match fee from the ongoing opening Test of the Ashes series against Australia.

Ashes, 1st Test: England's Moeen Ali fined 25 per cent of match fee for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

"Ali was found to have breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game," International Cricket Council (ICC) said in an official statement."In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Ali's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period," it read further.The veteran all-rounder pleaded guilty to violating the ICC Code of Conduct after he applied a drying agent on his bowling hand while standing on the boundary line. He was deemed to have violated the umpires' pre-series instructions to the two sets of players about not applying anything on their hands without prior approval.Ali applied the drying agent on his bowling hand just before coming on to bowl.The veteran English all-rounder admitted to the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the ICC's Elite Panel of Match Referees, thereby not necessitating a formal hearing.Before deciding to sanction the player, the Match Referee was satisfied that Ali had used the spray only to dry his hands. The spray was not used as an artificial substance on the ball and consequently, it had not changed the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions -- Unfair Play -- The Match Ball -- changing its condition.On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Mike Burns levelled the charge.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand while a maximum penalty attracts 50 per cent of a player's match fee and one or two demerit points.ANI18 June 2023

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Hansal Mehtas series Scam 2003: The Telgi Story release date is out

Mumbai, June 18: Sony LIV 2.0 marks the third anniversary of its relaunch with the announcement of the release date of Scam 2003: The Telgi Story. The show will stream from, September 2, 2023.

Hansal Mehta's series 'Scam 2003: The Telgi Story' release date is out

Hansal Mehta took to Instagram, to announce the release date. Sharing a video in the post, Hansal wrote, "Special announcement on the 3rd anniversary of @sonylivindia. #Scam 2003Produced by @applausesocial @spnstudionext.Directed by @tusharhiranandani.Written by @karanvyas11 #KiranYadnopavit. Congratulations to @sameern @segaldeepak @jhavarpriya @001danishkhan @saugatam @gagandevriar and the tremendously hardworking #Scam2003 team."The Telgi Story is a follow-up to Hansal Mehta's 2020 hit Scam 1992 The Harshad Mehta Story. 'Scam 2003' is adapted from the Hindi book 'Reporter ki Diary', authored by journalist Sanjay Singh, who broke the scam back in the time.Scam 2003 tells the story of Abdul Karim Telgi's 2003 Stamp Paper Scam. The series promises to be an interesting watch as it follows Abdul Karim Telgi, who was born in Khanapur, Karnataka, and his journey to becoming the mastermind behind one of India's most ingenious scams that spanned 18 states and shook the entire country. The scam's estimated value was around Rs. 20,000 crores.Kiran Yadnyopavit, known for his contributions to the Marathi film industry, will write and develop the story alongside author Sanjay Singh for the show.Applause Entertainment produces Scam 2003 in collaboration with Studio Next. Tushar Hiranandani directs the series, which is directed by Hansal Mehta.ANI19 June 2023

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Egypt will import 170,000 cattle in preparation for the Islamic holiday Eid Al-Adha, announced the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in a statement on Monday.

The imports include 150,000 calves and 20,000 sheep, the ministry added.

Of the 150,000 calves, 45,000 will be slaughtered immediately, while the remaining 105,000 will be fattened.

The imports accord with the state's plan to increase its strategic meat stock via contracting multiple alternatives, including new international markets, Agriculture Minister Al-Said Al-Qusair affirmed.

Egypt aims to provide sufficient meat at reasonable prices in time for Eid Al-Adha, the minister continued.

Several Egyptians celebrate Eid El-Adha by slaughtering sheep, goats, or cows to feed their families and donate to the poor.

Others tend to buy sizeable amounts of meat.

Eid Al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) dates from the historic event when Prophet Abraham was commanded by God, in a form of a dream vision, to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. But while he was in the act of sacrificing his son, God sent the Angel Gabriel with a huge ram. Gabriel informed Abraham that his dream vision was fulfilled and instructed him to sacrifice the ram as a ransom for his son. The story is mentioned in Sura (Chapter) 37 of the Holy Qur'an.

Furthermore, Al-Qusair stressed that the government was interested in releasing more fodder for cattle and poultry to lower their prices in the market.

Local meat prices have been rising steadily amid the global food crisis.

Meat prices in Egypt have been recently soaring, with some attributing the increase to low supplies of fodder and the high cost of importing it.

The low supply of imported fodder has caused the increase in meat prices, the Head of the Butchers Division at Cairo Chamber of Commerce Mohamed Wahba announced earlier this month.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Wednesday for open lines of communication as he spoke with China's foreign minister, ahead of planned face-to-face discussions in Beijing.

Relations between the world's two largest economies have tanked in recent years over Taiwan, trade and human rights, among a litany of other issues.

The United States confirmed Wednesday that Blinken has rescheduled a rare visit to Beijing for this weekend, seeking to "responsibly manage" tense ties.

In his call with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, which took place Wednesday Beijing time, Blinken said they "discussed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication as well as bilateral and global issues".

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller also said Blinken had stressed "the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship to avoid miscalculation and conflict".

Blinken "made clear the US would continue to use diplomatic engagements to raise areas of concern as well as areas of potential cooperation", Miller said.

A Beijing readout of the call struck a more confrontational tone, reporting that Qin had warned that relations between the two countries had faced "new difficulties and challenges" since the beginning of the year.

"It's clear who is responsible," Qin said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

"China has always viewed and managed China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping," he added.

Blinken in Beijing



Blinken is due in the Chinese capital on Sunday, after a previous planned visit was abruptly cancelled in February, after the United States said it detected -- and later shot down -- a Chinese balloon flying over the US mainland.

His visit would be the first trip by a top US diplomat to China since his predecessor Mike Pompeo in October 2018.

Presidents Joe Biden and Xi met in Bali in November and agreed to try to prevent tensions from soaring out of control, including by sending Blinken to Beijing.

The two sides have more recently looked again to keep tensions in check, including with an extensive, closed-door meeting between Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna last month.

Biden has sought limited areas for cooperation with China, such as climate change, in contrast with the more fully adversarial position adopted at the end of the administration of his predecessor Donald Trump.

But two countries remain at deeply at odds over many issues.

The White House last week accused China of operating an intelligence unit in Cuba for years and upgraded it in 2019 in an effort to enhance its presence on the Caribbean island.

A base in Cuba, which lies 90 miles (150 kilometers) off Florida's southern tip, would be viewed in Washington as a direct challenge to the continental United States.

Asked about the base at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was "unaware of the situation" before criticising US policy on Cuba.

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Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
As a part of its life cycle, the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) inserts a copy of its DNA into human immune cells. Some of these newly infected immune cells can then transition into a dormant, latent state for a long period of time, which is referred to as HIV latency.

Although current therapies, such current antiretroviral therapy (ART), can successfully block the virus from replicating further, it cannot eradicate latent HIV. If treatment is ever discontinued, the virus can rebound from latency and reignite the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.

Scientists from the HIV Cure Center at the UNC School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, Emory University, and University of Pennsylvania have been searching for where exactly these latent cells are hiding in the body. New research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigations confirms that microglial cells  which are specialized immune cells with a decade-long lifespan in the brain  can serve as a stable viral reservoir for latent HIV.

We now know that microglial cells serve as a persistent brain reservoir. This had been suspected in the past, but proof in humans was lacking. Our method for isolating viable brain cells provides a new framework for future studies on reservoirs of the central nervous system, and, ultimately, efforts towards the eradication of HIV." Yuyang Tang, PhD, first author, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and member of the UNC HIV Cure Center

Latent HIV

HIV is a tricky and unique virus to study. During infection, the virus specifically targets the key coordinators of the immune response, which are called CD4+ lymphocytes. Over time, the virus kills enough CD4+ cells to cause immunodeficiency. .

Past research has shown that latent HIV can hide within a few of the surviving CD4+ T cells throughout the body and the bloodstream. However, other viral reservoirs have been suspected to hide within the central nervous system (CNS) in people with HIV receiving effective ART.

Unlike peripheral blood cells, it is extremely difficult to access and analyze brain tissues for the study of HIV reservoirs. Since these types of cells cannot be safely sampled in people taking ART, the potential viral reservoir in the brain has remained an enigma for many years.

Extracting pure brain tissue

The team first studied the brains of macaques with the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a virus that is closely related to HIV, from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University to get a better understanding of how to extract and purify viable cells from primate brain tissue.

Researchers used physical separation techniques and antibodies to selectively remove cells that were expressing microglial surface markers. Then, they isolated and separated the highly pure brain myeloid cells from the CD4+ cells that were passing through the brain tissue.

Using these techniques, researchers then obtained samples that were donated by HIV+ people who were enrolled in "The Last Gift" Study at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). As a part of this unique and important effort, altruistic HIV+ people, who are taking ART but suffering from other terminal illnesses, will their bodies to further the HIV research project.

"The samples are from people living with HIV, who are on therapy but facing a fatal disease of some kind," said the co-author David Margolis, MD, the Sarah Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, and Epidemiology. "They were willing to not just donate their bodies to science, but also participate in the research program in the months leading up to their death. It's an extraordinary program that made this critical research possible."

Future projects

Now that the researchers know that latent HIV can take refuge in microglial cells in the brain, they are now considering plans to target this type of reservoir. Since latent HIV in the brain is radically different from the virus in the periphery, researchers believe that it has adapted special characteristics to replicate in the brain.

"HIV is very smart," said senior author Guochun Jiang, PhD, assistant professor in the UNC Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and member of the UNC HIV Cure Center. "Over time, it has evolved to have epigenetic control of its expression, silencing the virus to hide in the brain from immune clearance. We are starting to unravel the unique mechanism that allows latency of HIV in brain microglia"."

NF-B signaling is one of the critical signaling pathways that controls HIV expression elsewhere in the body. When NF-B signaling is "turned off", HIV enters latency in the peripheral blood. However, latent HIV in the brain is not impacted by the activation of NF-B signaling. Researchers are unsure why that is, but once an answer is found, they will be one step closer to knowing how to selectively target and eradicate the virus in the brain or peripheral blood.In addition to understanding the inner workings of the brain reservoir, the researchers are also trying to determine the true size of the latent HIV brain reservoir.

"It is very hard to know how big the reservoir is," said Margolis, who is also the director of the UNC HIV Cure Center. "The problem with trying to eradicate HIV is like trying to eradicate cancer. You want to be able to get it all, so it won't come back."
Breast cancer is a complex disease, and its progression is difficult, yet important, to predict.

While many elements may contribute to a breast cancer prognosis, University of Massachusetts Amherst biostatistician Chi Hyun Lee has zeroed in on one risk factor that has emerged for its potential to predict the disease's progression.

Lee will use a two-year, $154,791 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in an effort to develop statistical tools that will better predict breast cancer survival rates and survival time after breast cancer recurrence.

While the project focuses on breast cancer research, the proposed statistical methods will have a broad application for other chronic diseases, she notes.

Lee's research involves an androgen receptor (AR), a biomarker that plays a role at the cellular level in regulating hormones, including in female sexual, somatic and behavioral functions. In excess, however, it has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Our goal is that these novel statistical approaches will help us determine the prognostic values of AR and potentially lead to better targeted therapies for patients and advances in breast cancer survival." Chi Hyun Lee, University of Massachusetts Amherst biostatistician

For the project, Lee will work with data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), one of the world's largest prospective cohort studies investigating the risk factors for major chronic diseases in women, including breast cancer. Data from this study, established in 1976, contains such invaluable information for breast cancer research as lifestyle, hormonal and genetic risk factors, including AR, as well as clinical outcomes such as breast cancer diagnosis, recurrence and death.

"In many epidemiologic studies on breast cancer survival," Lee explains, "researchers rely on the hazard ratio, or the likelihood of a harmful event such as death or disease progression compared to a control group. This ratio is determined by using a statistical method called the proportional hazard model.

"However, we have found in the NHS data that the assumption of the model on the association between AR expression and breast cancer survival is faulty. This means that the results of the hazard ratio are often misleading when it comes to assessing AR's prognostic values."

Lee notes that another statistical method, based on the restricted mean survival time (RMST), has much better prognostic value. RMST is a summary metric defined as the life expectancy up to a specific time point, eliminating assumptions of proportional hazards that may prove to be faulty. The RMST has many advantageous features, such as its straightforward interpretation and robustness.

"Specifically, we can assess the prognostic factor's effects in terms of absolute effect, which is clinically more interpretable," Lee says.

Lee's funding will allow her to develop novel statistical methods based on RMST to fully utilize the rich data from the Nurses' Health Study.

As a result, she expects to gain a better understanding of the complex effect of AR on breast cancer progression and survival. Ultimately, the funding will support two goals: to develop a flexible regression method based on RMST that will be used to elucidate the clinical significance of AR in survival by different subtypes of breast cancers; and to develop a model-free approach to compare survival rates after breast cancer recurrence between groups with different AR status.
Malik Agar, the recently-appointed deputy chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), rejected the current peace initiatives proposed by the African Union (AU) and IGAD, calling for initiatives that are not based on disarmament zones or two separate armed forces in the country.

Speaking during a closed roundtable discussion that was organized by the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies (ECSS) on Saturday - and attended by Ahram Online, Agar said the TSC was not party to the AU initiative, describing it as prescribing medicine without asking the patient about their problem."

He also rejected the IGAD initiative, particularly those provisions related to the imposition of disarmament zones and the deployment of forces east of Khartoum.

On a related note, Agar said the Jeddah initiative was born dead because the three parties to the initiative were not reading from the same page."

Face-to-face?



The deputy head of the TSC affirmed during the roundtable discussion that negotiations remains the primary means to achieve peace in Sudan.

"This war like all wars must end through negotiations, Agar said.

In response to a question from Ahram Online regarding the failure to organize a meeting between the Head of the TSC General Abdel-Fattah and Head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) General Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo, Agar said holding such a meeting would be important in order to address three crucial points: reaching a ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian efforts and establishing a framework for the political process.

"We have no objection to continuing in the current way of negotiations but there must be clear mechanisms to do so.

There are no alternatives to sitting across from one another on the negotiating table, he said but without elaborating on how the two rivals will be brought together after two months of armed conflict.

Agar also rejected all the attempts to revert to the status quo prior to the outbreak of the armed conflict.

"The Sudanese people will not accept separate armed forces as proposed by the IGAD initiative, for example. We must arrive at a new formula or a new relationship. But we must have a unified army, Agar said.

The second-ranking figure in the TSC described the situation in Sudan as catastrophic.

The RSF has built a military and economic empire and it exercises control over residential areas, he warned.

He also warned against a potential collapse of the Sudanese state, which would have dire ramifications for neighbouring countries, including Egypt.

Agar is scheduled to meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday.

This meeting is expected to focus on current developments and the dealing with the humanitarian situation as per the Egyptian-Qatari initiative, according to a senior Sudanese diplomat who is accompanying Agar on his visit to Cairo.

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Cedars-Sinai investigators have identified several steps in a cellular process responsible for triggering one of the body's important inflammatory responses. Their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Immunology, open up possibilities for modulating the type of inflammation associated with several infections and inflammatory diseases.

Specifically, the investigators have improved understanding of the steps that lead to the production of IL-1 beta, a potent inflammatory protein signal released during many inflammatory responses.

We now have a clearer understanding of the stepwise process that leads to the production of IL-1 beta. By understanding the process, we hope to one day find a treatment for diseases associated with this inflammatory response." Andrea Wolf, PhD, assistant professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, and a senior and corresponding author on the new study

When the innate immune system-;the defense system we were born with-;identifies a potentially harmful bacterium, virus, or other external invader, it unleashes white blood cells to surround and attack the foreign agent. This can cause swelling, redness, heat and pain in the body's tissues that-;in a healthy body-;eventually go away.

Some people, however, get stuck in the inflammation phase. This causes what is known as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells in the body and is thought to lead to serious conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

"Inflammation, in many instances, is vital to a thriving immune system and healthy body," said David Underhill, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Janis and William Wetsman Family Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, who is also a senior and corresponding author on the study. "However, prolonged inflammation can wreak havoc on the body. This underscores the importance of understanding the cellular process of how inflammation is activated so we can work toward finding new treatments to curb chronic inflammation."

The study published today is a follow-up to Cedars-Sinai research published in 2016 that explains how cells act to detect an infection. In that study, investigators discovered that an enzyme called hexokinase, typically used by cells to convert glucose into energy, has a second, inflammatory function. They discovered that hexokinase binds to a sugar from the cell wall of bacteria and activates the inflammasomes, leading to the production of IL-1 beta. Inflammasomes are receptors of the innate immune system that recognize microbes and tissue damage.

The current work presents a more complete picture of this process.

The investigators discovered that hexokinase leaves the mitochondria, the part of a cell that generates energy. This jump-starts an immune response: The release of hexokinase destabilizes the mitochondria and alerts the cell that something is wrong. This leads to clustering of a channel called VDAC in the membrane of the mitochondria, which interacts with another protein called NLRP3 to initiate inflammasome assembly. The inflammasomes then produce IL-1 beta, a driver of inflammation.

Investigators studied cells that were derived from laboratory mice to understand the steps involved in the IL-1 beta pathway. The team used substances called inhibitors that block cellular functions as well as gene-editing technology to turn off certain genes and the proteins they express. This allowed them to understand which proteins are vital to triggering inflammation.

Cedars-Sinai postdoctoral scientist Sung Hoon Baik, PhD, used the super-resolution microscope that is part of the Cedars-Sinai Biobank and Research Pathology Resource to visualize and measure the steps of this inflammatory process within individual cells.

"Being able to target specific steps in this pathway is vital, because in addition to being important for inflammation, the components of this pathway also play a vital role in maintaining energy within the cell," Wolf said. "We want to home in on its inflammatory role, not just turn it all off, because that would be bad for the cell."

The investigators are continuing to study the cellular steps leading up to, and resulting from, hexokinase's role in the activation of inflammasomes. They are also using the results from this study to begin to target this inflammatory pathway in different diseases.

Other Cedars-Sinai investigators who worked on the study include Courtney Becker, manager of the Underhill Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai; Sarah Fett, research associate at Cedars-Sinai; and V. Krishnan Ramanujan, PhD, research associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and director of the Cedars-Sinai Biobank.
Ten people were injured when the shuttle bus they were traveling in from Terminal-1 to 2 of the Kempegowda international airport here crashed into a pillar early on Sunday, airport authorities said. The injured have been taken to the hospital for immediate medical treatment. Five people were discharged, they said.

On June 18, 2023 at approximately 5.15 AM, a shuttle bus operating between T1 and T2 of the BLR airport collided with a pole near the T2 arrival exit road, resulting in minor injuries to 10 people. There were a total of 17 passengers (15 pax and 2 crew) in the bus. The injured have been taken to hospital for immediate medical treatment," the BIAL spokesperson said in a statement.

AISATS operates the shuttle services at the airport as per the service contract awarded to them by BIAL. We are working with the operator to investigate the matter and will take all necessary mitigating measures as per the agreement." he said.

Investigation is on, the spokesperson added.

We deeply regret the incident involving a shuttle bus carrying 15 passengers and 2 staff members that collided with a pole while operating between Terminals 1 and 2 at BLR Airport. While six passengers were hospitalized for minor injuries to ensure they receive the best care, the remaining passengers continued to their respective destinations after undergoing a thorough inspection by the medical team. The well-being and safety of our passengers and staff are our top priorities. We have extend all support to the authorities for further investigations, said the AISATS spokesperson.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela will open registrations for the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) on June 19 for admissions to NITs, Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Indian Institutes of Engineering, Science, and Technology (IIEST) and GFTI (Government funded technical institutes) by means of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2023.

After the Joint Seat Allocation System (JoSAA) counselling is through for 2023, NIT Rourkela is scheduled to begin the CSAB special round. CSAB-Supernumerary rounds will also be held for admission to supernumerary seats in a handful of NITs for residents of the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

CSAB Counselling 2023: Key changes to seat allocation criteria

Candidates must have a minimum of 75 per cent in Class 12 or be in the top 20 per cent of their class. For students who are from the SC, ST, or PwD categories the required score in Class 12 is 65 per cent. Candidates who are Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are eligible to apply for the general category of counselling. Candidates who have a disability of less than 40% but who struggle to write and who requested a scribe or extra time during the exam will also need to complete the physical verification at the verification centre. Candidates whose categories were altered during the JoSAA counselling rounds of 2023 will be able to regain their original categories by presenting a valid certificate at the registration stage of the CSAB special round of 2023. Candidates can apply for the reinstatement of their birth category by uploading a legitimate category certificate using an online portal that NIT Rourkela has created.

To assign seats under the programme Reservation of seats in Degree Level Technical Courses for States / UTs lacking such facilities in the AICTE-approved Institutions" to applicants from North-East states and Union Territories, the CSAB will begin conducting counselling sessions for the 2023 NEUT rounds on June 26.

CSAB Counselling 2023:Important Dates

Registration and choice-filling for CSAB special rounds  August 2- 6

Display of seat allocation for special round 1 August 7

Online reporting August 7 to August 9

Display of seat allocation for special round 2 August 11

Online reporting August 11 to August 14

It is anticipated that between 2.5 and 3 lakh JEE Main 2023 qualified students would sign up for the CSAB counselling 2023 to apply for admission to roughly 40,000 seats, 20% of which will be reserved for women. A multilingual support desk in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bangla, Hindi, Odia, and English has been established by the institute.
Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy from Hyderabad with a perfect 100 percentile bagged the top all-India rank in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced results announced on Sunday. Nayakanti Naga Bhavya Sree with an all-India rank of 56 is the female topper, also hailing from the Hyderabad zone, which boasts six of the top 10 candidates in the test result.

A total of 1,80,372 appeared in both papers in IIT-JEE Advanced of which 43773 have qualified. Of these, 36204 are male students while 7509 are female candidates. Besides, a total of 125 foreign candidates registered for JEE Advanced 2023 exam, out of which 108 appeared and 13 qualified, according to the results announced by IIT-Guwahati this year.

Also Read: JEE Advanced 2023 Results Announced, Check Category-Wise Qualifying Marks

While six of the 10 all-India toppers are from the Hyderabad zone, two each are from Roorkee and Delhi, respectively. In the zone-wise distribution for those qualifying the exam, Hyderabad (10432), which also had the highest number of applicants this year for the test was at the top followed by Delhi (9290), Bombay (7957), Kharagpur (4618), Kanpur (4582), Roorkee (4499) and Guwahati (2395).

Vavilala Chidvilas Reddy with a score of 341/360 marks achieved the first rank followed by Ramesh Surya Theja, also from the Hyderabad zone, Rishi Kalra and Raghav Goyal on the third and fourth rank, both from Roorkee zone and Addagada Venkata Sivaram on the fifth position, again from Hyderabad.

The sixth rank was bagged by Prabhav Khandelwal from the Delhi zone, Bikkina Abhinav Chowdary from Hyderabad was in the seventh position, while Malay Kedia grabbed the eighth rank from Delhi zone. Kedia was also the topper of JEE (Mains). The ninth and 10th positions too were bagged by Nagireddy Balaaji Reddy and Yakkanti Pani Venkata Maneendhar Reddy, respectively, both of who are from the Hyderabad zone.

Deshank Solanki from Delhi zone, who was among the toppers of JEE Mains 2023 too qualified the Advanced exam with an all-India rank of 22.

Prof Bishnupada Mandal, the organizing chairperson, JEE (Advanced) 2023, IIT-Guwahati, said that this year was better with more students performing well and getting good scores.

This year the number of questions with negative marking were lesser as compared to last year. Hence students were more confident to attempt more questions and performed better. The exam was of moderate to difficult level with blends. The expert committee, which decides on the question paper format, decided to have lesser questions with penalty this year, as they observed that students were not attempting many questions to remain cautious of losing out to negative marking, which could lower their overall score, said Prof Mandal, who is also a member of the Joint Admission Board (JAB) as well as chairperson of Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) for IITs.

The process for Joint Seat Allocation (JoSAA) 2023 will start on June 19. Admission to the 23 IITs across the country is based on the results of JEE (Advanced) exam. Seven IITs organise the Advanced exam every year in rotation. The JoSAA is a joint counselling session for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded engineering colleges in India.

While for IITs only the Advanced scores are considered, for admissions to NITs, IIITs and other government-funded institutions, JEE (Main) rank is the criteria. If a candidate qualifies for both Mains and Advanced, they can fill all the choices of institutes and depending on the course/discipline they have opted for which their rank is admissible they will be given admission. Many students who do not get the choice of discipline in IITs go for NITs and other institutions, said Prof Mandal.
A recent study of Public Enterprises Survey data from 2012-2013 to 2021-22 revealed that jobs in Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) in India have declined by over 2.7 lakh. A decrease in employment from 17.3 lakh in March 2013 to 14.6 lakh in March 2022 was recorded by the study. The research took into account Public Sector Units (PSUs), a few statutory companies, and their subsidiaries with more than 50 per cent equity owned by the central government. The CPSEs faced the twin challenges of job loss and an increase in contractual employment. Out of the 389 PSUs surveyed, 248 are currently operational.

Contract employees made up 17 per cent of the whole workforce in March 2013, while daily or casual workers made up 2.5 per cent. But by 2022, the percentage of contract employees jumped to 36 per cent and the overall proportion of daily or casual workers increased to 6.6 per cent. As a result, 42.5 per cent of PSU employees were classified as contractual or casual workers in March 2022, when compared to 19 per cent in March 2013.As per an analysis of individual firms, seven PSUs laid off over 20,000 employees during the last ten years. Thirteen companies had more than 10,000 workers cut from their payrolls.

The company with the most job losses on the list is Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which let go of over 1.8 lakh workers. The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), both reported more than 30,000 job losses during the period.

Both PSUs that are profitable and those that are facing losses are included in the corporations reporting employment reduction. Out of the main companies, Air India has undergone privatisation, while BSNL and MTNL were among the top 10 loss-making PSUs in 2021-2022. The list also includes SAIL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), two PSUs with significant profit margins in 2021-2022. The data indicate that employment reductions are not related to losses suffered by central government agencies.

On the other hand, the Indian Oil Corporation tops the list of PSUs that created the most jobs during the last decade  adding about 80,000 new vacancies. Throughout the evaluation period, ten PSUs each created more than 10,000 jobs.
The Puducherry Health Department is gearing up for the BSc Nursing Entrance Exams. The common entrance test will take place this year. These exams will be organized by the government, following the guidelines outlined by the Indian Nursing Council.

According to a Times Now report, a senior official mentioned, Referring to the notification issued on June 8, 2023, by the Secretary of the Indian Nursing Council in New Delhi, the Health Department will conduct a common entrance exam for aspiring students seeking admission to the BSc (Nursing) course for the academic year 2023-24. This exam will encompass all colleges, including government, private, and deemed institutions falling under the jurisdiction of the Union Territory of Puducherry."

In April, the Puducherry territorial administration made a request to the Indian Nursing Council (INC) to allow nursing admissions for the academic year 2023-24 based on Class 12 marks, continuing the same process as in previous years. However, on June 8, the INC responded to the Health Department of Puducherry, suggesting that student admissions should be based on the marks obtained in a qualifying examination.

As per the Puducherry Health Department, the forthcoming common entrance test for BSc Nursing admissions will evaluate candidates based on the syllabus covered in Class 11 and Class 12. The subjects included in the examination are Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, and Aptitude for Nursing, with each subject carrying a weightage of 20 marks. The government is expected to release information regarding the exam date, registration process, and other relevant details in due course.

In the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry, there are 13 nursing colleges in total, collectively offering 970 seats for aspiring students. Among these colleges, one is affiliated with the government sector, specifically the Mother Theresa Post Graduate Research Institute of Health Sciences. The remaining colleges consist of eight private nursing colleges and four deemed universities. The Mother Theresa Institute alone provides approximately 80 seats, while the majority of seats are distributed among private colleges and deemed universities.

The Indian Nursing Council has highlighted the importance of undergoing the qualifying entrance examination for candidates seeking admission to nursing programs. It has emphasised that individuals who are admitted without going through this examination may face challenges during the process of Reciprocal Registration. Reciprocal Registration refers to the procedure that nurses undergo when transitioning from one State Nursing Registration Council to another. To avoid potential complications in the future, it is crucial for candidates to follow the proper process and participate in the qualifying entrance examination.
From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column - GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom.

A lot has happened this week and the main headlines were the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meet to Elon Musks Brain Chip Firm Neuralink. Candidates who are preparing for any recruitment exam this year should not miss out on the breaking news and happenings from around the world. The general knowledge section has become a mandatory part of competitive entrance exams. So, we have listed down this weeks news from all around the world, with important events briefly explained.

Union Agri Minister Meets Officials from UK, US at G20 Agri Ministers Event

At the ongoing G20 Agriculture Ministers Meet on June 16, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had bilateral discussions with representatives from the US, UK and other member nations. They discussed methods to improve collaboration with them for the overall growth of the agriculture sector. During the meeting, Tomar stated that India and the US share democratic ideals and also have common interests in a number of areas.

Mizoram Govt Seeks Centres Help to Provide Relief Fund for Displaced People

The Mizoram government on June 16 requested the Centre to speed up the distribution of funds to provide help to more than 11,000 displaced people from the violence-hit Manipur. Through an official statement, the state government has sought Rs 10 crore as immediate relief for people who are currently staying at shelters in several parts of Mizoram, since the clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3.

Sukesh Chandrashekar Offers Rs 10 Crore Donation for Odisha Train Accident

Sukesh Chandrasekhar, an alleged conman detained in Delhis Mandoli jail in connection with Rs 200 crore money laundering case, has offered Rs 10 crore for the Odisha train accident. He requested the approval to make the contribution in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, asserting that the amount is his legit and taxed income.The contribution is from my personal funds which is from my legitimate source of earning, which is, completely taxed, and the documentation along with returns filings shall be furnished along with the said demand draft of Rs Ten Crores (Rs 10,00,00,000)," the letter read.

Nirmala Sitharaman Chairs Meeting On Drive Against Fake Billing

On June 16, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a review meeting of the current drive against fake billing for Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion. Sitharaman was informed about the actions being taken against fake registrations, during the meeting. About 11,140 such registrations have already been spotted and action has been initiated, Sitharaman was informed.

Elon Musks Brain Chip Firm Neuralink to Start its First Human Trial in 2023

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Friday announced that his brain-chip startup Neuralink plans to launch its first human trial this year. While speaking at the VivaTech event in Paris, Musk asserted that Neuralink plans to implant a tetraplegic or paraplegic patient during a webcast monitored by Reuters.
Bigg Boss OTT is finally starting today and fans will finally meet the contestants. While Falaq Naaz was the first contestant to be announced, it was also revealed that television actor Avinash Sachdev will be participating in the show. Ahead of his entry into the Bigg Boss OTT 2 house, he spoke with News18 exclusively and he opened up about about his strategy in the house. Read more below:

What motivated you to participate in Bigg Boss?

It was not actually planned. This year also I was not sure I will go ahead with the show. Then somehow, I came to the conclusion that why should I say no? So, lets start by saying yes and if it falls into place then it supposes to be my destiny.

Are there any specific strategies you have in mind to tackle situations inside the house?

No, I dont have any kind of strategy and I am not going inside with prefix mind ki main aisa khelunga ya waise khelunga (I will play like this or that). And I am not a reality show guy. I have never been to a reality show except for Nach Baliye. And Nach Baliye ka concept bahot hi alag hai Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla aur Roadies se (And Nach Baliey concept is very different from Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla and Roadies). I have not watched a lot of reality shows either. You can call me a newbie. I am going with an clean slate and iss game ki kahani main andar jake hi likhunga (I will write the story of this game from inside).

What are your strengths and weaknesses that will affect your journey in the house?

I dont think I have any weaknesses because I have never thought about myself like this. Agar main aapne aap ko weak ginta toh akela ladka Baroda se aake Mumbai shift nai ho pata at the age of 18. Itna bada step le sakta hu toh Bigg Boss mein jaane ke liye main apne aap ko weak ek dum nai bolunga (I am taking such a big step of entering the Bigg Boss house then I wont count myself as weak). Ghar ke concept ko dekhte hu main apni weakness dekhu toh mere pass khone ko kuch nai hai, mere pass koi daar nai hai (Seeing the concept of show and then see my weakness, I can only say that I have nothing to loose and I am not scared).

Are you open to alliances or would you prefer to play an individual game?

If I make an alliance inside the house that will support my game then it is yes but I am not going to play under someones shadow. If I am having equal support with the alliance then it is okay but if someone is trying to dominate me then I dont need any alliance.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has initiated a crucial two-day diplomatic dialogue in Beijing, with the objective of alleviating the intensifying tensions between the United States and China that has left the world concerned.

Blinken commenced the proceedings by engaging in an extensive discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, which was followed by a working dinner. On the following day, he is scheduled to hold further talks with Qin, as well as with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi. There is also a possibility of a meeting with President Xi Jinping.

As the meeting commenced at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, neither Blinken nor Qin provided any substantive comments to the press, according to a report by Associated Press.

Amid the visit, lets take a look at current US-China tensions, what Blinkens dialogue means and why the nation is looking to quell the escalating relationship:

Can Blinken Achieve a Breakthrough?

Although Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in the Chinese capital, the chances of achieving substantial breakthroughs in the strained relationship between the United States and China are minimal, Associated Press argues in its report. Over the past few years, tensions between the two countries have grown increasingly tense, and the current situation is even more precarious. The ongoing disagreements between them have far-reaching implications for global security and stability.

Blinkens visit carries significant weight as he is the highest-ranking American official to travel to China since President Joe Biden assumed office. Additionally, he is the first secretary of state to make this trip in the past five years. However, despite the diplomatic significance of his visit, the existing challenges and complexities are expected to hinder any major advancements in the relationship between the two nations.

What is Causing the Tensions?

During a meeting in Bali last year, President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping agreed to Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trip to China. Originally planned for February, the visit was postponed due to the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States, which was subsequently shot down, causing diplomatic and political turmoil.

The list of contentious issues and potential areas of conflict between the United States and China is extensive. It encompasses topics such as trade relations with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russias involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Secretary Blinken will also be advocating for the release of detained American citizens and urging China to take measures to control the production and export of fentanyl precursors, which contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States. While U.S. officials have stated that Blinken will address these concerns, neither side has shown any willingness to compromise on their entrenched positions.

Managing Competition

Since the cancellation of Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Wang in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet at some point in time, but were not there yet.

Underscoring the difficulties, China rejected a report by a U.S. security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS  for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking ahead of Blinkens arrival, two U.S. officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Mutual Interests

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.

In addition to the existing tensions, there are several areas where the United States and China have mutual interests and could collaborate to address global challenges.

Both countries are susceptible to future pandemics. Establishing a global disease surveillance network would benefit both nations by enabling early detection of virus outbreaks before they become widespread, according to a report by Brookings.

The two nations also have a stake in addressing climate change. Collaboration in researching and developing solutions to reduce methane emissions, a significant contributor to rising temperatures, would be beneficial for both sides.

While Chinese officials argue that the issue is primarily about demand, finding practical steps to reduce the flow of fentanyl, including precursor chemicals originating from China, into the United States is crucial. And there are a number of critical areas where common purposes could drive parallel or coordinated actions. These include limiting Irans nuclear capabilities, ensuring unimpeded energy flows and greater food security, combating ocean pollution, and coordinating efforts to address debt distress in the developing world.

Associated Press contributed to this report
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be embarking on a visit to the United States and Egypt from June 20 to 25. The visit to the US is taking place at the invitation of US President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

The world is eagerly awaiting a new era of partnership between the oldest and largest democracies with Modis highly anticipated four-day state visit to the United States. The leader will be joining an exclusive league that includes names like Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, who have twice addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress.

What is the Visits Schedule?

The visit will commence in New York, where Modi will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21. This day was designated by the UN General Assembly in December 2014.

Following that, Modi will travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22 and hold discussions with President Biden as part of their ongoing high-level dialogue. A state dinner will be hosted by the Bidens in honor of the Prime Minister on the same evening.

Modi has also been invited to address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22 by Congressional leaders, including Republican House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Speaker Charles Schumer. The following day, he will attend a luncheon hosted jointly by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Alongside the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have interactions with CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders, as well as meeting with the Indian diaspora.

After concluding his visit to the US, the Prime Minister will proceed to Egypt for a state visit from June 24 to 25.

Why is the Visit Significant?

Before the visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said PM Modis visit to the US will have significant outcomes."

The prime minister is going on a State Visit, which signifies the highest level of honour. So, the honour that he will receive, has been accorded to a very few people, so far," Jaishankar said at the sidelines of an event.

The prime minister will address a Joint Session of the US Congress. No Indian prime minister has addressed it twice. So, it will be the first time. World over also, very few people have done that Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela. So, there are very few people who have addressed the US Congress twice," Jaishankar said.

It assumes huge importance" and outcomes will be seen later, the external affairs minister said. Asked about the implications of the State Visit on India-US relations, he said this State Visit will have significant outcomes" and added that what outcomes these will be, I cannot tell that right now".

Asked what message will this State Visit by Modi to the US send to China and Pakistan, the Union minister said, When a prime minister visits a country, it is to take our (Indias) relationship forward. I understand that it is a globalised world, so if something happens, it may or may not have an impact on others. We see it for our interests, from perspective of our relations".

Modi-Biden talks to touch 5 areas of significance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden during their talks next week are expected to touch on five broad areas of significance healthcare, technology, renewable energy, education and defence" which would be reflected in the joint statement, Indias envoy to the US has said earlier.

The leadership will touch five broad areas which are significant. They will be touched by the leadership, and they will be reflected in the joint statement which will come out," Sandhu told PTI in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Technology is going to be a significant part and you know that technology is cross-cutting. Technology is not only a commercial aspect but also has a very strong strategic side. And trust and confidence are important bases of any technology sharing or collaboration," he said.

One is healthcare and in that affordable healthcare, affordable medicines, affordable vaccines, and of course training, research, et cetera, all will be part of it. Number two is on the technology side, it is IT, digital startup innovation. All of them are in one basket.

Then of course we have another that is the renewable basket, which has solar as an important element of that battery technology, similarly, hydrogen. All these will be prominently there," Sandhu said in response to a question.

On education and knowledge partnership there is a lot of movement, he said.

In India, we have a new education policy. Of course, here I would like to mention that there are at present 200,000 Indian students (in the US). Two-thirds of them are in STEM areas. This student population this linkage is a very important linkage. But under the new education policy now the forward movement is going to be in establishing campus-to-campus relations, intertwining of degrees, joint research, work," Sandhu said.

He said he has personally spoken to a large number of chancellors and presidents of universities and educational institutions.

You have already seen that this has been carried forward. Its one of the important elements of iCET that is the education collaboration and that will be a significant path," he said.

Finally, not the last and the least is the defence and the strategic side. As I mentioned, high tech is an important element. It is a cross-cutting area. High tech certainly has an impact," he said.

On the defence side, the United States is a technology powerhouse and India is an emerging technology powerhouse. So, this collaboration interaction is natural, Sandhu said.

Earlier it was more of a buyer-seller, more of a trading relationship. Now we are looking more deeper to the next level, which is co-production and co-development collaboration between the two sides," he said.

The relationship is now going to the next level and there are a number of aspects in the visit which are pointing towards that, Sandhu said.

Even on the ceremonial side to have the state visit. It shows that India has a special respect here and thats one of the underlying reasons. Itll also provide an opportunity to both the leaders to be able to spend time together and discuss across the board a number of issues which are of mutual interest," he said.

You will see across the areas there is going to be much more cooperation and working together, and this will have an impact not only for the United States and India but also for many third countries," Sandhu said.

Responding to a question on the India-US collaboration for the global common good, Sandhu said that both the leaders have a very strong comfort factor with each other and in the time, they spend, they will discuss a number of cross-cutting issues.

But there are some areas in which collaboration is beginning and there is a great push to further it," he said.

In the healthcare sector, he said, the United States and India can partner together. There is a vaccine called Corbevax, for example, developed by Baylor College, but bulk produced by BioE, an Indian biotechnology and biopharmaceutical company.

Similarly in IT digital startups, there is again a lot of scope for us to be working together in third countries. Even in education and knowledge partnerships, India has a unique perspective on Africa. We have been present there for years and in so many other areas. Thats another remarkable area where the United States, India partnership can reach for global good as the Prime Minister mentions it," Sandhu said.

PTI contributed to this report
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke separately with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts Saturday, emphasizing the importance of "sustained... trilateral cooperation" ahead of his visit to China.

The conversations also come as North Korea has stepped up missile launches in the past year, and Tokyo is also contending with growing pressure from Chinese vessels around islands contested with Beijing.

Blinken reassured Foreign Minister Park Jin of the United States' "ironclad commitment" to South Korea's defense, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister condemned the DPRK's continued unlawful ballistic missile launches and noted the need for the PRC to use its influence to encourage Pyongyang to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," he added, using acronyms for North Korea and China's official names.

Blinken repeated the "ironclad commitment" to defense to Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa, and "condemned the DPRK's continued unlawful ballistic missile launches into the Sea of Japan."

The three countries issued a joint statement Thursday to "condemn" North Korea's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles, shortly after Pyongyang warned of an "inevitable" response to ongoing US-South Korea joint military drills.

Last year, Tokyo unveiled a major defense overhaul, pledging to boost security spending to two percent of GDP by 2027 and calling China the "greatest strategic challenge ever" for Japan.

The trilateral statement reflected the growing thaw between Japan and South Korea -- a major foreign policy goal of President Joe Biden's administration amid tensions in the region and China's growing influence.

Blinken also Saturday told Park, though not Hayashi, of the US pledge to "responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship."

Blinken will visit China on Sunday and Monday in the first trip by a top US diplomat in nearly five years.

The visit was rescheduled after a planned trip to Beijing in February was canceled when Washington said it detected -- and later shot down -- a Chinese spy balloon.

US President Joe Biden told reporters Saturday morning that he also hoped to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping "over the next several months" to talk about "legitimate differences we have but also how... to get along."

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A 72-hour ceasefire between Sudans warring generals took effect on Sunday to allow for the delivery of desperately needed aid to the country, on the eve of a humanitarian conference.

The army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has since April 15 been battling paramilitary forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a bitter power struggle.

Multiple truces have been agreed and broken in the war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people and driven over two million from their homes, including at least 528,000 who fled abroad.

The latest ceasefire came into force at 6:00 am (0400 GMT), with the mediators saying the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," the Saudi foreign ministry said.

Witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was calm".

We want a full ceasefire," Sami Omar, who lives in Khartoums twin city of Omdurman, told AFP.

A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes (they occupy) and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult."

The United Nations will on Monday host an international donors conference for Sudan in the Swiss city of Geneva.

- Intensifying air strikes -

Clashes had intensified before both sides pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday evening.

The RSF said it would abide by the cessation of hostilities, while the army said despite our commitment to the ceasefire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit".

Saudi Arabia had threatened on Saturday to postpone" negotiations on its soil between the two sides should the parties fail to respect the 72-hour ceasefire".

The talks, which began weeks ago, have so far failed to produce any concrete agreement.

On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing 17 civilians, including five children", according to a citizens support committee. AFP was unable to independently confirm the figures.

The RSF accused the army of targeting residential areas and claimed to have shot down a fighter jet.

A video the paramilitary forces posted online showed destroyed homes and blankets covering what appeared to be dead bodies.

Since battles began, the death toll across Sudan has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project says.

A record 25 million people  more than half the northeast African countrys population  depends on humanitarian aid, the United Nations says.

- Ominous reminder -

Intense fighting has rocked the western region of Darfur, with the United States saying as many as 1,100 people have been killed in the West Darfur state capital of El Geneina alone.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity issued an urgent call for more beds and staff across the border in Chad, where it said more than 600 patients  most with gunshot wounds  had arrived.

Chadian leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited the border town of Adre to assess the scale of the influx of refugees and ensure that the borders with Sudan are effectively closed", his office said.

The International Organization for Migration says at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad, among the roughly 2.2 million uprooted by the fighting.

The United States attributed this weeks atrocities in Darfur primarily" to the RSF and said alleged rights violations were an ominous reminder" of the regions previous genocide.

A years-long war in Darfur began in 2003 with a rebel uprising that prompted then-strongman Omar al-Bashir to unleash the Janjaweed militia, whose actions led to international charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed.

Kuwait said on Sunday that it had sent 10 tonnes of food and medical supplies to Sudan.
A massive fire broke out in the Kondhwa Road area of Maharashtras Pune city on Sunday, destroying nearly 20 godowns where various items including biscuits, furniture and electrical materials were kept, officials said.

No person was injured in the blaze which erupted at around 9 am near Gangadham Chowk, as per fire department officials.

Around 20 godowns located in the area, having items including biscuits, cement, moulding and electrical items, furniture and decorative materials, were destroyed in the fire, they said.

Twenty-two fire-fighting vehicles were pressed into action and efforts were still on to douse the blaze, the officials said.

The exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, they added.
Expressing his disdain on the recent attack at the India High Commission in London, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that it gets under his skin, if India is disrespected and attacked.

I had actually landed from a plane, when I saw this man climbing up the Indian High Commission in London and he was trying to pull down the flag It got under my skin.. " Jaishankar said during an episode of the Ranveer Show Podcast."

When people try to score points.. personal points I just shrug it. When I, which is not me but India is attacked, then yes that sense that you are not given respect and people are condescending, some times ambush you, he added.

In the podcast, Jaishankar also talked about the challenges faced in the country saying that the world was a tough place. He said that at the end of the day it is all about creating job opportunities" and building infrastructure so that young people can work.

This comes as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday released photos of 45 individuals involved in the attack on the Indian High Commission in London and requested the assistance of the public in identifying these perpetrators.

Following the protest staged by pro-Khalistani activists" at the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, where the national flag was pulled down, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR).

The case was later taken over by the NIA after the Union Home Ministry directed the Delhi Police to initiate legal action.

The FIR was filed under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. An investigation has been launched in connection with the incident.

In response to the protest, the Indian government summoned the British Deputy High Commissioner, seeking an explanation for the lack of security during the demonstration.
An hour-long Yoga session led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the North Lawn of the United Nations Headquarters in the US is expected to be a major global pitch for Yoga by the PM with a majority of the member-countries of the UN being represented at the event.

The UN in a document on the event has said the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations has invited the signatories to join a Yoga session led by H. E. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi from 8 am to 9 am local time in New York on June 21. Guests have been asked to arrive by 7:15 am in a yoga-friendly attire. Yoga mats will be provided to the participants at the session and they are welcome to take it home as a souvenir.

The theme for this years International Day of Yoga is Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. This expresses the spirit of Yoga that unites and takes us together, PM Modi said in his Mann ki Baat address on Sunday. This time I will have the opportunity to participate in the Yoga Day programme to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York at UN. I can see that there is tremendous enthusiasm about the Yoga Day on social media as well.

Participation in this event requires a valid UN ID and the organisation has conducted prior registrations due to space constraints and the presence of Modi.

Among the top dignitaries who will be present along with PM Modi are Antonio Guterres, the 9th Secretary-General of the UN, Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, and Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.

Others who have made public their participation at the event are Osama Abdel Khalek, permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN in New York, and Vala Afshar, the Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce. Government sources in India have said the PM will be joined by prominent people from all walks of life and more than 180 countries, including diplomats, leaders, artists, cultural icons, academicians, entrepreneurs to be part of the Yoga event.

Yoga Precious in Dangerous and Divided World: UN

The UN Secretary-Generals message for the 2023 Yoga Day has mentioned that Yoga unites; it unites body and mind, humanity and nature, and millions of people across the globe, for whom it is a source of strength, harmony, and peace. It added that in a in a dangerous and divided world, the benefits of this ancient practice are particularly precious.

Yoga offers a haven of calm. It can reduce anxiety and promote mental wellbeing. It helps us to develop discipline and patience. It connects us to our planet, which so badly needs our protection. And it reveals our common humanity  helping us to understand that despite our differences, we are one. On this International Day of Yoga, let us embrace the spirit of unity, and resolve to build a better, more harmonious world for people, planet and ourselves, the message says.

History of Yoga at UN

Modi leading the Yoga Day event at the UN this year will be nine years after it was after his proposal that made UN recognise June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Recognising Yogas universal appeal on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word yoga derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity, the resolution said.

The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action  a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.
A 19-year-old student was stabbed to death in Lucknows Gomtinagar area on Saturday night. According to reports, the boy, who was a student of class 12, was attacked in a dispute involving Rs 1,000.

The deceased, identified as Akash, went to a party at his friend, Avneesh Tiwaris house in Badi Jugaulli last night. Akash reportedly got involved in a dispute involving Rs 1,000 with his friend, Abhay Pratap Singh Devansh, who is suspected of fatally attacking him during the argument.

No arrests have been made in the case so far. An investigation into the case is underway.
On his first official state visit to the US on June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the joint meeting of the US House of Representatives and Senate on June 22. This will be the 12th time when PM Modi will address the legislature in a foreign country.

Till now, Modi has addressed the legislatures of 11 countries in his tenure of nine years  the highest for any Indian PM.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed seven foreign legislatures in his 10-year tenure under the UPA government.

Indira Gandhi had addressed foreign legislatures four times while Jawaharlal Nehru did it for three times when he was the Prime Minister. Both Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed foreign legislatures only two times.

Former prime minister like Morarji Desai or PV Narsimha Rao got to do so only once.

Before PM Modi, Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh also got the opportunities to address the US legislature. However, PM Modi would become the only PM to have done so twice.

Lets take a look at the details of PM Modis addresses to foreign legislatures.

When he became Prime Minister, the first foreign visit he took was to Bhutan. This was June 2014 and PM Modi addressed the joint session of the Bhutanese parliament.

In August 2014, furthering his neighbourhood first policy, PM Modi visited Nepal. During the visit, PM Modi addressed the Parliament-cum-Constituent Assembly of Nepal.

Visiting Australia in November 2014, PM Modi had the privilege of addressing the Joint Session of the Australian Parliament. It was the first ever address by an Indian PM to the Australian Parliament.

PM Modi also addressed the Fiji Parliament in November 2014. This was the first ever address by an Indian Prime Minister and the first by any world leader to Fiji Parliament.

In March 2015, PM Modi addressed the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It was the first time an Indian PM was accorded the privilege of addressing the Sri Lankan Parliament inside the Parliament Chamber with the Speaker of the House in the Chair and the Mace on the Table.

In May 2015, PM Modi addressed the parliament of Mongolia. It was the first ever visit by an Indian PM to Mongolia.

In November 2015, PM Modi addressed the UK Parliament. It was the first ever address by an Indian PM to the British parliament. He addressed the Parliament of Afghanistan in December 2015.

In June 2016, PM Modi addressed the Joint Meeting of US Congress.

PM Modi addressed the Parliament of Uganda in July 2018  a first for an Indian PM to do so.

In June 2019, he addressed the Maldivian Parliament.
Evacuating 22,500 Indian nationals from a war-torn country is no easy task. But the central governments Operation Ganga  one of the biggest rescue operations conducted anywhere in the world last year after the Ukraine war began on February 24, 2022  could not have been possible without excellent statesmanship, smooth coordination on the ground and a little help from Indian friends settled outside.

History TV18s original documentary, The Evacuation: Operation Ganga, which premiered on Saturday (June 17) showed how the Indian diaspora settled in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries  Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania  stepped in to feed, clothe and house students being evacuated from these routes. And, in doing so, espousing the age-old value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam meaning the world is one family.

In the most challenging of times immediately after Russia invaded its neighbour, India had to care for its large student population stranded in Ukraine waiting to return home. Besides government efforts led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top ministers and Indian embassies, the country found solace in its diaspora.

Wherever in the world an Indian is, despite the colour of their passports having changed, they have a blood relation with their country We are all connected by blood to India, said PM Modi in the documentary.

I made some 160-plus calls to hotels and motels in the region. When I managed to get in touch with a particular hotelier, he thought Id lost it when I told him that I needed 250 mattresses to be arranged in 24 hours. But, he understood the situation and was kind enough to arrange things the way we wanted, said Amit Lath, vice-president, Indo Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talking about how he made arrangements to shelter Indian students before they could be evacuated on flights.

Chandramohan Nallur, business relations director, Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce, said: I called a company and asked them if they could arrange roughly 3,000 SIM cards; they sent 20,000 of them with free internet, and not just for the Indians but for everyone crossing over.

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was sent to Romania to oversee the rescue operations, said, All our citizens and others in those countries, who were sitting up and cooking meals, arranging buses for transport, tending to students medical needs  it was on a scale that India has probably never seen before. Our NRIs really came to the aid of our students.

In continuation with the spirit of India, Modi personally got in touch with leaders of spiritual organisations. When the PM called, there was a deep concern in his voice; he requested us to set up relief camps as soon as possible in border towns of any of these countries neighbouring Ukraine because thousands of students were trapped. We immediately went into mobilising our force to set up the relief camp, said Brahmaviharidas Swami, international coordinator and spokesperson of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who went to Hungary during Operation Ganga, said: Full marks to the social assistance providers. Ones heart is filled with such gratitude and humility; they were feeding people, no matter what numbers they came in. Each one of them  there was a case of a restaurant owner from Vienna, a Sikh man, who came with his family and was serving 600 meals a day.

Union minister Gen VK Singh (Retd), who was sent as a special envoy to Poland, said there were people from all kinds of organisations  from the gurdwara and temple in Warsaw to Art of Living and Swaminarayan followers. We even got Arcelor Mittals set up out there, he added.

Scindia added: Wipro, Infosys, Sun Pharma and a number of these companies came to the fore.

Aryan Thakur, a medical student who was rescued from Ukraine, said, There were thousands of students and long queues at the border towns in Ukraine. Some students were even putting their own clothes into a bonfire to stay warm as it was really cold.

Nagma Mallick, Indian ambassador to Poland and Lithuania, said: Many of them were only wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie, they didnt have anything to eat. It was an extremely worrying situation.

A student said there was continuous bombing and they were not safe at all and were mostly putting up in bunkers. Nimeesha Lumba, a medical student from Delhi, said: The first bunker I went to was extremely congested.

Mohd Mahtab Raza, a medical student, from Bihars Champaran said: There were water, electricity lines inside those bunkers and it was suffocating to be in them.

Operation Ganga, which began on February 26, 2022, was successful and historic from many angles as well as a remarkable example of how a government delivers under the most trying circumstances.

However, India faced a major loss as well. A 21-year-old medical student, Naveen Shekharappa, was killed in shelling in Kharkiv on March 1. Among those caught in the crossfire was language student Harjot Singh in Kyiv, who was grievously injured but evacuated on the last flight home in an Indian Air Force C17 transport aircraft.

Modi said when students were getting out of Ukraine, all the facilities were available to them and they were allowed to travel safely and reach borders, whenever they showed the Indian flag.

Har Ghar Tiranga happened in Ukraine, and wherever the flag was visible in the war-torn country, it was flying and safe passage was ensured, Scindia said.

More than the colour of the skin, the colour of the flag was powerful. This whole experience taught Indian students the power of the Tricolour, PM Modi said. No other country did this for their citizens.
Black smoke was seen coming out of the top floor of Mumbais Trident Hotel at Nariman Point on Sunday morning at around 7 am. Visuals of black fumes emanating from the building surfaced on social media.

Soon after, Mumbai Police released a statement denying reports of a fire at the Trident Hotel. According to authorities, the smoke was coming from the boiler room of the hotel.

At around 7 am today,black smoke was seencoming out from thetop floor of #Trident#Mumbai #Fire pic.twitter.com/pucDQ8R9i0 Vinit Vaidya (@hifrom_vinit) June 18, 2023

It was not a fire incident but a regular maintenance drill where there was some smoke from their chimney and it seemed like a fire. We also moved our teams to the spot but nothing was there, we are still at the spot," Mumbai Fire Brigade officials said.

Mumbai Fire Brigade says, there was no fire at the Trident Hotel building at Nariman Point after photos and videos of smoke coming out of the hotel went viral.It was not a fire incident but a regular maintenance drill where there was some smoke from their chimney and it pic.twitter.com/NcPgVEgLfT  ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2023

On June 15, a fire broke out at a building in south Mumbais Breach Candy area. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the fire broke out on the 11th floor of the 15-storey Breach Candy apartment in Bhulabhai Desai Road of Cumballa Hill area in Girgaon area at 4.30 pm.

Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed to the sport and the fire was distinguished by 7.30 pm. The fire was later termed as level-1. No injuries were reported in the incident.
HistoryTV18 original documentary  The Evacuation: Operation Ganga  produced by Colosceum Media, which premiered at 8pm on Saturday (June 17), provided a unique insight into how the India government rescued the Indians students stuck in war-torn Ukraine.

The documentary showcases a blow-by-blow account from days prior to the conflict in February 2022 to the actual break out of the war, and beyond. Operation Ganga is one of the largest evacuation operations to be carried out in the 21st century, in a hostile environment.

Elaborating on the rescue work on February 26, 2022, day 3 of the war, Air India pilot Shivani Kalra said, We were given a very safe passage to reach Budapest and get stranded Indians out. Once we reached, we saw the terminal filled with stranded Indians waving at us, taking pictures.

As the first flight flew out, Operation Ganga had taken flight. Early next day, the second evacuation took place as the AI flight landed back with 250 students.

The documentary shows emotional breakdown of parents thanking the government for rescuing their children.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister of Aviation & steel, said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the exercise on a minute-to-minute basis, and held meetings in the situation room minimum twice a day, every day. Union ministers Jaishankar ji, Piyush Goyal ji were working the systems on the ground, along with the embassy staff in all four countries did not leave even though the war had broken out, until our children were safely put on special railway trains commissioned by our embassy.

In the heart of every Indian, there rests a profound faith: No matter the challenge, no matter how daunting the circumstance, they know their government stands with them and will bring them back home safely. This isnt merely policy - it is our testament of humanity. This is a bond we have seen strengthen time and again, reflecting the indomitable spirit of our nation, says Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen telling in the documentary.

Sharing important insights, Indias Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar adds an insider perspective of what transpired behind the scenes. Other esteemed figures from Indias foreign service, such as Rahul Shrivastava (AmWbassador of India to Romania, Moldova & Albania), Nagma Mallick (Ambassador of India to the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Lithuania), Partha Satpathy (Former Ambassador of India to Ukraine), also shed light on the relentless efforts of Indian diplomats, to ensure that stranded individuals were taken care of, despite extreme weather conditions, visa norms and more.

Speaking of Indias diplomatic efforts, Dr S Jaishankar says, Our relentless efforts spanned across neighbouring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and later Moldova, as we sought their cooperation for facilitating the evacuation process from Ukraine. Through diplomatic channels, the Prime Minister engaged with President Putin, securing a cease-fire during the evacuation period and obtaining designated routes for evacuation. While numerous countries struggled to evacuate their citizens with just a couple of flights, India successfully coordinated 90 flights to safely send back Indian students. Our nations important voice continues to play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes on the global stage."

Special envoys and senior Ministers also feature in the documentary. Hardeep Puri (Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas), Gen (Retd) VK Singh (Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation) and Kiren Rijiju (Minister of Earth Sciences) explain how India expedited border crossings in Ukraines neighbouring countries, revealing the extraordinary collaboration of state machinery, Indian defence forces, private partners and the Indian diaspora, as never witnessed before.

From the first-hand experiences of students living in bunkers without food and water, to the anxiety of their helpless parents back home, the film juxtaposes fear against the strength of a massive operation focused on a single agenda- to bring every Indian back home. This riveting story showcases representatives of the Indian government at Ukraines borders, union ministers being sent as special envoys to fast-track border crossing, and the coming together of the state machinery, Indian defense forces, private partners and the Indian diaspora like never before.

This story is a testament to Indias emergence as a global leader and her national flag standing tall as a symbol of a human centric foreign policy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States is set to propel India-US relations to the next orbit, according to insiders and analysts.

PM Modi will be flying to New York on June 20, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21. In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Prime Minister will then travel to Washington DC, where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22 and meet President Joe Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

ALSO READ | You are Causing Me Real Problem, Everyone Wants to Come: US Prezs Strange Complaint to PM Modi

Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of PM Modi on the same evening. The prime minister will also address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on June 22 (Thursday) at the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Speaker Charles Schumer.

Prime Minister Modi will also attend a lunch hosted at the State Department by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 23. In addition to the official engagements, Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.

WHY THE VISIT MATTERS

Modi-Biden relationship has been defined by close engagement, frank exchanges, mutual respect and admiration and special gestures. This visit, too, is being marked by special gestures of President Biden for PM Modi.

President Biden is hosting the PM for an Official State Dinner. There will also be a bilateral meeting with President Biden. But Biden and his family are going out of the way and doing much more than formalities and extending a touch of personal warmth to be with PM for multiple events.

President Biden along with the First Lady are hosting PM Modi for a private dinner and conversation the day before the official state dinner.

The First Lady will also accompany PM Modi for a skilling event. President Biden and PM will also be together for a Technology event.

Over the past decade the two leaders have come closer, with mutual trust and admiration strengthening their bond. This has been visible through various gestures on multiple important occasions.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

In 2014 , during his visit to USA, then US Vice President Joe Biden hosted a special lunch for PM Modi. The two leaders also met in 2016 when PM addressed the joint meeting of US Congress.

, during his visit to USA, then US Vice President Joe Biden hosted a special lunch for PM Modi. The two leaders also met in 2016 when PM addressed the joint meeting of US Congress. In September 2021 , the two leaders met during PMs visit to USA.

, the two leaders met during PMs visit to USA. In May 2022 , they met in Japan for the Quad Summit.

, they met in Japan for the Quad Summit. In June 2022 , they met during the G7 Summit in Germany.

, they met during the G7 Summit in Germany. In November 2022 , the leaders met during the G20 Summit in Indonesia.

, the leaders met during the G20 Summit in Indonesia. The leaders met in Japan in May this year, for the G7 and Quad meetings.

THE SPECIAL MOMENT OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION

During their meeting in Japan in May 2023, President Biden was quoted as telling PM Modi about his upcoming US visit: You are causing me a real problem. Next month we have a dinner for you in Washington. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets. You think I am kidding? Ask my team. I am get-ting phone calls from people I have never heard of before. Everyone from movie actors to relatives. You are too popular.

In the same meeting, praising PM Modi, Biden had further said: You also made a fundamental shift in climate. You have influence in Indo-Pacific. You are making a difference."

During their meeting in Japan for the G7 Summit this year, President Biden walked up to PM Modi to share a hug.

During their meeting in Indonesia last year, the two leaders ex-changed greetings as seen in the viral photo below.

The visuals of President Biden walking to greet PM Modi in their meeting during G7 in Germany were viral.
A supply vessel belonging to the Egyptian Naval Forces has delivered hundreds of tons of aid to Sudan, including food and medical supplies, according to a statement released on Saturday by the Spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib.

The shipment arrived in Port Sudan and will be delivered to afflicted areas and the neediest people in the brotherly country, read the statement.

The aid was provided by the Ministry of Defence and Military Production, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House.

It was sent in implementation of directives from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in continuation of the effective Egyptian role toward brotherly Sudan, according to the statement.

Officials on the Sudanese side expressed appreciation for the efforts carried out by Egypt and its political leadership in helping overcome the difficulties faced by the Sudanese people added the statement.

The supply vessel transported a number of Egyptians and Sudanese nationals from Sudan to Egypt on its way back home, added Gharib.

Upon their arrival in Egypt, those transported voiced appreciation for the care that they received from Egyptian state, he said.

Egypt has received more than 200,000 Sudanese citizens who escaped the country since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-April.

Egypt has also delivered tens of tons of medical supplies to Port Sudan and has facilitated the transport of tens of tons more of international humanitarian aid to the country.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, over the years, developed cordial relations with world leaders that became most evident during Operation Ganga, through which 22,500 Indian nationals were evacuated from war-torn Ukraine last year. The country was invaded by its neighbour Russia on February 24, 2022, in what President Vladimir Putin called special operations".

History TV18s original documentary, The Evacuation: Operation Ganga, which premiered on Saturday (June 17) shows how, in such a situation, the central government successfully evacuated the large population of Indian students spread across Ukraine. Many of them were caught in the crossfire while others patiently waited without food, water and other basic necessities to return home. A medical student Naveen Shekharappa from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv, while a language student Harjot Singh was grievously injured in firing in capital Kyiv.

In the documentary, union minister Gen VK Singh (Retd), who was sent to Poland for coordination, said Prime Minister Modi personally reached out to the heads of these neighbouring countries and requested that they ease visa restrictions and help fast-track border transit.

With the Polish border jammed with large numbers of Ukrainians trying to flee the country, Indias special relationship with the country only made it easier for students to be evacuated from the Polish border and onto special flights. In fact, the last Indian Air Force C17 transport aircraft also exited from Poland with the Sumy students, a recuperating Harjot and 12 to 13 four-legged friends.

The Centre had zeroed in on five countries sharing their border with Ukraine  Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova  and also sent union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri and Gen VK Singh (Retd) to coordinate on the ground.

Gen Singh said: What the prime minister said was we have to coordinate everything diplomatically, our mission in Ukraine. How to get the students out, the exit means we have to find ourselves but the aim should be to get them out as fast as possible.

As the war raged in Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi was in touch with major world leaders, including the head of the European Union, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish president Andrezj Duda. He thanked them all for relaxing visa laws to enable Indians to leave the conflict zone from within their countries.

Poland and India have a very special relationship. In the World War II, they sent out a lot of their children so that they could take refuge outside and, when the war was finished, they could return. They went to many countries and were all turned back and ultimately landed in Gujarats Jamnagar; and that is when the king said theyre all his children. He adopted them as his own. So, Poland holds us in a very special friendship because of this and its the reason why Indians who were coming out of there were all getting Schengen visa for 15 days. No other country got it," Gen Singh said.

The documentary shows how the prime minister put his statesmanship to the fore and even called presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to create green or humanitarian corridors. Modis astute decision to write personal letters to the heads of the neighbouring countries of Ukraine not only had an emotional effect but also helped galvanise support for Indias rescue operation.

Our relentless efforts spanned across neighbouring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and later Moldova, as we sought their cooperation for facilitating the evacuation process from Ukraine. Through diplomatic channels, the prime minister engaged with President Putin, securing a ceasefire during the evacuation period and obtaining designated routes for evacuation. While numerous countries struggled to evacuate their citizens with just a couple of flights, India successfully coordinated 90 flights to safely send back Indian students. Our nations important voice continues to play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes on the global stage," said external affairs minister S Jaishankar in the documentary.

Poland and India have otherwise shared friendly relations for long now. Diplomatic relations were established in 1954, and an Indian Embassy was opened in Warsaw in 1957. The two countries share common ideological perceptions, based on their opposition to colonialism, imperialism and racism. Bilateral ties were strong even during the Communist era, coupled with high-level political links and vibrant cultural engagement.

Poland remained close to India even after the advent of democracy in 1989 and has since shared a cordial political relationship. It is one of Indias key economic partners in Central Europe.
Amid rising temperatures, over 50 people have lost their lives in Uttar Pradeshs Ballia district in the last three days.

The state government has removed the chief medical superintendent of Ballia and sent two senior doctors to assess the ground situation there.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health portfolio, said the chief medical superintendent was removed for giving an irresponsible statement.

The chief medical superintendent of Ballia district hospital, Diwakar Singh had stated Increased heat poses a problem for all. But in such weather conditions, the problem increases more for the people suffering from diseases like blood pressure, bronchial asthma, as these ailments aggravate."

A total of 54 people have lost their lives so far. 23 patients died on June 15, 20 on June 16, and 11 on June 17, NDTV quoted SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia as saying.

Doctors have said that though there are different reasons for the deaths, severe heat could be a factor. Hospitalisations are rising because of severe heat, officials said. A severe heatwave has swept the state, with most places seeing temperatures north of 40 degrees.

The sudden increase in deaths and patients being admitted to hospitals with fever, breathing trouble, and other issues have overwhelmed the hospital, which has put its staff on alert.

Dr B.P. Tiwari, Additional Health Director, Azamgarh Circle, has said a team is coming from Lucknow to investigate if theres some disease which is not being detected. When it is too hot or cold, respiratory patients, diabetes patients, and blood pressure patients are at increased risk. The mercury rising a little may have led to their deaths, Dr Tiwari speculated.

A massive rush is being reported at the district hospital and patients are unable to get stretchers and many attendants are carrying their patients to the emergency ward on their shoulders.

The Additional Health Director has, however, claimed that it gets difficult if ten patients turn up at the same time, but they do have stretchers.

However, the deputy chief minister denied that there was any shortage of facilities in the government hospitals.

(With IANS inputs)
Weather News: As Cyclone Biparjoys weekend to form a deep depression, Rajasthans Barmer witnessed strong winds followed by rain on Sunday causing severe water logging and flood-like situation at various places.

Cyclone Biparjoy has weakened and is in the form of a deep depression, it entered Rajasthan on June 16 through the adjoining areas of Jalore and Barmer. It has further weakened and become a depression as of now and is moving towards a north-east direction," said Radheshyam Sharma, Director, Meteorological Center, Jaipur

#WATCH | Rajasthan: Barmer witnesses strong winds & rain under the influence of cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy. Severe water logging and flood-like situation were seen at various places. (17.06) pic.twitter.com/ugqT1aqitX ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 18, 2023

Parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are expected to receive rains in the coming days starting from Sunday courtesy of the remnant of cyclone Biparjoy, which will help the monsoon advance over east India. The region is currently reeling with severe heat waves

The monsoons progress has remained sluggish since May 11 in the absence of any weather system over the Bay of Bengal. While Cyclone Biparjoy also impacted the southwest monsoon current, little relief was noted over Northern states.

The conditions will be favourable for the advance of the monsoon over east India and some more parts of south India from June 18 to June 21, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told PTI.

Meanwhile, normalcy began to return to the coast and towns of Gujarat that were under the radar in view of Cyclone Biparjoy, with businesses, roads and other daily activities resuming on Saturday with no reported loss of lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was on a visit to the state, lauded it as a major achievement.

The home minister on Saturday conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and met people admitted to the hospitals due to the cyclone. He also monitored the conditions of shelter homes designed especially for Cyclone Biparjoy rescue operations.

He also held a review meeting with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other senior officials deployed for the rescue and relief operations.

While addressing a post-meeting press conference, the minister said over one lakh civilians were moved to safety while more than 700 babies were delivered under the supervision of medical teams during the cyclone.

We can express satisfaction that nobody has died in the cyclone that made landfall with a wind speed of 140 mph," he said, adding that it was a major achievement. Not only that, but the number of injured persons was only 47 and casualties of cattle were just 234," Shah said.

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau on the Kutch coast on Thursday evening, felling trees and electric poles and damaging houses.

The governments priority now is the restoration of electricity, water supply and sending people who are in shelters back to their homes, the Union minister said.

Monsoon in India so far

The monsoon hit India on June 8 with its onset over Kerala, a week later than normal.

Some meteorologists attribute the delayed" and mild" monsoon onset over Kerala to the cyclone. However, the IMD thinks otherwise. The monsoon has so far covered the entire northeast, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and a few parts of Bihar and West Bengal.

(With PTI inputs)
Alia Bhatt won hearts at Netflix Tudum, a global pop culture event hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. All set to make her Hollywood debut with Heart of Stone, Alia was accompanied by her co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan at the global fan event.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt)

Looking stunning at the global event, Alia opted for a Herve Leger top and skirt in the shade of green. The ensemble featured a fitted bodice with ruffled peplum and a long slim skirt. The outfit consisted of shoulder straps and a centre back slit that added drama to the overall look. Alia looked at ease and in her element as she spoke about her character Keya Dhawan in the much awaited action-thriller Heart of Stone.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pia S. (@photog.pia.s)

Over the last couple of days, Alia has been serving serious boss vibes with her style statement. From boxy blazers to cropped waistcoats, every look Alia has adorned has been edgy, bold and glamorous.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt)

Celebrity fashion stylist Priyanka Kapadia has not only celebrated Alias versatile personality through her styling but has also set the mood board for those who love to travel in style. Wearing her heart on her sleeve and upping her style game with every classic look, Alia kicked off the Heart of Stone film promotions, with a fun and quirky airport look. Alia adorned a cropped knitted top with multi-coloured heart motifs and paired it with classic jeans.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt)

You have to give to Alia and her team, who make jet lag look so sexy! Acing pink like never before, Alia adorned a three piece ensemble from the clothing brand, Ganni featuring an oversized blazer, bralette and a skirt. A trail-BLAZER indeed! Alia continued her stint with the silhouette in her next look as well. The Gucci blazer and trouser combination exuded badass boss vibes but with a lot of heart.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt)

While her look was powerful, it has the right amount of oomph. Keeping it comfortable yet sexy, Alia opted for a Magda Butrym cropped waistcoat featuring 3D flowers cascading down to the center. She paired the embellished waistcoat with a pair of black trousers. The look was styled for her interviews and giving her company in this fun chic look was Gal Gadot who too opted for a waistcoat look in white.

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The Netflix Tudum event announced an array of upcoming films and series and had its cast and crew celebrate it with their fans. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Cavill, Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan among others.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY WISHES FOR 2023 IMAGES, SMS, SAYINGS, STATUS UPDATES, AND MORE: International Yoga Day is being celebrated today on June 21. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, at the suggestion of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Heres a look at Happy International Yoga Day wishes, International Yoga Day wishes, Happy International Yoga Day message, Happy International Yoga Day Greetings 2023, Inspirational Yoga Day messages, short message for your loved ones and message for family, friends and colleagues.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2023: QUOTES

1. We are disconnected from ourselves in todays times. Therefore, Yoga helps us in reconnecting with ourselves.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi

2. Yoga is a philosophy of discipline and meditation that transforms the spirit and makes the individual a better person in thought, action, knowledge, and devotion. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi

3. Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." - The Bhagavad Gita

4. Yoga is not about touching your toes, its about what you learn on the way down." - Jigar Gor

5. Yoga is the fountain of youth. Youre only as young as your spine is flexible." - Bob Harper

6. Yoga is a light that once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame." - B.K.S. Iyengar

7. Yoga is the art of living." - Amit Ray

8. Yoga is the dance of every cell with the music of every breath that creates inner serenity and harmony." - Debasish Mridha

9. Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are." - Jason Crandell

10. Yoga is the space where flower blossoms." - Amit Ray

11. Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind."  Patanjali

12. Yoga is the journey of the soul through the body that creates a union of mind, body, and spirit." - Kelly Wood

13. Yoga is not just repetition of few postures - it is more about the exploration and discovery of the subtle energies of life." - Amit Ray

14. Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable." - Rolf Gates

15. Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." - B.K.S. Iyengar

16. Yoga is not about self-improvement, its about self-acceptance." - Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

17. Yoga is a powerful vehicle for change. As you build strength, you start to believe in your own potential." - Tiffany Cruikshank

18. Yoga is the art of awakening the divinity within you." - Amit Ray

19. Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees." - B.K.S. Iyengar

20. Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, science of youthfulness, science of integrating body, mind, and soul." - Amit Ray

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2023: WISHES AND MESSAGES

1. May the practice of yoga bring peace, harmony, and well-being to your life. Happy International Day of Yoga!

2. Wishing you a day filled with inner strength, balance, and serenity. Happy Yoga Day!

3. May the light of yoga guide you on a path of self-discovery and inner peace. Happy International Yoga Day!

4. May you find solace and tranquility through the practice of yoga. Happy Yoga Day!

5. Wishing you a journey of self-reflection and enlightenment on this International Day of Yoga.

6. May your yoga practice lead you to a healthier mind, body, and soul. Happy Yoga Day!

7. Sending you positive energy and good vibes on this International Day of Yoga. Enjoy your practice!

8. May your yoga mat be a place of refuge, where you find balance and strength. Happy International Yoga Day!

9. On this special day, may you embrace the power of yoga and experience its transformative effects. Happy Yoga Day!

10. Wishing you a day filled with mindfulness, gratitude, and deep connection with yourself. Happy International Day of Yoga!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2023: GREETINGS

1. Happy Yoga Day! May you find peace, balance, and strength in your practice.

2. Yoga is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the process and celebrate your progress.

3. Yoga is a gift. Its a way to connect with your body, mind, and spirit. Thank you for practicing yoga and sharing your love of it with others.

4. Yoga is a way of life. Its a way to live in the present moment and to be kind to yourself and others. Happy Yoga Day!

5. Yoga is a tool for transformation. It can help you to become more flexible, strong, and healthy. It can also help you to reduce stress, improve your mood, and boost your energy levels. Happy Yoga Day!

6. May your practice be smooth and your breath be steady.

7. May you find peace and tranquility in your yoga practice.

8. May your body be strong and your mind be clear.

9. May you find happiness and joy in your yoga practice.

10. May you be inspired to live a healthy and balanced life.

11. Namaste, and happy yoga day!

12. May your yoga practice bring you closer to your true self.

13. May you find the strength and courage to overcome any obstacle in your path.

14. May you live a life of peace, love, and happiness.

15. Thank you for being a part of the yoga community.

16. Lets all take a moment to appreciate the beauty of yoga.

17. Yoga is a gift that we can all share.

18. Yoga is a way of life that can benefit everyone.

19. Lets all commit to practicing yoga on a regular basis.

20. Happy Yoga Day to all!
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt recently bumped into Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and the entire The Archies cast at the Netflix Tudum event in Brazil. Alia Bhatt along with her team recently unveiled the trailer of her debut Hollywood film Heart Of Stone, while Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor unveiled another fresh teaser from their debut Bollywood film The Archies. Both of these events happened at the fan event in Brazil.

Now, a photo of them posing together has gone viral on social media. Alia Bhatt can be seen standing next to Suhana Khan and Zoya Akhtar. While Khushi Kapoor stood behind them, Agastya Nanda, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina and Yuvraj Menda posed next to them. Alia Bhatt will in fact, soon be working with Zoya Akhtar too, for the much anticipated Jee Le Zara with Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra.

Have a look :

Ever since The Archies announcement, fans have been extremely excited for the film. The makers recently unveiled a fresh teaser from the film. The video clip has all the Wes Anderson vibes to it since it captured the ethos of a fictional hilly town In India called Riverdale.

The story will be set in 1964 as the viewers are sucked into the world of rock & roll, pretty girls and handsome boys, friendship, freedom, love and heartbreaks. One gets to see a glimpse of Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda and the rest of the cast dancing and enjoying each others company with a peppy number in the background.

Suhana Khan shared the trailer on her timeline with the caption, Are you ready to go back in time? Welcome to The Archies .

Speaking about the teen drama, director Zoya Akhtar had earlier shared, I am super excited to have the chance to bring The Archies to life. It was a large part of my childhood and teenage years. The characters are iconic and globally loved, which is also why I am a little nervous."

Speaking of Alia Bhatts Heart Of Stone trailer, we see Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone and her fervent allegiance towards a furtive peacekeeping force called the Charter. The trailer deftly captures some high-octane action sequences involving flying jets and glider suits. One of the major highlights of the clip is Alia Bhatt essaying a tech-savvy hacker Keya Dhawan responsible for stealing Charters most potent weapon. An exchange between Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt is bound to charge you up when Rachel yells over phone,"Heart or no heart, I am coming for you.
Zoya Akhtars The Archies is one of the most anticipated web series that the audience is excitedly looking forward to. The series will be based on the comics of the same name and the director is adapting the story to fit Indian sensibilities. With the series release, star kids Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda are all set to make their Bollywood debut. While fans are excited ever since the first teaser was dropped, makers have unveiled another trailer amping up the excitement further.

The new teaser has all the Wes Anderson vibes to it since it captured the ethos of a fictional hilly town In India called Riverdale. The story will be set in 1964 as the viewers are sucked into the world of rock & roll, pretty girls and handsome boys, friendship, freedom, love and heartbreaks. One gets to see the glimpse of Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda and the rest of the cast dancing and enjoying each others company with a peppy number in the background. Suhana Khan shared the trailer on her timeline with the caption, Are you ready to go back in time? Welcome to The Archies ".

Her post received a ton of love from the celebs of Bollywood. Navya Nanda wrote, Wooooo(with red heart emojis)". Seema Sajdeh wrote, Like love love it ". Koel Purie wrote,"Whats not to LOVE about this". Bhavana Panday commented, Love !!!!! ". Elli Avram commented, Awesome".Karan Johar wrote, Loveeeeeeeee". Rysa Panday said, `ow!! love this .

On Sunday, Archies Netflix Instagram handle posted an update with a twist that incorporated a famous line from Pathaan. While the image shared on their timeline had Welcome to Riverdale imprinted all over it in English and Hindi, it was the caption that tickled the fancies of the netizens. It read, BRB, kursi ki, aur humari peti baandh rahein hai to go to Riverdale! Grab some Pop Tates shakes and burgers and get ready to meet #TheArchies gang, coming soon to @netflix_in #TheArchiesOnNetflix."

The first teaser of The Archies was released last year and it received mixed reactions. While some were pleasantly intrigued by the Indian adaptation of the comic, others were quite conflicted as they found it not-so-relatable and Western in the context of the Indian milieu. Now, the director has come forward to quash such speculations.

In a conversation with the CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater, the Zindagi Na Milega Dobara director had shared, We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and cant wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale.

Zoya Akhtar added, The story revolves around the interpersonal relationship within the seven characters and their shenanigans. I tried to retain the original vibe of the comic, but did feel a lot of pressure since Riverdale had already come out. It is super exciting to take these beloved characters and introduce them to a new generation but still keep the nostalgia of the original comic alive. We have set it in the Anglo-Indian community in India and cant wait to transport you to the magical, fictional town of Riverdale.

The film will mark the debut for Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan, Janhvi Kapoors sister Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda. The coming of age film would also introduce fresh faces like Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Dot and Yuvraj Menda. The film is slated to release in 2023.
Sunny Deols son Karan Deol finally got married to his longtime girlfriend Drisha Acharya on Sunday, June 18. The big fat wedding was attended by all the family members. From Dharmendra to Abhay Deol, all were seen in happy mode as the family gears to bring their daughter-in-law Drisha Acharya home.

As the functions are going on, lets take a look at who is Karan Deols wife Drisha. As per reports, the stars wife is the great-granddaughter of acclaimed filmmaker, Bimal Roy. To note, Dharmendra has essayed the role of Nutans unrequited lover in Bimal Roys last feature film, Bandini. Her parents Sumit Acharya and Chimoo Acharya are settled in Dubai.

Drishas mother Chimoo is a former advertising executive and promoter of one of the Middle Easts top event management companies. According to the reports, Drisha works with her mom as the National Program Manager.

Drisha is a private person as her Instagram handle shows. She has not made it public. She is followed by Ranveer Singh and Abhay Deol.

Some media reports suggest that Drisha has dropped her fathers surname Acharya, and uses Roy as her surname. But there is no official information on this.

Coming back to marriage, a lot of videos are going viral on the internet. But one such video which is winning everyones heart is veteran actor Dharmendra dancing on dhol beats. In a video that is now going viral, the veteran actor can be seen grooving to the beats of dhol, in full Punjabi style, while his son Bobby Deol stands right by his side and cheers him on. The grooms grandfather wore a black suit and paired it with a tie and shirt. Karan Deol opted for a cream sherwani with a matching turban and was looking dapper.

On the work front, Karan made his Bollywood debut with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. He will be next seen in Apne 2, so-starring Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.
As structural, demographic and technological shifts transform the Indian economy and the nature of work, new entrants to the workforce will have to be skilled and made employable. Approximately 70 million additional individuals of working age (15-59 years) are expected to enter the countrys labour force by the end of 2023 using the same estimation model, the total workforce will then include approximately 404.15 million people, including 59 million youth (individuals aged 15-30 years). According to the periodic labour force survey, the strategies for reskilling and increasing the skills of the current workforce, as well as formal recognition of informally acquired skills, will also have to be reinforced.

Against this backdrop, India is driving unique initiatives to convert its demographic potential into a dividend that will fuel the countrys growth. At the same time, ageing populations found in several developed countries present opportunities for the migration of skilled persons from India to the benefit of both the host and destination countries.

There have been three major challenges to skill development in India 

1. Pathways for international mobility

2. Public sector collaboration with industry

3. Womens low participation in the labour force

Pathways for international mobility

India is committed to becoming the skill capital of the world and structured efforts such as the India International Skill Centre (IISC) programme may boost it. As a pilot project in 2018, 14 IISCs were likely to be set up across India through the NSDC but in April 2022, the countrys first Skill India International Centre was inaugurated by Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, in his home state Odisha.

Indeed, IISCs should be a pan-India institution. Now, after the announcement made in the Union Budget 2023-24, the NSDC must take a call to set up 30 IISCs in a public-private partnership to implement Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for youth seeking global mobility for jobs. As part of the IISC program, skill training on international standards and Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) will be imparted to candidates to make them employable globally.

A new, market-driven IISC network is needed to counsel and guide potential emigrants with a focus on skills tests, upskilling, language and pre-departure orientation. Furthermore, the Governments of India and Japan are cooperating to implement Japans Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), an on-the-job training scheme providing three to five years of internship opportunities for foreign nationals in Japan. Technical collaborations have been undertaken with countries such as the UK, Australia and the UAE for benchmarking and mutual recognition of standards. Government-to-government and B2B partnerships need to be developed for new markets such as those in Western Europe, Canada, Australia and East Asia to increase the mobility of the blue and white-collar Indian workforce.

Collaboration with private sector

Indias workforce above 30 years of age is 262 million people, of which 259 million are currently employed and need to be future-ready. To drive reskilling and upskilling initiatives and to develop close collaborations with employers to prepare their workforce for new technologies and the future of work, there are a variety of skill development models like government-funded programmes that fully or partially subsidise training and apprenticeships, market-led training, and industry-led on-the-job training. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) stimulates private sector participation in the Indian skill development sector.

There is a vast segment of informal workers in India, many of whom possess skills that have not been formally recognised. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) interventions are critical in this scenario, as holding a formal certification can improve an individuals bargaining power. Various analyses reveal that the monthly incomes of RPL-certified individuals were on average 20 percent higher than those who had not been RPL-certified.

A survey conducted by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) suggests there are more than 390 million individuals who have acquired skills informally, through self-learning, on-the-job learning, inherited skills or other sources. Of these, 384 million are working, showing the scope for RPL and apprenticeship-related interventions. Both of these interventions typically involve collaboration with industry and the private sector, even when they are part of publicly funded programmes.

Creating avenues for private-sector engagement has been a crucial strategic pillar for India. Skill development faces several forms of market failures, including information asymmetries  a skilled person knows his or her skills, but a potential employer does not. If employers had all the information, their willingness to pay for a skilled person would rise. RPL is an example of an intervention to address information asymmetry.

Womens participation in workforce

A third focus area is to address the challenge of low female participation in the workforce. The labour force survey data suggests that of the countrys workforce of 395.2 million, only 91.6 million are women. Skilling initiatives, complemented by a wider push towards empowerment through gender sensitisation, creation of economic opportunities and economic and social support can be used to raise this number.

Preparing women for forms of employment that are more attractive to them, such as the gig economy and its more flexible work models, is especially relevant, given that 229.2 million women out of the 301.5 million who are not in the workforce report their status as homemakers performing domestic duties only.

In the beauty-wellness sector, still there is a huge scope for women to be skilled. There are reasons why I insist on a special focus on the beauty and wellness sector. With the rise in awareness about holistic well-being among people in India, the spending on beauty and wellness services and products has increased. According to the Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA), the per capita spending on beauty and personal care products was around Rs 600 per annum in 2019, which is expected to increase by 40 percent by 2024. The beauty and wellness market in India was valued at Rs 901.07 billion in 2018 and is forecast to reach Rs 2,463.49 billion by 2024, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 18.50 percent during 2019-2024.

We need to note that the rise in the income of the middle class has propelled the demand for beauty and wellness services and products. In India, people have become conscious about their appearance and are constantly spending money to enhance the way they look. Consumers Paying frequent visits to salons and spa services have resulted in the escalating demand for beauty services and products. This has allowed for the significant growth of the segment.

The writer is co-founder and MD, of Orane International, a training partner with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and Network Member of India International Skills Centres, an initiative of GoI. Views expressed are personal.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said illiterate people" are running the government at the Centre and urged voters not to pick those with fake degrees next time.

Addressing a rally in Sriganganagar district of poll-bound Rajasthan, he said as a kid, he had heard politicians saying that India would become a developed country in 20 years. He said he had also heard Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in which the latter said India would become a developed nation by 2047.

How can we trust your talk? They (Centre) are telling lies. They do not know anything. Today, illiterate people are running the government at the Centre," Kejriwal said. He further said, If there were literate people in the central government, they would not have brought demonetisation and farm laws. When you vote for the next time, do one thing, vote for literate people. Do not vote for those who are illiterate and have fake degrees." Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying to make inroads in Rajasthan where polls are slated at the end of this year. The Delhi chief minister further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feel offended because he is literate, an engineer and was an IRS officer".

He said he has plans to make India the top country in the world in 10 years.

Kejriwal also narrated the story of an illiterate king who ruined the entire country, thus emphasising the need to have a literate king to run the state of affairs.

He hit out at the BJP and the Congress rule, saying both the parties have looted Rajasthan and the country.

Hitting out at the BJP-led Centre, the AAP leader said Delhis former deputy chief minister (Manish Sisodia) gave poor children education, but (BJP) could not tolerate it so they sent him to jail.

We are disciples of Bhagat Singh and Baba Sahab. Even if I and Bhagwant Mann are sent to jail, our work is not going to stop," he asserted.

Kejriwal said the BJP and the Congress together looted the desert state and now it has a debt of Rs 5.50 lakh crore.

Highlighting the issue of paper leak, he said ever since Ashok Gehlot came to power in Rajasthan, 14 papers have been leaked, while a total of 26 papers were leaked in 10 years.

Papers are being sold for Rs 10-15 lakh. Money goes up in the system. We have our governments in Delhi and Punjab, not even a single paper got leaked there," he said.

If the chief minister is honest, if the party is honest, does anyone have the guts to do corruption in the government?" he asked. Further highlighting the achievements of AAP governments, Kejriwal said the Delhi government is providing 200 units of electricity free, while Punjab is providing 300 units free power.

 Vote for the Aam Aadmi Party, electricity will also come and 300 units will also remain free," he told the audience.

He also said that the AAP government is working in Punjab so that people in Rajasthan get clean water.

In the next six months, clean water will come from Budha Nala. (Punjab CM) Bhagwant Mann has sanctioned Rs 600 crore for the work," he said. Commenting on the understanding" between Gehlot and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Kejriwal said Gehlot had accused Raje of corruption. Sachin Pilot is tired of seeking action against Raje. But, his party colleague Gehlot says I will not take action, she is my sister. They have only one job  corruption, corruption, corruption," he said. The AAP supremo said he has come before the people of Rajasthan with the dream of a new Rajasthan" and together with 8 crore Rajasthanis, he can fulfil this dream.

Vote for the AAP, I will give good education to your children. I will make them doctors, engineers, scientists, and teach them to do business," he said.

Taking a dig at Gehlot, Kejriwal said the Rajasthan chief minister would not have required the need to publicise the schemes through posters and banners if he had worked for five years.

Today, the Government of India is being run by illiterate people. Six years ago, they said bring 2,000-denomination notes and corruption will stop, now they are saying remove the 2,000 notes, then corruption will stop," he quipped. Hitting out at the BJP and the Congress, he said today our country is backward and the health and education sectors are in a bad shape, all because of these two parties.

When the BJP and the Congress come to ask for your votes, ask them what have they done," he told the rally.

Kejriwal said he has only one dream to make India the worlds number one country for which he needs the support of youths of the country.

I am from the IIT, well educated, and I have a complete plan. That is why these (BJP) people get offended. They are illiterate. Within 10 years, poverty can be removed. India can become a developed country in 10 years," he asserted.

No one can dethrone the AAP from Delhi and Punjab for at least 50 years I request you to vote for the AAP so that no one will be able to remove us from Rajasthan for the next 50 years," he added.

Mann, who accompanied his Delhi counterpart, claimed Gehlot has sent some people on daily wage to oppose the AAPs rally with black flags.

He said black flags work as magic for the AAP, adding that the Akali Dal showed black flags to the party and the people threw them out of power in Punjab.

Mann said there is a problem of clean water in Sriganganagar and neigbouring districts of Rajasthan. He promised to solve the problem through the Rs 600 crore project for cleaning of Budhha Nala in Ludhiana. The nala drains into the Sutlej river, the water of which flows into Rajasthan.

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A fresh ceasefire took effect in Sudan on Sunday after intense fighting that saw deadly air strikes in Khartoum and an exodus of wounded over the border into Chad.

The army, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has since April 15 been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

Multiple truces have been agreed and broken during the conflict, including after the United States slapped sanctions on both generals following the collapse of a previous ceasefire attempt at the end of May.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," a Saudi foreign ministry statement said late Saturday.

The ceasefire was to take effect at 6:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday, the mediators said, adding the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

One hour into the truce, witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was "calm".

"We want a full ceasefire," Sami Omar, who lives in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, told AFP.

"A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes (they occupy) and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult."

Both sides had pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday night.

The army said "despite our commitment to the ceasefire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit" during the ceasefire.

RSF vowed to "honour our commitment to a comprehensive cessation of hostilities... with the primary aim of facilitating the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance to civilians".

Intensifying air strikes

Before the latest truce, witnesses said air strikes had intensified in the capital in the past few days.

On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing "17 civilians, including five children", according to a citizens' support committee. AFP was unable to independently confirm the figures.

Residents had earlier reported air strikes around the city's southern Yarmouk district -- home to a weapons manufacturing and arms depot complex where the RSF claimed "full control" in early June.

Since battles began, the death toll across the country has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said.

A record 25 million people -- more than half Sudan's population -- need aid, the United Nations says.

Ominous reminder

Hundreds of kilometres (miles) west of Khartoum, as many as 1,100 people have been killed in the West Darfur state capital of El Geneina, according to the US State Department.

Medics in Chad said Saturday they were overwhelmed by the hundreds of wounded fleeing Sudan's Darfur region, which has become an increasing focus of global concern.

The dead have included West Darfur governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, killed after he criticised the paramilitaries in a Wednesday television interview. The RSF denied responsibility.

"We are overwhelmed in the operating theatre. We urgently need more beds and more staff," said Seybou Diarra, a physician and project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Adre, Chad.

More than 600 patients, most with gunshot wounds, arrived at the facility over a three-day period -- more than half of them on Friday, it said.

Claire Nicolet, MSF's head of emergency programmes, cited "reports of intensifying and large-scale attacks this week".

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad.

They are among the roughly 2.2 million people uprooted nationwide by the fighting, which has forced more than 528,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, the IOM said.

On Thursday, the US State Department attributed the atrocities in Darfur "primarily" to the RSF and said the violence and alleged rights violations were an "ominous reminder" of the region's previous genocide.

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Ranjit Savarkar, the grandson of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, said the decision of the Congress government in Karnataka government to remove a chapter on his grandfather wont make a difference and his name was being misused to mobilise Muslim votes.

The Siddaramaiah-led government has approved the revision of Kannada and social science textbooks for Classes VI to X in the state and the cabinet recommended the removal of chapters on personalities such as Savarkar and RSS founder KB Hedgewar.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. In an exclusive interview with News18, following the decision to remove references to Savarkar in Karnatakas school textbooks, Ranjit said the Congress might believe that by erasing the chapter, it could prevent students from learning about Savarkar.

The more they try to suppress, there will be more rebound. Every action will have an equal and opposite reaction and that is what is going to happen, he told News18. Excerpts from an interview:

The Karnataka government has decided to drop chapters on VD Savarkar and KB Hegdewar and revoke the decision of the previous BJP government. Your comments.

This is a purely political move; (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi had a lot of respect for VD Savarkar and even issued a postal stamp in his memory. She also donated Rs 11,000 from her personal account to his smarak. This move has nothing to do with political ideology or Savarkar, but a way to mobilise Muslim votes. They (Congress) are trying to push away Veer Savarkar and bring in Tipu Sultan. You know the history of Tipu Sultan and the atrocities he has committed. This move to remove Savarkar is to indulge in polarisation and they are using his name to create that divide.

Savarkars name was also used during the campaign in the recently concluded assembly elections. How do you see the use of your grandfathers name as part of an election campaign?

Political parties do not know Savarkars ideology of Hindutva. His Hindutva has nothing to do with Hinduism as a religion or how you pray (pooja paddhati). It is about punyabhoomi he did not believe in god. Savarkar has been targeted as a man who is communal. In 1945, on behalf of the Hindu Mahasabha, he had presented a moral constitution in which he said everybody should be treated as equals, irrespective of caste, religion, or colour and this was referred to in our constituent assembly. His image and his ideology are being misused by projecting him in the wrong light. This is being done to scare the Muslims.

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also made a statement seeking a reply from Uddhav Thackeray on his stand on Savarkar after the Karnataka government dropped him from the syllabus. How do you respond to this?

Uddhav Thackeray made his stand clear earlier when the Congress mouthpiece in Maharashtra printed a malicious piece, which I can say was a 100 percent imaginary and defamatory article, and he refused to take action against it. So, Uddhav Thackeray has shown his stand and I dont expect anything from him.

Savarkar, for the first time, has been included in the Delhi University political science syllabus. But there is also a controversy saying his contribution is being taught before Mahatma Gandhis and BR Ambedkars.

It is not about Gandhi or Ambedkar being replaced, they have their own place. And Savarkar has his own place. He cannot be replaced as he is also an integral part of history and they all were working at the same time. Let the students get a chance to study the comparative qualities of all three of them as they were contemporaries. You cannot remove Gandhi and keep Savarkar or remove Savarkar and keep only Gandhi. Let students read, study, and understand and let them come to a conclusion on what they thought of Savarkars kind of politics as compared to others. In this time and age, all data is available online and people should be encouraged to research and analyse information. Let the truth come out.

A movie on Savarkar called Swatantra Veer Savarkar is being made with actor Randeep Hooda playing the lead. The trailer is already out. Has the family been consulted by the makers?

I have heard about it but I dont know anything about it. They (producers) had written to us seeking permission. They need to show me what the script is because if they are going to be putting or protracting anything wrong about Savarkar, then we will strongly object and it cannot be done. I am hoping they will do a fair representation.

As the grandson of Savarkar, what would you like to tell Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on their decision regarding dropping Savarkar from the syllabus?

You can remove it from the education curriculum but now all of Savarkars literature and information on him is available on the internet, free of charge. There are books on Savarkar and more new books are coming. The more you suppress something, it is going to rebound. It is the law of nature, its Newtons Law. You cant stop people from studying about him. Earlier it may have been possible, but now with the advent of the internet and social media, everything is accessible and has opened up a lot of avenues. You cant really suppress anything today.
Business tycoon Anand Mahindra took to his official Twitter handle as he responded to the lunch meet between Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault. However, like always, Mahindra had a funny take on this as well. He posted an image from the lunch meet saying that his wife was wondering who paid for the lunch.

Also Read: Desi Reporter Covers Cyclone Biparjoy Flying VFX Helicopter in Studio, Hilarious Video is Now Viral

This happened as the richest and second-richest in the world met for lunch in Paris on Friday. They met ahead of a technology conference being hosted by an Arnault-owned company. Musk is scheduled to speak at the event.

My wife was wondering who paid for the lunch@elonmusk," Mahindra wrote on Twitter. Here, have a look at the tweet:

My wife was wondering who paid for the lunch@elonmusk https://t.co/NIsPR4o9Oj anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 18, 2023

The image has now gone viral and garnered multiple responses from people. Most people talked about how this one picture can turn out to be a great advertisement for the restaurant.

The restaurant dosent need to advertise for next 5yrs now. World media will do it for them free. Paisa Vasool just because they dropped at their restaurant. Infact this restaurant might even become a tourist destination, wrote a Twitter user. Another person mentioned, None I believe The restaurant mustve obliged it for their advertisement.

Naturally, we the public paid Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) June 18, 2023

The restaurant! Ofcourse!Free marketing for them  CryptoMaddy (@CryptoMaddy123) June 18, 2023

Well, the lunch in such meetings look like this, I suppose, so it doesn't matter who pays pic.twitter.com/8PTRoFq0zK Mayank Mohanka (@MohankaMayank) June 18, 2023

Meanwhile, this comes in as Musk is back on top of the list of wealthiest people in the world after shares of luxury tycoon Bernard Arnaults LVMH fell by 2.6 per cent. Musk, on the other hand, has gained more than $55.3 billion this year, largely from Tesla. His fortune is now valued at about $192.3 billion, while Arnaults is about $186.6 billion, it added.

Also Read: Viral Video Shows Woman Straightening Her Hair Inside Delhi Metro Using a Straightener
Two people were killed and three were injured in a shooting near a Washington state campground area hosting people attending a nearby music festival Saturday night, police said.

The Grant County Sheriffs Office said Saturday it received a report of a shooting shortly before 8:30 p.m. at the camping area near the small city of George, 149 miles (239 kilometers) east of Seattle. Officers pursued the suspect, who was then taken into custody.

The names and conditions of the victims were not immediately available.

Organizers of the Beyond Wonderland electronic music festival said on social media that Sundays events at the Gorge Amphitheatre were canceled. The shooting occurred on the campgrounds adjacent to the concert stages, the sheriffs office said. Concert organizers described the location as an overflow camping area.

KREM-TV reported the shooter was among the three injured. That was according to Kyle Foreman, public information officer with the Grant County Sheriffs Office.
New York with its glittering skyscrapers and bustling metropolis was recently in news because of its air quality crisis. The wildfire burning in Canada for weeks sent tonnes of smokes into the US and sending the Air Quality in New York to record high, turning the skyline into a sooty orange.

Not long after the city recovered from the crisis, reports have warned of another imminent threat that could directly affect an estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers.

New York City is sinking in part and the reason being a million buildings that make up an extraordinary weight pressing down on the Earth.

New York city is subsiding by up to 4 millimetres each year on an average apart from the rising sea level due to climate change, a recent study has revealed.

Why is New York Sinking?

In a research paper this year, scientists from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography found that New York City is sinking at a rate of 1 to 4 millimetres per year.

Researchers have suggested a number of reasons why New York is sinking, but one of the prominent reasons is relentless construction. The fast-paced and ever-growing construction is causing the city to subside, raising the risk of future flooding.

Researchers in journal Earths Future tried calculating the collective weight of New York Citys buildings to estimate the degree of sinking resulting from those buildings. The researchers accessed the footprint and the height of 1,084,954 buildings in citys five boroughs and multiplied it with the number of floors to calculate idle weight or dead load.

They found that all the New York Citys buildings weigh 76,400 Crore kg or 1.68 trillion pounds, roughly the mass of 4,700 Empire State buildings, according to Forbes.

Some areas sinking faster

Scientist studied the surface geology of New York and found that it is very complex with materials including silt, sand, and clay lake deposits, glacial moraines, outwash and till, beach deposits, and bedrock outcrops,

Therefore, its not possible to determine what is beneath every other building, leaving it with a high degree of uncertainty.

While the midtown Manhattan is built directly over hard bedrock, the lower Manhattan and southern Brooklyn are built largely on artificial fill, a mix of materials thereby making it more vulnerable to sinking under the pressure of buildings.

The average subsidence rate across New York City is 1-2 millimetres a year, but areas like Queens and Brooklyn have a higher subsidence rate at about 4.5 millimetres a year.

#DYK that NYC is sinking due to the weight of its buildings? Learn about the importance of #sustainable urban #development to secure our city's futurehttps://t.co/pvE2gGHk5N pic.twitter.com/G6D8KG38nz UN Environment Programme New York (@UNEP_NYO) June 10, 2023

Moreover, the ocean is also rising at a similar rate as the land is sinking and the changing climate could worsen the subsidence rate for parts of the city.

However, it will take hundreds of years before New York sinks into the ocean to look like Venice, which famously sank into the Adriatic Sea.

Is New York Sinking Alone?

No, New York is not sinking alone. A 2022 study looked at 48 largest coastal cities in the world, having a fifth of the global urban population and found out that 44 of them were found to have areas sinking faster than the rising sea levels.

The phenomenon is not alien to countries especially to those having metro cities in coastal areas. Indonesia has decided to shift its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, as the former was rapidly sinking into the Java Sea.

Jakarta was described as the worlds most rapidly sinking city and it was estimated that one-third of the city could be submerged by 2050 at the current rate.

Another American city San Francisco is also putting pressure on the ground and the regions active earthquake faults.
The number of people arriving in the UK in small boats has reached over 10,000 since the start of the year, UK government figures showed Sunday.

The provisional total covering the period up to Saturday stands at 10,139, according to data released by the interior ministry, the Home Office.

The figure is down by over 1,000 on that from the same time last year, when there had been more than 11,300 crossings by June 17.

Last Sunday saw the highest number of crossings on a single day so far this year, with 549 people making the perilous journey.

Crossings have picked up in recent days as a result of a hot spell, with a further 486 arriving on Friday and 374 on Saturday.

Britains Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly pledged to stop the boats" and made the issue one of his highest profile priorities.

Immigration has long been a key political issue in the UK and was one of the main battlegrounds of the Brexit referendum in 2016, which saw the country leave the European Union.

Attempts to send failed asylum seekers to Rwanda  prompted by an unprecedented 45,755 crossings in 2022  have become bogged down in the courts.

Sunak also announced measures last month to curb levels of legal immigration which he described as too high".

Net migration hit a record 606,000 in the UK in 2022.
The first commercial flight from Yemens rebel-held capital to Saudi Arabia since 2016 took off carrying hajj pilgrims on Saturday, in the latest sign of easing tensions after years of war.

A Yemenia Airways plane carrying 277 travellers departed at around 8 pm (1700 GMT), an official told AFP, seven years after Sanaas international airport was blockaded by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

Hopefully, the blockade will end and the airport will remain open. We are very happy and relieved, and I cannot describe the feeling," said Mohammad Askar, one of the travellers.

The Jeddah-bound flight is the first to Saudi Arabia since Sanaas airport was closed by the coalition blockade in August 2016, more than a year into the Saudi-led military campaign to dislodge the Huthis.

Air traffic was largely halted by the blockade, but there have been exemptions for aid flights that are a lifeline for the population.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the fighting in Yemen or from indirect causes such as lack of food or water, in what the United Nations calls one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises.

But despite coalition bombing raids and ground clashes, the Huthis, who seized control of Sanaa in 2014, ousting the internationally recognised government, rule over large swathes of the country.

Two more flights will depart on Monday and Tuesday, officials said. The Huthis Works Minister Ghaleb Mutlaq said about 200 flights would be needed to accommodate the 24,000 people that he said wanted to travel.

We consider what is happening today as a good gesture, so that airports, especially Sanaa airport, will be opened to Yemeni travellers," Najeeb Al-Aji, the Huthis minister of guidance, hajj and umrah, told journalists.

Uptick in rhetoric

Thousands of pilgrims in Huthi-held areas travel by bus to Saudi Arabia, or to government-controlled Aden  an arduous 12-hour journey, due to checkpoints  where they can fly to the neighbouring country.

We can no longer bear the burdens and hardships of travelling to Aden," said Akram Mohamed Murshid, one of the pilgrims boarding the plane.

Fighting in Yemen sharply declined after a UN-brokered truce came into effect in April last year, and full-scale hostilities did not resume even when the ceasefire lapsed in October.

Among the terms of the truce was a resumption in international flights from Sanaa. The first commercial flight in six years took off for Jordans capital Amman in May last year.

Peace efforts have accelerated since March when Saudi Arabia, seeking to calm the region as it tries to revamp its oil-reliant economy and attract investment, announced a surprise rapprochement with its powerful rival Iran, seven years after they broke off ties.

After Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh earlier this month, on Saturday Saudi Arabias foreign minister visited Tehran, where he held talks with his opposite number.

A Saudi delegation flew to Sanaa in April, the same week as a major prisoner swap that freed nearly 900 detainees in a confidence-building measure.

However, the Saudi and Huthi negotiators failed to agree on a new truce and later Saudi ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber, while stressing both sides were serious" about the process, told AFP that the next steps were unclear.

We are all aware that the road to peace is going to be long and difficult," UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said at a forum in The Hague this week, noting an uptick in public rhetoric threatening large-scale escalation".
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday morning in Beijing for talks on managing tensions, making the highest-level US visit since his predecessor came in 2018.

Blinken is scheduled to spend two days in the Chinese capital on a visit rescheduled from February, when he abruptly cancelled after the United States said it detected a Chinese spy balloon over US soil.

Neither side expects breakthroughs during Blinkens two-day visit, with the worlds two largest economies at odds on an array of issues from trade to technology to regional security.

But the two countries have increasingly voiced an interest in seeking greater stability and see a narrow window before elections next year both in the United States and Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy which Beijing has not ruled out seizing by force.

In a sign of the fragility of the effort, Blinken had been due to visit four months ago, the fruit of a cordial summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali in November.

But Blinken abruptly postponed the trip after the United States said it detected a Chinese spy balloon over US soil, leading to furious calls for a response by hardliners in Washington.

Speaking in the US capital before his departure, Blinken said he would seek to responsibly manage our relationship" by finding ways to avoid miscalculations" between the countries.

Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict," he said.

Keeping allies close

Blinken was speaking alongside Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who said that the region wanted the United States both to stay as a power and to find ways to coexist with a rising China.

Blinkens trip is essential, but not sufficient", Balakrishnan said.

There are fundamental differences in outlook, in values. And it takes time for mutual respect and strategic trust to be built in."

As part of the Biden administrations focus on keeping allies close, Blinken spoke by telephone with his counterparts from both Japan and South Korea during his 20-hour trans-Pacific journey.

Bidens national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, travelled separately to Tokyo for separate three-way meetings involving Japan and both South Korea and the Philippines.

In recent months the United States has reached deals on troop deployments in southern Japan and the northern Philippines, both strategically close to Taiwan.

Beijing carried out major military drills around Taiwan in August, seen as practice for an invasion, after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited.

And in April, China launched three days of war games after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States and met the current speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Chinas core concerns

Ahead of Blinkens visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the United States needed to respect Chinas core concerns" and work together with Beijing.

The US needs to give up the illusion of dealing with China from a position of strength. China and the US must develop relations on the basis of mutual respect and equality, respect their difference in history, culture, social system and development path," he said, a nod to frequent US criticism of Chinas rights record.

Blinken is the first top US diplomat to visit Beijing since a brief stop in 2018 by his predecessor Mike Pompeo, who later championed all-out confrontation with China in the final years of Donald Trumps presidency.

The Biden administration has kept in place Trumps hard line in practice if not tone and has gone further in areas, including working to ban exports to China of high-end semiconductors that have military uses.

But unlike Trump, who is running again for president, the Biden administration has said it is willing to work with China on narrow areas of cooperation such as climate  as Beijing sweats in record mid-June temperatures.

Danny Russel, who was the top diplomat on East Asia during Barack Obamas second term, said that each side had priorities  with China seeking to forestall additional US restrictions on technology or support for Taiwan, and the United States eager to prevent an incident that could spiral into a military confrontation.

Blinkens brief visit will not bring resolution to any of the big issues in the US-China relationship or even necessarily to the small ones. Neither will it stop either side from continuing with their competitive agendas," said Russel, now a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

But his visit may well restart badly needed face-to-face dialogue and send a signal that both countries are moving from angry rhetoric at the press podium to sober discussions behind closed doors."
South Africas president, in Russia as part of a delegation pushing for peace between Kyiv and Moscow, told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the fighting had to stop.

His delegation put forward a set of principles that the Kremlin deemed very difficult to implement", a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out talks with Moscow.

The delegation brought the voice of a continent that has badly suffered from repercussions of the Ukraine conflict, particularly with rising grain prices.

This war must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means," South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa said after talks in the suburbs of Saint Petersburg.

Russian authorities have effectively banned the word war" to describe their military operation in Ukraine.

Ramaphosa added that his delegation, which has leaders and senior officials from seven African countries, would like this war to be ended".

Ramaphosa listed 10 principles, which included de-escalation, the recognition of countries sovereignty, security guarantees for all countries, unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea and sending prisoners of war and children back to their countries of origin.

The mission included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia, as well as top officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.

Difficult to implement

Any initiative is very difficult to implement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the state-run agency RIA Novosti.

But President Putin has shown interest in considering it," Peskov said after the leaders held a meeting behind closed doors.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the plan was not formulated on paper".

Putin had praised the delegations balanced" approach and said he was open to a constructive dialogue with all those who want to implement peace based on the principles of justice and respect for the parties legitimate interests".

Moscow has in the past repeated that any negotiations would need to take into account new territorial realities".

Zelensky, speaking on Friday after Ramaphosa called for de-escalation following their talks in Kyiv, repeated his position that Ukraine must recover territories lost to Russia to achieve peace.

When an air raid siren sounded in Kyiv shortly after the delegations arrival earlier on Friday, forcing it to take shelter, Zelensky said it showed that Putin either did not control his army or was irrational".

Focus on the battlefield

African countries have been divided over their response to the fighting. While some have sided with Ukraine, others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.

Efforts to secure peace appear increasingly perilous, analysts told AFP, with both Kyiv and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.

Ukraine launched a long-awaited counteroffensive earlier this month.

Russian officials  including Putin  have insisted the counteroffensive is failing despite Kyiv claiming some gains.

Kyiv said Friday evening that its units were having tactical success" in nearly all areas where they were fighting in the south.

The Russian army, meanwhile, said it had repelled all assaults from Ukraine.

Negative impact on Africa

If analysts doubted the African mission could secure a concrete peace, there had been hope it would achieve some concessions.

Securing the future viability of a deal allowing grain from Ukraine to reach the global market would be one potential goal of the delegation.

This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world," Ramaphosa said ahead of formal talks with the Russian president.

Putin said the crisis on the global food market is by no means a consequence" of the Ukraine conflict.

Russia accuses the West of blocking its exports of fertilisers and threatens to pull out of a deal  due to expire on July 17  that has allowed vital Ukrainian grain exports to resume through the Black Sea.

We do not believe that shipments of Ukrainian grain supplies can solve the problems of poverty and hunger," Putin said during the meeting.

Zelensky had asked the African leaders to please, let them release our political prisoners. I think this will be an important result of your mission."

Referring to prisoners of war, Putin said on Saturday: We are ready to continue this process."

In Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian officials in the area devastated by flooding from the destruction of a Russian-held dam announced revised death tolls Saturday.

The toll in Russian-held areas had risen to 29, officials there said.

Kyiv said the number killed in its territory had risen to 16, with 31 still missing, and warned that the threat of air strikes remains high across Ukraine".

The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka axes and heavy battles continue," the defence ministry said in a statement.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden warned that the United States would not make special arrangements for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance.

Theyve got to meet the same standards," he told reporters. So were not going to make it easy."

Next week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on investors and businesses at a two-day summit in London to match Ukraines bravery on the battlefield" with support to get the country back on its feet.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has slammed the expansion of the Western military alliance, NATO, suggesting it may be a contributing factor to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Zuma made these remarks during a South African National Civic Organisation rally in KwaXimba, west of Durban.

The former South African President, who served from 2009 to 2018, also said that Russia has argued against NATO interference in neighboring countries and highlighted the need for independent thinking.

These comments follow President Cyril Ramaphosas participation in an African leaders peace delegation to Ukraine and Russia, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin to mediate peace between the two nations.

This statement comes as Russia reported fierce fighting on Sunday on three sections of the front line in Ukraine, a day after hosting an African peace mission that failed to spark enthusiasm from either Moscow or Kyiv.

I think Russia has been saying this is their neighbour, you cant in a neigbhouring country bring Nato to interfere with Russia, when you dont even [have] a country in the Middle East or Africa to think independently. You go there, you attack and do everything, Zuma was quoted as saying by South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Zuma also claimed that Western nations are discontent with the existence of the BRICS formation.

you need to find a solution to solve a problem and this war is in fact linked to the existence of BRICS. But unfortunately, you cant crush BRICS. Of course, peace is necessary, wherever there is a fight or clash, you need to come in and do [broker] peace, he added.

At talks in St Petersburg on Saturday, the South African President presented Putin with a 10-point peace initiative from seven African countries and told him the time had come to start negotiations to end the war.

The Russian President responded with a string of familiar accusations denied by Ukraine and the West and saying it was Kyiv, not Moscow, that was refusing to talk. He thanked Ramaphosa for his noble mission".

Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin had shown interest in the plan but it would be difficult to realise".

In Kyiv the previous day, Zelenskiy had told the African delegation that allowing negotiations now would just freeze the war" and the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

(With inputs from Reuters)
The Chinese embassy in London on Sunday condemned a meeting last week between Britains security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Taiwans digital minister, saying it violated international relations.

Reuters reported on Friday that Tugendhat had met the Taiwanese Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang on Wednesday during a rare high-level ministerial trip to Britain.

One source said they had discussed mutual security interests.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and fiercely objects to perceived foreign interference with the island.

This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement.

It sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for Taiwan independence and grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this."

Britain only has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials.

Tugendhat, who was sanctioned by China two years ago for speaking out about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, is not a full cabinet minister but attends cabinet meetings in his role as security minister, where he is responsible for countering terrorism, domestic state threats and economic crime.

We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine Chinas interests will be met with resolute responses," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said.
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced on Sunday that the EU aims to enhance its engagement and dialogue with the Arab League (AL) during a press conference with the AL's Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in Egypt.

The press conference took place in Egypt after the meeting with the secretary-general.

"The AL is a very important partner to the EU," Borrell affirmed, citing previous cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism, nonproliferation, human rights, and the Middle Eastern peace processes mentioning the ministerial meetings that both parties participated in.

Borrell arrived in Egypt on Saturday with the aim of reviewing and strengthening the partnership between the EU and Egypt.

He is scheduled to meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry.

On his Twitter account, Borrell also highlighted the EU-Egypt strategic relation saying that "Egypt is a key partner of the EU and our partnership is strong."

Back in Cairo for discussions on how to advance our cooperation with League of Arab States SG Aboul Gheit, and for bilateral discussions with President @AlsisiOfficial, FM Shoukry @MfaEgypt and MoD Zaki @EgyArmySpox.



Egypt is a key partner of the EU and our partnership is strong pic.twitter.com/ZD58i8WnOo  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 18, 2023

Postponement of EU-League of Arab States' Ministerial Meeting



Borrell expressed regret that the last meeting took place in 2019 and that the upcoming one, which was scheduled for this month, had to be postponed at the EU's request due to the readmission of Syria to the AL.

"The readmission of Syria is a sovereign decision and we respect it," Borell asserted.

However, he added that the Syrian regime made no efforts to alleviate the conflict despite its readmission.

"The Syrian regime will not change until they make progress in line with the United Nations security conflict resolution 2254 that had called for a ceasefire and political settlement in the country in late 2015. Yet, the EU is keenly interested to maintain ties with the AL, specifically its committee on Syria," he concluded.

Regional issues



"We also discussed the comprehensive regional peace approach to the Middle East peace process," the high representative said citing cooperation with the AL and Saudi Arabia with the intention to take "concrete steps."

He continued by stating that the EU welcomed the renewal of the 72-hour ceasefire in Sudan, which became effective on Sunday, as well as the resumption of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Borrell also addressed the Russian-Ukrainian war, noting that while Ukrainians are the most affected by the conflict, Middle Eastern countries have also suffered greatly in terms of food security.

"The EU has been at the forefront of the global efforts to address food and security," adding that the union is working towards exporting 30 million tons of Ukrainian grain.

Borrell concluded by reiterating the EU's desire to enhance cooperation with the AL for the mutual benefit of their people.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began two days of talks in Beijing on Sunday, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Blinkens visit, postponed after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace in February, was aimed at stabilising tense relations between the worlds two biggest economies, but hopes for a breakthrough were low.

Below is a list of some high-level U.S.-China exchanges during Bidens term.

BIDEN-XI PHONE CALL - Feb. 10, 2021

Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first phone call as leaders, appearing at odds on issues ranging from trade to human rights, even as Xi warned that confrontation would be a disaster for both nations.

FIRST HIGH-LEVEL MEETING - March 18, 2021

The first bilateral face-to-face meeting at a high level under Bidens administration was in Anchorage, Alaska. It got off to a fiery start, with each side rebuking the others policies in a rare public display that underscored the tensions.

The talks were led on the U.S. side by Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on the Chinese side by senior diplomats Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi.

FIRST TRADE TALKS - May 26, 2021

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Chinas then-Vice Premier Liu He held talks virtually, the first such high-level trade talks between the worlds two biggest economies since Biden took office.

SENIOR U.S. DIPLOMAT VISITS CHINA - July 26, 2021

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman held talks with State Councillor Wang Yi, in Tianjin, China. She was the top Biden official to visit China until Blinken nearly two years later.

BIDEN-XI HOLD MEETING - Nov. 15, 2021

Biden and Xi spoke via video link for the first time in talks lasting more than three hours, which covered a wide range of topics including Taiwan, North Korea and trade.

SULLIVAN-YANG TALKS IN ROME - March 14, 2022

Weeks after Chinas close ally Russia invaded Ukraine, Sullivan held a seven-hour meeting with Yang to warn Beijing not to aid Moscows war effort.

DEFENCE CHIEFS HOLD FIRST TALKS - April 20, 2022

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a call with Chinas then-defence minister Wei Fenghe, the first talks between the two since Biden took office.

BLINKEN-WANG TALKS IN NEW YORK - Sept. 23, 2022

Taiwan was the focus of 90-minute, direct and honest" talks between Blinken and Wang on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, a U.S official told reporters.

The talks came just over a month after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the democratic island China claims as its own, triggering a furious reaction from Beijing.

BIDEN, XI MEET IN BALI - Nov. 14, 2022

Biden and Xi held their long-awaited first face-to-face leadership talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. During the three-and-a-half hours of talks the pair covered topics including Taiwan and nuclear-armed North Korea.

VP HARRIS GREETS XI IN BANGKOK - Nov. 19, 2022

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met briefly with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Thailand.

BLINKEN, WANG HOLD TENSE MUNICH TALKS - Feb. 19, 2023

The top diplomats of the two superpowers, Blinken and Wang, met at an undisclosed location on the sidelines of a global security conference in Munich, amid the dispute over the U.S. downing of the suspected Chinese spy balloon.

US, CHINA COMMERCE CHIEFS TRADE BARBS IN WASHINGTON - May 25, 2023

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao exchanged barbs on trade, investment and export policies in face-to-face talks in Washington, D.C., described by Raimondos office as candid and substantive."

US, CHINA DEFENCE CHIEFS SHAKE HANDS AT SHANGRI-LA DIALOGUE - June 2, 2023

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shook hands with Chinas minister of national defense, Li Shangfu, on the sidelines of a security summit in Singapore but the two did not have a substantive exchange," according to the Pentagon. The handshake came after China rejected a proposal from the U.S. for Austin and Li to hold formal talks at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

BLINKEN VISITS CHINA FOR FIRST TIME AS SECRETARY OF STATE  June 18, 2023

Blinkens visit to Beijing marked the first to China by a U.S. secretary of state in five years. While there, he stressed the need to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation" between the countries.
For anyone who's ever wondered who the world's biggest land baron is, the answer is some guy with a bunch of first names: Charles Philip Arthur George. Or Britain's King Charles III, as he's better known, Digg reports in a look at the top 25. Seems that Charles and the British royal family own an eye-watering 6,600,000,000 acres of landwhich accounts for an eye-stabbing one-sixth of the land surface of planet Earth. Of note: not one American individual or company cracked the list. Here, the top 10 landowners, the countries in which they own land, and the amount of acreage:
A high school graduation in Philadelphia is making headlines for the wrong reasons: Hafsah Abdul-Rahman, 18, danced across the stage after her name was called at Philadelphia High School for Girls, and the principal then refused to hand over her diploma because of the display, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer . The school has strict rules and warned students to tell their families not to cheer or shout at their big moment. Hafsah's family apparently were silent, but her performance of the "Griddy dance" elicited laughter from the audience. She said, Youre not getting your diploma because you made the crowd chuckle," Hafsah says of principal Lisa Mesi. (Watch the uncomfortable moment via this video from 6ABC Philadelphia .)

The incident has made national headlines, and Mesi has not commented. Hafsah did receive her diploma after the ceremony, as did three other girls who also were denied them in the moment because they made displays of some sort (in one case, a hair flip), per Fox29. Even though she eventually received her diploma, Hafsah remains upset about what she calls a humiliating moment. "She stole that moment from me," the teen tells 6ABC, referring to the principal. "I will never get that again." It appears the city school district is on the teen's side.

"The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates," it said in a statement, per USA Today. "We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future." However, the Inquirer talks to one alum who isn't as sympathetic. "This is the school she picked," said Dana Hunt. "Weve got to stop giving our babies outs. When we dont hold them to standards or hold them accountable for what they do, then they will continue to do whatever they want out in these streets. (Read more Philadelphia stories.)
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's complete support for Sudan's unity and territorial integrity and confirmed that Egypt is exerting every effort to reach a ceasefire, prevent bloodshed, and advance the peace process.

The President pledged on Sunday Egypt's continued support for Sudan during these critical times, citing the historic ties between the two nations.

The President met with the Deputy Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Malik Agar and his delegation, with Chief of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel in attendance.

During the meeting, El-Sisi emphasized the importance of a permanent ceasefire and initiating an all-encompassing peaceful dialogue that fulfils the Sudanese people's desire for security, stability, and development.

El-Sisi stressed that these priorities must be the focus of all parties' implementation efforts.

During his meeting with Agar, El-Sisi received an update on the latest developments in Sudan.

Agar explained ongoing efforts to reach a settlement that preserves the state's unity and discussed ways to deliver humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict.

The Sudanese official praised Egypt's sincere and tireless efforts to preserve peace and security in Sudan during these critical conditions. He also highlighted Egypt's hosting of the Sudanese people as their "second homeland."

Agar also expressed his appreciation for Egypt's influential role in the region and throughout the African continent.

Egypt, among other countries, will attend a high-level pledging event in Geneva hosted by the UN on Monday to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

The governments of Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UN are co-organizing a donor conference in Geneva to secure funding pledges for humanitarian relief in Sudan.

During the event, donors will announce financial commitments to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis and emphasize the importance of the conflict parties in Sudan adhering to their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

In the past two months, as conflict has engulfed Sudan, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance has risen to 24.7 million, which is more than half the population.

The revised Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan this year has received less than 16 percent of the required $2.57 billion, with the Regional Refugee Response Plan for $470 million only 17 percent funded thus far. Donors are urged to provide flexible and sustained financial support.

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A 76-year-old woman who had been declared dead and surprised her relatives by knocking on her coffin during her wake earlier this month has died after seven days in intensive care, her family said Saturday. Gilberto Barbera Montoya, the woman's son, told the AP that doctors at the state hospital where she was rushed after the incident said she died on Friday evening. Ecuador's health ministry confirmed in a statement that Bella Montoya died from an ischemic stroke after spending a week in intensive care. It added that Montoya had remained under permanent surveillance, but didn't provide further information on the medical investigation surrounding the case.

Barbera Montoya said that he hadn't yet received any report from the authorities on the medical explanation of what happened and warned that things are not going to stay like this. He added that a sister of the deceased woman had formally complained about the incident, seeking to identify the doctor who declared her dead to begin with. Bella Montoya reportedly woke up and started knocking on June 9 after spending five hours inside her coffin at a funeral home in Babahoyo, about 130 miles southwest of Quito.

The remains of Montoya, who was a retired nurse, are back at the same funeral home where she woke up. Her son told the AP that she will be buried at a public cemetery. A technical committee has been formed to review how the hospital issues death certificates, the country's ministry of health said last week. (Read more Ecuador stories.)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday kicked off two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at trying to cool exploding US-China tensions, reports the AP . Blinken opened his program by meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for an extended discussion to be followed by a working dinner. He'll have additional talks with Qin, as well as top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping, on Monday. Neither Blinken nor Qin made any substantive comments to reporters as they began the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Prospects for any significant breakthroughs are slim, as already strained ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. A telling example: The Washington Post notes that in a phone call with Blinken just before his trip, Qin accused the US of "irresponsible bullying" and said the US was under the "illusion" it could deal with China from a "position of strength." He also warned Blinken to "show respect." Blinken is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long, including trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia's war in Ukraine. Blinken will also be pressing the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States. Biden and Xi have made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the US and China can cooperate. I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, Xi said to Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race. Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along. The Blinken trip was supposed to have happened in February, but it was scuttled by the discovery of what the US says was a Chinese spy balloon.

(Read more US-China relations stories.)
Before leaving Austin met Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, Command Sgt. Maj. Reese Teakell, SETAF-AF command sergeant major, Col. Stephen Skells commander of 207th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), and Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Parker, MIB (T) command sergeant major. Pictured left to right, Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Parker, Col. Stephen Skells, Command Sgt. Maj. Reese Teakell, Maj. Gen Todd Wasmund, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin. (Photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
U.S. Army Soldiers and French citizens pose for a picture, in Nehou, France, on June 3, 2023. Seventy-nine years later, the bravery and heroism by all Allies during World War II continue to resonate with U.S. forces in Europe  who remain steadfast in their commitment to European allies and partners. Hand-selected Big Red One noncommissioned officers represented the Division throughout D-Day commemorations as part of the Big Red One Year of the NCO campaign. The campaign further develops our NCO Corps and recognizes their contributions, both personal and professional, to the 1st Infantry Division. (Photo by Pfc. Dawson Smith)
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Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has stressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "Egypt supports all efforts which aim at finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

The Egyptian prime ministers remarks came in a speech during a meeting on Saturday with the Russian president in St Petersburg, in the attendance of a number of African leaders, who are on the second leg of an African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia to mediate a resolution for the conflict between the two countries.

The African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia, which includes the presidents South Africa, Senegal, Comoros and Zambia as well as representatives of the presidents of Uganda and Republic of the Congo, had met with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Friday on the first leg of its quest.

Egypt believes that reaching a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Russia-Ukraine crisis can be achieved through prioritising voice of reason and refraining from use of force, stressed PM Madbouly, who is participating in the African peace mission on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry.

Madbouly added in his speech that the joint African peace mission emanates from African leaders awareness of the depth of the crisis and its heavy repercussions on the peoples of Russia and Ukraine as well as on African citizens.

He stressed that the African peace mission seeks to put an end of the military conflict that claimed the lives of scores of civilians and military personnel and has cast a shadow on the resources of peoples and their food security.

This requires ending the ongoing conflict through an immediate ceasefire in order to pave the way for starting a serious track of negotiations, Madbouly said.

The Egyptian prime minister vowed that this African effort will continue in order to achieve the ultimate goal of reaching peace.

Russia appreciates mission



For his part, President Putin stressed during the meeting Moscows appreciation for the African states stance to support regional and international security and stability and resolve crises with peaceful means under this African peace initiative, according to a statement by the Russian Embassy in Cairo.

The Russian president also hailed the balanced position that these countries have adopted with regard to the Ukraine crisis, stressing "openness to constructive dialogue with anyone who wants to establish peace on the principles of fairness and acknowledgement of the legitimate interests of the parties, according to the statement.

Russia has never rejected to engage in talks with the Ukrainian side, Reuters quoted PresidentPutin as saying during his talks with the African peace mission.

The Russian president also blamed the West for the sharp rise in global food prices early last year, which have heavily affected the African countries, according to Reuters.

First leg in Kiev



On Friday, the African peace mission held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, where they highlighted the need for lasting peace that would alleviate the suffering of peoples of the two warring countries as well as the people of African states, who have been heavily affected by the conflict.

In a joint press conference following the meeting, President Zelensky said peace talks with Russia can only be achieved after Moscow withdraws its forces from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Call for lasting peace



During the press conference, PM Madbouly said Egypt has been calling for the necessity to mobilise international efforts in order to defuse the crisis instead of escalating and fuelling the conflict.

Madbouly stressed that the African peace mission to Russia and Ukraine is a sincere and serious effort that aims to reach a sustainable settlement of the crisis.

We will continue our joint African effort to achieve the ultimate goal of this endeavour, which is peace, he added.

Since the military operations broke out between the two sides, Egypt has adopted a position that prioritizes the objectives of the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law, Madbouly noted.

These principles include the necessity to preserve states sovereignty and to settle conflicts with peaceful means, he added.

The Egyptian prime minister affirmed that the African mission to the two warring countries seeks to put an end to the conflict through the implementation of ceasefire and start of constructive talks.

This should lead to the establishment of a fair and sustainable settlement of the conflict, in a way that ensures the protection of international peace and security and ends the humanitarian suffering of civilians, he noted.

Africa: Impact of war



The Egyptian prime minister also underlined during the press conference the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis on African food security and the daily life of the African citizens amid a shortage in their basic needs, foremost of which are fertilizers and grains.

These repercussions come as wheat exports of Russia and Ukraine constitutes 23 percent of global market, Madbouly said.

Hence, it was necessary for the leaders of the African continent to use their good offices in order to stop the bloodshed and contain the negative effects and repercussions on the lives of citizens of both sides of the conflict and the African citizens alike, he stressed.

Egypt and other African countries which rely heavily on imports of wheat from Russia and the Ukraine have been hard hit by the disruption in supply chains and increasing prices of the strategic grain since the outbreak of war in February 2022.

Invitation to African leaders



In a tweet following the meeting, Zelensky said he discussed with the African delegation about the way to achieve a true and just peace without any Russian blackmail and deception.

Zelensky added that he invited African leaders and states to participate in the Global Peace Summit that Ukraine is preparing to host.

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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

All widows and orphans in Bahrain registered with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) will be presented with clothes as a special gift on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

The royal gesture is as per the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, the Secretary-General of the RHF, expressed that the kind annual gesture fills the hearts of the families in need with joy and happiness.

His Majesty, who is the Honorary President of the RHF, has entrusted HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Representative of the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, to ensure the distribution of clothing to all eligible recipients.

HH Shaikh Nasser expressed gratitude to His Majesty for his paternal concern for the families supported by the RHF and his commitment to sharing the joy of Eid Al Adha with them.

HH also commended the royal directive to fulfil the need for a dignified life for those in need.
TDT | agencies

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Top Saudi Arabian diplomat yesterday confirmed that the kingdom will reopen its diplomatic mission in Tehran soon following a landmark visit to Tehran after a seven-year rupture.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, also called for enhancing maritime security in the crucial Gulf region during a joint news conference held with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran.

"I would like to point out the importance of cooperation between our two countries concerning the regional security, especially the security of maritime navigation and waterways, he stressed.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, also added that the relationship between Saudi and Iran are based on a clear foundation of full and mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

Prince Faisal also said the Saudi king and crown prince are looking forward to Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi "accepting the invitation to visit the Kingdom soon, God willing".

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad was attacked during protests in 2016.

But the two countries agreed in March to mend ties and reopen their respective embassies, in a Chinese-brokered deal that has shifted regional relations.

Following which, Iran on the 6th of June this year had also reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia.

During the press conference, the Iranian foreign minister told reporters they had discussing ways of bolstering cooperation in the fields of security, economy, tourism and transportation.

The Saudi foreign minister said he would extend an invitation to Raisi "to visit the kingdom soon".

Prince Faisal was the first Saudi foreign minister to visit Iran since 2006 when the late Saudi top diplomat Prince Saudi al-Faisal made a trip to Tehran.

Iran has also said it would welcome restoring diplomatic ties with Bahrain to end a seven year rupture.
The U.S. Treasury Department has removed Japan from a list of major trading partners that it monitors for potentially unfair foreign exchange practices for the first time since 2016, when the current format of designation began.

In its biannual report to Congress, the department placed seven economies on its "monitoring list" -- China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan.

While Japan carried out foreign exchange interventions in September and October last year in an attempt to stem the yen's rapid depreciation against the U.S. dollar, a Treasury official said in a press briefing there was no need to continue listing the country as one of the criteria employed is "the persistence of an intervention." ...continue reading




All the vehicles seized by the Zamfara State Police Command from the former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle were returned to him on Saturday.





ASP Yazid Abubakar, the commands Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development on Saturday via a telephone conversation, saying that the vehicles were returned in compliance with the order of the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau.





The court, presided over by Justice Aminu Bappah-Aliyu, had ordered all security agencies that removed the vehicles from Matawalles houses in Gusau and Maradun to return them within 48 hours.





On the order of the state government, the security operatives removed the vehicles from the two houses of the former governor.





According to Abubakar, Yes, the police command has complied with the court order as regards to returning of all vehicles belonging to the former governor, Bello Matawalle.





He assured that all the vehicles have been returned to the premises of Federal High Court, Gusau.





The spokesperson to Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Suleiman Idris, had earlier said more than 40 vehicles were recovered from the two houses of the former governor.





The security agencies, he confirmed, took the action on the directive of the state government.




The Department of State Services has said the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has never been denied access to his lawyers, medical officers as well as his relatives.





This is coming after a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama ordered the DSS to allow Emefiele access to his lawyers and family.





Emefiele was arrested on June 10 after he was suspended by the President, Bola Tinubu, citing reforms in the financial sector as well as to carry out investigation into his office.





However, a statement on Saturday by the spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya, indicated that the DSS had complied with its Standards Operating Procedures handling Emefieles matter.





The statement partly read, It is instructive to state that the service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so.





The service implements Standards Operating Procedures on Suspect Handling and Investigation to the latter. It conducts its affairs transparently and professionally and respects the rule of law in compliance with democratic governance.





Afunanya also said the service had uncovered plans by individuals and groups to embark on campaigns against the DSS and the Federal Government over the suspension and investigation of Emefiele.





The statement added, The DSS has identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the government over the suspension and investigation of Mr Godwin Emefiele.





Such groups intend to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos in the coming week with placards depicting the service and government in a bad light as well as calling for the immediate release of Emefiele.





The service is, therefore, aware of cheap propaganda aimed at de-motivating and distracting it from professionally executing the onerous responsibilities assigned to it.





Afunanya added that the DSS was also aware of plans to infiltrate the service in order to use disloyal staff for subversive aims against its leadership.





He said, It is mindful of orchestrations to infiltrate its fold for the purpose of using disloyal staff for subversive aims against its leadership.





Afunanya warned those behind these activities to desist forthwith from their plans, adding, The arrowheads are already under watch and will be apprehended when and if it becomes necessary.




The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has disclosed that the delay in salaries and arrears of pensions he promised is a result of fictitious figures and numbers that cannot be confirmed.





Otti disclosed this Saturday while speaking at the special thanksgiving service of the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha at the Nkwoegwu Central School, in Umuahia North LGA, assuring that at the end of this month, confirmed salaries and arrears of pensions shall be paid and pleaded with the people to be patient.





The governor used the opportunity to explain that the debt left by the immediate past administration was enormous and vowed to offset it while assuring that he would not spend time responding to distractions and would not give excuses.





Otti further disclosed that his full cabinet would be constituted by the end of this month, stating that setting up the cabinet would enable the government to run properly while adding that the recent inauguration of the State House of Assembly would give impetus to the effective running of the government.





He lamented that Umuahia, the capital city of Abia is like a glorified village, announced that in the next three months, his administration would begin the process of transforming the city to enhance its aesthetics, and solicited the support from all and sundry.





Earlier in his exhortations during the church service held at St. Michaels Anglican Church, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Ibeabuchi advised the celebrant that It is not yet time to rejoice, but time to humble selves before God and ask for His grace.





According to him, The politics of Abia State have just changed. If not the Lord is on your side, you would not have been what you are today.





It is not an easy journey. The government has been messed up so that whatever you do, it seems you have not done anything. We had leaders who make policies without studying the situation. There must be this thing on the ground to make this work.





If we must support fuel subsidy, there must be something that should be on the ground (to cushion it).





He further advised Aguocha, The problem of Ikwuano/Umuahia Constituency is going to be on your head and all will be inviting you for every occasion. Be faithful to God as you need the prayers of the church.





As a former President General (of Ohuhu), your responsibility cannot be compared to that of your present position. Forget about money and do the assignments given to you to avoid EFCC.





Begin now to build a structure based on God which you will use for your second tenure.





Earlier in his speech, the host and member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha thanked God for the opportunity to be elected to represent his people and the success of the inauguration while pledging not to let his people down.
Egypt will celebrate the four-day Islamic feast Eid El-Adha starting Wednesday, 28 June, after Dar El-Iftaa, Egypt's highest authority for issuing religious edicts, announced it has sighted the moon of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijja.

According to the announcement, the Muslim sacred month of Dhul-Hijjah -- the last month of the Islamic calendar and the time of the Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage) -- will start on Monday.

Dar El-Iftaa extended Eid greetings to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people. It also extended greetings to the kings and princes of the Arab and Islamic states and Muslims worldwide.

According to astronomical calculations, Muslims in Egypt will attend the Eid Al-Adha prayers for this Islamic year, 1444, at around 5:16 a.m Cairo Local Time (CLT).

The four days of the Eid El-Adha are always declared holidays for the public and private sectors.

Soaring meat prices

Eid Al-Adha, which sees increasing demand for meat, comes at a time when prices of commodities in Egypt, including meat and poultry, have soared.

In May, Egypt announced plans to import 170,000 cattle in light of the states endeavours to provide sufficient meat at reasonable prices for Eid Al-Adha.

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Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has expressed outrage over the attack on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, by ex-militant leader, Asari Dokubo.





The Igbo group urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore the likes of Dokubo and invite Kanu for a round table discussion.





It was reported that Dokubo had while speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Tinubu branded the IPOB leader a criminal; he also told Tinubu not to release him.





His statement has continued to draw the ire of Ndigbo, with many accusing him of reaching beyond his bounds.





In a statement issued on Sunday by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he accused Dokubo of being sponsored by those who want to destabilise President Tinubus government.





Okwu said it was unthinkable that at a time many patriotic citizens of the country were thinking of ways to unite the country, Dokubu who postures as a son of the President was busy throwing up ideas that would further polarise the country.





We have always known Asari Dokubo as a rabble rouser who is not interested in the progress and prosperity of this nation.





This is a man who had been in the creeks for years sabotaging the countrys economy. We all know what it is to sabotage the economy of a country- what other crime could be more than this?





But curiously, the same man who claims to have repented, even when his boys are still in the creeks, has the temerity to brand Nnamdi Kanu a criminal.





When did Asari Dokubo become a court of competent jurisdiction to decide who is a criminal? He has only taken his hatred for Ndigbo too far, Okwu said.





The Igbo group urged President Tinubu to ignore Dokubo and his ilks who are not in any way interested in the positive future of the country but their selfish gains.





Mr President made it clear that he is ready to unite the fragmented country he inherited from the past administration and he has been so much applauded for this.





We urge Mr President to go ahead and not allow his administration to be derailed by hypocrites like Asari Dokubo who want to feed fat from any form of crisis in the country. Mr President should be wary of him and his sponsors who are enemies of the government.





The Federal Government should do well to invite and engage Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators. They are fighting for justice and marginalisation. If the government could engage members of Boko Haram who have killed and maimed millions of people, it should not find it hard engaging the agitators.





Mr President is one of those who vehemently fought in favour of democracy and justice in the past; he should give a listening ear to Nnamdi Kanu.





Ohanaeze, however, warned Dokubo to desist from any further attempt to use Nnamdi Kanus ordeal to promote his personal interests.





Enough is enough; we warn him to henceforth stop using Ndigbo as an avenue to promote his ego. Everyone knows he has personal issues with Nnamdi Kanu.




Reno Omokri, a popular social commentator, has claimed that the legal team of Peter Obi of the Labour Party at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is an embarrassment.





Omokri, media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this in his official Twitter handle on Saturday.





Omokri, a staunch supporter of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said he is disappointed at the nature of the witnesses and evidence Obis legal team brought before the Tribunal.





He alleged that Obis counsels are making schoolboy errors by blundering their schedule of documents and then asking for more time.





He noted that the way Obis team is going about the petition will not yield results.





Peter Obis legal team and their witnesses at the Presidential Election Petition Court are simply an embarrassment.





It was a man boasting that he had all his evidence and witnesses. And look at the type of witnesses they are producing. A mathematics professor blamed his inability to prove that Peter Obi won the #NigerianElections2023 on lack of time.





Another, Lawrence Nwakaeti, got confused in court. Lawyers who make schoolboy errors by blundering their schedule of documents and then asking for more time. It is not looking good for Peter Obi. Not looking good at all, he wrote.





On Friday, Peter Obi presented additional witnesses to the Tribunal to prove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not win the 25th February election.




The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has described former militant leader, Asari Dokubo as a criminal and an economic saboteur.





MASSOB was reacting to Dokubos call that President Bola Tinubu should not release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.





After a meeting with Tinubu, Dokubo said releasing Kanu would be a reward for criminality in the Southeast.





Releasing Nnamdi Kanu is rewarding criminality and rewarding gruesome murder of innocent people. He should face the law for the actions and instigations he has carried out, Dokubo said.





Condemning the comment, MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, said the call was the ranting of a frustrated criminal.





According to Madu: Asari Dokubo should be ashamed of himself, for biting the finger that fed him, by selling his conscience as an object of cheap sabotage against the collective interest of the Eastern region in order to get relevance from the federal government, he fought against and killed her hundreds of military and other security agents





Asari Dokubo is the criminal, not Nnamdi Kanu. How can a man with illegal possession of general-purpose machine guns and hundreds of AK-47 call a man without a catapult a criminal?





MASSOB wishes to remind Asari Dokubo how himself and his militant criminal boys destroyed and vandalised petroleum pipelines in the name of self-determination agitation for Ijaw people.





Asari Dokubo asking Tinubu not to release Nnamdi Kanu is a direct exposure of the real criminal who should be ignored.





Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a criminal or an inconsequential saboteur like the Moslem perpetual slave called Alhaji Dokubo Asari.








Popular Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has chided the Obidient Movement, supporters of Peter Obi of the Labour Party, over their role in the recently concluded 2023 general election.





Politics Nigeria reports Wole Soyinka, speaking at the launch of his book, The Putin Files: Excursions Around The Ideology Of Pain, on Friday, maintained that the Obidients were fascist.





Responding to a lawyer and poet Ogaga Ifowodos question about why he called Obidients fascists, he used the 2020 EndSARS protest as an example of a struggle driven by pure truth.





According to him, EndSARS is one of the most successful movements in this country.





Soyinka noted that he supported the EndSARS protest and even addressed some protesters when leaving Lagos for Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.





Comparing the EndSARS protest with the Obidient Movement, Soyinka pointed out that what the Obidients were trying to do was the mobilization of youth to defend an untruth.





Soyinka likened most actions of the Obidient Movement to former president Muhammadu Buhari, pushing people to kill innocent serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by claiming he was cheated out of an election.





He said long before the election; some people had schemed to tilt the country towards having an interim government.





So some of those who thought they were being radical, they were being mumu (foolish) and playing the script of others, Soyinka declared.





Recall that Obidients criticized Soyinka in May after describing them as fascists.
Detectives are investigating a shooting on the Jersey Shore that took the life of a 19-year-old man early Sunday morning, Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds said.

Police responded to the 1400 block of Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City about 3:30 a.m., officials said. Officers located Tamaj Bennett, a city resident, who had been shot, authorities said.

Bennett later died of his injuries at a nearby hospital. An autopsy by the Atlantic County Medical Examiners Office is pending.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office is asking anyone with information to call its Major Crime Unit at 609-909-7666 or submit a tip anonymously at acpo.org/tips.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
An Arctic Monkeys concert is one you do not want to miss.

The English rock band will head out on their North American tour on Aug. 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will wrap up on Oct. 1 in Los Angeles, California.

While on tour, the group will perform at Forest Hills Stadium in New York City on Sept. 8-9.

Fontaines D.C. will join the Arctic Monkeys for the duration of their North American tour.

Tickets for the Arctic Monkeys North American tour are available on Ticketmaster.

Fans also can find tickets on secondary market websites, such as StubHub, Vivid Seats, MegaSeats, TicketNetwork and TicketCity.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

TicketCity users can save $15 on orders over $400 using promo code TCITYSAVE15 at checkout.

You can find all of the Arctic Monkeys tour dates here.

More upcoming tours

The Arctic Monkeys are not the only artists heading out on tour this year.

Here are a few more concerts going on in the coming months.

RELATED STORIES ABOUT LIVE EVENTS:

Matt Rife world tour 2023: Schedule, dates, where to buy tickets

Taylor Swift tour 2023: Full schedule, dates, where to buy tickets

Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull and Ricky Martin 2023 tour: How to get tickets

Billy Joel ends 10-year MSG residency in 2024: How to secure tickets

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A New Jersey resident who was homeless called a state hotline one recent summer as temperatures were getting dangerously hot, a housing advocate recalled.

And this is how the conversation went: Do you see a tree? Is there shade under that tree? Go stand there, said Angela Fields of Family Promise Hunterdon County, a nonprofit group.

This is absolutely heartbreaking to hear more than one person telling me that that is the response they get from calling the state hotline. This is not the way anyone should be treated, Fields testified before state lawmakers last month.

Fields and other advocates are hoping legislation advancing in the state Legislature will change how New Jersey handles its hottest days. The Assembly bill (A3540) would establish a Code Red pilot program, which would provide cooling centers for residents experiencing homelessness throughout the state during periods of extreme heat.

An identical bill (S2429) is being considered in the state Senate.

The legislation is similar to New Jerseys Code Blue law, which took effect in 2017 and authorizes counties and local governments to open warming centers and makes shelter arrangements for adults experiencing homelessness when temperatures drop.

If approved by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, the Code Red law would set up a pilot program with a similar system for New Jerseys summer months  which are forecasted to be hotter than normal this year.

Counties would issue a Code Red alert if the heat index is forecast to reach between 95 and 99 degrees for at least two days in a row  or if temperatures climb above 100 degrees for any period of time. The alert would open cooling centers for people without shelter.

The office of emergency management in each county would be required to coordinate with municipal officials to set up a shelter system with local volunteer organizations, the bill says.

The Assembly Housing Committee approved the bill last month in a 6-0 vote, with one abstention, and referred it to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for another vote. The Senate version of the bill is awaiting a hearing.

Some county and municipal officials urged lawmakers to consider the cost of a Code Red law before voting in favor of the legislation.

Brayden Fahey, Hunterdon Countys public safety director, testified before the Assembly Housing Committee last month that a Code Red declaration could put a financial burden put on both municipalities and counties.

He also said in many areas local police officers would have to transport those needing shelter to cooling centers when a Code Red is in effect.

This is not sustainable and cannot be a long-term solution, Fahey said.

The state Office of Legislative Services estimated the bill would cost taxpayers up to $2 million annually, or $6 million in total, for the three-year Code Red alert pilot program. The estimate is based on the cost of the existing Code Blue program for freezing temperatures.

Housing advocates said the Code Red system is necessary despite the potential hurdles for municipalities and county governments.

All human beings deserve to be safe from all extreme weather elements, no matter what their economic status is, no matter what disease they are suffering from, said Barrett Young of the Rescue Mission of Trenton, a shelter in Mercer County.

Young, the nonprofits CEO, said hes seen residents come into his shelter in summer months suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration.

These are serious health issues that can lead to death, Young said.

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Camille Furst may be reached at cfurst@njadvancemedia.com. Jacob Anthony Amaro may be reached at jamaro@njdavancemedia.com.
I thought Republicans were in charge of cutting taxes for the wealthy. Not anymore, not if Speaker Craig Coughlin gets his way.

Coughlin is currently shepherding StayNJ, a bill that would cut taxes for some of New Jerseys wealthiest homeowners at an annual cost of $2 billion, through the legislature. Coughlins looking to goose Dems performance in the suburbs this November and spreading tax cuts around might just do the trick, but the cost is higher than $2 billion.

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The benefits of the cuts would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy senior homeowners, and with government so often being a zero-sum game that means it would disproportionately harm middle and low-income households. StayNJ doesnt pass the smell test. Theres no benefit for renters and that would leave out too many residents in communities of color. Affordability is a big issue here and anything that exacerbates housing and income inequality should be looked at skeptically.

Gov. Murphy, to his credit, has been vocal in pointing this out, but he and Coughlin are appealing to two different demographics. Murphy has relied on racking up votes in urban districts and Coughlin needs the suburbs to maintain legislative control. Murphy is in his second term with an eye on national office and Coughlin is, presumably, sticking around Trenton. Same party, different priorities.

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Republicans drive me nuts when they give the richest families the biggest tax breaks, and then do nothing to cover the costs, leaving a giant mess behind.

Oh wait. Thats the Democrats this year in Trenton.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, with the muscle of the partys most potent political machine behind him, wants to shower New Jersey seniors with tax breaks skewed towards the wealthy and white. It gives the owners of expensive homes a credit of $10,000 each, whittles that down to about $5,000 for a typical homeowner, and leaves an almost comical scrap of $50 for renters, who make up the majority of Black and brown families in the state.

It is an odd place for a Democrat to plant the flag.

But it gets worse, because Coughlin does nothing to cover the costs of this, which is whopping. The Legislature says it will cost $1.2 billion a year when fully phased in, and the Treasury says it will cost $1.7 billion. Either way, this is the Big Thing in this years budget, and as the deadline approaches, the chief point of contention.

The good news is that Gov. Phil Murphy hates the plan. Hes made nice noises about finding common ground in recent days, but he is still threatening to veto the entire budget if this is part of it. That would force a shutdown of state government, including state parks and beaches, just in time for the 4th of July holiday. Ugh.

The skew towards the wealthy is the easy part of this debate because its so crazy. Every other program to help seniors, or to help property taxpayers generally, has an income limit. The governors Anchor rebate program is the most permissive, providing help to families earning up to $250,000. The senior freeze program is reserved for those earning up to about $100,000.

Coughlins program has no limit. Murphy, a zillionaire from his days at Goldman Sachs, says that makes no sense. I dont think we should be in the business of giving the likes of me tax breaks, he says.

Who can argue with that?

The second concern is the cost. New Jersey is finally starting to get its fiscal house in order, with a rising credit rating, a big fat surplus, and a three-year streak of making full pension payments, something I never thought Id live to witness. Murphy sees that as his legacy.

But these are wobbly baby steps. We still have the nations second-lowest credit rating, and revenues have been dropping like a rock lately, just as federal pandemic aid is ending. Murphy has done almost nothing to contain the cost of government, so if the flow of money slows, were back at square one.

On Thursday, a panel of wise elders who have served both parties as senior budget officers warned that revenue shortfalls will likely create a gap of $3 billion to $4 billion a year from 2025 to 2028. And their assessment was based on current law, so it didnt include this new spending pushed by Coughlin, known as StayNJ.

Theres no way the state could support the extra spending proposed under StayNJ, said Richard Keevey, who served as chief budget officer for two governors, expressing his personal view. No way you can support this. The numbers are just too big, without making substantial cuts in other programs, or tax increases.

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The panel was convened by the Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy at Rowan University, with the mission to think long-term, a novel idea in Jersey budget politics.

From Coughlins team, you hear the classic arguments that dug New Jersey into this hole in the first place. Itll be phased in, so it wont hurt so much at first, and well have time to figure out an answer. The cost can be covered by the natural increase of tax revenue that comes with annual growth of the GDP  as if costs dont go up in tandem.

A better explanation may lie in the realm of politics. Democrats in suburban districts are scared to death after the 2021 election, when they lost 7 seats in the Legislature, 6 of them in Coughlins Assembly. Their polling and focus groups tell them they have to do something big to make life more affordable. And by focusing on the elderly, they hope to tap into richest source of votes. And Coughlin is a potential candidate for governor in 2025.

The mystery to me is why they extend the benefit to the very rich, whose numbers are not great. Why pick this fight with the governor, infuriating the liberal base, and betray a core Democratic principle by widening the gap between rich and poor? Even Republicans in Trenton arent proposing to do that, at least this year.

Could it be that Democrats are sucking up to the donor class, the people most likely to write big campaign checks?

That absolutely could be the case, says Sen. Declan OScanlon, the Republican budget officer. And now that weve reformed the campaign finance laws, wealthy people can max out at a higher level. What was a $2,600 maximum is now $5,200, so a husband and wife can give $10,400.

Maybe thats cynical. But whatever the reason, root for Murphy in this fight. The chasm between rich and poor in America is wide enough. Democrats shouldnt be in the business of making it worse.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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By James Terminiello

The current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has intends to have another go at the presidency. This decision was made in spite of genuine concerns over his age and his mental and physical capacity to continue to function effectively in that grueling office. This is not a new problem. Weve faced it many times before  although it was often not generally known.

When President James Garfield was shot in 1881, he lingered a full 79 days and suffered through some bungling attempts to save his life. His vice president, Chester Arthur, was sworn in two days after the shooting  an unacceptably long lag time today. Arthur himself was not a well man and kept from the public the fact that he suffered from Brights Disease which would take him in 1886 after he was out of office.

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President Woodrow Wilson, the New Jerseyan much maligned over racism issues, literally spent himself in a desperate and failed attempt to get the United States to Join the League of Nations and possibly avert a world war. In 1919, he collapsed in Pueblo, Colorado, because of a serious stroke. Unknown to most people, hed had others.

From that point, on there was a coverup led by his doctor, Cary Grayson, and his second wife, Edith, to keep the public from knowing the severity of his condition. Letting ego usurp reason, Wilson refused to resign and, in Edith Wilsons own words: So began my stewardship, I studied every paper, sent from the different Secretaries or Senators, and tried to digest and present in tabloid form the things that, despite my vigilance, had to go to the President. We do not know the full extent of her influence on the rest of Wilsons term.

Warren Harding was a popular president who was never in good health. He suffered from neurasthenia (wed call it chronic fatigue syndrome) and often exhibited irritability, shortness of breath, chest pains and sleeplessness. Primitive 1920s medicine included purgatives, laxatives, and injections of heart stimulants. By 1923, hints of major corruption were staining his presidency and he suffered a sudden fatal heart attack. His wife refused an autopsy and ordered a fast embalming which led to unproven rumors of medical malpractice and even poisoning.

Simply put, President Franklin Roosevelt should never have run for a record fourth term in 1944. Here was a man charged with running a two front world war while dragging the country out of the highly resistant Great Depression. It was a hefty task! Roosevelt had suffered from polio since 1921, and also heart ailments, high blood pressure and bronchitis.

In 1945, he exhibited signs of reduced energy and, perhaps worst of all, lapses in concentration and memory. This was a president who had to match wits with the wily Joseph Stalin a nominal ally  as well as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese warlords. His ebbing health was kept secret from the American public. Unretouched photos of him in his final year show a man looking much older than his 63 years. While sitting for a portrait, he collapsed and died of a cerebral hemorrhage just short of seeing victory in World War II.

The seemingly vigorous John F. Kennedy was, in fact, a battlefield of nagging illnesses. They include spastic colitis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, a duodenal ulcer and an array of lower back problems that led to multiple and unsuccessful surgeries with resulting abscesses and bone infections. He often wore a back brace and could not bend over to tie his shoes. And, it gets worse. He suffered from Addisons disease which, if untreated, is fatal. Add to this was that the president was prescribed pain killers, tranquilizers, amphetamines and other drugs. How all of this impacted his performance in office, shortened by assasination in 1963, may never be known.

Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease five years after he left office. But did the cruel tentacles of that insidious condition reach back into his presidency? I personally have several acquaintances who exhibited signs years before diagnosis.

The presidency of the United States is an impossible job that demands a herculean effort that, in truth, no one is fully capable of giving. At the very least we should choose candidates who can start the race without considerable mental and physical baggage. As we eye the 2024 election, we should take heed of the many lessons of history.

James Terminiello, whose latest humor novel Junkyard will be published in the fall, writes from Mount Laurel.

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Despite its many benefits, artificial intelligence (AI) lacks academic integrity, asserted Salwa Thabet, professor of public administration and head of international affairs at the Future University in Egypt, while addressing the advantages and disadvantages of AI in relation to the Egyptian academic community.

Thabets remarks came on Sunday during a discussion session by the National Dialogue's Committee on Public Freedoms and Human Rights on encouraging interaction between the Egyptian academic community and its counterparts abroad, including the requirements for freedom of academic research.

AI degrades research skills and diminishes human contributions, negatively impacting the overall culture, Thabet continued.

The technology lacks objectivity, only presenting information from a one-sided perspective. Moreover, the information it does present is general and unspecific, the professor added.

We [Egypt] must inaugurate our own [AI] application and technologies, she said, affirming that we have the capabilities to do so.

International cooperation



It is necessary for Egypt to adopt cooperative international education given todays global integration, especially as most issues transcend state borders, Thabet said.

Access to data and information must be allowed and facilitated on an organizational level, she asserted, lamenting that most research ends up only on shelves.

Later in the session, Vice President of the National Council for Human Rights Mahmoud Karam said that scientific research is both essential for development and a cornerstone for universities' international classification. Therefore, bridges should be built to exchange knowledge across borders.

Furthermore, Egypt must encourage scientific cooperation with universities abroad in the fields of AI, robotics, laser research and the green economy, the vice president affirmed.

It is also important to bolster the relationship between scientific research, industrial projects and the private sector to encourage industrial and technological development, Karam added.

Professors and lecturers must be allowed sabbatical leave while researchers should be assisted in obtaining entry visas to European countries, he continued.

Furthermore, the vice president asserted that it is crucial to support the work of cultural and educational missions in embassies across the world as they are a conduit for expertise and scientific skills.

Also, the facilitation of patent registration will significantly improve researcher conditions, he added.

Finally, there must be mechanisms put in place to address Egypt's problem of brain drain  the loss of human capital in Egypt to opportunities abroad  and to maintain a connection between the travelling researcher and his home university, he concluded.

Academic freedoms



In her speech, Thabet also expressed happiness that the dialogue is discussing the importance of issuing the Freedom of Information Act.

Former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moetaz Khorshid seconded Thabet's statement, asserting that the right to education cannot be fully enjoyed without academic freedom as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Hence, the independence of universities is necessary for fostering intellectual creativity and innovation, the former minister said.

Mustafa Kamel Al-Sayed, assistant rapporteur for the political axis of the National Dialogue, said that the demand for academic freedoms is in line with Egypt's constitution.

Additionally, he also called for the independence of universities by allowing them to elect their own deans and presidents. Furthermore, universities must be free to organize their own research and scientific activities.

On his side, Mohamed Farhat, a member of the National Dialogues Board of Trustees, said that discussing the law of interaction between Egyptian academic universities and their counterparts abroad as well as the requirements of freedom of scientific research is very important.

However, Assistant Rapporteur of the Human Rights and Public Freedoms Committee Ahmed Ragheb declared that the challenges facing academic freedom do not stem from executive institutions but rather result from the cultural mentality of the people in the field.

Moreover, Ragheb added that the Egyptian constitution provides freedom of academic research for professors as well as students.

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Hey Blake,

I see many nonprofit groups list the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust as a major donor. Who was he?

Dear reader,

Oscar Judah Tolmas was born in New Orleans in 1920. He was one of four children of Charles and Cecile Tolmas, who both emigrated to the U.S. through New Yorks Ellis Island and moved to New Orleans in 1917.

Tolmas graduated from Tulane in 1941 and earned a law degree there in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became an officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Returning home, he practiced law and grew his business in real estate and home construction. In 1958, he purchased a tract of land in Metairie on Veterans Memorial Boulevard near Causeway Boulevard, later called the Tolmas Tract. It is now home to a Trader Joes and other businesses.

Through one of his clients, Tolmas became interested in thoroughbred horse racing. In 1952, he and a brother launched Tolmas Racing Stables. For more than 10 years, Tolmas served on the Louisiana Racing Commission, including as its chairman.

Tolmas and his wife Marjorie, who died in Sept. 2013, had no children. When he died in Dec. 2013, his estate formed the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Some of the nonprofits which have benefited from the trust include the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, St. Michael Special School, Volunteers of America, City Park and WYES.

Earlier this year, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans dedicated the Oscar J. Tolmas LDor VDor Lobby at its Metairie campus. In Hebrew, Ldor Vdor translates to from generation to generation. The exhibit features displays on Tolmas life and career.
Lights and air conditioning are switching back online for thousands of northwest Louisiana residents in the wake of Friday's violent storm, but its still expected many will suffer in the dark and the heat until later this week.
The participants at Egypts National Dialogue, including the former Minister of Social Solidarity Gouda Abd El-Khalek, called for amending law 149/ 2019 on civil work.

Related Ministry of Social Solidarity launches integrated electronic system for civil society organisations in Egypt

The law provided many facilities, including establishing associations through notification, Abdel-Khalek stated. Still, he called for reviewing the law for the public good.

Abdel-Khaleks remarks came on Sunday during the first session of the Committee for Unions and Civil Work within the Political Axis of the National Dialogue.

During the session, Assistant Rapporteur of the Trade Unions and Civil Work Committee, Magdy El-Badawi, emphasized that civil work is essential to sustainable development, achieved through a partnership between the state and the private sector.

"We should discuss the problems of civil organizations," El-Badawi asserted, adding that they played a significant role during the past few years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We aim to define a vision and strategy for developing civil work in Egypt," the rapporteur concluded.

Representatives of various parties and organizations also offered suggestions for amending the law.

Mohammed Haddad, a representative of the Humat Al-Watan Party, stated that while the constitution gave civil associations more freedom to regularize their status, many still need to be able to do so.

Additionally, Haddad emphasized that civil societies should be allowed to expand developmental activities to help citizens to work and produce instead of receiving aid.

Head of the Egyptian Feminist Union, Hoda Badran, seconded the sentiment, demanding a change in the law of civil associations that currently views them primarily as charitable organizations despite their multiple roles in various fields, such as health and education, among others.

The role of civil associations is no longer restricted to providing aid but has expanded to include sustainable development, Badran affirmed, noting that laws should be changed to reflect such an expansion.

For his part, Adam El-Toukhi, a member of the Coordination Committee of the Partys Youth Leaders and Politicians, stressed the importance of amending the penalties clause in Law 149/2019.

Furthermore, Al-Tokhi stated that the government had better legalize the role of civil associations instead of treating them as commercial entities.

He also suggested training those who work in Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to enable them to perform their duties efficiently.

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Political forces, experts and professors gathered on Sunday under the National Dialogues umbrella to call for activating constitutional provisions that maintain universities independence and academic freedoms.

Their remarks came during a session for the Human Rights and Public Freedoms Committee, which was part of the National Dialogues political axis to discuss the requirements for academic freedom and encourage interaction between Egyptian and foreign academic communities.

The demands to ensure academic freedom and empower academics are in line with the constitution, Mostafa Kamel, assistant rapporteur of the dialogues political axis, said during the session.

Kamel, a political science professor, called for approving a constitutional text on the independence of universities.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring the independence of research and scientific activities to improve communication with research communities abroad.

The independence of universities will raise their efficiency and reduce the burden on the government in this regard, Kamel added.

Article 21 of the Constitution stipulates that the state guarantees the independence of universities and scientific and linguistic academies.

Despite these rights and the clear constitutional provisions, they are not activated, and there is an explicit violation of the constitutional text, he stressed.

University elections, national security

The independence of universities should entail the government's return to free elections of faculty deans and university presidents instead of appointing them, Kamel said.

For his part, National Dialogue Secretary-General, Mahmoud Fawzi, said that appointing university presidents and faculty deans does not infringe on the independence of educational entities and that elections do not guarantee it.

The independence of universities has been stipulated in the Egyptian constitution for decades, Fawzy noted.

He noted, however, that the 1923 constitution ensured free education unless it disturbed public order or contradicted public morals.

Fawzy noted that certain academic activities, including field research and opinion polls, have been conducted for political reasons, forcing the state to take the necessary measures to counter them to maintain the established pillars and institutions.

Supporting innovation

Moataz Khorshid, a former minister of higher education and scientific research, stressed the need to support intellectual creativity, innovation and university independence.

He affirmed that the right to education cannot be enjoyed except under academic freedom.

Khorshid called for reviewing the current centralization of academic decisions, stressing that the international conventions state the need to ensure the freedom of academics in developing their educational capacities.

Walid Nasr, a representative of the Civilian Movement  an alliance between 12 leftist and liberal political parties  said the freedom of scientific research and information exchange is inseparable from freedom of thought, opinion and expression.

The freedom of scientific research requires a political will and a democratic system of government, Nasr stressed.

He stressed the need to prevent security interference in the academic affairs of universities.

The administrations of different universities should stop infringing the right of university professors to select the issues discussed in their lectures and set exam questions, Nasr said.

He also called for a law that grants researchers the right to access documents and affirms the need to supply research centres and institutes with all the necessary devices and equipment.

Nasr further called for increasing spending on scientific research, in line with the constitution, and encouraging the private sector to increase its contribution to financing scientific research.

Eradicating bureaucracy

Goda Abdel-Khalek, a former social solidarity minister and a member of the dialogues board of trustees, said that academic freedom in Egypt is currently at its minimum.

He noted that universities and faculties, including the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, cannot hold scientific events except by obtaining approvals from several bodies.

This obstructs the scientific activities inside the faculties, Abdel-Khalek stressed.

Many obstacles face the Egyptian academic community, and some research centres cannot publish any research studies, Abdel-Khalek said.

He affirmed the need to discuss a mechanism for ensuring universities freedom.

Nevine Mossaad, the dialogue's rapporteur of the Human Rights and Public Freedoms Committee, shed light on the bureaucratic procedures researchers face, including the approvals required to travel abroad or receive foreign researchers.

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Israeli occupation forces reportedly assaulted and detained a 13-year-old Palestinian boy during a military raid on Sunday in the town of Arraba, located in the Jenin province of the northern West Bank, according to security sources cited by the Palestinian News Agency WAFA.

Sources stated that Israeli soldiers arrested Mohammad Shahin Arda for allegedly filming them while they were conducting a raid on the town and that he was brutally assaulted during the arrest.

The young boy was taken to an unknown destination.

Local sources reported that confrontations broke out on Saturday night as Israeli occupation forces raided the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm in the northern West Bank. No injuries were reported.

Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians after they approached the frontier fence in the northernmost part of the Gaza Strip. The men were taken to an unknown location.

Israeli police guarded groups of Israeli settlers who entered the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.

Local sources reported that scores of Israeli settlers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate in groups and carried out religious rituals.

Since 2003, Israeli occupation authorities have permitted settlers to enter the compound almost daily, violating the long-standing status quo, which allows non-Muslims to visit the site at specific times but prohibits them from praying there.

The Islamic Waqf, which is the Jordan-run authority in charge of the holy site, has repeatedly stated that the presence of settlers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a provocation against Palestinian worshippers.

Palestinians are cautioning against a proposed Israeli law that would partition the holy grounds into separate sections for Palestinians and Israeli settlers. The legislation would give Palestinians access to only 30 percent of the religious compound, with the remainder reserved solely for Israeli settlers to pray.

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Even though real estate activity across much of Indiana slowed this spring after a surprisingly strong start to 2023, our housing market seems to be heating up again for Hoosiers looking to buy or sell a home this summer.

Indiana homebuyers seized on increased inventory and falling mortgage rates to jump back into the market quickly this year; statewide home sales surged 60% from the end of January through March. But sales outpaced new listings as sellers took longer to come off the sidelines and the average daily number of homes for sale dropped from 13,000 in January to just over 8,000 at the end of March.

Faced with fewer options, buyers pulled back; monthly sales declined from March to April and finished 19% below 2022 (after March fully closed the year-over-year gap).

Theres reason that potential sellers have been more cautious: Seven of 10 outstanding mortgages have a rate below 4% and current homeowners considering a move are thinking twice about finding and financing a new home near 7%. With fewer listings of existing homes and new construction playing catch-up with population growth, recovering demand is limited by available supply.

But after hitting pause in April, both buyers and sellers seemed to regroup and even rally as we look ahead to summer. New listings grew 14% and closed sales increased 18% in May versus April.

Despite many being locked into lower rates, favorable trends are luring more listings onto the market  starting with rising sale prices. U.S. home prices have now dropped three consecutive months, while Indiana saw another increase to our median sale price ($255,000 in May).

There are other signs of enthusiastic homebuyers pursuing a limited inventory: Homes are selling faster, averaging under a week (six days) from listing to pending contract in May.

Homes are also selling for 98% of their original list price, up from 94% in January and above Indianas five-year norm of 97%. These are persuasive numbers for hesitant sellers.

As new listings trend upward, total supply is stabilizing, too  climbing back towards 9,000 daily listings even as May sales rebounded.

That brings us to the good news for homebuyers. Inventory remains historically low by pre-2020 standards, and buyers should be prepared to be decisive if they find the right home. But the market isnt as tight as it was in 2021, and active listings remain 25% above 2022.

And though prices are higher, annual appreciation slowed to 4% in April and May; Indianas median price was rising 16% year-over-year last spring. The market is more balanced, especially for buyers ready to put down long-term roots and refinance with lower mortgage rates.

The old cliche about the three most important words in real estate  location, location, location  was replaced years ago by inventory, inventory, inventory as the top issue for Hoosier homebuyers. Elevated rates continue to impact the market, and were encouraged by new investments in future housing development passed by the General Assembly this year. All the same, Indiana is still gripped by a housing shortage.

And with Indiana leading the Midwest in population growth, the laws of supply and demand continue to put sellers in a strong position. But the same trends make buying a home here a good investment for the future  and after a challenging 2022, buyers seem ready to explore their options in a real estate market thats still more balanced than it has been to start the past two summers.
Q: Ive been researching estate planning and I came across Lady Bird deeds. They appear to be the same as Transfer on Death deeds. Is there any difference between the two and is one preferable over the other?

A: Lady Bird deeds (LB deeds) and Transfer on Death deeds (TOD deeds) are not the same thing. They can accomplish the same goal but they do it differently.

By now, I am sure that everyone is familiar to TOD deeds. Under a TOD deed, the grantor transfers title to themselves and names beneficiaries that acquire title to the property upon the grantors death. The language is important but essentially it is something like John Doe conveys to John Doe and upon his death to Jane Doe. Until John Does death, Jane Doe does not have an interest in the property. She simply has an expectation that she will receive title to the property upon John Does death.

TOD deeds are completely revocable by the grantor. If the grantor decides to leave the property to someone else, he can do that at any time. If he decides hes not naming a beneficiary at all, he can do that.

LB deeds accomplish the same thing but they go about it a different way. LB deeds are supposedly named after Lady Bird Johnson, who allegedly used one in her estate plan. Ive also heard that the Lady Bird Johnson connection is false and that the actual name comes from a treatise that used Lady Bird as a name in an example of a discussion of this type of deed. Personally, I like the Lady Bird Johnson connection. Its more fun.

LB deeds are also known as Enhanced Life Estate deeds. That is because the grantor of the LD deed conveys title to the property to the grantee but retains an enhanced life estate interest. The life estate interest is enhanced because in addition to retaining a life estate interest (the right to own and use the property during their lifetime), the grantor retains the right to revoke the conveyance in total. In other words, the grantor executes a deed conveying the property, subject to his life estate, but also retains the right to undue the whole thing. Yikes.

Here is why TOD deeds are superior to LB deeds in Indiana. TOD deeds were created by statute. In other words, Indiana created TOD deeds in the Indiana Code. LB deeds are not created by statute and, to be honest, Ive never found any authority allowing their use in Indiana at all. The LB deeds that I have seen have all come from Michigan, which apparently recognizes them.

So, there you go folks; you can use a device that is clearly recognized under Indiana law or you can use a device that is unlikely to be a valid conveyance, or at least the revocation part (the enhanced life estate portion) is unlikely to be valid. The moral of the story is to stick with TOD deeds.
A virtual explosion in corn, beans, wheat and oats occurred at weeks end after making a dramatic upward u-turn on Thursday. The buying was based on hot, dry weather in the Eastern Corn Belt and dire 10-day forecasts of more to come.

Blistering heat in Texas and Louisiana, along with plenty of reds and oranges on the U.S. Drought Monitor map, drove grain users and investors to suddenly become aggressive buyers. The three-day weekend for Juneteenth may have magnified volatility, as buyers rushed to get what they could while markets were still open.

Some analysts warned that this is a weather rally, not a demand rally. Our U.S. soybeans are a full $1.00 more expensive than Brazils, so a turn in the weather could trigger a fast downward correction. China is now buying their corn from Brazil, providing more evidence that the spike in prices is based solely on supply and not demand.

Natural gas, diesel take lead upward

Crude oil prices rose slightly through the week, due partially to Saudi Arabias efforts to cut production.

However, products of heating oil and diesel fuel saw bigger upward action. Natural gas rose to the highest level since May 25, as surplus inventories have been declining.

New heat could create increased demand, as natural gas is used to generate electricity for air conditioning. Improving macroeconomic conditions also may have produced better global demand.

Weekly winners & losers

The big upward winners were corn (up 60 cents per bushel from last Friday), soybeans (up 70 cents) and wheat (up over 45 cents), with soybean oil rallying about 7 cents per pound.

Natural gas rose 30 cents per 10,000 MMBtu. Heating oil went up 12 cents per gallon. Hogs rose about 7 cents per pound. All the stock indexes went higher on the week compared to last Friday's close.

The U.S. dollar dropped about 2 cents from last week.

Words of wisdom

(What advice would you give the novice trader?)

First, I would say that risk management is the most important thing to be well understood. Undertrade, undertrade, undertrade is my second piece of advice. Whatever you think your position ought to be, cut it at least in half.

 Bruce Kovner in Jack Schwagers "Market Wizards."
VALPARAISO  The Porter County Board of Health plans to meet Tuesday to draft a what if budget in case the Board of Commissioners and County Council dont opt in to a massive influx of state funding.

The commissioners are planning a special evening meeting in July focused on this issue alone.

Senate Enrolled Act 4, written by Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, encourages counties to agree to accept the money to address public health needs.

Indiana ranks near the bottom nationally in a series of measures of public health:

 45th in smoking and tobacco use.

 46th in obesity.

 43rd in mental health.

 41st in childhood immunizations (by 35 months old).

 45th in public health funding.

The new state law aims to improve that final ranking in hopes that others fall into place.

If Porter County officials agree to accept the additional money, the county could get up to $2.25 million in the states fiscal 2024, which begins July 1, and up to $4.5 million beginning in 2025.

If the county opts out of participation, it will retain its annual state funding of $135,768.41.

The Board of Health voted to recommend accepting the money. New member Jessica Jepsen abstained, saying she wanted to study the proposal more before saying yes. The other two new members were absent.

Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs is cautious about opting in.

To be very honest with you, I have some concerns, he said. "What if the state funding dries up?"

Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, said the new law isnt just tapping the states multibillion-dollar surplus, its a continuing commitment to public health.

Biggs is also concerned that nearly a third of the Board of Health members werent present when the major decision was made.

The debate on whether to opt in has put the brakes on a $1 million renovation of the Porter County Administration Building to expand the space available to the health department. Were going to put a stop to it right now, Biggs said.

Hes concerned that a massive influx of money will greatly expand the staff. Health Department Administrator Sheila Pauls presentation to the Board of Health includes adding a care coordinator, social worker and support staff.

A plan for how the full funding would be spent isnt ready yet; that would be developed in consultation with stakeholders and the public. Thats why the new law offers partial funding for the planning year.

If the health department outgrows its space on the bottom floor of the administration building, where would it go, Biggs wonders. Do we afford to go out and buy a new building?

Blaney is more certain: Theres no question in my mind we have to have to get it. Weve always been cutting edge. I wish we had been the first county to get in.

The national average spending on public health is $91 per capita, she said. Porter County spends $12.

Indiana leads in so many areas, but we lag in public health, she said. We are the only state in the nation where life expectancy is falling.

Blaney has had conversations with some, but not all, council members. Everyone Ive talked to feels we should opt in, she said.

Councilwoman Sylvia Graham, D-at large, had a long career in the health field before retiring. I feel there is so much we can gain by opting in, she said.

The health department needs money to buy the equipment it needs to generate the data that will help guide decisions, she said.

Im for it. I strongly urge you to listen to it and opt in, Graham said.

Voting for this doesnt mean its forever, Biggs warned. If were not all doing our jobs, this whole thing could spin out of control very quickly.

We have countless examples how government, federal on down, has been throwing money out, and it doesnt make a difference, Biggs said.

He cited contaminated water and other environmental issues as well as a high prevalence of cancer in Northwest Indiana. How are we going to deal with that? he asked. Offering more vaccines isnt the answer.
Bassett was always Sullivans choice to play Stella. He explained how a worldwide search led the filmmakers to cast Diggs as Winston Shakespeare, the 20-year-old hunk Stella gets involved with. Sullivan had seen Diggs performing on Broadway in Rent, and during rehearsals, the director would ask Diggs to sing to Bassett, to help with nerves and strengthen their chemistry.

It was important for me to make the love scenes from a womans point of view, Sullivan added. It was not Winstons story. It was Stellas story.

The romantic comedy was Sullivans directorial debut, and it later swept the 1999 NAACP Image Awards with wins for lead actress, supporting actress and motion picture. Bassett, who is known for powerful performances of memorable women in Whats Love Got to Do It and Waiting to Exhale, said she tried to find a balance between boldness and emotional vulnerability.

Whenever I take on a character, youre looking for the totality of them and who they represent and what they are about, what struggles theyre going through, Bassett said. Its not one- dimensional, and often throughout history we as Black women have been seen that way.

Getting Whoopi Goldberg to play Stellas friend, Delilah, was a top priority. Bassett was a fan of the comedian, who signed on after Sullivan went to her home and spoke with her about the film. His favorite scene: after Delilah learns she has liver cancer, the friends share a playful moment in the hospital jamming to Marvin Gaye and giggling at old memories. The two had undeniable camaraderie and sisterhood, Bassett said, adding, The scene when she passes, I felt that, for real, at her funeral because she was such a dear friend.
In black boots, jeans and an untucked shirt  the fund-raiser dress code specified ranch casual  Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Saturday tried to persuade Republican voters in Nevada still loyal to former President Donald J. Trump that the partys formula for winning elections was beyond its shelf life.

Headlining a conservative jamboree in the swing state, where loyalties to Mr. Trump still run deep, Mr. DeSantis never mentioned his rival for the Republican Partys 2024 presidential nomination during a speech in Gardnerville, Nev.

But the Florida governor sought to draw a not-so-subtle contrast between himself and the former president, a onetime ally who is the partys overwhelming front-runner in a crowded Republican field. He described last years midterm elections as another disappointment in a string of defeats for the party, while touting his more than 1.2 million-vote margin of victory in his re-election last November.

Weve developed a culture of losing in this party, Mr. DeSantis said, adding, Youre not going to get a mulligan on the 2024 election.
Mr. Blinken began his first meeting in the afternoon, when he walked down a hallway in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Qin Gang, Chinas foreign minister, who was until a few months ago the ambassador in Washington. They sat down at long tables in a room with their delegations facing each other, starting their talks without making any opening remarks to reporters.

The talks between Mr. Blinken and Mr. Qin ran five and a half hours, one hour longer than scheduled. The two men and their aides then had a stroll together and a working dinner for two hours, State Department officials said.

A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry struck an optimistic tone on Twitter, recalling a meeting between the top Chinese and American leaders last year when they vowed to seek to stabilize relations.

Hope this meeting can help steer China-U.S. relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali, wrote the spokeswoman, Hua Chunying.

The official Chinese summary of the meeting, published by the state news media, was bleaker. Qin Gang asserted that U.S.-China relations were at their lowest point since the start of normal diplomatic ties in 1979, according to the report. Mr. Qin also pointed out that the Taiwan issue was the greatest risk to relations between China and the U.S.
The Israeli government approved on Sunday a draft decision to expedite settlement expansion procedures in the occupied West Bank, giving more authority to far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich.

The draft decision transfers the authority to give initial approval for the construction of new settlements  the most important hurdle to expansion  from the minister of defense to the minister of finance.

Smotrich, the current finance minister, is the leader of the far-right Religious Zionist Party and an advocate of settlement expansion. He is also known for making controversial statements, including denying the existence of a Palestinian people.

In addition, several new changes are expected to speed up the process after initial approval is obtained, Israeli media reported.

Proposals can now be submitted to Israel's Supreme Planning Council without prior political approval.

Previously, the prime minister and minister of national security were required to approve construction at five different phases, covering planning through construction.

Now, government approval will only be required for the first two phases: planning and bidding.

According to Israeli media, the goal of the draft decision is to make it easier to approve settlement construction in the Palestinian territories, considered illegal measures under international law, as is the case in areas that fall under Israeli control based on the 1948 borders.

The move has drawn condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights organizations.

The Palestinian foreign ministry has called for "real international and American action" against the decision facilitating the quiet, noiseless approval of settlement projects, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Hussein Al Sheikh, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) executive committee, announced on Twitter it will boycott a Monday meeting of the Higher Economic Committee scheduled with the Israelis in light of the move, and said the Palestinians are looking at other measures to take in response.

After the decision of the #Israeli government to accelerate the stages of settlement growth in the West Bank, and to authorize its Minister of Finance, Smotrich, to ratify this. We decided to boycott the meeting of the Joint Economic Committee #JEC between the two parties, which https://t.co/Me9egi9b3t    Hussein AlSheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) June 18, 2023

Last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government passed a new two-year budget that clears the way to press ahead with its religious, pro-settlement agenda.

The new budget has been criticized for allocating nearly $4 billion in discretionary funds, much of it for ultra-Orthodox and pro-settler parties.

The funds also include tens of millions of dollars for hard-line pro-settler parties to promote pet projects through the ministries they control.

Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the defense ministry, has said he hopes to double the population of West Bank settlers in the coming years.

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Saskia Hamilton, a prizewinning poet who also shed new light on the tumultuous relationship between the poet Robert Lowell and the writer Elizabeth Hardwick with a 2019 book compiling their letters and those of their friends, died on June 7 at her home in Manhattan. She was 56.

Her brother John Hamilton said the cause was cancer.

Professor Hamilton joined the English department at Barnard College in 2002 and was made a vice provost in 2018. In a memorial posting on Barnards website, Linda A. Bell, provost and dean of the faculty, said that her poetry was alive to the details of the quotidian.

They ask us to notice those arcadian hours we make together, Professor Bell wrote, quoting a line from Professor Hamiltons poem This Hour (2017). In charting small everyday moments, they call our attention to the beauty of the ordinary world.

Professor Hamiltons first poetry collection, As for Dream, was published in 2001. Its poems, many about loss, were enigmatic and fragmentary, as with In the Hospital:

Will you hand me the bulbs?

I have to plant them, he said, but I cant reach them.

The attendant came in and adjusted a dial.

Still she did not get up from the chair.

You know, were his last words,

You really are very lazy.
Blinken arrives in China

Antony Blinken arrived in China yesterday  the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to China since 2018  in the hope of slowing the downward spiral of relations between Beijing and Washington.

Blinken met with Chinas foreign minister, Qin Gang, for five and a half hours, one hour longer than scheduled. The two men and their aides then had a stroll together and a working dinner together for two hours.

The official Chinese summary of the meeting was bleak. Qin asserted that U.S.-China relations were at their lowest point since the start of normal diplomatic ties in 2019. He also pointed out that the Taiwan issue was the greatest risk to relations between China and the U.S.

According to the U.S. summary, Blinken said that the U.S. would stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order.
After attending Purdue University and working for a few years as a management consultant, he enrolled at Northwestern Universitys Pritzker School of Law. During his first semester, in the fall of 2013, he caught the crypto bug. Joe Delich, a classmate who later worked with Mr. Roche at his law firm, remembers him constantly checking the price of Bitcoin on his laptop during classes. Mr. Roche cashed out before a big price drop, earning about $100,000 in profits. He used the money to pay his tuition.

As a third-year student, Mr. Roche collaborated with a professor on a paper discussing Bitcoins virtues as the first currency free from government interference. That led to an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal.

That was the first moment I thought, Oh, wow, maybe I can do something with this, he said.

By then, Mr. Roche was a first-year associate at Boies Schiller Flexner, where he was developing a reputation as the kid who understood crypto. When a colleague in Miami approached him a few days after the Journal piece with a Bitcoin-related case, he jumped at the opportunity.

The case pitted a man named Ira Kleiman against Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who claims to be Bitcoins enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Mr. Kleiman wanted to sue Dr. Wright for defrauding his brother David, a paraplegic computer forensics expert who had died in his mid-40s, out of billions of dollars of Bitcoin they supposedly mined together in Bitcoins early days.

The facts were murky: There was evidence that Dr. Wright and David Kleiman had indeed been friends, and David Kleiman had been known to carry around his neck an encrypted hard drive that might or might not have contained the passwords to Bitcoin wallets. But many people considered Dr. Wright a fraud, calling into question the notion that he had mined early blocks of Bitcoin, much less cheated someone out of them.
Two of the most powerful women in the village of Delhi in central New York sat face to face in a brick building on Main Street for what would become a fight over the First Amendment.

It was the fall of 2019. Tina Mole, the top elected official in Delaware County, was demanding that Kim Shepard, the publisher of The Reporter, the local newspaper, do something about what Ms. Mole saw as the papers unfair coverage of the county government.

Ms. Shepard stood her ground. Not long after, Ms. Mole struck where it would hurt The Reporter the most: its finances. The county stripped the newspaper of a lucrative contract to print public notices, subsequently informing The Reporter that the decision was partly based on the manner in which your paper reports county business.

The move cost The Reporter about $13,000 a year in revenue  a significant blow to a newspaper with barely 4,000 subscribers.
Pronoun Etiquette

Is it OK when first talking alone with a new colleague to ask pronouns to ensure you are referring to them correctly, if it hasnt already been broached?  Anonymous

Yes, it is more than OK to ask about pronouns. It demonstrates that you are caring and considerate and recognize that gender exists on a spectrum. We cannot assume that how someone presents is how they identify. Asking about pronouns simply removes any ambiguity and ensures that youre always referring to your colleagues in the manner they prefer.

The Limits of Care

As a health care worker, how do you deal with homophobia and transphobia from a patient? Specifically, what strategies can be used to address this when dismissing the patient is not an option? In my case, I dont own my own office, so I work for someone else. My employer is not willing to let the income from this patient go, so the solution is for the patient to come in on my off days. I find this less than ideal. Also, what are my rights here?  Anonymous

Your employers solution is less than ideal. Unfortunately, when dealing with bigotry, there are few ideal options. Patients can choose medical providers according to their preferences. Im not sure you have any recourse, but I would love for medical professionals to weigh in on this.

I do know that many health care workers from diverse backgrounds deal with patient bigotry. Its a significant contributor to burnout in medical professions. I suppose its something that the patient visits the office on your off days, but it would be better if your employers had principles and refused to do business with a bigot.

They should value your safety and ensure that you work in an environment that doesnt tolerate discrimination of any kind. You have to decide if you can continue working at this practice under these conditions. And if you cant, it is time to find new employment. I wish you the very best as you navigate this.

How Much Is Too Much?

I used to identify as a cis-woman but came out as nonbinary/gender queer last year at work and shared at a staff meeting that my pronouns are now she/her and they/them. I told the team I liked being referred to as they/them but that she/her is fine, too. Everyone was affirming, but Ive never heard or read any of my colleagues use they/them to refer to me in the many months since, and its starting to bother me. I wish at least some of the time they would affirm my they/them pronouns, which help me feel seen and known. Am I making this too hard for my colleagues by not making a firm request to always use they/them? How much of my gender spectrum or fluidity can I reasonably ask them to recognize? Is it too much to ask them to try to sometimes use she/her and other times use they/them?  Anonymous

You are never making things too hard for your colleagues by asking for your pronouns to be respected. When you shared your pronouns and said she/her is fine, too, your colleagues took you at your word. They are using what is most comfortable for them rather than what is most comfortable for you.

If you want to be affirmed as they/them, youre going to have to make your preference clear without offering the option of she/her. In an ideal world, people would be mindful of using both sets of pronouns regularly. That isnt too much to ask, but it may be too much to expect in the workplace where you encounter a range of attitudes toward and familiarity with gender identification.

Write to Roxane Gay at workfriend@nytimes.com.
One of the worlds newest, most contested coal-burning power plants began operation in December. By January, it had ground to a halt for a month. Again, in April, it sat idle for 23 days.

The reason: It didnt have coal to burn.

That meant it couldnt produce any electricity nor make money to recoup the $2 billion it cost to build.

The troubles facing the Maitree power plant are a glimpse into the risks that other new coal plants around the world could face in coming years, for a variety of reasons. Maitree shut down temporarily because of a shortage of foreign currency to import coal from Indonesia. That happened because the value of the Bangladeshi taka shrank, while commodity prices, including coal, rose sharply.

Other coal plants elsewhere are at risk of sitting idle in coming years because coal could soon lose its appeal as the cheapest source of electricity.
Though he grew up just a few miles away, Jonah Markowitz, a photographer and documentarian based in Brooklyn, knew little about the neighborhood of Kensington before 2021. Thats when he noticed, in New York City data from the year before, that an outsize portion of applications for new business licenses came from the area that included Kensington.

So he began to check out the neighborhood, which had been a hub of Bangladeshi life in the city since the 1970s. Mr. Markowitz expected to start a project about economic trends in an immigrant community.

Instead, he spent almost two and a half years visiting the same corner in Kensington, working on a portrait of the quiet transformation of a New York City neighborhood.

Mr. Markowitzs effort, which was published by the Metro desk this week, provided an intimate look at one of the citys biggest Bangladeshi communities. With photographs, videos and text, Mr. Markowitz introduced readers to a street corner where newcomers seek work in construction and food delivery, and the Muslim faithful take up nearly an entire city block during Eid al-Fitr services.
In the days after Eric Adams was elected mayor of New York, several of his supporters approached him with some uncomfortable advice.

They urged him not to hire his closest ally, Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin, for his administration, according to six people with knowledge of the conversations.

It was an audacious suggestion. Mr. Adams and Ms. Lewis-Martin had been friends for nearly 40 years, and she had called herself his sister ordained by God. She is in many ways his political alter ego: an old-school, conservative Democrat from Brooklyn who echoes many of his beliefs and quirks and shares his personality-driven approach.

But the group of supporters argued that Ms. Lewis-Martin could cause trouble at City Hall, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. They noted that when Mr. Adams was Brooklyn borough president and Ms. Lewis-Martin was his deputy, she had alienated staff members and pushed the limits of ethics rules.
Image

$20 Bill

Dear Diary:

It was a beautiful, breezy Friday night, beautiful enough that I decided to walk across town after work instead of taking the L.

Waiting to cross Second Avenue, I noticed a woman getting out of a car. Then I saw a $20 bill float through the air into the intersection.

The woman looked stricken. Cars were streaming down Second. The bill danced around taxis and trucks. Did she dare jump into traffic? Was it worth it?

Everyone waiting at the intersection watched the woman and her $20 bill, mesmerized. I wondered what I would do if it were my $20 caught in the wind.
Actually, the broker, Andrea Kelly, explained to one prospect, meat eaters were not banned; cooking meat and fish was. Its not vegetarian-only, but the owner lives in the building and doesnt want the smell of cooking meat drifting upstairs, she said.

So, sushi, steak tartare and takeout: yes. Roasting a chicken: absolutely not.

The owner, Michal Arieh Lerer, refused to speak to a reporter, and Ms. Kelly and her employers at Douglas Elliman declined to comment. But Ms. Lerers ex-husband, who co-owns the building and is also vegan, said that they both had refused to rent to carnivores who cook since buying the house in 2007.

Its not about discrimination, said the ex-husband, Motti Lerer. You have to fit into the building.

All of which raises the question: Is this legal?

It seems to be. The citys Human Rights Law lists 14 characteristics that landlords are not allowed to consider in deciding whether to rent an apartment to someone, including age, race, family status, job, source of income and sexual orientation. Fondness for hamburgers is not one of them.

It is this allowed unless specifically forbidden construction of anti-discrimination law that makes it perfectly legal for landlords to refuse to rent to smokers  they are not a protected class either.
Israel gave preliminary approval to work with Egypt and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to develop the Gaza Marine gas field off the Gaza coast, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office announced on Sunday.

The decision emphasizes Palestinian economic development and maintains regional security and stability, according to a statement issued by PM Benjamin Netanyahus office.

The statement further said Israel agreed to develop the Gaza Marine field "after the National Security Council examined the relevant security and diplomatic interests.

Israel will carry out the project in collaboration with Egypt  through direct talks  and the PA, the statement said.

According to The Jerusalem Post, EGAS, a gas company owned by the Egyptian government, is expected to develop the gas field, which is located about 30 km (20 miles) from Gaza's shores and which holds more than 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to estimates.

Cairo and Tel Aviv have produced gas in the Eastern Mediterranean for years, yet the Gaza Marine field remained undeveloped due to political disputes and conflict with Israel.

Israel, Egypt, and the PA revived talks on developing the field after Russia invaded Ukraine last year; and after the Europeans began looking for alternatives to Russian energy.

Egypt and the PA announced the deal in October, but they were waiting for approval from Israel.

On May 30, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly welcomed Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Ashtiah in Cairo to discuss economic cooperation with the Ramallah-based PA.

The field is expected to provide enough energy to power the Palestinian territories; it may even produce a surplus which can potentially be exported, thus improving the Palestinians' economic conditions.

The project will cost $1.4 billion and would allow for gas production early next year, The Washington Post reported in November.

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Hitting these goals requires California to almost quadruple the amount of electricity it can generate  and shift what it now gets from polluting fuels to clean sources. That means turning huge areas of land over to solar farms, wind turbines and geothermal systems. It means building the transmission lines to move that energy from where its made to where its needed. It means dotting the landscape with enough electric vehicle charging stations to make the states proposed ban on cars with internal combustion engines possible. Taken as a whole, its a construction task bigger than anything the state has ever attempted, and it needs to be completed at a speed that nothing in the states recent history suggests is possible.

California has become notorious not for what it builds but for what it fails to build. And Newsom knows it. I watched as a mayor and then a lieutenant governor and now governor as years became decades on high-speed rail, he said. People are losing trust and confidence in our ability to build big things. People look at me all the time and ask, What the hell happened to the California of the 50s and 60s?

But Newsoms immediate problem is the Biden administration. Because it, too, has become focused on how difficult it has become to build  and not just in California. These delays are pervasive at every level of government  federal, state and local, John Podesta, a senior adviser to President Biden on clean energy, said in a speech last month. We got so good at stopping projects that we forgot how to build things in America.

The Biden administration is pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into decarbonization. And it wants to make sure it gets a return on that money. So its making states compete for federal grants, and one way its judging them is on whether the state has made it easy to build. That has become an issue for California.
This ruling potentially created an immense opening for disguised racial gerrymanders, especially in heavily racially polarized states. Even worse, Alabama wanted the Supreme Court to modify existing precedent to give states even greater leeway in the face of claims of race discrimination. If Alabama prevailed, a Republican-dominated state could crack or pack Black communities and say that it was done not because the communities were Black but because they were Democratic. Though the result  less Black representation in Congress  would be the same, the motive would be legal.

Or would it? In Allen, Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the three Democratic-appointed justices said no, not always. Under highly racially polarized voting conditions, Supreme Court authority will require the creation of majority-minority districts when, to quote Justice Kavanaughs concurrence, (i) a states redistricting map cracks or packs a large and geographically compact minority population and (ii) a plaintiffs proposed alternative map and proposed majority-minority district are reasonably configured.

To translate the legalese: States and regions that are highly racially polarized cant fracture or compress minority voting districts when reasonably drawn alternative maps would more closely maintain the relative power of minority voters. If anything, by reaffirming and clarifying existing precedents in the face of substantial legal doubt, the court strengthened Section 2.

I know thats a lot to take in, but heres where things get interesting. If you peruse recent exit polls, youll quickly observe that many of the old preclearance states retain exactly the kind of racially polarized voting patterns that, thanks to the Allen ruling, can trigger judicial skepticism. I quoted Alabamas voting stats above. But what about other old preclearance states? In 2020, 77 percent of white Louisiana voters voted for Donald Trump, and 88 percent of Black voters voted for Joe Biden. In Mississippi, 81 percent of white voters voted for Trump, and 94 percent of Black voters voted for Biden. In South Carolina, 69 percent of white voters voted for Trump, and 92 percent of Black voters voted for Biden.

While I certainly wont argue that most white voters in those states are racist (indeed, a supermajority of voters in South Carolina supported Tim Scott, a Black Republican, for Senate), those numbers are not the American norm. Racial polarization exists more broadly but not to the same extent. Nationally, for example, 55 percent of white voters voted for Trump, while 92 percent of Black voters voted for Biden. In some states, such as California and New York, Joe Biden received a majority of white and Black votes.
The most polarizing issues of our day are divisive precisely because they are moral in nature. They derive not from different ideas about the size of government or wonkish policy debates but are rooted in incommensurable moral arguments. To move forward, we have to rebundle disparate political issues, re-sort political alliances and shake up the categories, so that those who now disagree on some things may find common cause on others and so that people committed to a consistent ethic of life might actually feel as if they have at least a modicum of  a possibility of  representation.

I dont expect this shake-up to happen any time soon. Change happens slowly and those of us who feel that we dont fit neatly into any major party platform must consistently call for change. In particular, those committed to a consistent ethic of life must continue to uphold that ethic and not surrender to the rhetoric of either party.

In the conservative churches I grew up in, single-issue pro-life voters became part of the Republican coalition, and eventually they came to embrace the party platform as a whole, regardless of how well it cohered with an overall commitment to life outside of the womb. But as Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles reminded us a few years ago, there are no single-issue saints. Part of the task before those of us who want to consistently champion life is to participate in the political process while still stubbornly refusing to conform our views or loyalties to the current options offered  to steadfastly not fit in, to recalcitrantly and vocally insist that, as Egan reportedly said, You cant protect some life and not others.

The political scientist Morris Fiorina writes in Unstable Majorities that the common perception that the American people are more polarized than ever is an illusion. What is true, however, is that the Republican and Democratic Parties platforms have become more polarized and, as Fiorina put it, more sorted than they have been historically. The most devoted members of the base of each party maintain that polarization, but they dont reflect the majority of voters or even a majority of those who identify with the dominant parties. This party polarization and intensive sorting have created an artificial bundling of platform positions that does not necessarily reflect the moral vision of most voters.

This artificial bundling is, however, constantly reified, Fiorina says, by the strident discourse of party leaders, elected officials and the most vocal members of the base, which creates what he calls a spiral of silence.
Miles was at the top of the Encores! list for the role of Margaret. (In his 2005 review of the show, Ben Brantley wrote that the character qualifies as a blessing for those in search of signs of intelligent life in the American musical.) They felt Miles was virtuosic enough to actually handle the score, but also such an excellent actor, Ramos said.

With the role cast, Yew and Miles studied the history of Korean immigration and determined, for subtext, that Miless Margaret could have come to the United States in the early 1900s to study art and learn English, then met her white husband, settled in the South and eventually had a child.

Miles, who has been juggling this show with her Tony-nominated role as the beggar woman in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, was born in the United States, then spent a few years as a young child in South Korea before returning to the U.S. with her mother. She recalled learning English while growing up in Hawaii as her Korean language skills diminished and becoming frustrated with her mothers stubborn accent and lack of concern, unlike her friends parents, about things like having nice clothes. Over time, she said she even developed a sort of bitterness toward her mother.

And so I carry all of these stories and these ideas with me when were building Margaret, she said.
Gwyny Pett has been visiting the Kern River for decades, camping there as a girl and then taking her own children, now grown, to splash in shallows so calm they felt like a private pool. She has seen it in dry cycles like last year, when the river was difficult to explore not because of surging water, but because she turned her ankles on the exposed pebbles.

She has also seen the destructive power of the river during high-water years. And although Ms. Pett, 66, recently looked ready for a swim at a popular riverside campground  black bikini on, pool towel draped over her beach chair  there was no way she was getting in.

I mean, this is dangerous, she said, gesturing at the water speeding past.

After a parade of epic winter storms, the Kern River and other major waterways fed by melting Sierra Nevada snow have become wild torrents  a transformation so dangerous that several counties in Central California have prohibited people from entering the water.

Since April, at least 16 people have died or gone missing in rivers across the state, according to The Mercury News, including two young siblings who were swept away on the Kings River in Fresno County in May. On Wednesday, a kayaker died on the Kern River, about 20 miles upstream from the campground from where Ms. Pett was sitting.
In examining his legacy, the scrutiny he tried to bring to the Espionage Act in making that disclosure also deserves attention.

I will, if indicted, be asserting my belief that what I am doing  like what Ive done in the past  is not criminal, he told me, arguing that using the act to criminalize classified truth-telling in the public interest should be deemed unconstitutional.

The government has various tools to deter and punish unauthorized disclosures to reporters and the public, and for most of American history, it did not try to send leakers to prison. The Espionage Act has been on the books since World War I, but it was not until the second half of the 20th century that the government began trying to use it to charge leakers instead of spies  initially, to little success.

In 1957, the military included Espionage Act charges in the court-martial of an Army colonel for giving reporters information about a disputed missile program, but prosecutors dropped the charges. In 1971, the Justice Department obtained its first such indictment in the case against Mr. Ellsberg and a colleague who had helped him, Anthony Russo. But a judge threw out the charges, citing government misconduct and illegal evidence gathering.

A decade later, the Justice Department under the Reagan administration tried again, bringing Espionage Act charges against a defense analyst who had provided classified satellite photographs of a Soviet shipyard to Janes Defence Weekly. He was convicted. But it was so odd and unfair that only one person had been sent to prison for an act that had happened routinely for decades that President Bill Clinton pardoned him in 2001.
An unusually intense heat wave has swept across northern India in the last four days, with some hospitals in the state of Uttar Pradesh recording a higher-than-usual number of deaths. Doctors there are convinced theres a link between the punishing temperatures and the deaths of their patients, but officials are investigating what role the dangerous combination of heat and humidity played in the rise in mortality.

In Ballia District, population about three million, the daily high temperature over the same period has hovered around 43 degrees Celsius (above 109 degrees Fahrenheit), nine degrees hotter than usual, alongside relative humidity as high as 53 percent. Dozens of deaths were recorded at hospitals there on June 15, 16 and 17.

Dr. Jayant Kumar, the chief medical officer of Ballia District, near the state of Bihar, said that 23 people died in the district on Thursday. The next day, 11 more succumbed. The number of deaths has been more than normal, Dr. Kumar said.

He told the Press Trust of India, a news agency, that on average, eight people usually die per day. Most of these are natural deaths, he told The Times in a phone interview, most of the dead being elderly people suffering from different ailments like diabetes.
Most of the victims were forced to work at the factory or on the plantation, often alongside paid workers. Many were tortured, whipped, burned and sexually assaulted. Six prisoners died, including at least three who were tortured to death, according to Indonesias National Commission on Human Rights.

Former captives also cleaned Mr. Perangin-angins mansion, washed his vehicles and fed his 200 cows. The captives were easily recognizable by their closely cropped hair.

The regent didnt want to spend money to hire workers and so they enslaved us by using rehab as the excuse, said Ardi, 18, who was imprisoned at 15 and ordered to sweep floors at the regents mansion. But they never gave us any treatment. It was basically a scam.

Ardi is one of four victims under witness protection who agreed to speak to The New York Times on the condition that they not be identified by their full names for fear of retaliation.

Although the cages were an open secret in the community, local police and officials never intervened because Mr. Perangin-angin was seen as all powerful in Langkat Regency, the jurisdiction where the cages were found. Some police officers and soldiers even helped guard or torture the men, victims and the authorities said.
Pope Francis prayed with a crowd of thousands in St. Peters Square on Sunday, two days after he was discharged from a Rome hospital, giving thanks for the closeness he had felt during his hospitalization for abdominal surgery.

A thunderous cheer along with scattered calls of Viva il papa!  Italian for Long live the pope!  greeted the pontiff when he appeared at a window in the Apostolic Palace, from where he addresses the faithful on Sundays. Before reciting the Angelus prayer and a blessing, Francis, 86, expressed gratitude for the affection, care and friendship that he had felt during his hospitalization.

This human closeness and spiritual closeness were of great help and comfort to me, he added. Thank you all.

Some 15,000 gathered in St. Peters Square on Sunday under a hot sun, according to the Vatican authorities.
Ukrainian forces have retaken a small village in the south of the country, a local Russian official and military bloggers said on Sunday, one of the first reports of a territorial gain in the Zaporizhzhia region since the start of a major counteroffensive earlier this month.

Vladimir Rogov, a Kremlin-appointed regional official, said on the Telegram messaging app that Ukrainian troops had taken the village of Piatykhatky under operational control, and were entrenching themselves there. Russian forces, he added, were using artillery fire in an attempt to wrest it back.

There was no independent confirmation of those claims. The Ukrainian militarys nightly General Staff update said Russian forces were on the defensive in the region, but made no mention of the village.

Piatykhatky is one of many villages along the southern frontline and its recapture, if confirmed, is unlikely to represent a major military breakthrough for Ukraine. Still, it would be the first village retaken in recent days, and add to the seven villages that Ukrainian officials said they had recaptured further east in the Donetsk region as part of the counteroffensive that began about a week and a half ago.
Ministers from Germany and France tasked with regulating migration are joining forces to try to curb deaths on dangerous routes across the Mediterranean Sea, traveling Sunday for talks with the president and their counterpart in Tunisia, a major North African stepping stone for migrants trying to reach Europe at risk of their lives.

Related Tunisia offered 900 mln Euros aid as European leaders visit

The two-day trip by the German and French interior ministers, Nancy Faeser and Gerald Darmanin, follows what is feared to be the deadliest migrant shipwreck in years in the Mediterranean  the capsizing last week of a fishing vessel packed with men, women and children trying to reach Italy from Libya, Tunisias neighbor.

More than 500 migrants are presumed to have drowned in the sinking Wednesday off the southern coast of Greece that renewed criticism of Europes yearslong failure to prevent migration tragedies.

The U.N. migration agency said it could be the second-deadliest migrant shipwreck recorded  after the April 2015 capsizing of another vessel on the Libya-Italy route that killed an estimated 1,100 people.

A statement from the German ministers office about her trip with Darmanin said: We want to create legal migration routes in order to remove the basis for the inhumane business of smugglers. We want the human rights of refugees to be protected and the terrible deaths on the Mediterranean to stop.

With migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, undertaking perilous sea crossings from Tunisia in unprecedented numbers, European authorities are seeking reinforced action from the government of Tunisias president, Kais Saied.

In the first three months of this year, Tunisian authorities intercepted 13,000 people on boats off Tunisias eastern port city of Sfax, a main route to Europe for sub-Saharan Africans, who dont need visas to travel to Tunisia.

As well as working to reduce migrant flows from Tunisia, European authorities are also offering aid to stabilize the North African country, which is in the midst of its deepest economic crisis in a generation. European leaders visiting Tunisia earlier this month held out the promise of more than 1 billion euros in financial aid  including 100 million euros earmarked this year for Tunisian border management and search-and-rescue and anti-smuggling operations.

The German ministers statement said discussions would focus on important current migration and security issues, including promoting legal migration channels, reducing irregular migration and people smuggling, strengthening sea rescue operations and promoting the voluntary return of migrants not entitled to stay in the European Union.

Darmanin, the French minister, did not detail his objectives for the trip to Tunisia in advance. But his ministry confirmed planned meetings on Monday for Darmanin and Faeser with their Tunisian counterpart and with Saied. As well as migration issues and hoped-for strengthened efforts against people smugglers, the French minister also wants to discuss security issues following an attack on a Tunisian island during an annual Jewish pilgrimage in May.

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A new Dutch museum exhibit declares, Egypt is a part of Africa, which might strike most people who have seen a map of the world as an uncontroversial statement.

But the show at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden goes beyond geography. It explores the tradition of Black musicians  Beyonce, Tina Turner, Nas and others  drawing inspiration and pride from the idea that ancient Egypt was an African culture. The exhibit is framed as a useful corrective to centuries of cultural erasure of Africans.

What might sound empowering in the United States and thought-provoking in the Netherlands, however, is anathema to Egypts government and many of its people, who have flooded the museums Facebook and Google pages with complaints  occasionally racist ones  about what they see as Western appropriation of their history.

Many Egyptians do not see themselves as African at all, identifying much more closely with the predominantly Arab and Muslim nations of the Middle East and North Africa, and many look down on darker-skinned Egyptians and sub-Saharan Africans. And some feel that it is their culture and history that are being erased in the Western quest to correct historical racism.
The Israeli government on Sunday decided to ease and expedite the process for approving new Jewish settlement construction in the occupied West Bank amid plans to advance thousands of new housing units there.

The policy change also transfers the main responsibility for housing approval from the defense minister, currently Yoav Gallant, to the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right former settlement activist who is also serving as a secondary defense minister and who advocates Israeli annexation of the West Bank.

The decision came as a senior American official, Barbara Leaf, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, was to arrive in the region. Her trip is aimed at, among other things, trying to expand Israels relations with Arab states  a mission that would appear to be complicated by the prospect of more settlement activity in the West Bank.

Most countries consider Jewish settlements in the occupied territories that Israel captured from Jordan in the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 to be in violation of international law. The Biden administration, like most previous American administrations, has repeatedly condemned construction in settlements, considering it a source of increased tensions with Palestinians and a hindrance to the prospects of any permanent peace based on the two-state solution because they undermine the future establishment of an independent Palestinian state in those territories.
A MAN described as the operator of a large bus service was fined 100 for speeding near Tullamore.

The local District Court was told that Brendan Mangan (61), Barnaboy, Daingean, had been widowed two months before he was stopped at Coolnahely, Tullamore on October 2 last year.

Garda Mark Shine told Judge Michelle Finan he stopped an Audi which had been detected driving at 133kph in a 100kph zone.

Garda Shine said that while the driver had no previous convictions for speeding he had nine others for road traffic offences.

Mr Mangan's solicitor, Patrick Martin, appealed to Judge Finan to show leniency, saying that his client operated 13 buses and his wife had died the August before the offence and he had been trying to keep things in order.

Judge Finan said she did not have discretion in the case because there were previous convictions but she would fine Mr Mangan 100 instead of 200 and give him 12 months to pay.
A YOUNG driver who admitted not having a novice plate on display told Tullamore District Court he had forgotten to put it on the vehicle when he changed his car.

Cian Duffy (20), Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge was summonsed for non-display of an 'N' plate at Ferbane Street, Creggan, Cloghan on November 28 last year.

Garda Kieran Fitzpatrick told Judge Michelle Finan that Mr Duffy was co-operative and had never come to the attention of the law before.

The driver's solicitor, Patrick Martin, entered a plea of guilty and said the issue was that his client was in jeopardy with the number of penalty points he would have.

When Judge Finan asked Mr Duffy if he had any money for a charitable donation she was told that 300 was available.

Mr Duffy agreed he would donate that amount to Pieta House. He told the court he had already passed his driving test and because he was working he could afford the 300.

Judge Finan said she would strike out the summons once the money was paid.

She advised Mr Duffy to be super careful while driving from now on. I want you to be an ambassador for road safety in your life, she said.
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Karnataka Bandh On June 22 To Protest Price Hike In Electricity Charges

Bengaluru

oi-Deepika S

The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) has called for a Karnataka bandh on June 22 to protest against the abnormal price hike in electricity charges.

The objective of the bandh is to draw the attention of the government towards the need for a solution and a reduction in electricity charges.

"In the past eight days, we have made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact caused by the hike in electricity charges. However, neither the officials nor the government representatives have provided any solutions," said Sandeep Bidasaria, vice president of the association in a letter addressed to its members.

"To draw the government's attention, we are calling for this bandh (shutdown). Our objective is to find a solution and obtain a reduction in electricity charges," the letter further stated.

Why is there a hike in electricity bill?

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) revised the power tariff on May 12, increasing it to an average of 70 paise per unit for all household connections in the state. The revised tariff came into effect from April.

Due to the revised tariff, an additional average charge of 70 paise per unit will be collected in the June bills.

Here's a look at the tariff breakup:

Electricity tariff breakup in urban areas

0-50 units - 411.39 paise/unit

51-100 units - 556.39 paise/unit

101-200 units - 711.39 paise/unit

Above 200 units - 816.39 paise/unit

Tariff breakup in rural areas

0-50 units - 400 paise/unit

51-100 units - 525 paise/unit

101-200 units - 680 paise/unit

Above 200 units - 765 paise/unit

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 10:10 [IST]
US Offers To Help India To Deal With Manipur Violence, Congress Reacts Sharply

Can't Take Law And Order Apparatus In Our Hands: SC On Manipur Violence

Manipur Violence: Curfew To Be Relaxed Partially In Imphal; Internet Ban Extended

India

oi-Deepika S

The Manipur government on Sunday relaxed curfew restrictions in Imphal East district between 5 am to 5 pm in order to facilitate the public to buy essential items.

The areas where the curfew will be relaxed include the Hatta crossing to the RDS crossing, the Imphal River from Sanjenthong to Minuthong and Minuthong to Hatta crossing, and RDS crossing to Sanjenthong.

The curfew was relaxed to allow people to purchase essential items, including medicine and food supplies, the authorities said in a statement.

All persons belonging to essential services such as health, electricity, PHED, press, and electronic media and court, were exempted from further imposition of curfew after the expiry of the said period of relaxation.

However, in view of the fresh violence that erupted in the state, the government extended the ban on the internet in Manipur till June 20.

On Saturday, ten opposition parties of Manipur led by the Congress questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the continued violence in the northeastern state, while urging him to meet them and make an appeal for peace.

Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said the letter of request for a meeting with the PM has also been hand-delivered to the Prime Minister's Office on June 12.

Ramesh said when violence broke out in Manipur 22 years ago, the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had called an all-party meeting twice on the demand of all the parties.

Vajpayee had also appealed for peace then, he said, urging Prime Minister Modi to issue a similar appeal now.

"There is only one reason why Manipur is burning and it is the ideology of the RSS and the politics of the BJP. It is not just Manipur, other states of the north-east are facing huge issues. This is the time of dealing with all militant organisations," he claimed.

"Manipur was burning 22 years ago on June 18, 2001. State Assembly, Speaker's bungalow, and CM Secretariat were burnt and remained blocked for 3 and a half months.

"At that time Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India and on the demand of various parties, an all-party meeting was called twice and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appealed for peace. Today people from 10 parties are waiting to meet PM Modi, but PM Modi is silent," he said.

Nearly 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur. The state government has imposed a curfew in 11 districts and suspended internet services.

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 8:35 [IST]
Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi

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PM Modi Has Time To Go To US But Not Manipur: Thackeray

India

pti-PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his scheduled visit to the US, and asked why he was going abroad instead of visiting Manipur to resolve the crisis in the violence-hit north-eastern state.

Addressing a state-level convention of his party, the first since the rebellion split Shiv Sena last year, he also dared the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.

"One part of our country is in the grip of violence and Modi hasn't gone there or taken steps to resolve the crisis, but is going to America," Thackeray said.

The PM will be going on a state visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25.

Thackeray alleged that there have been claims that PM Modi stopped the Russia-Ukraine war.

"So Modi should stop the violence in Manipur and restore peace and then we will believe these claims," he added.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out more than a month ago.

The former CM said he will go to Patna on June 23 for the meeting of non-BJP parties.

"These is not opposition parties that are meeting there, but the parties that are nationalists, who love their country and want to protect its independence and democracy," he said.

He said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had visited him at 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's personal residence) and invited him for the meeting.

"Earlier, only BJP leaders used to visit 'Matoshree', but now all parties, except BJP, have realised the importance of Shiv Sena. All parties who love the country should come together to stop the BJP," he said.

Thackeray also questioned why elections were not being held in Kashmir despite the abrogation of Article 370 years ago.

"So many years have passed since the abrogation of Article 370, but why elections are not being held and why are Hindus unsafe there," he asked.

Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019, and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Thackeray dared the BJP to bring the UCC. He wondered if it could not implement the ban on cow slaughter in the entire country, how can the UCC be implemented.

The Law Commission recently said it has decided to look at the need for a UCC afresh and seek the views of stakeholders, which include the members of the public and religious organisations.

Targetting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for seeking his comment on the removal of chapters on late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and RSS founder K B Hedgewar from school textbooks in Karnataka, Thackeray referred to the recent advertisement by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and said Fadnavis's condition is such that he can neither tolerate the insult he is being subjected to nor complain about it either.

A newspaper advertisement published recently projected CM Shinde as being more popular in the state than his deputy Fadnavis.

Referring to the Karnataka text books row, he said many members of the text book board had resigned saying the text books given to students were not the ones approved by them, he said.

He said June 20 would be observed as the "World Traitors' Day", a reference to the rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, and said their "betrayal" should not be forgotten.

The Shiv Sena split in June last year after Eknath Shinde and 39 other party MLAs rebelled against then Uddhav Thackeray and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government of the Sena, NCP and Congress.

Shinde later became chief minister with the BJP's support and the Election Commission of India subsequently granted his faction the original party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, while the Thackeray group was named Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

Speaking about it, Thackeray said, the real Shiv Sena belonged to him.

"You may steal MPs and MLAs, but not trusted and loyal supporters. Shiv Sena has shown people that it can run the administration efficiently. I took the chief minister's post as a challenge and today when I meet people they tell me that they consider me as a family member," he said.

If the country needs to be stable, should the government be unstable, he asked.

"Alliance governments were run well but under the current majority government, the country has become unstable," Thackeray alleged.

Nobody can be bigger than the nation, he said and criticised CM Shinde for saying "this is Modi's India".

The BJP is on the path of Hitler and our job is to get inspired by revolutionaries, he said.

On the controversy over the dialogues in the recently-released film "Adipurush" based on the Ramayana, Thackeray said Bajrang Bali had set BJP's chair of power in Karnataka on fire.

"I want to thank people of Karnataka for resisting these Bahubalis," he said.

The Congress last month won the Karnataka Assembly polls by defeatig the BJP, which was ruling the state. During the poll campaign in that state, PM Modi had urged the people of to say 'Jai Bajrangbali' when they cast their vote to "punish" the Congress for its "culture of abuse".

Referring to the issue of Karnataka text books, he said many members of text book board had resigned saying the text books given to students are not the ones approved by them.

Earlier, party leader Aaditya Thackeray asked Sena (UBT) workers to take a pledge to defeat the Shiv Sena rebels right from panchayat level to the Lok Sabha.

Party spokesperson Sanjay Raut exhorted the cadres to work for the party 's victory on its own.

He referred to the Eknath Shinde and his party leaders as "wolves in tiger skin".
US Offers To Help India To Deal With Manipur Violence, Congress Reacts Sharply

Can't Take Law And Order Apparatus In Our Hands: SC On Manipur Violence

Shocking Act Of Censorship: Twitter Account of Manipur Tribal Forum Blocked In India

India

oi-Deepika S

Amid violence in Manipur, the Twitter handle of the tribal forum Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) which is spearheading the agitation against the Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur, has been withheld in India.

"ITLF Media Cell account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," reads a statement on the tribal body's Twitter page.

Terming it as a shocking act of censorship, a statement issued by ITLF said its handle has been blocked in response to a legal demand.

"The ITLF Media Cell Twitter account, vital for raising awareness about Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, has been blocked in India. Despite tirelessly working towards addressing their challenges, this censorship is yet another attempt to stifle marginalized voices," a statement on the tribal body's Twitter page reads.

The ITLF Media Cell Twitter account, vital for raising awareness about Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, has been blocked in India. Despite tirelessly working towards addressing their challenges, this censorship is yet another attempt to stifle marginalized voices.#Manipur pic.twitter.com/KQqPDk6dhX  Benjamin Mate (@BenjaminMa59017) June 17, 2023

The group said that it has been subjected to "a shocking act of censorship" and that taking down the Twitter account "is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice".

It further stated that this amounts to a violation of Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression) of the Indian Constitution.

"Blocking of the ITLF Media Cell Twitter account is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice. This act comes as an addition to the already crippling 40+ days of internet shutdown in the Manipur Hills districts (minimal restriction in the valley districts), severely limiting and hampering the ability of the Kuki-Zo tribals to report on-ground daily incidents of attacks perpetrated by state-sponsored Meitei separatists, rampaging Meitei mobs including Meira Paibis, and radicalized groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun," the statement added.

Violence had erupted in Manipur on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. So far, nearly 100 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured.

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 9:18 [IST]
Yemen's government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels are locked in talks in Jordan to set the ground for a possible prisoner exchange, a Red Cross official told AFP on Sunday.

Yemen's conflict began in 2014 when the Huthis seized the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year to prop up the internationally recognised government.

The fighting has since killed hundreds of thousands of people directly or indirectly and created what the United Nations calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The negotiations since Friday in the Jordanian capital Amman are overseen by the office of the UN special envoy to Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said Jessica Moussan, ICRC's media adviser for the Middle East.

They are meeting "together with... parties to the conflict in Yemen to address issues pertaining to negotiations on a future release operation", she told AFP.

On Friday, the UN envoy's office said the Amman talks were a follow-up to an agreement stuck by the two sides in Stockholm five years ago.

The deal called for the "release all prisoners, detainees, missing persons, arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared persons, and those under house arrest", held in connection with Yemen's nearly decade-long conflict, "without any exceptions or conditions".

Moussan said the ICRC was engaged with both sides to secure a prisoner swap in line with a deal agreed in Switzerland in March that saw nearly 900 prisoners freed.

That agreement came after regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia announced they were resuming ties after a seven-year rupture, in a landmark Chinese-brokered rapprochement that has shifted regional relations.

The prisoner swap was carried out over three days in April, coinciding with intensifying diplomatic to secure a long-term ceasefire.

A six-month truce brokered by the United Nations expired in October last year, but fighting has largely remained on hold.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, travelled to Sanaa in April as part of a plan to "stabilise" the truce.

Although no deal was struck, Jaber had told AFP the warring parties were "serious" about ending the conflict, which the United Nations says has displaced 4.5 million Yemenis internally and pushed more than two-thirds of the population into poverty.

UN special envoy Hans Grundberg told an international forum in The Hague over the past week that "the road to peace is going to be long and difficult."

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Wanted To Seek Nation's Blessings before I Leave For US: Top Quotes From PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Address

India

oi-Deepika S

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded India's capacity of disaster management and said that India is becoming an example in this field as well.

The prime minister touched upon several other issues during his monthly radio show 'Mann ki Baat', which was scheduled a week earlier than usual this month due to the PM's visit to the US, scheduled next week.

Top quotes from PM Modi's Mann ki Baat:

"All of you know, I'll be in America next week and there the schedule is going to be pretty hectic, and hence I thought I'd talk to you before I go, what could be better than that! The blessings of the Janata-Janardan, the people, your inspiration, will also continue to enhance my energy."

"The strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years is becoming an example today. Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked so much havoc in Kutch, but the people of Kutch faced it with full courage and preparedness."

"Be it the biggest goal, be it the toughest challenge, the collective force of the people of India, the collective power, solves every challenge."

"The theme of this year's International Yoga Day is 'Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' i.e. 'Yoga for the Welfare of All as One World-One Family'. It expresses the spirit of Yoga, which connects and takes everyone along."

"India has set a target of eradicating TB by 2025. Ni-kshay Mitra has taken charge of this movement against TB. Thousands of people are adopting TB patients in rural areas. This is the true strength of India."

"In the Hapur district of UP, people have revived an extinct river. The river's source is also being developed as an Amrit Sarovar."

"When it comes to management, we should look at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Along with his bravery, a lot is to be learned from his governance. His management skills particularly water management and the Navy still remain the pride of India."

"Japan's technique, Miyawaki is a very good way to make an area green if the soil is not fertile. This technique is gradually being seen in India also. Teacher Raafi Ramnath from Kerala used this technique to create a mini forest called 'Vidyavanam' with over 115 varieties. I appeal to all the people of the nation to use this technique."

"India is the mother of democracy. We consider our democratic ideals to be supreme, our Constitution supreme, therefore, we can never forget 25th June. This is the day when emergency was imposed on our country."

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 13:42 [IST]
Ana Law Group is a premier IP Law firm based out of Chicago and here's what you need to know about them

Chicago Mass Shooting: 1 Killed, 19 Injured As Juneteenth Celebration Turns Violent

International

oi-Prakash KL

At least one person was killed and 19 others injured in shootings in Illinois, Missouri and Washington state in a deadly night of gun violence.

The incident occurred in a parking lot in a strip mall in the town of Willowbrook shortly before 12:30 am, Battalion Chief Joe Ostrander with the Tri-State Fire Protection District told WGN, a Chicago-area news station.

"There were at least 20 individuals shot. One victim is deceased," said Eric Swanson, deputy chief at the DuPage County sheriff's office. "The motive behind this incident is unclear. ... We transported numerous victims from the scene. Others just walked into area hospitals."

"It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped. They just kept going. After that, we literally scattered away," witness Markeshia Avery said.

"We were all just out, and, next thing you know shots just kept going off; everybody ran, and it was chaos," another witness said.

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 22:11 [IST]
Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi

From Yoga Day To State Dinner: PM Modi Set For Mega US Visit

International

oi-Deepika S

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 21, at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden.

As President Joe Biden himself said everyone in the whole country wants to meet Indian premier and the Indian-Americans are gearing up to accord a grand welcome to PM Modi during his first state visit to the US.

As reported by US media, the ceremonial part of the visit-with all the bells and whistles is expected be captivating and breathtaking.

21 June: PM Modi to lead Yoga Day 2023 celebrations at UN HQ

The historic visit will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters between 8 am and 9 am at its North Lawn. People from over 180 countries from different walks of life, including diplomats, academicians and entrepreneurs are expected to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations.

Since 2015, June 21 has been designated as the International Day of Yoga to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.

22 June: Bilateral and state dinner in Washington

Thereafter, PM Modi will travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the South Lawn of the White House with a 21-gun salute. Nearly 7,000 Indian Americans will gather to witness this.

The prime minister will hold discussions with President Biden as part of their ongoing high-level dialogue.

Later in the day, PM Modi address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22 by Congressional leaders, including Republican House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Speaker Charles Schumer. The prime minister first addressed the US Congress during his visit in June 2016.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host state dinner in honor of the Prime Minister on the same evening.

"A state dinner, always the social high point of a state visit, is planned meticulously, often months in advance. The menu typically features food and wines that reflect the culinary traditions of the guests of honour but with an American twist. It represents the friendship between the nations of the hosts and the honoured guests," says the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (BGPA) in the US Department of State.

23 June: Lunch with Kamala Harris

On June 23, PM Modi will attend a luncheon hosted jointly by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Alongside the official engagements, PM Modi is scheduled to have interactions with CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders, as well as meeting with the Indian diaspora.

After wrapping up his visit to the US, the Prime Minister will fly to Egypt for a state visit from June 24 to 25.

Why PM Modi's US visit is significant?

PM Modi's first state visit to the US signifies the highest level of honour and it has happened only twice in India's history. This will also be the first time that an Indian prime minister will be addressing the US Congress twice.

"The prime minister is going on a State Visit, which signifies the highest level of honour. So, the honour that he will receive, has been accorded to a very few people, so far," said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"The prime minister will address a Joint Session of the US Congress. No Indian prime minister has addressed it twice. So, it will be the first time. World over also, very few people have done that... Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela. So, there are very few people who have addressed the US Congress twice," Jaishankar said.

PM Modi's US visit assumes huge importance and outcomes will be seen later, he said.

Asked whether PM's US visit will send any message to China and Pakistan, Jaishankarsaid, "When a prime minister visits a country, it is to take our (India's) relationship forward. I understand that it is a globalised world, so if something happens, it may or may not have an impact on others. We see it for our interests, from perspective of our relations".

PM Modi-Biden talks to touch upon five significant issues

PM Modi and President Biden are expected to touch on five broad areas of significance -healthcare, technology, renewable energy, education and defence - which would be reflected in the joint statement, said India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

"Technology is going to be a significant part and you know that technology is cross-cutting. Technology is not only a commercial aspect but also has a very strong strategic side. And trust and confidence are important bases of any technology sharing or collaboration," Sandhu told PTI in an exclusive interview on Friday.

"One is healthcare and in that affordable healthcare, affordable medicines, affordable vaccines, and of course training, research, et cetera, all will be part of it. Number two is on the technology side, it is IT, digital startup innovation. All of them are in one basket," he added.

On education and knowledge partnership there is a lot of movement, he said.

"In India, we have a new education policy. Of course, here I would like to mention that there are at present 200,000 Indian students (in the US). Two-thirds of them are in STEM areas. This student population this linkage is a very important linkage. But under the new education policy now the forward movement is going to be in establishing campus-to-campus relations, intertwining of degrees, joint research, work," Sandhu said.

He said he has personally spoken to a large number of chancellors and presidents of universities and educational institutions.

"You have already seen that this has been carried forward. It's one of the important elements of iCET that is the education collaboration and that will be a significant path," he said.

"Finally, not the last and the least is the defence and the strategic side. As I mentioned, high tech is an important element. It is a cross-cutting area. High tech certainly has an impact," he said.
UK: How Cops Caught Rape Convict Indian Student in Cardiff?

International

oi-Prakash KL

The cops nabbed the Indian-origin student, who was arrested in the UK for raping a drunk and semi-conscious woman, with the help of CCTV footage and a message exchange on Instagram.

The accused identified as 20-year-old Preet Vikal had taken the "intoxicated" woman to his flat in UK's Cardiff and raped her in June last year. The victim and accused were on a night out with their separate groups of friends where they had come across.

"The victim had drunk to excess and by the end of the night was, plainly, hopelessly intoxicated. She stepped outside the club and encountered Preet Vikal. The two engaged in conversation and moved away from their groups," officials said.

The clips of Preeti carrying the victim had gone viral. In the video, Preet Vikal is seen taking the woman to his flat.

Preet Vikal, 20 ans, etudiant en ingenierie a transporte une jeune femme inconsciente, qu'il ne connaissait pas dans sa chambre apres une soiree dans un club a Cardiff. Le lendemain il a dit qu'elle etait consentante. https://t.co/01MJOnaumI https://t.co/oLGNEaQHM4 pic.twitter.com/qaGQHNd1Ai  Euphorie  (@_Oct14th) June 17, 2023

"From the minute this was reported, we were absolutely 100 per cent committed to identifying the person responsible and bringing him to justice," a statement from the police statement said. They said that there were inconsistencies in his statements. "It was this, along with the continued bravery of the victim, that ultimately led to him pleading guilty," they said.

Going by the reports, the Indian-origin student had taken a "trophy photography" before sending the picture to his friends.

The victim has claimed that this incident left her unshaken and sense of guilt. Also, she was also unable to sleep.

The accused admitted that he raped the said woman in the early hours of June 4, 2022.

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 16:18 [IST]
Kerala Opposes Karnataka's Nandini's Entry To Its Market

Kochi

oi-Prakash KL

The Kerala government on Sunday expressed its concerns over Karnataka's dairy product Nandini entering its market.

State Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Milk Cooperatives J Chinchurani opposed the entry of Nandini to the Kerala market and said that the state government has given a complaint to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to resolve the issue.

"Any further steps will be taken by us after NDDB holds discussions with Nandini," PTI quoted the minister as telling a TV channel.

She said the state government expects Nandini to withdraw its decision to sell its milk and milk products in Kerala after the intervention of the Centre in the matter.

The minister said both Nandini, the trade name used by the Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation (KMMF), and Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation's (KCMMF) Milma are both government-run organisations and therefore, when going to another state, that state's permission ought to have been taken.

On the issue of Nandini selling milk at rates much lower, around Rs 7 lesser than that of Milma, the minister said it was not possible. She said that earlier when Kerala had a milk shortage, Nandini milk was sold here with permission of the Karnataka government and back then its rates were not low.

On being asked about the dairy farmers' stand on the issue, the minister said many have gotten in touch with the government and said only Milma should operate in Kerala. Chinchurani also dismissed any possibility of Nandini collecting milk from dairy farmers in Kerala, saying that there are enough dairy organisations functioning under the cooperative law in the state and they all supply milk to Milma.

"Moreover, we have been helping the dairy farmers, through subsidies and increasing the price of milk when required, and have many other helpful schemes lined up for them in the future," she said. In April last year, KCMMF had termed as "unethical" the tendency of some state milk marketing federations to aggressively enter markets outside their respective states. It was criticising the KMMF's move of opening its outlets in parts of Kerala to sell its Nandini brand of milk and other products.

Milma, back then, had said this involved a total breach of cooperative spirit based on which the country's dairy sector has been organised for the benefit of millions of dairy farmers. Such practices from any side will jeopardise the spirit of cooperative principles that have been nurtured for long by mutual consent and goodwill, it had said.

This development comes months after a row over Gujarat's Amul brand entering Karnataka. There was a widespread outage over Amul foraying into the market.

In fact, the Congress had effectively used the issue to its advantage in the assembly polls to corner the BJP government.

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Story first published: Sunday, June 18, 2023, 23:27 [IST]
Al Hilal Saudi Club, simply known as Al Hilal, is a professional multi-sports club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their football team competes in the Saudi Professional League. They are the most decorated club in Asia winning 66 official trophies. They also hold the record for the most continental trophies in Asia, as well as a record 18 Professional League titles.
Taiwan's foreign minister told DW that he hopes "more European voices" will caution China against aggression toward the island. Taipei is also pushing for an EU investment deal, but Brussels says that's not on the cards.
Bilateral talks between the German and Chinese governments were once an expression of a very close relationship. Now the talk is more of systemic rivalry.
Consultations between Germany and China used to demonstrate partnership. But rifts have emerged over China's "rock-solid" friendship with Russia, tensions with Taiwan and repression of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.
Thailand's foreign ministry said it will host talks with Myanmar's junta and neighbouring countries on Monday, aiming to find a way out of the post-coup crisis.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a February 2021 putsch ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with swathes of the country ravaged by fighting between the junta and its opponents.

Diplomatic efforts to halt the bloodshed have so far proved fruitless.

Thailand's foreign ministry will host an "informal meeting" of neighbouring countries on Monday as part of efforts to "resolve the situation in Myanmar peacefully," according to a statement.

"High-level" representatives from Laos, India, China, Brunei and Vietnam were expected to attend, it added, without giving further details.

Authorities in Myanmar and Cambodia have confirmed their foreign ministers will attend the talks.

AFP has contacted China's foreign affairs ministry for comment.

The talks come as peace initiatives by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) languish in the doldrums, with the bloc hamstrung by its charter principles of consensus and non-interference in members' affairs.

The 10-country bloc has barred Myanmar's junta from top-level summits for failing to implement a peace plan agreed upon more than two years ago.

ASEAN's last leaders' summit, held in May, ended without any significant progress on the peace plan, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo warning that the bloc risks becoming irrelevant.

A Thai foreign ministry letter proposing the talks and seen by AFP said it was "time for ASEAN to fully re-engage Myanmar at the leaders' level".

The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia, among the junta's harshest critics within the ASEAN, will not attend Monday's meeting, according to officials.

On Friday, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that conditions were not yet right for ASEAN to open high-level talks with Myanmar on the country's political situation.

The "National Unity Government" in Myanmardominated by lawmakers from Suu Kyi's government who are working to overturn the coup, slammed Thailand's invitation to the junta.

"Inviting the illegitimate junta to this discussion will not contribute to the resolution of Myanmar's political crisis," it said.

More than 3,600 civilians have been killed in the Myanmar military's crackdown since the putsch, according to a local monitoring group, while the United Nations says more than one million people have been displaced by violence.

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By Celia Belin, Majda Ruge and Jeremy Shapiro*



America is changing and US foreign policy is changing with it. For most..

Eurasia Review 05 Jun 2023
Blinken is the first US secretary of state to visit China in five years. His visit aims to thaw the relationship between the two countries amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The New York Times said there is strong evidence that Russia was responsible for blowing up the dam. Meanwhile, Kyiv thanked allies for disaster aid, following the floods caused by the dam collapse. DW has the latest.
Amid the spoiled farmland and destroyed crops, the waterlogged homes and ruined lives, the now slow-motion tragedy that is the draining of the Kakhovka reservoir is also peeling back time on an almost forgotten aspect of Ukrainian history.
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The BBC finds evidence an overcrowded fishing vessel was not moving for at least seven hours before it capsized.
Aid remains in UK bank until agreement is reached on whether funds can be spent outside war-torn country
Forty minutes into the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa  along with six other African presidents and government leaders  and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the live feed broadcasting the talks was cut.
Some books shouldn't have to exist, but you're glad they do. This one describes a whole field of work "" using art-creation to help kids in Arizona and Southern California deal with trauma created by anti-immigrant policies and attitudes "" which shouldn't have to exist, but you're glad it does. The book is called Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance Among Immigrant Children by Sylvia Rodriguez Vega. The author has worked with kids in school classes, helping them to create drawings (many of them included in the book) and improvisational theater productions, to express what they're feeling and to begin to overcome some of their fear and anger.

Some of these kids have had parents or other loved ones seized, jailed, and deported. Some have risked their lives crossing an imaginary line on the Earth. Some have had loved ones die in that effort. All have experienced living with fear of police, with the discrimination of second-class status, and with racist attitudes. All have also lived with the impact of the poisonous talking boxes that their families impose on their living rooms. Much of what disturbs them is the media creation of national news narratives and the characters who act out those dramas, including people like Donald Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, as well as those who selectively generate pseudo-outrage over the caging of immigrants depending on the political party of the U.S. president at the time.

One would like to hope that these young students' artwork would do more than just help them to psychologically resist, that it would also help teachers to learn the value of such art projects, and "" even more so "" help people in general to develop the will to put an end to hateful policies and attitudes toward immigrants. The policy, for example, of making children "legal" but leaving their parents subject to being snatched and deported at any moment is not a policy of kindness to children. Not only are those children left without parents "" in the name of upholding the Family or Freedom or The Rule of Law or god knows what "" but they are also, predictably enough, left with the fear of being snatched and deported themselves. It's not an easy fear to live with. Would you want yourself or your children to live with it? Would you not much prefer to get the U.S. government to stop sanctioning, punishing, militarizing, and degrading countries south or its border, 200 years into the Monroe Doctrine, thereby reducing the need for people to flee north? Would you not prefer to let those who come north go back south and back north again, with the billions now invested in militarizing the border becoming available for something useful?

One would like to hope, also, that another lesson might be drawn from this book. The same media outlets that traumatize immigrant children teach them solutions that will not work. Having consumed countless dramas in which violence ridiculously solves everything, these children fantasize about similar actions. They've learned from Hollywood that a "sniper" is a hero, even if they don't have any interest in killing Iraqis. The single most popular solution to immigration issues that comes up in their theater improv is the assassination of Donald Trump. No school has taught them that nonviolent action works or that cycles of violence fail. No school has taught them that structural injustice requires a structural solution. No school has taught them that the deportation record belongs to President Obama, or that the number of detainees has soared under President Biden, or that the U.S. government has no pro-immigrants' rights political party.

These would be very easy things to teach, but someone would have to do it. They would be up against, not only the enormous impact of the television, but also the whole life situation of these kids. They know that they can't go to college without proper papers, not to mention truckloads of money. They are among the most heavily recruited targets for entry into the U.S. military. The people they see exercising power are mostly police. One of the few jobs open to them is that of joining the police. For some of them, Mexican warlords have a mythical Robin Hood status derived from the supposedly just use of violence. Even if one day a year someone says the name Cesar Chavez, that hardly undoes cultural saturation with the false goodness of violence and murder.

In some of the artwork these kids have created, peace and understanding are reached. Someone like them shakes hands with, talks with, and persuades Trump or Arpaio or a cop. There's probably not a single adult Trump supporter or opponent who would do anything other than laugh at the idea of an immigrant speaking with him and changing his mind. I myself don't find the question of what goes on in his mind worth considering at all. But the goal of making peace through dialogue, even if cartoonishly represented by buffoonish media characters who stand in for entire institutions, is exactly the right goal "" and hopefully one advanced by the artworks envisioning it.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently suggested a diplomatic offensive to secure your country via arms control.

He suggested rekindling arms control talks with our main adversaries - Russia and China. Nearly every arms control treaty our country entered with Russia has been broken since the beginning of Cold War II, and there are legitimate worries about a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Of course, Russia hasn't helped matters any with its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Sullivan's move means the U.S. is willing to engage one-on-one or multilaterally, stressing the importance of conversation as anxieties rise.

"We're entering a new era, one that demands new strategies and solutions to achieve the goals we've always had: prevent an arms race, reduce the risk of misperception and escalation, and most importantly, ensure the safety and security of our people and people around the world from nuclear threats," Sullivan said in a report by the Arms Control Association.

We live in stark times in terms of arms control. Deteriorating relations between the US and Russia led to the abandoning of key nuclear treaties that helped maintain strategic stability for decades - the anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. During the first Cold War, the two superpowers worked together to simmer the conflict at times. For 50 years, weapons treaties have led to a drop in the number of warheads across the globe.

The last remaining arms control pact, known as the New START Treaty, is scheduled to expire in Feb. 2026. President Vladimir Putin suspended Russia's participation. There are no talks between the two countries currently. If New START lapses without another deal, it would be the first time since 1972 that the two leading nuclear nations, which control 90% of the world's nuclear warheads, were without an agreement governing their strategic stockpiles.

China, a recent edition to the club of great powers, has never been part of a nuclear-arms agreement and has shown no signs of attempting to control its weapons programs. China's unwillingness to engage with the U.S. has raised questions about the two superpowers' ability to collaborate on nuclear arms reductions. Right now, we live in a sad and unstable world.

Arms control agreements don't happen overnight, as they take years to craft. Sullivan said the war in Ukraine posed a hurdle to such negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rattled his nuclear saber at the U.S., and the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance as they try to pressure him to abandon his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The national security advisor acknowledged that a new agreement would include China with its growing nuclear ambitions. The U.S. nuclear arsenal will not need to match the combined nuclear forces of both China and Russia, Sullivan correctly stated, despite signs that China and Russia have increased military collaboration in recent years. The White House believes such a strategy risks a volatile three-way arms race, Sullivan said in reports.

We're in the early phases of Cold War II, a tragedy, but hopefully the planned arms control strategy can lead to more arms control deals down the road. Fewer weapons in the world mean more security!
The United States and China have failed to overcome their most serious disagreements but were able to discuss them in a potentially constructive way and have agreed to continue talks, US and Chinese officials said Sunday.

US officials said Secretary of State Antony Blinken was able during a nearly 6-hour meeting to secure a visit to Washington by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

But both sides said advancement on the issues that divide them remains a work in progress while the Chinese foreign ministry said the China-US relationship is at the lowest point since its establishment.

China confirmed that Qin had accepted the invitation at a mutually convenient time but no date was set.

The State Department said that Blinken had stressed the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation.

The Chinese, meanwhile, restated their position that the current state of relations does not serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples or meet the shared expectations of the international community, according to the foreign ministry.

Blinken, the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, will have more senior level contacts with the Chinese on Monday, including potentially with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Despite Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital, the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies was slim.

And neither side showed any inclination to back down on their entrenched positions.

Blinkens trip followed his postponement of plans to visit China in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the US.

The talks could pave the way for a meeting in the coming months between Biden and Xi. Biden said Saturday that he hoped to be able to meet with Xi in the coming months to take up the plethora of differences that divide them.

That long list incudes disagreements ranging from trade to Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea and Russias war in Ukraine.

In his meetings on Sunday, Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.

Blinken made clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order, the State Department said.

The Chinese foreign ministry countered in its statement that China hopes that the US will adopt an objective and rational perception of China, work with China in the same direction, uphold the political foundation of China-US relations, and handle unexpected and sporadic events in a calm, professional and rational manner.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Blinken emphasized the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries.

Since the cancellation of Blinkens trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the US And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and US allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Underscoring the difficulties, China rejected a report by a US security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter Chinas growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS, for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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Thursday, June 15 marks three years of the Galwan Valley incident when Chinese and Indian troops clashed deep inside eastern Ladakh, leaving 20 Indian Army personnel and 4 Chinese dead.

The Galwan Valley clashes were the first deadly skirmish between the two militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in five decades and they significantly strained the bilateral ties.

On the night of June 14-15, 2020, the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) engaged in deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in the western sector of the LAC, the de facto border between India and China. Soldiers attacked each other with iron rods and clubs, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops.

18 rounds of high-level talks

The Chinese and Indian military officers held 18 rounds of high-level talks so far with an objective of taking forward the disengagement process in the friction points and restoring peace and tranquility along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

The 18th round of high-level military talks between the two sides were held on April 23 during which they agreed to work out a mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh at the earliest. The two sides completed disengagement in several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless border issue is resolved.

On June 8, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that any expectation of normalization of India's ties with China when the border situation in eastern Ladakh is not normal is unfounded. "The fact is the relationship is impacted. And the relationship will continue to be impacted. If there is any expectation that somehow we will normalise (ties) while the border situation is not normal, that's not a well-founded expectation," he said.

Situation remains tense

According to Sudha Ramachandran of the Diplomat: The situation in Ladakh remains unstable. Despite the two sides disengaging their troops from some "friction points" along the LAC here, mutual suspicions continue to run deep. Not only are the two armies not reducing their troop presence at the LAC - each side maintains some 60,000 troops in Ladakh, even during the bone-chilling winter months - but also, they are building up their deployment of heavy weaponry and equipment. Additionally, they are improving over land and air connectivity infrastructure not just in Ladakh but along the entire LAC.

India is calling for the restoration of the status quo of April 2020 at Ladakh, a demand that China has refused to concede.

The disengagement from "friction points" that has taken place so far has not resulted in Chinese troops moving out of areas occupied since April 2020. Rather, the two sides set up buffer zones in the areas of disengagement. India has lost more territory than China to the buffer zones.

Indian analysts have been drawing attention to India's rather pusillanimous response to China's alleged land grab along the LAC. "India's inability to move beyond rhetoric and diplomacy" in dealing with China could embolden the latter "to initiate a fresh land grab along the LAC," Jabin T. Jacob, associate professor and director of the Centre for Himalayan Studies at the New Delhi-based Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, wrote in Deccan Herald.

Three years after the brutal assault on Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley, the possibility of another face-off cannot be ruled out, Sudha Ramachandran concludes.

India Has Lost Access to 26 of 65 Patrolling Points in Ladakh

Tellingly, a police officer from Leh in Ladakh has disclosed that India has lost access to 26 of 65 patrolling points from the Karakoram Pass to Chumar along the LAC in Ladakh.

In her research paper submitted at the 57th annual conference of India's top police officials in New Delhi on January 20-22, Leh's Senior Superintendent of Police P.D. Nithya said that "due to restrictive or no patrolling" by Indian forces at several patrolling points, India had lost access to patrolling points 5-17, 24-32, 37, 51, 52 and 62.

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Special Counsel Jack Smith, a no-nonsense man.

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By Bob Gaydos

It's not exactly writer's block. More like writer's fatigue. It's what happens, to me at least, when there's really only one story to tell and I've told it from every possible angle, for, oh, about seven years now.

That would be the transformation of the Republican Party by Donald Trump from a responsible, conservative partner in the nation's two-party system, a party once dedicated to the rule of law and respect for the traditions on which our democratic republic was founded, into a race-baiting, power-hungry, intolerant, lying, bullying collection of ignorant bigots and cowardly hypocrites. I think that covers it.

But how many times can you say that? It's what's happened and is still happening and neither a federal indictment of Trump in Florida for hoarding classified government documents after he left the White House nor a conviction and $5 million fine in New York for sexually assaulting a reporter in a changing room at Bergdorf Goodman and then defaming her has changed the basic story.

Most Republicans, even some who are competing with him for the party's presidential nomination, still refuse to condemn his behaviors. They refuse to say he is unfit to hold any public office, much less the highest office in the land. Some actually agree with Trump's methods. Others don't, but they also don't want to roil what they still think is the party's base of cult-like followers loyal only to Trump. Fear and loathing 2023.

It's a self-inflicted situation for the GOP. But there, I've said it again.

These are perilous times for our democracy. I fear far too many Americans still don't grasp that. Trump and his lackeys have threatened our very foundation "" a nation where all men and women are created equal and all, regardless of status, are treated equally under the law.

Jack Smith, Chris Christie, Chris Sununu. They get it. Smith, of course, is the no-nonsense special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Trump's refusal to return classified government documents and his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

My favorite Smith moment, in fact the only Smith moment thus far, was his brusk reading of a brief explanation of the documents indictment and then walking off the stage as the media shouted questions at him. It's all there in the indictment, folks, see you in court.

Christie is the somewhat disgraced former New Jersey governor who has entered the primary race for the GOP presidential nomination with what appears to be the sole purpose of telling the truth about Trump every chance he gets as bluntly as he can. As a New Jersey native, I can tell you that can be pretty blunt and he will not back down.

And Sununu is a respected Republican governor of New Hampshire who has decided not to run for president, but to also point out, in a New England way, how morally, intellectually and politically unfit Trump is for the job.

So, good for them. And good for us.

But the Republican Party still offers the likes of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is out to prove he can be worse than Trump, and former Vice President Mike Pence, who saw the noose waiting for him on Jan. 6, brought by Trump's army, but still can't find the courage to tell the whole truth about his former boss.

I always try to be optimistic, but there's another presidential campaign looming and, as I said, I've told this story before. On October 20, 2016, with an election looming, I wrote: "Republicans, Trump is not one of you. He is Trump. Period. You created him. Your hypocrisy and cowardice have emboldened him and his ilk. He has sullied us all. And he has destroyed you."

Here's to Jack Smith, Chris Christie and Chris Sununu. It's time for a new plot line, folks.

rjgaydos|AT|gmail.comEmail address

Bob Gaydos is writer-in-residence at zestoforange.com.
Crux Fermentation Project of Bend has quietly opened a Southeast Portland pub in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood, its first satellite location.

The Bend brewery took over the space abandoned last summer by Vagabond Brewing, which closed during the pandemic. The location, which was originally part of the Darigold dairy complex, includes the indoor restaurant and bar plus an outside area.

Weve always wanted to have a place in Portland, and weve been looking for a long time, Marketing Director Jason Randles said. We were able to land this space and are really excited to be here.

Crux may be best known for its beers, but its fermentation program also includes lines of wine, cider and whiskey. The Crux Portland Pub is pouring 20 taps of its offerings, which eventually will include three batched cocktails.

Beers on the first taplist include five lagers, such as the Bivio Pilz Italian Pilsner; seven IPAs, including hazies and West Coasts, such as the tropical Grade A Portland IPA brewed for the new pub; and Tart Cherry Tough Love, a barrel-aged imperial stout.

The kitchen serves a full menu of twists on classic pub fare with sandwiches, fish and chips, soups and salads, appetizers and a kids menu. A few of the items include:

Thai Turkey Burger, with pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, fresno chili, cilantro and a kim-chi/sambal mayo.

Chopped Cheese, a sandwich filled with a mixture of seasoned ground beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and burger sauce.

Muffaletta, a sandwich of shaved salami, ham, capicola, mortadella, provolone cheese and olive salad.

Jerk Chicken, a sandwich of breaded chicken, candied bacon, Mama Lils peppers, mango chutney and arugula.

Salads include a House, Watermelon and Crab, Beet and Burrata and a Caesar. Starters include a meat and cheese board, pretzel board, sticky wings and mushroom toast.

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Randles said no grand opening event has been planned for Portland because, in addition to opening the new space, the team has been preparing to throw its 11th anniversary party, Cruxapalooza, on Saturday, June 24, at the Bend tasting room. He said theyre likely to throw a Portland party in September to celebrate the new location.

Crux Portland seats about 100 people inside, and part of the parking lot has been filled with picnic tables and umbrellas. Randles said they will eventually have a wooden deck built for the entire patio area, with a cover possible, as well.

Randles said the Portland location allows the brewery to bring beers to the metro area that previously have been exclusive to the Bend taproom.

We do a lot of tasting-room-only stuff that doesnt leave Bend, so well be able to make those things available at the Portland location, he said. Theres just a few things that dont make it out to market that will now come to Portland.

He said moving into a turnkey situation in Portland, where the facilities were near ready to go in the 6,800-square-foot space, was a big plus, and the Crux team liked the location as well. The area has become a popular craft-beer destination, with nearby spots including The BeerMongers, Apex Bar, Baerlic Brewing, Chuckanuts P. Nut Beer Hall and Ground Breaker Brewing.

A popular bike path also runs nearby, and a MAX light-rail stop and OMSI are within walking distance. It has ample onsite parking as well, Randles said.

Vagabond left behind some fermentation vessels, as it had plans to turn the facility into a brewery. Crux is not brewing at the site but it does plan to add a brewery in the future, Randles said.

One thing that Vagabond left behind that was not kept is the Cessna airplane the previous brewery had mounted near the ceiling.

The plane is awesome and was a great part of the Vagabond plan  they had it as part of their logo, he said. But it was their thing and not ours, so itll be coming out.

The new, modern rustic look is a credit to the skills and hard work of Gary Estenson, Cruxs maintenance manager, and head brewer Sam Wallace, Randles said. They took decades-old onion boxes that had been abandoned on a farm, cleaned them up, and crafted the wood-lined walls with them. Estenson fabricated the copper-cylinder pendant lights hanging along the bar, in addition to other touches.

Getting the place open was a total team effort, Randles said. Gary and Sam did a lot of amazing work, but so did our general manager, Troy Castoe, and our food and beverage manager, Mike Rowan.

Crux was founded by former Deschutes Brewery brewmaster Larry Sidor, former Deschutes sales and marketing chief Dave Wilson, and then-partner Paul Evers. Sidor and Evers remain majority owners, though they are mostly retired and not involved in day-to-day operations. Cam OConnor took over after Sidors departure as head brewer and is now managing director of the operation.

The brewery initially specialized in small-batch, single-format styles of beers. But as beer drinkers tastes evolved, so did Crux. Operating from a motto of always being in pursuit of the next great beer, Crux now brews an array of styles, including IPAs, lagers, sours, farmhouse and barrel-aged beers.

Were just really excited, Randles said, to get to our No. 1 market.

If You Go

What: Crux Portland Pub, the first satellite location of Bends popular Crux Fermentation Project

Where: 2715 S.E. 8th Ave., Suite 172

Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Website: cruxfermentation.com/visit-us/portland-pub

 Andre Meunier; sign up for my weekly newsletter Oregon Brews and News, and follow me on Instagram, where Im @oregonianbeerguy.
A shooting in a campground near the Gorge Amphitheater on Saturday night killed two and injured three, including the suspect, a spokesperson for the Grant County Sheriffs Office in George, Washington said.

The shooting happened around 8:25 p.m. while the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance festival took place in the amphitheater several hundred yards away, said Kyle Foreman, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office.

A shooter, whose name and age have not been released, fired into a crowd. As he walked away, he continued to fire randomly, Foreman said.

It appears at least one sheriffs deputy shot the male suspect. The sheriffs office detained the male suspect, and he sustained injuries, Foreman said. Then the Grant County Sheriffs Office turned over the investigation to the North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit, saying the investigation included a police shooting.

The identities of the victims have not been released, and its unclear what led to the shooting.

We dont know what the motives were, Foreman said.

Concert organizers cancelled the second day of the Beyond Wonderful festival Sunday. Anyone unable to reach someone who attended the festival Saturday may call 509-762-1160. Information will be collected and passed to deputies, the sheriffs office said.

 Beth Slovic; bslovic@oregonian.com; 503-221-8551

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Several hundred people gathered in North Portland on Saturday for the annual Delta Park Powwow and encampment  a free, family-friendly event celebrating Native American culture.

In addition to Native arts and craft vendors, cultural exhibits, fry bread and other delicious food offerings, the intertribal dance routines are a show-stopping event drawing participants and spectators from across the region.

The powwow runs through Sunday, June 17, at East Delta Park (North Denver Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).

Photos from the intertribal dance Saturday afternoon are in the gallery above.

Sean Meagher | @seanspix on Instagram
The agreements that ended the Republican-led walkout at the Oregon Legislature wont please the ideological purists or the one-issue voters who equate compromise with betrayal.

But for the millions of Oregonians who live with compromise as a reality of daily life, the restart of the legislative session is an enormous relief. Oregonians need legislation that helps provide more housing and removes barriers to construction. They need behavioral health investments that answer the urgency of the mental health and addiction crises playing out across the state. They need reforms to Oregons broken public defense system to ensure representation for those charged with crimes. And they need the Legislature to act this session  not wait for next years.

Democrats made the right call to compromise on abortion and gun-safety bills in order to address the numerous emergencies facing Oregonians. Oregon is already among the most liberal states in the country on ensuring abortion access and has adopted several laws in recent years that help reduce gun violence. And while Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, they need enough Republican or Independent legislators to attend Senate floor sessions to meet the constitutionally-required two-thirds minimum of legislators to vote on bills. Lawmakers will have a lot of ground to cover in these last several days before the mandated June 25 adjournment, but the breakthrough and speedy work so far by the Senate suggest they will be able to do so.

Predictably, Democratic and Republican legislative leaders all declared victory for their side and for Oregonians as a whole. But they are correct. A failed session would have been a disaster for all. It is a reflection of legislators commitment to public service  which is far from an easy career path  that they ultimately set aside animosity to find a path forward.

Oregonians are better off today than they were a week ago when the legislative session was in doubt. In the two days they have been back in session, senators have quickly approved long-sought restrictions on untraceable, owner-assembled ghost guns; passed a slew of agency budgets that will ensure public services continue; and are poised to adopt fixes to improve administration of Measure 110, which directs marijuana tax dollars to addiction treatment providers. These bills are not perfect, but they are significant wins with broad support.

Legislators, however, cannot keep playing this game of chicken, where Oregonians are the ones who end up crushed in the collision of agendas, left and right. Certainly, lowering the minimum for quorum to match the 50%-plus one that most other states follow would end the effectiveness of walkouts. But changing that constitutional provision will require approval by Oregonians. Any such vote is at least more than a year off, and passage is no sure thing.

But ironically enough, this session, which made history for Oregons longest ever legislative walkout, also demonstrated how to avoid a repeat. The session began with bipartisan collaboration to pass critical bills addressing Oregons housing crisis and the states competitiveness for federal semiconductor investments. While lawmakers rightfully debated and disagreed on elements of legislation, they broadly recognized the urgency of action and followed through with impressive support.

The impending June 25 deadline appears to have lent the same kind of clarifying momentum. With the walkout in its sixth week, legislators relented on earlier refusals to consider bill changes. Smartly, Democratic Sen. Kathleen Taylor, who has developed a friendship with Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp over previous bipartisan efforts, played a key role in breaking the impasse. Trust, relationships and a focus on unifying priorities matter  and can make all the difference between a successful or failed session.

Legislative leaders should take these lessons to heart for the next session and beyond. They should commit to talking through shared priorities with party leaders before the start of a session. They should also establish ground rules that are fair, consistent and transparent for appointing committee members, excusing absences and other processes that get little attention from the public but feed directly into relationship-building among legislators. And while each party will have priorities that conflict with the others, there must be a willingness to hear the views of Oregonians who disagree and genuinely consider how to broaden a bills appeal.

Unfortunately, its unclear whether some legislators will ever get behind the idea of compromise. Several Republican and Independent senators failed to show up for the floor session on Friday. While they may already be disqualified from running for re-election under Measure 113, they should recognize that refusing to show up only hurts their own constituents. Pointless stands do not constitute public service.

Oregon used to pride itself on leaders ability to find solutions through bipartisan pragmatism. But weve moved away from the Oregon Way to a legislative philosophy that might makes right. Certainly, the majority  whether Democratic or Republican  has the power to do as it pleases. But Oregons civic health, frayed from divisive national politics, disinformation campaigns and mistrust among fellow Oregonians, needs a more magnanimous strategy that seeks to pull people into the circle rather than pummel an agenda through.

The sense of alienation is real. Voters in 12 counties have indicated theyd rather join Idaho than remain a part of Oregon, reflecting the lack of representation that many residents feel. While many might write off the chances that the movement to shift borders will succeed, they should not so easily dismiss the sentiment of Oregonians who feel so discarded and disdained.

It may be unrealistic to suggest that the Legislature can go from the brink of disaster to a new era of collaboration and compromise. But there is something so hopeful about the fact that legislators peered into the abyss and chose to step back. Legislators have the keys to solving walkouts  provided they are willing to use them.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

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As the Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade came to an end at North Portlands Lillis-Albina Park, the 51st annual Juneteenth Oregon celebration was just getting started.

By noon, thousands of people were streaming into the park for food, live music, kids activities and to visit the dozens of vendors who had set up shop. A passport program encouraged people to collect stamps from different booths and be entered for a raffle prize.

Heather Coleman-Cox, an organizer with Juneteenth Oregon, told the crowd that last years parade had about 800 marching participants. This years was closer to 1,000.

Festivities kicked off with a prayer from Rev. Dennis Payne with First AME Zion Church:

God, its a little cold out here right now, we need some sun, we need some heat to come through these clouds, he said. Theyre predicting rain but were predicting Jesus to do what he does best.

And the clouds did part, providing perfect temperatures and sunny weather for the first day of Portlands two-day Juneteenth celebration.

Portland Juneteenth parade and festival Saturday, June 17, 2023.Mark Graves/The Oregonian

This was the first time Marley Avritt of Warley Bird Creations had a booth at Juneteenth to sell her whimsical earrings and buttons made from decoupaged photos, tiny plastic toys and other odds and ends.

I decided a long time ago that other people could make boring jewelry, she said, but I wanted to make all of the silly things.

Avritt is a massage therapist by day, but Warley Bird is a creative outlet and a chance for her to attend local fairs and events. Shell be at Portlands Good in the Hood festival next week.

Its very important to be a part of the community, Avritt said. Its a really nice thing to see so many Black-owned businesses and people supporting each other.

92 1 / 92 Juneteenth parade and festival in Portland 2023 The Oregonian

Author and poet Montrell Goss was selling his childrens books featuring Chillin the Courageous Coyote along with shirts and other merchandise with the coyotes slogan, Dont judge, show love. (https://chillinscreations.com/)

Goss said he wrote the books after working as a behavioral specialist for Portland Public Schools because he wanted to offer a character children could relate to. Hes been a long-time supporter of Juneteenth Oregon but this was his first time with a booth.

Portland Juneteenth parade and festival Saturday, June 17, 2023.Mark Graves/The Oregonian

If you look around, its diverse, and I love the diversity, he said of the crowd. Its not just about the African American community, its about everybody, and I love that Oregon can come together to do these events.

Marsha Peoples Jacks mother Clara Peoples helped organize the first public Juneteenth parade and celebrations in Oregon in 1972.

She spearheaded it, Peoples Jack said. We all just did as mom said.

Clara Peoples died in 2015, but her family has continued the tradition.

Peoples Jack was unable to attend the last several in-person events because she was traveling for work, so she was moved to see how many people turned out this year. It began as a festival with fewer than 30 vendors and whatever local artists they could find. Now, the two-day festival attracts many more vendors, and the festival attracts traveling headliners.

It almost brings me to tears, she said. Her mother, she said, would just be out of her skin.

Among the performers on Saturday was Kamari Rivers, 11, who read the poem Im Proud to be Black that hed written for the event. He started writing poetry in 2020 after a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd.

Portland Juneteenth parade and festival Saturday, June 17, 2023.Mark Graves/The Oregonian

I wrote that poem to inspire Black boys like me, he said, to show them that they are enough and that they dont need to change the skin theyre in.

Hes read his poetry in front of the Oregon Capitol, at protests and other events. This year was his third reading at Portlands Juneteenth festival. He said he appreciated the crowds warm reception.

It shows that Im really making an impact, he said.

Quanna McCloud sat on a grassy berm on the celebration grounds outside of Harriet Tubman Middle School, watching the event. McCloud recently moved to Portland from New York, where there are often so many Juneteenth celebrations its hard to get to them all, she said. Saturdays celebration gave her a chance to get out of the house and see how Portland celebrates the holiday.

Its good to see everyone out, McCloud said.

To McCloud, Juneteenth represents freedom -- and reinforces the need for communication.

(Its) an opportunity to remember that though everyone may have been free, everyone wasnt free, because it wasnt communicated, she said.

Throughout the afternoon, the audience danced on the lawn to the sounds of Portland bands like the Kirk Green Band and watched performances from dance groups like the 503 Sliders. On a nearby street, a lemonade stand sold five varieties of the drink and dozens stood in line for Texas style barbecue.

Princess Fletcher, a McDaniel High School student crowned Ms. Juneteenth Oregon 2023 recited a poem for the audience about resilience and identity.

To be Black is our struggle. The identity and power to say: Ive overcome. Fletcher said.

Portland Juneteenth parade and festival Saturday, June 17, 2023.Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Fletcher, 16, was runner up for Ms. Juneteenth Oregon last year before assuming the crown. Shes proud that the organization saw the responsibility shes willing to take on in the ambassador role. Riding in the morning parade, she noted the little girls smiling and waving at her as she passed by.

When I was their age I never really saw anybody in the limelight that looked like me, that was accepted so much and looked up to so much, she said. They can look up to me  seeing me and seeing where I can get to  I want them to be able to push themselves.

They can do it. If they want to be president, go for it.

A number of festival goers visited The Oregonian/OregonLives booth and shared their thoughts about what Juneteenth means to them:

A celebration of unity and love for the Black community. - Erika

A day where all people get together and celebrate Black people. - Jarius

It is symbolic of the slow pace of African American empowerment and self determination. - Adrian Stewart

Juneteenth means freedom and liberation. It allows me to look at just how far we have come in this country. There aint no going back. - Alex J

Juneteenth means visibility to everyones story and experience in America. Its a closer step to all in liberty and justice for all. - Aishiki Nag

Freedom for my people. We are not there yet. We are moving forward. God save our planet. - Lena

America finally recognizing at a federal level the liberation of American Black folks. - Vee Valyria Lewis

Recognition of freedom and work still to do toward liberation. - Clayton
Oka Hiroshi, Japans ambassador to Egypt, inaugurated two projects in Old Cairo on Thursday as part of Japans Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (KUSANONE).

The first project is designed to empower and provide employment support for women in Old Cairo.

The Gozour Foundation for Development is using the close to $84,000 grant to provide handicraft and culinary training to almost 100 young women, as well as establish a kitchen lab.

During his visit, Ambassador Hiroshi witnessed the results of the project, including the successful completion of a training.

The second will enhance the physical and educational environment for hearing impaired children in El-Malek El-Saleh district.

The Nardin Association for Social Services will use the nearly $90,000 grant to renovate a facility, Deaf Unit, to provide safer activities for the 60 impaired children and 23 staff members who currently use the facility.

During the ceremony, Archbishop Samy Shehata, chairman of Nardin Association, together with other speakers expressed their sincere appreciation for Japans assistance.

Ambassador Hiroshi emphasized the importance of human security to the central promise of the Sustainable Development Goals that "no one is left behind" by protecting and empowering vulnerable people by focusing on each individual.

He expressed his willingness to continue actively supporting Egypt, which is experiencing remarkable economic growth, to reduce the number of people left behind by said growth as much as possible and spread smiles throughout Egypt.

KUSANONE provides direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in local communities. Japan has provided approximately $10 million to Egypt since 1994, supporting 176 projects in a wide range of sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women empowerment and support of people with special needs.

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Freetown, Sierra Leone (PANA) - Ahead of Sierra Leones presidential and parliamentary elections on 24 June, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Long-Term Observers have continued their consultations with political stakeholders, including the civil society organisation, National Election Watch (NEW), a major player in the electoral process
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - A new 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the US-Saudi facilitators that went into force at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) is holding in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, as the warring parties pledge their commitment to stop hostilities
New York, US (PANA) - With hate spreading lightning fast on social media and mega spreaders using divisive rhetoric to inspire thousands, the United Nations is calling for concerted global efforts to combat hate speech
Photo: (Photo : SETH HERALD / Getty Images)

An Ohio father has been charged with murder after his three young sons were found shot dead in a horrifying incident that unfolded in their family home.

The tragic event has left the community in shock and disbelief as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding this devastating family tragedy.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Chad Doerman, a 32-year-old resident of Ohio, has been accused of the cold-blooded murder of his three young sons.

Ohio Father Killed Three of His Own Kids

NBC News reported that the Clermont County Sheriff's Office revealed that deputies responded to distressing calls reporting gunshots and a young girl running in the street, screaming that her father was killing everyone.

When law enforcement arrived at the home in Monroe Township, they discovered the lifeless bodies of the three boys, aged 3, 4, and 7, who had been shot and killed.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies encountered a grim sight. Chad Doerman was found sitting outside the house, seemingly devoid of emotion.

The boys' mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also discovered outside the home, having sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her hand.

Tragically, paramedics' efforts to save the boys' lives proved unsuccessful, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Clermont County Sheriff Robert Leahy personally broke the devastating news of the children's deaths to their mother at the hospital where she was being treated for her injuries.

The community, along with friends and family, has been left reeling from the unimaginable loss of three young lives, trying to comprehend the depths of this heartbreaking family tragedy.

A Planned Act of Incomprehensible Cruelty

Furthermore, according to Clermont County, Ohio, he is charged with three counts of aggravated murder.

Prosecutors requested an unprecedented amount of $20 million as the bond for Chad Doerman, surpassing any previous requests in their history.

During Chad Doerman's bond hearing, prosecutors painted a chilling picture of premeditated violence.

David Gast from the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office revealed that Doerman had meticulously planned the events leading to the murder of his own children.

Gast described the heinous act as incomprehensible cruelty, in which the father lined up his three boys and executed them with a rifle.

One of the boys had managed to escape into a nearby field before being hunted down by his own father, who then executed him in front of witnesses.

Court documents stated that Doerman confessed to planning and carrying out the deaths of his victims over several months, further adding to the shock and horror surrounding the case.

Read Also: Teen Driver's Fatal Sleep: Idaho Crash Claims Father, Two Siblings on Family Vacation

Ongoing Investigation and Community Support

According to ABC, authorities have stressed that the investigation is ongoing, with no immediate indication of what prompted such a devastating act.

The Clermont County Sheriff's Office clarified that there were no signs of forced entry into the home, suggesting that Doerman acted alone in committing this heinous crime.

As the investigation continues, the case will be reviewed in its entirety by the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office for consideration of additional charges.

The New Richmond School District, where the boys likely attended, expressed profound sadness over the incident.

They offered condolences to the affected families and pledged support by making grief counselors available at Monroe Elementary School.

The local community has rallied together, seeking solace and strength amidst the profound sorrow caused by this tragic loss of innocent lives.

In the face of such a devastating family tragedy, Ohio and the nation mourn the loss of these three young boys, whose lives were tragically cut short.

The profound impact of their deaths will be felt for years to come as authorities and the community strive to find answers and healing in the wake of this unimaginable act of violence.

Related Article: Pediatricians Warn Weighted Sleep Sacks, Swaddles for Infants Could Be Deadly
Photo: (Photo : NARINDER NANU / Getty Images)

Movie nights are the perfect opportunity to gather the whole family and create cherished memories. And what better occasion to celebrate family togetherness than Father's Day?

This Father's Day, why not plan a special movie night that honors the fathers in your life?

We've curated a list of 10 exceptional films that are sure to make this movie night an unforgettable experience.

From heartwarming tales to thrilling adventures, these movies will entertain, inspire, and provide the perfect backdrop for quality family time. So grab the popcorn, cozy up on the couch, and let the movie magic begin!

10 Movies To Watch for Father's Day

The Pursuit of Happyness:

According to Decider, starring Will Smith in a captivating performance, "The Pursuit of Happyness" is a remarkable film that highlights the power of perseverance and the bond between a father and his son. Based on a true story, this inspiring tale follows Chris Gardner as he faces numerous hardships while striving to provide a better life for his child. The movie's emotional depth and heartfelt storytelling make it a must-watch for any Father's Day movie night.

The Lion King (1994):

Transport your family to the majestic African savannah with the timeless Disney classic, "The Lion King." This beloved animated film tells the tale of Simba, a young lion prince who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, responsibility, and courage. With its iconic soundtrack, stunning animation, and powerful themes of family and legacy, "The Lion King" is a movie that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:

As recommended by Real Simple, for dads who love adventure and excitement, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" is a thrilling choice. Join the legendary archaeologist Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) and his father (played by Sean Connery) on a quest to find the Holy Grail. This action-packed film combines humor, breathtaking stunts, and a captivating story, making it a perfect addition to your Father's Day movie night.

Big Daddy:

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted comedy, look no further than 'Big Daddy.' Starring Adam Sandler, this film tells the story of Sonny Koufax, an irresponsible man who unexpectedly becomes the caregiver for a young boy. As Sonny navigates the challenges of fatherhood, hilarity ensues. 'Big Daddy' offers plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments, making it an ideal choice for a fun-filled Father's Day movie night.

Daddy's Home:

When it comes to blending families and comedic chaos, 'Daddy's Home' delivers the laughs. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell star as two very different dads competing for their children's affection. This entertaining comedy explores the complexities of modern fatherhood with a healthy dose of humor and unexpected twists. Add 'Daddy's Home' to your movie night lineup for a dose of laughter and family dynamics.

Daddy Day Camp:

Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure at 'Daddy Day Camp.' According to Forbes, in this family comedy, Cuba Gooding Jr. takes on the role of Charlie Hinton, who decides to transform a rundown summer camp into a thriving haven for kids. As Charlie faces numerous challenges, he learns valuable lessons about fatherhood, friendship, and the importance of believing in oneself. 'Daddy Day Camp' is a light-hearted choice that the whole family can enjoy.

Read Also: Family Fun on Father's Day: 10 Ideas for Enjoyable, Memorable Moments

The Incredibles:

For an animated superhero extravaganza, 'The Incredibles' is an excellent pick. This Pixar masterpiece follows the Parr family, a clan of undercover superheroes forced to embrace their powers to save the world. With its captivating storyline, memorable characters, and stunning animation, 'The Incredibles' delivers a heartwarming and action-packed adventure that appeals to both children and adults.

Mulan:

Empower your movie night with 'Mulan,' Disney's animated epic that celebrates bravery, honor, and family. The film tells the story of Mulan, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her father's place in the Chinese army. 'Mulan' showcases the importance of determination, loyalty, and the bond between a daughter and her father. This visually stunning and culturally rich movie is a timeless gem suitable for Father's Day celebrations.

Honey I Shrunk the Kids:

Take a nostalgic trip back to the '80s with the family-friendly adventure 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids.' This classic film follows the misadventures of the Szalinski kids, who accidentally shrink to miniature size. As they navigate the perils of their own backyard, the bond between the children and their father is tested and strengthened. With its imaginative concept and delightful humor, 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' is a fantastic choice for a Father's Day movie night.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines:

As recommended by Netflix, for a modern and humorous take on family dynamics, 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' is a fantastic choice. This animated gem follows the eccentric Mitchell family as they embark on a cross-country road trip amidst a robot uprising. With its clever humor, relatable characters, and themes of family unity, this film strikes a perfect balance between laughter and heartfelt moments. 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' is a movie that fathers and kids can enjoy together.

This Father's Day, make your movie night an extraordinary event with these 10 outstanding films.

From inspiring tales of perseverance to side-splitting comedies and epic adventures, each movie on this list brings something unique to the table.

Whether you're looking for heartfelt moments, laughter, or bonding experiences, these movies are sure to create lasting memories for your family.

So, gather your loved ones, settle in for an unforgettable movie night, and celebrate the fathers in your life with the magic of cinema. Happy Father's Day!

Related Article: Top 5 Best Disney Movies to Watch for Family Night
Photo: (Photo : SAMIR BOL / Getty Images)

In the midst of the escalating conflict in Sudan, UNICEF has issued a heartfelt appeal for the protection of vulnerable children caught in the crossfire.

With the conflict between Sudan's military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamden Dagalo, intensifying, the situation for children has become increasingly dire.

UNICEF's call to action comes as reports reveal the devastating toll the conflict has taken on Sudan's youngest and most defenseless citizens.

UNICEF Pleads Protection of Vulnerable Children in Sudan

UNICEF released a statement on Friday highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict in Sudan on children.

The organization reported that more than 330 children have lost their lives and that an additional 13 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF called upon the warring factions in Sudan to take stronger measures to protect vulnerable young people.

According to MEMO, Mandeep O'Brien, UNICEF's Representative in Sudan, emphasized the dire situation faced by children, describing it as an ongoing nightmare.

He explained that these innocent children are experiencing the heaviest consequences of a violent crisis they had no involvement in creating.

They are caught in the crossfire, suffering injuries, abuse, displacement, and the threats of disease and malnutrition.

Last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross carried out a rescue operation, saving 297 children from an orphanage in Khartoum.

This intervention was prompted by the tragic deaths of 71 children due to hunger and illness since mid-April.

According to ABC, in West Darfur province, UNICEF revealed that at least 14,836 children under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition.

The province has been enduring a near-complete communications blackout for several weeks.

The latest data from the United Nations indicates that the fighting over the past eight weeks has forced over 2 million people to flee their homes across Sudan, with lawlessness and ethnic violence escalating in the Darfur region.

The power struggle between Sudan's military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamden Dagalo, has persisted for two months and resulted in numerous casualties.

According to Sudan's Doctors' Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties exclusively, the fighting has claimed the lives of over 958 civilians.

However, it is likely that the true death toll is even higher. Sudan has a troubled history, particularly with regards to the Darfur region.

In the early 2000s, the region witnessed a rebellion by African tribes against the Islamist government in Khartoum, leading to a brutal military campaign.

Read Also: Teen Driver's Fatal Sleep: Idaho Crash Claims Father, Two Siblings on Family Vacation

UNICEF's Plea for Assistance

As reported by The Star, the United States and Saudi Arabia have jointly called on the opposing factions involved in the conflict in Sudan to completely adhere to the cease-fire.

This appeal comes in anticipation of a pledge conference aimed at securing funding for the growing humanitarian requirements in the African nation.

Over the course of several weeks, both Saudi Arabia and the United States have been engaged in mediating efforts between the warring parties in Sudan.

Despite multiple attempts at implementing cease-fire agreements, the violent conflict continues unabated throughout the country.

UNICEF has stressed the urgent need for $838 million to address the growing crisis in Sudan.

The funds would be allocated towards providing lifesaving assistance such as medical care, nutrition support, clean water, and educational opportunities for children affected by the conflict.

The organization's appeal aims to garner international support and ensure that vulnerable children receive the protection and care they desperately require.

In the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis, UNICEF's appeal for the protection of vulnerable children in Sudan carries significant weight.

The international community must heed this call to action and work collectively to bring an end to the violence, promote peace, and provide the necessary support for the innocent children caught in the midst of this conflict.

The time for action is now, as every child's life and future hang in the balance.

Related Article: Pediatricians Warn Weighted Sleep Sacks, Swaddles for Infants Could Be Deadly
Weekend plans, going out to get some food or a drink at the end of the working day, retreats or trips are some of the tactics that many companies use to promote teamwork, communication and a sense of belonging. This strategy, known as team building, is in many cases honest and well-intentioned, and can even improve the productivity and well-being of the workers. However, there can also be a dark side to it; for instance, when it is not done during business hours and it is mandatory.

Either because of the way in which they are presented or due to the consequences people face if they do not wish to participate, these activities can be an ordeal for the employees. Healthy workplace requests take into account that there are things that cannot be demanded of workers, and that they have the possibility of choosing from freedom, not from coercion, explains psychologist Ana Gomez, who insists that companies should not cross the boundary of proposing activities of any kind outside working hours.

After spending many hours a week with the same people in a work context, a person usually prefers to spend whatever free time they have with their loved ones or by themselves, recharging batteries for the following week. However, choosing this option can be tricky if those who provide the paycheck are constantly appealing to the values of loyalty and family, and demanding that they prove their commitment to the company by complying with everything they consider relevant  including attending team building meetings. In this context, employees may feel that this type of activity affects their future within the company. And women fare worse in this aspect.

If the personal time and preferences of the employees are not respected, says Gomez, the result can be precisely the opposite of what was sought by the team building exercise: The balance between personal life and work must be kept stable. Activities with the company must be regulated in time and space so as not to generate a feeling of overload. Otherwise, something that was supposed to benefit the worker can end up causing harm: insomnia, lack of motivation, obsessive thoughts about work, or conflicts with the family or a partner due to a poor work-life balance. As the saying goes, the cure can be worse than the disease.

No one can compete with our team building days. The last time we had a zip line, a barbecue with a veggie option and, afterwards, karaoke for everyone. All the kids in the team were delighted, brags a CEO played by Rober Bodegas in a video where the Spanish comedy duo Pantomima Full parodies the way in which companies manage to destroy their employees weekends; a satire that rings all too true of a type of young company where people are supposedly cared for but where they do not even have the basic protection of a labor union or an employee representative organization.

As explained by Carla Lazo, who talks about labor relations for her almost 60,000 Instagram followers, this resource has gained great popularity in the post-pandemic era, as people have tried to make up for the distance created by remote work. However, the expert points out, there are red flags to take into account, such as when the employee feels forced to participate in those activities, with no option to refuse, or when they resort to emotional blackmail. Also, when the activities are not aligned with the needs and goals of the employees and, therefore, become a waste of time.

The need to belong is a basic necessity of the human being

Effort, balance, loyalty. These three words are written on the enormous wall of the Blanco Scales warehouse in the award-winning film The Good Boss, by Fernando Leon de Aranoa. In it, a cunning businessman played by Javier Bardem shows through his actions how, regardless of what he says, not everything he does is for the good of the workers. Sometimes under a motto about loyalty and the culture of effort, a perfect trick lies hidden, one conceived to manipulate the workers, making them feel compelled to fulfill every last expectation of the boss because, after all, he is there to take care of them.

Basically, they appeal to these values because they know that the worker wants to relate to them. If there is talk of loyalty and fraternity and the employee rejects a request, they will feel disloyal and inconsiderate, which will cause internal discomfort. Then they will end up agreeing to what the other wants, says Gomez. The need to belong is a basic necessity of the human being, as well as the need for social approval and the need to feel accepted. If someone doesnt show up for an activity and then sees looks of disapproval on all of the staffs faces, they are being punished for it. As a consequence, that person can feel very uncomfortable and anxious, have negative thoughts, feel lonely and isolated, she adds.

Without a doubt, these expressions about family values and loyalty, better suited to movie scripts, can be very effective when it comes to getting people to attend these types of activity. However, the success rate is not absolute, as in many cases the employees become aware that their employers are taking advantage of their vulnerability and refuse to jump through hoops. In fact, one of the unintended consequences of these kinds of attitudes is the motivation to change jobs. Those same bosses are probably the ones that unwittingly cause the entire turnover of their team, says Lazo. After all, its not the tool, but how you use it. Those team building activities can be fun and rewarding  or a punishment from above, depending on how and why they are set into motion.

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The number of men seeking paternity tests in Uganda has recently increased by 70% Ugandas spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Mundeyi, says.



Three years ago, three tests per month were carried out, now it is close to 100 every month, Uganda's Monitor newspaper quotes him as saying.



The government said it was unsure why these numbers were rising.



Some men now are now waking up to the fact that they are looking after children that do not actually belong to them, Mr Mundeyi told NTV Uganda.



He mentioned that out of 12 results that they had got back this week so far, only two confirmed the father was the biological parent.



Speaking to NTV Uganda, Josephine Kasaato, president of the Mothers Union in Buganda region, said there should be counselling to support families that had gone through the testing.



Tests are carried out at the Government Analytical Laboratory in the capital, Kampala, and cost $100 (78).

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A South African Airlines (SAA) plane carrying President Cyril Ramaphosas security detail and media representatives that has been grounded in Poland since Thursday will remain at Warsaw airport until Sunday, an airport spokesman told the BBC.



The SAA chartered flight was part of the delegation of the African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia. President Ramaphosa flew on a separate plane, and then travelled to Ukraine on Friday via train from south-eastern Poland.



The Polish foreign ministry said some of the passengers on board the security and media aircraft were not notified to the Polish authorities ahead of time as being on board.



The Polish Border Guard said some of the presidents security detail did not have permits to carry weapons in Poland and were told they could not disembark while carrying their firearms.



Warsaw Chopin Airport spokesman Piotr Rudzki told the BBC that some of the passengers, including journalists, had now got off the plane and gone to a hotel.



Weve received information that they have decided to stay in Warsaw until Sunday. The journalists have disembarked, we dont know about the other passengers, Mr Rudzki said.



He said the aircraft had refuelled and had started to move when the cockpit informed airport staff that take-off had been cancelled and the plane would stay in Warsaw.



Earlier a South African official had said the plane would fly to Russia, where President Ramaphosa is due to meet Vladimir Putin on Saturday.



Mr Rudzki said there were passengers on board without the necessary paperwork to carry their firearms in Poland, whilst others had photocopies of their permits.



We cannot let passengers with illegal firearms into the EU, he said.



He said he had received information the South African authorities were in the process of sending the necessary paperwork to Warsaw.



Some of the delegation didnt want to be separated from their firearms. They were given the chance by the Border Guard to disembark without their firearms," he added.



"The firearms would have remained on the plane, they were not going to be confiscated as some reports in South Africa have said."

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghana cannot be found in the World Ranking of Average Penis Size following a report compiled by worlddata.info.



In 2014, Ghana made headlines when it secured the third position in the global average penis size ranking, with an impressive average length of 17.2 centimetres.



This achievement not only sparked curiosity but also stimulated discussions about cultural perceptions and attitudes surrounding this topic.



However, the most recent data from worlddata.info reveals that Ghana is noticeably missing from the current rankings, leaving many wondering about the factors contributing to this change.



The absence of Ghana from the list suggests either a shift in the methodology used for data collection or a significant change in the reported average sizes across countries.



To shed light on the topic, worlddata.info provides a list of countries leading in average penis size, ranking Ecuador as number one, followed by Cameroon, then Bolivia, Sudan, Haiti, Senegal, Gambia, Cuba, the Netherlands, and Zambia.

Source: Ghanaweb









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.

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NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso North, Collins Augustine Ntim has appealed to the delegates of his party to vote massively for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to emerge victor in their upcoming presidential elections.



The election aimed at choosing a flagbearer to lead the NPP into the 2024 general elections is being contested by eleven aspirants as at now which include the Vice President, former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong among others.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning, Hon. Augustine Ntim touted Dr. Bawumia as the best man to lead the party into victory, come 2024.



He reminded the delegates of the immense support and contributions of Dr. Bawumia to the Akufo-Addo administration and the numerous digital policies that have been introduced by him and called on them to make the right choice.



Dr. Bawumia, he stated, "is the person that I strongly believe deserves the crown and is backed by God . . . he is the one that Ghanaians will accept and due to his humility and the knowledge he has, it won't be difficult for us to market him to Ghanaians".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah Kubi together with Andy Owusu, a special aide to Chairman Wontumi were the first to show up at Dr. Bawumias residence today to accompany him file his nomination.



Many Members of Parliament, members and sympathizers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had throng the private residence of the Vice President, as he prepared to way his way to the National Headquarters of the party to file his nomination.



Andy Appiah Kubi and Andy Owusu who just couldnt keep calm to throw their weight behind the Vice President, had to make their way to the VEEPs house early in the morning. Theyve both publicly declared their support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to lead as the flagbearer for the NPP.



Meanwhile, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed the toil, struggle and anguish he went through to reach where hes gotten to in life.



Speaking during the filing of his nomination to contest for the NPP Presidential race, the Digital man noted that he never got to where hes now by chance. He had to go through the thick and thin of life which included working as a cleaner at dormitories when he had travelled to Canada to seek for greener pastures.



This is evident of how hes championed pro-poor policies geared towards eliminating the plight of the vulnerable in society.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Charles Owusu has fired salvoes at the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and a former Chairman of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng over his recent report indicting some persons within government of their involvement in illegal mining (galamsey).



Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has over the months become a topic for discussion following the release of his report mentioning names of government officials who he accused of sabotaging his work on clamping down on illegal miners due to their interferences and other behaviours they exhibited while he was in office.



In the report was the late former General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party, Kwadwo Afriyie Owusu, popularly called "Sir John", and Charles Owusu, by his association with Sir John, was also cited.



In line with this development, the office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) invited Professor Frimpong-Boateng to assist with investigations into his claims but the latter, who according to information by the OSP was invited a month ago, weeks ago disclosed to Ghanaians that he was arrested by the Special Prosecutor to court sympathy for himself.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning, Charles Owusu expressed his distaste with Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and his report on Sir John.



He wondered why Prof. Frimpong-Boateng thinks he was mistreated because the Special Prosecutor (SP) invited him to his office over his own claims.



As if to quote the popular saying "what is good for the goose is good for the gander" to say Prof. Frimpong-Boateng is not above investigations, Charles Owusu blasted the former Minister saying "just recently when 'Saint' Frimpong-Boateng wrote his useless report as Head of Inter-ministerial and brought it into the public domain saying, even within the report, that illegal gold mining is happening in President Akufo-Addo's house at Kyebi which provoked the President's family to release statements; Ghanaians didn't say anything because he is a 'Saint'.



"Even about my boss who has died and is gone, if he were even alive and you were making those claims, he would have the opportunity to respond. Look at how he described him (Sir John) because he (Frimpong-Boateng) is more human being? . . . I have been invited by Police. I've gone to write my statement because of his report . . . if a State-authorized entity is also investigating him, what is he hiding?"



To him, the Special Prosecutor has done nothing wrong to investigate Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, thus scolding him for trying to paint a bad image about the office of the Special Prosecutor to Ghanaians.



Charles Owusu also slammed Ghanaians for supporting Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's version of the story.



"Somebody sat in his office to write things that when written about him won't make him happy to describe a dead man who has no voice to defend himself, disgraces him and then if that person (Frimpong-Boateng) is invited, you come out to defend him . . . if it is somebody else, we should crucify him but when it turns to another person, then you want us to support that person because that person doesn't sin? Is that so?"



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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An Accra High Court has adjourned the matter involving Charles Nii Armah Mensah, known in showbiz as Shatta Wale to June 27, 2023, to enable the parties file terms of settlement.



The adjournment was requested by the lawyers for the dancehall artiste.



Lawyers for Shatta Wale made the request for two weeks to enable them file the terms of settlement.



Mr. Frank Atese Kwabena, Counsel for Shatta Wale, who held brief for Madam Cynthia Quarcoe, told the court that, they had made some progress in their engagements.



The court, presided over by Justice Joseph Agyemang Adu Owusu, after hearing the respondent, said since settlement was still in progress, the case has been adjourned to June 27, 2023.



On November 2, 2022, Shatta Wale made some publication on his Facebook page, implicating his former Manager, Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, also known a Bulldog, in the murder of Fennec Okyere, among others.



Bulldog then sued him for defamation, but the parties have in various sittings, especially counsel for Shatta Wale, told the court that the parties are willing to settle the matter out of court.



Since March 7, 2023, when the request was made, the parties have appeared in court at least three times, saying talks on settlement was progressing.



On April 18, 2023, lawyers for Shatta Wale again requested for a month for further negotiations after lawyers for Bulldog indicated the parties failed to reach an agreement.



Back in court after a month, on May 16, 2023, lawyers for Shatta Wale indicated that, the parties have now agreed on settlement terms in principle. He, therefore, prayed the court for a month adjournment for the parties to draft the terms of settlement and same filed to the court for its adoption as a consent judgment.



The plaintiff is seeking a declaration of the court that the series of publications made by the defendant as particularised in the statement of claim are defamatory to the plaintiff.



He is also praying for a declaration of the court that the series of publications made by the respondent in the statement of claim are malicious.



An order of the court directed at the respondent to on all his social media pages or accounts, make a publication on seven consecutive days of an unqualified retraction of and unreserved apology for the defamatory words that the defendant has published about the plaintiff, such retraction and apology to be vetted and approved by the plaintiffs lawyers.



An order of the court for perpetual injunction restraining the respondent, his agents, workmen, assigns and servants from publishing or further publishing any defamatory words against the plaintiff.



He seeks general damages for defamation, special damages for defamation and punitive damages for malicious publication of falsehood against the plaintiff.

Source: GNA









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.

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During her first hour in space 40 years ago, Sally Ride told Mission Control, It sure is fun.

Ride became the first American female astronaut in space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. The first thing she did was to release a Canadian satellite from Challengers shuttle bay.

Ride lifted off from Kennedy Space Center with crew commander Robert Crippen, pilot Frederick Hauck, and fellow mission specialists John Fabian and Norman Thagard.

Challenger was on a six-day mission to deploy two communications satellites, one for Canada and one for Indonesia, and to perform scientific and medical experiments.

At the end of her first day in space, after Mission Control thanked the crew for a great day, Ride said, If you think it was a great day for you, you should have been up here, according to an Associated Press story printed in The Patriot-News on June 19, 1983.

Challenger in 1983 also was the first time that NASA had sent a crew of five people into space.

At the age of 32, Ride also was the youngest astronaut.

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, STS-7 mission specialist, communicates with ground controllers from the mid-deck of the earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger in June 1983. She has just opened one of the large lockers during the operation and monitoring of the continuous flow electrophoresis system (CFES) experiment at left edge. (AP file photo/NASA)ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ride was one of six women selected to be a part of NASAs 1978 astronaut class. She had a bachelors degree in English and physics from Stanford University and a masters and Ph.D. in physics from Stanford.

After the six-day Challenger mission in 1983, Ride flew a second shuttle mission in October 1984.

She was scheduled to be on a third crew but it was canceled after the Challenger explosion on Jan. 28, 1986, that killed the entire crew including the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe. The other astronauts on that mission were Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Gregory Jarvis.

She later served on the presidential commission that investigated the Challenger accident and led NASAs strategic planning effort in the mid-1980s.

Retiring from NASA in 1987, she became a science fellow at the Center for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University and, in 1989, joined the University of California-San Diego as a professor of physics and director of the California Space Institute. In 2001, she founded her own company, Sally Ride Science, to pursue her passion for motivating girls and boys to study the STEM fields-science, technology, engineering and math.

The company creates innovative classroom materials, programs and professional development training for teachers. In 2003 she also served on the presidential commission investigating the Columbia accident (the only person to serve on both commissions). In addition to this work, she wrote a number of science books for children, including The Third Planet, which won the American Institute of Physics Childrens Science Writing Award in 1995.

After a 17-month long battle with pancreatic cancer, Ride died on July 23, 2012. Ride was 61 when she died at her home in La Jolla, Calif. Ride had been married to a fellow astronaut, Steve Hawley from 1982 to 1987.

She was survived by her longtime partner, Tam OShaughnessy, who is the CEO and chairwoman of the board of Sally Ride Science.

Ride received the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NCAAs Theodore Roosevelt Award and was inducted into the National Womens Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials said Sunday.

Russian losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, U.K. military officials said in their regular assessment.

According to British intelligence, the most intense fighting has centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut and further west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province. While the update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in these areas and had made small advances, it said that Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in Ukraines south.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. According to the statement by the General Staff, Russia continues to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing attacks around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in Donetsk province, with 26 combat clashes taking place.

Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two civilians were killed, with a further three wounded in the past day.

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces also launched airstrikes on other regions of the east and south of the country.

The body of a killed Russian soldier is seen on a sofa in the recently retaken village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)AP

One civilian was killed and four more wounded in Kherson province as a result of Russias attacks, said regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin, while Zaporizhzhia regional Gov. Yurii Malashko said one person was wounded in Russian attacks that hit 20 settlements in the province.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky on the Zaporizhzhia battlefront.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in the southwestern Odesa province, said Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in nearby Kherson province.

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning, Bratchuk said in a video message on Sunday morning, posted to his Telegram channel.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraines counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, could last a long time.

A group of African leaders carried out a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia in recent days to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war, but the visit ended on Saturday with no immediate signs of progress.

In other developments:

Volodymyr Artyukh, the governor of Ukraines northern Sumy region, which borders Russia, said a father and his son were killed by Russian shelling of the village of Bilopilya. Across the border, Ukrainian shelling hit three villages in Russias Kursk region, said its governor Roman Starovoit.

The death toll from flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has risen to 16 in Ukrainian-held territory, Ukraines interior ministry said late Saturday, while Russian officials said 29 people died in territories controlled by Moscow.

Massive flooding from the destruction of the dam on June 6 devastated towns along the lower Dnieper River in Kherson province, a front line in the war. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of causing the breach.

As the deadline for all Russian volunteer formations to sign contracts with Russias Defense Ministry approaches, widely seen as targeting Russias Wagner mercenary group, Wagner leader and regular Kremlin critic Yevgeny Prigozhin said Sunday that 32,000 former prisoners had returned home after the end of their contracts with Wagner in Ukraine.

According to Prigozhin, 83 crimes were committed by those who had returned home, which he claimed was 80 times less than the number committed by those released from prison over the same period without having served with Wagner.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 68th Oleksa Dovbush hunting brigade runs to his position in the recently retaken village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)AP

Prigozhin toured Russian prisons to recruit fighters, promising pardons if they survived a half-year tour of front-line duty with Wagner. In an interview last month, Prigozhin said he had recruited 50,000 convicts, about 10,000 of whom were killed in Bakhmut.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Alejandra is 32 years old and has a tense expression. She is waiting for her appointment to have an abortion at the Planned Parenthood Golden Glades clinic in Miami. She sits in a room with four other women separated by hospital curtains. Im desperate, its a matter of life and death, she says impatiently. Because of her epilepsy, the gynecologist has warned her that her wanted pregnancy is dangerous. That she should not carry it to term. She is eight weeks along but doesnt want to risk it: she fears that if she leaves it any longer, the new law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, which will lower the legal limit for abortion in the state from 15 to six weeks, will take effect.

Ive been told I could die, she continues. Its not about me anymore, its that I have a six-year-old daughter, and, frankly, I dont trust my mother to take care of her. She makes the gesture of caressing her belly with her hands and adds: There are days when I wake up with this joy, but then I remember that I simply cant. She came to the clinic alone. Hardly anyone knows shes there. That is why Alejandra is pseudonym.

June 24 will mark one year since a conservative-majority Supreme Court struck down federal protection for abortion in the United States. The ruling overturned the half-century-old precedent set by Roe vs Wade (1973), restored the states ability to legislate on the issue, and pierced the lives of women like Alejandra. The decision has also unleashed a multi-front war between two irreconcilable sides.

It has been 12 months of referendums, angry parliamentary discussions and judicial appeals. There is also a lot of misinformation and uncertainty, and it is often not easy to discern what is legal from what is not. Thirteen states have already banned abortion completely. In six others, laws were ready to go into effect as soon as Roe fell and although they have been challenged in the courts, they are well on their way to doing so. Six other states, with Republican majorities, have passed restrictive rules during this legislative session that, when they go into effect, promise to leave large regions of the country, mainly in the south and midwest, without access to abortion. The result is a map of chaos and confusion, as defined by Kelly Barden of the Guttmacher Institute, an independent organization that works at the intersection of politics and reproductive health.

Jasmine, a 23-year-old patient, waiting for an abortion last July at one of Planned Parenthoods 18 clinics in West Palm Beach, Florida. CHANDAN KHANNA (AFP)

That map changes almost daily. The latest change happened just last Friday in Iowa, where Supreme Court voted to block the reinstatement of a rule pushed by Governor Kim Reynolds that outlawed abortion after the sixth week and amounted to a near-total ban.

Few places better embody the ever-changing landscape of post-Roe America than Florida, where this time last year it was legal to terminate a pregnancy up to the 24th week of gestation. Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, Governor DeSantis signed a law lowering the limit to 15 weeks and six days, with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or human trafficking: abortion is only permitted if the mothers life is in danger. The governor stated: Life is a sacred gift worthy of our protection, and I am proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the states modern history.

Emboldened by their overwhelming electoral triumph last November, the Sunshine States Republicans, with a majority in both houses in Tallahassee, did not miss the opportunity and approved the six-week rule. The law is called the Heartbeat Protection Act as as fetal vitals are felt at about six weeks, although viability is not until the 22nd week at the earliest, according to the World Health Organization. This time the law includes the exceptions of rape or incest up to the 15th week, although it places the burden of proof on the rape victim, who must provide a medical report and a police report. If the mothers health were in danger, two physicians would have to certify it.

The Planned Parenthood case

The governor has signed the law, but the rule will not go into effect until the Supreme Court rules on Planned Parenthood v. Florida  which could be any day now. Planned Parenthood, which is comprised of around half of the abortion clinics in the country, challenged the 15-week law on the grounds of the right to privacy recognized by the State Constitution. If, as appears likely, the justices decide in favor of DeSantis interests, Florida will automatically be at the forefront of anti-abortion restrictions. The southeast of the United States will become a gigantic desert for freedom of choice.

The polls say 75% are against that law, Nikki Fried, the only member of the Democratic Party who was part of DeSantis cabinet until the November defeat, explained to EL PAIS. Fried ended up being arrested in April along with her partys minority leader in Congress for protesting the rule. [The governor] has done so because he believes that such extremist policies will help him gain support among the more radical base of his party.

Fried believes, however, that it will take a toll on his White House aspirations, which is why he signed the bill at night and behind closed doors. DeSantis launched his White House bid in May, with a program based on fighting the progressive agenda of so-called woke ideology on issues such as education and the rights of trans people. He summed up this program with the slogan: Make America Florida  promising to make the whole of the United States become like Florida. If he gets elected, he will try to ban abortion nationwide, Fried warns.

The issue has become a hot potato for Republican presidential candidates, who seem to have understood, as demonstrated in last years midterm elections, that policies that are too radical can lose them votes. Without going any farther, the other two Florida-based hopefuls in the crowded race for the conservative partys nomination  former president and clear front-runner Donald Trump and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez  have openly criticized DeSantis bill.

In addition to the new abortion legislation, Planned Parenthoods Golden Glades clinic in Miami, is adapting to Floridas new rules on gender-affirming care, which is banned for minors and restricted for adults. Christopher Pettaway, a patient coordinator at the clinic, says the six-week limit on abortion is catastrophic. Many women cant tell by then if they are pregnant, its only been two weeks since they missed their period. Fifteen weeks, on the other hand, seems to me to be a reasonable middle ground between the two camps, he says. Pettaway explains that an abortion at the health center (one of Planned Parenthoods 18 in Florida) costs between $600 and $900 depending on how far along the pregnancy is. It is also an expense that the states Medicaid program expressly does not cover. In addition, patients are required to make two visits separated by at least 24 hours. They are given an ultrasound and informed of the various options available to them, as well as assistance if they opt for adoption.

Many opt for the abortion pill, but that method is also threatened in the courts. If they take mifepristone off the market, it would be disastrous, says Lucy Estrada, director of Planned Parenthoods Miami health center. She is referring to attempts by an ultraconservative Texas judge to ban the drug (along with misoprostol) that is used in about half of all pregnancy terminations in the United States. The case is still in the hands of a New Orleans appeals court.

Estrada confirms that being surrounded by anti-abortion states, Florida receives many patients from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas to whom Planned Parenthood and other organizations provide assistance, if they need it for travel: bus, lodging or travel in the city, thanks to an agreement with Uber.

If the Heartbeat Protection Act finally goes into effect, the state will cease to be a receiver and become a sender, which will increase the pressure on other places. To the west, it would be necessary to travel to New Mexico  Miami and Santa Fe are 3,200 kilometers (1,988 miles) apart. To the north, the Carolinas await. In South Carolina, a law with a six-week limit is blocked by a judge and awaiting review by a conservative five-man Supreme Court. In North Carolina, a rule prohibiting the termination of a pregnancy after 12 weeks is scheduled to come into force on July 1. Beyond that, there is Virginia: between Miami and its capital, Richmond, there are more than 1,500 kilometers (932 miles).

A lot of people forget the effect these bans have for complicated pregnancies, explains Dr. Shelly Tien. The expert in at-risk gestations, who also used to provide her services in Oklahoma and Alabama, now works only at a Jacksonville, Florida, clinic. It happens even with healthy patients. Most of these mishaps occur after six weeks. These prohibitions affect not only women, but also their families and the communities in which they live. They also prohibit conversations between patients and doctors, who are unable to provide the necessary care before it is too late, and the situation becomes critical.

That is precisely what Alejandra, the woman with epilepsy in the waiting room, wanted to avoid at all costs. The day after the procedure, she described the experience as horrible and said he still did not understand why [politicians] are putting the lives of many women and children in danger. I dont know why they think they have the right to control us.

To change that, an association called Floridians for Freedom has started a petition to force a separate vote in the 2024 presidential election. They want to introduce an amendment to the state constitution that says: No law shall prohibit, criminalize, delay or restrict abortion prior to its viability or when necessary to protect the health of the patient if deemed necessary by her physician, such as Michigan and Kansas have already done in the year since the Supreme Court ruling. At the moment, they have 130,000 signatures. They need 800,000 signatures before February 2023.

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MOUNT CARMEL  Lucas Klingerman has had his brushes with the law but says he didnt deserve what a borough police officer is accused of doing to him.

Klingerman, 29, is one of the victims named by initials in the federal indictment of one current and two former Mount Carmel police officers.

Retired Lt. David Donkochik, current Officer Kyle Schauer and former Officer Jonathan McHugh are accused of depriving arrestees of their civil rights through the use of excess force, taking steps to ensure video of their actions was not preserved and filing charges based on false reports on what occurred.
MILWAUKEE  A bus driver unaffiliated with the team but hired to drive the Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee late Thursday was charged with driving under the influence, Illinois law enforcement officials said.

Around 11:30 p.m. after a game at Wrigley Field, state troopers pulled over the team bus on the right shoulder of I-94 northbound at Dempster Street  about 25 minutes from the ballpark  following reports of erratic driving.

Illinois state police said Ronald Funderburke, 61 of Shelby, N.C., was not following the designed escort, and they initially thought he mightve experienced a medical emergency.

But after pulling the bus over and observing multiple signs of impairment, Funderburke was arrested and transported to the Chicago Police Department 16th District.

Nobody was hurt, and the report did not specify for which company Funderburke worked. He also has no affiliation with the Pirates, although senior vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki said the team is in the process of learning more.

We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired [Thursday] night, Warecki said in a statement provided to multiple outlets. The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely.

Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consistent with this trip, and we are now in communication with the appropriate parties regarding this matter.
A shootout Saturday in Juniata County has left one Pennsylvania State State Police trooper and a suspect dead.

Another state police trooper was also badly injured in an earlier related shooting.

The shootout which left the trooper and suspect dead took place in Walker Township just before 3 p.m.

A second state trooper was shot in an earlier related incident in Mifflintown. Further information has not been released regarding his status.

Police said the incident began when police encountered an armed subject in the area of the Troop G Lewistown Station Saturday morning. They said that at around 12:45 p.m. the person believed to be involved in that incident engaged troopers in Mifflintown Borough and began shooting at an occupied police cruiser.

The shooter was then located in Walker Township following an intense search, and a shootout ensued.

A nearby resident captured harrowing audio of the violent incident and provided it to PennLive. It can be heard in the video below:

CANT SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE? CLICK HERE.
Members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) deployed as part of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) ride in a vehicle in Goma, in eastern Congo Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Elections, coups, disease outbreaks and extreme weather are some of the main events that occurred across Africa in 2022. Experts say the climate crisis is hitting Africa first and hardest. Kevin Mugenya, a senior food security advisor for Mercy Corps said the continent of 54 countries and 1.3 billion people is facing a catastrophic global food crisis that will worsen if actors do not act quickly. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) APAP
Greater Sudbury Police Service has put out a request to locate Joel Roy, 33, seen in an undated police handout photo. Police say that Roy, who escaped from the Sudbury District Jail, was in custody in connection to three homicides and are advising the public to avoid contact with him. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-GSPS, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
People join arms during a reconciliation revival, part of an event to mark Juneteenth, in Minneapolis (Minnesota), on June 19, 2020. ERIC MILLER (Reuters)

Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. This historic event marked the first new federal holiday since the adoption of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, specifically on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger issued an order proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. Initially, Juneteenth was recognized only by certain communities, but it has since grown to become one of the most significant dates for Black Americans.

End of slavery

During the American Civil War, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, a presidential proclamation and executive order that declared enslaved African Americans in Confederate states to be freed. The final Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. It stated: I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States [in rebellion against the U.S.], and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free The proclamation affected South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

The Proclamation declared that the executive branch, including the Army and Navy, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. It applied to more than 3.5 million enslaved people in the country. Approximately 25,000 to 75,000 individuals were immediately emancipated in regions of the Confederacy where the U.S. Army was present.

However, the enforcement of the Proclamation was not immediate everywhere. Texas, the most remote state of the former Confederacy, had 250,000 slaves. Many planters and slaveholders had migrated to Texas to avoid the war and had brought their slaves with them. News of the Proclamation reached Texas after its issuance, and while many slaves knew about Lincolns order emancipating them, they were not freed since the Union army had not yet reached Texas to enforce the Proclamation.

On April 9, 1865, Confederate General-in-Chief Robert E. Lee surrendered, followed by the surrender of the western Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi on June 2. On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived on the island of Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation with General Order No. 3, which freed all remaining slaves. He also oversaw Reconstruction after the war, nullifying all laws passed within the state during the war by Confederate lawmakers.

While it is widely believed that Granger or his troops proclaimed the ordinance by reading it aloud, historians suggest that copies of the Ordinance were more likely posted in public places, including the church attended by Black Americans. The Order read: 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. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

A handwritten record showing General Orders, Number 3, issued by United States Major General Gordon Granger, June 19, 1865. It reads "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. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere." Interim Archives (Getty Images)

The event has come to be celebrated as the end of slavery. However, emancipation for the remaining enslaved individuals in the Union border states of Delaware and Kentucky did not occur until December 18, 1865, with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

Juneteenth as a holiday

In Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1866, one year after General Grangers arrival, the first annual commemoration known as Jubilee Day was organized. Other observances took place on January 1 (the day the Emancipation Declaration was issued) or January 4. Some of these early celebrations served as political rallies to provide freed African Americans with instructions for voting.

In 1867, Black leaders in Austin, Texas, raised funds to purchase 10 acres of land, now known as Houstons Emancipation Park, to celebrate the holiday. In subsequent years, the event drew thousands of attendees.

During the early 1890s, the Black community began using the word Juneteenth instead of Jubilee Day. The word derives its name from combining June and nineteenth. One of the earliest records of its use dates back to 1909 when The Current Issue, a Texas periodical, employed the term.

Members of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation hold a ceremony on Juneteenth, to show support against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Oakland (California), on 2020. KATE MUNSCH (Reuters)

Although most early celebrations occurred in Texas, Black Americans who had left the state continued to commemorate Juneteenth wherever they relocated. By the second half of the twentieth century, most states had established Juneteenth celebrations. Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. By the end of the century, only three states officially observed the day. Over the next two decades, it gained recognition as an official observance in all states, except South Dakota, until it became a federal holiday under the Biden Administration.

Texan Opal Lee and other Black Americans campaigned for decades to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Each year, Lee led 2.5-mile walks, symbolizing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas (although the news had arrived, slaves werent freed until the Union took control of the state). During the bill signing ceremony that designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday, she was an honored guest, and President Joe Biden knelt down on one knee to greet her.

Thanks to the holiday, federal government employees now have the day off every year on June 19. If the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, they have the closest Friday or Monday off, respectively.

Junteenth celebrations in 2023

Americans across the country celebrated Juneteenth over the weekend with festivals, parades, cookouts, and friends or family reunions. The relatively new holiday has gained more recognition in various communities. However, some states are attempting to prevent certain aspects of the history of the end of slavery from being taught in public schools.

In Memphis, where Juneteenth will also be recognized as a state holiday, local residents and visitors participated in a multi-day festival that included food, music, cultural exhibitions, and more. To commemorate the holiday, the National Civil Rights Museum, the site where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, offered free admission on Monday.

Nevertheless, the holiday was not without its incidents. In Chicago, a shooting took place at a Juneteenth celebration, resulting in one fatality and 22 injuries. The incident is still under investigation, and the motives behind it remain unknown.

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Yuan Li Adds Name to List of 2023 WSOP Bracelet Winners after $2K NLHE Triumph ($524,777)

June 18, 2023 Andrew Knowles Live Reporter

It took three full days to find a winner in Event #37: $2,000 No-Limit Holdem and Chinas Yuan Li emerged as the latest 2023 World Series of Poker bracelet winner inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Li defeated Jonathan Camara in heads-up play for $524,777 and his first career bracelet.

The event, which ran for the second year in a row at the WSOP, drew 1,962 runners and generated a prize pool of $3,492,360.

Li, who has over $1.5 million in tournament earnings, came into the day in pole position and stayed atop the leaderboard for much of the day. Once on the final table, Li kept his foot on the gas pedal until eventually being crowned the champion.

Event #37: $2,000 No-Limit Holdem Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Yuan Li China $524,777 2 Jonathan Camara Canada $324,355 3 Pavels Spirins Latvia $238,129 4 Jeremy Joseph United States $176,529 5 Patrick Truong United States $132,153 6 Mark Seif United States $99,916 7 James Kraetz United States $76,302 8 Yuriy Boyko Ireland $58,860 9 Frank Weigel United States $45,871 10 Darryl Ronconi United States $36,118

This is what it's all about!  WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP)

Similar to last year, this tournament attracted some of the biggest and best players in the world. Notable names fortunate enough to make a deep run included 2009 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Cada (43rd, $12,807), three-time bracelet winner Jim Collopy (40th, $12,807), PokerGO's Donnie Peters (47th, $10,753), and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche (172nd, $4,002).

Final Table Action

The unofficial final table kicked off as a ten-handed affair, and it didnt take long for the first elimination to take place. Darryl Ronconi came into the final table as the shortest stack and was almost all in from the big blind. Jeremy Joseph raised to cover Ronconis stack from the small blind, and Ronconi tossed in his last few chips to make the call. The runout did not help Ronconi, and he was sent to the exit in tenth place.

Shortly after, Frank Weigel was on a short stack and moved in with ace-deuce. Pavels Spirins made the call with pocket tens. The board ran out jack-high, marking the end of the road for Weigel.

Frank Weigel

The remaining eight players took an extended break for the PokerGO team to set up their live stream cards-up coverage. Once everything was up and running, Yuriy Boyko picked up ace-king and was all in against the ace-nine held by Mark Seif. Boyko looked poised for a double, but the board ran out with four hearts for Seif to make a flush.

2023 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here. Click here

James Kraetz moved all in for around ten big blinds with king-nine suited and was called by Patrick Truong, who woke up with pocket jacks. The pocket pair held out to bring to the tournament to its final six players.

Seif, who was chip leader for some of the day, found himself on a 12-big blind stack and called a preflop raise with ten-nine suited from Joseph, who held queens. The flop came nine-high, and all the chips hit the middle. Seif could not improve on the turn and river and departed.

Within the same orbit, Truong was on the wrong side of a preflop cooler after he ran his ace-king into Li's pocket aces. Li's conquest to the bracelet then inched closer after he rivered a flush to crack Joseph's pair of queens after the chips piled in on the flop.

Spirins was the next to leave after his dominated ace could not leapfrog Camara's ace-jack to set up heads-up play.

Yuan Li

The battle between Li and Camara started almost even in chips and was 70 big blinds deep. Play went back and forth for a long time until Li picked up pocket jacks and had Camara shove into him with pocket eights. After the board ran out with a full house for Li, Camara had only a single T-25,000 chip left.

On the final hand of the night, Li secured the win when his ten-nine and held up against his opponent's seven-six to secure the victory.
PN Podcast: Jason Koon on Perkins Prop Bet, $250K SHR & Why He'll Miss WSOP Main Event

June 17, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen continue The Chad & Jesse Poker Show straight from the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

They are joined by GGPoker Ambassador Jason Koon, who took some time before jumping into the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $250,000 Super High Roller.

Koon talks about expecting his second child, and as fate would have it, the day after recording his wife went into labor and he had to pull out of the aforementioned tournament. In addition to sharing what it's like being a family man, Koon discusses integrity in poker, his personal goals, and a never-before-shared prop bet he has with Bill Perkins.

Koon, who currently sits fifth on the all-time poker money list according to The Hendon Mob with nearly $48 million, also discusses his love of poker history, shares a Doyle Brunson story, and just opens up about poker and life. Don't miss your chance to hear from one of the best.

Chad and Jesse then do a new "Calling the Clock" segment in which they offer quick two-minute dialogues for topics on The Board.

Here's a look at this episode's topics:

Failed Texas Poker Bill

Ben Lamb wins 2nd bracelet

wins 2nd bracelet Phil Hellmuth & Daniel Negreanu make runs

& make runs Wild AA v KK v KK v QQ hand

Mike Holtz WSOP.com Online POY?

WSOP.com Online POY? John Monnette captures bracelet No. 5

captures bracelet No. 5 $50K PPC starts Sunday

Shaun Deeb wins his sixth WSOP gold bracelet

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

Time Stamps

Time Topic 00:35 Welcome to the show 00:47 Revealing Todays Guest Jason Koon 01:34 Daniel Negreanu Misbehaves After VGK Stanley Cup Win 04:43 WSOP Player of the Year Standings Update 07:15 Global Poker: Grand Prix Turbo Series 08:29 Calling The Clock 08:28 Texas Poker Bill 2345: Update 10:30 Ben Lamb Issues $500 Twitter Challenge 12:32 Update on Daniel Negreanu & Phil Hellmuth 14:32 Aces vs Kings vs Kings vs Queens :exploding_head: 16:33 WSOP.com PoY - Mike Holtz again? 18:33 John Monnette Joins 5-Timers Club 20:32 Can Jungleman Win 3 In a Row? 22:33 Shaun Deeb Wins Sixth WSOP Bracelet 24:46 Jason Koon Joins Chad & Jesse 25:20 Jason Koon about why the 250k is special to him 29:25 Jason Koon Gives Poker Advice 32:42 Is Jason one of the fittest poker players? 34:11 Poker Integrity Council 37:11 Poker Hall of Fame 40:00 Giving up on poker 40:46 Triton Poker Dan Smith 43:13 Who Will Win the $250K?

PokerNews Freerolls for June

Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show  tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here!

Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here!

Sharelines PN Podcast: @GGPoker Ambassador @JasonKoon, who explains why he'll miss the #WSOP2023 Main Event.
It was rail heaven again today at the Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, as dozens of spectators would make their way through the event center to get a glimpse of some of the best poker players in the world battling it out in Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Holdem.

Play concluded at the end of Level 18 and the tournament was able to reach the final table with nine players bagging up for the night.

The ultra-high buy-in event drew a record field of 69 entries, topping last year's turnout of 56 and creating a total prize pool of $17,181,000, with $5,293,556 going to the eventual winner.

Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em - Day 3 Seat Draw

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Steven Veneziano United States 6,775,000 23 2 Chris Brewer United States 8,525,000 28 3 Martin Kabrhel Czech Republic 18,400,000 61 4 Brandon Steven United States 3,225,000 11 5 Chance Kornuth United States 22,450,000 75 6 Artur Martirosian Russia 18,225,000 61 7 Dan Smith United States 7,800,000 26 8 Alex Kulev Bulgaria 12,600,000 42 9 David Peters United States 4,925,000 16

Leading the way is Chance Kornuth with 22,450,000 in chips. Kornuth entered the day as one of the Day 1 chip leaders and never looked back, winning a big pot off Phil Hellmuth and eliminating Jonathan Jaffe early in the day to remain atop the leaderboard.

Speaking of Day 1 chip leaders, the story of Dustin Bailey, the recreational player that entered the tournament on a dare from his friends while playing roulette, would come to a close. Bailey finished out Day 1 at the top of the chip counts but would ultimately hit the rail shortly before the dinner break when his A10 would stay unimproved against the JJ of Russian poker-pro Artur Martirosian.

Not far behind Kornuth is the polarizing, Martin Kabrhel, who outtalked and outplayed his opponents on the way to a chip stack of 18,400,000. One of the days biggest hands happened during the 100,000/200,000 blind level, which saw Kabrhel three-bet the button open of former Main Event champion Koray Aldemir from the small blind and then announce, "ok, let's go, bad beat," before calling Aldemir's four-bet all-in for around 4,600,000. Aldemir's AQ was ahead of Kabrhel's K7 and maintained that lead on the J95 flop and the 5 turn, but the K river sent Aldemir to the rail in 14th place, just before the money-bubble broke.

Martirosian is nipping at both players' heels, bagging up 18,225,000 to round out the top three.

Another familiar face reached the final table for the second year in a row, last years runner-up, Brandon Steven, who was able to bag up 3,225,000. Steven had an up-and-down day but held tough and battled back from starting the day as one of the shortest stacks.

All-stars Chris Brewer, Dan Smith, and David Peters will also be back on the final day battling for one of poker's most coveted prizes. Perhaps not as well known, but still very much in contention, are Steven Veneziano and Alex Kulev, who round out the final nine.

Phil Ivey bubbled the $250,000 Super High Roller

Late registration was open until the start of Day 2 and saw the likes of Kabrhel, Daniel Negreanu, Bryn Kenney, Sean Winter, Alex Foxen, Sean Perry and Rick Solomon all enter, with only Kabrhel making a deep run.

Fan favorite Phil Ivey also had a swingy day, as he would be all-in multiple times, ultimately going out on the stone bubble to finish in 12th place.

The final table will resume on Sunday, June 18th at 2 p.m., with a PokerGO stream scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
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Biden moved to solidify his union support before Trump can even get started in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Video of President Biden:

Biden said:

Last week every single environmental organization endorsed me. And this week for the first time Im aware of the AFL-CIO endorsed us early and every union as well.

I told you when I ran for president Id have your back, and I have. But youve had my back as well.

And Im more  Im more honored by your endorsement than you can imagine. Its going to make a gigantic difference in this campaign. There are a lot of politicians in this country who cant say the word Union and you know Im not one of them. Im proud to say the word.

Errol Lewis spoke on CNN about why the union endorsements are so important:

Lewis told CNNs Jim Acosta, This is critical and not optional. If we go back to 2016 , Hillary Clinton had only eight points higher than Donald Trump and she lost Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin. By contrast, Joe Biden won all three of those states in 2020 by almost double the margin.

Trump tapped out all of his potential vote, especially in Pennsylvania, and he still lost in 2020. If Trump cant make inroads with union workers, he faces a difficult path to victory in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Biden and the unions are doing something that Republicans have shown themselves to be completely inept at. The President and his allies are closing the door on Trump. Biden is working early to seal off potential Trump paths to victory.

The unions endorsed Biden early because they cant allow Trump to return to the White House.

Biden and his union allies are trying to pull the rug out from under Trump, and if President Biden wins reelection, the decision to endorse the President early may be a key reason why.
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A judge in California ordered John Eastmans disbarment hearing to be live-streamed for the public to watch on Tuesday.

Video of Eastman complaining to Steve Bannon:

John Eastman, who wrote the legal brief Trump cited to pressure Pence to overturn the election, is complaining that he lost his job as a tenured law professor, and the judge ordered that his CA disbarment hearing be live-streamed this Tues so the American public can watch. pic.twitter.com/E1U891Eyo1  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 17, 2023

Eastman said, Its a full-fledged trial. Theyre pulling out all the stops. It is really extraordinary the amount of taxpayer resources that are going into trying to disprove claims that I made, or more importantly that I had no basis for claims that election officials violated the law acted unconstitutionally in the conduct of the election. So that is what the trial will be, and the Bar is calling me as its first witness on Tuesday, and the judge has ordered that it is going to be livestreamed so it will be quite a media circus I suspect.

John Eastman is one of the architects of the coup plot that was intended to keep Donald Trump in power, and his complaining about his disbarment hearing being viewable to the public.

Again, John Eastman tried to overthrow the United States government.

Eastman could be facing criminal charges in both Georgia and federally for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. John Eastman is full of so much entitlement that he thinks he has the right to complain about the American people getting to witness his professional downfall.

John Eastman is likely to have bigger problems than losing his law license. He committed crimes against the United States and needs to be held accountable.
WASHINGTON  Political polarization is not our country's most important problem. I'd rank right-wing extremism ahead of it. But extremism and polarization go hand in hand. Democracy is challenged when Americans have trouble understanding and communicating with each other. Read moreColumn: Want less rancid politics? Think more about family and community.
In a 2024 Republican presidential field full of long-shot candidates, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez may be  on paper anyway  the longest long shot of all.

No sitting mayor has ever been elected U.S. president, a job that historically has been won by governors, vice presidents, senators or Cabinet secretaries. Some former mayors have become commander in chief, but only after serving in higher-profile positions.

None of that has deterred Suarez, who announced his campaign this past week by talking up his experience leading the city of about 450,000 residents. Being a two-term mayor of Miami, he said, has helped him understand and confront issues facing most Americans, such as crime and homelessness. In the video for his kickoff, Suarez went for a run past his childhood home and his high school and spoke of his record of cutting taxes and expanding Miamis technology economy.

In Miami, we stopped waiting for Washington to lead, Suarez said.

The 45-year-old corporate and real estate lawyer, a former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is competing for the nomination against two other Florida residents  former president Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. They have consistently been first and second, respectively, in early primary polling, well ahead of the rest of the field.

That has so far made it difficult for other candidates to break through. Among them are former vice president Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

Throughout U.S. history, just three presidents were former mayors, though each  Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge  held offices such as governor or vice president in between. And while this years primary field is crowded and the odds for a sitting mayor long, there is recent precedent both for a mayor to become a major candidate and for a person without government experience at all to become president.

Trump, a businessman and former reality television star, is the only person elected president without ever having served in public office or in the military.

In the 2020 election cycle, Pete Buttigieg  the young mayor of South Bend, Indiana  was the biggest surprise success story of the Democratic primary. Known during the campaign as Mayor Pete, he had a top finish in the leadoff Iowa caucuses and a close second-place finish in New Hampshire before flailing in more diverse states and dropping out to back Joe Biden.

When Biden won the presidency, he tapped Buttigieg to be his transportation secretary, and Buttigieg is now considered one of the partys most promising future presidential candidates.

Buttigieg leaned heavily into his experience as mayor in his campaign, including his own work to turn around a Rust Belt city that was once described as dying because of the shutdown of manufacturing. He liked to tell voters that Washington should run more like the best U.S. cities.

Voters appreciated that being a mayor is a hands-on job and that mayors are accountable to voters in a way that senators and governors are not, said Lis Smith, a senior adviser to Buttigiegs campaign who shaped his communications from the start. One of Buttigiegs favorite lines while campaigning was about how he frequently ran into his constituents at the grocery store. The fact that Buttigieg was not a product of Washington also was very, very appealing to voters, Smith said.

Republican and Democratic voters dont have a lot in common these days, but I think that one thing they do share is their distaste for Washington politics and Washington politicians, Smith said.

But Smith also warned that while mayors get to claim credit for all of the things that go right in their community, they also carry the responsibility for things that go wrong.

Buttigieg experienced that when a white South Bend police officer fatally shot a Black man, prompting the mayor to step away from campaigning so he could respond not just to the shooting but also to questions about racial inequality and tensions between Black residents and police in South Bend. That, Smith said, by far was the toughest part of his candidacy.

Suarez, the son of Miamis first Cuban-born mayor and the only Hispanic candidate in the race, believes he can help the party better appeal to Hispanic voters. He also promotes his relative youth compared with the rest of the field  most of whom range in age from their 50s to 70s  saying he represents generational change that America needs.

Its time for a leader who can connect with segments of our country that Republicans have historically lost, Suarez said during a speech about his presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Library in California on Thursday night.

Then, briefly repeating his credentials as Miamis leader, he slipped for a moment into mayoral mode.

I believe this city needs more than a shouter or a fighter, Suarez said, apparently substituting city for country.

I believe it needs a servant. It needs a mayor.

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Saturday afternoon's pedestrian traffic at 2700 Whiskey Road was friendly and slow-moving, as Mercy Church played host to a blood drive in honor of Ashton Rickard, 13, who was severely injured in a shooting June 7 in Aiken and had blood transfusions as a part of her emergency treatment.

Several members of Rickard's extended family were on the scene Saturday at the Rickards' home church welcoming a tide of more than 200 people in the church's family life center  donors, well-wishers and Shepeard Community Blood Center employees. The final donation count was reportedly more than 130, spread among whole blood, platelet and "power red" donations.

"It was just amazing how the community came together in Ashton's honor, and even Ashton's parents were there, Tony and Ashley, greeting everyone who came in," said donor Debbie Williams.

Referring to Ashton, Williams added, "Hopefully she'll have this summer to completely heal up. You hate for any of this to happen to anybody. So grateful that she's alive and she's going to be OK."

The Rev. Angie Murphy, Mercy Church's worship pastor, said, "Our church family wanted to come together and give back to Shepeard Blood, because  after the shooting, she received I think it's like 19 blood products  and after the surgery, she had to have another unit of blood. Shepeard Blood is the one that provided all of those products, and we wanted to give back."

She added, "We knew the enemy tried to make a tragedy out of this, but we have seen the community come together and turn it around to something positive, and in a way, to show love to one another. From that standpoint, it's been awesome to see people come together and show love and support."

Rickard, a former Kennedy Middle School student now preparing for her freshman year at South Aiken High School, was shot June 7 while in the Walmart on Whiskey Road and underwent treatment at Augusta University Medical Center. She came home Thursday.

Her background includes having been named as the middle school's top female athlete during the 2022-23 academic year. She was a member of Kennedy's volleyball team and also competes around South Carolina and Georgia as a member of the Savannah River Select travel volleyball team.

Brandon Baker, a Shepeard administrator, expressed appreciation regarding the "hundreds of lives that are going to be saved and impacted from the people who came out to donate in her honor."

The honoree's name was on a variety of T-shirts at Saturday's event. Samantha Grimes, an account manager with Shepeard, wore one with a scriptural reference: Proverbs 31:25, which reads, "Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come."

Grimes recalled, "We had an amazing day. I just think it was great that the community came together to support the family and show all the love that they had. We really needed a drive like this, to help with the blood supply and everything, so it was just overall an amazing day."

The timetable was impressive, in her estimation. "We put this together in less than a week's time and had this many people come out, so it could not have turned out, to me, to have been any better."

Shepeard's Aiken facility is at 353 Fabian Drive, near Bath and Body Works, in the Hitchcock Plaza shopping center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and details are at 803-643-7996.
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.
Boeing Co. is feeling bullish heading into the global aerospace industry's biggest sales and marketing spectacle of 2023.

The U.S. planemaker expects to see strong demand for its commercial jetliners, including the 787 it builds in North Charleston, in the coming decades as the coronavirus fades into history and people get back to traveling.

Boeing's annual business forecast for its airplane business, released ahead of this week's International Paris Air Show, is the first in years to look to the future without any pandemic-related uncertainties.

The report shows the aviation industry has largely returned to pre-crisis levels of activity, with the number of flights at 97 percent of pre-COVID levels and passenger counts back to 90 percent of what they were in April 2019.

"In terms of where we see demand in the market, the end of the recovery has played out largely as we've expected," said Darren Hulst, vice president of commercial marketing at Boeing. "What we're seeing is the resilience in demand for travel and how airlines continue to use airplanes in innovative ways. I think the resilience that we've seen in the short term  whether we're talking about last year, this year or in the next 12 to 18 months  is just proving how valuable air travel is to the global economy."

Hulst said the industry's largely full recovery gives Boeing "more confidence in the numbers that we've put forward in 2020, 2021 and 2022, when there were elevated levels of uncertainty in the market."

The aerospace giant is predicting airlines will need 42,595 new jets over the next 20 years, up 3.5 percent from last year's forecast. It reflects a combination of pent-up demand for travel and a growing global middle class that can more easily afford airline tickets.

The value of global orders will total roughly $8 trillion at list prices, up from last year's forecast of $7.2 trillion. About half of the planes being purchased would replace aging, less efficient models. Fleet expansions account for the rest.

Most of the new jets  76 percent, or 32,400 of them  will be single-aisle planes like the Boeing 737 Max that are used on routes of typically 3,000 miles or less.

Wide-body jets, like the 787 Dreamliner, will make up 18 percent of the new orders  7,440 planes  as carriers look to expand their long-haul routes, add new markets and fly bigger, more efficient aircraft. Regional jets and freighters will make up the rest.

About two-thirds of the demand for new planes will be split between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, with China comprising another 20 percent of the market. Carriers in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa round out the totals.

Issues like supply chain disruptions and labor shortages are still seen as constraining fleet growth, but the global financial situation has improved since Boeing's report in 2022. The world economy is expected to grow from $92 trillion in 2022 to $155 trillion by 2042, helping to drive a passenger traffic figure that will more than triple  from six trillion to 20 trillion  during that time period.

Global incomes are also rising, with Boeing estimating another 500 million households will achieve "middle class status," meaning they will be able to afford leisure air travel.

And while air fares are getting more expensive, their percentage increase is less than what's being seen at hotels and other travel categories, Hulst said.

Although airlines are looking to add new jets, they are also making better use of planes they already have by adding seats, increasing load factors and boosting the number of hours planes spend in the air. If it weren't for those factors, Boeing said the forecast would call for 20 percent more planes than it already does.

Boeing's forecast doesn't necessarily mean the manufacturer will be solely responsible for all of the new planes sold in coming decades. The outlook includes demand that can be met by competitors such as Airbus and makers of smaller, regional jets.

Airbus also released its 20-year forecast in advance of the Paris show, with a prediction that 40,850 new passenger and freighter jets will be needed by 2042  up from last year's forecast of 39,490 new planes.

The French manufacturer's more muted outlook shows 80 percent of new planes will be single aisle while the remaining 20 percent will be made up of widebody jets. Airbus points to Asia as the biggest growth market for new planes and said passenger traffic is likely to increase by 3.2 percent annually, compared to Boeing's forecast of about 4 percent.

Boeing's latest forecast comes as the weeklong Paris Air Show, which starts Monday, provides a global platform for manufacturers from across the aviation industry to show off their latest products and announce sales. The event, held every two years, was canceled in 2021 because of the pandemic and will follow last year's biennial Farnborough International Airshow in England.

Last week, Boeing announced that it delivered 50 commercial planes to customers in May, including eight Dreamliners. Boeing has delivered 25 Dreamliners through the first five months of this year. The company has told analysts it expects to finish the year with between 70 and 80 deliveries of the jet assembled at Boeings campus off International Boulevard.

All told, Boeing has delivered 206 jets and booked orders for 127 more in 2023, giving the company a backlog of 4,634 planes.
Nonprofit boards are usually made up of an eclectic selection of donors and community representatives, but it's rare to see a member with ties to a potential competitor.

For the Gibbes Museum of Art, its a first. But executive director Angela Mack sees it as an opportunity.

The Meeting Street museum recently announced four new board members, including Felice Knight, education director at the International African American Museum, which opens to the public Tuesday June 27.

Mack explains. She said she and Knight both served on the citys temporary Commission on Equity, Inclusion and Racial Conciliation, centered around history and culture. Knight also held informational sessions on diversity and inclusion for the museums board as a consultant in addition to being professor of African American history at The Citadel.

She joined the IAAM after agreeing to serve on the Gibbes board.

According to Mack, the two museums are unique enough that no concerns arose about a possible conflicts of interest. Rather, the Gibbes staffers are excited about the potential synergies.

What we see is the opportunity here for lots of wonderful collaboration where institutions do intersect, Mack said. We are an art museum, not an art and history museum. Our goal is to nurture the next great line of artists in South Carolina because their work helps tell the world who and what we are as a community.

Mack said that the Gibbes' leadership has focused more on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives over the last year to diversify all aspects of the organization. Mack sees this connection to IAAM as a way to think outside the box in how it can support its artists.

Knight said that she looks forward to helping guide the Gibbes from the board level and having a hands-on role in shaping educational programming at her day job.

For me, what's most exciting is just the opportunity to work in two spaces that have a very important role in Charleston's tourism industry and to have the opportunity to be in a leadership position in both spaces, Knight said.

The other new Gibbes board members are Tej Dhindsa, Stephanie Pascarella and Abby Rosenthal.

Another round at the BAR

While the updates to the Four Seasons development in downtown Charleston were generally well-received last week, the Board of Architectural Review deferred a vote for conceptual approval once again.

Strategic Property Partners first pitched three buildings, ranging from three to seven stories, last year on a 1.9-acrer site at Meeting Street and Horlbeck Alley, where the former Days Inn still stands.

The luxury development will include guest rooms and residential condominiums, as well as retail, restaurant and event spaces. It will also create up to a new 15-foot sidewalk along the narrow Horlbeck Alley.

A proposal to add an eighth floor to the tallest structure based on "architectural merit" was a point of contention at the firm's previous appearance before the BAR in May.

Neighboring buildings vary from three to seven stories tall. Parking will start beneath the ground and carry up through part of the first few floors beneath the tallest building.

The developer made tweaks to the proposed eight-floor building facade since the last review, creating a setback of the seventh floor to break up the mass of the building.

While BAR members Luda Sobchuk and Jay White said they felt the changes addressed their concerns and that they were overall comfortable with the requests, others suggested that the height and scale of the buildings needed further study.

Historic Charleston Foundation and the Preservation Society of Charleston commented about the importance of the tallest proposed structure fitting into the surrounding historical area instead of towering above it.

TheFour Seasons must undergo another round of BAR evaluations before a vote on the project.

Talking tourism

Charleston Young Professionals will host a Tourism in Our Town event June 21 from 5-7:30 p.m. to discuss the industry and its trajectory after the record-breaking 2022 visitor season.

The event at 375 Meeting St. will include panel discussions and offer networking time. Scheduled speakers from the local hospitality business include Alyssa Smith from Charleston Wine + Food, Daniel Guttentag of the College of Charleston Office of Tourism Analysis, John Powell from the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Catherine Dority from Explore Charleston and others. Tickets are $15.
Old refrigerators are inefficient and consume much more power than modern ones, quietly raising electric bills across South Carolina.

The worst offenders can be old fridges that got moved to a garage after a kitchen fridge was upgraded. They're handy for keeping drinks cold, but depending when they were manufactured they could be adding as much as a few hundred dollars to the annual power bill.

Dominion Energy SC and predecessor South Carolina Electric & Gas have long offered a rebate to encourage people to eliminate or upgrade old refrigerators. It's free bonus money for anyone who already planned to upgrade, and an incentive for others to consider doing so.

When I replaced a 17-year-old fridge in 2015, SCE&G came and took the old one away and gave me $50.

Now, Dominion has temporarily doubled that incentive, to $100.

Replacing an ancient fridge can quickly pay for itself in energy savings, and a $100 rebate can sure help with the upfront cost. A new "Energy Star" refrigerator can cost under $1,000 for a simple model, like the one I bought for my kitchen this year, for $850.

So, knock $100 off the price, then see how much you could save on electric bills. There's an Energy Star calculator online for that, at energystar.gov/products/appliances/refrigerators/flip-your-fridge.

Here's what Energy Star estimates a customer who pays electricity rates similar to Dominion's would spend annually to power a 20 cubic inch, freeze-on-top fridge, depending when it was manufactured.

2011-present: $60

2001-2010: $89

1993-2000: $141

1990-92: $211

1980-89: $276

Replacing a 1989 model with a new one, according to Energy Star, would save $216 yearly on power bills. Replacing one from 2000 would save $81 each year. The larger and older the fridge, the greater the savings.

Two years ago, I talked with a Mount Pleasant resident who got rid of an old commercial-size freezer that she'd used in her garage while raising a family. She said her annual electric bill dropped by more than $500.

If you're a Dominion residential customer who plans to replace or get rid of a fridge or freezer, and you want that $100 rebate, here's how it works:

Call before Aug. 31 to schedule a free pickup no later than Sept. 30, in order to get the $100 rebate. The number is 877-510-7234.

The fridge must be a full-size model, and it must be working. It doesn't have to work well, but you'll need to be able to plug it in and demonstrate that it runs.

The fridge can be picked inside or outside a home, typically from a driveway, garage or porch.

Dominion will collect the old fridge, make it unusable, and recycle the refrigerant and materials. The customer will get a check in four to six weeks.

Each customer can get up to two rebates.

If you're not a Dominion customer, check with your utility to see what savings programs they offer. Some, like Duke Energy, don't offer refrigerator rebates but they do offer rebates for all sorts of other energy-saving steps a customer could take, from upgrading insulation to replacing and HVAC system.

Dominion also sells LED light bulbs, smart thermostats, water-saving shower heads, power strips and other energy-saving devices to customers at a discount.

Up-front discounts and rebates offer financial help on the front end. Saving money year after year on electric bills provides the long-term savings.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
CONWAY  Horry County Schools didn't have a history of pulling books from its libraries.

In 20 years, it had happened just once. But since the start of 2022, the district has removed 12 books from school library shelves and restricted access to nine other titles, district records show. This comes as book banning efforts are happening across the Palmetto State.

"We're very much seeing the same kind of stuff that folks are seeing elsewhere around the country, and we're doing what we can to stave off some of the worst of it," said Josh Malkin, senior advocacy specialist for the ACLU of South Carolina, regarding the book bans.

Along with removing titles, the district created a "restricted-access" section last year. This includes certain books that now require parental permission before students can access them. At least nine titles have been placed into this section  two elementary school books, two middle school books and five high school books, according to district records.

The Horry County Board of Education approved the new restricted section last November. Board Chairman David Cox said the decision came after the board received pushback from constituents over books in the libraries. He said residents raised concerns about books that dealt with sex and drug use.

"We wanted the parents to have a say in what their children read," Cox said.

Horry County Schools did not respond to questions from The Post and Courier about why the specific books were removed or restricted.

If the material is deemed to be inappropriate, the district shall ensure no other copies exist in circulation across all school libraries, said Lisa Bourcier, a district spokesperson, regarding its book removal policy.

The 13 removed titles discuss various topics, including drug addiction, sexual orientation, gender identity, bullying, abuse, teen pregnancy, premarital sex and religion.

They include the following: Juno Dawsons This Book is Gay; Amy Reeds Beautiful; Kacen Callenders Felix Ever After; Jennifer Nivens Breathless; Craig Thompsons Blankets; Isabel Quinteros Gabi: A Girl in Pieces; Anonymous Go Ask Alice; Saundra Mitchells All the Things We Do in the Dark; and Ellen Hopkins Burned, Crank, Fallout and Glass, per district records.

The 13th removed title was Bette Greene's The Drowning of Stephan Jones, which discusses the bullying and murder of a young gay man. The book was pulled from middle school shelves in 2002 and was the districts only banned book before 2022, according to school officials.

In the restricted section, eight of the nine books discuss sexual orientation and gender identity. The other  restricted for high school students  discusses racism, according to district documents.

Cox said he could not speak to why most of the restricted books are about sexual orientation and gender identity because he was not involved in the decision to limit access to them.

"We formed a committee to review the books," Cox said. "I don't know what's in the books or what the titles of the books are."

Meredith Ritchie, Black Water Middle School's media specialist, has worked in the district's libraries for 11 years. She said removing and restricting these books could be considered book banning and censorship because students must overcome additional "hurdles" to access them.

With the special section, in particular, Ritchie said the restrictions were "unfair and unfortunate because students in her school have requested books on LGBTQ-related topics.

"To have those books on restriction sends a message that it is wrong or that it is inappropriate to be feeling that way or to be questioning those things," Ritchie said.

Students who want to check out LGBTQ-related books may not even question their sexuality or gender identity at all, Ritchie said.

It is censoring in that way, she said. They're having to explain themselves to their parents, possibly putting themselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation depending on how the parents feel about LGBT issues."

To ban or restrict a book in Horry County Schools, a member of the public must first submit a "request for reconsideration" form. In the form, the person must provide the book they want to challenge and why they want to challenge it. Then, the book is reviewed by a district media review committee that decides whether to allow the book or enact restrictions.

This committee includes a district library media services coordinator, district professional development and standards director, two school board members, a teacher, principal and four parents or members of advisory boards, according to the district.

The Post and Courier has requested copies of the complaints against the titles and documents detailing why the titles were ultimately removed or restricted. The documents have not yet been released.

The district states on its website that library materials must meet certain criteria to be selected and/or reconsidered. The material must be consistent with "the district's vision and core values;" support and "enrich students' curriculum and personal needs;" and be appropriate for the students' age groups.

Josh Malkin with the ACLU of South Carolina said that statewide many people have challenged books because they want them to be "opted into" rather than requiring parents to opt their students out of being allowed to access them.

However, he clarified he could not speak to Horry County's complaints.

Across the state, Malkin said, book challengers have largely condemned the various books for either being "indoctrination"  due to the books' discussions of racism and LGBTQ issues  being too sexual and "pornographic" for children or not being age-appropriate in other ways for children to read.

"I think that complainants are trying to impose their beliefs on entire school districts of children," Malkin said. "I think any restriction is an infringement on students' First Amendment right to access information."

After the Horry County Board of Education created the new policies last fall, the move did find some local support.

You accepted a civic responsibility and a moral responsibility, Ken Coleman told the board in November. And you cannot get away from that moral responsibility.  To concentrate on stuff that these children dont need to see is ridiculous. They have to learn the basics of mathematics and English literature.

Jennifer Hannigan made a similar statement, thanking the board for what she characterized as increasing parent involvement in book selection.

Its not about banning these books, she said. Its about protecting and doing whats best for our children. Its about keeping politics and sex out of the classroom.

Malkin declined to comment on whether the ACLU plans to take legal action against the school district for the books it has removed and restricted so far.

In April, the ACLU of S.C. sued the Pickens County Board of Education in federal court for its decision to remove Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi's "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You" from district library shelves.

"I'm very much in the loop when it comes to book banning around the state and in fairly frequent communication with our legal team," Malkin said. "So I will leave it there. It's definitely something we are watching closely."
KYODO NEWS - Jun 17, 2023 - 09:50 | All, World, Japan

The U.S. Treasury Department said Friday it has removed Japan from a list of major trading partners that it monitors for potentially unfair foreign exchange practices for the first time since 2016, when the current format of designation began.

In its biannual report to Congress, the department placed seven economies on its "monitoring list" -- China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan.

While Japan carried out foreign exchange interventions in September and October last year in an attempt to stem the yen's rapid depreciation against the U.S. dollar, a Treasury official said in a press briefing there was no need to continue listing the country as one of the criteria employed is "the persistence of an intervention."

The official warned, however, that interventions should only be conducted in "very exceptional circumstances" after consultations with other countries.

The department did not designate any trading partner as a currency manipulator, which could result in the imposition of U.S. sanctions.

But it said China must be monitored closely, noting in the report that Beijing's lack of transparency regarding key features of its foreign exchange system makes it "an outlier among major economies."

For the list, the department uses three criteria to assess whether a country has manipulated its foreign exchange rates to gain an unfair trade advantage.

The three are the size of any trade surplus with the United States, the size of any current account surplus as a share of gross domestic product and the extent of intervention in foreign exchange markets.

In the report, covering developments in 2022, the department said Japan had not met two of the three criteria for two consecutive reports, meaning it could be removed from the list.

The one remaining criterion was Japan's huge trade surplus with the United States.
MCBEE  Strolling into the McLeod Farms Roadside Market is like walking from an air conditioned office into a hot summer day.

The air is saturated with the warmth of baked goods fresh from the oven and the sweet, almost sickly smell of peaches  what the market is famous for.

The flushed fruit are piled high in red buckets next to pails of blackberries and bins of potatoes, tomatoes and onions.

Early on a recent Thursday morning, travelers are already rolling into the market on their way to the beach, filling their baskets with peaches and baked goods and spending a few minutes on the porch enjoying an ice cream cone.

Its a sign of whats to come, said Rachel McCormick, a fifth-generation member of the McLeod family. The century old farm in McBee is poised to have a landmark year after neighboring crops were devastated by untimely spring freezes.

As much as 90 percent of Georgias peaches were wiped out, according to reporting from the states news outlets. South Carolina peach growers were also affected, particularly in the Upstate and along the ridge, an area west of Columbia that produces the brunt of the states peaches, said Blakley Atkinson, who works for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Peach Council.

I know that we were hit hard during the freeze in early to mid March, and I know that for the most part we have a little bit better crop than Georgia, Atkinson said. We have peaches, and to me, thats the most important thing.

McLeod, however, was almost entirely spared. That means the Pee Dee will be among the best places in the state  and the region  to find southern peaches, and Macs Pride, a century-old family owned brand, is ready to make the most of the opportunity.

I think even this summer we're gonna really realize that we're good at this  I mean, peaches are what we started out as, that's what people know us for, McCormick said.

Just to have people come to McBee and the Pee Dee area for peaches this year, it's going to be really cool.

They taste like peaches

Six German tourists swung their van around in a hasty U-turn when they passed the roadside market. On a three-week tour of the southeast, they had expected to find fresh peaches in Georgia, where they began their journey. Instead, they found themselves sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of a South Carolina peach farm. They were not disappointed.

Sandra Henke called out in German to one of her companions, asking how the food was. Bent over a styrofoam container, he raised a finger and mumbled his response through a bite: it was good.

In Germany, where peaches are imported, the fruit tastes flat, Henke said. Here, where the peaches are picked from the orchards out back, they taste different.

They taste like peaches, she said.

Macs Pride Peaches, the brand under which McLeod Farms peaches are grown, have been a Chesterfield County staple since 1916. McCormicks father, Kemp McLeod, is the farms owner and operator, while her brother, Spencer, is the operations manager.

When the roadside stand first started, McCormick stood behind two cinder blocks and a two-by-four to ring customers up. Now, the market  built in the 1990s and expanded in the 2000s  holds a kitchen, aisles of goods and an outdoor dining space. The market takes advantage of beach traffic on Highway 151 traveling from Charlotte to the South Carolina coast.

Usually, around 900 people walk through the doors during weekdays, said Lynn Dixon, the stores manager. On Saturday and Sunday, she doesnt have time to keep track as the line of people waiting to check out snakes through the aisles.

Lamar Smith, who agreed to speak with The Post and Courier on the condition that he could continue eating his peach ice cream, said he stops at the market whenever hes in the area and peaches are in season. He lives in Scranton, in southern Florence County.

A juicy peach is unbeatable, he said between licks.

The peach ice cream is a common purchase, but there are also baked goods stuffed with summer fruit: breads, pies, cobblers, turnovers and more. The most popular item is a culinary staple of the Pee Dee: peach enchiladas.

Lying in a case at the front of the store, the enchiladas are made with layers of dough wrapped around chunks of peach. They have a secret ingredient to give them a crackling, sugary crust.

That ingredient?

Mountain Dew.

The family business

McLeod Farms extends well beyond the roadside market. Its main office is 6 miles away, on Highway 1, where peach trees roll across the landscape and into the distance.

The farm produces 30 million peaches each year, McCormick said, distributing to grocery stores from Texas to Canada and to individual subscribers, who receive boxes at regular intervals during the summer.

The farm produces strawberries, blackberries, a range of row crops, and pumpkins in the fall. But its main crop, always and forever, will be peaches.

McLeod Farm grows about 50 varieties of peaches, each of which can be harvested for about two weeks each summer.

Macs Pride are known for being large and juicy, thanks to the sandy soil, drip irrigation and the fact that workers trim about half of the growing nubs each spring, providing more space and nutrients for the peaches left behind to use, McCormick said.

We want people to have to hold it over a trash can, she said. We want it dripping down your chin.

Its a family affair. Summer vacations in June and July were off the table when McCormick was a child. She has no memories of fireworks on the Fourth of July. During peach season, every day is a work day. But being around family makes it seem less like work.

People are like, 'I just don't know how y'all do it,' McCormick said. We've worked all year for this moment. This is the moment where we can see the profit for all of the thinning, all of the watering, all of the pruning, the waiting during the springtime. And so when they're ready, they're ready.

Whether or not theyd be ready was in doubt this year, though, as the cold weather snuck in around March.

When the temperature threatened to dip below freezing, workers turned on wind machines, about 50 of them, that sit high above the trees keeping the warm air low. Throughout the night, workers lit bales of hay on fire, spread every 100 yards around the perimeter of the orchards. The flames sent clouds of smoke and heat over the fields.

Its a risk. Theres no guarantee that the efforts would pay off come summertime, McCormick said. Sometimes, it makes more sense to let them go.

But when the trees bloomed this spring, and the peaches turned red and grew plump, they knew it was worth it. A few weeks before the peaches were ready to be picked, McCormick could smell it in the air.

It smells like peaches, she said, standing among trees laden with fruit. It smells like my dad.
For more than 20 years, Berkeley County has used inmates to help with some of the more arduous but necessary tasks involved in running elections.

They've moved voting machines that no one else could budge. They've climbed up and down ladders to get equipment necessary for voters to cast ballots. And, when Election Day was over, they've shown up the next morning to help break down and pack up the machines.

The practice of county election offices relying on incarcerated people for help may be more widespread in South Carolina than previously known.

According to the State Election Commission, at least an estimated handful of county elections offices may still rely on inmates to assist with their elections. While an exact number is unknown, the reason an elections office turns to its nearby county jail for help is typically the same.

"We didn't have anyone else," said Rosie Brown, director of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Berkeley County.

Multiple interviews with state and local election officials show that similar agreements were more common in the past between jails and elections offices in counties as large as Richland and Charleston, and as small as Pickens.

These types of partnerships used to be more popular than they are now, according to John Michael Catalano, spokesman for the State Election Commission. But if offices today find themselves in a pinch, counties coordinating with their local detention centers to line up some extra help is still not unheard of, Catalano confirmed.

"This is because of staffing issues," Catalano said. "A lack of resources is what causes counties to seek this type of solution."

But in Berkeley County, the use of inmates may have gone further. After the November 2022 midterm elections, a photograph surfaced showing two inmates sitting at the same table with Berkeley County officials as they conducted a hand-count audit.

The process involves comparing the total votes on paper ballots to the results generated by the voting machines. It happens after an election, but before results are certified. In 2022, it took place over a two-day period from Nov. 9-10.

In the photo, one of the inmates had a stack of ballots arranged in front of him.

Local Republicans cried foul and submitted more than 50 pages of poll-watching reports to state Rep. Sylleste Davis, R-Moncks Corner. On Jan. 23, Davis requested an audit of the local elections office by the State Election Commission.

According to the results of the county compliance audit released June 9, four inmates from the Hill-Finklea Detention Center were involved in assisting with Berkley County's hand-count audit of the 2022 general election.

Brown, the county election director, disagreed with the report's characterization.

"The correct statement would be that when I asked for help with the equipment prior to the election, human resources did not have anyone available," Brown said. "And that's when inmates were used, and they have been used for at least 20 years, if not longer, to help manage the equipment."

The inmates also had to be supervised. At the time the photo was taken, Brown said that the machines had not yet arrived but "there was no one to just be able to sit and watch them."

That's why, she said, the inmates were moved into the same room where the hand-count audit was happening.

When pressed for more specifics about why an inmate had a stack of ballots in front of him, Brown said the inmate was helping official county staff by opening the blue ballot boxes, then straightening and organizing paper ballots for the county auditors.

Due to the concerns regarding the role that inmates played in the process, the latest audit from the state redid the count. The results matched the original hand-count performed by county auditors, affirming that no election interference or fraud affected the results.

While inmates help with the hand-count audit wasn't illegal, the report concluded, "they likely lack the perceived integrity necessary to conduct any type of post-election audit  a process designed to garner public confidence in the outcome of an election."

Elections are costly endeavors.

Isaac Cramer, executive director of Charleston Countys Board of Elections and Voter Registration, said the costs associated with just the 2022 early voting period in that county were around half a million dollars. Of that, he said, the state reimbursed the county about $36,000.

"A good election, a fully-staffed election, costs a lot of money," Cramer said. "It costs a lot of money to deliver equipment. It really does. It's almost like moving a dorm room or an apartment. You're delivering all the things that a polling location needs for Election Day. You need moving trucks, you need the personnel to do that. It's a lot. And without adequate funding from the county and the state, it's hard to do that very effectively and efficiently."

Charleston County has not had to utilize inmate help with its elections since at least the early 2000s, Cramer said, but inmates were known to help move election equipment in the 1990s.

Amanda Walker, the director of the Cherokee County Voter Registration and Election Board, said her office does not have the money in its budget to expressly hire people to help move voting equipment, which can weigh more than 50 pounds.

Instead, Walker said her office turns to the county's maintenance department for help.

"And we'll turn to the folks with the roads and bridges department, who will help when maintenance is tied up, because we don't have the money to pay anybody," she said.

Kizzie Scott, the director of Dorchester County's Voter Registration and Elections Office, said she understands why some counties have turned to inmate labor for assistance.

For 10 years she worked as an area representative for the State Election Commission, where she acted as a liaison for 17 county elections directors in the Lowcountry and their staffs. She knew of county elections offices that had to count on inmate labor, but said she does not foresee Dorchester County doing so in the future.

"It is a lot of heavy lifting and shifting around  and it is tough," said Scott. "Typically that would be like your last resort if you just couldn't get any workers to come in and assist with that process."

Davis, the state lawmaker who requested the audit, said she was pleased with the findings but stressed that she would do what she could to make sure county offices no longer have to rely on inmates for help in the elections process.

"Appearances matter, and it matters to the general public to feel like the integrity of the process is intact," Davis said. "And as far as I'm concerned, if we have to appropriate money in the state budget to allow for counties to hire people to move the machinery, if that's what we need to do, then I'm for doing that."

State Rep. JA Moore, D-Goose Creek, agreed and said he would like to see the state dip into its surpluses, and not raise taxes, to address the need facing elections offices. His district includes parts of Berkeley and Charleston counties.

"Were talking about something so precious and sacred to our country," Moore said. "To me, it shows you the need in this state to properly fund our departments, our agencies and our elections. Its a no-brainer to me. We have an obligation."

State Sen. Brian Adams, R-Goose Creek, was more reticent when asked about allocating additional state funding. Adams, who is the chair of the Berkeley County legislative delegation, said counties need to make sure they are funding their elections offices properly.

State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, who spearheaded negotiations in an elections reform package that was signed into law in 2022, called the use of inmates in the elections process "tone-deaf."

The inmates used in Berkeley County were nonviolent offenders who had been detained due to their failure to make child support payments, the Sheriff's Office confirmed.

"We we were just assisting them with labor," Berkeley Deputy Chief Jeremy Baker said of the Sheriff's Office's partnership with the elections office, adding, "I think that it was, kind of, one of those old practices that had always continued. I mean, I've been here 22 years, and as long as I've been here, I know that they have done that."

Brown, the director of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Berkeley County, said the county did not pay the inmates for their time and labor.

In South Carolina, poll workers receive a base pay of $135 per day but counties may choose to pay them more to create an incentive for residents to work the polls.

Brown said she understands the power of perception when it comes to elections. Her office decided months ago that it will no longer be using inmates to help with elections, and will have to find another way, she said.

The Berkeley County Board of Elections plans to meet June 22, for the first time since the audit findings were publicized.
This story was produced with support from the Rainforest Journalism Fund in partnership with the Pulitzer Center.

Nobody wanted to tell the story behind the pain of many residents of the coastal settlements of Lekki in Lagos. A few people said it had better be buried in a secret grave forever. When this reporter probed further, he found a narrative told with grief.

Lekki was a blossoming town of aquatic splendour blessed with green vegetation and rich biodiversity. But the government would endorse a multi-billion naira seaport to grow the national treasury, create thousands of jobs and enable the development of a semi-urban community. It now appears that that is at the expense of the environment and local fishing communities.

The $1 billion Economic-Friendly Seaport

On 23 January, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Lekki seaport, described as the deepest in sub-Saharan Africa. On a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis, the seaport project, a 45-year concession, was awarded to the Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL) by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Occupying 90 hectares of the 830 hectares of land reserved for the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), the port was constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC).

On several occasions, the Lagos government had said it would generate $201 billion from the Lekki deep seaport when completed. It described the project as a game-changer and a pacesetter. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) added that the new port would contribute $361 billion in economic impact in 45 years. The ICRC projected that $201 billion would be generated from revenue, royalties, duties and taxes while $158 billion would be gained from direct and indirect business impacts.

Before the construction of the Lekki seaport, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was conducted on the 90 hectares of land the project would occupy and its host communities. The project site was surveyed for assessment of the human, biological and physical environment following the federal governments Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992.

In the assessment document, environmental experts predicted there would be adverse impacts on traditional livelihoods, noting that fishermen would likely be restricted from operating in the channel area during dredging and marine infrastructure construction. They observed that the project would hurt the terrestrial ecosystem of the port site vegetation, soil and the removal of wildlife habitat.

They foresaw, again, that dredging of the harbour and access channel, construction of marine infrastructure, and disposal of dredged material would injure the spaces biodiversity. They expressed fear of an adverse impact on the marine ecosystem resulting from the maritime shipping activity, noting that the landscapes biodiversity would be in danger, primarily due to the induced urbanisation of the community. They recommended that a management system be put in place to mitigate the negative impacts of the project.

The environmental and social management system will include the preparation of detailed standard operating procedures for all port activities as well as comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plans to deal with accidents that could threaten the health and safety of workers, nearby residents, and the environment, the document stated, showing commitments to mitigating environmental hazards on the Lekki shore.

Danger Across and the Tears of a People

In October 2022, this reporter witnessed a wave of magic bricks turning into modern houses and industries in Lekki town. In Magbon Segun village, for instance, the sea rolled up into a mountain, roared and simmered downward while a horde of helmeted Chinese workers engineered the Lekki Deep Port a distance away.

However, such modern development comes with a price, including environmental impact and peoples livelihoods.

Life used to be good on the Lekki shore, residents said. Fathers fed their families with proceeds from fishing. Children looked up to their successful fishermen-fathers. Fishes in the Lekki streams beckoned on the people, and fish vendors smiled at one another at different points of sale.

But this rural life was disrupted for the people when the deep seaport emerged, causing many people deep pain. Now, the port has stripped the Lekki community of its charm and the people of their wealth. Catfish, tilapia and crabs were easy to catch; Chinese fish and sharks were the pride of a successful fisherman. But these aquatic blessings are disappearing, ruining the livelihood of the people, many of whom want to continue fishing.

Fishermen sat in groups tending to their nets and wearing long looks on the shore of Magbon Segun. Their business was crumbling, they said, and the cost of livelihood was almost costing them their lives.

One said he had fished for three decades, bought cars, built houses and sent children to schools but has now become a peasant fisherman. Another one said he used to earn up to N200,000 from every fishing adventure but rarely makes up to N30,000 now. A fish vendor said she had toiled for days to trade fish, but her efforts yielded nothing.

One common thing the fishermen told PREMIUM TIMES: The dredging activities by the seaport engineers are destroying their fishery resources and chasing the fish away. The more they dredge, the farther the fishes run.

The locals claim seems sensational, but the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Pacific (UNESCAP) confirmed it in a report, saying dredging removes marine habitat, leading to a gross loss of fishery resources. The report also said disturbance from construction activities on a port site terrorises fishes, displacing them while dredging removes plants and animals living in the sea.

As of July 2022, the construction works on the Lekki seaport were nearing conclusion with dredging activities pegged at 97. 90 per cent. By January 2023, the port was set to commence its operation.

We are pleased to announce that the construction of Lekki Port is now at 94.3% completion, Lekki Deep Sea Port stated on its website at the time.

Lekki: Travelling Through the Lane of History

The place many call Lekki is an extension of the small rural settlement between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean of Nigerias Lagos State. In the dark days of the 19th century, Lekki was a meeting point for invading imperialists trading Africans overseas for cash.

A certain Mr Lecqui, a Portuguese slave master, was notorious for perpetuating this small town to merchandise Nigerians for slave labour abroad. He had built a slave trade empire and the small town would later be named after him. Mr Lecqui would die of severe malaria in his Lekki home, after many years of active slave-trading of Nigerians, according to historical records.

But in 1963, Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the defunct Western Region, was charged with treasonable felony and his prison home would be Mr Lecquis former apartment in Lekki. His restriction to the town offered him the opportunity to explore the area closely.

He then acknowledged the great uniqueness of Lekki town, due to its numerous natural resources and biodiversity, prophesying that the area would be a hub for a great economic and industrial revolution. And in truth, decades after Mr Awolowos prophecy, the Deep Seaport, the Dangote Refinery, and other economic-growing industries, sprouted out of the Lekki soil.

But these developments would not be cost-free.

The Cost of a Multi-Billion Naira Seaport

The survival of many residents of Lekki was threatened when the government engineered the seaport. As industrial activities germinated on their land, the locals in Lekki failed to grow with these developments. This costs them their livelihood because their sole and traditional source of income is fishing. But the era of enjoying the gifts of nature abundantly is vanishing due to the emergence of the port and other industries.

Residents said their fishes consume the toxins daily excreted from the seaport. The fish are weakened once they taste the dangerous wastes and eventually die or run far away.

Sunday Abouhje, a fisherman on the seashore, is a witness to the tears of the Lekki people. I met Mr Abouhje in Idotun, a small village on the shore of Lekki. The heavy-hearted man trudged through the sandy road of the riverine community, carrying the burden of insistent self-doubt over yet another failed fishing adventure.

May the good, flourishing moments return to Idotun, he told PREMIUM TIMES, revealing how his life had changed in many ways he never envisaged.

When I asked what exactly has changed, he said: These days, we suffer before we catch fish. Before now, we would use the engines for seven or eight years before they get spoiled, but now they get spoiled quickly. The cause is the chemicals they pour into the water (from the seaport).

Environmental and port experts consulted for this story said the same thing: Toxic discharges from ships could be sources of water pollution. Bilgewater, ballast water, oily wastes, sewage, and garbage, among others, are residues in a ship that could toxify water. They also said spills of oils, lubricants, fuels and other oily liquids may be other sources of water pollution.

Once an oil or oily compound is discharged into water, it is spread on the surface by winds and currents, forming a thin layer, a report by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific, stated. On the surface of seas in tropical or temperate zones, oils can be polymerized gradually by biodegradation and eventually form dense particles which sink.

The Lekki Seaport is established on the Lagos Free Trade Zone, a multi-billion naira investment destination with world-class infrastructures. Some activities at the Free Trade Zone industrial complex  integrated with the Lekki Seaport  are harming the host communities, the recipients of its industrial wastes. Using geospatial assessment, the experts said the Free Trade Zone industries have two main drainage channels where they dispose of industrial wastewater.

Satellite images of industrial wastewater draining into the coastal basin/Images: Google Earth

The waste from sailing vessels, the fragments from dredging and the oily pass-outs from machines deployed to construct the seaport endanger the peoples lives and destroy their marine biodiversity. However, other industries in the Free Trade Zone aggravate the conditions of the people as they have nowhere else to deposit their wastes than directly into the waters where the fishes live and the fishermen seek survival.

Experts said this has implications for the fishing economy, considering that the drainages lead directly to the fishing coast of these communities, depositing oil and cosmetic chemical waste in the basin.

The satellite map shows the Northernmost drain and the Dangote Fertilizer plant drain.

This animated map shows the places the FTZ companies are likely impacting with their operations.

Palm, Coconut Trees, and Lake Swamps Are Dying

What exactly is consuming the swamp lakes in Idotun, a small community in Lekki? Neither the villagers nor their chiefs could provide an answer. Their narrative was that the lake swamp is a natural gift and the God of nature has taken it from them.

They were wrong.

Before the construction of the Lekki Seaport, there were two swamp lakes in Idotun, situated about two kilometres apart. These lakes flanked the community and withstood change for decades.

Today, only one of the lakes is there.

On the far shores of Idotun and Magbon Segun, however, hundreds of palm and coconut trees have died since the emergence of the port, residents said. Before now, villagers said, coconut was a common commodity in the area. Many people depended solely on trading coconuts and palm kernels but that business is fast dying. The palms and cocoanut-dominated lands had been taken over and turned into the jetty areas of the port, residents said.

Gif: Idotun Swamp Lakes /Google Earth

The emergence of the deep seaport had depleted the swamp pond on the western side of this community. The Chinese engineers working on the seaport had sand-filled the lake to carve a dock area for the seaport. And now, satellite images PREMIUM TIMES obtained show that the deep ports shipping park has consumed the swamp lake.

Construction of the seaport! Satellite: Google Earth Pro.

Two Ports, One Tragedy: Eaters of the Lekkis Biodiversity

Some 10 kilometres from the Lekki deep port is a smaller port belonging to Aliko Dangote, Africas richest man. Its a cargo port for the Dangote Refinery. Satellite data shows the jetty area of the smaller Dangote port was indeed built at the expense of a 29,000 sqm pond. No less, the Dangote seaport is an accomplice to the Lekki deep port in the tragedy befalling the swamp water ecosystem of the town.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) representative failed to respond to a public service query sent to its official mail to know what measures had been taken by the authorities to mitigate the adverse effects of the seaport on host communities. The state established LASEPA to ensure sound environmental management programmes and projects in Lagos.

In November 2021, the Lekki port and state officials engaged the host communities but the results appear to be controversial. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the Lekki Seaport management on how it was mitigating the adverse effects on the environment. In a statement sent through one of its representatives, Bola Ajibola, the seaport management said it adhered strictly to the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted before the construction of the port, following the international environmental standards and support from the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The seaport authorities also said that the potential impacts identified in the EIA report were managed by continuously monitoring the environmental matrices to mitigate and/or take corrective action if any indices go beyond threshold limits.

The construction of the Port was carried out in line with environmental and social management best practices, the management said. We are aware that due to the exigencies of the construction and eventual operations of the Lekki Port, fishing by some of the occupants to the host communities was affected, we engaged the affected persons and fully compensated them.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter went back to the host communities to probe further after the response of the seaport management. Several fishermen showed resentment over the full compensation claim, saying what they got could not be described as full compensation.

Ayinla Ismaila, the chairman of the association of fishermen in the Lekki community, said there was no way the seaport would fully compensate the Lekki community as claimed and he would not be aware of it.

There were no formal compensations, per se, he said in the Yoruba language. At a time, we were stopped from fishing and we protested, asking them what they wanted us to feed on if we dont fish. They then gave us some money for food. Is the money  about just N2.5 million  enough as compensation for the damage caused in our lives?

Compensation not enough to buy cigarettes

Fishermen and local chiefs in Idotun and Magbon Segun villages said Mr Ismaila was right. They described what the seaport management offered the shore people as gba mabinu  a Yoruba word for a small consolation stipend to pacify the fishermen. Can we call the sum of N50,000 compensation? asked Liasu Ogundipe, a fisherman and local chief in Idotun who said that was the amount he got.

Mr Ogundipe said he had catered to himself, 10 children and two wives for 29 years as a fisherman before the seaport emerged. Now, to even feed is hard, he said.

The so-called compensation was not even enough to buy cigarettes, he said, wearing a long face dominated with fury.

Other fishermen in Idotun made similar statements as Mr Ogundipe on the compensation claim by the port management. One such person, Adams Kabiru, said while some people got some consolation stipends from the port management, he got nothing.

Mr Kabiru said he learned some people, like Mr Ogundipe, were given some money to lure them into silence over environmental damage caused in the community. But as for me, I received nothing from the seaport, he said, sharing his ordeal as a fisherman on the Idotun seashore in the last decade.

In Mabgon Segun and its nearby villages, the story is similar. While some people admitted to being partially compensated, some fishermen and stakeholders in the community insisted nothing was paid or done to them as compensation. Idowu Agbaraojo, 55, said he had been fishing in the community since 1990 but his only means of livelihood has been ruined by the existence of the port. Yet there was no compensation, he said. At least five other fishermen interviewed in the community said the same thing.

In April 2023, they said, the port management gathered the fishermen on the Magbon Segun shore for a meeting. They had thought compensations would be discussed but they were wrong. At the meeting, the port representatives told them they would begin operations soon and asked for their cooperation to avoid facing the wrath of the authority. They only gave us the sum of N5,000 as transport fare, Mr Agbaraojo said. His claim was corroborated by some other villagers on the shore.

However, the fishermen suggested that the Lekki port authorities might have sealed a deal with their village chief. When the PREMIUM TIMES reporter met the village chief, Mufutau Dauda, he declined to be interviewed. However, an elderly Islamic cleric and a stakeholder in the community, Sharaf Hussein, confirmed the no-compensation claims by other villagers interviewed. He said the community had to fight to get employment slots for their kinsmen at the Lekki seaports, yet our children were only given minor roles.

They were giving bigger roles to strangers and giving out casual jobs to our children, he said. We have no power on our land; they dictate everything they want to us.

However, Mr Ajibola of the seaport management insisted that they have cordial relationships and engagements with the affected communities, through the village chiefs. He said several fishermen had been compensated for the damage caused by the construction of the port.

We have been empowering these communities, he said, recalling how the port provided palliatives to the villagers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the fishermen and members of the communities were also employed during the construction of the port.

Several villagers confirmed the palliative and casual employment claim by the seaport management.

The baales (village chiefs) of these communities have always been carried along; they have attended all our activities, including the official commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Ajibola said.

But Suleiman Arigbabu, a Lagos-based environmentalist and the executive secretary of the Heda Resource Centre, argued that the seaport authorities must be transparent with the compensations. He said the fishermen and other villagers in the affected communities deserve due compensation for the damage caused to the environment and their livelihood. He said compensations in such cases are given based on the worth of the losses.

There has to be a remediation to the ecosystem destruction, the halted livelihood of the people and the land, he told PREMIUM TIMES, adding that the authorities must ensure the people are resettled to regain their losses.

People will no longer be able to fish for the majority part of the area. The economic activities need to be costed and the port authorities should consider acquiring technological tools that could help the fishermen to go deeper into the sea for their fishing activities, he added.

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Movie Title: A lot like Love

Release Date: 9 June 2023

Director: Shittu Taiwo

Runtime: I hour, 35 minutes

Cast: Adams Garba, Sophie Alakija, Ibrahim Suleiman, Rahama Sadau, and Gabriel Afolayan

About a month ago, Arabel Productions released The Two Aishas,  a film that offered fresh elements on our screen with religious and tribal diversity.

The family drama revolved around Rhamat Sadau, who played the role of one of the Aishas. The films relative success in storyline and cinematography contributed a fraction of excitement towards a recent project, A Lot Like Love, also starring Rhama Sadau.

Much like Love boasts a good lineup of talented actors, with Gabriel Afolayan, Sophie Alakija, and Ibrahim Sulieman playing characters in a Whodunnit situation. While the film promotes diversity, the writing feels very lacklustre, as it is very predictable and bland and would leave viewers questioning if the script ever got a rewrite after the first draft.

The film follows Fanna (Rahama Sadau), a workaholic who feels she is on the verge of losing her marriage. The love between her and her husband, Abdul (Ibrahim Suleman), is slowly fading due to the long working hours. To save their marriage, Fannas father books a paid trip to Turkey for the couple.

The high hopes placed on the possibility of the trip saving their marriage soon shattered as the couple was ambushed and kidnapped. This throws Fanna into a frenzy as she tries to soothe the kidnappers, who outrageously demand two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

While trying to figure out her next step, her friend, Sadiya (Sophie Alakija), turns up. Despite sensing something is wrong, Fanna denies it due to the kidnappers threats to kill her husband. To unravel the truth, Sadiya calls Fannas ex-boyfriend, Mustapha (Gabriel Afolayan).

Through a series of forceful actions, they finally got updated on what was happening. However, their efforts to outsmart the kidnappers went futile.

Frustrated by the dead ends, Mariam begins accusing Adamu, citing her reason for him being bitter that she dumped him.

Mariam gave in to the kidnappers and provided the money in exchange for her husband. In a twist of fate, her husbands freedom opened the door to secrets that would forever shake her world.

The cinematography of A Lot Like Love made it watchable. Although the two elements needed more effort, it felt refreshing to watch a one-hour movie where a viewer did not have to strain their eyes as it was pretty colourful.

The fashion is also applaudable and depicts the northern region, offering viewers style inspiration if they ever venture to Abuja, Kano, or even Kaduna. Simply put, the film served fashion looks for days.

A Lot of Love is a disappointing project, mainly due to its predictable storyline. It was apparent from the beginning of the movie who the kidnapper was.

The writer failed to take us on a journey where the viewers would be unsure of the kidnappers identity, thus keeping them on the edge of their seats while they basked in the mysterious goodness.

The plot was also greedy, making it seem like the producers consulted early Nollywood films to get cliche ideas, like a husband who fakes his kidnap to extort money from his wealthy wife.

The dialogues had no compelling effect on viewers as they were delivered without emotions and expressions; they also lacked a sense of story progression as it was possible to skip a scene and still have a relatively wholesome picture of what happened.

With a stellar line-up of actors, one would expect an outstanding acting performance. However, viewers could not get that as the actors offered below-par performances, shielding us from rooting for them. The only person who managed to deliver slightly is Gabriel Afolayan, whose embodiment of a Northern man is quite applaudable.

Final Verdict

4/10. While it might not be a knockout, it has slowly become a guilty pleasure on our screens.

A lot of love is now streaming on Netflix.

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Again, we are back at this conversation about the conditional cash transfer scheme. If you have been engaged in a...
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, on Friday, hinted at how some people had schemed to tilt the country towards having an interim government during the 2023 general elections.

Mr Soyinka spoke at an interactive session during the launch of his book titled The Putin Files: Excursions Around The Ideology Of Pain in Lagos. He noted that those who were in support of the interim government were only being manipulated.

There were reports of plots for an interim government in the build-up to the February presidential election and in the aftermath of the election. In a statement, the State Security Service (SSS) said some key players were plotting an interim government for the country, describing it as an aberration and mischievous.

Similarly, the House of Representatives rejected calls for an interim government and warned politicians against provocative statements.

A spokesperson for the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, had to openly distance Mr Buhari from such a call even though the main proponents were not publicly disclosed.

Mr Soyinka, the 88-year-old author, said, Some people had schemed to tilt the country towards having an interim government. That tendency had been apparent even before the election.

Mr Soyinkas latest remarks come months after he criticised the Obidients, supporters of presidential candidate Peter Obi, over their actions on social media, describing them as fascists.

In February 2023, Mr Soyinka, in an interview with Channels Television, said if Mr Obi lost the presidential election, it would be his followers who caused it. However, reacting to the literary icons statement, the Obidients lashed out at him on social media, particularly Twitter.

The Nobel Laureate emphasised that as an elder statesman, he would not keep shut about issues of national interest, especially when it is on the grounds of false truth.

He said, So some of those who thought they were being radical, they were being mumu, and playing the script of others. They thought they were tough, bold and original.

You just dont say its who shouts the loudest. If you want to come out based on truth, then no problem. Ill reverse, but you want to call out people based on the unprovable, even as some people will counter with their strict monologue. I will not stand by it or keep silent. Impossible. Especially as I am more knowledgeable about these things than many people, even though they dont admit it.

EndSars Movement

While responding to a question by a poet, Ogaga Ifowodo, about fascism, the literary icon said the 2020 #EndSars protest was driven by truth and, as such, was the most successful.

The professor narrated how he supported the movement to the point of addressing some protesters when he was leaving Lagos for Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the protest.

He highlighted the #EndSars Protests genuine pursuit of truth against the supposed designed manipulations of the other movement, which he did not name although many believe he was referring to the Obidients. He said they were trying to mobilise the youths to defend a lie.

EndSars is one of the most successful movements. It is authentic. It was the expression of people. It is organised. Most importantly, it was based on truth.

When I saw the crowd, I came down and addressed them. It reminded me of the anti-Abacha moment. When I would stand in the median and address the crowd. But in this case (referring to the other movement), some people wanted to call people out in a dispute based on possible false truth.

However, he welcomed criticisms from the unnamed movement. He said he is anticipating their online insults and reactions which he described as their dictionary of abuses; but said he would be ready to face them.

They can go back to the internet, open their dictionary of abuses and start all over again; I will come back and tell them that you are mumu (foolish). You were not playing your script, he said.

If you are knowledgeable and read books, you should be able to put two and two together to ask questions even before this election starts. Is this what and what was going on then, and then you discuss and form your conclusions?

Putin Files

Soyinkas latest work is two years after his tenth entry for his popular intervention series, Trumpism in Academe: The Example of Caroline Davis and Spahring Partners in 2021.

In the Putin Files, the eleventh entry, the literary legend takes on the still unfolding and increasingly brutal war in Ukraine.

The author, who released his most recent novel Chronicles of the happiest people on Earth after 48 years, shares his opinions on Russian President Vladimir Putins approach to the war and possible lessons and resolutions the African continent can draw from it.

His blurb questions why Putin has overtaken others to be the most deserving of his criticism and why Africa should be concerned to learn about Putin and his business.

It reads, Why Putin? Why has he overtaken others as the most deserving, today, of my deadly daggered? Why should Africa, or any entity related to their continent, poke her nose in Putins business? Of course, that is assuming that the ongoing human catastrophe in Ukraine is strictly Putins business, to begin with?

Meanwhile, raising a suggestion, a political economist, Kingsley Moghalu, said the subject of the Ukraine war deserved a much more global audience to have the discourse.

He noted that it was an eyesore to see peoples ignorance regarding the war in Ukraine and Africans position on it.

He further requested that it is essential that Mr Soyinka take it up because it would be picked up globally.

However, in response, the Nobel Laureate said he should be counted out but acknowledged that the idea was good.

He said, I agree with taking it to global space, but include me out. Wherever you are, you can talk about it. People need to read. We talk about democracy, but can you take democracy and put it in a pot to cook and feed people? So, there should be a global platform.

Organisers and guests

The book launch was organised by Bookcraft Africa, the publisher of his Intervention series since 2004.

The launch held at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, and via Zoom featured book readings by Mr Soyinka, including audience members. The session also allowed guests to engage with Mr Soyinka on the books subject.

Also, there was a conversation between the Nobel Laureate and a professor of political science, Anthony Kila. The section had Mr Kila ask the author questions, which he responded to as they shared their opinions.

During the session, the audience and guests also got the opportunity to ask their questions on the subject of the book and outside it.

The event, which was more of an intimate gathering of poets, authors and fans, was attended by notable personalities like Lola Shoneyin, Omoyele Sowore, Kingsley Moghalu, Anthony Kila, and Ogaga Ifowodo, among others.

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed, for the first time, how the late first President of Zambia and foremost Pan-Africanist, Kenneth Kaunda, gave accurate prophecy on his political progression by predicting 17 years ago that he would become President, at a time nobody thought that such prospect was possible.

Mr Jonathan stated this in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday in his keynote speech at the Second Kenneth Kaunda Public Lecture organised by Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation.

Mr Jonathan also charged African leaders to aspire to live up to the ideals of Mr Kaunda who he said was a leading voice in Africas quest for freedom and unity, adding that the quality of leadership on the continent needed to be improved to ensure that the efforts of founding fathers like Mr Kaunda towards Africas freedom, peace and development were not in vain.

He further urged African nations to forge functional partnerships and work towards the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to enhance development and economic freedom for the continent.

Speaking of Mr Kaundas prayers and prophecy on his political future as at the time he was Governor of Bayelsa State, the former President noted that it happened during the late elder statesmens two-day visit to Bayelsa in 2006, following an invitation he extended to him to participate in his governments work against the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

Mr Jonathan said: I must say it now that Kaunda in the early days of my political career, captured my political trajectory to the presidency in an accurate prophetic revelation that has continued to amaze me till this day.

In 2006 when Kaunda had ended his visit to us in Yenagoa and was returning to Zambia, I remember seeing him off to the Port Harcourt Airport in neighbouring Rivers State. As he stood up and was about to board a vehicle that would convey him to the aircraft, he turned back and said to me, young man, you will be the president of this country one day.

Mr Jonathan said further that when this happened, he and his Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Boladei Igali, who was with him simply looked at each other in amazement, because the presidency was never in our dreams, at that time.

The former President noted however that he later saw the prediction fulfilled in my life So I can say that KK (Kenneth Kaunda) was the man who saw tomorrow as it related then to my political future and fortune, as I eventually became the President of my country, four years after that wish.

Corroborating the former Presidents assertion, the chief executive officer of Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, Sunday Musonda, confirmed that he was with Kaunda during the visit, saying: I was with Dr. Kaunda during that visit to Nigeria. One point I clearly remember was when KK blessed you (Jonathan) and said you would be President of Nigeria one day.

Speaking on the continents political history, Mr Jonathan encouraged Africans to reflect on the defining virtues that motivated leaders like Kaunda to make significant contributions to the continents development.

He stated: As a young man then, my knowledge of African history was shaped by transformational leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere, and, of course, Kenneth Kaunda. The stories of their resilience and passion for nation-building formed the basis of contemporary African history. Their strides and sacrificial lifestyles toward their continent have produced many benefits for the continent.

In their prime, these leaders envisioned a continent of hope where its people would be free from every guise of bondage. They committed their lives to actualising their dreams of independence for their countries. The likes of Kaunda could have opted to take sides with the oppressors and feed fat on their spoils, at the expense of the freedom of the people who were in bondage. But they chose the altruistic path of pursuing justice, hope, freedom, and good governance for their people.

He further noted that the major issues confronting the continent today are insecurity, weak economies, disunity, poverty, climate change, and poor governance.

Making a case for good governance on the continent, Mr Jonathan said: Leadership has become a major source of conflicts and wars in most of our countries. The leadership recruitment process and our inability to effectively manage political transitions have resulted in avoidable conflicts. Elections in some countries have become a source of instability, largely reflecting the kind of leaders we have in authority.

My charge to my fellow brothers and sisters in the continent is for us to seek to redefine leadership and governance in the continent. We need a leadership process that guarantees the fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens and delivers a good life to them.

We need to build and protect our political systems to serve the best interest of our people. We must learn how to manage our diversity and build an inclusive society.

Mr Jonathan emphasized that AfCFTA has provided a clear path of attaining economic freedom for African nations, adding that strengthening a common African market would help Africans build a prosperous and united continent.

He however warned that in order to make AfCFTA a reality, sustainable and of maximum benefit to Africa, we need to address Africas infrastructure gaps especially transportation, air and rail networks, in order to ensure easy movement of goods and services within the continent. Also our leaders need to work towards having a common medium of exchange to better optimise the gains of AfCFTA in the long term.

Ikechukwu Eze

S.A. to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

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At least 42 people were killed and eight others critically injured in a suspected rebel attack on a secondary school in western Uganda, police and local authorities said on Saturday.

A regional government official told dpa that 15 children were also abducted.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia linked to the Islamic State group, were blamed for the carnage that took place on Friday night in the town of Mpondwe, located near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ugandan army said it was pursuing the militants and would retaliate.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, according to a spokesperson, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell echoed his comments, calling the attack appalling.

This terrorist violence targeting children is beyond comprehension, Mr Borrell said in a tweet.

There have been attacks by the ADF and other Congolese militias in the border area of the two East African countries for years.

The ADF says it is fighting for the rights of Muslims, who are increasingly pushed to the margins of Ugandan society by the government and law enforcement.

ALSO READ: Ugandan journalist detained on criminal trespass charges

The groups goal is the overthrow of the government in Kampala.

However, the victims of their attacks are mostly civilians.

The groups worst attack occurred in 1998 when militants killed 80 students in an attack on a university in the border region.

(dpa/NAN)

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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and founder of Law FM, a radio station dedicated to advancing the rule of law, Tayo Oyetibo, has advocated the promotion of liberty and order in Nigeria through observance of the rule of law.

He said any society that fails to promote the rule of law would suffer the consequences of anarchy.

Mr Oyetibo spoke alongside other socio-economic rights campaigners, including a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and now Director of the Media Centre at the University of Ibadan, Ropo Ewenla, and a tax law expert, Afolabi Elebiju, among others.

They spoke at a public lecture organised to mark the 30th anniversary of June 12- a day long adopted by pro-democracy campaigners to commemorate the contributions of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election and the winner of the election, MKO Abiola to the advancement of democracy in Nigeria. The election, annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida regime, was regarded as the freest in Nigeria.

The day was formally recognised by the Nigerian government as Democracy Day some years ago.

The public lecture was organised by LiberteVie Law Practice, a private law firm established by a rights advocate and former leader of the students union at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Olaniran Obele.

The law firm, according to Mr Obele, officially opened for business on the day as a mark of respect for democracy and in honour of the pains and pangs of Nigerians whom he noted suffered to institute a democratic process in the country.

The lecture

Speaking on the theme: Liberty, Law, and Order in the Age of Crisis, Mr Elebiju said people are more responsible in a society that is well governed and where power is judiciously used.

He said in a society where there is law there are consequences for every illegal action, noting that a nations constitution ensures there is a laid down set of rules as an ingredient of a decent society.

The lawyer, however, noted that one of the challenges in Nigeria is that leaders lack patriotism and that some resources being looted can increase the quality of life of Nigerian citizens.

He emphasised that everybody has a role to play in the building of a society and suggested a review of tax policies, and the factors leading to brain drain in the country.

We need a society where there is no limitation of opportunities for people, he said.

On his part, Mr Ewenla, an actor and media practitioner, maintained that June 12 remained significant because it involved an all-time relevant struggle of the people.

While dedicating his presentation to the 49 victimised lecturers of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mr Ewenla said the recent elevation of three of the 49 lecturers to the status of professors after 25 years of stagnation on the job is a celebration of the virtue of personal conviction in liberation struggles.

He, however, faulted the foundation of the countrys constitution, saying since something cannot be erected on nothing, there should be a constitution that would be representative of the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

The constitution we currently have was imposed on Nigerians, and to have meaningful development, Nigerians must be allowed to prepare a constitution that will truly reflect their involvement and participation. Until then, our democracy cannot be said to be true, Mr Ewenla said.

He said unimaginable things happened within the last eight years of governance in Nigeria, and that the law and order structure should be able to reprimand those that have crippled the country through corrupt means including through fuel subsidy.

Commendation

Participants at the event including Mr Oyetibo hailed Mr Obele for his dedication and commitment to defending the people against oppression. Mr Oyetibo said, having worked with Mr Obele for over 10 years, he was happy to be part of the achievement he recorded with the new law firm.

Mr Oyetibo said: Only a bad principal would not want his staffers to grow. You were dedicated throughout the period you worked with us, and when, three months ago, you told me you would like to start your own law firm, I was happy because you remained a source of inspiration to many.

I can attest to it that you have garnered more than enough experience having appeared at all levels of courts in Nigeria. I will like to urge your partners and those who would be working in this law firm to emulate your character in terms of discipline, humility, dedication to work, and passion for humanity.

Mr Oyetibo, who attended the event in company with his wife, Abiola Oyetibo, and his son, Mofe Oyetibo, prayed for the success of the firm.

Obele speaks

Mr Obele, the lead counsel at LiberteVie, said the choice of Democracy Day to open the law firm was not a coincidence, but a reflection of his avowed commitment to the rule of law, liberty, law and order.

He noted that a combined experience of six decades between him and his partners would be dedicated to the service of humanity and in defence of the rule of law.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture, Mr Obele said: Everything in Nigeria is a quest for freedom and the lawyer in rendering service is like a guard to guide the society.

Meanwhile, at the event were members of the Pacesetters Movement, an ideological organisation at the Obafemi Awolowo University which Mr Obele belonged to. The organisation was represented by many individuals who are principal partners of various law firms in the country, including Felix Ogunmade, Ariyo Odole, Ige Asemudara, and Olaide Balogun, among others.

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KYODO NEWS - Jun 19, 2023 - 01:00 | World, All

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed Sunday in Beijing that their countries will keep up a dialogue amid heightened bilateral tensions over Taiwan and other issues, with Qin invited to Washington to continue the discussions, the two governments said.

Blinken emphasized the importance of "maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation" and agreed with Qin to schedule a reciprocal visit at "a mutually suitable time," the State Department said.

On Taiwan, which Beijing regards as its own, Qin warned against U.S. interference in issues surrounding the self-ruled democratic island, saying it is "at the core of China's core interests" and "the most prominent risk," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

During the talks, which lasted for five and a half hours, Blinken also raised opportunities to explore cooperation on shared transnational issues where the interests of the two countries align, the State Department said.

Blinken is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit China under the administration of President Joe Biden, who took office in January 2021.

Prior to the talks, the Chinese minister welcomed Blinken at the door of a building in the capital's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse before walking together toward the flags of the two countries, where they firmly shook hands.

The ministerial talks could pave the way for a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Biden later this year.

The U.S. president told reporters Saturday in Maryland, "I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how there's areas we can get along."

During his two-day stay in Beijing through Monday, Blinken is also expected to hold talks with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, and possibly Xi.

Blinken's China trip, agreed upon by Biden and Xi last November during a meeting in Indonesia, was abruptly postponed from February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was detected flying across the United States.

The nations with the world's two largest economies have been at odds over not just Taiwan but a range of other issues. Beijing regards Taiwan as its own territory to be eventually reunified with the mainland by force if necessary, while the countries have divergent views on human rights, as well as territorial disputes in the South and East China seas.

As the strategic rivalry between the United States and China heats up, other countries are especially concerned about the risk of miscalculation or unintended military actions by either of the two powers.

China severed military-to-military communication channels with the United States after then House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, becoming the most senior U.S. official to set foot on the island in a quarter century.
The police in Ondo State have confirmed the abduction of Ibrahim Bodunde-Oyinlade, the chief imam of USO community in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The 67-year-old cleric was abducted on his farm at Asolo Farm Camp on Saturday afternoon.

A family member said they reported to the police when Mr Bodunde-Oyinlade did not return home by 2 p.m. and calls to his mobile phone were not answered.

The kidnappers have contacted the family but are yet to demand ransom, he said on condition of anonymity.

Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the police spokesperson in the state, however, confirmed the incident.

He said police officers and vigilantes were combing the forest in search of the chief imam.

Mr Odunlami-Omisanya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the victims car and mobile phone were found at the farm.

ALSO READ: Ondo community cry out over siege by suspected criminal herders

It was at about 6 p.m. that the family members came to report the incident at the police station in USO community.

The DPO, policemen and vigilantes are searching the area for possible rescue, he added.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday named eight special advisers, including Salma Anas, director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).

A former Commissioner for Health in Borno State, Mrs Anas portfolio is to advise the President on health matters.

Mr Tinubus choice has been hailed by many stakeholders who described the action as a step in the right direction.

These stakeholders, including the Managing Director of Health Watch, a health-focused newspaper, Vivianne Ihekweazu, said that naming an adviser on health among the first set of appointees indicates that the health sector may receive the desired attention and priority under the new administration.

Meet Mrs Anas

Born on 23 March, 1966, Mrs Anas was raised in Maiduguri, where she completed her primary education at Shehu Garbai Primary School in 1978. Five years later, she acquired her O level certificate from Government Girls College, Maiduguri.

She received a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Maiduguri in 1989.

Renowned expert

Mrs Anas has over 25 years of experience in the health sector and has been involved in policy formulation, strategic development, resource mobilisation, and implementation of various health programmes at national, regional and international levels.

Before her appointment, Mrs Anas was the Director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH). She leads key divisions, including reproductive health, child Health and nutrition, and health promotion.

Before that, she served as the Director of special projects & national coordinator health sector humanitarian crisis response of the ministry.

Mrs Anas, an internationally renowned public health expert, who has worked across various units and departments in the federal health ministry, has a passion for improving access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent, and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) services, including sexual and reproductive rights, as well as gender-based violence.

In 2011, during the first term of the incumbent Vice President Kashim Shettima as the Borno State Governor, Mrs Anas was appointed health commissioner. The appointment came when the humanitarian crisis in the state and the entire North-east region peaked. Her excellent performance in office earned her many awards from various organisations, including an award for the best performing commissioner in the North-east on polio eradication.

Mrs Anas also served as the assistant country representative/head of reproductive health/HIV, United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), Nigeria, and the national team leader for the DFID-funded Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH2) project.

Family

Ibrahim Anas, the father of Mrs Anas, a retired police officer from Silumthla ward of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, joined politics in 1977 after retirement.

Mr Anas then served as the Chairman of Biu LGA and later became the deputy governor of Borno State between 1979 and 1983.

He served on the boards of several government agencies and parastatals until his demise on 8 December 2008.

Mrs Anas is married to Hashim Kolo, who retired in 2013 from the Nigerian Air Force with the rank of Air Commodore. They both have five kids.

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A Twitter post by a Nigerian woman in the diaspora, Addy Olubamiji, has yet again sparked wild conversations on what many described as poor attitudes of staff of various Nigerian embassies abroad, especially towards Nigerians seeking one service.

In her tweet on Saturday, Mrs Olubamiji narrated how poorly her family was treated while attempting to process their international passports at the Nigerian embassy in New York.

How they talked us down, treated us like we do not matter; the inconsistencies in their processes, late arrivals of employees, and lack of empathy, and I was moved to tears, she wrote.

She noted that each time Nigerians in the diaspora attempt to stay patriotic to Nigeria, the system makes things difficult, adding that; We should not have to cry or plan to bribe or know that the system will not work.

According to Mrs Olubamiji, despite having contacts in the embassy, she did not call because she wanted the average person experience, but she ended up in disbelief.

I want to write nice things about my country, but when things are not working, it is also our responsibility to say it, she said.

After her experience, she questioned why her child should have a Nigerian passport.

Someone needs to look into the structures and systems running in our Nigerian embassies around the world; they need to be looked at, Mrs Olubamiji added.

Corroboration

Corroborating Mrs Olubamiji, Babs Adewumi on Twitter said he has equally had a difficult experience at the same embassy.

I have dealt with Nigerias NY embassy thrice, and twice, I had a difficult experience, he said.

He went on to compare his experience with that of the embassy in Ottawa, Canada, which he claims is better organised except for the difficulty in reaching them via phone. But they do a fairly decent job with the application and passport tracking.

Mr Adewumi noted that Nigeria needs benchmarking, standardisation, and performance tracking across its global footprint.

To Mr Adewumis surprise, the Ottawa office may not be what he thinks, as another user- Peter Ademu-Eteh, described the situation as probably worse.

Mr Ademu-Eteh said it takes an average of three to six months to get an appointment for capturing and another three to six months to get the international passport. The disorganisation is legendary.

In my law practice, I have represented many Nigerian students and workers who permanently lost their immigration status in Canada because of passport renewal delays, he said.

After spending $100,000 on tuition, many cannot graduate because the embassy could not renew their passport in time for a visa extension. In a country with stable electricity, stable internet, and working ports  there is no reason people should face this kind of problem. It is an absolute disgrace, he added.

Similarly, Oluwakemisola Adewusi, another Twitter user who lamented the situation at the embassy in Washington DC, United States of America, said the embassy has no functioning telephone line.

They misplaced my old passport, which had my valid US visa. All efforts to reach them were unsuccessful. I had to go on LinkedIn to look for people who work there until a former employee helped, she narrated.

For Kofi Renner, it was a case of alleged impersonation. The one on Northumberland Avenue, London, is no better. With a name like Kofi, I was made to explain my heritage after being accused of impersonating a Nigerian, he narrated.

Ex-minister speaks

Nigerias former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Geoffrey Onyeama, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, attempted to explain the challenges of the ministry and, in turn, the several missions abroad, which he said are mainly administrative.

We are grossly underfunded, so you have a perpetual crisis due to the underfunding, and we need a mechanism we have to give more to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if we are going to maintain 104 missions around the world and also if we are going to reorganise the headquarters by giving it modern means of communication, he said.

Mr Onyeama also noted that there is a need for the automation of work procedures of the ministry, the computerisation of work procedures, and contact with the embassies.

Not all gloom

Even though many Nigerians, especially on social media, have lamented the low level of professionalism at the embassies in different countries, there are a few heart-lifting experiences.

Also commenting on Mrs Olubamijis post, Roy Chikwem empathised with her while noting that it is not the same situation with the Nigerian Embassy in Canberra, Australia. I have been there several times to renew my or my childrens passports, and they have always treated everyone with respect and dignity, and the process is stress-free.

Similarly, Adewale Adejimi said the Nigerian embassy in The Hague, Netherlands seems orderly. I got my passport within three hours.

Ann Amuta, another user, described the embassy staff in Atlanta as helpful but not without asking for something small to help fast-track her passport.

Like home, like abroad

The challenge of acquiring or renewing passports is not peculiar to Nigerians in the diaspora, as most Nigerians at home also face similar difficulties.

This recently led the acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, to announce a state of emergency on passport issues in the country.

According to a statement issued by the NIS spokesperson, Tony Akuneme, the NIS boss on Thursday emphasised the urgent need to address the challenges faced by Nigerians in obtaining passports and declaring a comprehensive plan of action to tackle these issues effectively.

READ ALSO: Why theres shortage of Nigerian passport Official

She noted that the NIS top management is fully committed to addressing institutional and technology-based drawbacks to ensure more efficient and streamlined service delivery.

Mr Akuneme, in the statement, noted that Ms Adepoju had earlier directed all Passport Control Officers (PCOs), relevant units and personnel within the NIS including our missions abroad, to work tirelessly towards eliminating all hindrances preventing Nigerians from accessing passports promptly.

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Binance, the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange, on Sunday, described Binance Nigeria Limited as a scammer entity.

Changpeng Zhao, founder and chief executive officer, disclosed this via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday.

Binance has issued cease and desist notice to the scammer entity Binance Nigeria Limited. Dont believe everything you read in the news, his tweet read.

The Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC Nigeria) had earlier in the month said the operation of Binance Nigeria Limited in the country is illegal.

The commission said Binance Nigeria Limited is neither registered nor regulated by the commission, and its operations in Nigeria are illegal.

It noted that any member of the investing public dealing with the entity is doing so at his/her own risk.

The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) has been drawn to the website operated by Binance Nigeria Limited, soliciting the Nigerian public to trade crypto assets on its various web and mobile-enabled platforms.

Binance Nigeria Limited is neither registered nor regulated by the Commission, and its operations in Nigeria are therefore illegal. Any member of the investing public dealing with the entity is doing so at his/her own risk, SEC said in a statement.

Binance is the worlds leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange.

The company had recently faced a series of setbacks, announcing plans to leave the Netherlands, Cyprus, Canada and Australia and being charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

READ ALSO: Binance operations in Nigeria illegal SEC

Earlier in the month, SEC sued Binance and Mr Zhao, alleging that the company artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds, and misled investors about its market surveillance controls.

The company, however, disputed the SEC charges, according to Reuters.

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If the Grammys truly want to be seen as a global institution, there is no reason why music from non-Western societies should be homogenised and accorded only three slots. Even though the introduction of Best African Music Performance represents recognition of the growing influence of African music on the world stage, it still falls well short of what is required for the acceptance of the Grammys as a universal award winning institution.

The decision on 14 June 2023 by the Grammys to add an African category to their yearly awards is an improvement on the grouping of African music under the all-encompassing and nebulous category of Global Music. However, this new category still fails to recognise the rich variety of music genres across Africa.

The Grammys have for decades ignored music genres in non-Western societies by adopting a broad brush categorisation. This lumps all music from such societies into the single category labelled Global Music.

The term Global Music itself is a recent creation. Before 2021, music generated in Africa and Asia, including the Middle East, were categorised as World Music by the Grammys. Criticism of the colonial or exclusionary undertones of world music (or music from exotic lands) in the imagination of Western music consumers led to the adoption of the new name Global Music in 2021.

Artists and ethnomusicologists around the world who campaigned for the change, as well as the Recording Academy of the United States that runs the Grammys, believe that the new name is more relevant, modern and inclusive. One has to stretch credulity to believe that there is a difference in meaning between World Music and Global Music.

African music genres, such as Soukous, Makosa, Afrobeats, Amapiano, Juju, Fuji, Highlife, Hiplife, South African Jazz, Ethio Jazz, Bongo Flava, Kwaito, Township Music, Chimurenga, Mbalax, Isicathamiya, Goombay, Bubu and African folk or traditional music are homogenised and subsumed under Global Music.

If you walked into a music store in Western cities before the emergence of music streaming platforms, which signalled the death of vinyls, cassettes and CDs, World Music had a special corner that distinguished it from the huge spaces occupied by Western music  the only music that was deemed important to be classified into various genres, such as pop, rock, country, classical, soul/R&B, reggae, hip hop, gospel and blues. The Grammys have retained this dichotomy, despite the changes that have occurred in its 64 year history.

The pull of the US market, which tops the world with 38% of global music sales in 2022, accounts for the Grammys dominant position as an award granting body in the music industry. However, the Grammys are still a long way from becoming a truly global institution. They will have to shed their global and regional music categories for categories based solely on music genres in other parts of the world to achieve their goal.

Established in 1959 as an American music award winning show, the Grammys have evolved as the most important badge of honour in the global music industry. It is an unrivalled reference point for music lovers in the US, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, despite the proliferation of national and regional music awards across the world.

Like the Swedish Nobel Foundation that gives awards for excellence in various scientific fields, the American Grammys have positioned themselves as a universal body, honouring musicians from different regions of the world. Fourteen musicians from Africa have won Grammys, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa and Angelique Kidjo from Benin topping the list with five and four awards respectively.

The pull of the US market, which tops the world with 38% of global music sales in 2022, accounts for the Grammys dominant position as an award granting body in the music industry. However, the Grammys are still a long way from becoming a truly global institution. They will have to shed their global and regional music categories for categories based solely on music genres in other parts of the world to achieve their goal.

The hollowness of the Global Music category was seriously exposed in the Grammy Awards of 2022. Despite widespread expectations that the Nigerian superstar, Burna Boy, would win the best Global Music Album for his highly popular and well-crafted album, Love Damini, he lost out to a Japanese artist, Masa Takuma. Takumas Japanese instrumental music was excellent, but so was Burna Boys Love Damini. It is a great disrespect to African and Japanese music to lump together Afrobeats and instrumental Japanese music under World Music.

This kind of brazen anomaly encouraged promoters of African music at the global stage to advocate for a Grammy category that specifically addresses African music. The Nigerian creative industry entrepreneurs, Obi Asika and Adesegun Adeosun (aka Smade), founders of Afro Nation, led the way by getting the American Billboard 100 chart to launch a new billboard chart dedicated solely to Afrobeats in March 2022 , two years after it removed the reggae and dancehall billboard charts.

In making the announcement on 14 June, the Grammys tried to deflect criticism of the regional label (Best African Music Performance) by listing a number of African music genres that could be considered in the new category, including Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres.

The Grammys allocated only two out of their 91 categories in 2022 to non-Western music (or Global Music). These are Best Global Music Performance and Best Global Music Album. The new African category, Best African Music Performance, brings the total number to three. However, there is no corresponding Best African Music Album. This suggests that African musicians with good albums that seek recognition will still have to compete with musicians from Asia under the category of Best Global Music Album.

Listing these various genres in the Grammy announcement does not, however, solve the problem. Musicians specialising in any of these genres will still be competing for one slot. The category still homogenises Africas complex musical heritage.

Compare this decision with that of 1985 to create a Grammy category for Best Reggae Album. The reggae category was treated as unique; it was not lumped with calypso, soca or chutney  music genres that are popular in Trinidad and the Caribbean generally. And the Grammys have five categories for Latin  chiefly Latin American  music: Best Latin Pop Album, Best Musica Urbana Album, Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album, Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano) and Best Tropical Latin Album.

The Grammys allocated only two out of their 91 categories in 2022 to non-Western music (or Global Music). These are Best Global Music Performance and Best Global Music Album. The new African category, Best African Music Performance, brings the total number to three. However, there is no corresponding Best African Music Album. This suggests that African musicians with good albums that seek recognition will still have to compete with musicians from Asia under the category of Best Global Music Album.

It is, surely, not possible to honour all music genres from Africa with separate Grammy categories. However, over the years, six or so music genres  Soukous, Makosa, Highlife, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, South African Jazz and Amapiano  have had cross-border impacts on the continent. Currently, the two most dominant sounds on the continent are Afrobeats and Amapiano, with Afrobeats enjoying unrivalled hegemony. Through artists such as Asake and Davido, Afrobeats has incorporated the unique percussion (talking drum) sounds of Amapiano, making it difficult to distinguish Amapiano from Afrobeats.

If the Grammys truly want to be seen as a global institution, there is no reason why music from non-Western societies should be homogenised and accorded only three slots. Even though the introduction of Best African Music Performance represents recognition of the growing influence of African music on the world stage, it still falls well short of what is required for the acceptance of the Grammys as a universal award winning institution.

Africas Afrobeats, Soukous, Makosa, Amapiano, Highlife, South African Jazz, Bongo Flava, Kwaito, Township Music, Isicathamiya and a host of other genres should not be buried in the categories of Best African Music Performance and Best Global Music Album.

Yusuf Bangura writes from Nyon, Switzerland. Email: Bangura.ym@gmail.com

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is the purification of EFCC implicated in an alleged panoply of moves to secure all the borders of power  have the National Assembly in your kitty, the Central Bank, NNPC and EFCC  so as to finally proclaim yourself as the Nigerian furher? Yes, the characters Tinubu has axed so far were obnoxious while in office but, at the same time, our president had personal axes to grind with each of them before he became president. Are we witnessing street vendetta as national policy?

This season, President Bola Tinubu is harvesting big pods of cocoa from his plantation. His co-farmers are looking at him with concentrated envy. And jealousy. Exhilaration is in the air. In the last two weeks, he has shown tremendous energy towards changing the status-quo. His suspension of Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is exciting the Nigerian economy. The Agbor, Delta State-born bankers exit marked an end to one of the most turbulent eras in the CBN. Getting rid of him has signaled a very strong, positive impact on the capital and foreign exchange markets. When the CBN announced an end to Emefieles multiple exchange rates, like a fetus in the womb, the comatose Nigerian economy wriggled slightly, excited. Even the World Bank is giving him thumbs-up for this.

Packed with lewd imageries, Baba Yusuf Olatunji, an evergreen Yoruba Sakara musician who died in 1978, had a word for people like us who exhibit such unrestrained optimism about things that we see. Olatunji sermonised on how doubtful the structure of beliefs could be. He warned the commune of adulterous men to be mindful of a sudden turn-around, even when there is no threatening danger visible to the eyes. They must never let down their guards. When an adulterous man is seeing off his liaison, Olatunji counseled, he should be watchful like the pheasant and apprehend oncoming deceits like a sparrow. Could the womans husband be hiding somewhere, poised to inflict harm on him? Olatunji expressed this in the song thus, O ye ka ni fura, ta ba nsin ale eni lo (2ce) te ba sin ale titi, te ba de koro, e fura A kii foko han ale, a kii fale eni han oko He ended the track with a warning to couples on honeymoon that the matrimony of trust may, sooner than later, burst, putting asunder and ruining the investment of trust: Oju sewo sewo yio jaa, oju yan ale-yan ale, yio jaabojo o ro, bigbado o gbo, oju tako tabo ohun ni o jaa

In Tinubu, an end seems to have been put to the purdah presidency of the Buhari era. The visibility of the Nigerian president is gaining traction as citizens see their president more frequently. As if to ram home the point of a restless and on-the-move presidency, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, also got hammered. Tongues had started wagging over Bawa, who many believe was a product of the nepotism and cronyism of the immediate past administration. Bawa hailed from Jega, while Abubakar Malami, the former attorney general of the federation (AGF), who was believed to have waggled him into the helm of the anti-graft agency, hailed from Birnin-Kebbi, with both places being in Kebbi State. Then, as it happened to his predecessors, Bawa became swamped in the puddle of allegations of theft and the illegal conversion of seized properties. The last straw was the allegation from the immediate past governor of Zamfara State that Bawa was witch-hunting him for his refusal to give in to his $2 million bribe demand, which he alleged the ex-EFCC chair made to virtually all the exiting governors.

When a government policy, with a draconian feel as the sudden stoppage of petroleum subsidy by the Tinubu administration, elicits few or no public disavowals, as this has done, then be sure that that government has the buy-in of the people, regardless of their pain. This is a rare accomplishment by the Tinubu government. Nigerians are silently bearing the brunt of the policy, apologies to Fela Kutis suffering and smiling. Then the pilgrimage of the high and mighty to Aso Rock began. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Lamido Sanusi and many others have undergone the Villa shuttle. As exciting as this optics is, it is silted by those of James Ibori, Asari Dokubo and others. Have you ever imagined an American president receiving in the White House stained people? As a rule, the POTUS doesnt receive guests who are under investigation or convicts who havent been pardoned. The White House does background checks on each of such guests. It keeps a log of visitors to the White House, which is a public document.

In some way, Olatunjis O ye ka nifura track espouses the Cartesian doubt principle. Its proponent, Rene Descartes, canvasses that we should doubt all previous beliefs, demolish every prior thought completely and begin to think about them afresh. It was upon that uncritical cusp that totalitarians were erected. Like Adolf Hitler. Adolf was a very meek boy growing up in Braunau am Inn, in Austria-Hungary, and even when he became leader of the Nazi Party and Chancellor in 1933. With critical thought, you could build an entire new belief system situated on a solid ground.

The delirium we have acquired about Tinubus first two weeks in office is infectious. In a piece I did for the Politics Special page of the Nigerian Tribune on 2 June, 1999, with the title, Shagaris fall colours this new dawn, I equally celebrated Olusegun Obasanjo. He had just been sworn in three days earlier. Juxtaposing the excitement in the air on 1 October, 1979 and 29 May, 1999, in that piece, I forecast that Nigeria was on the path of recovery. My indices were unassailable. Obasanjo had been to the two extreme ends of the stick  the zenith and nadir. Condemned to death by the sadistic Sani Abacha, as the Yoruba euphemise death, eleko orun npolowo  the Hereafters hawker of porridge corn meal had begun to hawk his ware with a loud voice of invitation to the Egba-born military General. Sources even said he had written a couple of his trusted soldier colleagues on how to take care of his family when Sani Abacha executed him. It would thus be anti-logic to assume that that same man wouldnt administer Nigeria with the fear of God; or, wouldnt it? The rest is history, as they say.

As the world celebrates Tinubus near-three weeks in office, he reminds us, the commune of naysayers, of Trench Town. So, something good can come out of Tinubus Trench Town? Those who invested their trust in his presidency, at a time when it looked like a pipe dream, are having a good laugh now. Didnt we warn you that Tinubu would hit the ground running?, they scorn.

Obasanjo indeed ruled Nigeria with a humane mind, as epitomised in his ordering of the invasion of Zaki-Biam, or didnt he? The invasion led to a massacre code-named Operation No Living Thing. It was a surreptitious mass execution of hundreds of unarmed Tiv civilians by men of the Nigerian Army between 20 and 24 October, 2001. Their aim was to avenge the killing of their 19 soldier colleagues. Is the cure for headache the beheading of the throbbing whole? Anyway, the 19 soldiers had been killed by God-knew-who and their mutilated bodies littered the streets. The Obasanjo-led government and the Nigerian Army denied involvement in the massacre. However, on 6 November, 2007, the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Luka Yusuf, was quoted to have publicly apologised to the people of Benue State. President Umaru YarAdua also offered his apology. Ultimately, no one got punished. None appeared in a military court-martial, and no one went to jail. Obasanjo himself is still waxing sanctimonious all over the world and Nigeria has lived happily ever after.

The same thing happened in what is now known as the Odi massacre. The people of this Ijaw town in Bayelsa State had stepped on a poisonous Federal Government serpent. On 4 November, 1999, six months after Obasanjo became president, twelve Nigerian policemen were reportedly murdered by a gang near Odi. Seven others got killed in the following days. Enraged by this insolence, on 20 November, 1999, men of the Nigerian Army moved into Odi village. Tension soared. The civilian population were at the receiving end of the scalding anger of Fela Anikulapos friends who, about three decades earlier, and allegedly on the orders of the same Obasanjo, had burnt the musicians Lagos house and thrown his mother down the stairs. By the time the soldiers angers subsided, all that was left of Odi was smoke and soot, a bank building, a church and a health centre. Every other thing had been burned down. Nnimmo Bassey, the executive director of Environmental Rights Action at the time, claimed that about 2,500 civilians were killed in that massacre. Government initially claimed the figure was 43, including eight soldiers. It was only in February, 2013 that the Federal High Court handed Odi a reprieve. Justice Lambi Akanbi ordered government to pay Odi the sum of N37.6 billion as compensation. N15 billion eventually got paid by the Goodluck Jonathan government. I drew out all these examples to fix our minds on the danger of incautious optimism and ultimate abetment of a budding totalitarianism.

As the world celebrates Tinubus near-three weeks in office, he reminds us, the commune of naysayers, of Trench Town. So, something good can come out of Tinubus Trench Town? Those who invested their trust in his presidency, at a time when it looked like a pipe dream, are having a good laugh now. Didnt we warn you that Tinubu would hit the ground running?, they scorn. Evergreen Robert Nesta Marley, in fact, engrafted that little town on the global consciousness. Trench Town, oh Trench Town. In the track, Trench Town, he sang of the marvelous transformation of Trench Town, his birthplace. Something good came out of Trench Town! We come from Trench Town/They say, can anything good come out of Trench Town?/Thats what they saysay were the underprivileged people/so they keep us in chains In other songs like Natty Dread, Trench Town Rock and No Woman, No Cry, Marley venerated this slum neighbourhood.

Trench Town, located in Kingston, is a Jamaican neighbourhood in the parish of St. Andrew. Known as the Hollywood of Jamaica in the 1960s, its notoriety rests solely in its being the base and home of reefer smokers, bad boys and violent characters. It mirrors the rough and tumble of city life, with its running sewage and slums. This trench-filled neighourhood was to later become famous due to the avalanche of vast musical talents it produced and its contribution, in no mean way, to bringing global awareness to the impoverished and corrupt political situation of Jamaica. Trench Town symbolised poverty, violence and lack. Anyone who hailed from this neighbourhood was considered to be downtrodden. However, it was soon to become the headquarters of Jamaican popular culture, producing a beehive of Jamaicas ska, rocksteady and reggae musicians, who took the world by storm. Marley was the most outstanding of them all. He had spent his growing up years at the Government Yard on Trench Towns First Street. That slum is today known as the birthplace of reggae music. Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and many other musicians hailed from Trench Town.

Immediately Bawa was suspended, even leaders of over 150 anti-corruption civil society organisations celebrated what they termed Tinubus first step in the cleaning process of the EFCC. But, why has every administration, since 1999, desired and gotten its own EFCC boss? And why has each of them ended in ignominy? Chinua Achebe, while writing the foreword to the biography of Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerias first EFCC boss, entitled Paradise for maggots, written by America-based Nigerian academic, Professor Wale Adebanwi, had romanticised the crime fighting prowess of a certain Eliot Ness. He entitled the intervention Nigerias Eliot Ness. Ness was an American Prohibition agent renowned for how he attempted to rein in Al Capone in Chicago. His crime fighting team of ten, which he led, was named The Untouchables and his fame as an incorruptible crime fighter was all over America. Like Ribadu, Ness began his career as an investigator attached to Chicago. Then, in March, 1930, he led the investigation of Capone and his associates for tax income evasion. He was able to purge the Chicago law enforcement agency of its endemic corruption. Within six months in 1931, The Untouchables had destroyed bootlegging operations that were worth an estimated $500,000, ultimately costing Capone an excess of $9 million in lost revenue. Ness inflicted major damage on Capones operations, leading to his indictment on 5,000 violations. On 17 October, 1931, Capone got convicted on three of 22 counts of tax evasion and was sentenced to eleven years in prison.

As Achebe said, Ribadu began well as our own Ness. He threw soldier ants into the pants of Nigerias politically exposed persons. His fear was the beginning of wisdom. After Obasanjo humiliated police chief, Tafa Balogun, summoning him to Aso Rock and shouting on him, Tafa, thief! Tafa, thief!, Ribadu took over his humiliation. His boys, led by Ibrahim Magu, many of who were the police rank and file as Balogun was the IGP, were shocked when, upon his arrest, Balogun, frustrated, pleaded with them, I can change your lives, please. Let me settle you and lets settle this. I can make you rich for life. Ribadus EFCC later got Baloguns N2.7 billion illicit money frozen in five banks and brought him to court handcuffed.

let us enjoy the Tinubu honeymoon while it lasts. We should however never say Yusuff Olatunji didnt warn us. Oju sewo sewo yio jaa, oju yan ale-yan ale, yio jaa oju tako tabo ohun ni o jaa, he sang  the end of adulterous affectation is always a colossal letdown. Unless we allow Olatunji to be our guide, we may suffer this ultimate letdown.

Not long after, Ribadu fell. He became an anvil for witch-hunting Obasanjos political enemies. He also suffered a colossal loss of his social capital when he veered into politics. Dont they say, you cannot thrust your hand out for a handshake and maintain ramrod stillness, with your head unbowed? At a point, the ex-police officer bought cars in their hundreds for the prosecution of his political ambition in Adamawa State. People began to wonder where the policeman got all those sums of money from. Today, Ribadu is special adviser to the president, a man whose case, he once told the Nigerian parliament, was one of the worst that he was investigating for corruption. Playing on the rhyme in dodo (fried plantain) and ododo (truth), Yoruba say that when you encounter the sweetness of dodo, you cannot walk in the corridor of ododo. This looks like Ribadus case.

From Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde, Magu to Bawa, how could appointed Nigerian Nesses come into office with trusted anti-corruption profiles but end up ghastly inside the sewage of the pigsty? Are they the problem or we, the people; or even the Nigerian system? Or is it wishful imagination that corruption can be tamed in Nigeria? Sir Robert Peel, with his tenets of crime-fighting recommendations, which are now known as the Peelian principles, seeks ethical policing. The principles have been advocated in fighting crime of the sort that EFCC is engaged in. However, it has been a colossal failure. EFCC today is perceived as one of the most corrupt organisations in the world, with politically exposed persons and Yahoo boys bursting the greed bubble of their officers by the hour.

But, the question must be asked, how do we propose to have an ethical EFCC when Nigeria itself is a pigsty; an ethically challenged country? How can we have a clean EFCC boss when the perception of Nigerias Aso Rocks disposition to corruption is this horrible? Post-Bawa, what manner of EFCC boss does Tinubu want? Cant we amend the EFCC Act and appoint non-policemen and security operatives to man EFCC? Or are there no civilians who abhor corruption and can fight it in Nigeria like Ness did in 1930s Chicago? Will Tinubu allow the anti-graft agency to investigate him and his presidency if there are allegations of graft against them? Or, is the purification of EFCC implicated in an alleged panoply of moves to secure all the borders of power  have the National Assembly in your kitty, the Central Bank, NNPC and EFCC  so as to finally proclaim yourself as the Nigerian furher? Yes, the characters Tinubu has axed so far were obnoxious while in office but, at the same time, our president had personal axes to grind with each of them before he became president. Are we witnessing street vendetta as national policy?

To compound the feeling of vendetta, Bawa was said to be the young officer who investigated allegations of corruption against Tinubu. Emefiele was Candidate Tinubus archenemy, against whom he fumed at political events during the naira design exercise. Perhaps, Malami should prepare for his own retribution as well?

So, let us enjoy the Tinubu honeymoon while it lasts. We should however never say Yusuff Olatunji didnt warn us. Oju sewo sewo yio jaa, oju yan ale-yan ale, yio jaa oju tako tabo ohun ni o jaa, he sang  the end of adulterous affectation is always a colossal letdown. Unless we allow Olatunji to be our guide, we may suffer this ultimate letdown.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

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These three laws of motion explain to us WHY OUR WORLD IS CREATED TO FUNCTION BY LAWS RATHER THAN BY MIRACLES. Our world is supposed to function 100% by laws of nature. I personally believe that the probability of miracles is only 2%.

Newtons First Law of Motion

According to Isaac Newtons first law of motion, an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force. To convert that to our everyday life, everything in your life would remain the same, meaning that our continent will remain at the stage of under development until we do something about it. You will not witness new things. No progress, no success, no good news, no surprises, no breakthrough, until you apply some forces to make things happen. That is how life was made to function. This is how the earth was created to function. Every object which could be everything in your life, would either remain static or it would continue moving in the same vicious circle, unless you act.

So sometimes, we are asking God to do something for us, whereas God is waiting on us to simply act. Why things dont change in your life is because, you have not acted enough. Why you are not experiencing something new in your life, is because you have not done something in the real world, to make things happen. Notice that in that first law of Newton, an object would remain in a state of rest unless an external force is applied. You need to do something in the external world, no matter what you have done in the spirit. No matter the amount of prayers you have done, external actions are required for change to occur in your life. So when we go to church to pray, believe and hope, we would nevertheless need to act in the physical realm for us to experience something new in our lives. ORA ET LABORA, when we pray, compliment your prayer by going to work.

Newtons Second Law of Motion

Newtons second law of motion says the vector sum of the external forces F on an object is equal to the mass m of that object multiplied by the acceleration vector a of the object: F = ma. What this simply means is that the amount of speed produced by the moving object, is equal to the amount of force or push been applied to it. That is, the greater the weight of the object been accelerated, the greater the amount of force needed to produce the speed. To even make it simpler, this law says, result is only equal to the amount of force applied. The result is always correspondent to the effort applied. So, I cannot hope to get a big result by putting up just a small effort. If I need a breakthrough result, blessings or miracles in my life, I must put in a corresponding amount of work. It is not fair to try to get something for nothing. God did not make the earth to work that way. He does not want some to do all the work and for others to get all the gains. That would not be fair even in Gods eyes, though he loves you.

All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. Calvin Coolidge

The result has to correspond with the effort applied. That is to say, if it takes a level ten degree of effort to get a level ten level of promotion, then only level ten degree of effort would produce such result. I cannot put in level two degree of effort and expect to get level ten promotion. It would not be fair because, other people are doing what is required. But apart from that, God has made nature to work by objectivity. God has programmed justice in nature and the laws of nature would block it if you try to bypass justice. It wont work. The laws and nature itself would be against you. That is why there is no amount of prayers we would pray or fasting we can do to produce the kind of results that require our own efforts and investments. The laws of nature are also spiritual because they are Gods laws too. Africa must learn this lesson for us to make a significant progress going forward. Our churches must stop separating the church from the issues of national development. We must stop telling people that they only serve God through the fivefold ministries. We serve God in everything we do as long as we seek to bring Him glory. Lets try and bring God glory by developing Africa.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didnt do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Newtons Third Law of Motion

Newtons third law of motion states that when one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first body. In a laymans language this law will sound simply as for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that for every force, there is a reaction that is equal in size, but in the opposite direction. Meaning whenever an object pushes another object, it automatically pushes back in the opposite direction, equally as hard. How do we apply this third law in our daily life?

This is the law that is responsible for the philosophical teaching of cause and effect. For me to expect something to happen, I must have done something. That is to say everything I do produces some results either of equal proportion or of higher proportion. But if I dont do anything nothing happens. There must be a reason for my expectations. I dont have the right to expect anything unless, I have set something in motion to later produce the result I am expecting. If there is no cause there would be no effect. If I didnt sow anything, I should not expect to reap. Anything I do would produce either a similar reaction or greater reaction.

You are where you are right now because of the actions youve taken, or maybe, the inaction youve taken.  Steve Maraboli

The laws of cause and effect states that what you have today, is as a result of what you either did yesterday or what you refused to do. It is like the law of sowing and reaping. To reap I must sow. When I sow I would either get something at least to the size of what I sowed, but normally more. All actions produce reactions; either an equal or more reaction. The same thing would happen in my relationship with people. Jesus said, If anyone slaps you on one cheek turn the other. Why is Jesus saying this? Its because if you dont obey the law of the kingdom, which is to turn the other cheek, the next thing is that you will begin to have natural reaction, which would be to return the action. But most of the time you want to do it more. Meaning the natural tendency will be for you to slap the person back, but normally you slap back not once like he slapped you, but you want to slap him back several times. So its always of more or equal reaction. You hardly ever get back the amount you sow, you always get more back. The same thing with good.

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine.

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At least 13 people were killed in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State as the recent upsurge in reprisal attacks between herders and farming communities in the area continued last week.

The latest incident followed Thursdays killing of five herders in Rawu village.

On Friday, persons suspected to be herders invaded the community, killing eight people.

The spokesperson of the states police command, Alabo Alfred, who confirmed the second attack in the community, said he was not aware of the killing of the herders. He also said the police have not confirmed the casualty figure of Friday nights attack.

I am not aware of the killing of the herders but there was an attack on Rawuru community where people were killed and houses burnt. Our men have been there and we are waiting for the report of what has happened.

However, the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Nuru Abdullahi, told Daily Trust on Friday, that five herders were ambushed while returning from a cattle market in Bukuru, a town in Jos South Local Government Area.

The police commissioner is aware. The DSS and Operation Safe Haven are aware. All the security agencies are aware, he said.

There has been an upsurge of attacks and reprisals in the state recently with both sides trading blame.

In May, scores of people were killed in Mangu Local Government Area after suspected herders attacked villages in the area.

Police deploy officials to trouble areas

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyenka, on Saturday announced the deployment of personnel from the Mobile Police Force (MPF) across troubled local governments in the state.

The commissioner, who was addressing the officers before their deployment, said the decision became necessary in response to several killings in the state and to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace in the state.

He ordered all the personnel deployed to be vigilant while carrying out their duties and warned that any officer found engaging in illegal acts would be punished in accordance with the disciplinary procedure in the Police Act and Regulations.

The Secretary to the State Government (SGS), Samuel Jatau, who was present at the police commands headquarters to witness the deployment, noted that it was part of the governments efforts to enhance security and maintain law and order in the state.

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The Zamfara Police Command on Saturday said it had returned all vehicles it seized from the former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle.

The commands Police Public Relations Officer, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday via telephone conversation.

Mr Abubakar said the vehicles were returned in compliance with the order of the Federal High Court in Gusau.

The court, presided by Justice Aminu Bappah-Aliyu, had on 15 June ordered all security agencies that removed the vehicles from Mr Matawalles houses in Gusau and Maradun, to return them within 48 hours.

NAN reports that security operatives removed the vehicles from the two houses on the order of the state government.

The court gave all parties involved in the invasion of the former governors houses 48 hours to comply with the order.

Yes, the police command has complied with the court order as regards to returning of all vehicles belonging to the former governor, Bello Matawalle.

We have returned all the vehicles to the premises of Federal High Court, Gusau, as I speak to you now, no single vehicle is in police custody, Mr Abubakar said.

The court also gave an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents in the suit filed by Mr Matawalle from taking any further action in connection with the matter.

The respondents include the Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force and Commissioner of Police, Zamfara.

Others are the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

The court further ordered the security agencies to stay away from all actions, pending the hearing and determination of the matter before it.

Suleiman Idris, the spokesperson to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, had earlier said more than 40 vehicles were recovered from the two houses of the former governor.

He also confirmed that the security agencies took action on the directive of the state government.

(NAN)

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KYODO NEWS - Jun 18, 2023 - 23:44 | All, World

Journalist Emilia Diaz-Struck, involved in the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Panama Papers" stories on tax havens, said Sunday that artificial intelligence could be useful in investigative reporting but called for efforts to ensure credibility in coverage.

"It is the beginning of new things," the data and research editor of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists said at an event in Tokyo to discuss the use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, in reporting, playing down concerns the new technology will mean the "end of journalism" or the "end of journalists."

But she noted that the principles of journalism, ethical standards, as well as the role of journalism in holding power to account will remain unchanged.

"We also need to understand the human factor remains central to journalism," she said, underscoring the importance of "fact-checking and validation to be able to do our full analysis" because AI cannot be fully reliable and to ensure transparency when using AI-analyzed data.

Generative AI can utilize vast amounts of data from the internet and other sources to generate text, images, or other media in a human-like way. Among them is ChatGPT, developed by U.S. tech firm OpenAI, which has recently captured the world's attention.

Along with hopes for the potential efficiencies and new opportunities the technology presents, concerns remain over privacy and copyrights violations from the enormous amounts of online data the systems draw on to produce their content.

ICIJ is a group of hundreds of journalists that reported Panama Papers stories in 2016 based on massive leaked documents. They rocked the world by exposing shady economic activities by key politicians and influential figures while leading to increased global efforts to crack down on offshore tax havens.

Kyodo News is an ICIJ partner.
Advertising climate action programme welcomes Amazon Ads, Indeed and L'Oreal as international expansion continues

CANNES, France, June 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ad Net Zero supporters, global, and at a national level, are now required to set a public science-based net zero target. This can be done through either the Science Based Targets initiative, a commitment to the UN Race to Zero (including via the SME Climate Hub), The Climate Pledge, or other comparable alternatives. Supporters will also now be required to measure and report their progress annually. Targets will need to be created within 12 months if not already in place and Ad Net Zero will provide guidance to help supporters set, measure and report. An analysis of the industry's path to net zero, based on the Ad Net Zero's Global Group publicly reported targets, has been published on adnetzero.com, sharing how many of the industry's biggest organisations are committing to decarbonisation and by what point.

Ad Net Zero is a climate action programme to help the advertising industry tackle the climate emergency

Ad Net Zero has added three new commercial organisations as Global supporters  Amazon Ads, Indeed and L'Oreal  while Ad Net Zero US has doubled since launch this February to include Kroger, Mediaocean, Index Exchange and a number of agencies. Ad Net Zero launches in New Zealand this August, with further territories in discussion to form national chapters, meaning the initiative now operates in territories collectively representing 45% of the world's ad market by spend (WARC 2022).

Sebastian Munden, Chair, Ad Net Zero, said: "Science-based targets in line with the latest climate understanding are now mandatory for Ad Net Zero supporters. Companies up and down the advertising supply chain must use their influence to accelerate the removal of emissions and the promotion of the net zero economy. The urgency of this cannot be understated. Joining in with our action plan can help businesses do that."

Ad Net Zero is running an area at Cannes Lions in the Act Responsible Hall, sharing efforts to decarbonise advertising and successfully promote sustainable products, services, and behaviours. Content has been drawn from over 60 supporters, along with recent Ad Net Zero showcase sessions and Global Summit. It includes details of the IAB Tech Lab's new Sustainability Playbook with actions for decarbonising the adtech programmatic supply chain.

WFA, GARM and Ad Net Zero will be publishing a Quick Action Guide for media leaders to consider how to reduce the environmental impact of media campaigns and operations on Thursday 22nd June. WFA, GARM and Ad Net Zero have joined forces on an acceleration agenda to identify a standard framework for measuring media campaign carbon emissions, with target of taking it to wider industry consultation before end 2023.

About

Ad Net Zero is a climate action programme to help the advertising industry tackle the climate emergency by decarbonising ad operations and supporting every industry to accurately promote sustainable products and services. Originally founded by the Advertising Association with the IPA and ISBA, Ad Net Zero launched its 5-point action plan in the UK in November 2020 and has since gained over 100 UK supporters. The action plan aims to achieve net zero emissions in ad development, production, and media placement, as well as use advertising's positive influence to help shift consumers towards more sustainable behaviour. Its first non-UK territory launched in Ireland in June 2022, followed by a global roll-out at Cannes LIONS 2022, and US launch in February 2023. Ad Net Zero has widespread backing from across the industry and proudly counts support from the world's six biggest agency holding groups, media owners, tech companies, advertisers, and independent creative and production agencies.

www.adnetzero.com .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103955/Ad_Net_Zero_Advertising.jpg

SOURCE Ad Net Zero
GUIYANG, China, June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

A news report by Huanqiu.com

Invested by Zhongke Xingcheng located in Guian New Area, the manufacturing plant of an integrated project is expected to produce 100,000 tons of lithium battery anode materials per year.(Guizhou DailyTian Ju)

From "framework plan" to "preliminary implementation", in a decade, we saw newly built plants erected in Gui'an New Area. These enterprises injected new impetus for the economic development of the area. Among them are auto manufacturing enterprises represented by Guizhou Changjiang Automobile Co., Ltd., NEV battery enterprises represented by CATL and BYD, and battery materials enterprises represented by Zhongke Xingcheng.

Gui'an New Area links resources between Guizhou and Shanghai

As the tower crane lifted the last cubic meter of concrete to the roof for casting, the plant of CATL (Guizhou) EVE Cell Production Base Project (Gui'an Phase I) was successfully capped. It serves as one of the important projects implemented by Shanghai Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park. When Phase I is completed, it is expected to yield an annual production worth RMB 15 billion, pay taxes by RMB 1 billion, and provide over 3,000 jobs.

In early April this year, Gui'an New Area promoted the joint construction of the industrial park with Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park. Subsequently, Gui'an Development Group and Zhangjiang Group reached a consensus for cooperation on the joint construction of Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park in Guiyang Big Data Technological Innovation Town (Phase II). The Industrial Park will link the resources of Guizhou and Shanghai and promote high-quality industrial development in big data, new energy, and new materials.

Gui'an Network Valley undertakes industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Since this year, Gui'an Development Group and China Merchants Entrepreneurship Company under China Merchants Shekou Holdings signed a cooperation framework agreement on Gui'an New Area Network Valley Industrial Park, to reach relevant consensus on comprehensive cooperation matters in project implementation, investment attraction and operation, smart park, and corporate incubation.

The Gui'an Network Valley Project will focus on the development positioning of "two primary and two featured" industries, including the manufacturing of advanced equipment and electronic information manufacturing. By doing so, it aims to build it into a base undertaking the industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and an incubation base for enterprises using special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products.

The planning and construction of Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project take a solid stride forward

On April 28, Gui'an New Area Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Co., Ltd. was established, marking another stride forward for the construction of the Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project. For the exploration of cooperation modes such as "Greater Bay Area HQ + Guizhou Base" and "Greater Bay Area R&D + Guizhou Manufacturing", Gui'an New Area Industrial Development Holdings Group (GIDH) in June 2022 worked with Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park Group ("SSTIP Group") and Zhongcai Urban Development Private Equity Investment Fund Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. ("Zhongcai Fund") to jointly explore the "self-sufficiency" mode for park development and operation.

Since the project implementation, GIDH has visited Shenzhen several times to discuss with SSTIP Group and Zhongcai Fund. Pursuant to the principle of "government authorization + platform guidance + equity cooperation", the three parties explored the practices to introduce a central enterprise to establish an SPV company for the overall arrangement of the park development & construction and industrial introduction. They also committed to realizing the self-balance operation of the park based on its industrial contributions to local economy, aiming at creating the "Shenzhen-Guizhou Template" for Gui'an New Area.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104447/Huanqiu_INVEST_1.jpg

SOURCE Huanqiu.com
BEIJING, June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A personal letter written by Chinese President Xi Jinping to his father Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002) in 2001 revealed how his father's words and deeds run deep in Xi Jinping's outlook on thrifty life, hard work and state governance, especially his people-centered philosophy.



On Oct 15, 2001, the 88th birthday of Xi Zhongxun, the Xi family had a rare reunion. Xi Jinping, then governor of east China's Fujian Province, was unable to attend the family event due to work commitments. The apologetic son wrote a letter of gratitude to his father.



In the letter, he spoke fondly of his everlasting affection for his parents and of the many noble qualities he learned from his father.



Xi Zhongxun was one of the first-generation central leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He was always a man for the people.



When he became the Party chief of Suide County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in 1943, Xi Zhongxun immediately required local officials to abstain from complacency and solidly serve the 520,000 local residents.



When Xi Zhongxun arrived in south China's Guangdong to be the provincial Party chief in 1978, he worked day and night and visited 23 counties under the scorching sun.



On Oct 1, 1999, Xi Zhongxun, then 86, watched a grand military parade and a mass pageantry on the Tian'anmen Rostrum marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He had a friendly conversation with the central leadership and said "We should never forget that the country is the people, the people are the country."



"Like a willing ox, you worked hard in silence for the Chinese people. Your deeds inspired me to devote my life to the cause of serving the people and paying back my splendid motherland and my fellow people," Xi Jinping wrote in the letter.



Xi Zhongxun served the country throughout his life and his fine family tradition is like a mirror, a benchmark, and a textbook. As he said to his children, "I have not left you any wealth, but a good reputation."

Link: https://youtu.be/ISHmbsWfma4

SOURCE CCTV+
BEIJING , June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Father's Day, which falls on the third Sunday of June, people express gratitude to their fathers or recall treasured memories of time shared together.

On the bookshelf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, there is a picture of him pushing his father, Xi Zhongxun, in a wheelchair while his wife and daughter walk alongside him.

The son of farmers who rose to become a leader, Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002) always regarded himself as a member of the working people.

A simple life

The Xis have a tradition of being strict with their children and living a simple life. Xi Zhongxun regularly told his children to be frugal, and led by example.

As his daughter Xi Qiaoqiao recalled, Xi Zhongxun would pick up and eat errant rice grains and bun crumbs from the table and mop up the soup bowl with a bun.

When Xi Jinping was a child, he wore his sisters' hand-me-down clothing and shoes. When working in Zhengding, north China's Hebei Province, he took a patched mattress with him. During his work in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province, he requested that they not renovate his office or dormitory.

He has also emphasized the importance of family education and virtues on many occasions. "No matter how times have changed, family values, family education and family building must be stressed so that the millions of families become important points for national development, ethnic progress and social harmony," Xi Jinping said.

Since becoming the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for practicing thrift and opposed extravagance and waste.

Xi Zhongxun's family tradition was a mirror, a benchmark and guide for his children.

'State affairs come first'

On October 15, 2001, a rare family reunion took place for Xi Zhongxun's 88th birthday.

However, Xi Jinping, who was the governor of Fujian Province at the time, was absent due to a busy schedule. He then wrote a heartfelt letter to his father expressing his regret.

"You work silently for the Chinese people, which inspires me to devote my whole life to the cause of serving the people," Xi Jinping wrote in the letter.

Having read the letter, Xi Zhongxun was understanding of his son's absence and said to his family and friends, "Work comes first and state affairs take priority. Serving the people is the greatest piety."

A good family tradition influences the work style of the Party and the government.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping has traveled to 14 contiguous areas which were at the time in extreme poverty and conducted more than 50 inspections on poverty alleviation work.

From "seeing real poverty" to seriously "getting rid of poverty," he has firmly carried the historical responsibility on his shoulders.

"No matter what your job title is, serve the people diligently, consider the interests of the people with all your heart, maintain close ties with the people, and always stay approachable to the people," Xi Zhongxun once told his son.

With those words, Xi Jinping never forgets what inspired him to be a servant of the people.

Father's Day: Words from Xi Jinping's father to his son On the bookshelf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, there is a picture of him pushing his father, Xi Zhongxun, in a wheelchair while his wife and daughter walk alongside him. CGTN

SOURCE CGTN
BEIJING, June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: Dragon boat racing is one of the most popular traditional customs at China's Dragon Boat Festival, which is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

Southern regions in China, from central China's Hunan and Hubei provinces to southwest China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, all have the custom of dragon boat racing. In northern China, cities located near rivers also hold dragon boat races.

South China's Guangdong province, where dragon boat racing is one of the most influential traditional cultural activities, has the longest dragon boat month and the liveliest atmosphere of dragon boat racing in the country.

Today, dragon boat racing, as a popular folk sport epitomizing the traditional Chinese culture, enjoys global popularity. Many enthusiasts of the sport in countries including the US, the UK, and Japan take part in dragon boat races every year around the Dragon Boat Festival.

Besides the Han ethnic group, many other ethnic groups, such as the Zhuang, Miao, Dai, Bai, Buyi, and Tujia ethnic groups, also observe the traditional custom of dragon boat racing, according to Liu Ting, associate research fellow with the Ethnology Museum of South-Central Minzu University in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Dragon boat races of different ethnic groups can manifest strong regional and ethnical features, due to the differences among different ethnic groups in their geographical conditions and ways of living and production.

Dragon boat races of the Dai ethnic group, for instance, are held on the first day of the Water Splashing Festival to commemorate Yan Hongwo, a legendary hero who is said to have got rid of a tyrant for the people, and to express wishes for a good life.

Since elephant is the totem of the Dai ethnic group, the dragon head at the bow of the Dai people's dragon boat looks like both a dragon head and an elephant head, and there are long tusks in the mouth of the head. The stern of the Dai people's dragon boat is like the tail of a fish and also bracken, the Dai people's favorite vegetable.

Dragon boat racing was initiated to commemorate Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet in the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), which is the most widely spread and most influential version of how the activity originated, said Liu.

Since modern times, the culture of dragon boat has conveyed patriotism, respect for ancestors, among other core values of the culture of the Chinese nation.

In 1953, the World Peace Council listed Qu as one of the four literary celebrities in the world.

By taking part in dragon boat races, people inherit and carry forward Qu's patriotism. Moreover, dragon boat racing is a vivid expression of the Chinese nation's spirits of unity, team work, and hard work, as the competitive activity requires more than 20 people with different characters and physical conditions to seek common ground while shelving differences and work together to win the race.

Thanks to the efforts of overseas Chinese, dragon boat racing has gradually gained popularity in many other countries all over the world.

Valuing cooperation, speed, skills and tactics, the popular folk sport of the Chinese nation well demonstrates solidarity and hard work, a universal spirit of sports.

Overseas Chinese have played an important role in promoting the culture of dragon boat outside China. They voluntarily set up dragon boat teams, clubs, associations, and carry out dragon boat races.

Nowadays almost every state of the US has its own dragon boat race funded by the government every year. In Australia, the municipal government of Sydney holds dragon boat race on an annual basis to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

SOURCE People's Daily
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va., June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos, a Fortune 500 technology, engineering and science solutions and service leader, announced its Dynetics team has successfully completed a large-scale test for its MACH-TB program. The Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program is meant to increase the speed of testing for all commercially available hypersonic systems. The program also called for the creation of an experimental glide body (EGB) that will allow the team to gather data on and validate performance of hypersonic glide body components.

"This successful test has demonstrated first hypersonic insertion of a payload from a commercial launch vehicle and the team is ready to move forward into the next phase of this program," said Leidos CEO Tom Bell. "It took our MACH-TB team only 49 days to create this innovative technology demonstration, which highlights our ability to deliver on promises."

The inaugural launch took place on June 17 at 9:24 p.m. UTC from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 2 at Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Rocket Lab was selected by Leidos to provide hypersonic test launch capabilities under the MACH-TB project awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to pushing forward the boundaries of hypersonic innovation," said Dr. Angie Lewis, NSWC Crane Technical Director. "Our approach will accelerate progress so that the nation has the right capabilities to counter and address the threat landscape today and throughout this decisive decade."

The next phase of the program will expand upon this successful test to develop additional opportunities to increase the U.S.' cadence of hypersonic flight testing in support of technology maturation.

"This cutting-edge technology has yet to be developed and is breaking new ground for an important and necessary sector of our industry," concluded Bell. "Leidos is proud to manufacture a test bed that can provide the U.S. with an advantage in the great power competition."

Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 45,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

About Dynetics

Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific, IT solutions to national security, cybersecurity, space and critical infrastructure sectors. Our portfolio features highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products, including components, subsystems and complex end-to-end systems. The company of more than 3,000 employees is based in Huntsville, Alabama, and has offices throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.dynetics.com.

SOURCE Leidos
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KYODO NEWS - Jun 18, 2023 - 14:04 | All, Japan

Japanese electric motor maker Nidec Corp. said Sunday it will set up a joint venture with Brazilian regional jet manufacturer Embraer in the United States to tap the growing demand for electric flying vehicle components.

Nidec will take a 51 percent stake in Nidec Aerospace LLC and will develop electric propulsion systems for the aerospace sector, with the remainder to be owned by the Brazilian partner.

The companies did not disclose the amount of capital required, but did say the new entity will establish a base in St. Louis, Missouri as early as September.

Nidec Aerospace will initially manufacture propulsion systems for electric vertical take-off landing, or eVTOL, vehicles and aim to provide the systems to other aircraft in future, Nidec said in a release.

eVTOL vehicles operate like a drone, using battery power to take off and land vertically, usually with multiple motors and rotors.

Demand for electric flying vehicles is set to surge as the aircraft industry is stepping up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The global flying car market is expected to reach 60.8 billion yen ($429 million) in 2025 and soar to about 185 trillion yen by 2050, according to Yano Research Institute.

The Japanese motor maker, which is also extending its business to electric cars, will provide its technology for high-output motors, while Embraer is in charge of systems control technology.

The venture will initially supply products to Embraer's flying car subsidiary Eve Air Mobility.
Lucknow, June 18 : The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe after it was reported that at least 44 people, admitted to the district hospital in Ballia, died between June 15 and 16 with scorching heat aggravating their pre-existing ailments.

Officials said that most of the patients were over the age of 60.

A senior government spokesman said, "Uttar Pradesh government has launched a probe into the deaths. Two director level officers from Lucknow have been sent to the district." The Chief Medical Superintendent of Ballia district hospital, Diwakar Singh, has been transferred, the official said.

On Saturday, Singh had said that the district has been reeling from sweltering heat. "Increased heat poses a problem for all. But in such weather conditions, the problem increases more for the people suffering from diseases like blood pressure, bronchial asthma, as these ailments aggravate." While 23 people died on June 15, 11 others died till the afternoon of June 16, a statement issued by district health department said.

Later, however, 10 more people died on Friday, a senior official at the hospital said.

"In the last over 50 hours, 44 deaths have been reported," the official said.

On Saturday, the district recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degree C, five degrees above normal and a relative humidity of 25 per cent, aggravating the impact of heat.

This means that the Heat Index (HI), known more commonly as "real feel" temperature, stood at 47 degree C, according to calculation employing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) calculator to find out heat index based on relative humidity and temperature.

HI depicts what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature and wind speed. It is commonly used to assess the risk of heat-related illnesses and heat stress. Prolonged exposure to a heat index between 40-54oC is associated with heatstroke.

According to India Meteorological Department, Ballia recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2 degree C (also five degrees above normal) on June 16, and 42 degree C on June 15.

According to the Met department's forecast, the district is likely to witness a high 43 degree C on Sunday.
Lucknow, June 18 : A 27-year-old Ukrainian woman has been found dead at her in-laws' house in Ashiana area in Lucknow on Saturday.

Police said that the woman, Oksana Manchar, was married to one Jude Augustine of Aashiana and had given birth to a baby boy on June 14 and since then, was under depression.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Cantonment, Abhinav Yadav, said that they got CCTV footage in which Oksana was spotted going on the second floor of the house towards the storeroom while other members of the house, including her mother-in-law Meenu, sister-in-law Yulan were asleep on the ground floor.

"The door of the storehouse was locked from the inside and when it was broken Oksana was found hanging with a bedsheet tied around her neck with the window iron grill," ACP Yadav said.

ACP said that Oksana was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared her dead.

"We have informed the Ukraine Embassy and the father of Oksana," the ACP added.

The official said that the postmortem will be done by a panel of doctors on Sunday.
Riyadh, June 18 : Saudi Arabia and the US have announced in a joint statement that Sudan's two warring factions have agreed on a new 72-hour cease-fire.

The cease-fire will take effect from 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two rival parties agreed to refrain from seeking military advantage and initiating mutual attacks during the cease-fire, said the statement.

They also agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country, it added.

Saudi Arabia and the US noted that they might adjourn the Jeddah talks in case the two warring factions fail to observe the cease-fire.

Deadly conflicts erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartum and other areas on April 15.

The armed clashes have left 958 Sudanese civilians dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union on Wednesday.
London, June 18 : A 38-year-old Indian-origin man, hailing from Kerala, was stabbed to death in South London, just three days after shocking incidents of knife attacks in the UK, which saw the deaths of a British Indian teen and a student from Hyderabad.

Aravind Sasikumar died after being found with stab injuries on chest outside a residential property in Southampton Way on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detectives investigating Sasikumar's fatal stabbing have charged his roomate Salman Salim with murder.

According to media reports, Salim (25) stabbed Sasikumar to death following a quarrel.

The accused appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on the same day and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on June 20, police said.

Police said that they were called at 01:27 hrs on June 16 after a man was found with stab injuries outside a residential address in Southampton Way.

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Sasikumar died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination, carried out on the same day of murder, confirmed that Sasikumar died as a result of stab wounds to the chest.

Police said Sasikumar's family has been informed and they are being supported by detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command.

The gruesome murder adds to the string of knife attacks across the UK, which saw the deaths of British Indian teen Grace O'Malley Kumar and 27-year-old Kontham Tejaswini Reddy from Hyderabad in separate incidents on June 13.

On Tuesday, O'Malley Kumar from London and fellow student Barnaby Webber, both 19, were on their way back home when they were stabbed to death at 4 am on Ilkeston Road.

Valdo Calocane, a dual Guinea-Bissau/Portuguese national, has been charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

On the same day in Wembley, Tejaswini, who had gone to London for higher studies, was fatally stabbed in Neeld Crescent.

Her 28 year-old flatmate, Akhila was also attacked and admitted to hospital with knife injuries. She is out of danger now.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Moraisa, a 23-year-old was taken into custody as a murder suspect and is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in London.
Lucknow, June 18 : The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Khan Academy India to enhance maths learning skills of over five lakh students in the 48,000 state-run schools.

As per the government spokesman, this partnership will make high-quality maths learning content in Hindi accessible to students and teachers in the department of basic education, including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), department of secondary education and schools overseen by the social welfare department, seamlessly integrating them into classrooms.

Khan Academy India is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in India to provide free, world-class education for millions of learners in India.

It was founded by Khan Academy Inc and Tata Trusts in 2006.

Vijay Kiran Anand, director general, school education, Uttar Pradesh, said, "This collaboration between the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Khan Academy India is a significant step towards ensuring that every student has access to the tools and resources they need to excel in maths and reach their full potential." "The programme's success in KGBVs serves as a testament which has already shown promising results in improving maths learning outcomes. We are proud to continue and expand our strong partnership with them," he added.

Since 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government has worked closely with Khan Academy to improve math learning outcomes in state-run schools limited to KGBVs. The encouraging results have prompted the expansion of this partnership.

Learning maths at Khan Academy, with its seamless integration into the classroom environment, has reshaped the educational delivery system, earning accolades from both teachers and students alike.

By the end of the second year, the programme incorporated 72,000 students from 746 KGBVs and over 24,000 students engaged in maths practice for 60 minutes per month, demonstrating better learning outcomes.

The partnership aims to host Khan Academy's tech-based modules for teachers on the DIKSHA portal to ensure all teachers across the state access world-class content and Hindi-medium maths learning resources.

Additionally, Khan Academy team will extend hands-on support to 48,000 teachers on how to leverage online teaching resources in their preferred language and offer personalised learning based on individual student progress data.

The expanded partnership will further strengthen the educational infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in maths education. Teachers will be better equipped to support their students while students will benefit from engaging, personalised learning experiences.

As more students participate in daily maths practice, the overall quality of maths education in the region is set to improve. This initiative is supported by HDFC Bank under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) umbrella brand for all social efforts 'Parivartan'.
United Nations, June 18 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned an attack on a secondary school in western Uganda reportedly perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group, said his Deputy Spokesman.

Ugandan authorities said on Saturday that ADF rebels attacked the Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe on the border with Congo on Friday night, killing at least 37 students. At least eight students remained in critical condition. Six students were in the hands of the rebels.

Those responsible for this appalling attack must be brought to justice, said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson, in a statement as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The Secretary-General extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the government and people of Uganda, and called for the immediate release of those abducted, said the statement.

Guterres reiterated the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between Congo and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area, it added.

The ADF is a Ugandan rebel group that is holed up in the jungles of eastern Congo. It is a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

The rebel group is blamed for causing havoc in villages in eastern Congo. The Ugandan military and their Congolese counterparts launched joint operations against the rebel group in November 2021.
New Delhi, June 18 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the murder of two sisters, who were shot dead by armed assailants in South West Delhi's R.K. Puram on Sunday, and also attacked the Centre over the law and order situation.

He stated that if the law and order in Delhi were under the government of the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) instead of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), "Delhi would have been the safest place".

Kejriwal criticized the central government, saying that instead of improving the law and order situation, they were busy trying to take control of the whole of Delhi.

"Our condolences to the families of both women. May their souls rest in peace. People in Delhi have started feeling very unsafe. Those responsible for maintaining law and order in Delhi are conspiring to seize control of the entire Delhi government, instead of improving the law and order situation. If the law and order in Delhi were under the government of the "AAP" (Aam Aadmi Party) instead of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), Delhi would have been the safest," Kejriwal tweeted.

The victims, Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29), were shot in South West Delhi's R.K. Puram this morning while trying to save their brother from armed assailants. They were taken to Safdarjung Hospital where they succumbed to injuries during the course of treatment.

The police stated that the assailants came to attack their brother over a financial dispute. The police have lodged an FIR for murder, along with sections of the Arms Act.
Imphal, June 18 : Lt Gen L. Nishikanta Singh (retd), who served in various positions in the Army for 40 years, compared the ethnic violence devastated Manipur with war-torn Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria.

Terming Lt Gen Singh's (retd) tweet as "an extraordinarily sad call", former Army Chief Ved Prakash Malik said that the law and order situation in Manipur needs "urgent attention at highest level".

Army Chief during the Kargil War, (1999), Gen Malik, who served as the 19th Chief of Army Staff from September 30, 1997 to September 30, 2000, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah in his tweet.

Lt Gen Singh (retd) tweeted: "I'm just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?" As ethnic violence continues in Manipur for around 50 days now, in an unprecedented move, 15 Manipur-based organisations of various communities have urged the United Nations and various international agencies, seeking their help to end the ongoing crisis in the northeastern state.

The 15 organisations, in their joint memorandum, called for urgent attention on the issue of hunger, poverty, militarisation, partisan role of the central security forces, and violation of the ground rules of tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement by the Kuki militants.

In another significant development, state Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was almost sidelined and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is closely monitoring the day-to-day situations in Manipur.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, whose house in Imphal was vandalised and set on fire by a mob on Thursday night, said that despite the presence of huge number of central forces, the law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed.

Expressing his shock over this incident, Singh, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Inner Manipur parliamentary seat on a BJP ticket, said that the existing state government could not maintain the law and order situation despite the Centre providing a large number of forces.

"I do not know why the state mechanism has failed," said Singh, who earlier wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the Manipur crisis.

Explaining the reasons behind the state's violence, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that infiltrators from across the border and militants have caused the ongoing unrest in the state and it is not an enmity between two communities.

Manipur shares around 400 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

Once again rejecting the demand for separate administrations (equivalent to a separate state) for the tribals as demanded by the 10 Kuki MLAs (including seven of the BJP), the Chief Minister said: "Anyone can make a demand in a democracy, it is their democratic right. We have said on a number of occasions that there would be no separate administration and the territorial integrity of the state would remain intact." Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, however, had said that the Kuki MLAs raised the separate administration's demand under tremendous pressure from the militants.

Earlier, the Manipur government had apprised the Centre that three Kuki militant outfits -- the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) -- are not adhering to ground rules of the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement, signed on August 22, 2008.

On a number of occasions, the Chief Minister accused the Kuki militants of instigating violence and prompting the tribals to agitate against the government's actions against illegal poppy cultivation and drug menace.

After his four-day (May 29 to June 1) Manipur visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah warned the Kuki militants to adhere to the ground rules, otherwise they would face severe action.

Dropping a bombshell, six student and youth organisations last week sought a clarification from the BJP's central leadership about the claim made by militant outfit United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) that the outlawed group had backed BJP candidates in the 2017 assembly elections.

The organisations, including the influential All Manipur Students' Union and Manipuri Students' Federation, in a joint statement said that it could be possible that the Kuki militants supported the BJP during the 2017 election after getting an assurance that their demand of a separate administration could be considered.

They observed that if this is true, then the Centre is playing divide and rule in Manipur, they stated.

"It is time for the people to fight against the Government of India's divide and rule policy. We demand the central BJP leadership to clarify its stand on the claims made by the UKLF. Otherwise, the people will boycott the BJP and root out the party from the soil of Manipur," the statement said.

The organisations also urged the Election Commission of India to take appropriate action on the claim made by the UKLF.

"What made the people unhappy is that the Kuki militants are openly violating the ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement and the government has not done anything.

Ten Kuki MLAs, seven are from the ruling BJP, have openly supported the Kuki militants' demand for a separate administration or Kukiland. Why is the central BJP not trying to find a solution through these MLAs? Why is the state BJP not taking any action against these 10 MLAs till today? Amidst all these, the open support given by some para-military forces to Kuki militants led to the suspicion on the role of the Government of India," the statement said.

These organisations demanded that the remaining 50 MLAs should go to Delhi and raise their voice against the Kuki militants.

Despite the deployment of 40,000 additional troops in Manipur, the government could not stop the Kuki militants from attacking the innocent Meetei villagers, they said.

In another development, Manipur government's Deputy Advocate General H. Debendra Singh in connection with a complaint informed the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) that the Union government has not imposed Article 355 in the state of Manipur as yet.

Earlier, it was reported that the Central government has imposed Article 355 in Manipur.

Article 355 is a part of emergency provisions contained in the Constitution that empowers the Centre to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances and external aggression.

Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), an independent think-tank based in Delhi, had urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to consider imposing President's rule in Manipur in view of the failure to bring the ethnic violence under control despite the imposition of Article 355 on May 6.

After the ethnic violence broke out on May 3, senior IAS officer Vineet Joshi was appointed as the new Chief Secretary and 1993 batch IPS officer Rajiv Singh, belonging to the neighbouring Tripura cadre, as Director General of Police (DGP) replacing state police chief P. Doungel, a 1987 batch IPS officer of Manipur cadre. Doungel has been posted in the newly-created post of Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department.

Immediately after the violence began, the central government had appointed former chief of the Central Reserve Police Force and retired IPS Kuldiep Singh as a security adviser to the Manipur government.

After Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit, Kuldiep Singh has been assigned as the head of the joint security command of all central and state forces.

Political analysts said that not taking timely actions against the Kuki militants despite signing of agreement 15 years ago, indifferent attitude over the infiltrations from Myanmar and taking drastic steps against the poppy cultivators without making alternative livelihood for the farmers and faulty utilisation of the security forces are some of the main reasons behind the oubreak of the violence in Manipur.

The devastating ethnic violence, which has so far left over 120 people killed and more than 400 injured, began in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised by a tribal student body in the hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demand.

However, unofficial figures of the death toll and injury could be much higher.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
San Francisco, June 18 : During the subreddit's protest against the company's new application programming interface (API) pricing changes, Reddit's average daily traffic reportedly fell as compared to the last month.

According to Engadget, citing sources, the impact was small but noticeable.

More than 57 million daily visits to the social discussion platform were recorded on June 11, the day before the blackout started, across desktop and mobile web clients.

Daily visitors dropped below 55 million by the end of the first day of the protest.

Less than 53 million daily visitors on the platform were then recorded at the end of June 13.

The 52,121,649 visits Reddit received on June 13 reflected a 6.6 per cent drop from the website's average daily traffic over the previous month.

The report further mentioned that within the same time frame, there was a decline in Reddit users' time spent on the platform.

An average session on the website was roughly eight minutes and 31 seconds the day before the protest started.

However, the following day, the duration dropped to seven minutes and 17 seconds, which is the shortest duration in the last three years, the report said.

In protest to the API changes that are forcing some third-party developers to shut down their apps, thousands of Reddit communities have gone dark on the platform.

Earlier this month, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman had hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session to discuss the platform's controversial API changes, confirming that the company is not planning to revive its coming API pricing changes that have caused multiple developers to announce they will be shutting down their apps.

In an internal memo sent to employees, Huffman had said that like any other blowups on the platform, "this one will pass as well".
Lucknow, June 18 : Four women with no direct or visible involvement in crime have the entire UP police force snapping at their heels.

These four women are wives of mafia dons and have been absconding since past several weeks. They have been named as conspirators in various criminal cases but the police have failed to track them down till now.

Shaista Parveen, 51, wife of slain Atiq Ahmad is now the most wanted woman on the police list.

Shaista has been absconding since February 24 when Umesh Pal, a witness in the Raju Pal murder, was shot dead in Prayagraj.

The police claimed that Shaista was the mastermind behind the murder and had passed on money to the shooters.

On April 13, her third son Asad - also said to be one of the shooters in the murder-was gunned down by the Special Task Force in Jhansi.

Two days later, on April 15, Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead in police custody by three assailants.

Shaista's husband, son and brother-in-law were buried in the Kasari Masari family graveyard, a day apart from each other but she did not come out to grieve for them and neither did she attend their burial.

The STF had remained on alert at the graveyard, hoping that Shaista would come out of hiding and surrender.

It has been nearly four months but there is no clue of the whereabouts of Shaista Parveen, who now carries a reward of Rs 50,000 on her head.

The second wife who has kept the police on the run is Zainab Fatima, wife of slain gangster Ashraf.

Zainab has also been absconding since the Umesh Pal murder and did not make an appearance when her husband was killed. She is also an accused in the Umesh Pal murder conspiracy.

Stories of Shaista and Zainab being at loggerheads over property have been doing the rounds but there is nothing to prove them. Sources also claim that the two sisters-in-law are in hiding together and are waiting for the right time to surrender.

The third wife on the run is Afsha Ansari, wife of jailed don Mukhtar Ansari.

Apart from Mukhtar Ansari, her son Abbas Ansari and daughter-in-law Nikhat Ansari are in jail while elder brother-in-law Afzal Ansari was also arrested recently.

Afsha has been booked in nine cases, some of them related to money laundering.

The police have been raiding all possible hideouts of the Ansari brothers but Afsha Ansari remains out of bounds.

The fourth wife absconding is Payal Maheshwari , wife of gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva, who was shot dead inside a court room on June 7.

Payal Maheshwari moved the Supreme Court on June 8, claiming a threat to her life. She also feared that she could be arrested after her husband's death and urged that she wanted to attend the funeral of her husband.

The Supreme Court declined the urgent listing of the plea of Payal Maheshwari and the latter, thereafter, did not attend her husband's cremation. The police remained on alert, waiting for her to make an appearance.

Payal was booked in a case under the Gangster Act.

According to a senior STF official, the delay in the arrest of these four women has dented the image of UP police.

"In the case of Shaista Parveen, Zainab and Afsha Ansari, it is the burqa which is a major hindrance. The three women move around in burqa which makes identification almost impossible unless we have definite information. Payal has also gone underground and it will take time to trace her," he said.
Cairo, June 18 : A supply ship loaded with hundreds of ton of relief aid from Egypt had arrived in conflict-torn Sudan, the Egyptian military announced.

The military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said on Saturday in a statement that the Egyptian navy ship had arrived at Port Sudan and unloaded hundreds of ton of foodstuffs, medical supplies and other aid material, Xinhua news agency reported.

The supplies, sponsored by the Egyptian Ministries of Defence and social solidarity as well as some local associations, would be sent to most needy areas in Sudan, the spokesman added.

A number of Egyptian and Sudanese nationals boarding the returning ship have arrived in Egypt, he said.

Since the outbreak of the deadly conflicts between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan on April 15, about 1,21,000 Sudanese have taken refuge in Egypt, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on May 25.

The armed clashes have left 958 Sudanese civilians dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union on Wednesday.
New Delhi, June 18 : The two assailants, who shot dead two sisters in South West Delhi's R.K. Puram on Sunday, was arrested by the Delhi Police.

A senior police official confirmed that they have arrested the prime accused and his accomplice. The police didn't divulge more information.

Both the assailants had fled from the crime scene after shooting the two sisters.

The police received a PCR call in this regard at around 4:30 a.m. The caller informed the police that his two sisters were shot in Ambedkar Basti, R.K. Puram.

The victims, Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29) were taken to Safdarjung Hospital where they succumbed during the course of treatment.

"Our preliminary investigation revealed that there was a financial dispute between the brother and the assailants," said the police.

The official mentioned that initially a case of attempted murder, read with sections of the Arms Act, was registered in this regard. Later on they have added section 302 (murder) of the IPC in the matter.

The official said that they were grilling both the accused to know the exact reason behind the murder.

Further details are awaited.
Girls making it to the prestigious Civil Services of India represented over one-third of the total of successful candidates this year, putting a stamp on the steady trend of women in this country achieving their goals in a highly competitive environment.

For the second year in a row, the top three ranks have gone to women.

In the past, a woman joining the Air Force in 2016 became the first woman fighter pilot to fly solo with MIG21, another one after completing her university education kept up her interest in mountaineering and became the first Indian woman to climb Mt Everest way back in 1984, and in 2018 a woman scientist with specialisation in electronics and communications became the first Director General of DRDO - the apex science research organisation that was once headed by the former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

In recent years, the opportunities thrown open for educated women have multiplied manifold as India marched forward towards its socio-economic mission and the exceptional amongst these women reached the top in their chosen professions.

The real base for women's advancement lay in the spread of education of girls aided by the awareness among the people - particularly those of ordinary means - that it is the success in competitive examinations conducted by the national and state governments that would land boys and girls of the family in an assured career secured on merit and ensure their rise in life.

The credibility of examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions still holds and it is essential for safeguarding national interests that a prime duty of those governing the Centre and the States was to ensure that public service examinations were conducted flawlessly. It is here that any attempt to compromise the integrity of the process of the test and the evaluation should be considered a crime against the nation and should be ruthlessly punished.

In no other country, there is an equivalent career of the kind offered by IAS, IPS and Central Civil Services in India - entry to which is through a merit-based examination open to all graduates.

It is a rare opportunity for young men and women to join the system of governance at the national and state levels that offers a leadership role from the very beginning of service.

In 5-6 years - including the training period, the entrant becomes a Collector or District SP or occupies the position of Under Secretary to the Government of India. These are huge responsibilities and even though, the nation offers a fair monetary package and other perks, there is little doubt that these young men and women are expected to come in more for the pride of being able to serve the people in a real sense and commanding respect of the society than for any consideration of achieving material affluence beyond the advantage of a respectable salary structure.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that in the traditional, patriarchal and economically weak sections of society, the girls now had the wisdom to realise that working hard for securing a place in Civil Services, would' bring them a true liberation' from all these social handicaps and install them at a pedestal where they would achieve self-development.

The increasing success of women in UPSC exams is extremely heartening in Indian conditions for this quietly sets the trend of national progress and advancement in real time.

The spirit of public service, dedication to a cause and exercise of wisdom in decision-making is perhaps a shade more strong in Indian women and this lends optimism about believing that more women joining the machinery of governance would do good to the nation.

In a country as vast and diverse as India in terms of local traditions, class distinctions and expectations from the government, it is important that there is uniformity of democratic governance across the states and hence the idea credited to Sardar Patel that the adoption of the concept of All India Services would serve independent India well, was strategically sound.

The IAS and the IPS provide administrative leadership to governance and the Centre has appropriately taken the responsibility of recruiting the civil services officers through a national examination conducted by UPSC, training them and then allocating them to states on the principle that the officers would be willing to serve anywhere in the country. They are provided further assimilative training at the state institutions before being assigned field responsibilities in districts.

Young officers measure up to their public service calls using their high 'empowerment' in the process and generally perform well before they ran into the challenge of encountering errant political masters and compromised seniors.

It is seen that the officers, drawn from among families that had seen difficulties in their day-to-day life, show even greater drive and commitment to serve the common man and it would not be out of place to mention that women in positions of authority often stood out in this regard. This also holds the promise of a better future for India.

The Centre would do well to strengthen the oversight of Department of Personnel and Training on the performance of IAS and IPS officers and make sure that no state government would unfairly jeopardise their careers and initiate punitive action against them out of political motives.

Job opportunities for educated and skilled women need to be enlarged in various fields - if there is reservation it should also be for women from economically weak sections - and not merely in the name of 'castes' and 'socially backward classes'.

In a developing and tradition-bound society, this will accelerate national progress and growth since a self-dependent woman can take care of her children's future more resolutely.

It is a known fact that men fell for addictions and even criminality far more commonly than the opposite gender and that educated and financially independent women had a greater potential for uplifting society - they certainly are better teachers for children and a better promoter of moral education and humane conduct. But more than anything else, a democratic dispensation must ensure that in terms of education, health and employment, women did not lag behind men. This is not too difficult to achieve if the administration at all levels was impartial, sensitive and public-service oriented.

It is necessary for the administrators to be apolitical implementers of public policy, to maintain high integrity and to set an example, in official functioning, for their juniors.

The argument about political masters not letting the administrators work is overplayed - all governments regardless of their political complexion want efficient and upright civil servants.

The leadership of IPS is perhaps tested more because the 'autonomy' of investigation in reality hides an unfair use of 'discretion' by the officer and this is what a shrewd politician in authority would be willing to go for.

The success of a democratic state lies substantially in the unbiased enforcement of law and order and crime prevention. We need far greater induction of women in the police at various levels on this count.

Even in national Intelligence agencies, women have proved their merit, particularly in the sphere of collation, analysis and assessment.

The results of the civil services examination happily indicate the general progress made by India on various fronts. The officers - men and women - belonging to various services share a spell of joint training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie that gives them a lasting mutual acquaintance and lays down a turf for cooperation in their later years when their work might again bring them together.

More recently, the Centre under the guidance of the National Security Advisor, evolved a module of training for them on national security and strategic affairs. This knowledge will come in handy when the officers would handle responsibilities in sensitive organisations at senior levels and would be required to coordinate with the security establishment of the nation.

The civil services must remain aware of the higher cause that they must always serve for the nation as well as for the people. The 'steel frame' that they provided for the governance of the country, works for national unity in a manner that was unique, personally fulfilling and singularly productive in regard to the safeguarding of Indian democracy. That men and women are both contributing to this great mission presages a bright future for India.

On the whole, we need to enlarge, strengthen and quality-control the entire exercise of intake for the national civil services to facilitate the progress of democratic India towards the goal of becoming a great world power.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views expressed are personal)
Lahore, June 18 : Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz said the party would win the upcoming general elections with a thumping majority, media reported.

She added the party was fully prepared to go to the elections and would emerge as an effective parliamentary force.

They felicitated the party leadership over successful holding of the General Council meeting in Islamabad and also congratulated Maryam on being elected the Chief Organiser of PML-N.

They also expressed confidence in the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

Maryam said the PML-N candidates would go to the elections with full preparation, adding that policies and guideline of Nawaz Sharif would be followed, The News reported.

She called upon the party workers to start people contact campaign. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Mian, Nawaz Sharif, has summoned a meeting of PML-N leaders in London.

According to party sources, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and other leaders will participate in the London meeting.

The matters related to the possible date for next election, political situation of the country and other issues will come under discussion in the meeting.

Consultations will also be made in connection with the return of Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan before the general election, The News reported.

Party sources claimed consultation will also be made on possible seat-to-seat adjustment with PDM and other allied parties in the meeting.

Maryam Nawaz and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah will present to Nawaz Sharif lists of prospective candidates of the party from Pakistan's Punjab.
London, June 18 : A 20-year-old Indian student, who was captured on CCTV carrying a woman home to rape her last June, has been sentenced for more than six years, police said.

Preet Vikal was seen in the footage carrying the "intoxicated" woman in his arms and across his shoulders along King Edward VII Avenue and North Road, the South Wales Police said on Friday.

He continued to carry the victim to a property in the North Road area where he raped her during the early hours of June 4, 2022.

Vikal, who had met the woman while she was on a night out with friends in the city on June 3, admitted rape, and was sentenced to six years and nine months in a young offenders' institution.

Detective Constable Nick Woodland from South Wales Police said: "Stranger attacks such as these are extremely unusual in Cardiff but in Preet Vikal we had a dangerous individual".

"He took advantage of an intoxicated and vulnerable young woman who became separated from her friends," Woodland said.

Officers carried out an extensive trawl of CCTV and it was this footage, along with an Instagram message exchange with the victim, that led to Vikal being identified and arrested.

He will serve two thirds of the sentence in custody and the remainder on licence.

The victim read a statement at Vikal's sentencing and said she did not want to go on nights out for five months after the rape.

"It was really difficult to pretend I was okay when I wasn't," the victim was quoted as saying in The Sun.

He also took a "trophy photograph" of her on his bed, The Sun report said, adding that the victim remembered waking up naked next to Vikal but did not know where she was or that she had been raped.

She reported about Vikal on the same day to the police and he was arrested.

"We hope the sentencing brings some sense of closure and allows the woman to regain her confidence and move on with her life," Detective Constable Woodland said.
New Delhi, June 18 : The history of Modern Indian Art shines with countless luminous stars, whose legacy is eternally remembered and cherished. Of these, the old masters of Indian art, active during the late 19th and early 20th century, hold immense importance in the cultural heritage of the nation. These artists, divided by their artistic and political ideologies, made significant contributions to the development and preservation of Indian art during a crucial period of transition.

One group of old masters emerged from the Bombay School of Art, where they excelled in the European Academic Realism imparted at the Sir J J School of Art. These artists embraced the colonial legacy and mastered techniques that blended Indian subject matter with Western artistic styles. Their works showcased the assimilation of European art principles into the Indian context, creating a unique fusion. An important figure of this era, M. V. Dhurandhar was an extremely versatile artist, best known for his mastery in bringing the characters and stories from Indian mythology to life through his paintings.

Dhurandhar's mythological works often depict the gods and goddesses of Hinduism, as well as scenes from great epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. However, the lesser-known aspect of his grand oeuvre is several landscape paintings he created. Dhurandhar's landscape paintings capture the beauty and majesty of the Indian countryside. He was particularly interested in portraying the rural landscapes of Maharashtra, where he grew up. His paintings often depict rolling hills, lush forests, and tranquil water bodies such as lakes and rivers. He also frequently incorporated human figures and animals in his works, adding a sense of life and movement to his landscapes.

On the other hand, the early masters associated with the Bengal School of artistic thought were driven by a rising nationalistic fervour in early 20th century India. Inspired by the likes of Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose, these artists sought to revive traditional Indian art forms and techniques, emphasising a return to indigenous roots.

They rejected the Western academic influence and instead focused on depicting Indian mythology, history, and everyday life, infused with a sense of nationalism. Nandalal Bose was an important figure to champion the incorporation of indigenous sensibility in Indian art during the pre-independence era. He believed that Indian art should reflect the ethos, spirituality and symbolism that are ingrained in the nation's cultural fabric.

amini Roy was another important artist from Bengal School who was inspired to break away from the traditional practices of European naturalism to find their individual artistic vocabulary and idiom. Towards the end of the 1920s, he gave up the medium of oil in favour of natural traditional pigments from vegetable and mineral sources and started to paint on different surfaces such as cloth, woven mats, and wood coated with lime. He also experimented with egg tempera and tamarind seed glue for binding purposes. Jamini Roy's celebrated and unmistakable style shines through his iconic images of Bengali women, such as in a work titled 'Sue Shadow,' where the artist has portrayed a woman in a worshipful stance. His signature style of thick, black contour lines defines her figure, while the blue drapes are applied with a flat, unadorned style. This blend of modern and Indian expressions exemplifies Roy's unique artistic language and adds depth and character to his portrayal of women. This work was executed on a card with tempera in 1956.

The first Asian and Indian to win the prestigious Nobel Prize for his great English composition 'Geetanjali,' Rabindranath Tagore continues to be recognised as the most important Indian artist globally. A poet, poet, song composer, novelist, essayist, and also a painter, Rabindranath Tagore's contribution to art was multifaceted. A patriot and talisman for national pride, his thoughts and ideas were instrumental in shaping the narrative of modern India. One of the other important artists to emerge from the Bengal School was Chintamoni Kar, the renowned Indian sculptor whose training was done at the Indian Society of Oriental Art run by Rabindranath Tagore. Kar moved to Paris in 1938, where he studied at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere before moving back to India. This work, executed with gouache on paper in 1994, is appearing in an auction for the first time.

The importance of these old masters lies in their ability to preserve and celebrate the diverse artistic traditions of India during a time of cultural upheaval. Their works serve as a bridge between the rich artistic heritage of the past and the evolving artistic expressions of the present. Through their distinct ideologies and artistic approaches, they contributed to the pluralistic nature of Indian art, enriching its tapestry with varied perspectives.

Studying the works of these old masters allows us to understand the evolution of Indian art, the interplay of cultural influences, and the artistic responses to colonialism and nationalism. Their contributions have left a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of artists to explore and reinterpret the artistic traditions of India. Recognising and appreciating the significance of the old masters is crucial for fostering a deeper understanding of Indian art and its place in the global artistic landscape.

(Sunny Chandiramani, Senior Vice President, AstaGuru Auction House) (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Chennai, June 18 : AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) said that the arrested Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji continuing in the Stalin cabinet was laughable.

Speaking to reporters at Attur, the AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister said that Stalin retaining Senthil Balaji in his cabinet was setting a bad example. He also said that during the periods of Karunanidhi and Jayallaithaa as Chief Ministers, the DMK and AIADMK ministers who were charged with corruption were removed from the cabinet respectively.

He said that there was a political decency in Tamil Nadu and that it should have been respected by removing someone who was charged for corruption from the cabinet.

The former Chief Minister said that Senthil Balaji should be removed from the cabinet and added that this was a "minimum political decency".

On May 14, the Enforcement Directorate had arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity, Excise and Prohibition Minister Senthil Balaji over money laundering charges. Though the portfolios Senthil Balaji was holding have been given to other ministers, he continues to be in Stalin's cabinet as Minister without Portfolio.

On National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), EPS, who is also the leader of opposition in Tamil Nadu assembly, said that the AIADMK has been consistently opposing it and added that it was notified during the Congress regime of 2011 in which the DMK was a constituent.
Los Angeles, June 18 : Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has expressed her happiness at the news of sister Kourtney revealing that she is expecting her first child with Blink-182 drummer-husband Travis Barker.

Taking to Instagram, Kim congratulated her sister on the exciting news.

The 42-year-old reality star commented on Kourtney and Travis' joint Instagram announcement, sharing a series of emojis.

According to E! Online, "The SKIMS founder celebrated underneath the couple's Instagram post of June 17, commenting with a few emojis, including a heart and crying face emoji. Kim also re-shared the video of Kourtney's announcement to her Instagram Stories, writing: "Congrats!!! We're having a Kravis baby!!!" The couple's latest addition serves as the seventh for their blended family. Travis is dad to kids Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, as well as stepdad to Atiana De La Hoya, 24. While Kourtney shares kids Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, eight, with ex Scott Disick.

Travis' daughter Alabama also re-shared their video to her Instagram Stories, writing, "Baby #7."
Chairwoman of the Icelandic-Chinese Trade Council Jonina Bjartmarz (L) signs a memorandum of cooperation with the China International Import Expo Bureau during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, June 16, 2023. CIIE overseas promotion activities came to Iceland for the first time on Friday. Representatives from government organizations of both China and Iceland, as well as local business figures, participated in the event held in Reykjavik, expressing their anticipation for the upcoming sixth CIIE. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)

REYKJAVIK, June 17 (Xinhua) -- China International Import Expo (CIIE) overseas promotion activities came to Iceland for the first time on Friday. Representatives from government organizations of both China and Iceland, as well as local business figures, participated in the event held in Reykjavik, expressing their anticipation for the upcoming sixth CIIE.

Chinese Ambassador to Iceland He Rulong stated that in recent years, the Icelandic government and businesses have attached great importance to and actively participated in the CIIE. Over 40 Icelandic companies have attended the expo in China, and it is believed that the CIIE will provide significant opportunities for Icelandic enterprises to enter the Chinese market and expand their exports to China. He welcomed Icelandic businesses to share China's development dividends.

Petur Oskarsson, CEO of Business Iceland, who is responsible for marketing Icelandic export, said that China is regarded as one of the most attractive markets for Iceland. Icelandic companies have been participating in the CIIE for several consecutive years. Talking about the preparations for this year's event, he said that not only returning companies that participated in previous events but also some new companies have shown great enthusiasm.

Zhang Weimin, assistant president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), welcomed Icelandic companies to leverage their strengths in areas such as food and tourism and deepen pragmatic cooperation, expand trade, and jointly promote green development through the CIIE platform, bringing more quality products and services to Chinese consumers.

Chairwoman of the Icelandic-Chinese Trade Council Jonina Bjartmarz signed a memorandum of cooperation with the China International Import Expo Bureau during the promotion event.

She said that many Icelandic companies that have participated in the CIIE have achieved good development in China. The platform provided by the expo allows Icelandic companies to gain more attention and opportunities to enter the Chinese market through collaboration.

The sixth CIIE will be held in Shanghai, China in November. 

Petur Oskarsson, CEO of Business Iceland, speaks during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, June 16, 2023. CIIE overseas promotion activities came to Iceland for the first time on Friday. Representatives from government organizations of both China and Iceland, as well as local business figures, participated in the event held in Reykjavik, expressing their anticipation for the upcoming sixth CIIE. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)

Chinese Ambassador to Iceland He Rulong speaks during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) promotion conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, June 16, 2023. CIIE overseas promotion activities came to Iceland for the first time on Friday. Representatives from government organizations of both China and Iceland, as well as local business figures, participated in the event held in Reykjavik, expressing their anticipation for the upcoming sixth CIIE. (Xinhua/Chen Jing)
Kolkata, June 18 : The Trinamool Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, accusing him of misusing the state government funds in purchasing his personal attire and accessories.

"Has Hon'ble Governor bought some of his dress, suit, sunglass, shoe from Govt funds? If yes, this is totally unethical. He should buy his own dress materials by his own money. Funds of Governor house must be audited properly. If allegation is wrong I am ready to pray apology," Trinamool state Spokesman Kunal Ghosh wrote on Twitter.

In another Tweet on Saturday night, Ghosh ridiculed the Governor for his visits to those pockets in West Bengal which witnessed unprecedented clashes and violence over the nomination for the panchayat polls over the last week.

"The Governor is acting beyond his constitutional limits. He is encouraging the opposition parties before the polls, who have unleashed planned violence in three to four booth areas. Our workers have died. The situation in the rest of the state is normal. The opposition parties have filed the maximum number of nominations. The Governor is trying to project himself as the chairman of the opposition forces," Ghosh tweeted.

There was no reaction from Governor House over allegations when this report was being filed.

On Saturday, after visiting the trouble-prone Canning area in South 24 Parganas district, the Governor observed that he has witnessed "deterioration of democracy" in certain pockets of the state during his visit to places which witnessed severe clashes over the week over the nominations for the panchayat elections in the state.

"Unfortunately, in certain pockets I have witnessed deterioration of democracy. But I want to tell the people that there is no scope for fear in democracy. I am beside the people of the state. I will not tolerate atrocities, intimidation & violence," he said.
Gurdaspur : , June 18 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, "Is he a Chief Minister or a pilot?", saying the state's law and order went "from bad to worse as CM Mann spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal".

He announced the establishment of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regional office in Amritsar within a month to tackle the growing drug trafficking and menace in the state.

Shah questioned the state government over its poll "guarantee" of giving Rs 1,000 per month to every adult woman.

The Home Minister was narrating the nine-year achievements of the Modi government in Centre and also launched the election campaign in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Saying that AAP is an advertisement party, he slammed the state government as the law and order and drugs emerge as key challenges for the government.

In his 20-minute public address as part of an outreach programme of his party, the BJP leader Shah said, "Bhagwant Mann has time for Arvind Kejriwal but not for the people of Punjab. People of Punjab are feeling insecure. The people will teach a lesson for this." The state's law and order is going from bad to worse as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann "spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal", he said.

Taking a jibe at the government, he said the government has prioritised advertising for Arvind Kejriwal using taxpayers' money.

Accusing the AAP of making empty promises, he asked what happened to its promise of Rs 1,000 a month to women in Punjab.

Saying that India is now known as a growth engine in the nine years of the helm of the Modi government, he said in 1984 thousands of innocent Sikh brothers and sisters were killed in the massacre that was done by the Congress leadership.

"From 1984 to 2014, the culprits were not punished. The Modi government did the work of sending the culprits of Sikh riots to jail." Remembering the contribution of Punjabis before Independence, the Union minister said, "Whether the atrocities were committed by the Mughals or the British, Punjab faced it firmly and secured the country. Be it the Gadar movement or the Jallianwala Bagh, the history of the country's Independence has been written by the sacrifices of Punjabis." "The great Sikh Gurus taught the lesson of patriotism, equality and harmony not only to Punjab but to all the countrymen. Following this, Punjab has protected the entire country in every crisis before and after Independence," Shah said.

"The Narendra Modi government has decided that it will work on eradicating drug menace from Punjab, and hence, we have decided to establish an NCB office in Amritsar within a month," Shah announced.

He said the party's activists would visit every tehsil and village to carry out awareness campaigns against drugs in the state.
Chandigarh, June 18 : Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in an operation supported by the Bihar Police and central agencies cracked the Moga jeweller's killing case with the arrest of three persons from Patna and one from Maharashtra's Nanded, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

As per the information, five people had shot dead a jewellery shop owner Parminder Singh and looted gold ornaments from his shop 'Asia Jewellers' at gunpoint in Moga on June 12.

The assailants had also snatched and took away the licensed revolver of the deceased before fleeing from the spot.

DGP Yadav said three accused identified as Rajwinder Singh of Moga, Rajvir Singh of Bihar and Varun Jazzi of Jalandhar have been arrested from Patna in Bihar, while the fourth accused identified as Gurpreet Singh of Amritsar has been arrested from Nanded.

The police teams have also recovered the two pistols, comprising one .315 bore (country-made) and one .32 bore along with cartridges, used to commit the crime, he said, while adding the licensed .32 bore revolver belonging to the deceased has also been recovered from the possession of the accused.

The DGP said preliminary investigations revealed that all accused persons are history-sheeters and criminal cases pertaining to dacoity, theft, Arms Act, NDPS Act, etc., have been registered against them in Punjab and Bihar.

The accused Rajvir had earlier fled from the police custody during court appearance in Jalandhar and was absconding since, he added.

He said the police have also pinned down the fifth accused, Golu of Patna, and several teams are on manhunt to nab him.
Los Angeles, June 18 : It's all about power-packed performances and high-octane action in the upcoming film 'Heart Of Stone' starring Gal Gadot, Alia Bhatt and Jamie Dornan.

Gal Gadot is going from superhero to super spy in the action-packed first trailer for the international espionage thriller 'Heart of Stone', reports Variety.

Gadot was joined by co-stars Jamie Dornan and Alia Bhatt at Netflix's Tudum fan festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the trio debuted the film's first trailer. The footage features heart-stopping stunts, like Gadot's Rachel Stone, an intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency, skydiving from a death-defying height.

Stone's steely demeanour and adrenaline-junkie habits are explained as her boss (Sophie Okonedo) warns: "You know what you signed up for. No friends, no relationships. What we do is too important. When governments fail, the only thing left is the Charter." Stone and Dornan's Parker are among the organisation's highly-trained agents, who have no political leanings or national allegiances and are described as "working together to keep peace in a turbulent world." But when hacker Keya Dhawan (Bhatt, as the Bollywood A-lister stars in her first major Hollywood movie) steals the agency's most valuable - and dangerous - weapon (a technological core that "gives the Charter its power," it's "heart," if you will), Stone sets off on an epic, globe-trotting adventure to save the day and clear her name.

"Heart or no heart, I'm coming for you," Gadot speaks into a cell phone as her own warning to Bhatt.

Directed by Tom Harper from a script by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder, the intense footage also features major action set pieces including a motorcycle chase through the Alps and cars speeding through the streets of Lisbon. Gadot is also seen flying through the air twice - first, paragliding off a snowy embankment and later, doing some extreme skydiving.

"Chance of success just plummeted," a Charter agent (played by Matthias Schweighofer) cautions while Stone performs the dangerous maneuver.

"Only because you have no imagination," she shoots back, as she manages to tumble onto her target.

In addition to bringing her action star skills (refined in 'Wonder Woman', and soon to return to the 'Fast and Furious' franchise) to the table, Gadot also produced the film under her Pilot Wave banner with her producing partner and husband Jaron Varsano. Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger are also billed as producers, along with Mockingbird's Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn. Patty Whitcher, Harper and Rucka serve as executive producers.

'Heart of Stone' begins streaming on August 11.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, June 18 : The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 is to be conferred on well-known publisher Gita Press, Gorakhpur.

The jury headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on June 18, 2023 unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world's largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation.

Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.

The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.

The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft or a handloom item.

The past awardees include organisations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi among others.

The prestigious award has also been awarded to luminaries like Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Julius Nyerere, former president of Tanzania among many other personalities.

Some recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
Mumbai, June 18 : The Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' has clocked 24 years of its release and continues to be a favourite of the audience, especially the millennials.

The film, directed by maverick filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is known for its grandeur, music, styling and production design, and is considered to be one of Bhansali's finest works.

The film presents a love triangle between Nandini (Aishwarya), Sameer (Salman) and the man she is ordered to marry, Vanraj (Ajay Devgn). It follows the story of Nandini, the daughter of a well-known musician, and Sameer, who comes from Italy to learn music from her father.

Both Nandini and Sameer fall in love. But Nandini's father forces Sameer to leave India as fees for teaching him music. The unhappy Nandini is married to Vanraj, who is upset to learn that his newly-wed wife loves another. Vanraj vows to reunite Nandini with Sameer, and they set off for Italy in search of Sameer. But during their travel together, Nandini develops deep respect and regard for her selfless husband, and also love, and chooses in the end to stay with him.

Marking 24 years of the iconic film, Bhansali Productions took to Instagram and shared some beautiful pictures from the film, looking at which one realises how time has passed with the superstars getting aged like fine wine. Bhansali Productions wrote in the caption, "Celebrating 24 glorious years of the timeless tale that reflects the power of passion, sacrifice, and the beauty of true love".

The film marked Salman's second collaboration with Bhansali after their highly successful 1996 release 'Khamoshi'.

The music of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' features many iconic songs like 'Nimbuda Nimbuda', 'Tadap Tadap', sung by KK and Dominic, the energetic 'Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje', and the title track 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'.

Incidentally, Salman and Aishwarya who once set Bollywood on fire with their romance, fell in love on the sets of the film only to eventually part ways and excel in their individual journeys.

Having come a long way of over two decades, all four talents of the film Ajay, Salman, Aishwarya and Bhansali have made a mark for themselves in the industry.

While Salman and Ajay are some of the biggest superstars of India, Aishwarya has represented India on many international platforms.

Aishwarya's recent outing 'Ponniyin Selvan' garnered praise, while Ajay Devgn's 'Drishyam 2' revived Bollywood and set the cash registers ringing after lull. Salman's 'Kisi Ka Bhai, Kisi Ki Jaan' also managed to pull in the crowds.

Salman gearing up for his highly anticipated 'Tiger 3'.

Bhansali has created the niche of making films which are poetry in motion given their stupendous production design, styling and the music.

The director, who is known for 'Black', 'Devdas', 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Padmavat' will soon bring 'Heeramandi' marking his OTT debut.
Hyderabad, June 18 : Paillas Shekhar Reddy, one of the two BRS MLAs whose houses and offices were searched by the Income Tax department for three days, alleged that the raids were aimed at damaging his reputation.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA from Bhongir constituency alleged that the I-T raids were conducted for three days to damage his clean image.

The MLA said he extended full cooperation to the I-T department during the searches conducted for three days at his house and offices.

He denied that the I-T officials also searched the premises of his relatives. He said there was no truth in reports that some key documents were seized from the houses of his relatives.

Shekhar Reddy denied that he has a mining business in South Africa. He was talking to media persons at his camp office in Bhongir in Yadadri Bhongir district.

He arrived in the constituency for the first time after the IT searches. BRS workers accorded him a warm welcome with a huge rally.

The IT officials continued searches at the residences of Shekhar Reddy, another MLA Marri Janardhan Reddy in Hyderabad and at other locations for three days till June 16.

The searches were reportedly conducted at about 60 locations linked to the businesses of the MLAs and their family members.

Janardhan Reddy represents Nagarkurnool Assembly constituency.

Searches were conducted at the office of JC Brothers, a retail textile chain owned by Janardhan Reddy. The MLA owns JC Brothers Holdings Limited and some infra projects. The IT officials were reportedly probing suspected tax evasion in retail showrooms and infra projects of JC Brothers.

Similarly, searches also continued at the premises of Vaishnavi Group allegedly linked to Shekhar Reddy. He was previously associated with Theertha Projects and Sri Lorven Syndicate Private Limited.

Theertha Projects is into real estate, software, mining, drilling. The company has a presence in Hyderabad, Karnataka and is also engaged in few projects in African countries.

Janardhan Reddy questioned if it is written in the Constitution that MLAs can't do business. "We are promptly paying income tax on our businesses. So far we may have paid Rs 200 crore as income tax," Janardhan Reddy said.
New Delhi, June 18 : Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over violence in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that "his government is asleep at wheel." He also asked the Centre to allow an all-party delegation to visit the northeastern state.

In a tweet, targeting the Prime Minister, Kharge said, "Narendra Modi ji, Your 'Mann ki Baat' should have first included 'Manipur ki baat', but in vain." He said the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing. "You have not spoken a word. You have not chaired a single meeting. You have yet not met an all-party delegation. Looks like your government does not consider Manipur as a part of India. This is unacceptable," he said.

"Your government is asleep at the wheel while the state burns. Follow the Raj dharma. Act firm on all elements that disturb the peace. Restore normalcy by taking citizen groups in confidence. Allow an all-party delegation to visit the state," Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur." "Still no appeal for peace from him. There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question," Ramesh said.

The remarks of Congress leaders came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again maintained silence on Manipur during his Mann Ki Baat.

For around 50 days now, ethnic violence continues in Manipur, where over 100 people have died since May 3.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast programme on Sunday, PM Modi said that no one has any control over natural calamities, but the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years, is becoming an example today
New Delhi, June 18 : A 19-year-old first-year student of BA (Hons) Political Science from the School of Open Learning (SOL) at Delhi University has been allegedly stabbed to death by three individuals outside Aryabhatta College, an official said on Sunday.

A police officer said they received a call from Charak Palika Hospital regarding the incident.

The caller informed the police that a student with stab wounds on his chest had been brought to the hospital and was pronounced dead by the doctors.

"A team was dispatched and it was learnt that Nikhil Chauhan, a resident of Paschim Vihar, had been admitted. He was brought from Arya Bhatta College," said the police.

Upon inquiry, the police further learned that Nikhil was a first-year student of BA (Hons) Political Science at the School of Open Learning (SOL).

Around seven days ago, one of the SOL students in the college had misbehaved with Nikhil's girlfriend.

"Today, around 12.30 p.m., the same student who had misbehaved with Nikhil's girlfriend, along with his three associates, met Nikhil outside the college gate and stabbed him in the chest," said the official.

The police have registered a case of murder in connection with this incident and are investigating the matter.
San Francisco, June 18 : After a controversial podcast interview with Democratic presidential contender and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., podcaster Joe Rogan has received support from tech billionaire Elon Musk for his offer to ask leading vaccine scientist Peter Hotez for a debate with Kennedy.

Rogan offered $100,000 to Hotez to debate Kennedy on his podcast after he criticised Rogan's interview with him.

Hotez recently tweeted that Kennedy spread a lot of misinformation on the show, which Rogan didn't like and snapped back.

He also asked Hotez to participate in a podcast discussion with Kennedy.

To which, Hotez said, "Joe, you have my cell, my email, I'm always willing to speak with you".

Later, Rogan tweeted: "This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If you're really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person".

The heated debate caught Musk's attention, who tweeted: "He's afraid of a public debate because he knows he's wrong".

In response to Musk supporting Rogan, Hotez asked Musk why he supports anti-vaccine when many people have died due to misinformation.

Musk then used the opportunity to emphasise that he is pro-vaccine and that his entire family is vaccinated.

However, he has his own issues with the campaign and believes in the side effects of overusing vaccines.

"First of all, I am generally pro-vaccine. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids. Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital", Musk tweeted.

"So many people I know had serious side effects from the vaccines, including myself. Failure to acknowledge that is a lie. As for the deaths you claim are due to Covid-19, why is the nation of Sweden still alive!?" he added.

Musk then urged Hotez to participate in the JRE podcast debate with Rogan and Kennedy.
JERUSALEM, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel gave on Sunday preliminary approval for the development of a natural gas field off the coast of the Gaza Strip, following negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt.

The Gaza Marine natural gas field is located in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 36 kilometers offshore of Gaza, a Palestinian enclave controlled by the Islamist Palestinian movement of Hamas and subjected to a crippling Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office announced in a statement that it has "instructed to carry out the gas field development project."

The decision to advance the development of Gaza Marine took place "within the framework of the processes taking place between Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, with an emphasis on the development of the Palestinian economy and maintaining security stability in the region," the office said.

According to the office, the approval was preliminary and the implementation of the project will require "coordination between the security agencies and direct dialogue with Egypt in coordination with the Palestinian Authority ... for the purpose of preserving the security and political interests of the State of Israel in the issue."

Over the past decades, Egypt has been a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, frequently brokering ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Discovered in 2000 by the British BG Group, the Gaza Marine field has encountered obstacles in its development, including political disputes and conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as economic factors. 
Chennai, June 18 : Congress' Tamil Nadu unit President K.S. Alagiri on Sunday defended the arrest of state BJP leader S.J. Suryah for defaming Madurai MP Su Venkitesan and questioned Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for supporting him. Suryah.

People in BJP consider posting defamatory posts and tweets are a part of their party work, he said, adding: "Union Finance Minister is condemning the arrest of someone who posts nasty tweets. I condemn this".

Alagiri was addressing media persons after the commemorative speech on the 116th birth anniversary of former minister and Congress leader P. Kakkan at the State Congress headquarters Sathyamurthi Bhavan here.

Asked about the arrest of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, he said that there was no need to arrest the minister past midnight as he is not a "traitor".

He said that law enforcement agencies can arrest any person who speaks against India's sovereignty or who has joined the rank of enemies and those who smuggles arms and are terrorists can also be arrested past midnight without notice.

However, he questioned the wisdom of arresting an elected representative like Senthil Balaji during midnight after questioning him for 18 hours and without allowing him access to his lawyer.

He asked whether Balaji was a traitor or an anti-national? The Congress leader also asked why the BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was not arrested even after top women wrestlers of the country had alleged sexual misconduct against him.

He said that while the BJP MP was given protection, a non-BJP people's representative was treated like a "dog" and the Congress opposes such a differentiation strongly.

He also lashed out against Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi for opposing the recommendation of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to reallocate the portfolios of Senthil Balaji, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, had retained Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as a minister in the state, after his arrest.
Aizawl/Imphal, June 18 : Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Sunday assured his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh of providing security to the people belonging to the Meitei community living in Mizoram.

Thousands of people from the Meitei community reside in Mizoram for many years and work in various professions.

The Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Manipur over the phone on Sunday discussed the security of Meitei community people staying in Mizoram.

Later, Zoramthanga in a statement said that the Chief Minister of Manipur spoke to me over the phone regarding the ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence. "Furthermore, the request is to take means and measures for the Mizoram Meitei to settle peacefully. I assured the Chief Minister of Manipur stating that the Mizoram government bemoans the ongoing violence and that it has taken certain steps and measures to abate it.I further stated that we are supportive of the steps taken by the Manipur and the Central governments. I also apprised the Chief Minister of Manipur that we, the people of Mizoram are empathetic towards the Meitei and that the state government and the NGOs have taken measures for peace and security," the statement said.

Therefore, for the Meitei who are residing in Mizoram, they have nothing to fear as long as they are in Mizoram.

We shall go on to promote safety and security for them, the Chief Minister stated.

After the ethnic violence and hostilities between the tribal Kuki and the non-tribal Meitei communities started in Manipur on May 3, over 11,000 tribals belonging to Kuki-Zo-Chin left Manipur and sheltered in different Mizoram districts.

The Mizoram government has sought Rs 10 crore from the Centre to provide relief to the people, sheltered in the state after being displaced due to the ethnic violence in Manipur.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga wrote two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 16 and May 23 seeking financial support.

The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the apex Mizo student body, and the All Mizoram Meitei Association (AMMA) held a meeting in Aizawl last week to discuss the ongoing violence in neighboring Manipur. Both organisations have pledged to take appropriate measures to put an end to the unrest.

During the meeting, AMMA leaders led by its President Wahengbam Gopeshore reported that they had recently submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu through the Governor outlining the efforts made by their organisation.

Meanwhile, in Manipur, hundreds of women belonging to Meitei community in several districts, holding fire torches and forming human chains, took to the streets on Saturday night to condemn the violence in the state.

The human chains were formed in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Kakching districts.

A senior leader of Meira Paibi, an influential women Civil Society Organisation, Thounaojam Kiran Devi said that they are very disappointed with the Centre and the state government for failing to contain the violence and provide security to the innocent people.

Demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, they also protested against the "infiltration of illegal immigrants from Myanmar".
Thiruvananthapuram, June 18 : A female doctor at Kottayam Government medical college complained that a patient, who was brought by the Ettunamanur police, turned violent and showered abuses on her.

She also said that the patient also issued rape and death threats to her. Police have taken the accused into custody based on the complaint by the doctor.

The incident took place in the wee hours on Saturday.

The woman doctor, who is a postgraduate student at the Medical College, was on 24-hour duty when the police brought the patient, named as Binu. After the patient was put under the care of the doctor, the cops returned and then the patient turned violent and showered abuse.

She said that she had to immediately rush to the police aid post before attending to the patient who had bruises on his body.

However, the Kottayam police did not act immediately on the complaint of the doctor and instead took the statement of the doctor only on Sunday afternoon.

It may be noted that a woman doctor, Vandana Das was stabbed to death by a patient at Kottarakara government hospital on May 10. The murder of the young female doctor had led to widespread protests across the state and a call for safety audit at all hospitals in the state.
Lucknow, June 18 : The official committee sent to Uttar Pradesh's Ballia to probe the alleged heat stroke deaths in the eastern district has said that the 54 people who died were not heat-wave related deaths.

"Prima facie, these do not appear to be heatwave-related deaths because nearby districts facing similar conditions are not throwing up similar death figures. The initial symptoms were of chest pain, mostly which is not the first symptom for someone affected by a heatwave," said senior government doctor A.K. Singh.

He also claimed that the deaths could be water-related.

"It will be investigated if the deaths were due to water or if there's a different reason. The climate department will also come to check water samples," he said.

Fifty-four people have died and around 400 hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia in the last three days amid soaring temperatures in the district, with officials offering divergent explanations for the deaths.

A total of 23 patients died on June 15, 20 the next day, and 11 on Saturday.

Government doctors posted at Ballia had claimed on record that the deaths could be linked to a heatwave.

Earlier in the day, a Chief Medical Superintendent rank doctor posted at Ballia was removed from his post, after his on-record statement saying many of the deaths were due to heatstroke went viral.

He has been removed for "giving a careless statement on deaths caused by heatwave without having proper information", UP Health Minister Brajesh Pathak said.

The deaths have drawn the opposition ire with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav blaming the state government for the deaths.

"So many people across UP have lost lives because of the carelessness of the state govt. They should have warned the people about the heatwave. Not a single district hospital has been built in UP in the last 6 years. Those who have lost their lives are poor farmers because they did not receive food, medicines and treatment on time," he said.

Pathak said the government has taken serious note of the incident in Ballia, and he is personally monitoring the situation there.

The sudden increase in deaths and patients being admitted to hospitals with fever, breathing trouble, and other issues have overwhelmed the hospital, which has put its staff on alert.
Kolkata, June 18 : Toy Room, a popular nightclub based in Kolkata, faced the wrath of animal lovers and netizens after a video of a chained monkey being displayed within the nightclub premises went viral on social media.

The matter was highlighted by the popular Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee, who posted the video on her Instagram and wrote: "I'm ashamed to say the least! It's disheartening to see what #toyroomkolkata did in the name of an act to stand out! Well, you sure did. For all the wrong reasons. This is cruelty to a different level. How low can you stoop #toyroomkolkata. And what is wrong with the people who have gone to party there and indulging in this cruel act ? No one stopped this right there and then ? What is wrong with human beings? "And TOYROOM KOLKATA has barred people from tagging them. They think they can get away with this atrocity by disabling their social media handles?!" the actress wrote.

Meanwhile, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India have announced that their cruelty response team has already taken up the matter.

However, the nightclub authorities have issued a statement denying the display of the chained monkey within its premises. The club authorities have claimed that some 'madaries' (monkey trainers) approached them to perform a show within the nightclub premises.

On being denied, they went to the ground floor of the shopping mall where the nightclub is situated and performed there.

"We care as much as everyone else for the animals and would never do such activities where they would be harmed or caged. We sincerely apologise if we've hurt anyone's sentiments or feelings unintentionally," the nightclub authorities said in a statement.
New Delhi, June 18 : Congress on Sunday again questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over the violence in Manipur and targeted the RSS over its "divisive ideology and polarising activities" which is impacting on the diverse North East.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "The RSS has finally issued a public appeal for peace and harmony in Manipur after 45 days of unending violence. The RSS' well-known duplicity is in full display as its divisive ideology and polarising activities is changing the very nature of a diverse North East, of which Manipur is one tragic example." Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Ramesh said: "But what of its much-celebrated former Pracharak, who now controls the administrative machinery at the Centre and in the state? Has he outsourced the public appeal to the organisation that moulded him? When will Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, say something, do something on Manipur? Is he only a Prachar Mantri and not Pradhan Mantri?"

His remarks came after the RSS on Sunday made appeal for peace in Manipur, which has witnessed violence since May 3.

Ethnic violence continues in Manipur for around 50 days now, where over 100 people have died since the outbreak of violence.
Patna, June 18 : Ahead of a mega opposition meeting here on June 23, BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday claimed that unity is not visible among leaders of various opposition parties.

"(West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo) Mamata Benerjee is saying that she would not come to Patna for the opposition meeting if the Left parties were invited. So, there is a strife among the parties in the opposition camp. It is an alliance of selfish people for the chair (of Prime Minister) having only one ambition to oppose (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji," Prasad said.

"Individually, they do not have the capacity to contest with him. Hence, they are coming together but they should know that the country has come well ahead of (Orime Ministers (H.D.) Deve Gowda, V.P. Singh and (I.K.) Gujral regimes. The country needs a permanent government, not a government where alliance partners are fighting with each other," he added.

"There is no objection to coming here in Patna, they come, drink tea, eat Litti but neither people of Bihar nor India would go with them," the BJP leader claimed.

Leaders of 17 opposition parties are coming here in Patna for the mega meeting on June 23.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 18 : Congress' Kerala unit President President K. Sudhakaran challenged the allegation of the ruling CPI-M Kerala state Secretary, M.V. Govindan's allegation that he was present at the residence of fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in a POCSO case.

He asked Govindan as to how he was privy to the confidential statement given to the police by the survivor.

Mavunkal had duped several people, including VIPs, of being an antique collector and collected huge money from gullible people in the name of buying and selling antique pieces. His claims were later proved to be fraudulent but he had cheated many people of crores of rupees.

He was arrested and then the daughter of his maidservant alleged that she was sexually abused by him when she was a minor and even after she turned 18. She also lodged a complaint with the police that she was forced to terminate her pregnancy out of the physical relationship with Monson. This led to the police registering a POCSO against Monson Mavunkal and a magistrate court in Kochi on Saturday sentenced the self-styled antique collector to imprisonment till death.

Another complainant, Shameer had in his petition before the police stated that he was cheated of Rs 25 lakh by Monson in the presence of Sudhakaran and the latter had also taken Rs 10 lakh out of the money he had given to Monson. A case of cheating was registered against Monson in which Sudhakaran was made the second accused.

However CPI-M's Kerala organ 'Deshabhimani' brought out a story on June 18 that Sudhakaran was present at the residence of Monson when he had abused the daughter of the maid servant and Govindan repeated the allegation in a press conference here on Sunday.

Sudhakaran challenged Govindan as to how he was privy to such a statement of the survivor and challenged that he would quit public life if such a charge was proved against him.

"CPI-M is behind the allegation against me. MV Govindan was talking as if he was present at Monson's residence with me. I will take legal action against the CPI-M leader for defaming me." "How did Govindan come to know of the details in a confidential statement of the POCSO complainant. Even Monson had said that I had no role in the cheating case. I don't know the people who had filed a case against me, but it's certain that CPI-M is behind this and the party has been on a witch hunt against me." However, the state Crime Branch denied the claims of the CPI-M state Secretary and said that Sudhakaran was named as an accused in the cheating case only.

The CPI-M has always been in a confrontation path with Sudhakaran, who hails from the CPI-M bastion of Kannur district in north Kerala.
Kolkata, June 18 : Two people were arrested on Sunday by Kolkata Police's Special Task Force (STF) with narcotics valued at Rs 5 crore, officials said.

City police sources said that the duo were arrested from the Mahatma Gandhi Road Crossing in north Kolkata, where the STF sleuths were waiting after being getting a tip off.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ahmed Ali, 51, and Dhananjay Debnath, 35.

"They were nabbed in front of the iconic Purabi cinema hall and detained for questioning. They were carrying a bag and 1.09 kg of brown sugar was seized from their possession," a city police official said.

The estimated value of the seized consignment is valued at Rs 5 crore.

The accused will be presented at a special court of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on Monday.

City police sources said that the arrested persons are residents of Assam, where they had been involved in narcotic trafficking for a long time.

STF has sought their police custody to interrogate them about their other associates.
Bhopal, June : In what could be a case of "honour killing", a girl and her boyfriend were allegedly killed by her family and the bodies of the couple thrown into the Chambal river in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, police said.

The victims were allegedly killed by the girl's family around a fortnight ago. Her family members, along with other relatives, allegedly kidnapped the couple, shot them dead, and threw their bodies into the crocodile-infested waters of the river.

The matter came to light after the girl's father Rajpal Singh Tomar, during an interrogation, confessed the crime. As per the police, Tomar claimed he, along with other family members, killed his daughter Shivani Tomar and her boyfriend Radheshyaam Tomar on 3, and then disposed of their bodies into the river.

As per reports, Shivani Tomar, 18, was in a relationship with Radheshyam Tomar, 21. However, this was objected to by the girl's family as both were sharing the same surname. Despite strong disapproval of their relationship, the young couple continued to meet each other, which made the family furious.

As per the police, on June 3, Shivani's family, along with some relatives, allegedly shot dead the young couple. Following the confession of the crime by Shivani's father, the local police swung into action to search the bodies.

Morena SP Shailendra Singh Chouhan said on Sunday that a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and divers were carrying out search for the bodies in the river, however, it was unsuccessful so far.

"We have not found anything yet. Searches are on," Chouhan said.

"Nothing can be said unless bodies are found. Our investigations are still underway," he added.
The burning M/V Esperanza Star is seen off Bohol province, the Philippines, on June 18, 2023. A ferry with around 120 people on board caught fire on Sunday morning off Bohol province in the central Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The coast guard station in Cebu City told Xinhua that all the passengers and crew were rescued safely. The PCG in Manila later confirmed the information. (PCG/Handout via Xinhua)

MANILA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A ferry with around 120 people on board caught fire on Sunday morning off Bohol province in the central Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The coast guard station in Cebu City told Xinhua that all the passengers and crew were rescued safely. The PCG in Manila later confirmed the information.

The PCG spokesperson Armando Balilo said fire engulfed the M/V Esperanza Star around 4:30 a.m. local time off Panglao island as it approached the Tagbilaran City port. Initially, Balilo said 55 to 65 passengers and crew were on the boat.

The PCG station in Bohol said in a social media post that the boat was carrying at least 120 passengers and crew when the fire broke out.

It took the PCG over five hours to extinguish the fire. The PCG is looking into the cause of the fire.

Ferry accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. 

The burning M/V Esperanza Star is seen off Bohol province, the Philippines, on June 18, 2023. A ferry with around 120 people on board caught fire on Sunday morning off Bohol province in the central Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The coast guard station in Cebu City told Xinhua that all the passengers and crew were rescued safely. The PCG in Manila later confirmed the information. (PCG/Handout via Xinhua)

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard look at the burning M/V Esperanza Star off Bohol province, the Philippines, on June 18, 2023. A ferry with around 120 people on board caught fire on Sunday morning off Bohol province in the central Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The coast guard station in Cebu City told Xinhua that all the passengers and crew were rescued safely. The PCG in Manila later confirmed the information. (PCG/Handout via Xinhua)
Tehran, June 19 : Iran and Uzbekistan on Sunday signed 10 cooperation agreements and one joint statement in Iran's capital Tehran, according to the website of the Iranian President's office.

The agreements, including cooperation in transportation, pharmaceutical production, insurance, trade, technology, and agriculture, were signed by the two countries' high-ranking officials in the presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his visiting Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Xinhua news agency reported.

Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, the Uzbek President arrived in Tehran earlier on Sunday.

The trip marks the first visit by an Uzbek President to Iran since more than 20 years ago.

Raisi visited the Uzbek city of Samarkand in September 2022 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Iran and Uzbekistan signed 17 memorandums of understanding and cooperation documents during that visit.
Colombo, June 19 : Sri Lanka's State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe cautioned against premature speculation regarding domestic debt optimisation, emphasising that a strategy for optimisation has not yet been finalised.

Speaking to media in Colombo, Semasinghe stressed the government's commitment to ensuring the stability of the banking and financial sector, Xinhua news agency reported.

He urged responsible and diligent discussions on the matter, as premature speculations could potentially undermine market confidence.

Semasinghe highlighted the progress made in engaging with bilateral creditors for debt restructuring efforts.

The state minister expressed optimism that these engagements would lead to favourable agreements that contribute to overall stability.

Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe also reassured the public about the safeguarding of public bank deposits and the stability of the banking system in any reorganisation of domestic debt.

Addressing a public forum, Weerasinghe emphasised that financial sector stability was a key objective of the central bank, and measures would be taken to ensure the protection of public deposits and the overall stability of the banking system.
This photo taken on June 8, 2023 shows a view of Datong ancient town in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Visitors take photos on the ancient city wall in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 8, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

People visit the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 7, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Technicians with the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute restore a piece of mural at their studio in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, May 9, 2021. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

This aerial photo taken on June 8, 2023 shows a view of Datong ancient town in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

A visitor poses for photos at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 7, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

This aerial photo taken on June 8, 2023 shows a view of Datong urban area, north China's Shanxi Province. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

People visit the Datong ancient town in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 8, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

A technician with the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute maintains a piece of relics at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, May 7, 2021. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

People visit the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, May 9, 2021. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

This photo taken on June 8, 2023 shows a view of Datong ancient town in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Technicians with the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute collect data at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, May 8, 2021. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

People visit the Datong ancient town in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 8, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. In recent years, Datong has developed its tourism combining rich cultural heritages and well-known attractions. The historic city is shining with a new vitality. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)
Code of ethics for digital news websites

The basic precepts of the Code of Ethics are to maintain the standards of digital publishing as well as protect and maintain the independence of journalists, content entities and publishers.

The Digital News Publishers Association has voluntarily drawn up a Code of Ethics for its members as outlined below, which demonstrates their commitment to responsible digital publishing  even as it, in order to protect our 19 (1) (a) and other Constitutionally mandated freedoms, keeps under review and scrutinizes any developments likely to restrict the gathering and dissemination of news and current affairs or any other content.

The object of this Code is to outline high standards, ethics and practices in digital news publishing, and does not constitute any attempt to involve itself in the day to day operations of the publishers  who have complete editorial and content independence.

The basic precepts of the Code of Ethics are to maintain the standards of digital publishing as well as protect and maintain the independence of journalists, content entities and publishers.

1. Digital news websites follow the laws of the land including the Constitution of India, the over 30 laws relating to the media, relevant provisions of IPC, CrPC as well as the Information Technology Act, 2000, where applicable.

2. They also diligently adhere to accepted norms of journalistic ethics and practices and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. There are several layers of these self-regulatory ethics and codes  including as outlined by specific entities as well as rigorous processes in newsrooms at the level of journalists and editors.

3. Accuracy, Transparency & Fairness Members should eschew publication of inaccurate, baseless or distorted material. Pre-publication verification should be mandatory. Defamation should be avoided. Adherence to applicable laws and rules is necessary.

4. Right of reply

a. News reports and articles should incorporate comments or version of person or party in respect of whom allegations are carried. If not carried, the person or partys response, if received later, to be incorporated.

b. If there are developments in the news, and the concerned person or party requests an update, the same must be carried appropriately. Date of update should also appear in the news item published.

5. Take down, delete or edit

If news report or article is found to contain false or inaccurate information, then on approach by the concerned person or party, providing correct information, identifying himself or herself, providing required documents or material, the portion of the news report or article should be edited or deleted.

If entire news report is found to contain false, inaccurate information, the entire article should be deleted.

6. Respect Intellectual Property Rights

a. Copyright in text, photographs, plans, diagrams, cartoons, etc must be respected. If copyrighted material is used, then prior permission should be taken and publication must acknowledge moral and ownership rights.

b. If permission requires payment of fee or royalty, the same must be paid.

c. Trade Marks and Service Marks of third parties not to be used except with prior permission or if such use constitutes fair use.

d. In case infringement of intellectual property  upon receiving any request and after getting the necessary documents, the concerned content should be edited, deleted or take down if necessary.

7. Care to be taken for reporting sensational matters and crime. Presumption of innocence must be preserved. Comments and speculation on evidence, witness and witness conduct, accused and victim and their respective conduct to be avoided. Such reporting should be based on facts and unbiased.

8. Special care to be taken while reporting on sexual harassment in workplace, child abuse, rape, where accused or victims are minors, matrimonial, riots and communal disputes / clashes, divorce and custody cases, adoption matters, etc.

 Care to be taken, to follow Sections 67, 67A and 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 where applicable  which provide for penalties for publishing or transmitting obscene material, sexually explicit material and also material depicting children in sexually explicit acts, in electronic form.

9. Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Members when intermediaries as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000 follow the grievance redressal mechanism as outlined therein and are cognizant of the liabilities and safe harbor protections under Section 79 of the IT Act 2000. Hence, as relevant, they follow the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011 including appointing a grievance officer whose contact details are displayed on the website and who acts within 36 hours of receipt of complaint by affected person and redresses the complaint within one month from its receipt.

10. Training and Awareness Programs

Conduct periodic training and awareness programs with editorial staff about existing laws including Constitution of India, the over 30 laws relating to the media like The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, Copyright Act, Right to Information Act, relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code and CrPC, civil and criminal defamation, IPR, Juvenile justice, POCSO, relevant provisions relating to reporting on rape and molestation, harassment in the work place, caste or gender related crime, domestic violence, etc.

- Names of victims and details leading to identification of victims or perpetrator, if juvenile or in the workplace, to be strictly avoided.

- Photographs of victims, their residence, workplace, etc to be avoided.

- Special care and caution must be exercised at all times while reporting matters related to communal or religious disputes/clashes. Such news items shall be published only after a proper verification of facts and should be presented with due caution and restraint, ensuring an environment that is conducive to promoting communal harmony, amity and peace.

- Special care in reporting on Courts and judicial matters. Create awareness among editorial staff about legislative privileges and correct reporting of Court hearings, judicial matters, etc. To ensure that versions of victim and accused are covered, without comments thereon.

- Respect for privacy especially persons not in public life.
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To access these services, you will be asked to enter your individual User Name and Password, as chosen by you during your registration. Therefore, we do not permit any of the following:-



Any other person sharing your account and Password;

Any part of the Site being cached in proxy servers and accessed by individuals who have not registered with JPL as users of the Site; or

Access through a single account and Password being made available to multiple users on a network.

If JPL reasonably believe that an account and Password is being used / misused in any manner, JPL shall reserve the right to cancel access rights immediately without notice, and block access to all users from that IP address.

Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify JPL immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. JPL will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account. However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by JPL or another party due to someone else using your account or password.

No unlawful or prohibited use

As a condition of your use of the Services, you will not use the Services for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use the Services in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any JPLs server, or the network(s) connected to any JPL server, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of any Services. You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any Services, other accounts, computer systems or to any of the Services, through hacking, password mining or any other means. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available through the Services.

Material Posted/transmitted at JPLs Site

All information, data, text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials (Content), whether publicly or privately transmitted / posted, is the sole responsibility of the person from where such content is originated (the Originator). By Posting any material which contain images, photographs, pictures or that are otherwise graphical in whole or in part ("Images"), you warrant and represent that (a) you are the copyright owner of such Images, or that the copyright owner of such Images has granted you permission to use such Images or any content and/or images contained in such Images consistent with the manner and purpose of your use and as otherwise permitted by these Terms of Use and the Services, (b) you have the rights necessary to grant the licenses and sublicenses described in these Terms of Use, and (c) that each person depicted in such Images, if any, has provided consent to the use of the Images as set forth in these Terms of Use, including, by way of limitation, the distribution, public display and reproduction of such Images.

You represent that you have valid rights and title in any and all Content/Images that you submit on the Site, that you have not infringed on any IPR belonging to any party and further that you will indemnify JPL or its affiliates for all claims arising out of any content that you post on the Site.

JPL accepts no responsibility for the said Content / Images. However, you understand that all Content / Images posted by you becomes the property of JPL and you agree to grant/assign to JPL and its affiliates, a non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual, irrevocable and sub-licenseable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such Content / Images (in whole or part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed throughout the world.

Limitations of Liabilities

Under No circumstances will JPL be held responsible or liable, in any way, for any content which in Legal opinion is derogatory, threatening, defamatory, obscene or offensive or offends public sensibilities or morals and shall also not assume liability for any errors or omissions in any content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any content posted or uploaded on the Site, or any infringement of another's rights, including intellectual property rights. You specifically agree that JPL is not responsible for any content sent using and/or included in JPLs site/service by any third party.

Termination of Account

JPL reserves its right to refuse service, restrict, suspend,terminate your account; (Terminate this Agreement; Terminate or suspend your access to the JPLs Web Sites; Refuse, move or remove for any reason any Content / Image that you submit on or through the Services; Refuse, move, or remove any Content / Image that is available on or through the Services; Deactivate or delete your accounts and all related information and files in your account; Establish general practices and limits concerning use of the Services) at any time and, remove or edit contents or cancel orders (entered by you) in its sole discretion with or without cause, and with or without any prior notice for any violation of the Terms of Use. Upon such termination or suspension, your right to use the JPLs Web Sites will immediately cease.

You can also terminate your account at any time but your information may remain stored in archive on our servers even after the deletion or the termination of your account.

User Conduct and Obligations

You hereby agree and assure JPL that the Site/Services shall be used for lawful purposes only and that you will not violate laws, regulations, ordinances or other such requirements of any applicable Central, State or local government or any other international laws. You further concur that you will not, through Site/Service:



Post, distribute, or otherwise make available or transmit any software or other computer files that contain a virus trojan horses, time bombs, bots, botnets, malicious content, content theft, data manipulation, threats or any other harmful programs or elements or component.

Delete from the Site any legal notices, disclaimers, or proprietary notices such as copyright or trademark symbols, or modify any logos that you do not own or have express permission to modify;

Not use the Site / Service in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair and not to undertake any action which is harmful or potentially harmful to any JPLs server, or the network(s), computer systems / resource connected to any JPL server, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of the Site/Service;

Obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available through the Site/Service.

Engage in any activity that causes / may harm minors; or

Perform any activity which is likely to cause such harm;

Impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, JPLs official, forum leader, guide or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.

Take any action which encourages or consists of any threat of harm of any kind to any person or property.

Carry out any "denial of service" (DoS, DDoS) or any other harmful attacks on application or internet service or.

Make any inappropriate, illegal or otherwise prohibited communication to any Newsgroup, Mailing List, Chat Facility, or other Internet Forum.

Use the Site/Service for illegal purposes.

Disrupt, place unreasonable burdens or excessive loads on, interfere with or attempt to make or attempt any unauthorized access to any JPL website or the website of any JPLs customer.

Transmit through the Site, any unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature. This includes text, graphics, video, programs or audio, etc.

Collect or attempt to collect personally identifiable information of any person or entity without their express written consent and you shall maintain records of any such written consent throughout the terms of this agreement and for a period of 2 years thereafter.

Engage in antisocial, disruptive, or destructive acts, including "flaming," "spamming," "flooding," "trolling," and "griefing" as those terms are commonly understood and used on the Internet

Forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any content transmitted through the Site.

Upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," duplicative messages or any other form of solicitation.

Encumber or suffer to exist any lien or security interest on the subject matter of this Agreement

Make any representation or warranty on behalf of JPL.

You agree not to post, distribute, transmit or otherwise make available any data, text, message, computer file, or other material that infringes and/or violates any right of a third party or any domestic or international law, rule, or regulation, including but not limited to:

Infringement of any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary rights of any third party, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized copying of copyrighted material, the digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and the unauthorized transmittal of copyrighted software.

Right of privacy (specifically, you must not distribute another person's personal information of any kind without their express permission) or publicity.

Any confidentiality obligation.

Unless otherwise permitted, you will: (i) display the Service on your Site in the exact form received by you, and not modify or edit any of the foregoing without JPLs prior written consent; (ii) ensure that the fundamental meaning of the Service is not changed or distorted; (iii) comply with all applicable laws and all limitations and restrictions (if any) placed by JPL on the use, display or distribution of any Service and (iv) not archive any of the Service for access by users at any future date after the Service has been removed from your Web site. You acknowledge that the service must link and redirect to the appropriate JPLs Web page when a user clicks on the Service (e.g. a headline). You shall not display the Service in such a manner that does not allow for successful linking and redirection to, and delivery of, JPLs Web page, nor may you frame any JPLs Web page.

No Controlling Spam Policy or Unsolicited E-mails

You will not use any communication tool or other means available on the Site to transmit, directly or indirectly, any unsolicited bulk communications (including emails and instant messages). JPL will not sell, lease or rent its e-mail subscriber lists to third parties. You may not harvest information about users of JPL for the purpose of sending or to facilitate the sending of unsolicited bulk communications. We may terminate your access or use of the Site immediately, with or without any notice, and take any other legal action if you, or anyone using your access details to the Site, violates these terms. We may adopt any technical remedy (including any filtering technology or other measures) to prevent unsolicited bulk communications from entering, utilizing or remaining within our computer or communication networks. Such filtering technology or other measures may block, either temporarily or permanently, some e-mail sent to you through the JPLs Web Sites.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Liability

JPL and its parent, affiliates and associates shall not be liable, at any time for any, direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential, damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business projects, damage to your computer system or damages for loss of profits, damages for loss of use, data or profits, arising out of or in any way connected with the use or performance of the JPLs sites/services, with the delay or inability to use the JPLs sites/services or related services, the provision of or failure to provide services, or for any information, software, products, services and related graphics obtained through the JPL sites/services, or otherwise arising out of the use of the JPL sites/services) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use the Site, or any of its contents, or from any act or omissions a result of using the Site or any such contents or for any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, alteration of, or use of information contained on the site. No representations, warranties or guarantees whatsoever are made by JPL as to the (a) accuracy, adequacy, reliability, completeness, suitability or applicability of the information to a particular situation; (b) that the service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; (c) the quality of any products, services, content, information, or other material purchased or obtained from the website will meet your expectations or requirements; or (d) any errors in the website will be corrected.

Links to Other Sites

All the contents of this Site are only for general information or use. They do not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) any decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any part of the Site is/are the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons and are not subscribed to by this Site. The information from or through this site is provided on "AS IS" basis, and all warranties and conditions, expressed or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any goods, service or channel, including without Certain links on the Site lead to resources located on servers maintained by third parties, these sites of third party(s) may contain JPLs-logo, please understand that it is independent from JPL, over whom JPL has no control or connection, business or otherwise as these sites are external to JPL. You agree and understand that by visiting such sites you are beyond the JPLs website. JPL, therefore neither endorses nor offers any judgement or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability for the authenticity, availability, suitability, reliability, accuracy of the information, software, products, services and related graphics contained, of any of the goods/services/or for any damage, loss or harm, direct or consequential or any violation of local or international laws that may be incurred by your visit and/or transaction/s on these site(s), as the same is provided on "as is" without warranty of any kind. JPL gives no warranty and makes no representation whether expressed or implied, that the information contained in this site is error free. JPL shall not be responsible nor liable for any consequential damages arising on account of your relying on the contents of the advertisement. Before relying on the material, users should independently verify its relevance for their purposes, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice.

Material Submitted by Users

Certain elements of the Site will contain material submitted by users. JPL accepts no responsibility for the content, accuracy, conformity to applicable laws of such material. You will indemnify and hold harmless JPL against all third party claims, demands and actions brought against JPL which arises from or relates to the material submitted by you.

Advertising Material

Part of the Site contains advertising information or promotion material or other material submitted to JPL by third parties. Responsibility for ensuring that material submitted for inclusion on Site complies with applicable International and National law is exclusively on the party providing the information/material. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers other than JPL found on or through the Website, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between You and such advertiser. JPL will not be responsible or liable for any claim, error, omission, inaccuracy in advertising material or any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such non-JPL advertisers on the Website. JPL reserves the right to omit, suspend or change the position of any advertising material submitted for insertion. Acceptance of advertisements on the Site will be subject to these terms and conditions.

Data Protection

JPL may send information and offer products and services to you from time to time. For further details relating to our policy relating to such offer please refer to our privacy statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, JPL reserves the right to disclose any information in response to / that it is required to be shared, disclosed or make made available to any governmental, administrative, regulatory or judicial authority under any law or regulation applicable to JPL.

Further, JPL can (and you authorize JPL to) disclose your name, street address, city, state, zip code, country, phone number, email, and company name to Intellectual Property right's owners, as we in our sole discretion believe necessary or appropriate in connection with an investigation of fraud, intellectual property infringement, piracy, or other unlawful activity.

Relationship

None of the provisions of the User Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a partnership or agency between you and JPL and you shall have no authority to bind JPL in any manner, whatsoever.

Force Majeure

JPL shall have no liability to you for any interruption or delay, to access the Site irrespective of the cause.

Indian Law

The Agreement shall be governed by the Laws of India. The Courts of law at Delhi/New Delhi shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising under this agreement.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding such subject matter.

Right to remove inappropriate messages

We reserve the right to remove any messages we deem to be inappropriate, i.e, racist, sexist or threatening. Messages using inappropriate language will also be removed. We do not wish to be censors, but our forums must remain civilized and respect the rights of others.

Limited time to bring your claim

You and JPL agree that any cause of action arising out of or related to the JPLs web sites, only, must commence within one (1) year after the cause of action accrues otherwise, such cause of action will be permanently barred.

Acceptance of Privacy Policy

By using JPLs sites and services, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree or are not comfortable with any policy described in this Privacy statement, your only remedy is to discontinue use of JPL sites. We reserve the right, to modify this Privacy Statement at any time.

General Terms

Rights and obligations under the Terms which by their nature should survive will remain in full effect after termination or expiration of the Terms.

Any express waiver or failure to exercise promptly any right under the Terms will not create a continuing waiver or any expectation of non-enforcement.

If any provision of the Terms is held invalid by any law or regulation of any government, or by any court or arbitrator, the parties agree that such provision will be replaced with a new provision that accomplishes the original business purpose, and the other provisions of the Terms will remain in full force and effect.

Notice of Copyright Infringement



JPL is not liable for any infringement of copyright arising out of materials posted on or transmitted through the site, or items advertised on the site, by end users or any other third parties. Our policy is to comply with all Intellectual Property Laws and to act expeditiously upon receiving any notice of claimed infringement. If you believe that your work has been reproduced on this website in a manner that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide a notice of copyright infringement containing all of the following information:



A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner for the purposes of the complaint. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed. Identification of the material on our website that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity. The address, telephone number or e-mail address of the complaining party. A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notice of copyright infringement is accurate, and that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the right that is allegedly infringed.

All notices of copyright infringement should be sent to: feedback@jagran.com

Copyright Notice

Copyright 2012 JPL. All rights reserved.

This disclaimer/terms of service notification is subject to change without notice.
Property details:

Hilton Grand Vacations Club McAlpin-Ocean PlazaMiami Beach, Florida All images in this listing are general images of the resort and do not necessarily reflect the actual resort or units. Please perform your own due diligence OVERVIEW1430 OCEAN DR, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139Miami's South Beach defines urban sophistication, with its al fresco cafes, art deco architecture, mosaic of culture and world-class attitude. With a premier Ocean Drive address in the heart of South Beach, Hilton Grand Vacation...

Price: $ 1,950 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 1430 Ocean Dr Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 33139 City: MIAMI BEACH State/Province: Florida Location: 331**, Miami Beach, Florida

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/18/2023



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FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Lauren Burnham has revealed if she knew she would end up with Arie Luyendyk Jr. on the show's 22nd season and how the pair keeps their marriage spicy.Lauren -- who welcomed three children: Alessi, 4, and twins Senna and Lux, 2, with Arie -- recently took to Instagram Stories and wrote, "Let's catch up" along with a question box for her followers, according to BachelorNation.com.During the Q&A session, one fan asked Lauren if she knew she would end up with Arie on his season of , which aired in 2018."No I didn't 'know,' but I had a strong feeling," Lauren responded. "Sometimes you just can feel that something is meant to be."Lauren went on to share how she and Arie keep the fire burning in their relationship after tying the knot in January 2019."We get into funks sometimes just like anyone else," Lauren admitted, "but I like breaking the ice by flirting and acting goofy so Arie has to acknowledge me.""We also know that when we get to that place, I'm usually PMSing or we are due for a date night," she added.Considering Arie was born in the Netherlands, another fan asked if Lauren and her husband had any plans to travel to his home country."Yes!!! We're going in July so our Dutch family can meet Senna and Lux for the first time! We're so excited," Lauren wrote, adding a smiling emoji.Arie revealed in January 2022 he had a vasectomy so he and wife Lauren Burnham wouldn't be able to have any more children.Arie admitted in September 2021 he didn't want to have another child after welcoming twins with Lauren."Any more babies? Arie?," Lauren asked her husband in a video posted to Arie's Instagram Story at the time."No," Arie firmly replied, shaking his head. "No more babies!"Lauren therefore asked her husband, "Vasectomy time?""Yes!" Arie confirmed.Lauren laughed and told their Instagram followers, "You heard it first!"In the video -- which was one of many clips posted as part of the couple's Q&A session with fans -- Lauren and Arie each had a baby strapped to their chest.Arie previously admitted that after having twins, raising three young children was "complete chaos" and the babies had different sleep schedules.However, Arie and Lauren have said they complement each other really well when it comes to taking care of their little ones."If she's having a mental breakdown, I get it together," Arie told Us Weekly of his wife, who was hospitalized with postpartum health issues in July 2021."That is what makes us great at co-parenting. We can sense when the other needs a little bit more heavy lifting on the parenting end."Arie and Lauren announced they were expecting their first child together in November 2018 and revealed two months later that Lauren was pregnant with a daughter.Lauren gave birth to Alessi in May 2019, just four months after she and Arie tied the knot at Haiku Mill in Maui, Hawaii.Lauren went on to suffer a miscarriage in May 2020, but she and Arie announced in December of that year that Lauren was pregnant again , with twins this time. The following month, the couple revealed they had a baby boy and a baby girl on the way Senna and Lux were born in June 2021 Lauren finished Arie's season of in second place when Arie actually chose Becca Kufrin as his winner and popped the question to her during the Final Rose Ceremony, which aired in March 2018.But weeks after getting engaged, Arie decided to dump Becca because he claimed he was still in love with Lauren, and then he begged Lauren for a second chance.Once Lauren took the former racecar driver back, Arie proposed marriage in March 2018 on : After the Final Rose after Season 22 aired on ABC.Arie and Lauren subsequently moved into their first home together in Phoenix, AZ, in April of that year. They now split their time between homes in Arizona and Hawaii Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Children perform during a series of activities to celebrate the International Children's Day in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 31, 2023. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua)

People walk in a street in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 11, 2023. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

Visitors watch woodcuts at the Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2023. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

People enjoy their leisure time at an open tea house in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 23, 2021. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 31, 2019 shows a view of an observation platform at the Longquanshan city forest park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Photo by Hu Datian/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows a view of Dujiangyan in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Photo by He Bo/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on June 4, 2021 shows a view of Chengdu and the snow mountain in the distance in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Photo by Shen Jun/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 10, 2023 shows a view of the dome of the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Photo by Zhang Yan/Xinhua)

Customers enjoy meals at a hot pot restaurant in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2021. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

People visit the Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2023. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

This photo taken on Feb. 28, 2023 shows a view of a night market in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chengdu, a historical city in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is home to treasured cultural and historical sites, including Sanxingdui Ruins, Jinsha Site Museum, and Dujiangyan irrigation system. In recent years, Chengdu has witnessed the rapid development of its cultural and creative industry, showcasing its vitality, creativeness and energy. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao)
For the last four years, AADM has bailed fathers out of jails in and around Athens so they can spend the weekend of Fathers Day with their families.
Ten people were injured when the shuttle bus they were traveling in from Terminal-1 to 2 of the Kempegowda international airport in Bengaluru crashed into a pillar early on Sunday, airport authorities said.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

The injured have been taken to the hospital for immediate medical treatment.

So far five people were discharged, they said.

'On June 18, 2023 at approximately 5.15 am, a shuttle bus operating between T1 and T2 of the BLR airport collided with a pole near the T2 arrival exit road, resulting in minor injuries to 10 people. There were a total of 17 passengers (15 pax and 2 crew) in the bus.

'The injured have been taken to hospital for immediate medical treatment,' the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) spokesperson said in a statement.

'AISATS operates the shuttle services at the airport as per the service contract awarded to them by BIAL. We are working with the operator to investigate the matter and will take all necessary mitigating measures as per the agreement.' he said.

Investigation is on, the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, AISATS issued a statement regretting the incident.

'We deeply regret the incident involving a shuttle bus carrying 15 passengers and 2 staff members that collided with a pole while operating between Terminals 1 and 2 at BLR Airport.

'While six passengers were hospitalized for minor injuries to ensure they receive the best care, the remaining passengers continued to their respective destinations after undergoing a thorough inspection by the medical team,' the operator said.

'The well-being and safety of our passengers and staff are our top priorities. We have extended all support to the authorities for further investigations,' it added.
Succumbing to the demands of a radical Islamist party, the Pakistan government has agreed to try blasphemy suspects under terrorism charges in addition to the other sections of the country's penal code.

IMAGE: A supporter of the Islamist political party Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) runs during a protest in Lahore, on October 23, 2021. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters

The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) ended its 25-day-long march protest at Sarai Alamgir, Gujrat district, some 200 km from Lahore, on Saturday after signing a pact with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government.

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the government has accepted 'all legitimate' demands of the TLP, especially on blasphemy laws.

In a 12-point agreement signed on Saturday with the TLP, the federal government agreed to book those accused of committing blasphemy and charged with Section 295-C (use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet) of Pakistan Penal Code under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, too.

"Besides, speedy trials of the blasphemy accused will be ensured. For the first time, a Counter Blasphemy Wing (CBW) will be established under the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)," Sanaullah said, adding the government would ensure steps to block blasphemous content on social media.

The radical Islamic group gained political capital as the federal government agreed to issue a letter declaring that the TLP was not a terrorist organisation, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The government also conceded to lift the ban on the coverage of TLP on broadcast and social media while agreeing to withdraw all political cases filed against TLP workers and leaders.

Sanaullah said the TLP leaders whose names have been taken off the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, will have the freedom of movement, and the federal government will issue directives to provincial governments for it.

According to Amnesty International, Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used against religious minorities and others who are the target of false accusations.

The addition of terrorism charges will make the blasphemy suspects more vulnerable.
The Rashtriya Lok Dal, an ally of the Samajwadi Party, has batted for a united opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and said that without the Congress no front can be effective in countering the Bharatiya Janata Party.

IMAGE: Rashtriya Lok Dal national president Jayant Chaudhary (Right) interacts with wrestler Bajrang Punia during the ongoing protest against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, May 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The comment by the RLD's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ramashish Rai ahead of the June 23 meeting of opposition parties in Patna assumes significance in light of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav maintaining that seat distribution should be decided considering which alliance partner is the strongest in a particular state.

The June 23 meeting of opposition parties, called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar, will see anti-BJP players chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls.

"The RLD is in favour of a united opposition. It will endorse the outcome of the meeting to evolve a consensus on opposition unity. We are of the view that without taking the Congress along, no front (against the BJP) can take an effective shape," Rai told PTI.

Asked if there was a strain in the relationship between the Samajwadi Party and the RLD, he said, "The party workers are disappointed with the outcome of the recently-concluded urban local bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh. They feel the results could have been different had the SP and RLD fought together."

Rai, however, stressed that "since we are aiming for a big transformation, the RLD wants the SP, Congress and Azad Samaj Party to sink their differences and work together to bring about a change."

The Samajwadi Party's chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary, when contacted, said his party's alliance with the RLD was "fully intact".

"The BJP will lose in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 polls. For that, people should show large-heartedness and help the Samajwadi Party. We are already in alliance with some parties, including the RLD. Akhilesh Yadav will accommodate other parties which is why he spoke about large-heartedness," he said.

"In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party gave 105 seats to the Congress (as part of a pre-poll alliance deal). Any big party, which is capable of defeating the BJP, should help the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls by showing a large heart," Chaudhary added.

When asked whether the party is willing to accommodate the Congress, he said, "A decision in this regard will be taken at the June 23 meeting of opposition parties in Patna."

Top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the June 23 meeting.

Meanwhile, a senior RLD leader said party workers think that their chief Jayant Chaudhary "should not be a martyr" in case Akhilesh Yadav wants to go alone in the parliamentary polls.

"The RLD workers of Uttar Pradesh in general and those from the western parts of the state, in particular, feel that Akhilesh Yadav will finish the RLD. The party has a natural alliance with the Congress.

"Muslims have made up their mind to go with the Congress. And, if the RLD, Congress and Azad Samaj Party come together, there will be no need for anyone else. RLD workers have already said that there is no threat from the Congress. The threat is from Akhilesh Yadav," the senior RLD leader told PTI.

He claimed that "any transformation in the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls is not possible without the Congress."

"The Congress too wants the RLD to align with it. Our party chief Jayant Chaudhary had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. There is pressure from party workers and leaders that it should go with the Congress.

"If Akhilesh Yadav comes along, he is most welcome. But, if he decides to go alone in the Lok Sabha polls, the RLD should not be a martyr along with the Samajwadi Party," the senior RLD leader said.

He claimed that as against the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when the Muslim votes were divided, this time "those are leaned towards the Congress and not the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party".

"With Mallikarjun Kharge becoming the Congress chief, Scheduled Caste voters are for the first time seeing him as a prime ministerial candidate. Because of these two reasons, the Congress has gained strength," the RLD leader opined.

He explained that in the recently concluded Karnataka assembly polls, Muslim votes shifted towards the Congress instead of going to the JD-S.

"This shift will happen in the entire country. Kharge's appeal among the Scheduled Caste voters will have an impact," the RLD leader asserted.

RLD sources claimed that in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, "Akhilesh Yadav took away our winning seats in the last moment".

They claimed that while the RLD had demanded 35 seats from the Samajwadi Party, "Akhilesh Yadav made his candidates contest on our tickets on 10 seats. "On the seats where the RLD was confident of a win, Yadav fielded his candidates," a source claimed.

"In the urban local bodies election, we were thinking of a joint contest. But the Samajwadi Party declared its candidates in RLD strongholds of Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut and Shamli. RLD workers and leaders welcomed Rahul Gandhi when his Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through UP. The party that in the current scenario, it should move with the Congress," a senior party leader said.

The Samajwadi Party contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BSP and RLD. Of the 37 seats it had contested in Uttar Pradesh, it managed to win in just five, two of which -- Rampur and Azamgarh -- went to the BJP in the 2022 bypolls. The RLD fielded candidates in three seats and lost all while the BSP won 10 of the 30 seats it had contested.

BJP won 62 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 general elections while its ally Apna Dal-Sonelal won two.
Gunmen allegedly shot dead two women in southwest Delhi's RK Puram in the early hours of Sunday over a suspected financial dispute with their brother, police said.

IMAGE: Family members mourn after two women were shot dead in Ambedkar Basti area of RK Puram, New Delhi, on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Three accused have been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at RK Puram's Ambedkar Basti, they said.

In grainy footage from a purported video shot by local residents, gunshots can be heard amid a barrage of abuse.

The video also purports to show the gunmen firing their weapons before escaping while one woman is seen lying on the ground as the locals scream in panic.

The incident has triggered a political slugfest in the national capital.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while condoling the deaths of the two women, asserted that if the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation had control over the Delhi's law-and-order system, Delhi would have been the safest place.

The Lt Governor has control over public order, land and police in the national capital.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi, on the other hand, said the incident was the fallout of personal enmity.

Sharing details about the incident, the police said they received a call around 4.40 am from the victims' brother Lalit about his sisters being shot at.

"Acting on the information, a police team reached the spot where it was found that two women were shot at and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, where they succumbed," said a senior police officer.

The victims have been identified as Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29).

Preliminary investigations revealed that the assailants were after the victims' brother Lalit and the motive seems to have been a monetary dispute, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said.

"The prime accused and his two associates were arrested in connection with the incident," he added.

They have been identified as Arun, Michael and Dev, the police said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Lal, another brother of the victims, said, "My elder brother Lalit had given money to someone as a loan. On Saturday, when my brother asked them to return the money, a heated argument took place with the accused and a few others."

Around 2 am on Sunday, when they were asleep, some people allegedly started shouting and knocking on the door of their residence, Lal said.

Fearing a mishap, Lal said he called their relatives, including his two sisters who lived in the same lane. But the people had left by then.

"Later, they returned with pistols. They had come to target my brother. Instead, my two sisters who rushed to rescue him were shot at by the accused My sisters fell unconscious and the men escaped," he added.

Attacking Lt Governor V K Saxena over the incident, Kejriwal said, 'Our thoughts are with the families of the two women. May their souls rest in peace. The people of Delhi have started feeling quite insecure.'

'Those who are responsible for handling the law-and-order situation in Delhi are hatching a conspiracy to take control of the Delhi government instead of fixing the situation,' Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

'Had the law-and-order situation been under the AAP dispensation instead of the L-G, Delhi would have been the safest,' he added in a tweet in Hindi.

Other AAP leaders also echoed Kejriwal's sentiment.

Reacting to Kejriwal's comments, Lekhi told PTI, "I want to remind the people of Delhi that this is the same Arvind Kejriwal whose MLAs were involved in (the) Delhi riots. They were involved in killing IB (Intelligence Bureau) officer Ankit. Gulel (catapults), guns (and) petrol bombs were supplied by these people. Can such people be given the responsibility of law and order?"

The Union Minister of State for Culture stressed that the RK Puram incident was the fallout of personal enmity and the government did not have any role in it.

She said, "Wherever such an incident has happened, the role of the government is to register an FIR and take strict action against the accused and produce them in the court of law.

"The system of trial courts is under the Delhi government. So, whenever this case comes up in the court, in this case, the Saket court, you should ensure that the guilty are punished."

When asked about Kejriwal's allegations, Lekhi said, "The person who does not understand the law is sitting as the chief minister. I am surprised at this."
The police in Prayagraj on Saturday filed their charge sheet against eight accused in the Umesh Pal murder case.

IMAGE: A screen grab from the video of gunning down Umesh Pal, prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA, in Prayagraj, February 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The charge sheet was filed by Dhoomanganj ACP Mahendra Singh Deo in a court in Prayagraj, government counsel Gulab Chandra Agrahari said.

The charge sheet mentions Ahmed, Rakesh alias Nakesh alias Lala, Arshad Katra, Niyaz Ahmed, Iqbal Ahmed, Shahrukh, Akhlaq Ahmed, and Khan Shoulat Haneef as accused, he said.

Khan Shoulat Haneef is currently in judicial custody in Naini Central Jail.

Agrahari said the case against the eight men was filed at the complaint of Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal.

All eight have been booked under various sections of the IPC, Explosive Substances Act, and sections of SC/ST Act at Dhoomanganj Police Station.

Gangster Politician Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, and other family members were made the prime accused in the case.

According to the counsel, the first charge sheet in the matter was filed in the court on May 26 with Sadaqat Khan as the main accused. He said that the matter will be heard next on June 21.

Umesh Pal and two policemen deployed in his security were shot dead on February 24 this year. Pal was the main witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, the main accused named in the case, were shot dead by three youths on April 15, 2023, outside a hospital while they were being taken for a medical check by police.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said a United Progressive Alliance-3 government coming to power in 2024 is very much possible provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda reflecting it and are ready for give and take when fielding candidates to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha polls.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal during the 'Maha-rally' against the central government's unconstitutional ordinance, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on June 11, 2023. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

Sibal, a prominent Opposition voice and a former Congress leader, also said that instead of a common minimum programme, the Opposition parties should talk about a 'new vision for India'.

His remarks come days before a crucial meeting of Opposition parties, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23, where top Opposition leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former All India Congress Committee chief Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Benerjee, Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, among others, are set to deliberate on the way forward for forming an anti-BJP coalition for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

In an interview with PTI, Sibal said the Congress' win in Karnataka assembly polls was an example that the BJP can be defeated but cautioned against making sweeping statements for 2024, asserting that a Lok Sabha election is fought on different grounds altogether.

The former Union minister also insisted that the fight for 2024 was not against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but against the ideology that he seeks to perpetuate

Sibal said UPA-3 could be a reality in 2024 provided the Opposition parties have a commonality of purpose, an agenda which reflects it and that they move forward with the mindset that there needs to be a lot of give and take .

There needs to be give and take at the time of distribution of tickets in those states and constituencies where two or more political parties' candidates are vying for the same seat.

Once these three things are agreed upon, I think UPA-3 is very much possible, Sibal told PTI over phone from New York.

Asked if it would be practically possible to put up joint candidates against the BJP when there are serious differences in Opposition ranks, Sibal said talk of differences was an overstatement, citing that in many of the states, certain political parties are truly dominant.

For example the Congress is the real opposition to BJP in many states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In these states there is no issue. Among states where there are non-Congress Opposition governments, such as in West Bengal we all know that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is the dominant partner. There will be a very few constituencies in West Bengal where there will be any kind of conflict, he said.

"Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, there will not be any problem as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have fought together many times without any real conflict," Sibal noted.

"In a state like Telangana there may be a problem. In Andhra Pradesh, it is unlikely that there would be any Opposition coalition because of a possible three-way contest involving Jagan's party (YSRCP), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)," he said.

In Goa again there will be a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, the real Opposition is represented by the Samajwadi Party.

"The Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress at best will be junior partners. Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati is not playing ball so there is no possibility of an alliance as she has publicly stated that she will be putting up candidates in all parliamentary constituencies. In Bihar, again Congress has no real presence. So I don't think there is any problem on that front," Sibal argued.

"Once the three conditionalities that I have put forward come through, seat sharing won't present a real problem," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister over his recent remarks on political stability in recent years and its importance for the country, Sibal said he would like to question the assumption of the PM.

"The kind of instability that we have had in the Modi years was not seen during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) period," he alleged.

"What is the stability Modi ji has provided? See what is happening in Manipur. This Central government, through tactics which to say the least are unsavoury and clearly corrupt, displaced elected governments. Destabilising elected governments does not provide stability in governance. This dispensation has sown the seeds of economic, political and social instability in the country," he alleged.

"Sibal claimed that UPA I and II governments provided a fair amount of political stability. Besides, real growth happened in those years," he added.

Asked if the Opposition parties should leave the leadership question to after the Lok Sabha polls or put up a joint PM candidate, he said it was too early to talk about these things.

"The parties when they get together know best how to move forward. This is not something I wish to comment on," Sibal said.

On whether hammering out a common minimum programme should be a priority for Opposition parties, Sibal said, "To talk about a common minimum programme is a misnomer. What we should be talking about is an alternative agenda of the Opposition; a new vision to take India forward. My country requires a paradigm shift in the way India should move ahead and a new vision for India. Instead of talking of a common minimum programme, we should talk about a new vision for India."

On Banerjee's reported remarks that the Congress should not expect any help in the Lok Sabha polls in her state as long as it is aligned with the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Sibal said, "I don't think I should react to statements made by leaders of political parties. Leaders will be sitting together on June 23. I think it will take time to resolve such issues. Resolving them should not be a problem."

Asked whether the Congress should be the centre of an anti-BJP front, Sibal said it was too early to talk about these things, but pointed out that the grand old party was the only national party in the Opposition besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he noted had the status of a national party but was without a footprint outside a few states.

"The question as to who should take the lead, how this coalition of opposition parties needs to move ahead, is something that has to be addressed," he said.

On whether Opposition unity is progressing in the right direction, Sibal said it was too early to tell but added that the fact that key opposition parties are meeting on 23rd June is reflective of the desire of the Opposition to come together to face Modi in 2024 .

Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and UPA 2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support.

He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice.
URUMQI, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A freight train loaded with auto parts, garments, and other goods Saturday departed from Alataw Pass, a primary land port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, heading for Malaszewicze in Poland. It marks the 3,000th such train passing through the port this year.

According to Liu Junping with the Alataw railway station, the customs clearance time for outbound trains has been reduced to less than five hours, while the processing time of inbound cargo has also been shortened.

Liu said that since the beginning of this year, the station has been expanding multimodal transport, revamping warehouses and increasing their capacity, and constructing new railway lines to improve the quality and efficiency of the China-Europe freight train service.

At present, 104 routes pass through the Alataw Pass, connecting 21 countries and regions, including Germany, Belgium, and Poland. The trains now transport more than 200 categories of items.

Vehicles and auto parts, household appliances and daily commodities are among the main exports through the port, while imports majorly consist of vehicles, auto parts, mechanical products, and cotton yarn. 
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Bill Anton, superintendent of Vermont's Windham Central Supervisory Union, will be principal of an elementary school in Portland, Maine.
LONDONDERRY  The state is asking people not to travel to Londonderry and Weston, much of which were underwater following heavy rainfall in th
BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The hustle and bustle has returned to most of China's airports, an encouraging sign for the Chinese civil aviation sector, which has been fueled by rising demand for travel and the overall economic recovery.

Travelers made nearly 51.7 million air trips in May, 94.8 percent of the volume in May 2019, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The domestic air travel market has recovered, with the passenger transport on domestic routes in May topping pre-pandemic levels, showing an increase of 2.6 percent from May 2019.

A significant recovery has also been seen in international flights. Chinese air companies have put more international flights into operation to cater for the surge in demand for cross-border passenger transport.

China Southern Airlines currently operates 123 international flights per day, involving 85 international flight routes. Daxing airport has some 16 airlines operating international and regional routes, connecting with 22 other destinations around the globe, including London, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

So far, international passenger flights have been opened to 61 countries and regions, recovering to about 80 percent of the level during the same period of 2019, according to the CAAC.

"China's international air travel market has made an overall recovery since the beginning of the year," said Zhao Nan, department director of the flight tracking application Umetrip.

The international flight volume varies widely between different countries, with trips to destinations in the Republic of Korea and Southeast Asian countries taking the lead in the recovery, Zhao added.

With the resumption of international routes, flight prices are now beginning to fall.

For instance, the ticket prices for some popular direct flight routes, such as China to Thailand and Japan, have fallen below 1,000 yuan (about 140.27 U.S. dollars), while the services between China and North America, which were stubbornly expensive before, have also seen steep price cuts.

China's civil aviation sector was one of the industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the new boom in travel demand has helped it to regain steam. In the first quarter of the year, major Chinese air companies and airports generally reported a profit or pared losses. Among these, a flurry of private airlines returned to profitability.

"The recovery momentum of the airline market has bolstered the confidence of the industry," said Lin Zhijie, a senior industry insider. Holding a bullish view on the outlook of the industry, Lin said the sector is expected to be profitable this year.

The pace of recovery is set to further pick up with the approach of the summer travel rush, a traditional busy season for China that spans from July to August. It is estimated that nearly 1.95 million air passenger trips will be made daily during the travel rush. Some online travel agencies have also reported a marked increase in ticket bookings for domestic tourism over the period.

To cope with the mounting demand, the country is planning to handle 16,500 flights by domestic and foreign airlines per day, on a par with the same period in 2019.

"The upcoming summer travel rush is estimated to become a key juncture for China's civil aviation industry," said Xiao Peng, a researcher with the big-data research institute of online travel service provider Qunar.

Chinese airlines are striving to enhance flight capacity and increase promotional efforts on popular flight routes. "These moves will further release the pent-up travel demand and accelerate the industry's recovery," Xiao said. 
Security forces have busted seven major narco-terror modules in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu region in last three weeks. Forces have recovered 44 kilos of heroin with worth of more than Rs 200 crore in the international market along with weapons, Pakistan-made medicine, food and drug money from these modules. The most recent bust was made by the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Indian Army in Sheedra area of Surankot in Poonch district. Forces have recovered four rocket launchers along with other ammunition that were dumped in a cavity near a water body by terrorists some time ago.

Army recovers weapon and ammunition

On June 15, Indian Army, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police, recovered an AK-74 rifle with nine magazines and 438 rounds, two pistols with four magazines and 60 rounds, six hand grenades, wire cutters along with Pakistan-made medicines and food.

Narco-terror modules busted

On June 12, security forces recovered two packets of heroin weighing around two kilos from Bagyaldara area of Poonch during search of a houses in forward area along the Line of Control.

On June 11, Police busted twin narco terror modules in Poonch and have recovered cash more than Rs 13 lakh from two locations. In the first operation, one person was arrested along with Rs 7 lakh from Alapeer area by Poonch Police, while three people were arrested along with Rs 6 lakh from Bagyal Dara area of Poonch by Rajouri Police.

In another operation on June 1, Jammu Kashmir Police, along with the Border Security Force (BSF) have busted a narcotics module and recovered 22 kilos of heroin worth more than Rs 110 crore in international market; two Punjab-based smugglers were arrested from the spot while two Poonch-based smugglers were arrested later from Rajasthan.

Busting narco-terror links

SSP Rajouri Amritpal Singh told Republic the police has arrested two Punjab-based peddlers and recovered around 22 kilos of heroine in Sunderbani area of Rajouri district.  (The) duo have been identified as Onkar Singh son of Karam Singh resident of village Talmandi Barth, District Gurdaspur Punjab and Shamsher Singh son of Nirmal Singh resident of Village Barthmal Tehsil Gurdaspur Punjab. This a major success for police on anti narcotics front and narco-terror aspect of this recovery is also being probed," he added.

On May 31, the Indian Army, along with Jammu Kashmir Police foiled major infiltration attempt by arresting three terrorists and recovered 10 kilos of pressure cooker IED, an AK56 rifle, two pistols and six grenades along with 20 kilos of heroin worth more than Rs 100 crore. Defence PRO Devender Anand said, Three-four terrorists were intercepted on (the) Line of Control in Poonch sector while attempting to cross the fence on the night of 30/ 31 May 2023, Three terrorists with some weapons, war like stores including one IED and Narco have been apprehended. One Indian Army soldier was injured in the ensuing firing and has been evacuated. Search operations are in progress.
As seen in Ramayana and Mahabharata, the ancient huts made of bamboo are making their debut in Jammu City as part of the Jammu Smart City Project. The project has been launched on a trial basis in the Bus Stand area of Jammu and will be extended after the successful conduct of the pilot project.

The bamboo huts have been designed in such a manner that they retain the ancient look, while bringing modern-day comfort to those living inside. Rohit, who works in the company assigned with the task of building these huts, told Republic that these bamboo huts are designed in such a manner that it holds their ancient looks but are solid enough to tackle gusty winds as the frame has been built from strong iron which provides it deterrence to windstorm.

The bamboo huts that are being installed here are on a pilot project basis as part of the Jammu Smart City Project and are fitted with waterproof plastic sheets in between layers of bamboo which not only save it from rain but also helps to maintain the temperature in case air conditioners are installed, he added.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (MoS PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh informed Republic that they were the first to introduce bamboo to Jammu and Kashmir, with the presence of the Bamboo Cane Centre on the Guwahati-Shillong Highway. They brought in experts from there and even created a bamboo orchestra in Dogra, he said, adding that bamboo is a versatile material that can be used to make furniture, walls, panels, garments, and even paper.

MoS Jitendra Singh gives credit PM Modi for bamboo revolution in India

Dr Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the steps taken to promote the bamboo revolution in India. He mentioned that when they realized India was importing incense sticks (Agarbatti) from Korea and Vietnam, despite having an abundance of bamboo, they brought the matter to PM Modi's attention. "We were getting the same from Korea and Vietnam, despite all the bamboo brings with us. We took up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he allowed us to bring an amendment to Indian Forest Act, 1927; a 100-year-old Forest Act was amended, and Home-Grown Bamboo was exempted," he said.

Terming the move of the amendment as an employment generator, the Minister said that amendment enables the livelihoods of forest communities as well as private growers. It will also help the youngsters of the region, especially Reasi, Samba and Udhampur districts to use it as a startup avenue, he added.
Pakistan has come up with a much-hyped Plan B as it has been left with no option but to make a request to its bilateral partners for additional deposits of $3 billion, as per a Pakistan-based newspaper. This comes amid the nation's continued deadlock with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) till the end of June 2023.

While talking about the current economic scenario, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that Islamabad had to repay $3.7 billion as predicted by an international rating agency and that all repayments would be done well on time.

IMF and Pakistan's Plan B

The Q Block (Ministry of Finance) has been looking at all available options to get financing from the bilateral friends to avert the looming crisis on its external accounts in case the ninth review is not completed. As the expiry date of this review is on June 30, 2023, both sides, the IMF and Pakistan, had gone public with their apprehensions despite showing their commitment to remain engaged for the completion of the ninth review under the $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

With the provision of bridging financing gap of $3-$4 billion from bilateral friends, Pakistan can manage its financing needs," said top official sources explaining the "Plan-B". Further, he added, this arrangement is under active consideration and will be implemented to avoid the danger of default in the next few months till the end of October or November 2023.

In this Plan B for the economic crisis, Pakistan has been hoping that friendly countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have linked their additional deposits of $2 billion and $1 billion respectively with the signing of the staff-level agreement and revival of the IMF programme.

Will this new plan help Pakistan from coming out of debt?

While sharing details about the plan B for the economic debt of Pakistan, one of the officials said: This arrangement is in our minds and we will request additional deposits of $3 billion from our bilateral friends and hope it will be done. If it is materialised, then it will help Islamabad pass the next few months without fear of default.

In the meantime, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated that China would be granted a rollover of $1 billion and $300 million commercial loan re-financing within the ongoing month, so $2.3 billion would not deplete from the foreign exchange reserves by the end of June 2023.

How Pakistan plans to deal with the economic crisis?

Two Chinese banks have agreed not to charge anything as a penalty, as per Ishaq Dar. Earlier, China refinanced $1 billion from the China Development Bank and it was the fastest execution. Pakistan has also paid off $300 million in commercial loans and has been hoping this would be refinanced within the next four to five days.

All procedures have been completed, said Ishaq Dar. While sharing information on the status of Shell Pakistan, the minister added that the company would go to sell its share to an international investor, so their business activities would not close down in the country. "There is nothing to worry about, this news is not new for the government," said Pakistan's Finance Minister.
In a significant diplomatic move, Brett McGurk, United States President Joe Biden's senior Middle East adviser, arrived in Saudi Arabia over the weekend for discussions with Saudi officials centered on the administration's efforts to establish a normalisation agreement between Israel and the kingdom. This strategic visit, aimed at fostering regional stability, takes place as the Biden administration seeks to advance the peace process in the next six to seven months, mindful of the upcoming 2024 presidential campaign.

McGurk's trip, which was first reported by The New York Times, follows closely on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman (MBS). During their meeting, Blinken and MBS explored the prospects of potential normalisation with Israel. Blinken also made a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide an update on the discussions.

Normalising ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel is the priority

During his stay, McGurk is expected to hold meetings with Crown Prince MBS, furthering dialogue on regional issues and the potential for improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Concurrently, Barbara Leaf, the state department's senior Middle East diplomat, is embarking on a trip to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, and Jordan this week. Leaf, who accompanied Blinken on his visit to Saudi Arabia, will build upon the recent discussions and engage with Israeli officials.

Are there any hurdles?

According to an Axios report , the path to an Israeli-Saudi peace deal faces significant challenges, most notably Israel's "occupation" of the Palestinian territories. Secretary Blinken emphasised at a recent AIPAC conference that any normalisation agreement should contribute to advancing the prospects of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, echoed this sentiment during a press conference with Blinken, stating that without a viable pathway to peace for the Palestinian people, any normalisation efforts would yield limited benefits.

A look at the wider context

The Saudi foreign minister landed in Tehran on June 17. This visit, the first in many years, signifies the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish diplomatic relations, underscoring a wave of flux across the region. It is important to flag that the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran was aided by China's involvement. This development has created a certain amount of anxiety in DC. US is apprehensive of China's growing influence in the region.

The Biden administration's push to normalise ties between Riyadh and Jerusalem ahead of the elections can also been seen as an attempt to ensure Biden isn't blamed for "loosing" Riyadh to China, so to say. By prioritising these efforts ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign, President Biden seeks to make substantial progress on this critical front. Relationship between DC and Riyadh were quite good when Biden's predecessor was in office.
Both countries described Antony Blinken's talks with Qin Gang as 'candid' and 'constructive.'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, June 18, 2023.

UPDATED AT 02:00 pm EDT on 2023-06-18

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened a high-stakes visit to China on Sunday with lengthy talks with top Chinese officials that both countries described as "candid" and "constructive" and called for more stable ties after years of rising tensions.

Blinken is the first secretary of state to visit China in five years, amid China's strict coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and strains over the self-governing island of Taiwan, Russias war in Ukraine, Beijing's human rights record, assertive Chinese military moves in the South China Sea and technology trade.

The top U.S. diplomat began two days of meetings with extended talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other officials and a working dinner at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Neither Blinken nor Qin made any substantive public comments during their meetings.

Blinken's talks with Qin were "candid, substantive, and constructive," said State department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

"The Secretary emphasized the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation," Miller said in a written statement late Sunday.

Blinken, the spokesperson added "raised a number of issues of concern, as well as opportunities to explore cooperation on shared transnational issues with the PRC where our interests align."

Chinese state media described the talks as "candid, in-depth and constructive communication on the overall relationship between China and the United States and related important issues."

A report by China's foreign ministry quoted Qin as saying that "Sino-US relations are at the lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations. This does not conform to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, nor does it meet the common expectations of the international community."

"China is committed to building a stable, predictable and constructive Sino-US relationship," the Chinese-language report quoted Qin as saying.

"It is hoped that the U.S. side will uphold an objective and rational understanding of China, meet China halfway, maintain the political foundation of Sino-U.S. relations, and handle unexpected incidents calmly, professionally and rationally," the Chinese foreign minister added.

As he had in a blunt pre-meeting phone call with Blinken on Wednesday, however, Qin said China would not budge on its core interests, including that the self-governing island of Taiwan will be reunited with the mainland.

Qin called Taiwan "the core of China's core interests, the most important issue in Sino-US relations, and the most prominent risk," Sunday's readout said.

Blinken is slated to have further talks with Qin, as well as Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, on Monday. Observers see a possible meeting with President Xi Jinping as a barometer of Beijing's willingness to re-engage with Washington after years of frosty ties.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, left, walks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, center right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

The visit comes after almost a year of strained relations between the Biden administration and Beijing, which began with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan in August.

Other irritants include Chinas diplomatic and propaganda support for Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities.

Blinken postponed a planned February trip to China after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace and was shot down. This visit went ahead despite the revelations early this month of a multibillion-dollar Chinese spy base in Cuba.

He told reporters before leaving Friday that Washington wants to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications.

Legitimate differences

President Joe Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how  to get along.

U.S. defense officials say Chinese officials have refused phone calls since Blinken canceled a planned trip to Beijing in February due to the Chinese spy balloon. Beijing asserts it was a weather balloon.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu also declined to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier at the start of the month, with Li instead using the forum to accuse the United States of double standards.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd R) and China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (2nd L) meet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. Credit: Leah Millis / POOL / AFP





There have been recent high-level contacts, including a trip to China by CIA chief William Burns in May, a visit to the U.S. by Chinas commerce minister, and a meeting in Vienna Austria between Wang and Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Reuters news agency quoted a senior State Department official as telling reporters during a refueling stop in Tokyo that Washington and Beijing understand they need to communicate more.

"There's a recognition on both sides that we do need to have senior-level channels of communication," the official said.

"That we are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation, or as our Chinese friends often say, stopping the downward spiral in the relationship, is something that's important," the official said.

"Hope this meeting can help steer China-U.S. relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali," tweeted Chinese assistant foreign minister Hua Chunying.

Biden and Xi met face-to-face on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in November and agreed to try to restore dialogue despite sharp differences.

The two leaders have opportunities to meet later this year, including at the Group of 20 leaders gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco.

Updated with statements from the U.S. and China after Sunday's meetings.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led the Russian private Wagner mercenary group's aborted mutiny last month, has appeared in a video purportedly filmed in Belarus welcoming his fighters and saying they would be headed to Africa as the company was halting its involvement in Russia's war with Ukraine for the foreseeable future.

In the dimly lit video, posted by his press people on Telegram on July 19, Prigozhin is shown in front of a large number of armed men, greeting them "on the land of Belarus."

Since the Wagner leader was last seen pulling away in a vehicle in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on June 24, his whereabouts have been a mystery as rumors swirled about the man cast as a traitor by President Vladimir Putin, once a close friend of Prigozhin. What Wagner would do next with its thousands of soldiers was also a question mark.



"You have done a lot for Russia. What is happening now on the front line [in Ukraine] is a shame we do not need to take part in. We need to wait until the moment when we are able to fully express ourselves," Prigozhin says in the video, the date of which remains unknown, adding that "the decision was made that we will stay here in Belarus for some time.



"During that time, we will turn, and I am fully confident about that, the Belarusian Army into the second-best army in the world, and if need be, protect them.... We must get trained further...and then head to a new destination, to Africa, and then, probably, we will get back to the special military operation [in Ukraine] when we are sure that we will not be forced to shame ourselves and our experience," Prigozhin says.

The fate of Wagner troops has been unclear since Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny on June 23-24, the biggest threat to Putins 23 years in power.



The authoritarian ruler of Belarus and Putin's close ally, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was reportedly involved in talks to end the mutiny by agreeing with Prigozhin and Putin to host the Wagner troops, and their leader, in Belarus.



Days after Lukashenkas statement, a tent camp began to appear in the eastern village of Tsel, a former garrison for members of a Belarusian missile brigade.



An analysis of satellite images by Schemes (Skhemy), an investigative project run by RFE/RL, estimates there are at least 485 vehicles near the tent camp in total.



The images from Planet Labs show almost all the equipment is located near warehouse-like buildings, as well as the parking lot of the military camp. No heavy military equipment can be seen.



The Belaruski Hayun Telegram channel that monitors the movement of military equipment on the territory of Belarus said it had registered at least six columns of military vehicles and equipment with Wagner and Russian national flags in the countrys eastern region of Mahilyou since July 11.



In the Wagner video released on July 19, Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian military officer known for his ultranationalist stance, is also shown.



"It is not the end; it is just a beginning. It is our new phase. It is the beginning of the biggest work in the world that will be performed very soon," Utkin, who chose the name for the Wagner Group and has been one of its commanders, says, ending his statement in English by adding, "Welcome to hell!"



Wagner troops played a key role in Russias invasion of Ukraine, helping take main parts of the town of Bakhmut after nearly 10 months of intense fighting. Prigozhin said earlier that he lost 20,000 men during the Bakhmut operation.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarusian Service
In February 2020, Afghan citizen Ali Mahdi Hussein arrived in the southern Russian resort town of Mineralniye Vody, known for its health spas, at the invitation of a relative.

During his stay, the militant Taliban continued its territorial advances against government forces at home. Before he was due to depart for home, Hussein requested  and received  temporary asylum in Russia.

When he sought to extend his asylum at the end of 2022, more than a year after the Taliban toppled the Western-backed government and imposed its repressive form of authority over Afghanistan, he was in for an unpleasant surprise.

The branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Stavropol region, where Mineralniye Vody is located, turned him down. Afghan law under the Taliban provides for the protection of core civil rights, it said.



Furthermore, it claimed Hussein was not in a high-risk group category.

Husseins case was not an exception, advocates for Afghans in Russia say. They say that Russian authorities, especially in its southern regions, have been turning down a greater number of Afghan requests for temporary asylum, despite the dire political and economic situation in the Asian nation.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs usually extended the permission to stay in Russia  first for three months, then for a year, and so on. There was practically no need to go to court [to appeal] because there were few refusals, said Ebadulla Masumi, the head of an Afghan community group in Stavropol.

But that trend has now rotated 180 degrees -- and its unclear why, Masumi said.

In 2023, they began to deny everyone [asylum extensions] without explanation. There has not been a single positive decision during this time. I don't know what has changed  the law or the policy of the state," he said.

Moscow doesnt publish the number of rejected asylum cases, but does publish those approved. From 2007 to 2011, Russia gave temporary asylum to more than 1,000 Afghans per year on average, more than to refugees from any other country. Temporary asylum is granted for one year and can be extended if the political situation in the home country does not change.

From 2020 to 2022, amid restricted travel due to the COVID pandemic, Russia granted on average only 600 requests for temporary political asylum to Afghans.

The suspected increase in Afghan asylum rejections comes amid growing repression by the Russian state, which has clamped down harder than ever on all forms of dissent following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

That war has also triggered a large influx of Ukrainians to southern Russia, thousands of whom have applied for asylum.

Russian authorities may be rejecting Afghan asylum seekers amid concern they will seek monetary assistance, Andrei Serenko, the head of the Center for the Study of Afghan Politics, told RFE/RL.

He said Russian authorities are using the resources set aside for such issues on Ukrainians. Russia granted nearly 9,000 Ukrainians and 732 Afghans temporary asylum in 2022, government data shows.

"You can say they were just unlucky -- they got here at the wrong time, Serenko said of the Afghan refugees who have been seeking asylum recently.

Ali Akbarzadeh, 22, who was turned down for asylum and deported, said Russian authorities showed little interest in Afghan requests for temporary refuge.

"It took a long time and they didn't pay much attention to Afghans and their asylum applications," he told RFE/RL.

Taliban Turbulence

Many Afghan asylum seekers in Russia have said they could face persecution, and even death, if they are sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. RFE/RL could not verify individual claims.

Some of them worked for the deposed government or had relatives who did. The Taliban has allegedly targeted former members of the government for repression.

Hussein Navid and Habiba Nabizadi arrived in Pyatigorsk, another resort town in the Stavropol region, in September 2022 on a tourist visa with their two young children.

They soon applied for temporary asylum but had their request turned down. Nabizadi had worked for the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the intelligence agency of the former government of Afghanistan, and was a member of a prominent womens organization.

In their application for asylum, her family said they feared for their lives if they went back, in part due to her previous work.

In many of the asylum rejections, Russian officials contend the Afghan citizens are exaggerating the threats to their lives at home and claim their real motivations for staying are economic.

Information about what has happened to Afghan refugees sent home by foreign countries since the Taliban takeover is hard to come by, but the overall lack of human rights and civil rights protections is well-documented.

Some Afghan refugees who worked with the former Afghan security forces have been detained by the Taliban following their deportation from Iran, but their subsequent fate is unknown.

The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021 after the United States pulled out its troops, resulting in the near collapse of government forces. The militants allegedly killed dozens of former Afghan officials, security forces, and people who worked with the international military contingent, despite their promise of a general amnesty.

They quickly imposed their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shari'a, on citizens, including severe restrictions on women and girls.

Their repressive rule, along with the economic collapse their seizure of power triggered, led to a mass exodus of citizens seeking refuge in neighboring countries and countries farther afield, including Russia.

Like many other countries, Russia officially considers the Taliban a terrorist organization. Nonetheless, Russian officials regularly hold meetings with the militants in Moscow as the Kremlin seeks to project global influence and power and undercut U.S. clout.

President Vladimir Putin announced in October 2021 that Russia would "move" toward excluding the Taliban from his governments list of terrorist organizations, but Moscow has yet to do so.

Russia is far from alone in rejecting Afghans seeking refuge, and the numbers are much larger in some countries that border Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan have been deporting large numbers of Afghans. Last week alone, Tehran forced around 20,000 undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants out of the country.

Turkey has also deported thousands of Afghans who have arrived via Iran.

Tajikistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has also forced some of the thousands of Afghan refugees arriving there to return home, but official figures are not available.

Written by Todd Prince based on reporting by RFE/RL North Caucasus Service correspondent Andrei Krasno. RFE/RLs Radio Farda contributed to this report.
TBILISI -- Georgia's government wants to put to bed a booming business in international surrogacy.

For more than two decades, the post-Soviet Caucasus nation has been on a short list of countries that allows both "altruistic" and consumer surrogacy, including for foreign biological parents, at costs that are a fraction of those in wealthier places.

But Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili announced on June 12 that a draft law is in the works to more tightly regulate surrogacy, when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby with no genetic relation, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). He warned of the fertility sector's "direct-order" character, the offer of a "so-called 'sophisticated business'" to "our" Georgian women, and a risk that such children might be destined for same-sex parents abroad.

"There is information that same-sex couples may take the children born here, and there can be a lot of problems," Gharibashvili said, without elaborating.

The Health, Labor, and Social Affairs Ministry's current text for the draft law would exclude commercial surrogacy by limiting the practice to the "principle of altruism only," and would bar Georgian women from carrying and delivering babies for foreign biological parents after 2023.

Representatives of surrogacy and egg-donation agencies operating in Georgia expressed "shock" at Gharibashvili's plan, although they knew the ministry had been working on draft legislation concerning the sector for over a year. They also questioned the prime minister's stated rationale for the foreign ban, saying safeguards are already in place to limit Georgian surrogacy to male-and-female parents.

"I don't know where [Gharibashvili] got his information from," Natia Janadze, head of the international department at the private ReproART clinic and general manager of IVF Tours Georgia, told RFE/RL's Georgian Service. "The issue of the adoption of a child by a same-sex couple is definitely not on the agenda, and it certainly can't be the reason for banning the provision of services to foreign couples."

The current Culture, Sports, and Youth Minister Thea Tsulukiani ordered an amendment to Georgian law in 2020 that tightened the approval processes for IVF births. At the time, Tsulukiani said the move was intended to further limit the process to "a man and a woman" and to "prevent the transnational crime of baby trafficking" and prevent surrogacy in Georgia from falling prey to "sexual exploitation, torture, inhumane treatment" and "to prevent fictitious couples who create a child through surrogacy for criminal purposes" from taking them abroad. She said companies "make millions" through what she described as a form of "organized crime."

Analysts have pointed to a rise in the influence and visibility of activism linked to the ultraconservative Georgian Orthodox Church, which has challenged LGBT rights and perceived affronts to traditional family values on religious grounds. In some cases, the church's teachings have tracked closely with government talking points.

Janadze's agency has coordinated around 1,000 surrogacy births since 2014, and she acknowledged that strict regulation is in the interest of both the ministry and the industry. But she expected changes to the law to mostly align Georgian legislation with corresponding laws elsewhere and didn't foresee the foreigner ban.

"We were expecting that the draft law would be ready by fall, but unfortunately this sudden departure shocked us," Janadze said the day after Gharibashvili's statement. "We are still waiting for something else, and we continue to face a different reality."

Foreign Clients

Janadze has estimated that around 95 percent of her clients are foreigners, including from Israel, China, the United States, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Canada, Australia, Greece, Spain, or India.

Same-sex couples are already strictly prevented by law from taking children born to Georgian surrogates out of the country, she said, since the process is limited to married or cohabitating male-female couples, with notarization requirements to prove it.

Who will agree to be a surrogate mother if we no longer get more or less adequate remuneration? We take this step because things are difficult for us."

Health, Labor, and Social Affairs Minister Zurab Azarashvili has insisted that the "principle of altruism" be regulated under the law, but the ministry has mostly been silent on how it should be defined. Azarashvili also acknowledged a demographic component in the debate, citing laws on surrogacy and IVF as "opportunities" to address a declining population in a country of under 4 million.

Janadze cited questions about how the proposed introduction of a "selfless principle" will affect surrogate mothers' fees if the draft law is adopted in its current form.

Surrogates should receive "logical" compensation for their time and work, she said, "but because the demand for surrogate mothers will decline because of the ban on such services for foreign couples, at their expense, I can tell you that the amount of compensation will decline."

Surrogates generally earn between $17,000 and $23,000 for carrying a fetus to term, slightly more for twins, according to industry experts. They say the vast majority of women who enter into such contracts are struggling financially.

Worldwide Differences On Surrogacy

Ever since the success in 1985 in the United States of the world's first gestational surrogacy, only a small group of countries have legalized commercial surrogacy. Many countries have made all forms of surrogacy illegal, while others allow noncommercial surrogacy under certain circumstances or have avoided legislating the issue.

Around me, women agree to surrogacy only because they need money. Otherwise, who's happy to be pregnant for nine months when you already have three or four children of your own?"

Georgia's first successful gestational surrogacy was completed in 2007, a decade after it became one of the first countries in the world to pass laws permitting third-party reproduction. So far, it has allowed both commercial and so-called altruistic surrogacy, in which the surrogate receives care and related expenses but no further payment.

The numbers of babies born to surrogate mothers in Georgia and then taken abroad is not known. Georgia's Justice Ministry has previously referred RFE/RL questions about the issue to the Interior Ministry, which said it doesn't compile statistics on border crossings "of children born through surrogacy in Georgia."

'We Take This Step Because Things Are Difficult For Us'

For some women planning to be surrogates, the draft law is a worrying development.

"Who will agree to be a surrogate mother if we no longer get more or less adequate remuneration?" said Maya, a 31-year-old woman with two young children of her own. "We take this step because things are difficult for us."

She said her husband is gone and she works multiple jobs but is practically penniless after paying rent. Her first effort at surrogacy was supposed to earn her around $18,000 but ended prematurely.

She plans to try again. However, she said, now she'll wait until at least January 2024 because it's unclear to her what the ministry's idea of remuneration based on the "principle of altruism" will be.

"A lot depends on the amount that I should receive as a result of surrogacy," she said. "The welfare of my children comes first. It would be nice to live in a country where women agreed to surrogacy only for charitable purposes, but unfortunately we don't live in such a country."

Georgia has seen relatively strong economic growth for much of the past decade, aside from a lean year following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tbilisi accelerated its bid for EU membership shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But its official candidacy has been complicated by the bloc's concerns at perceived backsliding on democracy and the rule of law, as well as the ruling Georgian Dream party's reluctance to join Western sanctions against Russia.

Two years ago, 30-year-old Eka earned $20,000 as a surrogate for biological parents from China. A mother of three, she wants to do it again, in hopes of buying an apartment. She told RFE/RL that "you can't earn that kind of money by working as a consultant, or by working in a beauty salon, or doing cleaning." She also said she's heard the guidelines for paid surrogacy are going to be changing.

"Around me, women agree to surrogacy only because they need money," she said. "Otherwise, who's happy to be pregnant for nine months when you already have three or four children of your own?"

Expectant Parents

There are similar questions coming from the other side of the surrogacy equation, too: the people hoping to become parents.

We don't even offer Georgian couples to have a child this way because they actually don't have the financial means to do so."

Speculation has been rife on social media that once foreigners are denied the service in Georgia, the cost of paying someone to carry and deliver a baby will fall. But that could be overly optimistic.

The Indian government's decision to pull the plug in 2015 on a nearly $400 million-a-year commercial surrogacy trade frequently used by foreigners was blamed for "killing" the domestic surrogate market completely.

In Georgia, 35-year-old Salome learned about six months ago that a health issue prevents her from maintaining a pregnancy. After seeing several specialists, she said, her doctor recommended that she try a surrogate.

"He was surprised" that she was receptive to the idea, she said. "We don't even offer Georgian couples to have a child this way because they actually don't have the financial means to do so."

Her husband has Swedish citizenship, though, and Salome said they're now worried they will be ineligible for surrogacy services under any new legislation. And even if they were permitted to have a child through surrogacy in Georgia, she wondered, could they take that child outside the country?

Salome is already undergoing medical treatment to provide an embryo for another woman to carry to term, she said.

"We were planning that the embryo would be implanted and a child would be born with the help of a surrogate mother in 2024," she said. "Now, it turns out that we need to hurry and quickly find a surrogate mother so that the surrogacy can take place before the beginning of January 2024."

She noted that surrogacy is banned in Scandinavian countries, including Sweden.

"So, since we had the opportunity for it in Georgia, we wanted to use this option. But now we don't know what will happen or how it will be."

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Georgian Service correspondent Nino Tarkhnishvili
A recent article from the American Political Science Association (APSA) examined how the words used to describe Central Asia sometimes reinforce the regions image as being part of Russia or the Soviet Union. Amid growing awareness of Central Asias colonial history, some argue it is time to move beyond terms such as post-Soviet, near abroad, or Russias backyard when referring to Central Asia today. Join host Bruce Pannier for a thought-provoking conversation on decolonizing Central Asian discourse with the co-authors of the APSA article: Botakoz Kassymbekova, a lecturer and assistant professor of modern history at the University of Basel; and Erica Marat, a professor at the National Defense Universitys College of International Security Affairs.
BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A selection of the best press photos from Xinhua.

This aerial photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows people competing during a dragon boat race in Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province. Dragon boat races were held across the country ahead of China's traditional Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 22 this year. (Photo by Cao Zhengping/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 14, 2023 shows the "Dian Ke No.1" comprehensive test ship sailing in the South China Sea. Researchers from the GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based satellite maker, and several scientific research institutions, conducted an open-sea testing of the country's first low-Earth orbit broadband communication test constellation in the South China Sea. The testing aims to verify the collaborative communication coverage ability of high-Earth orbit and low-Earth orbit satellites, and unmanned aerial vehicles. In March 2022, six satellites produced by GalaxySpace were sent into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The six satellites in orbit, together with the first broadband communication satellite developed by GalaxySpace and deployed in low-Earth orbit, have formed China's first low-Earth orbit broadband communication test constellation. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Tourists visit a lavender farm in Sigong Village of Huocheng County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 16, 2023. Swathes of beautiful lavender is luring a large number of tourists to Huocheng County. An international lavender tourism festival kicked off in Huocheng on June 15. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

People look at exhibits at the exhibition area of Iran during the 32nd Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 16, 2023. The 32nd Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair opened on Thursday in Harbin. Over 1,400 enterprises from 38 countries and regions and 21 provincial-level regions in China participated in the event. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

This photo shows a view of the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 17, 2023. The 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo opened here on Friday. The three-day expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. Nearly 1,000 businesses from home and abroad have attended the event, bringing about 10,000 different products. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

People watch the performance of the Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic squad during a media preview of an airshow celebrating the centenary of the Italian Air Force in Pratica di Mare airbase, Italy, on June 16, 2023. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

A dish painting is displayed on the "Day of Folk Arts and Crafts" in Vladivostok, Russia, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

People perform yoga to mark the upcoming International Yoga Day, which falls on June 21, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)

Villagers applaud after the water pipes are connected in Misungwi of Mwanza Region, Tanzania, June 13, 2023.(Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Tens of thousands joined an anti-government march in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on June 17. It was the seventh in a series of mass protests held after two unrelated gun attacks in early May. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the countrys political leaders and the shutdown of tabloids and broadcasters they say are promoting violence. The protesters blocked a highway leading through the city. They pledged to continue the blockades and extend them to other cities until their demands are met.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military said heavy fighting has been taking place over the past day in the Bakhmut, Lyman, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka areas in Donetsk. It reported a total of 26 combat clashes over that period of time in the area.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

The Ukrainian military also said that Russian forces on June 17 carried out more than 40 air strikes and 51 attacks from rocket salvo systems.

"During the past 24 hours, the enemy launched 43 air strikes and four missile strikes, fired 51 salvo rockets at the positions of our troops and populated areas," the Ukrainian military said.

Separately, regional Governor Serhiy Lysol said the Russian Army attacked the southern region of Dnipropetrovsk overnight with two Iranian-made Shahed drones. He said the drones were destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

The British Defense Ministry said in its latest intelligence assessment that amid intense fighting in the Zaporizhzhya region, in western Donetsk, and around Bakhmut, both Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of casualties. Russian losses are likely at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, the British Defense Ministry said in on June 18.

In a rare admission, the Russia-installed administration head in Ukraines occupied Zaporizhzhya region, Vladimir Rogov, wrote on Telegram on June 18 that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the town of Pyatykhatky.

The enemys wave-like offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses, he wrote.

There was no confirmation from the Ukrainian side.

The governor of Russias western Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, wrote on Telegram that three settlements in the region had been shelled by Ukrainian troops.

Luckily, no one was hurt, he wrote.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said the death toll following the bursting of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam on June 6 has risen to 16, while another 29 people were reported dead by officials in territories occupied by Moscow.

More than 3,600 people have been evacuated from the flooded areas in the Kherson and Mykolayiv regions, while 31 people were still missing, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said on Telegram late on June 17.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, said on June 18 that Russia had "so far declined our request to access the areas under its temporary military control." She urged Russia to "act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Kyiv has accused Moscow of mining the dam and deliberately causing its destruction to flood the Kherson region in the south and slow down its counteroffensive.

In a report published on June 17, The New York Times reported that the destruction of the dam likely resulted from an inside explosion set off by Russia. Citing engineers and explosive experts, the newspaper said on June 17 that its investigation found evidence suggesting an explosive charge in a passageway running through the dam's concrete base detonated, destroying the structure on June 6.

"The evidence clearly suggests the dam was crippled by an explosion set off by the side that controls it: Russia," The New York Times said.

Speaking on June 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked countries and aid organizations for help responding to the massive flooding that resulted from the bursting of the dam.

With reporting by Reuters, TASS, and dpa
Wang Yunlu (R) of China spikes the ball during the match against Poland at FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong, China, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

China's six-game unbeaten run was snapped by Poland in the 2023 FIVB Women's Nations League.

HONG KONG, June 17 (Xinhua) -- China's women's volleyball team suffered their first defeat in the FIVB Women's Nations League this season, falling to Poland in straight sets here on Saturday.

Both teams entered the campaign strongly, with China being unbeaten until Saturday's match, while Poland had notched six victories in seven games.

Poland took control of the first set, with China managing to catch up only briefly before conceding a 25-20 loss.

The second set played out like a reflection of the first, with Poland maintaining dominance and doubling their lead with a 25-23 win.

In the third set, China had established a 10-7 lead, but Poland relied on superior attacking and blocking to secure a 24-20 lead. Despite China saving two set points, Olivia Rozanski clinched the win with a decisive spike.

Li Yingying (R) of China receives the ball during the match against Poland at FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong, China, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

Poland boasted four players scoring double-digit points as Magdalena Stysiak netted 20 points, while Gong Xiangyu and Li Yingying each contributed 13 points for China.

In other matches, Italy registered their third consecutive win by narrowly defeating the Netherlands 3-2, and the Dominican Republic also triumphed over Canada in five sets.

China will conclude the campaign in Hong Kong by facing Italy on Sunday. 
VALLETTA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Maltese national qualification contest of the 16th "Chinese Bridge", a Chinese language proficiency competition for high school students, was held in Hamrun, Malta, on Saturday.

Teenage contestants demonstrated their language skills through speeches on the theme of "Fly High with Chinese." They also displayed their talents in various shows.

Their speeches reflected their enthusiasm for learning Chinese, with phrases such as "Encountering Chinese was both accidental and inevitable" and "The ancient Chinese culture attracts me with its beauty and uniqueness. Through learning Chinese, I have the opportunity to better understand these cultures and deeply experience their wisdom."

In the talent show segment, students showcased their skills in calligraphy, recitation, and performances of Chinese songs with musical instruments.

While waiting for the competition results, the students enthusiastically engaged in fun games such as picking up ping pong balls with chopsticks.

Anna Dubinina, a 10th-grade student from St. Martin's College in Malta, won the first prize. Anna started learning Chinese in 2016 and described it as a challenging yet interesting language. She told Xinhua that after discussing with her parents, she decided to challenge herself and learn Chinese.

As the winner in Malta, Anna will represent the country in the global finals of the "Chinese Bridge" competition for secondary school students which will be held in China this summer.

Despite the differences in size, population, history, and culture between China and Malta, "we enjoy sound and stable bilateral relations and deep friendship" since the establishment of diplomatic relations half a century ago, said Peng Yijun, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Malta.

Peng expressed his hope for the "Chinese Bridge" to serve as a bridge of exchange, understanding, and friendship. He also encouraged the students learning Chinese to act as young ambassadors, promoting mutual learning of civilizations and carrying forward our friendship.

Alice Micallef, assistant director of the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes at the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation expressed her expectations for next year's competition and hoped for more secondary school students to participate.

The event was co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Malta, the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, and the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation. 
One cup is decorated with bright, colorful flowers, while the other is adorned with a spiderweb pattern and arachnids.

For Ann Blasi, the bra represents her journey with breast cancer.

"You never know what's in your breast," said the Oceanside woman. "You think it's all sweetness and light, and hidden in there sometimes can be something scarier."

Blasi, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013 and breast cancer in 2014, was one of about 10 breast cancer survivors who created purses and art pieces out of bras in an "Artful Bras and Purses" class Dec. 1 at UC San Diego Health - Cancer Services in Encinitas.

Alessandra Colfi, expressive arts therapists, leads the art classes on Fridays throughout the year since 2010.

The creations have been displayed at galleries across the county, like Front Porch Gallery in Carlsbad, The Heritage of the Americas Museum at Cuyamaca College, Oceanside Library and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

Colfi  who leads a variety of expressive arts programs to engage patients in self-exploration, self-expression and help them through their healing process  said many of the materials are donated and vary in color and size.

"The important thing is to have choices because cancer is a disease that puts you against the wall," she said. "You want to have choices. This is a symbolic way to express that. ... Every time I get the opportunity to exhibit, I think it kind of makes the patients see the full validation of their work and see how the community comes together to learn more about what they're going through but for them to also know they're creative."

Nancy Kimerly, a volunteer and breast cancer survivor who helped Colfi found the "Artful Bras and Purses" class, said she was inspired to do something different with her lingerie after she could no longer wear them.

She then thought to create the purses, gluing the cups together to form the bag and using the bra straps to wear around the shoulder.

"The notion to me of re-purposing this beautiful object that was made for one thing and turning it into something equally beautiful but different is so wonderful," she said.

Teresa Masters with her phoenix painting (Brittany Woolsey)

Kimerly said the activity helps survivors  who call themselves phoenixes, named after the bird who revives itself from the ashes  bring self-esteem and control back into their lives.

She recalled one lady who had a double mastectomy and created the "most gorgeous artful bra."

"She went in the bathroom, put the bra on, came out and said, 'This is the only time I've never cried looking at my bras,'" Kimerly said.

Blasi said the classes allow survivors to connect with one another in a setting that is freeing and not depressing.

"Everybody here understands where you're coming from," she said. "If you're feeling down or upset, somebody will come up with something to get you out of yourself."

Patricia Ladd, an Encinitas resident, met Colfi in a previous art class before finding out about the activities for breast cancer survivors.

Ladd, who had always dabbled in arts and crafts as a teacher, said she looked to art as the therapy to help her through her diagnosis.

"Alessandra really got me on the path to express myself," she said. "She was like my angel. I forget about everything when I'm here. I didn't want to go to support groups and talk about [cancer.] But I knew that if I'm in this safe environment, and I can have my mind busy, I don't have to talk about the horrible stuff."
Medics tend to some of the victims at the July 18, 1984 massacre at McDonalds in San Ysidro.

The daughter of the deranged killer who murdered 21 people and injured 19 more at a McDonalds in San Ysidro said if she could go back in time she wouldve killed her father before he committed the crime.

In her first interview in 30 years, Zelia Huberty talked to Vocativ about that summer day in July 1984 when her father James Huberty gathered a small arsenal of weapons and left for the fast food restaurant that was just a half block from their home.

His wife told the San Diego Union Tribune at the time that when she asked her husband where he was going he replied Im going to hunt humans.

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Zelia Huberty, was just 12-years-old, watched the bloody tragedy from her window.

I had a perfect view of it, she said. I saw the car there. I saw everything. I saw people I knew, who I went to school with.

I wasnt thinking anything that time, except: Better them than me. I know thats a horrible thing to say, but as a 12-year-old, thats the sort of thing you think, she said.

Huberty said that if she could turn back the clock she probably would have killed my father before any of this would have occurred.

No one knows the motive that led to Hubertys violent attack. He had been fired from his security guard job the week before. The day of the shooting was uneventful. Earlier that day he had taken his wife and two daughters to a hearing at traffic court in Kearny Mesa. He then took them to the same McDonalds he later returned to. After lunch the family went to the zoo.

But at 4 p.m. he returned to the burger restaurant carrying a 9mm semiautomatic rifle, a Browning 9mm semiautomatic pistol modified to make it automatic and a 12-gauge pump shotgun. Twelve shotgun casings and 245 spent 9mm shell casings were found at the scene.

The dead included neighborhood kids on bikes, vacationers, shoppers, a truck driver set to retire, teenage McDonalds employees.

Huberty was shot dead by a SWAT team sharpshooter about an hour after the carnage began.

His oldest daughter, who is now a nurse, said she was taken to city-mandated therapy after the massacre but thought the sessions were just a nuisance. It ended after 12 weeks and she never returned. She did have a lingering fear, however, that she would turn into her father. You know the old saying: The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. I do see a lot of similarities, she said. However, Im educated. Im very different. Its a conscious decision.

Huberty also said her vocation helping other has helped her put the past behind her. Thats been my own therapy, she said. She also said she has moved on with her life.

You can either dwell on the situation or move forward. If youre stagnant, you can sink into a deep depression. For me, I didnt go down that route. I moved forward and proceeded with life, the normal aspects of life: family, friends, and work.

But her road was not an easy one. She said she was treated poorly by many people when they found out who her dad was. She went to school under an assumed name. Now she goes by her real name and still gets comments. But once they get to know me as an individual they know Im alright.

Huberty also had some words for the tiny baby left behind by the couple who died in a hail of bullets after killing 14 people in San Bernardino.

This little girl whose parents did this act, she is at such a wonderful age since shes so young and wont remember any of it, she said. Shes like a piece of clay right now, for social services or extended family to raise her and mold her into the person that she will be later in life. Everything is going to be like a story for herlike shes living someone elses life.

And if the daughter of a mass murderer could talk to another daughter of mass murderers what would she tell her?

I would tell that little girl: You have a choice to make. You can feel sorry for yourself or you can say, f$$$ it, and move on. Youre not like them.
New data center for cloud-delivered security will help customers to protect users, infrastructure, and investments.

The data center will support Ciscos cloud security services including its new Secure Service Edge (SSE) solution, Cisco Secure Access.

Customers will experience the benefits of Ciscos co-located edge data center with the scalability of public cloud.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 18, 2023  Cisco announced plans to establish a data center for cloud-delivered security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to help customers protect their users, infrastructure, and investments against threat actors. The announcement is part of Ciscos continued effort to empower organizations locally and in the region with flexible security services and data protection for devices, remote users, and distributed locations.

The new data center will play a critical role in delivering agile, highly resilient, high-capacity secure access closer to users in KSA. It will support Ciscos cloud services including its new Secure Service Edge (SSE) solution, Cisco Secure Access. Most organizations rely on a complex web of point products that werent designed to support todays highly distributed environment, and users need to navigate inconsistent access experiences and reauthenticate throughout the daydisrupting productivity. With Cisco Secure Access, decisions about how users connect to the Internet, Software as a Service (SaaS) and private applications are automated, removing that complexity and helping increase productivity.

The announcement reaffirms Ciscos commitment to a hybrid architecture to rapidly extend its global reach for customers. In KSA, organizations will experience the benefits of Ciscos co-located edge data center with the scalability of public cloud. The data center will be carrier-neutral, and available on any Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Saudi Arabia. Cisco intends for the data center to have service availability by mid-2024.

Todays announcement reconfirms Ciscos alignment to provide advanced cloud security protection and services to the Saudi community. It builds on Ciscos long-standing commitment to our customers and reflects our continued support for digital transformation, by using the power of technologies to create a secured thriving digital economy in Saudi Arabia, Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director of Cisco in Saudi Arabia commented.

Findings of the latest Cisco Security Outcomes Report underscore the importance of security resilience. The report revealed that 54 percent of organizations surveyed in Saudi Arabia experienced a security event that impacted business. The most common incidents were distributed denial of service attacks (60 percent), network or system outages (54 percent) and malicious insider abuse events (40 percent). The global report also states that converging networking and security into a mature, cloud-delivered secure access services edge boosted security resilience scores by 27 percent.

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About Cisco

Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals.

Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.



Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

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Last month, the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Surgeon General both issued health advisories. Their concerns and recommendations for teens, parents and policymakers addressed a mounting body of research that shows two trends are intertwined.

Young people are using social media more, and their mental health is suffering.

Researchers at Iowa State University found a simple intervention could help. During a two-week experiment with 230 college students, half were asked to limit their social media usage to 30 minutes a day and received automated, daily reminders. They scored significantly lower for anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out at the end of the experiment compared to the control group.

They also scored higher for "positive affect," which the researchers describe as "the tendency to experience positive emotions described with words such as 'excited' and 'proud.'" Essentially, they had a brighter outlook on life.

"It surprised me to find that participants' well-being did not only improve in one dimension but in all of them. I was excited to learn that such a simple intervention of sending a daily reminder can motivate people to change their behavior and improve their social media habits." says Ella Faulhaber, a Ph.D. student in human-computer interaction and lead author of the paper.

The researchers found the psychological benefits from cutting back on social media extended to participants who sometimes exceeded the 30-minute time limit.

"The lesson here is, it's not about being perfect but putting in effort, which makes a difference. I think self-limiting and paying attention are the secret ingredients, more so than the 30-minute benchmark," Faulhaber states.

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Douglas A. Gentile, co-author and distinguished professor of psychology, says their results fit with other research that's grown out of kinesiology and health fields.

"Knowing how much time we spend on activities each day and making something countable makes it easier for people to change their behaviors," he says, giving Fitbits and daily steps as an example.

Many of the participants in the ISU study commented that the first few days of cutting back were challenging. But after the initial push, one said they felt more productive and in tune with their lives. Others shared that they were getting better sleep or spending more time with people in person.

Self-limiting may be more practical

Gentile and Faulhaber point out other studies have investigated the effects of limiting or abstaining from social media. But many of the interventions require heavy supervision and deleting apps or using a special application to block or limit social media. Like rehab for someone who's addicted to drugs, external accountability can help some users. But it also carries a higher risk of backfiring.

"When a perceived freedom is taken away, we start resisting," says Gentile. He adds that eliminating social media also means losing some of the benefits it can bring, like connecting with friends and family.

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Faulhaber says their study extends the current research on social media and provides a practical way for people to limit their use. For anyone looking to cut back, she recommends:

Create awareness. Set a timer or use a built-in wellness app to see how much time you spend on social media. Give yourself grace. Recognize that it's not easy to stick to a time limit. Social media apps are designed to keep you engaged. Don't give up. Limiting social media use over time has real benefits for your daily life.

The researchers say it's also important to be mindful of how and when we use these platforms. Future research could further explore this, along with the long-term effects from limiting social media and what people do with the time they gain.

"We live in an age of anxiety. Lots of indicators show that anxiety, depression, loneliness are all getting worse, and that can make us feel helpless. But there are things we can do to manage our mental health and well-being," says Gentile.

Paying more attention to how much time we spend on social media and setting measurable goals can help.

Jeong Eun Lee, assistant professor of human development and family studies, contributed to the paper.
Climate change in current times has created problems for humans such as wildfires and reduced growing seasons for staple crops, spilling over into economic effects. Many researchers predict, and have observed in published literature, an increase in interpersonal violence and homicides when temperatures increase.

Violence during climatic change has evidence in history. University of California, Davis, researchers said they have have found a pattern of increased violence during climatic change in the south central Andes between A.D. 470 and 1500. During that time, which includes the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (ca. A.D. 900-1250), temperatures rose, drought occurred, and the first states of the Andes collapsed.

Climate change and potential competition for limited resources in the south central Andes likely led to violence among people living in the highlands at that time, researchers suggest in a new paper. Their study looked at head injuries of the populations living there at that time, a commonly used proxy among archaeologists for interpersonal violence.

"We found that decreased precipitation predicts increased rates of cranial trauma," said Thomas J. Snyder, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology's Evolutionary Wing and the primary author of the study.

"This observation suggests that climate change in the form of decreased precipitation exerted a significant effect on rates of interpersonal violence in the region."

The study was published June 5 in Quaternary Research, Cambridge University Press. Co-author of the paper is Randall Haas, formerly of the same lab at UC Davis and currently a professor at Wayne State University.

Violence not found in coastal, mid-elevation regions

The same results were not found in coastal and mid-elevation regions, indicating they chose nonviolent solutions to climate change or were not affected by it, researchers said. There was also more agricultural and economic diversity there, potentially buffering against the onset of climate change. Drought-induced resource scarcity in the highlands, however, seems like a likely explanation for the violence there, researchers said.

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Snyder said looking at the history of people's interaction with nature is important when considering possible effects of current climate change challenges and people's interaction with their climate.

"Our findings reinforce the idea that people living in already marginal environments are the most likely to be hit hardest by climate change," he said. "Archaeological research can help us predict how best to handle the challenges faced by people in precarious positions in a rapidly changing climate."

UC Davis researchers recorded violence during early years in the Andes by analyzing existing data of nearly 3,000 skeletal fractures of humans found at 58 archaeological sites -- comparing them to ice accumulation at the time at the Quelccaya glacier -- in what is now Peru, Chile and Bolivia. At the same time, there was widespread abandonment of Wari and Tiwanaku sites in the region, indicating a sociopolitical unraveling after the onset of the centuries-long global climate changes.

The archaeology of the Andes provides an excellent opportunity to study the human response to climate change given the region's extreme climatic variability, incredible archaeological preservation and robust records, researchers said. In this study, researchers found that on average, for every 10-centimeter decrease in annual ice accumulation at the Quelccaya glacier, the likelihood of interpersonal violence more than doubled.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with an African delegation consisting of leaders and senior officials from seven African countries, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 17, 2023. Russia understands the concerns of the international community and is open to constructive dialogue with anyone who wants peace based on the principles of justice and takes into account the legitimate interests of all sides, Putin said during the meeting. (Xinhua)

ST. PETERSBURG, June 18 (Xinhua) -- An African delegation visited Russia on Saturday, pushing for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis so as to stop its negative impact on African countries.

During a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, also member of the delegation, said that the Ukraine crisis has caused a price hike in energy and fuel, fertilizers and food in African nations and the rest of the world.

The delegation, consisting of leaders and senior officials from seven African countries, offered a peace proposal that includes unimpeded grain exports through the Black Sea, de-escalation on both sides and enhanced humanitarian aid.

Russia understands the concerns of the international community and is open to constructive dialogue with anyone who wants peace based on the principles of justice and takes into account the legitimate interests of all sides, Putin said during the meeting.

"Russia has never refused to negotiate, but the Ukrainian side has announced that it will not conduct any negotiations," he said.

The African mission arrived in Ukraine's capital Kiev on Friday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During the meeting, Zelensky presented the Ukrainian Peace Formula to the leaders of African countries, noting that it would help to restore the security of Ukraine and other states that were affected by the crisis.

Last week, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the efforts of the African leaders who headed to Russia and Ukraine to promote peace and end the crisis, noting that he always encourages all endeavors related to it. 
A student competes at the 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, June 18, 2023. The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon.

The Chinese language proficiency competition, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and Yangon Bo Wen School, featured speeches, talent shows such as singing and dancing and quizzes on Chinese cultural knowledge.

Due to her excellent performance in the show, 12-year-old Htet Thiri Win from Bo Wen School won the first prize during the competition.

Htet told Xinhua that she was happy as the champion of the competition, saying that she has been studying Chinese for six years and liked Chinese songs very much.

She said she started learning Chinese because she is interested in the language and want to study in China in the future.

"The event aims to foster Chinese language learning and promote Chinese culture in Myanmar," Wint Hlwar Pwint, a Chinese language teacher from the Bo Wen School, told Xinhua.

Cao Jing, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, said in her speech at the event the exchanges and cooperation between China and Myanmar are increasing with more and more people in Myanmar learning Chinese to improve their understanding of China.

It is hoped that the contestants will learn Chinese happily, improve their ability to communicate with China and the world, and carry forward the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries, said Cao. 

A student competes at the 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, June 18, 2023. The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Participants pose for a group photo during the 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, June 18, 2023. The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A student competes at the 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, June 18, 2023. The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A student competes at the 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, June 18, 2023. The 3rd edition of "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held here on Sunday.

A total of 20 students aged eight to 13, who are all from the Chinese schools in Yangon, participated in the event -- the 3rd "Chinese Bridge"-Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students -- at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
The founder of Homeboy Industries, Greg Boyle, S.J., shared his inspirational message with SCU's Class of 2023.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 17, 2023 Santa Clara University graduates should aspire to create circles of compassion that are fully accepting and reject demonizing, alienating, or disposing of marginalized people seeking dignity and opportunity.

That was the message to 1,590 members of the Class of 2023 as they celebrated their commencement on Saturday, June 17, in the University's Stevens Stadium. The speaker was Greg Boyle, S.J., STM 86, the Jesuit priest who founded the renowned Los Angeles-based gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program, Homeboy Industries.

Showing obvious affection for the former gang members with whom he works on a daily basis, Boyle shared stories of times he couldnt see how gang members could possibly changebut with love and acceptance, they did.

Quoting the poet Rumi, he said, If the house of the world is dark, then love will find a way to make windows. Windows are those transparent things through which we see mystically, through which we see as God sees, from the confines of those places where we get stuck and are annoyed, impatient, and want to win the argument.

He told the graduates, Be in the world who God iscompassionate, loving, kind. We know that systems change when people change, and people change when they are cherished.

In her remarks, Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan reminded the graduates that it is a sense of shared humanity that leads to a life of purpose.

The relationships you have formed with each other and with Santa Clara University are not just pleasant byproducts of your four years of college, she said. They truly are the cornerstone of your Santa Clara experience.

The events were livestreamed for those who were unable to attend.

About the Speaker

Born in Los Angeles, Boyle entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) immediately after graduating from Loyola High School in 1972. Over the next dozen years, he earned a bachelors degree in English from Gonzaga University; a masters in English from Loyola Marymount University; a Master of Divinity from the Weston School of Theology; and a Master of Sacred Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology, now part of Santa Clara University.

After spending a year in Bolivia, Boyle became pastor of the Jesuit Dolores Mission Church in East L.A.an area beset by gangs. Along with other Jesuits he started an alternative school at Dolores Mission and launched the organization Jobs for a Future, the beginnings of Homeboy Industries. He helped start a social enterprise, Homeboy Bakery, to employ those seeking a refuge from gang life. The success of the bakery contributed to the nonprofit devoting itself to gang rehabilitation, named Homeboy Industries.

Homeboy now supports around 10,000 men and women a year, offering therapy, classes, services, job training, and employment. At the center of it all is founder Boyle, who describes his work as radical kinship, accompanying those who come through Homeboy at virtually every step of their journeys at Homeboy and beyond.

Hes written three books, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship, and The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness.

A Diverse and Talented Class

The undergraduate class of 2023 comprised half men and half women, with an estimated 43 percent white; 23 percent Asian; 19 percent Hispanic; and 9 percent two or more races.

Among those crossing the stage Saturday was Santa Claras youngest-ever graduate, 14-year-old computer science and engineering major Kairan Quazi 23, who will be joining SpaceX as a software engineer.

After degrees were conferred, the graduating students heard from valedictorian and ethnic studies and sociology major Angel Tam Nhi Lin 23, a LEAD Scholar who was the first in her family to attend college. She told her classmates to cherish the loving communities created at Santa Clara, even despite two years of in-person community lost to the pandemic.

Radical love is what makes us work so hard to build a legacy to make sure that SCU students will be taken care of long after we're gone, said Lin. Four years ago, I would have never thought that I would have found a loving home that I found in Santa Clara today. But that's what we do. We build communities.

Thats the Santa Clara mission after all, isn't it? she added. To use our education, our radical empathy, to take care of one another.

Among the awards given to outstanding seniors prior to the ceremony:

Judith Li 23 received the St. Clare Medal and Darius Johnson 23 received the Nobili Medal, both for seniors who demonstrate outstanding personal character, involvement in school activities, and overall contribution to the University.

received the St. Clare Medal and received the Nobili Medal, both for seniors who demonstrate outstanding personal character, involvement in school activities, and overall contribution to the University. Jessica Cuellar 23 received the Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award, given to a graduate who exemplifies the ideals of Jesuit education.

received the Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. Award, given to a graduate who exemplifies the ideals of Jesuit education. Briana Bravo 23 , Juliet Kulusic 23 , and Grace Leete 23 received the Richard J. Riordan Award, which recognizes outstanding community service contributions.

, , and received the Richard J. Riordan Award, which recognizes outstanding community service contributions. Hannah Edwards 23 , Kevin Ham 23 , Anna Murrin 23 , and Ariel Perlman 23 were presented with Student Life Awards to recognize their contributions to the overall quality of life in the University community.

, , , and were presented with Student Life Awards to recognize their contributions to the overall quality of life in the University community. Cole Brunelli 23 , Kaylen Chase 23 , Grace Evans 23 , and Taylor Kealoha 23 received the Gracelyn Rillorta Bateman Award for Inclusive Excellence, for students or student organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing an inclusive environment at SCU.

, , , and received the Gracelyn Rillorta Bateman Award for Inclusive Excellence, for students or student organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing an inclusive environment at SCU. Catherine Cunha 23 and Alexandria Perez 23 received the 2023 Neider Family Alumni Service Award, for accomplished seniors going directly into a service program or project.

Graduate Program Commencements

On Friday evening, 200 graduates from Santa Claras programs in education and counseling psychology and pastoral ministry received their advanced degrees in a ceremony in Stevens Stadium, where Boyle also spoke.

An additional 714 graduates from the graduate schools of business and engineering will hold their commencement ceremony in Stevens Stadium Saturday evening.

The graduates of Santa Clara Universitys School of Law and Jesuit School of Theology held their commencements May 20.



About Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valleythe worlds most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The Universitys stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu.

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Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121
A trader selling products from Vietnam at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A Thai trader poses for a photo at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A salesperson explains the features of the product to a visitor at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Visitors look at Tibetan costumes at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

A Nepalese trader poses for a photo at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A trader sells Tibetan bowls at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A Nepalese trader poses for a photo at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

An Indian trader sells products at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A Bhutanese trader sells products at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A visitor looks at Tibetan handicrafts at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

A visitor learns about Tibetan products at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

Tibetan specialties are being sold via livestreaming at the 5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 18, 2023.

The expo is one of the most important events on Tibet's cultural calendar. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
A farmer conducts desilting at a water channel in a rice field in Daleng Town of Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 14, 2023. In 2021, local authorities has promoted the transformation of sandy land along the Liuhe River in Zhangwu into cultivable rice fields, achieving ecological and economic benefit. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

This aerial photo taken on June 14, 2023 shows the rice field in Daleng Town of Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. In 2021, local authorities has promoted the transformation of sandy land along the Liuhe River in Zhangwu into cultivable rice fields, achieving ecological and economic benefit. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Staff members inspect a water channel in Daleng Town of Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 14, 2023. In 2021, local authorities has promoted the transformation of sandy land along the Liuhe River in Zhangwu into cultivable rice fields, achieving ecological and economic benefit. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A farmer conducts maintenance work in a rice field in Daleng Town of Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 14, 2023. In 2021, local authorities has promoted the transformation of sandy land along the Liuhe River in Zhangwu into cultivable rice fields, achieving ecological and economic benefit. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A farmer conducts maintenance work in a rice field in Daleng Town of Zhangwu County, Fuxin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 14, 2023. In 2021, local authorities has promoted the transformation of sandy land along the Liuhe River in Zhangwu into cultivable rice fields, achieving ecological and economic benefit. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
A magnificent 20-meter-long Chinese dragon kite and other traditional Chinese kites have received warm welcome at an international kite festival in Fanoe of Denmark.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Pat Sajak announced Monday that next season he will take his final spin as host of the beloved game show Wheel of Fortune.

However, there is already speculation about who will replace him after his departure.

Here are some of the contenders that people speculate will take over hosting duties.

Vanna White

Long-time letter-turner Vanna White has appeared alongside Pat Sajak since 1983. She also filled in as a host in 2019 after Pat Sajak had to undergo an emergency surgery for a blocked intestine.

Maggie Sajak

Pat Sajaks 28-year-old daughter, Maggie, has also been rumored to take over the hosting slot. She joined Wheel of Fortune in 2021 as their social media correspondent, conducting interviews behind the scenes.

Maggie Sajak also took a turn as a letter-turner on an episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White was a contestant.

Ryan Seacrest

Bloomberg News, the first outlet to report Pat Sajaks departure, tweeted within hours that Ryan Seacrest was in the running to be his replacement.

Seacrest is no stranger to television with hosting credentials including American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan and Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve.

He also has a syndicated radio show called On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg expressed interest in the hosting job during a Tuesday morning episode of The View when the panelists were discussing Pat Sajaks retirement.

I want that job. I think it would be tons of fun, Goldberg said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
RIYADH, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United States announced on Saturday in a joint statement that Sudan's two warring factions have agreed on a new 72-hour cease-fire.

The cease-fire will take effect from 6:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on Sunday.

The two rival parties agreed to refrain from seeking military advantage and initiating mutual attacks during the cease-fire, said the statement.

They also agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country, it added.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. noted that they might adjourn the Jeddah talks in case the two warring factions fail to observe the cease-fire.

Deadly conflicts erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartum and other areas on April 15.

The armed clashes have left 958 Sudanese civilians dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union on Wednesday. 
A Ugandan town bordering eastern Congo began burying more than two dozen victims of a terrorist attack on a school carried out by suspected extremist rebels, according to the Associated Press.

Most of the 42 people slain in the Friday night massacre were students at Lhubiriha Secondary School, a co-ed and privately owned education facility said Selevest Mapoze, the mayor of the town Mpondwe-Lhubiriha, according to the outlet.

The mayor told the outlet, Most of the relatives have come to take their bodies from the morgue.

A school guard, three civilians were also killed in addition to the 38 students, the news organization reported.

According to the AP, some of the students were burned beyond recognition; others were shot or hacked to death after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked, the students, staff and bystanders, the report says.

Ugandan authorities believe at least six students were abducted after the attack and taken as porters back inside Congo, the AP said.



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Following a pandemic-related pause on student loan repayment in the U.S., payments will be due again starting in October for tens of millions of borrowers, CNN reported.

The U.S. Department of Education sent a statement to CNN clarifying the timing after some uncertainty about when payments would first be due, given the expiration of the pause occurs on June 30.

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 told the news outlet last week.

The Biden administration recently stated that the pause would end 60 days after the end date -- June 30 -- leading to some confusion about whether payments would be due in the last week of August.

The exact date when repayments for student loans start for borrowers depends on the individual loan servicer, according to reporting on our sister site, NJ.com.

Normally, borrowers receive bill statements from the loan service provider weeks before they are due.

The Department of Education also told CNN that they plan to be in direct communication with borrowers and ramp up communication with student loan servicers before repayment resumes.

According to the federal government, the payment amount could also change, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

If youre on a traditional repayment plan, such as a Standard, Graduated, or Extended Repayment Plan, then your loan servicer may recalculate your payment amount when the payment pause ends. Your loan servicer would base your new payment amount on your current balance of principal and interest and your remaining repayment period.

If youre on an IDR plan, your payment amount will return to what it was before your payments were paused, unless youve re-certified or switched plans since the payment pause began.

Federal student loan borrowers can check the Federal Student Aid website for updates on resuming payments.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  If you used Google to search for information and clicked on those results from 2006 to 2013, you may be eligible for money from a class action lawsuit.

A proposed settlement of consolidated class action lawsuits was filed against Google related to Google search queries, claiming that Google improperly shared users search queries with third-party websites and companies during a specific time period. The settlement would resolve the legal claims in the lawsuit against Google.

Google denies the claims and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.

Under the settlement, Google will pay $23 million to make payments to class members who file claims, payments to class representatives, attorneys fees, litigation costs, and settlement administration costs related to the settlement. Google will also revise its FAQs and Key Terms webpages regarding how and when search queries may be disclosed to third parties via referrer headers.

You can be eligible for money if you used Google Search and clicked on a search link at any time on or between Oct. 25, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2013.

The amount of each class members payment will depend on several factors, including how many claims are submitted and how much the settlement costs to administer. Based on current data, each claimant would receive approximately $7.70 if they file an approved claim. The estimate is subject to change.

Claim forms can be submitted online through the website, https://www.refererheadersettlement.com/DynamicForms2/3609/Form/7f7b5dee-10d1-4b46-bec7-e6b9edd66283, or printed from the documents page on the website and mailed to the Settlement Administrator at: In re Google Referrer Header Privacy Settlement,  Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.

You may also contact the Settlement Administrator to request a Claim Form by calling toll-free 1-833-512-2306, emailing info@refererheadersettlement.com, or mailing your request to In re Google Referrer Header Privacy Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.

The deadline to submit a claim is July 31, 2023.

The final approval hearing of the settlement on this case is in October.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
If former President Donald Trump took some papers home from the White House that he shouldnt have, he should pay a penalty.

But throwing him in jail for mishandling government documents is a pretty extreme remedy given the document fubars weve seen from others in high places.

We know that President Joe Biden took classified documents home when he left office as vice president. Weve seen the pictures of the files sitting in cartons in his garage, near his prized Corvette.

We know Biden also had classified documents laying around his old office in Washington, D.C., something that Biden himself was surprised to learn.

Hows that for document security?

Frankly, who knows what verboten documents other former presidents, vice presidents, high administration officials and eminent legislators have squirreled away at their homes, private offices or lake houses?

There could be a million reasons to take the paperwork. You may want to write a book. Or you want to make sure history tells the right story about you.

Or, sure, you might have something to hide.

Everybody has something to hide. Or at least they might think they have something to hide, so they take the documents home.

And shame on Trump if he turned down a deal that would have ended this document mess. Then again, after the whole Russia collusion lie and two farcical impeachments, you can understand Trump not trusting the Justice Department.

I dont think Trump has enough left in the tank to mount a successful run for the presidency in 2024, and its not because of any mishandling of documents.

Like Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side, he brings out too many haters. And hes become even more self-absorbed than he was before, hard as that is to imagine.

A civil jury found that Trump sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Whether you believe the justice system is rigged against Trump or not, thats not something a candidate wants as part of their campaign biography.

And you can only run as a disrupter candidate a single time. Once youve been president, youre part of the system. Trump is no longer a Washington outsider.

Trump still has a hard-candy center of support out there, but more moderate Republicans and independent voters are looking for an alternative. Smaller attendance at Trumps famous rallies is proof of that. And thats the real bottom line here.

That said, Im not going to light my hair on fire because Trump took some papers home from work, even if its true that he didnt exactly de-classify them like he claimed to do.

Not when Hillary Clinton had her own private email server as secretary of state so she could operate outside government channels. Thats suspicious enough, even without knowing that Clinton, yes, had classified information on the server and later deleted emails.

And yes, what about all the pay-to-play and bribery allegations surrounding presidential son Hunter Biden and the rest of the Biden family, including the big guy, President Biden himself?

Theres more smoke from that case that what weve seen from the Canadian wildfires. But nobody in law enforcement or the mainstream media seems particularly eager to get to the bottom of it.

How can you not think theres a double-standard at play here?

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  State legislation headed to Gov. Kathy Hochuls desk will create a commission to study the possibility of reparations for slavery.

The bill, which passed the state Legislature last week on mostly partisan lines, will launch a commission on reparations remedies tasked with studying the institution of slavery as it existed in New York, the forms of discrimination that succeeded it, the impacts on people of African descent, and what can be done to reverse the injuries caused by those institutions.

Forms of the legislation date back nearly a decade, but this version sponsored by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Queens) passed earlier this month.

The Commission on Reparations & Remedies will look at ways to heal our communities and address historical injustices, Solages tweeted June 12. Lets embrace this opportunity to acknowledge the past, take meaningful action [and] promote justice for all.

In the first U.S. Census, conducted in 1790, households in New York, particularly in the five boroughs, had comparable rates of slave ownership to southern states, like Virginia and South Carolina, but the nature of that ownership differed.

The 1790 Census shows that in South Carolina the ownership of 20 or more people was common due to the intense agricultural labor. On Staten Island, only three families owned 10 or more people in that Census, and the highest number of people owned by a single household was 12.

Starting in 1799, New York began a gradual emancipation process that culminated July 4, 1827 when most of the states last slaves were freed. However, enslaved people could still be found in the state brought by non-residents and part-time residents.

Market labor became a defining characteristic of the northern economy in the lead-up to the Civil War, but parts of New York, particularly its financial institutions, remained linked to the southern slave-labor economy, as the legislators pointed out in their reparations commission bill.

As cause for their bill, the legislators also pointed to incidents during the Civil War, such as the draft riots and segregationist policies after the war, including redlining that prevented certain groups, particularly African-Americans, from accessing Federal Housing Administration loans and the city planning of Robert Moses that tore through poorer communities around the state.

This is not simply a Black issue. This is an American issue, Sanders said on the Senate floor. Im voting [yes] for those 50,000 Americans who died to end this madness that is slavery and would put their life on the line again to ensure that this stain, this horrible stain, this legacy that lingers on this nation, they would put their life on the line again to end it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers), and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-the Bronx) will each appoint three members to the commission 90 days after the bills enactment.

After the unpaid groups first meeting, the nine members will have a year to develop a plan before presenting it to the Legislature.

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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has requested a briefing from ABC management after the public broadcaster announced that its planned restructure will see up to 120 roles made redundant, including its political editor Andrew Probyn.

The spokesperson for the minister said the ABC ultimately has operational independence, with the matter of how to structure the organisation within its funding envelope to meet the changing needs of audiences down to management.

Michelle Rowland has requested an explanation over last weeks culling at the ABC. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

However, the spokesperson confirmed the minister has requested a briefing from ABC management, with the outlined plans coming shortly after the broadcaster received a promise of $6 billion over the next five years last month.

The minister has requested a briefing from the ABC management in regards to the ABC Five-Year plan and the announcement this week. This is a very difficult time for any individual whose role may be impacted by the changes, the spokesperson added.
The case against Private Media was dropped just days after Fox News settled its case with Dominion Voting Systems in the United States. Loading The outcome of the Dominion case played a big role in Crikeys eventual win. Crikey had updated its defence nine days before the case was dropped, looking to use testimony by both Murdochs as part of its own case. Clearly the revelations from the Dominion case were the straw that broke the camels back, Hayward said. I had a conversation with someone in the days before them backing out, where they reported to me that the other side was saying Dominion has had no impact on the case, its entirely separate, its a different geography, etc. and I responded saying I thought that was preposterous.

And it showed to be preposterous. They cancelled their case within days. Hayward says Crikey absolutely wanted the fight, but the litigation was fundamentally spurious and Crikey didnt initiate it. But once the initial concerns notice was sent, once the attempt to censor what Bernard [Keane, the author of the article in question] had written was made, we were in a position where either we had to apologise, or we had to take them on. Defamation laws in Australia have been put to the test this year, with the stoush between Murdoch and Crikey, as well as the long-awaited judgment on the action brought against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times by Ben Roberts-Smith, delivering high-profile wins for press freedom. Hayward concedes that while there was always a chance Crikeys strategy could have backfired, his team believed the risk calculation weighed heavily in our favour.

Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan. Credit: Bloomberg We felt that this wouldnt end up in the courtroom. We were prepared to stand in the witness box and give evidence; we were prepared to defend our reporting. As for Churchills claim, Hayward couldnt say exactly how many new subscribers the campaign had netted the site, though he suggested 5000 sounds about right. At its standard yearly price point, should Crikey manage to retain those new subscribers, that is annual revenue of $995,000. Crikey does not publish its subscriber figures, though a well-placed source within the company said it stood in the high 20s, almost tripling in three years, in part thanks to the Murdoch push. The legal battle isnt entirely over. Final costs are still to be settled between the two parties, and the issue of Crikeys GoFundMe campaign, which raised $588,735, remains unclear.

Top donations included $5000 each from former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd. Turnbull, a loud critic of the Murdoch empire, has taken over the mantle of leading calls for a royal commission into the familys influence on Australian media, after Rudds appointment as US ambassador. He also provided legal and strategic advice to Hayward and co during the process, and was front and centre at Crikeys celebratory event in Sydney this month, publicly expressing his thoughts on the Murdoch empire heir-apparent. I mean, if ever you wondered whether the suggestion that Lachlan Murdoch was not quite as intelligent as his father, any doubt on that matter was completely resolved when he sued Crikey, the ex-prime minister said. Malcolm Turnbull has become one of Rupert Murdochs loudest critics. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen; AP Peter Fray, who was one of the defendants and editor-in-chief of Crikey, made a high-profile exit towards the end of the case. He was also in the audience on the night.

Coverage of the case in Australia, according to Hayward, had a high degree of whataboutism to it. While he is happy for Crikey to be criticised for being extreme or rough around the edges, he said some of the criticism was a bit surprising. US media were astonished, he said, that the proprietor of a multibillion-dollar news organisation that prides itself as a defender of free speech was suing a small independent outlet for using what some people might say was the tiniest degree of hyperbole in its opinion writing. That is extraordinary, he said, and that is 99 per cent of the story. Clearly we took a bunch of unconventional decisions, so Im very open to being criticised for those; we should be criticised and theres no issue from us on that. Hayward said defamation laws in Australia continued to be outdated, evidenced by this case along with the recent Ben Roberts-Smith defamation suit.

We were under the opinion or impression that every major news organisation in Australia agreed with us on that. We probably feel slightly less sure about that now. Loading While an apology to Murdoch was never on the cards, Crikey found itself making one on Friday last week after an opinion piece written by Guy Rundle regarding Brittany Higgins was taken down. An editorial note admitted several factual errors, while saying the tone of the piece did not meet Crikeys journalistic standards, crucially given that it concerns writing about allegations of sexual assault. It was a mistake to publish the piece in the first place, and we take full responsibility for that, Hayward said, adding Crikey will have more to say on it this week.
PointsBet has given DraftKings until Tuesday to submit a formal bid for its US operations, after it was blindsided by a $283 million indicative offer at the eleventh hour by the US wagering giant.

PointsBet on Friday revealed it had received a non-binding indicative offer from DraftKings with a headline purchase price of $US195 million ($283 million) in cash, on a debt-free and cash-free basis. This offer is $45 million higher than the deal between PointsBet and merchandise giant Fanatics, which was agreed upon last month.

PointsBet chief executive Sam Swanell will now mull two takeover offers for the US business. Credit: Chris Hopkins

A wagering source, close to the negotiations but not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the timeline and said PointsBets board had found no reason to believe the US giant was not acting in good faith. There has been market speculation the offer may be an attempt to spoil Fanatics entry into key wagering markets including New York, New Jersey and Michigan.

A letter obtained by this masthead, which was sent by PointsBet chairman Brett Paton to DraftKings chief Jason Robins, reveals DraftKings will have until June 30 to emerge as the superior bidder, provided it meets a set of stipulations already agreed upon by Fanatics. PointsBets shareholders are set to vote on the Fanatics deal on June 30.
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FoodSeafood Forget prawns on the barbie: Why seafood is better in winter (and six of the best restaurants to get it) Australians need to rethink when they eat many of our most prized catches, including prawns, oysters and fatty tuna. Dani Valent June 18, 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

Many Australians consider summer to be the prime time for seafood. Theyre wrong: sticking to fish and chips on the beach and prawns on the barbecue means missing out on a cool-weather bounty. Winter is a great time for seafood, says Sydney seafood consultant John Susman. A lot of seafoods go into their reproductive cycles in winter, so they put on a lot of fat. Pipis and clams are in their best condition at this time of year. The mussel season starts. Pacific oysters, rock oysters and scallops are all at their best. Etta owner Hannah Green with the restaurants seafood tower, which makes the most of the prime winter seafood. Justin McManus Finned fish, too, are in excellent shape in winter because the water is colder, says George Kaparos, owner of Clamms seafood wholesaler in Melbourne. Chef Jarrod Walsh has just opened Longshore restaurant in Sydney with a menu thats 90 per cent seafood. Walsh acknowledges that most diners lean into seafood in summer, but he hopes to turn that around with a winter launch.

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People think of sitting on the deck for oysters and champagne, everything fresh and light, but you can also do comfort cooking with seafood in stews and curries. Winter means access to different species, too. We have two major currents that move up and down the east coast of Australia, says Susman. Cooler water moves north and warmer water moves south, so we have migratory species that are dormant in summer and autumn on the move in the cooler months. He points to alfonsino  a big red fish that looks like a three-year-old drew it  and silver warehou  a delicious cousin of blue-eye  as examples. Wild barramundi from the Gulf of Carpentaria are abundant, and consumers should look out for threadfin and blue salmon, too. At Shell House in Sydney, culinary director Joel Bickford is enjoying the variety winter brings to the seafood market.

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A scallop dish at Longshore restaurant in Sydney that specialises in seafood. Supplied Were seeing fish like turbot and trumpeter. Theyre like golden nuggets for us. And when the water is colder, the fish put on extra weight: you have beautiful fuller fillets, and we know that fat means flavour, he says. EASY Julia Busuttil Nishimura's seafood all'acqua pazza Prawns are also having a moment  theyre not only plentiful and keenly priced, but in excellent condition, too. Kings, tigers, bananas  theres so much diversity. They are around half the price they were in summer, and theyre especially delicious in winter, says Susman, who says this years banana prawn catch is the biggest in 30 or 40 years.

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Pan-fried scallops with cauliflower puree, capers and lemon Scallops are at a keen price, too. The harvest has just started in Tasmania, says Kaparos. Theyll be very good towards the end of June until the end of September. Restaurateur Hannah Green has launched a Saturday seafood feast series at hatted Brunswick East restaurant Etta, centred on a fruits du mer tower and champagne by the glass. We want to resurrect the reputation of the seafood platter, she says. So often, theyre not up to the standards of what we would expect. We hope to reclaim their glory. The $70-a-head offering from chef Rosheen Kaulmight include steamed prawns with fermented chilli Marie-Rose sauce, a version of retro Clams Casino with brown butter and bacon curry, and steamed yabbies with Thai chilli sambal.

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Green knows a splashy lunch isnt on everyones radar in straitened circumstances. Its a weird time, we know that, but diners still want to do something nice, they still want those occasions, and they still love seafood, she says. Winter is prime time for seafood, and its also at its most affordable. Seafood species at their best in winter Bluefin tuna

Albacore

Pacific oysters

Rock oysters

Wild prawns

Mussels

Scallops

Alfonsino

Wild barramundi Executive chef Jason Staudt at Stokehouse, highlighting the sustainability program OneFish, TwoFish. Arsineh Houspian Melbourne seafood restaurants

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Etta

Rock oysters and wood-fired market fish are on the regular menu here but winter Saturdays are all about a spectacular seafood tower with the option of small-batch grower champagne by the glass to accompany.

60 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, ettadining.com.au Stokehouse

Eating seafood at Stokehouse with a view of the beach and the bay is a Melbourne must for many. The restaurant has just partnered with sustainability initiative OneFishTwoFish, which returns two fish to the ocean for every fish bought, sold or consumed.

30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, stokehouse.com.au Botanical Hotel

The brasserie has a deserved reputation for great steak but the seafood here is exquisite, too. A southern rock lobster cocktail is a rethink of a classic with avocado, gem lettuce and Marie-Rose sauce, and local calamari comes with radicchio, fennel, capers and a vinaigrette.

169 Domain Road, South Yarra, botanicalhotel.com.au Claypots Evening Star

If youre planning to cook seafood, South Melbourne Market is worth a visit (particularly bustling Aptus). But if you want to leave the cooking to someone else, take a seat at this casual restaurant for seafood snacks, such as clams in Spanish fino sherry, blue crab with tamarind and ginger and grilled king prawns with sambal sauce.

Shop 101-116, South Melbourne Market, 136 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, claypotseveningstar.com.au Sushi On

This new omakase restaurant in Kew treats Australian seafood with absolute reverence. There are just 10 seats at a kitchen counter and sushi chef Yong Hyun prepares every morsel in the moment to serve directly to his guests.

1135 Burke Road, Kew, sushion.com.au

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Cerberus Beach House

Theres no bad time of year to sit at this boatshed restaurant with a view of Half Moon Bay. The winter menu includes mussel and nduja linguine with saltbush pangrattato and a warming seafood and saffron chowder.

16 Cerberus Way, 212 Half Moon Bay, Black Rock, cerberusbeachhouse.com.au A recipe for baked fish by Danielle Alvarez. William Meppem EASY Baked Murray cod with basil butter and sweetcorn Seafood ideas for home Get the oven going

Get the lamb out of the oven and put a fish in it, says seafood expert John Susman. Roast fish is great, or you can braise a slab of albacore in olive oil.

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Get steamy

Steaming is very underrated, says chef Joel Bickford. Its so simple and you cant screw it up. Steam a piece of fish with fresh ginger, shallot and a little bit of soy and its going to be moist and beautiful. Make it an experience

A pot of mussels while watching the footy is not a bad thing, says Susman. Butter makes everything better

When you eat prawns, keep the shells and cook them up with a block of butter, put a bit of chilli in it and let it set, says Joel Bickford. Freeze it in ice cube trays, and you have a prawn and chilli butter you can now add to a fish dish or a nice risotto  youll seem a bit fancy when people come over. Storage

Keep fish in the coldest part of the fridge, ideally not in plastic. Put it in lidded containers sitting on a cake rack. Rock oysters are fine stored in the laundry or garage for a week but Pacific oysters need to be kept in the fridge.

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Joel Bickford ages fish at home. Leave it in the fridge uncovered for a couple of days, he says. It draws the moisture out, concentrates the flavour and the skin will crisp up better, especially if its been frozen. I have a little tray with a wire rack in the fridge all the time. Its my life hack. Recipe collection 100 prawn recipes you need to try Recipe collection 100 sensational seafood recipes
I would think that the reason Gerald Ericksons crows (C8) were burying stones is so that he may no longer be able to stone them, suggests Geoff Croxson of Jannali who adds: Even I groaned at that one.

Chris Wilkinson of Turramurra loathed the black birds that sneakily used to steal our chooks eggs. The remaining chooks no longer lay, so were no longer visited. I deal with the crow/raven nomenclature conundrum by calling them CORVIDS.

More on the iToilets of Japan (C8), this time from Rosemary Seam of Kempsey: The control panel, entirely in Japanese, on a smart toilet at Osaka airport, had me bemused and too intimidated to press any buttons. I waited until reaching my hotel room.

Ill never forget the time my wife accosted me as I stepped out of our friends newly renovated bathroom, writes Jack Dikian of Mosman. I hope you didnt do your business in their bidet, she said. I replied, Im not an idiot. On the way home I asked her to explain bidet.

Michael Sparks of Braddon (ACT) says The recent discussion of schadenfreude and freudenshade made me remember the German term for joy in other peoples happiness: freudenfreude. Its what I feel when I see contributions from friends in Column 8 or hear of other success that has come their way. Ive always been one to look on the bright side and I prefer this to the other two.
TEHRAN, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday that Iran faces no obstacle to expanding relations with Muslim countries.

Raisi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in the capital Tehran, according to a statement published on the website of the Iranian president's office.

He welcomed the resumption of ties between the two "important and influential" countries of the Muslim world, saying that dialogue and interaction between Tehran and Riyadh benefit the two nations and are necessary in line with good neighborliness.

Noting that Muslim states have broadly welcomed the normalization of the Tehran-Riyadh relations, Raisi expressed confidence in overcoming difficulties and problems facing West Asia through cooperation and dialogue among regional states.

The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the resumption of the bilateral ties and his trip to Tehran, adding that enhancing cooperation with Iran is on both countries' agenda.

He added that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered the formation of different working groups for developing relations with Iran, noting that his country is making efforts to improve bilateral ties to a strategic level.

The Saudi foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday afternoon, making his first visit to the Iranian capital in more than seven years.

Later in the day, he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, following which the two top diplomats attended a joint press conference.

At the conference, the Saudi foreign minister extended an official visit invitation on behalf of the King to Raisi.

Iran and Saudi Arabia announced in April the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. 
Queensland police were reluctant to get involved in a conservative activists ongoing campaign to ban an award-winning graphic memoir about gender and sexuality, internal government documents show.

Bernard Gaynor, a former Defence Force reservist and political candidate sacked in 2013 for anti-gay social media posts, complained to officers on multiple occasions about the book and pressed them to ban it themselves.

Activist Bernard Gaynor wanted Queensland police to ban Gender Queer themselves. Credit: AP / Supplied

Gender Queer, by California-based non-binary author and cartoonist Maia Kobabe, has become one of the most banned books in America due to conservative pushback over its themes of gender identity and depictions of nudity and sexual acts.

Released in 2019 and aimed at older teens and adults, the coming-of-age book also found a slightly younger audience. But despite winning industry acclaim, it has now become a lightning rod in Australia for those trying to import US-style culture wars.
A second-hand dealer would later confirm selling Kelly a revolver and cartridges that same afternoon. The shopkeeper was reported to have helpfully explained how to load and fire the weapon. (How a man deemed too drunk for service in a pub could so easily and hastily buy a gun would soon become a topic of public debate.) Kelly caught a cab back to the Brisbane Hotel. Leaving his hat in the taxi, he told the driver: I will be back directly. The Brisbane Hotel: the killing of a policeman in 1928 is part of the Beaufort Street watering holes history. The drunken gunman entered the hotel and opened fire, shattering the mirror behind a barmans head.

Onlookers screamed and scattered. Another shot smashed into the ceiling as a burly man rushed at Kelly. That man was Sergeant Alexander Mark, officer-in-charge of the local Highgate police station, who had gone to the hotel after the alarm was raised about an abusive drunkard. A third shot rang out. It struck the sergeant at close range, piercing his stomach and lodging in his leg. Though badly wounded, he wrenched the revolver from Kelly before passing out. Kelly reportedly told arresting officers: I have shot that big fat bastard  If I had my gun I would shoot you too. Sergeant Mark died in hospital three days later. During his trial in early April, Edward Kelly delivered a half-hour speech in his own self-styled defence.

My heart did not will murder, but my mad brain did, he told the court. Tapping his head, he said: There is something wrong right here. There are times when I am sane as anyone else, but there are times when I am not. Like the slaying of police by Ned Kelly and his gang, the senseless death of Sergeant Mark caused a public outcry, with calls for authorities to toughen rules governing the sale and distribution of firearms (the state would heed the call several years later, introducing new gun-control legislation in 1932). With that would come the droll joke in many a Perth pub  that this Edward Kelly fellow deserved to hang for giving grog such a bad name. According to one account, Edward Nicholas Kelly was born to Irish parents in Brooklyn, New York, around 1875. From there he apparently went to Ireland, where he enlisted as a soldier. But his military career was cut short one night in 1892 when he leapt from his dormitory bed to threaten roommates with a sword, screaming loud oaths and murderous threats.

He was committed to Dublins Richmond Asylum, where the medical board adjudged his condition to have been the result of excessive alcoholism. He then joined the maritime service, and sailed for Australia. In 1901, in Perth, he was charged with robbery. It was the first of his many crimes on Australian soil. Continually in trouble with the law in Western Australia, Kelly headed for Sydney in 1904. Over the next decade he built himself a criminal record in the eastern states, while also spending some months in Sydneys Gladesville Asylum. Returning to Perth in 1914, he picked up where he had left off. Fourteen years and two prison terms on, he stood in the dock once more to hear the judge hand down his verdict.

Tabloid star: Edward Kellys colourful career was heavily covered by the news of the day. Credit: National Library of Australia On April 12, 1928, Edward Nicholas Kelly was found guilty of the wilful murder of Sergeant Mark. He was sentenced to death by hanging, with the Chief Justice telling the court that Kellys record was far worse than the jury was aware. Soon after, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment because, as one report put it, doctors disagreed about Kellys sanity. Before he was hauled away, Kelly handed his lawyer an emerald-green handkerchief, which he had worn as a scarf during the trial. I am grateful for what you have done, he told the solicitor. I have nothing to give you but this handkerchief, which is my dearest possession. My old mother gave it to me in Ireland  to bring me good luck.

A court reporter saw goodness in Kellys simple gesture: For even in this man of crazed or criminal mind  whichever way you will have it  there was spark of tender sentiment. Back to Fremantle Gaol Kelly went. Promptly declared insane, he was shifted to the Claremont Hospital for the Insane. He is by far the most notorious figure in the most notorious ward in the asylum  Ward No. 5, readers of Perths Truth were told in 1929. Truly Hell hath no fury like this Ward No. 5. It has about eighty inmates. Sixty of them are in the category of criminal lunatics. Fourteen, including Kelly, are convicted murderers. Ward No. 5 has rescued fourteen men from the gallows. Kelly is the fourteenth and the worst of the bunch. But now it was the end of the line for this Edward Kelly. Or so it seemed. Within a year he was back on the streets, having vanished from Ward No. 5 one October night in 1929.

Even with specially fitted double doors on his cell  bolted in place after an earlier escape attempt  Kelly had somehow made it out. Insane murderer on the run, the headlines screamed. With a frantic search launched, the whole community waited fearing some act of violence, particularly if Kelly got access to strong drink. Steering clear of watering holes, he opted instead to attend the centenary Royal show dressed as an old woman. Kelly apparently donned a frock to visit the show on childrens day, waltzing straight past two police officers. Crowds gather the Claremont Asylum for the Insane to greet the Edward Kelly, who voluntarily returned to be locked away. Credit: State Library of Western Australia Like the Kelly Gang of old, this Edward Kelly was also an enthusiastic letter writer. While on the loose he wrote to several local newspapers, saying he would voluntarily return to the prison asylum the following Monday, at 9.30am. He would do so, he wrote, accompanied by three little girls.

The girls had been bringing him food at night while he was in hiding, he said. Should anyone harm these girls upon his return, he vowed to become what he had been branded  namely, a murderous lunatic. Come Monday morning, a curious crowd gathered outside the asylum. Sure enough, Kelly fronted up. Conventionally dressed in coat and hat, he even posed for photographers, leaning jauntily against a fence. His story about having been fed by three little girls is not believed, noted one reporter at the scene. An incongruous aspect of this Ned Kelly, Smiths Weekly observed, is that while he remains in that institution there is no need for him to be there. He is practically a normal citizen. But as soon as he is away from it the volcano in his brain is likely to get busy, with its tragic possibilities.

Loading Less than 18 months later, in March 1931, Kelly broke out again, clambering from a high window using a rope of knotted blankets. In nothing but underpants and singlet, he was nabbed before a police search party was organised  they found him hunting for a bag of clothes he had stashed within the asylum grounds. How he managed to escape from his cell is a mystery, one newspaper said, and is likely to be the subject of close inquiry. Or, perhaps not. Five years on, in 1936, Kelly got out once more. Again he penned a letter to a newspaper, saying he felt he had paid dearly for the rash act that killed Sergeant Mark. He said the public had nothing to fear from him despite vicious police propaganda. He added that he would sooner take a friendly bullet than be recaptured alive.
A uniquely Australian debate over the Indigenous Voice to parliament is sounding strangely American. Indeed, often it feels as if an IV line has been laid along the bed of the Pacific through which toxicity flows directly into the national bloodstream.

The Americanisation of Australian politics, of course, is nothing new. Debates are becoming more binary, polarised, emotions-based and reflexively contrarian. Federal politics has become more relentlessly oppositional. The demonisation of Australias inner-city elites is a reworking of the vilification of Americas bicoastal elites, whereby Marrickville or Fitzroy serve as Marthas Vineyard.

Peter Duttons Voice strategy puts the Liberals in a spiral. Credit: Matthew Absalom-Wong

Now these kinds of tactics and tropes are being deployed by opponents of the Voice to parliament. Moreover, polling suggests they may be working.

When in April Peter Dutton first announced his partys opposition to a Yes vote, he spoke repeatedly of a Canberra Voice, an echo of the anti-Washington rhetoric that has become standard fare on the American right  populist politics 101. When last month in parliament he outlined his opposition in more detail, he again maligned the Canberra Voice, the Canberra-based Voice and the Canberra knows best approach of Anthony Albanese. His speech was replete with other US-style allusions.
A former youth pastor is on track to become the next state member for Warrandyte after winning Liberal preselection on Sunday.

Former Box Hill candidate Nicole Werner, 32, beat a field of eight other candidates that included former Institute of Public Affairs boss John Roskam, former KMPG director Sarah Overton and 22-year-old law student Antonietta Di Cosmo.

Former Box Hill candidate Nicole Werner will contest the Warrandyte byelection for the Liberals. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Werner had campaigned on her strong community ties, having grown up on the border between the Box Hill and Warrandyte electorates, as well as her willingness to hit the ground running.

Outgoing Warrandyte member Ryan Smith announced he would quit state parliament last month, citing a growing negative tone of politics and sparking a byelection. Warrandyte has been a Liberal seat since 1988.
Every incoming eligible traveller, regardless of age, will require an ETA (unless they already hold a separate visa to enter). Even those transiting through the UK and not passing through border control will also need an ETA. To apply, applicants need a valid biometric passport and an email address. Applications must be submitted online at the GOV.UK website and, according to the UK government, you can expect a response within three working days.

While you can still arrive at Londons Heathrow Airport, flash your Aussie passport and head off to the nearest pub for a pint, those days are going to end. Were soon going to need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This is not a visa. The ETA is a visa waiver, available to citizens of around 50 countries.

As well as your name, date of birth and citizenship, the ETA application will ask for travel details. Applicants must also answer a series of personal, security and travel questions, but what those questions might be is unknown, since the application form has not yet been released. The ETA is expected to cost 10 ($18.60), paid via a credit or debit card.

According to the ETA website the visa waiver is expected to allow travellers to spend a maximum of six months in the UK and visit any part of the country. Six months is the current amount of time Australian passport holders are permitted to remain in the UK (without a visa).

As well as tourism and visiting family and friends, the ETA also allows for business and study visits (of six months or less). Once approved, it will be valid for two years. While it allows multiple visits to the UK within those two years, the UK government isnt saying how long a period must elapse before a return visit. Based on current information, it appears you could stay in the UK for the full six months, hop across to France or Ireland for a weekend and re-enter the UK for another six months.

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The government is applying the new ruling progressively, with citizens of Qatar the first to be affected. From November 15, 2023, Qataris will need an ETA to enter the UK. From February 2024 that will also apply to other Gulf State citizens. A date for Australian passport holders is yet to be named, but the government plans to fully digitalise its border entry by 2025. Expect a date sometime in 2024.
London: Britains Prince William, heir to the throne, has said he wants to help end homelessness across the country and is planning to launch a really big project later this month.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Prince said his and his wifes Royal Foundation would be behind the project.

On Sunday the Palace also released a new photo of William with his three children to mark Britains Fathers Day.

Prince William, Prince of Wales (centre) with his children Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George (right) in Windsor, England. Credit: Getty Images

In the picture, William sits with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on a bench at Windsor Estate.
It has been repeatedly claimed that women at Rammstein concerts were drugged with knockout drops or alcohol to enable our client to perform sexual acts on them, Rammsteins lawyers said in a statement last week, threatening legal action against accusers. Without exception, these allegations are untrue. The lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the police investigation.

They describe a system at concerts whereby fans are recruited to have sex with the Rammstein singer and then feel pressured into sexual acts or are sexually assaulted with little to no recollection of events.

Following allegations from a 24-year-old fan that she was drugged and woke with unexplained bruises after a concert in Vilnius, Lithuania, last month, at least half a dozen women have come forward with accusations against frontman Till Lindemann, 60, in the German press.

Berlin: The lead singer for German rock band Rammstein, known for its provocative stage shows featuring bondage gear and wild pyrotechnics, is facing a police investigation into allegations of sexual assault.

But after weeks of stories in the German media, Berlin prosecutors on Wednesday launched an investigation into Lindemann on the basis of several criminal complaints filed by third parties, a spokeswoman for Berlin prosecution confirmed to The Washington Post in a statement. The probe centres on allegations of sexual offences and the distribution of narcotics, the statement said.

A day later Universal, the groups record label, announced that it was suspending co-operation with the band until further notice. Lindemanns book publisher has also cut ties.

In the first statement from a band member, drummer Christoph Schneider said in social media post Friday that the accusations had deeply shaken the band and he believed nothing illegal had taken place. But he then appeared to distance himself from Lindemanns private parties.

Things seem to have happened that, although legally okay, I personally dont think are right. Certain structures have grown that went beyond the limits and values of the other band members. It is also important to us that Tills parties are not confused with our official after-show parties, he said in his statement. Till has distanced himself from us in recent years and created his own bubble.

Founded in 1994 with roots in the East German underground punk rock scene and influenced by US bands such as Kiss and Anthrax, Rammstein is one of Germanys best-known musical exports, with sales of more than 20 million albums. The band plays to packed stadiums on both sides of the Atlantic, a feat virtually unheard of for any other German-speaking band. Their 1997 hit Du Hast made it to No. 20 on Billboards US Mainstream Rock chart.
Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo Ma Fulin (L) and Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity and Humanitarian Action Irene Marie Cecile Mboukou-Kimbatsa attend the handover ceremony of food assisted by China in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo, June 17, 2023. The Chinese government on Saturday offered the Republic of the Congo, through the World Food Program (WFP), food assistance for vulnerable people in the country's urban areas. (Photo by Guy-Gervais Kitina/Xinhua)

BRAZZAVILLE, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Saturday offered the Republic of the Congo, through the World Food Program (WFP), food assistance for vulnerable people in the country's urban areas.

The handover ceremony was held at the WFP country office with the participation of Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo Ma Fulin and Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity and Humanitarian Action Irene Marie Cecile Mboukou-Kimbatsa.

The WFP and local governments will distribute the donation of rice to about 170,000 people in the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.

"This project concerns the implementation of a food donation for vulnerable populations in urban areas of the Republic of the Congo," Ma said at the ceremony.

"This aid made it possible to provide emergency food and nutritional assistance to families affected by the 2019-2020 floods," said the Congolese minister. She appealed to other partners to help the country tackle challenges, including the fight against poverty.

"Your support, both technical and financial, is also very valuable to us in implementing projects to strengthen and develop humanitarian action," said Mamadou Mbaye, WFP's acting representative in Congo, stressing that China is one of the biggest supporters of this UN organization. 
"We think culture promotion through books is a very powerful way of consolidating friendship."

Publishers attending the 29th Beijing International Book Fair said the fair enhances cultural exchanges and learning between civilizations.

The four-day event kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, gathering exhibitors from 56 countries and regions. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
B illionaires from around the world are snapping up bigger properties at the very top of Londons house market, as the total value of deals so far in 2023 has slipped.

According to Beauchamp Estates Billionaires Buying Index, super-prime property worth 340 million in total changed hands in the the capital between January and May, down from 404 million a year earlier.

The Mayfair-based firm says that there is stronger demand for significantly bigger properties, with the average size of homes sold almost doubling from 2022 to 11,200 square feet from 7,000 square feet.

There has also been a change in the most favoured neighbourhoods, which this year are Mayfair and Hyde Park rather than Belgravia and Knightsbridge. The average cost per square foot held steady at 3,100.

The survey also found that sales were being dominated by buyers from India, America, Malaysia and China alongside the UK.

A gradual return of buyers from Asia marks the start of what Beauchamp called a return to normal international trading patterns following Covid-19.

Highlights included the 17.5 million sale of a Primrose Hill mansion which was home to Hollywood director Tim Burton.

Gary Hersham, founding director of Beauchamp, said: During the first five months of 2023 there has effectively been two billionaire buyer property deals per month in central London, adding:

There remains a sustained and healthy appetite amongst the worlds super rich for buying trophy homes in the UK capital.

The Mayfair-based firm said it believed the size of homes changing hands was bigger because buyers planned to use them as their primary residence.

Properties up for sale at the moment include a 30,000 square foot mansion on Avenue Road, with a private art gallery and a spectacular swimming pool (pictured) featuring a 30ft high ceiling with a guide price of 110 million.

The swimming pool at Avenue Road / Grant Frazer

There is also the former HQ of Gucci on Grafton Street, listed at 55 million. (pictured)

The main reception room at Grafton Street, used as an office by the fashion designer Tom Ford when the building was Guccis HQ / Beauchamp

Beauchamps index uses data from the wider estate agency industrys Lonres system as well as its own in-house numbers as what it calls local market intelligence. It covers properties worth 15 million and above.
W hats summer without a little romance? Fortunately, Netflix have you covered: the second season of its hit show Heartstopper is set to air at the start of August, and now we know what the opening scene looks like.

As part of Netflixs Tudum: A Global Fan Event show, Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell  who play characters Tara and Darcy  revealed the upcoming clip, which is set to form the very start of episode one.

The sequence picks up with Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) getting ready for a normal school day, with a twist. This time, when he wakes up, its to a message from his now-boyfriend Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), and the two proceed to merrily message their way through the morning as they head into the classroom.

When he gets there, Charlie looks around for Nick, who he cant see  until Nick sneaks up behind him. The clip then ends with the pair looking at each other happily. Aww.

Samuel Dore/Netflix

We also got a look at the upcoming episode titles for the series, though some seem to hint at trouble ahead for our loved-up heroes:

1. Out

2. Family

3. Promise

4. Challenge

5. Heat

6. Truth/ Dare

7. Sorry

8. Perfect

Netflix

Adapted from Alice Osemans webcomic and graphic novel of the same name, Heartstopper became a massive hit when it premiered last year, shooting its cast to almost-immediate stardom and garnering positive reviews across the board. It told the story of the blossoming relationship and love story between shy Year 10 student Charlie, and popular rugby player Nick from the year above, along with introducing us to their friends, Elle Argent (played by Yasmin Finney) and their classmate Tao Xu (William Gao).

Compare and contrast [this show] to the sassy snap-back LGBT+ storylines in Sex Education, Euphoria, and just about every teen drama since Skins, and Heartstoppers innocence feels like its most radical creative suite, the Standards Paul Flynn wrote in his review. Watching Heartstopper is a very teary binge, for happy and sad reasons.

Though the clip doesnt feature appearances from Elle or Tao, its safe to assume that the pair will also be front and centre in the upcoming season, along with their burgeoning relationship, which was teased over the course of season one.

As per the Netflix season synopsis, we can expect plenty of challenges in the process: Nick and Charlie navigate their new relationship; Tara and Darcy face unforeseen challenges and Tao and Elle work out if they can ever be more than just friends. With exams on the horizon, a school trip to Paris and a prom to plan, the gang has a lot to juggle as they journey through the next stages of life, love and friendship.

Heartstopper season two will premiere on Netflix from August 3
A bus driver is in hospital after being stabbed on a busy high street in east London.

Police were called to Commercial Road, Stepney at about 3.30pm on Sunday.

Officers responded and found a man, in his 40s, at the junction with Arbour Square with a stab injury to his back.

Pictures from the scene show the drivers bus abandoned behind police tape and surrounded by the emergency services.

Transport for London called the attack appalling and dangerous.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: The man has been conveyed to an east London hospital.

The bus drivers injuries have been assessed as not life-threatening or life-changing.

Police are working to establish the circumstances.

At this very early stage, there have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.

Transport for London cameras captured a large crime scene in place across Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Louise Cheeseman, director of buses at TfL, said: This was an appalling and dangerous attack on a bus driver, who remains in hospital and our thoughts are with them and their family.

We will fully support the Metropolitan Police to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Everyone has the right to go about their day without fear or intimidation and any form of physical or verbal assault on our staff or customers will not be tolerated.

Anyone with any information on this assault should call the Metropolitan Police on 101.
C ampaigners called for rape culture in schools to be taken more seriously after it emerged none of the claims police investigated from the Everyones Invited movement resulted in criminal charges.

Children and young people shared 50,000 testimonies of alleged rape, sex assaults and harassment on a website founded by student Soma Sara in 2020 sparking a #MeToo moment in UK schools.

Detective Superintendent Mel Laremores team investigated six anonymous cases of widespread abuse written on the site.

But Metropolitan Police data from its crime reporting system shows no person has been charged with an offence under a dedicated Everyones Invited flag, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Several independent schools including Eton, St Pauls, Latymer Upper, Dulwich College and Westminster School were named.

One institution was described as being a breeding ground for sexual predators.

It prompted an Ofsted inquiry which concluded sexual harassment has become normalised among school-age children.

But critics argued boys were being damaged by an excessive cultural shift" against them resulting in them being ostracised, punished or even expelled for normal teenage behaviour.

ES Composite

Peter Csemiczky, partner at Hickman & Rose solicitors, said: The lack of criminal charges related to allegations made on the Everyones Invited website illustrates the gap between hope and reality when it comes to prosecuting sexual crime.

While an allegation of this type may be straightforward, collecting the evidence that supports its accuracy to the criminal standard can be complicated.

Assessing evidence from electronic devices, medical, school or social services records takes time, resources and properly trained officers: neither of which the police have sufficient numbers of.

In my experience the Met can take months to interview someone facing even the most serious sexual allegation. Once interviewed, years can pass before a charging decision is made.

While we do not know which of the Everyones Invited allegations the Met investigated, it could be that, rather than criminalising young boys, some of the people involved were diverted from prosecution or a decision made that it was not in the interest of justice to pursue these matters.

In February, Channel 4 aired the drama Consent based on allegations from pupils such as those reported on Everyones Invited.

Back in 2021, the Met said where schools had been named on the website, officers would make contact with them to offer specialist support to any potential victims.

Det Supt Laremore, Scotland Yards rape and sexual offences lead, added more than 100 schools were cited, adding: I think its more widespread than private schools.

A spokesperson from Everyones Invited told the Standard: Schools are beginning to take the whole area of rape culture seriously.

Whereas before the Ofsted report they questioned its very existence, now schools are actively looking at this area and thinking about what needs to be done. Everyones Invited is proud to have triggered the Ofsted report which helped to put this on the schools agenda.

More still needs to be done to tackle rape culture and everyone - be they school children, parents, university students and teenagers - needs to take action in this area.

By accepting that rape culture exists and talking about it, we hope that everyone will take responsibility to change their behaviour and help eradicate it.

From a government and societal perspective, the issue urgently needs to move higher up the agenda.

All of the schools named said they took claims extremely seriously and condemned actions described on Everyones Invited.
Zheng Danyi provides piano accompaniment as the students dance in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 14, 2023. Zheng Danyi, 31, visually impaired since birth, attended a school for visually impaired students and enrolled her in an electronic organ interest class where she learned to play music alongside children with healthy vision. Her passion for music was ignited from then on.

In September 2017, Zheng Danyi became a piano teacher in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Due to the challenges that come with being visually impaired, she arrives early every day to practice and prepare for classes. She also works overtime at home to ensure that she can teach effectively.

Nowadays, Zheng Danyi is also a volunteer piano instructor for a disabled art troupe once every half month. Despite the difficulties of traveling due to her visual impairment, she remains committed to helping others pursue their artistic passions along the way. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Zheng Danyi plays piano as ballet students dance in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 14, 2023. Zheng Danyi, 31, visually impaired since birth, attended a school for visually impaired students and enrolled her in an electronic organ interest class where she learned to play music alongside children with healthy vision. Her passion for music was ignited from then on.

In September 2017, Zheng Danyi became a piano teacher in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Due to the challenges that come with being visually impaired, she arrives early every day to practice and prepare for classes. She also works overtime at home to ensure that she can teach effectively.

Nowadays, Zheng Danyi is also a volunteer piano instructor for a disabled art troupe once every half month. Despite the difficulties of traveling due to her visual impairment, she remains committed to helping others pursue their artistic passions along the way. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Zheng Danyi instructs as members of a disabled art troupe listen in in a training session in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 13, 2023. Zheng Danyi, 31, visually impaired since birth, attended a school for visually impaired students and enrolled her in an electronic organ interest class where she learned to play music alongside children with healthy vision. Her passion for music was ignited from then on.

In September 2017, Zheng Danyi became a piano teacher in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Due to the challenges that come with being visually impaired, she arrives early every day to practice and prepare for classes. She also works overtime at home to ensure that she can teach effectively.

Nowadays, Zheng Danyi is also a volunteer piano instructor for a disabled art troupe once every half month. Despite the difficulties of traveling due to her visual impairment, she remains committed to helping others pursue their artistic passions along the way. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Zheng Danyi instructs as members of a disabled art troupe practise in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 13, 2023. Zheng Danyi, 31, visually impaired since birth, attended a school for visually impaired students and enrolled her in an electronic organ interest class where she learned to play music alongside children with healthy vision. Her passion for music was ignited from then on.

In September 2017, Zheng Danyi became a piano teacher in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Due to the challenges that come with being visually impaired, she arrives early every day to practice and prepare for classes. She also works overtime at home to ensure that she can teach effectively.

Nowadays, Zheng Danyi is also a volunteer piano instructor for a disabled art troupe once every half month. Despite the difficulties of traveling due to her visual impairment, she remains committed to helping others pursue their artistic passions along the way. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Zheng Danyi practices piano skills in her spare time in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 14, 2023. Zheng Danyi, 31, visually impaired since birth, attended a school for visually impaired students and enrolled her in an electronic organ interest class where she learned to play music alongside children with healthy vision. Her passion for music was ignited from then on.

In September 2017, Zheng Danyi became a piano teacher in Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Due to the challenges that come with being visually impaired, she arrives early every day to practice and prepare for classes. She also works overtime at home to ensure that she can teach effectively.

Nowadays, Zheng Danyi is also a volunteer piano instructor for a disabled art troupe once every half month. Despite the difficulties of traveling due to her visual impairment, she remains committed to helping others pursue their artistic passions along the way. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)
S NP leader and First Minister Humza Yousaf has revealed his party would introduce a written constitution for Scotland if it secures independence.

The proposed document, setting out the rights of citizens, would help a newly independent Scotland take on the challenges of the future, Mr Yousaf said.

Speaking ahead of launch of the latest Building a New Scotland prospectus paper detailing the plans, the First Minister said the drafting of a new constitution would enable people in Scotland to shape the new country.

He said the constitution would include recognition of the NHS in Scotland, giving people the right to access a system of healthcare free at the point of need.

The constitution would set out how democracy, rights and equality would be at the heart of everything we do as an independent nation

Under the proposal, the document would also provide stronger protections for human rights and equality, including upholding and fulfilling the right to an adequate standard of living as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It would also formally ban nuclear weapons being stored on the Clyde and guarantee workers the right to take industrial action.

This weeks prospectus paper will be the fourth paper in the Building a New Scotland series, and sets out more details about the constitution proposal and the arguments to support one.

The Scottish Conservatives accused the SNP of focusing on the wrong priorities in the papers, however, while the Scottish Liberal Democrats insisted further devolution was a better option for people longing for change.

Mr Yousaf said: Our proposals would provide an opportunity for people in Scotland to shape the newly independent country and create a permanent, modern, written constitution to describe the type of country Scotland would be and how it would be governed.

Successive UK governments have taken Scotland in the wrong direction and with independence we would radically shift where power lies and put it back in the hands of the people who live in Scotland.

The constitution would set out how democracy, rights and equality would be at the heart of everything we do as an independent nation.

It will see the introduction of a constitutional right to heathcare available at the point of need, a right to an adequate standard of living as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and protection for workers to take industrial action.

And, what we will not see under these proposals, are nuclear weapons on the Clyde. This proposed constitution would ban nuclear weapons from an independent Scotland.

With rights in Scotland under threat as never before, because of the actions of the UK Government, and the Scottish Parliament being undermined, independence has never been more urgent or essential.

Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for the constitution, external affairs and culture, said: Once again, the SNP are focusing on the wrong priorities at the worst possible time.

Humza Yousaf had the opportunity to scrap these self-indulgent independence papers and refocus on what really matters to Scotland.

The fact that he is continuing to waste government resources on these unwanted and irrelevant papers just proves that he is determined to continue with Nicola Sturgeons divisive agenda.

Hardworking Scots will be outraged to see their taxpayer funding going toward an imaginary constitution, when the SNPs full focus should be on supporting struggling public services, fixing our NHS and tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

The appalling war in Ukraine has reminded us all that a military deterrent is still a vital part of our national defence. The SNPs plans to write a nuclear weapons ban into the fabric of an independent Scotland shows how dangerously out-of-touch they really are.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: The SNP are completely out of touch.

Deploying more civil servants, money and time into independence is an insult to everyone waiting for help with the cost-of-living crisis, on lifeline ferries or for critical operations and treatments.

We need to fix our broken politics and restore integrity, but the SNP are part of the problem not the solution.

Scottish Liberal Democrats would introduce a fair voting system, end the unelected House of Lords, and establish foolproof systems to see the Scottish and UK governments working together in all our interests instead of always hunting for friction and sowing grievance.

With the SNP in apparent freefall, there is an opportunity to make devolution work as it should, and Scottish Liberal Democrats will be part of whats next.
R ishi Sunak will use a summit in London to call on investors and businesses to match Ukraines bravery on the battlefield by stepping up support for the countrys economic recovery.

The Prime Minister is set to say the private sector must use its vision to embrace rapid innovation that can be used to make the nation financially stronger and technologically advanced, No 10 said.

More than 1,000 foreign dignitaries from 61 states along with business chiefs and global investors will join Mr Sunak at the Ukraine Recovery Conference next week  the largest international conference the UK will host this year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend virtually and both European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are also expected to speak in the opening session.

Mr Sunak is expected to make the case for greater innovation targeted at the country, which was becoming a major player in the global IT industry prior to the Russian invasion.

No 10 said one example of such an approach which is expected to be announced at the summit is a digital platform that will connect Ukrainian businesses with global companies.

The match-making platform is aimed at supporting Ukraines recovery through virtual networking and collaboration on matters like supply chain issues and business expansion.

The UK will also use the summit to launch a 10 million green energy challenge fund aimed at speeding up the development of low-carbon, affordable energy projects for Ukraine.

Mr Sunak is expected to say: Ukraines bravery on the battlefield must be matched by the vision of the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover. Time and time again, Ukraine has shown its ability to rapidly harness innovation and creativity, and I know its recovery will be no different.

The illegal invasion of Ukraine has devastated businesses and livelihoods throughout the country, but it has not destroyed the ingenuity or determination of the Ukrainian people.

A financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine will bolster its ability to drive Russia back behind its borders and build a brighter future for a sovereign and modern Ukraine of the future.
T he Prince of Wales has been pictured smiling with his three children in a photo to mark Fathers Day.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George are on either side of William, smiling up at him in the image released by Kensington Palace.

Youngest sibling Prince Louis hugs his father on his shoulders from behind.

The royals are all dressed in blue with George, nine, and William, 40, both in trousers and casual shirts.

Louis, five, is his typically excitable self and is beaming in a blue jumper, while his brother and sister appear more relaxed.

Charlotte, who turned eight last month, is dressed in a blue flower print dress and white cardigan and has a tooth missing in her smile.

The image was taken on the Windsor estate earlier this year by Millie Pilkington, who has photographed the Prince and Princess of Waless children on a number of occasions.

All five members of the family were involved in Saturdays Trooping the Colour, the first of King Charles reign.

(left to right) The Princess Royal, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales and Princess Charlotte / PA

Louis, on the Buckingham Palace balcony, saluted during the traditional Trooping flypast and also pretended to ride a bike with his arms stretched out.

The Princess of Wales joined her children in a carriage with the Queen, travelling just behind the King, who was on horseback as part of the procession in a return to a tradition that Queen Elizabeth II stepped back from more than thirty years ago.

William rode behind his father, alongside the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.

Camilla and Catherine, as royal colonels, had prominent roles in the Trooping.

Catherine wore an eye-catching green dress and hat, alluding to her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

The Queen wore a red dress and black beret to represent her position as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

Meanwhile, William has revealed that he wants to make it his mission to end homelessness in the UK.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the royal said that he will launch a really big project to take on the issue.

However, the details of the five-year plan are being kept secret until the end of the month.

Its nerve-racking, he told the newspaper.

But Im really excited. Ive been waiting for the right time to do this.

While the projects details are secret for now, William revealed that there are social housing plans for the Duchy of Cornwall, the 130,000-acre property empire he now controls after becoming the Prince of Wales.

Youll see that when its ready, he said.

Im no policy expert, but I push it where I can.

From left, The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, King Charles III and the Princess Royal depart Buckingham Palace (Victoria Jones/PA) / PA Wire

The prince has previous experience tackling homelessness. He is the patron of Centrepoint, a charity which helps homeless young people.

Earlier this week, he officially opened Reuben House, a block of 33 studio properties in south-east London where rents are set at a third of a residents income, on behalf of the charity.

The prince also spoke to the paper about his plans to introduce his children to a homeless organisation, in the same way that his mother brought him to a homeless shelter when he was 11 years old.

When I left this morning, one of the things I was thinking was, When is the right time to bring George or Charlotte or Louis to a homeless organisation? he said.

I think when I can balance it with their schooling, they will definitely be exposed to it. On the school run, we talk about what we see.

When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets and wed talk about it.
P ope Francis greeted the public in St Peters Square two days after being discharged from hospital.

The pontiff was met with crowds shouting Long live the pope! as he resumed his cherished Sunday custom of expressing thanks for the comfort he received after surgery.

Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for affection, attention and friendship and the assurance of the support of prayer.

The pope was hospitalised for abdominal surgery in Rome on June 7 to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.

The three-hour surgery under general anaesthesia forced Francis to skip the Sunday appearance on June 11.

This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort, Francis told some 15,000 people in the square.

Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart.

The 86-year-old sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, adlibbed at times from the prepared speech, and clearly looked delighted to be back to his routine.

While the thousands of Italians, tourists and pilgrims who regularly turn out for the weekly noon appearance at Apostolic Palace usually applaud when they catch sight of the pope at the window, this time the publics applause seemed louder than usual.

People gather at the Vatican to hear Pope Francis / via REUTERS

His mood seemed uplifted to see the crowd below, including flag-waving nuns and tourists in sun hats on the hot, humid day.

Francis then turned sombre as he noted that Tuesday marks World Refugee Day, an occasion promoted by the United Nations.

With great sadness and so much sorrow I think of the victims of the very grave shipwreck that happened in recent days off the coast of Greece, Francis said.

He was referring to the smugglers overcrowded fishing boat, filled with hundreds of migrants, that sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

It seems that the sea was calm, Francis said, seemingly expressing perplexity that such a grave tragedy could happen in those conditions.

I renew my prayer for all those who lost their life, and I implore that, always, everything possible is done to prevent similar tragedies, the pontiff said.

Some of the 104 survivors said as many as 750 were aboard, leaving the possibilities that hundreds perished. Greek rescuers recovered 78 bodies. Questions persist whether the Greek coast guard could have intervened in time to prevent the capsizing.

He also prayed for the young students victims of the brutal attack on a school in western Uganda. The attack by suspected rebels on a school in Uganda killed 42 people, including 38 students in their dormitories. Several were abducted near the border with Congo.

Francis lamented this struggle, this war all over the place. Let us pray for peace.

A woman films over nuns with her mobile as Pope Francis recites the Angelus noon prayer / AP

He also urged people to remember the martyred people in Ukraine, following Russias invasion last year.

As he wrapped up his remarks and was about to leave the window, cries of Long live the pope in Italian rose from the crowd, and the pope quickly responded, Thanks.

The popes doctors have urged him to take it easy as much as possible even as he resumes his Vatican workload.

Francis will receive Brazils president on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican has announced. But to ensure his convalescence can proceed well, Francis wont conduct the Wednesday general audience in St Peters Square.

In early August, Francis will make a pilgrimage to Portugal for a youth jamboree. At the end of that month, he flies to Mongolia for a visit that will see him be the first pontiff to go to that Asian country.
U krainian forces have destroyed an ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in the southern region of Kherson, authorities have claimed.

Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, said Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot in the village of Rykove.

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning  and a very loud one  in the village of Rykove, Henichesk district, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region, Mr Bratchuk said in a morning video message on Sunday. There was a very significant ammunition depot. It was destroyed.

Ukrainian media posted videos showing a vast plume of smoke rising far on the horizon with sounds of blasts and burning projectiles flying into the sky.

Rykove is located on a railway line about 20km from Henichesk, a port city along the Sea of Azov in southern Ukraine, which has been occupied by Kremlin forces since the early days of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It came as Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have killed an estimated 650 Russian soldiers on Saturday, according to an update from its general staff.

It brings Kyivs estimated death toll for Russian troops since Moscows invasion last year to 219,820. Their figures could not be verified and are subject to updates.
R ussia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Volodymyr Zelenskys troops dislodge Kremlin forces from occupied areas, British officials said Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putins losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, the Ministry of Defence added in their regular assessment.

The most intense fighting is centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut and further west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk area.

While the British intelligence update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in these areas and had made small advances, it said that Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in the south.

Ukrainian military also reported Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the previous 24 hours.

According to their statement, Putins soldiers continues to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing attacks around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in the countrys Donetsk province, with 26 combat clashes taking place.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two civilians were killed, with a further three wounded in the past day.

Heavily armed Ukrainian fighters arrive in the town of Kostiantynivka / AFP via Getty Images

One civilian was killed and four more wounded in Kherson province, while Zaporizhzhia regional governor Yurii Malashko said one person was wounded in Russian attacks that hit 20 settlements.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky on the Zaporizhzhia battlefront.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in the southwestern Odesa province, added Ukrainian president Zelenskys men destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in nearby Kherson province.

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning, Bratchuk said in a video message on Sunday morning, posted to his Telegram channel.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare an anti-drone gun in Bakhmut / AFP via Getty Images

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraines counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000 kilometre (600 mile) front line could last a long time.

A group of African leaders have carried out a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia in recent days to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war, but the visit ended on Saturday with no immediate signs of progress.

South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa told Russian dictator Putin the war in Ukraine must end.
UNITED NATIONS, June 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned an attack on a secondary school in western Uganda reportedly perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group, said his deputy spokesman.

Ugandan authorities said ADF rebels attacked the Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe on the border with the DRC on Friday night, killing at least 37 students. At least eight students remained in critical condition. Six students were in the hands of the rebels.

Those responsible for this appalling attack must be brought to justice, said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson, in a statement.

The secretary-general extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the government and people of Uganda, and called for the immediate release of those abducted, said the statement.

Guterres reiterated the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area, it said.

The ADF is a Ugandan rebel group that is holed up in the jungles of eastern DRC. It is a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

The rebel group is blamed for causing havoc in villages in eastern DRC. The Ugandan military and their Congolese counterparts launched joint operations against the rebel group in November 2021. 
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CAIRO, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A supply ship loaded with hundreds of tons of relief aid from Egypt had arrived in conflict-torn Sudan, the Egyptian military announced Saturday.

The military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said in a statement that the Egyptian navy ship had arrived at Port Sudan and unloaded hundreds of tons of foodstuffs, medical supplies and other aid material.

The supplies, sponsored by the Egyptian ministries of defense and social solidarity as well as some local associations, would be sent to most needy areas in Sudan, the spokesman said.

A number of Egyptian and Sudanese nationals boarding the returning ship have arrived in Egypt, he added.

Since the outbreak of the deadly conflicts between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan on April 15, about 121,000 Sudanese have taken refuge in Egypt, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on May 25.

The armed clashes have left 958 Sudanese civilians dead and 4,746 others injured, according to the update by the Sudanese Doctors' Union on Wednesday. 
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Instant Brands  thats the company that makes Instant Pots and other familiar kitchen items  filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.

The company also owns such brands as Pyrex, Corningware, Corelle and Chicago Cutlery.

The analysts have been busy analyzing, checking charts and drawing graphs, trying to figure out just what went wrong. They say the company has faced macro-challenges, putting the blame on overall economic conditions. They say the end of the pandemic slashed demand for their products.

But I have a simpler theory: Everyone who wanted an Instant Pot already had one.

The Instant Pot hit the shelves in 2009, and soon, as the kids say, it went viral. Everybody wanted one. Everybody had to have one. Eventually, everybody who was inclined to have one bought one or received one as a gift. I imagine new brides received truckloads of them.

Even I bought one, and I tend to come to such things later than pretty much everyone else. Eventually, I caved into relentless peer pressure from the Instant Pot cult.

I didnt happen to love it. I used it to make a lamb tagine that was no better than any other lamb tagine Ive made, and probably a little worse than some. I used it to make basmati rice, and it was the best rice I had ever made, to that point. But it took 40 minutes, and that is twice as long as the basmati rice I was making at that time.

These days, it actually takes me a little longer  but the result is better than the Instant Pot version.

Then I brought the Instant Pot down to the basement, where it has stayed ever since except for one other time I brought it back up to make rice again.

Your experience may be different. If you have one, you may love it. You may be dazzled by its versatility, by the way its not just a tagine and rice cooker, but it is also a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a steamer, a saute pan and a Dutch oven.

And all-in-one cooking appliance sounds great, and I can see the appeal. If you love your Instant Pot, Im glad for you.

But the point is, you already have one.

The stories about the bankruptcy all highlight the companys dramatic drop in sales  down nearly 22% in the first quarter of this year, and seven straight quarters of declining sales. Financial analysts S&P Global reported that the reasons for the drop have to do with customers lower discretionary spending on home products, lower replenishment orders and pandemic-related supply chain problems.

Im not so sure. I bought my Instant Pot in the summer of 2019, well before the pandemic hit, and I am the last person I know to buy one. Im pretty sure they had already hit market saturation by then.

Im not suggesting that they should have introduced planned obsolescence into their products, nor even unplanned obsolescence. When youre combining high heat and high pressure in cooking, its probably a bad idea to use cheap materials that could become shrapnel.

Im just saying that everything has a lifespan. Yugos, aerosol cans, pet rocks, Pompeii  everything eventually fades away.

Instant Pots had a good run. They were insanely popular for several years; now the company is bankrupt.

Our attention has been diverted by the next shiny object. Air fryers are the new Instant Pots. Everyone wants one, and everyone who wants one is buying one or has bought one.

Give it five years, or maybe less by now. The companies that make air fryers will be filing for bankruptcy, and some other all-in-one small appliance we havent even thought of yet will be the next big thing.

Everyone will want one.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it hopes to weed out false or misleading animal-welfare claims on meat and poultry packaging with new guidance and testing.

The claims  such as pasture-raised, humanely raised, and raised without antibiotics  are increasingly popular with consumers and allow producers to charge a premium. Perdue free range chicken breasts with no antibiotics sell for $5.78 per pound at Walmart, for example; store brand chicken breasts without those claims sell for $2.79 per pound.

Both meat producers and animal welfare advocates say the USDA isnt adequately substantiating the claims or ensuring they meet consumer expectations. The USDA lets producers define some terms, including humane, which can lead to widely varying conditions for animals. Other claims like free range are clearly defined by the USDA, but some producers are skirting requirements.

The USDA must approve all animal welfare claims on meat and poultry labels before products can be sold. But unlike organic claims, which are verified in person by government regulators, animal welfare claims are substantiated with paperwork submitted to the USDA.

The USDA doesnt have the regulatory authority to check animal welfare claims on farms, said Sandra Eskin, the USDAs deputy undersecretary for food safety.

There are plenty of companies out there that are following the law and many that are not, and thats just not fair, Eskin said.

Eskin said the USDA plans to update its guidelines to require more documentation from companies making animal welfare claims. It will also strongly encourage companies to hire third-party verification groups, such as Human Farm Animal Care, a non-profit organization in Virginia that certifies animal welfare claims.

To substantiate no antibiotics claims, the USDA also plans to explore new testing that can find traces of antibiotics in animals once they arrive at processing plants.

Eskin said the agency may also update definitions of certain claims, a change some producers have been pressing for. Perdue Foods, a major poultry and pork producer, recently asked the USDA to clarify the difference between free range and pasture raised. The agency uses the terms interchangeably, Perdue said, even though free range chickens may roam in dirt or shrubs and not necessarily pasture.

The nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute, which monitors animal welfare claim submissions to the USDA, found that 85% of the 97 claims it reviewed had inadequate documents substantiating the claims.

A lot of the substantiation is a sentence or two: I raise my animals humanely, said Dena Jones, director of the Animal Welfare Institutes farmed animal program. It is wholly inadequate.

Jones said the USDA has been overwhelmed with new claims as producers try to meet consumer demand for higher animal welfare standards. Last year, Eskin said the government received more than 120 label applications each week.

But Jones praised the steps the USDA is taking, especially its move toward promoting third-party verification.

It benefits the animals, the earth, the farmers who are spending more money to improve their practices and it benefits the USDA because it makes their process easier, Jones said.
The Supreme Court on Thursday preserved the system that gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children, rejecting a broad attack from some Republican-led states and white families who argued it is based on race.

The court left in place the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which was enacted to address concerns that Native children were being separated from their families and, too frequently, placed in non Native homes.

Tribal leaders have backed the law as a means of preserving their families, traditions and cultures.

EPSTEIN SETTLEMENT: JPMorgan Chase announced a tentative $290 million settlement Monday with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein who accused the bank of being the financial conduit that allowed the financier to continue operating a sex trafficking operation. Epstein was found dead of apparent suicide in jail in August 2019 at age 66.

CONNECTICUT: New Haven, Connecticut, agreed June 10 to a $45 million settlement with Randy Cox, who was paralyzed while being transported handcuffed and without a seat belt in the back of a police van following his arrest last year, the city's mayor and attorneys said.

TED KACZYNSKI (1942-2023): Ted Kaczynski, known as the "Unabomber," who carried out a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people and injured 23, died June 10 by suicide, officials said. 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.

 Associated Press
Dad and daughter head west from Valley Park in epic road trip born of grief Bailee and her dad packed their Nissan Rogue to the brim and took her mom's ashes with them.

Girl dads made a strong showing in this year's Dad & Me look-alike contest, coming in first and second in the online voting. Among all the entries, more than a third featured fathers claiming a strong resemblance to their daughters.

It may be easier to spot similarities among fathers and sons, especially those who wear the same outfits and sport similar hairdos. But the carbon copy features showed up in several of the entries  regardless of clothing or hairstyles. Even in cases where we strained to see any physical similarities, the love shined through.

Our top two vote-getters won tickets to Circus Flora.

First place, online voting

Father: Robert Haubrich, 53, Valley Park

Child: Bailee Haubrich, 19

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

We plan to take a trip to Wisconsin to go fishing.

Second-place, online voting



Father: Nick Bettger, 35, St. Louis

Child: Natalie Bettger, 2

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

We plan on visiting Natalie's grandpa, meeting up with her cousins and barbecuing.

Staff vote favorites

Father: Courtney Robert Sayers Sr., 29, St. Louis

Child: Courtney Robert Sayers Jr., 4

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

Having a big family barbecue and spending lots of time together.

Father: Dwight S. Harris, 71, St. Louis

Child: Ayeesha J. Harris, 37, St. Louis

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

I plan to spend Father's day like every other day, loving and acknowledging all the men in my life, especially my heavenly father, Jehovah.

Father: David J. Hauser, 40, Sunset Hills

Child: Kai J. Hauser, 7

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

Spending time outside with the family.

Katrell and Kaiden

Father: Katrell Trotter, 36, East St. Louis

Child: Kaiden Trotter, 8

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

No special plans. Just hanging out with friends and family. That's what we like to do.

Father: Brian Reinhold, 45 (19 in the photo), Kirkwood

Child: Freeman Reinhold, 22 (19 in the photo), going to school at Kings Point, New York

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

Waiting to be surprised.

Father: Joe Clinch, 41, St. Charles

Child: Jack Clinch, 8

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

Like any true Dad, Joe will be spending his entire Father's Day with his three children in a car on the way home from a family trip to Minnesota (winding down from a fun trip filled with lots of swimming, fishing, hiking and quality time).

Father: Donald F. Beckley, 73, Frontenac

Child: Frederick Beckley, 36, Long Beach, California

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

Spending it with friends.

Father: Daryl Williams II, 31, East St. Louis

Child: Elliana Williams, 2

How do you plan to spend Father's Day?

For Father's Day we plan on having a picnic in the park and going to the zoo. Or if its too hot for the littles, we will go to the Science Center.
ST. LOUIS  Homer G. Phillips grew up in Sedalia, Mo., son of a Methodist minister who had been a slave. Phillips studied law at Howard University in Washington and moved here just before the World's Fair in 1904. He married Ida Perle Alexander, an actress, and established himself as a lawyer.

Phillips became prominent in civil rights and politics. He was a founder of the Citizens' Liberty League, advocating for Blacks after city residents voted in 1916 to mandate segregation in housing. He was influential in the local Republican Party, a common affiliation for blacks before the New Deal, and made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1926. Republican mayors sought his advice.

Phillips also was a leader in getting a new hospital for Blacks, who used the inadequate City Hospital No. 2, a former medical college in the Mill Creek Valley. The city set money aside from a 1923 bond issue for the new hospital.

Blacks wanted their new hospital in a black neighborhood. White doctors wanted it next to City Hospital No. 1, south of downtown. Phillips persuaded city officials to build at St. Ferdinand Avenue and Whittier Street, in the Ville neighborhood, home to the black business class.

He served his clients with the same zeal. In 1926, while representing an insurance company, he exposed a phony death done to collect on a $3,000 life policy. The proof was the cement in a casket that he had delivered to a St. Louis courtroom.

On the morning of June 18, 1931, Phillips left his home at 1121 Aubert Avenue, near Fountain Park, and walked to Delmar Boulevard to catch a streetcar downtown. Two men approached him as he leaned on a windowsill, reading a newspaper. One man slugged Phillips, and one or both of them opened fire. They fled north in an alley as Phillips, 51, died on the sidewalk.

Police quickly suspected the family of the late George Fitzhugh, whose estate Phillips had protected for Fitzhugh's daughter from a counterclaim. The family had objected to Phillip's fee, and one relative made public threats after Phillips refused to release the settlement from escrow.

Police arrested Fitzhugh's grandson, George McFarland, 18, and McFarland's friend, Augustus Brooks, 19, and charged them with murder. Thousands packed St. Paul AME Church, then at Leffingwell and Lawton avenues, for Phillips' funeral. The Board of Aldermen voted quickly to name the new Black hospital in his memory.

In separate trials in 1932, McFarland and Brooks were acquitted. One witness couldn't be found, another had suffered a mental breakdown. The case remains unsolved.

Homer G. Phillips Hospital, opened in 1937 and closed in 1979, now serves as a senior housing center.

Read more stories from Tim O'Neil's Look Back series.
WINDHOEK, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Conservationists in Namibia, who are unhappy about the government's decision to harvest 86,000 Cape fur seals during the 2023 harvesting season, say that they are determined to carry on their quest to rescue seals while reducing plastic pollution in the ocean.

The government of Namibia supports the harvesting, claiming the seal population may damage the fishing industry which is strategic to the Namibian economy. It recently approved the total allowable catch that will see 80,000 pups and 6,000 bulls being harvested during the 2023 harvesting season, which will run from July 1 to Nov. 15 in Namibia.

In an interview with Xinhua, Naude Dreyer, co-founder of Oceans Conservation Namibia, a non-governmental organization, described the decision as desolate. "We are always very disheartened when we hear the seal harvest announcements. For the last few years, the allocated numbers have been the same, however, the market for the pelts (which the pups are harvested for) has totally collapsed, so it has been mainly the bulls that have been targeted over recent years," said Dreyer.

Dreyer runs a private initiative that rescues marine animals, mainly seals from entanglement in plastic pollution as well as focusing on the reduction of plastic pollution in the ocean.

"The big common notion is that there are too many seals. This is not true at all. The ecosystem will always balance itself out, and the fact that there are so many seals is a sign that the system is healthy. So in short, no - the harvest is not necessary to balance the ecosystem at all. The depletion of fish stocks is caused by overfishing, not seals," he explained to Xinhua.

Romeo Muyunda, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, said seals are important to tourism, but excessive numbers may be detrimental to their existence and the country's fish stocks. "It is important therefore that their numbers are managed," he said.

According to Dreyer, the continual harvesting does not deter them from doing their conservation work.

"It just makes us more determined to keep doing what we are doing to increase the welfare of our Cape fur seals," he said, adding that most trapped seals are mainly affected by discarded fishing gear and plastics.

"We use social media as a tool to raise awareness. We catch and free around 700 seals per year," he further said.

Dreyer also hoped to see the government fulfill its pledge to end single-use plastics in Namibia and enforce as well as monitor stricter laws on the dumping of waste in the ocean.

Namibia's coastline is home to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, which is one of the largest settlements of Cape fur seals in the world. Namibia has half of an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million population, while the remainder lives in South Africa and Angola. 
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WILDWOOD  Tom Downey is taking on City Hall.

Its not really a fight he wants to have. But 10 months after filing a request to put solar panels on his roof to decrease energy costs, he feels like he doesnt have a choice.

The city government, led by Mayor Jim Bowlin, has delayed approval and then denied it. And the city council has proposed a new ordinance that would make it nearly impossible to efficiently use solar energy in homes.

The entire process has been pretty frustrating, Downey says. It didnt seem like we were having a serious conversation.

So earlier this month, Downey took matters into his own hands. He sued the city in federal court, alleging a taking of his property rights.

Under the existing law, Downey has a right to install solar panels on his home in the city in the lawful manner that he proposes, the lawsuit reads, as is exemplified by others installing solar panels in a very similar manner under the existing law prior to Downeys permit application.

The dispute started last August, when Downey filed for a conditional use permit to install solar panels on the front of his roof, which faces west. There is not a house across the street from Downeys home in the Wynncrest subdivision; he faces a park. His solar experts, and those from Ameren Missouri, helped him devise the plan, to take advantage of the afternoon sun, and reduce his utility bill during peak times. He applied for a $6,200 incentive from Ameren to help pay for the installation. Those incentives expire in July.

There are other homes in Wildwood that have front-facing solar panels  two of them are in my neighborhood. Downey thought he took great care to make sure his installation was of high quality. He installed matching black shingles on his roof; made sure there were no aluminum brackets; so the black panels matched the roof. When he presented his plan to the planning and zoning commission, he thought most seemed to appreciate the work he put into it. The main opposition seemed to come from Bowlin, and some residents who suggest solar panels should always be on the backs of houses.

In Wildwood, the mayor has a vote on the planning and zoning commission. The commission eventually voted no on the permit; so did the council. Meanwhile, it proposed a highly restrictive new ordinance that would make it impossible for Downey and other homeowners to install any front-facing solar panels.

That got the attention of Frances Babb. She lives one town over, in Clarkson Valley. More than a decade ago, Babb and her husband sued the city in an eerily similar case, when they were denied the right to install solar. The Babbs won in court and became advocates for better policies in the state. Last year, with Babbs support, the Missouri Legislature passed a law that restricts homeowners associations from trying to deny solar installations. That law took effect in January.

Solar is a tremendous return on investment, Babb says. Shes urged the Wildwood City Council to back away from its proposed ordinance, which would be so restrictive that it would practically ban any efficient installation of solar, she says. Babb says Downeys proposal is as non-obtrusive as possible.

Downey got the solar bug around the time Babb was battling her city. He installed solar on a commercial building he owned in Chesterfield and recouped his costs through lower utility bills in less than a decade. He sold the building and the solar increased its value, he said. Indeed, the National Association of Realtors says thats the standard nationally, that residential solar increases home values.

So why is Wildwood fighting it? Thats not clear. After the ordinance ran into trouble, Bowlin said he planned to survey residents of the city to get their views on solar. Until that information is available, it would be premature for me to comment, Bowlin told me.

Downey doesnt understand why Wildwood would take a stand in direct opposition to the trend nationally. Ameren is investing in solar power, including large power producing solar farms along Interstate 70. The state Legislature and Public Utilities Commission have made increasing solar energy the official public policy of the state. But the policy in Wildwood, at the moment, seems to be that some people can have solar, and other people cant.

I feel that my rights are being violated, Downey says. I hope that Wildwood will change their minds and see the folly of their ways. I dont know why you would write an ordinance in 2023 that goes the opposite direction of everybody else.

Messenger: In Wildwood, civility pushed to the side as mayor and council do battle Two camps seem to be fighting about everything in West County suburb. Is it a sign of the political times?
On Sunday morning, our reporters visited the scene of the shooting. See this story for the newest information.

ST. LOUIS  One juvenile was killed and nine others injured early Sunday during a shooting in downtown St. Louis, police said.

Officers responded around 1:05 a.m. to a building near the intersection of Washington Avenue and North 14th Street where they found 10 juveniles had been shot. One was dead, nine others were taken to the hospital for their injures.

Police did not release any other details Sunday morning.

More details have emerged. See stltoday.com to see the latest.
UPDATED at 9 a.m. Monday with police now saying 11 people were shot

ST. LOUIS  Ten teens were injured and one killed in a shooting at a Washington Avenue office building early Sunday, authorities said, in what appeared to be a night of partying gone awry. Liquor bottles, cigar wrappers, gauze and bloodstains still littered the crime scene later that morning.

Police had arrested one teen, a 17-year-old boy, in the area and turned him over to juvenile authorities.

Shooting victims ranged in age from 15 to 19 years old, police said.

A 12th person was injured at the party, but she was not shot  a 17-year-old girl was trampled as she ran down the stairs to get away.

Makao Moore, a 17-year-old boy, was killed in the gunfire.

The incident once again turned the spotlight on a downtown district that has struggled in recent years with out-of-control parties in rented apartments, drag racing and violent arguments at night clubs.

St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy said at a news conference that the department is working hard to concentrate patrols and crack down on downtown mayhem, but Sundays shooting was a setback.

This is another wake-up call for our region, said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones.

Police are looking for other possible suspects and expect to release surveillance photographs on Monday.

The incident started just after 1 a.m. Sunday morning, police said. Dozens of teens, both adults and juveniles, had gotten into the fifth floor of 1409 Washington Avenue, a loft building that had been converted into glass-walled suites, used in the workday as offices for tutoring centers and home health care providers and salons by hair stylists, makeup artists and massage therapists, among others.

When the shooting broke out, police said, dozens of people surged out of the building onto an adjacent parking lot. Police entered the building and found the crime scene on the fifth floor. Officers recovered handguns, AR-style rifles and multiple types of shell casings.

Officials said Sunday the party had been advertised on social media, and attendees had to message the organizers to get in. Police didnt say how the teens gained access to the building.

The buildings owner and management company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But downtown neighborhood advocates and business owners who worked at 1409 Washington said they were frustrated and upset.

Makeup artist Brie Jackson, 34, has rented a suite in the building for three years and said shed complained multiple times about the doors being unlocked after hours and homeless people getting into the buildings basement. She said it made her feel unsafe.

Im flabbergasted, she said. The building should not have been open.

The wreckage left behind on Sunday morning told a harrowing tale.

The building is a century-old, five-story office building with ground-floor retail space and glass-enclosed offices on the upper floors. Its a block from the popular City Museum and a block off busy North 14th Street.

The lock on the front door was broken Sunday morning, and no crime scene tape remained. Stepping off the elevator on the fifth floor, small offices containing desks, massage tables, salon chairs or couches lined winding hallways.

But the glass door to one office was shattered. Roughly a dozen paces away, a bloody handprint marked a trail toward an 18-by-12-foot conference room, one of its walls now piles of glass. At least five bullet holes pierced the drywall.

Office tables had been pushed to the side, and in the center of the room, bloodstains, gauze and paramedics' syringes remained. Nearby, a table had been overturned and broken.

In a kitchen area, cigar wrappers were scattered on a counter while spilled red wine left a sickly sweet smell. Another glass door was shattered. An empty tequila bottle was propped up on a drinking fountain.

At the end of the hallway, a large bloodstain marked the floor. Latex gloves, an oxygen mask, a backpack and two pairs of shoes were discarded nearby.

Bunnei Johnson, 21, arrived on the fifth floor just after 10 a.m., her mouth agape.

Oh my god, she said when she saw the shattered glass. She hadnt heard there was a shooting the night before.

Johnson walked all the way past the conference room and the kitchen to her suite, which had remained undisturbed. Johnson, a hair stylist, grabbed two curling irons and shook her head.

I actually want to leave as soon as possible, she said.

Dan Pistor, president of a downtown neighborhood association, said the incident was part of a broader issue downtown of teens hosting parties that get out of control. Many times, people rent out apartment units through rental sites like Airbnb or VRBO and parties get out of hand, often turning violent, he said.

But it can also happen in commercial buildings, too, he said.

Everybody needs to be aware of it and be proactive in securing their spaces, he said.

At noon Sunday, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Democrat, joined Jones and other city leaders in calling for stricter gun control laws and for regional investment in safe late-night activities for youth.

Jones said the city planned to extend hours and programming at the Wohl and Marquette recreation centers on Friday and Saturday nights to 10 p.m. for youths 15 and younger and until 1 a.m. for those 16 and older.

But the entire region needed to focus on the solution, she said, noting that kids who come from surrounding counties have also been involved with problems downtown.

I need families to hear me loud and clear: Downtown is not a 1 a.m. destination for your 15-year-old, she said. It is not a place to drop children off unsupervised.

Editors note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of Makao Moore.
CLAYTON  It was mid-May. The St. Louis County Council was considering a bill that would largely ban people from standing or walking in county roadways.

And the issue was causing a fuss: People with disabilities were worried. Residents complained it could make their jogs illegal. Some suspected the council was looking to keep panhandlers from approaching drivers.

The bills sponsor, Councilman Ernie Trakas, insisted it wasnt aimed at any one activity. He was just trying to keep residents safe.

The simple fact of the matter is we have dangerous conditions that are existing on our roadways, Trakas, a Republican from South County, said at a council meeting then. We have a responsibility as a legislative body to do everything we can to address it. The idea that it is targeting against panhandling is just not accurate. Theyre not singled out in any way, shape or form.

But emails recently obtained by the Post-Dispatch through an open records request show that Trakas and other council members indeed had panhandling in mind when they worked on the bill.

Thank you for contacting me regarding vagrancy and panhandling on roads in south St. Louis County, Trakas wrote in reply to a constituent in April. The county had an ordinance to address the issue, Trakas said in the email, but it was shut down by a federal judge, who said the law violated First Amendment rights to free speech.

I have been working with the St. Louis County Counselors office to craft legislation creating a new ordinance that will survive any court challenge, Trakas continued. I will be introducing this legislation on April 25, 2023.

And he did.

Trakas now says that those emails do not show that the bill was targeting panhandling. It was designed to cure all infirmities of the prior ordinance, he said.

Why would I want to draft something that a court would find fault with? I wanted something drafted that I had reasonable confidence would be fair and neutral, Trakas said in an interview. But the panhandling was tertiary at best.

Still, he wasnt the only council member to discuss the bill with constituents.

A losing legal battle

Roadway panhandling has been a thorn in the side of county officials for years. But the issue came to a head four years ago.

In June 2019, Robert Fernandez, a homeless man, filed a federal suit against St. Louis County alleging police had cited him more than 30 times and arrested him four times for begging in roadways, violating his right to free speech. That October, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. granted a preliminary injunction against the county from enforcing its vagrancy and solicitation ordinances.

The council scrambled to update the laws. County attorneys recommended it repeal at least one, banning vagrancy. Trakas suggested a new ordinance, empowering police to ticket aggressive panhandlers who could cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm. The council voted 4-3 against it, and tabled the issue.

Then, in 2021, Limbaugh ruled in favor of Fernandez, struck down three county ordinances, awarded Fernandez $150,000 and his attorneys another $139,000.

The fight, however, continued. Last year, officials from several suburban cities said street begging was surging, as were resident complaints. They began to change their own municipal ordinances in hopes of keeping panhandlers off streets.

By December, Fernandez was back in front of a judge. This time, the West County suburb of Des Peres had cited him for seeking donations near the West County Center mall.

He does what he does, Fernandez attorney, Bevis Schock, told municipal Judge Chuck H. Billings at the hearing. Im here today to defend his right to do so.

Des Peres City Administrator Douglas Harms said then that the city had long banned soliciting on roadways, both for charities and for people asking for cash.

Its purely a matter of public safety, Harms said then. We get a lot of phone calls from people with safety concerns about them in the medians.

In April of this year, a county resident contacted Trakas. He said panhandling was getting worse at Interstate 55 and Bayless Avenue. Several people were often congregating there, asking for money and occasionally harassing passersby, he said.

This is creating a number of issues for the community, including increased traffic congestion, inordinate amounts of garbage strewn around the area, and the potential for accidents as people are walking in and out of traffic, he wrote.

It needs to be addressed, he said.

It makes our city appear dirty, unsafe, and unwelcoming.

Bill 86 is not what you think it is

A few days later, on April 21, Republican Councilman Mark Harder of Ballwin emailed Trakas and Councilman Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton, about a conversation he had with Manchesters chief of police about how well the citys laws work to curb people in the roadways soliciting.

Chief Scott Will told Harder that officers require panhandlers to solicit from the sidewalk and if they want to collect a donation, they must tell the driver to meet them at a nearby parking lot.

So far, no one has chosen to work under those guidelines, Will wrote. Instead, they have just relocated.

Guys. FYI, Harder wrote to Trakas and Hancock. They are having good outcomes.

Trakas introduced Bill 86 on April 25. It barred being in the roadway on any street in the county, with a few exceptions, including streets without sidewalks.

At the next council meeting a week later, Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, a Democrat from Maplewood, said the bill unfairly targeted homeless people. Within a few days, joggers, walkers, people with disabilities and pedestrian safety groups said the bill would unfairly target them, too. It represented a step backward, they said, in developing safe streets for people who arent in a car.

And emails from residents started flowing into council members inboxes. Both sides seemed to think it was about panhandling.

While I understand the goal is related to panhandlers, this bill needs to be re-thought, wrote a Wildwood resident. It is supposed to improve pedestrian safety, but instead it prohibits very broad activity.

I hope you all see the benefits of passing this bill, wrote an Affton resident, not only for those looking for a handout but for the drivers who have to sometimes drive around to miss hitting them.

Daily, I have to cross Old State (Road) when I walk my dog because there is no sidewalk or crosswalk, wrote an Ellisville resident. This bill will put an undue burden upon our community for residents such as myself.

But to the last note, at least, Harder responded:

Bill 86 is not what you think it is or what you have been told, he wrote. This bill is about loitering and walking on medians and in the traffic lanes of major roads and intersections.

Trakas delayed the bill a week to work with county attorneys on possible tweaks. But he ultimately moved forward with the original bill because any changes would put the county at risk of a discrimination lawsuit, he said.

The bill passed the seven-member council with four votes on May 17.

By the end, however, multiple advocacy groups stepped in. The local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, among others, lobbied County Executive Sam Page to veto the bill. It was, the ACLU said, a clear attempt to target already marginalized groups, namely, the unhoused.

Trakas and Harder both maintained the bill had nothing to do with panhandling.

Still, on May 30, Page vetoed it. It would have unfairly affected people with disabilities, among others, he said.

He didnt mention roadside panhandling.
If you were looking for a silver lining in the cloud of smoke thats descended on New York as wildfires raged through Canadas forests, consider the effect a similar natural disaster in 2019 and 2020 had on the politics of climate on the opposite side of the world.

Australia has long had a reputation as a climate laggard. It vies with Indonesia and Qatar as the biggest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, and its leaders have spent decades blocking environmental action.

Former Prime Minister John Howard refused to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. His successor Tony Abbott once dismissed the science of climate change as absolute crap. Scott Morrison, the incumbent at the time of the 2019 fires, brandished a lump of coal on the floor of parliament to taunt the Labor opposition.

Just a few months before the start of the fire season, the countrys May 2019 general election was seen as having dealt a decisive blow against green policies. A perception that Labor was not supportive of the mining industry cost the party votes in regions dependent on digging up solid fuel, according to the partys post-mortem into the election. The party's post-election analysis was released in November -- just as the fires were hitting disastrous proportions. Fearful of being seen highlighting climate-related issues, Labor and the broader political-media class were largely silent on the fires at first, even as red smoke and floating ash cloaked Sydney.

The unmistakable devastation of the subsequent fire season, with its images of flame-ringed holiday towns and fears of health problems, changed all that. Polling done by the Australian National University in early 2020 found that confidence in the federal government fell by 11 percentage points over the bushfire period, while the number seeing the environment as a crucial issue rose 8 percentage points. Some 78% of the population had a friend or family who was directly exposed to the catastrophe.

Images of Morrison holidaying in Hawaii while the fires raged and being heckled by residents of Cobargo, a burnt-out town in the coastal hinterland southeast of the capital Canberra, became emblematic of his collapsing premiership. The 2022 election delivered the greenest parliament on record, with three new Green and six new climate-focused independent members of Parliament added to the 151-member governing House of Representatives. The new government in March passed a bill mandating emissions reductions of 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, the most significant environmental legislation in a decade.

That sounds like resounding evidence that the calamity affecting the U.S. in recent weeks should stiffen public determination to take action on global warming, even if subsequent elections and court rulings deliver victories for fossil-fuel interests. Dont get too excited.

For one thing, natural disasters can have a curiously value-free effect on voter behavior. Such events dont so much cause people to shift toward particular views, as punish whichever party is in power. That was bad for the climate-denialist government in Australia in 2019, but it also might be bad for the climate-focused government in the U.S. this year. An inept response would be likelier to do damage to the Biden administration than to its opponents, as President George W. Bush found after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The effects of disasters can also be limited and perverse. Though support for new coal mines in Australia fell from 45.3% to 37% after the bushfires, those who had backed the industry beforehand and were subsequently directly affected by smoke and fire were more, rather than less likely, to favor them. Gilmore, the Labor-held electorate where footage of Morrison being heckled went viral, saw a counterintuitive swing toward his party and is now the most competitive seat in the country.

Overlay the smoke maps of the northeastern U.S. on electoral outcomes, and its clear that many of the worst-affected bits of the country are in parts of New York and New England where Democratic politicians are already dominant. More purple regions such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan have also been affected, but with nothing like the hellish pollution settling over the Hudson.

A 2019 analysis of 73 separate studies on public opinion and climate experiences found that extreme weather only had a weak effect on peoples views, far less than traditional factors such as underlying partisanship. To the limited extent that natural disasters shape the environmental opinions of U.S. voters, it appears to mostly happen to skeptics who are directly affected. Voters in swing states, however, arent the ones breathing in soot right now.
New polling shows trouble ahead for Republican politicians who continue blocking any attempt at rational restrictions on guns: Young conservatives of the kind the GOP will increasingly need in the future are far more open to required psychological exams for gun purchasers and other firearms limits than are their older conservative counterparts.

The reason is hardly mysterious: Gen Z  including its more right-leaning members  have all grown up in a country drowning in gun violence thanks to older conservatives stubborn resistance to even the mildest gun-safety proposals.

Mass school shootings have become such a routine part of American life that its easy to forget it hasnt always been like this. The start of this dark era is generally put at 1999, the year of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, which left 15 dead.

As the nation reeled from the shock of what was then a singular tragedy, a barrage of new firearms restrictions were proposed in Congress. As the debate wore on, it soon became apparent that even this horrific demonstration of the dangers of Americas loose gun laws couldnt budge lawmakers held in thrall to the gun lobby.

It was the same story a little over a dozen years later, when 20 small children and six adults died in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. By then, mass shootings were becoming more common, but this one was uniquely soul-searing. Many assumed the country would finally stop the insanity and impose reasonable restrictions on weapons of war in civilian hands. It didnt.

The rare has become common. In each of the past three years there have been, nationally, more than 600 mass shootings (defined as four victims or more), many of them in schools. This year has seen 200 so far.

In fact, school shootings have become so common that there have been multiple recent reports of the same young people surviving two of them, years and miles apart.

That phenomenon, as much as any other, might finally move the needle.

As Politico reported earlier this month, several recent polls have confirmed that young conservatives as a whole dont share their older counterparts stubborn opposition to gun restrictions. A Harvard poll in the spring found a majority of young conservatives favored mandatory psychological examinations as a condition of purchasing guns.

A separate YouGov poll in March showed millennial and Gen Z Republicans are open to more gun restrictions generally and that that support has grown.

As the chairman of the Texas Young Republican Federation told the website: There are some concerns from Gen Z voters specifically, mainly because theyve had to deal with it more growing up  its become more rampant in society.

Its telling that prominent conservatives can acknowledge such a disturbing fact while still maintaining the partys unreasonable refusal to even discuss reforms like limits on high-capacity magazines, red-flag laws and universal background checks. Thats how thoroughly the party, and too much of the country, has come to view these horrors as inevitable.

They arent. And the fact many young conservatives, at least, seem to understand that provides a glimmer of hope for the future.
A small group of conservative doctors has sought to shape the nation's most contentious policies on abortion and transgender rights by promoting views rejected by the medical establishment as scientific fact, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post that describe the group's internal strategies.

The records show that after long struggling to attract members, the American College of Pediatricians gained outsize political influence in recent years, primarily by using conservative media as a megaphone in its quest to position the group as a reputable source of information.

The organization has successfully lobbied since 2021 for laws in more than a half-dozen states that ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths, with its representatives testifying before state legislatures against the guidelines recommended by mainstream medical groups, according to its records. It gained further national prominence this year as one of the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit to limit access to mifepristone, a key abortion drug.

Despite efforts to invoke the credibility of the medical profession, the American College of Pediatricians is viewed with skepticism by the medical establishment. For years, the group has presented statistics and talking points to state legislators, public school officials and the American public as settled science while internal documents emphasize how religion and morality influence its positions. Meeting minutes from 2021 describe how the organization worked with religious groups to "affect the idea makers through the high courts, professional literature, and legislatures."

It promotes conversion therapy, a discredited practice intended to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ people that most medical societies warn can result in harm. Pediatric experts deemed a June 2022 report crafted by the group that undergirds a new Florida policy banning transgender care for Medicaid recipients as "unscientific." Francis Collins, former longtime director of the National Institutes of Health, accused the group in 2010 of distorting his research to "make a point against homosexuality."

Jill Simons, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, disputed criticism that her organization promotes policies that do not follow science. "Our recommendations are based on the medical research and what is best for children," she said.

Her organization exists to represent "all the good pediatricians out there who agree with us who maybe are afraid to step forward," Simons, a Minneapolis pediatrician, said in an interview with The Post. "Very smart people in the field of medicine have disagreed with a lot of these so-called consensus that is out there."

Sam Wineburg, a Stanford University psychologist who studies online disinformation, highlights the American College of Pediatricians in his research as an example of a group that uses its name and scientific jargon to convey authority. "It looks like an official medical organization, and you're easily duped into thinking that this is the umbrella organization for pediatricians in the United States," Wineburg said, noting the group has "all of the superficial bells and whistles of credibility."

The records of the American College of Pediatricians  a cache of more than 10,000 confidential files including strategic plans, meeting minutes, membership rosters, financial statements and email exchanges spanning at least 15 years  were exposed after the organization left the contents of its Google Drive publicly accessible, according to two people who individually accessed the material following the inadvertent breach and shared copies with The Post. The Post examined the documents' metadata, including the dates of each file's creation and modification, to determine that they have not been recently manipulated. The document breach was first reported by Wired.

Simons characterized the exposure as a "malicious cyberattack and hate crime" that was "intended to intimidate and incapacitate." She would not comment on the contents of the documents.

"Those who are against us know that they can't beat us in debate about the facts of science or the research," Simons said. "This deliberate attack on us shows that the American College of Pediatricians is having a huge impact, and that they're afraid of us."

The organization's quest to ban the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors has culminated in a string of recent legislative wins following lobbying in at least eight states, internal documents show.

Arkansas first enacted such a law in 2021, after Michelle Cretella, then executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, described such care as "experimental and dangerous" to legislators. A federal appeals court temporarily blocked it.

Versions of the law have since passed at least 20 other state legislatures, including Florida, Idaho, Indiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Missouri, Montana, Texas, North Dakota and Louisiana this spring alone; some face court challenges and one was vetoed by a governor. Similar bills are making their way through legislatures in North Carolina and Ohio.

At the federal level, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), an OB/GYN, recently reintroduced legislation endorsed by the American College of Pediatricians that would prevent doctors from performing "gender transition procedures" on minors and bar federal funds from being used for such procedures. Marshall's spokesperson said he is not a member of the group.

The American College of Pediatricians formed in 2002 after dozens of conservative doctors split from the nation's leading interest group of pediatricians, the 67,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics, over the academy's support for same-sex parenting. The academy had determined from its review of scientific literature that children with same-sex parents fare as well as those with heterosexual parents in emotional, cognitive, social and sexual functioning.

Joseph Zanga, founder of the American College of Pediatricians who had led the American Academy of Pediatrics in the late 1990s, described the splinter organization as "a Judeo-Christian, traditionalvalues organization" in a 2003 interview with the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, which promoted conversion therapy. His organization's core beliefs are "that life begins at conception, and that the traditional family unit, headed by an opposite-sex couple, poses far fewer risk factors in the adoption and raising of children," he said at the time. Zanga declined a Post request for an interview.

Internal records from 2010 show how the group tied homosexuality to health risks  even death  in a letter campaign to educators, citing a 1991 study to demonstrate that for each year adolescents delay "self-labeling as 'gay'," the risk of suicide decreases by 20 percent.

According to more recent research, suicide risk rises with therapy directed at changing sexual orientation. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people who experienced conversion therapy were almost twice as likely to think about suicide and to attempt suicide compared with peers who had not experienced conversion therapy, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

The documents reviewed by The Post include a 2010 letter from the American College of Pediatricians to 14,800 public school superintendents, urging school officials not to affirm any student expressing homosexuality. It directed them to a website operated by the group that pushed "sexual reorientation therapy" for those with "unwanted homosexual attractions."

Collins, the former NIH director who led the international Human Genome Project, said in a written statement at the time that the American College of Pediatricians pulled language out of context from his 2006 book to "support an ideology that can cause unnecessary anguish and encourage prejudice." The group's characterization of homosexuality in its letter to superintendents is "misleading and incorrect, and it is particularly troubling that they are distributing it in a way that will confuse school children and their parents," Collins said.

In recent years, the group has trained its focus on transgender care.

Records show the American College of Pediatricians launched a campaign against a St. Louisbased Catholic health system's transgender care policy in 2017 after SSM Health outlined guidance that included hormone therapy and potential referrals for "gender assignment surgery."

Cretella, then president of the American College of Pediatricians, urged the archbishop of St. Louis at the time, Robert Carlson, to issue a statement "that will denounce SSM Health's embrace of transgender ideology over science and sound medical ethics, and demand that they rescind this policy," according to a Feb. 8, 2017, letter.

Carlson, in his March 31, 2017, response, informed Cretella that he had contacted other bishops who had SSM hospitals in their diocese or archdiocese. Carlson also included a copy of a letter to SSM Health requesting the system cease the implementation of the transgender treatment policy within the next 30 days and revise it in accordance with Catholic moral theology.

SSM Health, which operates hospitals in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, told The Post it changed its transgender care policy in 2018 to comply with Catholic directives, but it would not say how the policy changed.

Kellan Baker, executive director of the Whitman-Walker Institute, a D.C.-based research, policy and advocacy center focused on LGBTQ health, accused the American College of Pediatricians of "intentionally and aggressively laundering pseudoscience through this veneer of respectability."

"At first blush without knowing what's actually behind it, you would think it is a pediatric medical professional organization," Baker said. "It's not. It's a tiny group of fringe conservatives who didn't like the fact that the field was leaving them behind."
Who and where  From left: Denise and Bob Dowd of St. Louis and Betti and Jorge Stockmann of Bielefeld, Germany, at a farm in France.

The trip  The couples traveled to the Perigord region of France in the Dordogne valley in October 2021. They stayed in a 300-year-old barn conversion in Cubjac and toured a family-owned truffle farm.

Travel tip  Get out of the big cities and tourist traps. Go into the small towns and villages to really get to know another culture, the real countryside views and the average citizen.
HOUSTON, June 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Emerson Firm, PLLC (Emerson) a law firm based in Houston, TX is investigating the data breach at Managed Care North America (MCNA). This investigation relates to the theft of sensitive personal identifiable information (PII) of up to 9 million patients.

MCNA is the nations largest dental insurer for government subsidized Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Programs, meaning that many insureds are low-income or belong to other vulnerable populations. Reports also indicate that childrens personal data was accessed during the breach.

It has been reported that hackers gained unauthorized access to MCNA Dentals computer network on Feb. 26, 2023, and stole a hoard of sensitive personal data. A ransomware group, LockBit, publicly claimed responsibility for the attack and demanded $10 million. The cybercriminals published stolen files on a dark web page in April when the ransom was not paid.

Emerson is a law firm specializing in results, integrity, and personal service. Emerson represents consumers throughout the nation and has significant data breach class action experience with proven results. Emerson lawyers have devoted their practice to complex commercial litigation for more than forty years and have recovered over one billion dollars for consumers in class actions throughout the United States.

IMPORTANT: If you believe that you were affected by the MCNA data breach AND you received a Notice letter from MCNA, please contact us immediately to protect your rights. It makes no difference what state you reside in. Contact plaintiffs counsel via e-mail to John G. Emerson at [email protected] and see additional information on our website at https://eclassactions.com/enzo-biochem-data-breach-3033/

Source: Emerson Firm, PLLC
This photo taken on June 18, 2023 shows a tap cordoning off the burnt students' dormitory inside the Lhubiriha Secondary School, in Mpondwe, Uganda. Calm has returned to Mpondwe town in Uganda's southwestern district of Kasese, where the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 41 people, most of them students, a government official said Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Calm has returned to Mpondwe town in Uganda's southwestern district of Kasese, where the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 41 people, most of them students, a government official said Sunday.

"There is no problem on the ground. We are normal and calm. There is nothing to worry about," Joe Walusimbi, resident commissioner for Kasese district, told Xinhua by phone.

"The military is leading the operations to hunt down these attackers and rescue the students," Walusimbi added.

Ugandan security forces blamed the ADF rebels for attacking Lhubirira Secondary School on Friday night. So far, 37 students, a security guard and three members of the local community have been killed in the attack. Furthermore, eight students were injured and six are suspected to have been abducted by the rebels.

The military said Saturday in a statement that it had deployed both aerial and ground forces to pursue the attackers who could be retreating to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The ADF, which is a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is a Ugandan rebel group that is holed up in the jungles of eastern DRC. The rebel group is blamed for causing havoc in villages in eastern DRC.

The Ugandan military and their Congolese counterparts launched joint operations against the rebel group in November 2021 shortly after the ADF launched bomb attacks in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. 

Relatives of victims killed by rebels grieve as they wait outside the Bwera hospital mortuary in Mpondwe, Uganda, June 18, 2023. Calm has returned to Mpondwe town in Uganda's southwestern district of Kasese, where the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 41 people, most of them students, a government official said Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Relatives carry a coffin of a villager who was killed by rebels outside the Bwera hospital mortuary in Mpondwe, Uganda, June 18, 2023. Calm has returned to Mpondwe town in Uganda's southwestern district of Kasese, where the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 41 people, most of them students, a government official said Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Members of security forces guard outside the Bwera hospital mortuary in Mpondwe, Uganda, June 18, 2023. Calm has returned to Mpondwe town in Uganda's southwestern district of Kasese, where the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 41 people, most of them students, a government official said Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
LE BOURGET, France , June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a resurgence in international traffic and domestic air travel back to pre-pandemic levels, Boeing [NYSE: BA] today projected global demand for 42,595 new commercial jets by 2042, valued at $8 trillion . Boeing released its 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), the company's forecast of 20-year demand for commercial airplanes and services, in advance of the Paris Air Show.

The new CMO comes three years after the pandemic grounded most of the global fleet. Key findings include:

Passenger traffic continuing to outpace global economic growth of 2.6%.

The global fleet nearly doubling to 48,600 jets, expanding 3.5% per year.

Airlines replacing about half of the global fleet with new, more fuel-efficient models.

"The aviation industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability after unprecedented disruption, with airlines responding to challenges, simplifying their fleets, improving efficiency and capitalizing on resurgent demand," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "Looking to the future of air travel, our 2023 CMO reflects further evolution of passenger traffic tied to global growth of the middle class, investments in sustainability, continued growth for low-cost carriers, and air cargo demand to serve evolving supply chains and express cargo delivery."

Boeing's projections for regional demand and key trends through 2042 include:

Asia-Pacific markets to represent more than 40% of global demand with half of that total in China .

markets to represent more than 40% of global demand with half of that total in . South Asia's fleet will expand more than 7% annually, the world's fastest rate, with India accounting for more than 90% of the region's passenger traffic.

fleet will expand more than 7% annually, the world's fastest rate, with accounting for more than 90% of the region's passenger traffic. North America and Europe each will account for about 20% of global demand.

and each will account for about 20% of global demand. Low-cost carriers will operate more than 40% of the single-aisle fleet in 2042, up from 10% 20 years ago.

After omitting demand for Russia and Central Asia in last year's CMO due to uncertainty in the region, this year's forecast covers Russia and Central Asia in the Eurasia region, which comprises about 3% of the global fleet by 2042.

and in last year's CMO due to uncertainty in the region, this year's forecast covers and in the Eurasia region, which comprises about 3% of the global fleet by 2042. Commercial Services forecasts a total served market worth $3.8 trillion , including digital solutions that increase efficiency and reduce cost; robust demand for parts and supply chain solutions; growing maintenance and modification options; and effective training to enhance safety and support the pilot and technician pipeline.

Also in the 20-year forecast period, Boeing anticipates demand for these models:

New single-aisle airplanes will account for more than 75% of all new deliveries, up slightly from the 2022 outlook, and totaling more than 32,000 airplanes.

New widebody jets will be nearly 20% of deliveries, with more than 7,400 airplanes enabling airlines to open new markets and serve existing routes more efficiently.

Air cargo will continue to outpace global trade growth, with carriers requiring 2,800 dedicated freighters. This includes more than 900 new widebodies as well as converted narrow-body and widebody models.

NEW DELIVERIES (2023-2042)

Regional Jet 1,810 Single Aisle 32,420 Widebody 7,440 Freighter 925 Total 42,595

Boeing has published the CMO annually since 1961. As the longest-running jet forecast, the CMO is regarded as the most comprehensive analysis of the commercial aviation industry. Learn more about the Commercial Market Outlook on Boeing.com. Boeing will release its complete Pilot and Technician Outlook the week of July 24 .

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com.

Contact:

Jim Proulx

Boeing Media Relations

[email protected]

+1 (206) 850-2102

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-forecasts-demand-for-42-600-new-commercial-jets-over-next-20-years-301853705.html

SOURCE Boeing
BEIJING , June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A personal letter written by Chinese President Xi Jinping to his father Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002) in 2001 revealed how his father's words and deeds run deep in Xi Jinping's outlook on thrifty life, hard work and state governance, especially his people-centered philosophy.



On Oct 15, 2001 , the 88th birthday of Xi Zhongxun, the Xi family had a rare reunion. Xi Jinping , then governor of east China's Fujian Province , was unable to attend the family event due to work commitments. The apologetic son wrote a letter of gratitude to his father.



In the letter, he spoke fondly of his everlasting affection for his parents and of the many noble qualities he learned from his father.



Xi Zhongxun was one of the first-generation central leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He was always a man for the people.



When he became the Party chief of Suide County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province , in 1943, Xi Zhongxun immediately required local officials to abstain from complacency and solidly serve the 520,000 local residents.



When Xi Zhongxun arrived in south China's Guangdong to be the provincial Party chief in 1978, he worked day and night and visited 23 counties under the scorching sun.



On Oct 1, 1999 , Xi Zhongxun, then 86, watched a grand military parade and a mass pageantry on the Tian'anmen Rostrum marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China . He had a friendly conversation with the central leadership and said "We should never forget that the country is the people, the people are the country."



"Like a willing ox, you worked hard in silence for the Chinese people. Your deeds inspired me to devote my life to the cause of serving the people and paying back my splendid motherland and my fellow people," Xi Jinping wrote in the letter.



Xi Zhongxun served the country throughout his life and his fine family tradition is like a mirror, a benchmark, and a textbook. As he said to his children, "I have not left you any wealth, but a good reputation."

Link: https://youtu.be/ISHmbsWfma4

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cctv-fathers-influence-on-xi-in-people-centered-philosophy-301853735.html

SOURCE CCTV+
FILE PHOTO: A company logo is seen at the AstraZeneca site in Macclesfield, Britain, May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

(Reuters) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca is drafting a plan to spin off its China business, and listing a separate unit in Hong Kong is being viewed as an option, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

A separation might not ultimately take place, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter, with one of them saying listing the entity in Shanghai was also possible.

The company would seek to be a patriotic company in China that "loves the Communist Party", its China president said in May. Last year, the country accounted for 13% of AstraZeneca's total sales, and the company is China's biggest drugmaker.

The spin off could protect AstraZeneca from tensions between China and other global powers, while the company retained control of the business, the FT's report said.

It added the idea has been around for years but was recently sidelined by a global biotech downturn.

AstraZeneca said it did not comment on "rumours or speculations around future strategy or M&A."

(Reporting by Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal; Editing by Chris Reese and Diane Craft)
A Boeing Dreamlifter sits on the tarmac at their campus in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., May 30, 2023. Gavin McIntyre/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Valerie Insinna

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. planemaker Boeing slightly raised its annual 20-year forecast for new jetliner deliveries, propelled by the strength of the narrowbody market fueled by demand from low-cost carriers.

Boeing expects airlines will need to buy 42,595 jets from now until 2042, up from 41,170 planes in its previous 20-year forecast last year.

The latest projection -- released on Sunday ahead of the Paris Airshow -- is still lower than the 43,610 new jets that were predicted as part of the market outlook in 2021, when Russian aircraft demand was factored in.

Boeing expects that narrowbody jets like its 737 MAX or the A320neo family made by European rival Airbus will dominate aircraft deliveries, with 32,420 single-aisle jets delivered through 2042.

That demand will be driven by low-cost carriers, which are slated to double the size of their current fleets, said Darren Hulst, Boeing's vice president of commercial marketing, during a briefing with reporters ahead of the report's release.

Deliveries from now until 2042 are also expected to include 7,440 widebody planes, 1,810 regional jets and 925 freighters. About half of new jet deliveries will replace older models, while the other half will grow airlines' fleets, Boeing predicts.

"The end of the recovery has played out largely as we've expected, with a few different nuances and dynamics," such as a reduction in demand for regional jets compared to last year as interest in narrowbody planes grows, Hulst said.

Boeing expects the global aircraft fleet to almost double over the next 20 years, from about 24,500 jets in 2022 to 48,600 by 2042. Last year's outlook predicted a global fleet of 43,470 aircraft in 2041.

The company also raised its industrywide passenger traffic forecast growth rate slightly from 3.8% to 4%. And while the air cargo market is taking "a little bit of a breather," the estimated 3% annual growth in trade over the next 20 years will provide a tailwind for future demand, Hulst said.

"I think we'll again see how resilient the demand for air cargo is because it's consistently around 3.5% to 4% growth," he said.

Although Chinese air traffic remained depressed in 2022, Hulst said Boeing remains "very bullish" on China, which will make up 20% of the market, with the rest of Asia making up another 22% of demand.

Airbus, which published its own market forecast on Wednesday, also raised its delivery projections, estimating that 40,850 new jets would be handed over to customers through 2042.

(Reporting by Valerie Insinna; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Indian army soldiers patrol during a security operation in hill and valley areas in the northeastern state of Manipur, India, June 7, 2023. Indian Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Zarir Hussain

GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Indian authorities said on Sunday they had started to relax a curfew imposed in violence-hit Manipur after 45 days of civil unrest in the north-east state, seeking to reduce anger spilling onto the streets and restore normalcy.

"We have decided to remove curfew from 5 am until 5 pm to enable residents to buy food, medicines, and other essentials," said Diana Devi, a local government official based in capital city of Imphal, not far from the border with Myanmar.

Manipur has experienced widespread violence since May 3, following protests by Indigenous communities sparked by resentment over economic benefits and quotas for government jobs and education reserved for Kukis, an ethnic group, who mostly live in the hills.

Meiteis, the dominant community in the low lands of the state, who account for half of state's population, demand extension of limited affirmative action quotas to them.

But Kukis fear it would mean Meiteis would get a greater share in education and government jobs reserved for them.

Last week's federal home ministry records showed 83 people have been killed and more than 60,000 residents displaced since May in the violence.

On Thursday, a federal minister's house was set on fire in Imphal. He hails from the majority Meitei community.

Neighbouring states which have provided shelter to the displaced population appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to release funds needed to feed the refugees.

Leaders from the opposition party accused Modi government of failing to contain the crisis in a state governed by his party.

"We believe that if the prime minister takes action, then peace in Manipur can be restored in 24 hours," said Nimaichand Luwang, an opposition lawmaker in Manipur.

A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said at least 32,000 security forces will continue to support local police until normalcy is restored.

(Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai gestures during a news conference on the U.S. State Department's annual human trafficking report at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thailand, July 1, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom/File

By Panu Wongcha-um and Orathai Sriring

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's caretaker government was preparing to host talks with the foreign minister of Myanmar's military junta on Monday, a day later than planned, as key Southeast Asian nations signalled they would stay away from the divisive meeting.

Bangkok has been pushing to reengage with Myanmar's generals - who have been locked in conflict with armed opposition militias since seizing power in a 2021 coup - in the face of opposition from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has barred the junta from senior level meetings.

Thailand, whose prime minister himself first took power in a coup, sent out an invitation just four days ago to ASEAN foreign ministers, inviting them to what it said would be an informal meeting starting on Sunday.

The invitation, seen by Reuters and verified by two sources, referenced a proposal at an earlier summit "that it was time for ASEAN to fully re-engage Myanmar at the leaders' level".

Myanmar's junta-appointed Foreign Minister Than Swe is to attend the talks, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters.

Late on Sunday, the Thai foreign ministry released a statement saying the "informal dialogue" would start on Monday. It would not amount to a formal ASEAN meeting, the ministry said, but would "help support ASEAN's efforts" to end the violence in Myanmar.

The statement said the talks are "expected to be attended by high-level representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, China, Brunei, and Vietnam" but did not elaborate on exactly who would attend. It did not say why the date had changed.

Myanmar's generals have been barred for nearly two years from senior-level ASEAN meetings for failing to honour an agreement to start talks with opponents linked to the ousted civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

She is now imprisoned along with hundreds of other former government officials and anti-military activists. The junta says it is fighting terrorists who aim to destroy the country.

Thailand's outgoing Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, touted the initiative in an interview with local news outlet Matichon.

The current situation has changed a lot. There is now more fighting within Myanmar," he was quoted as saying. "Myanmar also has a roadmap leading to elections... These things have given us the need to continue our interactions with Myanmar."

'SECRETIVE INITIATIVE'

Critics of Thailand's initiative say it risks legitimising Myanmar's military government and is inappropriate because it is outside the official ASEAN peace initiative, known as the "five-point consensus".

Singapore's foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, said on Friday "it would be premature to re-engage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level".

Malaysia said it would not be attending. The Philippines, which did not respond to questions over the weekend, is seen as firmly in the camp of isolating Myanmar's generals.

India and China are not ASEAN members but as regional powers have attended other informal meetings on Myanmar.

Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government (NUG), made up of loyalists to Suu Kyi's ousted administration, condemned the Thai initiative.

"Inviting the illegitimate junta to this discussion will not contribute to the resolution of Myanmar's political crisis," it said in a statement on Saturday.

Malaysia's former foreign minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, also criticised the Thai-hosted talks on his Twitter account.

"Thailand is calling ASEAN countries to fully engage with the Myanmar junta leaders in an informal meeting. @ASEAN must stop this nonsense!" he tweeted, adding that the regional grouping should support the official five-point peace process.

A group of 81 Myanmar activist groups released an open letter on Sunday condemning the "secretive initiative", saying it was in "blatant contradiction" with ASEAN's policy of excluding junta officials to high-level meetings.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Orathai Sriring in Bangkok; Additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi, Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Teresia and Stefanno Sulaiman in Jakarta, Poppy McPherson and Devjyot Ghoshal in Bangkok and Shoon Naing; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by William Mallard and Andrew Heavens)
(Tribune News Service)  Another national news report late this week dives into the growing Washington battle over moving the military headquarters of U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.

NBC national security and military reporter Courtney Kubes lengthy and detailed report is headlined, Space Commands leader is building out his Colorado HQ even as Congress tries to force the HQ to move to Alabama. Kube says the basing decision has become a political liability with the Biden administration pushing for Colorado and many senior military leaders standing behind the process that selected Alabama.

Among the issues raised as the decision remains unfinalized are Alabamas strict abortion laws and their possible effect on command personnel and their families and money already spent to upgrade a temporary Colorado headquarters now being promoted as ready to support the command permanently.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said this month Space Command commanding Gen. James Dickinson confirmed to Alabamas congressional delegation in a private meeting that the headquarters of U.S. Space Command belongs on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

The Republican-run House Appropriations subcommittee on defense went even further Wednesday, Kubes story says, including a provision that (Air Force Sec. Frank) Kendalls decision must be consistent with findings from a Government Accountability Office report and a Pentagon inspector generals review, both of which found Huntsville, Alabama, was the preferable location. The language makes it impossible for Kendall to select any location other than Huntsville.

The story also reports that the headquarters would be at Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal, where there is no base hospital, leaving staff members and dependents to rely on local civilian medical providers. The military would have to pay for female service members and dependents to leave the state for abortions and some reproductive care.

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Visit al.com.

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(Tribune News Service)  Prohibition only lasted 17 years in Virginia, but 90 years after it ended, its impact is still felt in Hampton in unexpected ways.

The nationwide ban on the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol came early to Virginia, three years before the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution  still the only amendment ever repealed, with the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Theres still a sense of relief from some, like the local breweries that will join the Hampton History Museum on Saturday, June 24, for a tasting event called Prohibition Legacies: Taste of Summer.

St. George Brewing, Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, and The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery will present their latest offerings. Museum admission  including to the exhibit Teetotalers and Moonshiners, and Hamptons Prohibition Story, which runs through Feb. 4  is free.

But in a much more surprising twist, without Prohibition and the economic pressure it created, Langley Air Force Base might not exist, historical sources show.

Booze has always been big business in Hampton. When Virginia banned the possession of alcohol at midnight after Halloween 1916, dozens lost their livelihoods and moved away. Real estate values tumbled, especially in Phoebus (which merged into Hampton along with the rest of Elizabeth City County in 1952).

Many localities in the state used the local option to close down alcohol peddlers as early as 1909, but Hampton was a lot more reluctant, according to the exhibits co-curators, historians Beth Austin and Willow Pell. The exhibit was inspired partly by a Prohibition project from the Library of Virginia.

We realized that the Hampton Prohibition story was quite different from the state story that the library was telling, Austin said.

While other local governments pushed to end alcohol consumption, Hampton had to be forced, she said. The tourism industry, the military presence at Fort Monroe, and the proximity to water (and the alcohol trade it allowed) all contributed to making Hampton one of the wettest spots in the state.

In fact, there were more saloons per capita in Phoebus than almost anywhere else in the country, according to Tim Receveur, the author of Good and Drunk, a book that describes Phoebus as the Wild West of the Eastern Seaboard.

While Receveur describes himself as more of a hobbyist than a historian, he learned of the connection between Prohibition and Langley Air Force Base while researching.

A conversation with museum curator Allen Hoilman about what happened to the areas saloon owners whod gone out of business was a major impetus for Receveurs book and sparked the idea of a possible connection to the federal governments purchase of Langley Field in 1916.

Receveurs research found that two of the three people who campaigned for Hampton to be the site of a new proposed airfield were former saloon owners. In a Richmond Times-Dispatch article from 1935, one of those men, Harry H. Holt  the former proprietor of the Chesapeake Hotel in Phoebus  made the connection explicit.

With a population of only around 5,000, Elizabeth City County had an abnormal number of its citizens receiving their livelihood from the liquor industry, the article quotes Holt as saying. The cutting off of this source of support seemed certain to doom our community.

Pre-Prohibition restrictions had already caused the number of saloons to dwindle. In 1907, Phoebus had 27 saloons and Hampton had 12; by 1916, there were 15 in Phoebus and just five in Hampton.

Knowing that Congress had passed an appropriation of $300,000 to establish an experimental aviation center, the thought came to Holt  why not bring it to Hampton?

Together with H.R. Booker and Nelson S. Groome, the former owner of Clarkes Palace Hotel in Phoebus, Holt sought purchase options on half a dozen properties that together could meet the governments requirements. With just 60 days to close the deal, the men quietly lobbied the committee in charge of selecting the site. They feared that some other, better-funded locality would hear about their efforts and snatch the opportunity away.

They succeeded, and the construction, jobs and other commerce generated by the field  which became Langley Air Force Base in 1948  has been a major factor in Hamptons economy ever since.

The success of that venture didnt diminish the areas appetite for alcohol, the historians said.

Sarcastic newspaper headlines like Phoebus A Model Town First Month of Prohibition in the Daily Press called out officials for not levying fines and making arrests. Bootlegging, the illegal trade in alcohol (whether the booze was tucked in a boot, concealed in a false automobile compartment or dispensed through a soda fountain), was an open secret for years, with one 1922 Daily Press article quoting a comment made at a Phoebus Town Council meeting that alcohol use was higher than when the city was wet.

Early in 1922, Phoebus mayor, its chief of police (a former saloon proprietor), and a police officer were indicted on charges that they had accepted bribes. The consensus is that they were probably guilty, according to the historians, but they were acquitted that year.

There are few records of raids or fines. One rare photo of a confiscated still from April 1922 was clearly staged, Pell said, and comes from the collection of a portrait photographer from the time, suggesting it may have been more of a photo op than a reflection of justice served.

Austin and Pell said one thing that stood out in their research was the explicit and public racism of the time.

Black business owners had built a strong presence in the area by the dawn of the 20th century and held leadership positions on town councils. After 1900, though, increasing opposition from town leaders  many of whom were saloon owners  pushed them out of politics and out of business.

The brunt of pre-Prohibition restrictions fell on Black-owned businesses, which received disproportionate numbers of fines and license revocations or non-renewals, according to the exhibit. One article from April 24, 1915, listed 32 liquor licenses granted but stated that no licenses were allowed in the Black neighborhood of Sugar Hill or at Bay Shore, the colored resort.

There were no applicants for licenses in these sections, but it was generally understood that the court would refuse them if such an application was made, the article said.

Phoebus didnt revert to its Wild West days, and none of the pre-Prohibition saloons still stands, though Fullers Raw Bar is named in homage to one of them. But Hampton, and especially Phoebus, are once again watering holes for tourists, locals and, of course, members of the military. The historic Mellon and Mallory Street business district is home to popular restaurants, bars and many thriving Black-owned businesses, including 1865 Brewing Co., the first Black-owned brewery in Hampton Roads in living memory.

Prohibition ended on Dec. 5, 1933, when Utah, the last holdout, voted for repeal just after 3:30 p.m. local time, or about 5:30 p.m. in Hampton.

This time, no one waited for midnight.

If you go

When: Noon to 2 p.m. June 24.

Where: Hampton History Museum, 120 Old Hampton Lane.

Admission: Free, but registration is required. Limit 150 guests.

Details: 757-727-1102.

2023 The Virginian-Pilot.

Visit pilotonline.com .
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had a low-key, largely successful visit to Washington this month. On June 8, he met at the White House with President Joe Biden, who appropriately referenced the importance of the close Anglo-American partnership.

The leaders agreed on greater cooperation on defense and renewable energy. Sunak did not achieve a desired broader trade agreement, but that is not surprising given the ongoing uncertainty related to Britains turbulent withdrawal from the European Union.

Above all, the meeting again confirmed the close relationship between our two nations. This endures despite domestic political turmoil.

This Special Relationship was initially formalized and announced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the darkest days of World War II. The two leaders met on navy vessels off the coast of Newfoundland in August 1941. Churchill returned to meet with Roosevelt in the White House and address a joint session of Congress in December of that year, shortly after Pearl Harbor.

The first of these historic meetings resulted in the Atlantic Charter, defining broad positive human goals of freedom and basic economic security. The follow-up session resulted in commitment to the concept of the United Nations, which moving forward signified the Allies goals in World War II.

This close partnership between Britain and the U.S., forged during the frustrating and terrible first years of World War II, has endured down to the present despite sometimes severe strains. The evolution of the Anglo-American Special Relationship underscores important events of that global total war, and the Cold War and post-Cold War era that have followed.

Prime Minister Tony Blair paid a high political price for his faithful support of the administration of George W. Bush in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Yet Blair survived politically, and led his Labour Party to another general election victory. More important, the Anglo-American military alliance, and the durable wider NATO structure, was never really seriously threatened.

During the mid-1960s, the Lyndon Johnson administration pressed extremely hard for at least token direct military participation in the Vietnam War. Australia and New Zealand, both members of the British Commonwealth, did provide forces. In the case of Australia, there was considerably more than a token commitment.

Britain remained out of that war, for understandable reasons. In hindsight, this lack of support by a close ally was an early indication of the questionable nature of the American military escalation.

From the other direction, the most serious Anglo-American and wider Atlantic alliance crisis was over the Suez Canal in 1956. Britain, France and Israel launched a coordinated surprise military attack to retake the waterway and associated territory from Egypts nationalist government.

President Dwight Eisenhower was completely opposed as well as offended by lack of consultation. His administration forced an abrupt halt to the operation. No crisis since has so seriously threatened the alliance.

Economics strengthens alliance cooperation. Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers deregulation of the economy in the 1980s pays powerful dividends today. Canary Wharf, formerly grim docks and working-class housing blocks in eastern London, has been transformed into a mammoth global commercial center.

Massive modern skyscrapers dominate the horizon, complemented by fashionable retail outlets. Thatchers heavy-handed style earned her the sobriquet of Big Sister, but her forceful deregulation and opening of the economy were crucial to contemporary British prosperity and strength.

Today, developments in various areas work to strengthen further the Anglo-American partnership. Russias invasion of Ukraine has massively reenergized the NATO alliance, in which Britain initially played a crucial role in joining North America to Western Europe. Cyber and other high-tech along with old-fashioned human espionage and sabotage reinforces intelligence ties.

McGeorge Bundy, President John Kennedys national security adviser, summed up the Anglo-American partnership as someone to talk to. The conversation continues, to mutual benefit.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War.
KABUL, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police destroyed four drug processing labs and arrested three people on charge of involvement in the drug business, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, counter-narcotics police on Saturday discovered and destroyed the drug labs in northern Badakhshan, Samangan and western Nimroz provinces, and took three people into custody, the ministry said in a statement.

The police also uncovered a huge quantity of materials used in manufacturing heroin at the raided sites, the statement said.

In a similar crackdown, counter-narcotics police destroyed a drug lab in the western Nimroz province a couple of days ago and detained a person.

Afghan authorities have intensified the crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the underground business. Security personnel arrested 19 alleged drug smugglers in Kabul, Nangarhar and Herat provinces a few days ago, police said.

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, and drug processing and trafficking. 
Wilson always led the way. The 5-year-old Belgian Malinois first guided the Colombian army to the remains of the plane. He later found a baby bottle belonging to a potential survivor, giving rescuers another clue. Then Wilson, who kept his nose glued to the terrain, disappeared into the vast jungle looking for his objective.

"A lot of hunting dogs who get obsessed with the search can get lost and have gotten lost," Edgar Fontecha, 59, a canine handler for the Colombian army and Wilson's trainer, told The Washington Post in an interview in Spanish.

Before going missing, Wilson sniffed out enough of a path to help Colombian soldiers find four young children who went missing last month when their plane crashed in the Amazon rainforest. All of the children, ages 13, 9, 4 and 1, were found alive on June 9, having survived 40 days in the jungle. Their mother and two others died in the crash.

But a team of more than 70 men belonging to the Colombian Special Forces hasn't shut down the rescue operation just yet. They still hope to find their canine companion somewhere in the Caqueta and Guaviare regions in what they have called Operation Hope, or Operacion Esperanza, in Spanish. Even Colombian President Gustavo Petro has commented on Wilson's disappearance.

"What has not been found is the dog, who at one point was with [the children]," Petro said in a news conference. "At one point, they found a dog, they defended on their own . . . It's their knowledge of living in the jungle that has saved them."

Carolina Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for Colombia's military working dog training center, told The Post that soldiers confirmed Wilson was with the children at some point.

"The children said the dog had been with them for a while, but then he left," Rodriguez said. "So, he arrived, found the children and then left to find his handler. That's how he got lost."

It's been two weeks since Wilson disappeared. The search team has let loose two females in heat hoping to attract the neutered canine, Andres Chaparro, a spokesperson with the Colombian army, told The Post in a text message. The crew has set food at strategic points to keep Wilson fed, and they laid out his handler's clothes so Wilson can pick up the friendly scent.

"No one is left behind," the Colombian army tweeted on Friday. "Our commander has given the order to keep up the search for Wilson, the canine leader who helped in the rescue of four children lost in the jungle."

Once Wilson led the crew to the crashed plane, the search team used all the clothes and possessions of the four siblings found near there to mesh their scents into one, Fontecha said. That way, Wilson was looking for everyone at once, a technique Fontecha had not taught Wilson before, but one he plans to use in future canine training, Fontecha said.

"That made the scent much stronger," said Fontecha, who has not been involved in the physical search, as Wilson has a different handler now that he's fully trained.

Fontecha, who has trained dogs for the Colombian army for 28 years, raised Wilson since the dog was a puppy. It was obvious early in his training that Wilson loved to hunt. On several occasions, the eager dog broke his own leash in pursuit of the toys he was trained to find.

Wilson and his handler spent more than a month searching for the children in the dense jungle, with Wilson always leading, Fontecha said. At one point, Fontecha added, "the dog let loose" and the search crew continued following Wilson's prints until they found the children. But Wilson was nowhere in sight.

"Why didn't Wilson come back? That we don't know," Fontecha said.

A dog as well-trained as Wilson can survive in that environment for a long time, added Fontecha, who says Wilson may still be diligently searching for the children.

"To lose a dog is very difficult for me. Ask your father how does he get when he hasn't heard from you. One feels sadness for the dog because one doesn't want him to suffer," Fontecha said. "We watched him grow. We all have a Wilson in our heart."
(Tribune News Service)  Several VA Loma Linda Healthcare System whistleblowers have come forward with new allegations of retaliation, harassment and hostile working conditions amid a widening investigation by the House Veterans Affairs Committee, according to a lawmaker.

On Friday, committee member U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, met behind closed doors with VA Loma Lindas interim director Bryan Arnette, and other officials to discuss the whistleblower complaints and map out needed changes.

Sometimes in federal government  we can create a workplace environment that is tolerant of people that dont follow the rules, Obernolte said during a press briefing following the meetings without offering specific details about what was discussed. We want to make sure that doesnt occur.

Separately, staff members from the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations met with whistleblowers at an undisclosed location to review their complaints that suggest systematic failures by the federal government to address problems at VA Loma Linda.

Obernolte declined to disclose the specific nature of the confidential whistleblower allegations.

Additionally, the second-term House member said he is unsure if the allegations are related to VA Loma Linda Director Karandeep Sraons transfer in March to the VAs Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in Long Beach.

VA Loma Linda said in a statement Friday that team members were incredibly proud to show Obernolte how it takes care of veterans and employees.

The facility is actively taking steps to invest in VA employees and welcomes the opportunity to discuss workplace concerns.

Our aim is always to ensure a safe, harassment-free environment in a culture where all employees and guests are treated with dignity and respect, the statement said.

Visit follows federal investigation

Obernoltes visit follows a Southern California News Group report in May that revealed a 2021 federal investigation found that a VA Loma Linda manager frequently used racial slurs, required workers to buy him food and drive him to and from work, and then punished those who refused his demands with bad assignments.

However, instead of being terminated for creating a hostile work environment, the manager  identified by multiple sources as grounds department supervisor Martin Robles  was inexplicably promoted.

There were numerous instances where inappropriate language and racial slurs were used which appears to be a common practice, a Veterans Administration investigative board said in a heavily redacted 61-page report obtained by the Southern California News Group. Inappropriate and discriminatory hiring practices were found, which have contributed to the lack of trust, poor morale, and fractured culture.

The Administrative Investigation Board recommended Robles be removed from employment because of overwhelming evidence to support that the supervisor was intimidating, exhibited bullying behavior, threatening behavior, and contributed to a hostile work environment, said a source familiar with the probe.

The AIB investigation, which began on Dec. 9, 2020, and concluded the week of Jan. 11, 2021, included 57 hours of testimony from 36 witnesses and 4,000 pages of exhibits.

Robles also was the focus of two other VA Loma Linda investigations in 2020 and 2022 that substantiated allegations he fostered a hostile work environment. Details of those two investigations were not immediately available.

About a month after the 2021 probe wrapped up, Robles was given increased management responsibilities at VA Loma Linda. His salary in 2022 was $75,000.

Past troubles

The controversy involving Robles is the latest in a string of troubling incidents involving VA Loma Linda employees.

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, which includes the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center and several clinics, made headlines in 2019 when it was discovered that a manager had been convicted of murder.

Then, in 2021, a federal judge reprimanded Chief of Staff Dr. Franklin Sechriest for failing to obtain treatment for his mentally ill son, allowing him to amass a small arsenal before torching a Texas synagogue.

The AIB also determined VA Loma Lindas maintenance and operations chief, David J. Grzechowiak, ignored evidence of Robles misconduct and failed to hold him accountable.

The board found there has been a long-standing mismanagement and acceptance of behaviors which have continued to perpetuate over time and which have built a culture within that could be described as dysfunctional, toxic, and demoralizing, the AIB report says.

Appropriate administrative actions have been taken as a result of the AIB investigation, VA Loma Lindas associate director of resources, Maria T. Nguyen, said in a June 14, 2021, memo to Facilities Management Services employees.

The Southern California News Group obtained more than a dozen emails and complaints filed with the VA over five years, all detailing Robles troubling interactions with employees.

Ryan Joseph Sperry, a former Marine and VA Loma Linda irrigation technician from Moreno Valley who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependency, documented many of Robles indiscretions.

Sperry was 43 when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Aug. 9, 2022.

Committee investigating suicide

The House Veterans Affairs Committee is investigating whether Sperrys suicide is employment-related and has demanded that the VA explain why Robles has been allowed to keep his job.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis Richard McDonough sent Obernolte a letter Friday offering an explanation.

In the case of the Loma Linda supervisor, the AIB report recommended the employees removal, McDonough said in the letter. After careful consideration of all the available information as well as consultation with the Office of General Counsel, however, management decided that a different penalty was more appropriate. The employee received an administrative action.

Robles continues to be monitored by VA Loma Linda management, who purportedly have not received any new allegations of retaliation or hostile work environment.

Under the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act signed into law in 2017, the VA was given expanded authority to fire employees at all levels, shorten the removal process, and ensure terminated workers are not kept on the agencys payroll while appealing that decision

It also made it easier for the VA to remove poor-performing senior executives and replace them with qualified candidates. The law also established the VAs Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

However, as of April 3, the VA has stopped using the Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, following an Office of Inspector General report that says the law has floundered.

Meanwhile, Obernolte said that while McDonoughs letter answered some questions, the VA secretary did not respond as to whether he would want to be personally supervised by a manager who has behaved so poorly.

That illustrates the heart of the argument that we are making, he said. We do not want to create a work environment that drives away the quality people that we need to care for our veterans.

2023 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Visit pe.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed for holding of an inquiry into the human trafficking that led to tragic incident of migrants shipwreck near Greece with several Pakistani nationals onboard.

The prime minister directed for an immediate crackdown against agents involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking and called for bringing them to justice.

The prime minister expressed his deep grief and sorrow over death of Pakistani nationals in the tragic incident that took place off the coast of Greece, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He said the entire nation including him shared their sympathies with the bereaved families.

The prime minister also directed the officials of the Pakistan embassy in Greece to look after 12 Pakistanis rescued from the scene of disaster.

The prime minister also directed for taking further stringent action against the elements involved in human trafficking, besides asking the law enforcement agencies for the identification of such traffickers who had been duping people to undertake such perilous steps.

Upon the directive of the prime minister, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had deputed DIG Alam Shinwari as focal person to facilitate information regarding those who lost lives in the incident and others who were injured.

Similarly, chief secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir had also tasked a focal person to contact Pakistan embassy and Greek authorities in Greece regarding the latest information over the casualties and injuries.

According to the latest media reports, at least 78 people died after an overcrowded vessel went down on Wednesday.

A total of 104 passengers were rescued and sent to Kalamata, Greece.

The people rescued so far included 43 Egyptian nationals, 47 Syrian nationals, 12 Pakistani nationals, and two Palestinians, the Hellenic Coast Guard were quoted by international media outlets. Eight of those rescued were minors.
Pakistan is observing a day of mourning today on Monday over the tragic deaths of hundreds of its citizens in Greece shipwreck.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accorded his approval for observing a day of mourning as a swarming boat sank in open seas off Greece in which hundreds of Pakistanis are feared to be dead while the exact figures remained unknown as rescue work was underway.

A notification shared by PM Office said the day of mourning will be observed throughout the country tomorrow, and the countrys national flag will fly at half mast at all government buildings.

As the incident draws widespread condemnation, a high-level body comprising National Police Bureau, Foreign Office, and Federal Investigators started probe which will submit its finding within a week time.

Media reports suggest that hundreds of Pakistanis may have died when as trawler plunged off the sea. Most of the deceased are said to be from Azad Kashmir. MoFA has so far confirmed that only 12 of the survivors have been identified.

Greece shipwreck incident continues to unfold and a report by a British publication claimed that Pakistanis on board the ill-fated vessel were singled out and forced below deck.

In its report, The Observer claimed that people with certain backgrounds, particularly Pakistanis, were shifted to the most dangerous part of the trawler. People from South Asian nation were maltreated when they tried to escape.

It also mentioned that passengers were calling for help desperately, a day before the boat sank. More than 700 were on board the vessel whose engine failed near the Peloponnese peninsula.

The heart-wrenching incident also raised questions on Greek coastguards. Survivors claim that Greece government officials were monitoring the situation but refrained from helping.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has asked Irish Prison Service for report into alleged incident

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has asked the Irish Prison Service for a report into allegations that an All-Ireland winning hurler, who had been convicted of perjury, was involved in a security breach at Limerick Prison last month.

Ms McEntee has been told of allegations that three-time All-Ireland winner Pat Ryan drove into a secure area of Limerick Prison on May 22 and was then subsequently driven by prison staff in a private vehicle into a secure area of Limerick courthouse ahead of an appeal hearing, in order to avoid the waiting media at the front of the courthouse.

The allegations are outlined in a letter dated June 1 from Independent TD Mattie McGrath  who has previously raised concerns in the Dail about a cabal operating in Limerick Prison  to Simon Harris, who stood in for Ms McEntee while she was on maternity leave.

A spokesperson for Ms McEntee told the Sunday Independent last week: I can confirm that late last week, the minister received a correspondence from Deputy McGrath regarding an alleged incident at Limerick Prison. The minister has asked for a report on the alleged incident from the Irish Prison Service [IPS], and will consider that report once received.

The IPS had earlier referred queries to the Department of Justice. A solicitor for Mr Ryan did not respond to calls.

Mr Ryan (28), is currently appealing the severity of a two-week jail sentence handed down in March for perjury committed during criminal proceedings in October 2020 in which he was accused of speeding.

The hurler falsely told Limerick District Court he had not received a summons for a speeding offence. 

In his letter, Mr McGrath alleges that a famous Limerick All-Ireland winning hurler who had been convicted of a criminal offence  who he does not name  drove into a secure area of Limerick Prison car park on the day in question.

It is understood the area in question can only be accessed by way of a prison staff ID card or if it is opened by a member of staff inside the prison.

It is alleged Mr Ryan then walked into a disused building in the prison, and was then assisted and brought to a secure area in the court by prison staff in an unmarked private car owned by a senior member of staff.

The distance between the prison and the court complex, which is also on Mulgrave Street, is approximately 200 metres.

Mr McGraths letter continues: When the case was over, he was again taken through the secure areas without authority and placed back into the senior managements car and taken away from cameras outside the court that were awaiting him.

Mr McGraths letter describes the alleged incident as a very serious matter and asks for it to be investigated by an outside independent body and reported to An Garda Siochana.

He also asks in his letter that camera footage from the prison and the courthouse be preserved.

Mr McGrath told the Sunday Independent: I hope the minister will act on this. I have nothing personal at all against this person but it is quite serious. Justice has to be delivered in public and this would seem to be an effort to suppress that.

Speaking in the Dail in July 2021, Mr McGrath called for a thorough investigation into what was going on in Limerick Prison.

I have a stream of people contacting me, whistleblowers too, about what is going on in Limerick. A cabal is operating there, I have said this before. They like to call themselves the mob. They terrorise families, he said.

It goes right to the very top of the Prison Service and right to the top of the prison officers union. There are many good people there, and officers who try to stand up, but they get silenced, intimidated, bullied and sullied.
South Africa: Women's access to land must be prioritised

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Makhotso Sotyu has called for more attention to be given to womens rights and access to land.

This as the country commemorated global Desertification and Drought Day 2023 on Saturday.

According to studies by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), women disproportionately feel the negative effects of desertification and drought than their male counterparts.

Despite advancements in developments, many women in most countries battle inequality at various levels in different sectors. Women have unequal and limited access to and control over land; despite being the main actors in the reverse and reduction of land degradation, she said.

This year, the day was commemorated under the theme Her Land. Her Rights.

The 2023 theme brings to the fore womens land rights and places more emphasis on the importance of placing women at the centre in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality and other international goals that exist in the three Rio Conventions.

We need to acknowledge that land remains the most fundamental asset for many to sustain their livelihoods and resilience. As the world continues to be confronted by worsening land degradation, devastating impacts of droughts, climate change, floods, and zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19, women and youth are the most affected and remain vulnerable.

This is because progress is slow to mainstream gender issues into our programmes, projects, policies and strategies at all levels, Sotyu said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

MANCHESTER, Britain, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The moment the starting signal rang out at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester on Saturday, three dragon boats swiftly surged forward, with paddlers unleashing powerful strokes in sync with the pulsating beats set by drummers at the front of the boats.

As the boats drew closer to the finish line, the cheers, drumbeats and paddle splashes grew louder, echoing through the refreshing summer air.

Up to 40 amateur teams of students, companies, and local social entities like Manchester Museum competed in the race, which was part of this year's UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, an event that has gained popularity in the country and across Europe.

As the ninth edition, this year's event spans two days with an amateur race on the first day and a contest of professional teams on Sunday.

"It's lovely to have all these different generations, different people, different communities and organizations coming together. It was fantastic that they were doing it while also learning about other cultures," Esme Ward, director of Manchester Museum, told Xinhua after the race.

"Having a dragon boat race in Britain means a lot since it merges the British people's enthusiasm for boat rowing and Chinese Dragon Boat Festival traditions," Wang Mingchu, assistant professor in International Business at the University of Greenwich, said to Xinhua.

Dragon boats are typically decorated with Chinese dragon heads at the front of the boats and tails at the back. There are usually 8 to 20 paddlers sitting in pairs on a boat, along with a steersperson navigating the boat near the dragon tail and a drummer beating the rhythm against the head.

The drum beating has left a deep impression on many spectators, such as the family of five-year-old Logan from Manchester. They found out about the event online and decided to pop on to see what the race was like.

"It definitely seemed a lot more coordinated, a lot more intense with the drumbeats," said Tracey, Logan's mother.

Cameron Maxwell, a novice paddler with the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer team, told Xinhua that teamwork was a key element in the race that showcases the spirit of the sport.

"I was extremely impressed with how synchronized we were. A couple of times, we got a bit wet bashing each other, but overall, I thought we were pretty smooth about how we went about," Maxwell said.

Originating in China thousands of years ago, dragon boat race is one of many traditions in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival, which commemorates the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC) on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

The festival, now a national holiday in China, falls on June 22 this year. People always enjoy Zongzi (sticky rice dumpling) during the day.

In the weekend's event here, local guests can also have a bite of Zongzi along with other traditional Chinese cuisines at some booths set up on-site.

"We have a full team of people who are new to Dragon Boat Festival," noted Arun Ghosh, CEO of Ghosh Medical Group, who took part in the boat race. "We're now experiencing China on a much bigger scale," he said.

In addition to the race and food, the event also featured a series of performances, including dragon dance, lion dance and chorus shows, many of which were presented jointly by Chinese and British performers.

"Promoting learning, understanding, and appreciation of cultures and diversity is really important for our self-development, and it widens our horizons, challenges how we might see things in the world. More importantly, it (the event) brings people together in a common aim around how we celebrate community and differences ... in challenging circumstances," Paul Dennett, Salford's mayor, told Xinhua.

This year's event was organized by Xinhua Chinese Association in partnership with Salford City Council and British Dragon Boat Racing Association.

"By attracting more people to participate in the event, we hope we can benefit the exchanges between Chinese and British cultures and thus contribute to building a society that values and embraces cultural diversity," Yang Hanxin, chairman of Xinhua Chinese Association, said. 

Artists perform Chinese lion dance during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Performers greet spectators after a lion dance during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People perform Bamboo Dance during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man performs Chinese martial arts the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A calligrapher gives a name card written in Chinese to the little girl during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man performs Chinese martial arts the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A contestant celebrates during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

This aerial photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows Contestants competing during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants celebrate during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Contestants compete during the 2023 UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford, Britain, June 17, 2023. The festival also featured traditional Chinese lion dance, singing, martial art and calligraphy, making it great fun for spectators and participants. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
The shocking secret footage, captured just 14 hours before his disappearance, was only revealed to lawyers working for mum Fiona Donohoe more than two years after her sons tragic disappearance

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Noah Donohoe snuck out of his Belfast home at 3.30am on the day he would disappear and returned almost 35 minutes later after an unexplained and secret trip revealed today for the first time.

The teenager left his home at Fitzroy Avenue in South Belfast in pouring rain and wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops and carrying headphones.

When he returned at 4.05am, just as dawn was breaking, he was captured on CCTV soaking wet and without the headphones and the Marks and Spencer flip-flops.

Noah on his bike before he went missing

The shocking secret footage, captured just 14 hours before his disappearance, was only revealed to lawyers working for mum Fiona Donohoe more than two years after her sons tragic disappearance of June 21, 2020.

In the week while Noah was missing, PSNI officers asked me if Noah could have snuck out at any time from the apartments without my knowledge.

"I told them that there was one key, and all the doors are very squeaky, and I would not have thought it likely  but obviously I was wrong, said Noahs mum Fiona.

Mother Fiona at a rally for her son

The revelations are shared today in the Sunday World by journalist Donal MacIntyre, who is heading up an independent investigation into the case with a team of crime experts who are seeking crowdfunding to complete their work which will be broadcast in a film after the inquest.

Donal appeal for support

The secret late-night journey is sure to deepen the mystery around what happened to tragic Noah, whose lifeless body was discovered in a disused drain six days after he went missing.

His mother Fiona was not told about her sons late-night journey and says she had no idea that he snuck out of their home just hours before his disappearance.

The third anniversary of the disappearance and death of the Belfast teen will be marked on Tuesday as experts say that the PSNI continue to withhold crucial information about how they conducted their investigation.

What is known is that Noah set off from his home at 5.30pm on Sunday, June 2020 and cycled to the north of the city where he was recorded naked on his bike. His body was found six days later in a storm drain around 1km from where he was last seen on CCTV.

The law firm who represent the family only received the footage detailing Noahs late-night journey last October. His mother Fiona insists she had no idea he had left their home and can throw no light on where he may have gone.

I had no idea. I havent seen the footage; it is simply too distressing, but my legal team has, and it is shocking and truly concerning. We still have no idea where he was going, if he was meeting anyone or what was the purpose of the trip, Fiona said.

Noah with mum Fiona

Mum Fiona has previously raised concerns that Noah may have been coerced into some kind of county lines illicit activity and that this may have played a part in his unusual journey the next day to a part of North Belfast he was not familiar with.

MacIntyre has been investigating the case for months and put together an independent team of experts to unravel the mystery. Amongst them is former senior officer from the UKs Serious Crime Squad, Andy Crocker, who investigated the Milly Dowler case amongst others.

Crocker says the new revelations raise the prospect of third-party involvement in the teens death, which the PSNI have insisted there is no evidence of.

As a senior officer on the case I would immediately have to consider coercion or grooming of the missing child, and today we are talking about potential involvement in drugs, Crocker told the Sunday World.

Where did he go? Why? Who did he meet? I am shocked that this key information has been withheld for so long, he added.

Huge investigative opportunities have been missed here. A public appeal to preserve CCTV, RING footage, and witness testimony  anyone who might have seen Noah out at 3.30am in the morning.

We might have been able to ascertain the purpose of his journey  if there was a coherent one. I have conducted numerous public appeals and I am perplexed that one was not conducted, especially when it appears the PSNI were aware of Noahs secret trip while they were still searching for him.

MacIntyres team of specialist investigators has been conducting a full review of the case with the support of the family for over two years, and a new TV documentary will be broadcast later this year.

The journalist, who previously worked with the Sunday World as a special investigator, revealed that the CCTV of Noah leaving the small block of flats where he lived, leads him to believe PSNI have only disclosed a fraction of the imagery they have of Noahs early morning trip.

The PSNI have not given any coherent explanation as to why this material was denied the family, and apparently the coroner, for more than two years, said MacIntyre.

Noah is then seen returning to the flat at 4.05am soaking wet and this time without his headphones and Marks and Spencer flip-flops.

The PSNI has given no indication to the family what other enquiries it has made about this mysterious journey, the investigative journalist added.

The PSNI compiled a compendium of footage for the coroner and family of his movements from when he left the house later that day (5.30pm) but, its understood from police sources, that they only disclosed a fraction of CCTV surrounding Noahs mysterious trip earlier in the day.

Coroner, Joe McCrisken was, at the start of the inquest process, at pains to dampen any speculation by stating that there was no evidence of third-party involvement in the events leading to Noahs death.

I consider that, based upon all of the evidence before me at this stage, and the evidence includes extensive CCTV footage and witness statements, that Noah acted alone when he travelled to Northwood Road and entered the drain system, he said at the Belfast Coroners Court.

The PSNI and the Office of the Coroner in Belfast have yet to respond to requests for comment on this story.

A separate fight for other CCTV and disclosure material was played out last week when a pre-inquest hearing heard that Noah Donohoes family wanted key answers to CCTV disclosure in advance of any inquest at Laganside Court House.

Counsel for Fiona Donohoe, Brenda Campbell KC, said that the family were looking for CCTV close to Noahs home address which the PSNI have told the family would not be disclosed to us because it was not relevant and our request was disproportionate.

The nature of the footage was not disclosed at the hearing. Counsel for the Coroner, Declan Quinn, said that this tranche of material may require a Court ruling.

The focus of the next of kin is on settling all disclosure issues in advance of any hearing date, he said.

The date for the inquest, originally scheduled for September, has been set aside until the disclosure issues are settled.
Its really important to support families and tell them youre not on your own

The mum of a disabled child has called for more support for families in the face of deep cuts to the sector.

Katie Thompson says shes one of the lucky ones, with son Jayden getting a special school place, and after-school care from charity Sense.

With partner Adam Brosnan, the couple also have a disability social worker whos been vital in getting the support which allows them to work knowing Jayden is receiving the best care.

But last weeks announcement of further cuts to the Department of Educations budget will put families like theirs under more pressure. The money for school staff to support children with special educational needs has been halved, to 11 million for the next school year, the department said this week.

I dont think there is enough support out there provided to parents in our situation.

I wouldnt know about Sense if it wasnt for the disability social worker, and there are families out there who dont have a disability social worker, says the 26-year-old.

Its really important to support families and tell them youre not on your own. Thats how we felt at the start, very alone, as two young parents who didnt know what we were doing, dealing with a diagnosis and disabled life.

Shes speaking out to highlight the everyday reality of life with a disabled child, and to support a fund-raising Strictly drive for Sense.

Jayden, whos just about to turn six, has autism, global developmental delay, ADHD, and severe learning difficulties. Hes also non-verbal.

Katie explains that just after his first birthday he regressed and lost the ability to stand, sit and hold his head. He also lost the few words of speech hed developed.

At an assessment when he was 18 months old the couple were asked if theyd heard of autism, and by the age of two theyd had a definitive diagnosis of their sons condition.

We were lucky that because Jayden was seen and diagnosed so early. There are children who arent getting diagnosed until seven or eight, she says.

As a parent its still hard because you want the best for your children.

As part of his condition Jayden has sensory issues and wears ear defenders because of his super-sensitive hearing.

For example, when the heating comes on Jayden hears the water in the radiators and the noise is overwhelming for him.

But now that we have learned about it and can manage it, he is so much happier.

The family were also fortunate to get a place for Jayden in Hillcroft Primary School in Newtownabbey in Antrim, and after-school care with deafblind charity Sense.

The Education Authority told us wed have to apply to send Jayden to mainstream school, but we knew he couldnt cope with the other children and the noise.

We got him into Hillcroft special school which has hundreds of applications for 16 places.

He was in a normal foundation class, but the school thought he would benefit more from nurture, which is behaviour-led and hes able to express himself better.

Katie, who works for Next and partner Adam, a delivery driver and Royal Mail worker, were also directed to Sense, which provides the after-school care that allows them to hold down jobs.

Four hours a week are paid for, and the couple cover the rest of the cost, and the respite care is a lifeline says the young mum.

They have helped us in more ways than just minding Jayden. Last year we were really struggling on 90 minutes sleep a day and the supervisor there was texting us at the weekends when theyre closed to ask if we needed anything.

If we didnt have Sense, we wouldnt have a social life.

She says the biggest difference to their lives has been getting a hug from her son.

He is not affectionate but when we go and get him, he hugs me and jumps up and down. He only started hugging me recently.

I got a lovely video of me asking him for a hug and he put his arms around me. Its the smallest thing but it makes such a difference.

In life you take a lot of things for granted like speaking or choosing when you want to eat. He cant do that, says Katie.

The charity, which helps 52,000 people with disabilities across Northern Ireland is holding Sense NI Does Strictly on July 1 at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.
The case involved four officers who were then based in a station in the Leinster area.

A garda accused of taking cocaine in a Kildare nightclub has resigned from the force, five-and-a-half years after the high-profile incident that sparked a major internal garda probe.

The case involved four officers who were then based in a station in the Leinster area.

The investigation focused on an allegation made by a nightclub worker in a Co Kildare venue in December 2017.

A number of off-duty gardai were having a night out in the club when it was claimed a male and female officer were seen by a doorman taking cocaine into a toilet cubicle. The doorman alerted gardai who arrived at the scene and spoke to the officers.

No illegal drugs were seized, despite a number of searches taking place.

Four gardai were suspended, and at least three separate homes were raided as part of the investigation, which was described as very thorough and extensive.

The female garda claimed she had received the cocaine from another member of the force. It is understood she also said the amount of the drug given to her was small and for personal use only. A criminal investigation into the matter was immediately launched.

It is understood two of the four officers involved resigned from the force within a couple of years of the investigation. A third has been back working as a garda for some time after being disciplined for being in a licensed premises after hours.

The fourth garda finally had his disciplinary proceedings concluded late last month, it is understood.

A source explained the garda at the centre of the long-running disciplinary saga agreed to resign in early May. It is understood his resignation was accepted by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his exit from the force was formalised by a garda disciplinary board of inquiry three weeks later. The garda had been suspended on partial pay since December 2017.

A criminal probe into the matter concluded in September 2018, when the DPP directed the four should not be charged with any criminal offence.

The decision came after an investigation led by a senior garda inspector. Any criminal conviction was always unlikely, said a source, given no cocaine was ever recovered.

The case sent shock waves through the force when it first emerged in the Irish Independent in February 2018. 

Many officers have questioned how long the process took. For this case to have dragged on this long, its been a waste of everyones time and resources. All involved are now just relieved this long-running saga is finally over, said one source.

However a separate source pointed out the disciplinary process was complex, especially considering the DPP ruling.

There has been a steady increase in the number of gardai under internal investigation in recent years.

Security sources acknowledge there has been a sea change in An Garda Siochanas approach to discipline under Commissioner Harris. He spearheaded the establishment of the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, which became operational in December 2019.

The unit, staffed by around 30 officers, came into existence at a time when a record high of more than 60 gardai and civilian staff were suspended over suspected misbehaviour.

This number has continued to steadily rise. In July of last year, 110 gardai were suspended from the force with 17 suspended under the heading of sexual offences.
According to loyalist sources, organised crime bosses are becoming increasingly adept at concealing and laundering their drug money.

The property in Ballyhalbert on the Ards Peninsula is believed to have been purchased with the proceeds of fraud and money laundering offences, and has been frozen as part of an ongoing National Crime Agency (NCA) civil recovery investigation.

The purchaser, whose family are believed to be senior members of South East Antrim UDA, according to the NCA, will now be prevented from selling or transferring ownership of the property while the investigation continues. The holiday home will be recovered if the court decides it has more likely than not been paid for with the proceeds of crime.

According to loyalist sources, organised crime bosses are becoming increasingly adept at concealing and laundering their drug money.

One of their favoured methods is to buy up small businesses and put a trusted family member or associate in place to run them as outwardly legitimate operations.

With drug gangs showing off their wealth, a static caravan on the Ards Peninsula is no big loss, one source told us.

We sit in our communities and see these guys driving around in the top-of-the-range jeeps and SUVs, they do it openly.

The PSNI know who the main players are, you have to question why a few more of them arent being done under wealth confiscation orders.

NCA Head of Asset Denial Rob Burgess said: The investigation into the source of funds used to purchase this holiday home is part of our ongoing work to tackle and disrupt paramilitary crime groups.

Our specialist team of financial investigators, working closely with partners in the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, will continue to use civil recovery powers to target anyone engaged in organised crime.

We will use all the tools at our disposal to identify and recover criminal assets no matter how well they have been hidden.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Hill of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force described it as an excellent result.

It is an example of how the freezing of criminal property can hugely disrupt the criminal activities of a paramilitary group.

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force will continue to work with our partner agencies. We remain robustly committed to tackling and disrupting the coercive control and criminal activities of those who seek to make their living from crime.

This Property Freezing Order, which is linked to the South East Antrim UDA, demonstrates our ongoing effort to rid communities of the harm these groups cause and of their coercive control.
An Auckland restaurant owner duped into aiding a Mexican cartel-linked plot to bring in $90m worth of cocaine into New Zealand has been discharged without conviction.

Manuel Moreno Gonzalez, aka Mr Taco', received the discharge at the High Court in Tauranga on June 9 after he had earlier entered a guilty plea to one charge of possession of methamphetamine for supply.

The 64-year-old was swept up in plans by syndicate leader Tangaroa Demanta, who had been in contact with the feared Mexican De Jalisco Nuevaa Generation (CJNG) cartel, to bring 200kg of cocaine into New Zealand via the Port of Tauranga.

The syndicate also planned to smuggle methamphetamine into New Zealand, and it was through one of their number, fellow Mexican Angel Gavito Alverado  the CJNG's man in New Zealand  that he found himself picking up a bucket of liquid methamphetamine opposite Auckland's SkyCity in February 2021.

According to the sentencing notes, Gonzalez had met Alveradoa a decade ago when they worked together in a Christchurch restaurant, and they remained friends due to their shared cultural background.

'You say that Mr Gavito [Alverado] asked you to pick up some bottles you thought would be wine, the sentencing notes said.

'Unexpectedly there was a bucket instead, which had a strong chemical smell.

Alverado told Gonzalez the bucket contained liquid cocaine  it was in fact methamphetamine  something that angered Gonzalez.

'However, he told you he would have very serious problems if you disposed of the bucket, Justice Laynea Harvey said.

'Due to your knowledge of Mexican cartels, you were afraid to dispose of the material or involve the police.

'You state that Mexican organised crime groups have been known to kill entire families if stolen from or reported to police. Your daughters are in Mexico and you feared for their safety.

The sentencing notes revealed Gonzalez picked up the bucket at a bus stop close to Auckland's SkyCity from 'an unknown male, at the request of Alverado.

The bucket of methamphetamine that Manuel Gonzalez was duped into picking up, photographed by a police surveillance team. Photo: Supplied.

'You took a seat at the bus stop on Victoria St West opposite SkyCity and placed the bucket on the ground between your legs. Your co-defendant, Mr Demant, crossed from the Sky Tower side of Victoria St to the bus stop and sat next to you.

'Within a few seconds, you departed on foot, leaving the bucket behind. Mr Demant then left with the bucket.

The bucket was taken to Rotorua, where Demant and another man 'unsuccessfully attempted to extract the methamphetamine crystals.

Gonzalez later told a pre-sentence report writer he was disappointed his friend had taken advantage of him, and the report writer 'noted you became emotional when conveying your regrets.

Gonzalez's lawyer, Ron Mansfield KC, told Justice Harvey his client's offending was 'at the extreme low end of the permissible range to even be liable of such an offence.

He also said his client's business would suffer from a conviction, and that he had been forced to close one outlet after the charge saw his liquor licence application declined.

Crown prosecutor Duncan McWilliama also said the adverse consequences of a conviction may be disproportionate, and that the Crown did not oppose the discharge.

Justice Harvey said Gonzalez had 'so far lived a blame-free life with no blemishes on your record.

He also praised what he said was a seven-day-a week work ethic, and noted Gonzalez employed staff and contributed to the economy.

'That is to be commended, and no one wishes to see your productive life derailed, Justice Harvey said.

'For the offence of possession of methamphetamine for supply, I discharge you without conviction... You are free to go.

Benn Bathgate/Stuff
New Delhi: India is indeed the third-largest producer of coal in the world, but its coal exports make up a small percentage of the global total. There are several factors contributing to this situation.

High domestic demand: India has a large and rapidly growing population, which has resulted in an increased demand for energy. Coal remains a significant source of energy for electricity generation in the country, further driving up the demand for coal within India itself.

Poor quality coal: A considerable portion of India's coal reserves consists of lower-grade coal, which is less attractive to foreign buyers. Higher-quality coal is generally preferred due to its higher energy content and lower emissions when burned. This limits the competitiveness of Indian coal in the global market.

Also Read: L&T: Empowering India's Growth and Transformation Through Engineering Excellence

High transportation costs: Many of India's coal mines are located in remote areas, often far from coastal regions where ports are situated. Transporting coal from these remote locations to export terminals can be expensive due to the need for long-distance transportation infrastructure. This adds to the overall cost of Indian coal exports.

As a result of these factors, India's coal exports have not been able to make a significant contribution to the global economy. In fact, India is a net importer of coal, meaning it imports more coal than it exports. This trade deficit imposes substantial costs on the Indian economy annually.

Also Read: BlackRock's Wake-Up Call: Aging Demographics Sound Alarm Bells for Global Economy

To increase coal exports and enhance its contribution to the global economy, India could consider implementing several measures:

Investing in new coal mines: By investing in new coal mines, India can increase its production capacity. This would help meet domestic demand and reduce the need for importing coal. However, it is essential to balance this approach with the need to transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources in the long term.

Improving coal quality: India could explore technologies and processes to improve the quality of its coal. Advanced methods like coal washing and beneficiation can remove impurities, enhance energy content, and reduce emissions associated with burning coal. This would make Indian coal more appealing to international buyers and increase its competitiveness in the global market.

Reducing transportation costs: To address the high transportation costs, India could invest in the development of transportation infrastructure.

This includes building new railways, roads, and connecting infrastructure from coal mines to nearby ports. Improving connectivity would make it easier and more cost-effective to transport coal for exports.

Also Read: Microsoft's market cap reaches a record $2.6 trillion thanks to an AI push

By implementing these measures, India could potentially increase its coal exports and contribute more to the global economy. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that coal is a fossil fuel with significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

As the world shifts toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, such as renewables and natural gas, the demand for coal is expected to decline globally.

Therefore, India's long-term energy strategy should include a gradual transition away from coal and a greater focus on renewable energy sources to meet its energy needs while reducing environmental harm.
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Update at 11:02 p.m.: The sister of a man who drove head-on into her car has died, state police said Sunday night.

Dahlia J. Klink, 24 of Freedom, was taken to Erie County Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead, troopers said. Klink died from injuries she sustained from the crash, they said.

Original Story:

A man drove head-on into a car driven by his sister, killing two girls in his sisters car and injuring four people in the Western New York town of Freedom, state police said.

Troopers said a pickup truck driven by Evan R. Klink, 21, of Freedom, was headed west on Freedom Road shortly after noon on Saturday when it crossed the center line and struck an oncoming sedan driven by his sister, Dahlia J. Klink, 24, also of Freedom.

Police said Evan Klink purposely drove into the oncoming lane and then lost control of the pickup before the collision.

Two passengers in the car driven by his sister -- Havanah S. Lopez, 17, of Java, and Molly Kibler, 6, of Freedom -- were killed in the crash, police said. They were declared dead at the scene, according to troopers.

Police said Dahlia Klink and a 4-year-old passenger in her car suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital by a Mercy Flight helicopter.

Evan Klink was treated for injuries and taken to the state police station in Warsaw, according to police. A passenger in the pickup, Cameron Klink, 19, of Freedom, was transported by a Mercy Flight helicopter to a hospital with serious injuries, troopers said.

Police said on Sunday their investigation of the Cattaraugus County crash is ongoing. The state police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Cattaraugus County District Attorneys Office and the Arcade Fire Department responded to the scene.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
US Congress proposes to allocate $80 million for ATACMS missiles for Ukraine 17 June, 09:43 PM ATACMS missile launch (Photo:US Department of Defense)

A defense budget bill has been tabled in the U.S. Congress that foresees the allocation of $80 million to buy long-range ATACMS missiles for Ukraine, Paul Massaro, Senior Advisor to the Helsinki Commission in the U.S. Congress, reported on Twitter on June 16.

Read also: US Congress resolution urges Biden to provide ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

"Of the funds authorized for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) elsewhere in this Act, the committee intends that no less than $80 million be used for the procurement of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the bill by the House Committee on Armed Services reads.

Video of day

At the same time, according to the document, the Pentagon chief is instructed to brief the congressional defense committees no later than Dec. 31, 2023, on the progress of using the allocated funds for the purchase and availability of ATACMS for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On June 14, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said that Washington's change in rhetoric regarding some military assistance to Kyiv depends on a large set of factors. This also applies to long-range ATACMS missiles.

On May 30, U.S. President Joe Biden said that the issue of providing Ukraine with U.S. ATACMS missiles is "still in play." A resolution calling on Biden to provide the missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been tabled in the U.S. Congress.

Earlier, the Department of Defense said that the provision of UK Storm Shadows to Ukraine did not affect Washington's position on long-range missiles.

At the same time, U.S. congressmen continue to urge Biden to provide Kyiv with longer-range weapons.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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Media firms primarily considered social media platforms crucial for driving traffic to their websites and apps through content promotion and distribution.

However, in a significant blow to news and media organizations, Gizmodo details in a report that Facebook's recent algorithm adjustments have caused a sharp decline in website traffic, leaving publishers in the dark about the future of their digital presence.

The social media giant's opaque approach to these changes has left publishers demanding transparency and answers, but Facebook's parent company, Meta, has remained tight-lipped.

The Drop in Facebook Traffic

Facebook is used by 2.9 billion individuals every day. They are all looking for interesting, relevant, and pleasant information.

With such a large user base, it is easy to see why over 200 million businesses globally are on Facebook, attempting to expand their brands.

As the reliance on Facebook for traffic continues to grow, publishers are grappling with the uncertainty of planning for the future and the impact on their revenue streams.

According to data from Echobox, a social media management company, an apparent change to Facebook's algorithm in May has led to a dramatic decrease in traffic to news and media websites.

Publishers have reported a significant downward trend, with clicks from Facebook declining by approximately 50% since the previous summer.

This decline has been ongoing for the past year but escalated significantly in May 2023. The shift has left publishers struggling to adapt and forced to contend with algorithmic changes they have no control over.

Read Also: Meta Updates Global Covid-19 Misinformation Policy Amid Easing Restrictions

Publisher Concerns and Facebook's Track Record

Publishers are concerned about the lack of communication from Meta regarding the algorithm changes.

Robert Chappell, Executive Editor at Madison 365, a nonprofit newsroom in Wisconsin, expressed his frustration, highlighting the challenges of planning for the future when platforms like Facebook can undergo sudden and unpredictable changes.

This lack of transparency is not new for Facebook, as the company has a history of making impactful decisions without consulting publishers.

One infamous example was the "pivot to video" in 2015, where Facebook misled publishers about the popularity of video content, leading to a shift in industry focus that ultimately proved unfruitful.

Selective Content Amplification

Not only are publishers grappling with reduced traffic, but they are also witnessing inconsistent performance based on the subject matter of their content.

Madison 365's Chappell observed that Meta's algorithm amplifies relatively simple and positive news while suppressing controversial or policy-related content.

Although Facebook has not confirmed this assertion, leaked internal conversations suggest that the company's executives debate whether users should see more "positive" or "negative" content.

Such editorial decisions made by Facebook without acknowledgment pose concerns for publishers.

While these unknown algorithmic changes concern publishers, the platform continues to follow its Facebook News Feed Algorithm designed to make sure users see more engaging content through:

"Meaningful, informative stories"

"Accurate, authentic content"

"Safe, respectful behavior"

Dependence on Facebook

The digital media industry has become heavily dependent on Facebook as a traffic source, with publishers struggling to diversify their audience acquisition strategies.

Gizmodo notes that recent business collapses, such as Vice Media's bankruptcy filing and BuzzFeed News' closure, demonstrate the impact of unexpected shifts in social media traffic.

Publishers are left with limited options as they grapple with Facebook's dominance in the digital landscape.

Communication and Publisher Rights

While acknowledging that Meta is a private company entitled to make changes, publishers assert that they deserve open lines of communication from the platform.

Publishers find it challenging to adjust their operations strategically without knowing how long these changes will persist.

The lack of communication has left publishers feeling disregarded by Facebook, amplifying concerns about their future within the digital ecosystem.

In related news, the European Union now requires social media websites, app stores, and online stores to submit algorithmic risks; this includes VLOPs (Very Large Online Platforms) like Facebook.

Failure to submit to this algorithm transparency mandates could result in hefty penalties.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Meta Introduces Generative AI Model for Speech Generation 'Voicebox'

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Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma made a rare public appearance on Saturday (June 17) in Hangzhou, China, where he spoke with the winners of the annual international mathematics competition run by Alibaba's internal research division.

Jack Ma had the chance to interact with the attendees at the event in the eastern Chinese city days after an Alibaba top executive assured the public that the tech mogul is "alive," according to an HNGN report.

According to the company's Damo Academy, the billionaire entrepreneur spoke about "understanding of mathematics" with the 2023 Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition finalists at the occasion, SCMP reported.

In March, the 58-year-old Jack Ma visited a nearby school that gets joint support from Alibaba's partners. This is his second appearance in Hangzhou this year.

Since Jack Ma went under the radar in 2021 due to Chinese government action to block Ant Group's initial public offering, Alibaba's fintech unit, his movements have been constantly scrutinized. Ma made a contentious speech in Shanghai in October 2020, criticizing state-owned Chinese banks for having a "pawnshop mentality."

The 2023 Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition Final Round, the worlds largest intl online mathematics match, kicked off on Sat. The mathematics competition will support innovation and bring joy to math lovers, said Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba. pic.twitter.com/RS0stPOgz1  Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 18, 2023

Jack Ma is 'Alive'

Alibaba President Michael Evans assured worries over Ma's health at the VivaTech conference in Paris that Ma is "alive," "happy," and actively engaged in several activities, according to CNBC.

Read Also: China Approves Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, Advancing Clean Nuclear Energy

Ma is reportedly spending more time in China and lecturing at a university in Tokyo, according to Evans. This declaration is made amid rumors about Ma's actions and the regulatory crackdown on Alibaba and its affiliates.

The investigation against Ma and his businesses started in November 2020, when Ant Group's planned IPO, which would have been the biggest ever, was postponed due to regulatory pressure. Since then, Alibaba has had to pay a $2.8 billion antitrust penalty, and the Chinese government has tightened regulations for the technology industry. Ma was not seen then, leading to rumors regarding his whereabouts.

Alibaba Founder To Give Up Company Leadership

However, Ma's recent appearances in China and Europe have stirred debates about a possible relaxation of regulatory pressure on Beijing's IT industry. Ma remains Alibaba's top shareholder while maintaining a quiet profile, showing his dedication to the business.

The most recent event was the news that Jack Ma would give up leadership of Ant Group as part of a restructuring meant to address the regulatory problems brought on by the canceled IPO, per Reuters.

Even if the modifications would reinvigorate Ant's prospects for an IPO, Chinese listing restrictions might cause more delays. The changes announced would result in Ma's voting rights at Ant dropping from over 50 percent to 6.2 percent.

Related Article: Kairan Quazi: The 14-Year-Old Engineer Hired by Elon Musk's SpaceX

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mars, often the focus of discussions about extraterrestrial life, continues to captivate our curiosity.

Recent Curiosity Rover research indicates that Mars may have once supported life, but critical evidence may have been lost over time.

Discovering Lost Traces of Martian Life

LadBible tells us that the discovery revolves around the detection of 'brine patches' on Mars, indicating the presence of super-salty water that could have effectively reset the planet's mineral record.

According to research, the dynamics and evolution of Martian surface conditions have been preserved in a well-defined record of sedimentary rocks.

A process known as diagenesis can potentially erase signs of ancient life in the original Martian lake. However, it also creates chemical gradients that could support subsurface life, offering a new avenue for exploration.

The record of Martian strata may allow interpretation of a significantly different environmental path characterized by the global shift from a wet, pH-neutral planet (perhaps capable of supporting life) to a drier, more acidic environment.

Additional evidence supporting this idea comes from the discovery of methane on the planet. On Earth, methane is produced by organic processes, raising excitement about its presence on Mars.

Scientific Inquiry or Conspiracy Theory

LadBible notes that exploring the topic of alien life, especially ancient civilizations, requires careful navigation to avoid falling into baseless conspiracy theories.

It is essential to distinguish scientific inquiry from unfounded claims perpetuated by xenophobia or the underestimation of the capabilities of other civilizations.

Nevertheless, the possibility of Mars once hosting life remains intriguing.

Read Also: NASA Partners With SpaceX, Blue Origin, and 5 Other US Companies to Advance Space Capabilities

More Research on the Martian Landscape

The Curiosity Rover embarked on its mission to Mars nine years ago, collecting samples and transmitting valuable data to Earth.

Further research on Gale Crater, which the Curiosity Rover is currently exploring, sheds light on the climate conditions necessary for long-lasting lakes on ancient Mars.

The existence of Mount Sharp, a layered mountain revealing rock layers composed of lake, river, and wind deposits, suggests the existence of a massive Martian lake.

This challenges the prevailing belief that warm and wet conditions were transient or limited to underground environments.

Lab Manager reports that Curiosity is currently investigating the lower sedimentary layers of Mount Sharp, known as the Murray Formation. These layers provide insights into the repeated cycles of lake formation, sediment deposition, and interactions between atmosphere, water, and sediments.

Using the Curiosity Rover, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Project plays a crucial role in assessing potentially habitable environments on Mars. This ongoing research contributes to our understanding of Mars' evolution and provides valuable insights for future missions.

What's In the News

Curiosity Rover's recent findings suggest that evidence of ancient life on Mars may have been erased. The presence of brine patches and the discovery of methane offer tantalizing clues, but definitive proof remains elusive.

Continued exploration and analysis of Martian samples are crucial steps toward unraveling the mysteries of our neighboring planet.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: [LOOK] NASA Curiosity Rover Snaps Photo of Contrasting Martian Skies in New Postcard

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Austin Engineering's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 7 shareholders own 50% of the company

Using data from company's past performance alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

Every investor in Austin Engineering Limited (ASX:ANG) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 42% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Austin Engineering.

View our latest analysis for Austin Engineering

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Austin Engineering?

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 Austin Engineering 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. 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 Austin Engineering, (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 Austin Engineering. Thorney Investment Group Australia Pty. Ltd. is currently the largest shareholder, with 15% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 8.2% and 6.4% of the stock.

We did some more digging and found that 7 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

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. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of Austin Engineering

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

We can see that insiders own shares in Austin Engineering Limited. In their own names, insiders own AU$2.8m worth of stock in the AU$155m company. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 33% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Austin Engineering. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Equity Ownership

With a stake of 15%, private equity firms could influence the Austin Engineering board. Sometimes we see private equity stick around for the long term, but generally speaking they have a shorter investment horizon and -- as the name suggests -- don't invest in public companies much. After some time they may look to sell and redeploy capital elsewhere.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 8.1%, of the Austin Engineering stock. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

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.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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By Tim Hepher, Allison Lampert and Kylie Madry

PARIS/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Airbus is in advanced talks over a major new order from Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus, industry sources said on Sunday.

The number of new narrowbody planes being discussed ran into triple digits, meaning at least 100, the sources added, declining to go into more detail.

Airbus declined to comment.

"We currently have an ongoing order of A321neo with Airbus with deliveries until 2027," a spokesperson for Viva Aerobus said.

"Whilst Viva is a leading and growing ULCC in the Americas, we have not signed any new order with any (manufacturer)."

The Mexican carrier has long been a battleground in the fight for markets between Airbus and arch-rival Boeing.

In 2013, it defected from Boeing to Airbus with an order worth up to $4 billion for 40 Airbus A320-family jets after a bitterly fought contest between the two plane giants.

With the Paris Airshow looming this week, it has become a flashpoint once again as Boeing sought to win the airline back, but Airbus is favoured to win again this time, the sources said.

The deal could be announced at the June 19-25 event but a deal is not guaranteed pending further talks, they added.

(This story has been corrected to fix the air show date to June from July in paragraph 8)

(Reporting by Tim Hepher and Allison Lampert; Editing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Potter)
These are the best roads in the Balearic Islands to travel on foot

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Putin called the impudence of the failure of Russian conditions in the framework of the grain deal

The president of the Eurogroup distances himself from Calvino and avoids supporting Sanchez: "Full respect for the electoral process"

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Antony Blinken and Qin Gang call meeting in Beijing 'constructive' and agree to continue talking

Four months after cancelling his trip to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in the Chinese capital in a push to ease tensions between the two countries that both sides called "constructive" and ended with an agreement to continue discussions in Washington.

The talks at the Diaoyutai State Guest House lasted 5 and a half hours, and were described by the US State Department as "candid, substantive, and constructive". Chinese state broadcaster CCTV called them "candid, in-depth and constructive communication on the overall relationship".

"The Secretary emphasized the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout.

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.

Hope this meeting can help steer China-U.S. relations back to what the two Presidents agreed upon in Bali. pic.twitter.com/C9zPwjSDen

- Hua Chunying  (@SpokespersonCHN) June 18, 2023

After Blinken invited his counterpart to Washington, "they agreed to schedule a reciprocal visit at a mutually suitable time", Miller added.

The Chinese side mixed calls to continue high-level exchanges and expand cultural, business and educational exchanges with a warning about Taiwan, one of the sorest points of contention between the two sides.

"Qin Gang pointed out that the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, the most important issue in Sino-US relations, and the most prominent risk," CCTV said.

CCTV added that Qin emphasised the need to "discuss the increase of passenger flights between China and the United States, welcome more students, scholars, and business people to visit each other's countries, and provide support and convenience for this purpose".

The discussions - involving the most senior American official to visit in five years - were meant to reduce friction over a range of issues, including Taiwan, the war in Ukraine and US-led tech containment.

The much-anticipated talks get under way in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: Twitter @ Serena Xue Dong alt=The much-anticipated talks get under way in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: Twitter @ Serena Xue Dong>

Qin was flanked by executive vice-minister of foreign affairs Ma Zhaoxu and assistant foreign affairs minister Hua Chunying during the meeting. Assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns sat beside Blinken, according to footage of the meeting.

"Hope this meeting can help steer China-US relations back to what the two presidents agreed upon in Bali," Hua tweeted.

The two parties then moved on to have a working dinner, sources said.

Blinken was greeted at the airport by Burns and Yang Tao, head of North American and Oceanian affairs at the Chinese foreign ministry.

He will meet Wang Yi, Chinese President Xi Jinping's diplomacy adviser on Monday, and possibly Xi, US media reported.

Before leaving for Beijing on Saturday, Blinken said one of his goals was to set up "open and empowered communications" with Chinese officials.

He would also speak "directly and candidly about [the US'] very real concerns on a range of issues".

"Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict," Blinken said.

Analysts said the visit signalled a desire by both sides to re-engage, but the prospects of a breakthrough were low.

"He is expected to establish a road map and timetable with the Chinese side on senior bilateral exchanges during the trip," Shanghai-based news site The Paper quoted Wu Xinbo, head of US studies at Fudan University, as saying.

Wu also expected the discussions would cover flights between the two countries, which have yet to return to normal, creating a hurdle for in-person exchanges. Military contacts would gradually resume, he said.

Qin Feng, an academic committee member of Peking University's Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding, said Blinken's visit was part of preparation for Xi's trip to the United States in November, where he is expected to meet US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Apec summit.

"In a way, materialisation of Blinken's Beijing trip is a success by itself. It marks progress in the preparation for the two nations leaders' summit, which was delayed by the balloon incident. There is lots of catch-up to do at the working level now," Qin Feng said.

She said Qin and Wang Yi were likely to visit the US to nail down the details for the Chinese president's expected trip.

Biden said on Saturday that he was hoping to meet Xi in the coming months.

"I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how there's areas we can get along."

It is also widely expected that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will visit China after Blinken.

China has tightened the national security scrutiny in recent months, launching investigations into several US consultancy firms and banning the sales of the US chip company Micron to Chinese clients. At the same time, the United States has put more Chinese companies on its export control list.

Blinken's visit was confirmed on Wednesday, hours after a phone call with Qin, who stressed Beijing's "stern position" on core issues such as Taiwan.

In his phone call with Blinken, Qin also urged the US to respect China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Blinken's trip was a key outcome of a meeting between Xi and Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November, when the leaders agreed to work on improving relations.

A planned visit earlier this year was halted when a suspected Chinese spy balloon - a claim denied by Beijing - flew over American territory in February. The episode fuelled tensions already rising fast after then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Beijing regards the self-ruled island as a renegade province, to be brought under mainland control, by force if necessary. The US, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but opposes any attack on the island.

Regular talks between the world's two largest economies were largely frozen for months, but recent high-level engagements have indicated a thaw.

Over two days in May in Vienna, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Wang Yi held what both sides described as "candid, substantive and constructive discussions" on Taiwan and Russia's war in Ukraine.

Also last month, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held talks with Gina Raimondo.

And earlier in June, two senior US officials - Kritenbrink and Sarah Beran, senior director for China and Taiwan affairs at the National Security Council - visited Beijing for "candid, constructive, fruitful discussions".

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that Blinken would seek to establish communication channels with China and would "stand up and speak out for our values and our interests".

In a separate briefing, Kritenbrink said Blinken's visit would build on other recent engagements between American and Chinese officials and include "candid, direct and constructive discussions".

"We're not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another," Kritenbrink said.

"We're coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible."

Senior EU officials have repeatedly said they are looking to "de-risk but not decouple" with China. The Biden administration has recently adopted similar language, only to get the cold shoulder from Beijing.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Sydney Opera House is fielding dozens of requests each year to light its sails to celebrate national days and anniversaries and personal charitable causes  as well as the rare romantic request to billboard marriage proposals.

About half the 163 requests for illumination in 2022 came from individuals to commemorate the deaths of family members, to express support of global events and acts of solidarity, to promote local charitable causes and cultural and religious events, and to mark significant moments of artistic and cultural expression.

How the Sydney Opera House has been illuminated in the past. Credit: Wolter Peeters / Supplied

In one case in 2021, the Opera House was asked to carry one grooms request, Will You Marry me?

For such requests, the Opera House had to kill the hopes of this romantic Romeo and politely reject applications for personal memorials. Blossoming love and personal grief alone is not reason enough to illuminate the shells of the World Heritage-listed building.
An imaginative dramatised documentary that uses handmade figurines to tell the forgotten story of a riot in Casablanca has won the $60,000 competition at the Sydney Film Festival.

Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir took 10 years to make The Mother Of All Lies, helping her father painstakingly build a mini neighbourhood populated by tiny versions of key figures involved in a traumatic 1981 riot over the rising price of bread.

The Mother Of All Lies uses tiny figures of key participants to tell the story of a traumatic riot in 1981. Credit: Sydney Film Festival

She edited 500 hours of footage into a clever and entertaining film that, with no footage and only one photograph surviving of the riot, draws on her familys memories of the army killing protesters. It won the best director prize when it debuted in the Un Certain Regard strand at Cannes last month.

The jury for the Sydney competition, which recognises audacious, cutting-edge and courageous films, commended El Moudir for tackling a story perhaps wilfully obliterated from public memory.
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Eating outThe scoop The inside scoop on what to order and where to sit at Melbournes hottest new bar, Apollo Inn We check out one of the citys hottest new venues to bring you the lowdown on how to get the most out of your visit. Emma Breheny June 19, 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

Unless youve been in Capri or ignoring Instagram for the past week, youll probably know that Andrew McConnells Trader House team has opened a new venue in Melbourne that looks every bit as special as its last venture, Gimlet. Thats partly true. But Apollo Inn is unquestionably a bar, and its definitely not built in the same grand proportions as Gimlet. Bar snacks and lesser-seen cocktail classics are the go at Apollo Inn. Simon Schluter Its an intimate space (only 28 seats, but it feels more like 10), full of elegant details such as embossed paper coasters and pleated shades on tiny table lamps, although nothing feels excessive. From outside, it looks like an old office building, its foyer fairly nondescript apart from a pair of stately double doors covered in studded caramel-coloured leather. Push through them and youll enter another hallway, this one shadowy and carpeted, its timber-panelled walls inset with several small vintage watercolours, and shelves on which to rest a drink or an elbow. A heavy velvet curtain marks the threshold of the bar. It all feels a little like youre about to enter a bar in a David Lynch film.

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Once inside, the cocoon-like feeling continues as you get lost in a world of tiny crystal glasses, dark stone surfaces and not a peep audible from the street outside. Apollo Inns entry holds a dash of drama and mystery. Simon Schluter What to eat Finally, a bar that truly wants to just be a bar! About 10 bar snacks (and they are truly snacks) are on offer, from potato chips with bowls of dip, to nuts roasted in chilli, smoked paprika and honey. Do not pass go without collecting a crunchy finger of Baker Bleu baguette, toasted, spread with sobrasada and topped with deeply pink diced tuna. The meaty spread brings a gentle warmth, which offsets the sweet flesh of the raw tuna. This is surf and turf you can get behind.

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Tuna and sobrasada on toast. Earl Carter If animals dont cut it for your snack attack, dont fret. Theres more bready goodness in the form of potato focaccia. The spongy soldiers are embellished with lightly burnished tater slices for the full carb-on-carb experience. Light relief comes by way of scallops (right now, from Abrolhos Island) served raw in the shell, vinegar made with cara cara orange providing a delicate acidity. Need more twang? A tiny gold-topped bottle of the vinegar is delivered to the table along with a silver stand of shellfish on a bed of ice. What to drink The dirty martini, one of four on offer. Earl Carter

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Cocktails are the go. There are four martinis alone on offer, with enough variation to keep things interesting  a splash of cucumber brine in the Gibson for example. But the rest of the list showcases old-school drinks, including some you havent already seen at every bar around town. Try the coral-coloured Lucien Gaudin, which mutes the bitterness of a negroni by using house-made marnier. One of these on a hot day (whenever they return) will set you right. The smokier, mezcal-fuelled Pinky Gonzales, a Tiki classic crowned with mint leaves, brings a playful edge to all the grown-up booze being imbibed. Who to go with Slip behind the curtain with a date youre determined to wow. Its a bar built for nights when youre wearing your best low-key luxe shirt or shoes. Dont pile in here with five mates after a boozy dinner. And think twice about a visit with a colleague who you plan to gossip with  unless you want the whole bar to hear. Whats on the speakers

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Menahan Street Band and other smooth jazz-funk tracks that add to the sumptuous atmosphere. Best seat Without question, its the horseshoe booth set into the archway right at the back of the room. Its semi-private yet also offers a fantastic perch from which to watch the whole room and the jacketed bartenders do their thing. If thats occupied, a serpentine leather booth, in dark brown, stretches across one wall, while the smooth-edged bar is absolutely built for sitting at. The team nestled into the prized archway booth. Simon Schluter Our favourite detail

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Its a close tie between the leather doors, which look like a giant luxury accessory, and the light fittings: smoke-coloured plates of geometric glass stacked five deep to look like a spacecraft. Theyre a breath of 80s style in a space that feels very Old World. Pro tip This could be one of the citys most popular bars over winter, such is the McConnell effect. Its true that theyre taking reservations, which might seem strange for a bar, but about half the space is set aside for walk-ins. Soon, the bar will be opening earlier on Fridays (from 3pm). A quick visit might be the perfect full stop to a long lunch. Open daily 5pm-1am 165 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, 03 9277 9727, apolloinn.bar

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We didnt include anything in the report that we werent happy saying, particularly as it relates to causes of disease. A large number of the changes the department requested were not made by the researchers, a review of the documents by this masthead confirms. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said it did not seek to change the studys findings but rather to highlight the findings as presented and draw out the context. The spokeswoman rejected suggestions the department tried to downplay the findings of elevated rates of certain adverse outcomes in the towns.

In reviewing the draft reports from the study the minor suggestions made by the department focused on increasing clarity and consistency within the reports, she said. It was a matter for the ANU study team as to how they considered and incorporated any feedback provided. The spokeswoman would not say whether the Department of Health had shown the draft report to Defence but said it was usual practice to share studies of that kind with other departments. Red-line issues generally refer to limiting comments to those of greatest importance and can for example refer to issues that may unintentionally misinform readers, she said.

The departments primary concern is always the health and wellbeing of all Australians. PFAS chemicals in Defences firefighting foams have contaminated tens of thousands of houses and more than 100 sites nationwide, and the chemicals are expected to be found at low levels in the blood of most Australians because of their use in consumer products such as make-up. Last month Defence offered to settle a second class action, bringing the size of its total liabilities so far to $366 million. While Australias Department of Health says any health effects of PFAS are minimal, authorities in the United States and Europe have warned the chemicals may increase the risk of some cancers, suppress the immune system, raise cholesterol, decrease fertility, interfere with hormones and cause developmental effects in children. Last year the US Environmental Protection Agency declared there was no safe level of PFAS in drinking water and introduced tough new standards to prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.

Samantha Kelly abandoned her contaminated property in Williamtown in 2016 after high levels of the toxins were discovered in the blood of her newborn son, William. She declined to participate in the study because she feared the government commissioned it with the agenda of proving there were no health effects from the chemicals. It was going to be a study to prove there was nothing wrong, nothing to see here, that was what my gut told me, she said. She felt her position was vindicated by the emails. It just proves once again the government dont have the residents best interests at heart. In late 2016 the Department of Health announced it had commissioned the ANU study into the health of people in the polluted towns of Williamtown in NSW, Katherine in the Northern Territory and Oakey in Queensland.

The aim was to find out if people in towns with known PFAS contamination had higher rates of adverse health outcomes than those in unaffected areas. The researchers told a public meeting their work would be independent and free from government interference, as there were concerns the government had a conflict of interest because of its enormous potential legal liability. The study, published in December 2021, found elevated rates of prostate cancer in Katherine, stillbirth, developmental vulnerability and laryngeal cancer in Oakey and postpartum haemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, kidney cancer and lung cancer in Williamtown. Deaths from coronary heart disease were elevated in both Oakey and Williamtown and the research team noted exposure to PFAS can lead to higher levels of cholesterol.

The study concluded there was no proof peoples illnesses were caused by exposure to the chemicals because the results were not consistent among the towns and could have been due to chance or confounding, where a factor other than PFAS caused the result. In a flurry of emails in late 2021, the Department of Health provided the university with feedback on a draft version of the study. At the time, Defence had settled a $212 million class action for property damage that had been launched by residents of Williamtown, Katherine and Oakey, but identical legal action by a further eight communities was afoot. The Federal Courts expert referee had also found it was eminently possible that PFAS caused negative health outcomes and Justice Michael Lee noted the settlement for property damage left the door open to future personal injury claims. In the emails a bureaucrat, whose identity was redacted, said the ANU research team would need to explain why levels of prostate, kidney and lung cancers and stillbirths may look very high but the study concluded that a link could not be made to PFAS.

We are concerned that as it reads, without further explanation, communities may focus on these figures resulting in undue alarm, the bureaucrat wrote. The bureaucrat noted that table 10 had shown higher than expected numbers of all but one specified cancer in Katherine, and higher than expected incidents of all cancers across all the exposed communities. We think these numbers could be better explained ... as it reads, not being able to draw clear conclusions about the direct link with PFAS seems contrary to the data in table 10, they wrote. The bureaucrat took exception to a line in the draft that said current and previous residents of these areas may be concerned about the observed higher rates of some [adverse health] outcomes. This sentence is used throughout and in our view is counterproductive and likely to achieve the opposite of what we think is intended, they said.

Loading We think it would be beneficial if you replaced it with an affirmative statement about what the study does do eg. this study is consistent with previous studies in that it does not identify any conclusive disease causation role for the exposure to the PFAS. The sentence the bureaucrat labelled counterproductive does not appear in the final version of the ANU report. It does include the statement: Overall, our findings are consistent with previous studies, which have not conclusively identified causative links between PFAS and these health outcomes. Kirk, the lead researcher, was asked whether that sentence appeared in the draft or was added to the final report at the departments request.

I cant remember where that sentence was added but it wasnt at the departments request, Kirk said. Kirk said his team incorporated the departments comments where they improved clarity. We were guided by the data arising from the studies we conducted, which included evidence of health effects, exposure to PFAS and community psychological distress. Kellys seven-year-old son William is suffering health issues she fears could be linked to his PFAS exposure, while her youngest son, born in a suburb unaffected by the contamination, has a clean bill of health. Youre just living with an unknown, she said. Its not a nice feeling.

Kelly questioned why a well-regarded university doing its own research needed to share drafts with the government. Kirk said it was part of the universitys normal process for contracting agencies, such as the government, to see and provide comments on draft reports. The research team did not experience any interference from the department as the funding agency, he said. During the first class action launched over PFAS contamination, expert referee Professor Nicholas Osborne from the University of Queensland told the court that health risks from chemicals were usually assessed on a sliding scale of  probability from likely to unlikely based on an evolving body of scientific evidence. It could take decades or even generations to prove causation, the highest level of scientific certainty, even if probable links to health effects were apparent much earlier.
State high schools are being urged to adopt more generic uniforms and end their branding war with private schools as more families than ever seek financial help.

State Schools Relief  a not-for-profit organisation set up to assist with school costs  has recorded two of its highest months for requests for help in its 93-year history this year: in February, as the school year began, and last month, with the onset of winter.

Myha Le and her daughter Mikayla were shocked at the cost of public school uniforms. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Chief executive officer Sue Karzis said middle-class families who had not previously requested assistance were now seeking support as cost of living pressures began to bite.

Families pay an average of $326 for state high school uniforms, which are selected by individual school councils. The average cost of a primary school uniform is $288, but many schools allow parents to replace items with generic pieces from chain stores.
One thing we could say about the analysts on BenevolentAI S.A. (AMS:BAI) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. There was a fairly draconian cut to their revenue estimates, perhaps an implicit admission that previous forecasts were much too optimistic.

Following the downgrade, the current consensus from BenevolentAI's four analysts is for revenues of UK14m in 2023 which - if met - would reflect a huge 33% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. The loss per share is anticipated to greatly reduce in the near future, narrowing 68% to UK0.44. However, before this estimates update, the consensus had been expecting revenues of UK19m and UK0.44 per share in losses. So there's been quite a change-up of views after the recent consensus updates, with the analysts making a serious cut to their revenue forecasts while also making no real change to the loss per share numbers.

View our latest analysis for BenevolentAI

the analysts have cut their price target 12% to UK3.18 per share, signalling that the declining revenue and ongoing losses are contributing to the lower valuation. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic BenevolentAI analyst has a price target of UK8.54 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at UK1.53. As you can see the range of estimates is wide, with the lowest valuation coming in at less than half the most bullish estimate, suggesting there are some strongly diverging views on how think this business will perform. With this in mind, we wouldn't rely too heavily on the consensus price target, as it is just an average and analysts clearly have some deeply divergent views on the business.

Looking at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can make sense of these forecasts is to see how they measure up against both past performance and industry growth estimates. The analysts are definitely expecting BenevolentAI's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 33% annualised growth to the end of 2023 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 21% per annum over the past three years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 6.3% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that BenevolentAI is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

While analysts did downgrade their revenue estimates, these forecasts still imply revenues will perform better than the wider market. Furthermore, there was a cut to the price target, suggesting that the latest news has led to more pessimism about the intrinsic value of the business. Often, one downgrade can set off a daisy-chain of cuts, especially if an industry is in decline. So we wouldn't be surprised if the market became a lot more cautious on BenevolentAI after today.

There might be good reason for analyst bearishness towards BenevolentAI, like dilutive stock issuance over the past year. Learn more, and discover the 2 other risks we've identified, for free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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.

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WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Kampala, Uganda: Suspected rebels attacked a school in a remote area of Uganda near the Congo border, killing at least 41 people in a nighttime raid before fleeing across the porous frontier, authorities said. Thirty-eight students in their dormitories were among the victims.

Some students were burned beyond recognition, and others were shot or hacked to death after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked the school in the frontier district of Kasese, a local mayor told The Associated Press.

Security forces drive past a crowd of people gathered outside the Lhubiriha Secondary School following an attack on the school near the border with Congo, in Mpondwe, Uganda. Credit: AP

In addition to the 38 students, one guard and two residents of the local community in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town were killed in the attack, said Mayor Selevest Mapoze. A Ugandan military statement said the rebels abducted six students, taken as porters of food looted from the schools store.
I spent last week in Cody for the Wyoming Association of Municipalities annual convention. I really do enjoy spending time with other mayors and council members from across the state. I was tasked with chairing our resolution committee. Our cities and towns create the resolutions to give direction to our legislative committee for the next legislative session. The discussion was spirited, and I enjoyed the experience. I learned that the legislature recently passed a rule requiring mayors and council members to take an eight-hour class to get certified in their job. I agree it is a good idea, but I wonder why the legislature exempted themselves from the rule.

We dedicated the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project last Saturday afternoon. It was an event I had been looking forward to attending. I really thought it would take years to complete the installation of the bronzes on Capitol Avenue, but the team did a fantastic job surpassing my level of thought. In just 20 months, the Capitol Avenue Bronze Commission has installed 46 bronzes; 11 more are ready to install, and six are in development. Thanks to Nathaniel Trelease, Harvey Deselms, Caren Murray, Dixie Roberts, Susan Samuelson, and Jeff Wallace for their leadership. Please take a walk and enjoy the beauty downtown. I also want to thank our Community Recreation and Events team for setting up the dedication stage and sound system. You guys rock!

Throughout my time as mayor, Im continuously learning how to be a better partner to the development community. A meeting this week showed how our communication could improve to prevent misunderstandings. Being clearer can help save time and frustration, and our team received their message loud and clear. Both the municipal team and the developers want Cheyenne to be a place where development flourishes. Collectively, Im sure we can make that happen.

I have spoken about the private-public partnership called the Enhanced Use Lease for some time now. It will be a housing and commercial development located where the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) park and ride is currently located off Happy Jack Road. It was announced that a local company, Coldwell Banker, won the right to negotiate the lease with the Air Force. Im excited that we are finally at the point where this development can get underway.

Searing Industries is an advanced manufacturing company located in the Swan Ranch Business Park. They built their first plant dedicated to making steel beams and pipes ten years ago. This week we dedicated a 47,000-square-foot addition that will allow them to manufacture smaller tubes for the industry. Lee Searing and his family love the secret of our business environment. Lee not only invests in his manufacturing plants, but he also builds housing to guarantee his employees have safe places for their families. He is an exceptional businessman, and his continued investment is appreciated.

Vigilant Guard (VG) was an amazing thing to watch this week! So that you know, VG is a disaster response exercise designed to stress our ability to respond to the maximum. By stressing our local capabilities beyond the breaking point, we must look to our neighbors and federal partners. Vigilant Guard simulates the worst day possible in Wyoming---tornados, civil unrest, rail car derailment releasing gas, mass casualty active shooter, communities cut off by flooding, and so much more spread over the whole state. The National Guard invited me to watch Wednesdays activities, starting with a civil unrest demonstration at the Archer Events Center. Food shortage caused a riot, and the Laramie County Sheriff asked for help. The National Guards Quick Response Force supported local law enforcement and controlled the situation.

Early afternoon I saw a simulated active shooter in Powell High School. We flew a C-130 to witness the events and watched how the emergency management teams handled the carnage of the event. Ambulances, air evacuation helicopters, both private and military, and first responders from everywhere collaborated to handle the situation. There was also a radiological event as part of the crisis, and the Region 7 hazmat team was called in to clean up the school.

We flew home and visited the headquarters of the Wyoming Homeland Security Department. The basement bristled with folks from all over the region. My big takeaway from the exercise is that our partnerships are critical to handling these emergencies, and practicing helps show our vulnerabilities and allows us to plan better for the future.

One pleasant surprise from this exercise was the inclusion of a Tunisian contingent. Their pilots helped fly the C-130 and Blackhawk helicopters. They had members help with the Region 7 hazmat cleanup, and their leadership saw how our civilian and military would work together during a disastrous situation. I sat next to the Chief of Staff of the Tunisian Air Force at dinner that night. Our partnership with Tunisia is a beautiful way to break down barriers and create friendships. I am looking forward to visiting Tunisia someday, very soon!

We held our second focus group with employees from every department to discuss a proposal to create a wellness program. I appreciate the candor we received for the questions asked. My goal is to give our employees the tools they need to understand their health; getting their blood work done, visiting the doctor, dentist, and getting an eye exam annually. Paying for these services will give them the information they need to make good future health decisions. We have a lot of work ahead of us as we design something simple and easy enough to encourage our employees to participate. I really want our employees to retire happy and healthy so they live long enough to enjoy their pensions.

Early in the week, I was invited to lunch by an old friend from Laramie. Wyoming Independent Living was cooking hamburgers and educating folks on their mission to help people live in a world without barriers. I learned that 19 percent of Cheyennes population has some disability. This group helps people identify and overcome barriers so they can live independently. I enjoyed the burger and Amy and Erwins passion for the folks they serve.

I am privileged to serve on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee. Tom Mason has led our MPO for over 33 years, and Thursday was his last meeting. He is heading into a well-deserved retirement. There are not many roads in our community he did not help design or other important projects he helped with, like the greenway and the historic depot restoration. I wish Tom a long and wonderful retirement!

This weekend we celebrate Juneteenth across our nation. Local celebrations will be held at Martin Luther King Park on Saturday from 8 to 4 p.m. Please join me and many others as we celebrate this special day locally. I pray the rain stays away!

If you have a question or comment for me, please email media@cheyennecity.org. Ill continue to answer your questions or concerns in the following Mayors Minute column.
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:
Biden Says Ukraine Cant Join NATO Unless It Meets Same Standards

President Joe Biden speaks during the National Safer Communities Summit at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., on June 16, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Ukraine wont get a fast-tracked path to NATO membership, even as the alliances member nations have provided the country with significant resources since the conflict with Russia erupted, U.S. President Joe Biden said on June 17.

At a campaign rally with union officials, Biden was asked by reporters if he would make it easier for Ukraine to join the military alliance.

No, he said. Because theyve got to meet the same standards. So were not going to make it easy.

Ukraine, a former Soviet territory that also isnt a member of the European Union, has the ability to coordinate military affairs in the midst of the year-long conflict, he said. But the Eastern European country has to meet all the standards to fully join NATO.

Biden raised issues of government corruption within Ukraines military and government, which has been flagged by NATO officials in the past.

I think theyve done everything relating to demonstrating the ability to coordinate militarily, but theres a whole issue of: Is their system secure? Is it noncorrupt? Does it meet all the standards every other nation in NATO does? he said. I think they will. I think they can. But its not automatic.

Bidens comments come several days after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asserted that Kyiv has moved closer to NATO in the midst of the fighting. He delivered those comments in Brussels after a scheduled NATO defense ministers meeting.

We all agree that Ukraine has already moved closer to NATO over the past decade, Stoltenberg said. We agree that NATOs door is openthat Ukraine will become a member of the alliance and that this is a decision for allies and Ukraine to make. Russia does not have a veto.

Putins Latest Remarks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long said Kyiv joining NATO is a nonstarter and that this was one of the reasons for its 2022 invasion.

In public remarks last week, he said theres a serious danger of NATO being drawn into the conflict if members of the alliance continue to supply Ukraine.

NATO, of course, is being drawn into the war in Ukraine, what are we talking here, Putin said on June 16 during a forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The supplies of heavy military weaponry to Ukraine are ongoing, they are now looking into giving Ukraine the jets.

A Polish soldier navigates the Leopard 2 tank during training at a military base and test range in Swietoszow, Poland, on Feb. 13, 2023. (Michal Dyjuk/AP Photo)

In recent weeks, German Leopard 2 tanks, British Challenger 2 tanks, and U.S. Bradley and Stryker vehicles were sent to Ukraines forces. Putin said his forces had destroyed those vehicles and tanks, including the Leopards.

And if they are based abroad but used in fighting, well see how to hit them and where we can hit those means that are used against us in fighting, Putin said. This is a serious danger of further drawing NATO into this military conflict.

During the speech, the Russian leader again suggested that Moscows alleged vast supply of nuclear weapons could guarantee its security. He noted that Russia has far more nuclear weapons than NATO states have.

The Arms Control Association says Russia possesses about 6,250 nuclear warheads as of January 2021, while the United States has 5,500. The UK and France have about 500 nuclear warheads combined, according to NATO.

Nuclear weapons are created to guarantee our security in the broader sense and the existence of the Russian state, Putin said, according to a CNN translation. But first of all, there is no need and secondly the very fact of talking about it reduces the possibility of the threshold for using these weapons being reduced.

Also, we have more weapons like this than the NATO countries. They know it, and they keep driving toward negotiation on reduction.

African Peace Mission

At talks in St. Petersburg on June 17, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented Putin with a 10-point peace initiative from seven African countries and told him that the time had come for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations to end the war. Putin thanked Ramaphosa for his noble mission, while Russian news agencies cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin had shown interest in the plan, but it would be difficult to realize.

In Kyiv the previous day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told the African delegationthe first since the start of the war to hold separate face-to-face talks with both leaders on their peace initiativethat allowing negotiations now would just freeze the war and the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Ramaphosa sought to cast the trip to Ukraine and Russia in a positive light, writing on Twitter on June 18 that the Africa Peace Initiative has been impactful and its ultimate success will be measured on the objective, which is stopping the war. He said the Africans would keep talking to Putin and Zelenskyy and would brief U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on their efforts so far.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Hold Candid Talks in Beijing

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) walks with China's foreign minister Qin Gang ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 17 had a candid talk with Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing, the two sides said, at the start of a two-day visit that has drawn criticism as experts and U.S. lawmakers say that visiting China was a mistake.

Blinken, the highest-level U.S. official to set foot in China since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, is the first secretary of state to visit since 2018, when his predecessor, Mike Pompeo, visited China for one day.

Qin greeted Blinken at Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing. The two chatted briefly and shook hands before heading into a meeting room. Neither of the diplomats made comments in front of reporters.

Blinkens trip to Beijing marks the latest in a string of efforts by Washington to engage with Beijing; the communist regime has largely resisted bilateral exchanges on the military level.

During their 5 1/2-hour meeting, Blinken emphasized the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation, Matt Miller, spokesperson of the Department of the State, said in a readout released after the meeting.

The Secretary raised a number of issues of concern, Miller said without specifying.

Blinken invited Qin to visit Washington, and they agreed to schedule a reciprocal visit at a mutually suitable time, Miller said.

Both U.S. and China officials described their meetings as candid and constructive talks, though outside observers signaled low expectations for any major breakthroughs even ahead of their talks.

The trip wont produce any phased agreement, or specific results, because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is set up such that all decisions ultimately come from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Chen Lijian, a U.S.-based China commentator, told The Epoch Times on June 15.

Xi, meanwhile, has stepped up his efforts to prepare the partys military wing and Chinas population for conflict. On May 30, Xi told officials of the partys national security commission that they must be prepared for worst-case and extreme scenarios, and be ready to withstand the major test of high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms.

A Chinese navy ship conducts what U.S. officials called an unsafe maneuver, cutting sharply across the path of a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, on June 3, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. Richard/U.S. Navy via AP)

Xi had repeatedly vowed to annex Taiwan, a self-ruled island the CCP viewed as its own territory, and hasnt ruled out a war to achieve that goal. In recent years, Taiwan has been bearing escalated military harassment from Beijing, which continues to send warplanes flying near the island on a regular basis. In 2022, China sent 1,727 military aircraft into Taiwans air defense identification zone, up from 960 in 2021 and 380 in 2020, according to the AFP citing data from the islands defense ministry.

Washington, however, maintains robust ties with the democratic Taiwan under a framework set out in the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges it to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself.

Earlier this month, a Chinese warship came within 150 yards of colliding with a U.S. destroyer during a CanadaU.S. joint sailing mission through the Taiwan Strait, according to the U.S. military. Washington described the naval maneuver as unsafe, while Beijing defended its actions by accusing the countries concerned of deliberately provoking risks.

During Sundays meeting, Qin described Taiwan as the core of Chinas core interests, the most consequential issue, and the most prominent risk in the U.S-China ties, according to the readout from Beijings foreign ministry.

While the communist regime poses an increasingly assertive stance, analysts suggest that it had to agree to Blinkens visit to shore up relations, given that its post-COVID economic recovery is losing momentum, the youth unemployment rate hit a record high, and foreign investment sentiment is declining amid the regimes regulatory crackdown.

If the CCP completely falls out with the United States, or even heads to a conflict, almost all foreign investors would get out of the mainland, which is a situation that the CCP doesnt want to see, China affairs commentator Li Linyi said.

Chen also said that the Chinese regime cant keep rising without the United States.

Blinken was set to have a working dinner with Qin on June 18 at the lavish complex in Beijing, followed by a meeting with Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, on June 19.

It remains to be seen whether he will meet with Xi, who on June 16 met with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in Beijing.

Bill Gates (L) meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 16, 2023. (Yin Bogu/Xinhua via AP)

Blinken had previously said that his China trip was aimed at building on the productive discussion that President Joe Biden and Xi had in November, when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

However, his originally scheduled trip to China in February was postponed in response to the discovery of a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over several states, which was shot down by the U.S. military. At the time, Blinken said the incident created the conditions that undermine the purpose of the trip.

The spy balloon isnt the only recent incident that illustrates Chinas aggression against the United States. About a week before Blinken landed in China, the Biden administration revealed that China has been operating a base with intelligence-collecting capabilities in Cuba.

Several Republican lawmakers have issued statements questioning why Blinken would choose to visit now.

Instead of condemning the blatantly aggressive behaviors of the Chinese Communist Party, Secretary Blinken announced that he will legitimize the CCPs continued subversion of our sovereignty with an upcoming official visit, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said on June 16. Secretary Blinken and the Biden Administration must immediately cease their weak and desperate pursuit of a thaw in relations with the CCP.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said on June 17 that the Biden administration shouldnt try to appease China, given the communist regimes intentions against the United States.

Xi Jinping has already made his priorities crystal clear: He wants to dominate the U.S., and a meeting will only give his party more ammunition to embarrass us on the world stage, she said. President Biden should instead focus on building a strong military that can compete with the CCPs quest for global domination.

A balloon flies in the sky over Billings, Mont., on Feb. 1, 2023. (Chase Doak via Reuters)

Days before Blinken left for China, the State Departments assistant secretary, Daniel Kritenbrink, told reporters, Were not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another.

This is not a visit in which I would anticipate a long list of deliverables coming out of it.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called on Blinken to impose sanctions on CCP officials.

The Biden administration is holding back U.S. national security actions to chase fruitless talks with the CCP, McCaul said on June 14. Secretary Blinken must move forward sanctions and export controls and prioritize the protection of American interests during discussions with CCP officials.

Position of Weakness

Alex Gray, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and former chief of staff of the National Security Council, questioned why Blinken would want to meet with Chinese officials now, given Chinas continued egregious behaviors, such as the Chinese spy balloon incident.

Right now, the United States, I think, is reasonably perceived by Beijing as operating from a position of weakness, Gray told NTD on June 16.

The reason Im so concerned about that is President Biden and Secretary Blinken have continuously acted as if a meeting with Xi Jinping or with whoever the Chinese counterpart is, is the most important thing on their agenda.

It doesnt make sense to have the United States appearing to be begging for an audience with the General Secretary of the Communist Party [Xi].

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) greets Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R) ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Gray said he thought the recent revelation of Chinas base in Cuba would scuttle talks between the two countries. The fact that it didnt is important, he added.

I think, the reality is, the Biden administration is subordinate to the climate change lobby in the Democratic Party, who view Beijing not from a strategic or a military or an economic lens, but from a climate change lens, Gray said.

Bidens climate envoy, John Kerry, has said that the United States needs China in the fight against climate change. However, some experts have said China actually has no intention of helping the West on this issue.

As for Gatess visit to China, Gray said the software giant hasnt realized that trying to operate in the national security realm in the United States, while operating in the economic realm in China, are not compatible.

If you want to operate as a trusted provider for the U.S. military, for the U.S. intelligence community, for U.S. economic security, you have to make a decision about whether thats where you want to be, or do you want to be doing what Microsoft is doing? he said. Do you want to be operating as a partner of the Chinese Communist Party?

Intellectual Property Theft

There is an expectation that Blinkens visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in coming months, including possible trips by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It also could set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

But Frederic Rocafort, an attorney specializing in intellectual property (IP) and a former U.S. diplomat, told NTD on June 16 that the visit was mostly about preventing the bilateral ties from going off the rails.

The most recent meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping was on the sidelines of the G-20 leaders summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 14, 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Chinas continued engagement in IP theft is one of the reasons for the rift between the two nations, according to Rocafort.

When we talk about IP theft, we are talking about a variety of actions by the Chinese authorities, he said. Were talking about companies of all sizes being targeted. We hear most often about the larger companies, about the juicier cases where theres cutting-edge technology thats being stolen. But it can also affect much, much smaller companies.

In November 2022, a Chinese communist intelligence officer was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being found guilty in a scheme to recruit spies and steal sensitive U.S. aviation technology for China.

The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property estimated in 2017 (pdf) that the U.S. economy suffers an annual loss of $225 billion to $600 billion due to Chinas IP theft each year.

Its also important to keep in mind that not all theft, so to speak, will take place at the hands of a state actor, although theres certainly some of that going on, Rocafort added.

Sometimes what happens is that the inaction of the government or the environment created by the authorities can create an environment where private actors can then go out and take the IP of American and other foreign companies.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
CCP Manipulates AIIB and Spreads Toxic Culture: Former Executive

General view of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) building in Beijing on Jan. 13, 2016. (VCG via Getty Images)

A Canadian executive of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) resigned on June 14 while accusing the Chinese communist regime of manipulating AIIB and creating a toxic culture.

Experts pointed out that the incident has again revealed the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) infiltration of international financial organizations, which should serve as another warning to the free world.

The Beijing-based AIIB, established by the CCP, began operations in 2016 to finance railways and other infrastructure in Asian countries. The banks leadership claims that it has no political leanings and isnt influenced by political disputes.

However, Canadian Bob Pickard, director of global communications at the AIIB, posted to Twitter on June 14 that he had resigned, revealing that the AIIB has been dominated by CCP members.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping applauds after unveiling a sculpture during the opening ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing on Jan. 16, 2016. (Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via AP Photo)

The [CCP] runs the joint, but thats not transparent. Its only after working there for many months that I became aware of how thats where the true power is concentrated inside the bankthe CCP crowd who operate like a secret police, Pickard wrote.

The Communist Party hacks hold the cards at the Bank. They deal with some board members as useful idiots. I believe that my Government should not be a member of this PRC instrument. The reality of power in the bank is that its CCP from start to finish.

Hours later, the Canadian government said it would investigate the allegations and freeze ties with the AIIB.

Export CCP Party Culture, Ideology

Song Guocheng, a researcher at the International Relations Center of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times on June 15 that the AIIB is an international financing bank used by the CCP to support its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which seeks to extend the CCPs influence in other countries through infrastructure investments.

Pickards resignation and revelation show that leaders in democratic systems of governance have no way to work compatibly with the CCPs bureaucracy, corruption, and selfish goals.

There is no way for him to continue to collude with them [CCP], and resignation is a moral choice, Song said in response to Pickards resignation.

Song believes that this isnt an isolated incident, as the CCP has been receiving pushback to its efforts to spread its Marxist-inspired culture and ideology all over the world.

Security guards walk past a billboard for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the forums venue in Beijing on May 13, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

Masao Sun, an associate professor at the Department of International Affairs and Entrepreneurship at Nanhua University in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times on June 15 that the situation disclosed by the Canadian executive confirmed CCP critics doubts regarding some international organizations led by Chinas ruling party. But it also revealed the extent of the CCPs push for power and influence on the world stage.

Our original assumption was that the AIIB would serve Chinas own national interests, or mainly serve BRI. We didnt think that the CCP would impose the Partys will within an international organization, which is unheard of, Song said.

Huang Shicong, a Taiwanese financial expert, told The Epoch Times on June 15 that the outside world knows the purpose of the establishment of the AIIB, but theres no way to know its internal operations.

This time, the Canadian executive publicly revealed the internal situation, confirming the outside worlds original doubts.

Its that the CCP has ulterior motives in these organizations, and the CCP is actually leading it, Huang said.

Influencing Other Countries, Organizations

Sun said the AIIB claims that its purpose is to assist developing countries in financing their infrastructure development.

This will cause another problem, that is: When it lends money to the developing countries, will these countries also be influenced by the toxic CCP culture inside the AIIB? he asked.

From this incident, it can be inferred that the BRI promoted by the CCP around the world may export not only the debt crisis we have seen but also the party culture of the CCPthe culture of not adhering to the international order but dominated by the rules defined by the CCP.

Sun warned that the United States and the free world must think more carefully about what the CCP is doing and find a comprehensive way to deal with it.

Pickards allegations were denied by the AIIB. The Chinese Embassy in Canada called the remarks lies.

Fearing retaliation by the CCP after his post, Pickard immediately fled from mainland China to Japan. He posted a photo of Tokyo to Twitter, saying, So happy to be back in the free world.

Huang said this incident may lead to the departure of more international employees in other semi-official organizations that cooperate with China.

Foreigners who work in China or in Chinese organizations should be very careful in the future, he said.

Sun believes that in the future, Western executives who join the AIIB may be vetted by the CCP.

The BRICS development banks that the CCP participates in or leads may have similar situations, he said.

Ning Haizhong and Luo Ya contributed to this report.
Chinese Authorities Threaten to Make Hong Kong Protester Disappear

On July 1, 2019, Hong Kong protesters broke into the Legislative Council building. Many people were charged, some were charged with rioting. Profile photo (Sung Pi-Lung /The Epoch Times)

On July 1, 2019, some Hong Kong protesters broke into the Legislative Council building. Many people were charged with crimes, including rioting. The case resumed in the West Kowloon Magistrates Court (Provisional District Court) on June 13, 2023.

One of the defendants, Lam Kam-kwan, who pleaded not guilty, disputed an involuntary confession. The defense pointed out that when Lam went to China to visit his relatives on Aug. 13, 2019, he was charged and arrested for disorderly behavior. He was detained in Shenzhen for about two months, during which the Hong Kong Police threatened Lam to confess soon, or he would remain in China. Lam was also threatened by the Chinese authorities that he would be made to disappear from the face of the earth.

During his detention in China, Lam was interrogated by the mainland authorities, and subjected to unfair treatment, including no rest for 14 hours.

When Lam was handed over to the Hong Kong Police, he received similar treatment: The police chief threatened Lam to cooperate, or the police would extradite him to China again.

The defense added that Lam was forced to write a letter of repentance, to admit having participated in the July 1 Legislative Council Incident, standing off with the police outside the Legislative Council, and passing supplies such as helmets and eye masks to other protesters.

In addition, Lam was asked to admit his wrongdoing and promise to serve his country to the best of his abilities.

The mainland Chinese authorities also warned Lam if he refused to cooperate, he would be made to disappear from the face of the earth and admonished that Lam must cooperate with the Hong Kong police.

The defense also pointed out that on Sept. 20, 2019, Hong Kong Police Chief Inspector Wan Kai-ming and two of his staff, Senior Inspector Yip Kim-pang and Detective Sergeant 2828, went to the detention center in Shenzhen to locate Lam.

Wan claimed Lams fingerprints were found on an iron shield inside the Legislative Council and forced Lam to confess.

You only have one chance. No one can help you now. If you dont admit your crime, you can continue to stay here and forget about returning to Hong Kong, Wan added.

It was at that point Lam finally admitted he hit some glasses.

Confession Rehearsal

On Oct. 18, 2019, Lam was handed over and extradited to the Hong Kong Police at Futian Port, Shenzhen.

At the time, Detective Constable 11245 announced the warrant and arrested Lam.

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant 2828 intimidated him; he must cooperate with the police if he did not want to be sent back to China again.

Detective Sergeant 2828 demanded Lam to recite his confession, which read, On July 1, 2019, I did not enter and destroy the Legislative Council. I only hit some glass outside on the ground floor, after which I left.

The defense mentioned that in the video interview conducted at the Central Police Station, the police requested Lam to add content using the original confession as a blueprint.

The content police asked Lam to add includes the following:

Hitting the glass door of the Legislative Council with an iron barricade

Touching an iron shield

Denying legal assistance or contacting family after his arrest.

In addition, before Lam was taken to the Legislative Council for crime reconstruction, he expressed he was not feeling well and asked the police for medication. But the police denied medical help and said as soon as Lam finished with the reconstruction, he could get bail and have his arrest warrant removed from the court the following day.

When Lam arrived at the Legislative Council, he expressed he did not know where the glass door was. The police casually told him, Just pointing at a random one will do.

Police Deny Intimidating Arrestee

The court summoned Former Senior Inspector Yip Kim-pang, Chief Inspector Wan Kai-Ming, and Detective Constable 11245 Tsui Man-tat.

Yip said he was assigned to meet defendant Lam Kam-kwan in Shenzhen. Yip was aware of an arrest warrant for Lam at the time, but he did not initiate the setup or investigate the case. Yip argued that Hong Kong police had no law enforcement power.

Hence he only confirmed Lams identity.

On the other hand, Wan said he did not meet Lam on the same day.

During the defense cross-examination, both police officers denied having intimidated or sweet-talked Lam. They informed Lam he would be investigated upon his return to Hong Kong.

Detective Officer 11245 Tsui Man-tat, who arrested defendant Lam Kim-kwan, also denied any police asking Lam to tamper with his letter of repentance or add more story.

Case no.: DCCC606-610/2020DCCC1069/2020DCCC259/2021
PANAMA CITY  Wednesday marked the end of a massive economic development project that's been in the works for about half a decade.

It was then local officials celebrated the grand opening of the Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center, a state-of-the-art research facility located off Frankford Avenue in Panama City.

According to Becca Hardin, president of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the facility is expected to create about 25 high-paying jobs through an capital investment of approximately $25 million. Hardin's team has been working on the project since before Category 5 Hurricane Michael hit in October 2018.

Officials on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of the Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center, a state-of-the-art research facility located off Frankford Avenue in Panama City.

"This is going to put Bay County on the international map," she said. "When we had the grand opening ceremony, we had the executive team from Japan that came all the way from Tokyo to Panama City just to join in on the celebration.

"They could have chosen anywhere in the United States, but they chose Panama City, Florida. It's a big, big deal, and it's going to get us a lot of recognition."

More on the EDA: Bay Economic Development Alliance gets approval to request Triumph grants for two projects

Local economy: A booming Bay County? Economic developers forecast unprecedented growth over next few years

Hardin noted the new facility sits on the coast of Saint Andrew Bay, giving Suzuki Marine USA easy access to waterways needed to test boats. The company will bring in customers from across the U.S.

The EDA, which works to diversify the economy so it does not solely rely on tourism, announced five projects in 2022, meaning those companies have committed to expand to the area. They are:

Mocama Marine, which will establish a boat manufacturing operation at the Old Bay County Industrial Park off Bay Line Drive. It will create 105 jobs with a capital investment of $10.5 million.

Southern Sky Aviation, an Alabama-based aircraft maintenance company that plans to build a fix-based operator  a terminal for private and corporate airplanes  at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. It will create about 30 jobs with a capital investment of about $20 million.

Resia, a Miami-based real estate company that plans to build a facility at the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre. It will create about 200 jobs with a capital investment of $45 million.

Central Moloney, an Arkansas-based manufacture that distributes electrical transformers and their components. It already opened a facility at the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre. It will create about 200 jobs with a capital investment of $25 million.

FedEx, which built regional distribution center at the Port of Panama City Distribution Center off U.S. 231. It will create more than 200 jobs with a capital investment of $55 million.

Though Hardin said her group has not announced any new companies so far this year, she said it is "getting close."

"Tourism is always going to be very important for us ... but it's important to have a diverse economy," she said. "It's important for us to bring in advanced manufacturing, distribution (jobs) that will compliment the tourism industry and will continue to bolster our economy."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center opens in Panama City
Collapsed Stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to Reopen Within 2 Weeks, Governor Says

The aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed, in Philadelphia, on June 12, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

PHILADELPHIAThe collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen within two weeks, Pennsylvanias governor said Saturday, after joining President Joe Biden on a helicopter tour over the critical segment of the highway closed to East Coast traffic since last weekend.

We are getting it done here in Philly, Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a briefing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flyover that included members of Congress and the citys mayor.

Biden outlined the substantial initial federal commitment and longer term support for a permanent fix for the vital roadway. I know how important this stretch of highway is to Philadelphia and the Northeast Corridor, he said. Over 150,000 vehicles travel on it every day, including 14,000 trucks  Its critical to our economy and its critical to our quality of life.

Shapiro, offering a timeline that would be welcome news to commuters and long-haul truckers alike, said with Biden at his side: I can state with confidence that we will have I-95 reopened within the next two weeks. We are going to get traffic moving again thanks to the extraordinary work that is going on here.

He said folks here in Philly have a real renewed sense of civic pride through this project and that theres something special happening in our community with people coming together.

President Joe Biden listens as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at the Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on June 17, 2023, after an aerial tour of the Interstate 95 highway collapse. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

The stretch of the East Coasts main north-south highway collapsed early last Sunday after a tractor-trailer hauling gasoline flipped over on an off-ramp and caught fire. State transportation officials said the driver was trying to navigate a curve and lost control.

Ive directed my team  to move heaven and earth to get this done as soon as humanly possible, Biden said. He said he told the governor, Theres no more important project right now in the country as far as Im concerned. The president described it as an all hands on deck project to address a crisis.

Were with you. Were going to stay with you until this is rebuilt, until its totally finished, he said at the briefing.

Pennsylvanias plan for the work involves trucking in 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets for the quick rebuilding, with crews working around the clock until the interstate is open to traffic. Instead of rebuilding the overpass right away, crews will use the recycled glass to fill in the collapsed area to avoid supply-chain delays for other materials, Shapiro has said.

After that, a replacement bridge will be built next to it to reroute traffic while crews excavate the fill to restore the exit ramp, officials have said.

Biden said the design was incredibly innovative in order to get this work done in record time.

The fire and smoke near the collapsed section of I-95 in Philadelphia, on June 11, 2023. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the area Tuesday, promised that the federal government would provide the needed assistance to repair the destruction, although he warned that the wreckage will likely raise the cost of consumer goods in the short term because truckers must now travel longer routes.

Joining Biden on the presidential Marine One helicopter were Shapiro, Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Mayor Jim Kenney, all Democrats. Later Saturday, Biden attended a 2024 campaign event with union workers at the convention center.

By Seung Min Kim
DOJ Responds to House GOP Request for Information on Mar-a-Lago FBI Raid

The Department of Justice (DOJ) rejected a House Republican request to disclose information connected to the FBIs search and raid of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago last August for alleged classified documents.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had requested the information in a letter sent to the DOJ, asking for information about the classified materials that were discovered in the search. That included communications between the FBIs Washington office and the U.S. Secret Service.

On Friday, the DOJ rejected (pdf) Jordans request and argued that it couldnt provide non-public information about an ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution by a Special Counsel.

Protecting the confidentiality of non-public information regarding investigations and prosecutions preserves the American peoples confidence in the evenhanded administration of justice by guarding against the appearance of political pressure or other improper attempts to influence Department decisions, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote in a letter to Jordan.

In his letter earlier this month, the House GOP chairman asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide information about who is working on the Trump case. The request came before Trump was indicted on charges related to special counsel Jack Smiths probe into whether the former president mishandled classified documents.

The Judiciary Committee previously requested information and documents related to the FBIs raid on President Trumps residence and its subsequent investigation, Jordans letter (pdf) to Garland stated. Because you have not provided this information, and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel, we write to request an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smiths probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel.

Jordan sought a memo that outlines the scope of Smiths investigation or any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction of the special counsel, according to his letter. He gave the DOJ until June 20 to hand over the material.

Special Counsel matters are subject to specific regulations regarding the Special Counsels appointment and independence, Uriarte wrote on Friday. Additionally, the Special Counsel regulations establish procedures for disclosing certain information to Congress at the onset and conclusion of a Special Counsel investigation, including an explanation of any instances in which the Attorney General concluded that a proposed action by the Special Counsel should not be pursued because it was so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices.

Uriarte also made reference to the recent indictment against Trump as providing detailed information about the investigation and the charges that were brought against him. Trump pleaded not guilty in a Miami federal courthouse last week to dozens of counts related to the classified documents case.

The GOP chairmans request for documents came after the release of a report from special counsel John Durham, who investigated the FBIs opening of a probe into whether Trump colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 election. Durham was critical of the FBIs decision-making process and said the investigation should have never started in the first place.

After the DOJs response, Jordan has not issued a public comment. In comments to reporters on Friday about whether hell issue a subpoena to Garland, Jordan did not say.

Well wait and see what happens on Friday, he told Straight Arrow News. Other members of the House Judiciary Committee said that Jordan will likely issue a subpoena.

It has been the policy of Chairman Jordan, and Chairman Comer for that matter, to attempt to get voluntary compliance through negotiation. If he is unable to get it, I have little doubt but that he would be forced to use subpoena power, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told the outlet.

Developments in Case

The DOJ letter came as U.S. district judge Aileen Cannon handed down an order instructing all parties involved to obtain security clearances for lawyers who will need them. The order appears to emphasize the sensitivity of the case as it is dealing with classified materials that a president could access.

On or before June 16, 2023, all attorneys of record and forthcoming attorneys of record shall contact the Litigation Security Group of the U.S. Department of Justice, if they have not done so already, to expedite the necessary clearance process for all team members anticipated to participate in this matter, and thereafter file a Notice of Compliance no later than June 20, Cannon wrote.

Over the past week, Cannon has faced significant pressure and criticism from mainstream media outlets, claiming that because she was appointed by Trump, the judge would act in a biased manner that favors the former commander-in-chief. Some Democratic lawmakers, too, called on the judge to recuse herself in the case.

Notably, in August 2022, Cannon barred Justice Department investigators from using classified documents that were obtained during an FBI raid targeting Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort until a special master could review the materials. Cannon said at the time that Trump could suffer reputational harm from the search, appearing to make note of leaks to the mainstream media about Trump-related investigations.
Down but Never Out: Dutton Rallies Party As Senator Van Resigns

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 14, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Senator David Van has resigned from the Liberal Party after he was expelled from the party room due to multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues.

In a letter to the president of the Victorian Liberal Party, Van maintained his innocence against the accusations and announced his resignation from the party.

Given the Liberal Partys wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately, he said.

I cannot remain a member of a party that tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated. This is a travesty of justice and I reiterate that I deny the allegations against me.

I resign also acknowledging the cruel irony of doing so amidst public discourse about the weaponisation of allegations and the role of the rule of law which has at its centre the presumption of innocence.

The resignation letter follows an announcement by the Liberal Party on June 16 that it suspended all organisational resources and support for Van following more allegations of sexual misconduct.

Under parliamentary privilege on June 14, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe accused Senator Van of harassment and sexual assault, which he denied.

Nothing that she has alleged about me is truthful, Van said. There should be and must be an investigation into these outrageous claims so they can be proved to be false.

Then on June 15, former Liberal Senator Amanda Stokers allegations were released in a media statement. Stoker accused Van of touching her inappropriately back in 2020.

A third allegation by an unnamed individual who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Senator Van was also brought to Duttons attention.

Following the allegations, Dutton moved swiftly to remove Senator Van from the party room and urged that he resign from parliament.

The allegations that have been brought to my attention, Ive referred to the parliamentary workplace authority in the parliament, Dutton told 2GB radio stations Rad Hadley Morning Show.

I think its in everyones best interests that he resign from the parliament, and I hope hes able to do that sooner than later and seek the help that he needs, I think that would be an appropriate next step.

I dont tolerate the sexual assault of women, Dutton said.

Urgent Meeting with Liberal Party

Liberal party members from across the country attended an urgent meeting in Canberra on June 17 for the annual federal council meeting.

Dutton spoke to state leaders, shadow ministers, and senior office bearers on the Albanese governments handling of national security, housing affordability, and the current cost-of-living crisis hitting Australians.

In the cycle of politics, as we all know, parties will be down but theyre never out, Dutton said reported AAP.

Weve been here before and we came back and I promise you, we will come back again.

During the meeting, Dutton proposed a policy to allow first home buyers to use their superannuation for a deposit, which was announced by former prime minister Scott Morrison before the last election.

If young people cant accumulate capital, theyre unlikely to have much fondness for capitalism, Dutton said, as the policy would be an example to gain votes from younger voters.

By extension, if people cant realise their aspiration to buy and own their own home, theyre unlikely to have much faith in liberalism and so they look elsewhere.

As the pencil in their hand hovers over a coalition candidate, we want the sound of jingling house keys to resonate in their minds.

Women in Australian Politics

Thorpe has remarked that she will not pursue legal action against Senator Van, but said her focus is to make the parliament a safe place for everyone, at this moment it is not a safe place for women.

I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken, she said.

The Australian Government introduced a grant on March 23 to boost gender equality and diversity in Australian politics.

The Women in Public Office grant opportunity will be funded through the Womens Leadership and Development Program which will provide $5 million (US$3.4 million) over five years to Women for Election Australia to equip and encourage more women to enter politics.

Women for Election Australia is an organisation committed to increasing the number of women in public offices through training events, workshops, and networking opportunities; more than 4,000 women are expected to benefit from the program.

This funding will help enable a new generation of women across the country to enter public office, including those who might have never considered it as a career option, said the minister for women, Senator Kathy Gallagher.

Thorpes statement on June 15, said that on average, one woman a week is killed in this country.

One out of every five women in Australia will be sexually assaulted or raped in their lifetime, and, if you are not white, those statistics are even higher.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released Personal Safety rates on March 16 for a 12-month prevalence rate between 2016 and 2021-22.

Statistics show sexual harassment rate for women decreased to 12.6 percent in 2021-22 from 17.3 percent in 2016.

It is estimated that 22 percent or 2.2 million women in Australia aged 18 years or over have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, with a majority experiencing sexual assault.

Nina Nguyen contributed to this report.
Epoch Times Film Exposing Untold Realities of Youth Transgender Movement Debuts in New York

Panelists speak at the Epoch Times documentary "Gender Transformation" screening in New York on June 16, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORKWould you rather have a dead daughter, or a living son?

This is a dilemma thats sometimes presented to parents as their children go through a gender identity crisis. The answers are far from clear-cut.

By following the journeys of several former transgender youths, the latest Epoch Times documentary, Gender Transformation, unpacks the complexities behind the rise of the transgender movement and the role of societal mechanismsfrom the education system to medical and pharmaceutical industriesthat propel it forward.

Sold out online, the film debuted on June 16 at New Yorks Manhattan Film Festival in Cinema Village. It will premiere on EpochTV on June 19 at 7:30 p.m. New York time.

The films director, Tobias Elvhage, said he drew inspiration from watching a Swedish investigative series questioning the transgender narrative. Sweden, Elvhages home country and the first nation to authorize legal gender transition in 1972, made a U-turn on gender transitioning following the documentary to begin restricting gender reassignment medications.

That television program drew Elvhages attention to the side effects of transgender medication and surgeries on children, which, he noted, are irreversible and little reported.

Its like experimenting on children with these drugs, he said, comparing the physical harms of puberty blockers to chemical castration.

You might not even have future childrenhow can you make such a big decision as a child? Thats huge, he told The Epoch Times. For me, its shocking.

Tobias Elvhage, director of the Epoch Times documentary Gender Transformation, speaks ahead of the films premiere in New York on June 16, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

One mother interviewed by Elvhage said her severely depressed teenage daughter developed unbearable pain from taking cross-sex hormones and eventually killed herself. Another, California lawyer Erin Friday, had child protection services show up at her home telling her that she was a threat to her child.

Both were told by medical professionals and others that if they refused to support their daughters medical transition, their daughters would likely commit suicide.

Everyone was telling me to kill off my daughter and celebrate my new son, to put her on drugs, to call her a new name, make the daughter that I bore out of my body disappear, and cheering her on, celebrating this. I couldnt bear it, Friday told The Epoch Times.

Friday was so devastated that one day, she sat in her car at a railroad crossing, contemplating whether to end it.

Mother and lawyer Erin Friday speaks ahead of the Epoch Times documentary Gender Transformations premiere in Manhattan, New York, on June 16, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

For a year and a half, her underaged daughter wore a binder, cut her hair, changed her clothes and name, and talked about having her breasts removed, all the while being told to hate her mother.

A year and a half seems like a short time, but its a really long time because she was truly in pain, Friday said. She was believing that she was going to commit suicidethats what she said to me. She said, transgender people commit suicide, Im not going to live that long, anyway. Thats a terrible thing for a parent to hear.

To Katherine Welch, a physician featured in the documentary, the push for changing ones gender identity is misleading to young people and leads to deeper problems.

Theyre being led to think that their mental health problems and the struggles that they are dealing with are pathologized, she told The Epoch Times. Despite turbulences in childhood and adolescence, the confusion of gender and sex can be fleeting.

But, she said, the whole upending of gender and sex becomes the erasure of women and the whole definition of who we are as humans.

Physician Katherine Welch speaks ahead of the Epoch Times documentary Gender Transformations premiere in Manhattan, New York, on June 16, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Charlotte Noruzi, an art director in New York and one of about 100 attendees at the premiere, said the documentary brought tears to her eyes.

Its so important to have this film be created, and to put it out there, especially in a liberal state, city like New York, she told The Epoch Times. Its awful, its just awful whats happening.

She added that she felt quite lucky not to have to grow up in this kind of very chaotic, confusing era for children.

When I was thinking about when I was 12, and its terrifying to think that I would be exposed to that, and how vulnerable I would be, she said, referring to content promoting the transgender movement.

If youre an adult and youre making this decision for yourself, thats one thing. But to be a child and to be basically manipulated into making this really life-changing decision that you cant get back onto me its criminal.

Charlotte Noruzi at the Epoch Times documentary Gender Transformation screening in New York, on June 16, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Friday said she hopes that the documentary can show people the life-altering effect the transgender push has on real people.

It doesnt have any bounds. It can hit immigrant families, a Catholic family, a liberal family like [mine], a Democrat, a Republican, and it rips the entire family apart, she said. This is a cult that kills everything in its wake.

Once young people regret their decision, she added, they are dropped like a piece of trash.

No one helps them on the other end.

But, noting the changes in Sweden, Elvhage said he remains hopeful his film can help start momentum in the United States.

Thats a big thingawareness, he told the audience. With more people reflecting on whats going on, he said, it will open up room for more changes.

Watch the documentary here.
EU Parliament Overwhelmingly Passes Resolution Urging Hong Kong Govt to Release Jimmy Lai Immediately

On June 15, the European Parliament passed a resolution on Hong Kong with 483 votes in favor, 9 against, and 42 abstentions, calling on the Hong Kong government to immediately and unconditionally release Jimmy Lai, founder of the News media Apple Daily and other pro-democracy activists who have been convicted or detained under the National Security Law. It also called on the EU to sanction Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials involved in violating human rights in Hong Kong under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

The resolution, proposed by German MEP Reinhard Butikofer and Slovakian MEP Miriam Lexmann, among others, referred to Chinas implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the forced closure of Apple Daily, the arrest of Jimmy Lai, and the detention of 32 pro-democracy activists and journalists on the 34th anniversary of June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre. It called for the Hong Kong government to immediately release and drop all the charges against Jimmy Lai. It urged the EU Council to introduce targeted sanctions against Hong Kong leader John Lee and other CCP officials responsible for the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Hong Kong.

The resolution also expressed concern about the CCPs continued use of various means of surveillance and intimidation against Chinese and people from Hong Kong people in Europe, calling on the EU and its member states to investigate and close any channels that assist Chinas cross-border suppression campaign to protect vulnerable overseas Chinese communities in Europe.

In response to the resolution, a spokesperson for CCPs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Hong Kong issued a statement expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the resolution.
FBI Arrests Michigan Man Suspected of Plotting Mass Shooting at Synagogue

The FBI logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, D.C. on July 5, 2016. (Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images)

FBI agents arrested a Michigan man on June 16 after he threatened a mass shooting at a synagogue in East Lansing, Michigan, according to federal court documents filed in the Western District of Michigan.

Seann Patrick Pietila, 19, was charged with transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure another, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced Friday in a news release.

FBI Special Agent Ryan Roskey said in the complaint that Pietila demonstrated through Instagram messages his neo-Nazi style ideology, antisemitic beliefs, suicidal ideologies, glorification of past mass shooters that have had similar ideologies, and intent to mimic their actions.

Prosecutors say he made apparent references to the New Zealand shooter, who is serving life in prison for killing 51 people and injuring 40 others in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.

Investigators also found a Pinterest account from Pietila that included posts containing Nazi imagery and references to mass shooters. They were able to connect the Instagram and Pinterest accounts to Pietila, and also found TikTok and Discord accounts tied to him to confirm his identity.

The investigation began with a tip earlier this week that someone was making threats on Instagram to commit a mass killing, according to the criminal complaint.

FBI agents executed a search warrant at his residence on Friday and found a cache of weapons, including firearms, knives, tactical equipment, a red-and-white Nazi flag, a ghillie suit, gas masks, and military sniper/survival manuals.

During the search, authorities also found a message on Pietilas phone in the Notes app that referenced a synagogue in East Lansing, Mich., according to the complaint. The note lists a date of March 15, 2024, the five-year anniversary of Tarrants attacks, and mentions pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails, and multiple firearms.

Pietila told investigators that he planned to use the shotgun he had to kill himself and wrote a suicide note on his phone, the complaint states.

Pietila told investigators that he was the Instagram user but said he did not intend to carry out the mass shootings that he referenced, per the complaint.

Pietila is being held temporarily without bond pending a detention hearing on June 22 in federal court in Grand Rapids. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

Rabbi Amy Bigman of Shaarey Zedek said the synagogue had notified its congregation of 220 families after learning Friday afternoon about the investigation from FBI agents and that an arrest had been made and that person had been charged.

We wanted our congregation to know that federal, state, and local authorities are aware of the situation that didnt happen because our law enforcement was on top of things, which we are thankful for, Bigman told The Detroit News.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement that hes incredibly grateful to the FBI for their swift action to identify and arrest Pietila.

Antisemitic threats and violence against our Jewish communitiesor any other group for that matterwill not be tolerated in the Western District of Michigan, he added. Today and every day, we take all credible threats seriously.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former Oath Keepers Attorney Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial on Jan 6 Charges

Kellye SoRelle, general counsel for Oath Keepers, during a deposition displayed at a hearing by the House January 6 committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 12, 2022. (House Select Committee via AP)

Former Oath Keepers general counsel Kellye SoRelle has been ruled incompetent to stand trial on four Jan. 6 criminal counts, suspending her prosecution indefinitely while she seeks mental health treatment.

At a hearing on June 16 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Judge Amit Mehta ruled that SoRelle will not stand trial as scheduled on July 10.

SoRelles attorney, federal public defender Horatio Aldredge IV of Austin, Texas, told Judge Mehta that SoRelle would require inpatient mental health treatment as soon as a slot becomes available. Details of SoRelles condition were not released.

SoRelle, 44, of Granbury, Texas, was indicted on Aug. 31, 2022, on charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding, i.e. aiding and abetting, entering, and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; and obstruction of justice, i.e., tampering with documents.

SoRelle has been free on her own recognizance pending the start of her trial.

Prosecutors allege that two days after Jan. 6, SoRelle instructed Rhodes and others in an encrypted chat group to delete any comments they had written about who did what at the Capitol.

Delete your self-incriminating comments or those that can incriminate others. Start now, SoRelle wrote, according to a court filing. Each of you go back to before the event and scroll forward and hunt down any comment you made that can be used against you, other Oath Keepers, or the org and delete them.

SoRelle was watching Jan. 6 television coverage with Rhodes at a nearby hotel when Rhodes received a phone call saying violence had broken out at the Capitol. She accompanied him to the Capitol, although neither entered the building, according to Rhodess May 2021 FBI interview.

On a motion from federal prosecutors in March, Mehta ordered SoRelles case be joined to those of Oath Keepers Donovan Crowl, 52, of Woodstock, Ohio; and James Beeks, 51, of Windermere, Florida. The trial is scheduled for July 10 in D.C.

SoRelle is the former girlfriend of Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, who was sentenced in May to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other Jan. 6-related convictions.

SoRelle formerly served as the Oath Keepers attorney but relinquished that role in early 2022. She is a Texas attorney and former county prosecutor.

SoRelle had been expected to testify as a defense witness in the first Oath Keepers trial that ran from Sept. 27 through Nov. 29, 2022. But her arrest on Sept. 1, 2022, precluded her from testifying for Rhodes and four other defendants in the Oath Keepers trial.

SoRelle told The Epoch Times in a March 2022 interview that the prosecution of Rhodes and the Oath Keepers was all a lie based on a government setup carried out by a weaponized criminal justice system.

Oath Keepers were in Washington to provide security, not attack the Capitol, she said.

Stewart is very honest. Stewart did not have a clue what the hell he was being set up for, SoRelle said. I have faith in these guys. I talked to all of them. I know where their hearts were and I was around them at the time. Never once did I ever hear anybody saying, Lets go do this.

Federal prosecutors filed a motion in May seeking to preclude SoRelle from using diminished mental capacity as a defense in her case.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A recent study out of Portugal found that incorporating acupuncture into dialysis treatments had noteworthy benefits for patientsand was quite comfortable despite the needles. Acupuncture treatments were administered simultaneously alongside dialysis treatments.

In the study, Integrating Acupuncture Into a Dialysis Center, published in Healthcare in May, the authors note that theres a growing interest in creating a more comprehensive approach to health care by integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into conventional medicine.

Scientific evidence supports acupuncture as an integrative treatment for specific health conditions, they note.

The study aimed to evaluate how well patients accepted acupuncture and how easily it could be integrated into conventional treatments. It also aimed to assess the effect of acupuncture on functional capacity and quality of life in patients receiving hemodialysis over the study period.

Patients were split into two groups. One received traditional acupuncture and the other received sham acupuncturemeaning the insertion of acupuncture needles in locations that dont correspond to acupuncture points.

The study involved 48 patients who participated in the patient-assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial, meaning that the patients and the people assessing the results didnt know which patients got real acupuncture and which ones got fake acupuncture.

Acceptance of the acupuncture treatment was measured by assessing both the percentage of patients who completed treatments and opinions about acupuncture by the patients and health professionals using questionnaires before and after the treatments.

Viability was measured by safety (the number of reported adverse events) and effectiveness using changes in functional capacity, peripheral muscle strength, and health-related quality-of-life scores after the treatments.

Study participants who had kidney failure and had been receiving weekly hemodialysis treatments for more than three months were chosen.

Hemodialysis is a treatment used to filter waste and water from the blood, as the kidneys do when theyre healthy. Hemodialysis helps control blood pressure and balance vital minerals, such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, in your blood.

Participants were men and women above 18 years of age who were considered medically stable and had previously tried acupuncture. Those with comorbidities were excluded. The participants who received real acupuncture had nine total treatments, and the study ran from August 2021 to February 2022, with a 12-week post-treatment follow-up.

The Studys Conclusions

The researchers found that those who received the traditional, or verum, acupuncture had better results than those who received the sham acupuncture.

The traditional acupuncture group could walk farther and demonstrated increased peripheral muscle strength in their lower limbs and handgrip strength. The group also achieved higher scores in health-related quality of life, which is defined as an individual or groups perceived physical and mental health over time.

The traditional acupuncture group also had greater physical functioning, decreased body pain, and improved general health, vitality, and social functioning. They saw an improvement in overall health; improvement in specific areas targeted by kidney disease, including specific symptoms and effects related to kidney disease; experienced an increase in cognitive function; and had improved sleep.

When asked about the degree of discomfort felt during the acupuncture treatment, 17.8 percent said it was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, 35.6 percent said it was comfortable, and 46.7 percent said it was very comfortable. Furthermore, the majority, or 91.1 percent, said they would recommend acupuncture treatment to others based on their experience.

As for acupunctures effectiveness and clinical applicability, 8.3 percent had a neutral opinion, while 33.3 percent felt it was positive, and 58.3 percent were very positive about the experience.

According to the study, all those involved thought the acupuncture treatments didnt interfere with routine hemodialysis. Throughout the trial period, patients, as well as health professionals, didnt observe or report any acupuncture-related adverse events, suggesting that using acupuncture during hemodialysis sessions can be considered safe.

The study authors were interested in the patients opinions about acupuncture as well as the opinions of the doctors and nurses who administer their care.

Integration: The Future of Health Care?

The study authors note that the rise of traditional and complementary medicines in the past two decades have prompted regulators to assess their safety and integration into health systems.

As a result, through its first traditional medicine strategy, the WHO has defined global policies with national and regional rules to promote the regulation of products, practices, and practitioner education and training to ensure the rational, safe, and effective use of T&CM [traditional and complementary medicine], they said.

In Portugal, where the study took place, they have been integrating traditional and complementary medicinedesignated nonconventional therapies, or NCTsinto their health care system for the past two decades. These nonconventional therapies include acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, TCM, naturopathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic.

The regulation of NCTs began in 2003 and was recognized in 2019.

According to the study authors, this action toward regulation resulted in the attribution of 6,311 professional licenses, which contributed to the clients safety when using the NCTs because of the certainty that an accredited practitioner provided them.

It is worth mentioning that acupuncture and TCM have the highest number of certified professionals, the study authors noted.

As studies such as this one accumulate data about the benefits of traditional and complementary therapies, its likely that patients will see greater integration of these types of therapies into their health care systems. This integration could ultimately offer benefits to all patients who would like the option of more holistic approaches or who simply want more choices when it comes to their health care needs.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
Migraines are a type of recurring headache that can be debilitating. Moderate to severely painful, their symptoms can vary as much as the pain. While migraines share similarities with other types of headaches, health care professionals can distinguish migraine headaches from other types.

This sometimes-disabling neurological disorder affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, according to a consensus statement published in Nature Reviews Neurology. In the United States, approximately 15 percent of people experience migraines. These severe headaches can disrupt a persons daily activities and develop complications.

What Are the Common Types of Migraines?

According to Cleveland Clinic, more than 150 types of headaches are divided into two groups: primary and secondary.

Migraine headaches are primary headaches, meaning another condition does not cause them. In contrast, secondary headaches are the result of another condition. There are three main types of migraines: migraine without aura, migraine with aura, and chronic migraine. An aura is one or more sensory disturbances that occur before migraine onset.

Without Aura (Common)

When the aura phase of a migraine does not occur, it is considered a migraine without aura. Some characteristics of this type of migraine are:

Pain on one side of the head

Throbbing pain

Moderate to severe intensity

Sensitivity to light

Nausea

Vomiting

With Aura (Complicated)

Migraines that contain the aura stage are migraines with aura. About 15 to 20 percent of people who have migraines will experience an aura. Auras can happen before you experience a migraine or during the migraine.

Besides the characteristics of the aura phase, more specific characteristics of auras are:

Visual disturbances, such as shapes or colors, that can last for minutes or hours

Numbness in the arms and legs, which can be gradual

Vertigo

Chronic

Chronic means long-lasting. In this case, a chronic migraine lasts more than 15 days per month for over three months.

People who experience chronic migraines may switch between chronic and episodic migraines, and those who experience episodic may switch to having chronic migraines.

People with a headache disorder, such as migraines, may develop chronic migraines due to the overuse of headache medication.

Other

Less common types of migraines include:

Silent migraine: This is a type of headache with auras but without pain.

This is a type of headache with auras but without pain. Hemiplegic migraine: This migraine features momentary paralysis or sensory changes on one side of the body. This can be confused with stroke symptoms.

This migraine features momentary paralysis or sensory changes on one side of the body. This can be confused with stroke symptoms. Ocular migraine: Ocular migraines cause some or complete vision loss in one eye and pain behind the affected eye.

Ocular migraines cause some or complete vision loss in one eye and pain behind the affected eye. Migraine with brainstem aura: This migraine results in sudden symptoms of loss of balance, impaired speech, and double vision.

This migraine results in sudden symptoms of loss of balance, impaired speech, and double vision. Abdominal migraine: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, this is abdominal pain that occurs most often in children, lasts one to 72 hours, and may or may not have a headache. They cause severe abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Young children are more inclined to experience these and will likely experience migraines when they are older.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, this is abdominal pain that occurs most often in children, lasts one to 72 hours, and may or may not have a headache. They cause severe abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Young children are more inclined to experience these and will likely experience migraines when they are older. Basilar-type migraine: Occurs most often in teenage girls and is sometimes associated with menstruation, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms include vision, speech, balance disturbances, and poor muscle coordination.

Occurs most often in teenage girls and is sometimes associated with menstruation, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms include vision, speech, balance disturbances, and poor muscle coordination. Menstrual migraine: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, these affect women and occur around menstruation.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, these affect women and occur around menstruation. Status migrainosus: This rare migraine lasts more than 72 hours with extreme pain and nausea.

What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?

Symptoms of migraine headaches can differ among the types of migraines. The most common symptoms (pdf) include:

Throbbing head pain

Nausea

Vomiting

Light sensitivity

Visual disturbances

Headache that worsens with activity

Disruptions in smell, taste, and touch

When to See a Doctor

If you are experiencing headaches, it is always best to see your health care provider to be diagnosed and eliminate any contributing conditions. According to Mayo Clinic, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your health care provider soon, as a more severe condition may exist:

An abrupt, intense headache

Physical changes including fever, stiff neck, numbness, weakness

Confusion, seizures, or changes in vision

Headache occurring after a head injury like a concussion

A chronic headache worsened by straining, coughing, or exertion

Changes in your headaches after the age of 50

This list is not all-inclusive. If you experience any new or changed symptoms with your migraines, it is best to see your doctor for further guidance and to ensure another serious condition doesnt exist.

Migraines Affect People Differently

Migraines do not affect everyone the same. How a person experiences migraines can be affected by age, gender, and physiology.

Older People

Older people more often have migraine aura without headache and more secondary headaches because of existing comorbidities and adverse events. Migraine symptoms change with age, as well. Older people are less likely to have nausea and vomiting but more likely to have neck pain. When people over 55 experience migraines, considering their comorbidities and medications is necessary to make a diagnosis.

Children

For children experiencing migraines, bed rest may be enough to manage the migraine. Their attacks are often shorter, less pulsating, with prominent gastrointestinal disturbances. Children who experience migraines may see an increase in prevalence when they reach adolescence.

As mentioned above, children may experience two types of migraines not shared by others: basilar-type and abdominal migraines.

Although medications may help to manage migraines in children, consult a health care professional before administering any medications.

Women

Due to various hormonal changes, women may experience migraines during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and when taking oral contraceptives.

During pregnancy and when breastfeeding, women should avoid preventive treatment. Preventive medications carry to risk of harming the fetus or infant. While NSAIDs are considered safe during the second trimester of pregnancy, some health authorities also consider them safe during the first trimester. Consult your physician about taking medication while pregnant. According to the Nature Reviews Neurology consensus statement, migraine medications contraindicated during pregnancy are:

Topiramate

Candesartan

Sodium valproate

Women with menstrual migraines may benefit from long-acting NSAIDs or triptans when acute therapies are unsuccessful. Taking these daily for five days, starting two days before an expected period, may prevent the occurrence of menstrual migraines.

According to the Nature Reviews Neurology statement, women who experience migraine with aura should not take combined hormonal contraceptives. Doing so may increase the risk of stroke.

What Causes a Migraine?

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the exact cause of migraine headaches has yet to be confirmed. However, specific neurological issues are believed to contribute to migraines.

Issues in the nervous system may be a cause of migraines. According to Nature Reviews Neurology, migraines involve the peripheral and central activation of the trigeminovascular system. Changes in brain activity can lead to inflamed blood vessels surrounding the brain. Sudden changes in your body or environment may also cause migraines.

Migraines are widely thought to develop due to activated trigeminal nerves, a pain pathway connecting your face, teeth, sinuses, and blood vessels on the brains surface. These vessels dilate, and the brain releases chemicals that cause inflammation. Increased blood flow to the brain and vessel contractions manifest as throbbing. (The Epoch Times)

In contrast to migraines, secondary headaches occur because of another condition. The following conditions can sometimes be mistaken for migraines:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Potentially life-threatening, this causes a thunderclap headache.

Potentially life-threatening, this causes a thunderclap headache. Transient ischemic attack (TIA): This results in an unusual aura.

This results in an unusual aura. Meningitis: Potentially life-threatening, meningitis may be present when an unexplained fever accompanies a migraine.

Potentially life-threatening, meningitis may be present when an unexplained fever accompanies a migraine. Intracranial lesion: This lesion may be indicated with a progressive migraine.

This lesion may be indicated with a progressive migraine. Medication overuse: This results from the overuse of acute medications used for migraine relief.

Common Migraine Triggers

Triggers do not cause migraines. Instead, they activate the processes that cause migraines. When exposed to triggers, people prone to migraines may experience one soon after exposure. Not every trigger affects everyone prone to migraines, nor will everyone prone to migraines experience the same trigger. Possible triggers include:

Barometric pressure changes

Changes in altitude

Tiredness

Changes in sleep patterns

Perfumes

Smoke

Skipping meals

Changes in estrogen levels

Diet

Dehydration

Loud noises

Some medications

What Are the Stages of a Migraine?

A migraine has four stages, which Cleveland Clinic depicts in a helpful graphic:

Prodrome Aura Attack Postdrome

Prodrome

Before a migraine occurs, even days before, you may experience changes to your body and personality. These can be warnings of an impending migraine and can include:

Gastrointestinal disruptions

Mood disruptions

Food cravings

Stiff neck

Frequent urination

Fluid retention

Yawning

Aura

Auras may or may not occur with a migraine. When they do occur, they can happen before or during the migraine. An aura may include:

Visual disturbances

Tinnitus

A sensation of pins and needles in the arms and legs

Numbness on one side of the face

Speech disturbances

Attack

The attack is an active migraine. During this stage, you may experience any previously discussed symptoms, which may last for hours up to several days.

Postdrome

Symptoms occurring after the attack comprise the migraines postdrome, or final phase. These may include:

Feeling drained

Confusion

Exhaustion

Euphoria

Who Is More Likely to Develop Migraines?

UC Berkeley states that migraines typically occur in people between 15 and 55. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men, and 70 to 80 percent of sufferers are likely to have a family history of migraines.

Additionally, people who experience high stress levels are more at risk of experiencing migraines.

How Are Migraines Diagnosed?

While health care providers can diagnose migraines, it is best to prepare for your appointment first to make the diagnosis process easier. Prepare by keeping a headache journal, documenting your history of migraines in a calendar, and recording any family history of migraines. When documenting your headaches, include intensity, frequency, and duration.

Health care providers depend on a patients history of headaches and family history to diagnose a headache condition. The age you began experiencing the headaches and whether you have an aura can help determine if the headaches are migraines.

Headaches can be secondary, so this possibility must first be ruled out. To do this, your doctor will need a complete health history and may occasionally request neuroimaging.

Tests

The primary tool for diagnosing migraines is the patients headache history. Migraines are a clinical diagnosis, so there are no tests explicitly used to diagnose them.

To exclude causes of secondary non-migraine headaches, neuroimaging such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used. For the same reason, a physician may order blood tests. The physician may also order an electroencephalogram (EEG) to rule out seizures.

What Are the Complications of Migraines?

Certain auras may also indicate migraine complications. An aura that persists for over a week but shows no signs of infarction is a persistent aura without infarction. On the other hand, a migrainous infarction is a condition in which a migraine lasts longer than one hour and shows correlating areas of infarction on CT scans or an MRI and would be associated with stroke symptoms. This is in contrast to the temporary, though often prolonged, one-side weakness seen in hemiplegic migraine that does not ultimately result in stroke. An emergent medical evaluation is needed to determine the difference.

While no causal link between seizures and migraines exists, some research suggests a relationship. People who have migraines are more likely also to have epileptic seizures.

The symptoms of migraines can also cause complicate a persons daily life. This may come in the form of lost hours at work or a person being atypically inactive. The following complications can arise from chronic migraines:

Depression and anxiety: People with migraines are five times more likely to develop depression than those who dont.

People with migraines are five times more likely to develop depression than those who dont. Vertigo: Migraines can cause one to feel dizzy, like their surroundings are spinning, or like they cant balance properly.

Migraines can cause one to feel dizzy, like their surroundings are spinning, or like they cant balance properly. Insomnia: The persistent and intense pain of migraines can disrupt ones sleep.

The persistent and intense pain of migraines can disrupt ones sleep. Serotonin syndrome: Triptans, migraine medication, can interact with some antidepressants and cause a buildup of serotonin, which can be life-threatening.

Triptans, migraine medication, can interact with some antidepressants and cause a buildup of serotonin, which can be life-threatening. Stomach problems: The constant use of over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDS to relieve migraine symptoms can lead to stomach problems, such as ulcers or bleeding.

The constant use of over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDS to relieve migraine symptoms can lead to stomach problems, such as ulcers or bleeding. Rebound headaches: Also known as medication overuse headaches, these result from overusing medications used to treat migraines.

What Are the Treatments for Migraines?

There is no cure for migraines. Treatments for migraines help ease the symptoms, shorten the duration, or prevent frequent attacks. The most common treatments are medication and lifestyle changes.

Different kinds of medications may stop a migraine attack or its symptoms. Some medications quiet sensitive nerves and reduce inflammation.

Treating migraines is personal. Not every medication will produce the same results for every person. It is up to the health care provider and the patient to discover the best medications for the patients symptoms.

Medications for migraines can be OTC or prescription drugs.

Migraine treatment rarely requires the care of a specialist. For chronic migraines, a referral to a specialist may be necessary, as management of such migraines can be quite challenging.

Common Medications

According to the Nature Reviews Neurology paper, several medications are commonly used to treat migraines. Three lines of treatment divide these medications.

First-line: First-line medications for treating migraines are often OTC drugs. These can be taken two to three days before an anticipated migraine, as in menstrual migraines, or at the onset. Drugs used in this line include acetaminophen and NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Taking these at the start of the migraine may head off intensity and duration.

Second-line: Second-line medications are most often prescribed medications called triptans. They are most effective when taken early during an attack.

Triptan drugs include:

Sumatriptan

Zolmitriptan

Naratriptan



Also in this line is the combination of NSAIDs and triptans. If the single use of either of these drugs is not successful, combining them may be.

Third-line: When first- and second-line drugs are unsuccessful or contraindicated, third-line drugs are an option. This line contains ditans and gepants. Lasmiditan is the only ditan currently approved for acute migraine use. Ubrogepant and rimegepant are the only two gepants approved for the same use.

Other medications, such as antiemetics, treat nausea and vomiting that some people may experience with migraines. Many studies suggest that antiemetics such as metoclopramide also successfully relieve acute migraine pain.

How Does Mindset Affect Migraines?

Stress is a known trigger for migraines. Those under extreme stress or unable to manage stress may experience migraines. The experience of the migraine itself may cause emotional distress and suffering.

A person who experiences frequent migraines may become frustrated, sad, angry, or depressed. It is best to seek the help of a health care professional when experiencing these feelings.

What Are the Natural Approaches to Migraines?

While there are claims that some natural remedies may help manage migraines, the evidence is lacking. More research is required, but there are a few promising options.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, has been studied as a measure to decrease the frequency of migraines. Data are sufficient enough that the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society believe riboflavin effectively prevents migraines.

The dose of riboflavin generally given is 400 milligrams daily for adults to prevent migraines. Consult your health care provider before taking this vitamin supplement to ensure you receive the correct medication and dose.

Feverfew

Feverfew is another natural remedy thought to prevent migraines. Though the data supporting this are lacking, preliminary studies are encouraging. Further research is needed to support the preliminary findings.

When using feverfew to prevent migraines, take it once daily for one month. If there is a decline in migraine attacks, your health care provider may slowly decrease the dose. Again, consult your primary health care provider before using natural remedies.

Feverfew is not recommended for pregnant women or those taking NSAIDs.

Magnesium

The American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology suggest magnesium may prevent migraines.

Magnesium in tablet form is available OTC. It can be a good preventative measure for those who experience migraine with aura, may be pregnant, or menstrually related migraine. The dosage is typically 400 to 600 milligrams per day. Consult your health care provider before taking magnesium to prevent migraines.

Butterbur

Butterbur may reduce the frequency of migraines in adults and children, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). However, its safety is uncertain.

Some butterbur products contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which may harm the liver, lungs, and blood circulation and cause cancer. Though some butterbur products claim to be PA-free, some question these claims.

It is best to be safe and discuss using butterbur with your health care provider to ensure it is safe.

Coenzyme Q10

The NCCIH also says that coenzyme Q10 shows promising preliminary data suggesting it decreases the number of migraine attacks in one month. Although it appears to have minimal risks, further research is needed.

Coenzyme Q10 may interact with medications such as insulin, anticoagulants, and chemotherapeutic drugs. As with all natural remedies, consult your primary physician before using coenzyme Q10.

Ginger

Using ginger does not prevent migraines. However, it may minimize pain and reduce nausea. As such, it may be good to use ginger when these symptoms are present with a migraine.

Coping and Support

While migraine prevention is possible, there remains no cure. People who experience migraines may learn to cope with the condition and seek support from health care professionals, family, and friends.

Common ways to cope with migraines include:

Resting in a dark, quiet room.

Altogether avoiding exposure to screens, including cellphones.

Applying a cold compress.

Getting a scalp massage.

Practicing tai chi and yoga.

Practicing meditation.

Acupuncture.

Chiropractic treatment.

Biofeedback therapy.

How Can I Prevent Migraines?

Preventing migraines is not always possible, but medications and lifestyle changes can reduce their occurrence.

The Nature Reviews Neurology paper states that prevention medication follows a three-step approach when treating migraines.

First-Line

Beta blockers, anticonvulsives, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are classifications of drugs used in the first-line prevention of migraines. These medications include:

Topiramate

Candesartan

Atenolol

Metoprolol

Bisoprolol

Propranolol

Take these medications daily to decrease the number of migraines you experience. Not all people will have the same experience when using these.

Second-Line

Anticonvulsants are also a classification used for second-line prevention of migraines, but the specific drug used is not the same as that in the first-line prevention medications. Along with anticonvulsants are antidepressants and calcium antagonist drug classes. Also taken daily, second-line prevention medications include:

Sodium valproate

Amitriptyline

Flunarizine

Third-Line

Third-line migraine prevention medications are the last resort for decreasing migraine occurrence. This group has two classes of drugs: botulinum toxin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies. Medications from these two classes used for migraine prevention are:

OnabotulinumtoxinA

Erenumab

Fremanezumab

Galcanezumab

Eptinezumab

These medications are all injections, and the frequency with which theyre taken differs. Some are taken monthly, while others quarterly. People using these often do not see results immediately.

Evaluating these medications efficacy should occur three to nine months after starting the medication. For this reason, consistency with dosing is essential. Inconsistency can negatively impact the drugs effectiveness.

Your health care provider will sometimes pause medication use after six or 12 months to prevent overuse.

Lifestyle Factors

One way to manage living with migraines is to make lifestyle changes. Adjusting your lifestyle does not guarantee the frequency of migraines will decrease. Some adjustments may help, while others may not.

Lifestyle changes include:

Significantly decreasing screen time

Practicing relaxation techniques

Getting massages

Hydrating

Keeping consistent sleep patterns

Exercising

Eating regularly

Improving posture

Managing stress

Medically reviewed by Beverly Timerding, MD.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
I Can Go Into Anyones House at Any Time: Judiciary Committee Investigates IRS Agent Threatening Taxpayer

An IRS agent used a fake identity to approach and threaten a taxpayer, following which House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel seeking further information on the incident.

The incident occurred on April 25, 2023, when an IRS agent identifying as Bill Haus with the agencys Criminal Division visited the home of a taxpayer residing in Marion, Ohio, according to the June 16 letter (pdf). The agent initially lied to the taxpayer that he was visiting with regard to her improper estate filings and that she owed a substantial amount to the IRS. Before his visit, the taxpayer had not received any notification from the tax agency regarding unpaid dues on the estate.

After the taxpayer showed proof that she had paid all taxes for the estate, agent Haus then said that the true purpose of his visit was not related to the estate but that the taxpayer allegedly had several delinquent tax return filings. He then proceeded to provide documents for the taxpayer to fill outincluding submitting sensitive personal information.

The taxpayer immediately called her attorney, who asked Agent Haus to leave her home. The agent responded aggressively, insisting that I am an IRS agent, I can be at and go into anyones house at any time I want to be.

Before leaving her home, Haus threatened the taxpayer that she had one week to pay off her dues, failing which he would freeze her assets and put a lien on her home, the letter notes. In May, the taxpayer contacted Haus supervisor, who subsequently resolved the matter. On May 30, she received a letter from the IRS stating that her case had been closed.

The committee asked the IRS commissioner to provide certain documents so that it could examine how to best protect Americans fundamental freedoms and to assist the Committee in its oversight. The documents are to be submitted by June 30.

The committee is seeking all documents and communications related to Haus visit to the taxpayer together with IRS reasons for conducting the field visit. Documents and communications between the IRS, Treasury, and any other executive branch related to the visit need to be submitted as well.

The judiciary committee also wants all materials sent or received by the agent related or referring to the taxpayer, the MPD officer, or the estate as part of the investigation.

Complaint Against Investigating Officer

Agent Haus also filed (pdf) a complaint against an officer investigating him in relation to his visit to the Ohio taxpayer. After Haus left, the taxpayer called the Marion, Ohio Police Department (MPD), worried that she was subject to a scam.

After checking the license plate of the car that Haus drove, the MPD learned that the name was an alias. An officer then contacted Haus to verify his identity.

Suspecting that he was trying to scam the taxpayer, the MPD asked Haus to not approach the taxpayers home or risk getting arrested. Haus then complained about the officer to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

This behavior from an IRS agent to an American taxpayerproviding an alias, using deception to secure entry into the taxpayers home, and then filing an Inspector General complaint against a police officer examining that matteris highly concerning, the letter stated.

The IRS has previously been criticized for suspicious behavior against law-abiding citizens. In March, Jordan had questioned the IRS regarding the agencys alleged in-person visit to the home of investigative journalist Matt Taibbi, suggesting that this could involve potential witness intimidation.

The visit occurred on March 9the same day Taibbi appeared before Congress to testify on government abuse. Taibbi was one of the journalists involved in the Twitter Files expose.

In light of the hostile reaction to Mr. Taibbis reporting among left-wing activists and the IRSs history as a tool of government abuse, the IRSs action could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate a witness before Congress, Jordan wrote in a letter to the IRS commissioner.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the agency for comment.

Defunding IRS

The controversy surrounding Agent Haus comes as the IRS has been under scrutiny, with many questioning its existence. In an interview with radio host Dana Loesch on May 25, Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he will defund the IRS if he becomes president in 2024 and Congress sends him such a bill.

I think the IRS is a corrupt organization, and I think its not a friend to the average citizen or taxpayer. And so we need something totally different, he said.

Ive supported all of the single rate proposals, I think they would be a huge improvement over the current system, the governor added. And I would be welcoming to take this tax system, chunk it out the window, and do something thats more favorable to the average folks.

An analysis of IRS data showed that the amount of taxes collected from American citizens under the Biden administration has jumped up when compared to the Trump administration.

For fiscal year 2022, the IRS collected $4.26 trillion in net taxes, up from $2.76 trillion in fiscal year 2020, the final year Trump was in office.
(Reuters) -Margins at Boeing's defense unit will look similar in the second quarter to its first-quarter results, Boeing Defense CEO Ted Colbert said Sunday.

Margins at its defense unit were negative in the first quarter as Boeing recorded a $245 million pre-tax charge on the KC-46 tanker program. Colbert declined to say whether Boeing would take another charge on the KC-46, which has logged more than $7 billion in losses.

Were still assessing where the numbers are going to fall, Colbert told reporters in a briefing ahead of the Paris Airshow. He added that there is a ton of activity to improve performance at Boeing's defense unit but that it will take time for improvements to be seen.

Boeing remains focused on "starting every program the right way," including a contract structure that gives Boeing a "fair shake and healthy business," Colbert said. The defense unit's large number of fixed-price development programs - including KC-46, the T-7 training jet and new Air Force One planes - have driven billions of dollars in losses.

Deliveries of the KC-46 have been stymied due to a supplier problem, and the company has yet to deliver a reworked KC-46 to the Air Force. Colbert declined to say when it will deliver its next tanker.

(Reporting by Valerie Insinna; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Mark Potter)
Italy Restricts Chinese Companys Sway Over Major Italian Manufacturer

A Pirelli tire is pictured at a tire specialist center in Turin, Italy, on March 18, 2014. (Giorgio Perottino/Reuters)

Italy has approved measures to limit the control of a Chinese state-owned shareholder over the Italian tiremaker Pirelli, citing reasons of national security.

Romes decision comes after Sinochem, Pirellis largest shareholder with a 37 percent stake, notified the Italian government in March of plans to update an existing shareholder pact with Camfin, which is controlled by Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera.

Camfin is a holding company with its main investment being a 14 percent stake in Pirelli.

The decision is a rare intervention in an eight-year-old investment by the Chinese regime. In 2015, the regimes chemical group ChemChina bought a majority stake in Pirelli, considered one of the biggest Italian companies, for $7.7 billion.

ChemChina is another state-owned chemical group company under the Chinese regime.

The Italian governments restrictions involve limits to accessing and sharing information between Pirelli and Sinochem and the need for a four-fifths majority for some strategic board decisions.

The aim is to protect strategically relevant information and the companys knowhow, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis office said.

The restrictions are part of a government initiative called Golden Power that aims to protect assets deemed strategic for the country, at a time when relations between the Chinese regime and Western governments have entered a tenser phase.

The government, saying it had accepted some proposals made by Sinochem to address its concerns, also mentioned specific measures to protect cyber sensor technology that can be incorporated into Pirelli tires.

A specific technology through a microchip installed in the tires could allow geolocation and collection of drivers information and has national strategic importance, according to the Financial Times, citing Melonis office.

The misuse of such technology can cause a variety of risks for customers and national security, the office said.

The relevance of such a technology can be identified in a variety of sectors: industrial automation, machine-to-machine communication, machine learning, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical sensor, and actuator technologies, Big Data and Analytics, the government said regarding cyber-sensor technology in the tires.

Provera had lobbied Rome to intervene in the companys shareholder arrangement, warning of greater control the Chinese regime was gaining in Pirellis business decisions, the Financial Times reported.

Provera had unsuccessfully tried to persuade Sinochem to sell part of their stake, and frictions also emerged over his pay, which was 20.5 million euros (over $20.5 million) in 2022, according to the Financial Times.

Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italys most storied companies. It specializes in high-end tires for premium carmakers like Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW and is the sole supplier for Formula One cars.

Melonis government refrained from imposing even tougher conditions on Sinochem, including blocking its voting rights in Pirelli. Its requirements will nevertheless force Sinochem and Camfin to amend their shareholders pact.

The Chinese group earlier this year confirmed its plans to remain a long-term investor in Pirelli.

The Italian company is due to appoint a new board at a shareholders meeting on July 31, with current Deputy CEO Giorgio Bruno set to become the new CEO and Provera staying as executive vice chairman.

Provera has been in charge of Pirelli since 1992.

The Italian governments move to limit Sinochems grip on the tiremaker comes ahead of another key decision on whether to renew Romes partnership with the Chinese regime on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Italy in 2019 became the first and only Group of Seven (G-7) nation to join the Chinese regimes BRI initiative, which can enable Beijing to gain control of sensitive technologies and vital infrastructure.

In May, Meloni said that good relations with China are possible even without being part of the BRI.

Our assessment is very delicate and touches upon many interests, said Meloni. The pact expires in March 2024 and will be automatically renewed unless either side informs the other that they are pulling out, giving at least three months notice.

In an interview with Reuters last year, before she won power in a September election, Meloni made clear she disapproved of the 2019 move, saying she had no political will  to favor Chinese expansion into Italy or Europe.

Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends the European leaders summit in Brussels, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

Meloni noted that while Italy was the only one of the G-7 rich democracies to have signed the Belt and Road memorandum, it was not the European or Western country with the strongest economic and trade ties with the Chinese regime.

This means it is possible to have good relations, also in important areas, with Beijing, without necessarily these being part of an overall strategic design, she said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Joe Rogan Makes Surprise Offer to Vaccine Scientist

Podcast host Joe Rogan on Saturday offered vaccine scientist Peter Hotez $100,000 to the charity of his choice if he would debate 2024 Democratic presidential Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently appeared on Rogans show.

Over the weekend, Hotez, a frequent guest on CNN and NBC during the COVID-19 pandemic, posted a Vice article that claimed Spotify has stopped even sort of trying to stem Joe Rogans vaccine misinformation after the episode with Kennedy, 2024 presidential candidate and prominent skeptic of some childhood vaccines. That article essentially served as a hit-piece targeting Rogan, accusing him of fostering misinformation by allowing Kennedy on his program.

Its really true, he wrote, adding that the interview is just awful. And from all the online attacks Im receiving after this absurd podcast, its clear many actually believe this nonsense. Hotez is a vaccine scientist and a professor of molecular virology at Baylor College, a chair with the Texas Childrens Hospital, and also wrote about his daughter, titled, Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachels Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad.

In response to Hotezs post, Rogan asked him to debate. Peter, if you claim what RFKjr is saying is misinformation, I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if youre willing to debate him on my show with no time limit, he wrote.

Peter. Lets finally have the respectful, congenial, informative debate that the American people deserve, Kennedy also wrote in response.

After Rogans call for a debate, Hotez issued a now-deleted Twitter post: Be serious Joe, thats what you throw for your hunting buddies on a weekend.

A $50 million endowment (which You/Spotify/ RFK Jr can easily afford), not for me but so we can continue making low-cost patent-free vaccines for the worlds poor. Preceded by RFK Jrs public apology, he wrote.

Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the Baylor College of Tropical Medicine, on June 1, 2016. (John Mone/AP Photo)

Hotez, a frequent proponent of COVID-19 vaccines who appeared on Rogans podcast several years ago, also wrote that he would be happy to come on and clear the air, while also extending a counteroffer to Musk, inviting him to visit his vaccine laboratories and learn more about our work.

But Rogan, calling his response a non-answer, said that he publicly wrote the comment due to Hotezs decision to share the Vice article.

I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that [expletive] Vice article, Rogan wrote. If youre really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.

Hotez also wrote: Im happy to come on and have a meaningful discussion. I respect you and your show and I dont want an adversarial relationship. I think we can make some progress.

Kennedy is one of two major Democratic primary challengers to President Joe Biden, and recent polls show that he is trailing the president by about 45 percentage points. Self-help author and 2020 candidate Marianne Williamson is polling at around 4 percent in a recent Harvard-Harris survey.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks as Michael Smerconish hosts a SiriusXM Town Hall with Democratic Presidential Candidate RFK Jr. at The Centre Theater in Philadelphia, Penn., on June 5, 2023. (Lisa Lake/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Other Comments

Over the years, Kennedy has drawn controversy for his claims about vaccines, including one saying that certain shots are linked to childhood autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially says on its website that there is no link between vaccines and autism.

Also in the Rogan interview, Kennedy told the podcast host that he is taking precautions to avoid being assassinated in light of the 1960s deaths of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and father, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy has long said that he believes the CIA was involved in the JFK assassination, although the U.S. government has maintained that shooter Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

Im aware of that, you know, Im aware of that danger. I dont live in fear of itat all. But Im not stupid about it, and I take precautions, he said. JFK, he added, often spoke of being at war with the military-industrial complex, a term that was popularized by former President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961 when he warned about what he described as collusion between defense companies and the federal government.

On May 8, Kennedy wrote on Twitter that Biden should release all government records in connection to the assassination, claiming that the White House is still keeping thousands of pages heavily redacted, including 44 pages related to a shadowy CIA agent and a covert program that had contact with Lee Harvey Oswald just months before my uncle was killed.
Judge Approves $3.5 Million Accord For Abused Former LAUSD Special Needs Student

VAN NUYS, Calif.A judge has approved a $3.5 million settlement between the Los Angeles Unified School District and a former special needs student who alleged he was sexually abused and provided alcohol by a teachers aide whose job was to assist him in getting to and from class during the 201819 school year.

The plaintiff is identified only as John Doe in the Van Nuys Superior Court lawsuit filed in October 2020 against the district and teachers aide Alex Salas, alleging negligent supervision and retention of Salas and negligent supervision of a minor. The plaintiff dropped Salas as a defendant on Jan. 6.

The parties were in the middle of jury selection in January when attorneys informed Judge Huey Cotton that the case was resolved. During a hearing Monday, the same judge approved the settlement on behalf of the plaintiff, who is currently 20 years old and has a disability.

In previous court papers, the plaintiffs lawyers stated that Doe will continue to suffer emotional distress damages. Under the accord, Doe will receive just over $2 million that will be placed in a special trust after attorneys fees and other expenses are deducted.

In their earlier court papers, attorneys for the school district argued that no district administrator or supervisor knew or should have known about Salas alleged abuse of Doe and further maintained that the district took all reasonable measures to prevent this type of conduct from occurring, including establishing, distributing and conducting training of all its staff to recognize, combat and report misconduct.

The plaintiff attended Grant High School from 201720 and during the 201819 school year, the district assigned Salas to be a special education assistant for Doe, who was then 16.

Salas, who was in his 40s, rode on a school bus with Doe to and from school and was tasked with helping the plaintiff walk to and from the bus, the suit stated.

Salas utilized his assignment as an assistant for plaintiff to begin grooming and conditioning plaintiff with the specific intent of manipulating plaintiffs emotions and taking advantage of his young age so that he could ultimately sexually abuse him, the suit alleged.

Salas began giving Doe extra attention, including touching him and asking the plaintiff to kiss him while they traveled on the bus, the suit stated. At school, Salas asked Doe to have lunch with him, according to the suit.

Salas also began giving Doe rides in his personal vehicle, where at times he touched Doe on his upper thighs, according to the suit. Salas additionally drove Doe to get food and to the mall to buy the plaintiff gifts, the suit stated.

Salas also allegedly texted flirtatious and sexually suggestive messages to Doe. His alleged grooming and conditioning of Doe culminated in Salas taking Doe to a Burbank motel where he ostensibly was to help him with his homework in private, according to the suit.

But on each of the four trips to the motel, Salas provided beer and hard liquor, then sexually abused him, the plaintiff alleged.
Justice Minister Lametti Says Ottawa Open to Outlawing Residential School Denialism

New report suggests imposing criminal and civil sanctions against 'denialists'

Indigenous artists from across Canada perform at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City on April 1, 2022. Pope Francis on that day made a historic apology to indigenous peoples for the Catholic-run Indian residential schools in Canada. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti says he is open to the recommendations in a new report that proposes civil and criminal sanctions against Canadians who engage in residential-school denialism.

Lametti was responding to an interim report by his appointee, Kimberly Murray, a member of the Kahnesatake Mohawk Nation in Quebec, who was tasked in June 2022 to identify measures including legal ones to address what the government said were unmarked graves and burial sites of children at former Indian residential schools.

Sacred Responsibility: Searching for the Missing Children and Unmarked Burials was released on June 16 in Saskatchewan, at the Cowessess First Nations Marieval Survivors Gathering, according to a news release.

Murrays interim report said that the federal government should give urgent consideration to using legal tools to deal with denialists, which should include both civil and criminal sanctions. Many international experts point out that denialism is the last step in genocide, the report says.

Lametti participated in the event by video conference and said he is open to all suggestions to deal with alleged residential-school denialism. He said that includes a legal solution and outlawing it, stating that Canada can consider how other countries have criminalized Holocaust denial.

Todays report will provide crucial guidance as we continue to acknowledge the truth of what has happened and strive to write a different story for the future of our country, said Lametti in the news release.

Denialists

Murray was the executive director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada from 2010 to 2015 and served as Ontarios assistant deputy attorney general for indigenous justice from 2015 to 2021.

Her report alleges that denialists are questioning the announcements of possible unmarked graves of indigenous children who went to church- or state-run schools in the 19th and 20th century.

Her report said, This violence is prolific and takes place via email, telephone, social media, op-eds and, at times, through in-person confrontations.

According to Murray, after the Tkemlups te Secwepemc Nation in B.C. announced that preliminary findings from a radar survey of the ground had discovered what could be up to 215 unmarked graves at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021, denialists wanted proof.

Some came in the middle of the night, carrying shovels; they said they wanted to see for themselves if children are buried there. Denialists also attacked the community on social media.

Murray wrote that a core group of Canadians continue to defend the Indian Residential Schools System. She said others try to deny and minimize the destructive impacts of residential schools and suggest some children benefited from the education provided by the school staff.

Murray, in her role as independent special interlocutor, travelled the country to hear the concerns of First Nations communities.

So far, no excavations to recover remains have been performed at any of the sites alleged to potentially contain unmarked graves of indigenous children.

Canadians cannot take pride in a country that permits the burials of children to be violently disrespected, allows shovels to dig into the bones of ancestors, and hides from the truth, the report said.

A woman is comforted in the audience during the closing ceremony of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on June 3, 2015. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Advocate

They have the evidence. The photos of burials. The records that prove that kids died. It is on their shoulders, Murray said on June 16 in Saskatchewan as she presented her interim report. The government of Canada and the churches must step up, she said.

The report lays out how Murray views her position. I want to emphasize this point: my role is to give voice to the children. It is not to be neutral or objectiveit is to be a fierce and fearless advocate to ensure that the bodies and Spirits of the missing children are treated with the care, respect, and dignity that they deserve, she writes in the report.

International human rights and humanitarian law are clear: upholding human rights principles does not require me to be morally indifferent to the fate of children who are victims of genocide, mass human rights violations, and injustice, she said.

In June 2021, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan announced that preliminary findings from the use of ground-penetrating radar had suggested 751 unmarked graves at a community cemetery near a former Indian residential school, CBC reported. At the time, Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme said, This is not a mass grave site. These are unmarked graves.

According to Delorme, at one point in history, the graves may have had markers, but these may have been removed by the Roman Catholic church in the 1960s. He also acknowledged that the graves may not contain children, and it is not known if they have any connection to a nearby residential school that was there from 1899 to 1997.

While the First Nations chief said some of the remains could belong to people who attended the church or lived in nearby towns, Delorme also said the community would be treating the site like a crime scene.

Hate Speech

According to Murrays report, in February 2023 MP Leah Gazan said that denying genocide is a form of hate speech. That kind of speech is violent and re-traumatizes those who attended residential school.

Gazan is proposing to draft legislation that would make Indian Residential School denialism a hate crime, notes the report, agreeing with the proposal. Urgent consideration should be given to legal mechanisms to address denialism, including the implementation of both civil and criminal sanctions, it states.

The report quotes Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller as stating, Residential school denialism attempts to hide the horrors that took place in these institutions. It seeks to deny Survivors and their families the truth, and distorts Canadians understanding of our shared history. According to the report, Miller said he is interested in reviewing the proposed legislation.

The report also suggests that only Canadians who are not First Nations people are denying the issue. Denialism is a uniquely non-Indigenous problem, says the report.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Mandatory Masking to End in Alberta Hospitals, Health-Care Facilities

Respiratory therapist Flor Guevara repositions a patient suffering from COVID-19, with the help of other health-care workers, at Humber River Hospital's intensive care unit in Toronto on April 29, 2021. (Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images)

After more than three years of mandatory continuous masking in Alberta hospitals, long-term care facilities, labs, and other health-related government-managed sites, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has rescinded the requirement.

The decision to end masking was announced on June 15, with AHS stating that as of June 19, continuous masking will no longer be required at AHS facilities, including Continuing Care and contracted sites.

Patients, families, visitors, and staff, including doctors, midwives, students, volunteers, and contractors, will no longer be required to wear a mask. This brings an end to one of the last remaining, longest-standing COVID-related restrictions in place in the province.

The decision to rescind the current requirement for continuous masking was made based on a number of factors, including declining COVID-19 cases, testing positivity rate, wastewater data and hospital admission rates for respiratory illnesses in Alberta, said AHS.

The agency said it had consulted with stakeholders including patients, families, advisory councils, clinicians, and frontline managers in making the decision. AHS said those who want to voluntarily wear a mask can continue to do so. Its also encouraging staff to stay home when ill, as always, and to continue practising good hand hygiene.

The decision to rescind continuous masking follows an earlier decision in March that made masks optional for health-care workers in areas not accessible to patients, although masking was still required for all visitors, staff, doctors, and volunteers in spaces where they may come into contact with patients.

AHS had also ended the COVID-19 front-door screening program effective April 1, so that visitors would no longer be greeted by screeners asking health questions at the entrances of AHS hospitals and other sites.

A red (COVID-19-positive) intensive care unit is shown at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on Dec. 8, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Mikaela MacKenzie)

Dr. Noel Gibney, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta in critical care medicine, said at the time that the gradual changes were reasonable. If you look back at where we were, thats really a very different place, he said, noting hospitalizations attributed to COVID had dropped significantly. Albertans have moved on, he told CBC in early April.

The president of the United Nurses of Alberta union, Heather Smith, said health-care workers have mask fatigue after three years of continuous use.

For some, I think that there is a level of fatigue and they welcome [the change], particularly if their point of care assessment would say they are not at risk and their patients are not at risk, she told CBC on June 15.

Personal Choice

Alberta is behind other provinces, including British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, which had already lifted certain masking requirements in health-care facilities in recent months, according to CBC, noting that masking rules have been left to individual hospitals in Quebec and Ontario.

In a statement, Albertas new health minister, Adriana LaGrange, said the government supports the move.

Albertans are ready to move forward, and Albertas government supports AHS returning to pre-pandemic policies when it comes to masking, she said in a statement.

AHS, in its June 15 news release, says that anyone with symptoms of respiratory illness should wait 10 days after symptom onset before visiting loved ones.

Staff are required to continue to use the Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment to make personal protective equipment (PPE) decisions and AHS Routine Practices to prevent the spread of infections, said the news release.

The agency said masks and PPE equipment will continue to be available in all settings for both patients and health-care workers.

AHS prepared an FAQ page, dated June 16, to accompany the policy change. It notes that continuous masking will be required when directed by an outbreak protocol or if a staff member is attending work with COVID symptoms or a positive COVID test.

AHS continues to respect the choice to voluntarily wear a mask in all areas and encourages those who want to wear a mask to continue to wear one, said the FAQ.

One of the FAQ questions asks what a health-care provider should do if a patient requests that a mask be worn. According to AHS, health-care providers are asked to mask when requested by patients to do so.

A poster put out by AHS says that patients and visitors are entitled to request that your health-care team wear a mask.

The FAQ advises staff to discuss with their managers if an issue arises. AHS also has advice if there are different beliefs about masking within a team.

Having a difference of opinion is a normal and expected part of working together, and each of us has personal values and beliefs that influence how we act and respond to situations, it said.
Microsoft Says Early June Disruptions to Outlook, Cloud Platform Were Cyberattacks

The Microsoft company logo is displayed at their offices in Sydney on Feb. 3, 2021. (Rick Rycroft/AP Photo)

BOSTONIn early June, sporadic but serious service disruptions plagued Microsofts flagship office suiteincluding the Outlook email and OneDrive file-sharing appsand cloud computing platform. A shadowy hacktivist group claimed responsibility, saying it flooded the sites with junk traffic in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Initially reticent to name the cause, Microsoft has now disclosed that DDoS attacks by the murky upstart were indeed to blame.

But the software giant has offered few detailsand did not immediately comment on how many customers were affected and whether the impact was global. A spokeswoman confirmed that the group that calls itself Anonymous Sudan was behind the attacks. It claimed responsibility on its Telegram social media channel at the time. Some security researchers believe the group to be Russian.

Microsofts explanation in a blog post Friday evening followed a request by The Associated Press two days earlier. Slim on details, the post said the attacks temporarily impacted availability of some services. It said the attackers were focused on disruption and publicity and likely used rented cloud infrastructure and virtual private networks to bombard Microsoft servers from so-called botnets of zombie computers around the globe.

Microsoft said there was no evidence any customer data was accessed or compromised.

While DDoS attacks are mainly a nuisancemaking websites unreachable without penetrating themsecurity experts say they can disrupt the work of millions if they successfully interrupt the services of a software service giant like Microsoft on which so much global commerce depends.

Its not clear if thats what happened here.

We really have no way to measure the impact if Microsoft doesnt provide that info, said Jake Williams, a prominent cybersecurity researcher and a former National Security Agency offensive hacker. Williams said he was not aware of Outlook previously being attacked at this scale.

We know some resources were inaccessible for some, but not others. This often happens with DDoS of globally distributed systems, Williams added. He said Microsofts apparent unwillingness to provide an objective measure of customer impact probably speaks to the magnitude.

Microsoft dubbed the attackers Storm-1359, using a designator it assigns to groups whose affiliation it has not yet established. Cybersecurity sleuthing tends to take timeand even then can be a challenge if the adversary is skilled.

Pro-Russian hacking groups including Killnetwhich the cybersecurity firm Mandiant says is Kremlin-affiliatedhave been bombarding government and other websites of Ukraines allies with DDoS attacks. In October, some U.S. airport sites were hit.

Edward Amoroso, NYU professor and CEO of TAG Cyber, said the Microsoft incident highlights how DDoS attacks remain a significant risk that we all just agree to avoid talking about. Its not controversial to call this an unsolved problem.

He said Microsofts difficulties fending of this particular attack suggest a single point of failure. The best defense against these attacks is to distribute a service massively, on a content distribution network for example.

Indeed, the techniques the attackers used are not old, said UK security researcher Kevin Beaumont. One dates back to 2009, he said.

Serious impacts from the Microsoft 365 office suite interruptions were reported on Monday June 5, peaking at 18,000 outage and problem reports on the tracker Downdetector shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time.

On Twitter that day, Microsoft said Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business were affected.

Attacks continued through the week, with Microsoft confirming on June 9 that its Azure cloud computing platform had been affected.

On June 8, the computer security news site BleepingComputer.com reported that cloud-based OneDrive file-hosting was down globally for a time.

Microsoft said at the time that desktop OneDrive clients were not affected, BleepingComputer reported.
Nearly 20% of Canadian Small Businesses Risk Closing if COVID Loan Deadline Not Extended: Industry Group

Businesses have not fully recovered from pandemic

A storefront on Roncesvalles Avenue displays a "for lease" sign as part of a protest against the Ontario government's pandemic lockdown rules, in Toronto on Nov. 24, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Jody White)

A quarter of a million small businesses in Canada, roughly 19 percent of all small businesses in the country, may have to shut down next year if the government does not extend a deadline to repay COVID loans, according to an industry group.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) issued a statement on June 7 stating that small businesses that cannot meet Ottawas Dec. 31 deadline to repay the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan could be forced out of business.

The CEBA program provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits. According to small business statistics for 2022 from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, there were some 1.19 million small businessesthose with 1 to 99 paid employeesin Canada as of December 2021.

The CFIB says missing the deadline will see businesses lose the forgivable portion of the CEBA loanup to 33 percentwhich will add up to $20,000 more to their debt and require them to face 5 percent interest on the full balance.

Businesses have not fully recovered from the measures imposed during the pandemic, according to the CFIB.

The message from small businesses is loud and clear: they need more time to repay their CEBA loan. With only half of small businesses back to normal sales, most businessesparticularly in the arts, recreation, hospitality and the service sectorswill need extra runway, said Dan Kelly, CFIB president.

He said Ottawa has a limited window to allow financial institutions to delay repayment processes. That window is closing. Ottawa needs to act now, said Kelly.

Future a Risk

A CFIB report dated June 7, Back in Business? Spring Update on Small Business Debt and CEBA, indicates that only 10 percent of CEBA recipients have fully repaid their loans to day. A large portion, 78 percent, have not yet made any payments at all.

Of the 9 in 10 small businesses that obtained a CEBA loan, three quarters received between $40,001 and $60,000, and 25 percent received loans of up to $40,000.

The report suggests that 43 percent of CEBA loan recipients are at risk of missing the current repayment deadline. Most likely to miss that deadline are those in the arts, recreation, and information sectors (62 percent), hospitality sector (61 percent), and social services sector (46 percent).

Small businesses with four or fewer employees (49 percent) are at most risk of missing the repayment deadline. Even among the 47 percent of small businesses that indicate they will meet the 2023 deadline, half report they will struggle to make the payment, and two-thirds would prefer an extension to the repayment deadline.

Most business owners want to repay the loan on time in order to secure the forgivable portion, but many of them still cant guarantee they can do it. Our analysis suggests that most small firms expect to struggle in the process, putting their business future at risk, said Simon Gaudreault, chief economist and vice-president of research at CFIB.

The closer we get to the end of this year, the more uncertainty a CEBA status quo will create for thousands and thousands of businesses.

Petition

CFIB has called on Ottawa to extend the CEBA loan repayment deadline to the end of December 2025, or at least to the end of 2024, and to consider additional debt forgiveness. The industry group has also asked the federal government to implement an appeal process for CEBA loan recipients that are now considered ineligible.

The group has launched a petition and says it received over 3,500 new signatures just in May, bringing the total to over 23,000 small business owners asking for an extension to the loan repayment deadline.

The CEBA loan, which once served as a pivotal economic lifeline during the nearly two years of COVID restrictions, is now a source of immense stress and anxiety for small businesses. Ottawa must give them more time, or we will see more permanently closed signs in the coming months, said Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-president of national affairs at CFIB.

If nothing changes, the consequences will be serious not just for affected businesses, but also for their employees and the wider economy.
Philippine Ferry Catches Fire at Sea, All 120 People Aboard Rescued

Coast guard personnel assist in putting out the fire on Philippine ferry M/V Esperanza Star at the waters off Panglao, Bohol province, central Philippines, on June 18, 2023. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

MANILA, PhilippinesAll 120 passengers and crew members aboard a Philippine ferry that caught fire at sea on Sunday were rescued safely and the fire was extinguished, the coast guard said.

The M/V Esperanza Star caught fire at dawn while traveling from Siquijor province to Bohol province in the central Philippines with 65 passengers and 55 crewmembers, the coast guard said. It added that it deployed two vessels for rescue and to help put out the flames, which raged for more than five hours.

Photos and video released by the coast guard show flames and black smoke billowing from two decks at one end of the ferry. Coast guard personnel onboard another vessel used a water cannon to put out the fire while a fishing boat and one other vessel can be seen nearby.

Smoke comes out from Philippine ferry M/V Esperanza Star as it caught fire at the waters off Panglao, Bohol province, central Philippines, on June 18, 2023. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

All those who were onboard the ferry are safe, Joy Gumatay, coast guard spokeswoman, said in a statement but gave no further details.

She added that the survivors were brought to the port city of Tagbilaran in Bohol province and an investigation was underway.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.

In March, a fire broke outand raged overnighton a ferry carrying about 250 people and killed at least 31 passengers and crew members off the southern island province of Basilan, the coast guard said.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the worlds worst peacetime maritime disaster.
Beijing Cherry-Picked Hong Kong Leaders Popularity Plummeted to Record Low: Research

The Hong Kong Public Opinion Institute (HKPORI) released on June 15 the latest poll results of the chief executive, bureau secretaries, and the Hong Kong government. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has had his no-confidence rating hit a new high since he took office, and his popularity, confidence, and net approval ratings were all at record lows.

Current affairs commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu believes that one of the reasons for Lees decline in popularity may be related to the high-tension atmosphere in Hong Kong around June 4 this year.

The HKPORI conducted telephone interviews with 1,005 Hong Kong residents over 18 from June 1 to June 8, asking them about their ratings of the chief executive, bureau secretaries, and the Hong Kong government. Among them, in terms of the popularity of the chief executive, the publics latest rating is 51.5, which is 5.4 points lower than the same survey in mid-May, hitting a new low since he took office.

Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute released its latest poll results on the popularity of the citys government, leader, and top government officials, in Hong Kong, on Jun 15, 2023. Choy Pui Man/The Epoch Times)

Lees latest approval rating is 44 percent, down seven percent from the previous survey in May; his net support rating is negative one percentage point, a sharp drop of 16 percentage points, both hitting new lows since he took office. Lees latest vote of no confidence rate is 45 percent, an increase of eight percentage points from the previous survey and a new high since he took office.

As for the latest public satisfaction with the government dropped by four percent, while the dissatisfaction rate increased by 12 percent. The latest net satisfaction rate is positive two percent, a sharp drop of 16 percent from May and a new low since November 2022.

Johnny Lau Yui-siu, a current affairs commentator, said that there are many reasons for the decline in Lees popularity, including the high level of public dissatisfaction with former Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, which led to certain feel-good expectations of Lee in the early days of his tenure, which jerked up his popularity at that time. After nearly a year now, his popularity has begun to decline.

Another reason is that this poll was conducted around the 34th anniversary of the June 4th incident. Many government officials warned against hijacking various activities on the eve of June 4th. Such a high-tension atmosphere created dissatisfaction against the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong government among the Hong Kong public. Lau also pointed out that Lees lack of balance in handling the Cathay Pacific and organ donation incidents in recent months may be another reason for his low popularity.
Public Housing in Inner Sydney to Undergo Redevelopment

A general view of residential and business property from the suburb of Kirribilli in Sydney, Australia, on May 8, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A major public housing site in inner-city Sydney is to be redeveloped to deal with escalating numbers of people sleeping rough.

The Glebe area has recorded a 23 percent increase in residents forced to take refuge in cars or on the streets.

Tenants of public housing apartments at 82 Wentworth Park Road in the suburb will be temporarily moved out while it is demolished and rebuilt from 17 units into 43 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said on Saturday the government needed to work quickly to address the dire state of social housing in inner Sydney.

We want to rebuild our housing system to prioritise the people of NSW, she said.

The restoration of these properties in Glebe reflects our unwavering commitment to providing quality homes for vulnerable people right across Sydney, including in our inner city.

Jackson said the redevelopment would be 100 percent public housing and overseen by a new entity dubbed Homes NSW.

We know there is more to be done and every opportunity we have to deliver more homes for the growing housing waitlist, we will take it, she said.

Another site, the Franklyn Street Estate, also in Glebe, will not be redeveloped as previously planned but another 35 vacant properties in the area have been purchased by the government and earmarked for social housing.

The former coalition government sold off almost 5,000 public houses, prompting Labor to freeze the policy once it came to power.

The announcement of the Glebe initiative was welcomed by those working on the front lines of the citys housing crisis, with Homelessness NSW CEO Trina Jones saying the situation has never been worse.

Right now the waiting list for social housing is more than 10 years, she said.

For the growing number of people sleeping in cars and tents, and women living with violent partners, that is an impossibly long time, she said.

Jones said the government needed to commit 10 percent of housing in the state to social housing over the long term.

She is agitating for even more investment in public housing, with another 80 years needed to meet the waiting list based on current build times.

The head of Shelter NSW said the decision in Glebe couldnt come soon enough.

John Engeler said retaining the Franklyn Estate and involving residents in the redesign of Wentworth Park Road showed a new level of co-design and meaningful engagement.

The new homes can be built quickly and made available to previous tenants as well as many more new ones, he said.

About 100 people including Jenny Leong, the Greens Member for Newtown, rallied in Sydneys CBD on Saturday to call for a statewide rental freeze and an end to no-grounds evictions.

The Housing for People Not Profit protest was organised by Action for Public Housing to call for more public housing to be built and equitably distributed.

The group wants an end to the privatising of public housing, saying the federal governments Housing Australia Future Fund will barely scratch the surface.
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt - Kirsty O'Connor/HM Treasury

One of Britains largest pension schemes has slashed its holding of UK stocks in a blow to Jeremy Hunts hopes of triggering a Big Bang 2.0.

BTs 39bn pension fund has cut back its exposure of London-listed stocks to just 100m  or 0.3pc of assets  new figures have revealed. Investment has fallen from 300m last year and 3.6bn in 2010.

The BT scheme is the largest on Londons blue-chip FTSE 100 index, with around 270,000 members.

The pension funds decision to reduce its holdings of British equities is a blow to the Chancellors ambitions to trigger a new Big Bang in the City by encouraging retirement savings managers to invest in the UK.

Mr Hunt has committed to a series of banking reforms that are intended to slash red tape and have attracted comparisons with Margaret Thatchers overhaul of the Square Mile.

The failure of BTs pension fund to back Britain also drew condemnation from Baroness Ros Altmann, former pensions minister.

Ros Altmann - Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Baroness Altmann said: Its an outrage that a major pension fund, especially one underpinned to some degree by the Government and funded to a significant degree by taxpayer money, is not supporting the British economy.

If you dont have domestic sources of long-term funding supporting your own economy, then however much you believe youre going to get a better return from investing overseas, you are impoverishing your own domestic base and therefore your members are going to have a poorer retirement because theyll be living in a poorer country.

Nick Delfas, an analyst at Redburn, said BTs paltry domestic holdings jumped out and urged policymakers to take note.

Baroness Altmann called on MPs to do more to encourage pension funds to invest in Britain, saying it was crucial to economic growth.

She added: I just think weve lost the plot a little bit on what a pension fund is meant to achieve its about time we helped pension funds understand that there is a responsibility that goes along with getting tax relief.

A spokesman said the BT pension scheme was reducing its exposure to equities as part of a de-risking strategy. The scheme is highly mature, with an average member age of 68.

The schemes overseas equities have also suffered heavy losses, tumbling 75pc to 1.7bn.

Nevertheless, the small proportion of UK stocks held by the fund highlights the FTSE 100s waning status among global rivals. Last year, Paris leapfrogged London to steal the crown as Europes largest stock market.

John Ralfe, a pensions expert, said: The truth is, the UK is a small stock market.

The 66pc reduction in UK stocks held by BTs retirement fund is understood to be partly linked to the chaos in financial markets that struck last September.

A sharp fall in government bond values in the aftermath of Liz Trusss mini-budget triggered margin calls on products called liability driven investments (LDI), which are popular with pension funds.

The Bank of England was forced to make a dramatic 65bn intervention to mitigate the crisis, which forced many pension funds to rapidly sell assets to meet margin calls.

BTs pension fund suffered an estimated 11bn drop in the value of its assets as a result of the crisis and is down almost 15bn since 2022.

Analysts also raised concerns about the high proportion of illiquid assets held by the BT pension scheme. Following last years sell-off, just 65pc of the schemes asset base is quoted, according to Redburn.

Illiquid assets are considered riskier as they are harder to sell, while it is also more difficult to establish a value.

The revelations come just days before the work and pensions select committee is due to begin an inquiry into defined benefit pension schemes amid concerns last years crisis exposed weaknesses in governance and regulation.

Wyn Francis, chief investment officer of Brightwell which manages the BT pension scheme, said: The BT Pension Scheme is a major investor in the UK with 64pc of its total assets invested in UK gilts, corporate bonds, property, public equities, infrastructure and private equity.

As a mature pension scheme, it is on a de-risking path so the allocation to equities has been steadily reducing for a number of years.

Offsetting this, the scheme has been growing its exposure to the UK through investments in corporate credit, direct lending, infrastructure and income generating property.

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Sudan Officials Say Airstrike Killed 17 People, Including 5 Children, in Capital Khartoum

CAIROAn airstrike in Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday killed at least 17 people, including five children, health officials said, as fighting continued between rival generals seeking to control the country.

The attack was one of the deadliest of the clashes in urban areas of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

There was no immediate comment Saturday from either side of the conflict on the strike, and it was not clear whether the attack was by warplanes or a drone. The militarys aircraft have repeatedly targeted RSF troops and the RSF has reportedly used drones and anti-aircraft weapons against the military.

The fighting broke out in mid-April, capping months of increasing tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF. The clashes have killed more than 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others, said Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim in an interview late Saturday with the Saudi-owned television station, Al-Hadath.

Saturdays strike hit the Yormouk neighborhood in southern Khartoum, where clashes have centered in recent weeks, according to Sudans Ministry of Health. The area houses a military facility controlled by the army. At least 25 houses were destroyed, the ministry wrote in a Facebook post.

The dead included five children and an unknown number of women and elderly people, and some wounded people were hospitalized, the ministry said.

A local group that calls itself The Emergency Room and helps organize humanitarian aid in the area, said at least 11 people were wounded in the strike. It posted images it said were of houses damaged in the attack and people searching through rubble. Other images claimed to show a wounded girl and man.

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced late Saturday that the warring sides agreed on a 72-hour cease-fire across the African country. The new cease-fire would take effect Sunday morning Khartoum time, according to a joint U.S.Saudi statement.

The statement said both the military and the RSF agreed to stop fighting and refrain from seeking military advantage during the ceasefire.

The United States and Saudi Arabia urged the warring sides to fully implement the cease-fire, which comes ahead a pledging conference to fund the increasing humanitarian needs in the African country.

For weeks, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating between the warring parties. Multiple cease-fire agreements failed to stop the raging fighting across Sudan.

The conflict has plunged the African country into chaos and turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields. The paramilitary force has occupied peoples houses and other civilian properties since the onset of the conflict, according to residents and activists.

More than 2.2 million people have fled their homes to safer areas inside Sudan or crossed into neighboring countries, according to U.N. figures.

Activists and residents have reported widespread looting in the capital. Diplomatic missions, including residences belong to the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, have been stormed and looted, allegedly by armed men wearing RSF uniforms. Almost all diplomatic missions in Sudan were evacuated in the first weeks of the war.

Looting was fairly extensive at some of the residences, the U.S. Department of State told The Associated Press. The damage was discovered during routine checks of the residences. There is some damage to the structures and personal property.

Sexual violence, including the rape of women and girls, has been reported in Khartoum and the western Darfur region, which have seen some of the worst fighting in the conflict. Almost all reported cases of sexual attacks were blamed on the RSF, which hasnt responded to repeated requests for comment.

The Darfur city of Genena has experienced some of the worst battles, with tens of thousands of its residents fleeing to neighboring Chad. The RSF and allied Arab militias have repeatedly attacked the city, especially areas of the non-Arab Masalit community, since late April, according to residents and activists.

The attacks intensified earlier this month. Volker Perthes, the U.N envoy in Sudan, said last week that the fighting in Genena has taken on an ethnic dimension, with Arab militias and armed men in RSF uniforms showing an emerging pattern of large-scale targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnic identities.

On Wednesday, West Darfur Gov. Khamis Abdalla Abkar, who hails from the Masalit, was abducted and killed hours after he accused the RSF and allied Arab militias in a televised interview of attacking Genena. His slaying was blamed on the RSF, a charge the paramilitary force denied.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for bringing those responsible for Abkars slaying to justice, including those who bear command responsibility.

Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Gov. Abkar was in the RSFs custody, and it was the RSFs responsibility to keep him safe, Shamdasani told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday.

Abkar was the second high-profile official killed in Genena within a few days. The older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was also killed, Shamdasani said.

Martin Griffiths, the U.N.s top humanitarian official, decried the fighting in Darfur on Thursday, especially in Genena where trapped residents are living a nightmare.

Babies dying in hospitals where they were being treated; children and mothers suffering from severe malnutrition; camps for displaced persons burned to the ground; girls raped; schools closed; and families eating leaves to survive, he said.

Griffiths urged the international community to intervene to avert another cycle of violence such as the one Darfur experienced in the early 2000s when it was the scene of genocidal war. Ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination. Former dictator Omar al-Bashirs government was accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes, known as Janjaweed, who targeted civilians. The Janjaweed later evolved into the RSF.

Darfur is rapidly spiraling into a humanitarian calamity. The world cannot allow this to happen. Not again, Griffiths said.

By Samy Magdy
Suspended Conservative MP Resigns, Triggering Another By-election

A former Conservative MP has resigned with immediate effect following accusations of sexual harassment and cocaine use, triggering another by-election.

David Warburton said on Saturday that he has stood down from his seat of Somerton and Frome.

He had been sitting in the House of Commons as an independent after having the Tory whip suspended in April 2022 over the allegations.

It follows the resignations from Parliament of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his ally Nigel Adams.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorriesanother staunch Johnson allyalso announced she was going to quit, though she has so far refused to resigned formally, saying that she is staying while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the House of Lords.

Warburtons resignation will trigger an electoral battle in his Somerset constituency, which means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is now facing four by-elections at a time when the ruling Conservative Party is lagging far behind the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls.

No Choice

Warburton had the Tory whip removed after an image was published which appeared to show the MP pictured alongside lines of a white substance.

The Sunday Times reported that two women had made formal complaints to Parliaments Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) about Warburtons behaviour and a third woman had also made allegations about his conduct.

Announcing his resignation on Saturday, Warburton claimed he had been denied a fair hearing by the ICGS and prevented from speaking out while it probed the accusations.

In his resignation letter, he said had been left with no choice but to provoke the upheaval of a by-election, adding: It is my hope that, in so doing, I can freely illuminate the methods of an oversight system not fit for purpose, so that friends and colleagues in the House can see the perverted process by which their own judgement may at any time be freighted.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Warburton admitted to taking cocaine after drinking tons of incredibly potent Japanese whiskey but denied claims that he harassed a female political aide in his Westminster flat.

Before Warburtons resignation, two by-elections have already been scheduled for July 20 in Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency and Adamss Selby and Ainsty seat.

But the by-election to replace Dorries in her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency remains on hold, as the former minister has not formally resigned despite her earlier announcement that she was quitting with immediate effect.

She insisted it is absolutely my intention to resign but said it is now sadly necessary for her to stay on as MP so that she can request documents in a bid to investigate why she was missing from Johnsons resignation honours list.

Sleaze and Scandal

Warburton took the seat from the Liberal Democrats in 2015 and has a 19,213 majority, but the opposition party is now trying to reclaim the constituency.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: Time after time the Conservatives have mired themselves in sleaze and scandal, neglecting the issues that really matter to people. Then they decided it was okay to leave local people in this seat without any proper representation at all.

This by-election will be a clear contest between the Conservatives and the Liberal DemocratsLabour finished third last time and are completely out of the race. The people of Somerton and Frome need a local champion and they can have that at the next election by choosing our local Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Dyke.

Meanwhile, Labours national campaign co-ordinator Shabana Mahmood accused Sunak of being too weak to act himself.

Yet again, we see a Tory MP resigning in disgrace after Rishi Sunak was too weak to act himself. Enough is enough, she said.

Britain cant afford this weak Conservative prime minister with a party too divided to govern as families struggle with the cost of living. Its time to turn the page on 13 years of Tory chaos. We need a general election now and a Labour government led by Keir Starmer.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Last Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was arraigned to face 37 federal charges, different from the state charges brought against him in New York under District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This is the first time federal charges have been levied against a former president. Was this a politically motivated move, or is Trump guilty of intentionally and illegally possessing government documents?

President Joe Biden is under investigation for his possession of sensitive government documents while he was vice president and from his time as a senator. Unlike Trump, Biden never had the authority to declassify any of these documents because he wasnt president then. This, along with the unfolding Biden bribery scheme, has left many Americans concerned about a two-tiered justice system that appears to be aimed at conservatives.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
When the seas are wild, John Micic knows there will be kelp to be hauled.

For some three decades, the 60-odd-year-old has been either a harvester or processing factory worker in the unique King Island industry.

Winter is the best. The weather is rougher. It stirs it up more, he says alongside his trailer loaded with kelp he has dragged from a rocky foreshore on the islands west coast.

You work the tides. If youre prepared to work hard, youll make it.

Micic drives the kelp to the nearby factory where it is hooked to wooden rods and lifted by forklift onto metres-high drying racks.

From there it is fed through a hammer mill and packaged into reusable one-tonne bags for shipping, with about half sent to Kelp Industries parent company in Norway.

Alginates extracted from the kelp are used in a wide range of productsa gelling agent in pet food, a thickener for drinks and sauces, and a water-holding agent in paper coating.

Kelp Industries manager John Bennett says business is booming.

We can sell more than we can produce, probably nearly twice as much, he said.

The old boss would say he would field one call a fortnight from people wanting to buy kelp. Our orders are 12 months in advance.

Roughly five percent of the worlds production of alginates comes from bull kelp found on King Island, which has a population of about 1,600 people.

The industry contributes about $2.5 million (US$1.72 million) a year to the islands economy.

Bennett says the factory produces about eight tonnes of kelp per day but could do double if it werent for worker shortages.

Commercial harvesters, who are only allowed to pick up washed-up kelp which has been naturally dislodged, are required to obtain a licence.

Dave Bowling has been kelp harvesting on and off since 1989, in between a stint living in Indonesia and working in real estate.

It keeps you fit and active. Instead of paying to go to the gym, you get paid to go to the gym, he said.

Despite losing vast stretches of giant kelp forest areas on the states east coast, Tasmania is described as a global hotspot for seaweed diversity with some 750 named species.

The state government says seaweed aquaculture is an emerging industry.

In May, a scientific permit was issued for waters south of Hobart to investigate the viability of commercial-scale offshore kelp production.

The kelp harvested from King Island is latitude dependent.

They do harvest a bit on the northwest coast of Tassie, but its a slightly different species, [and] a little bit in Argentina, Bennett said.

Theres not much land at 40 [degrees] south [of the equator]. Its a very unique industry for Australia.

This AAP article was made possible with the support of the Meta Australian News Fund and The Walkley Foundation.
ANALYSIS: US Aims to Shift Supply Chain Away From China

In 2023, the United States took multiple measures to curb the unfair competition posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These measures included terminating China's developing nation status and establishing an international supply chain system free from the influence of the CCP. (Shutterstock)

The United States is implementing several measures to promote the de-Chinaization of the global supply chain to address unfair competitive practices by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to Japanese commentator Ji Lin. Another notable development in this regard is the unanimous approval of the Ending Chinas Developing Nation Status Act by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 8. This bill calls for the secretary of state to pursue a change in Chinas status from a developing country to a developed country through existing treaties and other mechanisms.

Despite China being the worlds second-largest economy and a recipient of substantial foreign investments, it has consistently claimed the status of a developing country, which grants it certain privileges and flexibility. However, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said, From its economic and military scale to massive investments in countries around the world, it is evident that China is no longer a developing country. For a long time, China (the CCP) has been exploiting this designation to gain unfair advantages in multilateral agreements.

In a similar vein, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) stated, China is the worlds second-largest economy. It is one of the most industrialized countries in the world. China (CCP) possesses one of the most powerful militaries in the world. The World Bank now even classifies China as an upper-middle-income country. The idea that China is a developing country is absurd.

The June 8 resolution passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will now proceed to full Senate deliberation.

A similar bill called the PRC is Not a Developing Country Act, referring to the Peoples Republic of China, was previously approved in March by the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 4150. Despite political divisions within the United States, there appears to be remarkable consensus when it comes to dealing with the CCP.

Lin, speaking with the Epoch Times on June 12, explained that the CCP leverages its developing country status to enjoy trade remedies, anti-dumping exemptions from the World Trade Organization, tariff preferences for various products, financial assistance from international organizations like the World Bank, and agricultural support policies. If China were to lose its developing country status, these corresponding benefits would end.

Lin also noted that despite there being hundreds of millions of impoverished people in China, the CCP does not utilize the benefits it receives to uplift ordinary citizens. Instead, it channels hundreds of billions of dollars into infrastructure projects to expand its influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road initiative.

De-Chinaization of Supply Chain Has Begun

Progress has been made in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), as the United States announced at the end of May that the 14 member countries have achieved significant advancements in ensuring more secure and flexible supply chains. This represents a tangible outcome for the IPEF, which was launched a year ago.

Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, highlighted in a press conference that the recently established agreement is the first of its kind, requiring each participating country to establish a committee dedicated to coordinating supply chain activities. Additionally, a crisis response network will be established to issue alerts regarding potential supply disruptions to all member countries of the IPEF.

The agreement aims to provide IPEF countries with an emergency communication channel to seek support in the event of supply chain disruptions. By fostering closer coordination and cooperation, the participating nations can respond more effectively and recover more swiftly during crises.

Supply chain negotiations represent one of the four pillars of the IPEF, alongside trade, clean energy, and fair economy. These negotiations are expected to require more time and effort to reach substantial agreements.

Led by the United States, the IPEF was officially launched in May last year. The other members are South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Fiji. Collectively, these 14 countries contribute to approximately 40 percent of the global economic output.

It is important to note that China is not a part of the IPEF. One of the primary intentions behind the establishment of this framework by the United States was to provide regional countries with an alternative to China.

Analyst Lin expressed his belief that if the global supply chain continues to witness a trend of de-Chinaization, characterized by countries reducing their reliance on Chinese products and imposing higher tariffs on them, it would deal a severe blow to the Chinese economy.

The essence of the IPEF is economic cooperation based on shared universal values, Lin said. Countries with such values are more likely to cooperate and reshape the world economic order. CCP has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for more than 20 years but has not fulfilled its commitments, and the WTO itself does not have a strong punitive mechanism, so the United States can only take matters into its own hands.

Lin further stated, The recent moves by the United States, including terminating Chinas developing country status and promoting de-Chinaization of the global supply chain, are aimed at countering the CCPs unfair competition. Lin believes that raising awareness among major economies about the CCPs unfair practices is essential for the concept of de-Chinaization to gain prominence.

On June 9, the United States, along with five allied countriesAustralia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdomissued a joint statement condemning economic coercion and non-market policies in global trade and investment. Although the statement did not explicitly mention China, it was widely understood that it was referring to Beijings actions.

In recent years, Chinas share in U.S. foreign trade has been steadily declining. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on June 7 that for the 12-month period ending in April of this year, China accounted for just 15.4 percent of U.S. merchandise imports. This represents the smallest share since October 2006 and the lowest value in 17 years. The downward trend reflects a shift in the dynamics of U.S.-China trade relations.

Ellen Wan has contributed to this article.
Blinken Kicks Off Meetings in Beijing on Mission to Manage Tensions With CCP

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) meets with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday kicked off two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing after months of urging by the Biden administration for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reestablish normal bilateral communications.

Blinken opened his program by meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for an extended discussion to be followed by a working dinner. Hell have additional talks with Qin, as well as Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on Monday.

Neither Blinken nor Qin made any substantive comments to reporters as they began the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) walks with Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R) ahead of a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Blinkens presence in the Chinese capital, prospects for any significant breakthroughs are slim, as already strained ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years.

Blinken is the highest-level American official to set foot in China since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, and the first secretary of state to visit since 2018, when his predecessor Mike Pompeo visited China for one day.

Blinkens trip was previously scheduled in February but it was postponed after Washington shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon flying over U.S. airspace on Feb. 4. Since then, high-level communications have been rare.

China has refused regular military communications despite repeated attempts by U.S. officials to engage.

Biden before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday morning told reporters that he believes China has some legitimate difficulties unrelated to the United States.

One of the things that that balloon caused was, not so much that it got shot down, but I dont think the [Chinese] leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on, the president said.

I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional, he added, possibly pointing to ongoing disunity within the CCPs ranks between long-waring factions of the party.

And so, Im hoping that, over the next several months, Ill be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how theres areas we can get along.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) is welcomed by Director General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Yang Tao and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns (L) as he arrives in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

3 Main Objectives

Speaking at a news conference on Friday before departing for Beijing, Blinken said the trip had three main objectives: Setting up mechanisms for crisis management, advancing U.S. and allies interests and speaking directly about related concerns, and exploring areas of potential cooperation.

If we want to make sure, as we do, that the competition that we have with China doesnt veer into conflict. The place you start is with communicating, Blinken said. He said he would also be raising the issue of U.S. citizens detained in China on charges Washington sees as politically motivated.

Prospects for any major breakthroughs are dim as ties between the two countries have already become increasingly strained in recent years over a wide range of issues as the CCP more overtly pursues its socialist worldview.

But there is an expectation that Blinkens visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in the coming months, including possible trips by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It could also set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

Concerns mount that the United States and Chinas relations may devolve into a kinetic war.

Any escalation between the two largest economies in the world could majorly impact global security and stability on multiple fronts, from financial markets to trade routes and practices and global supply chains.

The CCP has been preparing its military and population for conflict. Twice in the past month, Xi has warned the Chinese people that they must prepare for extreme scenarios. Likewise, the regime is attempting to build up its domestic industrial and economic base in order to ensure continued operation in the event of war.

Amid social instability at home, Xi has ordered the regimes military wing to be ready to conquer Taiwan by 2027, although its unclear if the regime has committed to actually conducting such an invasion. Since the start of his presidency, Biden has said multiple times that the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of an attempted invasion from China.

Biden and Xi met in person for the first time in November 2022 on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia. Their meeting had briefly signaled positive bilateral ties.

The United States and China are currently also at odds over a range of issues, from trade and U.S. efforts to hold back Chinas semiconductor industry, to the CCPs human rights violations, the regimes military aggression in the South China Sea, the flow of fentanyl precursors from China to the United States, and Americans detained in China.

The CCP is developing military capabilities specifically designed to overcome and annihilate U.S. systems in the Indo-Pacific. These include new aircraft carriers, space, and counterspace capabilities, and the largest nuclear expansion since the Cold War.

Following his China visit, Blinken will travel to London June 1621 for the Ukraine Recovery Conference to encourage international support among public and private sectors to aid Ukraine in fighting Russia, the State Department said.

Andrew Thornebrooke, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
Editors Note: This book excerpt has been reorganized to fit the needs of the article.

Evolution of Our Understanding of Memory

Collapse of a Banquet Hall

Many current principles used to strengthen our memories can be traced back hundreds or even thousands of years. And although I dont think its necessary to learn everything some of the wisest minds have written about memory over the years, some familiarity with their approaches and their concepts makes it easier today to understand and strengthen your memory.

To the ancients, memory was not just a means of preserving the past but was considered a tool for what we would now call creative thinking. By constructing within the mind a structured and orderly memory, the ancients thought it possible to forge new thoughts and establish original and creative connections.

Commenting on the depth and power of his memory, Saint Augustine wrote: The vast mansions of memory were treasured in innumerable images brought in from objects of every conceivable kind perceived by the senses. In these mansions are hidden away the modified images we produce when by our thinking, we magnify or diminish or in any way alter the information our senses have reported. In the immense court of my memory, sky and earth and sea are available to me, together with everything I have ever been able to perceive in them.

The Greeks were among the first to use special techniques to perfect the faculty of memory. The key discovery can be traced to the collapse of a banquet hall. The poet Simonides (556468 B.C.) was performing at a banquet and survived the collapse of the building (luckily, he had been called outside a few moments before the collapse). Using his memory, Simonides was able to identify the dead based on his recall of the places where each of them had been sitting during the banquet. Traditionally, many have claimed that he was not only able to envision and name the positions of the attendees but could identify what they were wearing and other indicators that differentiated one attendee from another. This remarkable performance suggested some of the principles of the art of memory. Here is Ciceros description of Simonides insight:

He inferred that persons desiring to train the faculty of memory must select places [the seats at the banquet hall] and form mental images of the things that they wish to remember [the identity of the banqueters].

By restoring the images of the banqueters sitting at their places at the banquet table, Simonides made it possible to use the order of the places as a means of preserving the order of the individual banqueters. The key principle of Simonides memory method was the formation of mental images coupled with their orderly arrangement.

Thinking in Pictures

Another Greek insight into memory can be dated to Aristotle (382322 B.C.) in De Anima. In a profound insight, Aristotle asserted that perceptions are transferred to the mind (we would now say the brain), where they are elaborated into mental images. To Aristotle, the formation of mental images was similar to a tracing made on wax by a signet ring; whether a memory result depends on the conditions of the wax (the brain) and the signet ring (the stimulation). In this analogy, the experiences conformed to the signet ring, and the wax to the brain.

Some men in the presence of considerable stimulus have no memory owing to disease or age, just as if a seal were impressed on flowing water. With them the design makes no impression because they are worn down like old walls in buildings or because of a hardness of that which is to receive the impression. For this reason, the very young and old will have poor memories; they are in a state of flux, the young because of their growth, the old because of their decay.

To Aristotle, images formed by imagination became the basis not only for memory but for all thinking. Indeed, Aristotle believed that thinking cannot take place without pictures. The thinking faculty thinks of its forms in mental pictures. Each memory becomes part of one or more networks associated with a particular past experience, and each person possesses unique networks. For instance, while one person raised in a northern climate may associate the word white with snow, another person not accustomed to wintry weather would be more likely to associate it with milk.

Over the next 2,000 years, Aristotles linking of thought with the formation of mental pictures gave rise to the development of various memory techniques.

Notice that all of the methods for enhancing memories discussed so far emphasize the central importance of concentration and repetition. If you pay attention (direct your mind), the judgment will better perceive things going through it (the mind), according to an ancient fragment of the Dialexis written in 400 B.C. Later, Saint Augustine referred to memory as venter animi, a kind of stomach of the mind. He compared the establishment of memory by reading and rereading a particular text to the action of a cow chewing a cud. In this pastoral comparison, readers digested their text by saying it aloud while meditating on it.

Rather than a mindless exercise, such focused concentration was considered a creative act leading to imagination, innovation, and invention. But before making an original creative contribution on ones own, it was necessary to master the works of earlier thinkers by committing their words to memory. From antiquity, the arts of memory were conceived of as investigative tools for recollected reconstruction and selection, serving what we now call creative thinking, according to Mary Carruthers, an international authority on memory. Memory craft was practiced as a tool of invention discovering and recombining things that one had previously learned.

Thomas Bradwardines Advice

Here are specific instructions for forming such images by the 14th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bradwardine. The images of what one tends to learn should be: wondrous and intense because such things are impressed in memory more deeply and are better retained. Such things are for the most part not moderate but extreme, are something greatly beautiful or ugly, joyous or sad, worthy of respect or derision, a thing of great dignity or vileness. In other words, in order for the images to be remembered, they should be as dramatic and exaggerated as possible.

If we consider our own memory for a moment, Bradwardines advice turns out to be true. We tend to remember things and events that arouse our emotions at the moment of memory formation. Thus we may not remember what we ate for lunch yesterday, but we will remember with great clarity a near accident we experienced while driving to the restaurant. Extreme things excite the human senses and the human mind with greater force than do average things, wrote Jacobus Publicius in the Art of Memory published in 1475. The reason for this is that things which are great, unbelievable, previously unseen, new, rare, unheard of, deplorable, exceptional, indecent, unique, or very beautiful, convey a great amount to our mind, memory, and recollection.

Over the centuries, various objects served as placemarks for memorization. The domestic and familiar species of a Roman housethe type of architecture most commended for memory work by ancient writerswere replaced by divine structures derived from descriptions in the Bible, such as the Ark, the Tabernacle, the Temple of the Heavenly City  the cosmos itself, according to Mary Carruthers, author of The Medieval Craft of Memory.

Metrodorus of Scepsis, a Greek scholar known for his works on rhetoric, relied on his knowledge of astrology to devise a memory system based on the 12 signs of the zodiac. Included with each of the signs of the zodiac were the decans, a subdivision of a sign divided into three equal parts of 10 degrees each. Both the astrological signs and the three accompanying decans functioned as memory placemarks. To increase the number of placemarks, Metrodorus assigned 10 background images for each decan. This resulted in a series of loci numbering from 100 to 360, which he could employ as a memory aid. (Three decans for each of the 12 signs of the zodiac multiplied by 10 images assigned to each decan).

As Quintilian described it, Metrodorus found 360 places at the 12 signs to which the sun moves. And since all of the loci were arranged in numerical order, Metrodorus could find any number of them by their number. By using this framework, Metrodorus could remember vast amounts of data and perform astounding feats of memory.

Perhaps at this point, you are thinking, whoa! Enough already. Thats pretty heavy stuff. And it is. But it only hints at the power certain mystics and philosophers suggested memory could achieve. As you will see, these ancient and honored systems and beliefs have been transformed and still linger today as the basic tenets of the art of memory.

This excerpt has been adapted from The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind by Dr. Richard Restak. To buy this book, click here.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
While Asian Stock Markets Soar, Chinas Stock Market Suffers Losses

Stock markets of several Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and India, have surged, some reaching highs that have not been seen in years. However, the Chinese stock market has faced significant challenges, struggling to escape a bear market. Financial analysts suggest that this declining performance reflects investors attitudes towards the future economic outlook of each country or region, with Chinas economic prospects being viewed pessimistically. Meanwhile, other Asian countries are benefiting from the shifting of Chinas industrial supply chain.

A number of Asian markets outside of China are flourishing with Japan leading the way. On June 13, the Nikkei 225 index made a significant breakthrough, surpassing the 33,000-point mark for the first time since 1990. By the end of the trading day, the Nikkei 225 index had risen by 1.88 percent, closing at 33,042.5 points.

Among the stocks listed on the Nikkei 225 index on that day, 170 companies experienced an increase, while 54 companies faced a decline. Leading sectors included export-related stocks, particularly semiconductor and automobile stocks. Companies like Advantest and Tokyo Electron witnessed an increase of nearly 5 percent in their stock prices, while Toyotas stock price also saw a significant rise, reaching a growth rate of 5.05 percent.

Several Japanese trading companies, in which renowned investor Warren E. Buffett has invested, reached new record highs on June 13. Mitsui & Co Ltd experienced the highest increase, reaching 2.2 percent, while Mitsubishi Corporation, Itochu, and Sumitomo Corporation also achieved gains. Since Buffett revealed his increased holdings of the top five Japanese trading companies in April this year, with plans to further invest in Japanese stocks, the stock prices of these companies have consistently reached new historical records.

With the growing interest of foreign investors, the Nikkei 225 index is currently rising quickly, accumulating a growth rate of over 23 percent year-to-date.

South Korea is another market that has garnered attention. Although the KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) did not set a record high on June 13, it briefly reached a point higher than any in over a year on the previous trading day. Korean technology stocks, accounting for approximately half of the KOSPI, have played a significant role in UBS Global Wealth Managements industry and market dominance. The KOSPI has achieved an 18 percent increase year-to-date, with very few rivals in Asia apart from the Japanese stock market.

Amidst the surge in the Japanese and South Korean stock markets, the previously less prominent Vietnamese stock market has begun to quietly gain momentum.

The Ho Chi Minh Stock Index in Vietnam has accumulated a growth rate of over 20 percent compared to its low point in November of last year. Like the S&P 500 and the KOSPI, it has recently entered a technical bull market. On June 13, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Index further increased by nearly 0.6 percent, reaching its highest closing level in eight months. Vietnams loose monetary policy and government economic stimulus measures are enhancing the outlook for the countrys stock market.

In recent months, India has also regained the spotlight. The Nifty 50 index has risen by nearly 7 percent this quarter, recovering all the losses incurred since March.

The bull markets in these Asian countries stand in stark contrast to the downturn witnessed in the Chinese stock market. The benchmark Shanghai Shenzhen 300 index has experienced a 5.29 percent decline this quarter, erasing all the gains made earlier this year.

According to data from Refinitiv, a global financial market data provider, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong also entered bear market territory last month, recording a nearly 2 percent decline year-to-date.

On June 10, Bloomberg reported that the Chinese stock market suffered a loss of $1.5 trillion in market value. Strategy analysts from Goldman Sachs, Nomura Holdings, and Morgan Stanley have revised their targets down for the MSCI China Index by at least 11 percent at different times. Their latest forecasts indicate that although the index may see a rebound from its current level, reaching the high point set in January will be a challenge.

Bloomberg also stated that at its most severe decline, the MSCI China Index has fallen nearly 20 percent from its peak on January 27, resulting in a loss of approximately $1.5 trillion.

Analysis: The Stock Market Reflects Investors Attitudes

On June 15, Lu Yuanxing, a Chinese American political and economic analyst with prior experience as a senior executive in a Chinese companys marketing department, shared insights in an interview with The Epoch Times reporters. He highlighted that the performance of the stock market reflects investors outlook on the future economy of a country or region.

Lu expressed that the current performance of the Chinese stock market reflects both international and domestic investors pessimistic attitudes toward Chinas economic status and prospects. He emphasized, Chinas political environment is increasingly unfavorable, with an escalating level of authoritarian control by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Political dictatorship inevitably impacts the economic sphere, leading to significant effects on Chinas overall economic environment.

Furthermore, he added, The international community is becoming increasingly aware of the threat posed by the CCP to global security. Consequently, industrial supply chains are undergoing substantial shifts to other regions. These shifts also entail capital relocation, which greatly impacts Chinas job market and leads to a continuous rise in unemployment rates.

Lu emphasized that for the stock market to experience an upward trend, it requires support from capital. However, currently, foreign capital is continuously flowing out of China, and northbound funds through Hong Kong are decreasing. Within mainland China, numerous listed companies shareholders have been reducing their holdings and cashing out, taking advantage of various opportunities to sell stocks.

The outflow of capital occurs as shareholders cash out, resulting in a lack of liquidity in the stock market, Lu explained. The reduction in holdings by major shareholders triggers a chain reaction that significantly affects investor confidence. As a result, capital will continue to be drained from the stock market, leading to its decline. Additionally, under increasing control by the CCP, Hong Kongs freedom has been diminishing. As an international financial center, the diminishing freedom naturally instills a pessimistic view of Hong Kongs future, prompting the withdrawal of funds. Overall, this reflects the sentiment of both domestic and foreign investors regarding the dim outlook of Chinas economy.

Lu also highlighted that countries like Vietnam and other Asian nations directly benefit from the relocation of Chinas industrial supply chains. The shift of industrial supply chains to Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam, India, and Thailand, where labor costs are relatively cheaper, attracts a significant influx of capital. As a result, the external outlook for their economies appears highly favorable.

Lu believes that Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, which have formed an alliance with the United States and aligned themselves against the CCP, have vast development prospects in the future. Therefore, investors hold an optimistic attitude towards them, resulting in a significant contrast between the Chinese stock market and the rest of the Asian countries.
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. Although, when we looked at Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Scotts Miracle-Gro is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = US$406m  (US$5.0b - US$1.4b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to April 2023).

Therefore, Scotts Miracle-Gro has an ROCE of 11%. By itself that's a normal return on capital and it's in line with the industry's average returns of 11%.

See our latest analysis for Scotts Miracle-Gro

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Scotts Miracle-Gro compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

The Trend Of ROCE

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Scotts Miracle-Gro doesn't inspire confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 11% from 15% five years ago. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased.

In Conclusion...

We're a bit apprehensive about Scotts Miracle-Gro 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 12% over the last five years, so it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. That being the case, unless the underlying trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

On a final note, we found 3 warning signs for Scotts Miracle-Gro (1 is potentially serious) you should be aware of.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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First Year degree courseadmissions: Studentsage puts RTMNU in a fix





Staff Reporter

 Now, the University administration is looking at the Collectorate for a solution

THE decision of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) to make it mandatory for the students to get their names entered in the electoral rolls before taking admission to the first year (FY ) degree of non-professional courses, has met a hurdle. For, many aspirants have failed to enrol their names in the voters list as they have not attained 18 years of age. Due to lack of enthusiasm among youngsters to become a voter, in a meeting of all the university bosses held in Mumbai, State Election Commissioner Shrikant Deshpande had suggested that students should become voters before registering themselves for the admissions to FY courses. Accordingly, RTMNU had made it mandatory for students to enrol as voters first and then seek admission in FY courses. Now, the varsity finds itself in a spot as many students who have passed Class XII examination are yet to complete 18years of age, a criteria tobecome an Indian voter. underage students and will allow them to get admitted for first year degree courses.

We are also trying to have a provision in our system, by which the students would become voters immediately after attaining the prescribed age for entering into the electoral roll. Adv Manmohan Bajpai, Senate Member, pointed out, The decision is praiseworthy but the university should have given a thought to every single aspect. Had it discussed all the aspects minutely, the complexity could have been avoided. Why the university makes students to suffer everytime is a million dollar question. If students face any problem regarding the admission process they can contact on the helpline 8459343878, 7972054980, appealed Dr Raju Hiwase, Registrar of the University and Dr Raman Madne.

The University website onwhich the students have to register for admissions has beenprogrammed in such a way thatif a student doesnt have anelection voter ID, he/she cannot complete the formalities. Many students, who are not onthe electoral rolls, have beentrying to register themselvesfor FY degree non-professional courses, but the onlineprocess gets stuck. Dr Subhash Chaudhari,ViceChancellor, RTMNU, toldThe Hitavada, I have askedthe official concerned toget in touch with theCollectorate to get a solutionto this problem. Our purposewas simple, students shouldbecome voters. Dr Raman Madne, DeputyRegistrar of College Section, made it clear, We haveapproached the Collectoroffice. It will be providing us alink which would identify
Infant trafficking case:Police recover babyfrom Bhandara couple





 Staff Reporter :

IN THE infant trafficking case, Ajni police recovered the one-year-old girl from a couple living in Bhandara. The child was sold to the couple by Dr Ashiq Rasheed Barade last year informing her mother that the baby was unwell. Police produced Dr Ashiq Barade (42), who runs a posh three-storey nursing home -- Barade Nursing Home -- in Mankapur area, in the court on Saturday and obtained his police custody remand for four days. As the doctor told the police that the baby was sold to a couple in Bhandara, the police immediately swung into action and called the couple to the police station. The baby was kept under observation of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), said police. The Bhandara couple was childless for 12 years, it was learnt.

Additionally, the police are investigating the case to ascertain whether Dr Barade was involved in more cases of child trafficking. It may be mentioned that the investigation began when a woman approached Ajni police and lodged a complaint against one Ashish Ghanshyam Laddhad, a resident of Mankapur. According to the victims statement, she had been coerced into a physical relationship with the accused, which eventually led to her pregnancy. On March 28, 2022, Laddhad, along with the woman, allegedly visited the nursing home at Kolte Layout, Godhni Railway, where she gave birth to a baby girl. Dr Barade discharged the woman from the hospital, but not her newborn baby claiming that the newborn was unwell.

The whereabouts of the baby remained unknown, leaving the victim concerned for the childs safety. Further, Laddhad started abusing the woman and also threatened to kill her father. On the victims complaint, the police have registered a case under Sections 376(2)(N) (related to rape), 384 (extortion), 294 (obscene acts ), and 506 (b) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code against Laddhad. Further investigations revealed that Dr Barade had allegedly manipulated records to create bogus birth certificates for the newborn. Moreover, he sold the baby to the couple.
MoS Home Nisith Pramaniks convoy attacked again in WB





KOLKATA :

FOR A second time this year, Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramaniks convoy was attacked in West Bengals Cooch Behar district on Saturday. This is the second time that Pramaniks convoy had been attacked in the Dinhata area following the first incident on February 25. Pramanik has alleged that on Saturday afternoon while his convoy was moving through Dinhata, Trinamool Congress activists attacked the convoy, severely injured some of the BJP workers and even had shot arrows targeting his vehicles.

The entire West Bengal is burning because of violence unleashed by the ruling Trinamool Congress. The role of the police was pathetic as the cops present at the spot remained mute spectators while the attack took place, he further alleged.

However, the Trinamool Congress MLA from Dinhata and the State Minister Udayan Guha has rubbished Pramaniks allegations and instead blamed the latter for instigating violence in the area with his followers.

The scrutiny of the nominations was taking place peacefully in the area while Pramanik arrived at the spot with his followers and started attacking our workers, Guha said.
Need to upgrade skills of property brokers forbetter real estate consultancy services: FICCI-JLL





 Business Bureau :

INDUSTRY body FICCI and real estate consultant JLL India have pitched for formal training and certification courses for property brokers to upgrade their skills, enabling them to help clients in taking informed decisions. FICCI and JLL India have jointly come out with a white paper titled '(Re)Shaping Real Estate Professionals', which highlighted that the real estate agent registration grew from 33,270 in January 2019, to 71,514 in January 2023, across the country under the Real Estate (Development and Regulations) Act, 2016, known as RERA law. A delegation led by Vineet Nanda, Chairman - Regional Urban Infra Committee, FICCI, recently presented the white paper to Arun Kumar Gupta, ACS, Town & Country Planning, Haryana, according to a statement. Nanda, Director Sales & MarketingofrealtyfirmKrisumi Corporation, briefed Gupta about the education programme available currently to skill brokers, also called as channel partners.

Presently, despite the RERA, only 30 per cent of the channel partners are registered across India, Nanda pointed out. The team members associatedwiththechannelpartners are not skilled. Contrary to this, allotherinvestmentinstruments such as stock market, commodities market, financial markets have to take certification courses to become acquainted with the market and its regulatoryenvironment,heobserved. Nanda recommended that the State Government should further regulate the environment by spreading the education programme and tie-up with universities that offer certified courses.
Operation Ganga indicates resolve to stand with our people: PM Modi on documentary





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian citizens from the war-torn Ukraine indicates the Governments firm resolve to stand with its people no matter how daunting the challenge is. His remarks came on a tweet by History TV 18 on its new documentary The Evacuation: Operation Ganga.

On 24th February 2022, thousands of Indians in Ukraine, found themselves stranded in an active war

zone.

Just two days later, India launched one of the largest air evacuations in the 21st century. Total 90 special flights evacuated more than 22,000 Indians and 147 foreign nationals from 18 other countries, in a history-making mission, History TV 18 said in a tweet. Watch the inside story in The Evacuation: Operation Ganga, premieres #Tomorrow at 8PM on HistoryTV18, the channel said on Friday.

Tagging the tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, Operation Ganga indicates our firm resolve to stand with our people no matter how daunting the challenge is. It also reflects Indias indomitable spirit. This documentary would be very informative on aspects relating to this Operation. The Government launched Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine during the war with Russia.
School Principal,Supervisorin ACB trap





Staff Reporter :

PRINCIPAL and Supervisor of Mahatma Gandhi English School, Jaripatka, were arrested redhanded by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting a bribe of Rs 9,000 from the parents of a student on the promise of admission in an aided school of Sindhu Education Society. The accused are identified as DianaAlexander Abraham (36), a resident of Martin Nagar, who is Principal of Mahatma Gandhi English School, Jaripatka, which has been affiliated to Sindhu Education Society; and Rekha Harshavardhan Mohite (62), a resident of Gayatri Nagar, Zingabai Takli, who is Supervisor of the school.

According to ACB, the complainant, a 38- year-old woman, a resident of Pachpaoli, lodged a complaint with ACB Nagpur against the accused persons. The woman in her complaint stated that Abraham and Mohite allegedly approached her claiming to have influence in the admission process. They promised to secure admission of her daughter in Class V at a governmentaided, 100 per cent subsidised school of the Sindhu Educaton Society. In return, they demanded a bribe of Rs 9,000. The complainant approached the ACB and lodged a complaint.The ACB officials confirmed the demand by visiting the school and later, planned a trap. On Saturday, the accused accepted the bribe amount of Rs 9,000 in the presence of the ACB sleuths at the office of the School in Jaripatka.

A case under provisions of the Prevention of Corruptin Act was registered at Jaripatka Police Station. Under the guidance of SP Rahul Maknikar, DySP Mahesh Chate, the action was made by DySP Anamika Mirzapure, PI Shivshankar Khedekar, Nitin Baligwar and staff including Ram Shastrakar, Karuna Sahare, Kanchan Gulbase, Asmita Mallerwar and Amol Bhakte.
Traders are job creators: Gadkari





Business Bureau :

ADDRESSING the Bharatiya Janata Party Vyapari Samvad Sammelan held in the city on Saturday, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that traders are not wealth creators but they are job creators. He urged the traders and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses so that more jobs could be created. Instead of waiting for others to come here and invest in the region, the traders and entrepreneurs should planbig and expand their ventures.

The Government is ready to support such traders, he said at the event organised to mark completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modiled Government at the Centre. Senior BJP leader Ghanshyam Kukreja presided over the function while MLC Pravin Datke was chief guest on the occasion. Former MP Ajay Sancheti, MLA Vikas Kumbhare, former Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, MLC Girish Vyas, officers of various nationalised banks and party workers were also present. Gadkari further said that there is huge scope for traders in various sectors.

We are planning to develop new state-ofthe-art markets in place of old ones. It will change the face of the city and also take the local businesses to next level, he added. Gadkari also highlighted the efforts of the party workers and others during the tough phase of COVID-19. Earlier in his address, Sancheti highlighted that people belonging all sections of the society are being benefited by schemes launched by the Modi Government. In his introductory remark, Datke said traders should plan further growth of their businesses. Girdhari Mantri conducted the proceedings of the function while SanjayWadhwani proposed the formal vote of thanks.
Tricolour flies high outside WH ahead of Modis visit to US





WASHINGTON DC :

AHEAD of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States, the Indian Tricolour was seen waving outside the White House, Washington DC on Friday.

Talking about the Indian flag waving outside the White House, an Indian national residing in New Jersey, Jesal Nar, said, Its really honour and pride to see the tricolour. I go across the United States for my work purpose carrying a tricolour.

But seeing the tricolour in front of the White House waving freely and benching marks the coming of our honourable prime minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC for the new generation, engines and everything. So it would be a great honour to see more technological advancement in India, he said.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Citigroup implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

43% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Recent sales by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 70% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Citigroup.

Check out our latest analysis for Citigroup

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Citigroup?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Citigroup already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Citigroup, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Citigroup. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 8.7% of shares outstanding. With 8.4% and 4.2% of the shares outstanding respectively, BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Citigroup

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Citigroup Inc.. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$158m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 27% stake in Citigroup. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Citigroup .

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.

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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (OTCMKTS:IVPAF  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 14,031,700 shares, an increase of 17.6% from the May 15th total of 11,932,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 121,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 115.4 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on IVPAF shares. TD Securities upped their target price on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$15.00 to C$17.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$15.00 to C$18.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$14.50 to C$16.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Ivanhoe Mines from C$15.00 to C$17.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Ivanhoe Mines Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS IVPAF traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $9.15. 66,115 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 94,085. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $8.57 and a 200 day moving average of $8.62. Ivanhoe Mines has a 1 year low of $4.90 and a 1 year high of $9.74.

Ivanhoe Mines Company Profile

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. is a mining development company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. Its projects include the Platreef Project, Kamao-Kakula Project, Western Foreland Exploration Project, and Kipushi Project. The company was founded by Robert Martin Friedland on April 29, 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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The Gap, Inc. (NYSE:GPS  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 40,530,000 shares, an increase of 28.9% from the May 15th total of 31,450,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 10,240,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.0 days. Currently, 18.4% of the companys stock are sold short.

GAP Stock Performance

Shares of GPS traded down $0.13 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $9.58. 8,730,608 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,972,115. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $8.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $11.09. GAP has a 52-week low of $7.22 and a 52-week high of $15.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.53 billion, a PE ratio of -59.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.47 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

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GAP (NYSE:GPS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The apparel retailer reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.16) by $0.17. GAP had a negative net margin of 0.38% and a positive return on equity of 0.86%. The company had revenue of $3.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.44) earnings per share. GAPs quarterly revenue was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that GAP will post 0.64 earnings per share for the current year.

GAP Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.26%. GAPs payout ratio is -374.98%.

In related news, CEO Mark Breitbard sold 22,918 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.78, for a total value of $201,220.04. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 123,985 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,088,588.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 30.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in GAP by 34.9% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 12,100 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $170,000 after buying an additional 3,132 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in GAP by 54.9% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 535,779 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $7,544,000 after acquiring an additional 189,872 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in GAP by 208.4% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 6,923 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 4,678 shares during the period. American International Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of GAP by 470.4% during the 1st quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 360,438 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $5,075,000 after purchasing an additional 297,247 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Weiss Multi Strategy Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of GAP during the 1st quarter worth $915,000. 57.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GPS has been the subject of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on GAP from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Barclays lowered their price objective on GAP from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Bank of America reduced their price target on GAP from $9.50 to $8.50 in a report on Friday, May 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of GAP from $10.00 to $11.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of GAP in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, GAP presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.47.

GAP Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Gap, Inc operates as a global apparel retail company, which offers clothing, apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. The firm operates through the following segments: Gap Global, Old Navy Global, Banana Republic Global, Athleta, and Other. The Gap Global segment includes apparel and accessories for men and women under the Gap brand, along with the GapKids, BabyGap, GapMaternity, GapBody, and GapFit collections.

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Single Point Partners LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 957 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $233,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,609,537 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,626,363,000 after purchasing an additional 215,823 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 106,553.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,185,211 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,582,902,000 after buying an additional 7,178,474 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,005,137 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,531,936,000 after buying an additional 545,904 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,004,410 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,100,917,000 after buying an additional 85,640 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 59.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,591,278 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,011,459,000 after buying an additional 1,707,780 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.83% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on ITW shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $227.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. 3M restated a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $205.00 to $203.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $228.21.

Insider Buying and Selling

Illinois Tool Works Stock Up 0.5 %

In other Illinois Tool Works news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,121,970.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Shares of NYSE ITW opened at $247.99 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $75.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.80, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $231.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $230.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.20. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $173.52 and a 52-week high of $253.37.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.98 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.27% and a return on equity of 92.13%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.11 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $1.31 dividend. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.11%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.40%.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Antero Midstream Co. (NYSE:AM  Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Reduce by the four research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $12.33.

Several analysts have commented on AM shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Antero Midstream in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on Antero Midstream in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. They set a buy rating and a $14.00 target price for the company. Finally, Capital One Financial reissued an equal weight rating on shares of Antero Midstream in a research note on Thursday, April 20th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Sheri Pearce sold 19,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.25, for a total value of $200,900.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 155,267 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,591,486.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Sheri Pearce sold 19,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.25, for a total value of $200,900.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 155,267 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,591,486.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Michael N. Kennedy sold 300,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $3,141,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,060,730 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,105,843.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Antero Midstream

Antero Midstream Stock Up 0.7 %

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Antero Midstream by 2,155.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,301 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 2,199 shares during the last quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. purchased a new position in shares of Antero Midstream during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Antero Midstream by 248.2% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 2,646 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,886 shares during the period. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Antero Midstream during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Finally, TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Antero Midstream by 257.5% during the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,849 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 2,052 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.21% of the companys stock.

AM opened at $11.05 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $10.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. The company has a market cap of $5.30 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 2.36. Antero Midstream has a 52 week low of $8.56 and a 52 week high of $11.61.

Antero Midstream (NYSE:AM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The pipeline company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $259.48 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $249.58 million. Antero Midstream had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 34.62%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Antero Midstream will post 0.81 EPS for the current year.

Antero Midstream Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 26th were paid a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.14%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 25th. Antero Midstreams dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 130.43%.

About Antero Midstream

(Get Rating

Antero Midstream Corporation owns, operates, and develops midstream energy infrastructure in the Appalachian Basin. It operates through Gathering and Processing, and Water Handling segments. The Gathering and Processing segment includes a network of gathering pipelines and compressor stations that collects and processes production from Antero Resources' wells in West Virginia and Ohio.

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Boston Properties (NYSE:BXP  Get Rating) had its target price upped by Barclays from $57.00 to $58.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on BXP. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Boston Properties from $76.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Boston Properties from $79.00 to $66.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Boston Properties from $74.00 to $57.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. StockNews.com cut Boston Properties from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, June 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Boston Properties from $67.00 to $52.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.55.

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Boston Properties Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSE BXP opened at $55.04 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.03 and a beta of 1.07. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $51.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 4.76 and a current ratio of 4.76. Boston Properties has a 52 week low of $46.18 and a 52 week high of $94.79.

Boston Properties Announces Dividend

Boston Properties ( NYSE:BXP Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.70 by ($1.20). The firm had revenue of $803.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $778.80 million. Boston Properties had a net margin of 24.82% and a return on equity of 9.44%. The companys revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Boston Properties will post 7.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. Boston Propertiess payout ratio is 78.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Carol B. Einiger acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $47.41 per share, for a total transaction of $474,100.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $474,100. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.22% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI increased its position in shares of Boston Properties by 72.2% in the first quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI now owns 13,118 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $710,000 after purchasing an additional 5,500 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of Boston Properties by 62.4% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 70,291 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,828,000 after purchasing an additional 27,021 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its position in Boston Properties by 32.3% in the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 8,356 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $450,000 after acquiring an additional 2,038 shares during the last quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC grew its position in Boston Properties by 1.0% in the first quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 83,447 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,516,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in Boston Properties in the first quarter valued at about $377,000. Institutional investors own 88.62% of the companys stock.

Boston Properties Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Boston Properties (NYSE: BXP) is the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of Class A office properties in the United States, concentrated in six markets  Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. BXP is a fully integrated real estate company, organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), that develops, manages, operates, acquires, and owns a diverse portfolio of primarily Class A office space.

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Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD  Get Rating) (TSE:ABX) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 27,670,000 shares, an increase of 18.8% from the May 15th total of 23,290,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 16,730,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Currently, 1.6% of the companys stock are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on GOLD. National Bank Financial raised their price objective on shares of Barrick Gold from C$28.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Laurentian cut their price objective on shares of Barrick Gold from C$5.00 to C$4.70 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Barrick Gold in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Barrick Gold from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Barrick Gold from C$29.00 to C$30.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Three 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.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $22.52.

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Barrick Gold Price Performance

Barrick Gold stock opened at $16.71 on Friday. Barrick Gold has a 52 week low of $13.01 and a 52 week high of $20.75. The company has a quick ratio of 2.14, a current ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $12.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.33 billion, a PE ratio of 278.50, a P/E/G ratio of 9.80 and a beta of 0.34.

Barrick Gold Cuts Dividend

Barrick Gold ( NYSE:GOLD Get Rating ) (TSE:ABX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The gold and copper producer reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.11 by $0.03. Barrick Gold had a net margin of 1.06% and a return on equity of 3.46%. The business had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.57 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.26 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Barrick Gold will post 0.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $0.074 dividend. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 30th. Barrick Golds payout ratio is 666.67%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Level Four Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 37.6% during the 1st quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 29,497 shares of the gold and copper producers stock worth $548,000 after acquiring an additional 8,063 shares during the period. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 34,017 shares of the gold and copper producers stock worth $632,000 after acquiring an additional 2,765 shares during the period. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Barrick Gold during the 1st quarter worth about $622,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 11.2% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 19,009,633 shares of the gold and copper producers stock worth $354,001,000 after acquiring an additional 1,912,963 shares during the period. Finally, SkyView Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Barrick Gold in the first quarter valued at approximately $557,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.82% of the companys stock.

About Barrick Gold

(Get Rating)

Barrick Gold Corporation is a sector-leading gold and copper producer. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX.



In January 2019 Barrick merged with Randgold Resources and in July that year it combined its gold mines in Nevada, USA, with those of Newmont Corporation in a joint venture, Nevada Gold Mines, which is majority-owned and operated by Barrick.

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Bartlett & Co. LLC increased its holdings in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) by 4.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 223,107 shares of the CRM providers stock after acquiring an additional 8,878 shares during the quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLCs holdings in Salesforce were worth $44,572,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Parsec Financial Management Inc. increased its position in Salesforce by 11.2% during the first quarter. Parsec Financial Management Inc. now owns 5,061 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,011,000 after acquiring an additional 509 shares during the period. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in Salesforce during the first quarter worth about $238,000. Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc. ADV increased its position in Salesforce by 31.3% during the first quarter. Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 29,486 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $5,891,000 after acquiring an additional 7,033 shares during the period. Dash Acquisitions Inc. increased its position in Salesforce by 12.1% during the first quarter. Dash Acquisitions Inc. now owns 63,423 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $12,671,000 after acquiring an additional 6,861 shares during the period. Finally, Wiley BROS. Aintree Capital LLC bought a new position in Salesforce during the first quarter worth about $203,000. 75.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Salesforce news, insider Parker Harris sold 1,250 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.87, for a total transaction of $232,337.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 96,795 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,991,286.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 500,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.14, for a total value of $104,570,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,671,609 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,486,700,306.26. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Parker Harris sold 1,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.87, for a total value of $232,337.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 96,795 shares in the company, valued at $17,991,286.65. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 677,125 shares of company stock valued at $141,439,507 in the last three months. 3.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Salesforce Stock Down 0.1 %

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Atlantic Securities increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $140.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Salesforce in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $229.00 to $230.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Northland Securities increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $181.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $225.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $220.97.

NYSE CRM traded down $0.16 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $211.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 13,672,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,592,554. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $203.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $175.93. Salesforce, Inc. has a twelve month low of $126.34 and a twelve month high of $225.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $206.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 557.28, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.24.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 31st. The CRM provider reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $8.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.17 billion. Salesforce had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 5.75%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.41 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Salesforce announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, March 1st that permits the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the CRM provider to repurchase up to 10.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

About Salesforce

(Get Rating)

Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

Further Reading

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After a protracted silence and vague responses from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, cryptocurrency company Coinbase filed an official request in federal court on Saturday.

We couldn't wait until our deadline next week to address the SEC's response to the June 6 order from the Third Circuit, tweeted Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer for Coinbase. It is unusual for the government to defy a direct question from a federal court.

The SECs evasive response goes further, as we set out today, he added.

We couldn't wait until our deadline next week to address the SEC's response to the June 6 order from the Third Circuit. It is unusual for the government to defy a direct question from a federal court. But the SECs evasive response goes further, as we set out today. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/ssULmUpzi2  paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) June 17, 2023

According to the Coinbase filing, the company is requesting mandamus, which refers to a court order issued by a higher court to a government agency, commanding them to perform a specific action or duty that they are legally obligated to do.

In laymans terms, Coinbase is asking a federal judge to force the SEC to set clearer rules and standards for the digital assets industrythe objective of a petition made by the crypto exchange last year.

Coinbase Asks Court to Force SEC to Clarify Crypto Regulations

Although the SEC never responded to that petition, it sued the cryptocurrency company earlier this month alleging that it failed to register as an exchange, clearing house, and broker, despite providing investors these services. The lawsuit also claims that Coinbase sold unregistered securities on their platform.

A judge took note of the SECs action against Coinbase, and ordered the federal regulator to respond to the petition. In response, Coinbase said it was still considering what actions it might take.

The Commissions refusal to say how much additional time it needs to act on Coinbases petition confirms that further delay is futile, tweeted Grewal, saying, At a minimum, the Court should order the Commission to report on Its action.

'SEC Has No Intention' of Providing Clear Rules for Crypto: Coinbase

Coinbase had some incendiary rhetoric for the SEC, saying it pushes the limits of cognitive dissonance by demanding compliance with non-existent rules.

The commission, led by chairman Gary Gensler, has insisted that clear rules already exist. Even so, the agency has been in the news recently, requesting that the courts deny Coinbases request for clearer rules.

Coinbase has been steadfast and relentless over its quest for a definitive regulatory scheme, although they have said in the past that the SEC has no intention of establishing one. Saturdays filings reiterated that stance, the crypto exchange saying the agency has been inconsistent in creating, in fact, a Catch-22 for the industry.

Although Gensler has said that the SEC stands ready to help, their actions suggest otherwise.
Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC cut its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Get Rating) by 3.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,016 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 133 shares during the quarter. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $589,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 10.7% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 8,155 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,270,000 after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 15,625 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,433,000 after purchasing an additional 992 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 126.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 3,384 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 1,888 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 1,851.9% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 527 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 13.2% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 12,722 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,981,000 after purchasing an additional 1,487 shares during the period. 86.45% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Up 0.7 %

BR opened at $160.80 on Friday. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $131.35 and a fifty-two week high of $183.33. The business has a 50-day moving average of $150.28 and a 200-day moving average of $144.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35. The company has a market capitalization of $18.97 billion, a PE ratio of 34.51 and a beta of 0.99.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Announces Dividend

Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.04. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 40.29% and a net margin of 9.33%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.65 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.93 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 6.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.725 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.23%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BR has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Monday, April 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $169.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $161.40.

Insider Transactions at Broadridge Financial Solutions

In other news, VP Richard John Stingi sold 750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.27, for a total transaction of $116,452.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 4,202 shares in the company, valued at approximately $652,444.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Robert Schifellite sold 15,695 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.59, for a total value of $2,394,900.05. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 50,314 shares in the company, valued at $7,677,413.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP Richard John Stingi sold 750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.27, for a total transaction of $116,452.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 4,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $652,444.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 27,397 shares of company stock worth $4,162,229 in the last 90 days. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Broadridge Financial Solutions

(Get Rating)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Corbion (OTCMKTS:CSNVY  Get Rating) and H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL  Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership and profitability.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Corbion and H.B. Fullers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Corbion N/A N/A N/A $0.52 62.48 H.B. Fuller $3.75 billion 0.96 $180.31 million $2.96 22.57

H.B. Fuller has higher revenue and earnings than Corbion. H.B. Fuller is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Corbion, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Corbion 0 0 0 0 N/A H.B. Fuller 1 0 3 0 2.50

This is a summary of recent ratings for Corbion and H.B. Fuller, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

H.B. Fuller has a consensus price target of $77.25, suggesting a potential upside of 15.63%. Given H.B. Fullers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe H.B. Fuller is more favorable than Corbion.

Profitability

This table compares Corbion and H.B. Fullers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Corbion N/A N/A N/A H.B. Fuller 4.43% 12.92% 4.57%

Dividends

Corbion pays an annual dividend of $0.67 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. H.B. Fuller pays an annual dividend of $0.82 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Corbion pays out 128.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. H.B. Fuller pays out 27.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. H.B. Fuller has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

96.5% of H.B. Fuller shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.5% of H.B. Fuller shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

H.B. Fuller beats Corbion on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Corbion

(Get Rating)

Corbion NV engages in the development, production, sale, and distribution of ingredients for food and biochemicals. It operates through the following segments: Food and Biochemicals. The Food segment provides biobased ingredients for the food industry. The Biochemicals segment produces chemicals derived from organic acids through the fermentation of carbohydrates, and lactic acid based solutions. The company was founded on August 21, 1919 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

About H.B. Fuller

(Get Rating)

H.B. Fuller Company, together with its subsidiaries, formulates, manufactures, and markets adhesives, sealants, coatings, polymers, tapes, encapsulants, additives, and other specialty chemical products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives; Engineering Adhesives; and Construction Adhesives. The Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives segment produces and supplies specialty industrial adhesives, such as thermoplastic, thermoset, reactive, and water-based and solvent-based products for applications in various markets, including food and beverage containers, flexible packaging, consumer goods, package integrity and re-enforcement, and non-durable goods; corrugation, folding carton, tape and label, paper converting, envelopes, books, multi-wall bags, sacks, and tissue and towel; disposable diapers, feminine care, and medical garments; and health and beauty. The Engineering Adhesives segment produces and supplies high performance industrial adhesives, such as reactive, light cure, two-part liquids, silicone, polyurethane, film, and fast cure products to the appliances and filters, windows, doors and wood flooring, and textile, transportation, electronics, medical, clean energy, aerospace and defense, appliance, heavy machinery, and insulating glass markets. The Construction Adhesives segment provides products used for tile setting, commercial roofing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and insulation applications, as well as caulks and sealants for the consumer market and professional trade. The company sells its products directly through distributors and retailers. H.B. Fuller Company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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CP ALL Public (OTCMKTS:CVPUF  Get Rating) and Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares CP ALL Public and Sendas Distribuidoras net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CP ALL Public N/A N/A N/A Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for CP ALL Public and Sendas Distribuidora, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CP ALL Public 0 0 0 0 N/A Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares CP ALL Public and Sendas Distribuidoras revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CP ALL Public N/A N/A N/A $1.09 1.94 Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion 0.36 $236.31 million $0.78 17.92

Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue and earnings than CP ALL Public. CP ALL Public is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sendas Distribuidora, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

1.4% of CP ALL Public shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

CP ALL Public pays an annual dividend of $0.81 per share and has a dividend yield of 38.4%. Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. CP ALL Public pays out 74.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sendas Distribuidora pays out 10.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Summary

Sendas Distribuidora beats CP ALL Public on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CP ALL Public

(Get Rating)

CP ALL Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates and franchises convenience stores under the 7-Eleven name to other retailers primarily in Thailand. It operates through three segments: Wholesale Business, Retail Business, and Management of Rental Spaces in Shopping Centers. The Wholesale Business segment engages in import, export, and distribution of frozen and chilled food with delivery services and focuses on selling consumer products, including fresh food, dry food, and consumer products under Makro brand. Its Retail Business segment is involved in domestic supply chain, distribution system, logistics network, and brand equity businesses. This segment also sells its products under various domestic, international, and small and medium enterprises brands. The company's Management of Rental Spaces in Shopping Centers segment manages buildings and retail spaces in shopping malls. In addition, the company is involved in sale and maintenance of retail equipment; cash and carry, catalog, and e-commerce businesses; marketing and advertising activities; provision of information technology and research and development services, as well as engaged in bill payment collection, life insurance, and non-life insurance broker business. Further, the company offers educational institution, training, business seminar services, as well as healthcare and medical specialist's consultation services. The company was formerly known as C.P. Seven Eleven Public Company Limited. CP ALL Public Company Limited was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

About Sendas Distribuidora

(Get Rating)

Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. The company serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. It sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Singapore Exchange (OTCMKTS:SPXCF  Get Rating) and London Stock Exchange Group (OTCMKTS:LDNXF  Get Rating) are both financial services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

11.6% of Singapore Exchange shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.8% of London Stock Exchange Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares Singapore Exchange and London Stock Exchange Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Singapore Exchange N/A N/A N/A London Stock Exchange Group N/A N/A N/A

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Singapore Exchange N/A N/A N/A $0.30 24.29 London Stock Exchange Group N/A N/A N/A $0.55 203.19

This table compares Singapore Exchange and London Stock Exchange Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Singapore Exchange is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than London Stock Exchange Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Singapore Exchange pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%. London Stock Exchange Group pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Singapore Exchange pays out 94.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. London Stock Exchange Group pays out 51.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Singapore Exchange and London Stock Exchange Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Singapore Exchange 1 0 0 0 1.00 London Stock Exchange Group 0 0 2 0 3.00

Given London Stock Exchange Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe London Stock Exchange Group is more favorable than Singapore Exchange.

Summary

London Stock Exchange Group beats Singapore Exchange on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Singapore Exchange

(Get Rating)

Singapore Exchange Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated securities and derivatives exchange, and related clearing houses in Singapore. It operates through Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities; Equities; and Data, Connectivity, and Indices segments. The Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities segment offers fixed income issuer, trading and clearing, and collateral management services. The Equities segment provides issuer, securities trading and clearing, securities settlement and depository management, derivatives trading and clearing, and collateral management services. The Data, Connectivity, and Indices segment offers market data, connectivity, and indices services. The company offers counterparty guarantee, and depository and related services for securities and derivatives transactions; bond trading services; front-line regulatory functions; and computer and software maintenance services. It also provides an electronic foreign exchange trading solutions and platform; and management consultancy services for index activities. In addition, the company offers membership and management services to related corporations; distributes bulk freight market indices and information; and operates an electricity market, as well as provides administration services for index calculation, risk analyses, and financial research. Singapore Exchange Limited was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Singapore.

About London Stock Exchange Group

(Get Rating)

London Stock Exchange Group plc operates as a financial markets infrastructure and data provider primarily in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Data & Analytics, Capital Markets, and Post Trade. It operates a range of international equity, fixed income, exchange-traded funds/exchange-traded products, and foreign exchange markets through the London Stock Exchange, AIM, Turquoise, FXall, Matching, and Tradeweb. The company also provides information and data products, such as indexes, benchmarks, real time pricing data and trade reporting, and reconciliation services, as well as network connection and services; market trading services; and clearing, risk management, capital optimization, and regulatory reporting solutions. In addition, it licenses capital markets; installs software; and provides maintenance, and events and media services. London Stock Exchange Group plc was founded in 1698 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme (OTCMKTS:DUAVF  Get Rating) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $187.50.

Several research firms recently commented on DUAVF. Berenberg Bank lowered Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. They issued an equal weight rating for the company.

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Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:DUAVF opened at $184.50 on Tuesday. Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme has a 1 year low of $108.08 and a 1 year high of $209.45. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $190.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $178.41.

About Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme

Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme designs and builds military aircraft, business jets, and space systems in France, the Americas, and internationally. It offers Rafale, a multirole fighter aircraft; nEUROn, an unmanned combat air vehicle; and Falcon aircraft for maritime surveillance, intelligence, and medical evacuation missions.

Further Reading

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Ashtead Group (OTCMKTS:ASHTY  Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 4,460 ($55.81) to GBX 5,100 ($63.81) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on ASHTY. Societe Generale began coverage on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. They set a buy rating for the company. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on shares of Ashtead Group from GBX 405 ($5.07) to GBX 450 ($5.63) in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Ashtead Group from GBX 6,000 ($75.08) to GBX 6,300 ($78.83) in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $4,841.67.

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Ashtead Group Price Performance

OTCMKTS:ASHTY opened at $278.67 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of $30.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $243.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $248.69. Ashtead Group has a 1-year low of $161.67 and a 1-year high of $285.00.

About Ashtead Group

Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services.

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Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ  Get Rating) had its price objective increased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $218.00 to $231.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. HSBC upped their target price on Constellation Brands from $275.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Constellation Brands from $253.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Citigroup started coverage on Constellation Brands in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $265.00 price target on the stock. Roth Capital raised Constellation Brands from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $257.77.

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Constellation Brands Stock Down 1.3 %

NYSE STZ opened at $246.03 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.18. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $232.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $229.14. Constellation Brands has a twelve month low of $208.12 and a twelve month high of $261.32. The stock has a market cap of $45.09 billion, a PE ratio of -482.40, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.03.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 6th. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.12. Constellation Brands had a negative net margin of 0.70% and a positive return on equity of 20.48%. The business had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.37 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Constellation Brands will post 11.65 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th were given a dividend of $0.89 per share. This is a boost from Constellation Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is currently -698.03%.

Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands

In other news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $862,485,140.28. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 20,488,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,579,865,487.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $862,485,140.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 20,488,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,579,865,487.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Business Holdings Lp Ajb sold 650,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total transaction of $145,294,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,365,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $752,338,273.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Constellation Brands

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Prudential PLC grew its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 44.8% in the 3rd quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 4,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,055,000 after purchasing an additional 1,421 shares during the period. Lake Street Financial LLC lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. Lake Street Financial LLC now owns 1,893 shares of the companys stock valued at $439,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Glassman Wealth Services lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 167.7% in the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 431 shares of the companys stock valued at $100,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 105.4% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 38,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,467,000 after acquiring an additional 19,766 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec bought a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at $810,000. 84.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Constellation Brands

(Get Rating)

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.

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Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 18,870,000 shares, an increase of 6.4% from the May 15th total of 17,730,000 shares. Approximately 11.5% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 3,270,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.8 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $17.00 to $16.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. TheStreet cut shares of Douglas Emmett from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Douglas Emmett from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.78.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Douglas Emmett

In related news, Director William E. Simon, Jr. acquired 10,000 shares of Douglas Emmett stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $12.42 per share, with a total value of $124,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 91,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,130,220. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 14.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Douglas Emmett

Douglas Emmett Stock Performance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Douglas Emmett during the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Aspire Private Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 253.2% during the 4th quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC now owns 1,660 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,028,800,000 after purchasing an additional 1,190 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 1,128.4% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,506 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 2,302 shares during the last quarter. Ellevest Inc. increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 103.8% during the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 2,981 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,518 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 94.7% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 3,695 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,797 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.25% of the companys stock.

NYSE:DEI traded down $0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $12.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 36,918,263 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,757,944. Douglas Emmett has a 12-month low of $10.09 and a 12-month high of $23.85. The firms fifty day moving average price is $11.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.82. The company has a current ratio of 2.54, a quick ratio of 2.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market cap of $2.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.02 and a beta of 0.94.

Douglas Emmett Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 149.02%.

About Douglas Emmett

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Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities.

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DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,130,000 shares, an increase of 15.8% from the May 15th total of 1,840,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,180,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.8 days.

Insider Buying and Selling at DTE Energy

In other DTE Energy news, VP Lisa A. Muschong sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.41, for a total value of $77,287.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,455 shares in the company, valued at $602,286.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other DTE Energy news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total value of $452,360.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 14,607 shares in the company, valued at $1,651,905.63. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Lisa A. Muschong sold 700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.41, for a total transaction of $77,287.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 5,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $602,286.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.61% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On DTE Energy

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of DTE Energy during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. CI Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of DTE Energy by 966.7% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 256 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 232 shares during the last quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of DTE Energy by 462.0% during the 1st quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 281 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OLD Second National Bank of Aurora acquired a new position in shares of DTE Energy during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.55% of the companys stock.

DTE Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DTE stock traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $114.12. 4,874,877 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,400,786. The company has a market cap of $23.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.60. The companys 50 day moving average is $80.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.28. DTE Energy has a 1 year low of $100.64 and a 1 year high of $136.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.05). DTE Energy had a return on equity of 10.59% and a net margin of 6.15%. The business had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.79 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.31 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that DTE Energy will post 6.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

DTE Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.9525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $3.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.34%. DTE Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group set a 25.00 ($26.88) price objective on shares of DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group set a 23.60 ($25.38) price objective on DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Credit Suisse Group set a 25.00 ($26.88) price objective on DTE Energy in a research note on Friday, February 24th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on DTE Energy from $127.00 to $121.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 29.50 ($31.72) price objective on shares of DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, DTE Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $76.63.

About DTE Energy

(Get Rating)

DTE Energy Co operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, DTE Vantage, Energy Trading, and Corporate and Other. The Electric segment consists of generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan.

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European Opportunities Trust plc (LON:JEO  Get Rating) shares passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 843 ($10.55) and traded as high as GBX 871 ($10.90). European Opportunities Trust shares last traded at GBX 843 ($10.55), with a volume of 176,142 shares changing hands.

European Opportunities Trust Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of 886.70 million and a P/E ratio of -12.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.64. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 843 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 843.

European Opportunities Trust Company Profile

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European Opportunities Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Devon Equity Management Limited. Devon Equity Management Limited is the Investment manager of the European Opportunities Trust (EOT). It invests in the public equity markets of Europe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Even if it's not a huge purchase, we think it was good to see that David Fennell, the Executive Chairman of Reunion Gold Corporation (CVE:RGD) recently shelled out CA$67k to buy stock, at CA$0.45 per share. Nevertheless, it only increased their shareholding by a minuscule percentage, and it wasn't a massive purchase by absolute value, either.

View our latest analysis for Reunion Gold

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Reunion Gold

Notably, that recent purchase by Executive Chairman David Fennell was not the only time they bought Reunion Gold shares this year. Earlier in the year, they paid CA$0.26 per share in a CA$300k purchase. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of CA$0.46. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 2.68m shares worth CA$802k. But they sold 890.00k shares for CA$308k. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Reunion Gold insiders. They paid about CA$0.30 on average. It is certainly positive to see that insiders have invested their own money in the company. However, you should keep in mind that they bought when the share price was meaningfully below today's levels. 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.

Insider Ownership Of Reunion Gold

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Reunion Gold insiders own about CA$31m worth of shares. That equates to 6.6% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Reunion Gold Insider Transactions Indicate?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Reunion Gold we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. When we did our research, we found 4 warning signs for Reunion Gold (2 are a bit concerning!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

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.

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First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (NYSE:FDEU  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 6,000 shares, an increase of 17.6% from the May 15th total of 5,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 55,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of FDEU stock traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $13.21. 161,488 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 54,357. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $12.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.27. First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $9.27 and a fifty-two week high of $13.26.

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First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.36%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in FDEU. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 44.9% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 27,051 shares of the companys stock worth $342,000 after purchasing an additional 8,380 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund during the first quarter worth approximately $177,000. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 2.7% during the first quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,671,926 shares of the companys stock worth $21,133,000 after purchasing an additional 44,530 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund during the first quarter worth approximately $151,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in shares of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund by 11.9% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 42,926 shares of the companys stock worth $542,000 after purchasing an additional 4,573 shares in the last quarter.

(Get Rating)

First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its objective is to provide a high level of current income with a secondary focus on capital appreciation. The company was founded on May 11, 2015 and is headquartered in Wheaton, IL.

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Fulton Bank N.A. trimmed its position in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 1.4% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 48,062 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 693 shares during the period. Fulton Bank N.A.s holdings in Southern were worth $3,344,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Chronos Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Southern by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Chronos Wealth Management LLC now owns 77,863 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,418,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the period. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the 1st quarter worth approximately $210,000. Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new stake in Southern in the 1st quarter valued at $455,000. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. lifted its position in shares of Southern by 9.1% during the first quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. now owns 4,542 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $316,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trinity Legacy Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Southern by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Trinity Legacy Partners LLC now owns 50,870 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,540,000 after buying an additional 1,038 shares in the last quarter. 61.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on SO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. StockNews.com upgraded Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.07.

Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SO traded up $1.00 during trading on Friday, hitting $71.76. 9,350,020 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,204,901. The company has a market cap of $78.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.15, a PEG ratio of 4.98 and a beta of 0.51. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $71.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.54. The Southern Company has a 52-week low of $58.85 and a 52-week high of $80.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.97 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

Southern Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This is an increase from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.90%. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 90.32%.

Insider Activity

In other Southern news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total transaction of $3,758,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares in the company, valued at $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total transaction of $3,758,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,705,014.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 205,678 shares of company stock worth $14,888,271. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Southern Company Profile

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The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) by 40.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,745 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,251 shares during the quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in General Mills were worth $1,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in General Mills in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. James Investment Research Inc. acquired a new position in General Mills in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new position in General Mills in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. AXS Investments LLC acquired a new position in General Mills in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC grew its position in General Mills by 50.7% in the 3rd quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 428 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. 74.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total value of $272,585.31. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 35,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,215,129.69. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total value of $272,585.31. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 35,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,215,129.69. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,185,088.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 55,371 shares of company stock valued at $4,849,178. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

General Mills Price Performance

GIS has been the subject of several research reports. Mizuho lifted their target price on General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of General Mills in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Barclays lifted their price objective on General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on General Mills in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $84.76.

Shares of NYSE GIS opened at $80.71 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. General Mills, Inc. has a twelve month low of $65.69 and a twelve month high of $90.89. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $86.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $83.37. The stock has a market cap of $47.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.27.

General Mills (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 14.04%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.84 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year.

General Mills Profile

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General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables.

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Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Rating) and Sanofi (OTCMKTS:SNYNF  Get Rating) are both medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Novartis and Sanofis revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Novartis $50.55 billion 4.27 $6.96 billion $3.25 31.33 Sanofi N/A N/A N/A $3.08 32.65

Novartis has higher revenue and earnings than Sanofi. Novartis is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sanofi, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Novartis 13.78% 23.29% 11.64% Sanofi N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Novartis and Sanofis net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Novartis and Sanofi, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Novartis 2 5 3 0 2.10 Sanofi 0 0 0 0 N/A

Novartis presently has a consensus price target of $82.25, suggesting a potential downside of 19.23%. Given Novartis higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Novartis is more favorable than Sanofi.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

8.1% of Novartis shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 30.1% of Sanofi shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Novartis shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Novartis pays an annual dividend of $2.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Sanofi pays an annual dividend of $2.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Novartis pays out 69.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Sanofi pays out 90.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Novartis has increased its dividend for 4 consecutive years.

Summary

Novartis beats Sanofi on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Novartis

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Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. The Innovative Medicines segment offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It also provides cardiovascular, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, hematology, and solid tumor products. The Sandoz segment develops, manufactures, and markets finished dosage forms of small molecule pharmaceuticals to third parties. It also provides protein- or other biotechnology-based products, including biosimilars; and biotechnology manufacturing services; and anti-infectives, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates primarily antibiotics. Novartis AG has a license and collaboration agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture, and commercialize inclisiran, a therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol. Novartis AG was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

About Sanofi

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Sanofi, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of therapeutic solutions in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare segments. The company provides specialty care, such as dupixent, neurology and immunology, rare diseases, oncology, and rare blood disorders; medicines for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; and established prescription products. In addition, it offers poliomyelitis, pertussis, and hib pediatric vaccines; influenza, booster, meningitis, and travel and endemic vaccines, which includes hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, and rabies vaccines. The company also provides cough, cold, and flu, allergy, and pain care products, as well as physical, mental, and digestive wellness products; and offers body lotions, anti-itch products, moisturizing and soothing lotions, body and foot creams, and eczema powders. Further, it has a collaboration and license agreement with Exscientia to develop up to 15 novel small-molecule for oncology and immunology; ABL Bio, Inc. to develop ABL301 for Parkinson's disease; Blackstone Life Sciences to develop pivotal studies and clinical development program; and Seagen Inc. to design, develop, and commercialize antibody-drug conjugates for cancer. Additionally, the company has a collaboration agreement with IGM Biosciences, Inc. to develop, manufacture, and commercialize IgM antibody; Skyhawk Therapeutics, Inc to discover and develop novel small molecules; and Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc for T-cell engagers and cytokine therapies. It also enters in a strategic collaboration with Scribe Therapeutics Inc. to develop genome editing technologies; and co-promotion service agreement with Provention Bio, Inc. for the commercialization of teplizumab. The company was formerly known as Sanofi-Aventis and changed its name to Sanofi in May 2011. Sanofi was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

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National Bank of Greece (OTCMKTS:NBGIF  Get Rating) is one of 165 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare National Bank of Greece to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, profitability, valuation and earnings.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares National Bank of Greece and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio National Bank of Greece N/A N/A 19.41 National Bank of Greece Competitors $3.32 billion $831.91 million 439.24

National Bank of Greeces competitors have higher revenue and earnings than National Bank of Greece. National Bank of Greece 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.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets National Bank of Greece N/A N/A N/A National Bank of Greece Competitors 25.14% 11.84% 1.12%

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares National Bank of Greece and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for National Bank of Greece and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score National Bank of Greece 0 0 2 0 3.00 National Bank of Greece Competitors 1048 3087 3131 19 2.29

National Bank of Greece currently has a consensus target price of $4.40, indicating a potential downside of 32.31%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 44.58%. Given National Bank of Greeces competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe National Bank of Greece has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

9.9% of National Bank of Greece shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.2% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 12.3% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

National Bank of Greece competitors beat National Bank of Greece on 9 of the 11 factors compared.

National Bank of Greece Company Profile

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National Bank of Greece S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Greece, the United Kingdom, North Macedonia, Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Malta, Egypt, and Luxembourg. It operates through Retail Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, Trouble Assets Unit, Global Markets and Asset Management, Insurance, International Banking Operations, and Other segments. The Retail Banking segment provides deposit, investment, bancassurance products, mortgage loans, consumer and small business lending, debit and credit cards, prepaid cards, and other traditional products and services for individual customers, professionals, and small-medium and small sized companies through its network of branches and digital businesses. The Corporate & Investment Banking segment offers financial and investment advisory services, deposit accounts, loans, foreign exchange, and trade services for corporate customers; and lending services for large and medium-sized companies, as well as shipping finance services. The Trouble Assets Unit segment manages various loans. The Global Markets and Asset Management segment is involved in treasury activities; and provision of asset management, custody, private equity, and brokerage services. The Insurance offers various insurance products. The International Banking Operations segment offers traditional commercial banking, such as commercial and retail credit, trade financing, foreign exchange, and deposits; shipping finance; investment banking; and brokerage services through its foreign branches. The Other segment engages in the real estate management and warehousing businesses. National Bank of Greece S.A. was founded in 1841 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece.

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JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust (LON:JPB  Get Rating)s share price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 66.50 ($0.83) and traded as high as GBX 66.50 ($0.83). JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 66.50 ($0.83), with a volume of 31,267 shares changing hands.

JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust Stock Performance

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 66.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 66.50.

About JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust

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JPMorgan Brazil Investment Trust plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Brazil. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations.

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JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Plc (LON:JMI  Get Rating)s share price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 273.27 ($3.42) and traded as high as GBX 286 ($3.58). JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 286 ($3.58), with a volume of 119,762 shares trading hands.

JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Trading Up 0.5 %

The stock has a market capitalization of 223.22 million, a PE ratio of -408.57 and a beta of 1.34. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 273.27 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 278.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.83.

JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Company Profile

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JPMorgan Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Kercheville Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating) by 74.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,275 shares of the casino operators stock after acquiring an additional 8,650 shares during the quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLCs holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $1,165,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,625 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 50.5% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 11,229 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $539,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768 shares in the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 33.1% during the 4th quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 590,705 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $28,395,000 after purchasing an additional 146,975 shares in the last quarter. Natixis raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 463,584 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $22,176,000 after purchasing an additional 48,382 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its position in Las Vegas Sands by 30.6% during the 4th quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 19,255 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $925,000 after purchasing an additional 4,514 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.75% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Las Vegas Sands news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total transaction of $947,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 205,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,012,009.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Las Vegas Sands has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.25.

Las Vegas Sands stock opened at $58.45 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $59.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $55.80. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $30.46 and a fifty-two week high of $65.58.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.11. Las Vegas Sands had a negative return on equity of 10.21% and a negative net margin of 10.42%. The business had revenue of $2.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.40) EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 124.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.68 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

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Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,100,000 shares, an increase of 17.1% from the May 15th total of 3,500,000 shares. Currently, 7.5% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 478,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 8.6 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kontoor Brands

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Kontoor Brands by 7.3% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,135 shares of the companys stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 8.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 24,441 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,011,000 after buying an additional 1,821 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Kontoor Brands by 4.3% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,700 shares of the companys stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in Kontoor Brands by 3.5% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 45,858 shares of the companys stock worth $1,895,000 after purchasing an additional 1,561 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 17,999 shares of the companys stock valued at $771,000 after buying an additional 362 shares in the last quarter.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KTB has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Kontoor Brands from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Stifel Nicolaus raised Kontoor Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Kontoor Brands from $41.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $66.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $51.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Kontoor Brands presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $54.38.

Kontoor Brands Trading Down 0.8 %

KTB traded down $0.32 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $42.21. The stock had a trading volume of 948,610 shares, compared to its average volume of 417,407. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.14. Kontoor Brands has a 52 week low of $31.46 and a 52 week high of $53.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.77, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 2.59. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $42.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $44.71.

Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $667.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $671.91 million. Kontoor Brands had a return on equity of 102.91% and a net margin of 8.82%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.40 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Kontoor Brands will post 4.7 EPS for the current year.

Kontoor Brands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.55%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.29%.

About Kontoor Brands

(Get Rating)

Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brad name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online.

Further Reading

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Kwmg LLC reduced its position in The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Get Rating) by 0.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 75,658 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 359 shares during the period. Kwmg LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $5,929,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Lakewood Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, New Hampshire Trust bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. 91.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at TJX Companies

In related news, EVP Scott Goldenberg sold 26,271 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.91, for a total value of $2,073,044.61. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,580 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,727,287.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TJX Companies Trading Down 0.3 %

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on TJX shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on TJX Companies from $85.00 to $86.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Barclays raised their price objective on TJX Companies from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an outperform rating and set a $95.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on TJX Companies from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, TJX Companies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $86.40.

NYSE TJX opened at $81.26 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.00, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.90. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $54.55 and a one year high of $83.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The businesss fifty day moving average is $78.27 and its 200-day moving average is $78.61.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 17th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.05. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 62.78% and a net margin of 7.56%. The company had revenue of $11.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.68 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.56 EPS for the current year.

TJX Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be paid a $0.3325 dividend. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 9th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 40.92%.

TJX Companies Profile

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The TJX Cos., Inc engages in the retail of apparel and home fashion products. It operates through the following business segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The Marmaxx segment sells family apparel including apparel, home fashions, and other merchandise. The HomeGoods segment offers an assortment of home fashions, including furniture, rugs, lighting, soft home, decorative accessories, tabletop and cookware as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments.

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Landis+Gyr Group (OTCMKTS:LDGYY  Get Rating) and nVent Electric (NYSE:NVT  Get Rating) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Landis+Gyr Group and nVent Electrics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Landis+Gyr Group N/A N/A N/A nVent Electric 14.41% 16.08% 8.89%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

87.1% of nVent Electric shares are held by institutional investors. 2.4% of nVent Electric shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Landis+Gyr Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A nVent Electric $2.91 billion 2.71 $399.80 million $2.53 18.83

This table compares Landis+Gyr Group and nVent Electrics top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

nVent Electric has higher revenue and earnings than Landis+Gyr Group.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Landis+Gyr Group and nVent Electric, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Landis+Gyr Group 0 1 0 0 2.00 nVent Electric 0 1 3 0 2.75

Landis+Gyr Group presently has a consensus target price of $54.00, indicating a potential upside of 134.78%. nVent Electric has a consensus target price of $50.00, indicating a potential upside of 4.95%. Given Landis+Gyr Groups higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Landis+Gyr Group is more favorable than nVent Electric.

Summary

nVent Electric beats Landis+Gyr Group on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Landis+Gyr Group

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Landis+Gyr Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated energy management solutions to utility sector in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers prepayment electricity, commercial/industrial and grid, and non-smart and smart gas meters; heat and water meters and solutions; load control devices; and system deployment, managed network, and energy data management solutions. It also provides various advanced metering infrastructure offerings, including software, meter data management, installation, implementation, consulting, maintenance support, and related services; and develops and provides electronic devices for analyzing electricity usage in households. In addition, the company offers EV charging hardware and smart charging software comprising demand response and flexibility management, as well as cybersecurity solutions. The company was formerly known as Landis+Gyr Holding AG. Landis+Gyr Group AG was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Cham, Switzerland.

About nVent Electric

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nVent Electric plc designs, manufactures, markets, installs, and services electrical connection and protection products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Enclosures, Electrical & Fastening Solutions, and Thermal Management. The Enclosures segment provides solutions to connect and protect critical electronics, communication, control, and power equipment; physical infrastructure solutions to host, connect, and protect server and network equipment; indoor and outdoor protection for test and measurement and aerospace and defense applications in industrial, infrastructure, commercial, and energy verticals; and metallic and non-metallic enclosures, cabinets, sub racks, and backplanes. The Electrical & Fastening Solutions segment offers fastening solutions to connect and protect electrical and mechanical systems, and civil structures; and engineered electrical and fastening products. The Thermal Management segment offers electric thermal solutions that connect and protect buildings, infrastructure, industrial processes, and people; and provides thermal management systems comprising heat tracing, floor heating, fire-rated and specialty wiring, sensing, and snow melting and de-icing solutions. It sells its products under the CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, RAYCHEM, SCHROFF, and TRACER brands. The company markets its products through electrical distributors, data center contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and maintenance contractors. It serves the energy, industrial, infrastructure, and commercial and residential sectors. The company was founded in 1903 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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Lenovo Group (OTCMKTS:LNVGY  Get Rating) and CCUR (OTCMKTS:CCURD  Get Rating) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Lenovo Group and CCUR, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lenovo Group 0 0 3 0 3.00 CCUR 0 0 0 0 N/A

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Lenovo Group $61.95 billion 0.21 $1.61 billion $2.53 8.59 CCUR N/A N/A N/A ($0.22) -15,909.09

This table compares Lenovo Group and CCURs revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Lenovo Group has higher revenue and earnings than CCUR. CCUR is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lenovo Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Lenovo Group and CCURs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lenovo Group 2.60% 28.36% 3.73% CCUR N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

0.1% of Lenovo Group shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Lenovo Group beats CCUR on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Lenovo Group

(Get Rating)

Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. It also provides laptops, monitors, accessories, smart home and collaboration solutions, augmented and virtual reality, commercial internet of things, and smart infrastructure data center solutions. In addition, the company manufactures and distributes IT products, computers, computer hardware, and peripheral equipment; and offers IT, business planning, management, supply chain, finance, administration support, procurement agency, data management, intellectual property, and investment management services. Further, it is involved in the retail and service business for consumer electronic products and related digital services; development, ownership, licensing, and sale of communications hardware and software; and develops software and applications. Additionally, the company is involved in motherboard design and system, full-rack assembly across server, storage, and other products; and provides device-, infrastructure-, and software-as-a-service. It operates in China, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Lenovo Group Limited was founded in 1984 and is based in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

About CCUR

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CCUR Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the merchant cash advance (MCA) and real estate businesses. The company provides advances on future merchant receivables, as well as sources syndication capital and merchant leads for MCA funders; and reporting and other administrative services. It also offers commercial mortgages loans to local, regional, and national builders, developers, and commercial landowners; and acquires, owns, and manages a portfolio of real estate properties for development. The company was formerly known as Concurrent Computer Corporation and changed its name to CCUR Holdings, Inc. in January 2018. CCUR Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.

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Cardinal Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial Co. (NYSE:MFC  Get Rating) (TSE:MFC) by 0.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,480,295 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 9,548 shares during the period. Manulife Financial accounts for approximately 5.5% of Cardinal Capital Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Cardinal Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.30% of Manulife Financial worth $100,466,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MFC. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Manulife Financial by 10.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 878,359 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,753,000 after acquiring an additional 80,450 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 27,503 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $587,000 after buying an additional 2,013 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $428,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. grew its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 43,078 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $920,000 after buying an additional 956 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,560 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $311,000 after buying an additional 3,585 shares during the period. 43.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Manulife Financial in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

Manulife Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MFC opened at $18.99 on Friday. Manulife Financial Co. has a fifty-two week low of $14.92 and a fifty-two week high of $20.40. The stock has a market cap of $34.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.71, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.12. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $19.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.88.

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC  Get Rating) (TSE:MFC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $9.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.68 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Manulife Financial Co. will post 2.44 EPS for the current year.

Manulife Financial Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 24th will be given a $0.269 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.67%. Manulife Financials payout ratio is 49.54%.

About Manulife Financial

(Get Rating)

Manulife Financial Corp. engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Asia, Canada, U.S., Global Wealth and Asset Management, and Corporate and Other. The Asia segment refers to insurance and insurance-based wealth accumulation products in Asia. The Canada segment offers insurance-based wealth accumulation products and banking services in Canada.

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National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Saturday, June 17th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th will be paid a dividend of 0.7496 per share by the financial services provider on Tuesday, August 1st. This represents a yield of 3.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 23rd. This is a boost from National Bank of Canadas previous dividend of $0.71.

National Bank of Canada Stock Performance

Shares of NTIOF opened at $75.37 on Friday. National Bank of Canada has a 52 week low of $59.42 and a 52 week high of $76.34. The firm has a market cap of $25.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.71 and a beta of 1.08. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $73.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.36.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, National Bank Financial upped their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$102.00 to C$104.50 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd.

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

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Parsec Financial Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hubbell Incorporated (NYSE:HUBB  Get Rating) by 50.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 19,730 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 6,616 shares during the quarter. Parsec Financial Management Inc.s holdings in Hubbell were worth $4,801,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of HUBB. First Manhattan Co. acquired a new position in shares of Hubbell during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Hubbell by 25.7% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 274 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 56 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hubbell during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. 89.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Carlos M. Cardoso sold 560 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.16, for a total value of $152,969.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,711 shares of the companys stock, valued at $467,376.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.66% of the companys stock.

Hubbell Price Performance

HUBB traded down $0.64 on Friday, reaching $320.38. The stock had a trading volume of 828,264 shares, compared to its average volume of 349,795. Hubbell Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $170.21 and a fifty-two week high of $322.89. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $272.59 and a 200-day moving average of $251.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market capitalization of $17.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.99.

Hubbell (NYSE:HUBB  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The industrial products company reported $3.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $1.15. The company had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.25 billion. Hubbell had a return on equity of 27.72% and a net margin of 11.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.12 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Hubbell Incorporated will post 13.81 EPS for the current year.

Hubbell Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $1.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.40%. Hubbells payout ratio is 42.79%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HUBB has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Hubbell from $225.00 to $221.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Hubbell from $252.00 to $300.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Hubbell from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hubbell presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $237.33.

Hubbell Profile

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Hubbell, Inc engages in the designing, manufacturing, and sale of electrical and electronic products for non-residential and residential construction, industrial, and utility applications. It operates through the Electrical Solutions and Utility Solutions segments. The Electrical Solutions segment manufactures and sells wiring and electrical, lighting fixtures, and controls for indoor and outdoor applications as well as specialty lighting and communications products.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. cut its stake in Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Rating) by 14.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,879 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 1,993 shares during the period. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in Ford Motor were worth $150,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors raised its holdings in Ford Motor by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 11,817 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $137,000 after acquiring an additional 737 shares during the last quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 31,374 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $531,000 after buying an additional 820 shares during the last quarter. Associated Banc Corp raised its position in shares of Ford Motor by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 18,519 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $215,000 after buying an additional 842 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Ford Motor by 15.7% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 6,247 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 848 shares during the period. Finally, WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its position in shares of Ford Motor by 26.7% in the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 4,033 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 850 shares during the period. 49.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup raised Ford Motor from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $12.80 to $16.00 in a research report on Monday, June 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Ford Motor in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. TheStreet raised Ford Motor from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Ford Motor from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Benchmark raised their price objective on Ford Motor from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ford Motor presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.78.

Ford Motor Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of Ford Motor stock opened at $14.42 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $12.33 and a 200-day moving average of $12.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $57.69 billion, a PE ratio of 20.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.54. Ford Motor has a 1-year low of $10.61 and a 1-year high of $16.68.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The auto manufacturer reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $39.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.42 billion. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 19.99% and a net margin of 1.75%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 21.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.38 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 1.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ford Motor Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 26th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 25th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.16%. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 84.51%.

About Ford Motor

(Get Rating)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

Further Reading

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Persimmon Plc (LON:PSN  Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the nine research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,497 ($18.73).

Several research firms have issued reports on PSN. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a hold rating and set a GBX 1,400 ($17.52) price target on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Persimmon in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Peel Hunt reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 1,190 ($14.89) price target on shares of Persimmon in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Persimmon from GBX 1,469 ($18.38) to GBX 1,396 ($17.47) and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Persimmon from GBX 1,230 ($15.39) to GBX 1,300 ($16.27) and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th.

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Persimmon Stock Up 0.3 %

PSN opened at GBX 1,186 ($14.84) on Friday. The firm has a market cap of 3.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 701.78, a PEG ratio of -1.74 and a beta of 1.30. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is GBX 1,271.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 1,302.07. Persimmon has a 52 week low of GBX 1,113.50 ($13.93) and a 52 week high of GBX 1,982.41 ($24.80). The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 4.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Insider Buying and Selling at Persimmon

About Persimmon

In other news, insider Jason Windsor sold 4,371 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,226 ($15.34), for a total value of 53,588.46 ($67,052.63). 3.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

(Get Rating

Persimmon Plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a house builder in the United Kingdom. The company offers family housing under the Persimmon Homes brand name; executive housing under the Charles Church brand name; and social housing under the Westbury Partnerships brand name. It also provides broadband services.

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Peterson Wealth Services increased its stake in Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Get Rating) by 37.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,053 shares of the energy companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,198 shares during the quarter. Peterson Wealth Services holdings in Devon Energy were worth $964,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Devon Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Devon Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Devon Energy by 115.0% in the 4th quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Romano Brothers AND Company acquired a new stake in Devon Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.08% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Devon Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a neutral rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $80.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $87.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Devon Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.39.

Devon Energy Price Performance

Devon Energy stock opened at $49.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.09. Devon Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $44.03 and a 1 year high of $78.82. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $50.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $55.50. The company has a market cap of $32.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.43, a PEG ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.33.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.07. Devon Energy had a net margin of 31.39% and a return on equity of 47.42%. The company had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.88 earnings per share. Devon Energys revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.78%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 8.72%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total transaction of $414,351.24. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 218,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,914,347.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.63% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Devon Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Peterson Wealth Services grew its stake in shares of Raymond James (NYSE:RJF  Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 43,219 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 881 shares during the period. Raymond James makes up about 2.1% of Peterson Wealth Services holdings, making the stock its 15th largest position. Peterson Wealth Services holdings in Raymond James were worth $4,031,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in RJF. RFP Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Raymond James in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in Raymond James by 77.1% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 317 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp purchased a new position in Raymond James in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Raymond James in the 2nd quarter valued at about $49,000. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Raymond James in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. 74.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

RJF has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Raymond James from $136.00 to $112.00 in a report on Monday, June 5th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $130.00 to $100.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Raymond James in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $121.00 to $114.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Raymond James has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $116.86.

Insider Activity

Raymond James Trading Down 0.1 %

In other news, COO Jeffrey A. Dowdle sold 5,281 shares of Raymond James stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.36, for a total transaction of $508,877.16. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 48,314 shares in the company, valued at $4,655,537.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders own 9.46% of the companys stock.

NYSE RJF opened at $100.09 on Friday. Raymond James has a one year low of $82.00 and a one year high of $126.00. The companys 50 day moving average price is $91.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $101.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.19 and a beta of 1.02.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.17 by ($0.14). Raymond James had a net margin of 14.01% and a return on equity of 18.43%. The business had revenue of $2.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.89 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.55 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Raymond James will post 8.71 EPS for the current year.

Raymond James Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 30th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.68%. Raymond Jamess dividend payout ratio is currently 22.13%.

Raymond James Company Profile

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Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments.

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REV Group (NYSE:REVG  Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by BMO Capital Markets from $14.00 to $15.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on REVG. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of REV Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird raised REV Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $16.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of REV Group from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their price objective on shares of REV Group from $12.00 to $13.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.90.

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REV Group Price Performance

Shares of REVG stock opened at $12.97 on Wednesday. REV Group has a fifty-two week low of $9.85 and a fifty-two week high of $16.38. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $11.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 1.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $771.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.53 and a beta of 1.92.

REV Group Dividend Announcement

REV Group ( NYSE:REVG Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, June 8th. The company reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.15. REV Group had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 0.76%. The firm had revenue of $681.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $580.47 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.14 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 18.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that REV Group will post 0.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. REV Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.50%.

Institutional Trading of REV Group

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in shares of REV Group by 4,975.0% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 519,936 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,562,000 after acquiring an additional 509,691 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of REV Group by 10.9% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,177,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,176,000 after purchasing an additional 214,781 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of REV Group by 32.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 791,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,645,000 after purchasing an additional 195,632 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of REV Group by 563.6% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 222,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,979,000 after purchasing an additional 188,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in REV Group by 9.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,222,050 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,776,000 after purchasing an additional 186,146 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.92% of the companys stock.

REV Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

REV Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. The company sells its products to municipalities, government agencies, private contractors, and industrial and commercial end users. It operates through the following segments: Fire and Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation.

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While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR).

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors money. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

Check out our latest analysis for New Jersey Resources

How Is ROE Calculated?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for New Jersey Resources is:

15% = US$294m  US$2.0b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn $0.15 in profit.

Does New Jersey Resources Have A Good Return On Equity?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. As is clear from the image below, New Jersey Resources has a better ROE than the average (8.5%) in the Gas Utilities industry.

roe

That's what we like to see. Bear in mind, a high ROE doesn't always mean superior financial performance. Especially when a firm uses high levels of debt to finance its debt which may boost its ROE but the high leverage puts the company at risk. Our risks dashboardshould have the 2 risks we have identified for New Jersey Resources.

How Does Debt Impact ROE?

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Combining New Jersey Resources' Debt And Its 15% Return On Equity

It's worth noting the high use of debt by New Jersey Resources, leading to its debt to equity ratio of 1.47. While its ROE is respectable, it is worth keeping in mind that there is usually a limit as to how much debt a company can use. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it.

Summary

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

But note: New Jersey Resources may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

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.

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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD  Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,030,000 shares, an increase of 25.3% from the May 15th total of 1,620,000 shares. Currently, 0.9% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 896,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Air Products and Chemicals

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 1st quarter worth $1,638,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals in the first quarter valued at about $1,091,000. Kennedy Investment Group boosted its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 4.9% during the first quarter. Kennedy Investment Group now owns 2,577 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $740,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. Coastline Trust Co grew its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Coastline Trust Co now owns 7,462 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,143,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Empower Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 1st quarter valued at about $73,764,000. 82.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

APD traded up $2.41 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $293.17. The company had a trading volume of 1,811,022 shares, compared to its average volume of 784,418. Air Products and Chemicals has a twelve month low of $218.88 and a twelve month high of $328.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.05. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $283.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $292.51. The company has a market capitalization of $65.12 billion, a PE ratio of 29.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.85.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

Air Products and Chemicals ( NYSE:APD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $2.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.64 by $0.10. Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 16.96% and a net margin of 16.58%. The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.38 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals will post 11.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 3rd will be paid a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 30th. Air Products and Chemicalss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 71.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on APD shares. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Tuesday. They issued a buy rating and a $317.00 target price on the stock. Vertical Research upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $386.00 to $360.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $295.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $325.00 to $322.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $315.41.

About Air Products and Chemicals

(Get Rating)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally. The company produces atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and syngas; specialty gases; and equipment for the production or processing of gases comprising air separation units and non-cryogenic generators for customers in various industries, including refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, magnetic resonance imaging, energy production, medical, food, and metals.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE:ETW  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 13,400 shares, a decline of 18.3% from the May 15th total of 16,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 249,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

Shares of ETW stock remained flat at $8.28 during mid-day trading on Friday. 167,877 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 262,998. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund has a 1 year low of $7.57 and a 1 year high of $9.50. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $8.12 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.04.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.058 per share. This represents a $0.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 21st.

Institutional Trading of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

About Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 1st quarter worth about $42,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 4th quarter worth about $60,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 3rd quarter worth about $80,000. Finally, Kapstone Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 4th quarter worth about $83,000.

(Get Rating)

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It is co-managed by Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Further Reading

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Electromed, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:ELMD  Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 42,700 shares, an increase of 8.9% from the May 15th total of 39,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 12,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.3 days. Currently, 0.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of Electromed from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Sunday, May 21st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $20.50.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Electromed by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 100,586 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,031,000 after buying an additional 1,030 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Electromed by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 15,736 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $152,000 after purchasing an additional 1,207 shares during the last quarter. Corsair Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Electromed by 14.9% during the 1st quarter. Corsair Capital Management L.P. now owns 16,634 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 2,152 shares during the last quarter. Standard Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Electromed during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Affiance Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Electromed during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.95% of the companys stock.

Electromed Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:ELMD traded up $0.52 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $11.72. The stock had a trading volume of 13,891 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,876. The company has a market cap of $100.32 million, a PE ratio of 41.86 and a beta of 0.42. Electromed has a 12-month low of $8.75 and a 12-month high of $13.84. The companys 50 day moving average is $11.67 and its 200-day moving average is $10.94.

Electromed (NYSEAMERICAN:ELMD  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $12.07 million during the quarter. Electromed had a net margin of 5.50% and a return on equity of 7.18%.

About Electromed

(Get Rating)

Electromed, Inc engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of medical equipment. The firms products include SmartVest SQL System and SmartVest Connect. It focuses on building market awareness, and acceptance of its products and services with physicians, clinicians, patients, and third-party payers.

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Hyatt Hotels Co. (NYSE:H  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,550,000 shares, an increase of 16.7% from the May 15th total of 3,900,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 882,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.2 days.

Hyatt Hotels Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:H traded up $0.45 on Friday, hitting $113.17. 694,210 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 796,235. The stock has a market cap of $11.96 billion, a PE ratio of 21.27, a PEG ratio of 14.17 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $113.81 and a 200-day moving average of $108.55. Hyatt Hotels has a fifty-two week low of $70.12 and a fifty-two week high of $125.07.

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Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.47 by ($0.06). Hyatt Hotels had a return on equity of 12.34% and a net margin of 9.31%. The company had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.33) EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Hyatt Hotels will post 2.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hyatt Hotels Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently declared a  dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. Hyatt Hotelss dividend payout ratio is currently 11.28%.

A number of analysts recently weighed in on H shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Hyatt Hotels from $113.00 to $121.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Barclays downgraded Hyatt Hotels from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price target for the company from $130.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Hyatt Hotels from $112.00 to $124.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Hyatt Hotels from $139.00 to $142.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Hyatt Hotels from a c rating to a b rating in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Hyatt Hotels news, insider H. Charles Floyd sold 6,000 shares of Hyatt Hotels stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total transaction of $684,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 32,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,753,678. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Hyatt Hotels news, insider H. Charles Floyd sold 6,000 shares of Hyatt Hotels stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total transaction of $684,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 32,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,753,678. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Malaika Myers sold 9,378 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.59, for a total value of $1,037,113.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 15,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,764,574.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 27,497 shares of company stock worth $3,043,054 over the last 90 days. 21.24% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of H. First Manhattan CO. LLC. bought a new position in Hyatt Hotels during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Hyatt Hotels during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Hyatt Hotels by 80.4% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 276 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp lifted its holdings in Hyatt Hotels by 335.2% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 383 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in Hyatt Hotels during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 46.89% of the companys stock.

Hyatt Hotels Company Profile

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Hyatt Hotels Corp. engages in the development and management of resort and hotel chains. It operates through the following segments: Owned and Leased Hotels, Americas Management and Franchising, ASPAC Management and Franchising, EAME/SW Asia Management and Franchising, and Apple Leisure Group. The Owned and Leased Hotels segment offers hospitality services and hotels.

Further Reading

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG  Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 685,900 shares, a growth of 7.1% from the May 15th total of 640,600 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 155,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.4 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 571.5% during the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 3,505 shares of the companys stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 2,983 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 22.7% during the first quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 7,158 shares of the companys stock worth $477,000 after purchasing an additional 1,325 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 7.1% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,320 shares of the companys stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC lifted its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 96.4% during the first quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 11,060 shares of the companys stock worth $737,000 after purchasing an additional 5,429 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 469.6% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 62,061 shares of the companys stock worth $4,133,000 after purchasing an additional 51,165 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.67% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on IHG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,200 ($77.58) to GBX 6,000 ($75.08) in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com downgraded InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Barclays downgraded InterContinental Hotels Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, March 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $5,466.67.

InterContinental Hotels Group Price Performance

About InterContinental Hotels Group

InterContinental Hotels Group stock traded down $0.32 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $71.23. The stock had a trading volume of 90,758 shares, compared to its average volume of 175,130. InterContinental Hotels Group has a twelve month low of $47.06 and a twelve month high of $72.10. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $68.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $66.61.

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names.

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Silverleafe Capital Partners LLC cut its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Get Rating) by 24.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,561 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 4,840 shares during the quarter. Silverleafe Capital Partners LLCs holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $182,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 16,213 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $192,000 after acquiring an additional 801 shares during the period. FAS Wealth Partners boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. FAS Wealth Partners now owns 20,509 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $243,000 after acquiring an additional 802 shares during the period. Good Life Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 12,562 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $149,000 after acquiring an additional 828 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Energy Transfer by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 24,754 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 852 shares during the period. Finally, Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC raised its position in Energy Transfer by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC now owns 13,872 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $165,000 after purchasing an additional 854 shares in the last quarter. 37.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Energy Transfer

In other news, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren purchased 500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.27 per share, for a total transaction of $6,135,000.00. Following the purchase, the chairman now directly owns 59,078,477 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $724,892,912.79. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Bradford D. Whitehurst purchased 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.43 per share, for a total transaction of $124,300.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,303,055 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,196,973.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren purchased 500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.27 per share, for a total transaction of $6,135,000.00. Following the purchase, the chairman now directly owns 59,078,477 shares in the company, valued at $724,892,912.79. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 1,510,000 shares of company stock valued at $18,749,300. Corporate insiders own 3.28% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Energy Transfer Price Performance

A number of research firms have issued reports on ET. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Energy Transfer from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Barclays increased their price target on Energy Transfer from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Energy Transfer from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Energy Transfer has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $16.43.

Shares of NYSE ET opened at $12.82 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.12. Energy Transfer LP has a fifty-two week low of $9.15 and a fifty-two week high of $13.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.27 billion, a PE ratio of 9.57 and a beta of 1.72. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $12.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.53.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.33 by ($0.01). Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 13.06% and a net margin of 5.08%. The business had revenue of $19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.49 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.37 EPS. Energy Transfers revenue was down 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.308 per share. This represents a $1.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.61%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. This is a positive change from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.79%.

Energy Transfer Profile

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Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline.

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Single Point Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD  Get Rating) in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm purchased 48,938 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $128,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Banco Bradesco by 220.6% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 7,272 shares of the banks stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 5,004 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp bought a new position in Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter worth $49,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Natixis bought a new position in Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in Banco Bradesco during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. 2.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Banco Bradesco Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of BBD stock opened at $3.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.72. Banco Bradesco S.A. has a 1 year low of $2.34 and a 1 year high of $4.16. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $3.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.41 billion, a PE ratio of 11.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.73.

Banco Bradesco Increases Dividend

Banco Bradesco ( NYSE:BBD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The bank reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.07. Banco Bradesco had a return on equity of 11.66% and a net margin of 9.54%. The company had revenue of $9.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.12 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Banco Bradesco S.A. will post 0.37 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be issued a $0.0039 dividend. This is a positive change from Banco Bradescos previous monthly dividend of $0.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.05 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. Banco Bradescos dividend payout ratio is 9.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Barclays lowered their price objective on Banco Bradesco from $3.50 to $3.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.93.

Banco Bradesco Profile

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Banco Bradesco SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Banking and Insurance. It provides current, savings, click, and salary accounts; real estate credit, vehicle financing, payroll loans, mortgage loans, microcredit, leasing, and personal and installment credit; debit and business cards; financial and security services; consortium products; auto, personal accident, dental, travel, and life insurance; investment products; pension products; real estate and vehicle auctions; cash management, and foreign trade and exchange services; capitalization bonds; and internet banking services.

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Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (CVE:SPA  Get Rating) crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$0.22 and traded as low as C$0.20. Spanish Mountain Gold shares last traded at C$0.20, with a volume of 500 shares changing hands.

Spanish Mountain Gold Trading Down 2.5 %

The firm has a market capitalization of C$72.23 million, a P/E ratio of -70.00 and a beta of 1.86. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is C$0.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 2.55 and a quick ratio of 3.03.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Lembit Janes bought 443,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$0.21 per share, with a total value of C$93,135.00. Company insiders own 26.08% of the companys stock.

About Spanish Mountain Gold

Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd., an exploration stage resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Spanish Mountain gold project, which comprises approximately 50 contiguous mineral claims and 6 placer claims covering an area of approximately 10,000 hectares located in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia.

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Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC lowered its position in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Get Rating) by 81.4% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 29,854 shares of the natural resource companys stock after selling 130,677 shares during the period. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $1,221,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of FCX. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 15.2% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 11,101 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $553,000 after acquiring an additional 1,468 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 40.8% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 112,066 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $5,574,000 after acquiring an additional 32,474 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 73.6% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 132,043 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $6,624,000 after acquiring an additional 55,987 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 22.0% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 79,686 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $3,964,000 after acquiring an additional 14,388 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on FCX. Raymond James reduced their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Sunday, April 23rd. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $32.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Scotiabank raised shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $41.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, June 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $38.42.

Freeport-McMoRan Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSE:FCX opened at $39.89 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $37.60 and a 200-day moving average of $39.68. The company has a market cap of $57.17 billion, a PE ratio of 22.29 and a beta of 2.00. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a one year low of $24.80 and a one year high of $46.73.

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $5.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.25 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.07 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.50%. Freeport-McMoRans payout ratio is 16.76%.

Insider Activity at Freeport-McMoRan

In other news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis purchased 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $34.90 per share, with a total value of $139,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $621,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.78% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile

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Freeport-McMoRan, Inc engages in the mining of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining, and Corporate and Other. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Baghdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico.

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Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC cut its position in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Get Rating) by 10.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 419,475 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 47,335 shares during the quarter. Devon Energy makes up about 3.9% of Teamwork Financial Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC owned 0.06% of Devon Energy worth $21,230,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Devon Energy by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,173,489 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $4,640,442,000 after purchasing an additional 1,637,042 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Devon Energy by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 42,814,521 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,574,437,000 after acquiring an additional 2,902,180 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Devon Energy by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,321,413 shares of the energy companys stock worth $818,065,000 after acquiring an additional 131,526 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its position in Devon Energy by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,263,424 shares of the energy companys stock worth $692,813,000 after acquiring an additional 356,448 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Devon Energy by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 10,141,280 shares of the energy companys stock worth $609,794,000 after acquiring an additional 1,469,557 shares during the last quarter. 78.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Devon Energy

In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of Devon Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total transaction of $414,351.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 218,418 shares in the company, valued at $10,914,347.46. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Devon Energy Trading Up 0.4 %

DVN opened at $49.80 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $32.57 billion, a PE ratio of 5.43, a PEG ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The business has a 50 day moving average of $50.42 and a 200-day moving average of $55.50. Devon Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $44.03 and a 52 week high of $78.82.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.82 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 47.42% and a net margin of 31.39%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.88 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is 8.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on DVN. Barclays reduced their price target on Devon Energy from $82.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Raymond James raised their price target on Devon Energy from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com lowered Devon Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $80.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.39.

Devon Energy Company Profile

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Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Investing in stocks inevitably means buying into some companies that perform poorly. But the long term shareholders of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) have had an unfortunate run in the last three years. Sadly for them, the share price is down 59% in that time. And over the last year the share price fell 40%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Fidelity National Information Services

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.

Over the three years that the share price declined, Fidelity National Information Services' earnings per share (EPS) dropped significantly, falling to a loss. This was, in part, due to extraordinary items impacting earnings. Due to the loss, it's not easy to use EPS as a reliable guide to the business. But it's safe to say we'd generally expect the share price to be lower as a result!

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. This free interactive report on Fidelity National Information Services' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Fidelity National Information Services, it has a TSR of -57% for the last 3 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

While the broader market gained around 20% in the last year, Fidelity National Information Services shareholders lost 39% (even including dividends). 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 8% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Fidelity National Information Services , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Fidelity National Information Services is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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.

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The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR  Get Rating) was the target of a large drop in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 16,380,000 shares, a drop of 11.7% from the May 15th total of 18,540,000 shares. Currently, 2.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 5,660,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on KR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Kroger from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $50.00 to $54.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Kroger from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Kroger from $75.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Kroger from $56.00 to $54.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, Stephens cut their price target on shares of Kroger from $57.00 to $52.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Kroger has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.76.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Gary Millerchip sold 30,182 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.88, for a total value of $1,475,296.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 185,423 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,063,476.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Gary Millerchip sold 30,182 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.88, for a total value of $1,475,296.16. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 185,423 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,063,476.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Timothy A. Massa sold 23,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.95, for a total transaction of $1,102,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 194,956 shares in the company, valued at $9,348,140.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 132,206 shares of company stock worth $6,402,118 in the last 90 days. 1.38% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kroger

Kroger Price Performance

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in Kroger by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 12,869 shares of the companys stock worth $739,000 after purchasing an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 30.2% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 29,150 shares of the companys stock worth $1,672,000 after buying an additional 6,764 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 7.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 14,673 shares of the companys stock worth $842,000 after buying an additional 974 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Kroger during the first quarter worth approximately $1,443,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Kroger by 3.6% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 7,703 shares of the companys stock worth $442,000 after buying an additional 269 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.03% of the companys stock.

Kroger stock traded up $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $46.17. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,578,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,693,864. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $47.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.57. Kroger has a 12 month low of $41.81 and a 12 month high of $52.00. The company has a market capitalization of $33.13 billion, a PE ratio of 13.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.47.

Kroger (NYSE:KR  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 15th. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $45.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $45.26 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 30.96% and a net margin of 1.71%. Krogers revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.45 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Kroger will post 4.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Kroger

(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.

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Timber Creek Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 15.0% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 86,124 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 11,259 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab makes up about 1.6% of Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Timber Creek Capital Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $4,511,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in SCHW. Phocas Financial Corp. bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 73.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America upped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Redburn Partners cut Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.19.

Charles Schwab Trading Down 2.0 %

NYSE:SCHW opened at $54.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.88. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $86.63. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $52.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.42.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. Charles Schwabs revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.29 EPS for the current year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.84%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.32%.

Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown purchased 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 9,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Veracity Capital LLC cut its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,902 shares of the retailers stock after selling 108 shares during the quarter. Veracity Capital LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $723,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Walmart by 105.3% in the 4th quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195 shares of the retailers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. JDM Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Bellwether Advisors LLC lifted its position in Walmart by 112.0% in the 3rd quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC now owns 212 shares of the retailers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on WMT shares. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $164.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Walmart from $160.00 to $164.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Walmart from $160.00 to $166.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group set a $170.00 target price on shares of Walmart and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.91.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

Walmart Price Performance

In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.02, for a total value of $90,012.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 245,255,856 shares in the company, valued at $36,793,283,517.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.02, for a total value of $90,012.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 245,255,856 shares in the company, valued at $36,793,283,517.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 1,957,377 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.72, for a total transaction of $275,442,091.44. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 255,973,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,020,593,171.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 14,318,443 shares of company stock worth $2,073,859,260. 46.51% of the stock is owned by insiders.

NYSE WMT opened at $155.53 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $418.82 billion, a PE ratio of 37.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $150.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $146.24. Walmart Inc. has a 12-month low of $117.97 and a 12-month high of $158.23.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 18th. The retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.15. Walmart had a net margin of 1.82% and a return on equity of 21.30%. The firm had revenue of $152.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $147.91 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 7.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

Further Reading

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Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Get Rating) by 8.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,455,409 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 113,735 shares during the period. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF accounts for approximately 7.0% of Willis Johnson & Associates Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. owned about 0.08% of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF worth $58,799,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 311.0% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 637 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares during the period. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 303.2% during the 4th quarter. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. now owns 633 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 476 shares during the period. Retirement Group LLC acquired a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA lifted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 110.1% during the 4th quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the period. Finally, Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000.

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Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Trading Down 0.4 %

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF stock opened at $41.94 on Friday. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $34.88 and a 1 year high of $43.22. The company has a market cap of $74.65 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. The companys 50-day moving average is $40.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $40.39.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Company Profile

The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries.

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Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF (NYSEARCA:HMOP  Get Rating) by 0.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 101,779 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 320 shares during the period. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc.s holdings in Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF were worth $3,888,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,321,227 shares of the companys stock worth $49,625,000 after buying an additional 102,709 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 568,505 shares of the companys stock worth $21,353,000 after acquiring an additional 85,652 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF by 47.0% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 390,194 shares of the companys stock worth $14,656,000 after acquiring an additional 124,836 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Wealth Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $14,411,000. Finally, Goldstein Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $12,613,000.

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Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF Stock Performance

Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF stock opened at $38.09 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $38.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.06. Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF has a 12-month low of $35.94 and a 12-month high of $38.92.

About Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF

The Hartford Municipal Opportunities ETF (HMOP) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is actively-managed to provide current income and long-term total return from a broad portfolio of municipal bonds. HMOP was launched on Dec 13, 2017 and is managed by Hartford.

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Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. reduced its stake in iShares Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEV  Get Rating) by 0.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 219,885 shares of the companys stock after selling 237 shares during the period. iShares Europe ETF accounts for 1.3% of Willis Johnson & Associates Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. owned about 0.54% of iShares Europe ETF worth $10,999,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in iShares Europe ETF by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 39,388 shares of the companys stock worth $1,784,000 after acquiring an additional 1,945 shares in the last quarter. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in iShares Europe ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $2,563,000. Pinebridge Investments L.P. grew its stake in iShares Europe ETF by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 37,739 shares of the companys stock worth $1,709,000 after acquiring an additional 877 shares in the last quarter. ASB Consultores LLC grew its stake in iShares Europe ETF by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. ASB Consultores LLC now owns 17,352 shares of the companys stock worth $786,000 after acquiring an additional 8,676 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hoxton Planning & Management LLC bought a new position in iShares Europe ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $1,185,000.

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iShares Europe ETF Price Performance

Shares of IEV stock opened at $50.82 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.47 and a beta of 0.92. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $51.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.20. iShares Europe ETF has a one year low of $36.88 and a one year high of $52.37.

About iShares Europe ETF

iShares Europe ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Europe 350 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Europe 350 (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the stocks of companies in the countries, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Xinyi Solar (OTCMKTS:XNYIF  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports.

Xinyi Solar Trading Up 10.7 %

XNYIF stock opened at $1.24 on Thursday. Xinyi Solar has a 12 month low of $0.94 and a 12 month high of $1.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.12.

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About Xinyi Solar

(Get Rating)

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Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, produces and sells solar glass products in the People's Republic of China, rest of Asia, North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Sales of Solar Glass and Solar Farm Business. The company offers ultra-clear patterned solar glasses, back glasses, and anti-reflective coating solar glasses to photovoltaic module manufacturers.

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Ford chairman says US can't yet compete with China on EVs - CNN interview

(Reuters) - Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford said the United States was not ready yet to compete with China in the production of electric vehicles.

"They developed very quickly, and they developed them in large scale. And now they're exporting them," Ford told CNN's 'Fareed Zakaria GPS' Sunday program. "They're not here but they'll come here we think, at some point, we need to be ready, and we're getting ready," Ford said.

In February, the automaker announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan in a deal which involved using technology from Chinese battery company CATL, attracting attention from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio who asked the Biden administration to review the deal.

Bill Ford, who is the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, said in the program that the Michigan battery plant is a chance for Ford engineers to learn the technology and then use it themselves.

"It (Michigan) is a wholly owned Ford facility. They'll be our employees, and all we're doing is licensing the technology. That's it." he said.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said in May that Chinese electric vehicle makers are its main rivals in the sector, and that Ford needs distinctive branding or lower costs to beat Chinese automakers.

"I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota. The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse," he said.

(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft)
On October 1, 2023, Nigeria will celebrate her 63rdbirthday. Given the years that have passed since she attained her independence from the British in relation to the slow rate of development recorded so far, it will not be an exaggeration to say that in many aspects that this country is very different from what the founders could have imagined.

In fact, there is no denying the fact that the slow growth which Nigeria has so far recorded in all ramifications of its economic sectors has remained questionable and a subject of debate, particularly as it is richly blessed with an abundance of resources. The country is most widely known for its vast hydrocarbons wealth. It is home to massive oil reserves. As gathered, In January 2023, crude oil reserves for Nigeria were 1,412.94 thousand barrels per day. Crude oil reserves of Nigeria fell gradually from 1,542.94 thousand barrels per day in February 2022 to 1,412.94 thousand barrels per day in January 2023.

In fact, Nigeria possesses much more than simply oil and gas. It is home to significant deposits of coal, iron ore, lead, limestone, tin, and zinc. Just as importantly, it has rich land and water resources that are ripe for further agricultural exploitation. Indeed, the agricultural industry remains a mainstay of the economy, accounting for 23.9% of the GDP and upwards of 70% of the countrys workforce. Approximately 83.7% of Nigerias land area is agricultural, although only 40% is arable. Substantial water resources also assist the agricultural sector. The country has 230bn cu metres of total renewable water resources. This ought to have helped in expanding productivity through irrigation. As gathered, only a paltry percentage of Nigerias total land area is been irrigated.

For the better part of the period since Nigeria became an Independent nation, Nigeria has been the largest oil and gas producer in Africa and a major exporter of crude oil and petroleum products to the United States of America and it remains one of the most blessed nations mankind has ever seen.

But alas! There is trouble on the horizon. Despite Nigerias endowments, which should have earned her the opportunity of being developed and wealthy enough to make her citizens prosperous, evidence abounds that a huge spectrum of Nigerias population is poor. The statistics provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) when it launched the results of the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey speak volumes on the foregoing view.In a similar vein, the UN in a recent report says Around 40.1 percent of Nigerians live on less than the national poverty line of N137,430 per person per year. This means that some 82.9 million Nigerians were living in poverty. Some 84.1 percent of poor Nigerians lived in rural areas. This, in itself, is a marker of Nigerias spatial inequality. Given the foregoing grim statistics, it is little wonder that not a few Nigerians are leaving the country in droves to other lands even as the trend has been tagged Jappa.

Graphically capturing the grim situation in an article titled Nigeria and leadership failure, which was published in the Nigerian Tribune on April 26, 2021, its author whom the newspaper by-lined as Our Reporter, wrote, Despite her huge endowments, which should earn her a prominent place among global giants, Nigeria is a dwarf struggling for relevance in West Africa. For a country that started on a very promising note, its current state is a great disservice to those who put their lives on the line for her independence. Compared with other countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which also gained independence about the time Nigeria got hers, Nigeria is a study in retrogression. The per capita income in Nigeria today is lower than it was in 1960. Infrastructure was in a better state then than now. The education system was better in the 1960s than it is now; ditto for health services. The rate of employment in 1960 was higher than it is in 2021. The rate of poverty is higher today in Nigeria than it was in 1960. Why is the situation this way in this country?

Given the foregoing facts, it is not an exaggeration to say that a sense of pessimism reigns today, among both intellectual elites and everyday citizens, about the current state and future of this nation. In fact, not a few Nigerians believe that former President Muhammadu Buhari literarily steered the ship of Nigeria in the wrong direction, particularly in the 8-year period he served as the captain. In fact, despite the emergence of a new president in Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the public still appears to be losing hope in the Nigerian project. The reason for the growing pessimism cannot be farfetched as not a few Nigerians feel increasingly alienated, not just economically, but also politically, socially, and culturally. It is hardly surprising that many are asking the question: Does the new president has what it takes to resuscitate the countrys economy?Well, since the president was just sworn-in close to 3-weeks ago, only time will tell.

In his book, The Trouble with Nigeria, Professor Chinua Achebe of blessed memory, sadly noted that the trouble with Nigeria is leadership failure. According to him, Thereis basically nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air, or anything else. The trouble with Nigeria, Achebe insists, is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. Period! This is no mere storytelling by the iconic storyteller. This is simply and squarely the truth.

Paradoxically, Nigeria is brimming with ambitious political leaders, but sadly very few matchups to the traits of good leadership. In fact, many political leaders appear to be severely lacking in some of the most essential qualities of a good leader, such as integrity and accountability. It is no coincidence that the word politician has many negative connotations. But experience tells us that there is only a handful that comes near to the principles of leadership and shows strong indicators of a successful political leader.

Over the years, we have had leaders who, prior to ascending leadership positions, are sold to the masses as beacons of hope amidst the misery viciously staring them in the face, courtesy of previous leaders. They screamtheir way into the hearts and minds of unsuspecting masses with their humble disposition, camaraderie, or seeming understanding of the plight and sufferings of the people, only to assume leadership positions and become total strangers.

However, given the prevailing deficit in credible leaders, it is not out of place that Nigeria needs political leadership that has what it takes to focus on the countrys long-term betterment, above and beyond any short-term personal gains. The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as strong political leadership requires a mixture of charm and honesty, and the capacity to evaluate a circumstance and make a judgment based on what will be better for the majority.

Above all, leadership in a democratic system needs statesmanship, as compared to just becoming a politician, which implies possessing the honesty and ability to stand up for what is fair, even though it means resigning from a government post or losing an election.

At this juncture, it is expedient to task our politicians that efforts toward the revival of Nigerias economy should no longer be business as usual, even as our political differences should be set aside and help extended to the ruling party in order for the economy to be revived.

The reason for the foregoing clarion call cannot be farfetched as it is not a secret any longer that we are walking on quicksand. The cost of living has reached an unprecedented level never witnessed in independent Nigeria.

This situation seems to give the opposition a competitive edge in rallying the public against the government. But let us face the facts straight and analyze the prevailing situation without prejudice or vendetta if we truly want to prescribe the right remedy for economic recovery.

It is only fair to admit that all previous regimes before the nascent Tinubus regime perpetuated economic crimes against our country; there is no doubt about that, with the only variance being the extent of the economic injury.

For instance, over time, unemployment and the high cost of living have emerged out of a long and sustained conspiracy against the economy.

At this juncture, it is expedient to recall that in the presidents campaign promises, and in his inaugural speech he indicated his concern and intention to reduce unemployment and the high cost of living. But the current economic situation is too dire for the new administration to fix alone.

Thus, it is time all concerned parties, regardless of political affiliation, put their minds together and find ways of reviving our economy.

Against the foregoing backdrop, the government should establish a rapid economic recovery unit across the 774 local government areas where all public and private members are encouraged to submit initiatives and ideas that they think can shore up the economy for evaluation and implementation.

This should go hand in hand with the idea of pausing our capital-intensive infrastructural projects to make room for the most basic and high-return ventures like agriculture, manufacturing, and value addition.

At this juncture, therefore, we must cease our political rivalry, witch-hunting, blame games and repair our leaking economy jointly. Otherwise, in due course, we will all be indiscriminately wiped out by this hostile economic storm.

.


The lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Rep. Philip Agbese, has told former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, to desist from undermining the efforts of the Nigerian military.

The warning is coming on the heel of Dokubos claim that the bulk of cases of oil theft recorded in the oil-rich region of the Niger Delta could be traced to Nigerian seniors military troops.

It could be recalled that he said this when he paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Friday.

Reacting to the claim, the lawmaker, who admitted to sharing the same views with the Niger Delta leader on numerous issues, said he doesnt buy into his latest statements.

Agbese said, I appreciate Dokubo, who is my good friend, for his unequivocal stand on a lot of issues, but I think he missed the point on this particular subject.

Our officers are not in any way complicit, even though much can still be achieved in the area of protecting our national assets in the Niger Delta.

Dokubo simply wants to be involved, which is in his right. We must, however, not destroy the reputation of others to get what we want.

The sacrifices of our military officers and men, who make all the sacrifices to keep the country together, should not be taken for granted. If there are lapses, we expect Dokubo, as an elder statesman, to provide relevant information and support to the troops.

We have gone past the era of militancy. If that is what Dokubo is clamouring about, Im sorry it is not an option. Our military has shown itself to be equal to the tasks.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two Qatar-based drug barons, Eyah Celestine Nnamdi, alias Murphy and Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu.

It was learnt that the arrest of the suspects followed the interception of their methamphetamine consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Babafemi Babafemi, Ugwuoke was the first to be arrested on 9th June during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers at the departure point, Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

NDLEA officers reportedly discovered that the suspect was travelling to Doha with an Ivorian international passport with the name Hien Narcisse.

A further scrutiny of his black carry-on luggage led to the discovery of a false bottom concealment of two parcels of crystalline substance that tested positive to methamphetamine weighing 1.00kg.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a Nigerian who had gone to obtain an Ivorian passport for his travels.

He confessed that he travelled to Qatar in August 2022 and returned from the Arab nation about two months ago to perfect arrangement for the movement of the drug consignment.

A further probe led operatives to discover that his Qatar-based senior partner in the trade simply identified as Murphy was lurking around in Eziani, his home town in Nsukka LGA, Enugu State.

Ugwuoke who hails from Igboeze North Local Government Area of the State claims he holds a National Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic Oko.

A prompt deployment of NDLEA operatives on 10th June to Eziani community of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, led to the arrest of Murphy whose true identity was later discovered to be Eyah Celestine Nnamdi, who had lived in Indonesia for some years before relocating to Doha, Qatar.

In the same vein, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency have arrested a female Pharmacist, Ikwebe Ori Hellen in Kaduna following her attempts to use forged documents to purchase and distribute six cartons of pentazocine injection with 2,000 ampules.

She confessed she used fake documents of a Kaduna hospital to order the drug, which she planned to distribute in Kaduna, Abuja and Sokoto.

The consignment was initially intercepted at the local wing of the MMIA, Ikeja while being sent to Kaduna by a freight agent.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Niger state have seized a total of 1,072 kilograms of cannabis in two raids. On Thursday 15th June, 726kg of the illicit substance was recovered at Oyoyo filling station along Kaduna  Abuja express road where four suspects: Aminu Mohammed, 50; Nasiru Mohammed, 30; Rabiu Haruna, 29, and Hamza Abubakar, 18 were arrested.

The following day, 16th Friday, operatives intercepted a Mercedes 1422 truck marked MKD 116ZM on its way from Umunede, Delta state with gallons of palm oil to be delivered at Garki market in Abuja.

However, the truck driver, Jekwe Udenze, 38, along with his two assistants: Gabriel Nzekwube, 43, and Chima Uzoma, 42, stopped over at Uromi, Edo State and loaded 19 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 346kg, to be delivered at Dumez Luxury Park along Kaduna road, Suleja to Ignatius Mokwe, 47.

Both the driver and his two assistants as well as the owner of the illicit consignment, Ignatius Mokwe have been arrested.

Meanwhile, a total of 30.9 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed in Delta, Edo and Ondo in the past week. In Delta, 18 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed on Monday 12th June in Umuchime village, Ogume, Ndokwa West LGA by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers.

Four suspects arrested on the farms include two men and two women: Kingsley Atuola, 40; Okikiolu Adekunle, 44; Osai Doris, 40, and Ublenu Joy, 28.

In Edo state, operatives on Wednesday 14th June stormed Awakpa forest in Owan West LGA where they arrested Malachy Amaechi; Nanmua Peter; Ojo Momoh; Afam Luke and John Danladi who were apprehended inside a hut located on 2.5 hectares of cannabis farm, which was destroyed and 102 kilograms of the substance already harvested recovered.

Another farm measuring 1.294870 hectares was also destroyed with the three farms razed totalling 3.978217 hectares.

Similarly, operatives on Saturday 17th June raided the house of a dealer, Godwin Ejiro, 45, at Uyiwnendi community, Ikpoba Oka LGA, where quantities of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, meth, swinol and cannabis were recovered.

In Ondo state, John Emmanuel, 30, was arrested at Ofosu, with 81kg cannabis on Thursday 15th June while operatives on same day nabbed Gideon Akoh at Ala forest where a total of nine hectares of farm were destroyed and 12kg harvested substance recovered.

While 93.7kg of the psychoactive substance was evacuated from a shop in Enugu metropolis on Saturday 17th June, a wanted notorious dealer, Kwada Vendi, 37, was arrested with 30.6kg cannabis at Mamari, Maiduguri, Borno state on Tuesday 13th June. In Bauchi state, 87,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect, Tony Ogbonna, 40, by NDLEA operatives at Yelwa, Bauchi town on Saturday 17th June.

A total of 13,800 pills tramadol consignment abandoned by a suspect going to Geidam, Yobe State was recovered at Yankaba Park, Kano on Wednesday 14th June, while same day in Benue state, a suspect, Chidera Gabriel was arrested with 22,100 pills of the same pharmaceutical opioid at an NDLEA check point in Vandeikya.
Phuket Governor pushes for Expo 2028 win in Paris

PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket, Narong Woonciew, led the Thailand delegation in Paris on Friday (June 16) as final efforts to promote the province as the preferred candidate to host the Specialised Expo 2028 get underway.

Sunday 18 June 2023 10:00 AM

Governor Narong and his team of officials unveiled a campaign entitled Touching the Sense of Harmony as they leveraged Phukets UNESCO status as a creative city of gastronomy and offered up a range of unqiue dishes to the province in an attempt to wow representatives from countries involved in the voting process.

Held in the French capital at the prestigious Fluctuart venue, a sleek, mulitlevel, floating art gallery with fantastic views of the River Seine, Governor Narong declared his personal pride and that of the people of Phuket in being able to welcome all the distinguished guests to the Phuket hosted recpetion.

It is an honour to be able to present the potential of Phuket as a viable candidate city to host the Specialised Expo 2028, Governor Narong said, adding that Phuket is very much regarded as a world-class tourist destination with over 120 flights arriving on the island from 63 cities each day.

Phuket has become a second home for many people around the world, such is its allure and popularity, Governor Narong added.

Phuket very much has its own unqiue identity, a fact recognised by UNESCO who awarded it status as a creative city of gastronomy. That is why we have prepared a range of special dishes for you all to savour today, he explained.

With the full anticipated support from central government, we hope that if we are given the opportunity to host this event, we will ensure it is an absolute success, Governor Narong said.

We want to be able to connect all citizens of the world and use the opportunity of hosting the Expo 2028 to build long-term relationships and cooperation towards the development and sharing of stability and prosperity together without leaving anyone behind  this is in line with the concept presented by our slogan Thailand, Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity, Governor Narong explained.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to request everyones support to vote for Thailand. I have been continuously pushing this bid over the years and, as I will retire in the next few months, it would be a privilege to be able to secure the hosting rights, Governor Narong said.

Your vote and voice is extremely important and can have a significantly positive impact on Phuket and the residents who live there. Your one voice will be the voice of change. It is a voice that creates opportunities for developing countries. It is a voice that will create new opportunities, create new paradigms and create a sustainable future for the next generation, Governor Narong concluded.

The final decision takes place on Wednesday (June 21) with Phuket up against four other cities to host the event: Minnesota, in the United States; Belgrade, in Serbia; Malaga, in Spain; and San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina.

It was confirmed on Friday that the Phuket Tourism Business Association, Phuket Chamber of Commerce, the Phuket Provincial Federation of Industries and selected private sector entities have collaborated to organise a special event at the Limelight Avenue shopping mall in Phuket Town on Wednesday between 2:30pm and 7:30pm where the final voting ceremony will be beamed live from Paris onto large LED screens at the specially constructed venue.
Former KMOX anchor Carol Daniel reflects on the joys and challenges of her career

Carol Daniel needed to jump start her career.

Yes, that Carol Daniel, the Carol Daniel who went on to become the beloved news anchor, talk show host, interviewer and reporter at KMOX in St. Louis for 28 years before retiring this spring.

But years earlier, she was hungry for that first full-time talk show position after working a variety of jobs in and outside of the broadcast world: spinning records, reading obituaries on the radio, covering news, selling cable subscriptions, working in retail and more.

She found that jump start 115 miles south of St. Louis, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she spent three years as a radio and TV talk show host. Cape Girardeau was a ``relatively conservative place, she said, noting that she was liberal on some things and conservative on others.

I was blessed as a Black woman, to go into Rush Limbaughs hometown and represent a different point of view and did it in such a way that it was endearing to people, Daniel said. I know I opened minds. I know I was a revelation for some people.

 It was such a wonderful experience. I am a small town girl anyway so I totally understood covering school boards, the city council in a small town.

Townspeople didnt forget Daniel. We had her first and weve missed her for 28 years, someone posted on Facebook when she announced her retirement in St. Louis.

 To know you left that kind of legacy that people still remember you is such a blessing, Daniel said.

Daniel discussed her legacy, the challenges and joys of her 40-year broadcast career and influences on her life during an interview with the BND as her May 25 retirement date approached.

Well-known St. Louis area broadcaster Carol Daniel, who was an anchor, reporter and show host for 28 years.

Getting started down the broadcast path

Daniel describes herself as someone who grew up with ``deep faith, family oriented, hard working.  These are values that served her well during her career.

She was born at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, one of Isiah and Rosella Keelers five children. Her father was a drill sergeant at the Army post, where she spent most of her young life, except when the family was temporarily stationed in Germany.

Her parents, married for 67 years, are Daniels heroes.

She said her personality is more like her fathers than her mothers.

My mother is an introvert. My father, the drill sergeant this is his voice, she said. We used to say he could sell a bald man a comb.

... He is still very talkative. He is such a comedian and a great, great storyteller. I get it all from my dad, Daniel said.

Daniel graduated from Waynesville Senior High School in 1980. She went to both the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, a historically Black land-grant university in Jefferson City, where she graduated in 1985 with a degree in communications.

She hadnt always been interested in being a broadcaster. Her first career choice was business.

I went to college as a business major. I wanted to work in corporate America. I wanted to be a woman with great suits and an incredible briefcase, working in a big city and going into a tall glass tower, Daniel said in her zesty voice.

But at Lincoln University, she decided to take a different path and get into broadcasting.

Initially, I wanted to be a jazz d.j. I had fallen in love with jazz. Then, I determined there werent that many jazz stations in the country in 1985, she said.

By then, Daniel had started writing for the school newspaper at Lincoln, doing interviews and writing public service announcements.

Thats how it really started. They had a campus newspaper and a radio station. They had a jazz station. I worked at the radio station as a class, Daniel said.

Eventually, Daniel went to work at a country music station in Jefferson City, where she read the weather, among other tasks. On the weekends, she played the top 40 hits.

The program itself came on an album. I played the first part of the album, lifted the needle, read the weather, read some headlines and then flipped the album and played the other part of the album, Daniel said, chuckling.

Daniel worked at the same time for Missourinet, a network that provides news and other content to radio stations across the state. Daniel said Bob Priddy, who was the news director at the network for over 40 years, was a big influence on her.

I gave him a cassette tape that I had recorded of myself. He wrote me, typed out on one of those old fashioned typewriters, a critique, a review of my newscast. I still have that letter he wrote to me in 1984, Daniel said.

He told me I had great delivery. He said I needed to make sure I was comfortable reading and not sound like I was reading, she said.  It was the first time anyone had said anything to me about my voice in a truly positive way. It came from a professional.

He was the first person who said to me I had what it took to be a radio journalist, Daniel recalled fondly.

Daniel works for Kansas City stations, cable company

After graduating from Lincoln University, Daniel moved to Kansas City, where she had jobs at two stations, including selling advertising at one of them.

Then I had the bright idea to go work for a cable company because the cable company had a community station, she said.  I thought I would go sell cable and work my way over to the on-air side and have my own show. Crazy, because I was able to volunteer and have a show, but I never got a paid job.

But it did, indeed, turn out to be a good idea to work for the cable company because Daniel met so many people.

It was a place where I learned the inner workings of non-profits, talked to activists, learned things I never knew about growing up on a military base. It was great experience, Daniel said.

She worked multiple jobs, including selling cable service door to door for three months.

 It was a horrible, horrible job. It was scary, Daniel said.

My mother wanted me to call her everyday when I got home, she recalled.  You would go into peoples homes to sell the cable and you would go in with the installer to install the cable. Walking into communities, I could hear dogs barking, and chains rattling. It was the worst three months.

Reading obituaries, covering the Gulf War

Daniel left Kansas City and went to work in her hometown of Waynesville, near Fort Leonard Wood, at another country music station, KJPW. It had a two-person staff, including a news team of one: Carol Daniel.

Daniel worked there at the time of Operation Desert Storm, the Gulf War, which started in August 1990. She was well equipped to cover the war from the Fort Leonard Wood angle.

I knew so many people. I was able to get stories and interviews with service men and women that other people couldnt get she said.  I was the only game in town. There was a newspaper, but the closest television station was in Springfield, Missouri, 90 minutes away.

 I was a one-man band, covering incredible stories and learning how the war affected people back home.

Part of her job as a reporter at the station was reading local obituaries live on the air at noon. And, my mother said to me one time Carol I just love the way you read the obituaries. I said to her that is probably the greatest compliment I will ever receive.

After working 18 months at the Waynesville station, someone let her know there was a job opening in Cape Girardeau that she should apply for.

I had no idea where Cape Girardeau was. Some women said to me there were no men in Cape Girardeau. Why would you go there? I said I am not going there for a man, I am going there for a job.

``This was my first chance to have a show and do talk radio. I always wanted to do a radio and television talk show, Daniel said.

So she applied.

Daniel laughed while relating this story:

The funny part is thats where I met my husband. I wasnt going there for a man. I was going there to jump start my career and thats where I met my husband. And, he is from the Virgin Islands.

She was in Cape Girardeau for about three years.

It was a rewarding experience for Daniel, who worked hard to prepare for her shows. She had to do a lot of research, spending hours at the library reading old editorials, magazines, peoples books.

The internet was coming into being and people could know more than you as a talk show host, Daniel said.

She was now working in conservative talk show host Rush Limbaughs hometown. Her talent and her success in Cape Girardeau laid the groundwork for what came next: Joining the staff of the large- market radio station, KMOX.







Moving on to KMOX to serve the St. Louis region

Daniel started at KMOX in 1995 as a news anchor and reporter before taking on the role of an afternoon co-host, where she spent much of her career. For four-plus years, Carol also was the co-host of the TV talk show Great Day St. Louis, which she helped launch at KMOV-TV.

Over the course of her career in St. Louis, she has been involved in community events and organizations around the region, as an emcee, featured speaker, host and board member. Shes an active member of her church, New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church in OFallon.

By its nature, the career Daniel chose requires one to cover tragedy of all kinds, and deal with negativity, anger, natural disasters and more. So it may seem like an oxymoron to ask her whether her job was fun.

You get to know people. I am such a people person. So, it has been a lot fun, Daniel said.  But it is a greater responsibility. 

Today we celebrated the legend that is @caroldanielKMOX. A queen. The flowers are yours pic.twitter.com/Lopq7y82vI  Gabrielle Hays (@thegabhour) May 26, 2023

You have to get it right under extremely tight time constraints and deadlines, she explained.

Then there are the challenges of working in talk radio, which she called an  argumentative media, with some people listening for information and others for ``arguments sake.

Even greater now, people are willing to disagree in a rude fashion, Daniel said.  It seems like a lost art to be able to disagree and try to find greater understanding.

...There has always been that element in talk radio of the disagreeable nature of mankind. And, that has made it not fun. 

Daniel also had to face even darker ugliness as a Black female journalist, especially earlier in her career.

There has been the element of sexism and racism where people send me nasty letters, unsigned, fake addresses and then my share of phone calls, Daniel said.  I havent got any of those in a very long time.

Early in my career I would get a lot of phone calls from people who were willing to be profane and say prejudicial and racist things to me or about my family. That was always present. Everybody gets negative calls - You fool! Youre an idiot! 

Every reporter gets that, but every reporter doesnt get You B or You whore, or You the N word. Your mothers a gorilla, she continued.  Somebody said to me once If I saw you in a car, I would assume you were a welfare mother.

I dont know if that is a result of bad education, segregation or what. It is a result of racism, thats for sure.

How did she stay motivated in the face of negativity and the other challenges during her career?

Well, from a practical standpoint, I have bills to pay, she said with a loud laugh.

From a spiritual standpoint, God brought me here, she said. From a career and destiny standpoint, I deserve this great job and I belong. That was something I did not always feel.

At many of her assignments, she explained, she was often the only Black person in the room, the youngest person in the room, or the only woman in the room.

For many, many years, my own insecurities, I carried them around and was insecure in the room, she said.

But she worked hard to fight that insecurity because she knew that so many people depended on her work and her presence, that it made a difference.

Women are listening. Everybody is listening. Thats the other reason to get up. I know they say dont worry about it, nobody is looking. But when you are doing radio and television and when people are reading your byline, people are looking. They are listening and reading.

 I have listeners, viewers and readers. They matter. I know my presence has always made a difference. It has rattled some nerves, but it made a bigger difference.

For a woman to see a woman in a male-dominated field be successful, be strong, be powerful, be well-spoken, outspoken, expressive, compassionate, insightful, express her wisdom and her faith all in one conversation. I know its been impactful. People have told me its been impactful.







The importance of family





For Daniel, family is paramount. She often talked about family values on the radio.

She has been married to Patrick Daniel since July 2, 1994, and they have two children, Patrick Daniel Jr. and Marcus Isiah Daniel.

For Carol Daniel, it was important that her children be able to know the power and importance of what she did for a living, but it was challenging because the demands of her job meant she often wasnt at home. So sometimes she was able to take them along to big events.

Not only was I reporting and anchoring, I was in the community helping raise money and serving on boards. I was gone a lot. I wanted them to be with me when they could. Theyve been on many stages with me and in many audiences with me.

She told the story about bringing her family to a dinner event hosted by 100 Black Men of America. Her youngest son was fascinated when the family got to stay in a hotel when he was about 11 years old.

He met Maxine Clark, the founder of Build A Bear. And, he had a Spiderman bear that he got when he was about 8 years old. He got to meet the woman who created the company, she said.  I could see the wheels turning. I could see his eyes bright. It was such a moment. It was just such a moment. They know each other to this day. He is 23.

It was a multi-purpose thing. They could physically be with me. It was a formal dinner. They got to meet people, and talk to adults. They could see their mother operate.

Daniels commitment to her family is one of the reasons why she ``retired from KMOX so early, at the age of 61. Shes had cancer twice and has beat it twice. And Daniel and her brother, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Al Keeler Sr., are helping to care for their aging parents, who now live near the Daniel familys OFallon home.

So really, she hasnt retired. She has lots to do. Caring for her parents, staying active in the church and community, writing another book and more will be keeping her busy. She also will continue motivational speaking, which she has been doing for years.

Having wonderful children and a supportive husband and being part of a great church, pastored by Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr., along with her professional success in the broadcast world, have helped her navigate the good times and the challenges in her career. Its all helped her become the confident, strong woman she is today, ready for a new chapter in life.

Dealing with difficult people and difficult situations, on the other side you are stronger and wiser. So, I have become a more courageous person. I have become a more confident woman. I am a wiser individual.
TAT collaborates with designers to foster sustainable tourism trends

BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is joining forces with private agencies to encourage Thai dress designers in developing Thai clothing, aiming to create sustainable tourism trends.

tourism

By National News Bureau of Thailand

Sunday 18 June 2023 10:55 AM

Photo: NNT

TAT Deputy Director for Activities Weerapong Pongsawat highlighted the importance of fashion as part of the governments strategy to enhance the value of Thailands creative economy, utilising soft powers such as film, food, fashion, fighting, and festivals, reports NNT.

During an event held at the Grand Postal Building in Bang Rak district on June 10, prizes were awarded to designers as part of the From Tour to Runway project. Weerapong emphasised that TAT seeks to involve designers in the tourism sector, recognizing the potential of Thai fashion to contribute to the overall tourism experience.

In line with its mission to promote responsible tourism, create meaningful travel experiences, and preserve local culture, TAT is determined to stimulate tourism this year. The agency also aims to focus on attracting tourists through the development of community products and the establishment of sustainable tourism trends.

Jakkapong Chinkrathok, the CEO and founder of Find Folk, a sustainable tourism consultant and destination management organization, noted that Thai clothing is gaining popularity among people while playing a significant role in promoting tourism, and highlighting cultural heritage.

TAT said it aims to leverage Thai fashion as a catalyst for sustainable tourism trends, adding that the initiative will not only attract tourists but also contribute to the preservation and promotion of local craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Thais impress, but still lose to mighty Serbia

VOLLEYBALL: Thailand blew a two-set advantage as they lost to world champions Serbia at the Volleyball Nations League 2023 in Brasilia, Brazil, on Friday (June 16).

Volleyball

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 18 June 2023 02:35 PM

Thailands Ajcharaporn Kongyot in action against Serbia at VNL 2023 in Brasilia. Photo: volleyballworld.com via Bangkok Post

Serbia, who played a five-set match for the second time in two days, rallied to win the match 24-26, 22-25, 25-17, 25-12, 16-14 at the Nilson Nelson Stadium.

It was Thailands third successive Pool 4 defeat during the second week of the FIVB tournament, reports the Bangkok Post.

Thailand will play Croatia in their final pool match tonight. Channel 7 will broadcast the match live starting at midnight.

Thailand counted on 21 points (18 kills, one ace, two blocks) from outside hitter Chatchu-On Moksri and 20 (all in kills) from opposite Pimpichaya Kokram during the match.

Despite the tight score, Serbia were more effective than the Thais in every aspect, getting more points from kills (75 to 60), blocks (13 to 12), aces (three to two) and opponent errors (21 to 20).

Apart from being down 2-0 in sets, the Serbians also saw themselves trailing 14-11 in the tie-breaker before they scored five points in a row to win the match.

Opposite and team captain Ana Bjelica, who tallied 18 points (16 kills, two blocks), and outside hitter Bianka Busa, who added another 15 (13 kills, one ace, one block), played important roles in the Serbian comeback.

The VNL 2023 preliminary phase features three weeks of competition, with each of the 16 teams playing 12 matches.

The top eight teams after the preliminary round qualify for the final phase, which will be held in Arlington, Texas, in the US from July 12-16. The Americans are already guaranteed a spot.

Bangkok will be a venue in the third week from June 27-July 2 when Thailand meet the Netherlands, Turkey, Japan and Brazil in Pool 6.
The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term Hong Leong Asia Ltd. (SGX:H22) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 33% over a half decade.

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.

See our latest analysis for Hong Leong Asia

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.

Looking back five years, both Hong Leong Asia's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 5.8% per year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 8% annual reduction in the share price. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 8.47.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Hong Leong Asia's TSR for the last 5 years was -25%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 6.6% in the last year, Hong Leong Asia shareholders lost 14% (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 5% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Hong Leong Asia that you should be aware of.

We will like Hong Leong Asia 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.

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CEO Alex Langsam is pictured here at the headquarters of Britannia Hotels in Hale, Cheshire - Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The hotel tycoon nicknamed the Asylum King is enjoying record profits as he capitalises Britains migrant crisis.

Britannia Hotels, which is estimated to put up almost one in 10 of those seeking asylum in the UK, made almost 100,000-a-day in profit over the last year for octogenarian owner Alex Langsam, new filings reveal.

The companys pre-tax profit of 33.4m in the year to March 2022 is the best return for Britannia since Mr Langsam founded the chain in the 1970s.

Mr Langsams business is one of the main beneficiaries of the UKs small boats crisis, having been handed lucrative contracts to house migrants at his 60 hotels. It was claimed that at least 17 of Britannias hotels had been block-booked on behalf of the Government.

Britannia was named the worst hotel chain for the tenth year in a row in November. A survey by consumer group Which found respondents referring to the companys properties as tired and tatty, with a rough and ready feel.

Accounts filed last week for the year ending Mar 31, 2022 revealed turnover of 118m. The pre-tax profit made during the period beat the previous record high of 33.3m generated in 2016.

This result represents a return to performance levels comparative to pre-Covi 19 achieved during a period of difficult trading conditions which continues to limit opportunities for growth, the accounts read.

In recent months, Britannia has added one-time upmarket hotels in the likes of Scarborough and Bradford to its portfolio.

The business was founded in 1976 when Mr Langsam bought a 100-bedroom hotel in South Manchester, The Country House Hotel. Expansion was turbo-charged in 1982 when British Rail sold Mr Langsam its hotel division, British Transport Hotels.

Representatives for Britannia Hotels and its owner did not respond to a request for comment.

Record profits come as Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is grappling with the migrant crisis. The Government is struggling to deliver on Rishi Sunaks pledge to stop the boats carrying illegal migrants across the English Channel.

Plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda have been held up by legal challenges, though ministers are hopeful that the first flights could begin later this summer.

In the meantime, plans to use large barges to house hundreds of asylum seekers have also hit difficulties.

The Telegraph revealed earlier this month that Ms Bravermans plan to put hundreds of migrants on a barge on the Royal Docks next to the London City Airport runway had been blocked by local businesses and Sadiq Khan, the capitals mayor.

Proposals to use a giant cruise ship to house asylum seekers near Liverpool were also scrapped after opposition from the port operator.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The ruling BJP is reassessing its poll strategy before the 2024 elections. As the Opposition parties try to build a united platform against the BJP for the next Lok Sabha elections, it has become necessary to begin negotiations with its erstwhile allies and find new partners.

After the loss in Karnataka last month, the BJP is in power in ten states and shares power in four states. The NDA had 19 allies in 2019. But the situation in 2024 looks different. Apart from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Rashtriya Lok Jan Shakti Party (Pashupati Paras faction), Apna Dal (Soney Lal faction) and AIADMK, no major party is part of the NDA that completed 25 years of its existence on 15 May.

The BJP leadership has already commenced alliance talks with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab. It has also reaffirmed its ties with the ruling Shiv Sena faction in Maharashtra and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. Firstly, the Party must still recover from losing Karnataka in the recent Assembly polls.

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The BJP thought a hung Assembly would emerge, but the Congress won a landslide victory. Therefore, strengthening the Karnataka unit is crucial. Secondly, the impact of these results has energised the Congress and other Opposition parties, which are trying to unite. The BJP would naturally prefer a weak Congress and a divided Opposition.

Thirdly, the BJP had reached the maximum it could win on its own in the 2019 elections. Creditably, it scored 100 per cent of seats in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and UP. The Party may lose some seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.

To compensate, it must increase the number of seats in the south to cover up the likely losses. But it is challenging to penetrate the south. Significantly, the party has weakened in Bihar (40 seats) after breaking up with Janata Dal (United) and Maharashtra (48 seats) after a breakup with Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena. With these losses, and the possibility of a united opposition, the BJP has a fight on its hand.

Hence the need for an alliance. What better way than to assuage the departed allies feelings and lure them back? BJP had four important partners since 2014. They were Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, Telugu Desam and JD(U). Except the last named, the others may return. Telugu Desam chief Chandra Babu Naidu recently met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda and held talks for re-entry.

He was encouraged when Prime Minister Modi paid homage to TDP founder N T Rama Rao on his birth centenary in his Mann ki Baat address last month. If things work out, the two may become partners in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The BJP will have a tough choice, as the current chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy also has good relations with the BJP.

As for the Akali Dal, the Prime Minister recently went to Chandigarh to pay homage to Akali Dal patriarch Prakash Singh Badal, who passed away at 95. The two parties parted ways in 2021 when SAD opposed the three farming laws which it considered anti-farmer. Although the laws were withdrawn, the SAD and BJP fought the elections separately. Nitish Kumar broke the alliance in Bihar last year. He became the chief minister again with the help of the RJD.

Bihar is a critical state, and the BJP is hoping for defections from JD(U). Nitish has been busy mobilising the Opposition with Prime Ministerial ambitions. But the JD(S) may return after its miserable performance in the recent elections winning just 19 seats. Its founder and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda might be ready for a short-term alliance in Karnataka.

The BJP rides piggyback on the AIADMK after the death of its leader J.Jayalalishtaa in 2016. At a time when the BJP would like to strengthen its relationship with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, there are strains. In an interview this week, the BJP state president K Annamalai made unsavoury comments about Jayalalithaa. The enraged AIADMK threatens to leave the coalition.

Overall, the BJP must hold on to its allies in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, the northeastern states and the South to retrieve the situation. It must also keep channels open with parties equidistant from BJP and the Congress, such as the Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. There is also a possibility of defections before the polls. It might work if the BJP manages to keep a divided Opposition, an expanded NDA, and a new narrative.

The BJPs target is to get 350 seats. While the Modi magic might still work, the party needs a Modi plus. The BJP, which is actively involved in expanding the NDA, understands the importance of this aspect. After all, 2024 will not be the same as 2014 or 2019. But, it would like to perform a hat trick with or without new allies.
The decision was announced by the KMC mayor Firhad Hakim at the House today after the local councillor of the subsidence zone expressed apprehensions about several residents who are homeless since 2019. Expressing concerns about the latest evacuation notice issued to the residents of 9 Durga Pithuri Lane and 6 Durga Pithuri Lane following the construction work of the shaft nearby, councillor Biswarup Dey reiterated the agony of the local residents, who he said were suffering despite having their ancestral properties.

The councillor even proposed the formation of a dedicated task force by the KMC and taking some steps by the civic body with the consultation of experts advice from Jadavpur University. Mr Dey also proposed a deadline in which the displaced residents could return to their houses. Echoing Mr Deys assertions, BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh from the neighbouring ward agreed to the issue of the residents agony and demanded that the civic body take responsibility to return the homeless to their houses within a stipulated time.

The KMC House echoed with arguments and counter arguments between the councillors of the ruling party and the BJP on the issue of evacuation of the residents of Bowbazar. Replying to the proposal, the mayor said, The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation has communicated to us orally that a new and imported technology has been implemented to prevent the repetition of ground subsidence.

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Earlier, a survey was done by the experts team of Jadavpur. We would once again rope in the experts to conduct a survey before the displaced residents return to their premises. Meanwhile, the KMRCL has deferred the date of evacuation of the residents of the two buildings until the next notice. The implementing agency cited technical problems as the reason for deferring the evacuation
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today assigned the task of targeting women voters in the panchayat polls to party leaders. She passed on the instructions to party leaders as she chaired a meeting at her Kalighat residence. The crucial party meet was also attended by national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, along with several MPs and MLAs.

The meeting commenced at 4 pm, coinciding with the submission of nomination papers, particularly as the situation in Bhangar became tense. Addressing the issue of vandalism, Mamata Banerjee stated, The administration is addressing the law and order concerns related to the acts of vandalism. We are closely monitoring how to handle this situation.

I personally review all the reports, she informed the leaders during the meeting. Instructing state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya during the meeting, Mamata said, Strengthen the womens organization. Increase the deployment of Banga Janani (women force) for poll campaigning.

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Discuss this matter with Shashi Panja and Mala Roy. Involve them as well. During the meeting, Abhishek Banerjee emphasized, TMC leaders must visit villages and inform the people about how Trinamul Congress has assisted them. While campaigning, ensure that the progress achieved in each district is highlighted. We must convey that Trinamul has transformed the perception people held about panchayats during the Left Fronts rule. It should be communicated that the BJP has failed to fulfil its promises.

 Starting from 22 June, senior leaders will campaign across every region, he said. Ms Banerjee expressed her concerns about the deployment of central forces in the panchayat polls, remarking, The Central forces are unable to manage in Manipur. How many Central teams have visited there? How many central teams have gone to Odisha?

Yet, they claim to send central forces for the panchayat polls, she stated. Following the meeting, MP Kalyan Banerjee stated that TMC is not worried about the deployment of central forces in state. He said that central forces were deployed previously too but it did not affect TMC, which emerged victorious. He also warned those party leaders who filed nomination papers despite not receiving a TMC ticket with expulsion. Under no circumstances will they be allowed back into the party, he said.
Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday, sought an investigation into the abnormally high number of nominations by ruling Trinamul Congress for the state panchayat polls within an extremely short time span on 14 June.

It needs to be investigated how TMC filed almost 40,000 nominations on 14 June within 4 hours & 36,000 on 15 June within the stipulated time period between 11 am and 3 pm without their candidates queuing up in the nomination centres, he tweeted. In the same message he accused heavyweight Trinamul candidate from North 24-Parganas Shahjahan Sheikh of suppressing financial facts in the affidavit attached with his nomination.

Because, this person, who owns & operates several fish farms, fish processing plant & allied businesses; brick kilns & one shopping complex at Sarberia More; states in his nomination papers that his annual income is merely 19 lakh 83 thousand only! The person who owns multiple buildings, several acres of land & has recently got a new house constructed at Park Circus Kolkata; the valuation of which runs into multiple crores mentioned in his nomination papers that the value of his land & building is only about 5 crores, the message read.

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Demanding that the income tax department initiate an investigation on this alleged suppression of financial fact, Adhikari also accused Shahjahan Sheikh of murdering several local BJP leaders at Basirhat sub-division in North 24 Parganas after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In 2019, after the Lok Sabha elections, the Basirhat Sub Division witnessed post poll violence of the worst kind.

Shahjahan Sheikh masterminded the attacks on BJP karyakartas after a significant number of Voters of many gram panchayat areas, voted in favour of the BJP. Pradip Mondal & Sukanta Mondal; among several other leaders & workers of the BJP were killed in Sandeshkhali.
Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE:ODC) Independent Director, Allan Selig, recently bought US$51k worth of stock, for US$50.55 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, increasing their shareholding by only 2.0%, it can be interpreted as a good sign.

See our latest analysis for Oil-Dri Corporation of America

Oil-Dri Corporation of America Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent purchase by Allan Selig was the biggest purchase of Oil-Dri Corporation of America shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$54.91 per share to be enticing. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider bought shares at close to current prices. Allan Selig was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

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!

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership Of Oil-Dri Corporation of America

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. Insiders own 11% of Oil-Dri Corporation of America shares, worth about US$42m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Oil-Dri Corporation of America Tell Us?

The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Oil-Dri Corporation of America we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

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.

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The UKs antitrust regulator has cleared Amazons proposed $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot, which designs and builds consumer robots, including robot vacuum cleaners sold under the Roomba brand.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that iRobots market position in the supply of robot vacuum cleaners in the UK is modest and that it already faces several significant rivals.

On this basis, the CMA considered that the loss of potential competition from Amazon wouldnt have a substantial impact on market outcomes, it said in a statement.

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The acquisition of iRobot would not disadvantage Amazons rival smart home platforms.

This is primarily because robot vacuum cleaners (and the data that they gather) are generally not considered to be an important input to the emerging smart home market in the UK, said the CMA.

The CMA also found that there are, in any case, several alternative robot vacuum cleaners with similar capabilities to iRobot that could form part of rival smart home offerings.

More people are choosing to use smart tech in their homes  whether thats listening to the radio through a smart speaker, answering the door using a video doorbell, or keeping floors clean with robot vacuum cleaners, said Colin Raftery, Senior Director of Mergers at the CMA.

Here, after a thorough investigation, were satisfied that the deal would have no impact on competition in the UK, the CMA added.
Odisha, currently contending with severe heat wave conditions with mercury hovering above 40 degree Celsius in most parts of the State, recorded its maiden heat wave death.

So far, information has been received in respect of 20 cases regarding alleged death due to heat wave. One death case has been confirmed so far from the district of Balasore. The remaining cases are being inquired by the concerned Collectors, an official of the Special Relief Commission office said on Sunday.

The State Government has decided to disburse Rs 50,000 ex gratia assistance to the bereaved families in case of death due to heat wave.

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Keeping in view the current trend of soaring mercury, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has also directed all district Collectors to initiate precautionary measures to tackle the situation with emphasis to solve water scarcity across Odisha.

The collectors have been asked to launch awareness campaigns immediately to make people aware of the risks associated with the heat wave, identifying the risk and what to do if some is affected.

The district administration has initiated steps to identify the water scarcity pockets and prepared an action plan for ensuring supply of water for drinking and other uses through tankers to those areas. Reports of water scarcity are being responded immediately, said an official.

The prevailing heat wave conditions in various districts were reviewed in a high level meeting yesterday. As per the forecast of IMD, hot weather conditions are likely to prevail in some districts with maximum temperature above the normal temperature by 4-7 degrees at a few places during the next two days. Thereafter, hot and uncomfortable weather is likely during the next 2-3 days. People are advised to take precautionary measures like avoiding heat exposure during peak hours, staying hydrated and caring for vulnerable persons including old, children, sick, and pregnant women.

Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar regional centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued severe heat wave warnings across the coastal State till 19 June.

As the grueling heat sweeps across the State, the streets in all parts are virtually deserted- shops shut in noon hours- little human activity on the streets throughout the day hours. People preferred the safety of homes to beat the heat. It seemed as if the entire state was under the siege with the clamping of an undeclared curfew. The unscheduled power cuts added to peoples misery.

The rising mercury has made life miserable for people all across 30 districts of the state, giving one the deceptive look of daytime curfew-like situation.
Two women died after being shot by unidentified shooters in Delhis R.K. Puram police station area during the early morning hours of Sunday, said police.

Both the women were rushed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries, said police further. According to Manoj C, Deputy Commissioner of Police South West Delhi, police had received a call at 4:40 am in RK Puram police station stating that some people had shot the callers sisters at Ambedkar Basti.

Responding to the call, a police team reached the spot wherein it was found that two ladies Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29) were shot and were shifted to SJ hospital but they succumbed to injuries.

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Prima facie it seems that shooters were looking for the victims brother and the reason behind the shooting seems to be some issue related to money, however, the exact cause will be ascertained only after a prolonged investigation, said the police official.

A case has been registered under the relevant section and police are looking for the arrest of the accused.
The Indian Army on Sunday rescued around 300 more tourists, including women and children, stranded in Sikkim due to landslides and roadblocks triggered by torrential rains, defence officials said.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said that troops of Trishakti Corps rescued all the 300 tourists at Chungthang in north Sikkim, assisting them to cross the temporary bridge for further movement towards Gangtok.

The tourists were provided food, shelter, and medical attention by the Indian Army troops.

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One tourist fell unconscious and the Army medical team immediately swung into action and immediately evacuated by him by stretcher and ambulance to the nearest Army Field Hospital for treatment.

The medical condition of the patient is stable as of now.

Lt. Col Rawat said that the troops of striking Lion Division of Trishakti Corps had worked relentlessly and rescued over 2,000 tourists on Saturday in the same mountainous areas of Sikkim.
The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

The jury headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on June 18 unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur, as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.

The Prime Minister recalled the contribution of Gita Press in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service, the statement said.

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Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognises the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense, it said.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the worlds largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.

The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organisations, strives for the betterment of life and the well being of all, the statement said.

Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.

The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft or a handloom item.

The past awardees include organisations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi.

It has also been awarded to luminaries like Late Dr Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa Dr Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania Dr AT Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka, Dr Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, Dr John Hume, Ireland, Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.

Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
Launching a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Is he a Chief Minister or a pilot?, saying the states law and order went from bad to worse as CM Mann spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal.

He announced the establishment of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regional office in Amritsar within a month to tackle the growing drug trafficking and menace in the state.

Shah questioned the state government over its poll guarantee of giving Rs 1,000 per month to every adult woman.

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The Home Minister was narrating the nine-year achievements of the Modi government in Centre and also launched the election campaign in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Saying that AAP is an advertisement party, he slammed the state government as the law and order and drugs emerge as key challenges for the government.

In his 20-minute public address as part of an outreach programme of his party, the BJP leader Shah said, Bhagwant Mann has time for Arvind Kejriwal but not for the people of Punjab. People of Punjab are feeling insecure. The people will teach a lesson for this.

The states law and order is going from bad to worse as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spends all his time touring with Arvind Kejriwal, he said.

Taking a jibe at the government, he said the government has prioritised advertising for Arvind Kejriwal using taxpayers money.

Accusing the AAP of making empty promises, he asked what happened to its promise of Rs 1,000 a month to women in Punjab.

Saying that India is now known as a growth engine in the nine years of the helm of the Modi government, he said in 1984 thousands of innocent Sikh brothers and sisters were killed in the massacre that was done by the Congress leadership.

From 1984 to 2014, the culprits were not punished. The Modi government did the work of sending the culprits of Sikh riots to jail.

Remembering the contribution of Punjabis before Independence, the Union minister said, Whether the atrocities were committed by the Mughals or the British, Punjab faced it firmly and secured the country. Be it the Gadar movement or the Jallianwala Bagh, the history of the countrys Independence has been written by the sacrifices of Punjabis.

The great Sikh Gurus taught the lesson of patriotism, equality and harmony not only to Punjab but to all the countrymen. Following this, Punjab has protected the entire country in every crisis before and after Independence, Shah said.

The Narendra Modi government has decided that it will work on eradicating drug menace from Punjab, and hence, we have decided to establish an NCB office in Amritsar within a month, Shah announced.

He said the partys activists would visit every tehsil and village to carry out awareness campaigns against drugs in the state.
In a recent development, the Kathmandu metropolitan area has made the decision to stop screening all Hindi films in theatres and multiplexes, effective from June 19.

This move comes after Mayor Balen Shah expressed his concerns on social media regarding the controversy surrounding the film Adipurush, where it is claimed that Sita, a prominent mythological character, is portrayed as the daughter of India.

Mayor Balen Shah took to Facebook to address the issue, stating, Three days ago, we demanded the removal of the objectionable message that Janaki is an Indian daughter, which was included in the Indian movie Adipurush. It is the responsibility of every government, governmental organization, non-governmental sector, and Nepali citizen to safeguard the national interest and preserve Nepals freedom, independence, and self-respect.

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The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has taken measures to prevent the screening of the film Adipurush by deploying city police officers to the theaters within the metropolis starting from Monday.

Shah further emphasized that the constitution of Nepal, specifically Clause 6 of Article 5 and Article 56, assigns the duty of protecting the national interest to the federal, state, and local governments. Mayor Balen Shah expressed concerns that if the film is shown without any modifications, it could potentially cause severe and irreparable damage to Nepals national identity, cultural unity, and sovereignty. The films depiction was seen as a form of cultural encroachment on Nepal, drawing significant attention to the metropolitan city.

As a measure to uphold the national interest, the Kathmandu metropolitan area has decided to prohibit the screening of the aforementioned film. The ban will be limited to the Kathmandu metropolitan area, allowing the film to be shown in other regions of the country unless the local authorities of those places decide otherwise.

Following Mayor Balen Shahs initial reaction to the film, Asim Shah, a leader from the Rashtriya Swatantra Party Nepal, raised the issue in the Nepali House of Representatives. He advocated for a ban on the film to protect the cultural heritage of the country.
The idea of a developed India is not just a dream now but is fast becoming a reality under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.

The stature of India at international forums has risen in the past nine years and the world now listens to us attentively, he said, addressing a gathering of successful candidates of UPSC Civil Services Exam at an event in Lucknow.

Rajnath noted that a superpower like the United States was now preparing diligently to welcome and host the India Prime Minister and the foreign media was also talking about the countrys success story.

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Highlighting the PMs vision of a Developed India by 2047, he said the young civil servants have a vital role in building such a nation.

A huge responsibility is on your shoulders. You are going to serve at a time when the country has entered the Amrit Kaal. When you will be at the end of your term by 2047, the country will be celebrating its 100th year of independence, he said.

I would like you to be prepared for the upcoming challenges. Together we can face them and take India on the path of a developed nation, said the Defence Minister.

He exhorted civil servants to earn peoples trust in government by living up to their expectations and aspirations, and by proactively engaging with them. He stressed that peoples trust in democracy would increase manifold if bureaucrats connected with the public more readily.

Rajnath underscored that as the society was moving forward on the path of progress and prosperity, the feudal system and mentality was diminishing, and in such a situation, living up to the expectations and aspirations of the public was the measure of the capability of bureaucrats and leaders.

There was a time when there used to be a culture of authority in the society, now the culture of justification has overtaken the culture of authority as citizens are becoming educated and more aware with the arrival of new means of communication, he added.

Emphasizing the role of peoples representatives in day-to-day governance and democracy, he stressed that civil servants should listen carefully and act on the suggestions made by the public representatives, as in a democracy, the representatives of the people were the representatives of their aspirations.

He denounced the culture of undue political interference in the local administration but pitched for guidance from the peoples representatives, as they represented the common citizens of the country.

As the peoples representatives, they will definitely raise before you the issues related to their constituency. Thats why you have to work closely with the peoples representatives in your area, he stressed.

He admired the phenomenal performance of women in civil services exams in recent years. Our daughters have brought laurels whenever they got the opportunity, he added.
After a controversial podcast interview with Democratic presidential contender and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., podcaster Joe Rogan has received support from tech billionaire Elon Musk for his offer to ask leading vaccine scientist Peter Hotez for a debate with Kennedy.

Rogan offered $100,000 to Hotez to debate Kennedy on his podcast after he criticised Rogans interview with him.

Hotez recently tweeted that Kennedy spread a lot of misinformation on the show, which Rogan didnt like and snapped back.

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He also asked Hotez to participate in a podcast discussion with Kennedy.

To which, Hotez said, Joe, you have my cell, my email, Im always willing to speak with you.

Later, Rogan tweeted: This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If youre really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.

The heated debate caught Musks attention, who tweeted: Hes afraid of a public debate because he knows hes wrong.

In response to Musk supporting Rogan, Hotez asked Musk why he supports anti-vaccine when many people have died due to misinformation.

Musk then used the opportunity to emphasise that he is pro-vaccine and that his entire family is vaccinated.

However, he has his own issues with the campaign and believes in the side effects of overusing vaccines.

First of all, I am generally pro-vaccine. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids. Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital, Musk tweeted.

So many people I know had serious side effects from the vaccines, including myself. Failure to acknowledge that is a lie. As for the deaths you claim are due to Covid-19, why is the nation of Sweden still alive!? he added.

Musk then urged Hotez to participate in the JRE podcast debate with Rogan and Kennedy.
Gunanidhi Mohanty was operating the Coromandel Express on June 2, traveling from Kharagpur to Bhubaneshwar. As the train reached Bahanaga Bazaar in Balasore, it diverted onto the loop line, colliding with a stationary goods train. The impact caused several compartments to derail, blocking the path of the oncoming Yeshwantpur  Howrah Express, resulting in a devastating crash.

This incident marked Indias most catastrophic rail accident in the past thirty years, claiming the lives of 291 individuals and leaving over 1100 injured. Gunanidhi himself sustained injuries and was admitted to Bhubaneshwars AMRI Hospital, where he received treatment for head injuries and three broken ribs. Ever since the accident, Gunanidhis father, Bishnu Charan, has anxiously awaited his sons return.

A resident of Naharpada village, which is located 10 kilometers away from the bustling city of Cuttack, Gunanidhi began as a goods train driver in 1996 and was only recently transitioned to piloting passenger trains.

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Two days later, Ranjit Mohanty, Gunanidhis younger brother, visited the hospital to see him. However, the visit was brief, and Ranjit was not permitted to bring a mobile phone into the ICU. Doctors discovered blood clots in Gunanidhis chest, causing severe pain that rendered him unable to speak.

Ranjit mentioned that Gunanidhis sister-in-law also attempted to visit him but was denied access. Similarly, Gunanidhis elder brother, Sanjay Mohanty, had gone to see him but has since been prohibited from doing so. The situation took a distressing turn when a doctor from the East Coast Railway Medical department made a shocking statement, claiming that Gunanidhi had been discharged from the hospital. However, Gunanidhis family remains unaware of his whereabouts, and Ranjit expressed his confusion, as he believed his brother was still in the hospital.

A senior official at the AMRI Hospital confirmed that both the loco pilot and the assistant loco pilot had been discharged four to five days ago. Sanjay firmly asserted his belief in his brothers innocence regarding the accident. Gunanidhis father desperately expressed his longing to see his son, yearning to embrace him and witness his safe return.

Following the train disaster, Jaya Varma Sinha, a member of the Railway Board overseeing Operation and Business Development, addressed reporters. Sinha stated that she had spoken to Gunanidhi, who confirmed that the signal was green. A green signal indicates that the driver is aware that the path ahead is clear and that they can proceed at their permitted maximum speed. The permitted speed for that section was 130 km/h, and we have verified from the locomotive logs that Gunanidhi was operating the train at 128 km/h. He neither crossed a red signal nor was he speeding, Sinha declared.
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. So while ITV (LON:ITV) has a high ROCE right now, lets see what we can decipher from how returns are changing.

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 ITV is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.21 = UK584m  (UK4.5b - UK1.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022).

So, ITV has an ROCE of 21%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 12% earned by companies in a similar industry.

Check out our latest analysis for ITV

roce

In the above chart we have measured ITV's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

How Are Returns Trending?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at ITV, we didn't gain much confidence. While it's comforting that the ROCE is high, five years ago it was 33%. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

The Key Takeaway

To conclude, we've found that ITV is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And investors appear hesitant that the trends will pick up because the stock has fallen 52% in the last five years. In any case, the stock doesn't have these traits of a multi-bagger discussed above, so if that's what you're looking for, we think you'd have more luck elsewhere.

One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with ITV (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) .

If you want to search for more stocks that have been earning high returns, check out this free list of stocks with solid balance sheets that are also earning high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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At least 25 people have been unaccounted for while one has been confirmed dead in flooding and landslide incidents in Eastern Nepal as the monsoon sets off in Nepal.

As per the police, all the incidents have been recorded within 24 hours since Saturday evening in three different districts of Eastern Nepal. Sankhuwasabha, one of the affected districts which has seen continuous downpours since Saturday evening, has reported 16 missing workers from a hydropower project.

16 workers of Super Hewakhola Hydropower have gone missing after floods in Hewakhola since Saturday evening. The floods have swept away seven houses, District Police Office Chief, Birendra Godar confirmed ANI over the phone.

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A workers body has been found offshore. We are trying to establish the identity of the deceased, Deputy Superintendent Godar added.

In Panchthar, at least five people have been missing in a flooding incident while the road connection to different areas of the district also has been disrupted, confirmed Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Khatiwada.

In Taplejung, four people have gone missing after a landslide swept houses. Search operation for the missing people is underway, the Police said.

Nepal has been recording a number of disasters triggered by heavy downpours resulting in inundation, flooding and landslide during monsoon.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday morning directed authorities to revamp the search and rescue operation as well as expressed grief over the reported incidents.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of property caused by the floods in various districts of the country. In addition, I sincerely appeal to the general public for their support by directing the security agencies and national service personnel to actively search for, rescue and relieve the missing persons, the Prime Minister tweeted from his personal Twitter handle.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority earlier this month projected 1.25 million citizens to be affected by monsoon this year. An estimated 1.298 million individuals from 286,998 households will be affected by the disaster, the disaster management authority stated in its projection.

It is estimated that 400,000 people will be affected in Madhesh province and 300,000 people in Koshi province. According to NDRRMA, an estimated 200,000 individuals will be affected in Lumbini Province, 100,000 in Bagmati Province, 147,000 in Sudurpaschim Province, 69,000 in Gandaki Province, and 35,000 in Karnali Province due to the disaster. Around 2 million people were affected last year.

The NDRRMA also has approved an action plan which includes an analysis of monsoon-related risks and the assessment of their impacts, as well as the involvement of various ministries and relevant sectors, non-governmental organizations like the Nepal Red Cross, in working on disaster management, search, rescue, and distribution of relief materials.

Though the Himalayan Nation has started recording losses and damages with the onset of monsoon, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted that there will be less rainfall in the country during this years monsoon.

It is also estimated that the maximum temperature will be higher than in the past due to less rainfall. Generally, the monsoon enters Nepal in mid-June and remains active in Nepal for about a hundred days.

Monsoon clouds entered Nepal on Wednesday, a day after the normal date, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, The Kathmandu Post reported.

The division in a special bulletin on Wednesday afternoon, said: This years monsoon system entered today [Wednesday] into Koshi Province, eastern Madhesh, almost all parts of Bagmati Province, and the eastern part of Gandaki Province.

As per the Met division, it will take a few days for the phenomenon to reach the remaining parts of the country.

It normally takes a week for the monsoon clouds to spread all over the country.

Meteorologists at the division said clouds entering the country from the Bay of Bengal have caused rainfall in most districts of Koshi Province, eastern parts of Madhesh Province, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province.

The monsoon season in Nepal generally begins on June 13 and ends on September 23. Last year, the monsoon entered the country on June 5, eight days before the average date, as per The Kathmandu Post.
A 20-year-old Indian student, who was captured on CCTV carrying a woman home to rape her last June, has been sentenced for more than six years, police said.

Preet Vikal was seen in the footage carrying the intoxicated woman in his arms and across his shoulders along King Edward VII Avenue and North Road, the South Wales Police said on Friday.

He continued to carry the victim to a property in the North Road area where he raped her during the early hours of June 4, 2022.

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Vikal, who had met the woman while she was on a night out with friends in the city on June 3, admitted rape, and was sentenced to six years and nine months in a young offenders institution.

Detective Constable Nick Woodland from South Wales Police said: Stranger attacks such as these are extremely unusual in Cardiff but in Preet Vikal we had a dangerous individual.

He took advantage of an intoxicated and vulnerable young woman who became separated from her friends, Woodland said.

Officers carried out an extensive trawl of CCTV and it was this footage, along with an Instagram message exchange with the victim, that led to Vikal being identified and arrested.

He will serve two thirds of the sentence in custody and the remainder on licence.

The victim read a statement at Vikals sentencing and said she did not want to go on nights out for five months after the rape.

It was really difficult to pretend I was okay when I wasnt, the victim was quoted as saying in The Sun.

He also took a trophy photograph of her on his bed, The Sun report said, adding that the victim remembered waking up naked next to Vikal but did not know where she was or that she had been raped.

She reported about Vikal on the same day to the police and he was arrested.

We hope the sentencing brings some sense of closure and allows the woman to regain her confidence and move on with her life, Detective Constable Woodland said.
Jack Ma shows up at Alibaba maths competition in Hangzhou after Tokyo seminar to chat with finalists

Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba Group Holding, made a rare public appearance on Saturday in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou to chat with the finalists of an annual global mathematics competition organised by the company's in-house research unit.

According to a statement from the e-commerce giant's Damo Academy, Ma discussed the "understanding of mathematics" with finalists of the 2023 Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition.

This marks the second time that the 58-year-old entrepreneur appeared in Hangzhou this year, following a March visit to a local school that is jointly funded by partners of Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The whereabouts of Ma, who has resigned from all his corporate roles, remain closely watched since he started keeping a low profile in 2021, after the government quashed the initial public offering of Ant Group, Alibaba's fintech affiliate. In October 2020, Ma gave a controversial speech in Shanghai, where he said Chinese banks, the largest of which are state-owned, have a "pawnshop mentality".

The move against Ant, which has still not publicly listed, later snowballed into an industry-wide crackdown on Big Tech, and Ma started spending much of his time overseas.

At the VivaTech conference in Paris last week, Alibaba president Michael Evans said Ma was "alive" and "happy", in response to a question from Maurice Levy, chairman of French advertising group Publicis, according to a CNBC report.

Ma started the Global Mathematics Competition in 2018, which he said was to inspire "public enthusiasm" for the field. The entrepreneur has previously said he was terrible at math, scoring just one point out of 100 on a college-entrance exam in 1982.

The Alibaba competition is open to everyone, and it has attracted 250,000 contestants with a top award of 60,000 yuan (US$8,418).

Jack Ma speaks with some of the finalists of the annual maths competition he started in 2018. Photo: Weibo alt=Jack Ma speaks with some of the finalists of the annual maths competition he started in 2018. Photo: Weibo>

Ma spoke with some of the 685 finalists from 19 countries over video, which was displayed on a large screen. Ma said on Saturday that next year's competition will continue to "innovate and bring more fun to people who love mathematics", according to the official statement.

Ma's more recent appearances have come with new public responsibilities. On June 12, he conducted his first class at the University of Tokyo as part of the visiting professorship he was granted this year. The seminar on "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" was jointly organised by Tokyo College and the University of Tokyo's Global Leadership Programme, according to a statement from the university on Friday.

Ma has also assumed professorships in at least three other schools outside mainland China. One of those is a three-year term as honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong.

In the past few years, Ma has been spotted in China, Japan, and across Europe attending academic and agricultural events. Earlier this year, he was seen in Thailand as part of his study of farming and fishery, following a three-month stay in Japan, where he looked into the operations and technology of fish farms.

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.
Indias G20 presidency highlights the critical theme of gender equality and the empowerment of women in domestic and global contexts. Recognising the significance of womens education, financial inclusion, and equal opportunities, India aims to build a robust and inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) to advance womens economic empowerment. Through various initiatives and innovative approaches, the government seeks to bridge the gender gap, create sustainable finance options, and promote womens leadership at all levels of decision-making.

A crucial aspect for the advancement and empowerment of women is ensuring their financial inclusion. Globally, almost half (42 per cent) of women and girls remain outside the formal financial system, with a persistent 7 per cent gender gap. However, India has made remarkable progress in this area. Today, nearly 81 per cent of urban women and 77.4 per cent of rural women in India own a bank account, which they operate themselves.

To foster sustainable development through gender equality and women empowerment, it is imperative to enhance womens capacities and provide equal opportunities. Education plays a vital role in this regard, yet gender parity remains a challenge. Women, still, account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read, and with 54 per cent of the total 78.2 million out-of-school children being girls, a concerted and coordinated effort will be required to move the needle. India is committed to making progress in this area. In tandem, the pervasive issue of malnutrition and food insecurity must be addressed at its roots. During my tenure as CEO of NITI Aayog, I had the fortune of driving the GoIs Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)the worlds largest outcome-based governance project, focused on improving the socio-economic indicators of the 112 most backward districts of India. I saw the impact of combining the strengths of local governance structures with multi-stakeholder partnerships first-hand. By setting up model anganwadi centres, standardising data-collection methods, and creating an enabling environment for innovative solutions, we were able to improve markers for health, well-being, and overall development significantly. For example, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, a remarkable initiative called the Poshan app revolutionised the way malnourishment was addressed in the district. This app utilised real-time data analytics to monitor crucial aspects such as bed occupancy, child-growth charts, and inventory levels at malnourishment treatment centres. The impact was astounding, with bed occupancy levels at health care centres witnessing an increase of over 90 per cent.

By bridging the gap in access to digital technologies, promoting womens education, and ensuring their health and livelihood, we can accelerate their economic empowerment globally. Global leaders must collaborate to dismantle long-term structural barriers that hinder womens progress across these critical pillars. The increasing participation of women in any economy not only fosters growth but also has a positive impact on the overall socio-economic development of the nation. I firmly believe that womens empowerment is not just a cause, but a transformative force that can drive sustainable development and inclusive growth.

India recognises the importance of womens representation at all levels, from administrative offices to grassroots institutions. By bringing womens unique perspectives and experiences to the table, we cultivate more inclusive and effective decision-making. The sustainability of outcomes and progress towards gender equality rely on the availability of quality gender-disaggregated data. By investing in data collection and sharing, and converting it into digital intelligence, we can develop targeted interventions and monitor the impact of our efforts.

Advancing gender equality is essential for creating a more equitable and inclusive society. By focusing on womens financial inclusion, strengthening their capacities, enabling their leadership, and prioritising their health, and the collection of gender-disaggregated data, we can create a better future. By building a robust digital public infrastructure and implementing initiatives that bridge the gender gap, India aims to empower women and promote their leadership at all levels. It is through these concerted efforts that we can create a more prosperous future, where womens economic empowerment and gender equality are at the forefront of our collective endeavours.

The author is G20 Sherpa, government of India, and former CEO, NITI Aayog. All views expressed are personal.
Mindset of parents must change to see that sports can also be a career, she said

By Riyad Mathew, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal and Dnyanesh Jathar
You may lie to your spouse but, as an old adage goes, not to your doctor or lawyer. The doc has to know how many cigarettes you smoke, and how many drinks you down so that he can repair your blackened lungs and bloated liver. Your lawyer needs to know if you had actually poisoned your cheating spouse and how, so that he can save you from the gallows by making the whole affair appear to be a case of accidental drug overdose.

Riding on the adage is a sacred trustthat, like a pastor at the confessional, both these guys would keep their mouths shut. Even if he knows that his client is the devil himself, the lawyer has to defend the fellow as if he is an angel from heaven who has lost his way. And there is no lawgods or mansthat compels a lawyer to state the truth that his client had confided in him.

It was this trust that made Donald Trump, indeed a devil, share with his lawyers his criminal act of stealing state secrets when he was leaving the White House two winters ago. But now it appears, some of those attorneys may be telling on him. A judge has ordered them to.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

Horror of horrors! Isnt it a breach of trusta privilege that has been sanctified by law? Indeed, client-attorney privilege has been sanctified under common law, which most of us in the English-speaking world follow. We have it protected in Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. As John M. Barkett, a prolific American law-writer says, The attorney-client privilege is a crown jewel of the legal profession.

How then can a judge ask an attorney to spill his clients beans? Lets get the facts first, and then the law.

While Trump, defeated in the 2020 presidential polls and beaten in a bid to besiege the Capitol, was leaving the White House, he took several boxes of secret papers, and showed some of those to people who were not supposed to see them. He had a battery of lawyers to assist him in deciding what to take, where and how. When they told him that some of his orders would be illegal, he snapped back that he would deny the charge. In short, the guy knew he was doing wrong, and was asking his lawyers if there was some way in law by which it wouldnt be illegal.

Now lets get the law. In the normal run, there is no way any court, judge or god can compel an attorney to spill any secret told to him by his client, even if the client is Ajmal Kasab, one of the Nirbhaya killers, Trump or the Devil himself. The law does not distinguish between a saint and a scoundrel when it comes to application. If an attorney breaches his clients trust, the bar lords will tear up his licence to practise and send him home.

But there are exceptions. One, there is no way a client can confide in his lawyer his intent to commit a crime. You cant tell your lawyer that you are planning to poison your spouse and ask him to make it look like a case of accidental drug overdose. There the attorney can simply phone the police and prevent a crime, as the priest tried to in the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aakhree Raasta, or its original Tamil Kamal Haasan-starrer Oru Kaidhiyin Diary.

In Trumps case, a federal judge has ruled that a couple of his attorneys could be asked to testify since there is sufficient evidence that Trump had intentionally misled them about carting classified stuff away. He had told them that they were not secrets.

An appeals court has stayed the order for now, but a final ruling could come any day. If it goes against Trump, take my word, it would give the jitters to lawyers across the world.

prasannan@theweek.in
There is a saying in Hindi nang badey parmeshwar sey, which means a naked man is greater than Godhe fears not even God, and has nothing to hide.

Nothing captures more aptly the naked callousness of the Union government, the Delhi Police, BJP ministers and spokespersons and some media channels toward the accusations of sexual harassment by a large group of Indias women wrestlers against the BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, long-time president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

Singh is himself a picture of the utter shamelessness that total impunity grants to those in power. He has continuously denied allegations, rallying supporters to discredit the women athletes and even planning a mahapanchayat with Ayodhya-based seers to demand a watering down of the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act). While the governor of UP denied permission for the mahapanchayat to be held, one cannot help wondering why seers would lend their support to such an unholy cause spearheaded by someone accused of acts that are clearly morally reprehensible?

The wrestlerswho began the sit-in protest in January 2023, took a break and then resumed in April 2023were arrested by the Delhi Police for protesting at the site of the new parliament building. Awful images of our champion women athletes being dragged through the streets populated social media much to the horror of any sane-minded citizen. They have since been released and charges against them have been dropped. The wrestlers have in the meantime garnered a lot of international support, including from the international governing body of the sportUnited World Wrestling. After the athletes were dissuaded from throwing their Olympic medals into the Ganges, the government has finally assured action, claiming that the WFI presidential elections will be held on July 4, and neither Singh nor any of his family will be allowed to contest. The wrestlers have halted their protest, giving Delhi Police a deadline to arrest Singh and commence a proper and fair investigation.

However, some facets of the sordid business raise questions. The father of the minor, who had alleged sexual harassment that led to POCSO charges being levelled at Singh, has changed his statement claiming he lied about his daughters age. This means the most legally incriminating and non-bailable charge against the accused no longer holds. Olympic medalist Bajranj Punia has since claimed that the minors father is being pressured. The Delhi Police have also asked the wrestlers to furnish proof and evidence against Singh, a bizarre demand considering that investigation and finding proof is normally accepted to be the job of the police.

These protests are not the first instance where the governments brazen indifference to womens safety and seeming patronage to a sexual predator has been witnessed. The infamous Unnao rape accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar has long been shielded by the BJP, which also repealed the conviction of Bilkis Banos 11 gang-rapists and released them just before the Gujarat assembly elections. But, even cynically speaking, one must ask why in the face of such international scrutiny, attention and public criticism does the Modi government continue to shield Singh even as Modis own image as a womens rights champion is shown to be a farce? Is it simply because Singh, a history-sheeter with more than 30 criminal cases against him and a case alleging harbouring Dawood Ibrahims shooters, is an eastern UP strongman with a loyal Thakur votebank? Surely UPs biggest Thakur leader is Yogi Adityanath? And surely Brand Modi is not yet so fragile that it needs a history-sheeter with a sordid past to garner those few Thakur votes in eastern UP? Is it electoral calculation or a balancing of power equations within UP BJP?

Or, is it simply that after the victory of the farmers protest, the 56-inch-chest can no longer be seen as succumbing to yet another citizens protest however damning the details. because the Modi government has understood that the Indian voter just doesnt care for the safety or dignity of Indian women?

The writer is an award-winning Bollywood actor and sometime writer and social commentator.
They say: speak English, kiss French, drive German and dress Italian  but with many countries adopting the Spanish Tapas culture, eat Spanish is likely to be added to the adage soon. Tapas in Spain is not just food, but indeed a culture. It is a way in which the Spanish enjoy the company of their friends and loved ones over drinks and tapas  which are essentially small food servings that accompany a drink.

It offers a great opportunity to experience Spanish gastronomy since one can enjoy a wide range of dishes in small quantities. Owing to its popularity, a host of restaurants in India have begun celebrating the Tapas culture by introducing a specially curated Tapas menu which includes small snacks accompanied by drinks to be enjoyed with friends and family for a long time.

Legend has it that Tapas custom began when the bar keepers in the 13th century (under King Alfonso X The Wise of Castiles rule), began covering their customers' drinks with a slice of bread, ham or cheese to stop flies and dust from entering. Tapa literally means an appetiser or snack in Spanish.

Chef Ankur Gulati

In Delhi, chef Ankur Gulati of Sevilla, The Claridges put together a 10-day special menu to celebrate the culture.

Chef Ankur Gulati, executive chef, of The Claridges, New Delhi agrees that there is a deep curiosity among Indians to indulge in Tapas culture. They have a penchant for experiencing different cuisines and exploring diverse palates, making it a popular choice among many restaurants, he says. He calls the Indian palate exploratory and says the guests are always open to experimenting with international cuisines and seek to savour the true essence of diverse culinary traditions.

According to him, the Spanish Embassy provided their expertise and guidance and with their assistance; dishes that authentically represent the essence of Spanish cuisine were curated.

The set menu at the restaurant features patata bravas, shallow-fried potato smothered in a smoked pepper mojo, Hongos, wild mushroom croquettes served with garlic aioli, while the pimientos del piquillo rellenos de queso offers a blend of goat cheese-filled Spanish green pepper fritters. For seafood enthusiasts, the pan-roasted prawns with garlic, chilli, and fresh thyme, known as gambas, makes its place on the menu. The main course options include Cochin sea bass with seasonal vegetables, confit Potato, and lemon caper sauce, Josper grilled New Zealand lamb loin with ratatouille and lamb jus, and so on.

For a sweet conclusion to the menu, the traditional tiramisu or the Spanish saffron-infused crema catalana, an irresistible custard flavoured with saffron and a hint of cinnamon, topped with caramelised sugar, delight the visitors.

The most popular dish from their menu remains the patata bravas and the delectable green peppers filled with goat cheese.

Seeing a positive response to the menu, Sevilla is likely to collaborate with the Spanish Embassy on an annual basis to celebrate World Tapas Day and its culture, informs the chef.

The 10-day special Tapas experience at Sevilla, The Claridges, New Delhi ends on June 20th. The Tapas menu was curated by Sevilla in collaboration with Spain Tourism Office in India to celebrate the Tapas culture.


After an aerial survey of cyclone 'Biparjoy' affected areas in Gujarat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated the coordination between the central agencies and the Gujarat government, even as officially not a single life has been lost during the cyclone, that has left a devastating trail in terms of damages to infrastructure and agriculture.

Shah praised the manner in which Union and state ministers were on the field. He also had a word of appreciation for the administrative staff at the local level. The Union minister underlined how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in touch with the Central agencies and the Gujarat Government.

For the record, over a lakh people were moved to safer places. This includes 1,152 pregnant women out of which over 700 delivered. As many as 73,000 cattle are said to have been shifted to safer places.

Congress in Gujarat said it would work with the government in this time of adversity. Newly appointed Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil urged the government to declare the cyclone as a national calamity and work in accordance with the laid rules.

The fact that no life has been lost in the cyclone gives yet another opportunity for the BJP to publicize the 'Gujarat Model' of development. In fact, during the press conference, Shah did mention the 'Gujarat Model'.

With the general election just one year away, it gives BJP fodder to promote 'Double Engine Government'. In the political rallies, the BJP has time and again given an example of how a double engine government (the BJP-led government at the Centre and BJP government in the state) works in close coordination and how the fruits of development reach the masses.

It was indeed well coordinated. I am not criticizing it, said Ahmedabad-based socio-political analyst Ghanshyam Shah. He for one felt that the BJP would surely give this example of good coordination during elections.

Pointing out how Shah addressed the press conference, the analyst said that it was the domain of the CM and the latter was in the background. According to him, it also demoralizes the administration.

Ever since Modi moved to the Centre, every advertisement of the government has Modis photograph. This shows the kind of politics that is being played. It wont be good in the longer run, he said.

Environmental activist Rohit Prajapati appreciated the coordination but said that evacuating people is just a small part of the effort and planning required in the times when such a crisis reoccurs. There are so many industries in the affected areas and what would have happened had there been a chemical disaster, he wondered.

It is good that the nuclear power plant did not come up in Mithi Virdi in Saurashtra, he said. Prajapati was among several activists who had opposed the setting up of the proposed power plant.

Prajapati said that the government should learn lessons from Odisha and West Bengal and give nod to industrial development in such a manner that it does not cause damage to the coastal areas and the mangrove plantations.

Gujarat BJPs spokesperson Yamal Vyas said the works were done on humanitarian grounds and party workers and people from different walks of life also provided services. He said that while it is good that no human life was lost due to early weather forecasts by the IMD and good coordination, the BJP will not make it a political issue. He, however, said that the work done and the coordination aspect will be highlighted at different fora.

It remains to be seen whether the BJP makes it an issue or not, however, Ahmedabad-based social analyst Gaurang Jani has a different take altogether. He said that public support in times of crisis has been the norm since the times of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

He mentioned that as the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Patel had moved to the city badly affected by the flood. Jani said that in Borsad, there is still a place called Vitthalnagar that was set up after the floods in 1928. It is Gandhi's and Sardars Model, he remarked.
The Hindu Mahasabhas Lucknow unit has given a written application for filing a First Information Report against the producer, director, star cast and entire team behind the movie Adipurush.



The application records the Mahasabhas objection to the alleged insult that the film heaps on its central characters, including Ram, Sita and Hanuman. It also objects to the clothes, the get-up, and the dialogues of the film and says that these appear to be done to disrespect Sanatan dharma.

The film industry has been constantly targeting Sanatan because it does not have the guts to make a movie on any other religion, reads the complaint given to the station in charge of the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow.

Shishir Chaturvedi of the Mahasabha said, The film industry funded by Dawood Ibrahim is constantly targeting Hinduism, our Gods, our holy books and traditions. Adipurush portrays Lord Ram, Sita Maiyya, Hanuman ji in a highly objectionable manner. We demand that the presentation, dialogues, choice of words and clothes be completely changed. This is a wholly wrong depiction of our Lords life.

The Mahasabha is demanding that the central government and the state government impose a complete ban on the film.

Chaturvedi said, If Nepal can ban the film, what is stopping us from doing so. The objection in Nepal though is over the wrong depiction of the birthplace of Sita.

How can it be possible that while a grand Ram Temple is being built such films which shamelessly ridicule our Gods be allowed to play?, said Chaturvedi.

The Mahasabhas chairperson Chakrapani Maharaj has called for the arrest of Manoj Muntashir who has penned the dialogues of the movie.

He deserves to be in jail for hurting the feelings of millions of Sanatanis, said Chakrapani.

Social media too has come out overwhelmingly against the film- most specifically its dialogues. The majority opinion is that the language used is unbecoming of the story. Many social media users are comparing it to Ramanand Sagars television series, Ramayan which had a cult following when it was released in 1987. That its popularity remained intact was proven when the serial was re-run on Doordarshan during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In the wake of the sweltering temperatures, deaths and hospitalisations are increasing across North India. As many as 54 people died and around 400 were hospitalised in the Uttar Pradesh's (UP) Ballia District Hospital in the last three days.

Even hospitalisations are rising in the district hospitals, officials said.

A severe heatwave has swept UP, with most places seeing temperature over 40 degrees. On Saturday, Ballia recorded a maximum temparature of 43 degrees.

In Bihar, reportedly, around 44 people have lost their lives in the last three days.

Meanwhile, a probe has been launched by the UP government into the deaths. A team from Lucknow will be probing the deaths to find if any other new disease is spreading in the state.

A woman covers herself and her child with a cloth as protection from heatwave conditions during a hot summer day, in New Delhi | PTI

The chief medical superintendent of the district hospital, Diwakar Singh was transferred to Azamgarh and he has been made additional director (health) of the Azamgarh division, reported Hindustan Times.

Dr S.K Yadav has been given the charge of chief medical superintendent of Ballia.

A statement issued by the district health department said that 23 people died on June 15, while 11 others died till the afternoon of June 16. Later, 10 more people died on Friday, said an official at the hospital.

On Saturday, 10 more deaths were reported in Ballia.

Several other districts in UP and other states in North India also sweltering under severe heat.

"All the individuals were suffering from some ailments and their conditions worsened due to the extreme heat," Ballia chief medical officer Jayant Kumar told Associated Press on Saturday. He also added that most of the deaths were due to heart attack, brain stroke and diarrhea.

In Patna too around 35 deaths were reported due to severe heat.

The India Meteorological Department has issued 'Heat wave to Severe heat wave' warning for Bihar on June 18 and 19. A red alert has been issued for Aurangabad, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur and Arwal districts.
Two women were shot dead in Delhi's RK Puram on Sunday morning by unidentified assailants, police said. Though both were rushed to the hospital, they succumbed to injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29).



The RK Puram police were alerted around 4:40 am by the girls' brother, reported ANI. On arrival at their residence in Ambedkar Basti, the police personnel found the victims severely injured. They were rushed to the SJ Hospital but the injuries proved to be fatal.



An initial probe revealed the case seems to be related to a financial settlement. The assailants reportedly came for the victims' brother but shot the girls after they couldn't find him. However, the exact cause of the murder can be ascertained only after a proper investigation. "Case registered under relevant sections of IPC. Further probe underway," said Manoj C, DCP South West, Delhi, told ANI.



Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has lashed out at the LG for the incident. Stating that his thoughts are with the families of both women, he added: "The people of Delhi have started feeling very insecure. The people who have to handle the law and order of Delhi, instead of fixing the law and order, are conspiring to capture the entire Delhi government. Today, if Delhi's law and order was under the AAP government instead of LG, then Delhi would have been safest."


As Prime Minister Narendra Modi readies to embark on a state visit to the US on Tuesday, Pakistan has responded to a significant diplomatic move, stating it has "no problem with the United States deepening its ties with India, provided it does not come at the cost of Pakistan."

Modi's official state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden is considered crucial for both countries as the discussions are likely to focus on healthcare, technology, renewable energy, education and defence.

The high-profile visit has turned into a talking point in Islamabad too as Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the country "wanted good relationships with its neighbours and regional partners."

"I think we do not have any problem with the United States developing a partnership with India if it is not at the cost of Pakistan," Asif told Newsweek in an exclusive interview.

"We have common borders with China, we have common borders with Afghanistan, Iran, India. We would like to improve our relationships with them if the relationship is not good. We want to live in peace. If there is no peace there, we will never be able to restore our economy the way we want to restore it," he said.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif

Asif added that "the Indian outlook towards regional politics completely changed, because it is a Hindu nationalist government" and this has worsened the ties between the two countries.

He, however, acknowledged that India is a big market and Pakistan is a vulnerable economy. "Obviously, India is a very big market, over 1.3 billion people. Everywhere in the world, the other big economies will need to have them as partners. But Pakistan is not a very big economy, and [is] a vulnerable economy. All we have is a geographical location, which is strategic, which attracts, I would say, not all the good things, it sometimes attracts some things which really make us even more vulnerable," the Defence Minister added.

Asif added that he felt appreciation was required in Washington about Pakistan's situation. "We should not be pushed into a situation where we have to make some very hard choices," he added. "Our relationship with America for us is very valuable. It has its history. It has some disappointments, some huge disappointments, but still we value our relationship with the United States and we want that relationship to flourish," the minister said.

The Pakistan Minister's response comes as Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan recently said the US expects a transformational moment in India ties during Modi's trip.
Britain's defence intelligence on Sunday found Russian casualties are highest as Ukraine continues with counteroffensive operations.

The intel report said, In recent days, heavy fighting has continued, with the most intense combat focused in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, western Donetsk Oblast, and around Bakhmut. The intel said Ukraine is continuing with its counteroffensive operations and has made several advances. Recently, Ukrainian forces made successful break through into Russia's front lines in captured territories.

In the south, Russian forces often conduct relatively effective defensive operations. Both sides are suffering high casualties, with Russian losses likely the highest since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, British intel found.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update on Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours, Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraine's counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometre front line could last a long time.

(With PTI inputs.)
The two warring factions of Sudan-- Sudans armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to a new 72-hour ceasefire from Sunday, the US and Saudi mediators said. The Sudanese capital of Khartoum saw intense fighting with deadly air attacks before the ceasefire was declared. According to a joint statement by US and Saudi mediators, the nationwide truce, which went into effect at 6 am on Sunday, will last until June 21. The air attack on Saturday killed at least 17 people.



The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours, the statement said. Both the US and Saudi have been mediating between the warring factions for weeks. Multiple ceasefire agreements have failed to stop the fighting.

The fighting, which has gone on for two months, has displaced 2.2 million Sudanese. As per Sudan's health ministry, it has killed over 3,000 people and injured over 6,000. According to the joint statement by the US and Saudi, the ceasefire would allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

The statement also noted that should the parties fail to observe the 72-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning the Jeddah talks. According to the United Nations, about 25 million people are in need of aid and protection.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine must stop. Ramaphosa is in Russia as part of a peace-seeking delegation.



Seven African leaders presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt's prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda, visited Ukraine on Friday as part of a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the delegation that he would not hold talks with Russia while they occupied Ukrainian land.

While in St Petersburg, Ramaphosa also said both parties should return their prisoners of war, and that children removed by Russia should be returned home. Hundreds of Ukrainian children were removed forcibly from their families during Russia's occupation of Ukraine. Putin has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court for the same.

Ukraine began a counteroffensive to push back Russian forces last week.

Ramaphosa also said that the war should be settled by diplomacy and apprised Putin of the effects of war on Africa.

"The war cannot go on forever. All wars have to be settled and come to an end at some stage," he said, BBC reported. "And we are here to communicate a very clear message that we would like this war to be ended."

Putin, at the beginning of the dialogue, interjected the opening remarks by the African leaders to list out reasons why he thought many of their proposals were misguided. He reiterated that he had never blocked talks with Ukraine and that this conflict had been started by the West long before Russia sent in its troops.
Adis spell was truly great, said Nadir Godrej in a touching tribute to his older brother, when Adi Godrej stepped down as chairman of Godrej Industries in August 2021 and passed on the mantle to him.

It was, indeed. Under Adis leadership, the groups flagship, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), grew from being a homegrown consumer goods maker to a multinational company with a strong presence in south east Asia, Africa and Latin America. And Godrej Properties became one of the top real estate firms with projects countrywide.

Nadir seems to have filled his brothers big shoes comfortably, as Godrej continues to expand into newer areas like financial services and sexual wellness, and its overseas operations rapidly growing through acquisitions. It bought Megasari in Indonesia, Darling Group in Africa, Issue Group and Argencos in Latin America, and Strength of Nature in the US, among many other companies in the past decade. And, there seems to be appetite for more.

Making in India: A fertiliser manufacturing equipment made by Godrej gets ready in Mumbai to be shipped to the US | PTI

In India, however, the group has been more discreet. It recently bought the consumer care business of Raymond for Rs2,825 crore. The last acquisition before that was almost three decades ago when it bought Transelektra Domestic Products, bringing the Goodknight brand into its fold.

The acquisition of Raymonds consumer care business gives GCPL access to two popular brandsPark Avenue and Kamasutra. While Park Avenue is strong in deodorants and has a fairly strong recall in male grooming, Kamasutra will give GCPL access to the fast-growing sexual wellness segment. Godrej had tried its hands at deodorants through its Cinthol brand, but with limited success. Cinthol has a strong brand equity, but not necessarily in the deodorant space, said Sameer Shah, chief financial officer of GCPL. What we saw in Park Avenue is very strong brand equity and market share. It is the second largest player along with the Kamasutra brand and has significant cost synergies.

GCPL believes deodorants could be the next sunrise sector in the country. We see significant headroom for growth over two-three decades. There is also a significant opportunity in premiumising condoms, said Shah.

While there is no doubt that the acquisition is a sound move, there have been concerns over the valuation. The valuation of 55 times EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in financial year 2023) looks stretched, said Varun Lohchab, head of institutional research at HDFC Securities. In comparison, investor KKR bought stake in Vini Cosmetics (the market leader in deodorants with stronger financials) at a valuation of 35 times earnings (EBITDA in financial year 2022).

Last year, FMCG companies faced subdued demand, especially in rural markets. But, things are picking up. Domestic volumes grew 11 per cent (in the January-March quarter), a function of healthy growth in soaps and sustained recovery in household insecticides, said Richard Liu, analyst at JM Financial Institutional Securities.

India remains GCPLs largest market, though more than 40 per cent of its revenue now comes from overseas markets like Indonesia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Revenue from Africa alone was Rs3,415 crore last year.

Godrej is now simplifying its international operations, essentially revisiting operating models and focusing on reducing complexities. In Nigeria, for example, we have outsourced our entire distribution. We do not have a sales force there now. It may come at a percentage higher cost, but we get significant distribution reach, said Shah.

The Indian FMCG market is a crowded space now, with many new entrants tapping into niche and low-penetrated categories. GCPL is eyeing this space. It is investing Rs100 crore in Early Spring, a Rs300-crore early-stage consumer fund. The aim is to collaborate with new-age companies in the home and personal care, and the health and wellness spaces. We intend to leverage our understanding over the past decades to enable early-stage founders offer differentiated products in India, said Omar Momin, head of mergers and acquisitions at GCPL.

The Godrejs have set up a family office as well, with the intention of investing in new-age businesses. Adis son Pirojsha, who is the executive chairperson of Godrej Properties, oversees it. Nadir has also invested in his personal capacity in Hector Beverages, which sells juices and traditional beverages under the Paper Boat brand.

Unlike FMCG, where companies faced demand issues last year, real estate companies benefited from a boom in the residential market. Godrej Properties rode this boom to establish itself as a strong national player, with projects across India. It saw its highest ever annual sales last year, with booking value surging 56 per cent to Rs12,232 crore and 40 per cent volume growth.

We closed financial year 2023 as our best-ever for business development, with the addition of 18 new products with an expected combined revenue potential of over Rs32,000 crore, more than double the guidance of Rs15,000 crores given at the start of the year, and growing by more than 250 per cent from the previous years actual, said Pirojsha.

Synergies have always been a key factor Godrej has looked for when entering or acquiring new businesses. The strong brand name in the real estate market seems to have encouraged the group to venture into financial services. Godrej launched Godrej Capital in November 2020, providing home loans to customers buying houses in Godrej Properties projects. It quickly scaled up the operations to offer not just home loans to a wider customer base, but also loans against property and finance to small enterprises.

There are very clear advantages that we have because we are part of the Godrej group, said Manish Shah, managing director and CEO of Godrej Capital. One is just the strength of the brand and what it means to the Indian consumer. Second, financial strengths that come from internally as a group being quite low-leveraged and at the same time the quality of the relationships that we have with banks. The third is access to the customer ecosystems.

At launch, Godrej Capital had targeted to have Rs10,000 crore of assets in three years. In its third year, it has a book of Rs6,000 crore and expects to close the year with assets of close to Rs12,000 crore. As it looks to scale up the business, Godrej Capital is expanding to other areas like loans for working capital and supply chain finance. Affordable housing is also of immense interest to Godrej Capital.

The promoters have invested Rs1,500 crore in Godrej Capital and have committed 01,200 crore more, which is likely to be invested in the current financial year. The company is hopeful of having a Rs50,000 crore asset book in five years.

Godrej Capital will face tough challenge from companies that are significantly larger and have wide networks. For instance, assets under management at the countrys largest mortgage lender, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), was Rs7.23 lakh crore at the end of March 2023. Even the non-banking finance company Piramal Enterprises had assets of Rs63,989 crore last financial year.

Nadir admitted that Godrej Agrovet had a difficult year in 2022-23. The company entered the dairy business in 2015, acquiring Creamline Dairy Products. It sells milk and milk products under the Jersey brand and is mainly present in south India. It plans to scale up the business across the country, but has been facing speed bumps. For instance, owing to the rise in milk procurement costs and a weak flush season due to unseasonal rains and the lumpy skin disease outbreak, the dairy business reported a loss of Rs11 crore in 2022-23, even as the revenue rose 28 per cent to Rs1,501 crore.

The company recently opened a new research and development centre called Adi Godrej Centre for Chemical Research and Development. Nadir said it would help in accelerating growth in the contract manufacturing segment. A big thing would be the focus on disproportionately growing, less volatile revenue streams, which would include value-added categories in dairy, licensing products in crop protection and contract manufacturing in Astec Lifesciences, he said.

In the animal protein business, Godrej Tyson is strategically shifting focus to branded products, gradually reducing its emphasis on live bird sales.

Godrej is one of the largest oleochemicals (chemicals derived from natural fats and oils) makers in the world, and it exports a range chemicals like fatty acids, glycerine and surfactants. (Substances that reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. They are widely used in detergents.) We are growing more and more in biologicals, said Nadir. We have a new biological sophorolipids (bio-based antimicrobial formulating agents), which is a powerful surfactant. It is antibacterial and antiviral.

With FMCG and real estate expected to continue the good show and the agri business likely to recover, Godrej Industries is looking at another strong year. The financial services business could add further strength in the years to come.
While buyers in more affordable ranges are experiencing massive housing shortages, thats not the case for the Los Angeles luxury home market.

"We have a good amount of inventory, Josh Altman, co-founder of the Altman Brothers, a real estate agent firm that focuses on luxury homes, told Yahoo Finance LIVE (video above). "Good houses still are selling."

In Los Angeles, there are 400 available listings for single families over $5 million, representing 18% of the total single-family inventory of around 2,200 homes, according to a filter search on Redfin.com.

But there are a lot fewer buyers in this price range. A $5 million home requires buyers to earn around $850,000 a year, a bracketed range that includes less than 1% of Californians, based on data analyzed by SmartAsset. (Note: The average U.S. income is around $70,000)

"I think the buyer has the upper hand," Altman said.

Los Angeles California - Beverly Hills landscape and mansions aerial view late afternoon

'Mansion tax'

Luxury buyers took a breather in April, though, after Los Angeles City imposed a so-called "mansion tax"  officially known as the Measure ULA  to help fund solutions for the city's homeless crisis. The measure tagged on an extra 4% in taxes for properties sold over $5 million and 5.5% on properties sold over $10 million. That was on top of the city's base transfer tax.

This new measure dented demand for houses over that threshold in Los Angeles. Only two properties sold in Los Angeles in April were over the $5 million mark, compared with 126 condo and homes sold in March, one month ahead of the ULA deadline, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"We had an extremely slow April," Altman said.

Beverly Hills, CA - September 08: An aerial view of "The One Bel Air", a 105,000-square-foot mansion with a sky deck and putting green, night club, several swimming pools, a 50-seat theater, a four-lane bowling alley and more.

Sellers, knowing the tax was looming, tried to offload properties before April. One developer promised an Aston Martin, Bentley, or McLaren vehicle to the buyer of its $16.5 million listing, a new construction home in Beverly Hills, as long as the purchase was made before April 1.

The home didnt sell and remains on the market, even after a price cut of $500,000.

Actor Mark Wahlberg sold his Beverly Hills mansion for $55 million in February only after a $32.5 million price drop.

"Across the board, the buyer mentality is all about a deal these days," Altman said.

With good reason. The ULA rates are not progressive, which means the taxes are levied against the total value of the property and not just the additional amount over the threshold.

For instance, a property transaction of $5,000,001 triggers $222,500 of tax revenue, according to the city's ULA tax calculator. The two luxury homes sold in April  at $5.7 million and $7.5 million  brought in over $500,000 for Measure ULA.

But there are signs that buyers are coming back, Altman said, noting that May was the strongest month with closings and June is "looking like it's going to double that," he said.

"I'm sitting in my car out front of a listing because I got a big showing," he said, "which is always a good sign."

Rebecca Chen is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and previously worked as an investment tax certified public accountant (CPA).

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It was at the turn of the century1897. The year Bram Stokers Dracula offered a blood drinking afterlife; Oscar Wilde was released from prison for gross indecency; the Battle of Saragarhimuch before its very nationalist Kesari (filmic) avatarwas fought to be lost; and a young Parsi, Ardeshir B. Godrej, set up a lock factory that was key to Indias safe future.

We cannot call it a startup, but in a way it was, said Vrunda Pathare, head of Godrej Archives. Till Ardeshir chose to go the security way, factory-made locks were imported; Indian locks were handmade. His was the first made-in-India endeavour that changed not just the lock landscape, but also our history. By 1908, Godrej had patented the first springless lock in the world. And by 1911, when King George V and Queen Mary became the first monarchs to set foot on Indian soil, their valuables were stored in Godrej safesan endorsement that was as solid as the safes.

Keys to the future: Prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru types on the Godrej all-Indian typewriter at the Raj Bhavan in Madras during the Avadi Congress session in 1955 | Godrej Archives

It is Monday morningthe heat is as thick as the sugar in the Irani chai Mumbai is famous for. The Godrej Archives at Plant 19A of the Godrej and Boyce headquarters in Vikhroli is open. Workers, in blue uniforms, are at work in a shed next door. The clang of metal with the factory siren provides the background score for researchersa reminder that the past is a hammer tap away from the present. From the patent of the first lock to the first-ever made-in-India typewriterbeating the competition from the imported Remingtonto keeping records of its aerospace and defence achievements, the archives trace the progress of Godrej. But dig deeper, and these objects, be it the steel cupboardan essential part of the Indian trousseauor the office chair, which became a staple in corporate India, or the ultra-low temperature freezers for storing Covid-19 vaccines, also hold a nugget of the countrys history that lies off the beaten track of mainstream history.

And, it began with a tiny metal object designed to resist theft, but instead became the symbol of resistancethe Godrej lock. Getting Ardeshir to open up for an interview was as difficult as picking his pioneering lock (one version even had a sort of a lie detector). The only surviving interview of his is the one he gave The Herald on April 27, 1927, which referred to him as a crank. His passion for his product, and his patriotism, clearly shows. Ye asses and donkeys, ye foolish children of India, what have you done for the Swadeshi industries? he said. If you see your mother bleeding in so many parts of her body, will you leave her alone and enjoy living your life at her cost? He was 62 then and had spent more than half his life choosing to manufacture in India and for India. He refused to pose for a picture for the newspaper. The journalist notes that he was fiddling with scent bottles during the interview.

Godrej Storwel, circa 1972, was a quintessential part of the trousseau | Godrej Archives

Perfume was part of another pet projectswadeshi soap, a sort of patriotism test by bubbles. Soap would perhaps never have been counted as a symbol of independence. But Godrejs No. 2 certainly was, at least for Ardeshir. At the 1906 Calcutta session of the Congress, all attendees vowed to boycott British goods. The first vegetarian soap was thought of by Ardeshir. Much before its Cinthol, which had the rugged Vinod Khanna as the model, and Crowning Glory, with the glorious mane of Dimple Kapadia, Godrejs vegetarian soap was endorsed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. No ekla chalo mantra for this bar, it also had a supporter in Dr Annie Besant. Soon, it became part of households across India, outselling Lux, White Rose, Cuticura and Windsor. Godrej No. 2 was followed by a rose-scented No. 1.

Swept up in the spirit of freedom, Ardeshir, who had failed as a lawyer, knew that business could be for change and embraced swadeshi as a mantra. There was an attempt to manufacture surgical instruments for hospitals at a fraction of the price. It had come to naught. He was unwilling to do the only request the hospital hadprint Made in England on the instruments. True freedom for India, Ardeshir felt, was to be self-reliant. It was personal as much as it was political.

When his locks were ready for the market in 1901, he found that British-owned papers refused to carry advertisements objecting to the phrase as good as imported variety. Only Indian papers like Kesari, Tribune and Bombay Samachar chose to carry his advertisement (he later donated Rs 3 lakh to The Tilak Swaraj Fund in memory of Kesari founder Bal Gangadhar Tilak). Posters were put up at eating houses, railway stations and meeting houses. By 1902, he had used his expertise of the impregnable to create safes. And to prove just how safe they were, they were tested by fire.

The remnant of a Re 1 noterescued from the Godrej office in Lalbaugis a tangible testimony to the effectiveness of the safe. It is also a reminder of how the story of Godrej is enmeshed in the fabric of the city by the sea. The note is a witness to the deadliest fire that Bombay, a century before it became Mumbai, ever saw. In 1944, SS Fort Stikine docked at Bombay. It was at the end of World War II, and the ship was a floating tinder box carrying ammunition, spares for ships and aircraft, gold bars, besides a fighter plane and flammable cargo (cotton bales, cartons of oil, resin, scrap iron and sulphur) from Karachi. As the ship was waiting to be unloaded, a small fire started on April 14. While the crew on the ship tried to douse the fire, two explosions were heard by 4pm (the impact was so severe that it was registered on the seismograph). It took the fire department three days to bring the fire under control. The official death toll stands over 700. It took over 8,000 people seven months to remove five lakh tonne of debris and get the docks back in working order. April 14 is now observed as National Fire Service Day.

Ballot point: Sukumar Sen (left), then chief election commissioner, and P.S. Subramaniam, secretary, examine samples of the ballot boxes ahead of the 1952 elections. Godrej reportedly made 12.83 lakh ballot boxes for Indias first elections | PIB

What was kept in the Godrej safe was all that could be retrieved from that fire, said Pathare. So, there are all these stories that say that some safes were flung into the air, but still they only got a dent. Everything that was inside was intact. This is the Rs1 note that was found in one of the safes.

This is not the only impact that the company has had on the citys landscape. In the 1960s and 1970s, as Bombay strove to challenge the sky and create office space at Nariman Point, the inching up was supported by Godrej. At that time, Godrej was into the business of architectural fabrication, which was mostly steel windows and door frames, said Pathare. If you go to the campus of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Colaba in Mumbai, you will find that all the window frames with aluminium, and the louvres of the library were provided by Godrej. This Godrej imprint can be found in other important buildings not just in Mumbai, like the Air India building and the Oberoi hotel, but also in other parts of the country, she added.

If the fabric of freedom was handspun khadi, it also had the strength of steel. The Godrej Archives is witness to a changing Indiafrom being an intrinsic part of the countrys Swadeshi Movement against colonialism to being intimately tied with the vote in free India. The first general elections were very much a test for India in the grand experiment of democracy. They lasted five months, from October 1951 to February 1952. It was also very much a trial for Godrej, which was responsible for manufacturing the ballot boxes. Indias first election was a mammoth exercise, with 1,874 candidates and 53 parties. Indias population was 36 crore, and close to halfover 17 crorewere voters. The task was daunting. The Vikhroli plantArdeshirs brother Pirojsha purchased it in 1943, as the mill areas in Lalbaug and Parel were proving too small for dreamsthat stood in the middle of green fields operated round the clock to create ballot boxes as tamper-proof as their safes. Mr Thanewalla, who oversaw Plant 1 (in Vikhroli), said that workers would sleep at the plant, as this was a very important order for them, said Pathare.

The archives hold in its collection the advertisement of 1951 Every Vote Countsthat mentions that 12.83 lakh boxes were made then as well as a note on the locking mechanism used. There was a lot at stake. The boxes had to be not only tamper-proof, but also waterproof and vermin-proof. After creating more than 70 prototypesthe number reveals just how invested they were in the processthey arrived at the perfect box.

We have a circular regarding railway wagons dispatching ballot boxes to different parts of India, said Pathare. The internal locking mechanism was a patented invention, as we are told. The locking mechanism was made for these ballot boxes because the external locks were more expensive than the manufacturing cost of this box, which was Rs5. So they thought of reducing the costs by providing the internal locking mechanism. One could just put a seal on the box when locked internally. A Godrej worker named Nathalal Panchal developed this mechanism, she added. It is a name that is not even a footnote in the countrys history, but nonetheless known, thanks to Godrejs oral historypassed down by employees over the years and now recorded in the archives (Godrej is one of the first few corporates to invest in preserving its history).

Steel was at the heart of new Indiaoutside buildings, in homes and also to build dreams beyond the stars. And, it is here that the typewriter, the first machine that embraced and defined officialdom, helped lay the foundations. It is lessons learnt from this machine that helped cement the companys relationship with Indias space journeyfrom developing high-precision satellite components for an Indian Space Research Organisation launch in 1985 and later being a crucial part of ISROs many missions, including Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan, to building critical parts of the Tejas light combat aircraft, to developing the new automated assembly line for the Pinaka rockets for the Indian Army in 2020 and even the cladding of the BrahMoS.

But it all started with the first swadeshi typewriter in independent India in 1955. The typewriter became a symbol of changing demographics in offices, ushering in a generation of women typists by offering them a chance at a career outside homes. Naval Godrej (Pirojshas son) was the man behind the typewriter, said Pathare. He went to his father, saying he wanted to make a typewriter. Pirojsha, for whom quality was important, asked whether we would be as good as Remington, as it was a standard for quality in typewriter manufacturing.

It was a challenge, as it took quite a while and many avatars before the bestseller was discovered. From being providers of locks and safes, the company had moved to precision engineering. At that time, none of the Indian companies were manufacturing typewriters, said Pathare. That is why, Pirojsha was actually sceptical. We had never manufactured such parts, as our expertise till then was in sheet metal work. This was a risk. This machine had some 1,800 to 2,000 smaller parts.

Yet, Naval, who joined the company at 17 without going to college, was confident they could pull it off. Pathare recounted a conversation with S.M. Vaidya, who used to head Godrej Aerospace. He was asked what his favourite machine was, and they thought he would pick something from the space industry. But he mentioned the typewriter, said Pathare. The typewriter marked the beginning of precision engineering, as this machine gave us the confidence for the precision required in aerospace. This helped the company take flight.

The Godrej story, however, is grounded in day-to-day living, too. It is very much represented by the two essential products that became part of middle class India: the fridge and the steel almirah. These two moved the company from outside spaces into homes. It was only around the 1960s when the middle classes started emerging, said Pathare. Yet, it was also a time of restrictions. The production of cupboards was limited and people had to book their Storwel almost nine months in advance. People were ready to wait because by then Godrej was becoming [a symbol of trust], said Pathare. People were ready to invest, even if it wasnt really a very cheap product. But this was in that generation. They wanted to buy a product, invest in it.

The cupboard or the fridge often moved from being just a gadget to a memory. At the Godrej Archives, one of the first few models of the fridge on display is very much a sentimental acquisition. It was transported from Chandigarh a few years ago. The customer had chosen to hang on to it even though it was not frost-free. Godrej launched the first model of the refrigerator in 1959. With its heavy doorwhich takes an effort to pull, as it was not meant to be opened at a whimthere was also a key; everyone did not have access. The fridge represents a time gone by, where things were meant for a lifetime. Much like the cupboard, now celebrating a century of existence.

If you have seen the TV advertisements from the 1980s, you will notice that they work with these emotions, and show what a cupboard really means, said Pathare. So, how did the cupboard end up being a non-negotiable part of the trousseau? Pathare has the answer to that: I was speaking to a customer, and she mentioned that it was like creating a space for your daughter in that new home. That is why parents gift cupboards. They have no idea what kind of space has been created for the daughter in the new house. So this is for her.

The swadeshi soap continues to sell in independent India. Godrej Soaps was renamed Godrej industries. The company has branched into chemicals, agriculture, finance and real estate. It continues to make soap.



Godrej & Boyce continues to keep valuables safe. It makes locks, consumer durables and industrial products, and keeps pushing the frontiers of Indian science in space and defence under the leadership of its chairman and managing director, Jamshyd Godrej. His niece and executive director Nyrika Holkar is expected to succeed him.
Chennai, Jun 18 (PTI) The third edition of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group under India's Presidency of the forum, scheduled to be held between June 19 and 21 here, would focus on the discussions for finalising the key recommendations set out in the SFWG 2023 work plan.

Around 100 delegates from G20 member countries were expected to take part in the event that would be held in the popular tourist destination Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram is located on the scenic East Coast Road, about 50 kilometres south of Chennai, which is home to the iconic Shore Temple, also declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The first two meetings of the SFWG were held in Guwahati and Udaipur, respectively.

"During the third meeting (Chennai), the focus will be to steer discussions for finalising the recommendations for key deliverables set out in the SFWG 2023 work plan. The draft has been circulated to the membership ahead of the meeting," an official release said.

The SWFG has been working on priority areas to advance actions envisaged in the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap.

The action plan includes -- mechanisms for the mobilisation of timely and adequate resources for climate finance, enabling financing for sustainable development goals, and capacity building of the ecosystem for financing toward sustainable development.

Observing that the demand for capacity building for sustainable finance has been increasing, the release said there were substantial knowledge gaps, limited technical assistance, and a lack of coordination.

"The SFWG, under the Indian Presidency, is developing a set of voluntary recommendations as part of the deliverables for 2023 to address the challenges," it said.

The views put forth by the members and negotiations that emerge in the Chennai edition would be discussed during the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in July.

Two workshops have been organised to enable sharing of knowledge and technical expertise from high-profile speakers from academia and think tanks to provide insights on various topics during the event, the release said.
Chandigarh, Jun 18 (PTI) Punjab Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department has set up seven teams to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers. State's Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Sunday said that these teams will also visit shops, manufacturing units of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides besides carrying out regular checks and sampling for quality as well as rates at which the goods are sold to the farmers.

He further said that the flying squad teams, headed by Joint Directors and Chief Agriculture Officers of the department, will closely monitor the sale of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers, besides keeping a watch over the demand and supply of goods to farmers.

The one team of the flying squad has been set aside for three to four districts, he said, according to an official statement.

He urged the farmers to demand a 'bill' for each purchase from the vendor and ensure they only pay the amount mentioned on the bills.

The Agriculture Minister said that If the bills are not given by vendors then farmers should raise a complaint with the concerned officer and strict action will be followed.

Khuddian reiterated that the Bhagwant Mann led AAP government is committed to the welfare of the farmers.
Mumbai, Jun 18 (PTI) Actor Karan Deol on Sunday tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Drisha Acharya in an intimate ceremony attended by family and close friends here.

Karan, son of actor Sunny Deol and grandson of Hindi cinema icon Dharmendra, shared the news on Instagram.

"You are my today and all of my tomorrows. The beginning of a beautiful journey in our lives. We are overwhelmingly thankful for the abundant blessings and well wishes that surround us!" he wrote alongside photographs from the ceremony that took place at Taj Lands End.

While the groom opted for an ivory sherwani, the bride wore a bright red lehenga.

Dharmendra was seen dancing at Karan's wedding procession along with sons Sunny and Bobby Deol. Actor Abhay Deol and other family members also attended the wedding.

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Kriti Sanon attended the sangeet ceremony along with their families on Saturday.
Mumbai, Jun 18 (PTI) "Adipurush" dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla on Sunday said the makers of the mythological epic film have decided to "revise some of the dialogues", after the Prabhas-starrer was criticised heavily for its pedestrian language.

Shukla, who has penned the Hindi dialogues and songs of the retelling of the Ramayana, said the amended lines will be added to the film by this week.

"...For me there is nothing greater than your feelings. I can give countless arguments in favour of my dialogues, but this will not lessen your pain. Me and the producer-director of the film have decided that we will revise some of the dialogues which are hurting you and they will be added to the film this week," Shukla said in a statement shared on his official Twitter account.

"Adipurush", which was released across the country in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil on Friday, stars Prabhas as Raghav (Ram), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita) and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh (Raavan).

Directed by Om Raut and produced by T-Series, big-budget multilingual saga "Adipurush" has been panned on social media over its poor VFX and colloquial dialogues, with Shukla under fire for Lord Hanuman's dialogues in the 'Lanka Dahan' sequence, among others.

Many viewers and political party leaders pointed out the oversimplified language used by the characters, especially Bajrang (Hanuman) played by Devdatta Nage.

In his statement, which he wrote in Hindi, Shukla said it is possible that in a three-hour film he may have written "something different from your imagination for 3 minutes of duration", but viewers shouldn't hurry to label him as a "Sanatan drohi".

"The first lesson one can learn from Ramkatha is to respect every emotion. What is right or wrong changes with time, but the feeling is constant.

"I wrote more than 4,000 lines as dialogues in 'Adipurush', some sentiments got hurt on five of those lines. In those hundreds of lines, where Shri Ram was glorified, Maa Sita's chastity was described, I was hoping to receive praise for them, which I don't know why I did not get," he added.

The writer-lyricist, who won the National Film Award for best lyrics in "Saina", said he had no complaints with the audience.

"If we stand against each other, Sanatan will lose. We have made 'Adipurush' for Sanatan Seva, it's a film which you are watching in large numbers and I believe you will watch in future as well," he further said.

Mounted on a reported budget of Rs 500 crore, "Adipurush" raised Rs 140 crore on the day one of its release on Friday, the makers claimed.
Kathmandu, Jun 18 (PTI) The screening of all Hindi movies will be banned in Nepal's capital Kathmandu from Monday over the "objectionable" words and depiction of Sita in the mythological epic film Adipurush, a top city official announced on Sunday.

Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah defended the ban on all Hindi films in the Kathmandu Metropolitan area, saying the screening of the movie Adipurush without having one of its dialogues removed will cause "irreparable damage".

"Screening of all the Hindi films will be barred within Kathmandu Metropolitan City from Monday, June 19, as the objectionable words in the dialogue of the film Adipurush has not yet been removed, Shah said in his Facebook post.

"We have already issued notice three days ago to remove the objectionable portion of the dialogue that 'Sita is Indias daughter' from the movie within three days," he said.

Shah said if they allow the screening of the movie, it would help "establish a distorted fact.

He said it would cause "irreparable damage to our nationality, cultural unity" and deal a "blow to our national heroes."

Shah seems committed to halting the screening of all Hindi films currently being shown in all 17 cinema halls within the capital city.

"All the cinema halls in Kathmandu will stop showing Indian films from Monday as per the instruction issued by the KMC, said Nabin Manandhar, spokesperson of the KMC.

We have already talked to the cinema hall owners in Kathmandu for cooperation and they have agreed to voluntarily halt screening Hindi movies within Kathmandu Metropolis from Monday, he said.

The cinema halls may show Nepali films instead of screening Hindi movies from Monday, he added.

Adipurush, which was released across India on Friday stars Prabhas as Raghav (Ram), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita) and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh (Raavan).

The dialogue on Sita is not the only problem Adipurush is facing with audiences. In India, the movie has been criticised for its poor VFX, offensive dialogues, and below-average performances from the actors.

Adipurush dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla said on Sunday the makers of the mythological epic film have decided to "revise some of the dialogues", after the film was criticised heavily for its pedestrian language.

Meanwhile, the film is doing great business and is expected to earn more than Rs. 100 crore in India during the first weekend itself.

Production banner T-Series said the Om Raut-directed film minted Rs 100 crore globally on the second day of its release.

"Adipurush continues to mesmerise audiences worldwide, surpassing expectations with a bumper opening of 140 CR on Day 1, it adds 100 CR on Day 2, taking the total collection to a phenomenal 240 CR in just two days! Jai Shri Ram," T-Series said in a statement posted on its official Twitter page.

The film has been released in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil languages.
London, Jun 18 (PTI) A 50-year-old Indian-origin man, who was accused of using the lure of jobs at his massage parlour to rape young women across London, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment following a Scotland Yard investigation.

Raghu Singamaneni was unanimously found guilty by the jury of the rape and sexual assault involving four women and sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday.

The trial heard how Singamaneni ran two massage parlours on Holloway Road, Islington, and High Road, Wood Green, in north London.

He would advertise on a jobs app for women to come and work at the parlour and would make appointments to meet the women and then carry out sexual assaults, the Metropolitan Police said.

This man used his position of authority to carry out a string of sexual assaults on young women. Many of these women were lured by the hope of employment, but were then subjected to the most dreadful sexual assaults, said Detective Constable Hussain Sayem, who led the investigation.

I have no doubt that Singamaneni thought these women would never speak out against him or would never be believed. He was wrong, these women did have the courage to speak out and the jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict. Some sexual predators believe they can get away with their crimes, but this case shows they cannot and will be brought to justice, he said.

Lastly, we know Singamaneni is a serial offender and it is entirely possible he has attacked other women who have not felt able to come forward and report their ordeal to police. I would urge anyone in this position to get in contact and quote Operation Sting  you will be listened to and supported by specially trained officers, he added.

The first victim who reported the matter to the police was 17  she had arranged to meet Singamaneni for an interview.

She told police that she met him at the parlour and he went through the training she would need.

She again met Singamaneni at the parlour the next day and he gave her a glass of prosecco and she told police she then became so intoxicated she was sick.

Singamaneni then took her to a hotel where he carried out a sexual assault, namely attempting to rape the woman and carrying out a sexual assault.

Just over two weeks later the victim made a complaint at Tottenham police station in London and Singamaneni was arrested and released under investigation while further enquiries were made.

A second offence related to a 19-year-old woman who reported an allegation of rape which occurred at her place of work in north London. She told police that Singamaneni had asked for a massage, insisted that she drink some vodka and then raped her.

Enquiries revealed another offence occurred when the victim, a 23-year-old woman, arranged to meet Singamaneni after answering a job advert. She arranged to meet him at a hotel and when they entered the hotel room Singamaneni plied her with alcohol and later forcibly removed her clothing and raped her.

The last offence happened at another north London hotel involving a 17-year-old female, who had also applied for a job as a masseur and had spoken to a woman about an interview. The woman told her to go to the hotel she would meet someone to have a trial massage.

Singamaneni offered her drinks and drugs and then raped her.

She left the hotel and called a friend who then called the police.

The Met Police said detectives compiled sufficient evidence from the women and Singamaneni was arrested and subsequently convicted of three counts of rape; two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape  relating to four women.
Tel Aviv, Jun 18 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his government intends to move ahead on contentious plans to change the country's judicial system after talks aimed at finding a compromise solution appeared to be crumbling.

The government's plans to overhaul the judiciary plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises ever earlier this year. Negotiations between the government and opposition parties somewhat alleviated the crisis with attempts to find a middle ground over proposed changes to the country's justice system.

Those talks were jolted last week over a crisis surrounding the powerful regular committee responsible for picking the country's judges.

Opposition leaders said negotiations were frozen until the committee is formed.

At a meeting of his Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said the opposition wasn't negotiating seriously and that his government would move ahead cautiously on the overhaul.

We will begin, this week, practical steps. We will do them in a measured way, responsibly, but in accordance with the mandate we received to make corrections to the justice system, he said.

Netanyahu put the overhaul on hold in March after mass protests erupted in opposition to it. The decision to move ahead is likely to flare tensions and fuel the protest movement that has continued to demonstrate each Saturday, despite the plan being paused.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said moving ahead unilaterally will critically harm the economy, endanger security and rip the Israeli people to shreds. (AP)



MRJ
London, Jun 18 (PTI) A 20-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to six years and nine months' imprisonment in the Welsh capital of Cardiff after admitting raping a woman in the city.

Preet Vikal was caught on CCTV camera carrying the victim in his arms and later across his shoulders in Cardiff city centre, Wales, in the early hours of June 4 last year.

It was this footage, along with an Instagram message exchange between him and the victim, that led to Vikal being identified and arrested by South Wales Police.

He was sentenced this week and has been directed to serve two-thirds of the sentence in custody and the remainder on licence, or under strict parole conditions.

Stranger attacks such as these are extremely unusual in Cardiff but in Preet Vikal we had a dangerous individual, said Detective Constable Nick Woodland of South Wales Police.

He took advantage of an intoxicated and vulnerable young woman who became separated from her friends. From the minute this was reported, we were absolutely 100 per cent committed to identifying the person responsible and bringing him to justice, he said.

The victim told the court of being left shaken, unable to sleep, and feeling a sense of guilt as a result of the attack.

According to the police, Vikal came across the woman while she was on a night out with friends in Cardiff.

She began to walk home from The Friary area in the city centre with friends but after an extensive trawl of CCTV footage from the night by the police she was later caught on camera being carried by Vikal on King Edward VII Avenue and North Road, a video released to the public showed this week.

The police established that Vikal continued to carry her to a property in the North Road area where she was raped. Officers praised the victim for bravely providing them with an account of what happened.

Enquires revealed inconsistencies with the accounts provided by the defendant, and it was this, along with the continued bravery of the victim, that ultimately led to him pleading guilty," said DC Woodland.

"We hope the sentencing brings some sense of closure and allows the woman to regain her confidence and move on with her life, he said.

He thanked those witnesses who came forward as a result of a public appeal for information and supported the investigation.

South Wales Police also issued a statement to highlight that it takes all reports of sexual assault seriously and urged victims to come forward to report it, regardless of when it happened.
Thane, Jun 18 (PTI) The Navi Mumbai police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals after they were found living illegally in the country, an official said on Sunday.



The accused, who hail from Narail area of Bangladesh, were apprehended from Nerul on Saturday, the official from Nerul police station said.



A case under the Passports Act and Foreigners Act has been registered against the duo, he said.



The men had been living in a chawl in Nerul Gaon area since the last one year without a valid passport and visa, and were caught by the police during an inspection, the official added.
Mallinckrodt Announces Publication of Real-World Data on the Use of Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in Heart Transplant Patients

- Results from the largest European and first multicenter, retrospective, observational chart review study investigating the real-world use of ECP in heart transplant patients reinforce its use as a treatment for heart transplant rejection and prevention of rejection1 -

DUBLIN, June 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE American: MNK), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the publication of findings from a retrospective, observational, single arm, European chart review study assessing the real-world use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) and its impact on clinical outcomes in the modern era of heart transplantation.1 An online version of the data manuscript  the largest-known study of ECP in heart transplant patients  is currently published on the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation website in advance of print publication in the second half of 2023.

Mallinckrodt logo

Interim results of this study were presented in a late-breaking session at the 20th Congress of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) in 2021 in Milan, Italy.2

The study, titled "European Multicenter Study on The Real-World Use and Clinical Impact of Extracorporeal Photopheresis After Heart Transplantation," examined data from the medical charts of 105 patients who received ECP following heart transplantation at seven medical centers in Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, and Italy between 2015  2021. At time of data extraction, 58 patients (55.2%) had completed their ECP treatment and 47 patients' (44.8%) ECP treatment was ongoing.1

"These findings from the largest European and first multicenter study investigating the real-world use of ECP in heart transplant patients support ECP as a treatment for various types of graft rejection and in prevention of graft rejection with varied treatment schedules,1" said Markus Barten, M.D., Surgical Director of Heart Failure Clinic, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg. "This data not only builds upon the growing body of real-world evidence supporting the use of ECP in heart transplant patients, but also reflects the importance of supporting clinicians with treatment modalities for transplant rejection and stabilization.1"

About the Study1

Mean age of patients at start of ECP was 47.7 (SD 14.4) years (min. 16 years to max. 74 years), and most patients (70.5%) were male. They were followed for a mean time of 25.1 (SD 16.8) months from ECP treatment initiation to last visit at the transplant center (follow-up time for outcome overall survival). Mean time from ECP treatment initiation to last visit right censored at 2 years after the end of ECP treatment was 22.5 (SD 13.7) months (follow-up time for outcomes graft function, response, and complications).

Cardiomyopathy was the primary reason for heart transplantation (n=81 patients; 77.1%), followed by coronary heart disease (n=11 patients; 10.5%), heart valve disease (n=5 patients; 4.8%), and myocarditis (n=5 patients; 4.8%). The main reason to start ECP treatment was acute cellular rejection (ACR; n=37 patients; 35.2%), followed by prevention of rejection (n=34 patients; 32.4%), mixed rejection (n=19 patients; 18.1%), and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR; n=15 patients; 14.3%).

The prevention of rejection subgroup included patients who started ECP treatment without biopsy-proven rejection and with standard or reduced immunosuppressive therapy.

Key Findings1

Graft function was stable for almost all patients throughout the study who completed ECP and had graft function change assessed (97.2%; n=35/36).

In patients who started ECP to treat ACR, AMR or mixed rejection (n=26), completed ECP treatment and had a biopsy at the start and end of treatment, 92.3% (n=24) were classified as responders, having demonstrated an improvement of ACR and/or AMR International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) grading after a mean ECP treatment duration of 5.4 months. The remaining patients had stable grades.

In patients who started ECP to prevent rejection (n=34), 88.2% (n=30) remained free from any rejection over a mean follow-up of 26 months despite being considered at high risk for rejection and reduced immunosuppressive therapy.

All patients started ECP treatment while on immunosuppressive therapy, and almost all remained on immunosuppressants until last reported visit prior to data extraction. Tacrolimus and mycophenolate derivatives were the most frequently used immunosuppressants. The number of patients on steroid therapy decreased slightly over time.

Among patients with ongoing ECP treatment who remained on steroid therapy (n=34), steroid dose was reduced on average by 63.0% from start of ECP to last reported visit for 41.2% (n=14) of patients. Steroid dose increased for 5.9% (n=2) of patients and was stable in 52.9% (n=18) of patients.

Among patients who completed ECP treatment and remained on steroid therapy (n=42), steroid dose was reduced on average by 67.0% from start of ECP to last reported visit for 52.4% (n=22) of patients. Steroid dose increased for 4.8% (n=2) of patients and was stable in 42.9% (n=18) of patients.

Amongst the 19 patients in the prevention group, 16 (84.2%) received tacrolimus at the start of ECP and last reported visit. In 11/16 patients, tacrolimus trough levels were available of which 7 (63.6%) patients experienced an average trough level decrease of 34.0%.

Amongst the 19 patients in the prevention group, 14 (70.4%) received mycophenolate derivatives at the start of ECP and last reported visit. In 4/14 patients, mycophenolate doses were available of which 100% of patients remained on stable mycophenolate derivate dose.

Seventeen of 105 included patients (16.2%) experienced a complication after ECP treatment initiation, the most common of which was infections (n=13, 12.4%). Four of 105 patients (3.8%) experienced an endocrine/respiratory/blood/cardiac disorder, 2 patients (1.9%) an intolerance of high-dose immunosuppressive therapy, and 1 patient (1.0%) an acute kidney injury.

Overall survival was 95.2% (n=100) over a mean follow-up of 25.1 (SD 16.8) months. Of the 5 deceased patients, 3 (60.0%) died with a functioning graft and 4 (80.0%) died after end of ECP treatment. No deaths were related to ECP.

No major safety events occurred. Eighteen of 105 included patients (17.1%) had at least one ECP-related safety event, the most common of which was complications with venous access (n=13; 12.4%). Two (15.4%, n=2/13) patients stopped their ECP treatment as a result. Furthermore, 6/105 patients (5.7%) had ECP-related anemia, 3 patients (2.9%) ECP-related hypotension, 1 patient (1.0%) ECP-related fever, and 2 patients (1.9%) had an unspecified ECP-related safety event, but none of them discontinued their ECP treatment as a result.

Limitations1

The effectiveness of ECP in comparison with other treatment options was not assessed due to the descriptive, single-arm design of this study. Study limitations include that data generation for this observational study was not standardized. Patient examination schedules varied and not all data were available at all centers. No source data verification was performed and therefore, transmission errors cannot be excluded. Not all demonstrated benefits may be solely attributable to ECP treatment, as transplanted patients may have received multiple therapies at time of ECP treatment. In patients with AMR or mixed rejection, ECP is commonly used in combination with other treatments.

This study was funded by Mallinckrodt.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR JAPAN

Intended Use or Efficacy

This system is used as extracorporeal photopheresis therapy in steroid resistant or intolerant, chronic graft versus host disease.

Warnings

Directions for Use:

When conducting extracorporeal photopheresis therapy for patients receiving other therapy, exercise caution when changing treatment schedules to avoid increased disease activity that may be caused by abrupt withdrawal of previous therapy. Taking into account the condition of the patient, administer an appropriate amount of anticoagulant through the CELLEX device, as thromboembolic events may occur.

Contraindications / Prohibitions

Directions for Use:

Do not re-use (Procedural Kit and Methoxsalen Solution). Do not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable anesthetic gases, external radio or electromagnetic disturbances that may interfere with proper performance of the device. [There is the risk of ignition and malfunction.]

Applicable subject (patient)

Do not use for the following population.

Patients who cannot tolerate extracorporeal volume loss. [Because the patient has possibility of hypotension and shock disease.]

Patients exhibiting idiosyncratic reactions to psoralen compounds including methoxsalen, or possessing a specific history of a light-sensitive disease state.

Patients with aphakia. [Because of the significantly increased risk of retinal damage due to the absence of a lens.]

Patients possessing a specific history of a disordered coagulation or patients who have had previous splenectomy. [Anticoagulants is used during therapy.]

Patients during pregnancy and lactation. [There is likely to cause harm to the unborn child or suckling infant.]

Patients who have white blood cell counts greater than 25,000/mm3. [Design limit for sensor on instrument.]

ABOUT THE THERAKOS CELLEX ECP SYSTEM FOR JAPAN

The CELLEX System delivers extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), and consists of an instrument, procedural kit, methoxsalen solution and a UVA lamp.

The CELLEX System was designated as a medical device to be introduced early in Japan by the 15th Study Panel on Early Introduction of Highly Needed Medical Devices. This meeting was organized by the MHLW and held on February 17, 2011.

CELLEX was also designated as an orphan medical device by the MHLW on January 18, 2017.

APPROVED USES FOR THE THERAKOS CELLEX ECP SYSTEM

The approved uses for CELLEX ECP differ depending upon the country. Please refer to each country's Operator's manuals and labeling for approved uses.

About Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP)

ECP, a blood based immunomodulatory therapy developed more than 30 years ago, is recommended by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT)3 and other clinical societies4,5,6 as an adjunctive therapy for the prevention and treatment of ACR after heart transplantation. Additionally, ECP may be considered to treat AMR with or without donor specific antibodies.7,8 In countries where it is approved, ECP is used to treat a range of immune-mediated diseases, including skin manifestations of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), solid organ transplant rejection and other autoimmune diseases. During ECP treatment, a small amount of white blood cells is collected and treated with a drug that is activated by ultraviolet light.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology, ophthalmology, and oncology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics; cultured skin substitutes and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements, including with regard to ECP and its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT

Media Inquiries

Heather Guzzi

Senior Vice President, Green Room Communications

973-524-4112

hguzzi@grcomms.com

Investor Relations

Daniel J. Speciale

Global Corporate Controller & Chief Investor Relations Officer

314-654-3638

daniel.speciale@mnk.com

Derek Belz

Vice President, Investor Relations

314-654-3950

derek.belz@mnk.com

Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners.

2023 Mallinckrodt. JP-2300005 06/23

1 Barten, MJ et al. European multi-center study on the real-world use and clinical impact of extracorporeal photopheresis after heart transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healun.2023.03.005.

2 Barten, MJ. et al. Real World Use and Clinical Impact of Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Heart Transplant Patients  Results From a European Multi-Centre Study. Abstract presented at: European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress 2021. August/September 2021.

3 Costanzo MR, et al. The International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients. J Heart Lung Trans. 2010:29(8);914956.

4 Alfred et al. The role of extracorporeal photopheresis in the management of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease and organ transplant rejection: a consensus statement update from the UK Photopheresis Society. Br J Haematol. 2017;177(2):287-310.

5 Padmanabhan et al. Guidelines on the Use of Therapeutic Apheresis in Clinical Practice - Evidence-Based Approach from the Writing Committee of the American Society for Apheresis: The Eighth Special Issue. J Clin Apher. 2019;34:171354.

6 Knobler et al. European dermatology forum - updated guidelines on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis 2020 - part 2. Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(1):27-49.

7 Colvin et al. Antibody-mediated rejection in cardiac transplantation: emerging knowledge in diagnosis and management: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;131(18):1608-1639.

8 Barten et al. Transplant Rev (Orlando). The clinical impact of donor-specific antibodies in heart transplantation. 2018;32(4):207-217.

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SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
Guwahati, Jun 18 (PTI) The border security agencies of India and Bangladesh on Sunday discussed various issues, including transboundary crimes and other related matters, an official statement said.

Both sides laid emphasis on sharing information for curbing crimes and increasing mutual trust, it said.

The discussion was held at a meeting between Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General Dinesh Kumar Yadav and Border Guard Bangladesh Region Commander Brig Gen Md Morshed Alam in Assam's Dhubri district.

Several important border issues and solutions to curb various transborder crimes jointly by BSF and BGB were discussed, the release said.

Emphasis was laid on sharing real-time information between the two border guarding forces to effectively control crime.

Various initiatives were also discussed to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides, the BSF release said.

It was decided to undertake confidence-building measures and programmes at different levels.

They mutually agreed to make all possible efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity along the borders.

Both the forces pledged their commitment and expressed satisfaction at the outcomes of the meeting, the release added.
I appeal to all of you to adopt Yoga in your life and make it part of daily routine: PM Modi to people.
New Delhi, Jun 18 (PTI) The Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its "outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods", according to an official statement.

The jury headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Culture.

Prime Minister Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service, the statement said.

Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the worlds largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, it said.

"Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 recognises the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense," the statement said.

The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the government in 1995, on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.

The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item, the ministry said.

Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
Panaji, Jun 18 (PTI) India and the US will have a bilateral meeting during the G20 events in Goa during which both sides will seek to boost cooperation in the tourism sector, officials said on Sunday.

The bilateral meeting assumes significance as it will take place at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to the US on a state visit.

About 75 delegates have registered so far for the G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting, and close to 150 delegates have registered for the G20 Tourism Ministerial meeting, slated to be held here from June 19-22, a senior official in the tourism ministry said during a press interaction here.

Asked if BRICS countries, including Russia and China, have registered, he said, "Russia has registered, but China has not registered so far."

It was not immediately known if China will attend or skip the two key events in Goa. It had not attended the third TWG meeting in Srinagar held in May.

Asked if delegates from the US and India will have bilateral meetings during the G20 events here, Additional Secretary in Tourism Ministry, Rakesh Verma, said, "The US delegation is having a bilateral meeting with India."

The bilateral meeting is expected to take place on June 21, officials said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Union Tourism Secretary V Vidyavati told reporters here that the fourth and the last Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG) of the G20 taking place in Goa was a "perfect grand finale" of the tourism track meetings held so far.

"It is happening at one of the best locations, Goa, rich in cultural heritage and natural scenic beauty. There will be side events too besides the TWG, and at the end of the two meets, the Goa Roadmap and Action Plan for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) will come out," she said.

Successful deliberations by TWG will promote economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development, Vidyavathi said.

Under India's G20 Tourism Track, the TWG is working on five inter-connected priority areas  green tourism, digitisation, skills, tourism MSMEs and destination. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 SDGs.

Also, there will be a "ministerial communique" that will be released at the end of the tourism working group and other deliberations which will endorse the Goa roadmap, she said.

Delegates have began arriving in Goa since Saturday to take part in the fourth TWG and the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting, officials said.

The purpose of the TWG meeting is to discuss and address global tourism challenges and opportunities, they said

Asked if conflicts and natural disasters as factors impacting tourism sector will be part of the discussion, Vidyavati said they will figure in the discussions during the TWG.

The G20 event in the coastal state is taking place days after cyclone Biparjoy had a landfall in Gujarat and left a trail of destruction in Kutch and Saurashtra regions.

Verma said green tourism vision entails making the sector sustainable, inclusive and resilient, and that "we have to develop the tourism sector in a resilient way so that it can absorb the shocks of any such major disruptions, natural or man-made".

Side events will promote cruise tourism as a "model for sustainable and responsible travel" and showcase the cultural heritage of the coastal state.

Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik on Friday conducted a comprehensive review of the preparations for the G20 events.

In conjunction with these events, the Ministry of Tourism has organised celebrations for the IYD at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan. All ministers and delegates from G20 nations will actively participate in this session, embracing the spirit of unity and well-being, officials said.

The fourth G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held from June 19-20. The G20 ministerial meeting after the TWG meeting is scheduled to be held from June 21-22, with ministers of tourism from the G20 countries and other invited guests to discuss the outcomes of the previous working group meetings and adopt a joint declaration on tourism cooperation, they said.

All G20 tourism ministers of all member countries, invited countries and heads of international organisations have requested for "bilateral meetings with our tourism minister for mutual cooperation and deliberation on tourism-related matters", an official said in Delhi earlier.

On June 19, a side event on 'Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel' will be organised, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.

The first Tourism Working Group Meeting of the G20 was held at Runn of Kutch in Gujarat followed by the second one at Siliguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal, and the third one was hosted in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.


Udhampur/Jammu, Jun 18 (PTI) A 72-feet high mast national flag was hoisted in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, marking the 52nd raising day celebrations of the Armys northern command, a defence spokesman said.

Chief of Staff, northern command, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta inaugurated the national flag at Pachouri Park, dedicated by the flag foundation of India to the people of Udhampur on the occasion of the northern commands raising day, the spokesman said.

Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Sengupta praised the efforts of all involved in the planning and execution of the project.

"The High Mast Flag installed at Pachouri Park symbolises national pride, unity, hope, progress and will constantly remind people of Udhampur of the strength and resilience," he said.

The locals also appreciated the Indian Army for the unique initiative which will remain etched in the history of the Udhampur and reflect the sense of patriotism of the local populace, the spokesman said.

The Udhampur-based northern command has been at the forefront of the nation's effort on the western and northern borders as well as to counter security challenges posed by terrorism and externally sponsored proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir.

The command has been in 'Operational mode' since its very inception, having seen a large number of high and low-intensity operations, an army official said.

"Today, northern command is at the forefront of the nation's efforts to counter the most serious challenge to her security, the scourge of terrorism and the vicious proxy war in J&K. Thus, whether officially at peace or in operations, the troops of the command have always been in combat," he added.
Kanpur (UP), Jun 18 (PTI) A woman and her five-year-old son were killed while her daughter sustained severe injuries during an immolation bid, police said on Sunday.

Additional Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Pandey said the preliminary probe suggested the woman took the extreme step allegedly over estranged relationship with her husband Jaswant, an auto-driver.

Sunita Komal (30), a resident of Ghansyampur Sarvatappa village under Rura police station area, wrapped herself, her son Harshit (5) and daughter Ayushi (7) in a quilt and set it on fire last night, Pandey told PTI.

The neighbours tried to intervene but by the time they entered the house the woman and her son were dead, he said.

Ayushi was taken to a nearby private hospital with serious burn injuries where her condition is said to be critical, he said.

The bodies were sent to for post-mortem examinations, and police are investigating the matter.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.




The COVID-19 vaccines are on track for a big recipe change this fall.

Todays vaccines still contain the original coronavirus strain, the one that started the pandemic  even though that was long ago supplanted by mutated versions as the virus rapidly evolves.

Thursday, the Food and Drug Administrations scientific advisers said the next round of shots in the U.S. should only include protection against the newest variants that are now dominant worldwide  a branch of the omicron family tree named XBB.

The FDA will make the final decision. Vaccine makers said during the meeting that they could have updated vaccines available within months, depending on the strain.

While infections have declined, the virus could be a real concern next winter, FDAs vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said as the daylong meeting began.

Were concerned that we may have another wave of COVID-19 during a time when the virus has further evolved, immunity of the population has waned further, and we move indoors for wintertime, he said.

Here are some things to know:

WHY ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOTS?

The FDA had told Americans to expect an updated fall vaccine against COVID-19, just like they get a new flu shot every fall. Even though most of the population has either been infected or had at least one round of vaccinations, the coronavirus keeps churning out new varieties.

Whats in use in the U.S. now are combination shots from Pfizer and Moderna that mix the original strain with protection against last years most common omicron variants, called BA.4 and BA.5. But just 17% of Americans rolled up their sleeves for a combo booster.

And while the FDA did allow seniors and others at high risk to get an extra booster dose this spring, most people will be many months beyond their last shot by fall.

Those currently available shots do still help prevent severe disease and death even as XBB variants have taken over. But protection gradually wanes over time and was short-lived against milder infection even before the virus, inevitably, evolved again.

We need a better vaccine. We should be updating it, said one adviser, Dr. Eric Rubin, an infectious disease doctor at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

SHARPENING PROTECTION

Last year when regulators were struggling to decide how to update the vaccine, a combo shot seemed like the safest bet. Omicron was pretty new, and there was no way to know how long it would stick around or if the next big coronavirus change would more resemble the original strain.

Keeping the original strain in the shot actually has a downside called imprinting. After repeated exposure to the original strain, peoples immune systems tended to recognize and respond more strongly to it than to the half of the new booster dose that was brand new.

The FDA advisory panel agreed that the fall shot should just target XBB variants. The World Health Organizations vaccine advisers and European regulators recently made similar recommendations.

PREDICTING WHAT WILL HIT THIS WINTER

Another challenge: Deciding which XBB variant to target  since whats spreading now likely will have mutated again by winter.

Regulators will be making their best guess, just like they do every year in setting the recipe for the fall flu vaccine.

The FDA has identified three XBB subtypes as the top strain choices. Vaccine makers already have been developing XBB-targeted formulas. At the meeting Thursday, there was a consensus that this falls vaccine target variant XBB.1.5, the most common version infecting people in recent months.

HOW MANY MORE SHOTS?

Older adults and others at high risk because of seriously weak immune systems continue to have the highest rates of hospitalization from COVID-19 even as cases have declined. One question is whether theyll be urged to get a single fall shot or be eligible for more than one.

Another is how many doses the youngest children whove never been vaccinated would need.

Ultimately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make the final recommendations on who should get the updated shot and when.

(AP)




Suspected state-backed Chinese hackers used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, nearly a third of them government agencies including foreign ministries, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, Charles Carmakal, Mandiants chief technical officer, said in a emailed statement. That hack compromised tens of thousands of computers globally.

In a blog post Thursday, Google-owned Mandiant expressed high confidence that the group exploiting a software vulnerability in Barracuda Networks Email Security Gateway was engaged in espionage activity in support of the Peoples Republic of China. It said the activivity began as early as October.

The hackers sent emails containing malicious file attachments to gain access to targeted organizations devices and data, Mandiant said. Of those organizations, 55% were from the Americas, 22% from Asia Pacific and 24% from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and they included foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, foreign trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong. the company said.

Mandiant said the majority impact in the Americas may partially reflect the geography of Barracudas customer base.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door into compromised networks. The hack was so severe the California company recommended fully replacing the appliances.

After discovering it in mid-May, Barracuda released containment and remediation patches but the hacking group, which Mandiant identifies as UNC4841, altered their malware to try to maintain access, Mandiant said. The group then countered with high frequency operations targeting a number of victims located in at least 16 different countries.

Word of the breach arrived with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departing for China this weekend as part of the Biden administrations push to repair deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing.

His visit had initially been planned for early this year but was postponed indefinitely after the discovery and shootdown of what the U.S. said was a Chinese spy balloon over the United States.

Mandiant said the targeting at both the organizational and individual account levels, focused on issues that are high policy priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings with other countries.

In a emailed statement Thursday, Barracuda said about 5% of its active Email Security Gateway appliances worldwide showed evidence of potential compromise. It said it was providing replacement appliances to affected customers at no cost.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of being its principal cyberespionage threat, with state-backed Chinese hackers stealing data from both the private and public sector.

In terms of raw intelligence affecting the U.S., Chinas largest electronic infiltrations have targeted OPM, Anthem, Equifax and Marriott.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

China says the U.S. also engages in cyberespionage against it, hacking into computers of its universities and companies.

(AP)
Men are nervous working with women after string of harassment claims, says ex-Tesco chair John Allan

John Allan, the former chairman of Tesco and Barratt - Geoff Pugh

The former chairman of Tesco who left amid sexual misconduct allegations has claimed that men are increasingly nervous about working with women.

John Allan, who left his position at the supermarket in May after being accused of inappropriate remarks and touching, which he denies, said there was growing caution among men in the business world.

He said: A lot of men say to me theyre getting increasingly nervous about working with women, mentoring women, something Ive done a lot of right through my career.

What quite a few people are saying to me, and saying to others that I know, is that theyre going to be very cautious in future about how they interact with women in the business world.

Mr Allan lost his role at Tesco after claims of inappropriate behaviour were published in the Guardian. He has denied claims of inappropriate touching but admitted to making a remark about a colleagues body.

In the wake of the claims, Mr Allan also lost his job as the chairman of housebuilder Barratt Development.

The 74 year-old said he was completely innocent and had been propelled under the nearest bus. He claimed he had not been fairly treated.

Mr Allan said: I think the companies that I was chair of frankly felt they had to be seen to be doing something, and the simplest and easiest thing was to propel me under the nearest bus.

At the time of his departure, Tesco said it made no findings of wrongdoing by Mr Allan but that the allegations risked becoming a distraction.

Barratt has said it did not receive any complaints about Mr Allan during his time at the company but requested that he step aside in the best interests of the company to prevent the allegations becoming disruptive.

Mr Allans exit coincided with a crisis at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), an organisation he was president of until 2020.

Confederation of Business Industry's (CBI) former director general Tony Danker - OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Tony Danker, the former head of the CBI, was fired in April by the organisation for separate allegations of inappropriate behaviour made around the same time.

Mr Danker has apologised for making staff feel uncomfortable but claimed he had been thrown under the bus by the CBI.

The CBI has disputed Mr Dankers characterisation of the matter, calling it selective.

Mr Allan argued that the handling of sexual misconduct claims risked setting back the progress of women in the workplace.

He said: I think if it leads to over caution, it will actually be a negative.

Having crawled out from two successive buses and still standing, Im going to plan over the next few months to talk to a lot of people who know a lot more about this than me to see if we can devise a better way so the next person who is subject to this sort of allegation is more fairly treated.

The comments, made to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News, come as Mr Allan tries to repair his own reputation.

Mr Allan was accused of touching staff members bottoms in two separate instances: at a Tesco shareholder meeting in 2022 and at the CBI in May 2019.

Mr Allan has stringently denied these allegations.

However, he has admitted making a comment about a womans figure, which he apologised for.

He said: Well, I thought she was looking a bit sort of miserable and I wish to heck I had never used the word figure now and I never will again.

I think if I had stopped by saying Thats a very nice dress, it suits you very well I might not have gotten myself into the difficulties that I have, but it was well-intentioned, it was my intention to cheer her up.

Obviously it was an ill-judged remark.

Having said that, Ive talked to many women I know since then and most of them are absolutely incredulous about how somebody could be as upset as this lady appears to have been with what I said.

It was reported in May that a letter of support was being circulated to City chiefs to drum up support for the embattled Mr Allan. The letter is said to outline examples of how he supported women throughout his career.

The Telegraph has approached Tesco, Barratt and the CBI for comment.

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Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly on Friday to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and Teamsters cant come to an agreement before their contract expires next month.

The Teamsters said 97% of unionized workers voted for the authorization, which the union urged for in order to have more leverage during negotiations with the company. But a yes vote does not mean a strike is imminent.

If this multibillion-dollar corporation fails to deliver on the contract that our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself, Teamsters General President Sean OBrien said in a prepared statement. The strongest leverage our members have is their labor and they are prepared to withhold it to ensure UPS acts accordingly.

The Teamsters represent about 340,000 UPS employees, more than half of the companys workforce in the largest private-sector contract in North America. If a strike occurs, it would be the first since a 15-day walkout by 185,000 workers crippled the company a quarter century ago.

UPS has grown vastly since then and become even more engrained in the U.S. economy. The company says it delivers the equivalent of about 6% of nations gross domestic product. That means a strike would carry with it potentially far-reaching implications for the economy.

UPS said in a prepared statement the strike vote does not impact the companys current business operations.

Authorization votes and approvals are normal steps in labor union negotiations, the company said. We continue to make progress on key issues and remain confident that we will reach an agreement that provides wins for our employees, the Teamsters, our company and our customers.

UPS workers are still seething about the current contract, which they feel was forced on them by prior union leadership in 2018 based on a technicality. The contract created two hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. The union wants it eliminated.

In addition to addressing part-time pay and what workers say is excessive overtime, the union wants improvements to driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, which has been blamed for the death of a driver and hospitalizations of others.

On Tuesday, the union and the company announced they reached a tentative agreement to equip more trucks with air conditioning equipment. Under the agreement, UPS said it would add air conditioning to U.S. small delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024.

But those changes arent extending to vehicles already in operation  at least not yet. Instead, the union says two fans would be installed in all vehicles when a new contract is ratified. It also said the company agreed to add heat shield to some vehicles, and put air vents in all cars within 18 months of a new contract. Under the agreement, UPS says roughly 95% of its existing U.S. package delivery fleet will be enhanced.

Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said there have been two dozen tentative agreements reached with UPS since the negotiations began in April. The current contract expires on July 31.

UPS delivers around 25 million packages a day, representing about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. Thats about 10 million parcels more than it delivered each day in the years leading up to the pandemic.

UPS profits have soared since the pandemic began in 2020 as millions of Americans grew to rely on the delivery to their doorstops.

Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were pre-pandemic. The Atlanta company returned about $8.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks in 2022, and forecasts another $8.4 billion for shareholders this year.

The Teamsters say that profit growth is largely due to the hard work of UPS drivers and warehouse workers who carry everything from 50-pound bags of dog food and cases of wine to prescriptions.

The acrimony over the current contract was the impetus for workers rejecting a candidate to lead the Teamsters favored by longtime union head James Hoffa. Union members instead chose OBrien, who has dug in on the Teamsters contract demands of UPS.

A win at UPS could also have implications for the organized labor outside the company.

There have been prominent labor organization campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joes, Apple, and other places. Teamsters are also attempting to organize workers at Amazon.

(AP)




Dr. Mandy Cohen, a former North Carolina official, will be the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House announced Friday.

Unlike the last two people to serve as head of the nations top federal public health agency, Cohen has prior experience running a government agency: She was secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 until last year. Before that, she held health-related jobs at two federal agencies.

Dr. Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans health and safety, President Joe Biden said in a statement.

She succeeds Dr. Rochelle Walensky, 54, who last month announced she was leaving at the end of June. Cohens starting date has not been announced. Her appointment does not require Senate confirmation.

Walensky, a former infectious disease expert at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, took over at the CDC in 2021  about a year after the pandemic began.

Cohen, 44, will take over after some rough years at the CDC, whose 12,000-plus employees are charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

The Atlanta-based federal agency had long been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information. But polls showed the public trust eroded, partly as a result of the CDCs missteps in dealing with COVID-19 and partly due to political attacks and misinformation campaigns.

Walensky started a reorganization effort that is designed to make the agency more nimble and to improve its communications.

Cohen was raised on Long Island, New York. Her mom was a nurse practitioner. Cohen has a medical degree from Yale and a masters in public health from Harvard.

She also has been an advocate. She was a founding member and former executive director of Doctors for America, which pushes to expand health insurance coverage and address racial and ethnic disparities. Another founder was Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general. The group formed in the midst of an effort to organize doctors into political action and support Barack Obamas candidacy for president.

Cohen started working for the federal government in 2008 at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she served as deputy director for womens health services. She later held a series of federal jobs, many of them with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, rising to chief operating officer.

In 2017, she took the health and human services job in North Carolina. A top adviser to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Cohen was the face of her states response to the coronavirus, explaining risks and precautions while wearing a gold chain adorned with a charm of the Hebrew word for life.

Some residents dubbed her the 3 Ws lady for her constant reminders to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and watch the distance from other people. One man even wrote a country-rock ballad praising her with the refrain: Hang on Mandy, Mandy hang on.

In 2020, Cohen refused to support President Donald Trumps demands for a full-capacity Republican convention in Charlotte with no mask wearing. Her office later said it would accommodate the GOP by relaxing the states 10-person indoor gathering limit, but it remained adamant about masks and social distancing. Trump ultimately moved the main events from Charlotte.

Cohen resigned the state post in late 2021, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family and pursue new opportunities. She then took a leadership post at Aledade Inc., a Maryland-based consulting company.

(AP)




Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday she wants the state to have regulatory authority over boats that operate in caves and similar waterways following a fatal tour boat accident in an underground water tunnel off the Erie Canal.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation regulates commercial boats, Hochuls office said, but lacks authority to inspect those operating on non-navigable waters, like in the privately owned Lockport Cave.

The Democrat will propose legislation to close that loophole, her office said.

Earlier this week, a 65-year-old man died and nearly a dozen other passengers were taken to hospitals, mostly with minor injuries, when a flat-bottom boat with 29 people aboard flipped while inside the historic, human-made cavern system in western New York.

After the June 12 accident at the Lockport Cave, a human services agency confirmed that a similar incident had occurred during a 2015 outing for clients and staff.

As we mourn the loss of life resulting from the boat crash in the Lockport Caves, my administration is proposing legislation to prevent future tragedies, Hochul said in a statement. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has the tools to keep us safe and this legislation will ensure they have the legal authority to use these to keep passengers safe on boats in caves.

(AP)




Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.

The hefty fine is the largest ever handed out by New Yorks Conflicts of Interest Board, capping off a yearslong investigation into the two-term mayors use of taxpayer dollars to cover the travel costs of NYPD officers who accompanied him on cross-country campaign stops.

Under the ruling, which he has vowed to appeal, de Blasio, a Democrat, will be forced to reimburse the city for $320,000 spent on the officers flights, hotels, meals and rental cars during the four-month campaign. He will also have to pay a fine of $5,000 for each of the security details 31 out-of-state trips, amounting to $155,000.

The order was handed down by the Conflicts of Interest Board Chair, Milton Williams, who found that de Blasio plainly violated the citys prohibition on using public resources to advance a political campaign. De Blasio was advised of this rule prior to his campaign, but disregarded the Boards advice, Williams wrote in his ruling.

In a statement, an attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., described the ruling as reckless and arbitrary, arguing that recent acts of political violence underscored the security needs of public servants.

In the wake of the January 6th insurrection, the shootings of Congressmembers Giffords and Scalise, and almost daily threats directed at local leaders around the country, the COIBs (Conflicts of Interest Boards) action  which seeks to saddle elected officials with security costs that the City has properly borne for decades  is dangerous, beyond the scope of their powers, and illegal, he wrote.

De Blasio has faced previous allegations of misusing his security detail. Months before he left office in 2021, a report by the citys Department of Investigation found he treated the officers as a concierge service, using them to move his daughter into an apartment and shuttle his son to college.

De Blasio did consult with the Conflicts of Interest Board about the costs of his security prior to announcing his presidential campaign in May 2019. He was told the salaries for NYPD officers would be covered, but that all other costs associated with their travel would not, the board said.

During interviews with investigators, de Blasio said he did not have a 100% clear understanding of the guidance, and suggested that it was an issue for others to resolve, according to Kevin Casey, an administrative law judge that recommended the fine imposed by the Conflicts of Interest Board.

Casey accused de Blasio of showing a deliberate indifference to the citys ethics board, then blaming his own employees for the error.

It is troubling that during his DOI (Department of Investigation) interview respondent repeatedly attempted to shift blame to his lawyers and campaign staff, while failing to recognize his personal responsibility for following the law, Casey wrote.

In an interview with New York Magazine published earlier this week, de Blasio described his White House bid as a mistake.

I think my values were the right values, and I think I had something to offer, but it was not right on a variety of levels, he said. I think I got into a place of just extreme stubbornness and tunnel vision.

(AP)




At least 15 people were injured Saturday when a mass transit bus crashed with two cars before hitting a building in Baltimore, authorities said.

Baltimore police said officers in the citys central district responded to a Maryland Transit Administration bus crash at about 10:20 a.m.

A preliminary investigation showed that the bus crashed with a Lexus and a Nissan before coming to rest in a building. The Baltimore Sun reported that it was an apartment building.

Police said in a news release that 15 people were injured, with two people suffering possible life-threatening injuries. Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright told the newspaper that 17 people were injured, with none of the injuries being life-threatening.

Witnesses said the Lexus was speeding and ran a stop light when it struck the bus.

There were bystander, spectator reports that there were vehicles speeding through this and the MTA bus, in an effort to avoid being a part of that, collided into this building, Cartwright said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

(AP)




Saudi Arabias foreign minister arrived in Irans capital on Saturday, the latest step in the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two Mideast rivals, Iranian state media reported.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan was officially welcomed by his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran TV said. He carried a message from the Saudi king to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the two were due to meet later Saturday, Iran TV said.

Later, Prince Faisal said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman officially invited Raisi to visit Saudi Arabia, according to the state TV broadcast of a joint news conference.

The visit comes after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia earlier in June. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions. The move sent shock waves through the Middle East, especially Israel, Irans arch-enemy.

Prince Faisal was expected to officially inaugurate the kingdoms embassy in Tehran later Saturday. Until the mission is completed, employees were working from a Tehran hotel, Iran TV said.

Both nations reopened their diplomatic missions in recent weeks.

The agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations was a major breakthrough brokered by China that lowered the chances of further conflict between Riyadh and Tehran  both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.

Soon after exploding in 2014, Yemens conflict turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia, which led a military coalition backing Yemens internationally recognized government, and Iran, which has aided the countrys Houthi rebels.

Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks in recent years following the United States unilateral withdrawal from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. One of those targeted the heart of Saudi Arabias oil industry in 2019, temporarily halving the kingdoms crude production.

Relations between the predominately Shiite Iran and the majority Sunni Saudi Arabia have long been tense. The kingdom broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric along with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.

Amirabdollahian said at a joint news conference that the two sides discussed cooperating on regional security and other topics. We voiced our concern about the continuation of war in Sudan and discussed some regional and international topics of interest, he said.

Raisi, in a meeting with Farhan the Saudi foreign minister, welcomed the establishment of relations between Tehran and Riyadh, according to the presidents website. He said the only enemy of Muslims is the Zionist regime, referring to Israel.

Israel and Iran are archenemies and Raisi said the normalization of relations with Israel by some countries is not only a security issue but also against the Islamic communitys wishes.

One of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus greatest foreign policy triumphs remains Israels U.S.-brokered normalization deals in 2020 with four Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. They were part of a wider push to isolate Iran in the region.

(AP)




A 19-year-old Michigan man has been charged with threatening a mass killing at a synagogue on the fifth anniversary of the massacre at two New Zealand mosques by a white supremacist gunman, federal officials say.

Seann Patrick Pietila of Pickford, a township in Michigans Upper Peninsula, was arrested Friday and charged with transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure another, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Prosecutors say he planned to target the Shaarey Zedek congregation in East Lansing.

He allegedly made threats on social media, including Instagram, that included comments about neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism and glorifying mass shootings, most notably the 2019 shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, The Detroit News reported.

Pietila was arrested the same day a truck driver was convicted of storming a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 and fatally shooting 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror. The attack at the Tree of Life synagogue was the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history and came after the attacker had ranted incessantly on social media about his hatred of Jewish people.

Rabbi Amy Bigman of Shaarey Zedek said the synagogue had notified its congregation of 220 families after learning Friday afternoon about the investigation from FBI agents, and that an arrest had been made and that person had been charged.

We wanted our congregation to know that federal, state and local authorities are aware of the situation that didnt happen because our law enforcement was on top of things, which we are thankful for, Bigman told The Detroit News.

She said the synagogue was maintaining its usual security measures as it headed into Saturdays services.

The investigation began with a tip earlier this week that someone was making threats on Instagram to commit a mass killing, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

When FBI agents arrested Pietila at his home Friday, they found a cache of weapons, knives, tactical equipment, a red-and-white Nazi flag and makeshift plans for killing members of the Shaarey Zedek congregation on March 15, 2024, according to the complaint.

The Michigan case focuses on numerous antisemitic social media posts allegedly made by Pietila. Prosecutors say he made apparent references to the New Zealand shooter, who is serving life in prison for killing 51 people and injured 40 others in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.

Pietila is being held temporarily without bond pending a detention hearing Thursday in federal court in Grand Rapids. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

His lawyer, Elizabeth LaCosse, declined to comment Friday to The Detroit News.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement that hes incredibly grateful to the FBI for their swift action to identify and arrest Pietila.

Antisemitic threats and violence against our Jewish communities  or any other group for that matter  will not be tolerated in the Western District of Michigan, he added. Today and every day, we take all credible threats seriously.

(AP)




President Joe Bidens closing remarks during his speech at the National Safer Communities Summit in Connecticut on Friday caused a wave of confusion among the audience and sparked renewed questions about his mental capacities.

Speaking to gun safety advocates and survivors of gun violence at the University of Hartford, Biden concluded his address with the peculiar phrase, Alright? God save the Queen, man. Shortly after, God Save The Queen started trending on Twitter, with many expressing their bewilderment and pointing out the latest instance of Bidens obviously declining cognitive health.

Had Biden made a reference to Queen Elizabeth II, Britains monarch who passed away last September? Yes, he absolutely had.

Todd Gillman, the White House correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, was present at Bidens speech and, like others in the press pool, struggled to comprehend the intent behind the remark.

Several of you have asked me why he might have said that, Gillman shared on Friday. I have no idea. Other poolers likewise have no idea.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials said Sunday.

Russian losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, U.K. military officials said in their regular assessment.

According to British intelligence, the most intense fighting has centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut and further west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province. While the update reported that Ukraine was on the offensive in these areas and had made small advances, it said that Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in Ukraines south.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. According to the statement by the General Staff, Russia continues to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing attacks around Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Lyman in the countrys Donetsk province, with 26 combat clashes taking place.

Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two civilians were killed, with a further three wounded in the past day.

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces also launched airstrikes on other regions of the east and south of the country.

One civilian was killed and four more wounded in Kherson province as a result of Russias attacks, said regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin, while Zaporizhzhia regional Gov. Yurii Malashko said one person was wounded in Russian attacks that hit 20 settlements in the province.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the village of Piatykhatky on the Zaporizhzhia battlefront.

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson of the regional government in the southwestern Odesa province, said Ukrainian forces destroyed a very significant ammunition depot near the Russian-occupied port city of Henichesk in nearby Kherson province.

Our armed forces dealt a good blow in the morning, Bratchuk said in a video message on Sunday morning, posted to his Telegram channel.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that Ukraines counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line could last a long time.

A group of African leaders have carried out a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia in recent days to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war, but the visit ended on Saturday with no immediate signs of progress.

In other developments:

 The death toll from flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has risen to 16 in Ukrainian-held territory, Ukraines interior ministry said late Saturday, while Russian officials said 29 people died in territories controlled by Moscow.

Massive flooding from the destruction of the dam on June 6 devastated towns along the lower Dnieper River in the Kherson region, a front line in the war. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of causing the breach.

 As the deadline for all Russian volunteer formations to sign contracts with Russias Defense Ministry approaches, widely seen as targeting Russias Wagner mercenary group, Wagner leader and regular Kremlin critic Yevgeny Prigozhin said Sunday that 32,000 former prisoners had returned home after the end of their contracts with Wagner in Ukraine.

According to Prigozhin, 83 crimes were committed by those who had returned home, which he claimed was 80 times less than the number committed by those released from prison over the same period without having served with Wagner.

Prigozhin toured Russian prisons to recruit fighters, promising pardons if they survived a half-year tour of front-line duty with Wagner. In an interview last month, Prigozhin said he had recruited 50,000 convicts, about 10,000 of whom were killed in Bakhmut.

(AP)




Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up a trip to China Friday after seeking economic aid and voicing support for Beijings repressive policies toward Muslim minorities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

During his four-day visit, Abbas met with Chinese President and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping. The leaders then issued a joint statement endorsing Beijings domestic and foreign policies and repudiating Western concepts of human rights.

In the statement, the Palestinian Authority said issues regarding Chinas policy toward Muslims in Xinjiang have nothing to do with human rights and are aimed at excising extremism and opposing terrorism and separatism.

Palestine resolutely opposes using the Xinjiang problem as a way of interfering in Chinas internal affairs, the joint statement said.

That echoes Chinese propaganda surrounding the detention of more than 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities in prison-like detention centers on little or no legal grounds  often merely for having a relative studying abroad or downloading the Koran onto their phones.

China says the widely-documented complex of heavily-guarded centers were intended to instill patriotism, purge radicalism spread over the internet and provide vocational training  and have now been shut down. Critics say many have been turned into prisons.

China has campaigned furiously to counter the outside criticism, and in the competition for resources and markets, Arab states have almost never openly expressed concern over Beijings treatment of Muslims.

Followers of the religion make up around 2% of the population. The country is led by an officially atheistic party dominated by the majority Han ethnic group.

(AP
A Mississippi jail escapee was captured after a 3-week manhunt, authorities say. It's the jail's 6th escape within 2 months.

Local and federal authorities captured escaped Mississippi inmate Joseph Spring on Saturday, nearly three weeks after he escaped a jail through an air duct. Twitter/@TyreeSheriff

The second of two inmates who escaped a Mississippi jail last month has been captured after three weeks.

He was one of six inmates to escape the Raymond Detention Center within the last two months.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones conceded that the jail is "poorly built" and is being fixed.

One of two inmates who escaped a Mississippi jail last month was captured Saturday morning after "a brief vehicle encounter" with authorities, the Hinds County Sheriff announced.

Joseph Spring originally disappeared from the Raymond Detention Center on May 29, along with his fellow inmate Michael Lewis. Lewis was captured by deputies later that same day, but Spring led authorities on a nearly three-week manhunt before being captured in the west Jackson area, according to authorities.

Sheriff Tyree Jones told reporters last month that deputies noticed Spring and Lewis' disappearances after finding items and "what appeared to be blood" near the jail's fence. Deputies did a headcount and realized the two inmates were missing.

Jones acknowledged that the jail was "poorly built," and that escapes are a huge problem, according to CNN.

"We believe that they were able to get access to an air duct within the facility, which led to the exterior of the facility where they were able to go over a fence and escape," Jones said.

Just one month prior to Spring and Lewis' escapes, four other inmates escaped through breaches in a cell and the roof, according to NBC News.

CNN reported that of the four inmates who escaped in April, two have been recaptured, and two are dead.

Jones told reporters in a news conference last month that officials were rushing to fix some of the jail's structural defects, as well as add more staff to patrol the facility. He added that a new detention center is being built.

Read the original article on Insider




A longtime producer for Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News after he was deemed responsible for the on-air headline that referred to President Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator because of the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

The producer, Alex McCaskill, confirmed his exit in an Instagram post. Fox News did not comment on Friday.

He had remained at Fox after Carlson, the networks most popular personality, was fired on April 24. The reason for Carlsons sudden ouster, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to end a defamation case, has never been publicly explained.

It was during the last minutes of Carlsons former time slot on Tuesday when the message appeared under separate onscreen boxes that showed Biden and Trump talking. It read: Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.

Carlson, in a Twitter monologue posted Thursday, said the women who run the network panicked about the post and scolded the person responsible. Carlson didnt name the producer, but said he was considered one of the most capable persons in the building.

The producer offered to resign with two weeks notice, but was told to clean out his desk and leave immediately, he said.

Fox, in a statement on Wednesday, said the chyron had been taken down and the issue addressed, without further explanation.

In an Instagram message posted on Twitter by Justin Baragona of The Daily Beast, McCaskill is pictured outside of Foxs Manhattan office holding a box.

Today was my last day at Fox, read the message under his picture. Its been a wild 10 years and it was the best place Ive ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come. I asked them to let me go, and they finally did. To all my friends there: I will miss you forever.

A call and text message to a phone listed as McCaskills was not immediately returned.

Plenty of Biden critics have suggested politics was behind Trumps indictment by special prosecutor Jack Smith on charges of hoarding classified documents and resisting government attempts to retrieve them. Biden has not commented on the case.

McCaskill was named this spring in a lawsuit filed by a former Fox producer, Abby Grossberg, who also worked on Carlsons staff. Her lawsuit said McCaskill habitually belittled female employees at Fox.

Fox has denied allegations in Grossbergs lawsuit.

(AP)




Yamam counterterrorism officers and Shin Bet operatives detained a terrorist on the way to carry out a terror attack in Lod on Friday morning.

The arrest was made following intelligence information from the Shin Bet and the IDF.

The terrorist, a 16-year-old resident of Shechem, had planned an attack in retaliation for IDF counterterrorism operations in Shechem in recent weeks.

Following his arrest, he was transferred to the Shin Bet for questioning.

This morning a miracle occurred in the city when the security forces captured a Palestinian terrorist who intended to carry out a bloody attack, said Shlomo Lahiani, head of a volunteer security organization in the city. I praise the vigilance of the security forces but you cant depend on a neis time and time again. I call on the residents of the city to join the various volunteering frameworks in the police and in the community.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A federal judge in Argentina has called on Interpol to detain four Lebanese citizens, so they can be questioned for their suspected role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center that killed 85 people.

Regarding these individuals, there are well-founded suspicions that they are collaborators or operational agents of the  armed wing of Hezbollah, Judge Daniel Rafecas wrote in a resolution dated June 13 that the Associated Press obtained Thursday.

Argentine prosecutors have long alleged that Iranian officials used the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah to carry out the deadly attack. Iran has long denied any involvement in the incident.

Both the United States and Argentina have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Most of the Lebanese citizens now being sought by Rafecas have ties to the porous tri-border region that connects Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and that the United States has long said is a hub for terrorism financing.

Rafecas has called for the detention of Hussein Mounir Mouzannar, who has a Paraguayan national ID and could be living either in Paraguay or Brazil, as well as Farouk Abdul Hay Omairi, a naturalized Brazilian citizen whose last known address was on the Brazilian side of the tri-border region.

The other two people who are sought for questioning are Ali Hussein Abdallah, a naturalized Brazilian citizen who has both Brazilian and Paraguayan passports, and Abdallah Salman, who is believed to be living in Beirut.

(AP)




Former prime minister Ehud Barak was a guest on a Channel 12 news show over the weekend, and he engaged in his usual hate talk about Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying, among other things, that the prime minister is weak.

However, this time, Barak, who served the shortest term as prime minister in Israeli history apart from Naftali Bennett, was challenged by a member of the panel, political commentator Danielle Roth-Avneri, who countered that this weak man has been prime minister for many years, which you have tried to continue to be.

Barak responded by saying: I ask to silence this panel member, this show has an editor.

But Roth-Avneri refused to be silenced and slammed Barak for his call for a civil rebellion: Its unbelievable that you call on live TV for a civil rebellion  and the fact that youre ignoring me, youre ignoring a huge public sector that hears your words and is simply shocked that youre calling to break the law on a live broadcast.

She continued: If I would be able to finish talking, you would hear what Im saying. You tried to shut me up, which is what youre trying to do to the entire public.

A storm arose on social media in the wake of Baraks demand to silence Roth-Avneri. One journalist wrote sardonically to Roth-Avneri: Really, how did you open your mouth prior to his honors approval? Freedom of expression in Israel is turning over in its grave.

Of course, leftists rushed to defend Barak, with one social media user commenting: The truth is that we all want to silence her! Go to Channel 14, the mouthpiece of fascism and spare us from the poison and lies.

Roth-Avneri shared the video of the show on Twitter, commenting: Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak says I want to silence her  in the same interview he talks about democracy and dictatorship.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposes any interim agreement reportedly being negotiated between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program.

Netanyahu spoke after reports in Israeli media said understandings are being reached between Washington and Tehran that would seek to hold back Irans nuclear program somewhat, in exchange for some sanctions relief. The reports could not be independently confirmed and the U.S. has publicly denied any such deal.

Netanyahu said Israel had informed the U.S. that the most limited understandings, what are termed mini-agreements, do not  in our view  serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well.

Israeli officials believe some understandings have already been reached limiting enrichment and that some funds have already been unfrozen. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic assessment.

The Israeli news site Walla last week reported that under the emerging understandings Iran would limit its uranium enrichment to 60% in exchange for sanctions relief. The site also said the sides were discussing reciprocal prisoner releases.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week there is no deal, adding that the reports were untrue.

In its report, Walla said Netanyahu had revealed details of the agreement at a recent parliamentary committee meeting. The U.S. and Israel share intelligence and a prime focus of the countries interactions is Iran and its nuclear program.

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration that sought to rein in Irans nuclear program. He was a major supporter of President Donald Trumps 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal, which left it in shambles.

Iran says its program is meant for civilian purposes. Israel considers a nuclear Iran as a major threat, citing its calls for Israels destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

Israel says it does not rule out military action to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.

(AP)
Frozen accounts: Business was just days away from bankruptcy

Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

N.G. writes: My clothing business has been operating for 23 years. We had to take out a bounce back loan and have struggled through Covid, Brexit, strikes and the cost-of-energy crisis.

But nothing has hit us worse than having our accounts frozen by HSBC under the pretence of a 'safeguarding' review.

Tony Hetherington replies: A number of banks appear to use 'Know Your Customer' questionnaires to dredge up reasons to ditch accounts they don't want  but the greatest number of complaints involve HSBC.

Some HSBC customers who run accounts for local charities or clubs say that the bank's questions seem to be aimed at established commercial enterprises with proper premises.

When they cannot produce paperwork such as utility bills in the name of the charity or club, HSBC reacts as if its account holders have something to hide.

You have told me that you knew nothing about HSBC's review of your accounts until you discovered your business's funds were frozen. And when you called the bank, your call was answered by an HSBC official in Malta, and not a local manager.

As a result, you were unable to pay the taxman on time, nor could you pay your phone bill. You were in a very awkward situation with your landlord as your lease was up for renewal at just the moment you found you could not pay the rent because HSBC was sitting on all your cash.

You were just days away from bankruptcy.

The bank told you it had sent two letters about its review, but you are clear that you received neither of them. They were sent during a postal strike and neither letter was by recorded post.

HSBC says its safeguarding scheme is 'a series of initiatives designed to better protect all our customers from fraud and financial crime.' So, I asked the bank how the scheme was protecting you, when in fact it was ruining you. A spokesperson replied: 'We do not comment on individual customer circumstances.'

This was garbage. I had given the bank your signed authority to allow HSBC to speak to me. It had never rejected this before. Was this a new policy?

Bizarrely, HSBC insisted its refusal to comment was normal. It took over a week to convince the bank this was rubbish, and that it had always offered comments in the past when a customer complained.

Meanwhile, HSBC suddenly shifted its ground. It told me it had unfrozen your accounts  but it still blamed you for the whole problem.

You were contacted three times, an official told me, and you had persistently failed to complete its safeguarding review. The bank had made no error, and was quite right to take the action it did.

So, were you contacted twice, as you had been told, or was it three times? Were these contacts all by letter, or were there emails or phone calls? You might expect a bank to pick up the phone before ditching a long-established customer.

HSBC returned to saying there were just two letters. The third supposed contact was a 'banner' that would appear when you logged on to its desktop banking system  except that this was useless because you do not use that system. I asked for copies of the missing letters but HSBC failed to provide them.

With HSBC doing a U-turn, your business has now been saved, but your confidence in the bank has taken a very serious knock. Keep in mind that in Hong Kong, HSBC has frozen the accounts of pro-democracy activists. So, you are in good company even if your bank is not.

Barclaycard says I am a 'bad payer'

Ms S.T. writes: I have held a Barclaycard for about 13 years, never missing a payment.

However, when I applied to increase my credit limit of 3,500, I was told my account was with the Collections Team. I dismissed this as an IT error, but months later the same thing happened again.

Barclaycard apologised and put 50 in my account as compensation, but recently I asked again for a credit increase and was again refused because my account was with the Collections Team.

'Bad payer': When Ms S.T. applied to increase her credit limit of 3,500, she was told her account was with the Collections Team

Tony Hetherington replies: You knew you owed Barclaycard nothing, but what made this affair a complete nonsense was that you are a Premier Account customer of Barclays, and the bank itself had offered you a 60,000 loan while at the same time its credit card arm had you listed as a bad payer.

Worse still, Barclaycard blamed its computer system, telling you that no one had managed to fix it.

I asked officials at the bank's headquarters to intervene and to say whether you had been listed as a bad debtor with any credit agencies.

They quickly told me your credit record was clean, and in fact your Barclaycard account was never even with the Collections Team.

Barclays told me: 'We acknowledge we did not provide the level of service our customers rightly expect and have offered a payment for the distress and inconvenience caused.'

You should have no further problems, and Barclaycard has paid you 200 by way of saying sorry.

WE'RE WATCHING YOU Rip-off: Art investors face 3m losses A meeting of investors who fell victim to rip-off art dealers Smith & Partner Limited has shed light on the scale of the scam, with roughly 30 victims coming forward so far who face combined losses of around 3 million. Sources close to the London company  which The Mail on Sunday first warned against last December  put the total number of investors at 2,000 or more, with many unaware that the business has crashed. The art investment company closed its doors four weeks ago and, as I reported last Sunday, is going into liquidation. Victims are being contacted by a storage company in Switzerland which says it holds the prints investors bought. It plans to levy monthly fees if the prints are not removed by the beginning of next month. The Government-run Insolvency Service is now looking into the company's collapse. Investors have also complained to Action Fraud, calling for a police investigation as the artwork was marketed with a series of false claims about its safety and profitability which may constitute criminal fraud. Smith & Partner was owned and run by Luke Sparkes, 31, until February when he transferred the business to one of the company's salesmen, Michael Conway, also 31. Neither has offered any comment.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak touched down on British soil on his return from Washington, he added another thing to his to-do list - help save the world from the robots.

The Prime Minister has pledged to work with President Biden on the safety of artificial intelligence as part of the Atlantic Agreement signed two weeks ago in the American Capital.

AI is the latest frontier for technology companies to advance humanity but it also comes with a dark side.

Dont write off the humans just yet, says Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership

Together, the US and the UK have the clout to ensure that some international standards are set.

Some of the globes leading tech firms have said they still need to fully understand the behaviour of their emerging AI systems.

When the most ardent proponents of a new technology are calling for regulation, then we should pause and take heed.

It will take time - something that many cautious voices in AI say we dont have.

AI will save humanity or end it, so experts say, but either way the UK has a rich history of tech innovation and will lead the way.

Regulation will have an important role to play in helping to ensure AI is safe.

Effective regulation can help bring certainty, which in turn supports investment and innovation.

Move too soon and intervention risks stifling innovation. Move too late and you risk consumer harm.

Regulation will have an important role to play in helping to ensure AI is safe, Sharon White says

Discrimination in the algorithm is also a real issue to manage.

Of course, AI is not new. While Chat GTP thrust it into the public eye last year, most industries have used AI for many years.

John Lewis opened the UKs first automated warehouse in 2009. Many companies have followed.

But for our business AI will never replace the uniqueness of human connection and senses.

Robots will never trump the creativity of our chefs conjuring up new food combinations where taste, smell and touch are so critical to experiencing our food or the creativity of our John Lewis designers.

The John Lewis Partnership is a business founded on human relationships and emotional connections.

The serendipitous moments we get when meeting people - the personal touch in the way we serve our customers.

Human connection is why the Partnership is built on trust and a closeness to our customers who feel they have a stake in the business.

That comes from our employees - or Partners as were called - owning the business.

Of course, new technologies must be embraced for businesses to modernise and meet customers needs.

The John Lewis Partnership has a history of taking bets on innovation - we got into online retail before many.

AI will help ensure our stock flows round the business in the most efficient way.

It will also help to make our customers' lives easier by providing recommendations about what products they may like based on their preferences.

But we will always choose the power of human connections, creativity and senses.

For a people-centric business like ours, the robots wont be taking over, so dont write off the humans just yet.

Sharon White is Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and a former chief executive of Ofcom
Maverick: Fraser Perring heads short-selling firm Viceroy Research

Relaxing on a couch in the living room of his newly-built house, former social worker turned short-seller Fraser Perring does not seem like a man who would strike fear into the hearts of executives from New York to Tokyo.

But from a sleepy village near Lincoln he runs Viceroy Research, which makes its money by betting against companies and then releasing research reports into their activities.

I am ferried to his luxury home in a sleek black Bentley SUV, so it looks like his career move has largely paid off.

Aside from his Bentley, he owns another black SUV, an Audi and an orange Lamborghini Urus. He calls them his 'toys'.

Short-sellers like Perring are often painted as vultures, feasting on crisis and misfortune. Their own view is that they are essential to markets functioning well, often acting as canaries in the coalmine and alerting the wider world to disasters in the pipeline.

Typically, they are fond of secrecy, so our conversation is a rare insight into their mindset and methods.

It is six months since Viceroy's explosive report into Home Reit  a property investment trust helping homeless and vulnerable people. After the report's release, Home Reit's share price sank before trading was suspended.

Several of its charity tenants are now in liquidation and a probe into its accounts is being conducted by auditor BDO.

Forensic accountants Alvarez & Marsal discovered a lack of transparency on the part of the firm's former investment adviser Alvarium as well as failings of due diligence and the monitoring of the finances of its tenants.

It is music to Perring's ears who alongside his colleagues at Viceroy profited handsomely from Home Reit's collapse. He is thought to have made more than 4 million. He won't reveal the exact sum, merely saying it was 'a f***ing good trade'.

Perring has no sympathy for those in charge of the business. 'The board denied our information and said it was utterly false [when published]. As it transpires we were accurate,' he exclaims.

Over lunch Perring outlined the philosophy behind Viceroy's process when deciding which firms to target.

'There is always something missing,' he says, noting that with Home Reit there had been a gap between what residents had been saying about the quality of its properties and the 'ESG [environmental, social and governance] bulls**t that was told to the market'.

He also rejects claims that his work is based on underhand tactics. 'We rely on public disclosures and we give our opinion on a company,' he points out.

Perring is currently involved in spats with several other companies globally. One of these is Medical Properties Trust, a US-listed healthcare property investment trust that was targeted by Viceroy in January and has since seen its share price plunge by more than 27 per cent.

In March, the firm decided to sue Perring's outfit, arguing that its allegations were baseless. But he remains unfazed by the legal battle, saying the company's business model 'doesn't stack up'.

Viceroy is also in a fight with SBB, a Swedish landlord whose founder and boss Ilija Batljan stepped down earlier this month, with his empire facing ruin as it struggles with a 6.4 billion debt pile.

Perring targeted SBB in February and has kept up the pressure ever since. He describes Batljan as 'a complete and utter fantasist' for previously dismissing vulnerabilities in the business.

'If he told me the time, I'd need three other people's watches to verify it,' he said. 'He's not fit to run a burger van.'

His latest target is Abalance, a Japanese solar panel manufacturer that Viceroy accuses of using a Vietnamese subsidiary to avoid US sanctions against Chinese goods made using Uighur forced labour. Abalance vehemently denies the claims.

Others to have caught his ire include Elon Musk's Tesla, which Perring shorted early last year on claims that it was overvalued. Another is German-South African retailer Steinhoff, which faced an accounting scandal in 2015.

Perring believes fund managers who put client money into fraudulent firms should be held accountable.

'If they are found to be involved in fraud they should be penalised,' he says. 'Their fees should be reduced. There is currently no penalty for doing bad work.'

Perring doesn't hold back against critics. Veteran Labour MP Liam Byrne, a former chief secretary to the Treasury, claimed in Parliament in March that Perring was 'a not infrequent visitor to Moscow' and called for a Government probe into whether some short-sellers were linked to the Kremlin.

Perring denies the allegations and called on Byrne to repeat his statements outside the House of Commons, and thus without legal protection. 'He's a coward and he won't even provide any information so he's gone and lawyered up,' Perring says.

The 49-year-old began short-selling in 2011 while working as a child protection officer. His social worker career ended in 2013 amid allegations that he had failed to contact a foster child's extended family to arrange alternative care. He was subsequently struck off.

A 2014 report from a regulator accused Perring of forging records and then lying to his supervisors. Perring said he followed protocol, but was punished for questioning the placement of the child.

He later sued his former employer Lincolnshire County Council for mistreatment, defamation and a breach of employment rights. The two sides eventually settled, with Perring receiving 24,000.

He pursued his investment passion full-time and within three months had made more money than during a decade in social work.

His first research company, Zatarra, was set up alongside fellow short-seller Matthew Earl to publish reports anonymously.

In 2016, he met Australian researchers Gabriel Bernarde and Aidan Lau and together they formed Viceroy Research  a partnership that thrives to this day.

Not all of his shorts have played out as well as Home Reit, but the one he regrets most is the one that first put him on the map.

'Wirecard,' he says, referring to the German payments giant that collapsed in 2020 after admitting it was missing 1.6 billion in cash, sparking a global scandal that saw the arrest of chief executive Markus Braun, who is on trial.

'It brought out the best and worst in people, including myself,' he admits. 'I became obsessed.' Perring claims the aggression of Wirecard and its agents was like nothing he had ever experienced.

He says the stress caused transient ischaemic attacks, known as 'mini strokes'. Some associates thought he had turned alcoholic due to the effects on his speech.

'Would I do it now?' he asks himself. 'Yes, because I know what to expect. But as a way to start off a career in short-selling, I would say absolutely not. I was f***ing nuts. I went swimming with sharks and thought I was in a goldfish bowl.'

Despite the baptism by fire, Perring shows no sign of wanting to change direction.

'I love it now. Plus I don't think there's another job out there for me. Pretty sure I'm unemployable anywhere else.'

Relaxing while sitting in his cavernous living room with a view of his rolling lawn, Perring still feels a need to look over his shoulder.

In 2016, shortly after dropping off his daughter at school, he was trapped in his car by two men who threatened to harm his family unless he admitted writing reports into Wirecard's business. Out of fear, he lied and denied being behind the reports.

As with many jobs, Perring says it is the people that make it hard, rather than the work itself or the intricacies involved in researching and building Viceroy's reports.

'If it wasn't for the people, short-selling would be the easiest vocation in the world. Do I think short-selling is stressful? No. Do I think the people you expose are? Yes.'
Jeremy Smith, Columbia Threadneedle's head of UK equities, has warned British firms looking to the US that there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

According to Smith, only a handful of British companies have ever made a success of the move across the Atlantic, adding that most have made no impression whatsoever.

Instead, Smith believes there is plenty of life in the London stock market but he acknowledges that the rules need shaking up.

Old school: Jeremy Smith has called for the return of personal equity plans

Smith has called for the return of personal equity plans, or Peps, which allowed people to invest tax-free in the stock market, and in particular encouraged direct ownership of shares over holding funds.

As Chancellor, Gordon Brown got rid of them, thereby undoing Maggie Thatcher's efforts to turn the country into a shareholder democracy.

Sir Howard Davies' Ann Widdecombe connection

Little-known fact: NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies lived in the same north London house as politician and Strictly star Ann Widdecombe four decades ago, when both were in their salad days.

Before the gossip-mongers go into overdrive, the pair resided in two separate flats.

Whispers hears that Widdy, now 75, was in those days much admired by Islington gents for her smart outfits and her shapely calves.

Horta-Osorio in Lakes restaurant

Who should be spotted at the Lake Road Kitchen in Ambleside  whose 12-course tasting menu for 165 a head has restaurant critics salivating with delight  none other than suave banker Antonio Horta-Osorio?

A fellow diner tells Whispers that the former Lloyds Bank and Credit Suisse supremo seemed to be less than delighted with the fare on offer at the foodie haven in the Lake District unlike the rest of the clientele who were tucking in with gusto.

Vaizey does it

Ed Vaizy is in the market for another banking role after leaving the New York advisory company LionTree.

'Lazy Vaizey', as the Tory peer is dubbed by some of his rivals, joined the firm in 2016 to hunt down tech deals across Europe.

LionTree, founded by Aryeh Bourkoff, has advised on mergers including Verizon's take- over of Yahoo.

Bourkoff is known for the company he keeps over lunches in New York, who include the glamorous former White House communications director Hope Hicks.

How many deals Vaizey got over the line during his stint is unknown.

Contributors: Ruth Sunderland and Anne Ashworth
TORONTO, June 16, 2023 Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) announced that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) issued a final order today approving a plan of arrangement to implement the companys proposed return of capital transaction. On June 14, 2023, Thomson Reuters received shareholder approval for the return of capital transaction at its annual and special meeting.

The return of capital transaction consists of a distribution of US$4.67 in cash per common share (approximately US$2.2 billion in the aggregate) and a consolidation of the company's outstanding common shares (or reverse stock split) on a basis that is proportional to the cash distribution.

Timeline/Next Steps

The plan of arrangement for the return of capital transaction is subject to final approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

If those final approvals are received: Thomson Reuters will determine the share consolidation ratio after 4:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 22, 2023 and issue a news release later that day with applicable information for shareholders; The plan of arrangement will become effective at 3:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on June 23, 2023 and the post-consolidation shares are expected to begin trading on the TSX and NYSE under a new CUSIP when markets open that day; As promptly as practicable after the transaction is effective, the companys depositary for the transaction (Computershare Investor Services Inc.) will deliver cash distribution amounts to registered participating shareholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the transaction. The effects of the share consolidation will be reflected in the companys share register. Beneficial or non-registered shareholders participating in the transaction will receive cash distributions from their bank, broker or other intermediary and the effects of the share consolidation will be recorded in their accounts; and Eligible shareholders who duly exercised their right to opt out of the transaction will not receive the cash distribution and will continue to hold the same number of shares that they held prior to the effective time of the transaction. Opt-out deadlines expired earlier this week.



Further details of the proposed return of capital transaction are described in the companys 2023 management proxy circular and related materials, which are available on www.thomsonreuters.com in the "Investor relations" section. The return of capital documents were previously filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR and are available at www.sedar.com. The documents were also furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission through EDGAR and are available at www.sec.gov.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including statements relating to the return of capital transaction. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our companys current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including other factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There is no assurance that the return of capital transaction will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

About Thomson Reuters



Thomson Reuters (NYSE / TSX: TRI) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com.

MEDIA

Andrew Green

Senior Director, Corporate Affairs

+1 332 219 1511

andrew.green@tr.com

INVESTORS

Gary E. Bisbee, CFA

Head of Investor Relations

+1 646 540 3249

gary.bisbee@tr.com
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in NovaGold Resources implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 5 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

If you want to know who really controls NovaGold Resources Inc. (TSE:NG), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 53% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And so it follows that institutional investors was the group most impacted after the company's market cap fell to CA$2.2b last week after a 3.2% drop in the share price. This set of investors may especially be concerned about the current loss, which adds to a one-year loss of 5.0% for shareholders. Often called market makers, institutions wield significant power in influencing the price dynamics of any stock. Hence, if weakness in NovaGold Resources' share price continues, institutional investors may feel compelled to sell the stock, which might not be ideal for individual investors.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about NovaGold Resources.

Check out our latest analysis for NovaGold Resources

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About NovaGold Resources?

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.

NovaGold Resources already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at NovaGold Resources' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. It would appear that 6.7% of NovaGold Resources shares are controlled by hedge funds. That catches my attention because hedge funds sometimes try to influence management, or bring about changes that will create near term value for shareholders. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Electrum Strategic Holdings, L.L.C. with 25% of shares outstanding. FMR LLC is the second largest shareholder owning 7.2% of common stock, and Paulson & Co. Inc. holds about 6.7% of the company stock. In addition, we found that Gregory Lang, the CEO has 0.6% of the shares allocated to their name.

Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 51% of the company is controlled by the top 5 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business.

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 some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of NovaGold Resources

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in NovaGold Resources Inc.. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around CA$29m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 14% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over NovaGold Resources. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 25%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks for example - NovaGold Resources has 4 warning signs (and 2 which are a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

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.

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The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a leading global biopharmaceutical company with a long and impressive history of innovating and developing medicines that improve the lives of patients around the world. Founded in 1887 when William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers purchased the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company, the company was initially named Bristol, Myers and Company. Its first nationally recognized product, Sal Hepatica, was released in the 1890s.

Bristol Myers-Squibb offers chemically synthesized drugs and biologics administered through injections or infusions to patients. The company's pharmaceutical portfolio includes a large number of well-known products. BMS's primary research and development sites are in New Jersey, California, Spain, Massachusetts, New York, Belgium, Japan, India and Massachusetts. The company's products sell to wholesalers and distributors around the world.

Bristol Myers-Squibb has a robust pipeline of investigational medicines in its pipeline. In addition, the company has established strategic collaborations and partnerships with various companies, successfully launching new products. These partnerships and investments generate portions of the company's revenue.

Bristol Myers-Squibb has acquired several companies over the years, including Medarex in 2009, ZymoGenetics in 2010, Inhibitex Inc. in 2012, Amylin Pharmaceuticals in 2012, iPierian in 2014, Flexus Biosciences in 2015, Cardioxyl in 2015, Padlock Therapeutics in 2016, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals in 2017, IFM Therapeutics in 2017, Celgene in 2019, Otezla in 2019, Forbius in 2020, MyoKardia in 2020 and Turning Point Therapeutics in 2022.

In 2005, the company divested individual consumer products and its subsequent consumer products businesses. In December 2014, the company received FDA approval for its cancer drug, Opdivo, used to treat skin cancers that do not respond to drug therapies. In 2019, the company divested its consumer health business, UPSA, to Taisho.

The company has also faced several scandals, lawsuits and investigations over the years, the biggest of which is the ongoing $1 billion lawsuit from Guatemala for the company's role in a 1940s experiment that infected hundreds with syphilis. In 2001 BMS faced an accounting scandal that resulted in a restatement of revenues from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, BMS faced a lawsuit based on illegally maintaining a monopoly on Taxol, a chemotherapy medication. The former head of the pharma group and the ex-CFO were indicted for federal securities violations in 2005. In July of 2006, an FBI raid on the company's corporate offices revealed that the company took steps to delay the release of a generic version of one of its drugs.

BMS began a significant restructuring in 2009, focusing on the pharmaceutical business and biologic products, productivity initiatives and cost-cutting. The U.S. attorney forced the company into oversight and appointed a monitor as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. Lou Schmukler joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010 as global product development and design president.

In 2013, Forbes magazine ranked the company as the drug company of the year. Dr. Giovanni Caforio took the reigns as CEO in 2015. In 2017, reports began to surface that activist investor Carl Icahn took a stake in the company, widely seen as a signal for a potential future takeover.

As Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to experience success and growth, the company is committed to delivering innovative treatments to patients and staying ahead of the curve in the biopharmaceutical industry. With its focus on research and development and a long and rich history of delivering innovative medicines, BMS offers an excellent long-term investment opportunity.
Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. The company provides hand tools, including wrenches, sockets, ratchet wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, punches and chisels, saws and cutting tools, pruning tools, torque measuring instruments, and other related products; power tools, such as cordless, pneumatic, and hydraulic and corded tools; and tool storage products comprising tool chests, roll cabinets, and other products. It also provides handheld and computer-based diagnostic products, service and repair information products, diagnostic software solutions, electronic parts catalogs, business management systems and services, point-of-sale systems, integrated systems for vehicle service shops, original equipment manufacturer purchasing facilitation services, and warranty management systems and analytics; and engineered solutions. In addition, the company offers solutions for the service of vehicles and industrial equipment that include wheel alignment equipment, wheel balancers, tire changers, vehicle lifts, test lane equipment, collision repair equipment, vehicle air conditioning service equipment, brake service equipment, fluid exchange equipment, transmission troubleshooting equipment, safety testing equipment, battery chargers, and hoists, as well as after-sales support services and training programs. Further, it provides financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products and support its franchise business. The company serves the aviation and aerospace, agriculture, infrastructure construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation, and technical education industries Snap-on Incorporated was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
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Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment provides commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; treasury management services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services. The HSA Bank segment offers health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts, and commuter services that are distributed directly to employers and individual consumers, as well as through national and regional insurance carriers, consultants, and financial advisors. The Consumer Banking segment provides consumer deposit and fee-based services, residential mortgages, home equity lines, secured and unsecured loans, and credit cards to consumers; and small business banking products, such as credit, deposit, and cash flow management to businesses and professional service firms. It also offers online and mobile banking services. Webster Financial Corporation was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
CIRCOR International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes flow and motion control products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and internationally. The company has a product portfolio of brands serving its customers' demanding applications. It operates through two segments, Aerospace & Defense and Industrial. The Aerospace & Defense segment manufactures and markets control valves, pumps, regulators, fluid controls, pneumatic valves and controls, electro-mechanical controls, electric motors, and other flow control products and subsystems; propeller pumps; actuation systems; MIL-spec butterfly valves and actuators; brushless DC motors; switches; and actuation components and sub-systems. Its products and services are used in the military and defense, commercial aerospace, business and general aviation, and general industrial markets, as well as serves aircraft manufacturers and tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers. This segment offers its products under the CIRCOR Aerospace, Aerodyne Controls, CIRCOR Bodet, CIRCOR Industria, CIRCOR Motors, Hale Hamilton, Leslie Controls, Portland Valve, and Warren Pumps brands. The Industrial segment provides 3 and 2 screw pumps, progressing cavity pumps, specialty centrifugal pumps, and gear metering pumps; automatic recirculation valves; engineered valves; positive displacement pumps; general service control valves; and top and bottom unheading devices and center feed devices for the end-users and original equipment manufacturers, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction companies. This segment offers its products under the Allweiler, DeltaValve, Houttuin, IMO Pump, IMO AB, Leslie Controls, RG Lawrence, RTK, Schroedahl, TapcoEnpro, Tushaco, and Zenith brands. The company markets its solutions directly and through various sales partners to approximately 14,000 customers in approximately 100 countries. CIRCOR International, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts.
Mastercard Inc. is a leading technology company in the payments industry that provides payment processing solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. Mastercard is one of the largest payment processors in the world by market cap and the number of payments processed.

Mastercard was founded in 1966 as Master Charge: The Interbank Card. The company was created to respond to the growing need for a secure and reliable payment processing system. In 1979, the company changed its name to Mastercard. Mastercard is in over 200 countries and territories and serves over 2.8 billion cardholders.

Mastercard operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, providing payment processing services to financial institutions, merchants and governments. The company earns revenue primarily through transaction processing fees, cross-border fees and other value-added services. Mastercard's business is divided into four segments: domestic assessments, cross-border volume fees, transaction processing fees and additional revenue.

Mastercard's financial performance has been consistently strong in recent years, with revenue and earnings growth driven by increased transaction volumes and higher fees. Mastercard faces significant competition from other payment processing companies, including Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) and PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL). However, Mastercard has maintained its position as one of the largest payment processors in the world due to its strong brand recognition, global network and innovative technology solutions.

Mastercard has consistently invested in innovative technology to enhance its payment processing solutions. One of the company's most significant innovations in recent years is Mastercard's tokenization technology, which provides a secure way to process payments without exposing cardholder data. Mastercard has also invested heavily in contactless payment technology, which has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mastercard has a solid commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, increase financial inclusion and promote gender equality. Mastercard is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts, including the Mastercard Foundation, which focuses on advancing financial inclusion in Africa.

As with any company, Mastercard faces several risk factors that could impact its financial performance. One of the most significant risks facing Mastercard is the potential for increased regulation of the payment processing industry. Mastercard is also vulnerable to changes in consumer behavior, such as a shift away from traditional payment methods toward mobile payments. Additionally, Mastercard's business depends on the overall health of the global economy, which could be impacted by factors such as inflation, geopolitical tensions and natural disasters.
Photo: The Canadian Press U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves before boarding a plane for his travel to China, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, June 16, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge.

Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years.

The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.

Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planets two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Animosity and recriminations have steadily escalated over a series of disagreements that have implications for global security and stability.

Blinken plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to U.S. officials.

Biden and Xi agreed to Blinkens trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. It came within a day of happening in February but was delayed by the diplomatic and political tumult brought on by the discovery of what the U.S. says was a Chinese spy balloon flying across the United States that was shot down.

The list of disagreements and potential conflict points is long: ranging from trade with Taiwan, human rights conditions in China to Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea to Russia's war in Ukraine.

U.S. officials said before Blinken's departure from Washington on Friday that he would raise each of them, though neither side has shown any inclination to back down on their positions.

Shortly before leaving, Blinken emphasized the importance of the U.S. and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The U.S. wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesnt veer into conflict due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters.

Biden and Xi had made commitments to improve communications precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday.

Xi offered a hint of a possible willingness to reduce tensions, saying in a meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that the United States and China can cooperate to benefit our two countries."

I believe that the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people, Xi said to Gates. Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.

Biden told White House reporters Saturday he was hoping that over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along. Chances could come at a Group of 20 leaders' gathering in September in New Delhi and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November in San Francisco that the United States is hosting.

Since the cancellation of Blinken's trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Yi in Vienna in May.

But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both sides over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

And, earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.

Austin said Friday he was confident that he and his Chinese counterpart would meet at some point in time, but were not there yet.

Underscoring the situation, China rejected a report by a U.S. security firm, that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world, as far-fetched and unprofessional

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

That followed a similar retort earlier in the week when China said Qin had in a phone call with Blinken urged the United States to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Meanwhile, the national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint talks Friday and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, in part to counter China's growing influence and ambitions.

This coincides with the Biden administration inking an agreement with Australia and Britain to provide the first with nuclear-powered submarines, with China moving rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year.

The agreement is part of an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS  for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking before Blinken's departure, two U.S. officials downplayed hopes for major progress and stressed that the trip was intended to restore a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

"Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council, said "intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.
From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Multi-Chem Limited's (SGX:AWZ ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Multi-Chem

Multi-Chem Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Founder Suan Sai Foo made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for S$170k worth of shares at a price of S$1.94 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of S$1.82. 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. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Suan Sai Foo.

Suan Sai Foo purchased 158.20k shares over the year. The average price per share was S$1.87. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership Of Multi-Chem

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Multi-Chem insiders own about S$137m worth of shares (which is 84% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Multi-Chem Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, Multi-Chem insiders feel good about the company's future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. For example - Multi-Chem has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

But note: Multi-Chem may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide range of healthcare products. The company has its headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois and operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

The company was founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, and it has since grown to become one of the world's largest and most respected healthcare companies. Abbott Laboratories has a diverse portfolio of products, including medical devices, diagnostic tests, nutritional products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals. The company is committed to developing innovative products that improve the quality of life for people worldwide.

Robert B. Ford is the current President and CEO of the company. He was appointed to this position in 2020 after serving as the company's Chief Operating Officer. He has been with Abbott Laboratories since 1996 and has held various leadership positions.

Abbott Laboratories has delivered strong financial performance, declining as investors seek growth. The company's net earnings have been increasing steadily. Abbott Laboratories has a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio. The company has consistently delivered strong cash flow, allowing it to invest in research and development and return value to shareholders. Abbott Laboratories has a higher price-to-earnings ratio than the industry average, and the company's price-to-book ratio is also higher than the industry average. These metrics suggest that the market has a positive outlook on Abbott Laboratories and is willing to pay a premium for the company's shares. Over the past year, Abbott Laboratories' stock has declined as consumers seek to see what the company will do post-pandemic. The company's shares have experienced some volatility, but overall, they have outperformed the broader market.

Abbott Laboratories operates in the healthcare industry, which is highly regulated and complex. The industry is characterized by rapidly evolving technology, changing regulatory requirements, and shifting consumer preferences. Abbott Laboratories competes with other large healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson.

Abbott Laboratories' robust product pipeline is expected to drive growth in the coming years. The company is focused on developing innovative products that address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. In addition to its core businesses, Abbott Laboratories is expanding into new markets and investing in digital health technologies.

Like any company, Abbott Laboratories faces a range of risks and challenges. One of the most significant risks facing the company is regulatory uncertainty. Changes in regulatory requirements could impact the company's ability to bring products to market and could also increase the cost of doing business. Another risk facing the company is the threat of competitive pressures. The healthcare industry is highly competitive, and Abbott Laboratories faces competition from established companies and new entrants. Changes in consumer preferences could also impact the company's performance, particularly in the nutritional products segment.

Additionally, Abbott Laboratories is exposed to geopolitical risks, such as changes in trade policies or political instability in key markets. The company's international operations also expose it to currency fluctuations, which could impact its financial performance.
Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world.

Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day.

The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley.

The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better.

Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion.

The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments.
The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. The Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos and recreational vehicles (RV). This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and related products. The Commercial Lines segment provides auto-related liability and physical damage insurance, and business-related general liability and property insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, garbage/debris removal, and coal-type businesses; and tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; as well as non-fleet and airport taxis, and black-car services. The Property segment writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, as well as offers manufactured homes, personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; and acts as an agent to homeowners, general liability, workers' compensation insurance, and other products. It also provides reinsurance services. The company sells its products through independent insurance agencies, as well as through mobile applications and over the phone. The Progressive Corporation was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio.
The Coca-Cola Company is one of the worlds most recognized brands. Founded in 1886, the company today is vastly different from its creator's original intent. The original formula was invented by John Stith Pemberton as a health drink, energy boost, and patent medicine following his time in the Civil War. The name is derived from two of the original ingredients coca leaves and kola nuts, although those ingredients are not used today, and was intended to be sold in pharmacies.

Pemberton sold his formula and brand in 1889 to Asa Griggs Candler who then embarked on a nationwide advertising campaign. By 1895 Coca-Cola was being sold in every state in the union and it wouldnt be long before the beverage was being enjoyed worldwide. By 1889 the company was operating under a franchised distribution system that is still in effect today.

Today, the Coca-Cola Company primarily makes syrups that are shipped to bottler/distributors who command exclusive territories. The Coca-Cola Company retains ownership of the largest US bottler, Coca-Cola Refreshments but there are many others around the world. Coca-Cola Femsa, of which The Coca-Cola Company owns 28%, is located in Mexico and is the worlds largest bottler of Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and operates as a beverage company worldwide with sales in over 200 countries. The company manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages and has expanded well beyond soda and pop. After years of expansion and acquisitions, The Coca-Cola Company is represented in verticals from sparkling soft drinks to flavored water, enhanced water, sports beverages, juice, dairy, tea, and coffee. Brands under the Coca-Cola umbrella include Fanta, Fresca, Schweppes, Sprite, Dasani, Gold Peak, Minute Maid, Simply, BODYARMOR, FUZE TEA, and Powerade brands.

The Coca-Cola Company first went public in 1919 and it began paying a dividend in 1920. The company has raised its dividend every year since 1962 making it a Dividend King. To put the companys growth and scale into perspective, one share of KO purchased at the IPO price of $40 was worth nearly $10 million in 2012 and the stock price has nearly doubled since then. Underwriters of the original IPO received $100,000 worth of shares in compensation for the deal and were able to sell it for $2 billion at that time. The Coca-Cola Company is also a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average holding its position from 1932 to 1935 and from 1987 to the present.
Prudential Financial, Inc. is a global financial services company headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. Founded in 1875, the company has become one of the world's largest insurance and investment management companies, with operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential Financial provides insurance, retirement, and investment products to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients.

The company has diverse products and services, including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, retirement planning, asset management, and real estate services. Its offerings cater to a wide range of customers, from individuals to large corporations.

Prudential Financial's management team is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charles F. Lowrey, who assumed the position in 2018. Lowrey has been with the company for over 25 years and has held various leadership positions, including President and Chief Operating Officer. He has a strong track record of driving growth and profitability, having led the company's international business and overseen its merger with Prudential plc's Asian business. Other key management team members include Vice Chairman Robert Falzon and Chief Financial Officer Ken Tanji.

Over the past few years, Prudential Financial has delivered consistent financial results. The company reported revenue and net income up for the past several years. The company keeps an average profit margin of around 4%. The company has maintained a solid balance sheet with an average debt-to-capital ratio of approximately 20%. Prudential Financial's valuation metrics compare favorably to industry peers. The company's price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratio are slightly lower than the industry average. These metrics suggest that the company's stock is undervalued relative to its peers. Prudential Financial's stock has performed well over the past few years.

Prudential Financial operates in the insurance and investment management industry, which is highly competitive and subject to regulatory and political risks. The industry is also subject to cyclical and secular trends that can impact its profitability. For instance, low-interest rates can reduce the profitability of insurers and investment managers by reducing investment income. Prudential Financial's main competitors include MetLife, AIG, and Manulife Financial.

The industry is also subject to regulatory and political risks, such as changes in tax laws or regulatory requirements. In addition, consumer preferences and behavior can also impact the industry, as changes in consumer preferences for financial products and services can affect the demand for insurance and investment management products.

Prudential Financial has several growth opportunities. The company has a strong presence in Asia, particularly in Japan and China, where it has established partnerships with local financial institutions to distribute its products. The company also recently acquired Assurance IQ, a technology-enabled insurance brokerage, to expand its reach in the United States. Prudential Financial is also focused on developing new products and services to meet evolving customer needs, such as its Prudential LINK platform, which provides customers with a personalized approach to financial wellness. Additionally, the company has invested in digital and data capabilities to improve customer experience and streamline operations.

Prudential Financial also has opportunities for expansion into new markets. The company has been expanding its footprint in emerging markets, such as Brazil and Mexico, where it has seen strong growth potential. Furthermore, the company has been exploring opportunities in the growing retirement and financial planning market, particularly in the United States. The aging population has increased the demand for retirement and wealth management services.

Prudential Financial also faces several risks and challenges. The company is exposed to market risks, such as fluctuations in interest rates and equity markets, which can impact the value of its investment portfolio and earnings. In addition, the company's success depends on its ability to effectively manage risks associated with its insurance business, such as mortality, morbidity, and longevity risks.

Prudential Financial is also exposed to regulatory and political risks. Changes in regulatory requirements or tax laws can impact the company's operations and profitability. Furthermore, the company operates in multiple jurisdictions with different regulatory environments, which can create additional complexity and costs.
Accenture plc is a global professional services company that operates in various industries worldwide. With a mission to provide exceptional strategy and consulting, interactive technology, and operation services, Accenture has established itself as a leader in the professional services sector. The company's headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland.

Accenture offers its diverse client base a wide range of products and services. Its application services cover areas such as agile transformation, DevOps, software and quality engineering, data management, and intelligent automation. The company also provides strategy and consulting services, focusing on data and analytics, metaverse, sustainability, and HR transformation. Accenture's technology services encompass cloud infrastructure management, AI, and technology consulting. Additionally, the company offers engineering and R&D digitization, business process outsourcing, and various services related to technology innovation.

Accenture is led by a highly experienced and accomplished management team. Julie T. Spellman Sweet serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Accenture, bringing her expertise in driving growth and delivering strategic value to clients. Kathleen R. McClure is the Chief Financial Officer overseeing the company's financial operations. Gianfranco Casati serves as the Executive Chairman of Growth Markets, and Jean-Marc Ollagnier leads as the Chief Executive Officer of Europe. James O. Etheredge holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of North America. These executives bring a wealth of knowledge and industry experience to their respective roles, contributing to Accenture's success.

Accenture has consistently delivered strong financial performance over the years. The company has reported substantial revenue, impressive earnings, and healthy profit margins. Accenture's financial performance reflects its ability to generate significant income and maintain a strong market position. Furthermore, the company has effectively managed its debt levels, ensuring financial stability and flexibility.

Accenture's valuation metrics, such as price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratio, are generally favorable compared to industry peers. The company's strong financial performance, market leadership, and growth potential contribute to its favorable valuation. Investors recognize the company's value and prospects, which may be reflected in the stock's performance.

Accenture operates in the broader professional services industry, which is characterized by intense competition and evolving trends. The industry's landscape is constantly changing due to technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifts in client demands. Accenture competes with other major professional services firms, each vying for market share and differentiation. Its strong reputation, global reach, and comprehensive service offerings give it a competitive advantage. Moreover, Accenture's ability to leverage emerging technologies and provide innovative solutions positions it well in the industry.

Accenture has numerous growth opportunities in various areas. The company can leverage its expertise in emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics, and automation to drive innovation and expand its service offerings. Additionally, Accenture can explore new markets, capitalize on digital transformation initiatives and pursue strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities. The company's strong relationships with key customers and ability to provide tailored solutions enable it to seize growth opportunities effectively.

While Accenture has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, it faces certain risks and challenges. Changes in consumer preferences, technological disruptions, and evolving regulatory landscapes pose potential dangers to Accenture's business. Consumer preferences can shift rapidly, requiring the company to stay agile and continuously innovate to meet changing demands. Moreover, technological disruptions, such as advancements in artificial intelligence or automation, can impact the traditional service offerings of professional services firms. Accenture must stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and adapt its services to remain relevant and competitive.

Additionally, regulatory changes can introduce uncertainties and compliance challenges. As governments worldwide implement new regulations and policies, Accenture must navigate the evolving landscape to ensure compliance while providing valuable services to clients. Close monitoring of regulatory developments and proactive engagement with relevant stakeholders is essential for the company to mitigate potential risks.

Despite these challenges, Accenture's robust risk management strategies and ability to anticipate and respond to market dynamics position it well to address potential risks. The company's focus on innovation, investment in talent development, and strategic partnerships contribute to its ability to overcome challenges and sustain its growth trajectory.
Dominion Energy, Inc. produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. The Gas Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas sales, transportation, gathering, storage, and distribution operations in Ohio, North Carolina, Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho that serve approximately 3.0 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. It also has nonregulated renewable natural gas facilities in operation. The Dominion Energy South Carolina segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 782,000 customers in the central, southern, and southwestern portions of South Carolina; and distributes natural gas to approximately 435,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in South Carolina. The Contracted Assets segment is involved in the nonregulated long-term contracted renewable electric generation and solar generation facility development operations; and gas transportation, LNG import, and storage operations, as well as in the liquefaction facility. As of December 31, 2022, the company's portfolio of assets included approximately 31.0 gigawatt of electric generating capacity; 10,600 miles of electric transmission lines; 78,500 miles of electric distribution lines; and 93,500 miles of gas distribution mains and related service facilities. The company was formerly known as Dominion Resources, Inc. Dominion Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company's Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names. Its Consumer Tissue segment provides facial and bathroom tissues, paper towels, napkins, and related products under the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Andrex, Scottex, Neve, and other brand names. The company's K-C Professional segment offers wipers, tissues, towels, apparel, soaps, and sanitizers under the Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and KleenGuard brands. In addition, it sells household use products directly to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drugstores, warehouse clubs, variety and department stores, and other retail outlets, as well as through other distributors and e-commerce; and away-from-home use products directly to manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service, and public facilities, as well as through e-commerce. The company was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is a multinational aerospace and defense company providing advanced systems and services worldwide to commercial, military and government customers. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Raytheon Technologies is one of the world's largest aerospace and defense manufacturers by revenue and market capitalization. The company is also one of the largest providers of intelligence services. Gregory J. Hayes is the chairman and CEO of the combined company.

Raytheon Company was founded in 1922. The original location for the company was Cambridge, Massachusetts. Vannevar Bush, Laurence K. Marshall and Charles G. Smith originally started Raytheon as the American Appliance Company.

Raytheon Manufacturing Company changed its name to Raytheon Manufacturing Company in 1925. After the name change, Raytheon Manufacturing Company began marketing its rectifier. During World War II, Raytheon designed and built magnetron tubes for microwave radar sets. It later went on to construct complete radar systems.

Raytheon's Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven in 1945. While eating lunch, he discovered that the magnetron could rapidly heat food. Raytheon acquired the marine electronics company Apelco Applied Electronics in 1959 and after the acquisition, the company changed its name to Raytheon Company.

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, Raytheon's Patriot missile received great international exposure, increasing sales for the company outside the United States. In 1995, it acquired Dallas-based E-Systems. In 1997, it acquired the defense unit of Texas Instruments, Defense Systems and Electronics Group and the defense portion of Delco Electronics (Delco Systems Operations). In 2005, it acquired Boeing's Rocketdyne division.

Raytheon Technologies formed in April 2020 due to a merger between Raytheon Company and the aerospace subsidiaries United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Before the merger, UTC spun off its non-aerospace subsidiaries, including Otis Elevator Company and Carrier Corporation and changed its name to Raytheon Technologies, relocating its headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts. The company's operations have four main segments: Collins aerospace systems, Pratt and Whitney, Raytheon intelligence and space and Raytheon missiles and defense.

Collins Aerospace Systems is a global provider of aerospace and defense products and aftermarket services for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, general aviation and defense and commercial space operations.

The aerospace segment offers a wide range of products and services, including:

Cabin interiors

Food and beverage preparation

Oxygen systems

Storage and galley systems

Communications and aviation systems

Lavatory and wastewater management systems

Airborne intelligence

Surveillance and reconnaissance systems

Crew escape systems

Test and training range systems

Simulation and training solutions

Information management services

Aftermarket services that include spare parts, engineering and technical support, overhaul and repair, information management services and training and fleet management solutions

The Pratt and Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for general aviation customers, military aviation, commercial jets and business jets. It produces, sells and services military and commercial auxiliary power units.

The Raytheon intelligence and space segment develops and provides integrated space, communication and sensor systems for missions, training and cyber and software solutions to intelligence, defense, federal and commercial customers. This includes advanced sensors, training and cyber and software solutions.

The Raytheon missiles and defense segment designs, develops and produces air and missile defense systems; land-based and sea-based radars; defensive and combat solutions; command, control, intelligence and communications solutions and naval and undersea sensor solutions for the U.S. and foreign government customers.

As a large military contractor, Raytheon Technologies gets a significant portion of its revenue from the U.S. government. The company is committed to innovation and holds an impressive portfolio of over 65,000 patents and applications, making Raytheon Technologies an industry leader in developing advanced aerospace and defense solutions.

Raytheon Technologies is constantly striving to develop new, innovative products and services for its customers and has made significant investments in research and development over the years. Its dedication to research and development has enabled the company to create an extensive range of advanced products and services, including aircraft engines, avionics, aerostructures, cybersecurity, guided missiles, air defense systems, satellites and drones.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. was founded in 1869 by Marcus Goldman as an investment bank catering to institutions and businesses. Among the firm's first products are the revolutionary use of commercial paper for entrepreneurs which opened a new method of finance for business and industry.

The original firm expanded to Goldman Sachs in 1882 with the inclusion of son-in-law Samuel Sachs and again in 1885 with a son and another son-in-law. The firm joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1896 expanding into trading of its own and in 1898 it was worth $1.6 million. The company began its work in the IPO market in 1906 with the initial public offering of Sears, Roebuck & Co., and then moved on to Ford and other prominent names of the time.

The 1930s brings a change of leadership and a new direction for the firm. The company shifted toward a purer play on investment banking and embarks on a campaign of acquisition that lasted until the present day. The company doesnt go public itself until 1999 and from that point on it will change into a bank holding company that not only offers investment banking services but takes deposits too, and in 2016 the company added consumer banking to its list of services.

Today, Goldman Sachs is a financial institution that provides a range of financial services for corporations, institutions, governments, and individuals globally. The company operates through four segments that include Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. According to US banking regulations, it is systemically important to the financial health of America.

The company is headquartered in New York, New York, and operates 6 regional headquarters as well. Regional headquarters are located in financial hotspots such as London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangalore, and Warsaw. Among its many prominent CEOs are John Corzine and Hank Paulson who both went on to successful work in government.

The company's Investment Banking segment provides a full range of financial advisory services as well as underwriting for the public markets. The financial advisory services include but are not limited to strategic advisory for mergers and acquisitions, divestiture, restructuring, and spin-offs. This segment is also engaged in middle-market lending and transaction banking. Underwriting services include IPOs, preferred stock, debt instruments, and bridge loans.

Goldman Sachs Global Markets segment facilitates market transactions for institutions, banks, brokerages, corporations, and governments. Services include execution, derivatives, financing, clearing, settlement, and custody.

The Asset Management segment manages client portfolios across the investment spectrum while the Consumer & Wealth Management segment provides advisory and banking services to consumers.
Procter & Gamble Co, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a multinational consumer goods corporation founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. The company has a rich history of innovation and has become a household name in many countries worldwide. Proctor & Gamble Co is a consumer staples stock. A consumer staples stock is a type of stock that offers investors a more stable and steady growth pattern that is minimally affected by economic factors.

With a market capitalization of over $327.9 billion as of February 2023, Procter & Gamble is one of the largest companies in the world. The company operates in over 70 countries, with its products sold in more than 180 countries globally. Its brand portfolio includes household names such as Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Crest, and Olay.

Procter & Gamble's business is divided into five segments: Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment includes SK-II, Pantene, and Herbal Essences. The Grooming segment comprises brands such as Gillette, Venus, and Braun. The Health Care segment includes brands such as Oral-B, Vicks, and Pepto-Bismol. The Fabric & Home Care segment includes Tide, Downy, and Swiffer brands. The Baby, Feminine & Family Care segment includes brands such as Pampers, Always, and Tampax.

Procter & Gamble's products are sold through various channels, including retail stores, online retailers, and direct-to-consumer channels. The company has also invested in e-commerce capabilities and digital advertising, recognizing the importance of these channels in reaching consumers.

Procter & Gamble has a long history of innovation and investing in research and development. The company's R&D efforts are focused on improving its existing products and developing new products that meet the evolving needs of consumers. Procter & Gamble also invests heavily in marketing and advertising, recognizing the importance of building strong brands that resonate with consumers.

Recently, Procter & Gamble has made sustainability a key focus area. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental footprint, such as using 100% renewable electricity at all its plants by 2030. Procter & Gamble has also committed to reducing its plastic packaging waste to reduce its use of virgin plastic by 50% by 2030.

Procter & Gamble has a strong financial position, a solid balance sheet and a history of strong cash flows. The company has a long record of paying dividends, with over 130 years of uninterrupted dividend payments. Procter & Gamble has also implemented a share buyback program, repurchasing over $30 billion of its shares in the past three years.

Despite its size and global reach, Procter & Gamble faces competition from various large and small companies. The consumer goods industry is highly competitive, with companies constantly vying for market share and consumer attention. Procter & Gamble must continue to innovate and invest in its brands to stay ahead of its competitors.
Pfizer Inc. is a US-based multinational biotech company. The company operates as a research-based pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, production and marketing of medicines and vaccines. It is the 2nd largest drugmaker globally by revenue and is ranked 64th on the Fortune 500 list. The companys avenues of research include Immunology, Oncology, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Neurology.

Regarding its product line, the company has at least ten blockbuster drugs producing more than $1 billion in avenue revenue each. The company brought in over $81 billion in total revenue in 2021. The US is its main market and represents roughly 50% of all revenue. China and Japan make up roughly 12% of the business, while the rest come from the rest of the world. It employs roughly 79,000 people and is headquartered in New York state.

Pfizer Inc. was founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer Sr. and his cousin Charles Earhart. The two were German immigrants and chemists that set up shops outside New York City to make medicinal compounds. The first major success was an antiparasitic called santonin, and the commercialization of citric acid-making technologies quickly followed that up. Their success with citric acid led to the companys expansion and other major discoveries.

World War I caused a shortage of materials for making citric acid and forced the company to seek alternatives. The one they latched on to was the fermentation of certain fungi known to produce citric acid naturally. This led to the advancement of fermentation technology that was later used in the commercial production of penicillin and then the advancement of antibiotics in general.

Pfizer Inc was incorporated on June 2nd, 1942 in Delaware, and another period of expansion began. The postwar drop in demand for penicillin led to the discovery of newer, more marketable antibiotics and cemented the companys role in modern medicine. By the time he 80s rolled around, the company was trading on the New York Stock Exchange and on the path to developing todays blockbuster lineup.

The companys top seller in 2021 was Comirnaty, a COVID-19 vaccine. It generated nearly $37 billion in 2021 and was followed by Prevnar, Ibrance and Eliquis with just over $5 billion in sales each. Other blockbuster names on Pfizers list include Xeljanz and Enbrel, each bringing in $3.5 billion. Pfizer operates 39 research and production facilities worldwide and sells its products in 125 countries.

As of 2022, the company had a robust pipeline of potential treatments, with more than 220 in some stage of clinical trials. Among its leading candidates is a vaccine for RSV, a life-threatening respiratory disease affecting children. 2021 highlights include 8 FDA approvals, four new regulatory submissions and 13 new trial startups. Pfizer is also a well-known dividend payer and has returned more than $8.7 billion to shareholders since going public.
The Williams Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises Transco and Northwest natural gas pipelines; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region, as well as various petrochemical and feedstock pipelines. The Northeast G&P segment engages in the midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation activities in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment comprises gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region, which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins; and operates natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation and storage facilities in central Kansas near Conway. The Gas & NGL Marketing Services segment provides wholesale marketing, trading, storage, and transportation of natural gas for natural gas utilities, municipalities, power generators, and producers; risk and asset management; and NGL marketing services. The company owns and operates 33,000 miles of pipelines, 29 processing facilities, 7 fractionation facilities, and approximately 24 million barrels of NGL storage capacity. The Williams Companies, Inc. was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[June 18, 2023] Booming Development Gui'an New Area Introduces Industrial Resources to Guizhou Tweet

GUIYANG, China, June 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Huanqiu.com From "framework plan" to "preliminary implementation", in a decade, we saw newly built plants erected in Gui'an New Area. These enterprises injected new impetus for the economic development of the area. Among them are auto manufacturing enterprises represented by Guizhou Changjiang Automobile Co., Ltd., NEV battery enterprises represented by CATL and BYD, and battery materials enterprises represented by Zhongke Xingcheng. Gui'an New Area links resources between Guizhou and Shanghai As the tower crane lifted the last cubic meter of concrete to the roof for casting, the plant of CATL (Guizhou) EVE Cell Production Base Project (Gui'an Phase I) was successfully capped. It serves as one of the important projects implemented by Shanghai Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park. When Phase I is completed, it is expected to yield an annual production worth RMB 15 billion, pay taxes by RMB 1 billion, and provide over 3,000 jobs. In early April this year, Gui'an New Area promoted the joint construction of the industrial park with Zhangjiang Hi-tech ark. Subsequently, Gui'an Development Group and Zhangjiang Group reached a consensus for cooperation on the joint construction of Zhangjiang (Gui'an) Hi-tech Industrial Park in Guiyang Big Data Technological Innovation Town (Phase II). The Industrial Park will link the resources of Guizhou and Shanghai and promote high-quality industrial development in big data, new energy, and new materials.



Gui'an Network Valley undertakes industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Since this year, Gui'an Development Group and China Merchants Entrepreneurship Company under China Merchants Shekou Holdings signed a cooperation framework agreement on Gui'an New Area Network Valley Industrial Park, to reach relevant consensus on comprehensive cooperation matters in project implementation, investment attraction and operation, smart park, and corporate incubation.

The Gui'an Network Valley Project will focus on the development positioning of "two primary and two featured" industries, including the manufacturing of advanced equipment and electronic information manufacturing. By doing so, it aims to build it into a base undertaking the industrial transfer of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and an incubation base for enterprises using special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. The planning and construction of Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project take a solid stride forward On April 28, Gui'an New Area Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Co., Ltd. was established, marking another stride forward for the construction of the Shenzhen-Guizhou Industrial Park Project. For the exploration of cooperation modes such as "Greater Bay Area HQ + Guizhou Base" and "Greater Bay Area R&D + Guizhou Manufacturing", Gui'an New Area Industrial Development Holdings Group (GIDH) in June 2022 worked with Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park Group ("SSTIP Group") and Zhongcai Urban Development Private Equity Investment Fund Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. ("Zhongcai Fund") to jointly explore the "self-sufficiency" mode for park development and operation. Since the project implementation, GIDH has visited Shenzhen several times to discuss with SSTIP Group and Zhongcai Fund. Pursuant to the principle of "government authorization + platform guidance + equity cooperation", the three parties explored the practices to introduce a central enterprise to establish an SPV company for the overall arrangement of the park development & construction and industrial introduction. They also committed to realizing the self-balance operation of the park based on its industrial contributions to local economy, aiming at creating the "Shenzhen-Guizhou Template" for Gui'an New Area. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104447/Huanqiu_INVEST_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/booming-development-guian-new-area-introduces-industrial-resources-to-guizhou-301853694.html

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[June 18, 2023] CCTV+: Father's influence on Xi in people-centered philosophy Tweet

BEIJING, June 18, 2023 /CNW/ -- A personal letter written by Chinese President Xi Jinping to his father Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002) in 2001 revealed how his father's words and deeds run deep in Xi Jinping's outlook on thrifty life, hard work and state governance, especially his people-centered philosophy.



On Oct 15, 2001, the 88th birthday of Xi Zhongxun, the Xi family had a rare reunion. Xi Jinping, then governor of east China's Fujian Province, was unable to attend the family event due to work commitments. The apologetic son wrote a letter of gratitude to his father.



In the letter, he spoke fondly of his everlasting affection for his parents and of the many noble qualities he learned from his father.



Xi Zhongxun was one of the first-generation central leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He was always a man for the people.



When he became the Party chief of Suide County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in 1943, Xi hongxun immediately required local officials to abstain from complacency and solidly serve the 520,000 local residents.







When Xi Zhongxun arrived in south China's Guangdong to be the provincial Party chief in 1978, he worked day and night and visited 23 counties under the scorching sun.



On Oct 1, 1999 , Xi Zhongxun, then 86, watched a grand military parade and a mass pageantry on the Tian'anmen Rostrum marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China . He had a friendly conversation with the central leadership and said "We should never forget that the country is the people, the people are the country."





"Like a willing ox, you worked hard in silence for the Chinese people. Your deeds inspired me to devote my life to the cause of serving the people and paying back my splendid motherland and my fellow people," Xi Jinping wrote in the letter.



Xi Zhongxun served the country throughout his life and his fine family tradition is like a mirror, a benchmark, and a textbook. As he said to his children, "I have not left you any wealth, but a good reputation." Link: https://youtu.be/ISHmbsWfma4 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cctv-fathers-influence-on-xi-in-people-centered-philosophy-301853735.html SOURCE CCTV+

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There are thousands of publicly traded companies on Wall Streets stock exchanges, tens of thousands of investors buying and selling practically every hour, and more thousands of professional stock analysts watching every detail of these transactions. Its enough raw data that even Mr. Spock would have trouble calculating the odds in his head.

Spock would turn to the Enterprise computer, which we havent got  but we do have the Smart Score, a sophisticated data parsing and collation tool, powered by AI-driven algorithms. The Smart Score gathers data on those thousands of stocks, and then rates each stock against a set of 8 separate factors that have been shown to match up with future outperformance. In the end, each stock gets a single-digit score on a scale of 1 to 10  with a Perfect 10 indicating a stock that, quite logically, deserves a second look.

So, lets do that. Weve opened up the TipRanks database and pulled up the details on 3 of these top-rated, Perfect 10 stocks, and gone on to find out what the analysts have to say about them. Here they are, with the analyst commentaries.

Phillips 66 (PSX)

The first name on our list is Phillips 66, one of the worlds major oil companies. This firm, with its $44.5 billion market cap, has been reaping the gains from oils post-pandemic rise and saw its annual revenues jump from $111 billion in 2021 to $170 billion last year. Phillips generates these numbers by bringing crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas products  mainly liquids  to the refineries, and then marketing a wide range of refined hydrocarbon products, including automotive and fuels, fuel and lubricating oils, petrochemicals, and other industrial chemicals.

The company currently has 13 active refineries, and markets its fuels under several brand names, including the widely known Conoco, 76, and the eponymous Phillips 66. In fact, the companys shield logo is one of the more widely recognized branding symbols on US highways. Phillips products are used both in and out of the transportation sector, in the aviation industry, in industrial chemicals, in agriculture, and in the pharmaceutical business.

In its most recent quarterly report, for 1Q23, Phillips showed a slowdown in revenue generation, with the $35.1 billion top line slipping from the $36.6 billion reported in the year-ago period. At the same time, the revenues beat expectations by $562.74 million. The bottom-line earnings, reported as a non-GAAP EPS of $4.21, were 65 cents per share better than the forecasts.

Phillips finished Q1 with deep pockets, including $7 billion in cash and liquid assets, as well as $6.2 billion in committed capacity from its credit facilities. In the quarter, the company generated $2.5 billion in operating cash flow, of which $1.2 billion was free cash flow. Some $1.3 billion was returned to shareholders during the quarter, through both dividend payments and repurchases.

The div payments deserve a closer look. Phillips increased its payment earlier this year, and the last payment sent, on June 1 for $1.05 per common share, represented the second payment at the higher rate. The current dividend, at $4.20 annualized, is yielding 4.3%.

On the Smart Score, PSX gets a boost from its fundamental factors, which include a 47.6% return on equity for the trailing 12 month period, as well as from 100% positive news sentiment and 95% positive sentiment from the financial bloggers.

Analyst Jason Gabelman, from TD Cowen, is bullish here, noting Phillips overall strong performance in a vital industry. He writes, We expect refining operations to improve and its non-refining exposure to once again become a more appreciated differentiator. Refinery operations weakened in 2021-22 given elevated planned and unplanned maintenance. We anticipate operations to move back to levels consistent with pre-Covid performance, near best-in-class, including $7/bbl opex and 93% refinery utilization.

Moreover, Gableman went on to add, as industry refining margins continue to normalize from peak-cycle 2022 over the next couple years, we anticipate PSX higher non-refining earnings mix and growth to become a more appreciated factor.

Gabelmans Outperform (Buy) rating comes along with a $123 price target implying an upside of 27% for the year ahead. (To watch Gabelmans track record, click here.)

The Strong Buy consensus rating on PSX shares is based on 10 recent reviews, with a breakdown of 8 to 2 in favor of Buys over Holds. The stocks $97.13 trading price and $121.10 average price target suggest a one-year upside potential of 25%. (See Phillips 66s stock forecast.)

GFL Environmental (GFL)

For the second stock on our list, well turn to a sector that most people dont think about, but wouldnt want to live without  waste management services. GFL, a Toronto-based company, is active across Canada, serving commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, and residential customers. The companys activities include disposal of liquid and solid waste, including general garbage, recyclables, commercial dumpster collection, construction debris, automotive fluids, hazardous wastes  and thats only the beginning of the list. GFL even works with soil reclamation.

Waste management  or garbage collection, as we usually think of it  is big business, far bigger than most of us ever imagine. GFL has a market cap of $13.76 billion in US currency, and saw more than C$6.76 billion ($5.11 billion) in revenue last year. The company works from a network of facilities that include everything from material recovery plants to traditional landfill, and organic processing stations to soil remediation sites.

In the first quarter of this year, GFL boasted revenues of C$1.8 billion ($1.36 billion), beating the Streets C$1.68 billion ($1.27 billion) forecast. The companys bottom line of C$0.08 per share came in C$0.11 ahead of expectations. The firms revenue generation is on a generally upward trajectory, growing 22% from 2021 to 2022, and the 1Q23 top line was up 28% from the prior-year period.

The Smart Score here shows several points for investors to consider. Technical factors are solid; the 12-month-change momentum came in at 50.88%, and the simple moving average (20 days over 200 days) is positive. The financial bloggers are 100% bullish, and the hedge funds tracked by TipRanks increased their holdings here by 743,000 shares last quarter.

With all of these sound metrics, what caught the eye of 5-star analyst Michael Doumet, of Scotiabank, was this companys fast growth. Doumet says, GFLs growth story is well understood: it is executing the playbook its larger peers executed decades ago (but is doing so, when industry pricing discipline is improved) GFLs attractive market selection (i.e., >65% in secondary/less competitive markets) provides the basis for above-market margin expansion, and its ability to further densify its existing operating regions provide it with meaningful runway to execute accretive M&A. De-leveraging to below 4x net debt before the end of 2023, with three planned divestitures (expected to be completed before the end of Q2/23), and more so beyond, could aid in a positive re-rate.

Looking ahead, Doumet puts an Outperform (Buy) rating here, with a C$58 (US$43.87) price target that suggests an upside of 17.7% for the next 12 months. (To watch Doumets track record, click here.)

Its clear, from the unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating based on 10 positive analyst reviews, that Wall Street is bullish on this stock. The shares are selling for US$37.28, and the US$43.81 average price target implies a gain of 17% on the one-year time horizon. (See GFLs stock forecast.)

Tecnoglass, Inc. (TGLS)

Last on our list, Tecnoglass, is a leader in a specialty market within the construction materials sector. The company provides architectural glass, windows, and related aluminum products used in the construction industry, and its products can be found in everything from single-family homes to multi-family apartment dwellings to commercial buildings. The firm is based in Colombia, and holds the #1 position in the Latin American market for architectural glass  and the #2 position in the US market.

Tecnoglass boasts a massive production facility in its home country, a 4.1 million square foot, vertically integrated, state-of-the-art factory that is capable of meeting the needs of more than 1,000 global customers. While Tecnoglass is active around the world, and leads its market in Latin America, some 90% of its revenue come from sales to the US construction market, especially in the fast-growing state of Florida. We should note that Florida is closely linked to Latin America, by a combination of geography and immigration.

The US real estate market  particularly the residential market, was hot in 2022, and Tecnoglass saw a sharp rise in revenues and earnings. At the top line, the companys 2022 revenue was up 44% year-over-year to hit $716.6 million. In the last quarterly report, for 1Q23, the upward trend continued. The company reported a top line of $202.6 million, up 50% y/y and beating the forecast by $11.6 million. The non-GAAP EPS figure, of $1.08 per share, was 18 cents per share better than had been expected  and was more than double the 53-cent EPS figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

When we look at Tecnoglasss Smart Score, we find powerful momentum from the technical factors  a 12-month change of 183%. The news sentiment is 100% bullish, as are the financial bloggers. Positive crowd wisdom and increasing hedge activity round out the Perfect 10; last quarter, the hedges increased their holdings of TGLS by 292,400 shares.

These strong growth figures caught the eye of Stanley Elliott, 5-star analyst from Stifel. Elliott writes of Tecnoglass, TGLS has experienced robust growth driven by market share gains, new product line expansions (entered residential in 2017), and geographic expansion, all trends we expect will continue into the foreseeable future. Further, TGLS has exposure to relatively attractive portions of the end market, with nearly 90% of sales in Florida and nearly 30% from R&R. Shares currently trade at a discount to its closest peer, which we believe provides an attractive entry point opportunity.

These comments support Elliotts initiation of coverage with a Buy rating and $60 price target indicating confidence in a 26% one-year gain. (To watch Elliotts track record, click here.)

While there are only 4 recent analyst reviews of this stock, they are all positive  giving TGLS its Strong Buy consensus rating. The shares have an average price target of $54.75 and a trading price of $47.56, suggesting a 15% upside for the year ahead. (See Tecnoglasss stock forecast.)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
It's worth considering the implications of bullying not only for parents but also as more school district confront legal challenges for letting legit complaints slide.



Here's a bit of data and opinion which offer a glimpse at the future . . .



Missouri requires school districts to report bullying, but if you look at the numbers, most cases are still going unreported.



U.S. Department of Education from 2018, the most recent available, shows that four Kansas City, Missouri school districts - Blue Springs, North Platte, West Platte and Raymore-Peculiar - reported four or fewer cases of bullying that year.



Those numbers are so low that profesor Scott Poland, says it defies logic.



Frankly, I think schools miss a lot, he said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
A quick glimpse at local & statewide crime reporting amid this violent Summer.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Man found shot, killed at Kansas City crash scene Just after 11 p.m., Friday, KCPD officers responding to reports of a shooting at Linwood, Cleveland found a man dead next to a crashed vehicle

3,000 Kansas Citians have had weed charges cleared, but still thousands of records to go When Missouri legalized recreational marijuana, it also promised to clear weed charges from people's records. How are Kansas City counties keeping up?

Suspect in custody after fatal hit-and-run crash involving suspected impairment in Kansas City, Missouri A motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash Friday that involved suspected impairment, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

These Are the Most Common Gun Related Crimes in Kansas Mass shootings have become a tragic staple in the American news cycle. According to the nonprofit organization Gun Violence Archive, there were over 640 mass shootings in the U.S. in

Grain Valley, Mo., man charged in deadly Merriam, Kan. crash after police tried to stop him for speeding A 24-year-old man has been charged with causing a deadly crash in suburban Kansas City after police tried to stop him for speeding.

Missouri doctor's death steeped in mystery, speculation The doctor's family is adamant that his death wasn't a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.

Wichita man arrested, accused of sneaking into hospital, sexually assaulting 3 patients Authorities have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting three patients after sneaking into a Wichita hospital, then fighting with security guards who tried to apprehend him.

Former Missouri juvenile officer sentenced to 7 years for ASSAULT of 15-year-old girl A former longtime deputy Missouri juvenile officer was sentenced this week to a seven-year prison term after pleading guilty to a child sex charge last October.

Teen dies after high-speed crash involving DUI suspect, man charged with murder A 19-year-old driver was stopped at an intersection Thursday morning when a speeding car crashed into him, killing him. Tonight, his fiancee is speaking to KCTV5 News.

13-year-old Hitchcock girl back home after disappearance, but what about the man found with her? The desperate search for the girl from Hitchcock ended Thursday after she was found in Kansas City, Missouri. She made the trip back to her relatives Friday.

Developing . . .


A local archbishop reminds us that "freedom isn't free" and alleged the growing persecution of his faith community.



Here's the word . . .



The need for Catholics to defend their religious freedom is more urgent than ever, U.S. bishops say. Catholics face growing threats to their rights to live out their faith in public and serve the common good without threats, violence and coercion.



In recent years, the threats and acts against the religious freedom of Catholics have included attacks on Catholic churches and other places, attacks on the seal of the confessional, violations of conscience rights, discrimination in the workplace, discrimination against Catholic students, discrimination against Catholic adoption and humanitarian services, and more.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
This morning hottie KB inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check www.TonysKansasCity.com news gathering . . .

Local Youngsters Need Sanctuary Amid Culture War



Many of Kansas City's unhoused youth are LGBTQ+, but few shelters will accept them Nearly 50% of unhoused young people in the Kansas City metro are LGBTQ. Although the city has transitional shelters that accept young people, many of those institutions are faith-based, where queer clients may experience discrimination against their gender identity.

Community Celebration

Kansas City's Juneteenth events celebrate 'Black people and Black culture' Events Saturday and Sunday in Kansas City celebrate the emancipation of enslaved Africans in America and provide opportunities for families to research their history.

Ball Bounces Badly

Sporting KC drops home match to LAFC after controversial calls It was a very emotional game on Saturday night for Sporting KC that ended in a loss.

Angel Trolled By Photogs

Kelly Brook reveals horrifying red carpet remark about her weight Kelly Brook has tragically recalled being told to 'breathe in' by a paparazzi during a red carpet appearance.

White House Against 1%?!?!

Biden says rich must 'pay their share' at first reelection campaign rally President Joe Biden delivered an unapologetically economic populist message during the first rally of his reelection campaign, saying his policies had created jobs and lifted the middle class.

Like It Or Not: MAGA Unites GOP

A bloody, chaotic, legally explosive GOP primary is proving shockingly stable Three polls conducted after his second indictment show Trump in a comfortable first place.

European Battles Escalate



They Come At Night, Mostly. With Leopard Tanks And Western Optics, Ukrainian Troops Own The Dark. The Ukrainians' nighttime advantage helps to explain their progress. Even at night, "everything is clear as day," one Russian blogger wrote.

South Of Border Narco-War Brewing

More Republicans want to take the fight to Mexico's cartels. Experts say it's a bad idea. A fringe idea to directly take on the Mexican cartels with the U.S. military is gaining some traction in the Republican party - even as critics warn that any unilateral action would endanger relations with Mexico and fail to alleviate the flow of drugs across the border.

Far East Confab Cont'd



Antony Blinken begins China visit that spy balloon put off US secretary of state's trip seeks to clear the air but issues such as Taiwan, semiconductors and human rights leave limited room for compromise

Alt. Glimpse At Church

LGBTQ+ Catholics have a spiritual legacy to take pride in Watching current events as a transgender person is enough to make Max Kuzma's head spin. He and other LGBTQ+ Catholics are sustained by finding God in living out their authentic identity and sharing their gifts with pride.

Building South Side Legacy

South KC Rotary rehabs a field of dreams "For some of these kids, this is it...,"

Stormy Sunday Possible

FORECAST: Pop-up showers this afternoon, thunderstorms likely for Sunday morning An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible this afternoon and evening. Watch out for heavy rain, gusty wind and lightning.

Joan Osborne - One Of Us is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
As we head into the upcoming election voters, residents and so many other denizens of the discourse might ask themselves a simple question . . .

What have Mayor Q & his colleagues accomplished???

From our perspective . . . This fact stands above all others:

MAYOR Q & COUNCIL HAVE GOVERNED DURING ONE OF THE WORST KILLING SPREES IN THE HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY & DEADLY CRIME CONTINUES TO ESCALATE!!!



Meanwhile . . .



We don't see much urgency addressing this crisis . . . Most days the latest murder is casually reported and even this "season of vigils" goes by without any real political consequences.

Meanwhile . . .

KCMO politicos are campaigning on freebie rent and culture war chatter with the help of a dark money activist group and smallish gang of mercenaries wearing yellow t-shirts.



Sadly, even the topic of crime is treated cynically like a rhetorical hot potato.

The current killing spree is played off by Mayor Q & his allies as a gun safety issue wherein blame can be cast toward the GOP majority in Jeff City.

The clever rhetorical infinite loop prevents any real progress and alienates culpability.

Meanwhile . . . People keep dying.



Of course . . . There are a lot of other issues to consider and vote on . . . We won't deny anyone their pet cause.

Still . . .

Mayor Q and his colleagues deserve to be held accountable for their role in governing during the ongoing Kansas City homicide crisis.

They presided over a massacre and the only argument from this governing body has been directed at police governance and funding; placing politics, power & money far ahead of human toll on the street level.



Sadly . . . So many local newsies and non-profit advocacy groups posing as journalists are paid to promote their political allies rather than ask tough questions or raise inconvenient facts before an election.

You decide . . .
Our blog community is comprised of smart people from all sides of the political spectrum.



Here's an important message that stands out loud & clear amid growing local property tax concerns.



"Most of the people I see being interviewed on TV are older and may not realize what's happened with home values. That said, the Missouri House and Senate have passed legislation that would allow counties to cap property taxes for those who are 65 or older at the amount they paid when they reached age 65. The same legislation also exempts Social Security from being taxed by the state. It's awaiting the governor's signature, and it's been waiting for more than a month.

"Is the governor too busy with book bans, etc. to do some actual state business?"

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Tax cut measure for Missouri seniors awaits Governor's signature Missouri is one of only 11 states that collect taxes on social security benefits, but that would change under a bill that needs only Gov. Parson's signature to become state law.

Developing . . .
The 49th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Middle East brought high-level delegations from 12 countries together at the Dead Sea, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Tourism leaders from across the Middle East have met to guide the sectors development across the region, including as a driver of inclusive employment and rural development.

The 49th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Middle East brought high-level delegations from 12 countries together at the Dead Sea, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to assess the current state of tourism in the region and advance shared plans for its future.

Middle East: First Region to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels

According to UNWTO data, the Middle East is the first global region to exceed pre-pandemic numbers of international tourist arrivals so far in 2023.

Overall, international arrivals to destinations in the Middle East during the first quarter of 2023 were 15% higher than in the same period of 2019

Jordan welcomed 4.6 million tourists in 2022, close to the 4.8 million recorded in 2019, with receipts from tourism totaling US$5.8 billion for the year

On the eve of the Regional Commission meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein to congratulate him on the "rapid and remarkable" recovery of Jordanian tourism. The Secretary-General also commended the strong support shown to tourism by the Jordanian Royal Family and the Government, including for ongoing work to diversify the sector.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "Tourism has shown its resilience in the face of crisis. And now, recovery is well underway  with all the challenges and opportunities this brings. For the Middle East, tourism represents an unrivalled driver of employment and opportunity, as well as economic diversification and resilience."

UNWTO Supports Members' Priorities in the Middle East

Participants, representing 12 of the 13 UNWTO Member States in the region, and including 7 Ministers of Tourism, benefitted from a comprehensive overview of the Organization's progress in achieving its Programme of Work.:

Education: Members were given an overview of UNWTO's work to advance one of its key priorities for tourism. Key achievements include an agreement signed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop tourism education, including through online courses with the potential to reach up to 300 million people worldwide, and the Jobs Factory, linking 50 employers with 100,000 jobseekers. UNWTO is also launching its first Undergraduate Degree in Sustainable Tourism Management and developing plans to make tourism a high school subject.

Tourism for Rural Development: The UNWTO Regional Office for the Middle East (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is growing as a global hub of tourism for rural development. Members were updated on its work, including the Best Tourism Villages initiative, which is welcoming applications for its third edition.

Innovation: UNWTO is working with its Members to make the Middle East a hub of tourism innovation. Recent initiatives include the Women in Tech Start-Up Competition for the Middle East, aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs across the region, and the Tourism Tech Adventures forum held in Qatar.

Looking Ahead

In line with UNWTO's statutory obligations, Members from the Middle East agreed:

Jordan will serve as the Chair of the Commission for the Middle East for the period 2023 to 2025. Egypt and Kuwait will serve as the Vice Chairs.

The Commission will meet in Oman for its 50th meeting.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: RicHard
Collingwood is an underrated weekend getaway spot. Here are five places locals say you cant miss

Chris and Tammy Millsap, owners of boutique hotel, the Dorchester, share their shortlist of places to eat and drink, shop and stroll.
Although the United States has been slow in adopting electric vehicles (EVs), the change that is currently happening in the sector is positive. Now, all 50 states are actively working on creating a national network of EV charging stations. This means that soon, there will be more convenient and accessible charging options across the country, supporting the growth of EVs.

According to Forbes, millions are being invested in the auto industry to create new high-paying jobs and support the EV market by building new manufacturing plants in conjunction with battery manufacturing and processing of electric vehicle components. Proposed vehicle emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are driving market transformations.

Investors can choose to invest in electric car stocks or EV battery manufacturers. However, considering the uncertainty in the industry, it's wise to explore electric vehicle ETFs for a diversified approach. Here are some EV ETFs options. Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF DRIV, KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility ETF KARS, SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF HAIL and iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF IDRV.

EV Growth in the Country

The sales of all-electric cars in the United States are rising rapidly, surpassing the growth rate of the overall car market. As per insideevs, in the first three months of 2023, there were 257,507 registrations for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), marking a 63% increase compared to the previous year. This accounted for about 7% of the total market, up from 4.6% in Q1 2022.

Tesla TSLA dominated the BEV segment with 155,360 registrations, capturing approximately 60% of the market share. Non-Tesla BEV registrations reached 102,147, showing a significant increase of 128% year over year and accounting for a 40% market share. This growth indicates that the electric vehicle market is expanding, providing consumers with a wider range of brand and model options. The share of non-Tesla BEV has increased from 28% to 40%, since Q1 last year.

According to GlobeNewswire, the U.S. market for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is projected to experience significant growth, with estimates indicating a rise from USD 3.92 billion in 2022 to USD 43.46 billion by 2032. This surge in demand is driven by increasing sales of electric vehicles. Multiple government agencies, manufacturers, and service providers are entering agreements that offer lucrative opportunities for growth in the EV charging infrastructure market. The residential segment of the EV charging infrastructure market is projected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Global Market Outlook

Sales for global passenger electric vehicles in Q1 of 2023, rose 32% year on year with one in every seven cars sold being EV, as per counterpoint. Of all EV sales, BEV constituted 73% while plug-in hybrid EVs accounted for the rest.

The United States surpassed Germany to secure its position as the world's second-largest EV market in Q1 2023, with China retaining its leading position. The implementation of the EV tax credit subsidy in the United States is expected to contribute to a substantial increase in EV sales within the country. To meet the tax credit eligibility criteria, automotive OEMs are actively partnering with battery suppliers and establishing battery manufacturing plants across North America. As a result, the United States is well-positioned to outpace the European Union in the race to build EV batteries.

Developments in Charging Infrastructure

According to Reuters, Toyota Motor TM recently announced its decision to embrace the ground-breaking "Gigacasting" technology pioneered by Tesla. This strategic move by the Japanese automaker aims to enhance performance and reduce production costs of the upcoming EVs.

Tesla's Giga Press, used in its factories worldwide, produces larger aluminum parts for automotive manufacturing than ever before. It provides benefits in terms of cutting-related costs for manufacturers as well as for making the vehicle light-weight, saving import considerations. Other automakers like General Motors GM, Hyundai HYMLF, and Geely's GELYY affiliates are also embracing Gigacasting.

The White House has confirmed that EV charging stations equipped with Tesla standard plugs, along with the U.S. charging standard connection CCS, will be eligible for substantial federal subsidies. This announcement comes in the wake of Ford Motor F and General Motors adopting Tesla's North American Charging Standard, disrupting the charging industry's previous trend of CCS connection.

Notably, this is the first time the Biden administration has directly associated Tesla with its plan to invest up to $7.5 billion in building high-speed chargers along 7,500 miles of major U.S. highways.

In other news, General Motors and Samsung SDI are teaming up to construct a new EV battery cell plant in Indiana, with a budget exceeding $3 billion. Located near New Carlisle, IN, the facility is set to commence operations in 2026 and is projected have an annual production capacity of 30 gigawatt hours.

ETFs in Focus

Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV)

The Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF seeks to track the performance of the Solactive Autonomous & Electric Vehicles Index. With a basket of 75 securities, the fund has major allocations in the United States (57.1%) and Japan (11.1%).

The fund also has allocations to companies like Tesla (5.31%) and Toyota (2.96). Having gathered an asset base of $883.97 million, Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF charges an annual fee of 0.68%.

DRIV has gained31.71% year to date and 20.49% over the past year.

KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility ETF (KARS)

The KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF seeks to measure the performance of Bloomberg Electric Vehicles Index, having a basket of 65 securities. The fund has investments in companies like Tesla (5.2%) and Samsung SDI (3.96%).

KARS has an asset base of $179.91 million and charges an annual fee of 0.70%. The fund has major allocations in the United States (19.9%), Hong Kong, China (18.17%) and Mainland China (14.47%).

The KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF has earned 11.62% year to date but has fallen by 6.13% over the past year.

SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF (HAIL)

The SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF seeks to track the performance of the S&P Kensho Smart Transportation Index. With a basket of 82 securities, the fund has an asset base of $55.48 million.

The fund has major allocations to automobile manufacturers (18.81%) and semiconductor (16.79%), with 80.88% its assets invested in the United States. The fund charges an annual fee of 0.45%. SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF has returned 13.8% year to date but lost 4.75% over the past year.

iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (IDRV)

The iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF seeks to track the results of the NYSE FactSet Global Autonomous Driving and Electric Vehicle Index. With a basket of 59 securities, the fund has an asset base of $429.74 million.

IDRV has major allocations in the consumer discretionary, materials and industrial sectors with a share of 57.61%, 17.29% and 15.72%, respectively. iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF charges an annual fee of 0.47% and has generated 20.58% year to date and 9.47% over the past year.

Tesla's Surge Boosts EV ETFs

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Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (GELYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report

KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF (KARS): ETF Research Reports

iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (IDRV): ETF Research Reports

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We will stay a night at Swazi Village Home Stay at Kaphunga, Eswatini, and then go to Kosi Bay, South Africa. Our vehicle will be a 4X4. At google maps it seems like you can cross the border to S.A. if you turn east from MR8 to MR 15 at Mbutfu, but I can't find any information about any border post along MR15? Is it better to continue along MR8 to Golela border crossing? And if so would it be advisable to stay a night at some nice place along the route (tips appreciated) or is it doable to drive the whole route from Kaphunga to Kosi Bay in a day (google maps says 5-6 hours)?
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the correct date for the Lawrence County annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show.

Sunny June is in full swing, and with it comes Fathers Day, Juneteenth and a whole lot of music. Take your kids to the WonderLab Museum or stay up late exploring the local music scene at the Bluebird and Fairfax Bar & Grill. If you want to get groovy, munch on free food or play with human-sized bubbles, check out these Bloomington events this weekend.

Its a bubble whammy: Suds and fun at WonderLabs 25th anniversary

Get your mitts sudsy this weekend at the WonderLab Museums annual BubbleFest. Itll be a hands-on celebration including dry ice bubbles, bubble wands, vacuum chamber bubbles and bubble art. Want to take it a step further? Climb inside a hula hoop and build a bubble around yourself.

Explore the BubbleFest during museum hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 17, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Members get in free, and tickets are $14 for the general public.

The '80s are back: Metallica, Motley Crue and more at Bluebird

Tease your hair, smear on some eyeliner, bust out those shoulder pads. Head to the Bluebird Nightclub on Saturday, June 17, for an '80s glam metal cover band. Hairbangers Ball is a Chicago-based tribute band recreating the feel of an '80s rock concert. Whether you rocked hard in the 1980s or just love the sounds of the decade, if youre over 21, you can see the show for $15. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the music starts at 9. For more or tickets, go to thebluebird.ws/.

Aint Even Done with the Night? Take Dad to Mellencougar

Still havent made Fathers Day plans? Take your old man to see Mellencougar, a John Mellencamp tribute band, at the Fairfax Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 17, from 8 to 11 p.m. Rock along to classic tunes and enjoy a full bar and pub food at this pre-Fathers Day party. Online-only presale tickets are $15 (at thefairfaxbloomington.com), and $20 at the door.

Sold out: Matt Rife 'ProblemMATTic World Tour' at IU Auditorium

Attendees enjoy free food and good company June 19, 2021, at the Bloomington Juneteenth Day of Freedom celebration at Switchyard Park.

Summer celebration during Juneteenth at Switchyard

Saturday, families community-wide can attend the city's Juneteenth celebration at Switchyard Park. The holiday, sometimes called Freedom Day, celebrates the historic emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. Switchyard will host free food from BBQ Train, games, music and Black-owned businesses. The Plaza Spray Pad will be open. Bring your family, friends, snacks and picnic blankets or chairs Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m.

Feel like dancing? Be loud and proud at The Back Door

Get ready to bop till you drop at The Back Doors drag show and dance party Saturday night. The bar is partnering with Grey Goose Vodka to throw Y2GAY: A Benefit for Btown Pride. The drag show starts at 10, and the dance party will follow at midnight. Entry is a sliding scale donation of $10-$20. The Munch Box, a food truck, will open at 9 p.m.

The projection booth is seen at the back of the IU Cinema seating area. (Aaron Bernstein / University Communications)

Be transported to Texas at IU Cinema Giant showing

Throw it back with a showing of James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylors 1956 film Giant. Tickets are only $5 for the 4 p.m. showing Saturday, June 17. The award-winning film explores race, gender and class in 1920s Texas and is part of the Critics Pics series at IU Cinema. A movie synopsis and more theater information is available cinema.indiana.edu/.

It rocks! Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show

If you like gems, fossils, jewelry  if youre a fan of any and all things shiny  visit the Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show June 23-25 at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds. There will be food, too, and a variety of minerals and jeweler tools for sale. Proceeds benefit scholarships. Swing by Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Juneteenth celebration, Father's Day things to do in Bloomington
The United Kingdom will provide GBP 16 million (nearly $20 million) in funding to help Ukraine's cyber defenses, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

That's according to Sky News, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia's appalling attacks on Ukraine are not limited to their barbaric land invasion, but also involve sickening attempts to attack their cyber infrastructure that provides vital services, from banking to energy supplies, to innocent Ukrainian people," Sunak said.

He noted that the package would better equip Ukraine to defend its critical national infrastructure from crippling Russian attacks as Kyiv pushes back Russian forces from the swathes of southern and eastern Ukraine that they occupy.

Read also: Over 20 Japanese firms plan to attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in London

"This funding is critical to stopping those onslaughts, hardening Ukraine's cyber defenses and increasing the country's ability to detect and disable the malware targeted at them," Sunak said.

Next week Sunak will also ask entrepreneurs and businesses to step up their investment in Ukraine at a conference to help it rebuild the country's economy after Russia's invasion.
U.S. President Joe Biden has said that it is "totally irresponsible" for Russia to move nuclear weapons into another country.

He told this to reporters on Saturday before leaving for Philadelphia, Ukrinform reports, citing Sky News.

"I've commented on that many times -- it's totally irresponsible," Biden said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier said that the United States was closely monitoring the situation between Russia and Belarus after President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 16 that Moscow has deployed tactical nuclear weapons to the neighboring country.

Putin said at a meeting with self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi that tactical nuclear weapons would be delivered to Belarus after July 7-8.

At the same time, Lukashenko claimed that tactical nuclear weapons had started arriving in Belarus.
At the request of his U.S. counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected in the coming days to speak to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov for the first since taking office more than five months ago.

That's according to Axios, which cites two senior Israeli defense officials, Ukrinform reports.

Gallant and Reznikov are expected to speak by phone early next week to discuss non-lethal assistance to Ukraine, the Israeli officials said.

Plans for the call came after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday asked Gallant if he would speak to his Ukrainian counterpart and do more to help Ukraine, according to the officials.

During Gallant's meeting with Austin, which took place on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministers' gathering, Gallant presented the Israeli government's policy about military assistance to Ukraine and stressed that Israel will not provide to Ukraine any lethal weapons, the Israeli officials said.

During their meeting, Austin also told Gallant "increased Iranian-Russian military cooperation is resulting in profoundly negative consequences for Ukraine, as well as the Middle East region," the Pentagon said.
Peace agreements on Russia's terms, as well as freezing of the conflict in Ukraine, are unacceptable, so Ukraine must strengthen its positions on the battlefield for future talks.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in an interview with Die Welt, Ukrinform reports.

Stoltenberg warned against hasty peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, stressing that everyone wants this war to end, but for peace to last, it must be fair.

According to Stoltenberg, peace cannot mean freezing the conflict and accepting the conditions dictated by Russia. Only Ukraine can determine the conditions that will be acceptable.

He noted that military success would strengthen Ukraine's position during talks. Stoltenberg noted that the more occupied territories Ukraine can liberate, the better cards it will have at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace.

He also shared his vision of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic prospects.

According to him, the future of Ukraine is in NATO, but now the priority for Ukraine is to prevail as a sovereign and independent state - otherwise there is no possibility to discuss membership. He also said that it is important that after this war ends, there will be reliable agreements on Ukraines security so that Russia cannot rearm and to attack again.

He announced that at the upcoming summit in Vilnius in July, NATO will approve an aid package designed to bring Ukraine in line with NATO standards in several years. In particular, political ties are expected to be intensified.

"This will bring Ukraine closer to NATO," the leader of the alliance said, noting that there will be no fast-track membership.

At the same time, according to Stoltenberg, events in neighboring Belarus, which is an ally of Russia, strengthen Ukraine's request for fast-track NATO membership.

Commenting on the increased nuclear threat against the West from Moscow, in particular, the deployment of relevant weapons in Belarus, the NATO chief said that the Alliance is monitoring the situation with concern, however, it currently sees no signs that the Kremlin may use nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future.
To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of Gas Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:GASMSIA) we really liked what we saw.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Gas Malaysia Berhad, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.37 = RM542m  (RM3.2b - RM1.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

So, Gas Malaysia Berhad has an ROCE of 37%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 8.2% earned by companies in a similar industry.

See our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Gas Malaysia Berhad compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

Gas Malaysia Berhad has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 137% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company's efficiencies. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects.

For the record though, there was a noticeable increase in the company's current liabilities over the period, so we would attribute some of the ROCE growth to that. Effectively this means that suppliers or short-term creditors are now funding 55% of the business, which is more than it was five years ago. And with current liabilities at those levels, that's pretty high.

The Bottom Line On Gas Malaysia Berhad's ROCE

As discussed above, Gas Malaysia Berhad appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. Since the stock has returned a solid 41% to shareholders over the last five years, it's fair to say investors are beginning to recognize these changes. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence.

On a final note, we found 2 warning signs for Gas Malaysia Berhad (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) you should be aware of.

If you want to search for more stocks that have been earning high returns, check out this free list of stocks with solid balance sheets that are also earning high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Why US defence deal with Papua New Guinea is likely to 'set China further back' in the Pacific

Papua New Guinea's recent defence of a landmark US security pact included a message to China that it was business as usual, as the Pacific becomes a new theatre for great power rivalry.

The Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed last month, would give US troops unrestricted access to some of PNG's seaports and airports - a move that could potentially bolster the US military's defence of its Guam bases in the Pacific "second island chain".

The deal signalled greater presence for the US and a further setback for China in the region, where Beijing has failed to make major inroads beyond trade despite high-level engagement in recent years, analysts said.

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.

As the PNG government sought to allay lawmakers' concerns over a clause giving legal immunity to US personnel posted in the island country, it also assured China that ties with the island nation's No 2 trade partner would not be damaged.

"Our friends in China know us," Prime Minister James Marape told parliament on Wednesday, when debate on the US deal began.

"China and Beijing also know that this government gave Beijing priority over Taipei ... the Chinese government knows exactly where the heart of this government is. And that is to promote national interests, not geopolitical interests or their interests."

"We relate to trade with them and we never compromise on trade with them," he added.

Australia has for decades been the main security partner for island nations in the southwestern Pacific, but the region has emerged to be yet another theatre for US-China competition as both seek to expand their political, economic and security influence.

Chinese companies have long eyed PNG's wealth of natural resources - from oil to minerals, natural gas, timber and fish - and have invested in mines, hydropower stations and basic infrastructure such as highways, telecommunications and housing.

But China's inroads into PNG and other southwestern Pacific countries have largely remained restricted to trade. An eight-nation tour of the region by then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in May last year failed to produce a security or policing cooperation deal due to a lack of consensus.

Where diplomacy has succeeded, such as striking a security deal with the Solomon Islands, it has prompted greater engagement by the US and its allies Japan and South Korea to counter China's influence in the region.

Marape said on Wednesday that the defence cooperation agreement would allow PNG to work with the US in reconnaissance, surveillance, exchange of classified information and arms procurement, but not offer a "basis for military operations to be staged" in the country.

"We are increasingly becoming aware that the traditional security alliances are inadequate to cover the current global, regional and national security challenges," he said.

Stewart Firth, a research fellow at the Australian National University's Pacific affairs department, said that while Marape was conscious of his country's "extreme military weakness", it would be an exaggeration to expect the PNG bases to be used to support US troops in a potential attack on Taiwan by Beijing.

"That might be drawing a long bow, but the arrangement would certainly complement the new base plans for the Philippines, whose northern islands are only a few hundred kilometres from Taiwan," Firth said.

"The arrangement would support Guam by creating an arc of US military power from Australia to Guam and beyond."

The Philippines in April said it would give the US access to four more of its bases, three close to Taiwan and another further south next to the South China Sea, the site of several territorial disputes involving Beijing.

Firth said Chinese investment in PNG was unlikely to fall because of the new pact, because infrastructure-building had been good for Chinese companies and firms often mattered more than the Chinese government in the region.

"China is already on the back foot in the Pacific, following the foreign minister's unsuccessful tour of the region last year."

Firth said China appeared to have misunderstood the long tradition of regionalism among Pacific islands to work in concert. This put its proposed "Common Development Vision" with 10 Pacific countries, which included security cooperation, out of reach despite Wang's multinational trip.

"I think this [PNG-US] agreement will set China further back in the region," he said.

Many of the Pacific nations have acted as a bloc to address common security challenges, including illegal fishing and rising sea levels, which threaten their economy and even existence.

Some of the illegal fishing has been carried out by Chinese fishers, who make up the world's biggest industrial distant-water fishing fleet.

The presence of Chinese ships in the southwestern Pacific has also been unwelcome.

Palau recently sought US help to deter "unwanted activities" around its coasts by mainland Chinese vessels.

During a visit to Japan on Thursday, President Surangel Whipps Jnr said three Chinese boats had entered "uninvited" into Palau's waters since he took office in 2021. The US was responsible for Palau's security and needed to help deter unwanted activities, he said.

Beijing's foreign ministry said the Chinese vessels were in the area to seek shelter and did not conduct surveys or investigations.

Palau, one of the four Pacific nations that recognise Taipei, has no official ties with Beijing.

Bernard Yegiora, an international relations lecturer at Divine Word University in Madang, PNG, said the security pact was a "significant victory for the US".

"They will now closely monitor what China is doing in the western Pacific and in PNG. More importantly, the agreements will help increase US capability and capacity to contain China's influence in the western Pacific," Yegiora said.

PNG and the US also signed the Shiprider Agreement in May that aims to bolster PNG's ability to track illegal fishing.

But PNG lacked a strategic foreign policy framework to help it engage with other states in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Yegiora added.

"I doubt PNG has any strategic objective in helping the US hedge [against] China or see the issue from this strategic perspective. I say this because no PNG politician or political commentator has said anything about US strategic hedging or the need to understand US strategic hedging efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The main interest which influenced PNG to help the US is our domestic security and economic interest.

"We see the deal as an opportunity to improve our capability and capacity to defend our borders and to inject more money into our economy."

He said the PNG government could increase tax holidays for Chinese businesses investing in its planned special economic zones to prevent a fallout with China as a result of the US deal, which it has yet to ratify.

But Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Centre for International Security and Strategy, said there was no need to view the deal as targeting China.

"Neither side has mentioned targeting China," said Zhou, a retired PLA senior colonel. "We are yet to be sure about the size of their activities, the number of personnel and equipment involved."

China has also given logistical support for PNG, including Covid-related medical supplies.

Multiple bilateral agreements were signed in February 2022 when Marupe attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, including those related to fishery and loans for a PNG electric grid.

Talks on the US security deal, on the other hand, began in 2016 under former PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill, whose party now sits in the opposition.

The signed pact covers the Lombrum naval base, the airport and seaport in the capital Port Moresby, and smaller ports, according to a passage read out in parliament by O'Neill.

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.
(@FahadShabbir)

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Jun, 2023) Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced the completion of seven new footbridges across various areas of Dubai.

The bridges provide safe mobility means for pedestrians crossing roadways, contribute to Dubais development into a bicycle-friendly city and promote the city's wellbeing. Attaining these goals will maximise the happiness of both residents and visitors of Dubai.

A bridge connecting Al Khaleej Street between the intersection of Omar Bin Khattab Street and Abu Bakr Al Siddique Street, near Dubai Hospital is among the new footbridges. In addition, six more footbridges totalling 888 metres in length are being constructed across the emirate. The design emphasised the use of aesthetic and innovative components, as well as hi-tech electromechanical systems, alarms, firefighting, and remote monitoring systems. The bridges are equipped with dedicated bike tracks and racks.

The construction of footbridges is consistent with Dubai's traffic safety strategy, which aims to make the city the safest in the world in terms of traffic safety.

It also seeks to reduce fatalities from run-over accidents to as low as zero by providing infrastructure and safety measures for motorists and cyclists, Al Tayer commented.

The construction of these bridges adheres to the highest international standards for traffic safety evidenced by numerous service facilities such as electric elevators, alarm and firefighting systems, remote monitoring and others. Meanwhile, attention was given to employing creative and aesthetic aspects during construction., said Mattar Al Tayer.

The number of footbridges has more than tenfold increase in the last 17 years, from 13 in 2006 to 129 at the end of last year. RTA intends to construct another 36 footbridges during 2021-2026, bringing the total number of pedestrian bridges to 165 bridges, noted Al Tayer.

When crossing roadways, Al Tayer urged citizens, residents and tourists visiting Dubai to use footbridges and subways. He also urged motorists to observe speed limits and slow down at pedestrian crossings to ensure their own and other road users safety.
SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Jun, 2023) The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has shown solid performance during the first half of this year by signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding with various organisations and trade bodies.

The Chamber's board of directors, which met under the chairmanship of Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, expressed their commitment to establishing business councils in cooperation with friendly nations.

During the Chambers board of directors fifth regular meeting at the SCCI library, Al Owais emphasised the need to accelerate efforts to promote Sharjahs standing further by boosting the sustainability and growth of the business community and equipping the private sector with the necessary capabilities.

Sheikh Majid bin Faisal Al Qasimi, First Deputy Chairman of SCCI; Walid Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Deputy Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber; Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the SCCI, and Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber attended the meeting and discussed the Chamber's first-half performance.

During the meeting, the attendees took stock of the latest developments in Sharjah's economic sectors while focusing on the achievements of the Chamber in the years first half.

This included a review of the Chamber's leading initiatives to stimulate commercial and industrial development and promote the emirates exports to the global market.

Al Owais said that the Emirate of Sharjah has solidified its status as a globally competitive hub across various economic sectors thanks to the wise leadership of H.

H.

Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Al Owais spoke highly of the accomplishments made by the Sharjah Chamber in the first half of this year, lauding the commitment shown by all associated departments and institutions in fulfilling the goals of the Chambers strategic plan, developed to bolster the business sectors by enhancing the efficiency of economic studies that benefit SCCI members and investors.

"We are committed to developing an institutional excellence system while focusing on optimal use of the Chamber's resources to cultivate a supportive environment for the emirate's business community," he said.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum and intensifying efforts by devising proactive strategies, leveraging cutting-edge technology to expedite progress, and introducing innovative services that fulfil the aspirations of the private sector.

During the meeting, Mohammed Al Awadhi provided an overview of the substantial achievements of the Chamber's different departments in the current year's first half.

Notably, significant progress was made in strengthening collaboration with specialised bodies, diplomatic missions, and official delegations. This resulted in 36 meetings, multiple working sessions, and the successful organisation of seven business forums with Colombia, Thailand, Rwanda, Sao Paulo, Japan, and Lithuania.

Additionally, the SCCIs Sharjah Exports Development Centre has participated in eight international and local events, including the recent trade mission led by the Chamber to India.

The mission covered two states
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th June, 2023) Russian aviation has inflicted eight missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk direction, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

"The crews of Ka-52 and Mi-28 attack helicopters and Su-25 attack aircraft have inflicted eight missile and bomb strikes on the accumulation of manpower, weapons and military equipment of the 14th separate mechanized brigade and the 103rd territorial defense brigade (of Ukraine)," the spokesperson said.

In addition, in the course of hostilities in the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces struck at the concentration of manpower, weapons, military and special equipment of Ukraine's 14th separate mechanized brigade, using a Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th June, 2023) Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv on the 24th consecutive Saturday of protests against the controversial judicial reform, a Sputnik correspondent reports.

Demonstrations were held at 150 different locations across Israel on Saturday. In Tel Aviv alone, about 100,000 people gathered to express dissatisfaction with the legal reform.

Avigdor Lieberman, the former Israeli defense minister, was spotted among the demonstrators in Tel Aviv.

"I attended a demonstration in Kaplan (Street in central Tel Aviv) this evening.

We will continue to fight for a democratic, Zionist and liberal state," Lieberman said on Twitter.

In late March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the suspension of the legislative process on judicial reform in order to negotiate and reach a compromise with its opponents. The decision came against the backdrop of major nationwide protests against the reform. Despite the suspension, protesters continue to take to the streets, fearing that the reform will undermine democracy in Israel and bring the country to the brink of a social and constitutional crisis.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began two days of meetings Sunday in Beijing with Chinese officials, which he says he hopes will help to establish "open and empowered" communications.

Blinken began the talks Sunday by meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. A working dinner is scheduled for later Sunday.

On Monday, Blinken meets with Beijings top diplomat, Wang Yi, and possibly President Xi Jinping.

Shortly before departing for China on Friday evening, Blinken told a news conference in Washington that U.S. officials would speak candidly with their Chinese counterparts about very real concerns on a range of issues.

Speaking alongside visiting Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Blinken said the U.S. wants to make sure that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into confrontation or conflict.

Expectations are low that the trip will reset the two countries fraught relationship.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday that "the United States views China as its 'primary rival' and 'the most consequential geopolitical challenge.' This is a major strategic misjudgment.

He said the competition the United States has with China is not responsible competition, but irresponsible bullying. It will only push the two countries towards confrontation and create a divided world.

Blinken is the first secretary of state to visit Beijing since 2018.

While in Beijing, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior [Peoples Republic of China] officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship. He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges, the State Department said Wednesday.

Tuesday night, Blinken spoke by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

In a tweet, Blinken said he and Qin discussed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication as well as bilateral and global issues.

In Beijing, Chinese officials Wednesday asked the United States to stop what they said was Washingtons undermining of Chinas security and development interests, but added the two countries can manage differences and promote cooperation.

Wang said during a Wednesday briefing that the Beijing government hopes the U.S. will take concrete actions to work with China to effectively manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation, [and] stabilize the relationship from further deterioration.

Senior U.S. officials said topics high on the agenda during Blinkens meetings include regional security, counternarcotics, climate change, global macroeconomic stability, Americans wrongfully detained in China, and exchanges between American and Chinese people.

Officials said they would not anticipate a long list of deliverables after Blinkens meetings in Beijing.

In Brussels on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after China refused a meeting at an event in Singapore earlier this month.

"I'm confident that, over time, that's going to happen. We're going to meet at some point in time. But we're not there yet," Austin told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

On Wednesday, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters during a phone briefing that stopping illicit fentanyl will feature prominently in Blinkens meetings in Beijing. Kritenbrink is accompanying Blinken on the trip.

Officials also said Chinas military escalation in the Taiwan Strait was a global concern.

Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, said the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is a clear bipartisan, strong determination of the United States.

U.S. officials have said it is in the interest of both countries to maintain open lines of communication. The Pentagon also wants Beijing to answer a military hotline so generals can talk during incidents like a recent close encounter involving U.S. and Chinese ships in the Taiwan Strait.

Observers say despite the tensions, the two governments are trying to set up a summit later this year.

Both countries are working toward a possible meeting between [U.S. President Joe] Biden and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, which will take place in San Francisco in November, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. And in order to have a successful summit, if that is indeed on the agenda, there needs to be a lot of preparation, Glaser added.

While Washington is seeking to reengage Beijing on the issues of counternarcotics and climate change, experts and congressional critics are skeptical that the two countries can have a substantial change in the status of their relationship.

I do not think that we should be looking towards a reset of the U.S.-China relationship, Glaser told VOA.

It is an opportunity for both sides to continue to express their concerns and maybe find ways to address differences. This is particularly true in the military realm, where they've actually been frozen, Glaser added.

After Beijing, Blinken heads to London to attend a Ukraine Recovery Conference to "mobilize international support from the public and private sector" and "help Ukraine recover from Russias brutal and ongoing attacks."

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held candid and direct talks in Beijing Sunday, the State Department said, as the United States and China seek to stabilize the bilateral relationship amid rising tensions.

During the seven-and-a-half hour meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Qin accepted an invitation to come to the U.S. Agreement was also reached on more flights between the two countries.

In addition, both sides will continue to work on several issues at a working level, said a senior State Department official.

After Blinkens in-person meetings with Qin, they had a working dinner later Sunday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

The Secretary made clear that the United States will always stand up for the interests and values of the American people and work with its allies and partners to advance our vision for a world that is free, open, and upholds the international rules-based order, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.

He added the top U.S.-China diplomats also discussed how to facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Blinken is the first secretary of state to visit Beijing since 2018. His two-day trip was rescheduled from February after a Chinese surveillance balloon flew through U.S. airspace.

Hope this meeting can help steer China-U.S. relations back to what the two presidents (U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping) agreed upon in Bali, said Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying in a Tweet. During that meeting the two leaders agreed to maintain open lines of communication.

I think I can say with great confidence there is a recognition on both sides that we do need to have senior-level channels of communication, that we are at an important point in the relationship where I think reducing the risk of miscalculation is important, a senior State Department official told reporters.

Topics high on the agenda during Blinkens meetings in Beijing Sunday and Monday include regional security, counternarcotics, climate change, global macroeconomic stability, Americans wrongfully detained in China, as well as exchanges between American and Chinese people, according to senior U.S. officials.

Americans wrongfully detained in China

June 18 is Fathers Day. Children of Americans who the U.S. considers wrongfully detained by Chinese authorities asked Blinken to raise their fathers cases with his Chinese counterparts.

Behind every hostage is a family suffering every day, said Bring Our Families Home Campaign in a tweet Sunday.

This Sunday will be the 7th time I've missed Fathers Day with my dad, said Harrison Li. Releasing my dad is one of the easiest things that the Chinese government can do to show they are serious about normalizing relations.

Harrison Lis dad, Kai Li, is an American citizen detained in China since September 2016. He was later sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage, a charge that his family rejects.

Alice Lin is the daughter of American pastor David Lin, who was detained under unclear circumstances in 2006 and later sentenced to life in prison on charges of contract fraud. Lin's family staunchly maintains his innocence. Lin's sentence was later reduced, and he is expected to be released in 2029.

Secretary Blinken, we miss my dad. Please do everything possible to bring him home, Lin told VOA.

Taiwan

Washington has said Chinas military escalation in the Taiwan Strait was a global concern.

A senior State Department official told VOA it is an abiding interest of the U.S. to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China is seen as ramping up economic coercion targeting Taiwan ahead of its presidential election.

In May, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told senators that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could halt the world's largest advanced semiconductor production, wiping out up to $1 trillion per year.

I will say this number is way too small because it only costs about 6% of China's gross domestic product, said Chen-Yu Li who is the chief economist of Taishin Financial Holdings in Taiwan.

Li said a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait will affect other Asian economies such as Japan and South Korea, whose GDP totals at least 5 trillion. He also cited the market value of tech giants such as Apple, Nvidia, AMD which Li estimates is at least $3 trillion.

If Taiwan is under attack, the stock market in the U.S. may vanish $3 trillion, Li said during a May 12 event hosted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

If I am Xi Jinping, I'll be very happy to attack Taiwan. It's just 6%.

Human rights

In a signed letter to Blinken, 42 nongovernmental organizations urged the top U.S. diplomat to hold the Chinese government accountable for its human rights abuses, citing repression against ordinary people who participated in peaceful protests.

Hong Kong police detained over 20 people for commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre after banning the annual Victoria Park candlelight vigil, said the letter.
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United States for a state visit this week, officials in both countries expressed optimism about a trip that is being billed as a milestone in relations between the two countries.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the Indo-U.S. relationship has come a "long way."

"You can look at the technology part of the relationship, you can look at the trade in the relationship, you can look at the political convergence, and you can look at the strategic interests. So, I think there is a very compelling case for stronger and stronger India-U.S. relations," Jaishankar told reporters last week.

The most compelling case, analysts say, is the rise of China. Modi visits the United States as Indias fraying ties with Beijing following a three-year-long military standoff along their disputed Himalayan borders have prompted New Delhi to drop previous hesitations and work closely with Washington in Asia as it seeks to counterbalance an increasingly assertive Beijing.

"The strategic landscape in the Indo-Pacific has changed very dramatically and there is recognition both in Washington and New Delhi that they need to work ever so closely to stabilize the situation," said Harsh Pant, vice president, studies and foreign policy, at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

"That strategic clarity has meant that for India strengthening ties with a like-minded country like the U.S. has become a strategic imperative," he said.

Giving India access to advanced defense technologies, including coproduction of weapons, is expected to be a key takeaway during Modis visit. This could include an agreement to produce jet engines by General Electric for military aircraft in India according to a Reuters report. The two countries are also discussing the possible purchase of U.S.-made armed drones by India.

Analysts say the defense partnership is being shored up as Washington wants to build Indias military capabilities.

"The Americans are looking to strengthen India as a counterweight to China, so they want to support Indias military modernization," according to Sreeram Chaulia, dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs. "That is why both sides have removed some of the cobwebs that existed and are saying we have the same adversary, and we need to cooperate a lot more to push back this shared adversary."

He said that from Indias standpoint also there are question marks over the viability of Russia as a military supplier, which for decades provided the bulk of Indian military hardware, to provide India with advanced weapons as it is weakened by Western sanctions.

The groundwork for Modis visit has been laid by recent high-level visits by U.S. officials to India. Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the two countries are setting a roadmap for defense industrial cooperation.

Modi is also expected to meet top business leaders in Washington as he tries to woo American companies amid U.S. efforts to diversify supply chains beyond China in critical areas such as semiconductors.

Building factories in India however has not been easy with U.S. businesses often complaining of regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, on a visit to New Delhi, told an Indian business forum Tuesday that both countries are engaged in efforts to facilitate trade.

"A number of the deliverables at that [Modi] visit are not just bullet points on a page. They are fundamentally designed to remove those obstacles in defense trade, in high-tech trade, in investment in each of our countries in taking away obstacles," according to Sullivan.

The areas in which the two countries aim to deepen cooperation include quantum computing, artificial intelligence and 5G wireless networks  areas in which China has acquired a dominating position.

The visit will include all the pomp and ceremony that accompanies state visits  the last state visit by an Indian prime minister to Washington took place in 2009. Modi will also address a joint session of the U.S. Congress  the second time he will be doing it since he took power nine years ago.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing the U.S.-India Business Council on Monday, expressed optimism about the visit.

"So, we are here almost literally on the eve of what we believe will be a historic state visit by Prime Minister Modi, one that will further solidify what President Biden has called the defining relationship of the 21st century."

However, amid shifting geopolitics, the two countries are not always on the same page. India has strongly defended maintaining friendly ties with Russia in the aftermath of its Ukraine aggression. In recent months, Moscow has become New Delhis biggest crude oil supplier as India snaps up supplies of cheap energy.

Critics have also expressed concerns about democratic backsliding in India, accusing the Modi administration of stifling dissent and divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities. In its latest annual report on human rights practices, the U.S. State Department also highlighted challenges to freedom of expression and violence targeting religious and ethnic minorities in India. New Delhi rejected the report calling it flawed and biased.

But analysts say the effort by both countries during Modis visit will be to build on common interests while managing their differences as the two countries focus on the big picture of countering China.

"When the Ukraine war started there was a lot of concern that it will derail the relationship and the two countries are going in different directions," Pant said.

"But the relationship has continued to grow, it fact it has become more vibrant. I think that is because there is a new recognition that with all the challenges that India faces, it is a good bet and Washington needs to cultivate India," he said.
Israel could find acceptable an understanding between its archfoe Iran and the United States if it includes rigorous supervision of Tehran's nuclear program, a senior lawmaker said in comments aired on Saturday.

According to Iranian and Western officials, Washington is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could include limiting the Iranian nuclear program.

These steps would be cast as an understanding rather than an agreement requiring review by the U.S. Congress, such as the 2015 accord abandoned in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump.

"It's not a wide-scope agreement, it's more like a small agreement, a memorandum of understanding, an M.O.U., and I think Israel can live with this if there is real supervision," Yuli Edelstein, head of the Israeli parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told Channel 12's Meet the Press.

The U.S. has rejected reports of negotiations with Iran, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying Friday, "With regard to Iran, some of the reports that we've seen about an agreement on nuclear matters or, for that matter, on detainees, are simply not accurate and not true."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined comment on whether fellow Likud Party member Edelstein's remarks reflected the views of the premier.

On Tuesday, before briefing the foreign affairs and defense committee, Netanyahu said in televised remarks: "Our position is clear. No agreement with Iran would obligate Israel, which will do everything required to defend itself.

"Our opposition to the deal  a return to the original (2015) deal  is working, I think."

"But there are still differences in outlook, and we do not hide these, regarding smaller agreements too. We have been stating our position clearly, both in closed and open sessions," Netanyahu said.

A core element of the possible understanding that remains unclear is the degree to which Iran would agree to rein in its uranium enrichment. Israeli officials in Netanyahu's circle have given potentially differing views on the issue this month.

Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said Israel didn't see as much damage in any new understanding as there was in the 2015 deal, but it was poised for any Iranian shift to more than 60% fissile purity.

"That would already be a clear acknowledgment that the uranium enrichment is for weapons needs," Hanegbi said in an interview published on Friday in newspaper Israel Hayom, referring to the 90% fissile purity required for a bomb. Tehran denies seeking the bomb.

But last week, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who accompanied Hanegbi to Washington talks about Iran, voiced misgivings about any freeze of current enrichment levels.

"It means that you reconcile with a higher level of enrichment in Iran. And we thought that was a bad idea then, and we think it's a bad idea today," he told the AJC Global Forum in Tel Aviv.

Having failed to revive the 2015 deal, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration hopes to restore some limits on Iran to keep it from getting a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel and trigger a regional arms race.
The British defense ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence report about Russias invasion of Ukraine that both sides are experiencing high casualties in the south, with Russian losses likely the highest since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday there seems to be "no chance" of extending the United Nations-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative that allows Ukraine to export grain safely through Russian-controlled waters.

The European Union is stepping up efforts to deliver arms and ammunition to Ukraine EU industry chief Thierry Breton said Sunday in an interview with French daily Le Parisien. "We are preparing for the war to last several more months, or even longer," he said.

Russia and Ukraine are reporting heavy fighting and high numbers of military casualties, according to reports from British intelligence Sunday.

Ukrainian fighters are trying to repel Russian forces from occupied areas British officials said Sunday. Russian attrition is probably at its highest levels since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, U.K. military officials said in their regular assessment.

According to British intelligence, the fiercest battles are centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, around Bakhmut and farther west in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province. According to the update, Ukraine had made small advances, but Russian forces were conducting relatively effective defensive operations in Ukraines south.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that during the last 24 hours Russia had carried out 43 airstrikes, four missile strikes and 51 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Sunday that Ukrainian forces hit the Russian ammunition depot in the village of Partyzany in southern Kherson Oblast. Partyzany lies close to the administrative border with neighboring Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of Russian-occupied Melitopol.

During his nightly video address Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian soldiers and the air force for defending the country. Our troops are advancing, position by position, step by step, we are moving forward, he said. Zelenskyy said the Tavria, or southern front, was "the most brutal" and expressed gratitude to soldiers fighting there and elsewhere. Ukrainian military officials have noted progress in advances of troops on the southern front.

Zelenskyy praised Ukrainian forces for their "very effective" repelling of enemy assaults near Avdiivka, one of the centers of fighting in the east. Over the past two weeks, Ukrainian fighters have advanced about one kilometer around the town, the head of the military administration in Avdiivka said on national TV.

Peace initiative

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that any peace talks between Ukraine and Russia must be just, to be sustainable. Peace cannot mean freezing the conflict and accepting a deal dictated by Russia, Stoltenberg told German newspaper Welt am Sontag Sunday. The NATO chief made these comments after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Kyiv, Peace has to be achieved through diplomacy as soon as possible.

Stoltenberg also said, Only Ukraine alone can define the acceptable conditions for peace. We need to make sure that when this war ends, there are credible agreements for Ukraine's security so that Russia cannot rearm and attack again and the cycle of Russian aggression is broken, Stoltenberg said.

Leaders from seven African countries visited Ukraine and Russia last week to propose a peace initiative. However, they left empty-handed. Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the peace plan.

Putin refused a plan based on the acceptance of Ukraines internationally recognized borders while Zelenskyy said any peace talks would presuppose the withdrawal of Moscows forces from occupied Ukrainian territory.

After their visit in Kyiv Friday, the African delegation met with Putin and told him that the war is harming the entire world. The African delegation included representatives from the Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

Russia has recently indicated it would not renew the Black See Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July. He said the West had gone back on its promises to ease Russias ability to export its agricultural products.

Kakhovka dam

The death toll from flooding after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam has risen to 16 in Ukrainian-held territory, Ukraine's interior ministry said late Saturday, while Russian officials said 29 people died in flooded territories controlled by Moscow.

Thousands of people lost their homes and vital farmland was flooded as a result of the dams collapse.

The most likely cause of the collapse of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, according to a New York Times report, was the placement of an explosive in the structures passageway or gallery, that the publication said, runs through the concrete heart of the structure.

The Times assessment was based on the expertise of two American engineers, an expert in explosives and a Ukrainian engineer with extensive experience with the dams operations.

In his nightly video address Saturday, Zelenskyy thanked everyone who helped Ukraine overcome the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. And he thanked Ukraines Western allies for the military and humanitarian support they are providing in its fight against Russia.

Zelenskyy also thanked Luxemburg for officially recognizing the Holodomor famine of the 1930s as a genocide against the Ukrainian people. Luxemburg is the 26th country to officially do so.

Additionally, the Ukrainian president thanked Poland for supporting Ukraines efforts to join NATO.

Ukraine  NATO membership

U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday his administration would not make it easy for Ukraine to join NATO. Last week he had indicated he was open to waiving the requirement that Ukraine make the same military and democratic reforms all candidates must meet before being considered for NATO membership.

But when asked Saturday whether Ukraines path to joining the transatlantic alliance would be eased, Biden said no. Because theyve got to meet the same standards. So, were not going to make it easy, he said.



Putin warned Friday that there is a "serious danger" the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into Russias war on Ukraine. He made the comment at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he promoted Russias economy despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Mali started counting votes on Sunday from a constitutional referendum that the ruling military junta and regional powers have said will pave the way to elections and a return to civilian rule.

The junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, promised to hold the plebiscite as part of a transition to democracy, under pressure from West African regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States. Provisional results are expected by Tuesday.

Some of the proposed clauses in the new constitution drafted by the transitional council are contentious, with proponents saying they would strengthen fragile political institutions and opponents saying they would give too much power to the president.

But regional bodies and the United Nations see the referendum itself as an important test of the junta's willingness to stick to the transition and hold a nationwide democratic process, particularly at a time when Islamist militants are stepping up attacks.

"With this project, we are betting on the future of our state, the restoration of its authority, and the regained trust between institutions and citizens," interim president Colonel Assimi Goita said in a televised speech on Friday.

The draft includes updates that have been proposed in past failed efforts to revise the constitution, including the creation of a second parliamentary chamber to boost representation from across Mali.

The proposed establishment of a separate court of auditors for state spending will bring Mali in line with a directive from the West African Economic and Monetary Union from 2000.

But some opposition parties, pro-democracy groups and campaigners for the 'No' vote say non-elected authorities such as the junta have no right to oversee such a substantial constitutional overhaul.

"I am for a revision of the constitution but not this referendum. The legitimacy of the actors, the process ...I think we could have done better," lawyer Fousseini Ag Yehia said in the capital Bamako on Saturday.

Northern Mali armed groups that signed a 2015 peace deal, which has been shaky since the junta took power, had called for a boycott of the referendum saying the process was "not sufficiently inclusive."

Ahmoudane Ag Ikmasse a former member of parliament for the northern town of Kidal, told Reuters that no voting took place there on Sunday.

Ould Mohamed Ramadane, a spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), the northern Tuareg-led rebel alliance, said voting only took place in a few places with a high concentration of Malian armed forces, such as Timbuktu, Gao and Menaka.

Large areas of northern Mali are controlled by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State as the Sahel nation struggles to find stability since a 2012 Tuareg rebellion.



Mali on Friday demanded the departure of U.N. peacekeepers who have been in the country since 2013, saying the mission was fueling tensions between communities.
The worlds two richest men had lunch in Paris as Elon Musks grand tour of Europe continues

Talk about a power lunch. Its not every day that the worlds two richest people sit down for a meal together, but it happened Friday in Paris when Tesla CEO and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault dined at Cheval Blanc with family members.

Each man is worth well over $220 billion, with Musk currently holding the richest-person title theyve repeatedly traded.

Also at the lunch was Musks mother, Maye Musk, and Arnaults oldest son Antoine, who posted photos from the lunch meeting on his Instagram account.

Elon Musk, his mom Maye just finished having lunch with Bernard Arnault and his sons Antoine and Alexandre. Power lunching in Paris at Cheval Blanc. On a glorious sunny day. @elonmusk @LVMH @mayemusk @alexarnault #VivaTech pics: Antoines Instagram- no details on topics discussed pic.twitter.com/UkCgRY6b8x  Angelina Rascouet (@arascouet) June 16, 2023

Several European countries want to host Teslas next battery factory, and Musk has been on a tour of the continent meeting various leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Musk also spoke at the VivaTech conference in France on Friday, reiterating his warnings on the dangers to humanity posed by artificial intelligence, while also admitting that he didnt think anyone would actually agree to the pause on A.I. development he called for back in March.

He also joked, "If I'm so smart, why did I pay so much for Twitter?"

The two billionaires are familiar figures on the rich list. Arnault has built LVMH into the worlds biggest luxury groupthink Louis Vuitton luggage, Moet champagne, or Givenchy perfume. He bested Musk last year but took a hit as the slowing economic recovery in a Chinaa key market for luxury goodsmade investors less enthusiastic about LVMH shares.

Tesla shares, meanwhile, have surged more than 140% this year, helping Musk reclaim his perch last month. Musk is also CEO of SpaceX and could see his wealth soar even higher if the company spins off its Starlink satellite-broadband unit in an IPO.

It wasnt the first meeting between Musk and Arnault. They also met in Los Angeles last year, with the luxury tycoon later admitting to The Telegraph that he made a faux pas by laughing when Musk said he would colonize Mars. I thought he was joking, Arnault told the British paper. But he was serious, and I dont think he was best pleased.

Musk could have the last laugh thanks to his space ambitions. In January, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya predicted that a Starlink IPO would happen this year and that Starlinks valuation will be at least half of SpaceXs current private worth. That same month, CNBC reported that Musks space company had raised $750 million at $137 billion valuation.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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In 2014, the Yazidi minority in Iraq came under assault from Islamic State group fighters who drove them from their homes. Now some refugees are arriving back to their hometowns after years of displacement. VOAs Kawa Omer has the story from Sinjar, Iraq, narrated by Sirwan Kajjo.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposes any interim agreement reportedly being negotiated between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program.

Netanyahu spoke after reports in Israeli media said understandings are being reached between Washington and Tehran that would seek to hold back Iran's nuclear program somewhat, in exchange for some sanctions relief. The reports could not be independently confirmed, and the U.S. has publicly denied any such deal.

Netanyahu said Israel had informed the U.S. that the most limited understandings, what are termed mini-agreements, do not  in our view  serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well.

Israeli officials believe some understandings have already been reached limiting enrichment and that some funds have already been unfrozen. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic assessment.

The Israeli news site Walla last week reported that under the emerging understandings Iran would limit its uranium enrichment to 60% in exchange for sanctions relief. The site also said the sides were discussing reciprocal prisoner releases.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last week there is no deal," adding that the reports were untrue.

In its report, Walla said Netanyahu had revealed details of the agreement at a recent parliamentary committee meeting. The U.S. and Israel share intelligence and a prime focus of the countries' interactions is Iran and its nuclear program.

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration that sought to rein in Iran's nuclear program. He was a major supporter of then President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from the deal, which left it in shambles.

Iran says its program is meant for civilian purposes. Israel considers a nuclear Iran as a major threat, citing its calls for Israels destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups across the region.

Israel says it does not rule out military action to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.
The smell of pineapple bread fills the kitchen of "Vida Libre," or "free life," a gang rehabilitation program founded in El Salvador by American pastor Kenton Moody in 2021.

The trust that Moody puts in former gang members is not widely shared. Thousands of lives have been destroyed in this Central American country after decades of gang violence.

Over the past year, President Nayib Bukele's security forces have cracked down harshly on gangs, arresting more than 68,000 people suspected of criminal involvement, though human rights groups say innocent people are also being detained.

Ministries like Moody's are caught in the middle. Dozens of men who were part of evangelical rehabilitation ministries were also arrested and taken back to prison. Of the 38 members of Vida Libre, ten have been detained by the government.

Inside the Vida Libre complex, in the impoverished city of Santa Ana, Moody frequently hugs the young men under his care and assigns them chores.

On a recent day, Angel and Kevin sprinkled sugar over pastries in the bakery. Salvador replaced light bulbs in the barnyard. Moody asked that they be identified by their first names for their safety.

Andy, who crafts wooden key chains to sell, said a gang recruited him when he was 12. The 29-year-old joined Moody's program two years ago after almost a decade in prison.

"Maybe humanity sees me as someone bad, but I hope that with my attitudes changing day by day, I can prove that I'm different," he said.

The first of the big gangs were born far from El Salvador.

To flee the country's civil war, half a million Salvadorans migrated to the United States in the 1980s. The majority settled in Los Angeles and there, after joining Mexican criminal groups, the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs were formed.

In the 1990s, the U.S. deported 4,000 gang members to El Salvador. The government estimates the current number of gang members is as high as 76,000.

After arriving in El Salvador, MS-13 took control of over roughly half the territory and Barrio 18 most of the rest. A few spots were considered neutral.

Many Salvadorans were forced to internalize unwritten rules, such as avoiding enemy neighborhoods, dressing according to gang standards and paying extortion demands to survive.

Last year, after a surge in gang violence, Bukele issued an emergency decree that suspended certain civil liberties, including access to a lawyer and the right to be informed of the reason for an arrest.

About 5,000 people were released after the government failed to link them to criminal groups, according to official records.

Moody founded Vida Libre after visiting a juvenile prison where gang members from a nearby community were incarcerated for burying a woman alive.

Fearing that they might return to gang life upon their release, he wondered: How can I truly help?

"A church is the basis for supporting people to get ahead," he said.

His evangelical church, "La Puerta Abierta," which means "open door," is a cornerstone for social projects funded mostly by U.S. donors.

Vida Libre, one of the church's programs, takes in minors who are nearing the end of their prison sentence. Its goal is to provide an adequate transition to society, said Allan Espinoza, who leads the project.

The stigma of prison makes it difficult for ex-convicts to resume their studies or find employment. Vida Libre offers workshops in agriculture, carpentry, automotive painting and baking.

Participants arise at 5 a.m. to attend a morning service, and they read the Bible daily. Breaking the rules leads to expulsion and rehabilitation takes time, Espinoza said. Some tell him they want to leave, but he asks them to be patient.

Others knock on his door to talk and, once in his office, they just cry.

Not all evangelical churches in El Salvador open their doors to gang members, but in most marginalized communities there are pastors willing to take the risk.

"Within the evangelical tradition, the worst sinner provides the Holy Spirit with the biggest opportunity to demonstrate the power of the Gospel and Jesus to transform people," said Robert Brenneman, professor of criminal justice and sociology at Goshen College in Indiana.

He spent years in Central America studying gang youth who wanted a stable, nonviolent lifestyle.

Evangelical-Pentecostal congregations offer resources for transformation  and expect converts to stay away from crime, alcohol and drugs.

"These organizations address what they believe to be the root causes of gang affiliation and participation: poverty, weak schools and unemployment," Brenneman said.

In the last two decades, three Salvadoran presidents have imposed strict measures to fight gangs. The two prior to Bukele failed in the long term.

Brenneman said, "The crisis is larger than the gangs  Salvadoran leaders have been able to scapegoat the gangs and direct attention away from the inequality that drives so much of the violence."

While walking through an empty room behind Eben-Ezer Church in San Salvador, the Rev. Nelson Moz speaks with sadness about a man named Raul, an ex-gang member who came under Moz's wing in 2012.

Raul and more than 40 men from Moz's ministry are now back in jail.

According to the pastor, Raul converted to Christianity in prison. The pastor placed a mattress in his office and offered temporary refuge for Raul after his initial release. They shared lunch and long conversations there.

"That's how I got to understand," Moz said. "Imprisonment might be necessary to take out of circulation a person who is causing harm to society, but there's a background to it."

Gang members understood this. To those in need, they offered food, clothing and protection. For thousands of Salvadorans who lacked homes, the gang became their family.

The beds are still made in the empty rooms of Eben-Ezer Church.

Some new mattresses are wrapped in plastic. Before the detention of Raul and other ex-gang members in his program, Moz was planning to expand. "True change can happen," he said.

Moz and Moody do what they can to support families whose members have been recently imprisoned by the government. Moody builds wooden homes for single mothers and provides free school for children. Moz looks for people willing to take in orphans.

"Young people can change the course of the family, help the country's poverty if they have education and work," Moody said.

Rooting out gangs will take years, he thinks. The weeds have been cut, but as long as the roots remain hidden, the breeding ground  the marginalization  will also subsist.
Two days after being discharged from the hospital, Pope Francis resumed his cherished Sunday custom of greeting the public in St. Peters Square, expressing thanks for the comfort he received after surgery and thanking the crowd shouting Long live the pope!

Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for "affection, attention and friendship" and the assurance of the support of prayer during his hospitalization for June 7 abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.

This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort,'' Francis told some 15,000 people in the square. Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart."

The 86-year-old pontiff sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, adlibbed at times from the prepared speech, and clearly looked delighted to be back to his routine.

While the thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims who regularly turn out for the weekly noon appearance of the pope at a window of the Apostolic Palace usually applaud when they catch sight of the pope at the window, this time the publics applause seemed louder than usual. The three-hour surgery under general anesthesia had forced Francis to skip the Sunday appearance on June 11.

While his mood seemed uplifted to see the crowd below, including flag-waving nuns and tourists in sun hats on the hot, humid day, Francis turned somber as he noted that Tuesday marks World Refugee Day, an occasion promoted by the United Nations.

"With great sadness and so much sorrow I think of the victims of the very grave shipwreck that happened in recent days off the coast of Greece,'' Francis said. He was referring to the smugglers' overcrowded fishing boat, filled with hundreds of migrants, that sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

"It seems that the sea was calm,'' Francis said, seemingly expressing perplexity that such a grave tragedy could happen in those conditions.

"I renew my prayer for all those who lost their life, and I implore that, always, everything possible is done to prevent similar tragedies,'' the pontiff said.

Some of the 104 survivors said as many as 750 were aboard, leaving the possibilities that hundreds perished. Greek rescuers recovered 78 bodies. Questions persist whether the Greek coast guard could have intervened in time to prevent the capsizing.

He also prayed for the young students victims of the brutal attack on a school in western Uganda. The attack by suspected rebels on a school in Uganda killed 42 people, including 38 students in their dormitories. Several were abducted near the border with Congo.

Francis lamented "this struggle, this war all over the place. Let us pray for peace."

He also urged people to remember the "martyred people in Ukraine,'' following Russia's invasion last year.

As he wrapped up his remarks and was about to leave the window, cries of Long live the pope in Italian rose from the crowd, and the pope quickly responded, Thanks.

The pope's doctors have urged him to take it easy as much as possible even as he resumes his Vatican workload. Francis will receive Brazil's president on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican has announced. But to ensure his convalescence can proceed well, Francis won't conduct the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.

In early August, Francis will make a pilgrimage to Portugal for a youth jamboree. At the end of that month, he flies to Mongolia for a visit that will see him be the first pontiff to go to that Asian country.
Latest developments:

The British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence report about Russias invasion of Ukraine that both sides are experiencing "high casualties" in the south, "with Russian losses likely the highest since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday there seems to be "no chance" of extending the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative that allows Ukraine to export grain safely through Russian-controlled waters.

Two volunteers, a man and a woman, were killed Saturday by a Russian missile strike on the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, said regional governor Oleh Syniehubov on the Telegram messaging app.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will ask entrepreneurs and businesses, at a conference next week, to bolster investment in Ukraines private sector and help it rebuild and recover after Russia's invasion.

The most likely cause of the collapse of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, according to a New York Times report, was the placement of an explosive in the structures passageway or gallery, that the publication said runs through the concrete heart of the structure.

The Times assessment was based on the expertise of two American engineers, an expert in explosives and a Ukrainian engineer with extensive experience with the dams operations.

Thousands of people lost their homes and vital farmland was flooded as a result of the collapse of the dam.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a peace initiative brought to St. Petersburg on Saturday by a delegation of African leaders hoping to see an end to Russias war on Ukraine.

The leaders from seven African countries told Putin war is harming the entire world. The delegation met with Putin a day after they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Both leaders indicated the plan was unworkable.

Putin opened Saturday's talks with representatives from Comoros, Congo Republic, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia in a palace near St. Petersburg by stressing Russia's commitment to the continent.

But the Russian president rejected the delegations peace plan based on the acceptance of Ukraines internationally recognized borders. He repeated his position that Ukraine and its Western allies were responsible for the conflict long before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin also said the West was responsible for a sharp rise in global food prices early last year that has hit Africa especially hard. He told the delegation that Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports were doing nothing to alleviate Africa's difficulties with high food prices because they had largely gone to wealthy countries.

Russia has recently indicated it would not renew the Black See Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July. Putin said the West had gone back on its promises to ease Russias ability to export its agricultural products.

The delegations peace initiative had been rejected a day earlier in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that any peace talks would presuppose the withdrawal of Moscows forces from occupied Ukrainian territory, something Russia has said is not negotiable.

In his nightly video address Saturday, Zelenskyy thanked Ukraines Western allies for the military and humanitarian support they are providing in its fight against Russias invasion. Zelenskyy also thanked everyone who helped Ukraine overcome the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP.

Zelenskyy also thanked Luxemburg for officially recognizing Holodomor as a genocide against the Ukrainian people. Luxemburg is the 26th country to officially do so.

He also thanked Poland for supporting Ukraines membership to NATO.

President Joe Biden said Saturday his administration would not make it easy for Ukraine to join NATO. Last week he had indicated he was open to waiving the requirement that Ukraine make the same military and democratic reforms all candidates must meet before it being considered for NATO membership.

But when he was asked Saturday whether Ukraines path to joining the transatlantic alliance would be eased, he said no. Because theyve got to meet the same standards. So, were not going to make it easy, he said.

Putin warned Friday that there is a "serious danger" the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into Russias war on Ukraine. He made the comment at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he promoted Russias economy despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Nuclear weapons

Putin confirmed that Russias deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has begun, reminding the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. But only the first ones, the first part. But we will do this job completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year," he said.

Speaking Friday at Russia's economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin emphasized that he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons, for now. He said delivering shorter-range nuclear weapons to Belarus, which could be used on the battlefield, was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine.

The White House denounced Putins comments and said the U.S. had made no adjustments to its nuclear position in response to the rhetoric.

US humanitarian assistance

The United States on Friday announced additional humanitarian assistance of $205 million for Ukraine that will provide critical support such as food, safe water, accessible shelter and more for Ukraine.

The U.S. response is advancing Ukraines overall security, economic recovery, energy security and capacity to cope with the humanitarian crisis created by Russias war. We welcome the contributions of other donors toward this crisis response and urge yet more donors to generously support the serious humanitarian needs in Ukraine and the region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The U.S. aid package brings the total humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to more than $605 million during fiscal year 2023. Since February 2022, the United States has provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began two days of talks in Beijing on Sunday, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Blinken's visit, postponed after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over U.S. airspace in February, was aimed at stabilizing tense relations between the two world's two biggest economies, but hopes for a breakthrough were low.

Below is a list of some other high-level U.S.-China exchanges during Biden's term.

Biden-Xi phone call - February 10, 2021

Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first phone call as leaders, appearing at odds on issues ranging from trade to human rights, even as Xi warned that confrontation would be a "disaster" for both nations.

First high-level meeting - March 18, 2021



The first bilateral face-to-face meeting at a high level under Biden's administration was in Anchorage, Alaska. It got off to a fiery start, with each side rebuking the other's policies in a rare public display that underscored the tensions.

The talks were led on the U.S. side by Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on the Chinese side by senior diplomats Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi.

First trade talks - May 26, 2021

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and China's then Vice Premier Liu He held talks virtually, the first such high level trade talks between the world's two biggest economies since Biden took office.

Senior US diplomat visits China - July 26, 2021



Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman held talks with State Councilor Wang Yi, in Tianjin, China. She was the top Biden official to visit China until Blinken nearly two years later.

Biden-Xi hold meeting - November 15, 2021



Biden and Xi spoke via video link for the first time in talks lasting more than three hours, which covered a wide range of topics including Taiwan, North Korea and trade.

Sullivan-Yang talks in Rome - March 14, 2022



Weeks after China's close ally Russia invaded Ukraine, Sullivan held a seven-hour meeting with Yang to warn Beijing not to aid Moscow's war effort.

Defense chiefs hold first talks - April 20, 2022



U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a call with China's then-defense minister Wei Fenghe, the first talks between the two since Biden took office.

Blinken-Wang talks in New York - September 23, 2022

Taiwan was the focus of 90-minute, "direct and honest" talks between Blinken and Wang on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, a U.S official told reporters.

The talks came just over a month after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the democratic island China claims as its own, triggering a furious reaction from Beijing.

Biden, Xi meet in Bali - November 14, 2022

Biden and Xi held their long-awaited first face-to-face leadership talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. During the three-and-a-half hours of talks the pair covered topics including Taiwan and nuclear-armed North Korea.

VP Harris greets Xi in Bangkok - November 19, 2022

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met briefly with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Thailand.

Blinken, Wang hold tense Munich talks - February 19, 2023

The top diplomats of the two superpowers, Blinken and Wang, met at an undisclosed location on the sidelines of a global security conference in Munich, amid the dispute over the U.S. downing of the suspected Chinese spy balloon.

US, China commerce chiefs trade barbs in Washington  May 25, 2023

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao exchanged barbs on trade, investment and export policies in face-to-face talks in Washington, D.C., described by Raimondo's office as "candid and substantive."

US, China defense chiefs shake hands at Shangri-la Dialogue - June 2, 2023

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shook hands with China's Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on the sidelines of a security summit in Singapore but the two did not have a "substantive exchange," according to the Pentagon. The handshake came after China rejected a proposal from the U.S. for Austin and Li to hold formal talks at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday ordered more troops to western Uganda where attackers from a group with links to Islamic State killed at least 37 secondary school students.

Members of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed the students late on Friday at Lhubirira Secondary School in Mpondwe, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Military and police said the attackers had also abducted six students and fled towards the Virunga National Park across the border. Their fate is unknown.

Museveni said more soldiers had joined the pursuit in the area, which includes Rwenzori Mountain, from where the ADF launched their insurgency against Museveni in the 1990s.

"We are now sending more troops into the area south of Rwenzori Mountain," he said in a statement.

"Their action, the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action, therefore, will not save them. We are bringing new forces to the Uganda side as we continue the hunting on the Congo side."

On Saturday, privately owned NTV Uganda television said the death toll stood at 41, while the state-run New Vision newspaper said it was 42. New Vision said 39 of the dead were students, and some were killed when the attackers set off a bomb as they fled.

The attack drew widespread international condemnation including from the United Nations, the African Union and East African's Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Ugandans were shocked by the attack.

"Parents across the country, please do not panic, our children are safe, and they will remain safe. They are evil people and they are trying to harm our children, but they will not manage," Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Education Minister, said late on Saturday.

Museveni said the government would also investigate if there were any lapses that enabled the attack to happen.

"Was an alarm sounded and by whom? How did the nearby security people respond? Why didnt our people on the Congo side have intelligence on this splinter group etc?" Museveni said.

The ADF was largely defeated by the Ugandan military but remnants fled into the vast jungles of eastern Congo from where they have since maintained their insurgency - attacking civilian and military targets in Congo and Uganda.

In April, the ADF attacked a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 20 people.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sororitys Xi Upsilon Omega chapter was chartered Sept. 10, 1983, and serves the city of Fredericksburg and Westmoreland, Stafford and King George counties. Since 1983, Xi Upsilon Omega has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds, and its members have served as educators, mentors and ready hands.

On April 16, the chapter celebrated, in advance, 40 years of relentless service. Linda H. Gilliam, 17th Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, delivered an inspirational word, charging the chapter of 153 members to continue serving for another 40 years.

Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw declared Sept. 10, 2023, Xi Upsilon Omega Day. The chapter, under the leadership of Andrea Duplechain, received the declaration with great pride and will continue to forge ahead in sisterhood and service to the great people of Fredericksburg and its surrounding counties.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is an international womens organization with graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, Canada, Liberia, South Africa, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Caribbean, England and the Middle East. Founded at Howard University in 1908, it was the first sorority for African American college-educated women who were dedicated to making an impact on the educational, social and cultural spheres of its community.

With the theme Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood, the 202226 administration seeks to build upon the sororitys rich legacy of service by motivating its sisterhood of more than 120,000 active members to lead on the front lines of change, education and advocacy.

The current administration has six initiatives. Strengthen Our Sisterhood serves as the foundation initiative, as members strengthen their bonds to support the service mission. The remaining five initiatives include Empower Our Families, Build Our Economic Wealth, Enhance Our Environment, Advocate for Social Justice and Uplift Our Local Community.
Its time to pod up at Netflixs Tudum Day in Brazil. Love Is Blind  with Vanessa and Nick Lachey also coming back  is returning to Netflix this September for season five, but not with a little teaser of whats to come for the hopeless romantics looking to find love. The sneak peek features a date from two singles that reveal both have been in serious relationships prior  one marriage and one engagement. Will we have more success stories to add to the Netflix Cinematic Universe or just more cast members to compete on Perfect Match? Either way, fans have a couple of more months to recover from last season when Love Is Blind premieres on Netflix sometime in September.

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Group stage play begins this week in New Zealand and Australia. The U.S. womens national team is in Group E, along with the Netherlands, Vietnam and Portugal.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Chief Dean Sayers, of the Batchewana First Nation in Ontario, addresses the audience as Indigenous leaders from across Canada attend the Assembly of First Nations' 35th annual general meeting in Halifax, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Leaders of the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund say they've reached a proposed $10-billion settlement with the governments of Ontario and Canada over unpaid annuities for using their lands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Leaders of the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund say they've reached a proposed $10-billion settlement with the governments of Ontario and Canada over unpaid annuities for using their lands.

The fund, which represents the 21 Robinson Huron First Nations, announced Saturday that the proposal will resolve claims only tied to past unpaid annuities which stretch back more than 170 years.

The Robinson-Huron Treaty was signed in 1850 and committed to paying the First Nations groups annual amounts tied to resource revenues, but the annuity only increased once in 1875 when it rose from about $1.70 per person to $4 per person. It hasn't increased since.

The proposed out-of-court settlement will see the federal government pay half the sum, while the other half will come from the province.

Spokesperson Duke Peltier, who represents the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, noted the 21 First Nations came together in 2012 to seek a settlement through the courts, but that ultimately one was reached at a negotiation table after talks began in April 2022.

"We know reconciliation cannot be achieved in the courtroom," he said in a statement.

"Canada and Ontario heard us and met us at the negotiation table to make this proposed settlement a reality."

In 2018, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that the Crown had an obligation to increase annual payments under the Robinson-Huron Treaty to reflect revenue derived from the territory.

"Our communities have struggled economically, culturally, and socially because of this breach of Treaty," said Chief Dean Sayers of the Batchewana First Nation.

"We see this settlement as an opportunity to show the commitment of both Canada and Ontario to respect and implement our rights affirmed in the Treaty."

Marc Miller, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, issued a statement on Saturday saying he hopes the settlement marks an advancement in efforts to "address past wrongs and strengthen our treaty relationship for the future."

A series of information sessions will be held with the First Nations community. Retired Ontario Court of Appeal judge Harry LaForme will lead the sessions, with the goal of preparing a report of recommendations within eight months. LaForme is Anishinabe and a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation in southern Ontario.

The federal and provincial governments will also conduct a review to seek approval for signing the proposed settlement.
When boaters have a problem in the Potomac River, from Aquia Creek in North Stafford to National Harbor in Maryland, its often Capt. Hill to the rescue.

Depending on the time of day or night, they might get the older Capt. Terry Hill, a 61-year-old whos made his living on the water for decades, or the younger Capt. Josh Hill, a 24-year-old whos earning a reputation for having the same work ethic, integrity and dedication as his father.

During some events, it might be all hands on deck, and boaters in need might get help from both Hills.

If you see one of us on the river, the other ones not far behind in some aspect, Josh Hill said.

As families celebrate the men who make a difference in their lives on this Fathers Day, many will go out of their way to spend some quality time with dad.

The Hills, who live in Woodbridge, are privy to that every day as the son learns the ropes of the six water-related businesses his father has built on his property, Hamptons Landing Marina off Neabasco Creek.

Together, father and son operate the towing, rescue, salvage and recovery service called TowBoatUS Alexandria, Potomac & Aquia Creek. They run six boats and keep one in Fairview Beach in King George County, another in National Harbor and the remaining four at the Woodbridge marina.

Josh is the only child of Terry Hill, who followed his father and older brothers into businesses buoyed by boating and those who enjoy the deep blue sea. Asked if it was inevitable that Josh would become the next Capt. Hill, his father answered: He was doomed, just like I was in the family business.

But the younger Hill doesnt see it that way. He talks about the times he and his dad butted heads, and any parent whos ever worked with a child knows disagreements can be much a part of a family business as DNA.

When Josh was a kid, his father made it clear that his way was the right way, and Josh wasnt always on board with that.

The last thing he expected to do was work alongside his father. He looked into companies that towed boats, out of Florida or California, and his dad encouraged him to go out there and get the experience. Josh worked for a construction company that did projects on land and water, and liked it, but he was drawn back to the Potomac.

It just wasnt the fit for me, he said. This is home, this is what I know, this is my bread and butter. I wouldnt trade this for anything, working on the river I know and love.

Both Hills got their sea legs at an early age. The elder has lived in the Neabasco Creek area his whole life. He earned his captains license at 18, put himself through college in Fredericksburg when the University of Mary Washington was known as Mary Washington College. He was in the first, large incoming freshman class of men who joined the previous all-female student body.

At 25, he started a service company and found it was smooth sailing to go out and tow boats into the marina, then make the repairs and return them to the water.

Over the years, Terry Hill has earned a reputation for being that guy on the river who knows every aspect related to boats, said Tim Bauckman, one of the owners at Tims II in Fairview, a restaurant in Fairview Beach.

Terrys like one of the most well-known people on the river as far as everything if you have trouble with your boat, fixing it, towing it, where to keep it, he said. Hes brought his son up to be the same way. Theyre great together.

Bauckman has watched Josh Hill mature from a lanky kid into a young man who looms over his father and is probably half a foot taller than him. Bauckman recalled a photo, taken when Josh was about 3, after the father and son had been fishing in the Potomac. The dad is holding a rockfish on either side of little Josh, and the stripers are every bit as big as he is.

Josh took to boating like a fish to water and has handled the waves since he was big enough to walk. He had his boating license, and had completed a boating safety course, years before he was old enough to get a learners permit to drive.

As the two Hills have worked together with the towing company, the younger captain has taken over managing the business as the dad looks toward eventual retirement. Josh Hill regularly runs things by his father and seeks his input on issues. Its not the same head-butting scenario when Josh was a teenager; he said its more like a mutual respect between the two men.

Terry Hill agreed. He sees his son work with other boat captains, typically professional fire and rescue workers who do towing work on the side. Theyre also 10 or 20 years older than Josh Hill, but hes done well working with him, the father said.

Josh also runs a tow boat, just like one his company has, with the OccoquanWoodbridgeLorton Volunteer Fire Department. He joined the group so he could help out in that capacity.

Being in the water is just in my blood, its what I do, he said. I cant go without it.

Like father, like son.
Emergency legal action has been taken to stop conman and disgraced financial adviser Kris Ridgway from fleeing the country in the same week he taunted his wife with a text message saying he had Gone.

The corporate regulator ASIC rushed to the Federal Court to obtain travel restraint orders against Ridgway after receiving multiple tip-offs last week, including from this masthead, that Ridgway had sold his furniture and was planning to depart for Sweden this week, indefinitely.

Hours after the orders were made on an ex parte basis without Ridgways presence following the ASIC application, Ridgway fired off a dishonest SMS to his estranged wife Kerrilyn to dupe her into believing the regulators attempts to prevent him leaving the country had failed and he had fled.

The SMS, sent on Monday morning, included an image of Brisbane airport and the message: Boarding my plane. Dont ever contact me again. Phone about to be thrown in the bin. Gone.
Margot Robbie is at the steering wheel of a half-billion-dollar Barbie bus which is due to pull into Sydney in a couple of weeks, ahead of the mega-budget films premiere.

The Aussie actor is not only the films star, but also its producer.

Margot Robbie in a scene from Barbie. Credit: Warner Brothers Pictures

Theres a lot riding on Barbie the movies success, not just for Robbie, who is looking for a box office hit following the flop of Babylon, but also for Barbies owner, toy giant Mattel, which has stumped up much the estimated $150 million budget to make the film.

Early predictions published in the Hollywood trade press estimate the movie could rake in more than $450 million, but given the films plot has remained largely under wraps, its unclear what sort of film is about to be unleashed on the world.
For many of us, COVID-19 will be nothing much more than a cold; some people may not even know they have it. At the same time, the virus continues to claim more lives in Australia than pneumonia and the flu combined, and leave a long tail of harm and disability. Loading Professor Brendan Crabb, director of the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, describes COVID-19 as the Goldilocks virus, a concept elaborated on by Dr Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician who works at the Mater hospital in Brisbane. I think its got just the right mix of properties, Griffin says. Its mild and transmissible enough that plenty are well enough to spread it around, yet it is still causing enough severe disease to cause big problems. Griffin says its other frustrating property is its capacity to change, making it harder for those trying to corner it through vaccines and other scientific developments.

According to Sydney GP Charlotte Hespe, when it comes to peoples attitudes towards COVID-19, theres a spectrum. At one end, people are wishing it was over and doing a bit of what I call the ostrich head in the sand, she says. When they get symptoms they dont want to know that its COVID because they think if they dont know, then they dont need to do anything. Its really impacting their socialising, work and functionality: Sydney GP Dr Charlotte Hespe. Credit: Janie Barrett On the other end are the patients who are still hyper-vigilant. They are regularly testing for the disease at any sign of a sniffle and wearing masks. They are very diligent in one respect, but its really impacting their socialising, work and functionality, Hespe says.

Whats the current COVID-19 situation? Many people may not realise that Australias COVID-19 death toll last year was almost 10,000 people, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Its a number more than four times higher than in the first two years of the pandemic, when the country was largely shut off from the rest of the world. Deaths from COVID-19 this year remain high by many standards; the 1314 fatalities recorded by the ABS between January and April is more than previous horror flu seasons. However, the rate of deaths has also slowed significantly compared to the same time the year before, when 3802 were reported.

As of Friday, there were 70 Australians in intensive care with COVID-19. Deaths have been slowly on the rise, from 124 in the week ending May 19 to 205 in the week ending June 16, though top epidemiologists now believe the seventh wave has either peaked or is close to doing so. Loading Karen Cutter, a spokeswoman for the Actuaries Institutes COVID-19 Mortality Working Group, says its difficult to predict what might happen. Mortality normally follows a fairly predictable pattern from one year to the next, but these mortality rates have been disrupted by the pandemic, Cutter says. Australia had significantly fewer deaths than usual in 2020, mainly due to the absence of influenza, but then vastly more deaths than usual in 2022 due to COVID and other pandemic-related impacts. According to Cutter, many factors make it difficult to anticipate what might unfold: the consequences of COVID infection on longer-term mortality levels; the impact that missing medical treatment for other conditions in 2020 and 2021 may have on mortality; the size and frequency of future COVID and influenza waves; levels of COVID immunity from both vaccination and infection; and the ability of health services to provide timely care.

In the first two months of this year, the Actuaries Institute found there were 1500 more deaths than would have been expected if the pandemic had not happened, 6 per cent more than would otherwise have been the case. This additional loss of life  known as excess deaths  occurred across all age groups. Professor Rhonda Stuart, a senior infectious disease physician who treated Australias first COVID-19 patient in Melbourne in January 2020, says COVID has felt far more manageable at the hospitals where she works  not just because health workers were seeing lower numbers of COVID patients, but because they had more to offer them. First came vaccines and now they have antivirals such as Paxlovid, which have been described as game changers in preventing severe illness and death. Earlier this month, there were 80 COVID-positive people within Monash Healths six sites in Melbournes south-east, of whom Stuart estimated only 60 per cent were there directly because of the respiratory virus.

They might come in with appendicitis, for instance, and have a swab [revealing] that theyve got COVID as well. Marcel Stronach has been receiving treatment at Monash Medical Centre. He has COVID but has been hospitalised because of a different condition. Credit: Paul Jeffers Whats next? Professor Jodie McVernon, one of the countrys top pandemic preparedness experts, says Australia is in a settling time of the pandemic. Clearly the emergency response period has passed, she says, but it has not yet reached the point that the ongoing waves of COVID-19 have settled into a predictable or seasonal pattern. McVernon and other leading epidemiologists are all anticipating the same general trend. The bad news is we are likely to see ongoing waves of COVID-19. The good news is they should be less spiky.

I expect multiple waves over the next 12 months to 18 months, but with a steady continued decline in health impact, says Professor James McCaw, another leading pandemic adviser. Loading McCaw says that in time  perhaps another year or two  he would expect the waves of COVID-19 to settle into a more regular pattern with seasonal peaks, likely [in] winter, but we cant be sure. Some of this uncertainty is due to the soup of variants now present in Australia, which Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says make the accurate prediction of the timing, nature, impact and severity of future waves very difficult. Many of these circulating variants will likely die out without causing a significant disease burden, but others have been shown to have stronger growth potential, with some exhibiting considerable capacity for immune escape, Kelly says.

And there is always a risk, however small, that a new strain of COVID-19 will emerge and things will get worse again before they get better. McVernon says constant vigilance is needed, not just around COVID-19 but for a whole host of viruses with pandemic potential. Australias Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen I think probably most of us are looking at all the H5N1 bird flu knocking around the northern hemisphere with a little bit more concern, she says. Will we still need boosters? Back in 2021, the first two-dose rollout of COVID-19 vaccines had been surprisingly successful at stopping people catching the virus altogether, as well as preventing hospitalisations and deaths. But some felt misled as the virus mutated into more vaccine-evasive forms, and the public were encouraged back to their doctors or pharmacists for further shots to top up their immunity.

Some Australians are now up to six or more doses. I think so many people do see the number of iterative changes we had as a failure or a mistake of the first recommendations, and have lost sight of the fact that the virus has changed just so much, says Griffin from Brisbanes Mater hospital. Infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin. Credit: Justin McManus We need to understand that our response in terms of vaccines will be very much dictated by what happens with the virus itself. Because of this uncertainty, he says its difficult to predict what Australias COVID-19 vaccine program might look like in a year or two. We may need another dose any day if the changes mandates it. Griffin says his best guess was that Australia will settle on an annual booster, partly because COVID-19 could become more of an annual virus (instead of having waves each year), but also because it would make sense to give it at the same time as the influenza vaccine.

Its also hoped new second-generation vaccines could be made available in the coming years which will provide more lasting immune protection, or in different forms, such as skin patches or nasal sprays. Loading Our worrying COVID-19 statistic One of the most concerning trends in Australias current COVID-19 data is flagging rates of booster rates among those who are most vulnerable to the disease. On June 8, more than 45 per cent of aged care residents eligible for another vaccine were yet to have one. Thats despite the most recent changes to Australias vaccine guidelines allowing adults to receive a booster every six months and recommending it for those aged 65 years or older, as well as other vulnerable groups.

Trying to understand what could be slowing uptake, Kelly sought advice from the aged care sector. Kelly says vaccine fatigue was thought to be one of the major issues at play. There is also some reluctance by some residents to have COVID-19 and influenza vaccines co-administered on the same day because this can lead to soreness in both arms, says Kelly. Australias expert vaccine group has advised that getting the two vaccines at once is safe. Underlining the importance of up-to-date vaccines in older people, a recent Australian study found that for every 157 aged care residents who received a fourth booster during June to November 2022, one death was prevented. This is because during Australias second Omicron wave last year, fourth doses protected against death 84 per cent of the time, which reduced to 56 per cent after six months, for those aged 65 or older.

Is enough being done to prevent death and disease? McVernon believes its time to manage COVID-19 like other respiratory conditions. She says the nation still needs accessible testing and free vaccinations, but stresses that we are well past the point where mandated measures such as social gathering and movement restrictions are required. Professor Jodie McVernon, the director of epidemiology at the Doherty Institute. Credit: Simon Schluter Griffin, meanwhile, feels that not enough effort is being made to help Australians understand that the virus is still around, landing people in hospital and worse. He says COVID-19 patients hed treated told him the pandemic was no longer front of mind.

A lot of people dont know what vaccines are available, and when they should get them. A lot of people have lost sight of how to get tested  and getting antivirals is something thats out of a lot of peoples minds as well. Dr Tony Bartone, a GP in Melbournes north-western suburbs, is concerned about his patients relaxing attitudes. The most common attitude is, I dont need any more vaccinations, I dont need to wear a mask, COVID is over, Bartone says. Tony Bartone gives a COVID vaccination in May 2021. Credit: Joe Armao While many of his patients have mild COVID symptoms and get better at home  sometimes thanks to antiviral drugs  others are still winding up in hospital. One patient, a man in his late 60s, recently spent a few days in hospital after arriving at his clinic with a cough, lethargy and borderline oxygen levels.

Bartone, the former president of the Australian Medical Association, anticipates that the next three months will be a slog. He hasnt booked any leave or made any plans so that hes available during the colder months. Loading It will be another tough winter, Bartone says. Thats what I am expecting, but I will be happy if Im proved to be wrong. Brett Wallace is now testing negative to COVID and has returned to the rehabilitation hospital to continue treatment for his autoimmune condition. Hed like to see more people wearing masks in public spaces such as doctors and dental surgeries. Wallace is shocked by peoples blase attitude towards COVID-19. His experience has validated his worst fears about the disease: I would be lucky to get through it again.
Victorian Labor has ramped up pressure on Anthony Albanese to recognise a Palestinian state in this term of parliament, with former foreign minister Bob Carr saying it would send a powerful message to the most right-wing government in Israels history.

The Victorian Labor Partys state conference also expressed disappointment over the AUKUS submarine deal, but debate over whether the deal infringes Australias independent foreign and defence policy has been delayed until national conference.

Former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr. Credit: James Alcock

The AUKUS deal and push to recognise Palestine shape as flashpoints for this years national conference, to be held in Brisbane in August.

Federal Labors 2021 national platform supports the recognition of Israel and Palestine as part of a two-state solution, and says it should be a priority for Labor in government, but since winning the election the federal government has been wary of taking this step because it could infuriate Israel.
The mooted break-up of forcibly merged NSW councils including Inner West is set to be derailed because the new NSW Labor government doesnt want to foot the bill.

Despite some councils pushing ahead with demerger plans based on previous assurances the costs would be covered by the state government, new Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has decided the multimillion-dollar bill isnt its responsibility.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says the mooted split of his council was based on the costs being borne by the NSW government. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The decision is certain to infuriate local councils seeking to break apart.

It is particularly significant for the Inner West, which last year presented a business case to the NSW Boundaries Commission for a demerger after 62 per cent of residents voted in support of reverting to Marrickville, Leichhardt and Ashfield councils in a 2021 poll.
The 2021 redistricting brought many changes to political lines in Virginia, including the creation of new districts.

One of the Fredericksburg areas new districts includes the 27th District, formed from old districts 17, 27, 28 and 36.

That switch moved 159,116 registered voters to District 27, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

The new 27th district includes Fredericksburg and parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties. According to VPAP, Stafford accounts for the biggest portion of registered voters at 97,924. Spotsylvania has 38,101 registered voters in the district, and Fredericksburg has 19,377.

Both the Democrats and Republicans are holding primaries on Tuesday for the new district seat. Only one of the candidates has held office before. The Republicans have a pair of high-profile names, while both Democrat candidates are relative newcomers.

Delegate aims to take new Senate seat

Del. Tara Durant, RStafford, who won the 28th District House seat in November 2021, is seeking the Republican nod for the new 27th district Senate seat.

Durant was cast into the spotlight in summer 2020, after audio from a 911 call made by Durant during a local Black Lives Matter protest drew national media attention.

Durant was driving in downtown Fredericksburg with her then-12-year-old daughter. She called 911 because she said her vehicle was blocked by protesters, but the dispatcher said the city couldnt send officers to assist.

The experience prompted Durant, a former Catholic school teacher who has lived in Stafford with her family for nearly 20 years, to run for office initially, and to seek the 27th District seat.

Education is also a top priority for Durant, whose campaign site says she has worked to advance real solutions to reverse the damage done to our students by lockdowns and stop the Lefts attempts to bring divisive, woke ideology to our classrooms.

She lists several bills she championed that address gender issues, as well as books or instructional materials with sexually explicit content.

Durant also highlights her support of Gov. Glenn Youngkins economic agenda  cutting taxes and bringing good jobs to our Commonwealth.

According to her the site, Durant has supported tax cuts, led the fight to eliminate the state grocery tax and is working to require the government to reimburse people and businesses fined over pandemic restrictions.

Durant says she has spent time as a delegate blocking Democrats attempts to force radical gun control policies on law-abiding Virginians.

Abortion is another key issue for Durant, who supports a pro-life agenda.

Transportation, public safety and support for military veterans also are among Durants top priorities, her site states.

Durant has raised $557,484, according to VPAP.

She has garnered endorsements from Gov. Youngkin, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as well as from numerous state senators and delegates, Stafford Sheriff David Decatur and Stafford Supervisor Meg Bohmke.

Restaurateur battled government over mandates

The Spotsylvania County restaurateur running to be the Republican candidate for the 27th Senate District was spurred to run for office after he battled state government over COVID-19 mandates.

In 2021, the local health district suspended the health permit for Gourmeltz after owner Matt Strickland refused to follow mandates requiring patrons to wear masks and social distance inside the restaurant. The suspension kicked off a battle that lasted about two years and included court hearings and appeals. Late last year, the restaurants alcohol license was suspended and thousands of dollars in alcohol was seized from the eatery during a raid.

Strickland livestreamed a portion of the raid, during which he criticized officers, telling them they were part of the problem by following orders that were government overreach.

In December, Strickland reached a consent agreement with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority allowing him to legally serve alcohol again.

Strickland, an Army veteran, had been a staunch supporter of Republicans and Youngkin, but said they turned their backs on him after his issues with state agencies.

On his campaign website, Strickland says he realized a void in state politics during his fight against the tyrannical government and that handling government overreach tops his list of priorities.

Although he is running as a Republican, Strickland has stated he hopes to fight the establishment, including corporations, big pharmaceutical companies, lobbyists and other power brokers.

Strickland also supports border security and making sure the state obeys federal immigration laws. According to his website, supporting first responders and making sure gun rights remain strong are also among his priorities.

He also supports the right to life, and criticizes Democrats stance on abortion, claiming they want the ability to murder nine-month-old babies, adding that he would prohibit taxpayer funding for abortions.

Strickland says he will fight for parents rights and against radical policies like Critical Race Theory. He says taxes should be lowered across the board.

He has raised $173,705, according to VPAP.

He lists several endorsements on his campaign site, including Spotsylvania Supervisor Jacob Lane, Spotsylvania School Board member Lisa Phelps and Stafford Supervisor Crystal Vanuch.

Former Marine, entrepreneur, rose from tragedy

Joel Griffins background includes serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, working as a government contractor and as a consultant in private industry, according to his campaign website. He founded and is CEO of Riphean, which is described as a growth management firm focusing on private equity and venture capital, hospitality, and as an angel investor in primarily veteran-owned small businesses.

His company also focuses on backing initiatives in education, workforce and technology.

Griffin, whos seeking the Democratic nod for the 27th District seat, has served as chairman of Staffords Economic Development Authority since 2015.

The Stafford County resident and his wife, Jennifer, also are known for the nonprofit they started called Gwyneths Gift, which focuses on CPR and AEDs for people suffering cardiac arrest.

Their daughter, Gwyneth, passed out in 2012 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest on a school track. The school had an AED, but no one knew about it. Gwyneth went without CPR for so long she suffered brain damage and died seven weeks later.

Her parents lobbied for the 2013 passage of Gwyneths Law, which requires Virginia teachers and high school students to be trained in emergency first aid, CPR and the use of AEDs.

On his campaign site, Griffin says he led the countys broadband expansion that brought service to the Widewater area and has supported expansion of the Germanna Community College health sciences and cybersecurity programs.

Griffins list of top issues includes the economy, reproductive rights, student safety, education, and supporting democracy and families.

The campaign site highlights Griffins business background and that he would help make the district the priority it should be for this state-wide investment as the region will continue to lead the Commonwealth in growth over the next decade.

Griffin also believes reproductive rights are under attack in Virginia, and if Republicans win the district, an abortion ban is not off the table, according to his campaign site.

Griffin says public schools are vital and should be properly funded. His campaign site also says Republicans attempts to strip children of a proper and fully rounded education experience and access to libraries on the Spotsylvania County School Board is wrong.

The candidate hopeful also says he would support more funding for child care assistance programs and in early childhood education, as well as paid family and medical leave for up to 12 weeks per year.

Griffin has raised $347,918 so far, according to VPAP.

Griffin has been endorsed by Rep. Abigail Spanberger and former delegate Joshua Cole, who is running for the Democrats nomination in the 65th Senate district.

Former Stafford Democrat chair seeks party support for seat

Ben Litchfield, a former chairman of the Stafford Democratic Committee, grew up in Massachusetts in relative poverty but he says that drove him to build a better life, which led to college, law school and working for the federal government.

According to his campaign website, Litchfields positions included attorney at the National Credit Union Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The candidate hopeful, who lives with his family in Spotsylvania County, currently is an associate at Buckley LLP.

I am running for Virginia Senate because for too many, the American Dream feels like a broken promise, Litchfield says on the campaign site. Despite a booming economy, it feels harder for workers to find a job that pays a living wage, for families to afford housing in the communities where they work, and for our kids to receive a first-rate education.

Among 13 key issues on his campaign website are working families, small businesses, transportation, education, reproductive freedom, affordable health care and housing and criminal justice reform.

On working families, Litchfield supports raising the minimum wage, with his campaign site saying residents in Stafford and Spotsylvania  first responders, educators, seniors, and new families  dont earn a living wage.

He also supports creating paid sick leave for all workers and making child care more affordable.

On education, Litchfield supports increasing pay for educators, ending the politicization of educators and students, and providing Fredericksburg schools with more, fair state funding.

Litchfield supports abortion and contraception access and wants to lower prescription drug prices and require hospitals and insurance companies to negotiate, citing contract disputes between Mary Washington Healthcare and several insurance agencies, which left working families effectively without insurance companies for unreasonable periods of time, according to the campaign website.

On criminal justice, Litchfield wants to reform mandatory minimum sentences, parole, pretrial issues and increase funding for public defenders.

Litchfield supports developing a regional transportation authority as a way to provide more local funding and local input for transportation issues. He also wants to invest more in high-frequency transit, and expand Virginia Railway Express service to weekdays and weekends.

Litchfield has raised $236,037 so far, according to VPAP.

He has endorsements from several local officials, including Stafford supervisors Tinesha Allen and Maya Guy, Stafford School Board member Sarah Chase and Spotsylvania School Board member Nicole Cole. He also has been endorsed by Del. Sam Rasoul, who represents the 11th District.

Stafford supervisor running as independent

Another candidate seeking the 27th District seat is Stafford Supervisor Monica Gary. She is running as an independent and has no primary challenger.

On her campaign website, Gary details her childhood growing up in a trailer park, becoming a young mother and her life as a stripper. She says her background has helped her form bonds and learn lessons.

Because of my past, I understand the hardships our community faces, she says on the campaign site. Ive struggled with food and housing insecurity, inaccessible health care, financial instability, abuse  you name it, Ive been there.

Gary later embraced religion and earned a college degree in theology. She and her husband live in Stafford with their seven children.

She was spurred to become more active in the community in the wake of the unrest from the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in 2020.

Gary eventually ran for and won the Aquia District seat for the Stafford Board of Supervisors in 2021.

According to VPAP, Garys campaign has raised $98,376 so far.

The Stafford resident says on her campaign website that she knows the unique and complex needs of this district and how to serve a region whose politics span from left to right, made up of quaint urban neighborhoods to rural family farms.

Gary says she has a record of working across the aisle to build consensus and get things done.

The independent candidate says she will fiercely defend womens reproductive rights and expand access to care, invest heavily in public education and create a path for school choice that wont adversely impact public schools along with establishing funding for mental health facilities, investing in public transportation and finding a way to address the issue of affordable housing.
Two Republican candidates are running in this weeks primary for Stafford County treasurer.

One candidate, Heather Mitchell, is endorsed by current Treasurer Laura Rudy, who has held the office for 16 years and is not seeking reelection in November.

The other candidate, Mike Sienkowski, serves as deputy Commissioner of the Revenue and is endorsed by his boss, Commissioner Scott Mayausky.

According to his website, mike4stafford.com, Sienkowski has a bachelors degree in economics and a masters degree in accounting, both from the University of Mary Washington.

He has worked in the Commissioner of the Revenues office for 10 years and as an IT professional in the county for seven years before that and is involved in numerous community organizations such as the Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra; Best Buds, a mentoring program that pairs Stafford County government employees with students from Stafford County Public Schools; and the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church.

If elected, Sienkowski will work to expand Commissioner of the Revenues office hours, improve internal controls, increase community engagement and customer service, and provide more online services, according to his website.

Mitchell currently works as chief deputy treasurer in Rudys office. Prior to that, she was a delinquent revenue collections agent, according to her website, mitchell4treasurer.com.

As a single mom, Mitchell worked three jobs to support her young daughter before marrying a Marine, whose military job took their family all over the U.S. and overseas for 23 years.

She has a certificate in accounting from Radford University and has met requirements for a Master Governmental Deputy Treasurer certification from the Treasurer Association of Virginia, according to her website.

She is running to ensure continued excellence in the Treasurers office, according to her website.

Stafford registrar Anna Hash said there is no Democratic candidates for treasurer and that Independent candidates have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to file paperwork to be on the ballot in November.

The primary election is Tuesday.

Republicans square off in 65th House District primary race Voters in Fredericksburg, southern Stafford County and a small portion of Spotsylvania Count

Republicans and Democrats have primary choices in 29th Senate District race Voters in North Stafford from both parties will have the opportunity to vote in a June prima
MORGANTOWN, Pa. - Runners gathered in Morgantown today for a good cause.

The Paint the Town Purple 5K was held this morning at the Historic Johanna Furnace Site.

The event was hosted by Lynn Cronomiz of Schnecksville in honor of her mother who passed away from the disease in 2017.

Proceeds from the event will support the Alzheimer's Association.

Each year, the race is held near the summer solstice, the longest and brightest day of the year.

Participants from across the world fight the darkness of Alzheimer's through a fundraising activity, like a 5K.

June is also Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Governor Shapiro orders commonwealth flags to half-staff in honor of Pennsylvania State Trooper Jacques F. Rougeau Jr.

Trooper Rougeau Jr. was tragically shot and killed on Saturday after an encounter with an armed suspect in Juniata County.

The flags shall be lowered to half-staff until the date of interment, which has not yet been announced.
NORTHAMPTON, Pa. - Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure will run for a third term in 2025, citing work to be done in providing housing and broadband Internet service.

McClure, a Democrat, was first elected in 2017. He won re-election in 2021. He is a lawyer by profession and has also served on Northampton County Council.

"With so much left to do on affordable housing, broadband accessibility and the fight against the scourge of fentanyl, I've concluded the decision to seek a third term is the right one," McClure said Sunday.

The Executive has said earlier that he would seek at least one more four-year term.

"I'll be there another term or two," he said during his annual State of Northampton County address at the Hotel Bethlehem in May. Two more terms would keep him in the county's top post through the start of 2034.

He recently posted a McClure for County Executive sign on his Facebook page, along with a comment that he wanted his intentions known early.

As Executive, McClure runs the operations of the county and manages about 2,000 employees. His responsibilities include the Gracedale nursing home, county prison, human services, 911 center and more.

During McClure's tenure, county budgets have kept property taxes level and cut them once, and open space and parks have been added. He has made the fight against what he calls "warehouse proliferation" a hallmark of his two terms.

Warehouses provide jobs and pay taxes, but McClure contends there are enough in the region. He has vowed to oppose tax breaks that would subsidize their construction.

Earlier this year, county officials unveiled the "Fake Is Real" campaign to educate residents about the dangers of fentanyl, a deadly drug, in pills that appear to be prescription opioids.

No other candidates have announced bids for Executive yet, with the election two years away.
Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 9,900,000 shares, a growth of 25.3% from the May 15th total of 7,900,000 shares. Approximately 2.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,580,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.3 days.

Brookfield Asset Management Trading Down 1.8 %

BAM traded down $0.60 during trading on Friday, hitting $33.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,063,431 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,178,374. The firms 50 day moving average price is $32.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.63. Brookfield Asset Management has a twelve month low of $26.76 and a twelve month high of $36.50.

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Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.33 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $966.00 million during the quarter. As a group, analysts forecast that Brookfield Asset Management will post 1.35 EPS for the current year.

Brookfield Asset Management Dividend Announcement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.85%.

Several brokerages have recently commented on BAM. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. They set a hold rating on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $40.00 target price on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Brookfield Asset Management to an underperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $43.57.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total transaction of $295,938.24. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,104,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $252,414,879.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 11.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Brookfield Asset Management

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 0.7% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 38,228 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,161,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 35.5% during the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,057 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 0.6% during the first quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 54,530 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,085,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the last quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 4.1% during the third quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 8,470 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $346,000 after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 4.9% during the first quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 7,901 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the last quarter.

Brookfield Asset Management Company Profile

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Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

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Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 146,700 shares, a growth of 17.5% from the May 15th total of 124,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 79,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days. Approximately 1.5% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Liberum Capital downgraded Caledonia Mining from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 24th.

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Institutional Trading of Caledonia Mining

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Herr Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,085,000. Goehring & Rozencwajg Associates LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,732,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Caledonia Mining by 40.9% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 18,357 shares of the companys stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 5,326 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Caledonia Mining by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 531,363 shares of the companys stock worth $6,589,000 after purchasing an additional 51,756 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining during the 4th quarter worth approximately $202,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.38% of the companys stock.

Caledonia Mining Stock Performance

CMCL traded up $0.74 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $13.55. The companys stock had a trading volume of 142,415 shares, compared to its average volume of 53,021. The firm has a market capitalization of $173.85 million, a P/E ratio of 22.97 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. Caledonia Mining has a twelve month low of $8.75 and a twelve month high of $17.58.

Caledonia Mining (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, March 24th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $34.18 million for the quarter. Caledonia Mining had a return on equity of 7.44% and a net margin of 5.08%.

Caledonia Mining Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th were issued a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. Caledonia Minings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 94.92%.

About Caledonia Mining

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Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc primarily operates a gold mine. It also engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties for precious metals. The company holds 64% interest in the Blanket Mine, a gold mine located in Zimbabwe. It also owns 100% interest in the Maligreen project, a brownfield gold exploration project located in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands; Bilboes, gold deposit located to the north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; and Motapa, a gold exploration property located in Southern Zimbabwe.

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China Minsheng Banking (OTCMKTS:CGMBF  Get Rating) is one of 152 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare China Minsheng Banking to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

3.6% of China Minsheng Banking shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.9% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 14.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for China Minsheng Banking and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China Minsheng Banking 0 1 0 0 2.00 China Minsheng Banking Competitors 942 2590 2618 5 2.27

Valuation & Earnings

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 46.35%. Given China Minsheng Bankings peers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe China Minsheng Banking has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

This table compares China Minsheng Banking and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio China Minsheng Banking N/A N/A 0.31 China Minsheng Banking Competitors $4.49 billion $1.07 billion 516.57

China Minsheng Bankings peers have higher revenue and earnings than China Minsheng Banking. China Minsheng Banking is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares China Minsheng Banking and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Minsheng Banking N/A N/A N/A China Minsheng Banking Competitors 23.15% 10.90% 0.90%

Dividends

China Minsheng Banking pays an annual dividend of $0.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 25.3%. China Minsheng Banking pays out 8.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 28.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. China Minsheng Banking is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

China Minsheng Banking peers beat China Minsheng Banking on 11 of the 13 factors compared.

China Minsheng Banking Company Profile

(Get Rating)

China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. provides various financial products and services to individuals, small and micro-enterprises, corporate customers, government agencies, and financial institutions in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Others segments. Its deposit products include saving accounts, deposit certificates, contracted deposits, agreement deposits, call deposits, corporate term deposits, and corporate current deposits. The company also offers personal housing mortgage, individual automobile purchase, household composite consumption, home, medium and long term, and short-term working capital loans; micro-credit products for individuals; debit and credit cards; and safe deposit boxes. In addition, it provides payment and collection, and clearing services, as well as internet, mobile, and telephone banking services. Further, the company offers gross settlement; wages distribution agency and letter of guarantee; cash management; trade finance; industrial chain finance; individual forex settlement, forex remittance, travelers promissory notes, collection, individual deposit certificate, and guarantee letter products; and comprehensive credit granting, forex settlement and sale, financial product investment, and trust financing services. Additionally, it provides convenient finance, investment banking, and asset management services, as well as non-financial services in the education, business travel, traveler, art, luxury life, health, club, and isports areas. As of December 31, 2021, the company has approximately 140 branch-level institutions, 1,193 business outlets, 1,078 community sub-branches, and 136 small business sub-branches. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

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Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO trimmed its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 4.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,225 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 381 shares during the period. Indiana Trust & Investment Management COs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $833,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ABT. Foster Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.4% in the first quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 6,373 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $645,000 after purchasing an additional 328 shares during the last quarter. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $707,000. Red Spruce Capital LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Red Spruce Capital LLC now owns 24,938 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,525,000 after acquiring an additional 1,423 shares during the last quarter. Radnor Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 11.5% during the 1st quarter. Radnor Capital Management LLC now owns 18,361 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,859,000 after acquiring an additional 1,890 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dash Acquisitions Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 8.2% in the first quarter. Dash Acquisitions Inc. now owns 86,919 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $8,801,000 after purchasing an additional 6,621 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.93% of the companys stock.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $106.20 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $184.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.70 and a beta of 0.67. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $106.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $106.33. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $93.25 and a 1 year high of $115.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.22.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 22.36% and a net margin of 13.98%. The company had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.64 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.73 EPS. Abbott Laboratoriess quarterly revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.01%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $757,746,582.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.56, for a total transaction of $909,466.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,786,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on ABT shares. Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $123.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.26.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products.

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WASHINGTON  Speaker Kevin McCarthy's bid to appease Republican hard-liners and get the House moving again after a recent party rebellion on the floor has some Democrats warning of a difficult road ahead when it comes to passing legislation that will keep the government running.

Republicans teed up votes this past week on guns and on censuring one of former President Donald Trump's most prominent critics, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Those votes helped get the House moving again, though the latter effort failed, with Schiff helped by some 20 Republicans.

The most consequential move of the week, however, was an announcement from GOP leadership that arrived with little fanfare. Republicans said they plan to pursue appropriations bills, which fund government programs and agencies, with less spending than the top-line numbers they agreed to in a deal with the White House last month. That compromise avoided what would have been an unprecedented federal default.

McCarthy argued that the numbers he negotiated with the White House amount to a cap and "you can always do less." GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, who leads the House Appropriations Committee, followed with a statement that said she would seek to limit nondefense spending at 2022 budget levels, saying the debt agreement "set a top-line spending cap  a ceiling, not a floor."

The announcements delighted Republicans who criticized McCarthy, R-Calif., and opposed the debt ceiling legislation because they felt that agreement allowed too much spending. It drew immediate pushback from Democrats who say an attempt to circumvent the debt ceiling agreement's top-line numbers effectively guarantees a standoff with the Senate and White House and possibly even a damaging government stoppage when funding expires this fall.

"It is a prelude to a shutdown  what they are engineering," said Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

The emerging dynamic raises the potential for another round of economy-rattling brinkmanship in Washington just months after lawmakers narrowly avoided a damaging federal default.

Partial government shutdowns have become increasingly common in the modern era, with the longest coming under President Donald Trump as he demanded money for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

With President Joe Biden facing down the Republican-controlled House as he runs for reelection in 2024 and some conservatives openly dismissive of the damage a shutdown can cause, the spending fight appears nearly certain to escalate.

The tension created by the GOP's pursuit of more nondefense spending cuts was evident during hearings held Wednesday and Thursday of the House Appropriations panel.

Democrats accused House Republicans of going back on their word. "Do you think any of us would have made a deal if we thought your '22 number was the deal?" said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md. "What kind of deal is that? What kind of respect for yourselves is that?"

"You knew that wasn't a ceiling," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. "Traditionally, that's where we are starting. Caps are not ceilings in our world. They are a starting point and then we negotiate from those numbers we have agreed to. That's how it has always been."

Republicans said McCarthy was clear during negotiations that spending had to come down from current levels.

"We can try to fool the American people with smoke and mirrors and pretend, but the speaker was clear," Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., said. "We are in a debt crisis in this country."

Under the debt ceiling agreement, the White House said nondefense spending was expected to be roughly flat in the next budget year and increase by 1% the following year. Defense spending would increase by about 3.3% next year and 1% the following year. The agreement to curb discretionary spending does not include programs like Medicare and Social Security, which are considered mandatory spending.

A few Republicans urged leadership not to bend to a minority within the conference.

"I think we've just got to be really careful not to allow, you know, a small portion of our conference to continually be chipping away at previously agreed upon issues," Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., said. "That top-line number was agreed to in the (debt-ceiling bill.) They may not like it. They voiced their displeasure last week. They kind of shut the House down, but we've got work to do. We need to be doing it."

Republicans only have a five-seat majority in the House, which magnifies the power that a small bloc can have. It took just 11 members, mostly members of the House Freedom Caucus, to stall House votes on legislation in early June and send lawmakers home early. One of those 11, Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., said moving to 2022 spending levels for nondefense programs will be good for Republican candidates in next year's general election because that's what voters are demanding.

"Democrats have no interest in cutting spending," Good said. "They have to be forced to do so. We should have used the debt ceiling to force them to cut spending. We should use the appropriations process to force them to cut spending. We shouldn't fear a government shutdown. Most of what we do up here is bad anyway."

Still, many senators  Democratic and Republican  did not seem concerned about the possibility of a shutdown.

In the end, I think we'll resolve these issues, said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress
Innovid Corp. (NYSE:CTV  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,700,000 shares, an increase of 25.6% from the May 15th total of 2,150,000 shares. Approximately 2.5% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 522,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.2 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on CTV. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $5.00 target price on shares of Innovid in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Innovid from $2.40 to $2.20 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 6th.

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Innovid Stock Performance

Shares of CTV stock traded down $0.07 on Friday, hitting $1.00. 1,131,191 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 674,926. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 3.80 and a quick ratio of 3.80. The company has a market capitalization of $137.20 million, a PE ratio of -6.67 and a beta of 3.18. Innovid has a 1-year low of $0.75 and a 1-year high of $4.40. The companys fifty day moving average is $1.04 and its 200 day moving average is $1.58.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Innovid

In related news, insider David Helmreich purchased 100,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $1.24 per share, for a total transaction of $124,000.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 698,857 shares in the company, valued at $866,582.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other Innovid news, Director Gilad Shany bought 28,328 shares of Innovid stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.19 per share, for a total transaction of $33,710.32. Following the purchase, the director now owns 191,624 shares in the company, valued at approximately $228,032.56. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider David Helmreich bought 100,000 shares of Innovid stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1.24 per share, with a total value of $124,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 698,857 shares in the company, valued at approximately $866,582.68. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders purchased a total of 260,988 shares of company stock worth $289,657 in the last 90 days. 9.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CTV. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in Innovid in the second quarter worth $28,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in Innovid in the first quarter worth $30,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in Innovid in the first quarter worth $33,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD acquired a new stake in Innovid in the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Amalgamated Bank increased its position in Innovid by 89.5% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 12,896 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 6,092 shares during the period. 52.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Innovid Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Innovid Corp. operates an independent software platform that provides ad serving and creative services. The company offers advertising services for the creation, delivery, and measurement of TV ads across connected TV, mobile TV, and desktop TV environments to advertisers, publishers, and media agencies.

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Equities research analysts at StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSE:THM  Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Saturday. The firm set a sell rating on the stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Price Performance

About International Tower Hill Mines

(Get Rating)

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Seaport Res Ptn restated their neutral rating on shares of Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH  Get Rating) in a report published on Wednesday morning, PriceTargets.com reports. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Meritage Homes Q2 2023 earnings at $3.25 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $3.50 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $4.18 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $14.46 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $15.20 EPS.

MTH has been the topic of several other reports. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $132.00 price objective on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a market perform rating on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Meritage Homes from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $129.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, March 6th. StockNews.com downgraded Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Meritage Homes in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. They set a buy rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $123.50.

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Meritage Homes Stock Down 0.4 %

MTH stock opened at $130.33 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.77 billion, a PE ratio of 5.32 and a beta of 1.59. Meritage Homes has a 1-year low of $62.51 and a 1-year high of $133.29. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $123.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $110.61.

Meritage Homes Announces Dividend

Meritage Homes ( NYSE:MTH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $3.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.51 by $1.03. The firm had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.03 billion. Meritage Homes had a return on equity of 23.99% and a net margin of 14.44%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.79 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Meritage Homes will post 15.26 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Meritage Homess dividend payout ratio is presently 4.41%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 3,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.03, for a total value of $491,517.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 42,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,389,042.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Meritage Homes news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 3,900 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.03, for a total transaction of $491,517.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 42,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,389,042.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Alison Sasser sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.52, for a total value of $185,280.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 481 shares in the company, valued at $59,413.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 7,400 shares of company stock worth $926,077. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meritage Homes

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 137.5% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 12,550 shares of the construction companys stock worth $994,000 after purchasing an additional 7,266 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Meritage Homes by 43.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 3,740 shares of the construction companys stock worth $296,000 after buying an additional 1,138 shares during the period. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Meritage Homes during the first quarter worth $464,000. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Meritage Homes by 7.0% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 14,632 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,227,000 after purchasing an additional 962 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Meritage Homes by 49.3% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 19,463 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,542,000 after purchasing an additional 6,431 shares in the last quarter. 95.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Meritage Homes

(Get Rating)

Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for first-time and first move-up buyers in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

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Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. (NYSE:MYTE  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. They currently have $4.00 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of $19.00.

MYTE has been the subject of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $9.00 to $7.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from $9.00 to $6.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Societe Generale lowered shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $7.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from $14.00 to $10.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $13.00 to $7.00 in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $10.00.

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MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. Stock Performance

Shares of MYTE opened at $3.85 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.84, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a market cap of $326.79 million, a P/E ratio of -42.77 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50-day moving average of $4.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.57. MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. has a 12-month low of $3.75 and a 12-month high of $15.90.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MYT Netherlands Parent B.V.

MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. ( NYSE:MYTE Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $213.37 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $236.00 million. MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. had a negative net margin of 1.05% and a positive return on equity of 5.34%. As a group, research analysts predict that MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. will post 0.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MYTE. Sylebra Capital Ltd grew its stake in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 12.7% during the third quarter. Sylebra Capital Ltd now owns 3,743,778 shares of the companys stock worth $43,128,000 after buying an additional 420,649 shares during the period. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 19.8% in the first quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 1,586,390 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,152,000 after purchasing an additional 261,840 shares during the period. Boothbay Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. in the first quarter valued at $928,000. Portolan Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. in the first quarter valued at $746,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 41.9% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 358,846 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,389,000 after purchasing an additional 105,983 shares during the period. 21.84% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. Company Profile

(Get Rating)

MYT Netherlands Parent B.V., through its subsidiary, Mytheresa Group GmbH, operates a luxury e-commerce platform for fashion consumers in Germany, the United States, rest of Europe, and internationally. It offers womenswear, menswear, kids wear, and lifestyle products. The company sells clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, and fine jewelry through online and retail stores.

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Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Rating) had its price target upped by Bank of America from $85.00 to $87.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

ORA has been the subject of a number of other reports. UBS Group upgraded shares of Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $103.00 to $105.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Barclays started coverage on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Monday, May 22nd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $89.00 target price for the company. Roth Mkm reduced their target price on shares of Ormat Technologies from $104.00 to $93.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $91.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ormat Technologies presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $91.25.

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Ormat Technologies Stock Down 1.2 %

NYSE:ORA opened at $85.43 on Wednesday. Ormat Technologies has a 1-year low of $67.28 and a 1-year high of $101.81. The company has a 50-day moving average of $85.23 and a 200 day moving average of $86.89. The firm has a market cap of $5.10 billion, a PE ratio of 63.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.96.

Ormat Technologies Announces Dividend

Ormat Technologies ( NYSE:ORA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The energy company reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.02. Ormat Technologies had a net margin of 10.39% and a return on equity of 4.86%. The company had revenue of $185.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $212.86 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.35 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Ormat Technologies will post 1.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 23rd were issued a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 22nd. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.56%. Ormat Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.56%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ormat Technologies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ORA. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 30.0% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 533 shares of the energy companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Ormat Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Ormat Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ormat Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Agur Provident & Training Funds Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Ormat Technologies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.74% of the companys stock.

Ormat Technologies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity.

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Patten Group Inc. raised its position in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT  Get Rating) by 4.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,390 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the quarter. Patten Group Inc.s holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $1,130,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the first quarter worth approximately $555,000. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Lockheed Martin by 8.0% in the first quarter. Teamwork Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,089 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $515,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Orgel Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the first quarter worth approximately $277,000. Fulcrum Equity Management purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the first quarter worth approximately $211,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 18.6% during the 1st quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO now owns 1,072 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $507,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Lockheed Martin

In other news, EVP Stephanie C. Hill sold 2,391 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $490.84, for a total transaction of $1,173,598.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,186,547.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Director John Donovan purchased 506 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 19th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $495.17 per share, with a total value of $250,556.02. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,830 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,401,331.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephanie C. Hill sold 2,391 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $490.84, for a total transaction of $1,173,598.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at $6,186,547.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Lockheed Martin Stock Performance

Shares of LMT opened at $459.17 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $116.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.67. The companys fifty day moving average is $463.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $470.13. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1 year low of $373.67 and a 1 year high of $508.10.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The aerospace company reported $6.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.08 by $0.35. The company had revenue of $15.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.01 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.60% and a return on equity of 67.75%. Lockheed Martins revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.44 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a $3.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is currently 54.84%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on LMT. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of Lockheed Martin from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $513.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $478.00 to $496.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $546.00 to $579.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $422.00 to $419.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lockheed Martin has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $494.79.

Lockheed Martin Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space.

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Patton Fund Management Inc. purchased a new position in KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY  Get Rating) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 11,416 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $143,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in KEY. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its position in shares of KeyCorp by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 26,413 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $460,000 after purchasing an additional 540 shares during the last quarter. Glassman Wealth Services increased its holdings in KeyCorp by 35.4% in the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,103 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 550 shares during the period. Tyler Stone Wealth Management increased its holdings in KeyCorp by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 60,147 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,048,000 after buying an additional 550 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in KeyCorp by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 24,363 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $424,000 after buying an additional 584 shares during the period. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund increased its holdings in KeyCorp by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 132,557 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,309,000 after buying an additional 592 shares during the period. 82.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at KeyCorp

In other news, insider Amy G. Brady sold 12,388 shares of KeyCorp stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total transaction of $125,242.68. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 106,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,079,070.63. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Victor B. Alexander bought 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.83 per share, with a total value of $100,555.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 117,196 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,386,428.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Amy G. Brady sold 12,388 shares of KeyCorp stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total value of $125,242.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 106,733 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,079,070.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 85,700 shares of company stock worth $857,507 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KeyCorp Price Performance

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on KEY shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of KeyCorp from $16.00 to $14.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of KeyCorp from $24.00 to $15.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of KeyCorp in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. TheStreet cut shares of KeyCorp from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised shares of KeyCorp from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $20.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, KeyCorp currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.17.

KeyCorp stock opened at $9.93 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $10.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $14.58. KeyCorp has a 1 year low of $8.53 and a 1 year high of $20.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.86.

KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.44. The company had revenue of $1.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. KeyCorp had a return on equity of 15.63% and a net margin of 19.09%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.45 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that KeyCorp will post 1.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

KeyCorp Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a $0.205 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.26%. KeyCorps payout ratio is currently 46.33%.

KeyCorp Profile

(Get Rating)

KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, investment, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.

Further Reading

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Patton Fund Management Inc. lowered its position in Aon plc (NYSE:AON  Get Rating) by 40.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,840 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,951 shares during the quarter. Patton Fund Management Inc.s holdings in AON were worth $895,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its stake in AON by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,060 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $317,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC raised its stake in AON by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 290 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $78,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA raised its stake in AON by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA now owns 4,100 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Busey Wealth Management raised its stake in AON by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Busey Wealth Management now owns 3,503 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,051,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KCM Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in AON by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,315 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $695,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.12% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on AON. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on AON from $320.00 to $321.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on AON in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Citigroup lifted their price objective on AON from $340.00 to $344.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on AON from $320.00 to $322.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on AON from $313.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AON currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $319.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

AON Trading Down 0.5 %

In other news, President Eric Andersen sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.55, for a total transaction of $2,516,625.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 144,164 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,374,230.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . 1.15% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

AON stock opened at $329.38 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 182.36. Aon plc has a 12-month low of $246.79 and a 12-month high of $338.27. The stock has a market cap of $67.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.43, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.90. The businesss 50-day moving average is $323.16 and its 200 day moving average is $313.70.

AON (NYSE:AON  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported $5.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.32 by ($0.15). AON had a negative return on equity of 4,553.36% and a net margin of 20.63%. The firm had revenue of $3.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.83 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Aon plc will post 14.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AON Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a $0.615 dividend. This represents a $2.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. This is a boost from AONs previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. AONs payout ratio is presently 19.74%.

AON Profile

(Get Rating)

Aon Plc engages in the provision of risk, health, and wealth solutions. It operates through Global Professional Services Firm segment. The Global Professional Services Firm segment involves in the provides advice and solutions to clients focused on risk, health and wealth through four principal products and services.

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Independence Bank of Kentucky trimmed its holdings in shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Get Rating) by 2.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,916 shares of the retailers stock after selling 143 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentuckys holdings in Target were worth $814,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in shares of Target by 3,577.5% during the first quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 1,471 shares of the retailers stock worth $312,000 after buying an additional 1,431 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its stake in Target by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 3,045 shares of the retailers stock valued at $646,000 after buying an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Target by 131.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 702 shares of the retailers stock worth $149,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Target in the first quarter worth $208,000. Finally, Ergoteles LLC lifted its position in shares of Target by 191.5% during the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 11,794 shares of the retailers stock worth $2,503,000 after purchasing an additional 7,748 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.86% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Matthew A. Liegel sold 1,459 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.75, for a total transaction of $234,534.25. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,748 shares in the company, valued at $602,491. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.23% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Target Trading Down 2.9 %

NYSE:TGT opened at $133.81 on Friday. Target Co. has a 52 week low of $125.08 and a 52 week high of $183.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firms fifty day moving average is $149.65 and its 200-day moving average is $157.01. The firm has a market cap of $61.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.03.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 17th. The retailer reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $24.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.28 billion. Target had a return on equity of 24.49% and a net margin of 2.49%. The businesss revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.19 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Target Co. will post 8.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Target Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th will be given a dividend of $1.10 per share. This is an increase from Targets previous quarterly dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.29%. Targets dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 73.59%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on TGT. Roth Capital reissued a neutral rating on shares of Target in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Target from $185.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Target in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Target from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $182.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Citigroup cut shares of Target from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the company from $177.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, June 9th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $178.10.

Target Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Target Corp. engages in the operation and ownership of general merchandise stores. It offers food assortments including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items. The company was founded by George Draper Dayton in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

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The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,580,000 shares, an increase of 26.5% from the May 15th total of 5,990,000 shares. Approximately 1.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,710,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bank of New York Mellon

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Exos TFP Holdings LLC acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. MV Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 747 shares of the banks stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 207 shares during the period. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Sandy Spring Bank acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BK has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Citigroup raised their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $55.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $52.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $51.82.

Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance

NYSE BK traded down $0.22 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $44.65. The company had a trading volume of 12,631,959 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,464,218. The company has a market capitalization of $35.23 billion, a PE ratio of 14.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $42.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.69. Bank of New York Mellon has a twelve month low of $36.22 and a twelve month high of $52.26.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The bank reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.03. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.45% and a net margin of 11.98%. The company had revenue of $4.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.86 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Bank of New York Mellon will post 4.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.31%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 46.84%.

Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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When astronomical summer begins on Wednesday, a recurring image will pop up across the country and around the world. In addition, some landmarks around the United States will be illuminated with its colors  from Alabama to Massachusetts  to spread awareness of climate change.

With a pattern similar to a barcode, these stripes were created by Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist at the University of Reading in England. Originally, each stripe depicted the global average temperature each year since 1850 using data from the U.K. Meteorological Office. Each color of each stripe corresponds to a year when the temperature was above the long-term average (red) or below (blue).

In the past few years, several versions of the pattern have emerged. Data at national, state and local levels can be used to show how the temperature has changed at individual locations around the world  including in the oceans.

With few exceptions, the stripes show the gradual transition from blue to red, illustrating the dramatic warming over the past few decades. And while any individual year may be warmer or cooler than average, the warming of the last 40 years dominates the signal.

After the scientific community looked for multiple reasons for the warming  from solar output to local land use  the overwhelming evidence showed that the warming comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

Burning coal, oil and natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That gas, even in amounts that seem very small, helps keep the planet warmer. The impact is especially strong in areas that are cold to begin with and do not get a lot of sun in the winter  one of the reasons why the Arctic is warming about three times faster than the rest of the planet.

Evidence continues to mount. Global ocean temperatures had back-to-back record warm months in April and May. North and South America each just had their warmest May on record. The last seven years haven been the seven warmest in the 174-year global record. And 2023 is on pace to finish in the top five.

Since the late 19th century, the planet has warmed about 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and current global energy and emissions policies are on track for 5.5 degrees of warming by 2100. However, precisely how much additional warming will depend on how closely the actual emissions in the coming decades mirror those policies.

Every tenth of a degree matters in the long-term, as it raises the risk for longer and stronger heatwaves, more intense rainfall and more coastal flooding. Reliable agricultural zones will continue to shift, fishing areas will become less dependable as their populations relocate, and pollen seasons will become longer with less time of the year below freezing.

However, there are some encouraging signs. Coal, which is one of the dirtiest of the fossil fuels, is being phased out as the cost of natural gas has fallen. As a result, many states have seen their emissions take on a slow decline in the last 15 years.

Solar and wind energy is beginning to scale upward. China, India and the U.S. are all expected to triple their solar energy capacity over the next five years, and wind energy now generates about 10 percent of all utility-scale electricity generation in the United States.

But more work will need to be done; the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen 33 percent since 1958, and it continues to climb. As long as that number continues to go up, expect the stripes to show up every year around this time, and probably even more so in the near future.

And those new stripes added to the image will be a deep red for years to come.
Tradewinds LLC. bought a new stake in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 6,533 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $455,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. grew its stake in shares of Southern by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. now owns 4,542 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the period. Trinity Legacy Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Southern by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Trinity Legacy Partners LLC now owns 50,870 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,540,000 after buying an additional 1,038 shares during the period. Woodstock Corp grew its stake in shares of Southern by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 15,863 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,104,000 after buying an additional 605 shares during the period. Brendel Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Southern in the 1st quarter valued at about $216,000. Finally, Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of Southern by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 18,143 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,262,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the period. 61.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Southern Price Performance

Southern stock opened at $71.76 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $71.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The Southern Company has a 52 week low of $58.85 and a 52 week high of $80.57. The stock has a market cap of $78.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.15, a P/E/G ratio of 4.98 and a beta of 0.51.

Southern Increases Dividend

Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 earnings per share. Southerns revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were paid a $0.70 dividend. This is an increase from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.90%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is presently 90.32%.

Insider Activity at Southern

In related news, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.05, for a total value of $700,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 28,691 shares in the company, valued at $2,009,804.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Southern news, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.05, for a total transaction of $700,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,691 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,009,804.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 47,326 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.78, for a total transaction of $3,302,408.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 118,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,280,025.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 205,678 shares of company stock worth $14,888,271. Insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Southern in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $80.00 price target on the stock. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Southern has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $74.07.

Southern Profile

(Get Rating)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

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Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri, including the following areas, in southern Illinois, Alexander, Franklin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry IL, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson. In western Kentucky, Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Todd and Trigg. In southeast Missouri, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry MO and Scott. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - While rainfall from heavy rain and storms late tonight through Thursday morning will be around an inch with locally higher amounts, locations which experienced torrential rainfall this week have ground conditions susceptible to additional flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding, and especially those who experienced flooding Tuesday night into Wednesday, should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin, internationally renowned for exposing corruption and human rights violations, was sentenced last Wednesday to six years in prison and a US$38,000 penalty for allegedly laundering money.

Giammattei welcomes US Vice President Kamala Harris, June 7, 2021 [Photo: @GuatemalaGob]

The indictment marks the culmination of a politically motivated campaign by the far-right government of President Alejandro Giammattei against Zamora and the newspaper he founded and led, elPeriodico, which was forced to permanently shut down last month.

This witch-hunt and the complicit silence by US imperialism represent a stark warning. Four decades after the brutal US-backed junta that killed over 200,000 people, the Guatemalan ruling elite is dispensing with its democratic trappings and turning again to the methods of dictatorship and fascism.

Zamora was jailed in July 2022, only five days after elPeriodico published its latest corruption allegations against Giammattei. The police raided the headquarters of what was the main investigative newspaper in the country, temporarily detained numerous other employees and froze its bank accounts.

Zamoras defense insisted that the $40,000 allegedly laundered were used for paying salaries and were donated by a businessperson who did not want to be openly associated with the paper for fear of reprisals.

The journalist received a show trial. No concrete evidence was presented against him, and Zamora was denied the right to present his own evidence and witnesses. He also had to switch lawyers eight times, with four being prosecuted themselves for their participation in the case and others facing various difficulties. His final lawyer was given just 12 hours before the process began.

His lawyers were also threatened by the fascist Foundation against Terrorism, which was created in 2013 to defend military officials accused of human rights abuses. Ironically, one of the groups first actions was to publish ads in elPeriodico protesting the conviction against the military dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt (1982-83) for carrying out a genocide against Mayans. Now it has filed dozens of lawsuits against those investigating corruption cases.

On Wednesday, Zamora declared, We live in a dictatorship. A veiled, multi-party, tyrannical dictatorship. He also explained to reporters: I have a son in exile with an arrest warrant and, luckily, my wife left the country last night because I fear that theyll capture her.

His son described to BBC the long history of reprisals for Zamoras work, including an attempted murder with grenades in 1996, a raid by armed gangsters who kept the family hostage for hours while mock executing Zamora in 2003, a kidnapping in 2008, a beating in 2013, and numerous death threats.

Highlighting the vindictive character of the case, prosecutors were demanding a 40-year sentence over blackmail and influence peddling charges, which were rejected by the court.

Several prominent journalists have faced similar trumped-up charges of money laundering and criminal association, as well as raids and harassment by the police and the military under Giammattei, and at least half-a-dozen have been compelled to leave the country.

These attacks against the press are part of a broader crackdown against journalists, judges and prosecutors in charge of investigating vast networks of corruption of politicians and leading businesspeople. These cases were launched under the aegis, at least initially, of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

At least two dozen judges and prosecutors have been compelled to leave the countrymost prominently Miguel Angel Galvez, who sent Rios Montt to trial for genocide, sentenced former President Otto Perez Molina for corruption and was handling a case against military officials for torturing and massacring 175 left-wing professionals and students. Galvez has stressed that threats against him come from the military leadership, and that it is again taking over each government department as in the 1980s.

The CICIG, several officials and news publications were being sponsored by the US government, which was using select corruption cases as one of its weapons to keep the local bourgeoisie and state aligned with US interests. The case against Otto Perez Molina triggered mass protests, which were ultimately channeled behind support for the CICIG.

However, since the actor-turned-President Jimmy Morales dissolved the CICIG in 2019 to halt investigations against him, the tables turned, and the prosecutors became the persecuted. The move was backed by the Trump administration, after the US Congress had virtually halted funding for the anti-corruption campaign.

Now, as US imperialism has done countless times, the Biden administration has effectively endorsed the repression of the forces it was sponsoring. The White House has limited its response to Giammatteis crackdown to placing the General Prosecutor Maria Consuelo Porras, the leader of the Foundation against Terrorism, Ricardo Mendez Ruiz and several other officials on a list of Corrupt and Undemocratic Actors.

The US government has continued handing millions in military aid to Guatemala and working closely with the Guatemalan security forces.

In a recent interview with El Faro, the now exiled judge Galvez explained that meetings with US officials in Washington led him to conclude that the United States will not dare to take tougher action [against Giammattei]. He added: The US is running out of allies in Central America and doesnt want to lose Guatemala there is the issue of China and Russia. The stage is complex, and they fear that, if they take a firmer decision, Guatemala will lean on someone else.

The regional bourgeoisies have tried use their current or potential ties with China, as well as Washingtons demands to detain migrants traveling north, to negotiate a greater share of the profits from the exploitation of local workers and natural resources for themselves. But any tussle with imperialism rests on the ability of the weak ruling elites to suppress the class struggle amid rampant inequality and poverty.

Since 2018, there have been repeated waves of mass protests and general strikes across Latin America and internationally that represent the greatest threat to both US imperialism and its local client elites. In November 2020, Giammattei responded with police-state repression to major protests against social austerity, which were triggered by the lack of anti-COVID protections and the indifferent response to those losing their livelihoods to the pandemic, droughts and tropical storms and hurricanes, whose intensity and frequency have increased as a result of climate change.

Giammattei then agreed to the demands by the Trump and Biden administrations to deploy thousands of troops along its borders to detain and return migrants. In return, the Biden administration has repeatedly embraced the Giammattei administration.

Now, the presidential elections, which will take place next Sunday, have seen four candidates disqualified, including the right-wing TikToker Carlos Pineda, who was leading the polls. The top candidates have all based their campaigns on promises of iron-fist tactics against gangs, including building up the security forces and building mega-prisons, largely imitating El Salvadors authoritarian President Nayib Bukele.

Most strikingly, the top candidate for the traditional right-wing parties will be Zury Rios, the daughter of fascist military dictator Efrain Rios Montt. She has argued that The military had every right to execute the necessary actions under her father and took care of protecting the state. She has also expressed admiration for Bukele, who has imprisoned more than 1 percent of the population and established police-state rule across El Salvador.

Particularly since the dissolution of the USSR, US imperialism has been relying on military force, including endless wars and furthering its historic ties to the local military castes, to counter the accelerating erosion of its economic position vis-a-vis China.

If Washington has decided to give a green light to the Guatemalan ruling elites attacks on journalists, judges and prosecutors, it is because it supports a turn to dictatorship and placing military officials trained and armed by the United States in control of the government, as it has done repeatedly in Guatemala and across Latin America throughout the last century, in pursuit of regional hegemony.
An attempt by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to smear the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) on its coverage of the Royal Mail dispute and undermine its standing among postal workers has failed miserably.

After the CWU Postal Executive twice suspended the ballot on its sellout deal with Royal Mail to prevent an anticipated rejection by the membership, they met with a tidal wave of criticism and protest. On Friday general secretary Dave Ward and his deputy Andy Furey issued yet another joint statement with Royal Mail announcing that a ballot would finally take place.

The CWU statement further claims that closed door talks with Royal Mail over the past fortnight had secured an agreement with management, which would review revisions (changing working practices to cut costs and increase productivity). This was a feeble attempt to spike opposition to its attempted sellout.

Underneath the CWU announcement on its Twitter page, a statement by the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) published on the World Socialist Web Site was posted that refuted the unions earlier propaganda. It quoted Royal Mail Chief Operating Officer Grant McPherson stating that the company had undertaken the biggest revision in the history of this business, combined with demands for yet more efficiency. He made these remarks at a Village Hall session in London alongside managers and CWU officials.

The CWUs response to this posting was vitriolic.

This forthcoming vote is for CWU members not for crackpot political organisations that arent even based in the UK. Please dont @us with rubbish from that website. We cant wait to engage with our members  whatever their views.

The nationalist screed and the description of the PWRFC and the WSWS as crackpots backfired, as postal workers directed their anger to the CWU.

You seem to be explaining yourself, youd have to be a crackpot to sign our rights away, shameful, the big No is coming I hope you have been polishing plan B

Only crackpots on here are running the union on behalf of RM instead of trying looking after the members. Like Ive always said, management in drag. Maybe you could get a slot on late night channel 4.

You dont engage with members. Anyone showing a different viewpoint is immediately called out for being a bot or part of some crackpot political organisation. Some humility might be nice.

However most of what is in that link is pretty much spot on. You say you want to engage with your members but every time any members asks an awkward question or puts a view that doesnt fit with your agenda you hide messages or block them etc or resort to insults as you have here.

It seems lost on them that WE are the union, and that they are only representing us and are being paid by us the members. I fear this could be the end of this union due to these overpaid senior Reps that are so out of touch with us plebs living on a pittance. Time for change.

What about fleet @DaveWardGS I am not a crackpot. Just a mechanic who you ignore.

Crackpot: Terry Pullinger attending AGMs telling workers that final salary pensions are a thing of the past.

Crackpot? Typically dismissive and arrogant there, unfortunately Im no longer surprised by this smug attitude.

The only crackpots I see are these clowns. Talking down to us, dismissing us or ignoring us. They genuinely think theyre better than us. Without OUR subs, they should think of that before responding next time.

You are really clueless as to whats going on arent ya!! We have gone from 85 staff to 64 in our office in the last 12 months, mainly due to this shit! Our office will have less than 50 before Halloween! Ur both crippling the job and the workforce! Is that what u want maybe!

This is the second attack by the CWU on the PWRFC and WSWS on its Twitter page. Its first attempt at red baiting came in the wake of announcing the joint statement on a negotiators agreement with Royal Mail on April 15, in its first attempt to end the national dispute by 115,000 postal workers. That statements claim that Ward and Furey had won a ground breaking agreement was immediately challenged by postal workers, including by one who had posted a screenshot of an April 12 article from the WSWS, Growing support for UK Postal Workers Rank and File Committee under a caption Is it time we started looking at alternatives?

The CWU launched a diatribe describing the WSWS as a website run by absolute cranks who have zero interest in the welfare of postal workers. This earlier attack also backfiredspectacularly. Postal workers pointed out that the CWU leaders had crossed all the red lines in the dispute, accepting a de facto pay cut and ripping up of terms and conditions while they had not seen a penny of strike pay for the 18 days of action.

Two months later the CWU is back to its old tricks, attacking the PWRFC and the WSWS to silence opposition and ram through a betrayal. The CWU bureaucracy fears the emergence of rank-and-file opposition like the plague, especially any challenge to its nationalist and pro-company outlook rooted in its privileged status as an industrial police force to suppress the class struggle.

Workers who want to fight, on the other hand, are beginning to base their opinion of who represents them on an objective assessment of their record. And the conclusion of many is that Ward, Furey and the CWU bureaucracy are stooges of management and that the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee and the WSWS tell the truth and advance an alternative perspective based on a defence of their independent class interests.
Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.

Walt Disney famously said those words many decades ago.

As I found myself in the Magic Kingdom last month, waiting in line in the rain to ride Tron Lightcycle Run (my teenagers said it was definitely worth the wait), this quote dawned on me for all the change that occurred, is occurring, and most certainly will continue to occur within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Change isnt bad. Its frustrating; its an adjustment; and, yes, its sometimes inconvenient. But the five changes Im going to share with you today are for the better. Theyre improvements and adaptations and are integral to offering the best health care to veterans:

1. Overnight fasting is no longer required for most blood testing at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics. Most routine blood tests, including those for managing high cholesterol and diabetes, no longer require overnight fasting for the results to be accurate.

VA medical centers will implement this new policy on their timetables; however, all clinics in the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System have already made the shift. Some laboratory testing situations still require overnight fasting, such as diagnosing diabetes mellitus or uncommonly ordered clinical tests, and veterans are always encouraged to speak with their health care provider if they have questions.

2. On June 5, VA announced the appointment of Sunaina Kumar-Giebel as director of the VA Rocky Mountain Network. Kumar-Giebel will oversee delivery of health care services to more than 1 million eligible veterans, an operating budget of more than $5 billion, and leadership of 20,000 employees.

The VA Rocky Mountain Network serves as the operational headquarters over eight health care systems in our region, three of which serve all Colorado veterans: VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, VA Western Colorado Health Care System (based in Grand Junction) and Cheyenne VA Health Care System (based in Wyoming and serves veterans in northeast Colorado).

3. Do you file travel pay claims for VA health care? On June 9, VA returned to pre-COVID Beneficiary Travel Self Service System standards for filing deadlines. This means that claims for beneficiary travel reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of the date of the appointment; otherwise, VA will deny the claim.

Veterans are asked to please remember that proof of attendance is required for community care claims. This sometimes occurs when non-VA care providers do not return medical records in a timely fashion, so please ask the provider to do so without delay.

For more info, please contact the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Beneficiary Travel Department at 720-857-5421.

4. The Million Veteran Program is close to enrolling 1 million veterans, as the name suggests. The program is VAs largest research effort to improve health care for veterans and one of the worlds largest research programs on genes and health. The goal is to one day give veterans specialized care based on their genes, lifestyle, military experiences and exposures. Zaneta Adams is one of nearly 100,000 female veterans enrolled. Check out her powerful testimony at https://youtu.be/o5aVmJBntDQ.

Veterans can join me and participate by enrolling online at www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075. Theyre less than 50,000 veterans away from the historic million veteran milestone!

5. Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act filing deadline is nearing. I know Ive addressed this before (Behind Friendly Lines, November), but it bears repeating. Veterans who apply for PACT Act-related benefits before Aug. 10, could have benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022, the day the bill was signed.

If you have yet to file a claim for PACT Act benefits, the El Paso County Veterans Service Office and VA will host a PACT Act Stand Down Aug. 7-9 (just before the deadline ends). Visit https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/56105/ for more information. Cant make the event? You can also file a claim online directly with VA by visiting www.va.gov.

Let me break this down for you in dollars and cents, courtesy of Dustin Senger, deputy public affairs officer at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. If a veteran with a spouse and two children receives a 60% rating for a service-connected condition, one year of backdated benefits may total almost $20,000. That lump-sum payment could help the veteran buy a first home, pay off accumulated debt, etc.

There you have it: five updates about veteran health care you need to know. I started with a Walt Disney quote, and Ill end with one from his most popular character, Mickey Mouse: See ya real soon! (as in, next month).

Thanks for allowing me to walk alongside you behind friendly lines.

Victory!
Going her own way: Vasan says that like any immigrant parents, hers were a little bit concerned about her choice to go into acting (Michael Shelford)

Anjana Vasan likes surprises. The Olivier-winning actor is drawn to characters who do the things you least expect. In the Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts, she played a nerd who forms a punk band with a group of Muslim women. To land the part, she bit the head off a flower in the audition  and ended up with a Bafta nomination. In A Streetcar Named Desire, which recently finished its West End transfer, she starred as Stella  a character often perceived as passive and feeble but who actually holds considerable power and sway over her sister and husband. And now, in Black Mirror, she portrays a meek shoe shop assistant who starts bludgeoning people to death with bricks and hammers.

There is a pattern, the 36-year-old says, looking quite pleased at the connection. They are characters where you maybe underestimate what theyre capable of, or theres something that doesnt match who they are. Shes speaking over video call from her north London home; a black tail belonging to her cat, Pirate, flicks near the corner of the screen. Vasan pauses as she thinks about why she chooses these roles. I am someone who people have maybe underestimated, she says. Being someone whos quite small, you know, and brown and foreign  in many situations I have felt that feeling of being underestimated. And I do take some relish in proving people wrong.

Initially, Vasan thought it was a mistake when she was asked to record a self-tape for the new Black Mirror episode, Demon 79. I had a small little part in [season threes] Nosedive years ago, so I thought Id already had my Black Mirror moment, she says. I almost didnt do the self-tape. I just had it in my head that I wasnt going to get it, or that if they found out I was in one episode already they probably wouldnt cast me. But they did, in the role of a young Indian woman called Nida who works in a shoe shop in the north of England. Her quiet life becomes quite the racket when Paapa Essiedu pops up as a demon in the body of a cockney disco diva, telling her she must make three human sacrifices in the next three days or the apocalypse will come.

Creator Charlie Brooker is showing his funny bones with this story, and rather than being set in a dystopian future, the action takes place in 1979, against a backdrop of bad wallpaper and the rise of nationalism. Its also very analogue for a Black Mirror episode  yes, theres a talisman that beckons devil-like creatures to Earth, but there arent any robotic dogs or memory microchips. Vasan, despite wearing a drab dressing gown and scuffed slippers throughout, is captivating as a young woman simmering with repressed rage.

One of the objects of her wrath is Michael Smart. Hes a local Tory politician, played with a shovelful of smarm by David Shields, who represents the latent racism that lurks in some corners of right-wing politics. Hes just as xenophobic as the National Front thugs who stalked the streets with STOP IMMIGRATION signs at the time, but he wears a tailored suit. When he says what he says, I think hes just a different face, a more palatable face, a more charismatic face, says Vasan. He may not say those things in capital letters, but it doesnt mean that he doesnt believe in the same things.

Nida encounters relentless microaggressions from her colleagues at the shoe store. One girl wrinkles her nose in disgust when Nida eats a biryani on her break in the stockroom. And shes repeatedly referred to as your sort. Vasan, who was born in Chennai, India, and grew up in Singapore from the age of four, has experienced similar prejudice herself. Im an immigrant, like, twice over, she says. I know what it feels like to be the outsider person in the situation. When I was young, people would go, Oh, your hair smells like curry. You dont really realise how horrible that is until a bit later on. You sort of assume that youre the one whos different, so of course theyll comment on you. Youre the one whos not from here. If someone said that to me now, I would have something to say  I dont know that my younger self would. But we now seem to have a better vocabulary for those things, we have words like microaggressions. Even 10 years ago, and certainly in 1979, you didnt have that.

In Black Mirror, Nidas boss asks her to bring in something normal for lunch, so she promises him shell take a cheese sandwich next time. When you think about that first generation, second generation of people who moved from another place to England, they just take it on the chin because they almost expect it, says Vasan. Nida is a character who wakes up, goes to work; shes just trying to get by. She doesnt have any huge ambitions in life, shes literally trying to survive. For someone like her to work as a sales assistant in a department store is actually kind of a big deal, in a very tiny town in the north of England. Sometimes shes just trying to blend into the background  literally, in her all-brown outfit. She looks exactly the same as the department store.

Vasan, on the other hand, hasnt been afraid to stand out. None of her relatives work in the performing arts (the family moved to Singapore for her fathers job in finance), and she says that like any immigrant parents, hers were a little bit concerned about her choice to go into acting. They have nevertheless always cheered me on from the sidelines, she says. Vasan did theatre studies at the National University of Singapore, then moved to Cardiff to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, without ever having set foot in the UK before. I escaped some of the drama school horror stories Ive heard from other people, she says, laughing. No one is trying to break you down when youre just there for a year.

Vasans Nida being terrorised in Black Mirror (Nick Wall/Netflix)

After she left the Royal Welsh, Vasan moved to London and had her first meeting with a theatre casting director. They were being really lovely and very nice to me, but then at some point they just stopped me and went, How do you speak English so well? I just went, What? In this day and age, that question just seems so... she trails off, shaking her head. That wasnt someone trying to offend or upset me, it was just an assumption about me because Im not from here... they just couldnt get past that difference.

Vasan very much considered herself a theatre actor, and the subsequent years saw her star in plays from Rebecca Frecknalls acclaimed revival of Tennessee Williamss Summer and Smoke to playing Nora in an adaptation of Ibsens A Dolls House that moved the action to colonial India. She was surprised when she started getting TV roles too  shes played an abortion protestor in Sex Education and an assassin in Killing Eve. And then came Stella, the role that won Vasan the Olivier. Frecknalls Streetcar revival, also starring Paul Mescal, was one of this years hot tickets. In a four-star review for The Independent, Jessie Thompson wrote that Vasans reading of Stella was smart  living for the electricity between her and Stanley but increasingly wary of when the fuse might blow.

But before the first run at the Almeida even began, the London theatre publicly apologised for failing to include an image of Vasan, and also misspelling her name, in a Facebook advert for the show. Vasan remembers the fallout vividly. When that happened, within 24 hours, I was getting lots of messages about it, she says. And then it just escalated and a lot of people were very upset and angry on my behalf. I was disappointed and I spoke to the Almeida, and they were very transparent about it and dealt with it. She pauses. Sighs. Heres what I feel. I feel like that sort of thing becomes very defining, because it blew up in a way that meant I knew that one day someone would ask me about it in an interview like this. For me, because we hadnt even started the job yet, thats not what I wanted. I didnt want to be defined by that failing on their part. Thats what was upsetting about it, it was feeling like, I want to be known for playing Stella in this production. I dont want to be known for this incident. Its a distraction from the work. And when these things happen, people start to chime in on whether Stella should have been included or not included, like, Is she important enough? But theyre not useful conversations.

Paul Mescal and Vasan in A Streetcar Named Desire (Marc Brenner)

At the time, Vasan tweeted to thank those who had voiced their support, saying: Its tiring when despite our work and achievements, a simple thing like being credited properly is still not a given. I didnt want to tweet about anything, she says now, but I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who wanted to reach out to me. These oversights, yes, they can be an honest mistake, but they tend to always happen to certain types of people, and I didnt want to dismiss how people reacted to it. But Im happy to say that my experience of the play has not been that little moment. I hated that happening because I knew that at some point it was going to come up again in conversation... but people of colour, we dont want to be defined by these incidents and these events, we want to be defined by the work that we do.

After that rocky start, the shows first run at the Almeida was fraught. Lydia Wilson, who was meant to play Blanche, had to drop out due to health reasons. Vasan, meanwhile, lost her voice before press night and had to miss a show. She says she was mostly ill for the rest of that run. I felt genuinely quite wiped out by it all at the very end, she says. At the West End, it was nice to be able to just do the show, not under crisis all the time. It all paid off  but she was knackered. In her acceptance speech at the Oliviers, she was so overwhelmed she told the crowd: Im going to find a corner and have a lie-down and a cry.

Up next, Vasan is starring alongside Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley in Wicked Little Letters. The comedy film is based on the true story of a group of women investigating a strange case, namely who is sending the 1920s residents of Littlehampton scandalous and obscene correspondence. Vasan plays a cop whos trying to solve the mystery. "A woman police officer was a very new concept in England at the time," she says, a hint of pride in her voice. And there she goes, surprising us again in a role that breaks the mould.

Black Mirror season six is out now on Netflix
The post Chicago Man Found Dead After Attending King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Concert appeared first on Consequence.

Chicago police recovered the body of a 26-year-old man who was reported missing shortly after attending a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard concert at The Salt Shed earlier this week.

Noah Enos was reported missing after attending the June 11th concert with a coworker. According to NBC Chicago, Enos sent texts to his girlfriend until about 9:00 p.m., and his phone went dead about an hour later. The concert ended at around 10:00 p.m., which is when his coworker said the two got separated.

They did review some of the footage and they saw him and his coworker walking around the venue at about 9:30 p.m., Enos girlfriend, Nicole Wijs, said. They said the show ended at 10 p.m. so theres a 30 minute gap that theyre looking into to see maybe where he would have gone into the venue.

On Saturday, police recovered Enos body from the Chicago River. The cause of death is under investigation.

Chicago Man Found Dead After Attending King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Concert

Carys Anderson

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Chuck Todd tried  and failed  to corner former vice president Mike Pence into commenting on Donald Trumps ongoing legal troubles on Sunday. Sitting with Todd on Meet the Press, Pence refused to directly confront the former presidents federal indictment out of Florida over his mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Even in the midst of this tumultuous week, where, what was truly a sad day for the country, that we saw a former president of the United States standing in a courtroom subject to a criminal indictment, I have to tell you that, as I continued to travel, people were still talking to me about the issues that were facing in this country, the struggles theyre facing in this economy, the crisis at our border, and the fact that the worlds becoming more dangerous by the day, Pence told Todd during the pre-recorded interview. So Im going to stay very focused there.

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Todd interjected to say that while he understood Pences stance, he believed the indictment the first of its kind to face a former president  deserves a hard line response.

Look, youve got to beat him, so please address it, Todd said.

Pence continued to dodge.

I can address that issue, Pence responded while circling around an answer to whether or not Trump should be convicted if the allegations in the 37 counts are true. He maintained that no ones above the law and that every American is entitled to a presumption of innocence, and said that the allegations detailed in the indictment are serious and that he could not defend what was alleged.

But the former president deserves his day in court, Pence continued. He deserves the opportunity to make his defense in a court of law. And so I want to  I want to reserve judgment about this until hes had an opportunity to take his case into the courtroom and take his case to the American people.

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Todd continued to prod Pence for a solid answer, next asking the 2024 presidential hopeful if he would pardon Trump should the former president be convicted and if Pence was voted into the White House.

Well, I just think the question is premature, Pence responded. I mean, honestly, Chuck, Ive pardoned people who were found guilty of a crime when I was governor of Indiana.

Todd shot back, What was your bar for a pardon?

Pence again refused to take a hard stance on what he would do in that hypothetical, instead choosing to puzzle over why other Republicans eying the GOP nomination assume Trump will be found guilty.

All we know is what the president has been accused of in the indictment, Pence said. We dont know what his defense is. We dont know if this will even go to trial. It could be subject to a motion to dismiss. We dont know what the verdict will be of the jury.

In a last ditch effort, Todd asked Pence to consider if he would pardon Trump if he were in President Bidens shoes  which Pence dodged once again.

I just think this whole matter is incredibly divisive for the country, Pence said. I just think at the end of the day, it is saddening to me that we are now in this moment.

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Jack Ma founded Alibaba. Yuya Shino/Reuters

Jack Ma resurfaced at a math competition sponsored by Alibaba, Bloomberg reported.

He withdrew from public life in 2020 after criticizing Chinese regulators, scuppering Alibaba's IPO.

Ma taught his first class at the University of Tokyo last week, per the South China Morning Post.

Jack Ma has popped up at an Alibaba event, just a few days after its president described him as "alive" and "happy."

Bloomberg first reported that Ma attended the final of the Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition on Saturday in Hangzhou, the same city as Alibaba's headquarters, citing an online post from the Damo Academy.

Ma disappeared from public life in 2020 after he criticised Chinese regulators for scuppering Alibaba's float plans. Since then his sightings in public have been rare, sparking rumors about his wellbeing.

In January, Ma appeared to resurface in Thailand when he was pictured at a Bangkok restaurant. Social media posts showed he returned to Beijing in March to visit a private school he founded.

Ma has now taken up a teaching role at the University of Tokyo, focusing on sustainable agriculture and food production. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported he took his first class on June 12 at the institution.

Students "engaged in a meaningful discussion with Professor Ma," according to a statement reported by the newspaper.

On Thursday Alibaba president Michael Evans suggested Ma was enjoying his change of lifestyle, CNBC reported.

"Well, first of all, Jack is alive. He's well, he's happy. He's creative. He's thinking. He's teaching at a university in Tokyo, spending more time in China," he said, per CNBC.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hood

RALEIGH  North Carolinas own Patrick McHenry, who represents our 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, helped negotiate the debt-ceiling compromise that President Joe Biden signed on June 3. Not surprisingly, McHenry described it as a major accomplishment. Huge relief to actually see a bipartisan bill make its way through the House and Senate and get a presidential signature, said McHenry, a key ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and honored to be a part, even a small part of this big undertaking in divided government.

North Carolinas own Dan Bishop, who represents the neighboring 8th District, is a frequent critic of the speaker and voted against the deal. Not surprisingly, Bishop described it as a disaster and a huge loss for the American people. McCarthy got rolled, he tweeted.

As for the rest of the states congressional delegation, all the other House members voted in favor of the deal except 2nd District Democrat Deborah Ross, who was absent. Sen. Thom Tillis also said yes. Sen. Ted Budd said no.

Im not going to argue that the debt-ceiling bill was unimportant. And if Id been in Congress, Id have voted for it, given that it will save taxpayers a bit of money and somewhat strengthen work requirements for public assistance. But I can also understand the unenthusiastic response of fiscal conservatives, both inside and outside government. Our federal budget is massively out of balance. Bringing it into balance at some point in the not-too-distant future  which I view as both an economic necessity and a moral imperative  will not happen through such low-stakes negotiations.

Of the $6.3 trillion the federal government is spending this year, current revenue will fund only $4.9 trillion. Washington is borrowing the remainder, $1.4 trillion. What would be necessary to close such a deficit? Well, Congress and the administration could attempt to close the gap with more revenue. But if you think a 29% increase in the federal tax burden wouldnt jolt our economy into a deep recession  and motivate well-lawyered individuals and companies to game the system  you live in fantasyland.

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On the other side of the ledger, that $6.3 trillion in expenditures consist of $4.6 trillion for mandatory items (debt service plus Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other welfare programs) and $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. In theory, we could balance the budget by whacking the latter category by 82%. Keep in mind, though, that this category includes national defense, education, energy, transportation, and a host of other popular  and in some cases essential  programs.

Cutting discretionary spending will be necessary, yes. Heck, Im conservative as they come, but I think additional revenue will be necessary, too, as part of a lasting and politically salable solution (though Id opt for selling federal assets and closing loopholes over raising tax rates).

The inescapable math of the problem, however, is that unless our elected officials are willing to reform the entitlements that comprise most of the federal budget, their claim to care about federal debt shouldnt be taken seriously. Indeed, the math gets even more inescapable when you consider the fact that entitlements will make up a larger share of federal spending in the future than they do today. Americas population is aging. The ratio of retirees to workers is growing.

We need to reduce Social Security benefits for retirees with above-average incomes. We need to do the same for Medicare coverage, while also reforming the way both Medicare and Medicaid compensate providers for medical services. We need to encourage Americans to save more for their own post-retirement needs, including their long-term care, and to rely more on their own children and grandchildren rather than expecting other peoples children and grandchildren to close the gap.

We should have initiated such entitlement reforms decades ago. That would have made them easier to adjust to. Every year we delay the inevitable, the transition gets harder. Its time for those in positions of leadership to earn that label.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: John Hood column: North Carolina lawmakers split on debt deal
Mark Cuban slammed Joe Rogan Sunday for making what he viewed to be harmful statements against the medical and pharmaceutical industries while propping up anti-vaccination rhetoric from the likes of 2024 presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Way to talk in generalities, Joe, Cuban, who owns Cost Plus Drugs, wrote in a tweet, quote-tweeting Rogans own post that said the medical industry is made up of heartless monsters.

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Not saying there arent a lot of fked up things about pharma, Cuban continued, but to ignore that the same industry has saved who knows how many lives is bullst and you know it. Its also disrespectful to all the doctors, researchers and medical professionals that dedicate their lives to saving lives.

The social media beef stemmed from Rogans recent podcast with Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaxxer, that spotlighted misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. That interview led to vaccine researcher Peter Hotez calling it out as nonsense, which then led Rogan to challenging Hotez to debate the topic on his podcast with no time limit in exchange for $100,000 donated to a charity of his choice. In his escalating attacks, the podcast host condemned the medical industry as heartless monsters  [who] look[ed] at human beings as an opportunity to generate insane wealth regardless of the tragic consequences.

In addition to that tweet, Cuban addressed Rogans incessant attacks on Hotez, which was only intensified when Twitter owner Elon Musk got involved by saying Hotez was afraid of a public debate, because he knows hes wrong.

Hes afraid of a public debate, because he knows hes wrong  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2023

Trying to bully Dr. Hotez is ridiculous, Cuban continued. You have producers that will prepare you and you get to control the conversation. Kennedy also has a staff ready to prepare him, and these topics are what he talks about in every speech. You both do this on a daily basis [while] Dr. Hotez works every day to try to find ways to help people.

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Cuban then slammed Rogan and Musk for contributing to the worsening climate on mainstream social media, despite their claims of being the opposite.

Joe, you and Elon Musks Twitter are the mainstream online media and your platforms have become everything supposedly wrong with MSM. You are driven by self interest, just like the MSM always has been accused of, Cuban wrote. You both have earned that right. You busted your asses to be great at what you do and earned all you have accomplished. But dont lie to yourselves and all of us and tell us you are different. You arent.

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The South Carolina Republican Party voted unanimously on Saturday to hold their 2024 GOP presidential primary on February 24 next year, sources close to the process told ABC News.

The potential move would lengthen the time candidates have to focus on campaigning across the pivotal Palmetto State compared to the 2016 GOP election cycle.

The designation, if approved by the Republican National Committee, would upend the usual cadence of the Republican nominating calendar by placing South Carolina after Nevada for the first time in cycles. It would also make South Carolina Republicans vote 18 days after Nevada's scheduled primary, putting the first-in-the-South presidential primary state front and center in the race for more than two full weeks.

In 2016, South Carolina's Republican primary came three days before Nevada held its caucuses-- when campaigns were pinballing between the two early states in an effort to sway each electorate.

PHOTO: Florida Governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign stop at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 2, 2023. (Photo by LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images) (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: How looming 'proxy war' in 2024 Republican primaries could define key races nationwide

A February 24 primary next year would give candidates far more time than in previous cycles to concentrate on winning South Carolina.

"This gives South Carolina the most exposure to candidates to come campaign in our state," a source close to the process told ABC News.

The proposal earned applause from at least one presidential campaign: that of Ron DeSantis, whose team is bullish on the Florida governor's chances in South Carolina.

"This could not have shaken out any better for us. We were happy to support this decision and look forward to competing to win in all four early states," Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for the DeSantis campaign, told ABC News in a statement.

"Governor DeSantis has the strongest political operation and footprint of any of the announced candidates, including Biden," he added.

Chris Murphy, a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives who is involved in the DeSantis campaign's operations in the state, told ABC News that the governor's past military service and his wife's ties to the state  she graduated from the College of Charleston and her parents live in Aiken  should attract South Carolina Republican voters.

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"I think he's going to win, just based on everything I'm seeing on the ground," he said.

MORE: Democrats approve new primary calendar for 2024

A spokesman for former President Donald Trumps campaign did not comment directly on the South Carolina GOP vote when reached by ABC News but accused DeSantis of attempting to claim any victory he can, even if its completely detached from reality.

Representatives for multiple other presidential campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The proposed date would set South Carolina behind Nevada in the GOP nominating calendar for the first time since 2008, when South Carolina voted on Jan. 19, the same day Nevada held its caucus. In 2016, the Republican primary date was Feb. 20, which was three days ahead of Nevada's caucus on Feb. 23. In 2012, South Carolina Republicans voted in the primaries on Jan. 21, two weeks before Nevada Republicans caucused.

The South Carolina GOP also voted on Saturday to approve participation thresholds for presidential candidates: a filing fee of $50,000 per candidate and a filing deadline of October 31, 2023, according to one source close to the process.

In South Carolina, primary dates are chosen by state party officials, which are then approved by the RNC. Every state has until October 1, 2023, to submit to the RNC their plans for electing or awarding delegates.

"Every state has until October 1st to let the RNC know what their plan is for electing, selecting, allocating, and binding delegates. We look forward to reviewing each state and territory's plans," Emma Vaughn, an RNC spokesperson, said of South Carolina's Saturday vote.

The Democratic National Committee voted in February to make South Carolina the first state on their presidential primary calendar--on Feb. 3, 2024.

"This calendar reflects who we are as a nation," DNC Party Chair Jamie Harrison said at the time.

In Nevada, the presidential primary for both parties is already scheduled by the Secretary of State's office to be held on February 6. However, the Nevada Republican Party is suing the state to allow the party to hold a caucus  the method both major parties in Nevada have used for decades in presidential election years.

"We look forward to holding [a caucus] in Feb 2024," Alida Benson, the Nevada Republican Party's executive director, told ABC News.

If the party's legal challenge is successful, Benson said a caucus would likely be held in early February 2024.

ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Soo Rin Kim, Hannah Demissie and Abby Cruz contributed to this story.

South Carolina GOP votes to move back their 2024 primary: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Neal Kirby, son of the seminal Marvel Comics artist and writer Jack Kirby, has shared a statement expressing his distaste with Disney+s new documentary spotlighting the life of Stan Lee.

Credited as one of the leading creators of Marvel Comics, Lees life and legacy are given a detailed exploration through the doc, which premiered on the streamer on June 16. Kirby released a skeptical statement about the film through the Twitter account of his daughter, Jillian Kirby.

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It should be noted and is generally accepted that Stan Lee had a limited knowledge of history, mythology, or science, Kirby wrote. On the other hand, my fathers knowledge of these subjects, to which I and many others can personally attest, was extensive. Einstein summed it up better; More the knowledge, lesser the ego. Lesser the knowledge, more the ego.

My father Neal Kirby (Jack Kirbys son) has asked me to post this written statement in response to the Stan Lee documentary released yesterday on Disney+. pic.twitter.com/V4be2xyEJg  Jillian Kirby (Granddaughter of Jack Kirby) (@Kirby4Heroes) June 17, 2023

Kirbys lengthy denouncement continues by calling into question Lees involvement in the creation of many Marvel characters in the early-to-mid 1960s. You will see Lees name as a co-creator on every character, with the exception of the Silver Surfer, solely created by my father. Are we to assume Lee had a hand in creating every Marvel character? Are we to assume that it was never the other co-creator that walked into Lees office and said, Stan, I have a great idea for a character! According to Lee, it was always his idea.

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Kirby also highlights that Lee took major credit for creating the Fantastic Four with only one fleeting reference to his father. He also claims that the Fantastic Four was initially created by Jack for DC in the Challengers of the Unknown comic. Kirby goes on by stating that Ben Grimm (The Thing) was named after his fathers real name, Benjamin, and Sue Storm was named after his daughter, Susan.

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Walk into Bulls Tavern and you might see a college student tossing back a Bull Sweat shooter  a fiery blend of Bacardi 151, Wild Turkey whiskey, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco.

The drink is a sort of a right of passage on a 21st birthday, according to Bulls Tavern owner Billy Hales.

Or you might find a longtime regular, nursing their favorite cocktail and swapping stories with the bartender.

During graduation season, especially this weekend as crowds descended on San Luis Obispo for two days of Cal Poly commencement ceremonies, youre sure to see college students and their parents sipping an early-morning toast ahead of the festivities.

Any and all are welcome at the venerable fixture of downtown San Luis Obispos bar scene, and even today, after nearly a century, Bulls Tavern is where the new and old collide.

Joel Jandel mans the door at Bulls Tavern on Friday, June 16, 2023, the night before Cal Polys graduation weekend. The bar has been a fixture of San Luis Obispos downtown scene since the 1930s. Laura Dickinson/The Tribune

Bulls Tavern owner started there as a janitor

Even with twenty-somethings blasting pop songs on the jukebox, the bar looks like it belongs in an old western film.

A bulls head mounted to the wall watches over the patrons, and a vintage Budweiser sign stained with cigarette smoke reminds them of the buildings history.

Back in the 1930s, ranchers rode their horses into the tavern to order a drink  often trailing dust, cigarette smoke and a string of profanity behind them.

At least thats how the stories go, Hales said.

Billy Hales, owner of Bulls Tavern in San Luis Obispo, started at the bar as a janitor when he was a Cal Poly student in the 1980s. Laura Dickinson/The Tribune

While Hales studied history at Cal Poly in the 80s, he got a job as a janitor at Bulls Tavern. He eventually took up bartending and served beers and cocktails to folks whod been drinking at Bulls since the 1930s.

They kinda had that blue-collar, old-timer vibe, Hales said. This was the place of their first drink with their dad. It was a working mans bar back then.

Even back in the 80s, college students swarmed the bar in the evenings, just as they do now. But during the day, the tavern belonged to the longtime regulars.

Hales remembers serving Jack Lucas, a calloused regular who was at the bar almost as often as Hales was.

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Every day, Lucas stood in the same place at the end of the bar to order a Budweiser and a shot of well bourbon. Hed drink about five of these over the next five hours, Hales said.

One day he was standing down there, and the floor had gotten so tired in the bar that he fell through the floor, Hales said with a chuckle.

Lucas caught himself on the bar, and the bartenders pulled him out of the hole without any issue, Hales said. This was before the building was retrofitted, Hales added. The floor is perfectly sturdy now.

Bulls Tavern was originally located next door at 1032 Chorro St., which is now home to San Luis Taqueria. Hales moved the bar to 1040 Chorro St. sometime around 2016, he said.

Billy Hales, owner of Bulls Tavern in San Luis Obispo, started at the bar as a janitor when he was a Cal Poly student in the 1980s. Laura Dickinson/The Tribune

Bulls Tavern beginnings

The taverns namesake, Albert Bull Tognazzini, took ownership of the bar after prohibition ended.

According to his obituary, Tognazzini bought the second liquor license in San Luis Obispo County. A 1938 address book lists him as the owner of the bar, back when it was called Budweiser Tavern.

The History Center of San Luis Obispo County has an archive of records on the Tognazzini family, including the address book and Albert Tognazzinis obituary.

Owner Albert Bull Tognazzini poses in front of Bulls Tavern during the 1940s. Back then, the San Luis Obispo bar was known as Budweiser Tavern. Courtesy of the San Luis Obispo County History Center

Back in the early 1900s, in an earlier incarnation, the tavern was owned by Budweiser. Anti-trust laws, however, required the company to sell the bar to a local, Hales said.

During prohibition, the bar went dormant for awhile and the space was used as a dress shop, according to Hales.

Legend has it that the original building had an entrance to an underground tunnel network for prohibition-era bootlegging. The tavern has a basement, but Hales never found the tunnel.

Hales said its important to him to preserve the taverns history. When he moved Bulls to its new location, he brought the original bar and mounted it to the wall of the new building, he said.

We took great care to make sure this all came off in one piece, Hales said, gesturing to the bar behind him. The wooden shelves hold everything from liquor bottles to a bull figurine wearing sunglasses.

Billy Hales, owner of Bulls Tavern in San Luis Obispo, started at the bar as a janitor when he was a Cal Poly student in the 1980s. Laura Dickinson/The Tribune

We definitely try to protect the integrity of what the bar was, and the people come back and can still capture that nostalgia either from their days at Cal Poly or when they were a kid, Hales said.

On a recent afternoon, before the college crowd arrived, Bulls Tavern played host to a handful of regulars known to the bartender by name.

Among them was local pharmacist Brian DeLorme, who said you can meet all types of people at Bulls Tavern, from gig workers to tourists to students.

Expect the unexpected as far as customers go, DeLorme said. A group of literally anyone could come walking in. It could go from being as quiet as it is now, you know, four or five patrons, to 50 within moments.

Regular Brian DeLorme poses with his namesake, The Brian, at Bulls Tavern in June 2023. The cocktail appears on the menu as a Mandarin Mule, made of Absolut Mandarin Vodka on the rocks with ginger beer and a dash of lime. Stephanie Zappelli

DeLorme has been a patron of the bar for at least five years, he said. He enjoys the cocktails, the people and the environment, but most of all, he appreciates the bartenders.

Theyre genuine. They bust their ass. The place could literally have 50 people and thered be one bartender  and they will run the show, DeLorme said. Everyone will get a drink in a timely fashion, no matter how crowded. Thats extremely rare.

DeLorme even invented a cocktail at Bulls Tavern, known by the bartenders as The Brian. The cocktail appears on the menu as a Mandarin Mule, made of Absolut Mandarin Vodka on the rocks with ginger beer and a dash of lime.

DeLorme described the character of Bulls Tavern as seasoned but always willing to allow anyone to walk through those doors, he said. Everyones welcome.
Early morning storms on Friday left catastrophic damage in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana including significant impacts to transmission lines, the backbone of SWEPCOs energy delivery network. The storm included a National Weather Service confirmed EF-1 half-mile wide tornado that touched down in Panola County, Texas and crossed into Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

At its peak, close to a quarter of a million SWEPCO customers lost power after the hurricane-force winds caused significant damage to the power delivery system across its service area. As of 1:30 p.m., Saturday, approximately 53,000 customers have had power restored; an estimated 197,000 SWEPCO customers remain without power.

LIVE BLOG: Shreveport, Bossier storm damage updates-NWS confirms EF-1 tornado in Shreveport

An additional line of severe storms is forecast for late this evening, with the potential of up to 75 mph winds.

Where are the cooling stations in Caddo Parish following Friday morning's storm

Fridays severe storm caused major damage to SWEPCOs transmission system with nearly 60 Transmission and Distribution stations impacted and nearly 50 transmission lines forced out of service due to tree and structure damage caused by the extreme weather. SWEPCOs utility poles and distribution wires serving individual homes and businesses also experienced extensive damage.

Transmission lines deliver high-voltage power over long distances from power plants to substations where the power is converted to voltages appropriate for use in homes and businesses. Damage to the transmission lines can result in significant outages.

SWEPCO has activated an all-in response and are being joined by more than 2,800 utility professionals to help rebuild its power delivery system, including crews from AEP Texas, Appalachian Power, Indiana & Michigan Power, and Kentucky Power as well as other support from Missouri and Oklahoma. SWEPCO is grateful for all the crew members who have left their families to help in this historic restoration effort.

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Here are tips for safely operating a generator after Friday's EF-1 tornado in Shreveport

As restoration work on the system continues, additional outages could occur until SWEPCOs transmission system is stabilized. Customers should prepare to be without service for an extended period.

Following initial damage assessments, restoration estimates for areas impacted by the storm are below. Restoration areas and times will be updated as crews continue working to restore power.

What water systems have been impacted by Friday mornings storm

Natchitoches District in Louisiana  10 p.m., Tuesday, June 20

Texarkana District in Texas  10 p.m., Wednesday, June 21

Longview District in Texas  10 p.m., Friday, June 23

Shreveport District in Louisiana  10 p.m., Saturday, June 24

As we get more specific information for your area, we will update this information.

Safety Reminders:

For your safety and for the safety of our crews, please refrain from approaching them while they are working.

Contact our customer service personnel with any questions about your service.

Your safety and the safety of our crews are paramount. Stay away and keep children and pets at least ten feet away from downed lines. Treat all downed power lines as if they are energized and dangerous.

You can report downed lines and other hazards to SWEPCO at 888-218-3919 or online at https://www.swepco.com/outages/report/

Downed power lines - Never touch a downed line, or go near it, no matter how harmless it looks. The line could be energized. Call SWEPCO or 911 immediately.

Portable generator safety  If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators can "backfeed" electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Follow the manufacturers' instructions carefully and plug essential appliances directly into the generator.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: SWEPCO gives update on East Texas, Northwest Louisiana power restoration
picture alliance - Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been spending time in Europe this month as the electric automaker is searching for a place to build another Gigafactory in the EU.

This week, Musk met with French president Emmanuel Macron and, separately, with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

"Let's work together," Macron suggested on Twitter, which Musk of course owns.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and French president Emmanuel Macron met this week for the second time in a month, as rumors grew that the California-based electric vehicle company will build another factory somewhere in Europe. Macron is encouraging Tesla to build it in his country, and he posted a simple message to Twitter alongside a picture of himself and Musk. "Let's work together," the tweet said.

Macron is balancing a desire to bring a Tesla Gigafactory to France while French regulators are considering banning Twitter until it complies with upcoming European Union Digital Services Act regulations. Musk owns both Tesla and Twitter.

"It will be great to have a Tesla factory in France, there has been a lot of effort and energy to make sure this is possible, and this can happen," France's digital minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, told CNBC. "We have also invested in an... entire sector of electric batteries, so we will try to convince him that France is the best possible place in Europe to establish the next Tesla factory."

Musk made a public appearance at the Viva Tech summit in France Friday.

Pool - Getty Images

Tesla currently operates one Gigafactory in Europe. Despite France's efforts to lure that first plant, Tesla built it in Germany, the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. Musk also met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni this week, and Spain is also mentioned in news reports as a potential new Tesla Gigafactory location.

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China Is Also an Option, Apparently

"Today, France is more attractive than ever," French industry minister Roland Lescure said during a radio interview this week. "But the competition with other countries is extremely fierce, so we're bringing out all of our strengths." Lescure said France's competitive advantages include cheap, green electricity and ready land before adding that Spain is holding similar cards.

Tesla isn't the only EV company France would like to see set up shop in-country. France has been talking to Chinese automaker BYD, which announced earlier this month that it would start selling five EVs in France by the end of 2023. According to Automotive News Europe, BYD is considering France, Spain, or Germany for its first European factory. BYD hopes to start producing EVs in Europe in 2025.

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The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office of Homeland Security is reminding citizens to practice safety while running generators, as they can be a hazard if not operated correctly. The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal suggests the following:

For homeowners utilizing whole-home, standby generators, the SFM recommends the following tips:

Have a CO monitor!

Give the generator a break once or twice a day to allow for any exhaust build-up around your home to clear

Open windows and doors during those breaks to allow for any CO build-up inside of your home to clear

Ensure your generator is being properly maintained including the oil change frequency requirements

Refer to your owner's manual or contact your dealer or unit's manufacturer if you have concerns or questions regarding proper installation or maintenance

LIVE BLOG: Shreveport, Bossier storm damage updates-NWS confirms EF-1 tornado in Shreveport

If you are using a home standby generator and your CO monitor alarms:

Turn off the generator and open doors and windows to ventilate your home

Look for any air entry points into the home near your unit and ensure that those are properly closed and sealed off, such as windows or doors, air intakes, nearby dryer vents, or crawl spaces

Inspect your air filter for any dirt or debris residue and change the filter if found to be dirty Check for anything around the unit that might be blocking airflow and remove the blockage

Where are the cooling stations in Caddo Parish following Friday morning's storm

The following safety tips for the use of portable generators remain tried and true:

. Do not place generators inside of any structure including garages, carports, and sheds, regardless of doors remaining open

 Instead, place the generator at least 20 feet away from your home, and your neighbor's home, downwind away from open doors, windows, and vents

 Before refueling, turn the generator off and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes

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 Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet Instead, use a heavy-duty, outdoor extension cord to plug appliances into generators

 Do not use in rain or wet conditions

 Have a fire extinguisher nearby.  Have a carbon monoxide monitor for your home!

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Caddo Parish Sheriff offers tips for safely operating a generator
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign told PEOPLE that when the former president left a Miami restaurant this week, after promising "food for everyone," attendees "followed him outside and did not place orders themselves."

Stephanie Keith/Getty

Donald Trump's campaign is pushing back against reports that he left a recent visit to a Miami restaurant without picking up his supporter's tabs, saying that the visit was so brief that no one ordered anything.

Trump made a surprise visit to Miami's famed Cuban restaurant Versailles following his historic arraignment on Tuesday.

Alon Skuy/Getty

In footage of the appearance, Trump can be seen shaking hands and taking photos before shouting, "Food for everyone!"

But the Miami New Times reports that the former president  who turned 77 on Wednesday  stayed for only about ten minutes, leaving none of his fans with time to order any food or drinks.

"It turns out no one got anything. Not even a cafecito to-go," the New Times reports, citing a source that says the visit was so brief it left no time for food.

A trump spokesperson told PEOPLE: "President Trump was very enthused and very appreciative to the family at Versailles Restaurant for welcoming him this week. At the end of President Trumps visit he offered to buy food for the group of attendees inside the restaurant, but when President Trump left, the attendees followed him outside and did not place orders themselves. Campaign advance team members paid for the to-go meals purchased, and there were no unpaid tabs. President Trump looks forward to returning soon!



Related: Donald Trump Supporters Sing 'Happy Birthday' to Him After Historic Arraignment

The surprise appearance at Versailles came moments after the former television personality pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal offenses after being indicted by a federal grand jury last week.

The charges against the former president include 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information (a violation of the Espionage Act); one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice; one count of withholding a document or record; one count of corruptly concealing a document or record; one count of concealing a document in a federal investigation; one count of scheme to conceal; and one count of false statements and representations.

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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.

Each of the charges carries potential prison sentences, with the obstruction charges carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years per count. Violating the Espionage Act carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years, and both the conspiracy and false statements charges carry sentences of up to five years per offense.

The federal indictment stems from an Aug. 8 search of the former president's Mar-a-Lago home by the FBI as part of a criminal investigation that began after the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) revealed in February 2022 that officials had removed 15 boxes of documents from the property that should have been handed over at the end of his presidency.



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The last time that a Democratic presidential candidate won North Carolina, Anderson Clayton could not vote.

But now, the 25-year-old chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party has a task that would overwhelm operatives twice her age: flip North Carolina blue for the first time in 16 years.

Like, I know that we either win in 2024, and we do amazing things and we go forward as a state and as a nation, or we regress backwards, she told The Independent in an interview. It really is now or never for North Carolina, in my opinion.

Republicans, for their part, know that the state is important. Last weekend, former president Donald Trump, former vice president Mike Pence and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, three of the top contenders for the Republican nomination for president, descended on Greensboro for the state GOP convention. North Carolina is not an early primary state like Iowa, New Hampshire, or even neighbouring South Carolina. But the three candidates visiting the state shows the importance of the state, Ms Clayton told The Independent.

They have to win North Carolina, Ms Clayton said, noting how the last time a Republican won the presidency without winning the Tar Heel State was Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s. And whats at stake is that you have three candidates like Trump and Pence and DeSantis, who are coming in who are all three examples, in my opinion, of right-wing extremism each in their own right.

Democratic voters in the state have plenty of reasons to turn out and vote. Despite the fact that the state has a Democratic governor in Roy Cooper, Republicans in the state legislature have enough votes to override his veto, which they did recently when they passed a 12-week abortion ban, cutting off abortion access throughout a majority of the South. Mr Cooper, who is term-limited, will also see the end of his term in 2024, which means Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein will compete for his seat against Mark Robinson, who has a history of making inflammatory remarks.

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Ms Clayton said she is not taking anything for granted, especially against an incredibly well-organised Republican Party.

I think that Democrats have to take the energy that we have right now and the anger that we have right now and motivate it forward and use people to say how do we turn anger into action, she said. Because right now, theres not a whole lot of things that we can change at the state level, because you know, you do have racial gerrymandering that is now legal ... that is racial gerrymandering to me.

Democrats in North Carolina were not always starting from such a disadvantage. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win North Carolina since Jimmy Carter in 1976, while Kay Hagan won the states US Senate seat. Democrats also controlled the governorship and both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly even as other Southern states moved rightward since the 1960s.

But since Mr Obamas 2008 victory, Republicans have run the table in the state. In 2010, as the state reeled from the Great Recession, Republicans took both houses of the General Assembly for the first time since 1898 and in 2012, they won the governorship, giving them the first trifecta in ages.

Since then, Republicans flipped the states other Senate seat when Thom Tillis won it in 2014 and held it in 2020 when a sex scandal felled Democrat Cal Cunningham, and Joe Biden narrowly lost the state even as Mr Cooper won re-election. Last year, even as Democrats beat back two Trump-endorsed congressional candidates, Republicans gained seats in the state legislature, cleaned up in the Supreme Court, and Republican Ted Budd beat Cheri Beasley in the Senate race thanks in part to Mr Trumps endorsement and tons of money from Senate Mitch McConnells Senate Leadership Fund political action committee.

The weak performance led to Ms Claytons election. She said Democrats have made many mistakes in those intervening years, which caused them to fall so far, suggesting the party appears to have mostly abandoned rural voters.

The majority of North Carolina lives in a rural community, youve got the highest or the second highest population of rural folks besides Texas in our state, she said. And to cede any of that ground to see these populations that have historically black and brown communities. And then in these rural counties that we have not tapped into, its just doing a disservice to our party.

She said that means going to every county in the state.

So in our Democratic governor candidate showing up in Cherokee County in North Carolina, my God, she said. When was the last time that, you know, Murphy saw a Democrat, like, its been a minute, to be honest with you.

She also added that Democrats could learn from Mr Obamas victory in 2008, when he sent organisers throughout the South. President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee have begun to make a play for the state and Mr Biden visited North Carolina last week. Ms Clayton added that, for the most part, Democrats nationally have avoided supporting state parties in the South.

Georgia had to win an election before the national party came in and invested in them, she said. Theres a real aspect here of, we have underfunded the South for generations in this party. And youre underfunding an area that is predominantly Black and brown communities that are, I think, a sleeping giant of the Democratic Party in the South.

North Carolina has eluded Democrats, unlike other southern states. Virginia has voted for a Democrat for president every election since Mr Obamas first victory, though it elected a Republican governor in 2021, while Georgia voted for a Democrat for the first time since 1992 when Mr Biden won it in 2020 and it now has two Democratic Senators.

Ms Claytons youth may befuddle some, and she said she never imagined shed be a state party chairwoman.

Its allowed me to be able to say everything that Ive ever wanted to do on behalf of a Democratic Party, she said. And I think that thats a really empowering place to be. And its going to inspire, I hope, more young people to realise that this world that were living in is ours to change the reality of.

Since assuming the leadership post, Democrats received a gut punch when Tricia Cotham, a Democratic state legislator, switched parties, giving Republicans a veto-proof majority in the legislature. At the states GOP convention last weekend, she was feted as a hero and Mr Pence gave her a shout-out. That enabled them to pass a 12-week abortion ban and override Mr Coopers veto.

In addition, during the convention, Mr Trump touted how he won the state twice and continued to repeat his lies about a stolen election. Ms Clayton said that she wants North Carolina to be a firewall against election lies.

And for me, the case that I'm making is that, we don't want to give election deniers a two-week window to make that case. We want to make sure this election is wrapped up on the November night, she said.

Still, she added that she is not being a defeatist.

I know it feels like that right now, I know that the defeatist nature of or the Republican extremism is hard to come out of right now, she said. But we have to, and we have to snap back as a population and, and being able to say we need to run somebody everywhere.
A reader asked about curbs on Charlotte Highway and how they seem to trap debris, causing problems.

Today's burning question is about curbs on U.S. 74A. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chavez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: "When Hwy 74 from Asheville to Fairview was widened (97-98?) to 5 lanes, curb edges were put in place. While making this road less user friendly for bicyclists, the curbs have also become a trap for road debris and growing medium for weeds. This has in turn caused the storm drains to become clogged and even a brief rain will bring deep puddles and the danger of cars hydroplaning, especially near Rocket Dr going up to A.C. Reynolds high school. Recently the NCDOT has been busy making even more curb edges where driveways to nowhere exist. Wouldnt it have made more sense from a safety standpoint to clean up the road debris on this 5 mile stretch of highway? As long time Fairview residents, we dont ever remember seeing a street sweeper provide this needed work."

Answer: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will sweep US 74A (Charlotte Highway) in the coming weeks. Part of the aim of this operation will be to address concerns like those of our reader involving debris and standing water on the highway.

Highway sweeps in the Asheville-Fairview area are performed regularly to maintain both the aesthetic appeal of community roads and the safety of Buncombe motorists. However, these intervals are longer than our asker may have expected. In this particular case, the most recent of these regular sweeps occurred last year, which may explain why our reader has not observed a street sweeper even as a long-time resident of the area.

David Uchiyama, NCDOT communications officer, spoke on the schedule and methods used in clearing N.C. roadways including U.S. 74 and the 5-mile stretch referred to by our reader.

NCDOT operates one sweeper truck for all of Buncombe County, which consists of more than 1,250 road miles, Uchiyama said. Crews cleared Charlotte Highway once  per the traditional schedule  in 2022.

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In line with the schedule Uchiyama referred to, the DOT will be carrying out another cleanup operation in the near future. The NCDOT endeavors to remove the debris in question in the hope to prevent buildup that may create standing water and other road hazards on this stretch of highway.

A crew from the NCDOTs Buncombe County Maintenance team has planned a sweeping operation on US 74A (Charlotte Highway) for the coming weeks, Uchiyama said. This operation will consist of mechanically sweeping and cleaning the existing curb lines free of silt and debris. It will occur during a time with reduced traffic to reduce the impact on travelers.

Uchiyama also said the specific dates of the sweep on U.S. 74A will be determined through a separate operation. An upcoming sweep of Interstate-240 will precede the clearing of U.S. 74, and will provide the NCDOT insight on the best time to carry out their operation in a manner that will create the least inconvenience for the often crowded highways surrounding the Asheville area.

A suggestion for our reader, as well as any North Carolina residents concerned about drainage issues and standing water hazards, is to visit the NCDOT website to report these concerns. The site contains a page where individuals can fill out a form for submission detailing the problem they have observed including county, exact location, and specific nature of the drainage issue. Though street sweeps are provided on a less frequent basis, smaller scale cleanup efforts may be offered by the DOT based on information provided by members of the Buncombe community.

Uchiyama echoed our readers sentiment regarding the importance of operations that keep roadways clean and safe.

Street sweeping operations provide an aesthetic appeal to our roadways, as well functional and safety benefits, Uchiyama said.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Woman: Curbs trapping debris? How often are roads swept?
A 41-year-old Canton man was shot and killed by police Wednesday night after he fired at officers responding to call about a disturbance at his home in the 300 block of 25th Street SW, authorities said.

CANTON  A city man was shot and killed Wednesday night by police after he fired at officers who responded to a 911 call about a disturbance at his home, authorities said.

The man was identified as Jeffrey Neff, 41, of Canton.

Police arrived at the home in the 300 block of 25th Street SW for the reported disturbance just after 10 p.m.

"Shortly after arriving, officers were fired upon and returned fire, wounding the suspect," police said in a statement. "The suspect was transported to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, where he expired from his injuries. Officers were not injured."

Police Chief John Gabbard said in a news release that an officer was grazed by a bullet fired by the suspect, but was not hurt.

Canton police requested that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigate the shooting.

BCIs investigation remains active and ongoing, said Steve Irwin, press secretary for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. He said investigators will continue to gather and analyze physical evidence, and conduct witness interviews. Once completed, BCI's investigation will be referred to the county prosecutor, Irwin said.

What prompted the police response?

A neighbor called 911 Wednesday night asking for police to check on her neighbors  a man and woman  who were fighting.

The caller told a dispatcher that her neighbors were "fighting pretty bad" and she wanted to make sure no one was hurt.

"I'm worried. I heard them outside," the caller said. "I heard screaming and it sounded pretty loud."

What did neighbors witness?

Neighbors on the dead-end street off Cleveland Avenue SW were surprised Thursday morning to learn that their neighbor was dead.

One neighbor said he did not know the family personally but said they waved when they passed his home. Last night, he was watching a movie and didn't know if he heard any gunshots as the movie he was watching had a lot of gunfire.

He saw the police presence when he came out on his porch after 10 p.m. to have a smoke. He continued watching things unfold until he want to bed around 2:30 a.m., adding that authorities remained on the scene long after that.

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Many neighbors made their way outside to watch what was unfolding, but it wasn't clear exactly what was going on.

BCI working a large crime scene on the I-77 exit and entrance ramps at Cleveland Ave in Canton. Canton police, OSP and BCI all working the scene. We have some information that this is a shooting but have yet to confirm details. pic.twitter.com/ViysR9EOdL  Mike Vielhaber (@MVielhaber) June 8, 2023

Neighbors say the street is typically quiet

Ed Bennett, whose home is five houses away from Neff's, said he didn't hear any gunshots but he pieced together that Neff allegedly fled to the back of his home and onto the off-ramp of Interstate 77 that abuts the back of the homes on 25th Street SW.

Neighbors said their street is typically quiet despite the proximity to the I-77 interchange and busy Cleveland Avenue.

A woman at the home who identified herself as Neff's wife screamed at reporters who had gathered outside the home Thursday morning to leave.

The Stark County Coroner's Office had no details about Neff's injuries or cause of death early Thursday but said his body had been transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio BCI investigating police shooting in Canton
Despite the lack of sufficient support in Congress to pass a new assault weapons ban, President Joe Biden on Friday said the US has reached a tipping point in the fight to strengthen Americas gun laws, due to the activism of the gun violence prevention movement that has gathered increasing strength in recent years.

Mr Biden, who was delivering remarks at the National Safer Communities Summit in Hartford, Connecticut, at the invitation of Senator Chris Murphy and a coalition of gun safety groups including Everytown, Moms Demand Action and Giffords, recounted some of the more than 20 executive actions his administration has taken to stem the tide of mass shootings since he took office. He said those politicians who claim to be concerned about crime should realise that crime cant be tackled without dealing with gun violence.

Its a simple proposition, he said.

The president also lamented how since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death for children in the United States  more than automobile accidents or cancer.

He recalled how the assault weapons ban he wrote into the 1994 crime bill enacted under then-president Bill Clinton cut mass shootings significantly only to see their number triple when Mr Clintons successor, George W Bush, allowed the ban to expire with the aid of a Republican Congress, allowing military-style rifles and high-capacity magazines to come back into vogue.

Mr Biden also called for a repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which immunises gun manufacturers from lawsuits filed by gun violence victims, and for the enactment of universal background checks before anyone can purchase high-powered rifles, many of which are modelled off of those issued to American soldiers, as well as safe storage requirements for such weapons.

The United States of America has the finest fighting force in the history of the world [and] provides  service members with the most lethal weapons on Earth. We also require them to receive significant training before theyre allowed to use them. We require extensive background checks and mental health assessment that before they can  use them [and] require them to lock them up or store the weapon responsibly, he said.

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Every gun owner should be required to have the same requirements held to him or her, he added.

The president also hailed governors who have taken action to strengthen state gun laws, including Connecticuts Ned Lamont, who recently signed more than 12 separate bills to strengthen his states firearm regulations, and praised state governments in Illinois and Washington for passing assault weapon and ghost gun bans, as well as the 21 states that have enacted so-called red flag laws to allow courts to temporarily disarm people who are determined to pose a risk to the community by a judge.

Though chances of a federal assault weapons ban making it to his desk are slim to none given the composition of Congress, Mr Biden promised the gun safety advocates that he will never stop fighting.

We will ban assault weapons in this country  we will hold gun makers liable, we will beat the gun industry, he said.
Inge Moore's career started with a historic project at the country's first post-apartheid museum. Most recently, she's redesign the Mother City's most luxurious resort.

Muza Lab

The newly renovated One&Only Cape Town feels like a study of the Mother City  its rich cultural history, contemporary art scene, and natural beauty. The moment guests step inside the elegant waterfront property, everything around them  including the panoramic views of Table Mountain  celebrates Cape Town and its place in modern-day South Africa.

In the lobby, a bold sculpture by Cape Townbased Kenyaborn Stanislaw Trzebinski invokes a local legend about the creation of Table Mountain. And in the rooms, the decor, color palette, and commissioned artwork highlight the Great African Seaforest, a dynamic ecosystem (and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World) off the coast of Cape Town. Each space, whether a private accommodation or public area, is a piece of an elaborate puzzle that tells the story of Cape Town as a vibrant cultural hub.

"A hotel should be the showcase for the local area," Inge Moore, principal designer of Muza Lab, the international design studio behind the renovation, told Travel + Leisure.

Muza Lab

To hospitality insiders, Moore needs no introduction. Her impressive portfolio of clients includes some of the luxury industry's most exquisite properties in all corners of the world: Switzerland's The Alpina Gstaad; Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana; Six Senses Kanuhura in the Maldives; and the upcoming One&Only Aesthesis in Athens.

Born in Johannesburg, but a long-time resident of London, she learned early on in her career that design can be a powerful storytelling tool. In 1994, just as apartheid fell in South Africa, MuseumAfrica relocated to a new building in her hometown, and Moore was tasked with helping the museum's art department create the new exhibition spaces.

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"What was so wonderful about that is that you dealt with all the different curators that put this museum together  archeology, costume, photography, music, geology. So I think that really widened my approach and taught me that you have to tell a story with everything," Moore explained.

This would ultimately define her approach to design. (She also credits her work at the country's first post-apartheid museum with teaching her the social impact that thoughtful design could have as people constantly interact with it.)

Muza Lab

So with a clear vision and decades of experience, she jumped at the chance to transform Cape Town's most luxurious urban resort.



"I wanted it to be soft. And I wanted it to feel residential, to bring in the natural beauty of Cape Town  the plants that are under and over the water, the stars, the nature, and then through that, bringing in the crafts, specifically [those sourced from] Cape Town," Moore said.

Boasting 133 of the largest accommodations in the city with panoramic views of the marina at the elegant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront district and Table Mountain, the resort debuted in 2009 to international acclaim. It houses South Africa's only Nobu restaurant, a multilevel wine cellar with thousands of bottles and a tasting room, and a spa on its own private island.

Muza Lab

And while the resort's original design did feature subtle references to Africa  such as textiles, dark woods, and oversized windows with heart-stopping vistas of Table Mountain  Moore sought to instill a deeper sense of place while dressing the spaces in a much lighter palette. She relied on local suppliers and artisans to create new furnishings made from oak and lighter-hued timbers. She then juxtaposed them with bold accent pieces, drawing inspiration from the vibrant arts and crafts of the local Xhosa tribes.

Patterned Kente textiles, native to Ghana, greet travelers in the guest rooms' entryway. Beaded pots by Zimbabwe-born Richard Madongwe add texture and mirror frames by Johannesburg-based Coote and Wench have been hand carved by emerging wood sculptor Ben Tuge, with designs based on the kelp forests of Cape Town. The headboards in the bedrooms were upholstered in printed fabrics inspired by sea algae and created with the assistance of the South African Biodiversity Institute.



Muza Lab

The resort's two signature suites have been completely reimagined as sophisticated places of refuge through the art, the natural materials, and the distinct color palettes inspired by the shades of the ocean, the kelp forests, and Table Mountain. Moore's redesign, and One&Only Cape Town's DNA, heavily emphasize local talent.

The resort is also home to the Cape Town outpost of the Melrose Gallery, which has an extensive collection of pieces by local creatives. For the redesign, Moore enlisted the help of emerging and established artisans to create custom art that capture the regions natural beauty "while providing opportunities for training and job creation," according to a press release sent to T+L.

For example, Meshack Masuku, who runs a ceramics studio out of the small beach town of Kenton-on-Sea, uses clay made from local kaolin sourced from one of the largest deposits in South Africa. He employed three more artists to create 89 pieces that can now be found in the guest rooms.

"It's so important to me that we protect what we have, and not just the nature around us but also the crafts that then come from it. And we need to educate people to appreciate it," Moore said. "People come on a holiday, and if their surroundings interest them, then that creates conversation, and conversation then leads to education."

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
What feels more significantincremental improvements or explosive impact? Theres no doubt which one gets you the headlines, creates the wow factor, and drives social engagement. We live in an Instagram world. Give me the big bang any day, right?

Well, perhaps, but perhaps not. Theres also a lot to be said for becoming greater, little by little, month in, month out. Especially so if your starting position is already one of strength. Layering excellence upon excellence is no less demanding than launching something new, even if it might be rather less heralded. When youre in the greatness business, the journey, while important, is meaningless without the result. Bettering your best, however you do it, is something extraordinary and worthy of celebration.

More from Robb Report

For the past 35 years, thats exactly what Robb Report has done, with its Best of the Best awards. And 2023s list is notable for the number of winners who fall clearly into one of two categories: either those who have taken off in dramatic fashion in the past 12 months or those who continue to pursue and achieve brilliance time after time.

For example, this years Grand Tourer winner in the automotive category is Bentleys peerless Continental GT S, which also took the top spot in our Car of the Year competition in February. A Continental won the same prize in 2022, too. Incremental changes, building on brilliance: same result. And then we welcome to Best of the Best Kevin and Lukas Czinger, the father-and-son team behind the eponymous hypercar company that is delivering its first vehicle, the 21C, this year. Remarkably, the firm designs with proprietary A.I. software, 3-D prints many of the parts, and assembles them with its own 22-robot cell. Czinger is this years winner of our Automotive Innovation award. Clearly.

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Brioni takes home our Best of the Best Eveningwear prize in the style category, just as it did last year. Creative director Norbert Stumpfl continues to marry the Roman tailors rich 78-year pedigree with a contemporary execution to produce elegant, beautiful clothes for the most special of occasions. The guy is at the very top of his game. As is Tremaine Emory. His brand, Denim Tears, is perhaps less well-known to youpartly because its only a few years old. Emory, who is also Supremes creative director, launched it in 2019 and collaborated with Dior last year to celebrate Black style leaders such as Miles Davis and James Baldwin, taking streetwear to new levels of vibrancy in the process.

There are many others. One wow hotel opening is Passalacqua, on Lake Como, a former private villa from the 18th century that has just been reimagined as a chic boutique property dripping with Italian artisanship. Then to watches to see a perfect example of building on brilliance, this time by the increasingly impressive Parmigiani Fleurier. Last year its groundbreaking Tonda Rattrapante GMT brought minimalism to the often overcomplicated complication of two time zones, via a hidden second hour hand, revealed by a push of a button. This year Parmigiani brings that same quiet sophistication to bear on the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante, by providing similar functionality as a rotating bezel (the ability to measure minutes as they elapse) with another hidden hand, this time an independently adjustable minute hand. Clever, classy, and irresistibly cool.

We write a lot about excellence at Robb Report, but within that single term there are so many layerscraft, expertise, dedication, vision, bravery, creativitythat we aim to convey with these awards. The fact theyve been running for 35 years, consistently showcasing the finest people, products, destinations, and experiences in the world, says much, I hope, about our commitment to the best and delivering it to you.

Enjoy the issue.

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Its not quite the Boston Tea Party, but Im cheering on Joe Pakuris, a Pawtucket businessman who couldnt take it anymore, and I dont blame him.

What he did was actually more dramatic than dumping tea.

He put up billboards on Interstate 95 telling the world to come to his cannabis dispensary, the biggest in the state.

Why is this a defiant act?

Because there's a weed ad ban here. For some hare-brained reason, the state allowed cannabis sales but didnt allow stores to promote themselves.

Yet dispensaries in Massachusetts and Connecticut can. In fact, every day, from his Mother Earth Wellness dispensary, Joe Pakuris looks at an Interstate 95 billboard for a Massachusetts cannabis store and wonders how many cars are zipping by his place to buy across the border.

Despite a frustrating cannabis ad ban, Mother Earth Wellness, the state's biggest marijuana dispensary, put up a billboard on its building in Pawtucket, but the owners insist it's not a violation.

So, a few days ago, he finally put up his own billboard, on his property, which borders the highway.

Mother Wellness, it says. 21+. Next Exit. Dispensary.

If state regulatory folks think he has violated the no-advertising rule, Joe insists hes done no such thing.

His new billboard, he says, is not advertising at all. Its just another store sign, no different, he says, than the one above his entrance.

Advertising, he explains, would say I have the cheapest price or best quality. All Im doing is what Ive already done  the same thing thats on my building.

But he wont deny hes frustrated at the no-ad ban. He and others have been begging the state to allow advertising. So far, no go.

Legal cannabis in RI: The 'pot pie' of recreational marijuana is not as plump as those in the business had hoped

The result? Joe says that every day, many folks come into Mother Earth saying they hadnt realized recreational cannabis was for sale in Rhode Island until friends told them. Theyd been going to Massachusetts instead.

Joe guesses business for the states seven dispensaries and many suppliers could improve by a significant 30% if ads were permitted.

Two weeks ago, the House passed a bill allowing weed ads, but its not law yet. And last week, a full year after recreational dispensaries were approved, the governor at last nominated three members to form a Cannabis Regulatory Board, needed before ads can happen.

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But the nominees are yet to be ratified.

Joe, 42, is a working-class guy who for years ran Kitchen & Countertop Center of New England in a Pawtucket mill with his co-owner Ed Keegan, also 42.

The latest: Could RI pot shops soon advertise on billboards? Bill allowing it clears House

The two beat out other applicants for the areas single cannabis dispensary license because their mill was perfect, with 35,000 extra square feet for a full vertical business, meaning they grow it, create it and sell it.

Its an impressive operation, with growing rooms, a Breaking Bad extraction lab and a gourmet kitchen making edibles. The store itself is striking, with marble display counters, waterfalls over glass, huge flatscreens and cool lighting on high brick walls.

But the ad ban, Joe says, is hurting badly. He knows it will eventually happen, but he feels its nuts how long its taking the government to get it done.

As for the states side? I tried to ask them to explain themselves, but they wouldnt talk to me.

I called the office of the Deputy Director of the Department of Business Regulation Matt Santacroce, who among other things oversees the Office of Cannabis Regulation. When DBR spokesman Matt Touchette got back to me, I told him candidly I wanted to press Santacroce on how to speed up the cannabis advertising thing.

Gone to pot: A still-paranoid '70s guy visits a RI cannabis store and finds a brave new world

Touchette understood, then asked me to email questions and hed get them answered.

I wrote back saying Id prefer getting Santacroces response in a live or phone interview, and maybe hold his feet to the fire on this.

Big mistake. I think that scared them.

DBR respectfully declines this interview request, Touchette wrote back.

Oh well. I tried.

Let the record show Joe Pakuris insists hes not violating the ad ban  the billboard in his eyes is just a big sign on his property stating the name of his business.

Still, I think there should be consequences.

But not against Joe Pakuris of Mother Earth Wellness. Hes doing a favor for Rhode Island by trying to help a taxpaying industry compete.

The consequences should be for the state officials still getting in the way of that.

mpatinki@providencejournal.com

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mother's Earth Dispensary owner advertises on building despite RI ban
HAMPTON  Melineige Beauregard was shown the love at the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, taking home the top prize and the People's Choice Award for the second year in a row.

"Thank you Hampton Beach!," she said after winning her fourth championship in five years for her piece titled "Love is a Universal Temple." "I guess you really like my stuff."

Melineige Beauregard of Hawaii creates "Love is a Universal Temple."

The intricate sand sculpture showed a mother and child embracing in the shape of a cathedral. "It's about the feeling of being in love, whether it's human or animal," Beauregard said. "It's very sacred. It is its own temple by itself."

Beauregard, of Captain Cook, Hawaii, was awarded $6,000 for first and another $1,000 for the People's Choice Award.

Melineige Beauregard of Hawaii celebrates as Little Miss Hampton Beach Ella Kate Woods presents the first-place ribbon for her sand sculpture, "Love is a Universal Temple."

The three-day contest sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District wrapped up Saturday and featured a who's who of master sand sculptors. The contest was organized by Greg Grady and is in its 23rd year.

The rain and wind on Saturday made for a trying last 8 hours for the sculptors as they put the final touches on their masterpieces.

"Rain on the last day did not help," said Beauregard. "The rain destroys everything you do. Not as much as the structure, but all the details and texture that you put into it."

Melineige Beauregard of Hawaii creates "Love is a Universal Temple" at the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic.

"Today was a little miserable," said sculptor Abe Waterman, who took home second place, and $4,000, in the contest.

His piece titled "Dave is Here" was a portrait in the sand of fellow sculptor and artist David Andrews, who died on Oct. 23, 2022, at 53. Andrews competed at previous Hampton Beach competitions and was a champion snow and ice sculptor for over 35 years. His artistry is represented in murals all over the country. According to his obituary, he "lost his battle with mental illness."

Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island carves "Dave is Here."

"This is a piece I would like to say it's for Dave Andrews, but it's for all of us also," said Waterman. "He was an incredible guy and sculptor for many years. I was going to call it 'Dave is not Here' because I think he would have thought that was funny. But I went with 'Dave is Here' because he is still here with all of us."

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The sculpture of Andrews also won the Sculptors Choice Award, voted on by those competing in the contest.

More: Hampton Beach pier project back to study after NH budget vote

Third place and $3,000 went to Carl Jara, of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and fourth place and $2,000 was a tie between Karen Fralich, of Ontario, Canada, and Bruce Phillips, of San Diego, California.

Jara said his sculpture "Obsolete" represents an old man who just found out he's no longer needed.

"I have been in this business for 32 years, and I have sculpted at this event for 23," he said. "An old guy like me with years of experience, I feel, at times, a little obsolete. This is a vulnerable piece. I'm letting it out there."

Carl Jara of Ohio works on "Obsolete." Jara said his sculpture represents an old man who just found out he's no longer needed.

Fralich's sculpture "Raptor Ryder" depicted a female rock star riding a dinosaur, with the back of the piece serving as an album cover.

"Heavy metal and dinosaurs, two of my favorite things," said Fralich, who listened to Metallica and Judas Priest on her headphones as she worked on the piece.

Karen Fralich of Ontario created "Raptor Ryder," depicting a female rock star riding a dinosaur.

Phillips' sculpture titled "Ascent" was about "how Artificial intelligence is basically replacing free thought."

Winning the Governor's Award, selected by Gov. Chris Sununu, and securing a spot in next year's contest was Chris Guinto for "The Devil is in the Details."

Chris Guinto of Hawaii, makes a hand gesture as he finishes "The Devil is in The Details."

Other sculptors who competed this year included Greg J Grady, Justin Gordon, and Rusty Croft, of Carmel, California, known as one of the sand guys on Travel Channels television show Sand Masters."

"The title of my piece was 'Audio Immersion,'" said Croft. "I lost my headphones in that sand pile because I was fully immersed in the audio. That's what the whole piece encapsulates. How your mind doesn't need your eyes to see a vision sometimes, it's just the audio. The sound comes through."

Rusty Croft of California works on "Audio Immersion" at the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic.

Making his Hampton Beach debut was Matthew Deibert, a retired Atlantic City firefighter captain who has been competing and working in the sand since 1999. His piece "Guardian of Her Dreams" depicts a young girl sleeping in bed with her teddy bear, sword in hand, protecting her from nightmares.

Matthew Deibert of New Jersey shows a sleeping girl being protected from monsters by her teddy bear in "Guardian of Her Dreams."

Prior to the three-day contest, sculptors worked on the sponsor site with the theme "The Sand Before Time." The site includes various dinosaurs and a special tribute to the Old Man of the Mountain.

The sponsor sand sculptures were a group effort by all of the competitors. The theme this year was the "Sand Before Time."

Sculptures will remain up through June 25 and will be lighted for nightly viewing.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach NH Sand Sculpting Classic 2023 winners
Local civil rights leaders say its important for everyone to commemorate Juneteenth, fully acknowledge the history it represents and work to continue pushing for equity for Black people.

 Its important because we helped build the country, said Stephanie Bush Taylor, president of the East St. Louis nonprofit, Community Development Sustainable Solutions. Taylor is also chairperson of the Illinois Juneteenth Committee.

It is not about defecting or moving back to Africa. Its about getting the rights that have been long overdue to us today, she said.

Stephanie Bush Taylor, chairperson of the Illinois Juneteenth Committee and president of the East St. Louis nonprofit, Community Development Sustainable Solutions, speaks to the crowd during the Juneteenth/618 Day Celebration in East St. Louis on Saturday, June 17. Jimmy Jay Simmons/Jimmy Jay Simmons

Juneteenth commemorates the day - June 19, 1865 - when Union forces informed enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, about their freedom an announcement that came two years after President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

Events marking what is now a national holiday - since 2021 - are being held throughout the nation, including in at least four metro-east communities. Organizers all over the country want everybody to know this is a holiday for everyone. Juneteenth is a part of American history. Black history is American history, including slavery.

Its not a holiday just for Blacks, said State Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea. Its a holiday for every person who believes the peculiar institution of slavery was wrong and that the abolishment of slavery was the right thing to do, and that we are all created equal.

If you believe those things, thats why we celebrate it. Just like we celebrate the Fourth of July. Black people were still being enslaved July 4, 1776.

Retired Just ice Milton Wharton

Retired Illinois Fifth District Appellate Justice Milton Wharton said the national holiday is important.

It is important, particularly in todays socio-political climate, to have a national day emphatically recognizing that human slavery existed in America and that it was abolished through courageous efforts and sacrifices on the battlefield, in our presidency and legislatures, and publicly by abolitionists, Wharton said.

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Although Juneteenth (6/19/1865) has particular significance in the state of Texas, it was the 13th Amendment, ratified 12/6/1865, that officially ended slavery in America, he noted.

Rev. Joseph Brown speaks during the ceremony kicking off the East St. Louis remembrance weekend at the St. Clair County Building. Tim Vizer/tvizer@bnd.com

The Rev. Joseph Brown, a Catholic priest and a professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, said the meaning of Juneteenth has changed for him over the years.

I wasnt real happy that we would be celebrating a holiday that told Black people three years after they were freed, after the Civil War was over, that they were finally emancipated. the native of East St. Louis said. But, I have changed my mind about it because of scholarship I have read.

Now, I understand. Those Black people, those Black soldiers, who brought that news to them. The people had already known that, but it wasnt official until 1866, Brown said. Our Black communication network that went on back then already knew about it. But, they couldnt act like they knew it or they wouldve been in trouble.

Former State Rep. LaToya Greenwood said she believes people of all races should commemorate, and learn more about, Juneteenth and the history that goes with it.

When you learn more, you want to do better and recognize it and celebrate it. People like to say Black history, but Black history is American history, Greenwood said. Its a teachable moment and a day where we can honor our forefathers and ancestors. We have to thank them for all they went through to make it better for us.

 We are Americans. We come in many different skin colors, but we are Americans. We are proud to say we helped build the foundation of this country.







This years commemoration is also a call to action

The Juneteenth Wave of Freedom is the theme of the observance this year, according to Taylor. Its a call to action.

Were here to take responsibility in our freedom, she said. Were here to hold the state and the country accountable to what true equity, diversity and inclusion look like.

Another part of that call to action is for people to engage in the work of a newly formed state commission called the African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission, said Taylor, who was appointed as a member by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The commission was formed so we can actually uncover what wrongs were historically placed and continued to be placed on the black community. And, how can we actually repair that, Taylor said.

Its also important to make sure that the true history of Black people in America is taught in schools and included in textbooks, so its not swept under the rug or appropriated, Taylor said.

She noted that Pritzker signed legislation this year designed to prevent book bans in publicly funded libraries.

Others have money, history, and property that they leave for their children, Taylor said.  And with our history being usurped, hidden and overlooked, we are not getting those same opportunities. We need our children to know they are equally vested in this country.

 They need equal rights and opportunity so they know they are contributors, not just a worker or somebodys assistant in this place called United States of America.

People must apply consistent pressure on the government to fight systemic racism, she said.

Systemic racism runs like a machine. From what we see on the news, from what weve gotten out of our history books, all of it tells us its not for you, Taylor said. ... After a while you check out because youre wondering whens a conversation, when is love, when is equity going to be turning its face to you.

When is Lady Liberty gonna take its blinders off and really take a look at the fact we need equity. Were too busy trying to live and fight our way into a society that has historically marginalized us or told us we were less then.

Illinois State Senator Christopher Belt, Cahokia. Derik Holtmann/dholtmann@bnd.com

The c ontributions of Black Americans

Belt also noted that the contributions of Black people have left an indelible mark on the history of America.

In response to a question, he said he pledges allegiance to the American flag just like everyone else.

We have to keep hope alive that one day, it will mean one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, he said.  We are not there yet. You can see it in all of the discriminatory practices we have to deal with day in and day out. We gotta believe we are marching toward what the Pledge of Allegiance says.
Thousands turned out Saturday, June 18, 2022, for Stonewall Columbus' Pride parade Downtown. It was the first in-person event since 2019 and a welcome sight for many.

In June 1981, 200 people marched from Ohio State University to the Statehouse to commemorate the Stonewall Inn riot of 1969, which was a key event in the fight for gay rights.

The following year, Columbus held its first Gay Pride Parade, organized by Stonewall Columbus, with about 1,000 marchers.

Over the years, the event has turned into the second largest Pride Parade in the Midwest behind Chicago with about 750,000 people participating. Columbus was named among U.S. News & World Report's top 21 Pride parades and celebrations in the U.S. for 2023.

U.S. News noted Columbus is "one of the fastest-growing and most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the country." The outlet also highlighted Stonewall Columbus' "Purpose. Passion. Power." theme this year, which serves as a reminder of the original Stonewall uprisings, highlighting the purpose of Pride protests as well as the passion and power of the LGBTQ+ community.

Columbus Pride: Everything you need to know about the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March

Here's a look back at photos of the parade and festival through the years.

(Left) Ed Grudus of Dayton was one of more than 500 gay rights supporters from all over the state to march in the Ohio Gay Pride Parade on June 26, 1982. The parade concluded with a rally on the Statehouse lawn. (Right) Marchers in Columbus' first Gay Pride Parade on June 26, 1982 head southbound on Front Street in Columbus to the west of the Nationwide building. Some resources say the Pride Parade started with the 1981 march and some say it started in 1982, since that was the first year it was officially named the Gay Pride Parade.

An estimated 1000 people participated in the 2nd Annual Ohio Gay Pride Parade on June 27, 1983. The march, and the rally that followed on the lawn of the Statehouse, attracted participants from across the state.

A member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church of Columbus, shown here, was among the fundamentalists who heckled several thousand gay activists marching in the city on June 24, 1984 for the Ohio-Michigan Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade. The marchers, however, drowned out the anti-gay demonstrators. Gay activist speakers said the gay community is gaining political clout. Close to 4,000 marchers left Goodale Park about 2 p.m. to march to the Ohio Statehouse.

Taken on June 30, 1985. Danny and Mary of Columbus, Ohio, light freedom torch at rally at Ohio Capitol grounds. Crowd estimate about 6,000 people.

1993 Gay Pride March in Columbus. Marchers in front carry Stonewall Union banner.

Participants in the 1995 Gay Pride Parade and Festival carry a banner Sunday, June 25, 1995, in Columbus, Ohio. About 5,000 people gathered for the event, sponsored by the local chapter of Stonewall Union, a gay-rights organization.

Jim VanHorn of Columbus was just one of thousands of participants in the gay pride parade June 30, 1996. The parade began at Goodale Park in the Short North and made it's way down High Street to Bicentennial Park. Photo by: John F Martin

A person helps carry the rainbow flag down High street during the Pride Parade June 23, 2001 in downtown Columbus. (file)

Lovers and friends walked hand in hand down High Street in celebration of Gay Pride.

Poodle Pride on display before the start of the 2011 Gay Pride March held on June 18, 2011

Patrick Powell of Amazing Giants walks on stilts to entertain the crowd at the Gay Pride Parade in Columbus June 22, 2013.

George Takei rides on a float while appearing as the Grand Marshal of the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade in downtown Columbus on Saturday, June 21, 2014.

Grand Marshall of the 2015 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, Jim Obergefell waves to the soggy crowds on June 20, 2015.

Members of the L Brands group carry balloons during the 2017 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade in Columbus, Ohio on June 17, 2017.

Grand marshal drag queen Nina West (Andrew Levitt) waves to the crowd during the 2019 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade.

A trans rights group marches in the pride parade. Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Columbus. Thousands turned out for Stonewall Columbus' Pride parade Downtown. It was the first in-person event since 2019 and a welcome sight for many. (Credit: Courtney Hergesheimer/ Columbus Dispatch)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 40+ years of the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade in photos
A judge on Monday entered not guilty pleas for the man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death last year.

Bryan Kohberger, 28, has been charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the November 2022 deaths. He declined to enter pleas on his own, and the judge in Latah County District Court entered them on his behalf.

Kohberger, who was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University at the time of the killings, was arrested and charged last year and indicted by a grand jury last week.

The judge scheduled Kohbergers trial to begin in October after the accused waived his right to a speedy trial.

University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin  all between the ages of 20 and 21  were found fatally stabbed last year at a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, near the college campus.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Nurse learns the baby she helped deliver 22 years ago is now her daughter-in-law

Kelsey Poll and her fiance, Tyler West, were looking through her baby pictures at her family's home in Layton, Utah, this year when West suddenly stopped and looked surprised.

He pointed to a photo of a woman tending to her as a newborn and said: "Hey, I think that's my mom. It looks like she was your nurse!"

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A photo from June 2001 showed a nurse preparing Poll's feet to take footprints for her birth certificate.

West said he looked at his betrothed in astonishment as they sat together on the sofa that day in mid-March.

"We were both pretty shocked," he said.

He and Poll quickly flipped through the photo album to find her birth certificate showing that she was born at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah, on June 15, 2001.

West, 23, said he immediately recognized the penmanship on the document.

"I told Kelsey, 'That's definitely my mom's handwriting,'" he said of his mother, labor and delivery nurse Mary Ann West.

After the astounded couple looked through the scrapbook that day, they rushed to the basement to retrieve a video taken by Poll's dad at the hospital on the day of her birth. Sure enough, it showed Tyler West's mother standing next to Kelsey's mom, Stacy Poll, as she held her newborn daughter.

"I thought it was really cool - it made me feel grateful to know I had this tie to my new family," said Kelsey Poll, 22. "I always wanted to have a good relationship with my future parents, and it also confirmed that I want to be with Tyler for the rest of my life."

The odds were long that Tyler West's mother would help bring his future bride into the world.

Around 400 babies are born at Lakeview Hospital every year, according to hospital spokeswoman Brittany Glas. The year Kelsey Poll was born, her family and Tyler West's family lived about 10 miles apart, in two different counties near Salt Lake City.

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Tyler West was born at a different hospital from Kelsey Poll, and the two went to different high schools. Their paths did not cross until August 2021, when he walked into the credit union where she was working as a teller in Davis County, Utah.

"When I left, I thought, 'I have to go back and get her number,'" he recalled, noting that they dated about a year and a half before he proposed on Feb. 12, 2023.

Mary Ann West has worked at Lakeview Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse for about 23 years, she said. She remembers the day Stacy Poll was in labor at the hospital, expecting her third child.

"I remember her because she was so nervous about having a third baby and how her other two young kids were going to handle it," said West, 49.

"I'd had Tyler the year before, and he was my third [child]," she said. "I told Stacy about that, and how my kids had reacted to their new little brother. 'You've got this, girl,' I told her. 'You can do this.' We bonded over that, and it helped her to become more relaxed."

West also remembered the day Poll's daughter was born for another reason.

It was discovered during Stacy Poll's labor that she had a condition called velamentous cord insertion - a complication that occurs in about 1 percent of single-birth pregnancies in which the umbilical cord from a fetus doesn't properly connect to the placenta.

Earlier ultrasounds hadn't picked up Stacy Poll's condition, said West, noting that exposed blood vessels from Kelsey's umbilical cord were at dangerous risk of bursting and bleeding.

"It's a pretty scary thing, and it's the only time I'd ever seen anything like it," West said. "We were all relieved and happy when everything went perfectly and Kelsey was born healthy, without complications."

More than two decades later, when Kelsey Poll and Tyler West introduced their parents to each other at a pre-wedding dinner - before their discovery of the coincidence at Kelsey Poll's birth - the two moms said they each thought the other looked familiar.

"Kelsey had told me that Mary Ann was a labor and delivery nurse, and she and Tyler had joked that maybe she'd brought me ice chips when I was in the hospital," Stacy Poll said.

"I thought the odds were slim that she'd have been there," added Stacy Poll, 47. "But in the back of my mind, I guess I wondered, 'Could it be?'"

She said she recalled appreciating how her delivery nurse had listened to her concerns and helped to calm her while she was in labor.

That's why she made sure to include a photo of her favorite nurse in her daughter's baby book, she said.

"She was with me the entire time, telling me, 'Honey, it's going to be okay,'" Stacy Poll recalled. "When Kelsey was born, she handed her to me and said, 'Welcome to the world, princess.' I just always remembered her kindness."

Stacy Poll said she was housecleaning on the day that Tyler West recognized his mom's face in Kelsey's photo album. She called the realization "an incredible moment."

When West and Poll got married last month, on May 25, they had a fun story to tell their guests.

"I'd met his parents and always felt really comfortable around them," Kelsey Poll said. "Knowing now that Mary Ann helped to deliver me makes me feel even closer to her."

West said she was delighted to learn about her early connection with her future daughter-in-law.

"I'm just so thankful that Tyler found her and she's now part of our family," she said. "We've loved her from Day 1, and it's like it was meant to be. Kelsey is the one."

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Olivia Culpo was photographed by Ben Watts in Hollywood, Fla. Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

For her 2018 debut with SI Swimsuit, Olivia Culpo took part in a meaningful In Her Own Words body paint feature with Taylor Ballantyne in a Brooklyn studio. She went on to return to the publication each year through 21.

Culpos sophomore feature with the brand took her to Australia, where she posed for photographer Josie Clough on Kangaroo Island. The 31-year-old former Miss Universe landed the magazines cover in 2020 alongside fellow models Kate Bock and Jasmine Sanders. The trio were photographed in Bali by visual artist Yu Tsai.

The reality TV star and model has been very open about her journey with endometriosis, and in fact, previously told SI Swimsuit that her surgery scars from her November 2020 procedure are her favorite part of her body. Her latest SI Swimsuit feature was captured by Ben Watts in Hollywood, Fla., the following year.

Theyre amazing, Culpo stated of her scars. My surgeon did such a great job and theyre small. Not that I wouldnt love them if they were bigger. Im honestly so proud of them but I absolutely love them.

Below are eight photos from Culpos 2021 photo shoot in Florida that we adore almost as much as her body-positive outlook.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
During this vacation travel season, a couple of million passengers can be expected to pass through Midway Airport, that wouldnt be there if it wasnt for the aeronautical equivalent of the Little Engine That Could.

In the 1960s and 70s, following the completion of OHare International Airport in the 1950s, Midway was headed for extinction before it was saved by the now nearly forgotten Midway Airlines. The company employed a daring formula: secondhand aircraft; discounted fares, like $99 one-way weekend specials to New York; and a CEO who spoke like a salty old tar.

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Our capacity is so small," Irving Tague said in 1980, when Midway initiated flights to New York, we wont constitute more than the proverbial wart on an elephants behind.

Investors were shy of backing him and his partners, and Midway was a tenuous operation out of the starting gate.

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None of us is wealthy, Tague said when postponing the carriers first flights. We have spent $1 million of our time and money. And sooner or later we will have to go to work to pay the bills.

Midway Airlines passengers wait before flight time at Midway Airport on Sept. 28, 1990, in Chicago. (Val Mazzenga/Chicago Tribune)

But the money was found, providing pilot William Curry an experience he wouldnt have had flying for a major carrier. For Curry, a retired first officer and captain with Midway, hand-me-down aircraft had what he considered an unlikely virtue: not everything worked consistently.

Curry loved flying, and large, commercial aircraft are largely flown by autopilot systems. Those didnt always work so well on Midways fleet.

In the 80s, we were flying aircraft built in the 60s, the captain would push the Autopilot button, and it would pop back out, Curry recalled. Id say, Ill fly it by hand, Captain. 

Alone in the cockpit, Curry would realize his childhood dream of steering an airplane into the wild blue yonder.

Considering Midway Airports lack of curb appeal, its understandable that investors werent eager to risk their money on a startup based there. On Aug. 28, 1961, a Tribune reporter painted a word picture of a ghost town. Empty seats and spick-and-span tables in the snack shops. No lines at the check-in counters, and few flights either coming or going.

Were running an old ladies home, a flight controller in Midways tower told the Tribune for that story.

He and his colleagues once handled up to 150 takeoffs and landings an hour. They now were grateful for even a small private machine to enter their control area, the Tribune wrote.

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People wait in line to purchase tickets for Midway Airlines at Midway Airport on Aug. 26, 1983, in Chicago. (James Mayo/Chicago Tribune)

Midway Airline jets sit parked on the tarmac in 1984. (Chicago Tribune)

The airports decline had a contagious effect on neighbors.

The nearby motels, hotels, restaurants, bars, service stations and parking lots are suffering loss of business, too. Proprietors are singing the economic blues, the Tribune reported. Many who worked for airlines or service groups at Midway are being transferred to OHare field and their families are talking about moving north, too.

In the 1950s, Midway was the busiest airport in the United States. Aircraft then had propellers. But as they sprouted jets, Midway paid the price of its geometry. Built on Chicagos street grid, its runways were limited to a milelong square, or about 6,500 ft.

Airlines with jet-propelled craft needed the longer runways at OHare, which triggered an exodus from Midway. In 1970, Mayor Richard J. Daley summoned airline presidents and, as the Tribune reported, bluntly informed them that Midway, a $90 million facility, was being neglected.

In 1978, when Midway serviced only two daily Delta Air Lines St. Louis flights, the Tribune headlined Tagues proposal for remaking the Southwest Side airfield: Midway Airport may find new life as bargain basement. 

Tague and his partners were betting that the Civil Aviation Board would bail out Midway Airport by getting Midway Airlines off the ground. Capitalism assumes that progress requires competition, and the CAB was getting heat from Congress, as the Tribune reported, for refusing to allow any new airlines into the market since just after World War II.

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Mayor Jane Byrne, right, and Irving Tague, second from right, president of Midway Airlines, view a model of a DC-9 jet at a news conference at City Hall on Oct. 22, 1979, in Chicago. The newly formed airline would begin service on Nov. 1, 1979, from Midway Airport with flights to Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit. (Frank Hanes/Chicago Tribune)

The CAB in 1978 approved Midway Airlines offer to take up the slack and operate out of Midway. Geography and OHares success  for many years it was the worlds busiest airport  favored the Southwest Side airports revitalization. It was closer to downtown Chicago than OHare, in addition to being easier to navigate. Midway Airlines extended an invitation with an ad headlined: Go Midway and Kiss OHare goodbye.

In addition to the swipe at OHare, the airline touted its low prices with a motto aimed at United Airlines, one of the Northwest Side airports major tenants: Fly the wholesale skies.

It had promotional tie-ins with Mid America Federal Savings and Avenue Bank & Loan. If they deposited $2,500, travelers could get two tickets from Midway for the price of one.

But some of its budget promotions backfired. Penny Day in 1980 offered flights to Cleveland for 37 cents and Kansas City for 45 cents. People who didnt get to Midway quickly enough wound up fighting mad.

It was supposed to be first-come, first-served, said Ottis Gaines, who hoped to take his seven children to Detroit. But the way they ran it was first animal in line.

Midway Airlines customers mob the counters at Midway Airport to get tickets for less than 50 cents during a promotion on Jan. 27, 1980. (Sally Good/Chicago Tribune)

Midway grew from three DC-9 airplanes to 26 by 1984, thanks to employees who worked like kin. Family members dont have to be asked to do chores; parents set an example for children.

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It is not unusual to see mechanics helping ramp attendants, and flight attendants get off the plane to help at the gate, Midways President Gordon Linkon told the Tribune in 1981.

The article said that Midway pilots have been known to walk their planes picking up discarded trash between flights. I pick up trash myself when I walk through the terminal, Linkon said.

If I brought a part to an airplane and another landed, Id scoot over there and help unload the luggage, Mike Carlson, a South Sider who was hired as a stock clerk in the parts storeroom and moved up through the ranks, said in an interview. He married a flight attendant. Such matches were common, many made in a greasy spoon across the street from the airport. The Midway Airlines hangout was dubbed Club Taupe, from the color of the flight attendants uniforms.

Diana Laliberte, from left, Denise Hollinger and Heidi May head for work as flight attendants for Midway Airlines on Oct. 4, 1988. (Don Casper/Chicago Tribune)

Midway Airlines employees and the Curie High School band celebrate the airlines' 10th anniversary on Nov. 1, 1989, and the dedication of a new McDonnell Douglas MD-87 jet at Midway Airport. (Don Casper/Chicago Tribune)

Once Carlson and his wife arrived late for an employees Christmas party. The tables were filled, and they were leaving when a woman said, Im the wife of the chairman. I will find you seats.

When an airplane needed a replacement part in another city, Carlson would phone around to find one nearby. He said that once he was sent to California to purchase a McDonnell Douglas airplane. What did he know about buying an airplane with 107-foot wingspan and a $40 million price tag?

I learned fast, he said.

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Midway Airlines success precipitated its downfall. Other carriers mimicked its cut-rate model, offering discount tickets. Midway was still expanding, adding cities to its schedules, even as war in the Middle East pushed up the cost of fuel. In 1990, Midway lost $139 million.

It declared bankruptcy in March 1991, and acquisition by another carrier seemed the only way out of its death spiral. Northwest Airlines was lined up as a buyer, and Carlson was assigned to stealthily inventory the parts storeroom. Northwest Airlines wanted to know what it would get for its money, he said.

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The deal with Northwest fell through, as Dawn Raetz discovered when she saw another gate attendant burst into tears. Outbound passengers on Nov. 13, 1991, were told in midair they had to find another way home. Ticketholders who showed up at Midway Airport found computers being removed and employees packing up their belongings.

Midway Airlines employees, some crying, pick up their personal belongings on Nov. 14, 1991, after the airline shut down. (Mario Petitti/Chicago Tribune)

Carlson recalled the final flight of three Midway airplanes over the airport. One turned off, performing the missing man salute to a fallen comrade. Fight crews, mechanics and office workers gathered on runways to watch Midways last rites.

To this day, many alums cherish Midway memories, much as does Capt. Curry, the pilot who disliked autopilots.

It was, he said, the land at the end of the rainbow, unicorns included.

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Thanks to Capt. William D. Curry, of Greensboro, North Carolina, for suggesting this Vintage story.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
If we could describe a perfect day for a lot of us, it would be drinking delicious wine and petting adorable cats. Well, the next time we are in Rock Hill, South Carolina we know where we are going!

The TikTok account for @Jensensavannah recently discovered this amazing winery that is home to several resident rescue cats called Cat's Paw Winery and we want to go to there. .

View the original article to see embedded media.

Okay, when can we go there? So many TikTok users are loving this place and @Kami says, "Finally someone else knows about this?!!!! Its always so nice there and the cats are so cuddly." @Jense adds, "Thats one of my favorite places!!!! The wine is amazing and the cats are amazing." @Nat says, "Had my engagement party here! Such a cute little spot with really good wine too!"

The website for this cool winery explains that the winery's name is inspired by Joey, John's first orange tabby. When John needed a mascot for the winery, the choice was obvious! Joey went over the Rainbow Bridge in 2018, and while no cat can ever replace Joey, John has opened his heart and home to several rescue cats over the years. Be prepared to meet Percy, Simon, and Morris during your next visit! Awwwww. You can find more information about the winery like location and hours by visiting their website here.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.

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Welcome to NC Voices, where leaders, readers and experts from across North Carolina can speak on issues affecting our communities. Send submissions of 350 words or fewer to opinion@charlotteobserver.com.

Vaping: Fix this federal loophole

The writer was a Democratic member of Congress from N.C., 2007-13.

Napoleon supposedly warned that if you start taking Vienna, you need to finish the job and actually take Vienna. Well, North Carolina has started cracking down on flavored vape companies that continue to target the states youth. The federal government should finish the job by doing whatever it takes to keep these products out of minors hands.

Instead, it is inadvertently encouraging young people to vape by allowing disposable e-cigarettes to remain available.

The 2019 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than one-fifth of N.C. high school students use e-cigarettes, with usage ballooning by 1,129% between 2011 and 2019. This isnt supposed to be the case. Three years ago, the FDA took action to ban flavored e-cigarettes. However, the process didnt go far enough. FDA has continued to allow flavored disposable vaping products, and minors have continued to use them.

A recent government study found that over 2.5 million adolescents are using e-cigarettes today, with most using flavored, disposable products. North Carolina is feeling the pain. Stories of abuse and overdose are becoming all too commonplace.

The federal government can help extinguish this youth smoking problem effortlessly  with the stroke of a pen  by adding flavored disposable vapes to its 2020 administrative guidance.

Why wouldnt it? Americas public health experts have been clear on how significantly this loophole has affected minors in our state. Mark Schoeberl, an American Heart Association vice president, says its critical to close the disposable e-cigarette loophole, which has kept dangerous products with kid-friendly flavors on the market and easily accessible to our nations youth.

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I couldnt agree more. It is time to finally take Vienna. Doing so would mark a significant win for President Biden, who has made his desire to end the youth smoking crisis clear. Its a move that parents, educators and lawmakers in this state wont soon forget.

Heath Shuler, Asheville

Get to know your AAIP neighbors

On Jan. 11, 2023, the number of Asian-American state legislators increased from three to five in North Carolina when Rep. Maria Cervania and I joined Sens. Jay Chaudhuri, Michael Lee, and Mujtaba Mohammed in the General Assembly.

We now have two South Asian Americans, one Chinese American, one Taiwanese American, and one Filipino American representing one of the fastest-growing demographics in the state. As one of the first Asian American women elected to the legislature, it was humbling and surreal to see an Asian last name on the voting board.

According to the 2020 census, there are 441,478 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living in North Carolina, 4.1% of our total population.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAIP) Heritage Month. As we pull out of the pandemic, let us not forget that hate crimes against Asian Americans surged in the U.S. during COVID, with more than 2,100 anti-Asian American hate incidents reported between March and June 2020, including incidents in the Triangle area.

A local Chinese American doctor faced verbal attacks and was asked why he brought the virus here by the very patient he was attending. Other AAPI healthcare workers endured verbal and physical attacks while risking their lives to save patients.

Despite all of this, the Chinese American community showed incredible kindness during the pandemic. In spring 2020, our state experienced a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the peak of the pandemic. The Chinese American community and related organizations donated $500,000 worth of PPE to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Chinese international students at UNC Chapel Hill and their parents donated 100,000 medical masks to UNC hospital, Duke Hospital, Cary police, Cary firefighters and several senior homes in Cary.

Stories and contributions of Asian Americans are not often highlighted by mainstream media. I encourage you to make efforts to get to know your Asian American neighbors and friends. Ask about their cultures and heritage  this month and every month.

Rep. Ya Liu, Raleigh
Democrat Public Service Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley and incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves issued a challenge to a room of news reporters, editors and publishers Thursday: ask his opponent, Democrat Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley, about some of the controversial issues Reeves believes Presley has shied away from, particularly healthcare restrictions on transgender youth and House Bill 1020.

A little bit over an hour later, when Presley took the same stage at the Mississippi Press Association Annual Meeting, those questions were asked, and Presley answered.

"So far in Mississippi, my opponent, he won't say a word. Y'all spilled a lot of ink over the legislation when I signed it. A lot of column inches were taken up on that legislation," Reeves said Thursday of the ban on gender affirming healthcare for minors, which he signed in February. He has called those procedures "life-altering, experimental procedures."

The Clarion Ledger asked Presley in early March if he would have signed or vetoed the bill as governor, but his answer did not state a clear position on the bill.

"To my knowledge, only one outlet in the state has asked my opponent, what would you have done, were he sitting in the governor's office when those bills passed? That one outlet asked him, and he refused to answer," Reeves said. "If you're a candidate for governor, in the great state of Mississippi, you've got to take hard questions on policy, and he has refused to even hint how he might have handled these questions. I would think that probably even frustrates his own party. He's also refused to answer questions on House Bill 1020."

When it was Presley's turn to speak, he fielded questions on both topics. While he did not directly say whether he would have signed the transgender healthcare ban, Presley's answer gave his most clear statement to date as to his position on it.

"Here's the bottom line on that issue, No. 1: I trust families. I trust mamas and I trust daddies to deal with the healthcare of their children, first and foremost, period," Presley said. "Second, Tate Reeves brings that issue up for one reason, it's a smokescreen."

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Presley also addressed HB 1020, a bill which supporters say is aimed at tackling crime in Jackson, but which opponents have said is an overreach of a majority-white legislature mandating how a majority-Black city is run. Presley, the former mayor of Nettleton, first attempted to push back on any idea that he is not supportive of law enforcement.

"The difference between me and Tate Reeves is I've stood over the coffin of a loved one killed in the line of duty as a police officer," Presley said. "I've done that. So, I'm not going to allow Tate Reeves to try to teach me anything when it comes to standing up for our police officers and law enforcement. He can save all that hot air for somebody else because my uncle, who just like my father, was murdered, in the line of duty as Sheriff of Lee County four days after I was sworn in as mayor. I've got the badge he was wearing, I've got the gun that was on his hip and the flag that was draped over his coffin, so I don't want to hear Tate Reeves open his mouth to me in this campaign about law enforcement or backing law enforcement because he has never stood where I stood."

As for HB 1020 specifically, Presley said for crime to be addressed in Jackson state leaders need to work with their local counterparts, rather than send down mandates on how things should be done. He also criticized the bill's provisions on unelected state-appointed judges.

"I was a small town mayor, I wouldn't want the state legislature coming to tell me how to run my police department. It's simple," Presley said. "I do not agree with unelected judges. I don't. You think about this for just a minute, we elect judges in this state that hear cases on expired (car) tags. Expired tags, because people can't afford this high car tag fee, but they hear cases on expired tags or one headlight being out and they're elected by the people in that county."

Presley said crime in Jackson needs to be addressed, but he believes HB 1020 will not be the solution.

"I believe that, obviously, there's got to be an address in (the) crime issue in and around Jackson. I'm not oblivious to that, but I can tell you this, you're not going to solve that issue. You are not going to solve that issue effectively without collaboration with local officials. You're just not going to do it," Presley said. "You know what it's going to do? You're going to end up in court, right where we are today."

The two candidates also addressed their positions on tax cuts. Reeves said he would view a victory over Presley as a "mandate" from the people to eliminate the state income tax.

"I'm running for governor in 2023 to get a mandate to eliminate income tax on Mississippians. We all know that when you advocate for higher cigarette taxes, it's because you want to incentivize less smoking and fewer cigarettes. We don't want less income. We want more people in Mississippi," Reeves said.

Presley, on the other hand, wants to eliminate the grocery tax and cut in half the cost of car tags, using state funding so as to leave county revenues unchanged.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Candidates for Mississippi Governor address MS Press Association crowd
U.S. distribution company Dark Star Pictures, Mexicos Manticora Distribution and Spains La Dalia Films announced at Cannes a strategic deal to launch genre label Antidoto Horror Factory.

The venture, unveiled at the Marche du Films new genre-focused Fantastic Pavilion, will develop, produce, distribute and sell a minimum of four genre feature films in the next four years, starting pre-production in 2023.

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Dark Star will take North American rights; Manticora, Latin American territory, and La Dalia, Spanish rights. For the rest of the world, the partners will mutually agree to the most suitable sales representation, said Antidoto Horror Factory partners in a statement.

For Manticora, a distribution and sales company based in Mexico, fruit of a joint venture between VCS Capital and Monica Lozanos Alebrije Cine, the move will mark the entry into film production.

In what is a more competitive market for small to medium distribution companies, in order to assure premium content for us the natural next step was to expand into the production side. Were very happy to start this alliance with La Dalia Films and Dark Star Pictures, said Manticora director Jose Luis Mejia Razo.

Were certain that the combination of the expertise of each partner in their market with the guidance of our amazing artistic directors will result in a production output with the potential to reach wider and targeted audiences, he added.

Raul Cerezo and Fernando Gonzalez Gomez, directors of Spanish horror films The Passenger and The Elderly, will serve as artistic directors alongside Pablo Guisa Koestinger, CEO at Grupo Morbido, Ibero-Americas largest horror conglomerate.

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Genre is the most universal kind of cinema, said La Dalia Films director Jose Luis Rancano, who admits that after meeting the Spanish directors, there was no turning back. Thats why we came up with the idea of creating an independent genre label, Antidoto Horror Factory.

In Spain and just with our resources, it was an impossible project, but we were fortunate to meet our brave partners along the way: Dark Star from the U.S. and Manticora from Mexico. Both have a special and genuine passion for this kind of cinema. This project has become a reality and we have committed to produce one genre film every year for the next four years, Rancano added.

A new-age distribution company for genre content, Dark Star Pictures aims to take North America by storm with these films in the next few years.

We are thrilled to be a part of the Antidoto Horror Factory label. Dark Star remains committed to bringing audiences the most interesting and unique genre content from around the world and with this new venture we will be helping to spotlight even more of those exciting visions on an ongoing basis, said Michael Repsch, Dark Star president and a former Breaking Glass Pictures executive.

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It takes a lot of work to get a sub built, even in the Submarine Capital of the World.

The latest nuclear submarine from General Dynamics Electric Boat, the USS Iowa, was christened on Saturday, with hundreds watching onsite, and many more watching on the live stream in Iowa. These massive machines take a lot of work to be built and christened.

Hull modules, which are sections of the sub, are first built at EBs facility in Quonset Point, RI. Decks are built, and the pieces are shipped to the Groton facility, and are assembled together. The sub will go through sea trials to make sure its fit to serve in the Navy. The total build time is roughly seven years per boat, but can vary, said Dan McFadden, director of communications and public affairs for Electric Boat.

Once a submarine is christened, it can take up to a year for it to be completed and in service, said Matthew Tanner, EB senior test engineer and executive director of the USS Iowa Finishing Committee.

Christie Vilsack, the wife of former Iowa governor and current US secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack, christened the USS Iowa.

The pandemic was disruptive to the shipbuilding process, but is now old news. The challenges now are supply chain backups, and hiring enough people to fill the demand at EB, McFadden said.

Supply issues have thrown off the two subs a year goal, but EB is working to get caught up, Tanner said.

Were bringing a lot of new people on out work force, and teaching them proper submarine shipbuilding, he said.

Electric Boat needs to hire 5,750 people just this year to complete these massive projects, even after hiring 3,900 last year. The hiring is happening at both the Groton and Quonset Point facilities. The company is hitting some of its hiring goals, but theres still the second half of the year to hit those high goals, McFadden said.

Its a lot of people to hire all at once, he said.

Tanners own stepdaughter is in the hiring wave, working as a painter. She should plan for a long career, as its estimated EB has thirty years of work lined up, he said.

Multiple multi-billion contracts from the U.S. Navy have been awarded to EB in recent years for Virginia and Columbia class submarines, including $1.076 billion in May to further fund work on the Virginia class.

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The christening ceremony

The christening ceremonies themselves are also a lot of work. Normally, its a tightly guarded facility, as even photos from the outside may compromise important government work. Several months of planning ensure hundreds of guests and family can come to the ceremony, and have it run smoothly, including erecting the stage, covering areas for security purposes, and more, McFadden said.

The shipyard operations folks did a fantastic job setting this all up and getting ready, he said.

Senator Richard Blumenthal was among the dignitaries who spoke at the USS Iowa christening.

More: The USS Iowa, an attack-class submarine, is one of the first to accommodate women sailors

More: Big Grove collaborates with a Connecticut brewery on a beer dedicated to the USS Iowa

Saturdays christening happened in the building where USS Iowa is being built, Building 260, a large green metal building.

The christening also gives time for family of EB employees to take a tour of the yard for two hours, and see demonstrations of different work, McFadden said.

Most places you can see where your mom, dad, or spouse works, he said. You cant do that here.

These ceremonies have an impact on suppliers, the U.S. Navy, and EB employees to see their work come to fruition, McFadden said.

These milestones are important to all of us, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: USS Iowa christening General Dynamics Electric Boat Christie Vilsack
The Western Electric 91E Integrated Amplifier, a category winner in the Robb Report 2023 Audio Awards, has made quite a stir since its recent introduction, and for a host of reasons. Just a single attribute would garner accolades, but the fact is, the 91E delivers on many notable counts. This Swiss Army knife of an integrated amplifier produces remarkable sound in a design that combines Bluetooth streaming with a sophisticated phono stage. It implements unique circuit topology using Western Electrics 300B, the most venerated vacuum tube in audio history. Its packaged in a flawlessly machined and finished single chassis that doubles as audio art. It would have been enough had the 91E Integrated Amplifier accomplished any of these objectives, let alone all of them.

Unquestionably our favorite two-channel product of the year, this vacuum-tube titan of amplification is a sight to behold. Squint ones eyes, and it could be a scale model of monumental Greek architecture, a triumphal arch from ancient Rome, or a Worlds Fair pavilion from our modern era. Two glass colonnades, one on either side of the chassis, each ensconce a single Western Electric 300B vacuum tube, which is the heart and soul of this amplifier, and its raison detre.

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The Western Electric 91E Integrated Amplifier with wood-case packaging for the pair of Western Electric 300B vacuum tubes.

Opening the large wood-sided crate shipped from the factory in Rossville, Ga., one unpacks the main unit and a box containing accessories, various tools, gloves, and a user manual. A separate cardboard box contains a precious wood case whose lid opens to reveal a matched pair of Western Electric 300B vacuum tubes, each with its own serial number. These are available separately at $1,499 per pair, for use by owners of other 300B-based amps who want the best tubes money can buy.

The sound of a 300B amp is utterly dependent on the quality of its tubes, and on the global stage, those by Western Electric and Japans Takatsuki are regarded as the very finest by a wide margin. The story of the Western Electric 300B goes back to 1938. The tube was made by AT&T for 50 years until manufacturing ceased, and after a decade or so, Charles Whitener acquired the Western Electric brand and the rights to manufacture the 300B. His company followed with an amplifier that exploits the best qualities of the tube, while adding a twist.

For audiophiles with a penchant for vacuum tubes, the Western Electric 300B is art in a bottle.

A 300B vacuum tube produces about 8 watts of power, the practical limit of the device when operated in a single-ended circuit. The 91E Integrated Amplifier employs Whiteners patented Steered Current Source (SCS) technology that delivers greater power from the tube, with output rated at 20 watts per channel (WPC) into 8 ohms with 10 percent total harmonic distortion (THD). This extra margin allows the 91E to be used with a broader range of loudspeakers, not just super-high-efficiency horn-loaded designs.

One novel aspect of the amp is the ability to change the 91Es default 8-ohm output transformer with a 4-ohm or 16-ohm option, matching impedance to the load presented by the users loudspeakers. These transformers, at $999 each, unplug for easy switching and come with an engraved top plate. On either side of the output transformer is one pre-installed ECC81 vacuum tube for the preamp circuit.

The 91E uses one pair each of 300B and ECC81 vacuum tubes.

The front panel is divided into three vertical sections. At the left are selector buttons for sources, including Phono, CD, Tuner, Aux 1 and 2, and BT, the latter a streaming function that allows rational-thinking civilians (not audio nerds) the ability to enjoy the 91E without guilt. At the right is a massive and imminently satisfying volume knob, a standard quarter-inch headphone jack, and the Power/Standby button.

Absent a signal for 20 minutes, the 91E goes into Standby mode, requiring the warmup and bias sequence to be accomplished before music comes back home to roost. The center of the front panel is dominated by a vertical screen about the size of an iPhone, which upon startup, shows the original Western Electric logo, the Genius of Telegraphy, picturing the statue by Evelyn Beatrice Longman commissioned by AT&T in 1916 and more commonly called Golden Boya naked guy with wings, standing atop a globe, holding cables and lightning bolts.

A glass tube chimney and top grid protect and ventilate each 300B vacuum tube.

That historic image gives way to the countdownCape Canaveral styleof the automatic 30-second warm-up, followed by a 30-second bias check, upon the completion of which the 91E is ready to rock, roll, or simply waft its dulcet tones. Accolades go to the stout and well-made remote control. Housed in black aluminum and with real metal buttons, it has a great hand feel and shames the plastic garbage that accompanies many otherwise high-end components. Drop it at the peril of bare feet and the remotes fine anodized casework.

An unlikely bedfellow for the high-end component, Bluetooth connectivity is a function that encourages other members of the household to embrace the user-friendly nature of the 91E, allowing it to be a constant companion in the musical journey. When things get serious, select a more substantial digital or analog source. Vinyl enthusiasts can rest comfortably knowing that the built-in phono stage of the 91E will accommodate a retinue of cartridges, and offers different loading choices for moving-magnet (MM) and moving-coil (MC) pickups. Because cartridges require an additional capacitive or resistive load to achieve ideal frequency response, Western Electric offers a variety of phono termination plugs to optimize MM and MC performance based on the cartridge manufacturers specification.

The full-featured rear panel offers a range of input and output options.

With about 20 WPC courtesy of Western Electrics 300Bs, the 91E presents a rich, multi-layered audio experience that sounds as seductive as it is addictive. Extolling the sonic virtues of the 300B vacuum tube to someone unfamiliar with this amplification device is like explaining how a truffle is unlike any common mushroom. One taste suffices. Heretofore undiscovered textures, layers, and depth accompany the sound, as if a crystalline magnifying glass delivers added detail without any exaggerated enlargement of the object.

In the case of the 91E, it was sampled with a variety of likely and unlikely loudspeakers, using CD, streaming, and analog sources. In a less-than-palatial listening room (about 3,500 cubic feet) and at reasonable levels (around 85 dB), the 91E delivered plentiful and unstrained power into a pair of relatively inefficient Harbeth 40.2 monitors, a nominal 6-8-ohm load. These speakers, which are pretty dismissive of low-power tube amps, didnt miss a beat, and in fact, produced more mellifluous and engaging soundmore warmth and micro-detailthan when driven by the 100-watt solid-state amp that regularly powers them.

Final inspection is the day of reckoning for every 300B vacuum tube.

Remarkably, a speaker that should have little in common with a 300B-based designthe Quad 57 electrostaticsang beautifully, and of course there was power to spare. A pair of fresh KLH Nines, upgraded by the electrostatic master David Jantzen, outdid themselves with the 91E, preferring the integrated to their usual VAC-reissue Marantz 8b, a venerable EL34-based push-pull design. Most recently, the 91E has been paired with our studio system using JBL L100 Classic loudspeakers. These 4-ohm, three-way designs arent terribly efficient, and in a large open space should tax most amplifiers without a surfeit of power, but here again, the 91E has abundant presence without stress or strain. An amplifier for all seasons, so to speak? Maybe.

Finally, this components exquisitely machined casework reminds us that audio gear can be jewelry, too. The lightly brushed aluminum is available in three anodized finishes: black and gold at $14,999, and nickel (warm silver) at $15,999. Your choice will depend on aesthetic preferences. We have been enjoying the black version, whose businesslike appearance suits the industrial setting of our studio.

The lightly brushed aluminum casework is available in three anodized finishes: black, gold (shown above), and nickel.

Is there a better single-chassis solution in high-end audio? Sure. For about $80,000, the new DAgostino Momentum Integrated would do nicely, as would a few integrated amps from a handful of American, European, and Japanese manufacturers. But none of those will bring the magic of the Western Electric 300B vacuum tube to the party, and they all cost far more. After all, one taste of that intoxicating sonic elixir, and its hard to go back to anything else.

Click here for more photos of the Western Electric 91E Integrated Amplifier.

The Western Electric 91E Integrated Amplifier.

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Retired nurse Bella Montoya, 76, was thought to have died at Martin Icaza Hospital in Babahoyo, Ecuador, last week. The Associated Press

A woman who shocked her loved ones by knocking on her coffin at her own funeral has died.

Bella Montoya, 76, from Ecuador, suffered a stroke on Friday.

A remarkable video showed her alive inside her coffin.

A woman who shocked her loved ones by knocking on her coffin at her own funeral has died after a week in intensive care.

Bella Montoya, 76, from Ecuador, suffered a stroke on Friday and died, according to the country's health ministry, Sky News reports.

The retired nurse was kept under "permanent surveillance" after she knocked on her coffin at her wake just hours after she had been declared dead.

Five hours into her wake on June 9th, relatives noticed how the coffin "started to make sounds," her son, Gilberto Barbera, told AP.

"My mom was wrapped in sheets and hitting the coffin, and when we approached, we could see that she was breathing heavily," he said. "It gave us all a fright."

A video published on AP shows relatives attending to Montoya as she lays on her side and struggles to breathe.

Montoya was quickly rushed to hospital but did not recover.

After passing away on Friday night, Montoya has now been returned to the funeral home where her wake was intended to happen, and she will be buried at a public graveyard, per Sky News.

Ecuador's Health Ministry said it would launch a government investigation into the hospital to find out how it issues death certificates, AP reported. No details have been released about the doctor who declared her dead.

Read the original article on Insider
Zion National Parks Pride festivities are proof that the show must go on.

Zion National Parks Pride festivities are proof that the show must go on.

ZionNationalParks first Pride was everything its organizers set out to make it: A vibrant celebration of queer life set to the serene backdrop of Southern Utahs red and green canyons and a powerful act of resistance.

The event was hosted on June 15 by the Gays of National Parks, an organization that honors and protects the relationship between LGBTQ+ people and various parks. The celebration included performances and a parade, during which attendees volunteered to clean up the park.

During the parade, attendees volunteered to clean up the park, picking up trash along the way.

During the parade, attendees volunteered to clean up the park, picking up trash along the way.

While traversing nature has not always been the safest activity for visibly queer people, these national parks continue to provide space for them to gather and find solace and inspiration in these protected lands, as a rep put it in a press release about the event. And as our country continues the attempt to police queer bodies, keeping public spaces safe for everyone is crucial.

Among the organizations that participated in the events festivities were The Southern Utah Drag Stars, a collective of drag performers currently amidst a legal battle against St. George City, Utah.

Mitski Avalox, CEO of Drag Stars of Southern Utah, center, at Zion National Parks first Pride in Utah.

Mitski Avalox, CEO of Drag Stars of Southern Utah, center, at Zion National Parks first Pride in Utah.

In an effort to blot out this treasured form of queer expression, the city reportedly denied the organization a permit for a family-friendly drag show they hoped to host at a local park, arguing that the Drag Stars violated an obscure, rarely enforced ordinance. However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)has stepped in to assist in filing a discrimination lawsuit against the city of St. George.

Zion National Parks Pride festivities prove that the show must go on, especially when that show makes bigots uncomfortable. A post on the joyful celebration from the parks official Instagram yielded a copious amount of homophobic comments  and a couple of amazing ones. I am so happy to see all the bigots say they wont be going to Zion anymore! It will be so nice to not have to share the trails with your hateful selves, leaving your trash all over. Good work, NPS, for finding creative ways to solve the overcrowding problem! Happy Pride! posted one user with the handle @mjmeszaros.

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Community groups that attended included Encircle House, Pride of Southern Utah, Equality Utah, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Parashant, Zion, Pipe Spring National Monument and Black Lives Matter, among others.

The loneliness epidemic is twice as pronounced in the LGBTQ community, said Dr. Hitesh Tolani, founder of the Gays of National Parks.

The loneliness epidemic is twice as pronounced in the LGBTQ community, said Dr. Hitesh Tolani, founder of the Gays of National Parks.

LGBTQ spaces have been diminishing over the last 10 years, resulting in the loneliness epidemic becoming twice as pronounced in the LGBTQ community, said Dr. Hitesh Tolani, professor, organizer and founder of the Gays of National Parks. With time spent in nature being a known way to help with loneliness, public lands like national parks are underutilized resources for addressing the loneliness epidemic.

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A 73-year-old woman in Oregon was more than satisfied with her $2 lottery win, lottery officials said.

She had no clue a much bigger sum was in her very near future.

Ruth Salvatore played the Win for Life draw game in Salem for the first time, according to a June 13 news release by the Oregon Lottery. Little did she know shed win the jackpot and be awarded a $52,000 annual prize.

Salvatore bought five tickets and was already thrilled she had won something, officials said. The Grants Pass woman didnt know she had won the jackpot until scanning her last ticket on the Oregon Lottery app, officials said.

Look at that, she said while seeing the news on her phone, according to the release. Look at that.

Salvatore and her husband, Ed, plan to use the money to make some renovations to their home and take a trip to Cancun, officials said.

Salem is about 50 miles southwest of Portland.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Lottery player had gut feeling about NC ticket  then his win had him hollering

Date night turns lucky when woman buys NC lottery ticket. The prize left her in tears

Lottery player hits the jackpot in second-chance NC drawing. Still in dream land
Eight months ago I wrote: "For much more than a decade, I have been witnessing walls being built, screens being erected, communities being partitioned by ignorance and prejudice  and it frightens me... At no time have I been more frightened than today ... "

I was wrong.

I am much more frightened today than eight months ago, more frightened than I was 55 years ago when, together with some friends, I was turned away from the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on the evening of June 5, 1968.

Robert Azzi

We, a clutch of Senator Eugene McCarthy supporters, had driven to join friends working for Senator Robert Kennedy, and share in their celebrations: McCarthy had, after all, just lost the California presidential primary, and Bobby had triumphed.

Or so we believed.

Bobby, we learned as we arrived - no one I knew called him Senator - had been shot. He was declared dead the next day.

Hate, had triumphed.

1968 began quietly. After responding to a draft notice and being deferred for health reasons, I decided to become more active in protesting the Vietnam War and volunteered to be "Clean-for-Gene" when he visited Manchester, NH in January.

I remember meeting his press secretary, Seymour Hersh, who asked, in a perfunctory manner, "What do you do?"

"Well," I stuttered, "I'm studying architecture, I'm a freelance designer. I'm really into photography."

"We don't need an architect or designer. We need a staff photographer. Can you do it?"

"Yes."

The job was mine. I stayed by McCarthy's side until Chicago's Democratic National Convention in August '68; my first legitimate job as a photographer, a job that instilled a passion for photojournalism, justice, and underdogs that persists to this day.

Days later, on January 31, 1968, the Tet Offensive began in Vietnam.

Days later, it seems, the Orangeburg Massacre happened when Highway Patrol officers opened fire on the campus of SC State, targeting about 200 protesters who had previously demonstrated against racial segregation at a local bowling alley. The officers murdered three protesters and wounded 28.

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Days later, MLK was assassinated.

Days later, Bobby was assassinated in The City of Angels.

By the end of 1968 many Americans were wondering if the country would survive the upheaval, the violence, Vietnam, and Richard Nixon.

It survived because most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, at that time subscribed to a common narrative and shared an affirmative belief that all citizens - regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender, were endowed with inalienable rights that could never be denied or diminished.

Today, far too many days later, it appears that Americans are further apart than they were over 50 years ago; further apart, I believe, in understanding what the gift of such rights means, in understanding for whom they were meant.

This past week, I watched in wonder on MSNBC as political commentator Mike Barnicle wondered out loud about "ordinary people" who have "immense fealty toward Donald Trump" and wondered why they believe as they do.

Why, I suspect he was struggling to understand, do they have an unreasonable dedication to a criminally-indicted, twice-impeached, insurrection-inspiring, racist, grifter and sexual abuser who has expressed a patriarchal right to grab women if he so desires.

You're not able to understand it, Mike, because your "ordinary people" look like you and not like me; they probably look like people who live in your neighborhood, not like people in Dorchester or the South Bronx.

You don't understand it, Mike, because I believe you are mirroring what your white privileged life has conditioned you to see: that people who look like you will be rational and reasonable according to your definition of what is rational and reasonable.

Mirroring, as Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz explained to Vanity Fair in 2003, is assuming that enemies like Saddam Hussein will be rational according to our definition of what is rational, the outcome of which were faulty assumptions and a failed occupation in Iraq.

Barnicle's "mirror imaging," perhaps a form of white myopia, is dangerous as it induces a form of blindness that limits one's perspective and imagination to what has already been seen.

Implicit, I believe, from Barnicle's perspective, is that if we try to understand their grievances and resentments, if we're sympathetic to their affection for Trump's racism, authoritarianism, and greed, then America can negotiate some sort of path of accommodation or reconciliation and healing.

That's not going to happen.

Not only is that not going to happen, but even wishing it to happen is dangerous because it legitimizes the discriminatory and ahistorical narratives embraced by nativists and xenophobes.

The America that made it through the turbulence of the 60s has been fractured over the last decade and no longer exists.

There is no common ground to be negotiated with bigots. Days later, now years later, we must acknowledge we're in a civil war for America's soul, a battle between Americans who no longer share common geography or intimacy.

Barnicle's privileged speculation about "ordinary people" suggests a differentiation from the non-ordinary - the Other - who presumably aren't part of the discourse but who are most at risk.

The Other - the non-ordinary, caste-defined, minorities, non-cisgendered, unhoused, undereducated, vulnerable and hungry Americans - those who are most at risk in America - are the targets of a fearsome, fanatical white evangelical nationalist movement.

Life is not a series of pathetic, meaningless actions," Judith Guest wrote in her first novel Ordinary People. "Some of them are so far from pathetic, so far from meaningless as to be beyond reason, maybe beyond forgiveness.

Be very afraid.

While I believe it's beyond forgiveness I fully believe, at this moment, days and years later, that Donald Trump has a good chance of being America's next president, swept back into power by "ordinary people" easily swayed by demagogic visions of an authoritarian state embracing white supremacist ideals.

Such an election would have nothing to do with American values; it would have everything to do with whether we will continue to define ourselves as a constitutional republic or as an autocracy.

Over the years I have been told to believe - to paraphrase Thomas Paine - that to secure my own liberty I must guard even my enemy from oppression.

Will my enemy, in return, guard me?

Robert Azzi, a photographer and writer who lives in Exeter, can be reached at theother.azzi@gmail.com. His columns are archived at theotherazzi.wordpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Azzi: We're in a civil war for America's soul
Daniel Ellsberg, one of the most prominent whistleblowers in history, having leaked the Pentagon Papers revealing that the U.S. government was misleading the public about the status of the Vietnam War, died Friday at age 92.

Ellsberg had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in February.

His son, Robert, announced his fathers death on Twitter, saying that he died peacefully surrounded by family at home and had no pain.

At one point he said, if he were to have a gravestone, that he would say: He became a part of the anti-Vietnam and anti-nuclear movement, Robert posted.

Ellsberg worked for the Pentagon after earning a doctorate in economics from Harvard, then spent two years in South Vietnam with the State Department, and then joined the RAND Corporation as an analyst focused on nuclear and military strategy.

Ellsberg considered himself a cold warrior during this time and was trusted by members of Democratic and Republican administrations. But he became disillusioned with the war and U.S. claims that it could be won. He was also skeptical of one of the main justifications for the war; that North Vietnamese victory would risk the global spread of communism.

Defense Secretary Robert McNamara commissioned the Pentagon Papers, as they came to be known, in 1967 to analyze U.S. decision-making during the war to provide lessons for future leaders about mistakes to avoid.

The report covered more than 20 years of history of ongoing conflict in Vietnam. It included failed French colonization efforts in the 1940s and 1950s and the increasing U.S. involvement, from the administrations of Harry Truman to Lyndon Johnson.

The papers revealed that the U.S. violated a 1954 settlement that banned a foreign military presence in Vietnam, expanded the war into neighboring countries and planned to escalate the conflict despite officials saying they would not. It also raised questions about the viability of the South Vietnamese government.

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Ellsberg was one of the workers at RAND who was involved in drafting the Pentagon Papers. After he became disenchanted with the war effort, he worked with a colleague to photocopy parts of the 47-volume, 7,000-page document.

Ellsberg first contacted several senators about the papers but did not receive interest. He then provided the documents to The New York Times, which published a series of stories about the findings in 1971.

Ellsberg turned himself in following the reports release, becoming a hero to anti-war activists and a traitor to the wars supporters. He faced a sentence of more than 100 years in prison in connection with charges of espionage and theft.

But one case against him in Boston ended in a mistrial because government officials had wiretapped conversations between Ellsberg and his attorney. Another in Los Angeles was dismissed after the judge learned that political operatives of the Nixon administration, known as the White House plumbers, burglarized Ellsbergs psychiatrists office.

The Nixon administration tried to prevent the Times and other outlets from further publishing records from the Pentagon Papers citing national security considerations, but the Supreme Court allowed the publication to go forward in a landmark 6-3 ruling against prior restraint.

Ellsberg became a prominent activist in favor of free speech as he got older and also spoke out against the Iraq War, drawing a parallel to the war in Vietnam.

When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars. It was a fate I would gladly have accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, unlikely as that seemed (and was), Ellsberg said in the post announcing his cancer diagnosis.

Yet in the end, that actionin ways I could not have foreseen, due to Nixons illegal responsesdid have an impact on shortening the war. In addition, thanks to Nixons crimes, I was spared the imprisonment I expected, and I was able to spend the last fifty years with Patricia and my family, and with you, my friends.

Ellsberg is survived by his second wife, journalist Patricia Marx, and three children, two from his first marriage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  A retired firefighter captain from Georgia is dead after attempting to rescue two swimmers from the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a report from the Beach Police, 52-year-old Richard Alford of Lula, Georgia, drowned Thursday in Panama City Beach after he entered the Gulf to help two beachgoers who were fighting a rip current.

The incident occurred at Public Beach Access 75, which is located near Front Beach Road and South Vestavia Street.

The report states double red flags were displayed along the coast at that time, meaning the water was closed under penalty of a $500 fine. It also notes one beachgoer entered the water to help another who was struggling. Alford then jumped in to assist both. The two survived, but Alford did not.

"(Alford) jumped in the water to try and rescue two swimmers in distress, but unfortunately he paid the ultimate sacrifice," said Daryl Paul, beach safety director for Panama City Beach Fire Rescue. "When our units arrived on scene, he was submerged. ... It was really tough conditions."

Lifeguards pulled him ashore, where awaiting emergency medical crews began performing machine-assisted CPR. He remained unresponsive and was then transferred to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

Richard Alford, a 52-year-old Georgia resident, drowned Thursday after he entered the Gulf of Mexico to help two beachgoers who were fighting a rip current off the coast of Panama City Beach.

Paul said the incident proves how those who disregard double red flags put others in danger. It also shows how important it is for only trained lifeguards to attempt a water rescue.

PCB lifeguards patrol about 9.5 miles of the Gulf, either on ATVs, in trucks or by jet skis. At least one lifeguard also is stationed in both of the city's two lifeguard towers, which are located on each side of the Russell-Fields Pier.

"We are trained professionals, we practice in these conditions (and) we are ready for this," Paul said. "And before that, heed the flag warnings. ... Nobody should have been in the water in the first place."

Protecting the coast: Panama City Beach doubles number of lifeguards in the past few weeks

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Alford was a retired captain with about 20 years experience working for the Banks County Fire Department in Homer, Georgia. Information from the department notes he did not have any official open water training.

According to city leaders, neither of the people whom Alford attempted to help were ticketed for being in the Gulf under double red flags. Such citations are issued by code enforcement officers, all of whom were busy at that time writing tickets in other areas of the beach.

Paul said roaming lifeguards passed Access 75 multiple times before the drowning occurred to remind beachgoers to stay out of the water.

"Often times when we leave, they just get right back in the water," he said. "They don't heed the warnings, and so that's why it's so important to stress (for beachgoers) to pay attention to the flags (and) listen to the lifeguards.

"Someone else paid the price here. The two people who he went out to save (made) it to shore."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Former firefighter drowns off the coast of Panama City Beach
Who are these people running our government? They say they are Democrats, but in my lifetime I have never known any Democrats who try their best to destroy our country. My parents were Democrats. In fact, all of my extended family were Democrats, but they would never have condoned opening our borders to the entire world to come here for free food, medical care, and lodging  all of this at the expense of American citizens who do not receive such benefits. The people running our government tax the citizens to pay for the noncitizens. Incomprehensibly, the Biden administration puts the welfare of illegal aliens above the welfare of our legal citizens and national interests. I doubt that the citizens who register to vote as a Democrat, if paying attention, truly condone the policies of Biden and his handlers.

The people running our government claim to be Americans and swear an oath to uphold our Constitution and obey our laws. In practice, they do not. Attorney General Eric Holder under the Obama administration refused to prosecute the lawbreaking thugs who stood at polling stations with baseball bats to intimidate voters. I wont address the other violations of Obamas administration. That was then; this is now. Joe Bidens Attorney General, Merrick Garland, is a lawbreaker of the first degree, a disgrace to the office. Other than raiding homes illegally with armed FBI swat teams, homes belonging to Republicans (Have any homes belonging to Democrats been raided?), threatening parents who question school boards that allow the teaching of woke ideology (anti-American ideology), spying on Catholics with the excuse that some may be conspirators of something, and, overall, breaking the laws of our nation and doing so with contempt. Do Americans violate the Constitution of the United States? Do Americans thumb their noses at and distain our laws? I dont believe ruling members of the current administration are Americans. Then what are they? I believe them to be aliens, aliens to the principles upon which our nation was founded.

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Fowler

I understand the millions of people wanting to enter our country. Why do they come? Obviously, for a better life. Most claim to be asylum seekers; however, for most, their only asylum is from poverty, not from persecution. I am not without compassion, but, with a population of approximately 330 million, where would we put another 330 million? Or maybe twice that number? Where do we stop? We should start with the Constitution  that our borders are to be defended by the President of the United States and start with our laws which forbid entering the country illegally. Without the Constitution and our laws, we have no country. Such concepts seem to be alien to Joe Biden Democrats.

Joe Bidens Democrats claim that opening our borders is based on compassion. This is just another lie by these people. Is it compassionate to have migrants drowning in the Rio Grande? To have women and teenage girls raped during their exodus and thrown into prostitution when they cross the border? To have boys and young adults enslaved by the cartels? To have drugs smuggled into our country to kill thousands of brain-washed teenagers and young adults? Bidens Democrats focus on the possibility of having more Democrat voters, a focus not on compassion but on exploitation.

Why do Joe Bidens Democrats have little desire to protect us from those who would destroy our country militarily? While Russia, Iran, China and others are increasing their military might, our military is being taught to use the right pronoun when referring to gender identity. The Democrats treat our military forces as if they were on a kindergarten playground in which battles are fought with wooden swords and cap pistols. (Pardon me! Cap pistols have been outlawed from playgrounds as being too dangerous. I was never killed nor did I kill anyone when I shot playmates and they shot me with our Gene Autry cap pistols.).

Joe Biden and his Democrats have little interest in defending our country, despite their blustering. Action speaks louder than words. (I confess this observation is not original with me.) And all that Joe Bidens Democrats do is utter words, words, words  and most have little meaning. Poor Kamala Harris! She cant even speak intelligent words, and she may be our next president. (Absolutely, too horrifying to even contemplate!).

If only Joe Biden and his Democrats (mainly his incompetent cabinet) were sent to the Marxist country from which they came, our country would be in much better shape. A vibrant economy could once again be the hallmark of our nation. The border would be closed to illegal immigration. Our military would once again be funded in order to keep our superiority as the mightiest nation in the world. Most of all, aliens would no longer rule.

Carl Fowler is a retired professor of English at Amarillo College and lives in Amarillo.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Fowler commentary: Do we have an alien government?
Gloria Estefan, the woman behind hit songs in English and Spanish, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Estefan, who was born in Havana, Cuba, is the first Hispanic woman to be included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The induction is the latest honor in Estefans decades-long career. She is the second best-selling female Latin artist in history and was named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by VH1 and Billboard.

In her hometown of Miami, though, shes best known for her iconic song catalog, which has been blasted at family cookouts, weddings and brunches for years. Her songwriting credits include Lets Get Loud, Coming Out Of The Dark and Get On Your Feet.

During her speech at the induction ceremony, Estefan said the honor fulfilled a dream that I hadnt even dared to dream.

Ive been incredibly blessed with some pretty cool honors, but i have to admit, this is a big one for me, said Estefan, who has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Kennedy Center Honor. To be counted among this incredible group of inductees  who I so admire and am a huge fan of each and every one  makes this honor that much more special.

And her accolades are vast.

She has won several Grammys, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and a National Artistic Achievement Award from Congress. In 2015, On Your Feet!, a jukebox musical about her life, premiered on Broadway. That same year, she and her husband were awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2017, she became the first Cuban-American and fourth Latina to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. She even has her own Barbie doll.

But as a songwriter, Estefan said in a January interview with CBS Miami, being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is the biggest honor. Her fellow inductees this year include Snoop Dogg, Sade and the band members of Blondie.

To me, its all about the songwriters. Those are the people who got me through my toughest times, she said. I would pore over their lyrics and read all the credits. They got me through some very tough moments in my life, so for my music to be able to impact people in that way is just amazing.

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Though it felt wonderful to be the first Hispanic woman included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Estefan added that we have a long ways to go.

Im sure there have been many, many women writers through the years that are deserving of this, Estefan said. At this age, to be the first at anything is pretty great.

This story was produced with financial support from The Perez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
Demonstrators lie on the ground for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, the amount of time that George Floyd was pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer before his death, during a protest in front of the Statehouse June 6, 2020.

GUEST EDITORIAL | The Columbus Dispatch

Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, news of freedom reached still-enslaved Black people in Galveston,Texas, on June 19, 1865.

That critical and complicated moment in American history will be celebrated Monday during Juneteenth, a holiday celebrated in the Lone Star State since June 19, 1866, and one that drew national attention during calls for justice and unrest sparked by the slaying of George Floyd in 2020 and several other Black Americans at the hands of police.

Two years after President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, truths at the center of the holiday's existence are disturbingly under attack around the union on nearly every level of education.

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis throws hats to the crowd at an event held by the Never Back Down PAC featuring presidential candidate DeSantis in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

Much attention has been placed on Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' crusade against so-called wokeness, but Ohio has more than its share of anti-knowledge bills pending at our Statehouse.

They masquerade as attempts to protect the minds of vulnerable Ohio children, but these democracy-corroding bills seek to erase historical facts. Moreover, they would open the doors for the furtherance of the racism and white supremacy that fueled America's original sin and continues to divide far too many who should be united.

Intellectual shackles will be forced on Ohio's future leaders as their minds are enslaved with lies and/or incomplete truths.

As philosopher George Santayana wrote in 1905, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Sinister bills proposed for Ohio's future.

Proponents of these deceptive bills say they want to save students from "indoctrination" or any shame that would come with learning harsh historical facts.

Their truth is the direct opposite. These bills will blind our children to history and fire holes into democracy and true patriotism. House Bill 103 and Senate Bill 83 are prime examples.

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Professor: Admitting white privilege shouldn't be required at Ohio universities

Approved in May, Senate Bill 83  the disingenuously named "Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act"  takes aim at academic freedom, how so-called controversial topics like "climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage or abortion" are discussed, and the anti-racism efforts sparked by the 2020 protests and unrest that led to the federal Juneteenth holiday.

Unapproved by the House, the sweeping education reform package was added Wednesday to the Ohio Senate's version of the state's two-year budget.

Titled "Establish Ohio Social Studies Standards Task Force," House Bill 103 would have a committee rewrite the state's K-12 social studies standards, replacing them with the American Birthright model from The Civics Alliance, a coalition of right-wing and conservative groups. The standards emphasize Western history, American exceptionalism, patriotism and Christianity over civic engagement.

The National Council for the Social Studies, which represents over 10,000 social studies educators, has raised the red flag about the standards.

"If implemented in schools, these suggested standards would have damaging and lasting effects on the civic knowledge of students and their capacity to engage in civic reasoning and deliberation," a statement from the council reads.

Demand emancipation in Ohio

As with other "emancipation day" celebrations, Juneteenth comes with picnics, festivals and other events.

But with the wave of book banning and legislative attacks on honesty, we must recognize Juneteenth as a reminder of where we've been as a nation. It is a call for freedom and justice.

The truth of America's rich and complicated history will be distorted in Ohio if these anti-American bills are approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Ohio's students deserve truthful examinations and discussion of the complex events and people who make us who we are. We cannot condemn them to repeat the past when it is very possible for them to create a future that benefits all Ohioans.

The truth does not imprison the mind. It liberates it.

The minds of Ohio's students must be emancipated if we are to be truly free.

This piece was written by the Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson on behalf of The Dispatch Editorial Board. Editorials are our board's fact-based assessment of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: House Bill 103 and Senate Bill 83 would enslave minds of Ohio students
House Republicans dont want to talk about Jan. 6. They also cant stop talking about it.

At times, GOP lawmakers insist theyre uninterested in relitigating an attack that is political poison for the party outside of deep-red areas. But at other times, some Republicans have stoked narratives that falsely pin blame for the attack on police, Democrats or far-left agitators  or downplay the violence at the Capitol. The latter approach has seen a noticeable uptick of late.

And its not just far-right conservatives who fall in that group  some House GOP leaders and key committee chiefs have shown theyre willing to flirt with the fringe without an outright embrace. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has shared security video of that day with far-right media figures who have minimized or fed inaccurate portrayals of the attack.

Yet theyre also batting down some of those same false conspiracy theories and preparing to focus on at least one area of bipartisan concern: Capitol security vulnerabilities, many of which remain unresolved since the attack. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), who faced scrutiny from the Jan. 6 select committee for a Capitol complex tour he gave on Jan. 5, 2021, is warning allies against automatically accepting certain claims.

You wouldnt believe how many experts there are out there on Jan. 6, who know exactly what happened because they read it on the internet, said Loudermilk, who is leading the GOPs look back at the attack and at the Democratic-led Jan. 6 panel.



Loudermilks comments underscore House Republicans' reality. While most admit privately, if not publicly, that Jan. 6 was the work of a violent mob, they have a political calculus to consider: A not-insignificant faction of their party is hellbent on rewriting the history of the day.

Hanging over it all is former President Donald Trumps vociferous defense of the rioters and continued false claims that he won the 2020 election. Federal and Georgia prosecutors are investigating his efforts to subvert the election and could bring charges later this year.

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Trump is uninterested in making the balance any easier on Republicans: His pledge to pardon a large number of Jan. 6 defendants is a feature of his commentary on the campaign trail, where he remains the frontrunner for the partys 2024 nomination.

Still, House Republicans arent fully playing to Trump. For now, theyre giving Jan. 6 a side hug more than a bear hug.

McCarthy encapsulates the half-hearted embrace. He angered some allies on the right this year by defending a Capitol Police officers decision to shoot a Jan. 6 rioter who was attempting to breach a room adjacent to the House chamber. But hes also provided exclusive access to thousands of hours of security footage to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who's used the film to demean and distort police officers' actions.





Speaker McCarthy promised that House Republicans would investigate the security failures of that day and provide transparency to the American people. Former Speaker Pelosi and her Select Committee set one bad precedent after another  including releasing select clips for partisan purposes, a McCarthy spokesperson said in a statement that did not address conference dynamics around Jan. 6.

For two years, we heard no concerns when footage was used by Democrats, the media, and Pelosis daughter for her HBO documentary, the McCarthy spokesperson added, declining to be identified by name and referring to Nancy Pelosis daughter filming her mother and other party leaders on Jan. 6.

Some of McCarthys most trusted committee chairs have taken a similar approach to the California Republican, eschewing the most extreme efforts demanded by the far-right flank but still winking at some of their concerns.

For example, no committees have pursued baseless claims that Ray Epps, who rioted on Jan. 6, was acting as an undercover government agent. And GOP leaders have sidestepped a far-right fervor to subpoena and probe Jan. 6 select panel members, to scrutinize distorted allegations about Pelosis handling of Capitol security or to dig into judges treatment of the 1,000-plus criminal cases stemming from the attack.

Notably, no committee chairs or party leaders participated in the biggest platform House Republicans have given Jan. 6 defendants so far: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), joined by a handful of others from the conferences right flank, hosted an event last week with former Trump acting assistant attorney general Jeffrey Clark, people charged in relation to Jan. 6, defendants' family members and allies.

The event featured a veritable kitchen sink of conspiracy theories as well as rehashed false claims, including that the 2020 election was stolen and that the Jan. 6 committee doctored video.

But Jan. 6 defendants, their advocates and some GOP lawmakers have called for Republicans to push further.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said that probing the Justice Departments handling of Jan. 6 prosecutions should be one of the top priorities for a Judiciary sub-panel tasked with investigating GOP claims of bias against conservatives within the federal government.

She introduced impeachment articles against the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia who has taken the lead on prosecuting members of the mob. Meanwhile, Gaetz introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who led the now-closed riot select committee. Both efforts have a single-digit number of cosponsors at the moment.

Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) did recently release a wider report that accused the FBI of artificially conflating the number of Jan. 6-related investigations. The report and a subsequent hearing also included testimony from whistleblowers who lost their security clearances due to improper actions related to Jan. 6.



One of the whistleblowers, Steve Friend, and several Freedom Caucus members were invited to speak at a retreat hosted by the conservative Center for Renewing America, where Friend is a senior fellow, shortly before the hearing, according to research by the progressive group Accountable.US that was provided exclusively to POLITICO and confirmed via House disclosure forms.

Jordan also fired off new Jan. 6-related letters, one asking for more information on the FBIs investigation into pipe bombs found near the Capitol the day of the attack and another expanding a probe into record-sharing with federal investigators.

But those efforts make up a small slice of his collective, sweeping investigations.

The Oversight Committee organized a tour of the D.C. jail to investigate two-year-old claims of disparate treatment of the approximately two dozen Jan. 6-related detainees  nearly all of whom were incarcerated or detained for violence against police. But Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) didnt attend the tour, which was led by panel member Greene.

Democrats who attended said that GOP lawmakers and the detained rioters treated each other as allies and friends.

Some members of the Oversight panel recently raised Jan. 6 during a hearing with testimony from Graves and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser  but the session was billed as about broader crime and governance issues.

There's a reason behind the conference's actions to sidestep those issues: A broad swath of House Republicans see spotlighting Jan. 6-related investigations as a terrible political strategy.

Loudermilk has largely conducted the GOPs most focused dive into Jan. 6 so far. He received a copy of the Capitol Polices radio transmissions from the day and met privately with former law enforcement officials to discuss security failures. Loudermilks sub-panel, according to the McCarthy spokesperson, will also soon be rolling out additional access to view Capitol security footage.

Still, Loudermilk set off alarm bells among Democrats when he pushed the D.C. police to disclose how many undercover officers were in the crowd during the attack. The letter dovetails with, but did not specifically mention, claims by some Jan. 6 defendants that plainclothes agents or the government itself might have fomented the riot.

But Loudermilk says he wont lend his subcommittees imprimatur to some of the most egregious false claims.

We want to just follow the facts, not hyperbole or some kind of conspiracy theory, so our interest is just: What is the truth?" he said.
Black people have always been active participants in securing their rights, though their contributions to U.S. history have been diminished, a historian said Friday at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

At the universitys first Juneteenth soiree, assistant professor of history LeTrice Donaldson said in a keynote address that the roots and legacy of the national holiday are an example of the Black communitys cultural significance.

"Juneteenth endures as an acknowledgement of both the failures and the promises of America," said Donaldson, who is also the coordinator of a new Black Studies minor program at the university. "This isn't just Black history; this is American history."

Le'Trice Donaldson, assistant professor of history, gives a keynote address during Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's inaugural Juneteenth event on Friday.

History of the holiday

The holiday, celebrated on June 19 each year, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for slaves in Texas.

In the years before, the enslaved population of Texas had expanded rapidly as slaveholders from other states sought to avoid freeing their slaves by moving to Texas, the frontier of the Confederacy.

"Texas refused to accept the war was over  they lost the battle and they refused to let these people be free," Donaldson said.

Donaldson pointed out that freedom in Texas was ensured by thousands of Black Union soldiers, troops who fought for their own freedom.

The first "Jubilee Day" commemorating June 19, 1865, was held in 1866.

"Free people celebrated with parties, food and sporting events," Donaldson said.

In 1872, Black churches and community groups in Houston raised money to purchase 10 acres of land for Emancipation Park as a location to celebrate Juneteenth.

During this era, Juneteenth attendees strengthened personal bonds and their sense of community, and encouraged active participation in the political process, Donaldson said.

In 1936, Black Texans secured federal grant funding for "The Hall of Negro Life," an exhibit at the Texas Centennial that was dedicated on Juneteenth.

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In the 1940s and 1950s, Juneteenth celebrations honored veterans who had fought for victory abroad and now sought it at home. With the civil rights movement underway in the 1960s, Juneteenth highlighted the historical struggle for freedom and equal rights.

In the 1970s, celebrations focused on pride and cultural heritage, Donaldson said.

"Thinking about that legacy and celebrations ... observed on Juneteenth, African Americans took an active role in constructing their citizenship in U.S. political culture," Donaldson said. "They laid claim to public space and affirmed their collective memory in the face the 'Lost Cause' and public discourse that diminished their role in shaping and their contributions to U.S. history."

Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

The Bayou City Brass Band plays a set at the Juneteenth Festival at Water's Edge Park on June 18, 2022.

Corpus Christi festivities

The University Counseling Center hosted Friday's event, which featured vendors from local Black-owned businesses and organizations, student art displays, a lyrical dance and a spoken-word performance.

"We've been wanting to really bring something like this to our campus to highlight and celebrate those historical moments, that liberation, the freedom that happened for us," counselor Renita Newton said.

LaToya Rodriguez, owner of floral business Rose Soiree, attended the event as a vendor.

LaToya Rodriguez, owner of Rose Soiree florist shop, ties twine around eucalyptus for customers Lori Crutchfield and Warren Windsor during Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Juneteenth event on Friday.

"I'm super excited to be a part of something new in the Corpus area celebrating Juneteenth," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that her family has celebrated Juneteenth for as long as she can remember.

"It took so long for even the news (of the emancipation) to get down here to Texas, and my family is originally from rural parts of Texas," Rodriguez said. "Juneteenth has always been something very, very special to my family."

In Corpus Christi, the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education hosts the 10 Days of Jubilee Festival and the annual Juneteenth Festival in the Park.

Local festivities included a kickoff on June 9 and will conclude with the festival featuring a 5K run, food trucks and musical performances Saturday at Water's Edge Park and a Juneteenth Day of Service on Sunday at Pilgrim's Rest Baptist Church.

More: 10 Days of Jubilee: Check out these Juneteenth celebrations in Corpus Christi

More: Juneteenth: Here's city of Corpus Christi's trash schedule, which offices are closed

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: A&M-Corpus Christi highlights Juneteenth history
Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and the long-time host of the flagship program The 700 Club, died June 8 at age 93.

CBN and Pat Robertson played a huge role in my early adult life, giving his death a bit more meaning to me than the passing of most people on the national stage. Not that I was an ardent watcher of the 700 Club. I seldom saw it, but I had the opportunity to go to CBN University for graduate school. Robertson founded the school, which is now known as Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

President of the Christian Coalition and former presidential candidate Pat Robertson shakes hands with supporters during the evening session of the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia's First Union Center on July 31, 2000.

I never met Robertson, never thought to meet him. He was far removed from me, a student at CBN, so there was never really any chance of meeting him, yet he had a rather profound indirect impact on my life.

In going to CBN, I actually met the woman I was to marry. She was not a student at the school. In fact, it is remarkable we ever met. The route to meeting her was so indirect and improbable that it would take far more than this column to tell that story. Yet, the fact that I was accepted into the school put me in the right place to meet my wife and to make some wonderful friends and have a great educational experience to boot.

The professor who made the most profound impact on my life, no, the two professors who made the most profound impact on my life were both at CBN University. One connected me to a photojournalistic lineage that is as good as it gets. The other was a professor of communication who quite literally wrote the textbook and helped me understand a principle of communication that has stood me well for nearly four decades.

In one of those really odd twists of fate, right after I got married, I printed the letter that Pat Robertson mailed out announcing his candidacy for president and soliciting support for his campaign. It was a rather complicated printing job, and I am still surprised that it ended up in our shop to print.

Gary Cosby Jr.

I was a press operator at a place called Pip Printing. Somehow, the owner of this franchise that was not far from CBN managed to get the printing contract. The two-color printing job, red and blue, not surprisingly, was easy to print. We had a printing press with a two-color printing head so it was no sweat. The envelopes, however, still give me nightmares.

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I was a self-taught printer, certainly not a master of the craft. I was given envelopes to print that required close registration of three colors and if you have never run envelopes through a press that was not perfectly accurate then you cannot imagine the nightmare. I could print two colors in one pass, but the third color had to be done in a different run. It was nearly impossible to align the envelopes in that press to register that third color properly. It still gives me a cold sweat to think of the wastage.

But there I was, printing the letters for Pat Robertsons presidency. Weird. It is one of those degrees of separation things that make your head go all weird.

To complete my personal odyssey as it relates to Robertson, my wife and I were married in the Chapel at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Pat Robertson was not present. My dad actually conducted the ceremony in the circular chapel. It had an enormous cross suspended from the ceiling. I think my wife cried from stress and fear during the entire ceremony. I wasnt sure what to think of that. But weve made it nearly 36 years, so I guess it worked.

Robertson was one of the prime movers of the political activism that has had such a profound impact on the political right in the United States. He included a school of public policy at CBN University with the primary aim of equipping civic-minded Christians for public service in various elected or bureaucratic roles.

Regent University chancellor and CEO Pat Robertson delivers remarks at a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Regent University on Oct. 22, 2016, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The U.S. holds its presidential election in 17 days.

Then, a few years after I left the school, they added a law school and changed the name to Regent University. The school continues to have a strong impact on Christian political thinking.

I know from having seen Robertson in later years, often making what sounded like outlandish statements on the air, that he had slipped a bit in the esteem of many in the public arena. I was wholeheartedly in on the Robertson methodology when I was at CBN and for many years after.

It was years later that I began to see things a little differently. I have never lost the vision for the morally upright America that Robertson promoted, but my view of the methods of accomplishing it have changed. I view politics as a dead end as it regards positive moral change. I believe thoroughly in the vision, but it now seems to me that the only way to accomplish national moral change is through spiritual awakening rather than politics, but I remain a person who greatly respects Pat Robertson.

More: University of Alabama softball ace Montana Fouts personifies greatness | GARY COSBY JR.

The vision that was implanted in me for a moral America all those years ago is also, I think, why I am much more critical of the Republican Party than I am of the Democrats. I simply feel the Republican Party, probably due to that training at CBN, should be held to a higher standard, a higher moral standard, certainly, but also just a higher standard in general.

In the view implanted in me at CBN, the Republican Party was supposed to be the standard bearer for a morally upright America. That, of course, was a naive view as I had not yet recognized the corruption rampant in national politics no matter the political party. I was still a political idealist. I know many of you still are political idealists. That is why so many desperately cling to anything the GOP does that displays even a hint of positive morality. We look to politics rather than spiritual awakening to elevate America. We attach hope to the Republican Party, fading though it has proven to be, that the GOP will occupy the moral high ground to which men like Robertson called it.

Failing that, or perhaps just realizing that the best one could hope for is that the GOP would be at least the lesser of two evils, people still cling to the party that has shown such immorality and hatred of late. Neither of those are values we hoped for back in the 1980s when we offered blind support to the GOP, attaching the name of Christ to the political fight in a manner I now find shameful and actively shun.

I suppose we ignored things in Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush that had the aroma of immorality, the scandals swept under the rug, or the things we saw that seemed shady, but we were willing to ignore them for the greater good. Nancy Reagan purportedly consulted astrologers and clairvoyants while the Reagans were in the White House, a most decidedly un-Christian thing to be doing.

The Rev. Pat Robertson addresses the Christian Coalition "Road to Victory '98" conference Friday, Sept. 18, 1998, in Washington. Robertson demanded that Congress impeach President Clinton, saying resignation is too good for a "debauched, debased and defamed" leader.

Then Donald Trump came along having not even a whiff of Christian morality about him, so we invented a morality for him that fit him worse than an off-the-rack leisure suit. Unconsciously, perhaps, we had already lost such hope in the ultimate moral superiority of the GOP that we were willing to swallow lies that would have choked a horse.

I suppose that is the nature of what is known as the slippery slope. I mean, we even went into full-on warfare in Iraq based upon a lie presented as fact by George W. Not only did we believe the lie, (we wanted to believe it) but we actively defended it. I certainly did, even after it was apparent there were no weapons of mass destruction and never had been. But we held on because he was our guy, not because he was right but because we desperately wanted the destruction of the nation of Iraq to have at least a hint of moral justification behind it.

Commodore Stephen Decatur said of America back in 1816, Our country, may she always be in the right, but our country right or wrong. I believe we have adapted that most noble of ideas and applied it to political parties with such abandon that we are now completely blind to, or simply choose to ignore, the faults of the party we support.

We swallowed Iran-Contra under Reagan, willingly digesting the story that a random colonel was capable of pulling off a diplomatic coup all by himself and without the knowledge of the president. Yes, even in the heady days when we thought the Republican Party really was carrying a torch for morality, we were accepting things that clearly could not be true.

I dont know if Pat Robertson ever came to any of these conclusions. I havent heard anything other than a few sound bites over the years since I left CBN University. Somehow, I doubt it. He would have been too heavily invested, and it would have been far too costly to pull back.

The danger of tying the hope for a national spiritual renewal to any political party is that no political organization possesses the actual moral authority to change a nation. That is the purview of religion, not government. What Pat Robertson did in calling the nation to a higher plane was noble and inspiring. While I now question the methodology, I certainly do not question Robertsons heart in issuing the call.

Gary Cosby Jr. is the photo editor of The Tuscaloosa News. Readers can email him at gary.cosby@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Pat Robertson helped shape conservative politics | GARY COSBY JR.
Falmouth and state police detectives are investigating a stabbing at a Falmouth apartment complex on Saturday afternoon, a Falmouth Police Department official said in a statement Monday.

Police were called to the Gosnold Grove apartments at 4:44 p.m. at 364 East Falmouth Highway. They found a man with multiple stab wounds, according to an email sent to the Times.

The incident is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorneys Office, assisted by the Falmouth Police Detective Division, Falmouth police Lt. Michael Simoneau wrote.

A man suffering multiple stab wounds was flown to an off-Cape Hospital for treatment Saturday afternoon. The stabbing occurred at about 4:45 p.m. at the Gosnold Grove Apartments at 364 East Falmouth Highway, according to the Falmouth Deputy Fire Chief Scott Thrasher.

Russ Eonas, second assistant district attorney for the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office, declined to comment Monday on the incident, saying Were not releasing any information at this time. Falmouth Fire Department was called to the scene on Saturday but declined to comment Monday. Mashpee Fire Department rescue personnel responded because the Falmouth department was busy with a structure fire.

The victim was taken to Falmouth Hospital before being flown to an off-Cape hospital. No information was available Monday on the condition of the victim.

Two previous stabbings in Falmouth

Last October, a fatal stabbing occurred one block away from the scene of Saturdays incident, at 442 East Falmouth Highway. The victim, Corey Lowe, was brought to a Boston-area hospital but died the next day.

Just a month prior, in September 2022, another fatal stabbing took place nearby, at 250 Davisville Road in East Falmouth. The victim, Douglas Rose, died of his wounds in Falmouth Hospital.

Between the two cases from last fall, there are five defendants that have been indicted on murder charges, according to court officials. Court cases are pending on all five, and four have hearing dates set for this summer.

Gosnold Grove is a 33-unit apartment complex owned by Wingate, which is based in Newton.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: A stabbing of man in Falmouth is under investigation
Scam: A dishonest scheme. A fraud.

Scammers have always been with us. A serpent scammed Eve and Adam into eating the forbidden fruit. Abram, fearing for his life when jealous monarchs took interest in his wife, convinced them she was his sister. A pharaoh married her and lived to regret it, and a king would have bedded her had he not been supernaturally warned.

Lots daughters, craving children, scammed their father by intoxicating him and committing incest. David, future king of Israel, feigned insanity to convince Achish, Philistine king of Gath, that he could not possibly be the courageous slayer of numerous Philistines.

Ray Buursma

Hegestratos, a Greek merchant, insured his ship laden with corn in 300 BC. He planned to unload the cargo before reaching port, sell it on the sly, sink the ship, and collect the insurance payment.

Zhuge Liang, a Chinese military leader, found himself and a few hundred soldiers greatly outnumbered by thousands of enemy warriors besieging their city. He could not prevail in pitched battle, so he did the unthinkable. He opened the city gates, an invitation for his enemies to enter. Liang, accompanied by two servants, sat on a platform above the city walls, played a lute, and waited. The enemy commander suspected an ambush and withdrew, even though victory was in his grasp.

My first experience with scammers came decades ago when a fake Microsoft agent informed me my computer had a virus. Fortunately, I knew my Apple computer did not use Windows software and therefore its software was not infected.

Another failed scam occurred when my wife instructed me, Listen to the answering machine. An IRS agent said I owed money and a warrant would be issued for my arrest. I called the number, asked a few questions, and exposed the charlatan.

Today, scams are everywhere. There are Ponzi and pyramid schemes, fake charity and debt collection scams, and mail frauds. There are romance scams, Nigerian prince scams, lottery and prize scams. There are phishing and vishing. There are investment scams and even scams offering to protect people from scams.

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Scammers pose as teenage grandchildren, call senior citizens and say they are in big trouble. They need money immediately. Wire the funds right away, but dont tell Mom and Dad. They would be so distraught. Ill call again in two days and explain everything. Please hurry! This is an emergency.

A scam has at least two elements. A scammer attempts to:

Influence his victim to commit an action, which is ... beneficial to the scammer.

The influence might involve money, love or desire to avoid trouble. The benefit is whatever the scammer desires as the outcome of the scam.

As horrible and manipulative as the above methods are, they pale in comparison to the king of scams. Let me first provide a basic example.

While touring a large foreign city, a street vendor asked whether someone in my group would like to buy some handmade bracelets. We declined, despite persistence from the seller.

A day later, another vendor approached us with bracelets. This guy didnt try to sell us bracelets. He gave them to us. No charge! A free gift! A souvenir! He also struck up a conversation with us. He smiled and laughed. Just before we parted ways, he asked if we might be able to help him out since his wife and children were hungry. Any amount would help. Of course, this was a scam, and we knew it. Nevertheless, my cousin forked over a small amount of money. The Reciprocity Scam worked.

Our human brains are wired for reciprocity. If someone assists us, we feel obligated to return the favor. This trait, wired deep within us, usually manifests itself at a subconscious level. Dont believe me? Check out the episode devoted to this phenomenon on the podcast "Hidden Brain."

The best scam of all is befriending someone to influence their behavior for your eventual benefit.

But why is this important? Not long ago, we learned Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted gifts from Harlan Crow, a billionaire friend, to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Their friendship developed only after Thomas was seated on the Supreme Court. That friend spent almost $15 million on ideological causes, some of which involved court decisions.

We also learned Justice Gorsuch, who had tried selling a 40-acre parcel of land since 2017, sold that land to the CEO of a law firm nine days after becoming a justice. Gorsuch cleared close to a half million dollars. The law firm often had cases before the court.

Believing these justices can completely separate their rulings from their relationships is naive. They may be the biggest marks around.

The judicial system must have safeguards. There must be precautions. Right now, there arent.

 Community Columnist Ray Buursma is a resident of Holland. Contact him at writetoraybuursma@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ray Buursma: Scams and SCOTUS
The chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, Dave Williams, announced an unprecedented deal with the Colorado Libertarian Party to keep their candidates out of competitive races.

For as long as can be remembered, Libertarians have been accused of playing the spoiler, costing Republicans victory in close contests. The most recent being the 8th Congressional District last year where the Libertarian pulled in nearly 4% of the vote, allowing Democrat Yadira Caraveo to squeak a victory with a less than 1% margin.

This unprecedented deal is a bit of a public relations win for Williams and his floundering, underfunded state operation. For the sake of taming Colorados socialistic leviathan, its a promising start and better than others have done, including myself.

Over the decades, Ive been asked more than a few times to broker some sort of peace between Republicans and Libertarians in tight races. Peace always meaning get the Libertarian to drop out! And each time I have failed, but not for lack of trying.

A Libertarian has never asked me to convince a Republican to drop out.

Im a libertarian-leaning conservative. Note I spelled libertarian with a small l. This is very different than someone who is a member of the Libertarian Party, with a capital L.

So, Im able to talk to large L Libertarians better than most Republicans. But Dave Williams might soon find, as I have, large L Libertarians are more eager to win an argument than an election.

You see, the fastest way to guarantee a Libertarian will in fact run as a candidate is to try to convince him not to run. Like fish swim and birds fly, Libertarians are contrarians and gotta do opposite of what is asked.

Because they are such strong individualists, how to put this politely, they, um, do not work well in groups, and dont listen to party leadership. You think the Republican Party is dysfunctional? Spend some time with the Libertarian Party.

Colorados Republicans, which makes a Manson family Thanksgiving dinner seem well-mannered, will look like a well-oiled cohesive machine by comparison.

Hannah Goodman, the Colorado Libertarian Party chairman, said they wont run a candidate if there is a strong liberty Republican in a race. That is a terrific promise she cant keep.

Beside the fact that strong liberty is in the eye of the beholder, she has no authority to stop any Libertarian candidate from running.

The Republican Party isnt the only major party that had losses due to an outlying third party. Remember in the early 2000s, Democrats lost elections because Green Party candidates played the spoilers.

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Democrats solved that problem completely. The Green Party is now more of a placeholder than a party. The Democratic Party simply swallowed it.

That is, Democrats incorporated every whacked-out, economy killing green policy with as much zeal as the most ardent Green Party candidate. The Green Party just evaporated.

The Republican Party did just the opposite. It accentuated the differences between itself and Libertarians on hot-button issues such as drug policy, end of life, police powers, gay marriage, culture wars and immigration.

It would be more accurate to say the loud faction of the Republican Party emphasized the differences with Libertarians. Whereas a quiet majority of Republicans might well have absorbed most of the libertarian point of view on all but those fringe issues.

Other than those extreme issues, 98% of the platforms overlap both parties on core issues such as taxes, property rights, fiscal and monetary policy, education choice, cronyism, Second Amendment, free speech and cancel culture. Basically, its just social issues where the parties dont quite mix.

People will say its abortion thats the key difference. People would be wrong. In libertarian circles there are intense and variable degrees of opinion. Even libertarian icon Ron Paul is adamantly pro-life.

The Republican Party used to have a similar big tent on abortion. Now the Republican Party is perceived to have a zero-tolerance pro-life-from-conception policy. And theyre paying the electoral price for it.

In this Colorado of one-party Democratic supermajority dominance, Libertarians shouldnt play in districts where Republicans might have a chance to win.

In exchange, Republicans should not play where they have no shot and give the Libertarian a clear field.

At this point, theres little to lose.

Sadly, neither party has any control or influence over their candidates, nor do most of their candidates want to win.

Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics.

Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics.
Q. We found a pine tree with distinctive rings spaced from several inches to more than a foot apart around the trunk. It looked like the bark had been damaged, leaving scars on the tree. I know that muscadine and other vines can climb around trees and leave indentations that are obvious after the vine dies, but the circles of scars on the pine tree were not connected to each other. Is this some kind of disease on pine trees?

A. Had you asked about such circles on the trunks of deciduous trees like maples, oaks and hickories, I would have been confident in my answer  yellow-bellied sapsuckers. These little woodpeckers, found throughout the eastern United States and most of Canada, peck small holes, often in a horizontal line that sometimes encircles the whole trunk of a tree. One purpose of drilling holes is to produce sap that seeps from the trunk. Sapsuckers may eat the sap, but another function is to attract certain insects. Any that become stuck in the sap are easy prey for the woodpecker when it returns to the tree.

Master Naturalist Juliana Smith of Beaufort, South Carolina, points out external tree rings on a shortleaf pine tree, presumably caused by a yellow-bellied sapsucker when the tree was younger. [Photo provided by Whit Gibbons]

As it turns out, those signature drill marks on pine trees might indeed be yellow-bellied sapsuckers. I'd seen the markings on pine trees at Salleyland, took a photograph and sent it to Andrew Lydeard, a bird expert at the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. His response was, Oh yeah! Sapsuckers don't seem to mind whether it's a pine or a deciduous tree. I'm sure they probably have an overall preference, but I've seen them on both. I usually attribute marks like the ones in the photo to sapsuckers. Other pine trees in the vicinity also had those markings on their trunks. The pecking could, of course, have occurred many years earlier when the trees were small. But the scarring would have persisted and become even more apparent as the tree grew in diameter.

More: Readers ask questions about wisteria and peanut butter | ECOVIEWS

Q. What is the significance (if any) of the sitting posture of different birds, such as raptors compared to, say, doves? The differences are noticeable when birds perch atop utility poles, sit on wires or stand on the ground.

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A. Birds have many different lifestyles that lead to an array of postures while sitting or standing. As with anatomical parts of any animal, legs and feet have different functions across various groups. Posture varies because configurations of leg bones, joints and feet vary. How the bird functions in its environment also affects posture.

As for the two you asked about, when sitting in a tree a mourning dove is more likely to be scanning the skies on the lookout for flying predators whereas a red-tailed hawk will be looking toward the ground in search of prey. A hawk often sits up high and remains in an alert, forward-leaning position, scoping out as much terrain as possible. Their talons usually grip a limb or wire and they are ready to swoop down in a moment. The dove strikes me as a bird often taking a ho-hum break from an already placid life. It will perch on a telephone wire or fence but also seems quite at home strutting around on the ground pretending to be a chicken.

Some aquatic birds, such as anhingas and cormorants, sit in a sunny spot with their wings spread out after a dive. Vultures do the same thing after a rain. Some birds have sitting or standing postures that are intriguing and sometimes inexplicable. Ducks, geese, gulls and flamingos often stand on one leg. Scientists continue to debate the whys and wherefores.

Whippoorwills have an unusual stance: they sit parallel to a perch rather than perpendicular like most other birds. Typically ground-dwelling birds (they even nest on the ground), whippoorwills sit longways on a tree limb, possibly because it's more like a level surface. Observing the variability in behavior of wildlife is a fascinating pastime. Keep on noticing.

Whit Gibbons is professor of zoology and senior biologist at the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.

Whit Gibbons is professor of zoology and senior biologist at the University of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. If you have an environmental question or comment, email ecoviews@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Do sapsuckers like pine trees? | ECOVIEWS
WASHINGTON  Several of former President Donald Trumps rivals for the 2024 GOP nomination continued Sunday to attack the Justice Department, rather than Trump, over the indictment of the former president for allegedly mishandling classified documents.

That approach got pushback from another GOP candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and from Bill Barr, Trumps former attorney general, who said the Justice Department did not overreach by indicting Trump.

This was a case entirely of his own making, Barr said on CBS Face the Nation.

The comments on the Sunday morning shows illustrate how difficult it is for Republicans to navigate Trumps indictment to preserve their own political fortunes while not eroding trust in the criminal justice system.

Hutchinson rejected the argument from some of his fellow Republicans that the Justice Department has been weaponized.

Lets dont undermine the greatest justice system and criminal justice system and rule of law in the world today this side of heaven, he said on ABCs This Week.

But biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said calling out what he sees as unfair treatment is the best way to build up trust in the Justice Department.

I think it's important for leaders, including like me, to stand up and call that out, unsparingly, he said. Under my watch, we'll make sure the FBI, first of all, doesn't exist as an institution.

Former Vice President Mike Pence calls Trump's indictment 'an outrage' and 'political prosecution.'

Similarly, both former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott promised to get rid of top Justice Department officials if elected president.

Were going to clean house at the highest levels of the Department of Justice, Pence said on NBCs Meet the Press, even as he continued to dodge the question of whether he would pardon Trump.

I dont know why some of my competitors in the Republican primary presume the president will be found guilty, Pence said. All we know is what the president has been accused of in the indictment. We dont know what his defense is. We dont know if this will even go to trial. It could be subject to a motion to dismiss. We dont know what the verdict will be of the jury.

Story continues

Scott, who likewise wouldnt say if he would pardon Trump, pledged to fire Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to restore confidence and integrity in the Justice Department.

This DOJ continues to hunt Republicans while it protects Democrats, Scott said.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks during a town hall, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H.

But Barr, who is not running for president, said Trump is not the victim of government overreach. When the Justice Department tried to retrieve the classified documents Trump had no legal right to keep, Barr said, the former president jerked them around.

He provoked this whole problem himself, Barr said. Yes, he's been the victim of unfair witch hunts in the past, but that doesn't obviate the fact that he's also a fundamentally flawed person who engages in reckless conduct and that leads to calamitous situations like this.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is the GOP rival most willing to criticize Trump, struck a middle ground. Christie said on CBS Face the Nation there needs to be change at the Justice Department.

But that's a different issue than the conduct that Donald Trump engaged in, he said. And in my view, that's not the conduct that we should have from someone who wants to be president of the United States again.

Exclusive Support for legal abortion rises a year after Roe v. Wade overturned-Poll

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's indictment divides GOP rivals over slamming Justice Department
Ukraine Situation Report: Waning Flood Waters Could Provide Opportunity For Kyiv's Forces photo

Nearly two weeks after Ukraine accused Russian forces of destroying the Nova Khakovka Dam, Kyiv may see the receding floodwaters as a gateway to Russias western flank.

On Saturday, unconfirmed reports emerged claiming Ukrainian Special Forces had crossed the river upstream of the destroyed dam at Nova Khakovka. They are supposedly trying to establish a bridgehead far behind the current frontlines in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, posing a much more immediate threat to Russian defensive lines in occupied Kherson Oblast and Crimea.

There were previous accounts of fighting in the city near the dam itself, as well as heavy shelling.

Once again, these reports are unconfirmed, but they do point to the possibility that the massive changes to the landscape could work, at least partially, in Ukraine's favor.

https://twitter.com/olliecarroll/status/1669447484387516416 https://twitter.com/loogunda/status/1669449222695919616

Earlier this week, the Russian-affiliated Rybar Telegram channel began warning of a Ukrainian attempt to cross the Dnipro River upstream of the destroyed dam. While surging water inundated lands below the dam, the reservoir above it fell to a much lower level, literally draining what had been a massive natural barrier.

Ukrainian formations continue artillery preparation along the left bank of the Dnipro River, the Rybar Telegram channel reported Thursday. About 30 shells were fired at Nova Kakhovka, Tavriysk, Kakhovka and Vasilievka. In the afternoon, residential buildings in Dnepryan came under shelling - a one-and-a-half-year-old child died.

Casts of sabotage and reconnaissance groups are just attempts to keep Russian troops on their toes. The likelihood of a landing operation downstream from the Kahkovka hydroelectric power station is small: after flooding, you need to wait until the soil is in order, and during this time the Russian Armed Forces will have time to restore positions.

However, Rybar said that a landing scenario upstream is much more likely - right there, yes, the entire section from the Kakhovka reservoir to the dilapidated dam is potentially dangerous.

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If Ukrainian forces are in fact trying to cross at Nova Kakhovka, Russia would face its most direct threat to its positions in Kherson Oblast and occupied Crimea since troops withdrew from the Dnipros right bank last fall. Furthermore, Russian forces in Zaporizzhia Oblast would have to account for a massive left flank should more crossings occur upriver.

Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

THE LATEST

Saturdays intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense assessed Russia has gained a temporary advantage in southern Ukraine thanks to attack helicopter operations.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1669946425092763649

This assessment mirrors The War Zone's highly-circulated analysis on Russia's use of attack helicopters to blunt Kyiv's counteroffensive that we published earlier this week. You can read that report here.

The Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) reported Ukrainian attacks on three sectors of the front in its most recent control-of-terrain assessment. Fighting reportedly continues as Ukrainian troops press attacks around Vuhledar.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1669858354926178304 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1669874015236759552

On the Zaporizhzhia Frontline, Ukrainian forces are fighting for the village of Pyatykhatky, with Kyivs troops there advancing toward the city of Vasylivka.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1670117762943819785

Russian drone footage on the Zaporizhzhia Oblast frontline shows what could possibly be Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley-ODS destroyed in an attack.

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1669985460750352385

Bradleys are becoming a routine sight among the Ukrainian forces fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as a series of pictures show below.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1670151615020679168?s=20

Photos show one Bradley having been completely destroyed in the fighting, though its crew reportedly survived despite the damage.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1670126573792501760

On the frontline, video shows intense fighting as seen from a Ukrainian trench as indirect fire crashes down nearby in the Kremina forest. The sector remains the linchpin of Russian forces northern flank in occupied east Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1670012409564610566

Elsewhere, video shows just how close quarters things have become since the counter-offensive began. Drone footage captured a Ukrainian assault group dropping grenades into trenches during a close-in fight, while another clip captures the frantic defense as Ukrainians attack.

https://twitter.com/2uwmp/status/1669660787856556033?s=20 https://twitter.com/jackryan212/status/1669687370743009281?s=20

Also in the north, four Ukrainian civilians are reported to have died after Russian forces attacked their car with an anti-tank weapon in Kharkiv Oblast.

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1670020760142741504

As Ukraines counter-offensive continues, much has been said about the state of Russian forces along its defensive line stretching from Kherson to the Russian border, namely their morale and readiness. Dara Massicot (@MassDara), a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, laid out a detailed assessment in a Twitter thread.

Among several observations, Massicot noted not all of the Russian forces were ground down like those in the Donbas after futile winter and spring offensives. Despite more than a year of war, Russian forces have slowly adapted to combat experiences, and its far from certain how Moscows troops will hold in the face of a determined Ukrainian attack.

https://twitter.com/massdara/status/1669811749602701315?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

An investigation from the New York Times concluded that Russian forces blew up the Nova Kakhovka Dam using an internal passageway, given the fact the massive structure was designed to be near-invulnerable to attacks from the outside.

https://twitter.com/walter_report/status/1670112537424146433?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

In Crimea, photos appear to show some rather large cracks in the support pillars under the Kerch Strait Bridge. A barge was seen under the bridge in recent imagery, possibly conducting further repairs.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1664201305437491200?s=20 https://twitter.com/CovertShores/status/1670160743923056640?cxt=HHwWgICwtaCWza0uAAAA

The multinational F-16 coalition will soon begin training Ukrainian pilots, per a tweet from Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. Multiple NATO countries expressed willingness to jointly train Ukrainian pilots in the Viper as part of a long-term plan to overhaul the Ukrainian Air Force with modern fighter aircraft.

https://twitter.com/DefensieMin/status/1669415712341803012

As for supplying F-16s, Acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a speech that Copenhagen is ready to send the fighters to Ukraine, per a report from the Danish website Politiken.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1670063345058168832

Despite those statements, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine wont get F-16s until at least 2024. Reznikov noted that despite any condensed training regimen for pilots and the planes availability, training for support crews and setting up infrastructure will take much longer.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1669971982647951361

Video shows a remarkably organized and ergonomic system for a Ukrainian soldiers grenades in his kit. A quick pull of the velcro strap reveals a stack of hand grenades, each wrapped in hook-and-loop material to keep them secure in the torso pouch.

https://twitter.com/intermarium24/status/1670122913792512001?s=20

There are two rather dubious reports from Russian state-run news agency TASS. The first is a reported operation where troops packed an MT-LB personnel carrier with explosives and drove it at a Ukrainian position as a kamikaze vehicle, though there is curiously no video of the tracked bomb reaching its target.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669940145406001154

This isnt the first reported use of an MT-LB in this role. Ukrainian troops told of one of the aging artillery tractors lumbering without a crew up to their position before exploding in February.

https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1628476295246929926?lang=en

Also from TASS is the claimed destruction of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, one that looks rather curiously a lot like a Dutch YPR-765 APC. The whole production is even more comical, with a staged demining followed by a jump cut to the YPR-765.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669941279885606913 https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1669988917913763842

Also in the world of the bizarre, theres rather remarkable footage of a BMP-2 doing some remodeling work. The IFV backs out of a house and onto the ground more like a bulldozer than a combat vehicle, bricks and plaster falling to the ground around it.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1669677704713584642?s=20

Thats all for now. Well update this story when theres more to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com
Henry Collier, 10 months, eats a cracker from the Utah Food Bank, as part of the USDAs Summer Food Service Program, at Downtown Park in Pleasant Grove on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. The Utah Food Bank gave out 140 meals at Downtown Park before moving on to another location. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The Utah Food Bank on Wednesday has launched another year of their Summer Food Service Program to help feed children during the summer months, when they lose access to meals at school.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsors the program in 31 states, and has had a longtime partnership with the Utah Food Bank helping to feed the state's children ages 18 and younger.

One Summer Food Service Program stand can be found at Pleasant Grove Downtown Park from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. On Wednesday, volunteers distributed 140 meals to local kids.

"I think a lot of people just don't realize the resources that Utah has available," said Isabella Reynolds as she handed out meals Wednesday. She said she sees a lot of "stigma" surrounding food insecurity and hopes more people will turn to the summer program to help feed their children.

Whitney Pennington, of Pleasant Grove, brought her sons Myler and Mason to get free meals at the park on Wednesday. She and her children came to the park just once last summer but plan on getting meals from the program more regularly this year.

"It's helpful to the kids who really need it, and it's easy to access," Pennington said. "I think it's wonderful."

There are 49 parks, libraries, schools and other community centers in Utah participating in Summer Food Service Program this summer.

Ginette Bott, president and CEO of Utah Food Bank, said children who depend on getting their breakfast and lunch at school no longer have that resource to rely on during the summer months. She said the food bank tries to pick locations near neighborhoods and parks, where kids can easily walk to get food.

Kids run with their meals from the Utah Food Bank at Pleasant Grove Downtown Park on Wednesday. The Utah Food Bank launched another year of their Summer Food Service Program to help feed children during the summer months. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

"So many of the kids who are home during the day really don't have adequate food, and their family doesn't have extra money in the budget to provide these extra meals," Bott said. "So it's crucial that we get as many meals out to kids as possible."

Story continues

This is a special concern this summer, Bott added. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp benefits that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic returned to pre-pandemic levels in February, leaving more families scrambling to make ends meet.

The program runs Monday through Friday through Aug. 11, with the exception of Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day and Pioneer Day holidays.

Isabella Reynolds, Utah Food Bank's mobile school pantry coordinator, hands a bag of food to Navie Hancock as part of the USDAs Summer Food Service Program at Downtown Park in Pleasant Grove on Wednesday. The Utah Food Bank gave out 140 meals at Downtown Park before moving to another location. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

During the school year, Reynolds delivers food to students and their families at local elementary schools through the Utah Food Bank's Mobile School Pantry. Reynolds said the Summer Food Service Program helps carry over the "momentum" created by the Mobile School Pantry.

Meals must be eaten on-site to ensure freshness, Reynolds said. The Summer Food Service Program meal plan cycles through a variety of options that often includes different kinds of sandwiches, fruit cups and a drink to help meet each food group requirement.

Bott said she hopes to serve 146,000 meals to Utah kids this summer.

"I just want people to know that there are options, especially for your kids, if that's what you're worried about," Reynolds said. "Feel free to come."

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, text "FOOD" to 304-304. You can also check out the Utah Food Bank website for more locations and services.
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ROMANIA E GAZDA UNOR COMPETITII DE BASCHET 3X3 DE NIVEL EUROPEAN

Capitala Romaniei va fi din nou gazda unor evenimente din circuitul international de baschet 33, terenul care va fi special amenajat la parterul ParkLake Shopping Center urmand sa fie asaltat, in perioada 21-23 iulie, de echipele participante la seria de trei turnee [citeste mai departe]
Jessica Gadsden, who writes fiction under the pen name Aime Austin, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Smith College and Cornell Law School in the US.

She is the author of the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series of legal thrillers, and is also the host of the podcast, A Time to Thrill. When shes not writing crime fiction or interviewing brilliant creators, shes in a yoga pose, knitting, or reading.



Before writing, Jessica practiced family and criminal law in Cleveland, Ohio. These days she splits her time between Los Angeles and Budapest.





Click here to visit her Instagram page

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

I arrived in 2013. For several years I was looking for a European country to settle in part-time, and ultimately full-time for retirement. I was in Prague for business in 2012, and having flown a long way from Los Angeles, with a two year old in tow, I wanted to extend the trip.



I decided to visit the Danube and had to choose between a train ride to Vienna or one to Budapest. At the train ticket counter in Prague, I mistakenly thought the Budapest trip would be shorter (see aforementioned two-year-old).



It wasnt. Seven long hours later I emerged from Keleti palyaudvar, took a look around and immediately felt like I was finally home. Four months later, I bought an apartment.



2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

No.



3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

I was most surprised that so much of the culture was familiar because of the large number of Hungarian immigrants I grew up with in New York, and lived with in Cleveland, Ohio.



4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

We must have a great local meal. I usually take them to a small vendeglo. I suggest a museum visit or even a tour of parliament, then a walk along the Danube at night.



5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

There are so many to choose from. Probably szekelykaposzta, if I had to pick only one.



6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Turo.



7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

Magyarazni. Cmon, if that isnt the most prefect word.



8. What do you miss most from home?

The sheer variety of Korean food available in Los Angeles.



9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

If I wasnt a writer, Id love to be a professional photographer or journalist.



10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Id never want to be a veterinarian. Patients that dont talk doesnt appeal.



11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Iceland. It was an amazing otherworldly experience.



12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

In two weeks, Im finally going to Belgium. I wanted to go more than a decade ago, but got pregnant and wouldnt have been able to enjoy Belgian beers. Im also taking my son on a tour of European parliament.



13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

Hungarian pastries. Even my doctor here said I should resist more. But the smell of pastry is everywhere, even in train stations. I may have bought turos pastry in Nyugati palyaudvar just yesterday afternoon after running errands.



14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

My favorite hobby as a teen was reading - mostly romance novels.



15. Red wine or white?

Red, unless Prosecco is on the menu.



16. Book or movie?

Cmon, Im a novelist. Books for the win!



17. Morning person or night person?

Morning, definitely. I did take a night bus once in 2018 from Deak Ferenc ter to my apartment.



18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

The eradication of racism in America.



19. Buda or Pest side?

Pest!



20. What would you say is your personal motto?

When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time. -Maya Angelou. I wear the saying on stacking rings on my right hand every day.
In one-of-a-lifetime opportunity, I was invited to visit the Aston Martin Lagonda facility in Wales. The visit was facilitated by the Welsh Automotive Forum on request from the Department of Business and Trade, Government of UK. Accompanying us was Robert ONeil, Chief Executive of the Welsh Automotive Forum, an independent company, incorporated in 2001 to develop a common approach in achieving sustainable continuous improvement for the Automotive Industry in Wales. The organization is supported by the Welsh Government and has many members, including Aston Martin.

"Our aim is to showcase our already well established and much recognised competence and capability with automotive manufacturing and supply chains," said Robert ONeil. While the nearby region of Coventry houses companies like Ford, Jaguar-Land Rover, Tata, Mahindra among many others, Wales, on the other hand consists of 2 niche vehicle makers, including Aston Martin, 20 Tier 1s and 1 OE Engine Plant in the form of Toyota, with a further 100+ companies in the service and supply chain, many of which are small and medium enterprises. In total some 10,500 people in Wales are directly employed in this sector.

While Aston Martin Lagonda facility just started a couple of years, employing around 600+ people, a success story for Wales has been Toyotas Deeside plant. The facility opened in 1993 and today produces an engine every 44 seconds. It is the first Toyota plant outside of Japan to produce hybrid electric engines. However, the region has now opened itself to focus on Net Zero Mobility, inviting OEMs and parts makers in the EV segment.



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We would welcome companies to liaise with us if they currently supply the market or have the capability to change their process and participate in future net zero mobility supply chain solutions said Robert ONeil. What Wales offer is supply chain competence and capability with a new exciting compound semi-conductor cluster that will support future net zero mobility solutions, he added.

First Covid-19, then Global shipping crisis and now the Ukraine-Russia situation led to a shortage of the semi-conductors, that has been a challenge for the sector. This also proves that various countries need their own supply chain for seamless auto production. Wales has an attractive and competitive ecosystem that supports organisations and their local supply chains with proven collaborations between academia, R&D, government support working in tandem to harness competitive supply chains, said Robert.

Concluding our Aston Martin plant visit, Robert ONeil said "Wales already has a well-established and much recognised automotive supply chain and the centre of excellence around compound semi-conductors as well as new start-ups supporting net zero mobility make Wales an exciting location supporting sector transition.
A British Airways flight from Singapore to London was forced to return to its origin airport after encountering severe turbulence. The incident with the flight occurred at 30,000 feet in the air resulting in injuries of several crew members and leaving one in need of surgery. As per The Sun's report, the flight encountered severe turbulence over the Bay Of Bengal. During its journey, the aircraft took off from Singapore's Changi Airport and was supposed to land at London's Heathrow Airport.

The incident occurred with British Airways' Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft, As per a flight tracking website, the plane returned to Changi Airport after around three hours of flight. As per The Sun's report, a witness said that the plane returned to the airport due to the turbulence. Furthermore, one of the flight attendants needed surgery after she injured her ankles during the flight.

Also read: Watch: Passenger Plane's Door Opens Mid-Flight, Video Surfaces

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The Sun quotes one of the witnesses saying, "From nowhere, the plane was shaking as it suddenly dropped five feet and rose again in uncomfortable jerked motions. There were screams from the passengers, and great upset spread through the cabins." Furthermore, three flyers sustained major injuries forcing the plane's re-route.

The injured crew members were treated at the Singapore Hospitals. Meanwhile, the passengers on the flight were given accommodation and were given booking on a later flight.

In a statement, a British Airways representative said, "Safety is always our priority, and we're looking after our crew after one of our flights experienced a rare episode of severe turbulence. Our highly trained team on board reassured customers, and the aircraft returned to Singapore as a precaution."

He adds, "We've apologised to customers for the delay to their flight and provided them with hotel accommodation and information on their consumer rights. We're rebooking customers onto the next available flights with us and other airlines."
New Delhi: It's all about power-packed performances and high-octane action in the upcoming film 'Heart Of Stone' starring Gal Gadot, Alia Bhatt and Jamie Dornan.

Gal Gadot is going from superhero to super spy in the action-packed first trailer for the international espionage thriller 'Heart of Stone', reports Variety.

Gadot was joined by co-stars Jamie Dornan and Alia Bhatt at Netflix's Tudum fan festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the trio debuted the film's first trailer. The footage features heart-stopping stunts, like Gadot's Rachel Stone, an intelligence operative for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency, skydiving from a death-defying height.



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Stone's steely demeanour and adrenaline-junkie habits are explained as her boss (Sophie Okonedo) warns: "You know what you signed up for. No friends, no relationships. What we do is too important. When governments fail, the only thing left is the Charter."

Stone and Dornan's Parker are among the organisation's highly-trained agents, who have no political leanings or national allegiances and are described as "working together to keep peace in a turbulent world."

But when hacker Keya Dhawan (Bhatt, as the Bollywood A-lister stars in her first major Hollywood movie) steals the agency's most valuable - and dangerous - weapon (a technological core that "gives the Charter its power," it's "heart," if you will), Stone sets off on an epic, globe-trotting adventure to save the day and clear her name.

"Heart or no heart, I'm coming for you," Gadot speaks into a cell phone as her own warning to Bhatt.

Directed by Tom Harper from a script by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder, the intense footage also features major action set pieces including a motorcycle chase through the Alps and cars speeding through the streets of Lisbon. Gadot is also seen flying through the air twice - first, paragliding off a snowy embankment and later, doing some extreme skydiving.

"Chance of success just plummeted," a Charter agent (played by Matthias Schweighofer) cautions while Stone performs the dangerous maneuver.

"Only because you have no imagination," she shoots back, as she manages to tumble onto her target.

In addition to bringing her action star skills (refined in 'Wonder Woman', and soon to return to the 'Fast and Furious' franchise) to the table, Gadot also produced the film under her Pilot Wave banner with her producing partner and husband Jaron Varsano. Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger are also billed as producers, along with Mockingbird's Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn. Patty Whitcher, Harper and Rucka serve as executive producers.

'Heart of Stone' begins streaming on August 11.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said he was against erecting any statue using government funds. He also said people do not value things which are given for free. Gadkari was speaking in Nagpur at the ground-breaking ceremony for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the premises of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU). I welcome the move of the committee which is constructing the statue from the contribution given by the people. I feel that government funds should not be used for erecting the statue. People do not value things which are given for free,? the BJP MP said.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak Samiti was formed in Nagpur in 2015 and the work, including obtaining necessary clearances and permissions, has been going on since then. Gadkari also announced to donate Rs 5 lakh to the works undertaken by this committee. Even if someone donates Rs 11 or Rs 51 for this work, it should be seen as the person's attachment to the work and teachings of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "There is no need to seek financial support from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the Nagpur Improvement Trust, the Maharashtra government or the RTMNU," he added.

Gadkari said people should bear some cost of the work so that they will realise the importance of the work or service. "It is good that lakhs of people have come forward and contributed to the committee," he added. Gadkari said Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts and teachings should be spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.



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Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Manisha Kayande's decision to join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has dealt a significant blow to the Thackeray-led faction. Kayande cited inaccessibility of Uddhav Thackeray for feedback on party affairs and alleged the solicitation of money from women in the Thackeray faction. This move comes just ahead of Shiv Sena's foundation day and follows the resignation of senior leader Shishir Shinde. Kayande expressed her disappointment at the lack of introspection within the Thackeray-led faction regarding the exodus of party workers. She has been appointed as the secretary and spokesperson of Shiv Sena.

Kayande's Allegations and Reasons for Joining Shiv Sena



- Kayande accuses Uddhav Thackeray of being inaccessible for party feedback and claims money is sought from women in the Thackeray faction.

- She waited for a year for the Thackeray-led faction to introspect on the reasons behind party workers leaving Shiv Sena (UBT).

- Kayande believes that the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is the original party of Balasaheb Thackeray.

- She criticizes Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and party leader Sushma Andhare for promoting the agendas of NCP and Congress.

Fallout from Kayande's Move



- Kayande is removed as the spokesperson for "anti-party" activities by the Thackeray-led faction.

- Despite the removal, she remains a member of her parent party.

- Kayande denies involvement in any anti-party activity and highlights the need for open communication and addressing issues within the party.

- She expresses concern about the inability to reach out to the party leadership with feedback. CM Shinde's Remarks and Criticisms



Shinde slams Uddhav

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- Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde takes a dig at Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of self-praise regarding COVID management.

- Shinde criticizes Thackeray's speech at the Shiv Sena (UBT) plenary, stating that it lacked originality.

- He suggests that Thackeray needs to change his scriptwriter and asserts the importance of strength when commenting on national leaders like the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.

Response from Shiv Sena (UBT) Leaders



- Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders criticize Kayande for leaving the party despite having received everything within the organization.

- They attribute her decision to leave the party to the likelihood of not being re-nominated to the Legislative Council.
Hyderabad: Upbeat after its victory in the Karnataka elections, the Congress has stepped up its efforts to strengthen its base in Telangana by luring dissident leaders from ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). With 5-6 months to go for Assembly elections in Telangana, the party appears to have gained an upper hand over the BJP, whose aggressive pitch took a beating with the outcome of Karnataka polls.





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Political observers say that with the recent joining of leaders from the BRS and other parties, the Congress started emerging as the main challenger for the BRS, which is likely to face anti-incumbency after two terms in power. During the last few days, the Congress succeeded in attracting even those rebel BRS leaders who earlier seemed to prefer the BJP.According to political analysts, many leaders made up their minds after the Karnataka result and the party`s central and state leadership also made consistent efforts through regular talks. The Congress is likely to attract more leaders to its camp as the elections draw near. "Many dissident leaders of the BRS and even the BJP are likely to join Congress. Even those who had quit Congress a few years ago may come back," said analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.He believes that despite the defeats in 2014 and 2018 polls, defections, poor performance in by-elections, and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and infighting, the Congress remains a strong force in the state.Unlike the BJP whose presence is confined to a few districts, the Congress still has a strong presence across the state. "Some leaders might have left but the party`s cadres are still active on the ground," said senior Congress leader and former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir. The Congress appears to have achieved a big success with former Khammam MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao reportedly making up their mind to join it.Both the leaders were suspended by the BRS in April for anti-party activities and the BJP had been making serious efforts to convince them to join its camp. That the BJP failed in its efforts became clear when its MLA Eatala Rajender, who heads the party`s joining committee, threw up his hands. The former minister, who held a few rounds of talks with both leaders, revealed that the two leaders tried to persuade him to join hands with them in ousting the BRS from power.Rajender, who had quit the BRS to join the BJP in 2021 after he was dropped from the state Cabinet by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and some other leaders are reportedly unhappy with the style of functioning of state BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Reports of dissidence in BJP ranks also emerged after the party`s defeat in Karnataka polls and this is also believed to have hit the party`s efforts to woo BRS dissidents.Srinivasa Reddy is to join the Congress party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting to be organised in Khammam later this month. The party is trying to mobilise three lakh people for the meeting. This will be a big boost for the Congress as Srinivasa Reddy is considered an influential leader in Khammam and adjoining districts.Congress` Telangana President A. Revanth Reddy on June 17 held talks with Srinivasa Reddy and the two leaders reportedly spoke to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi over phone. The Congress is said to have accepted Srinivasa Reddy`s demand to allocate tickets in eight out of 10 Assembly seats in the erstwhile Khammam district to his supporters.Of these 10 seats, the Congress had won seven seats and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) two in the 2018 polls. The BRS could win just one seat. However, five of the Congress MLAs later defected to the BRS. Srinivas Reddy, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Khammam on a YSR Congress Party ticket in 2014, later switched loyalties to TRS (now BRS). He alleged that BRS leadership had made many promises but failed to fulfill them.He was unhappy after KCR denied him a party ticket for both the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He raised a banner of revolt after he was not even invited to the January 18 public meeting organised by the BRS in Khammam. It was the first meeting of the BRS after it changed its name.Another key joining in the party will be of former minister Jupally Krishna Rao. He felt sidelined in the BRS after MLA Harshvardhan Reddy, who had defeated him in Kollapur constituency in Mahabubnagar district in 2018, switched his loyalties from the Congress to the BRS after the Assembly polls. A few months ago, Krishna Rao had dared Harshvardhan Reddy for a debate on constituency development.It will be a homecoming for Krishna Rao who had resigned from the Congress to join the TRS in 2011. He was elected from Kollapur in 2014 on a TRS ticket. His joining is expected to bolster the Congress presence in the Kollapur and Wanaparti segments.A couple of other BRS leaders from Mahabubnagar are also likely to join the Congress. Kuchukulla Damodar Reddy, a member of Telangana Legislative Council, is likely to join the Congress by the end of the month.Gurunath Reddy, a five-time MLA from Kodangal, is also expected to join Congress. Revanth Reddy, who hails from Mahabubnagar district, is looking to strengthen his position as TPCC chief by holding talks with leaders from other parties in the district to persuade them to join the Congress.On June 15, the Congress received a shot in the arm with two senior leaders of the BRS joining it. Kuchadi Srihari Rao from Nirmal constituency, which is represented by forest minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, joined the Congress along with his followers. Another senior leader Nomula Prakash Rao, who was earlier with the TDP and later the BRS, also joined the Congress.Revanth Reddy claims that these joinings show the growing strength of the Congress. He is confident that the Congress will come to power in Telangana. "The four crore people of Telangana have been bearing the brunt of BRS excesses and misrule and are waiting for an opportunity to unseat the KCR government," he said. These are not mere joinings but a wave that will consume the anti-people BRS government, he claimed.
As a report in Colorado Politics pointed out last week, Colorados 3rd Congressional District Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert isnt the only member of Congress frittering away the GOPs newfound House majority with frivolous impeachment quests.

At last count, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Texas, submitted two sets of impeachment articles, one aimed at President Biden and the other at Vice President Kamala Harris. (Boebert signed on to both bills as a co-sponsor.) Previous impeachment resolutions were submitted in May by U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Bill Posey of Florida.

So, even if there isnt strength in numbers  considering only a handful such as Boebert are seeking to tilt at windmills  perhaps, at least, the spotlight on any one of them will be less intense. Lets hope.

Boeberts latest attempt to threaten the Biden presidency with an unattainable and, arguably, groundless impeachment  she tried in 2021, as well  might delight die-hards in her political base. But it probably leaves a lot of 3rd Congressional District voters feeling underwhelmed.

Thats especially so for the plurality of voters in the district who are registered unaffiliated  fully 44% compared with 31% who are Republicans and 24% who are Democrats.

It also provides fodder for her once-and-again Democratic opponent, Aspenite Adam Frisch. Boebert beat him by the slimmest margin in her reelection bid in November, and now, hes seeking a rematch in 2024.

You can bet the Frisch camp is scripting campaign mailers that nail Boebert for squandering precious time in Congress with pointless publicity stunts. And while those same mailers unfairly will ignore her substantive achievements on behalf of her district, its hard to quibble with the basic premise that she is wasting time on grandstanding.

Alas, Boebert doesnt seem inclined to blend into the crowd. Shes not one to keep her nose to the grindstone and toil away in obscurity on the basic chores of lawmaking in Washington or constituent services back home.

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Hence, her articles of impeachment last week charging the president with "dereliction of duty" by failing to "secure the southern border.

Joe Biden unconstitutionally violated his duty under Article II of the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed by intentionally disregarding our immigration laws and enabling an invasion along our southern border, Boebert said in a news release issued by her office.

As noted by Colorado Politics, Boebert has said she will invoke a House rule allowing her to use a privileged motion to force a House vote on her impeachment articles.

Of course, the effort doesnt have a prayer even in a House that has reverted to Republican control since the November election. The same goes for other members attempts at impeachment. Differences over immigration or any other policy issue are rightly viewed by most sensible members of Congress as grounds for debate, not impeachment. So there arent enough votes for an impeachment in the House, and the Democratic Senate wouldnt vote to convict.

Which probably is why Colorados 6th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jason Crow dismissed Boeberts impeachment attempt as a clown show in a tweet last week. He has a point.

Make no mistake, Boebert raises serious concerns about the border  concerns we share. And she is justified in lashing out at the Biden administrations abdication of its responsibility to secure our nations borders.

The issue warrants serious debate and a demand for action  not a political stunt that only serves to foster more public skepticism about the whole political process.
New Delhi: A decorated soldier and scholar with 39 years of commissioned service in the Indian Army, Lieutenant General A Arun is the inspiration for thousands of youth aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. The scholar soldier is popular among youth not only because of his position in the Indian Army but also because of his link to the IIT Madras.

Lt Gen A Arun Turned Down IIT Madras After Securing AIR 13 In JEE

Lt Gen A Arun the officer who is known for his academic excellence and oratory skills was a student at IIT Madras. Securing All India Rank (AIR) 13 in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) he took admission in the Indian Institute Of Technology IIT at Chennai but soon he turned down the prestigious technology institute.



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Why Did A Arun Leave IIT Madras

In many interviews, Lt Gen A Arun revealed the reason behind leaving the IIT Madras after an impressive AIR 13th in the IIT JEE exam. According to Arun, he left IIT to join the National Defence Academy, NDA to pursue his dream to become an army officer and serve his country and live a life less ordinary.

"I left IIT Chennai and Joined National Defence Academy...Any other place, any other college, any other education may give you a job...The Army will give you a life," A Arun said in a video that goes viral many times.

Lt Gen Arun's Academic Career, Medals

Arun who hails from Dindigul, Madurai in Tamil Nadu was born in June 1964 and was commissioned into 8 GRENADIERS on December 14, 1985. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Canberra, Australia and National Defence College, New Delhi. Decorated soldire and scholar, army officer has recieved the Sena Medal for Gallantry, Yudh Seva Medal for Outstanding Leadership in conflict, the Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished leadership and outstanding service, and the Chief of Army Staff's Commendation four times.

In his 39 years of career in the Indian Army, Lt Genral took upon challenging roles including raising and commanding a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), Command of Rashtriya Rifles Sector in Handwara and a Mountain Division in North East India. He was seriously wounded in operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the South Western Command, Jaipur.
New Delhi: On Saturday, President Joe Biden made a plea to blue-collar workers to back his bid for reelection and assist him in getting the wealthiest Americans to pay higher taxes. In Pennsylvania, a heavily industrialised state, Biden addressed hundreds of union members, saying, "It's about time the super wealthy start paying their fair share."

The AFL-CIO, a union federation that represents 12.5 million American workers, hosted the campaign event. A day earlier, the AFL-CIO had publicly endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. (Also Read: Amazing Health Benefits Of Early Dinner)

Before the Saturday rally, Biden has not yet held any significant campaign events in his 2024 reelection campaign. (Also Read: From Grocery Store Cleaner To 62nd Richest Person Of US - Read All About WhatsApp CEO)



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The president delivered his remarks as a crowded field of Republicans fought for the party's nomination, with Donald Trump emerging as the overwhelming favourite despite being accused of mishandling US government secrets, having twice been impeached over allegations of misconduct while in the White House, and a tangle of other legal issues.

In Philadelphia, Biden made a distinctively populist plea, touching on a variety of topics meant to stop the exodus of working-class voters from the Democratic Party. According to Biden, not all elected persons in Washington hold pro-union views.

You know I'm not one of the many politicians in this nation who can't use the term "union." The most pro-union president in American history, I'm pleased to say that, he declared.

He questioned how it could be just when 55 of the biggest American firms pay no federal income tax on $40 billion in profits. The US now has around 1,000 billionaires, according to Biden. He claimed they pay an average of 8% in federal income taxes.

They paid less in taxes than anyone in this room, including firefighters and teachers. They need to start paying a little tax. Being millionaires is OK with me. Man, just do your fair share.

Biden conducted an airborne tour of the Philadelphia bridge that collapsed last Saturday after a tanker truck caught fire earlier in the day. He promised the federal government would give the bridge's reconstruction full backing.

(With agency inputs)
BEIJING: Antony Blinken arrived in China on Sunday (local time) and became the US' first Secretary of State in five years to make a visit to Beijing, The Washington Post reported. On a two-day visit to China, Blinken is expected to hold a high-stakes meeting aimed at stabilizing a relationship under historic stress. His hosts previewed the tense visit with multiple rebukes of the United States, accusing Washington of engaging in "irresponsible bullying" and living under the "illusion" they could deal with China from a "position of strength."

Earlier, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, during the telephonic conversation with Blinken, warned that he should "show respect" for Beijing's position on Taiwan and also made clear that America must stop interfering in China's internal affairs, reported The Washington Post. Even after this, Blinken showed hope for maintaining open channels of communication as well as bilateral and global issues.

Last month, President Joe Biden predicted a thaw in China's anger over the US downing of its high-altitude surveillance balloon in February. The White House has indicated that Blinken's trip could unlock a series of meetings between US and Chinese officials, including a leader-to-leader engagement with President Xi Jinping.



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"I'm hoping that over the next several months I'll be meeting with Xi again, and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how ... to get along," Biden told reporters before leaving for Philadelphia.

Blinken arrived in the early morning with a full agenda: meetings with Gang, the Communist Party's top foreign policy official Wang Yi, US business leaders, American embassy personnel, exchange students and potentially Xi himself, according to The Washington Post.

According to the State Department's statement, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior PRC officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship. He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges.

It is pertinent to mention that earlier, he was scheduled to visit China in February 2023, but it was postponed after a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the United States sparked indignation from the Biden administration.
Manendragarh: A protest was held in Chhattisgarh's Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Saturday demanding a national ban on screening of the movie 'Adipurush' which protesters claimed is a conspiracy against Sanatan dharma. A handful of members of 'Korea Sahitya Avam Kala Manch' reached a complex in Manendragarh town and staged a demonstration in front of a theatre screening the movie.

Manch member Anamika Chakraborty, who led the protest, said the name 'Adipurush' itself is misleading. "The film is based on Ramayana and Lord Ram was 'maryada purushottam' not 'Adipurush'. This film is sending a very wrong message to society and misleading our young generation. This movie is a plot against Sanatan Dharma," she alleged and demanded that screening of this movie be stopped in the country immediately.

Chakraborty alleged the manner in which the characters of Ravan and Lord Hanuman are portrayed in the movie was shameful. Fronted by Prabhas, "Adipurush" has been panned on social media over its poor VFX and colloquial dialogues, with writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla under fire for Lord Hanuman's dialogues in the 'Lanka Dahan' sequence, among others.



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The 3D multilingual film, also starring Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan and Sunny Singh, was released across the country on Friday. Earlier in the day, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had alleged an attempt was made to tarnish the image of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman in the movie and said the Congress government may consider banning it in the state if people demand so.
New Delhi: India boasts of the largest film industry in the world, and with that comes a plethora of content; making it hard for a piece of cinema to stand out. Only a handful of films manage to create a lasting impact and become iconic classics and one such gem is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's timeless romance, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.' As this iconic film completes 24 years since its release, it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of cinephiles. With its mesmerizing storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and unforgettable music, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' redefined romance in Indian films and left an indelible mark on the industry.

Released in 1999, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' was a love story ahead of its time. It dared to explore complex emotions, unconventional relationships, and the transformative power of love. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his grandeur and visual extravaganza, brought his unique directorial style to the film. The vibrant visuals, colorful sets, and larger-than-life scale became synonymous with Bhansali's signature style, captivating audiences from the very first frame.

One of the key aspects that made 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' truly remarkable was its casting. Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, and Ajay Devgn formed an unusual trio, but their chemistry on screen was nothing short of magical. One of Bhansali's greatest strengths lies in his ability to extract the best performances from his actors. He pushes them to their limits, capturing their raw emotions and presenting them on screen with utmost authenticity. 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' is a testament to this talent as it showcased the actors' incredible range and brought out their best performances. This has even been witnessed with performances in all of the autuer's films and considering Bhansali's knack for this, the filmmaker leaves his actors spoiled for nothing short of excellence, exposing them to an experience like never before.



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The music of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' deserves a special mention. Each song became an instant hit and continues to be cherished by music lovers. Whether it was the playful "Nimbuda Nimbuda," the soul-stirring "Tadap Tadap," the energetic "Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje," or the timeless title track "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam," every composition struck a chord with the audience.

Every element of the film, from the exquisite costumes to the meticulously designed sets, was a visual treat. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's attention to detail was evident in every frame, making 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' a visual extravaganza. The film transported the audience to a world where love was vibrant, emotions were intense, and beauty was omnipresent.

The film's impact was not limited to the audience alone; it made a clean sweep at all major award functions. Apart from winning 4 National Awards, 11 IIFA Awards, it also won 5 Filmfare Awards, 8 Zee Cine Awards, 4 Screen Awards and 1 Peoples Choice Award. The success and acclaim of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam solidified Sanjay Leela Bhansali's position as a visionary filmmaker who carries on the legacy of cinema greats.

As we celebrate its 24th anniversary, we revisit this masterpiece and cherish the cinematic brilliance it brought to the silver screen.
Autistic Pride Day is a day dedicated to promoting awareness of autism. It is observed on June 18th each year. The goal of Autistic Pride Day is to promote acceptance, understanding, and respect for individuals on the autism spectrum. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that impacts how an individual interacts and responds to the world around them. It is characterized by differences in social interaction, communication, and behaviour of the child. Autism is defined by a spectrum because every autistic person is different in terms of the severity and the domains affected.

The symptoms of autism may begin from infancy but may be recognised late in many children due to a lack of awareness and sometimes due to the non-specific nature of symptoms which may be regarded normal. According to the Centre for Disease (CDC), one in fifty-five children may suffer from autism and it affects boys more than girls.

Dr Amit Batra, Principal Consultant  Neurosciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj explains how excessive screen time is linked with Autism spectrum disorder.



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What Are The Causes Of Autism?

Dr Batra explains, "The causes are mainly related to injury to the brain especially in the weeks immediately before birth, during the delivery, or a few days after the birth of the child. Complications may be related directly to the process of delivery or related to other medical conditions like jaundice, infections, etc."

"The problems with Social interaction and communication may include verbal communication (speech/ language), repetition of speech, problems with eye contact, facial expressions, inability to express emotions, and social adjustments. They may be sensitive to light, sounds, and touch. Problems with set-shifting, planning, and repetitive behavior, excessively cause learning disabilities. Patients may have difficulty in motor coordination, and movement, and may have repetitive falls," Dr Batra further explains.

Can Excessive Exposure To Screen Act As A Trigger?

Dr Batra said, "Excessive screen time can impact a childs speech, physical, emotional, and physical development. A recent study showed that longer durations of screen time among 1-year-old boys were significantly associated with autism spectrum disorder at 3 years old. The study did not however show an association between the amount or extent of a childs screen."

Another study exploring autism and screen time, concluded that longer screen time especially at a younger age was associated with more severe sensory integration symptoms, problems with attention, and more developmental delay, especially in the language.

"Though this relationship is still under investigation and non-conclusive, it is strongly recommended by various medical bodies to try and restrict screen time in kids," Dr Batra said.

Precautionary Measures To Take

Dr Batra shares some steps as precautionary measures, these include:

1) Setting a limit and assigning a maximum number of hours in a day

2) Fixing a routine, setting time slots and no screen time at least 1-2 hours before sleep.

3) Using screen time as a reinforcer for desired behaviors or rewards

4) Planning other activities apart from screen time like outdoor games, dancing, craft, etc.

5) Using the screen as helpful tools such as interactive and educational games, and videos and for social interaction with friends and family

All in all, devices can be beneficial to children when used judiciously, while too much usage can be detrimental to their development. Hence we need to be aware of their potential risks and be able to limit their use and try using them to their advantage for better mental and social development.
Kerala's Richest Man Ravi Pillai: Many people are forced to abandon their aspirations because they lack the opportunity to make them come true. But this individual worked hard to ensure that he obtained what he wanted and ultimately succeeded in doing so. We're referring to B. Ravi Pillai, an Indian billionaire living in Dubai who is originally from the coastal Kerala town of Kollam. The 68-year-old son of a farmer, B. Ravi Pillai, struggled with poverty, but he put in a lot of effort to improve his situation.

100 Crore Helicopter

As the first Indian to acquire an Airbus H145 helicopter, B Ravi Pillai, CEO of the RP Group of Companies, made news in June 2022. Ravi Pillai, a 68-year-old businessman, paid Rs 100 crore for this chopper. The cutting-edge helicopter can accommodate two pilots and seven passengers and boasts the newest safety measures. Additionally, this helicopter has the ability to launch and land from a height of 20,000 feet above sea level. The RP Group Vice-Chairman was on board the helicopter when it made its first voyage from Kovalam to Raviz Ashtamudi after being delivered by Airbus there.



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Asia's First 5-Bladed H145 Copter

It is the first five-bladed H145 helicopter in Asia and the first Airbus D3 helicopter in India. The newest addition to Airbus' four-tonne class twin-engine rotorcraft product line is the H145 helicopter. The helicopter also includes energy-absorbing seats that guarantee the safety of its passengers in the event of an accident, as well as an innovative wireless communication system. According to a key executive of the RP Group, the helicopter will help with their tourism efforts as they own a number of upscale hotels throughout the state and will use them to transport visitors between those locations. Pillai, who keeps a low profile, is renowned for his charitable endeavors and friendships with powerful politicians from all political parties.

B. Ravi Pillai: Background

On September 2, 1953, in the Keralan village of Chavara, Ravi Pillai was born. The family of Pillai formerly supported themselves through agriculture. Despite coming from a farming family in a tiny village, Ravi Pillai placed a high value on education. After graduating from a nearby college, he earned his post-graduate degree in business administration from Kochi University. Ravi Pillai has always desired to own his own business. While enrolled in classes at Kochi University, he borrowed Rs 1 lakh from a nearby moneylender to launch his own chit-fund business. He returned his loan after making money from his firm and continued to save his profits. After that, he founded his own construction business.

Ravi Pillai: Success Story

In his life, Ravi Pillai experienced a lot of ups and downs. When he received the contract from Vellore Hindustan Newsprint Factory, he suffered a significant setback. Due to a labor strike, he was forced to close his business. However, Pillai did not give up easily. In 1978, he left India and traveled to Saudi Arabia. He began his commerce and building businesses there. With 150 people, he soon established his own construction company, Nasser S. Al Hajri Corporation (NSH). As NSH started obtaining significant contracts, including building a hangar for a French aviation firm, his construction company multiplied. Along with this, his company was also constructing a $50 million project called the Royal Terminal.

Born into a farming family, Pillai now employs almost 70,000 people across a number of businesses. Pillai has a $2.5 billion net worth, according to Forbes. His riches can be inferred from the attendance of 30,000 guests from 42 nations, including CEOs of major internet companies and members of Middle Eastern royal families, during his daughter's wedding. Ravi Pillai was included among the 1000 richest people in the world by Forbes magazine. Moreover, he is regarded as Kerala's richest individual.

The Indian government honored Ravi Pillai with the Padma Shri in 2010 and the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2008. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from Excelsior College in New York. Many young people could be inspired by B. Ravi Pillai's leadership and diligence; he is able to bear and accept any type of setback solely on the basis of his belief that he can achieve his goals.
KOLKATA: Since the previous Left Front regime political clashes, violence and bloodbath have become synonymous with the polls in the panchayat elections in West Bengal. As days passed on, it reached the extreme points in the last two panchayat polls in 2013 and 2018, with 34 per cent seats in the the rural civic body system resulting in uncontested victory for the ruling Trinamool Congress in 2018.

However this time, the nature of violence had been slightly different from the previous two elections on two grounds. The first difference is that this time the bloodbath has started since the nomination phase between June 9 and June 15, with six deaths already being reported from different pockets of the state.

Political observers feel that this early entry of bloodbath is because unlike the previous two panchayat polls when the ruling party had total on- ground control, this time there had been stubborn retaliations and resistance from the opposition forces. Now with the bloodbath figure being so high during the nomination phase only and considering that these retaliations will continue, everyone is apprehensive of what shape the violence will take in the forthcoming phases of scrutiny of nomination papers, withdrawal of nominations, polling and counting phases and finally the post-counting period.



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Political observers have noted another interesting factor of the nomination- period violence which is that more than BJP as the principal opposition force in the state, the stubborn resistance has come from Congress and CPI(M), which are numerically zero in terms of assembly representation - and from All India Secular Front (AISF), which has just one MLA.

From Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, where AISF`s Naushad Siddique is the sole representative of the party in West Bengal assembly, this two-year old party is building up the resistance against ruling Trinamool Congress, in areas like Minakhan in North 24 Parganas while in Borsul in East Burdwan, the tussle is mainly between CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress. On the other hand, in Murshidabad district and Chopra in North Dinajpur, Congress workers with an association of CPI(M) activists are taking the retaliation lead.

Of the six deaths reported during the nomination phase, three were reported from Bhangar, two from Murshidabad and one from Chopra in North Dinajpur. The three casualties in Bhangar include a candidate and an activist of AISF with the third one being a local leader of Trinamool Congress. The two casualties from Murshidabad district include one each from Congress and Trinamool Congress camps. The casualty from Chopra is a CPI(M) candidate.

Observers feel that the pattern of political inclination of the casualties also indicated that the attacks and counter-attacks are concentrated between Congress-AISF-Left Front combined and ruling Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, although the division bench of the Calcutta High Court`s Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam had ordered deployment of central armed forces throughout the state for the panchayat polls, the state government and the West Bengal State Election Commission have approached the Supreme Court against the order.

According to veteran political observer and columnist Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay, much of the onus of the early violence lies with the State Election Commission. "Former chief secretary of West Bengal Rajiva Sinha was appointed as the state election commissioner on June 7 and on the very next day he announced the date of the election. This indicates lack of minimum homework before making the announcement. And now as the commission and state government approach the apex court to stall the deployment of central armed forces, questions are bound to arise about the seriousness of the two in ensuring free and fair polls," Bandopadhyay added.

Industry observer Santanu Sanyal feels that more than this bloodbath, what is even more alarming for West Bengal is the picture of the state that is being portrayed nationally or globally and what kind of signals such violence are sending to the potential investors. "In this age of Internet, the entire globe, especially the non-resident Bengalis, who act as the virtual brand ambassadors for West Bengal nationally and globally, are monitoring the day-to-day scenes over the rural civic body polls. What are the signals that they are getting?" Sanyal said.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leadership including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has continued to claim that the nomination process had never been so peaceful during the previous Left Front regime.
New Delhi: The BJP, which lost to the Kamal Nath-Digvijay Singh-Jyotiraditya Scindia (he was with the Congress then) triumvirate in the 2018 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, is making a high pitch this time. Before the Karnataka Assembly elections, it was said that the BJP high command has planned major changes in the state, but after the crushing defeat in the southern state, there has been a slight break in the plan.



However, the final decision of the BJP high command regarding Madhya Pradesh is still awaited as the party is yet to appoint a new chief in the state. Party leaders are curiously waiting to see who will be given what responsibility in the state. The internal rift within the organisation remains a big challenge for the ruling BJP.



On the strength of Scindia and his loyalist MLAs who defected to the BJP, the saffron party retained power in the state in 2020 and Shivraj Singh Chouhan became the Chief Minister by toppling the Congress government. However, more than half of these Scindia loyalists are now considering returning to Congress. Even Scindia supporters have started leaving the BJP. On many seats, confrontations are erupting between the current MLA of the Scindia faction and the established old leaders of the BJP.



Although, according to a senior BJP strategist, in-fighting between party leaders or ticket aspirants is not a big problem, the real challenge for the BJP is the tall promises being made by Kamal Nath and other Congress leaders as these promises and guarantees have helped the grand old party in sweeping the Karnataka polls.



The new Congress led by Kamal Nath is different from Digvijay Singh`s Congress. The soft Hindutva approach of Congress is also increasing troubles for the saffron party.



Priyanka Gandhi recently started her election tour of Madhya Pradesh by worshipping Narmada and making it clear that the Congress high command is also standing with Kamal Nath`s strategy on the issue of soft Hindutva. The way Congress successfully convinced the people of Karnataka about the corruption allegations against the BJP, on the same lines, it is trying to surround the Shivraj government by raising the corruption issue in Madhya Pradesh.



However, BJP does not want to lose a big state like Madhya Pradesh under any circumstances. That`s why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda are going to exert all their efforts in the state. The BJP will try to create an electoral atmosphere in its favour in the state on the strength of its most popular face - Prime Minister Modi.



Besides this, Shah will play a big role in finalising the election strategy and selecting candidates while Nadda will try to create mutual coordination among all the senior leaders of the state. Chief Minister Chouhan recently came to Delhi and shared all the information regarding the political situation in the state with Amit Shah.

It is being said that during the meeting, Shah gave several important instructions to Chouhan in view of the Assembly elections. The BJP has won three consecutive Assembly polls - in 2003, 2008 and 2013 - in the state. But in the last elections held in 2018, the Congress had thrown the BJP out of power.



In 2018, the Congress had given a major political blow to the BJP by forming the government with the help of other parties, winning 114 of the total 230 seats.

After losing the election, the BJP made Chouhan the national vice president of the party. But after 15 months, the rebellion of Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and his 22 loyalist MLAs led to the toppling of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government. Considering the then political situation, the BJP high command sent Chouhan back to Bhopal and made him the Chief Minister.



However, along with this, the saffron party has been making sporadic changes in the state. On 15 February 2020, a month before Kamal Nath was toppled in March 2020, BJP appointed Lok S`bha MP Vishnu Dutt Sharma as the party`s state chief, whose three-year term has ended and now the search for a new state president is on.



Last year, in March 2022,`the BJP made a major change in the party`s state organisation and appointed Hitanand Sharma as the new General Secretary (Organisation) of the state BJP by sending Suhas Bhagat back to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.



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On an afternoon in late June 2022, as I sat by my dads hospital bed in Colorado Springs, trying to read a book and forget for a few moments that the only man Id loved, and whod loved me, for the entirety of my life was slipping away, his cellphone rang.

Is this Ed Earls number? asked the voice on the other end, whose Caller ID I didnt recognize.

I said I was Eds daughter, and explained that Dads condition had taken a turn for the worse. We didnt know when (or if, I silently added, through gritted soul) he and Mom would be able to return to West Virginia.

The man on the phone expressed his get well wishes, and went on to wax nostalgic about the old days, how my dad had taken him under his wing at the plant, the Prowler trailer manufacturing facility in Hancock, Md., where Dad was a sales manager for more than three decades before he retired.

Ed was like a father to me, the caller said, keeping me on the line for maybe another 10 minutes to share memories about a man who  in the 51 years Id known him  rarely did so.

It was all new to me. The tales, and the context.

A year after my dads bio officially ended, on July 13, 2022, that part of his story  the parts I hadnt known before and the parts Id forgotten, because I could  is still being written.

The man whod called Dads cell that day last summer, one of many people who reached out during that time, whose names only occasionally rang a bell, hung up. I returned to the awful reality of the hospital room, the mechanical gasps, whirrs and chirps; if anxiety has a soundtrack, this is it.

I looked at my sleeping father  this superhuman whod swooped in to save me more times than I could count, from crises that paled in comparison to the one for which he now could offer no succor. His meringue of sugar-white hair, lips chapped and tongue raw from the oxygen mask, neck so vulnerable and pale. A vein in his throat pulsed out of time with the monitors.

I hadnt realized there were loose ends, a void heading into the void.

And here we were, too late to ask.

Dad wasnt secretive but he was taciturn, the kind of person whod honestly answer all your questions but rarely volunteered the words that would lead to revelatory asks  unless, of course, it was regarding Civil War history or practical matters (yes, my tires are rotated, oil changed, and [lie] taxes done).

His go-to bedtime story, when my sister and I were kids, left pretty much everything to the imagination:

"Once upon a time, there were three bears, who lived in the woods and they died."

On nights when he was feeling particularly expository, the bears would have a meal and hit the powder room before keeling over.

Dad may have been tight with words, but he was generous with his time and money, and had no expectations of quid pro quo or acknowledgment.

He was his own man, and he kept much of that man to himself.

More than 30 years into my parents marriage, it was only well after the fact that Mom noticed hed quit smoking, after decades of him puffing on cigarettes and then cigars, leaving the slow-smoldering nubs to burn out balanced on whatever ledge he could find outside whatever building he was about to enter.

He hadnt mentioned his smoking-cessation plan to anyone. He didnt feel the need to talk about it.

He just decided, and did.

Edward Earls was born on Dec. 15, 1940, in Sylva, N.C., and spent his early years moving around the country  and, briefly, to Mexico  with a tunnel superintendent father, whose many public-works projects included the Hoover Dam. He earned a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the same school from which I would graduate 30 years later) and serve with the Army National Guard, before settling in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., with the college sweetheart he'd married, and their two daughters, where he continued in the career from which he would retire, at the plant.

That is part of what I covered in my dad's obituary, which ran last year in an August issue of the Morgan Messenger, the Berkeley Springs newspaper where I started my journalism career.

This is part of what I did not share in that obit:

Dad liked plain cabbage with salt, hated mac-and-cheese, and loved a great deal.

The handful of times I saw him truly seem excited, before his grandchildren (my sisters daughters) were born, was when hed scored such a coup, regardless how tiny, pointless, and clutter-inducing.

That personality quirk was baked in long before I arrived on the scene, according to my mom.

One of her earliest memories from the salad days of married life, when she and Dad shared a tiny apartment in Hagerstown, Md., was, in retrospect, a resonant insight into what shed signed up for.

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I turn around and hes got on a full wetsuit, with flippers and face goggles, said my mom. We dont live at the beach, were not going anywhere that has a beach, theres only a tiny swimming pool at the apartment complex  

Dad had purchased the ensemble solely because it was for sale at a great price. He never used it, and years later sold it through a penny-press ad.

He loved history, hated waste, and despite all his collector tendencies, was hyper-organized via his own sometimes-arcane systems.

Mom and I were going through his shaving kit after he died and found an old pill bottle repurposed for convalescing projects-to-be. The bottle held three things: a sliver of chipped tooth, the severed leg of a toy horse and a silver necklace clasp.

Im sure he had plans to fix all those, for the granddaughters, said my mom.

Not the tooth. Probably.

My dad was always there to fix me, too. No questions asked.

He came to see me when I was sad, after Id moved to Portland, Ore., and was blue because nobody who really knew me was around to celebrate my birthday.

After I moved to Albany, N.Y., and when my cat died, and when a semi totaled my Honda on Interstate 81 the night before Thanksgiving, he drove for hours to be with me. I don't remember our conversations, just that he was there, a stabilizing force sans question or judgment.

He was my caravan partner, moving cross-country to Colorado Springs.

When I say he made my life possible, I dont mean it in a genetic or conceptual way.

His quips are how I talk to myself in my head. Through the movies he loved and that we bonded over, including The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Endeavor to persevere, Dad would counsel.

Like As you wish, it also meant I love you.

My parents drove from West Virginia to Colorado Springs, in June of last year, to take care of me after total hip replacement survey.

Both had contracted COVID-19 a few months before the trip, but were feeling better and had, for weeks, tested negative.

Theyd most recently been in the Springs in late 2021, and none of us had any reason to believe a return trip to a high-altitude location Dad had visited half-a-dozen times would entail extra risks.

We were wrong.

On Fathers Day, four days after Id been released from the hospital post-surgery, my dad was kneeling down on my porch, fixing a broken glass door pane Id let languish for almost a decade, when it hit him.

He couldnt stand up. And he couldnt breathe.

His blood oxygen, according to the readout from a finger monitor Mom got at Walgreens, was desperately low.

Dad was admitted into the hospital on Fathers Day, and the idea he might never get out seemed absurd.

I never got to give him the mug that said Worlds Greatest Dad, which I know he would have appreciated, not only for the sentiment, but the fact that I got it for 10 cents on a post-holiday sale.

I never got to show him how I followed through.

Youre going to fix that window, right? he asked, when I was able to visit him in the hospital.

It was one of the last conversations we had.

I promised I would do as he wished, and I did.
LUCKNOW: The serene Chuka beach in Uttar Prdesh`s Pilibhit has emerged as a much sought after tourist spot, witnessing a 40 per cent increase in the footfalls. According to a government spokesperson, nearly 24,000 tourists have explored the beauty of Chuka beach after the pandemic.

The footfall translated into a revenue of Rs 51.04 lakh for the state tourism department which has been promoting the destination in a big way over the past couple of years.

"Senior officials, politicians, actors and judges of the Supreme/High Court paid a visit to the Pilibhit forest in the November to June season. In addition to this, as many as 42 students` groups explored the place. Of the tourists who visited the place, more than 4,300 took the jungle safaris while the travellers booked the Tharu huts online 839 times," the spokesperson said.



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There are seven forest rest houses available in different ranges under the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. As many as four Tharu huts and one tree house are also available for tourists.

They claimed that Chuka beach came into being during the evolution of Sharda Dam project. It is perhaps unique because it is the only beach in India that is not located along a sea. Sources claimed that the place lay in neglect for years and the Yogi Adityanath government initiated concrete steps to develop it into a tourist destination.

"Chuka Beach gained popularity as a tourist destination because of publicity campaigns launched by the Yogi government," the spokesman said.
This article is the first in a series of reports on the war in Ukraines effect on bordering Eastern European countries. It is written by two Colorado College students traveling through the region and gives an overview of the wars spreading, collateral impact on the region.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  The room around Lukas Novak was out of order. The walls were sparsely decorated. Folded office chairs leaned up against the wall. Cardboard boxes lay on the floor  some half unpacked, others still full.

In the corner of the room, a small couch faced two chairs on the opposite side of a coffee table. The young lawyer, wearing a pair of thin black glasses, poured water from a glass pitcher and set it on the table.

Novak is an attorney with the Human Rights League, a non-governmental organization founded in 2005 to give legal assistance to migrants and refugees. He works in the Bratislava office, which recently relocated to accommodate a growing staff.

Since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than 100,000 Ukrainians have migrated to Slovakia and taken temporary refuge, according to the Slovak Republic Ministry of the Interior.

As the conflict grew and progressed, the Human Rights League saw an increase in size and funding. They moved from a small, one-room workspace to a new office suite. The staff, which numbered less than 10 before the war, is now made up of over 50 administrators and lawyers.

Also, at this moment, we employ Ukrainian lawyers who are refugees themselves, said Novak.

One of the largest initiatives of the HRL was the establishment of mass capacity centers, completed in collaboration with municipal governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other nongovernmental organizations.

The idea with the center: We wanted to implement the concept of a one-stop shop. So under one roof, they could get all the necessary services they needed, said Novak.

At mass capacity centers, refugees can find legal, psychological and social services. In addition, state agencies help migrants with requests like finding child care or work.

The center's main function, though, is registering refugees for temporary protection. Slovakia allowed Ukrainians to apply for this special status only 18 days after Russias initial invasion, enabling refugees to live and work in the country until March 4, 2023. In January, the government extended the expiration date another year.

So, until next spring, registering for temporary protection in Slovakia remains fairly easy.

It's like 30 minutes, because they just check your documents. You have to have proof that you are coming from Ukraine, said Zuzana Stevulova, director of Centrum Pravnej Pomoci, a state budget organization based out of Bratislava.

Stevulovas organization is also finding a new place as a result of the war. In years past, CPPs work consisted mostly of providing help to Slovaks who didnt have the resources to afford their own legal counsel. Much of their assistance centered on personal finance; in 2017, they sorted through more than 10,000 bankruptcy cases.

But now, almost 60 members of Stevulovas 160-person staff are dedicated to helping Ukrainian refugees.

Refugees can come to our offices because, as they are inhabitants of Slovakia, they are also qualified for free legal aid, said Stevulova. With the refugees, CPPs work becomes focused on property law, contract law and labor law.

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But some Slovaks criticize the CPP's newfound attention on refugees.

Citizens sometimes think that Ukrainians are getting something for free, and that (they) are not getting something for free, said Stevulova. At the beginning, I think everyone was really about helping. But in every crisis, it's natural that if it lasts very long, and now it's more than a year, people start to be tired.

In summer 2022, four mass capacity centers opened up around Slovakia. Now, only two remain: one in Bratislava and the other in the eastern city of Michalovce.

Galina, a schoolteacher in Bratislava, does not enjoy the addition of the four Ukrainian students who joined her kindergarten class in the time since the war began.

They are no good, she said, wagging her finger and shaking her head. Absolutely different culture.

These feelings of disapproval toward the refugees are common. According to a European Commission report in September 2022, while most Slovaks considered it necessary to aid refugees in the first four months of the conflict, over 80% said that the comprehensive and concentrated support for Ukrainian migrants is perceived as being given at the expense of Slovak citizens.

But some Slovaks are simply indifferent to the Ukrainian influx.

Sitting with a friend in a quiet, shady corner of a downtown park, a university student named Dunsin had little to say about his new Ukrainian classmates.

I like them, maybe? said Dunsin. He wasnt bothered.

For citizens like Dunsin, Slovakia doesnt have a place in the conflict. Life goes on. But it is not clear if Slovakia can stay removed.

The small Eastern European nation, a country with roughly the same population as Colorado, faces political influence from all directions. Pushed and pulled by Western influence and communist nostalgia, social media has become a battleground. It is polarizing the Slovak electorate.

Russian propaganda works in a way where they find an existing problem, said Pavol Kosnac, director of the DEKK Research Institute, which focuses on social analysis. They use it and just embellish it and make it bigger and longer term.

Slovaks are being asked to take a side. And their decision to help Ukrainian refugees, while supported by the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union, is challenged every day by Russian propaganda and local representatives of the pro-Russian or anti-Western sentiment, according to Kosnac.

For Slovakia, this is nothing new. The countrys recent history is torn between east and west. The nation has been a junior partner in different federations for the past 200 years. In the 20th century, it formed alliances with the regions greater powers, becoming an Axis satellite state during World War II and then a vassal nation of the Soviet Union.

Slovakia was always small, said Kosnac. There was always a bigger brother.

Russias advance into Ukraine will not test the countrys ability to fight, but its ability to stand ground, push back against the influence of a dominant power, and provide aid to those in need.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis comes on stage with his wife Casey and their children at the Basque Fry, an annual barbecue fundraiser for conservative causes at the Corley Ranch in Gardnerville, Nev. on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Speaking for nearly an hour in a swing state where loyalties to Donald Trump still run deep, DeSantis avoided mentioning his main rival for the GOP presidential nomination. (Jason Henry/The New York Times)

In black boots, jeans and an untucked shirt  the fundraiser dress code specified ranch casual  Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Saturday tried to persuade Republican voters in Nevada still loyal to former President Donald Trump that the partys formula for winning elections was beyond its shelf life.

Headlining a conservative jamboree in the swing state, where loyalties to Trump still run deep, DeSantis never mentioned his rival for the Republican Partys 2024 presidential nomination during a speech in Gardnerville.

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But DeSantis sought to draw a not-so-subtle contrast between himself and the former president, a onetime ally who is the partys overwhelming front-runner in a crowded Republican field. He described last years midterm elections as another disappointment in a string of defeats for the party, while touting his more than 1.2 million-vote margin of victory in his reelection in November.

Weve developed a culture of losing in this party, DeSantis said, adding, Youre not going to get a mulligan on the 2024 election.

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DeSantis spoke for nearly an hour at the Basque Fry, a barbecue fundraiser that supports conservative groups in Nevada.

Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesperson for Trump, hit back at DeSantis in a statement to The New York Times on Saturday.

Ron DeSantis is a proven liar and fraud, he said. Thats why hes collapsing in the polls  both nationally and statewide. He should be careful before his chances in 2028 completely disappear.

The Basque Fry has risen in stature since it was first held in 2015, drawing a stream of Republican presidential candidates to the Corley Ranch in the Carson Valley with its rugged backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.

Past headliners have included Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who earlier this month entered the race, had been scheduled to attend in 2017 but canceled because Hurricane Harvey was bearing down on the Gulf Coast.

Its an opportunity for White House aspirants to make an elevator pitch to rank-and-file conservatives in Nevada, a crucial early proving ground that in 2021 replaced its party-run caucuses with a primary. Republicans oppose the change, passed by the state Legislature, and are suing the state to keep the caucuses.

DeSantis visit to Nevada punctuated a week in which Trump dominated the news cycle with his arraignment Tuesday in a 37-count federal indictment over his handling of classified documents after leaving office.

As Trumps chief Republican rival, DeSantis did not mention the indictment outright, but instead echoed GOP attacks on the Justice Department and pledged to replace the director of the FBI if elected.

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We are going to end the weaponization of this government once and for all, DeSantis said.

In 2016, the last presidential election during which the GOP did not have a sitting president, Trump won the Republican caucuses in Nevada, where rural activists and Mormon voters wield influence. He finished 22 percentage points ahead of his closest rival, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

During the midterm elections last fall, Trump campaigned for Republicans in Nevada at a rally in Minden, which is next to Gardnerville. The elections turned out to be a mixed showing for the GOP, which flipped the governors office but lost pivotal races for the Senate and the House, including the seat held by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat who had been considered vulnerable.

Cortez Mastos defeat of Adam Laxalt, a former Nevada attorney general who was the de facto host of Saturdays fundraiser, helped give Democrats outright control of the Senate.

Laxalt, who was a roommate of DeSantis when they were both Navy officers, introduced him to the crowd of about 2,500 people.

This is the kind of leader we need, he said.

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Laxalt began the Basque Fry in 2015, building on a tradition that was started by his grandfather, Paul Laxalt, a former U.S. senator and governor of Nevada who died in 2018.

Northern Nevada has one of the highest concentrations in the nation of people of Basque ancestry, a group that includes Laxalt, who also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018.

Jim McCrossin, 78, a retiree from Virginia City, Nevada, who surveyed the ranch in a DeSantis cap, said that he had previously supported Trump but worried about his electability.

I just think theres so much hate for him, he said, adding, Trumps been arrested twice, and thats probably not the last time.

He said that DeSantis doesnt have the drama.

His household is divided: His wife, Jacquie McCrossin, said that she still favored Trump, even though she had on a DeSantis cap.

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Shellie Wood, 72, a retired nail technician and gold miner from Winnemucca, Nevada, who sported a Trump 2020 camouflage cap, said that DeSantis would make a strong running mate for Trump, but that it was not his moment.

Still, Wood said DeSantis had made a positive impression on her with his record in Florida.

Hes stood up against Disney, and thats something a lot of people didnt have the gumption to do, she said.

DeSantis repeatedly reminded the crowd of his feud with Disney, which he and other Republicans turned into an avatar of woke culture after the company criticized a state law that prohibited classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the buildup to his formal debut as a candidate last month, DeSantis grappled with being labeled by the media and rivals as awkward at retail politics and in one-on-one settings with voters.

Before stepping up to the podium, with the snow-peaked mountains behind him, DeSantis mingled with a group of VIPs for about 30 minutes in a reception that was closed to the news media.

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Outside the reception, Casey DeSantis, the governors wife, who has been an omnipresent campaigner and influence on the policies of her husbands administration, took selfies and signed autographs for local Republicans. She had on boots, too.

While Ron DeSantis impressed many of the attendees, there was still a pro-Trump undercurrent at the event. Shawn Newman, 58, a truck driver from Fernley, Nevada, who hovered near a table with DeSantis campaign swag while wearing a ubiquitous red Trump cap, said Trump was still his candidate.

Trumps above their reach, he said of the other Republican candidates.

As DeSantis worked a rope line after his speech, one man handed him a campaign hat to sign. In his other hand, he clutched a Trump cap.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times. c.2023 The New York Times Company
Posted from my mobile device

Wow. Pretty amazing getting full rides at both!I believe HEC would have a bigger and more selective body. Bigger class and more competitive. Most people tend to try to recruit in London anyway just like Cambridge and LBS and INSEAD.Ive heard the main positive side of the Cambridge program is the college structure that they have people living in and the community of it but thats only some thing you get for one year and Im not sure you should prioritize some thing so immediate and treating it off for your overall career trajectory One other item to address on your initial post, if you were planning to leverage in that work such as networking to buy, the strength of the network will be much much weaker three or five years after graduation so if you end up working in London and then five years later or three years later you want to move to Dubai, youre probably going to leverage you latest professional net work first and only if thats exhausted youre going to go back to people who have graduated years ago and say hello to them and sometimes they may say hello back. What Im saying is that after you get your first job the importance of schools net work goes down and as you continue to progress through your career, youll be leveraging other networks rather than your schools. Seth may not be a huge decision factor either and I usually recommend focusing on the immediate goal which would be London.PS. For the HEC, its a two year program with an internship and Cambridge would be 12 months? Does it have an internship? I am not super familiar with the Judge program structureDo you have a preference for an internship?_________________
Jacob Thomas Black

Jacob Thomas Black, son of David and Karen Black of Danville, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University.

Double majoring in intelligence analysis and geography, Black received the Outstanding Scholar Award for having the highest GPA in his major. He has accepted a job with the MITRE Corporation in Bedford, Massachusetts as an associate geospatial computing engineer in the geospatial analytics department.

MacKenzie Harris

MacKenzie Harris, Pittsylvania County, was one of 15 students to receive a $2,000 George E. Allen Academic Scholarship from Allen & Allen this year.

She is planning to attend Longwood University.

In its 32nd year, the George E. Allen Academic Scholarship has awarded students across Allen & Allens operating areas in Virginia with more than $600,000. The scholarship was created to honor the firms founder, George E. Allen Sr.

Lily Porter

Lily Porter, of Chatham, recently graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from the College of Charleston in the Colleges historic Cistern Yard.

Kathryn McDonald

Kathryn McDonald, of Danville, received an undergraduate degree in psychology from Cedarville University.

Sabrina Wiles

Sabrina Wiles, of Ringgold, is one of 943 students who earned a spot on the deans list at Shenandoah University for the spring semester.

To qualify for the deans list, students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs must complete at least 12 semester hours and earn a semester grade-point-average of 3.50 or higher.

JMU deans list

James Madison University recently announce Dan River Region students who made the deans list for the spring semester.

Area students include Arianna Bailess, majoring in nursing; Mary Paris majoring in communication sciences and disorders; Anne Sease, majoring in nursing; Kayleigh Terry, majoring in writing rhetoric and technical communication, all of Chatham; Jacob Barker, majoring in biology; Karina Howard, majoring in integrated science and technology; Sophie Parrish, majoring in graphic design; Olivia Underwood, majoring in communication studies, all of Danville; Kara Long, majoring in individualized study, of Ringgold; and Lindsey Mitchell, majoring in English, of Callands.

Students who earn deans list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.899.

JMU honors graduates

James Madison University recently announced Dan River Region students who graduated with honors during the May commencement exercises.

Area students are Ellery Moorefield, of Hurt, who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in education; Olivia Underwood, of Danville, who graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies; Brooke Craddock, of Danville, who graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences; and Jacob Black, of Danville, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in intelligence analysis.

JMU presidents list

James Madison University recently announced Dan River Region students who made the presidents list for the spring semester.

Area students are Jacob Black, of Danville, who is majoring in intelligence analysis; Ellery Moorefield, of Hurt, who is majoring in special education; and Rebekah Stowe, of Keeling, who is majoring in finance.

Students who earn presidents list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of 3.9 or above.
Because this section is free of charge, community events are subject to run based on available space. Religion items are published on the Saturday church page. Email events to news@registerbee.com.

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

CITY OF DANVILLE: The Municipal Building and all other city of Danville government offices will be closed Monday in observance of Juneteenth as an official holiday. Also, the public library and the James F. Ingram Justice Center (courthouse) will be closed. However, Danville Transit will operate, and household trash and yard waste will be collected Monday as regularly scheduled. Offices, the library and the courthouse will reopen on Tuesday.

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY: All Pittsylvania County offices and departments will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

ROAD WORK

CITY OF DANVILLE: Weather permitting, Memorial Drive from Oak Ridge Avenue to Country Club Court will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, to allow for repair of two settled areas in the asphalt. Southbound traffic on Memorial Drive traffic should use Bishop Road to West Main Street. Northbound traffic should use West Main Street to Bishop Road to Memorial Drive. Barricades and detour signs will be in place. The settled asphalt areas are a result of the deterioration of two corrugated metal drainage pipes. Both pipes were replaced earlier this month. Adams Construction is the contractor.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

KAYAK WORKSHOP I: Workshop is from 7:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday at cost of $150 per person for ages 12 to 14 years of age. Participants will learn basic kayaking skills and techniques, safety protocols, and explore different sections of the Dan River and go on an all-day river trip. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. This camp is for ages 12-14. Call 434-799-5150 to register.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

LET'S TALK HISTORY: Lets Talk History: White Rock Hill Conversations. Sessions to discuss White Rock Hill community will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 418 Locust Lane. Sponsored by the White Rock Neighborhood Empowerment Association, the sessions are led by local historian Katrice Luck-Brimmer. No fee. Call 434-228-3180.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

DAN RIVER BLUEGRASS MUSIC EVENT: Dan River Bluegrass Association Monthly Music Event at 7 p.m. with featured band, Eddie Gill and the Grassmasters at Danville Community College, 1009 Bonner Ave., Danville. Admission is $5. Attendees are asked to bring canned food items to donate to God's Storehouse. For more information, call 276-638-2742

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

COMMUNITY DAY: Cascade Volunteer Fire Department, 5497 Cascade Road, will hold Community Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See equipment, visit facility, meet and speak to volunteers, view on-site landing of medical transport helicopter and gear the announcing and awarding plaque to the winner of the Honorary Mayor's Race. Refreshments will be served.

SUNDAY, JUNE 25

ART EXHIBIT AND RECEPTION: Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 975 Main St., will host an opening reception for the Robert Marsh Retrospective exhibit. Free and open to the public. Go to EventBrite.com to reserve a spot.

MONDAY, JUNE 26

DAN RIVER-BLAIRS CIVIC LEAGUE TO MEET: The Dan River-Blairs Civic League will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Bethel Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 6620 Old Richmond Road, Danville.

COATES DAY CAMP-STEAM WEEK: Camp held at Coates Recreation Center June 26-30 from 7:30 to 6 p.m. for first through sixth graders at cost of $125 per child with a $10 fee for field trip to the Danville Science Center. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch. Registration is required, call 434-799-5150.

ADVENTURE CAMP II: Camp held from June 26-30, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at cost of $175 per person. Prepare for an outdoor day-camp consisting of hiking, kayaking, zip lining, high ropes adventures and climbing wall challenges. This camp will also consist of one out of town trip to Hanging Rock State Park, arts and crafts, environmental education, and outdoor games. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. This camp is for ages 12-14. Call 434-799-5150.

SUNDAY, JULY 2

CLASSICAL CONCERT: Schoolfield Village presents a free Classical Concert at 917 W. Main Street in Danville at 7:30 p.m. Brothers Kevin and Bryan Matheson, violin and viola, and Judy Clark, piano, will entertain the audience with an All-American program. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Make a free reservation for the concert at https://SchoolfieldClassical.eventbrite.com.

ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM: The Chatham Concert Series will hold its annual an All-American program at 3:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Concert series favorites Kevin and Bryan Matheson, violin and viola and Judith Clark, piano will entertain the audience. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the concert series.

MONDAY, JULY 3

COATES DAY CAMP-LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION WEEK: Camp held at Coates Recreation Center July 3-7 (no camp on July 4) from 7:30 to 6 p.m. for ages first through sixth graders. Cost is $100 per person with $6 for a field trip that includes a movie, popcorn and drink. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch. Registration is required by calling 434-799-5150.

TUESDAY, JULY 4

JULY 4 CELEBRATION: Free celebration kick off at 6 p.m. at the Carrington Pavilion; Danville Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at dusk (weather permitting). Vendors and concessionaires will be on site with items for purchase. For more information, call 434-857-3384.

THURSDAY, JULY 6

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY NAACP TO MEET: Pittsylvania County NAACP will meet at 6 p.m. at the PCCA building, 348 N. Main St., Chatham.

MONDAY, JULY 10

ADVENTURE CAMP III: Camp is held July 10-14 and consist of hiking, kayaking, zip lining, high ropes adventures and climbing wall challenges. This camp will also consist of one out of town trip to Smith Mountain Lake State Park, arts and crafts, environmental education and outdoor games. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. This camp is for ages 12-14 held from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at cost of $175 per person. Call 434-799-5150 to register.

THURSDAY, JULY 13

MUSIC AT THE MARKET-SHELTON AND WILLIAMS BAND: Free Music at the Market concert series held at the Danville Community Market's outdoor stage, 629 Craghead St., from 7 to 9 p.m. In event of rain, concert will be moved inside the Community Market. Bring a chair or blanket.

FRIDAY, JULY 14

CAMPFIRE FRIDAY: Join for a summer campfire under the stars from 8 to 9 p.m. There will be smores, campfire games, and ghost stories. Bring blanket and chair and enjoy a true camper experience for ages 5 and up; parents are required to stay with their kids. Call 434-799-5150. No fee.

MONDAY, JULY 17

COATES DAY CAMP-ART APPRECIATION WEEK: Coates Day Camp - Art Appreciation Week will be held at Coates Recreation Center from July 17-21 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for ages 1st through 6th graders at cost of $125 per child, plus $5 fee for field trip. Camp will be exploring different art mediums, talking to a local artist, and visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack and their own lunch if desired. Participants registration is required, call (434) 799-5150.

MONDAY, JULY 24

HANGING ROCK OVERNIGHT CAMP: Join us as we travel to Hanging Rock State Park in North Carolina to spend four nights under the stars. Overnight camp is for ages 12 to 14 at cost of $300 held July 24 to July 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This camp is perfect for beginners and experts seeking new thrills. Due to the nature of this camp, registration ends June 30 at 5 p.m. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. Call 434-799-5150.

THURSDAY, AUG. 10

MUSIC AT THE MARKET-OLD 97 BAND: Free concert held at Danville Community Market's Outdoor Stage at 7 p.m. Bring a chair, blanket, and picnic basket. In the event of rain, concert will be moved inside the Community Market. Call 434-857-3384 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6

STRIKING UP THE BAND: The Hows, Whats & Whys of a University Band Program will be presented at 7 p.m., Averett University Student Center Multipurpose Room; free admission. Dr. Janet Phillips, associate professor of music, started a brand new band program. Through photos, videos and stories, she will show how it was done and how the program looks moving forward.
A $20 million project to expand Sovah Health-Danvilles emergency department  originally announced more than two years ago  is officially underway.

But before the real work begins on the overhaul, a temporary emergency department must be constructed on the second floor.

From the outside, temporary fencing is up along some areas. Starting Monday, crews will begin taking down trees near the radiation oncology building near the hospital, Corey Santoriello, a spokesperson for Sovah Health-Danville, told the Register & Bee.

Renovations also will start next week on the second floor area that will house the temporary emergency unit so theres no interruption in service while the main emergency department becomes a construction zone.

Initial estimates for this phase of construction have Sovah Health-Danville seeing patients in the temporary ER in early November, however construction timelines can change unexpectedly, Santoriello wrote in an email.

Overall, the project should take about 14 months to complete.

At the original 2021 announcement, then Sovah Health-Danville Chief Operating Officer John Kent told the Danville Register & Bee that the upcoming Caesars Virginia casino in Danville played a role in the LifePoints willingness to invest in the project. LifePoint is the parent company of Sovah Health-Danville.

Back then, the price was pegged at $12 million. The post-pandemic building price surge now has the estimate at about $20 million.

Increasing by about 50%  14,000 square feet to 21,000  the current 22 full-sizes rooms will grow to 33 in the emergency department.

The overall goal is to improve patient and staff flow, expand triage and reduce wait times, hospital officials have said.

The waiting area will expand and six new multifunctional rooms will be added, making it easier for workers to move through the space.

The renovated space will allow clinicians a clear view of patient areas at all times.

The project also adds a new patient monitoring system and replacement of a radiology exam room. The ambulance bay will be relocated in an effort to make it easier to transport patients in and out of the emergency department.

When the temporary department is ready, that means patients, visitors and EMS workers will use the main entrance to the hospital to access the emergency room.

Internal and external signage will be posted during that time to provide proper direction, Santoriello told the Register & Bee.

Patients and visitors will use the main parking lot directly across the street from the hospital.

The vehicle entrance from Central Boulevard will be limited to our EMS partners and restricted to all other traffic, he said.
REIDSVILLE  Aging, Disability & Transit Services of Rockingham County (ADTS) recently announced the appointment of Deputy Executive Director Brad Huffstetler.

Huffstetler is native to Rockingham County and has worked in the Triad for more than 30 years.

He attended UNC-Greensboro, where he majored in psychology and minored in sociology and communications. After college, Huffstetler served as a police officer in Reidsville before transferring to a deputy sheriffs position with the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office.

Through his law enforcement experience, he observed the real needs of people and saw ways he could make a difference in helping our community, according to other ADTS administrators.

Huffstetler also understands both for profit and nonprofit sectors, having previously worked with the Greensboro News & Record, United Way of Greater Greensboro, UNC-Greensboro, and Guilford Child Development.

Most recently, Huffstetler worked with the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest North Carolina as the executive director of the organizations Education Foundation.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Huffstetler has held numerous community leadership positions serving on the Board of Directors for Industries of the Blind in Greensboro, the development committee for Partnership for Children of Guilford, and continuing to serve Rockingham County as a reserve deputy. Huffstetler further served on the ADTS Board of Directors for seven years.

After years of involvement on the board of directors at Aging, Disability and Transit Services, I am very excited about the opportunity to be employed and work with ADTS, Huffstetler said.

I anticipate earning the respect and trust of the employees at ADTS, as well as the citizens of Rockingham County. It is with great optimism that I look forward to continuing the magnificent work of this agency while looking for opportunities to grow and expand the legacy of ADTS and making a difference in the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities.

ADTS is a private nonprofit agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals by empowering them to achieve optimum health and well-being, independence, and participation in the community. This mission is accomplished through providing an array of community services including Home Care, Meals on Wheels (United Way supported), Meals with Friends Congregate Nutrition, LEAF Adult Day Care/Day Health, RCATS Public Access Transportation, skat bus transportation, Family Caregiver Support, and Advocacy and Referral Services. Learn more at www.adtsrc.org.
RALEIGH  Governor Roy Cooper announced this week that 29 local governments in rural areas across the state, including Reidsville in Rockingham County, have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund, a robust source of support for rural economic development projects in North Carolina.

A total of $8 million will be issued in this third round of grantmaking, which helps local governments overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness.

The city of Reidsville will receive $250,000 of the sum as a recipient of a Resilient Neighborhoods Category grant.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce and its Rural Economic Development Division administers the funds.

These transformative grants can make a real difference in rural communities by reviving downtowns and strengthening neighborhoods, said Governor Roy Cooper.

These funds, with the support of our rural development team at the Department of Commerce, will bring more economic opportunity to people across the state.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund, the centerpiece of a broader Rural Engagement and Investment Program from Commerce, addresses a wide variety of needs, from revitalizing downtown districts, building the capacity of local government staffs, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering small business recovery, and generally supporting economic growth initiatives.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund awarded grants in four categories today:

The Downtown Revitalization category supports downtown development initiatives that help grow and leverage a communitys commercial core into an asset for economic growth and prosperity.

The Resilient Neighborhoods category offers grants focused on community development and quality of life improvements, such as eliminating food deserts, creating healthy-living initiatives and increasing access to affordable housing options, among other initiatives.

The Community Enhancements for Economic Growth category provides grants to local governments to smooth the way for economic development opportunities, such as the acquisition of land and buildings, the preparation of business sites and the removal of structural and physical barriers that may be limiting development.

The Rural Community Capacity Building (RC2) category provides educational and professional development opportunities for local government staffs, with the additional ability for local governments to then apply what theyve learned by developing funding proposals for projects in their local areas.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund, established in March of last year, has now awarded its total available funds of $48 million. In that time, even greater community needs were identified, as local jurisdictions submitted for consideration projects totaling $165 million. In this third round of grantmaking, Commerce received project applications totaling $44 million, and therefore could not meet the entire demand, given the available funding.

The need in our rural communities is great, but Im pleased weve been able to meet some of these needs with this transformative grant program, said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. Im proud of the programs strong track record of success, managed by Commerces experienced rural development team and grounded in tried-and-true best practices that we know work well.

Local governments awarded project grants in the third round of grantmaking from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund include:

Downtown Revitalization Category

City of Albemarle: $270,000

City of Archdale: $180,000

City of Burlington: $425,000

City of Clinton: $350,000

City of Morganton: $450,000

City of Mount Airy: $475,000

City of Whiteville: $400,000

Town of Belhaven: $380,000

Town of Boiling Spring: $195,000

Town of Canton: $390,000

Town of Jefferson: $270,000

Town of Franklinton: $230,000

Resilient Neighborhoods Category

City of Reidsville: $250,000

Town of Bethel: $200,000

Town of Faison: $180,000

Town of Hildebran: $300,000

Town of Hudson: $250,000

Town of Nags Head: $650,000

Town of Star: $200,000

Town of Williamston: $180,000

Community Enhancements Category

City of Hamlet: $400,000

Town of Cameron: $400,000

Town of Cramerton: $400,000

Town of Elizabethtown: $150,000

Town of Wagram: $70,000

Rural Community Capacity (RC2) Category

Town of Carthage: $49,999

Town of China Grove: $49,999

Town of Hildebran: $49,500

Town of Marshville: $49,999

Town of Vass: $49,999

These economic development grants will bring new vitality to many rural communities, said Kenny Flowers, the Commerce Departments Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development.

I look forward to working with these communities as we work to transform the economy in rural North Carolina.

A description of each of the awarded projects above is available at the Commerce website. More information about the Rural Transformation Grant Fund is available at commerce.nc.gov/transform.
Its a new morning in North Carolina, which means well need to be checking in on where Tricia Cotham stands today.

OK. Thats an exaggeration. But not a big one.

The only consistency Cotham has shown her constituents in recent months has been her inconsistency.

If youve been keeping score, the suddenly famous state lawmaker from Mecklenburg County once was a Democrat.

Now shes a Republican.

Once she was fiercely pro-choice.

Now shes not.

Cotham not only vigorous supported for the right to an abortion but pledged to voters that she would fight to expand those rights.

Until she cast a crucial vote in May to restrict them.

It gets curiouser.

Eight years ago Cotham drew national attention for an impassioned speech on the House floor about her own abortion several years ago.

Now shes saying the abortion never happened.

In a radio interview last week during the state Republican convention in Greensboro, Cotham said shed had a natural miscarriage instead.

I think the hardest thing and the most unfortunate  deeply personal  and this is deeply wrong, Cotham told WBT. I had a miscarriage, and a miscarriage in medical terms is called a spontaneous abortion. And instead of saying  first of all  they should not be talking about my miscarriage, that is just very painful and wrong  but they are repeating this message that I had an abortion. And that is false. And that is completely frustrating and they keep on doing it and thats below the belt.

There was, of course, a roomful of witnesses who saw and heard her say the exact opposite in her House speech in 2015.

Its not the type of miscarriage that we often think of where you lose the baby completely and its over, Cotham said then. Thats not what happened. My doctor told me that my pregnancy would likely not be viable and that if I did not take swift medical action my life and any hope of future babies would be in severe danger. I trusted my doctor and her medical expertise.

To be clear, she added, This decision was up to me. My husband. My doctor. And my God. It was not up to any of you in this chamber.

Cotham later explained the motivation for her speech in a Time magazine interview.

I heard the shaming of women, she said of her opposition to a bill imposing a 72-hour waiting period for abortions. It was portrayed that women just run to the bank, grab a latte at Starbucks, and have an abortion and do their thing.

She said she went home and wrote out her speech describing the induced physician-assisted abortion of her non-viable fetus, the Time article reported.

This spring, Cotham voted for a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks, and then voted to override the governors veto of the bill.

Of course, Cotham has made herself a convenient target, because her flip-flops have been so spectacular.

But she seems emblematic of a time when shame doesnt seem to matter anymore  when everything seems transactional and you do what you have to do to get what you want.

And if it brings criticism and ridicule you wait it out in hope that the publics short memory and fickle attention span will bury it in the past.

Meanwhile, there are bigger worries for North Carolinians, as Republicans, who hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the legislature, are moving to make elections unnecessarily more restrictive.

They say their motivation is to prevent voter fraud, of which there is scant evidence, in North Carolina or elsewhere.

Thats rich, considering what Cotham has done, running as one person and then serving as someone else.

Its as if a different version of her suddenly appeared from one of those comic-book parallel universes and took her place.

Voters in her majority-Democratic district understandably feel hoodwinked, bamboozled and had. Wouldnt you?

Hey, N.C. GOP: Is this the election fraud youve been looking for?
An online clinic is offering abortion pills to patients who arent pregnant in Illinois and several other states, allowing the medication to be kept on hand for future use.

Choix, a California-based reproductive health care startup, launched the service Wednesday to increase access to abortion, particularly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, ending federal abortion protections.

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While medication abortions are relatively common, accounting for more than half of all terminated pregnancies in the United States, providing the pills to patients who havent even conceived is a new frontier in the reproductive rights landscape.

Everyone should be able to access supportive, nonjudgmental and trusted abortion, Choix CEO and nurse practitioner Cindy Adam said in a news release. Unfortunately, we know that isnt the case for the countless people who increasingly face barriers to accessing abortion care in the U.S.

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The service, which the company calls advance provision, is also available in California, New Mexico, Colorado and Maine.

In Illinois, patients must be 15 or older to access the service, according to the Choixs website.

We believe in the power of planning ahead and being prepared for the unexpected, the website says. Advance provision is a way for people to get abortion pills ahead of time in case they need them in the future.

Patients fill out a questionnaire online, which includes questions about their medical history. Questionnaires are reviewed within 48 hours by the clinics health care practitioners; a medical provider will then text message the patient to confirm information and send consent forms, the website says.

Prior to approving a patient for advance provision of abortion pills, Choix reviews the patients health questionnaire in order to confirm that the abortion medications would be safe for the patient to use based on their medical history, Adam said in an email.

If a patient becomes pregnant in the future and decides to use the abortion pills, we ask that they return to Choix for medical support and guidance throughout their abortion process, Adam said.

Once the patient returns and completes a new medical intake, a clinician will evaluate the patients information to ensure sure its still safe to take the medications, she said.

She added that health care providers review medical information such as the patients last menstrual period, any bleeding or other irregular symptoms, as well as indications that an ultrasound might be needed.

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Telehealth in general is built on mutual trust within the patient-provider relationship, and its core to our approach to care at Choix, Adam said. We trust that our patients know their bodies and health histories, and want the best outcomes for themselves.

The medication costs between $175 and $350, which includes shipping. The pills are delivered in two to four business days, but can be expedited for a $25 fee, according to the website.

Choix, an online sexual and reproductive health clinic based in the San Francisco Bay Area, began offering medication abortions in 2020. The clinics health care providers include physicians and other clinicians.

Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, called the service a cynical marketing ploy to get women to effectively choose abortion before theyre even pregnant.

The American medical community is so drunk on abortion that now they want to sell abortion pills to women who arent even pregnant, without regard for the risks involved in providing a treatment without any in-person consultation, and without regard to changes in medical history between the time of dispensing and use, he said. Moreover, this proposal betrays blood-chilling hostility to unborn children  as if pregnancy itself were a deadly medical condition.

Medication abortions have been approved for use in early pregnancy since 2000 in the United States.

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The process consists of a two-drug regimen: First the patient takes mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone to stop the pregnancy from growing. A day or two later the patient takes the second pill, misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract and the cervix to open slightly, expelling the pregnancy.

Until recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required that clinicians dispense the first medication, mifepristone, in person at a medical facility, health care office or hospital. The second pill, misoprostol, could be taken by the patient at home.

In this 2018 photo, mifepristone and misoprostol pills are provided at a Carafem clinic for medication abortions in Skokie. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

In a historic shift, the FDA in December rolled back those regulations, allowing mifepristone to be mailed directly to a patient, eliminating the need to leave home or visit a bricks-and-mortar clinic to terminate a pregnancy.

This allows patients in some states, including Illinois, to first get a prescription through a telehealth visit and have the pills shipped directly to them. Mail-order services, however, are prohibited in many states due to prohibitions on medication abortion use or telehealth services for abortion, as well as other restrictions on terminating a pregnancy.

The FDAs policy change was praised by reproductive rights advocates but decried by abortion opponents, who argued in part that the decision would compromise the safety of pregnant patients.

Every life is sacred: the lives of mothers and the lives of the unborn, said Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement. Not only does this decision further the tragic taking of unborn lives but it does little to care for the well-being of women in need. Far from the accompaniment that women in crisis pregnancies deserve, this decision would leave women alone in the midst of trauma, often without any medical attention or follow up care.

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Planned Parenthood of Illinois in April began offering abortion pill-by-mail services to in-state residents who are 10 weeks pregnant or less. The patient first has a telehealth visit with a medical provider and must be physically in Illinois during that appointment, according to the agency. Then the medication is shipped to an Illinois address.

Medications will be shipped in discrete packaging to your Illinois address, and will arrive within two business days of your telehealth appointment, Planned Parenthood of Illinois says on its website.

Out-of-state patients must travel to Illinois for their telehealth visit then pick up the medication at an Illinois clinic, according to the agency.

Many states restrict the use of abortion pills or outright ban telehealth services to terminate a pregnancy.

Nineteen states require a medical provider be physically present when a medication abortion is administered, prohibiting the use of telemedicine, according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports reproductive rights.

In 2022, more than 100 restrictions were introduced in 22 states, including seven provisions that would entirely ban medication abortion, according to the Guttmacher report. Some of the other measures would specifically prohibit mailing abortion pills or require physicians to provide medication abortions, as opposed to allowing other clinicians such as advanced practice nurses or physician assistants to do so.

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Its unclear, however, how states will enforce these regulations, since numerous websites and providers in other countries offer the medications online, sometimes without a prescription or medical information.

Medication abortions accounted for 54% of all terminations in the United States in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

However, medication abortion has become a primary target of anti-abortion politicians and activists seeking to restrict care in and out of clinical settings, the report said. Anti-abortion state policymakers have shown they are focused on further restricting access to medication abortion this year.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com
A lawyer in the Missoula Office of the Public Defender who is being sued for fraud over allegations she filed illegal construction liens against a house is facing additional allegations  including that she took unauthorized possession of the house and rented it out to at least one of her own OPD clients.

Scotti Ramberg, defendant in the complaint, has not filed a response in court to the original lawsuit. She declined to comment in an earlier phone call and could not be reached by email late Thursday.

The Office of the Public Defender, where Ramberg has worked, confirmed Ramberg remains an employee but declined to comment on how the nature of the allegations might affect her duties at the agency.

As public defenders, we take seriously the obligation of those making allegations to bring forth proof of their claims, and we do not pre-judge individuals or situations based on unproven allegations, said Andrea Moore, OPD communications officer, in an email Thursday. This is what the justice system is for, and we would hope and expect that any individual that values fairness, equity and justice would feel similarly.

Ramberg is listed in the states salary database as employed by the Office of the Public Defender in 2023 at the rate of $41.63 an hour, or an annual salary of $86,590.

In the lawsuit, plaintiffs Joseph Bruno and Laura Knight, who own the property, allege Ramberg set up a couple of shell companies, filed illegal construction liens against the house around $109,000, and tried to force its foreclosure.

Bruno bought the house in late 2005 and lived there for many years until his brother died, according to the original complaint. Then, Bruno left for California, leaving the house vacant, the complaint said.

In addition to the invalid liens against the property, the amended complaint alleges Ramberg also applied for a homeowners policy through an insurance agency in Harlem, Montana, in February 2021.

Even though she had no legal ownership of the house, she presented to the insurance company otherwise and was granted a policy, said the amended complaint, filed June 12.

Then, in April 2021, Ramberg filed a claim against the fraudulent homeowners policy for apparent wind damage on the roof of the house, and the insurance company paid her $9,574, the lawsuit said. The money was paid for damage to a house she did not own.

The illicit policy Ramberg purchased expired in February 2022 and was not renewed, the lawsuit said.

The amended complaint also said in early 2021, Ramberg trespassed and took actual physical and unauthorized possession of the house, and she then leased it to at least one of her clients from the Office of the State Public Defender.

It is believed that Ms. Ramberg charged rent and earned revenues renting out the house to her own clients, the lawsuit said.

OPD declined to comment on whether the tenant was one of Rambergs clients at the agency.

Ramberg also leased the house to another tenant for roughly three months starting in July 2021, said the amended complaint. It said she provided that tenant with a key code to enter the premises and collected roughly $2,100 in rent, or $700 per month.

During this period, Ms. Ramberg removed personal property belonging to Mr. Bruno and discarded it, said the lawsuit. Again, Ms. Ramberg had no legal or actual ownership of the house.

The initial allegations were filed last month, and they outlined a series of actions involving Ramberg, a couple of shell companies, the homeowners association, and the HOA attorney Rufus Peace.

Peace, a lawyer, was admitted to the bar the same day as Ramberg and shares an address with Ramberg at least on paper.

SLR Holdings, one of the companies Ramberg registered with the Secretary of States Office, is also a defendant in the lawsuit; additionally, it lists John Does 1-10.

The initial complaint alleges Ramberg is using a couple of companies she registered to try to defraud the plaintiffs by filing illegal liens against the house. The HOA had filed a couple of liens against the property as well for unpaid water bills, and court records say the HOA assigned all the interest in the lien from 2020 to one of the companies Ramberg created.

In a separate proceeding, records show Ramberg tried earlier to illegally foreclose on the property. The court intervened.

The invalid liens and slander of title in the current lawsuit are preventing the rightful owners, the plaintiffs, from refinancing the house, taking out a line of credit against it, or any other transactions they should be able to make, said court documents.

The lawsuit asks the court to invalidate the liens and award damages and attorneys fees.

In the email, Moore said OPD supervisors investigate all allegations that would, if true, affect an individuals ability to effectively and ethically practice law. She also asked that Rambergs privacy be respected.

In consultation with our agency HR Department, OPD supervisors take appropriate corrective actions based on any proven violations of ethical rules or state or agency policy, Moore said.

OPD said public defenders take seriously an attorneys legal and ethical obligations, and agency attorneys, like all other licensed lawyers in Montana, are bound by the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct.

The rules call for ethical dealings, for example, and note a lawyer who commits fraud is subject to discipline. They also call for a lawyers conduct to conform to the requirements of the law in professional and personal affairs.

They state it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

OPD also is bound by agency and state policy regarding employee conduct and ethics, Moore said in an email.
Montana Republicans strove to keep ugliness out of public view at their recent state convention. When embarrassing infighting was likely  the ousting of the Missoula delegation, for instance  the press was barred from the room where it happened.

Perhaps thats because reporting from last years convention revealed how crudely the aptly named base treats the few voices of moderation left in their midst. They booed Hamilton legislator David Bedey when he opposed a platform plank to restore election integrity and accountability. A college student received similar treatment when she suggested that the partys plank opposing abortion was too rigid. I dont like abortions. But I would rather have regulated, safe and legal abortions than unregulated, unsafe, illegal abortions that we cannot control, she said, provoking another round of boos.

The intrepid Bedey sided with her, urging exceptions when pregnancy was the result of incest or rape. Belgrade legislator Jed Hinkle objected, I do not believe the baby should be responsible for the sins of another person, for the crimes of another person. So re-victimize the victim?

With this level of sense and sensitivity on full display in 2022, this year the powers-that-be probably decided delicate matters  like ousting a 90-year-old delegate in a wheelchair, the longest-serving Montana delegate from either party  would be best-handled under the cloak of darkness.

Which makes what was deemed acceptable for public consumption in 2023 even more alarming! The convention played like a sequel to Mean Girls, only the main characters were adult males. Bigfork legislator Mark Noland strutted about, smirking, in his brand new t-shirt, emblazoned with this pithy observation: REAL MEN ARENT WOMEN. (On Wednesdays, we wear blue.)

Talk-show host Aaron Flint did his best to imprint his puerile brand on Jon Tester, tapping his microphone to the beat of his oft-repeated Flip-flop-flat-top. (Oh, Aaron! That is so fetch!)

But when it comes to mean guys, you simply cannot top coarse-whisperer Stephen Miller, who rode his particular brand of meanness into power as Trumps immigration policy specialist and overall cruelty consultant.

In fairness to our former president, Miller was mean long before he darkened 45s doorway. In high school, he jumped into the last leg of a girls track event to demonstrate male superiority over females. He notified a friend they could no longer be friends because the boy was awkward, acned, and Latino. He campaigned for student office asking, Am I the only one who is sick and tired of being told to pick up my trash when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us?

So who better to keynote Mean Scene 2023? While the Office of Public Instruction repeatedly flashed across a screen as an event sponsor, the architect of the immigration policy that shamed America worldwide for isolating, caging and failing to reunite thousands of children with their parents took the stage. Predictably, Miller waxed vicious once more on immigration, portraying Latinos desperate search for safety as the largest human trafficking issue ever. (Get out, loser, were going shopping.)

But the border is so yesterday in terms of base instincts. Miller turned to todays top crowd-pleaser.

You think youre going to be able to keep the transgender agenda away for another five to ten years? Its coming to Montanafast. And theyre going to try and drive a wedge between you and your kids and your grandkids, he warned. (Its like Stephen has ESPN or something!)

You are not safe here, he continued, And if you think Jon Tester is going to protect you  hes nothes going to crucify you.

Then came the crowd participation piece: How many dirt farmers do you know that can't tell you what a woman is? Miller asked. Fortunately, someone with vast dirt-farming experience was in attendance. "Just one!" Billings realtor/legislator Kerri Seekins-Crowe crowed to crowd approval. (Yes, people are jealous, but she cant help it that shes so popular.)

Sheesh. With this for the banquet keynote, what was the entree? Vented spleen? Jeepers, new GOP: You are so CUREL! (I was going to say CRUEL but U R just twisted.)
DECATUR  A commercial structure fire at 720 N. Edward St. on Saturday morning originated inside a vehicle that was being serviced inside the business, the Decatur Fire Department announced.

The department was dispatched to the location around 9 a.m. Saturday. The first arriving engines discovered a fire had erupted through the roof of the single-story building, the department said in a news release.

The business and building owner said all employees had safely evacuated the building, the fire department reported.

Most of the fire was quickly extinguished. The roof was significantly damaged and many small fires still smoldered in the roofing material even after the primary blaze had been extinguished, according to the department's report.

The fire was accidental, the department declared after an investigation.

Multiple crews worked to completely extinguish the fire in approximately 20 minutes. All crews had cleared the scene by 10:30 a.m.

Crews left the property with the business and property owner on scene.

Close South Macon firefighter Gavin Brand practices clearing out a window during a recent training exercise. South Wheatland firefighter Michael Warnick tears down a curtain to get it out of the way during training for practicing forced entry. Blue Mound Fire Department lieutenant Brian Vanscyoc practices clearing out a window during training. Blue Mound Fire Department lieutenant Brian Vanscyoc practices clearing out a window. Blue Mound firefighter Brandon Teitsort practices clearing out a window during a training exercise at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District. South Macon firefighter Ryan Flemming practices clearing out a window during a training exercise at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District. Firefighters from South Wheatland, South Macon, Mount Zion and Blue Mound fire departments suit up for training at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District. PHOTOS: Macon County firefighters put their skills to the test South Wheatland Fire Department, with South Macon, Mount Zion and Blue Mound, used a house on Dipper Lane that is slated for demolition as a training site. South Macon firefighter Gavin Brand practices clearing out a window during a recent training exercise. South Wheatland firefighter Michael Warnick tears down a curtain to get it out of the way during training for practicing forced entry. Blue Mound Fire Department lieutenant Brian Vanscyoc practices clearing out a window during training. Blue Mound Fire Department lieutenant Brian Vanscyoc practices clearing out a window. Blue Mound firefighter Brandon Teitsort practices clearing out a window during a training exercise at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District. South Macon firefighter Ryan Flemming practices clearing out a window during a training exercise at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District. Firefighters from South Wheatland, South Macon, Mount Zion and Blue Mound fire departments suit up for training at an unoccupied house owned by the Macon County Conservation District.
I love Hickory Public Schools. A fifth-grade graduate of Viewmont Elementary, I thank the district for teaching me to read, which is key to every other subject.

After graduating St. Stephens High School and college abroad, the school district helped me to stay in town with my parents. I was employed as a substitute, the book bus assistant, and teacher.

I got attached and wanted to help the schools that taught me, so I ran for school board in 2019. Since the election was nonpartisan, I focused on an issue that matters day-to-day in schools: consistency. If a student has a consistent teacher who has consistent support, education will be consistently received.

When I saw school board elections will now be partisan, I understood the reasoning  to show voters where candidates stand on political issues. At the same time, partisan issues are often not district ones, including social issues curriculum (state) and funding (county, state, federal).

A critical local issue is discipline brought by consistent enforcement of rules so students know what to expect. School stability encourages parents to enroll their children in the district; this increases funding for staff and programs.

I read board minutes and attend meetings, as able, and see questions asked by the board, which holds leadership accountable for consistency in classrooms. Staff retention, a goal per past school improvement plans, is a good metric to watch.

The pandemic caused learning equity gaps so stability in classrooms could not be more important. Questions asked, not just by board members at meetings but also by candidates for office, ensure an institution serves all people well.

I imagine partisan school board elections will change candidates incentive to discuss national, cultural issues and capture party votes. Remember a school boards most important job: selecting a consistent superintendent who listens to staff, backs them up.

I ran a hyper-local campaign and knocked on nearly every door in the ward I ran in 2019 because I could focus on district-level issues. On election night, I called the winner to concede, shared the feedback I had collected, and supported the district  but my care for Hickory Public Schools continued.

Last year, I relocated to the D.C. metro but I make time to keep up with Hickory and Hickory Public Schools. I hope, even with partisanship in school elections, future candidates focus on district issues. The highly partisan Beltway has not changed my heart, which is in Hickory. I still have my Hickory Public Schools magnet on my fridge in my new home.

Aaron Kohrs

Alexandria, Va.
" " Former Secretary of State George C. Marshall speaks on the second anniversary of his address at Harvard University where he outlined the Marshall Plan. He told his audience of representatives of the Marshall Plan nations, "There is much yet to be done." President Harry Truman listens intently, left. Bettman/Getty Images

It took Secretary of State George Marshall only 12 minutes to outline a plan to save Europe after World War II, though he planned to keep his remarks even briefer. Rather than addressing Congress or the newly formed United Nations, Marshall chose a Harvard commencement speech on June 5, 1947, as his platform to unveil the U.S. State Department's strategy for reviving the flagging European economy. Emphasizing poverty relief above political conflict, Marshall spoke about his later named Marshall Plan in simple, concrete language. Days later, officials in the United States and Europe initiated discussions about what would be recognized as the most significant foreign policy exchange in U.S. history.

An Economy in Ruins

World War II, which came to a close in 1945, had devastated Western Europe. A quarter of Germany's urban housing had been destroyed, combined with a 70 percent drop in gross domestic product [source: Hoover]. Industrial production across the continent was at 60 percent of prewar levels [source: Machado]. Though some nations verged on recovery, a drought followed by a brutal winter in 1946 ruined wheat harvests and intensified the scarcity of commodities. The gap between imports and exports widened, worsened by the repayments of war debt. Will Clayton, Under Secretary of Economic Affairs during the Truman administration, observed the postwar wreckage in Europe and described, "millions of people ... slowly starving" [source: Hindley].

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Lure of Communism

In the face of rising malnutrition, homelessness and unemployment, Communist regimes gained popularity. By 1947, the French Communist Party held a sizeable presence in the national parliament, and Italian Communists had won comparable political influence. As relations between the United States and the Soviet Union chilled, the U.S. government feared the escalation of Communist support in response to the crumbling European economy.

The Marshall Plan Speech

Amid this tenuous international environment, George C. Marshall was slated to receive an honorary doctorate from Harvard. In a letter from Marshall to the university president, the secretary of state explained that he would say a few words of thanks at the commencement ceremony and "perhaps a little more" [source: Hindley].

Addressing a lay crowd gave Marshall more leverage. Strict isolationists in Congress might have dismissed the recovery strategy immediately, forcing him into an uphill battle. Instead, the largely conservative Harvard audience and the media in attendance applauded the plan, paving the way for its reception on Capitol Hill.
For most of Brian Echevarrias life, he had never thought too much about politics. Besides being a dedicated voter, he never campaigned for candidates, knocked on doors, or attended political events or rallies.

Things changed a few years ago, when his parents, disabled veterans who had lived in China Grove, moved to York, South Carolina.

They left because North Carolina was still taxing the disability benefits for retired veterans, Echevarria said, while South Carolina was giving disabled veterans exemptions on their property taxes.

Raising a family in Harrisburg, Echevarrias parents move meant a longer trip for his three children to see their grandparents.

I think that was the first time Im like, Man, government policies just broke up my family, he said.

A father of three children, including two teenagers, he wanted to make sure they had a future where they would be successful.

As a father, I began to see that theyre not going to live in the world that I control, he said. Theyre going to go out there and encounter life, live it how they see fit. What kind of future in this world will they have?

All these considerations helped convince Echevarria, 45, to get more involved in his community, which led him to run as a Republican candidate for N.C. House District 73 last year.

He lost by around 600 votes, but the attention he gained was enough to be asked by several groups to run for the chair of the Cabarrus County Republican Party.

He initially declined, wanting to focus on his family instead. He eventually changed course, ran for the post, and received the most delegate votes to lock up the position during the GOP County Convention on March 31.

Im so flattered the community feels this way about me, Echevarria said.

Harrisburg resident Brent Whichel is excited about Echevarrias focus on family and trying to improve the community.

If you look ahead, he wants to make sure that hes leaving a community behind for his children and every other child in the community where they can prosper and have successes, Whichel, a father of four, said.

Echevarria, a Harrisburg resident since 2006 and a financial adviser, is a regular person wanting to do the best for his family and community, even after campaigning for a high-profile House seat last year.

I see myself as extra ordinary as opposed to extraordinary, he said.

Concord resident Avis Edmond, who has known Echevarria for more than a decade, appreciates his loyalty, noting hes always been a man of his word.

In the 15 years that Ive known him, theres not been a change, Ive not seen him flip-flop, she said. So, from a political perspective, I was excited when he made the decision to go into politics.

Im just really excited that hes taken the lead role as the GOP chairperson for Cabarrus County, Edmond added.

Discovering the power of faith

Echevarria was born in Miami and raised in a bilingual and multicultural family. His mother is of Bahamian descent and his father is of Cuban descent.

He lived in several states as a young child, noting in the biography section of his website that he attended 12 schools from kindergarten through high school.

The accidental benefit is that I love meeting new people, appreciate the life others live, and love those who are different from me, he wrote.

His life changed in 1999, when he became a Christian and discovered the power of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. This helped set the course for the rest of his life, including aligning himself with the Republican Party.

I wasnt raised in the church, I wasnt even raised on the same street as a church, he said. The first time I heard the Gospel, it was the greatest deal I ever heard.

Echevarria said he was was blown away when he learned he could be forgiven and that God loved him, concepts that had been foreign to him.

For me, it was revolutionary, he said, noting he had never considered whether God had loved him.

He said he woke up the next day as a changed man, saying that he loved everybody.

Echevarria has a motto that has helped govern his life: Love everyone like theyre perfect. You already know theyre not.

His religious awakening helped him discern the Republican Party was the best fit for him and his beliefs. He was previously an unaffiliated voter.

For me, the Republican Party represents the only political refuge for my faith, for my family and for a future that allows for opportunity as I imagine it, Echevarria said.

Equal opportunity for all

Echevarria supports equal opportunity for all, but is cautious of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and entitlement programs.

I think the Republican Party gives us the opportunity to say, Hey, we need equal opportunity for everyone, he said. I dont care if youre LGBT. I dont care if youre white, if youre Black, if youre male, if youre female. You deserve an opportunity, the same as anyone else.

As a Black man, he is aware many people still associate minorities (especially other Black people) as being part of the Democratic Party, which is not always the case.

Edmond, a Black Republican, said Echevarrias rise helped give minorities a voice in the party.

Because of Brian, weve had more minorities come out of the closet and align themselves with the GOP, Edmond said.

Echevarria believes that in theory, most people hold similar beliefs; its in the application of those beliefs where key differences emerge.

Most people would agree that helping the poor and those who are struggling is important. But people have very different ideas about how best to accomplish this, Echevarria said.

I always meet families that say, Hey, I need help, he said, but no ones looking for free cake. Theyre like, Man, just give me the ingredients and Ill make the cake.

This message of equal opportunity has resonated with people from across the county, he said.

I dont think theres a Democratic person, a Black person, white person, LGBT person, anyone that would disagree with that, he said.

Positivity is a superpower

As the new chair of the Cabarrus GOP, Echevarria is excited to continue working to getting more Republican members elected.

He feels one reason Cabarrus County has prospered and attracted new residents and businesses in recent years is due to steady Republican leadership.

Theres a stark difference between Republican leadership in a municipality and Democratic leadership in a municipality, he said.

Whichel, the Harrisburg resident, is confident Echevarria will help expand the county party, and will work to ensure he leaves his position as chair on more solid footing than when he found it.

Hes all about bringing more people into the fold, Whichel said.

Echevarria is bullish and optimistic about his partys chances in the future. Much of that is because of past performance, as Cabarrus has consistently been a reliable red county, but also because Echevarria has a faith in his party and the residents of the county.

I think positivity is a superpower, he said. Be positive. You have obstacles, but you have hope to overcome them.

Echevarria enjoys meeting and debating with people, even those with opposing viewpoints. Despite the current hyperpartisan climate, he said people can disagree and argue without being hostile or disrespectful.

I dont have to walk away with personal animus because someone has a different opinion about a topic, he said.

Whenever he engages with people, Echevarria strives to always understand where they are coming from.

When I sit with people, I always want to understand not just what theyre saying, but why theyre saying it, he said.
ANALYSIS One of the factors that the company behind realme smartphones relies on to sell its wares is price, with a surprising number of features offered for this amount.

But this tactic does not appear to be doing it much good in a market like India, where consumers are among the world's most price-conscious.

The founder of the company, Sky Li, has acknowledged that the brand has some work to do in order to regain lost market share.

In an interview with India's Economic Times newspaper, Sky said the entry-level offerings would be refined and the company would try to adapt to the changing market landscape in India.

One can't speak for recent realme models as the last time I reviewed a realme product was in 2020, when I looked at, a good-looking model, which was on offer for just $249 and represented excellent value for the price.

The ET cited figures from technology analyst firm Counterpoint Research that showed realme shipments to India fell 52% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, with the brand placing fifth with just 9% of the market.

This was well behind Samsung (20%), vivo (17%), Xiaomi (16%), and Oppo (12%), with smaller brands accounting for a quarter of the shipments for the quarter.

The ET reports said realme faced "challenges such as inventory build-up and unfavourable market conditions in the sub-Rs 10,000 segments". [One Australian dollar fetches 56.30 Indian rupees right now].

The owner of the brand, B.B.K. Electronics, also owns the Oppo, vivo and OnePlus brands, but the brands are claimed to operate independently of each other.

The fall in realme share coincided with the resignation of the chief of the company's Indian operations, Madhav Sheth, according to the ET.

"The brand had entered the India market in 2018 and rapidly rose to no. 3. Sheth was offered a global role as vice-president of business and corporate strategy, but is widely expected to leave the company shortly to relaunch the Honor brand of smartphones in India," the newspaper said, adding that kep realme staff were expected to leave the company and join Honor.

Honor was formerly the budget smartphone business of Huawei, but in November 2020 it was sold to a consortium of Chinese companies under the name Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology.

The Indian branch of realme is now expected to be managed from Shenzhen where the parent firm is based.

Quoting anonymous sources, the ET report said: 'Further, all teams looking after the market, including the zonal sales managers, area business managers, and regional retail teams are reporting to the regional sales managers, a move which could be the trigger for exits from the company."

realme's problems are an indication of the current state of the market, with sales falling around the globe for practically all brands. Given the level of competition both outside and inside China, it was only a matter of time before some brands took a hit.
NEOGA  Foster, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Walk, who reside two miles south of town, was seriously injured at 10:30 o'clock on Saturday evening when he was struck by an automobile while crossing the street in front of the clothing store of Harry Figenbaum. The car was driven by Roy White, who failed to see the child until the car struck him. He was carried to the office of a physician, where he was found to have suffered a scalp wound about six inches in length, running from the top of the head down onto the neck. He also suffered internal injuries and was taken to Memorial Hospital, Mattoon, on Illinois Central train No. 22...MATTOON  The Moore-Booher-Cordier store at 612 South Seventeenth Street, known as the M.B.C. market, has been sold. J.N. Hardwick acquiring the stock and taking possession this morning. Mr. Hardwick, who recently conducted a store at 709 South Seventeenth street, has disposed of his store to Charles Pence, who recently returned from a year's stay in California. Mr. and Mrs. O.M. Moore and nephew, Otis E. Bohrer, will leave on Wednesday morning, by automobile for a ten-day northern trip to Chicago. They will return by way of Peoria, where they will make their home and where they will go into business. Since the death of Mr. Cordier, a member of the firm, Mrs. Cordier and children have been visiting in Washington, Ind. and Indianapolis. They will soon leave for Champaign, where they will make their home, Mrs. Cordier having purchased property there...SULLIVAN  Golbert Zinkler, 11, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melville Zinkler, living north of Sullivan, was drowned in Wyman Park Lake yesterday afternoon. Scores of swimmers saw the boy drown.
A teenager was killed and another is critically injured after a shooting Saturday afternoon in the citys in Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, according to Chicago police.

Two boys, ages 14 and 15, were each shot on the 100 block of South Homan Avenue around 4:45 p.m., police said. No further details for the shooting were available.

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Both were taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, but the older teen later died, authorities said. The 14-year-old boy, who was struck multiple times, remains hospitalized.

No arrests have been made.
Herbalife Ltd. is eliminating at least 95 mostly administrative job positions in California with the cuts occurring incrementally through April 2024.

The company filed a WARN Act notice that affected two facilities in Torrance and one in Los Angeles.

Herbalife reported in its fiscal 2022 annual regulatory report that it had a 2,800 U.S. workforce as of Dec. 31. The California job cuts represent about 3.3% of that total.

The company has its East Coast manufacturing campus in Winston-Salem with about 750 employees in its latest workforce disclosure.

Herbalife officials did not responded Friday to inquiries about whether there have been local job cuts. As of Friday, there has been no WARN Act notices filed with the N.C. Commerce Department.

After the article appeared online in the Journal, Herbalife said in a statement the California job cuts were "part of a transformation program, first announced in November of 2021, to realign both the front and back office."

The manufacturer reported in its first-quarter earnings report May 3 that it has taken a $27.3 million charge during the first quarter related to a $60 million transformation program that included a 7% workforce reduction. It had 10,100 employees worldwide as of Dec. 31.

About $25.2 million was dedicated to employee retention and separation expenses.

Kim Congdon, Herbalifes vice president for global human resources, said in the California WARN notice that the affected facilities are at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles, and 950 W. 190th St. and 990 W. 190th St. in Torrance.

Some of the job cuts occurred on April 28, May 12 and June 9. The remaining workforce reduction dates are listed as June 21, Nov. 9 and April 12, 2024.

Among the eliminated jobs are: six senior vice presidents and vice presidents; 17 senior managers and managers; eight senior directors and directors; and nine senior analysts and analysts.

Congdon did not provide any reasons for the workforce reduction in the notice.

Herbalife reported a sales slump in North America and China contributed to a 70.2% plunge in first-quarter net income to $29.3 million.

First-quarter sales were down overall 6.3% to $1.25 billion, including an 8.9% decline in North America to $297.2 million.

Herbalife said it was not providing fiscal 2023 financial guidance at this time given the rapidly shifting macroeconomic sentiment and backdrop, as well as increased volatility in the market.

On May 12, Herbalife said it completed the payment of a $12.5 million federal settlement related to a potential $1 billion class-action lawsuit filed against the company in September 2017.

Herbalife reported in its first-quarter financial regulatory filing that it has reserved the settlement funds and final court approval was granted April 6.
Q: I wonder why we have picked June 19 to celebrate the end on institutionalized slavery in the United States. I know that on that day in 1865 the Union Military entered Galveston, Texas, and informed the enslaved people there that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued by President Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863.

However, this only freed enslaved people who were in the states which at that time were in open rebellion against the Union. There were enslaved people in other states and territories. Specifically, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri had enslaved people.

These enslaved people were unaffected by Lincolns proclamation. The day institutionalized slavery ended in the United States was Dec. 6, 1865, when the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified. This amendment ended all forms of involuntary servitude except for convicted criminals.

It seems to me that Dec. 6 would be a more appropriate day to celebrate the end on institutionalized slavery in the U.S. After all, following June 19, 1865, slavery still remained legal in the United States for about the next six months.  R.F.

Answer: Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

SAM turned to Daniel Prosterman, a history professor at Salem College, who explained why Juneteenth became the bigger celebration.

First and foremost, the reader makes very important points that reflect how slavery ended in different ways in different areas of the country. The dates for abolition varied, which was one of the central aspects of the Emancipation Proclamation.

So, interestingly, early celebrations of abolition following the Civil War occurred on different dates. Some happened on June 19, others on Jan. 1, and others occurred in association with local timelines of abolition.

Its difficult to say for certain, but I think June 19 has resonated over the decades because it marks a date when an organic celebration of freedom erupted, as opposed to dates when particular federal policies went into effect.

A little background

According to the Texas State Historical Association website, Gen. Philip Sheridan appointed Gen. Gordon Granger, commander of the Department of Texas on June 10, 1865. When Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, he read General Order 3, officially declaring that slavery had ended.

The result was the setting off joyful displays by Texas freedmen. Grangers proclamation formed the basis for the annual Juneteenth festivities, which celebrate the end of slavery in Texas. Granger also declared that laws passed by the Confederate government were void, that Confederate soldiers were paroled, that all persons having public property, including cotton, should turn it in to the United States Army, and that all privately owned cotton was to be turned in to the army for compensation, according to tshaonline.org.

General Order No. 3

The people 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, become that between employer and hired labor. The freed are advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.  from the American Battlefield Trust
The citys Juneteenth Festival on Saturday drew thousands to Bailey Park and Biotech Place so that they could revel in their freedom.

The festival celebrates June 19, 1865  the day in history when Union soldiers informed the last remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas that they were free.

The event highlighted African American cultural traditions such as food, music and dancing.

But freedom  and the sacrifices made by Black people throughout history  was foremost on the minds of many.

Lets give freedom a hand, retired Judge Denise Hartsfield said to the crowd. If you appreciate freedom, stand on your feet.

Hartsfield said celebrating Juneteenth is necessary because the fight for freedom isnt over. Not if you want an abortion in North Carolina. Or are in a same-sex marriage.

Said Hartsfield: Lets party with a purpose today. And our purpose is to let the United States and North Carolina know and Phil Berger and those folks in Raleigh understand that in Forsyth County, we are not taking it.

Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black communities for over 100 years, but it took becoming a federal holiday in 2021 for the historic occasion to be more universally known. On Saturday, in cities like Winston-Salem and Greensboro, as well as around the country, there was a Juneteenth celebration of some sort, ranging from festivals to cookouts.

Over the years, Juneteenth has  and still  goes by many names.

Freedom Day.

Emancipation Day.

Black Fourth of July.

And Independence Day. The second one.

But, regardless of the name, observing Juneteenth is a celebration of the human spirit, Fleming El-Amin said. The former Forsyth County commissioner conducted a libation ceremony during the event and didnt mince words about the importance of the gathering.

You cannot contain the human spirit, said El-Amin, noting the atrocities that many enslaved people were forced to endure. They survived that. They were subjected to the worst kind of slavery that mankind ever experienced.

Mayor Allen Joines asked about 400 people in Biotech Place to imagine the feelings of enslaved people in Galveston when word came that they were free.

It was just amazing, Joines said. We are taking time to celebrate it. We celebrate freedom.

But the mood on Saturday wasnt entirely festive.

Mayor Pro Tem Denise D.D Adams told the crowd that the city has never apologized for its role in slavery.

You need to owe up for what you did, Adams said. Everything that white folks got, they got it because of Black folks. We built this country.

Meanwhile, inside Biotech Place, Amy Easter shared information with attendees about the Peter Oliver Pavilion Gallery, an $8 million project. Oliver, a potter, was an enslaved man in Old Salem who bought his freedom in 1800. He leased a 4-acre farm in north Salem, and the pavilion gallery would be located there.

During the festival, Easter collected signatures from attendees that will be presented to the City Council, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and state legislators to emphasize the importance of the project.

We are trying to get the word out to everyone about Peter Oliver, Easter said.

Many people brought folding chairs and tents to Bailey Park as they watched entertainers perform on stage under a shining sun and clear sky. Nearby was Lateer Jawara, who sells merchandise at various African American festivals around the country.

We celebrated Juneteenth before it was a national holiday, recalled Jawara, who lives in Chesterfield, Va. Everyone in mainstream communities has accepted it as a national holiday.

Chenita Johnson, a vice president with the Winston-Salem African American Archive, shared information with attendees about the historical accomplishments of local Black residents. Johnson said Juneteenth is an important holiday because we have people here who have no knowledge about the Black history in Winston-Salem.

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Celebration in Winston-Salem 2023
Seriously?

Many years ago I served three years in the United States Army. Most of that time I spent conducting background interviews related to the granting or renewing of security clearances. Before a clearance is granted an individual must be closely scrutinized to determine whether there are any vulnerabilities (drugs, alcohol, family problems are the main ones) in that persons life.

Security of classified information is paramount in the military. Access to classified information is granted only to individuals cleared to receive it and then only on a need-to-know basis.

Consequently, the disparagement of the law enforcement personnel who have handled the egregious conduct of the former president is baffling. You need not to have been in the intelligence corps to know that sensitive information should not be transported and stored in unsecure conditions. The sight of classified documents strewn across a bathroom floor should stir outrage in every American.

Instead, Republicans in Congress  elected officials at the top of our government  attack the investigators and the prosecutors.

In the immortal words of John McEnroe, You cannot be serious?

Thorns Craven

Winston-Salem

Another chapter

This morning I read about another book-banning incident, this time in South Carolina. The pretext for this banning being that the material made the student uncomfortable and ashamed to be Caucasian.

Note that this occurred in an elective history class that studies many past events that cause discomfort in most people and may make them ashamed of their group affiliation. Also, the books were previously approved for years since 2016 without complaint.

It is good that this deceptive attack on learning has not arrived in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, at least that I am aware. However, it is coming our way as there are likely local citizens that prescribe to the far right views of the Moms 4 Liberty. They are behind most of these attacks.

Constraint of thought and misinformation has been a cornerstone authoritarian movements such as the Nazis of Germany in the past, Russia and China currently, and possibly America in the future. While this may seem alarmist, just consider the actions of our past president who is currently the leading contender in the Republican Party.

Mike Sweeney

Kernersville

Lets be realistic

As a committed environmentalist, Im never happy to see gas pipeline projects pushed through despite the threats they pose. As a realist, I know that we will need fossil fuels for at least a few more decades as we transition to clean energy. And natural gas is about as clean as fossil fuels get. We need to decide when and where to keep fossil fuels in play based on real science and economics, not political posturing.

John Deems June 16 article (Company revives push for gas pipeline) provides insight into how our planning process gets derailed by politics and makes one wonder if there is a better way.

Two sets of policies could bring some rationality to this process.

First, we need a modest but steadily increasing fee on carbon pollution levied on fossil fuel companies. As the fee rises predictably, companies can more confidently calculate the potential economic value of each project. When the pollution fee is high enough to dominate cost calculations, only the most necessary projects will see the light of day.

Second, we need comprehensive, science-based permitting reform to reduce the political squabbling and NIMBYism that makes it hard to build both renewable energy projects and the last few fossil fuel projects we need  to say nothing of the long-distance power transmission lines that are languishing in the regulatory review process.

Want to help? Tell your Congressperson we want to get the distractions and posturing out of our energy system and get down to real business.

Matthew Mayers

Winston-Salem

Pardon me?

Regarding the Mark Thiessen piece, Biden should pardon Trump (June 16):

Isnt it normal to issue a pardon following a guilty verdict by a court of law? Why should President Biden pardon Donald Trump when he has not been convicted of a crime by a jury of his peers?

I certainly hope the American people are allowed to see the entire scope of all of his alleged crimes and the verdicts of the juries. Then maybe a pardon could be considered (although personally I dont want to see that result for one of the most despicable, divisive, narcissistic individuals ever to have surfaced on the world stage).

Nancy Halloran

Greensboro
Everywhere you look on the sun-drenched Stockholm streets you see blue and yellow. Blue sky, blue water and the powder blue field of the Swedish flag dominate in all directions.

Bobbing in these blue seas are islands of fair-haired Swedes hiking, biking, boating and walking on or alongside the wharf of the citys best people-watching street, Strandvagen. The bright yellow Nordic cross on waving Swedish flags adds to the luster.

And right there, in a city so bright, so elegant and so welcoming that you fall in love with it, you promise perfect strangers that you will return to the Paris of the North.

They understand; everyone, after all, speaks English and everyone seems to enjoy the city as much as you. Its the perfect gateway to Scandinavia, a loosely defined region that a local guide assures us means only Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

After a four-day soak in Stockholms warm sun, tasty food and numerous museums, we take a short flight to Oslo, Norways capital, for two more days of walking, ferry riding and sauna sitting.

Our traveling clan  six of us including a three-year-old granddaughter  isnt the only international group in the city. NATO defense ministers from nearly 30 nations have taken over Oslo's historic center for an informal meeting. Local police, guard dogs and armed soldiers  all stiffly formal  are on street corners and atop buildings.

Even at that, Oslo is as walkable as Stockholm with few hills, much shoreline, gleaming museums and sunny public spaces. Most grassy parks are crowded with sunbathers soaking in Junes 20 hours of daily rays. A steady onshore breeze cools all.

Soon were rocking gently on the train a few hours northwest to rural Dombas, where another train takes us farther north to Andalsnes on the famous Rauma railway. A fellow passenger informs us that were entering troll country and granddaughter Nora warns all when a welcoming conductor encourages her to sound the trains whistle.

Troll countrys towering mountains, sturdy stone bridges, and snow-fed waterfalls come so fast there isnt time for both an ooh! and an ahh! before the next breathtaking sight comes around the bend.

Throughout the narrow, shadow-shrouded valleys are farms whose chief crop, grass, is fodder for sheep, goats and a few cattle. Stately, three-story red barns are a testament to long winters when the livestock, like their owners, are forced inside.

Soon the lush meadows give way to more fjords and more memories. For the next four days we rest, hike in the nearby Sunnmre Alps, peer over Geiranger Fjord, and kayak a bathtub-smooth, 1,000-foot-deep Storfjorden.

I ask our kayak keeper if the locals fish the mountainous fjord. Yes, he replies, but its better fishing at the ocean  an hourslong cruise down the lengthy fjord  where the water is less deep.

Norway: Where the ocean is deep but fjords are deeper.

Revived, we board a 44-foot palace of a boat for a breathtaking, three-hour trip down Hjrundfjorden to rainy Alesund and then a short flight south to Bergen, Norways second-largest city and its first capital.

Landing in Bergen is worth the price of any airline ticket. Everywhere you look there are too many islands to count surrounded by the dark North Sea and ships of every make and nationality  colorful oil tankers, massive cruise ships, gray coast guard cutters, sleek sailboats with billowing spinnakers and working fishing trawlers.

After checking into our hotel, little Nora takes charge again and delivers her dinner plan: pizza in a park. After 10 days of the Norths finest salmon, monkfish, lamb and duck, supper is takeout pizzas, a pint of fresh strawberries and lukewarm refreshments on a grassy slope overlooking a wharfside neighborhood.

Three hundred yards away, the luxury cruise ship Queen Mary 2 awaits for her passengers to return from city sightseeing and their not-pizza supper.

The next day, our final full day together, we ride Bergens famed funicular to an even better view of the city, the North Sea and beyond. We cant quite see America, but we, like generations of Scandanavians before us, know its there and trust it will shelter us soon.
Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai; Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 352 pages, $28.

When the American war machine withdrew from Vietnam, it left a lot behind. It left a military debacle so mismanaged it became a common metaphor for disaster. It left years of fighting that saw tens of thousands of servicemen killed and millions more Vietnamese citizens.

The new novel Dust Child shifts the focus away from the battlefield, looking instead at what was lost on a much more intimate scale.

Experts estimate that American soldiers left behind more than 20,000 of their children  born to Vietnamese women who lived as laborers or sex workers near military bases. Some veterans came back for their kids, but most did not. In Vietnam, these children were often scorned  living embodiments of the cataclysm that reshaped Vietnamese society. They were called Amerasians, or worse, cast aside and labeled the dust of life.

Its a heavy topic. But author Nguyen Phan Que Mai works wonders taking readers deep inside this undercovered part of the wars history. Born and raised in Vietnam, she is coming off the success of her acclaimed 2020 novel, The Mountains Sing, which painted a generational portrait of wartime life from the perspective of women and children.

Dust Child is a wonderful exercise in point-of-view storytelling. It follows three main characters, alternating between two periods in Vietnam: the war years and the present day. In 1969, Trang and her sister find themselves working as bar girls in Saigon, hoping to earn money to support their poor, ailing parents.

Through Trang, the novel details how a sex worker industry sprang up around the U.S. military presence, one that easily coaxed young women into its clutches. Jumping to modern-day Vietnam, the novel simultaneously tells the story of Phong, a 30-something Amerasian who desperately wants to find his American father in order to give his wife and children a better life in the United States.

These are people whose circumstances have forced them to live and survive from one fragile moment to the next. Thrown into the mix is a third protagonist, Dan, a white American veteran whos recently traveled back to Vietnam to find out what happened to his lover and their child.

Que Mais ability to plunge the reader into the perspective of a different character with each new chapter transforms Dust Child into a page-turner. The connections between the storys main players are slowly revealed, building to a powerful conclusion.

Que Mai conducted years of research on the Amerasian dilemma before writing Dust Child. Her mission here, it seems, is to acknowledge the shame and the anger of these characters. To simply listen to them. To understand the foundations of generational trauma.

The women in this book  who were nothing but firewood on the furnace of wars  and their children are literally screaming for phantom American fathers to accept accountability. Its not a spoiler to say that for many, that quest for accountability is profoundly unattainable.

But here, at the very least, Que Mai has given these characters  and the real people they represent  a bold voice. Its well worth listening to.
A recent directive from the Lancaster County Attorney sending prosecutors back to in-person court hearings in criminal cases set off a bit of unintended friction with defense attorneys.

But by Friday, both sides sounded willing to work together to address concerns, particularly over declining decorum, brought on by defendants appearing for more court hearings via Zoom video conferencing if they arent housed at the county jail or in a state prison.

The hiccup started June 6, with a letter from County Attorney Pat Condon to Lancaster Countys county and district court judges: Re: Lancaster Countys Attorneys Office Returning to the Courts.

Condon said while the courts expanded use of Zoom hearings served a legitimate purpose during the COVID-19 pandemic for defendants who were out of custody, and continues to serve a legitimate purpose for defendants in custody, I am of the opinion that it is time to return to best practices.

He said starting with hearings next month he has directed the prosecutors in his office to appear in person for all court hearings (unless otherwise ordered by the court); to object to the use of remote technology; and to request bench warrants if defendants dont appear in person as ordered.

It would not apply to defendants who are in custody at the county jail or in state prison awaiting trial.

They would continue to make appearances by way of remote technology, in part due to the inherent safety risk that comes with transporting inmates back and forth for hearings.

It is ideal to have our prosecutors, out-of-custody defendants, and defense attorneys present in person before the court to ensure the administration of justice in an efficient and dignified manner, Condon said.

He cited examples of defendants appearing remotely to avoid being taken into custody on outstanding warrants in other pending cases, appearing for court via Zoom while driving, and  in one case  appearing for court from bed.

When asked by the judge to sit up, the woman did so, exposing herself to everyone on the Zoom call, according to one attorney with knowledge of the situation.

Condons letter prompted a response three days later on behalf of the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, a statewide group of over 370 criminal defense attorneys, which said the use of remote technology to conduct hearings was critical to the courts during the pandemic.

Because of remote technology, the administration of justice in Nebraska and Lancaster County continued. The use of remote technology has continued post-pandemic, for reasons of judicial efficiency and access to justice, said Lancaster County Public Defender Kristi Egger and Tim Noerrlinger, a private defense attorney.

They said anecdotes regarding courtroom decorum should not be conflated with actual court efficiency.

Ive seen people come to court in pajama bottoms and slippers. I dont know that you get decorum just by going to court, Noerrlinger said Friday.

He said, on the other hand, remote appearances allow their clients to appear in court when they dont have transportation or childcare or cant take off work, or when they live out of state or cant travel due to bad weather and they may otherwise fail to appear in court.

Requiring everyone to personally appear in the courthouse will be a burden on security, court staff and others who work at the courthouse, he and Egger said in the letter.

And, if more arrest warrants go out for people not physically appearing for court, it is likely to add costs for law enforcement and further strain the already overcrowded jail, they argued.

If Mr. Condon wishes to change the practice of remote technology in this jurisdiction, a collaborative approach that engages all interested parties  including the courts  is more appropriate, Egger and Noerrlinger said.

On Friday, Noerrlinger said they perceived Condons letter to be a pretty fundamental shift in how the courts have been operating for the last few years.

We think it is convenient both to the bar and to our clientele to appear by Zoom, and we would hate to see that go away in its entirety, he said.

Condon said Friday he sent out the letter just to let people know about his intention to get people back into court, back to how things were pre-COVID.

He said he was a little surprised by the response because he didnt have to tell them anything. Its allowed by the courts, and they couldve just started doing it.

It is what it is, but hopefully if it spawns talking about how can we make things better, how can we maybe come up with rules that we can all agree with, that would be great, Condon said.

Hes talked to Egger and Noerrlinger both since and said he thinks theyre all in agreement.

Condon said hes open to working with the courts and defense attorneys to try to come up with local rules laying out when remote hearings may be appropriate in a way that makes a clear record for the courts and potential appeals.

Thats one of the key things, protecting the record, he said.

Still, Condon doesnt see Zoom as having helped the efficiency of the courts and said failures to appear havent gone down since the courts moved to more remote hearings. So he doesnt think they think there is reason to think they would go up if they return to in-person hearings.

But if failures-to-appear and warrants increase, theyll look at it, Condon said.

Even if prosecutors object to hearings going forward by Zoom, it will be up to the judges to decide.

This week, district court judges declined to discuss the matter, when the Journal Star asked what their next step would be.

Under a local rule, judges in Lancaster County may order that a court proceeding not involving testimony of witnesses by oral examination be conducted by remote technology. And, if the parties agree, any court proceeding may be conducted by remote technology, with permission of the court.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner, whose office handles courthouse security, confirmed the number of visitors pre-pandemic averaged 300,000 a year and during the pandemic dropped to nearly half that. By 2022, it had increased to 207,000, still well below pre-COVID numbers, likely due to remote hearings.

Wagner said he wasnt concerned by the potential shift back to more in-person hearings.

We might have a few more people through the front door, but were equipped to handle that. Weve handled many, many more people annually than we are right now, he said. So it shouldnt be an issue.
In Lancaster County, the total value of assessed property increased a whopping 23% this year, a record jump that will provide a windfall for local governments and hefty property tax increases for many home, apartment and business owners.

Property owners can file protests through June 30  1,236 have so far  and the sticker shock prompted two residents to get out their calculators and computers and look for answers.

One of them, a computer engineer, made a website to help homeowners evaluate sales of comparable homes in their neighborhoods. The other, a certified public accountant, spent hours examining a report by the state tax administrator that led her to conclude lower-priced houses are being generally overvalued.

Gordon Smith, a computer engineer, was surprised when the preliminary assessed value of his home increased by $32,000. When the final valuation notice arrived with a $60,000 jump, bringing the value of his home to about $200,000, he was more than surprised.

I was livid, he said.

He looked at the comparable sales listed on the Lancaster County Assessors site, but didnt think they provided the detail needed to file a protest, and the searchable sales tab on the site was citywide, not by neighborhood.

So he spent the next three days making his own site, doing research for his own property and for a few friends. When requests kept coming in, he decided it was easier to make the site public. Lancasterpropertysearch.com now includes 100,000 properties in Lancaster County, their assessments, previous sales and other information.

Enter your property ID (you can look it up on the Lancaster County Assessors site) and set the search to find recent sales of homes in your neighborhood. The search engine allows you to select how large an area to search and to adjust the parameters based on the homes age and size.

The search lists the properties, sale dates and sale prices, along with details of the homes from the assessors site  garages, roofs, plumbing fixtures, sprinklers  to easily compare.

Griffin put it on Reddit, talked to a television station and on Thursday his site got 19,000 searches.

He said hes not trying to tell people what to do, hes just trying to make it easier for them to research whether they should file a protest.

Although all real property in Lancaster County increased an average of 23%, all residential property increased 26%, according to documents the assessor filed with the state. The increase for existing homes (excluding new homes), was 23.6%. Commercial property increased an average of 16%.

Lancasters increase is larger than both Douglas and Sarpy counties, which saw overall average increases at 13% and 16.5%, respectively. Existing residential property in Douglas County increased 12.6%, and the increase was 12.2% in Sarpy County.

Griffins research has convinced him the Lancaster County valuations are all over the board  some under-assessed, some over-assessed and some seemingly on the mark.

The numbers make no sense, he said. Theres not a lot of consistency in what theyre doing.

Joan Casey, a certified public accountant, harbored similar concerns, which prompted her to do her own research and appear several times before the Lancaster County Board of Equalization and the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission.

The state property tax administrator, charged with evaluating assessments in the states 93 counties, concluded that in Lancaster County, residential property was assessed at 99% of market value, with commercial property at 97%. Both of those fall within state law guidelines, and in her report she also concludes the calculations used to assess property were adequate.

Casey, who delved into the state property tax administrators report, disagrees. She said shes convinced the assessment process the county used was flawed, and while overall the countys assessments fall within state law guidelines, the county generally over-valued lower-priced homes and under-valued higher-priced homes.

This is truly a tax break for the wealthy paid for by the lowerpriced homes, she said.

Homes valued at less than $250,000 are generally assessed at greater than 100% of market value, she said, and those over that amount are generally assessed at 98% or below.

The components they used to value houses  assumptions made about garages and other elements  are wrong, Casey thinks, as is the way the county adjusted sale prices to reflect market value.

But County Assessor Dan Nolte and Brian Grimm, the assessors chief field officer, said thats a misrepresentation, especially given the volatile housing market the past few years. Home prices have been increasing, and there are fewer lower-priced homes on the market.

The average sale price of a home in Lincoln this year is $252,100, Nolte said.

Those higher sales prices, driven by demand for fewer lower-priced homes, pushes up market value, which can skew the sales ratios used to evaluate homes, Grimm said. With mass appraisal theres a median, with prices both above and below that, he said, and just looking at outliers is misleading.

Casey said she doesnt think they are outliers, since of the 11,555 sales used in the sample submitted to the state, more than 5,000 are priced under $250,000 and, based on the state report, more likely to be assessed over market value.

Tom Kubert, president of Kubert Appraisal Group who has been a certified appraiser for 25 years, said the assessor uses computer models based on sales, and because its a mass appraisal system, some houses wont fit the model.

Also, the comparable sales used by the assessors office can be older, which means more recent sales could be useful to people considering an appeal, he said.

Kubert recommends every property owner review their assessments and take a walk around their neighborhood and look at the comparable sales used by the assessor.

Those and other sales or changes to their home not reflected on the assessors site are what could win an appeal, he said  not arguing that the model the assessors office used is wrong.

The problem is, statistics are interpreted, he said. The state has interpreted those statistics as acceptable.

Still, property owners should take a close look at their property valuations.

I think everyone should pay attention to their property value, he said. (Casey) is probably doing everyone a service by shining a light on it, but it certainly doesnt mean everyones (home) at that price range is wrong.

Top Journal Star photos for June 2023
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.  Gray wolves are thriving at Isle Royale National Park five years after authorities began a last-ditch attempt to prevent the species from dying out on the Lake Superior island chain, scientists said.

Meanwhile, the parks moose population continues a sharp but needed decline. Overpopulation of the lumbering mammals were causing their own starvation as they outstripped available balsam fir trees  their primary food during long, snowbound winters, Michigan Technological University biologists said recently.

The trends appear to justify federal officials 2018 decision to airlift mainland wolves to Isle Royale, the researchers said, arguing that the predators return is helping rebalance an ecosystem knocked off-kilter as their number dropped to just two.

The scientists annual report, based largely on aerial observations last winter, estimated the rebuilt population at 31 wolves  up from 28 last year. It said the wolves appeared to be forming three packs, with others wandering alone or in smaller groups. The moose total was roughly 967, down from 1,346 last year and 54% decline from about 2,000 in 2019. Ecologists are celebrating what they hope will be a healthier herd.

Its been hugely successful, said study co-leader Sarah Hoy, a research assistant professor and animal ecologist. Thats what everyone was hoping for.

But the early results havent settled a debate over whether people should rescue struggling species at Isle Royale or other designated wilderness areas, where federal law calls for letting nature take its course.

We have felt and still believe that the National Park Service should not have intervened and set up this artificial population of wolves, said Kevin Proescholdt, conservation director for the advocacy group Wilderness Watch.

Scientists believe the islands first moose swam to Isle Royale around the turn of the 20th century. Wolves arrived in the late 1940s, apparently crossing the frozen lake surface from Minnesota or the Canadian province of Ontario. Though technically part of Michigan, that states shores are farther away.

Moose provided an ample food supply for the wolves, which in turn helped keep moose numbers in check. Both populations rose and fell over the years, influenced by disease, weather, parasites and other factors. But inbreeding finally took its toll on the wolves, whose numbers plummeted between 2011 and 2018.

Some experts said they should be allowed to die out, as have other species that once occupied the island, including Canada lynx and woodland caribou, which had the same predator-prey relationship as todays wolves and moose.

Species come and species go, Proescholdt said, arguing that the federal Wilderness Act directs us to let nature call the shots and not impose our human desires.

Park officials and Michigan Tech scientists contend the absence of a top-of-the-food-chain predator of moose and beaver would have been ruinous for the islands forest. Even now, its balsam firs continue to deteriorate from moose browsing and an attack of tree-killing spruce budworm, the report said.

Experts acknowledge the same factors that nearly wiped out the wolves  primarily inbreeding  eventually could return. Global warming is causing fewer ice bridges to form on Lake Superior, reducing the likelihood of wolves trekking from the mainland to the park and diversifying the gene pool. The sprawling archipelagos closest point to the mainland is about 15 miles away.

That could mean park managers will need to import a few wolves every decade or so, Hoy said.

They brought in 19 wolves from Minnesota, Ontarios Michipicoten Island and Michigans Upper Peninsula in 2018-19. Only a few are believed still alive  hardly surprising as wild wolves seldom live longer than five years, Hoy said. But their descendants are believed to have produced at least seven litters of pups.

This years field study detected an 11-member pack on the main islands eastern side and a five-member pack on the western side. There were three groups of at least three wolves each, and a few loners or pairs. A new pack also appears to be forming, the report said.

The moose populations 28% drop from 2022 is one of the biggest one-year collapses ever seen at the park, it said. While wolf predation is partly responsible, necropsies indicate the biggest cause was starvation from overpopulation.

Even though relatively few moose calves appear to be surviving to adulthood, theres no reason to worry about the mooses immediate future, Michigan Tech biologist Rolf Peterson said. Theyve fallen to 400-500 before and bounced back. But the warming climate, tick infestations and other long-term challenges will remain.

For now, the parks ecosystem is getting healthier thanks to the wolves return, he said, suggesting the decision to intervene was correct.

The old hands-off approach to managing national parks, figuring everything will turn out OK, is probably not sufficient, Peterson said. Our footprint is all over the entire globe.

How climate change is affecting America's national parks Historic flooding, extreme temperatures and more Rising temperatures Glacial retreat Sea level rise Animal life Wildfires
WAHOO  The only remaining grocery store in Wahoo has undergone another name change.

Spartan Nash, the company that owns and operates the former SunMart in Wahoo, has changed the name to Family Fare. The Wahoo store and six others owned by the company  including No Frills Supermarket in Ashland and SunMarts in Beatrice and Auburn  have officially changed their names.

Really, the Family Fare name is all about hometown and community, and weve had success with that really by focusing on community support, so Wahoo is a perfect place for a Family Fare, said Amy McClellan, chief marketing officer for Spartan Nash, after a ribbon cutting hosted by the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce on June 9.

The Wahoo store has been undergoing changes for a few months, with the bulk of the remodeling work taking place in the last few weeks, said Store Director Rick Carlson.

We started getting plans about nine months ago, he said. The biggest part took place within the last month.

That work included new paint, installing new refrigerated cases in the deli and liquor departments, hanging new signage throughout the store and building a new bathroom, Carlson said.

The store stayed open while the work was being done, which was a challenge, according to Carlson.

It was kind of chaos for a couple of weeks, he said. We crammed a lot into a little time, but our people worked hard, and a lot of our shoppers were patient with us.

Tom Swanson, executive vice president of retail for Spartan Nash, said it took a lot of coordination to renovate the store without closing the doors to customers.

The community counts on us to be there and to feed them, so we dont want to close for hours or days by any means, he said. We do dozens of remodels every year, so were pretty good at kind of trying to figure out how to stay open.

The flow of the store was altered, but new signs on each aisle mark where the goods are now located, and each aisle is named for a street or school in the community.

Jeanne Havelka, a longtime customer of the Wahoo store, said shes getting used to the new location of products as she does her weekly shopping. And she is in favor of the renovation.

I like the changes, she said. I think it looks cleaner.

The employees also have to get used to things being in new locations.

Its just the patience of learning, hey, its still the same store, were still selling groceries, Carlson said. We come in and we take care of customers and life gets easier after that.

Major retail chains that no longer exist Major retail chains that no longer exist Ames Anchor Blue BI-LO Blockbuster Borders Builders Square Century 21 Circuit City CompUSA Crazy Eddie Crown Books Delia's Dominick's Dressbarn Eckerd's Family Video Frank's Nursery & Crafts Friedman's Golfsmith Gottschalks Hollywood Video Hudson's Just for Feet Kaufmann's KB Toys Kids 'R' Us Linens 'n Things Marshall Field's Merry-Go-Round Mervyn's Modell's Sporting Goods Noodle Kidoodle Payless ShoeSource Pier 1 Imports Sam Goody Sharper Image Sports Authority Sports Chalet Steve & Barry's The Limited Thom McAn Tower Records Tweeter Virgin Megastores Waldenbooks Warner Bros. Studio Store Western Auto Wickes Furniture Woolworth's Zany Brainy
Hundreds more out-of-state patients are having abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in Illinois and wait times to schedule the procedure in the southern part of the state have spiked during the first month after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Before the June 24 ruling, when abortion was still legal nationwide, a patient could schedule an appointment to terminate a pregnancy in three or four days in southern Illinois; now its taking on average three weeks or more because of a massive influx of out-of-state patients, according to Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, which also covers the southern region of Illinois.

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One month later, I would say that our biggest surprise was really around how quickly our capacity dwindled, said Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood affiliate. Our best guess, before Roe was overturned, was that this would happen over time. Especially because we knew that abortion wasnt going to be banned in all the states all at once. It depends on if you have trigger laws, pre-Roe bans and some states have litigated their trigger bans. So we knew there was going to be a patchwork and access would fall. But we thought it would fall a little slower than whats happened.

The influx of out-of-state patients has also surged in other parts of the state, but so far wait times to have an abortion in the Chicago area havent increased significantly, according to Planned Parenthood of Illinois, which includes 17 health centers, most of which are located in Chicago and the suburbs.

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The Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights Health Center, an abortion clinic a few miles from the Missouri border in Fairview Heights, Illinois, on May 6, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Before Roe was overturned, Planned Parenthood of Illinois provided abortions to roughly 100 out-of-state patients each month. In July, the first full month after the ruling, the number of abortion patients coming from other states swelled to more than 800, according to the agency.

Those seeking an abortion in Illinois are also traveling from more states than before, at increasing distances.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinics would typically treat abortion patients from 12 to 15 states besides Illinois, before abortion rights were overturned. Since the fall of Roe, patients have been coming from 30 states, said Kristen Schultz, chief strategy and operations officer for Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

The geography is also expanding, she said. We have now seen more patients than ever from Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas. The travel time is increasing. The need is increasing. The stress is increasing.

While Planned Parenthood of Illinois has been able to handle the influx with no major impact on wait times so far, theres no guarantee that capacity will be able to keep up with demand as more states implement abortion bans or stringent restrictions, officials said.

I think what every provider is doing  both us and the folks in the south  (is) preparing for as many patients as we can, Schultz said. Every day things are changing and theres always certainly the potential wait times will increase. But again, we are employing strategies to increase capacity and meet that demand.

Delaying the time-sensitive procedure can increase the gestational age of the pregnancy at the time of the abortion, potentially complicating the procedure and increasing the risk to the patient.

Time, travel, money, risk, all of it, Gilmore said. It just makes the whole thing drag out longer and more complicated.

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A staff member answers a call at the Hope Clinic For Women in Granite City, Illinois, on June 27, 2022. With abortion now banned in Missouri, the two nearest clinics are in Illinois: Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City and Planned Parenthood in Fairview Heights, which opened in 2019 in anticipation of the ban. (Angela Weiss/Getty-AFP)

She recounted one recent case where an out-of-state patient was anemic and required a blood transfusion prior to the abortion. The patient was sent to another state to have the transfusion but was turned away.

A lot of hospitals from banned states are trying to get advice from their lawyers about whether they are going to be considered aiding and abetting an abortion and whether it qualifies under the medical emergency exception, Gilmore said.

She said the patient ultimately went to a third state to have the blood transfusion and then came back to Illinois to terminate the pregnancy.

It is getting vastly more complicated than it was pre-Roe, in that it isnt just about the logistics of getting a patient in or on a certain time frame, she said. That patient may need extra support care.  And were now living in a landscape where medical providers in hospital systems and doctors offices are turning patients away for that care because they dont want to be criminally liable or liable in any other sense in this new hostile landscape, where politicians are trying to criminalize providers.

Reproductive rights advocates and abortion providers across the state have been planning for years for the end of Roe, the watershed 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established the right to an abortion nationwide.

After the demise of those federal protections, the matter of abortion rights fell to individual states, roughly half of which were expected to ban terminating a pregnancy or significantly curb access to the procedure.

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In the first month or so following the fall of Roe, 43 clinics across 11 states have stopped providing abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

Missouri, South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas have implemented abortion bans with limited or no exceptions, and now have no abortion clinics operating statewide, according to a Guttmacher report from July.

In 2020, these seven states accounted for 80,500 abortions, or an average of about 6,700 abortions each month, the report said. Now, thousands of individuals who need an abortion in these states will be forced to travel to another state to reach a clinic, self-manage their abortion or carry the pregnancy to term.

Providers in Wisconsin have also stopped offering abortions amid legal uncertainty over the states 1849 abortion ban, which includes exceptions for maternal life endangerment.

Numerous other states have implemented abortion bans early in pregnancy, significantly limiting the procedure. Across the country, court battles and heated legislative sessions are still defining the parameters and circumstances when a pregnancy can be legally terminated in various states.

An exam room inside the Hope Clinic For Women in Granite City, Illinois, on June 27, 2022. (Angela Weiss/Getty-AFP)

Illinois, however, has some of the strongest reproductive rights protections in the nation, after the 2019 Reproductive Health Act established abortion as a fundamental right. It has long been considered an oasis for abortion care in the restrictive Midwest, and that role was augmented after Roe crumbled.

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Planned Parenthood of Illinois has predicted that 20,000 to 30,000 more patients will be crossing state lines to have an abortion here each year. Thats on top of the rising number of out-of-state patients who were already traveling here to terminate a pregnancy while Roe was still the law of the land.

Nearly 10,000 patients came from other states to Illinois to have an abortion in 2020, according to the most recent data available from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The number of patients crossing state lines to terminate a pregnancy in Illinois has increased since 2014.

To increase capacity, Planned Parenthood of Illinois opened a clinic near the Wisconsin border in Waukegan in 2020 and a clinic near the Indiana border in Flossmoor in 2018. In mid-July, the organization announced that Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin doctors, clinicians and other staff members had begun traveling to the Waukegan clinic to provide abortion care amid the increase in demand.

A few months ago, Planned Parenthood of Illinois started offering abortion pills by mail to in-state residents who qualify for the service; out-of-state patients must travel to Illinois to have a telehealth or in-person visit with a provider and then pick up the medication at an in-state health center.

The massive influx of out-of-state patients has hit southern Illinois providers particularly hard, in part because this region only has two abortion clinics. For some patients in various Midwestern and Southern states, these are the closest abortion providers for hundreds of miles.

Illinois is an island of reproductive health care in the region; southern Illinois is like a micro island in that region just because there are only two of us, Gilmore said. The concentration of patients vs. capacity is just way different. That is what were trying to help policymakers understand, in terms of the urgent need for capacity downstate. Because our reality is so different.

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There are about two dozen abortion clinics in Illinois, though the majority are in the Chicago area. Eleven of the 102 counties in Illinois have at least one abortion provider; in five of those counties, only medication abortions, which are restricted to early pregnancy, are available.

A new southern Illinois clinic is expected to open in Carbondale as soon as this month. Choices Memphis Center for Reproductive Health recently announced plans to open the clinic, in the wake of severe abortion restrictions in Tennessee. The new abortion provider will be about three hours from Memphis and Nashville.

In 2019, the Planned Parenthood affiliate in St. Louis opened a clinic in Fairview Heights, just over the border from Missouri. Hope Clinic in Granite City, just a few miles from St. Louis, also provides abortions in that area.

In January, the Regional Logistics Center opened inside the Fairview Heights clinic as a one-stop designated call center where traveling patients can get help booking lodging, coordinating transportation, finding child care and accessing funds to help pay for the procedure. The center is operated jointly by Hope Clinic and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region.

The Regional Logistics Center at the Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights Health Center in Fairview Heights, Illinois, on May 6, 2022. Calls to the center have increased since the Supreme Court's recent ruling on abortion. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

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Just as the number of out-of-state patients at Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinics have risen significantly, calls to the Regional Logistics Center have also increased following the Supreme Court ruling.

In May, the center received 648 patient calls; in June, calls increased to more than 1,100. As of mid-July, the number of calls were at 886, and were projected to rise to 1,600 by the end of the month, Gilmore said.

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She added that since the end of Roe, the Fairview Heights clinic has seen a roughly 52% increase in the number of abortions that are past 15 weeks gestation.

At our health center at least, we are seeing the consequences of abortion bans, (which are) pushing people later into pregnancy, she said.

Gilmore added that delaying care  and the sense of uncertainty post-Roe  adds to patient stress.

Once they figure out that yes, you can get an abortion here, were here to help, theyre relieved, she said. Because theyve been navigating a system in a post-Roe reality and that can be very scary. A lot of them have been turned away by providers and theyve really had to go searching for a place to land.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com
RACINE  Two more men have been charged in connection to a shooting on Washington Avenue earlier this month.

Tarvis J. Koker, 21, of Racine was charged with felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and endanger safety by reckless use of firearm.

Tyrone M. Gister, 19, of Racine was charged with a felony count of endanger safety by reckless use of firearm.

According to a criminal complaint, Keith Clay-Terrell went to the Ascension Hospital Emergency Room after being shot in the left shoulder.

He reportedly told investigators that he was in his vehicle, parked in a parking lot at 1518 Washington Ave., when three men approached him and shot him.

After speaking to Clay-Terrell at the hospital, investigators were told by patrol officers that there were spent shell casing and vehicles damaged by gunfire in the parking lot at 1518 Washington Ave. Surveillance video allegedly shows three men, two of whom officers identified as Koker and Gister. Both Koker and Gister are reportedly shown with a gun while engaging with Clay-Terrell.

According to the complaint, the video also shows a third man walking away from Clay-Terrels SUV with what officers believe to be several pounds of marijuana.

Clay-Terrell then allegedly pointed the SUV toward Gister and Koker, who ducked before the windows of a Ford F150 that was in the parking lot were shattered by gunfire. The complaint said Gister allegedly fired at Clay-Terrell, who was still in the SUV.

Clay-Terrell reportedly drove away, and the three men got into a black Toyota and left.

Both Gister and Koker were given a $50,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Thursday, and both have preliminary hearings scheduled for June 22 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show.

Mugshots: Racine County criminal complaints, June 15, 2023 Today's mugshots: June 15 These are images of people charged with a crime in Racine County. Booking photos are provided by Racine County law enforcement officials. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted. Dominique D. Branch Dominique D. Branch, 4200 block of Marquette Drive, Racine, operate motor vehicle while revoked, misdemeanor bail jumping. Patrick Frank Degrave Patrick Frank Degrave, 32200 block of Academy Road, Rochester, possession of drug paraphernalia. Bryce M. Holland Bryce M. Holland, 1200 block of 11th Avenue, Union Grove, misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Jeffrey O. Mack Jeffrey O. Mack, 2400 block of 53rd Street, Kenosha, terrorist threats, disorderly conduct. Shyaira S. McDonald Shyaira S. McDonald, Minneapolis, Minnesota, misdemeanor battery, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct. Lanuasia J. Shannon Lanuasia J. Shannon, 2800 block of East Fieldstone Way, Sturtevant, possession of THC, carrying a concealed weapon, felony bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping. Jesse J. Zemke NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Jesse J. Zemke, 900 block of Peck Avenue, Racine, threat to a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct (use of a dangerous weapon, domestic abuse assessments). Tyrone M. Gister Tyrone M. Gister, 900 block of Center Street, Racine, endanger safety by reckless use of firearm. Tarvis J. Koker Tarvis J. Koker, 900 block of Center Street, Racine, possession of a firearm by a felon, endanger safety by reckless use of firearm.
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
Hong Kong: FS to visit Shenzhen

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will visit Shenzhen tomorrow to meet its leadership and discuss co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on financial services, innovation and technology (I&T), trade and commerce and infrastructure.

He will also visit I&T enterprises in Shenzhen before returning to Hong Kong on the same day.

This story has been published on: 2023-06-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
From left, pastor Donovan Price prays with a resident at the scene where five people were shot in the 7400 Block of South Dante Avenue on Aug. 19, 2018, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

In a span of about 14 hours between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning, 25 people were shot in Chicago, including a 3-year-old boy who was among seven wounded in a single attack.

One person was killed in a shooting attack  a 27-year-old man shot in the chest and arm just before 3 p.m. Friday on the South Side, Chicago police said.

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The man was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in critical condition after the shooting in the 7000 block of South Sangamon Street in the Englewood neighborhood, but was later pronounced dead.

In the seven-victim shooting, six of the people shot were standing on a sidewalk around 8 p.m. in the 1600 block of West 65th Street when they were hit by gunfire, police said. The seventh person shot, a 38-year-old woman, was grazed on the arm while in a backyard. She was treated on scene.

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The 3-year-old boy was rushed to Comer Childrens Hospital, where he was stabilized with a wound to the shin.

Three of the victims were treated at St. Bernard Hospital: a 30-year-old man stabilized with a wound to the leg, a 29-year-old man stabilized with a wound to the calf and a 26-year-old man stabilized with wounds to the hand and leg.

A 30-year-old man shot in the back was in serious condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, and a 27-year-old man shot in the torso was stabilized at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

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Another person was killed Friday evening by what police said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Steven Rosenthal, 16, shot himself in the head following a foot pursuit with police in the West Sides Lawndale neighborhood, according to Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi and the Cook County medical examiners office.

It started about 7 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Keeler Avenue when police discovered Rosenthal with a weapon. Officers attempted to question him when he led them on a brief foot pursuit. Shortly afterward, he shot himself, Guglielmi tweeted.

Rosenthal, of the block where the shooting happened, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:25 p.m., police and the medical examiners office said.

An autopsy Saturday determined Rothenthal died of a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a suicide, the medical examiners office said.

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In other shootings:

A 22-year-old man was in serious condition at St. Bernard Hospital after he was shot multiple times below the waist shortly before 5:30 a.m. Saturday in the 8500 block of South Morgan Street in the Gresham neighborhood.

A 38-year-old man was in critical condition at Stroger Hospital after he was shot in the face and leg while sitting in a parked car around 4:40 a.m. in the 5500 block of West Huron Street in the West Sides South Austin neighborhood.

Around 3:15 a.m., a 17-year-old girl was grazed in her shoulder in the Logan Square neighborhood on the Northwest Side, police said. She was in a vehicle with her boyfriend in the 1900 block of North Kedzie Avenue when someone fired from a black Infiniti sedan. She was stabilized at Presence Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center.

A 26-year-old man was shot in the foot around 12:40 a.m. in the Oakland neighborhood on the South Side, police said. He was standing outside a vehicle in the 4100 block of South Lake Park Avenue when someone fired at him. He is in good condition at Mercy Hospital.

Around 12:20 a.m., a 22-year-old man was shot in the groin in the 2100 block of East 71st Street in the South Sides South Shore neighborhood, police said. He was stabilized at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

A 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest by a bullet that came through the window while he sat in a home around 11:50 p.m. Friday in the 2000 block of West 68th Street in the South Sides West Englewood neighborhood. He was in fair condition at Comer Childrens Hospital.

Two men, both 19, were shot in the shoulder and back while driving in a vehicle around 11:25 p.m. in the 4600 block of South Pulaski Road in the Southwest Sides Archer Heights neighborhood, police said. Someone in a gray Jeep pulled up behind them and fired the shots. They were stabilized at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Around 11 p.m., a man, 35, and a woman, 23, were shot in the 700 block of North Ridgeway Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. The man was stabilized at Mount Sinai Hospital with a wound to the torso, and the woman was stabilized at Stroger with a wound to the leg.

A 23-year-old man was walking in the 11600 block of South Yale Avenue in the Far South Sides West Pullman neighborhood when someone approached him and fired shots, hitting him in the leg around 10:35 p.m., police said. He was stabilized at Metro South Medical Center.

A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg around 9:50 p.m. in the 1300 block of East 75th Street in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side, police said. He was stabilized at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Around 9:20 p.m., a 17-year-old boy was about to get in a vehicle when someone on foot fired at him, hitting him in the chest in the 12100 block of South Lafayette Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. He took himself to Roseland Community Hospital but was transferred to Comer Childrens Hospital.

At 9:13 p.m., a 15-year-old boy was shot in the 3400 block of West Walnut Street in East Garfield Park. He was taken to Stroger, where he was in good condition.

A 23-year-old man was shot in the buttock and left side in the West Sides West Garfield Park neighborhood in the 4700 block of West Harrison Street shortly before 5:25 p.m. He was in good condition at Mount Sinai.

A 20-year-old man was shot in the 3300 block of West 31st Street in the Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side, also about 5:25 p.m. He was taken to St. Anthony Hospital, where his condition had stabilized.

No one was in custody, and police were investigating.
WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio.

For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FMs Morning Show airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays.

Guests this week include:

Monday, June 19: James Kwak, author of The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts.

Tuesday, June 20: Stanley Coren, author of How Dogs ThinkWhat the world looks like to them and why they act the way they do. Also, Emily Yoffe, author of What the Dog Did: Tales from a formerly reluctant Dog Owner.

Wednesday, June 21: From the archives: Don Kummings (1940-2017), long-time Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside .... talking about his book A Companion to Walt Whitman.

Thursday, June 22: Part One- Ariane Szu-Tu, co-editor of the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2024. Part Two- (from the archives) Trevor Corson, author of The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists are Unraveling the Mysteries of our Favorite Crustacean.

Friday, June 23: Josh Haven, author of the new thriller The Siberia Job.
So now, the Good Book has become the bad book.

At least in Utah where a feud has erupted after the 72,000-student Davis School District north of Salt Lake City removed the Bible from the shelves of its elementary and middle schools after the seminal Christian book was found to be overly violent or vulgar.

High school libraries in the district, at least for now, have been spared from the ban because the district committee  made up of teachers, parents and administrators in the largely conservative community  declined to find the religious tract is pornographic or indecent under the states definition.

The parent who filed the complaint in December argued the Bible contains instances of incest, prostitution and rape and said the district was ceding our childrens education, First Amendment rights and library access to Parents United, a Utah group that has championed efforts to have more parental oversight of library books and school texts.

Utah Parents United left off one of the most sex-ridden books around, the Bible, the parent complaint said, Youll no doubt find that the Bible (under state law) has no serious values for minors because its pornographic by our new definition.

The Utah fight comes two years after the GOP-controlled Legislature passed a law requiring school districts to create new pathways for residents to challenge sensitive materials and used a statute-based definition of pornography to define them.

The review committee didnt cite which Bible verses were considering objectionable, but simply made an overall ruling.

In a be careful what you wish for moment Republican lawmakers joined by one hundred Bible-toting parents at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City recently to protest the Davis District decision.

Karlee Vincent, a Davis County mother of three kids carrying childrens Bibles to the protest, said the districts could weigh banning certain book titles with controversial material, but not religious texts like the Bible.

We love the Bible. We love God. And we need God in our nation, Vincent said.

And, not unsurprisingly, the brouhaha has revived book-banning critics who argue the anger over the Davis school decision illustrates the arbitrary and political double-standards of the new state law.

If folks are outraged about the Bible being banned, they should be outraged about all the books that are being censored, said Kasey Meehan, who directs the Freedom to Read program at the organization Pen America.

Some argue that the solution in the Utah case is to ban all religious tracts from school libraries  that would include not only the Bible, but the Koran and, in fact, a parental complaint has now been filed against the Book of Mormon, the signature scripture of the predominant faith in Utah, The Church of Jehovah Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon Church.

That ought to keep this debate roiling for months. While you can make an argument for excluding all religious tracts from school libraries on the basis of fairness and not singling out one religion over the other, that seems to us to fly in the face of the purpose of libraries everywhere to increase knowledge, encourage discussion of differing views of people across the world and foster a broader understanding of cultures.

We have long viewed book-banning with a jaundiced eye and our preference has been to let librarians and other professionals determine what should go on the shelves of public libraries. Schools are a little bit different since some parental involvement is appropriate.

But parents, all parents, should realize in this day of computer access and social media, the notion that we can keep students  of any age  from viewing objectionable, salacious or pornographic material online with a few keystrokes is todays reality. And, yes, that includes the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon, which are readily available online.

Pulling the Bible off the shelves of a school library in protest is quaint, outmoded, and ineffective.

Better to let the Bible and other religious tomes spread their overarching themes to students and adults alike. That would be Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Thats the Golden Rule, and its found in the teachings of almost every religion across the world.

That would be a good lesson in any school.
WASHINGTON  Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

Along with roll call votes this week, the Senate also confirmed the nomination of Stephen Eberle to be U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania for a four-year term; and adopted a resolution (S. Res. 252), celebrating the 246th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. flag and supporting the Pledge of Allegiance.

HOUSE VOTES

House Vote 1

MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMACY: The House has passed the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act (H.R. 3099), sponsored by Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., to create at the State Department the role of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, who would seek to expand and strengthen Israels relations with neighboring and overseas Muslim-majority countries. Lawler said: Having a point person at the State Department is key to ensuring the Accords maintain a priority in this administration and all future administrations. The vote, on June 13, was 413 yeas to 13 nays.

YEAS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 2

REGULATING FIREARM STABILIZING BRACES: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 44), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) rule issued this January that regulates stabilizing braces used to enable shooting a pistol from the shoulder. Clyde said allowing the rule to remain in force would put law-abiding gun owners in danger of large fines and prison sentences as penalties for failing to register their braced guns with the ATF. A resolution opponent, Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., said it makes it easier for the next mass shooter to kill more people. The vote, on June 13, was 219 yeas to 210 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 3:

D.C. CRIME POLICIES VETO: The House has failed to override President Bidens veto of a resolution (H.J. Res 42), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void the Washington, D.C., Councils adoption of a law changing policing policies for D.C. police officers. Clyde said the action was necessary because the D.C. Councils misguided legislation has driven out men and women in blue who protect us, while disincentivizing individuals to join the force. An opponent, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., called the measure a profoundly undemocratic, paternalistic resolution in its move to have actions by locally elected politicians in D.C. overridden by Congress. The vote, on June 13, was 233 yeas to 197 nays, with a two-thirds majority to override the veto.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 4:

NATURAL GAS STOVES: The House has passed the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act (H.R. 1615), sponsored by Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., to bar funding for actions by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to deem natural gas-fueled stoves a hazardous, banned product, or to issue regulations that significantly increase the cost of the stoves. Armstrong cited indications from the Commission that it would consider substantial regulatory actions on gas stoves categorically as part of what Armstrong called a green climate agenda with the goal to further restrict natural gas. A bill opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said it would prevent the Commission from adopting a safety standard that has any possibility of leading to a ban of some type of gas stove. The vote, on June 13, was 248 yeas to 180 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 5:

RUSSIA DETENTION OF U.S. CITIZENS: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 377), sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, calling for Russia to immediately release Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal held since late March 2023, and the release of several other U.S. citizens detained in Russia and other countries. McCaul said that with the resolution, We send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that America, Republicans and Democrats alike, will not tolerate his corrupt regime holding U.S. citizens hostage under false pretenses. The vote, on June 13, was unanimous with 422 yeas.

YEAS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) NOT VOTING: Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

House Vote 6:

VACCINATION MANDATES: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 277), that would include measures likely to result in mandatory vaccinations in the bills definition of major rule. Roy said: We should stand up to the tyranny of an executive branch that overstepped its bounds and restricted the freedom and liberties of the American people and harmed them with Covid vaccination requirements. An amendment opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said it would just serve to undermine necessary health and safety rules. The vote, on June 14, was 219 yeas to 217 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 7:

FEDERAL REGULATIONS: The House has passed the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 277), sponsored by Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., to require approval from Congress before any major rule from a federal agency can take effect, with major defined as a rule likely to have at least a $100 million annual impact or a significant impact on the U.S. economy. Cammack called the bill a way for Congress to reassert its role by placing new checks on the regulatory actions and the regulatory regime that negatively impact Americans in all walks of life across the country. An opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said: This legislation is just the latest effort by Republicans to dismantle and destroy the regulatory process, a process that protects our health and safety each and every day. The vote, on June 14, was 221 yeas to 210 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 8:

REGULATING ENERGY USED IN COOKING: The House has passed the Save Our Gas Stoves Act (H.R. 1640), sponsored by Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., to bar the Energy Department from establishing regulations that would make unavailable stoves and ovens that use natural gas or another specific type of fuel, and bar it from adopting its proposed rule to establish energy efficiency standards for stoves and ovens. Lesko said the proposed rule would effectively eliminate nearly all gas stoves and gas cooktops on the market today by making the vast majority of cooktops out of compliance with the efficiency standards. An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said the rule would lower energy bills, improve Americans health, and cut pollution, without significantly restricting cooktop availability. The vote, on June 14, was 249 yeas to 181 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 9:

CENSURING REPRESENTATIVE: The House has approved a motion to table a resolution (H. Res. 489), sponsored by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., that would have censured Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for falsely claiming there was evidence of President Trump colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election and become president. The vote to table, on June 14, was 225 yeas to 196 nays, with 7 voting present.

YEAS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

NAYS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

House Vote 10:

REGULATORY AGENCY POWERS: The House has passed the Separation of Powers Restoration Act (H.R. 288), sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. The bill would expand the authority of courts to review a federal agencys regulations and other actions by removing deference to the agencys own interpretation of the laws under which it acts. Fitzgerald said: Since 1984 when the Supreme Court ruled that courts must defer to an agencys interpretation of an ambiguous statute rather than what Congress intended, the executive branch has begun usurping the legislative branch to issue regulations with the force of law. A bill opponent, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said: If passed, federal agencies would have a harder time protecting Americans from threats to our health, safety, and our well-being. The vote, on June 15, was 220 yeas to 211 nays.

NAYS: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th)

YEAS: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd)

SENATE VOTES

Senate Vote 1

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Elizabeth Allen to be the State Departments Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Allen was a communications official in the Obama administration throughout its eight years, then became a partner at a private communications and public affairs business. A supporter, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called Allen a highly quality professional with a distinguished career and extensive experience in both public and private sectors. The vote, on June 13, was 66 yeas to 33 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI

Senate Vote 2:

CALIFORNIA JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Hernan D. Vera to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2020, Vera was previously a senior attorney at several law firms, including Public Counsel. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said: Judge Vera has extensive litigation experience and a proven track record of independent decisionmaking on the bench. An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said: Throughout his legal career, Mr. Vera has made no effort to hide his willingness to pick progressive activism over the rule of law. The vote, on June 13, was 51 yeas to 48 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI

Senate Vote 3:

ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Jared Bernstein to chair the Council of Economic Advisors to the White House. A member of the Council since 2021, Bernstein previously was a fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for a decade, and before that was a social welfare official at various think tanks and government agencies. A supporter, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said Bernstein has devoted his career to working on economic policies that ensure growth reaches all Americans, fighting to make our economy fairer. An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Bernstein can more accurately claim expertise in partisan warfare than economics given his lack of an economics Ph.D., and said Bernstein would support policies that damage the U.S. economy. The vote, on June 13, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI

Senate Vote 4:

SECOND CALIFORNIA JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of P. Casey Pitts to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Pitts has been a lawyer at a San Francisco law firm since 2010, with a focus on labor law. A supporter, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said: His life experience, his credentials, and his record of fighting for the American people will no doubt make him a phenomenal jurist. The vote, on June 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI

Senate Vote 5:

NEW YORK JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dale E. Ho to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ho has been an official at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), focused on voting legislation and policies, since 2013; previously, he was a private practice lawyer and lawyer at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called Ho a highly skilled litigator who has experience in complex civil litigation and has a significant appellate practice. The vote, on June 14, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI

Senate Vote 6:

SECOND NEW YORK JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Choudhury has been an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer and official since 2009, most recently as its legal director in Illinois. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., praised her courtroom experience and commitment to ensuring equal justice under law. An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Choudhury has made statements ranging from reckless suggestions that crimes like theft do not threaten public safety to false and inflammatory assertions that police kill black men every day in America. The vote, on June 15, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

NAYS: Johnson R-WI

YEAS: Baldwin D-WI
Carrie Fisher fans havent seen the last of the Star Wars icon, whose last film Wonderwell is heading to theaters nearly a decade after her sudden death.

Vlad Marsavins fantasy flick, which the late Postcards from the Edge author finished filming just weeks before her 2016 death, will hit theaters in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland next week, Deadline reports.

The journey we have taken as filmmakers with this movie, has been as perilous as that of the movie itself, Marsavin told the outlet Wednesday. From filming to screen it has taken us seven years.

The film, which co-stars Rita Ora, was not just plagued by the huge shock of Fishers very emotional passing, but the budget-busting visual effects and the coronavirus pandemic.

Now is the perfect time to share (Fishers) magical onscreen moments as Hazel, said Marsavin, who confirmed the project will be dedicated to the beloved late multi-hyphenate.

Carrie was full of energy during filming and even celebrated her 60th birthday with us in Italy where we shot the movie, recalled Marsavin.

Best known for starring as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, Fisher died at age 60 in December 2016, following a heart attack suffered on a flight.

The limited theatrical release will kick off in stateside AMC theaters on June 23 before the film becomes available on digital platforms.

Fisher, whose parents were stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, is survived by only daughter Billie Lourd. The Booksmart actress has given birth to two children since her mothers death.

Remembering Carrie Fisher of "Star Wars," 1956-2016 Jan. 2, 1957 1958 Feb. 21, 1959 Feb. 27, 1959 Feb. 12, 1972 May 2, 1973 May 2, 1973 Jan. 13, 1977 Oct. 5, 1978 Nov. 13, 1978 March 7, 1980 March 7, 1980 May 23, 1980 April 24, 1981 March 11, 1982 Feb. 16, 1983 Aug. 11, 1988 Sept. 14, 1990 Feb. 4, 1991 Jan. 18, 1997 Jan. 18, 1997 Feb. 9, 1997 March 6, 1997 June 1, 1997 June 18, 1997 April 15, 2000 Feb. 26, 2001 April 12, 2002 Aug. 19, 2003 Feb. 20, 2004 Aug. 23, 2005 Aug. 13, 2006 Feb. 27, 2007 May 17, 2007 Sept. 29, 2009 April 7, 2011 Sept. 10, 2011 June 7, 2012 Aug. 4, 2012 Jan. 25, 2015 Nov. 14, 2015 Dec. 16, 2015 July 10, 2015 July 10, 2015 July 27, 2015 June 29, 2016 Aug. 21, 2016
BERLIN  The organization that handles claims on behalf of Jews who suffered under the Nazis said that Germany has agreed to extend another $1.4 billion overall for Holocaust survivors around the globe for the coming year.

The compensation was negotiated with Germanys finance ministry and includes $888.9 million to provide home care and supportive services for frail and vulnerable Holocaust survivors.

Additionally, increases of $175 million to symbolic payments of the Hardship Fund Supplemental program have been achieved, impacting more than 128,000 Holocaust survivors globally, according to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference.

Every year these negotiations become more and more critical as this last generation of Holocaust survivors age and their needs increase, said Greg Schneider, the Claims Conferences executive vice president.

Being able to ensure direct payments to survivors in addition to the expansions to the social welfare services is essential in making sure every Holocaust survivor is taken care of for as long as it is required, addressing each individual need, Schneider added.

The Hardship Fund Supplemental payment was originally established to be a one-time payment, negotiated during the COVID-19 lockdowns and eventually resulted in three supplemental payments for eligible Holocaust survivors. This year, Germany again agreed to extend the hardship payment, which was set to end in December 2023, through 2027.

The amount for each of the additional years was set at approximately $1,370 per person for 2024, $1,425 for 2025, $1,480 for 2026 and $1,534 for 2027.

The survivors receiving these payments largely are Russian Jews who werent in camps or ghettos, and arent eligible for pension programs, the Claims Conference said.

As children they fled the so-called Einsatzgruppen  Nazi mobile killing units charged with murdering entire Jewish communities. More than 1 million Jews were killed by these units, which operated largely by shooting hundreds and thousands of Jews at a time and burying them in mass pits.

For those who were able to flee and survive  they are some of the poorest in the survivor community; the loss of time, family, property and life cannot be made whole, the group said.

By expanding payments to these survivors, the German government is acknowledging that this suffering is still being felt deeply, both emotionally and financially, the group said in a statement. While symbolic, these payments provide financial relief for many aging Jewish Holocaust survivors living around the world.

With the end of World War II now nearly eight decades ago, all living Holocaust survivors are elderly, and many suffer from numerous medical issues because they were deprived of proper nutrition when they were young.

As the number of survivors dwindles, the Claims Conference also negotiated continuing funding for Holocaust education, which has been extended for two more years and increased each year by $3.3 million. The newly negotiated funding amounts are approximately $41.6 million for 2026 and $45 million for 2027.

Since 1952, the German government has paid more than $90 billion to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis.

In 2023, the Claims Conference projects it will distribute hundreds of millions in compensation to more than 200,000 survivors in 83 countries and allocated more than $750 million in grants to more than 300 social service agencies worldwide that provide vital services for Holocaust survivors, such as home care, food and medicine.

It has been nearly 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, and the need to negotiate for survivor care and compensation is more urgent than ever, said Stuart Eizenstat, the special negotiator for the Claims Conference negotiations delegation.

Every negotiation is a near-last opportunity to ensure survivors of the Holocaust are receiving some measure of justice and a chance at the dignity that was taken from them in their youth. It will never be enough until the last survivor has taken their last breath, he added.

Photos: Preserving the silent witnesses to the Holocaust
Lawmakers are beginning to consider ways in which artificial intelligence systems are involved in inventive processes like discovery of new drugs, and how the use of such technologies affects what is, and is not, patentable.

The issue is fast becoming critical because U.S. law allows patents to be issued only to human inventors, whereas technologists and scientists are demonstrating that in some cases an artificial intelligence system is able to invent a new molecule or design a product that previously eluded humans.

Make no mistake, AI presents novel questions across a wide range of areas of intellectual property policy, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, said at a recent hearing.

Coons said the panel plans to hold a series of hearings to ensure that innovation generated by artificial intelligence systems remain in the United States, instead of incentivizing innovators to turn to other countries with more favorable laws to protect their AI-generated inventions.

At the June 7 hearing, Coons cited findings last month by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who used an artificial intelligence system to identify a new antibiotic. It was the first new antibiotic to be discovered since the 1980s, after scientists had abandoned the quest because of the time and expense of traditional processes, Coons said.

The MIT antibiotic kills a bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii that causes pneumonia and meningitis among hospital patients and was resistant to the current family of antibiotics. The new drug was identified from a library of nearly 7,000 drug compounds using a machine-learning model that they trained to evaluate whether a chemical compound will inhibit the growth of the bacteria that causes the infections, the university said in a statement.

Under current laws its not yet clear whether human scientists or AI systems can be considered inventors of the new molecule, and its a question the courts havent resolved either. In April, the Supreme Court declined to take up a case by computer scientist Stephen Thaler, who had sought a U.S. patent for a beverage holder and an emergency light beacon designed by his artificial intelligence system without any human input.

Thalers application was shot down by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because only humans can be inventors, and the decision was upheld by lower courts, prompting Thaler to seek intervention from the high court.

South Africa, however, offered a patent for the products with the artificial intelligence system listed as the inventor, according to the trade publication IPWatchdog. Thats the situation lawmakers fear, with innovation moving offshore.

Several experts who testified before the Senate Judiciary panel said U.S. law should recognize inventions made with the help of artificial intelligence systems, with humans being listed as inventors, but they differed on whether the law should be changed to allow an artificial intelligence system to be considered an inventor.

An artificial intelligence system may find a new molecule or design a product, but its not yet capable of recognizing and appreciating the invention, said Corey Salsberg, head of IP affairs at pharmaceutical giant Novartis.

The key point I think between invention and noninvention is an area of the law called its recognition and appreciation that is part and parcel of conception, Salsberg said. Only a conscious human who can recognize a new invention has that capability, Salsberg said. We dont believe that, at this point in time, even generative AI is recognizing anything that it is doing, he said.

Generative AI refers to ChatGPT and other systems that ingest a huge quantity of existing text and images and are capable of generating new text and images when prompted.

Although Novartis uses a generative AI tool called JAEGER to assist in generating new virtual molecules for treating malaria, what its doing is not equivalent to human inventorship, Salsberg said.

The tool had to be trained with about 20,000 examples of compounds and then told about three compounds that have anti-malarial properties to teach it how to design a molecule, Salsberg said.

Ryan Abbott, a professor at the University of Surrey in the U.K., and a partner at the law firm Brown Neri Smith & Khan LLP, told lawmakers that U.S. law must be amended to allow AI-generated inventions to be patentable.

Abbott, who represented Thaler in the case that the Supreme Court declined to hear, said allowing such inventions to be patented will provide encouragement to the use and development of inventive AI that will generate more socially valuable inventions.

Allowing such AI inventions to be patented would encourage the owners of these systems to disclose inventions rather than keep them as trade secrets, and it will encourage the investment needed to commercialize inventions, Abbott said.

Although human computer scientists may be involved in developing an artificial intelligence system, such an individual who merely develops an AI with problem-solving capabilities without specifically conceiving of a particular output, should not qualify as an inventor under U.S. law, Abbott said.

Computer scientists and programmers building an AI system are only analogous to a human inventors teachers, mentors and even parents, he said. And such teachers and mentors do not qualify as inventors on their patents  at least, not without directly contributing to the conception of a specific invention.

Between a purely human invention unaided by artificial intelligence and an invention generated by AI lies a spectrum of inventive behavior where a human and an AI system collaborate to varying degrees, said Laura Sheridan, head of patent policy at Google.

Google believes that only humans should be named as inventors and AI-generated inventions should not be issued a patent, Sheridan said.

In our view, current industry uses of AI are well within the zone where humans are properly named as the inventors and where AI is leveraged as a tool in the invention process, Sheridan said. We expect to remain in this zone for some time.
Increasing Republican turnout was a continuing theme Saturday throughout the Wisconsin Republican Convention, with an emphasis on Wisconsins role as a battleground state ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Wisconsin is not one of 50 states, people. Its one of five. Theres about five states that are going to decide this presidential election, Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming told the GOP crowd at the La Crosse Convention Center.

While Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson held off a challenge from Democrat Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in 2022, Wisconsin Democrats reelected Gov. Tony Evers. Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz won her Supreme Court seat by more than 10 percentage points in April, flipping the courts ideological majority.

Two-time Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin is seeking reelection for U.S. Senate.

No Republican challenger has officially announced a bid for Baldwins seat, though U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said he will soon make a decision about whether he would run, depending on work required by the judiciary committee.

I have to make sure Im doing my job as an elected representative of the 7th congressional district before deciding whether to take on the challenge of running against Tammy Baldwin, Tiffany said. But well probably make that decision in the next month and a half or so.

Other potential candidates include former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke and Madison businessman Eric Hovde.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, not present at the convention, announced earlier this week he would not run for Senate, opting to seek reelection in the 8th Congressional District.

Any statewide candidate, you got to be able to show that you can fund your campaign the day after that primary, Tiffany said. You got to compete in every corner; in particular, we cannot ignore Dane county.

Abortion restrictions

Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said that while Democrats are not taking the Wisconsin Senate race for granted, the GOPs stance on abortion puts them at a disadvantage in the state.

Republican candidates and office holders are playing leap frog to jump out further into the ultra-mega fringe. Theyve lost 15 of the last 18 statewide elections, theyre facing a messy and expensive primary with a weak field to take on Sen. Baldwin, said Wikler.

Abortion access  one of the defining issues of the April State Supreme Court race  is the 800 pound gorilla in the room, Johnson said.

The senator blamed media for negative public perception regarding the Republican Partys position on reproductive rights.

Delegates at the state convention went on to approve a resolution supporting the states 1849 abortion ban.

Speakers throughout Saturdays events argued low turnout drove judge Protasiewiczs State Supreme Court victory in April over conservative Dan Kelly, calling for increased mail-in and early voting by Republicans.

If every single Republican who voted in the presidential election voted for Dan Kelly, he would be a justice again, said 3rd Congressional District Rep. Derrick Van Orden during a panel discussion. She is a supreme court justice because of us.

Several speakers emphasized the need to increase Republican turnout through mail-in and early voting.

We cannot keep going into election day 200,000 votes down and expect to make it up in 13 hours, said Schimming.

Positions outlined

Non-binding resolutions passed by delegates at the convention included supporting the elimination of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a ban on partisan get-out-the-vote efforts and returning all elections to same-day, in-person voting.

After debate, delegates voted to table a resolution that would have endorsed stricter limits for university students to vote in Wisconsin.

Immigration and education were other top issues identified by state and federal legislators at the convention.

One of the reasons we didnt do as well as we should have, is the Republican Party did not use that issue as they should have, said 6th Congressional District Rep. Glenn Grothman.

Van Orden called for increased border enforcement while noting solutions should consider maintaining Wisconsins agricultural workforce.

State officeholders touted Republican educational policy, including promoting charter and voucher schools in the state budget and attacking diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the University of Wisconsin System.

This is probably to be the single most important issue that we are facing, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said about diversity, equity and inclusion during a panel discussion.

Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu also promoted reducing revenue to the state, tax cuts and limiting funding increases to police, fire, emergency medical services and roads.

The 2024 Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee.
Christine Blanton holds a portrait of her daughter, Derricka Patrick, while listening to speakers during annual Peace Rally and Stop the Violence March at the Faith Community of St. Sabina on June 16, 2023, in Chicago. Patrick, 29, was fatally shot on Jan. 12, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Before the start of St. Sabinas annual twilight community peace march on Friday, Christine Blanton spoke up for her slain child and she wasnt the only one.

A sea of hands and photographs of victims, like Blantons daughter, Derricka Patrick, rose into the air behind the Auburn Gresham church, prompted by rally speakers asking the crowd of more than 200 youngster and adults to raise their hands if theyd lost loved ones to gun violence.

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Blantons pregnant 29-year-old daughter, a popular and outgoing hairstylist, was shot and killed in her car in January 2022 in a still-unsolved slaying. Its too much killing going on, Blanton said. Its really senseless. We need to really do something about it.

[ Pregnant hairstylist, 29, who was always smiling fatally shot in Park Manor. She didnt deserve this, her mother says ]

Blanton was among numerous other mothers who attended the march through the community, with a message that organizers also hoped would extend to the rest of the summer and beyond: A gun is not the answer.

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Among the marchers led by longtime senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Pfleger were local stars, Grammy Award winning poet, J. Ivy and rapper G Herbo. They were joined by Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt, and aldermen, David Moore, 17th, and Ronnie Mosley, 21st, as well as community groups.

The evenings guests spoke of the pervasive gun violence and the trauma it can inflict across the community, but urged solidarity to battle the problem.

Weve all felt it, said J. Ivy, who said he lost a brother to gun violence when he was 13 years old. We all have that story, but its a story that needs to end. Theres so much love in this city, so that story, that part of the story, it needs to end.

The rapper and South Side native born Herbert Wright III, was among those who raised their hands.

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A lot of times, we dont think that we can endure a lot of this pain, a lot of this trauma and a lot of these everyday things that we experience, but we can endure these things because youre strong enough to endure these things, and God put us on this earth to endure these things, he said.

To help curb violence, Pfleger pledged that he and members of his church would be out here every single Friday evening organizing and marching around the city throughout the summer when an uptick in violence is most expected.

Our children are becoming endangered species, and we must stop the madness, Pfleger said.

Following the rally, a roughly hour long march moved west on 79th Street, the crowd moving to a miniature drum line and worship music blaring from speakers leading the way.

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The march stopped at 79th Street and Ashland Avenue, where a 69-year-old woman was killed last month. Pfleger told the group the answer to stopping violence was not to fear going out worried that something will happen but rather showing up in the streets and walk the walk as a community, creating fear within the people with guns instead.

Pfleger added: If we are out, let those who want to do wrong be afraid of us.

sahmad@chicagotribune.com
WASHINGTON  Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

Along with roll call votes this week, the Senate also confirmed the nomination of Stephen Eberle to be U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania for a four-year term; and adopted a resolution (S. Res. 252), celebrating the 246th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. flag and supporting the Pledge of Allegiance.

HOUSE VOTES

House Vote 1

MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMACY: The House has passed the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act (H.R. 3099), sponsored by Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., to create at the State Department the role of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, who would seek to expand and strengthen Israel's relations with neighboring and overseas Muslim-majority countries. Lawler said: "Having a point person at the State Department is key to ensuring the Accords maintain a priority in this administration and all future administrations." The vote, on June 13, was 413 yeas to 13 nays.

NOT VOTING: Finstad R-MN (1st)

YEAS: Emmer R-MN (6th), Craig D-MN (2nd), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th), Phillips D-MN (3rd)

NAYS: McCollum D-MN (4th), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 2:

REGULATING FIREARM STABILIZING BRACES: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 44), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) rule issued this January that regulates stabilizing braces used to enable shooting a pistol from the shoulder. Clyde said allowing the rule to remain in force would put law-abiding gun owners in danger of large fines and prison sentences as penalties for failing to register their braced guns with the ATF. A resolution opponent, Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., said it "makes it easier for the next mass shooter to kill more people." The vote, on June 13, was 219 yeas to 210 nays.

NOT VOTING: Finstad R-MN (1st)

YEAS: Emmer R-MN (6th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 3:

D.C. CRIME POLICIES VETO: The House has failed to override President Biden's veto of a resolution (H.J. Res 42), sponsored by Rep. Andrew S. Clyde, R-Ga., to disapprove of and void the Washington, D.C., Council's adoption of a law changing policing policies for D.C. police officers. Clyde said the action was necessary because "the D.C. Council's misguided legislation has driven out men and women in blue who protect us, while disincentivizing individuals to join the force." An opponent, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., called the measure "a profoundly undemocratic, paternalistic resolution" in its move to have actions by locally elected politicians in D.C. overridden by Congress. The vote, on June 13, was 233 yeas to 197 nays, with a two-thirds majority to override the veto.

NOT VOTING: Finstad R-MN (1st)

YEAS: Emmer R-MN (6th), Craig D-MN (2nd), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 4:

NATURAL GAS STOVES: The House has passed the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act (H.R. 1615), sponsored by Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., to bar funding for actions by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to deem natural gas-fueled stoves a hazardous, banned product, or to issue regulations that significantly increase the cost of the stoves. Armstrong cited indications from the Commission that it "would consider substantial regulatory actions on gas stoves categorically" as part of what Armstrong called "a green climate agenda with the goal to further restrict natural gas." A bill opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said it would prevent the Commission from adopting "a safety standard that has any possibility of leading to a ban of some type of gas stove." The vote, on June 13, was 248 yeas to 180 nays.

NOT VOTING: Finstad R-MN (1st)

YEAS: Emmer R-MN (6th), Craig D-MN (2nd), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 5:

RUSSIA DETENTION OF U.S. CITIZENS: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 377), sponsored by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, calling for Russia to immediately release Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal held since late March 2023, and the release of several other U.S. citizens detained in Russia and other countries. McCaul said that with the resolution, "We send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that America, Republicans and Democrats alike, will not tolerate his corrupt regime holding U.S. citizens hostage under false pretenses." The vote, on June 13, was unanimous with 422 yeas.

NOT VOTING: Finstad R-MN (1st)

YEAS: Emmer R-MN (6th), Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 6:

VACCINATION MANDATES: The House has approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 277), that would include measures likely to result in mandatory vaccinations in the bill's definition of "major rule." Roy said: "We should stand up to the tyranny of an executive branch that overstepped its bounds and restricted the freedom and liberties of the American people and harmed them" with Covid vaccination requirements. An amendment opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said it "would just serve to undermine necessary health and safety rules." The vote, on June 14, was 219 yeas to 217 nays.

YEAS: Finstad R-MN (1st), Emmer R-MN (6th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 7:

FEDERAL REGULATIONS: The House has passed the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 277), sponsored by Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., to require approval from Congress before any major rule from a federal agency can take effect, with "major" defined as a rule likely to have at least a $100 million annual impact or a significant impact on the U.S. economy. Cammack called the bill a way for "Congress to reassert its role by placing new checks on the regulatory actions and the regulatory regime that negatively impact Americans in all walks of life across the country." An opponent, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said: "This legislation is just the latest effort by Republicans to dismantle and destroy the regulatory process, a process that protects our health and safety each and every day." The vote, on June 14, was 221 yeas to 210 nays.

YEAS: Finstad R-MN (1st), Emmer R-MN (6th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 8:

REGULATING ENERGY USED IN COOKING: The House has passed the Save Our Gas Stoves Act (H.R. 1640), sponsored by Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., to bar the Energy Department from establishing regulations that would make unavailable stoves and ovens that use natural gas or another specific type of fuel, and bar it from adopting its proposed rule to establish energy efficiency standards for stoves and ovens. Lesko said the proposed rule "would effectively eliminate nearly all gas stoves and gas cooktops on the market today" by making the vast majority of cooktops out of compliance with the efficiency standards. An opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said the rule "would lower energy bills, improve Americans' health, and cut pollution," without significantly restricting cooktop availability. The vote, on June 14, was 249 yeas to 181 nays.

YEAS: Finstad R-MN (1st), Emmer R-MN (6th), Craig D-MN (2nd), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 9:

CENSURING REPRESENTATIVE: The House has approved a motion to table a resolution (H. Res. 489), sponsored by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., that would have censured Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for falsely claiming there was evidence of President Trump colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election and become president. The vote to table, on June 14, was 225 yeas to 196 nays, with 7 voting present.

NAYS: Finstad R-MN (1st), Emmer R-MN (6th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

YEAS: Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

House Vote 10:

REGULATORY AGENCY POWERS: The House has passed the Separation of Powers Restoration Act (H.R. 288), sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. The bill would expand the authority of courts to review a federal agency's regulations and other actions by removing deference to the agency's own interpretation of the laws under which it acts. Fitzgerald said: "Since 1984 when the Supreme Court ruled that courts must defer to an agency's interpretation of an ambiguous statute rather than what Congress intended, the executive branch has begun usurping the legislative branch to issue regulations with the force of law." A bill opponent, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said: "If passed, federal agencies would have a harder time protecting Americans from threats to our health, safety, and our well-being." The vote, on June 15, was 220 yeas to 211 nays.

YEAS: Finstad R-MN (1st), Emmer R-MN (6th), Stauber R-MN (8th), Fischbach R-MN (7th)

NAYS: Craig D-MN (2nd), McCollum D-MN (4th), Phillips D-MN (3rd), Omar D-MN (5th)

SENATE VOTES:

Senate Vote 1:

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Elizabeth Allen to be the State Department's Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Allen was a communications official in the Obama administration throughout its eight years, then became a partner at a private communications and public affairs business. A supporter, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called Allen "a highly quality professional with a distinguished career and extensive experience in both public and private sectors." The vote, on June 13, was 66 yeas to 33 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Senate Vote 2:

CALIFORNIA JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Hernan D. Vera to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2020, Vera was previously a senior attorney at several law firms, including Public Counsel. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said: "Judge Vera has extensive litigation experience and a proven track record of independent decisionmaking on the bench." An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said: "Throughout his legal career, Mr. Vera has made no effort to hide his willingness to pick progressive activism over the rule of law." The vote, on June 13, was 51 yeas to 48 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Senate Vote 3:

ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Jared Bernstein to chair the Council of Economic Advisors to the White House. A member of the Council since 2021, Bernstein previously was a fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for a decade, and before that was a social welfare official at various think tanks and government agencies. A supporter, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said Bernstein "has devoted his career to working on economic policies that ensure growth reaches all Americans, fighting to make our economy fairer." An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Bernstein "can more accurately claim expertise in partisan warfare than economics" given his lack of an economics Ph.D., and said Bernstein would support policies that damage the U.S. economy. The vote, on June 13, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Senate Vote 4:

SECOND CALIFORNIA JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of P. Casey Pitts to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Pitts has been a lawyer at a San Francisco law firm since 2010, with a focus on labor law. A supporter, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said: "His life experience, his credentials, and his record of fighting for the American people will no doubt make him a phenomenal jurist." The vote, on June 14, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Senate Vote 5:

NEW YORK JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dale E. Ho to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ho has been an official at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), focused on voting legislation and policies, since 2013; previously, he was a private practice lawyer and lawyer at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called Ho "a highly skilled litigator who has experience in complex civil litigation and has a significant appellate practice." The vote, on June 14, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Senate Vote 6:

SECOND NEW YORK JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Choudhury has been an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer and official since 2009, most recently as its legal director in Illinois. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., praised "her courtroom experience and commitment to ensuring equal justice under law." An opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Choudhury "has made statements ranging from reckless suggestions that crimes like theft do not threaten public safety to false and inflammatory assertions that police kill black men 'every day' in America." The vote, on June 15, was 50 yeas to 49 nays.

YEAS: Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN
In an image taken from dashcam video provided by the Chicago Police Department, Laquan McDonald, right, walks down the street moments before being fatally shot. (Chicago Police Department)

The needless, tragic murder of Laquan McDonald, a Black teen, by a white Chicago police officer in 2014 put the citys Police Department, and the need to reform it, in the national spotlight. McDonalds death was a driving force behind the federally mandated consent decree that requires the Chicago Police Department to overhaul its training, supervision and accountability.

Since then, however, that national spotlight has faded. Unfortunately, also fading fast is the citys drive to earnestly and expeditiously carry out the consent decrees reforms, said Joe Ferguson, the citys former inspector general.

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The Tribune reports that in a June 5 letter appearing in a federal court filing, Ferguson painted a bleak portrait of the citys commitment to bringing meaningful, lasting change to a department that has seen trust from the communities it serves ebb year after year.

Consent Decree implementation and monitoring is a faltering undertaking both in substantive accomplishment and in transparency, Ferguson wrote. In the absence of a hard methodological and operational reset, I believe the Consent Decree is at high risk of failing to achieve its objectives.

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Ferguson was the citys inspector general from 2009 to 2021. Hes a trusted voice when it comes to unvarnished assessments of whats awry with how the citys being run. Hes also a potential candidate for Cook County states attorney in 2024, and while he may be trying to ratchet up his own visibility with voters, were not bothered by that. His message needs to be heard.

Fergusons correct when he says progress with the consent decree has been unacceptably slow. Maggie Hickey, the independent monitor assigned by the federal court to evaluate the citys progress with the consent decree, has consistently cited the citys failure to meet implementation deadlines.

It took years for the department to put in place a permanent foot pursuit policy, even though the consent decree, enacted in early 2019, demanded it. CPD established the policy only after withering criticism about police shooting deaths during foot chases, most notably the tragic killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a Chicago police officer in 2021.

Ferguson takes aim not just at City Hall and CPD, but also at Hickey, calling on her to be far more public in her assessments of consent decree progress. Beyond voluminous technical reports, the (Independent Monitor Team) must be charged with conducting its work and exercising voice in a far more regular and public way than has been the case these last four plus years, Ferguson wrote.

From our vantage point, Hickey has performed ably. She doesnt pull punches, and her evaluations of CPD implementation of the consent decree are comprehensive and fair. Moreover, the consent decree essentially bars Hickey and her team from making public statements.

But we agree that visibility by the Independent Monitor Team is crucial to CPDs mission to reform and to be seen to be doing so. It can be done without stepping outside the boundaries of the consent decree.

Hickeys team has a website that posts periodic reports on CPDs progress toward consent decree compliance. Those are helpful, but far more frequent updates on consent decree work  in reader-friendly form  would be even more useful for Chicagoans, who otherwise may be oblivious to Hickeys work. Hickeys team also has conducted community surveys on the Police Department and the consent decree. Again, thats useful, but it seems theres more room for stronger engagement between the Independent Monitoring Team and communities, perhaps via a series of public hearings or town halls.

But its CPD and City Hall  and not Hickey  that are tasked with consent decree implementation, and doing so at the proper pace.

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We will watch closely how much of a commitment Mayor Brandon Johnson makes toward consent decree adherence. That effort starts with hiring a police superintendent who will embrace the consent decree as a genuine bridge toward community trust-building rather than just a bureaucratic box to check. And it starts with CPD ensuring that it has the needed personnel and resources to carry out reforms.

Recently, thats been far from the case. The last person in charge of reform efforts, Tina Skahill, submitted her resignation earlier this month. Her predecessor, Robert Boik, was fired by former police Superintendent David Brown after he questioned Browns decision to divert to patrol duty several dozen members of his police reform office.

Ferguson said in his letter: For meaningful reform to reach critical mass, the city must be prodded  repeatedly and publicly.

Fine, well be glad to prod.

City Halls motivation for implementing the consent decree shouldnt just come from the fact that its court-mandated. Johnson and the rest of the city just experienced an election in which public safety was the No. 1 concern on the minds of voters. The challenge that violent crime poses to Chicago is existential. People will continue to leave in alarming numbers as long as they fear a stray bullet will hit their kids in the front yard, or on the school playground.

Other cities have experienced what happens when police departments trample on civil rights and rely on brutality to keep order. The Justice Department on Friday released a scathing report on the Minneapolis police force, laying out a longstanding pattern of discrimination and abuses that served as a precursor to the murder of George Floyd in 2021. Its a damning account of years-long police misconduct in Minneapolis, one with which Chicagoans can certainly identify.

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Police reform isnt a cure-all, but its a critical component to the fix. When communities trust law enforcement, cooperation from Chicagoans improves  and crime goes down. But reforms can only take root if the citys commitment to the consent decree is genuine and enduring.

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.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY JUNE 18, 2023

Wall Streets Nightmare Is Coming to Life

June 17, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was the venue for the 10th Arab-China Business Conference last Tuesday, June 13, where the new president of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), Dilma Rousseff, asserted that there is a process underway in the so-called Global South towards reshaping the global economy and reducing dependency on a single currency. She noted that this initiative requires cooperation among countries, financial institutions and collaborative policies and organizations such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the New Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, to give a few examples.

Three days earlier, on June 10, Rousseff had been even more explicit in a discussion with the visiting President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro: NDBs strategic goal is to become the leading bank for emerging markets and developing countries, and with the expansion of its membership, NDB aims to bolster its role as a platform for wider collaboration between developing countries.

There is, in fact, a new international development architecture taking shape, for which the upcoming August 22-24 summit of the BRICS nations in Johannesburg, South Africa could well be a decisive inflection point. It is the emerging paradigm of a new system that is putting the City of London and Wall Street out of business. And it is the demise of that system which is the cause of the continuing grave escalation in the Ukraine theater, with an attendant very real danger of thermonuclear war.

The NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on June 15-16, putting the finishing touches on their plans for the NATO summit on July 11-12 in Vilnius, Lithuania. At that meeting, Kiev will be inducted as a de facto member of NATOalthough not yet a full, de jure one. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin variously announced Ukraines growing interoperability with all NATO systems; the fact that 300,000 NATO troops are in high readiness; and the establishment of a NATO-Ukraine Council which will make Kiev co-equal in all NATOs decisions, and which will hold its first meeting right then and there in Vilnius.

With the U.K. in the lead, NATO continues to pump increasingly sophisticated arms into Kiev, the latest being American F16 jets. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that if those F16s are stationed at air bases in neighboring countries, we will need to look at how and where we can hit those assets used in combat operations against us. This is a serious danger of further dragging NATO into this armed conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that those F16s are nuclear-capable, and announced that if they are deployed, a military-technical response will follow.

But do not make the mistake of evaluating these developments, or the war in general, based on the hardware each side is deploying in the Ukrainian theater. The hardware is only the vehicle for the broader, far more dangerous stated strategic objective of London and Washington policymakers to deliberately force Russia to choose between engaging in a nuclear conflict with the West, or capitulation under that threat.

That is the context for the shocking, open discussion of the supposed pros and cons of Russia launching a first nuclear strike against one or various nations of Europe which has now broken out in a major way in the Russian media. Professor Sergey Karaganov, a former presidential adviser to both Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, who is now head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a noted Moscow think tank, published an article headlined By Using Its Nuclear Weapons, Russia Could Save Humanity from a Global Catastrophe, which was reprinted one June 14 in full by English-language RT. In it, Karaganov argues that the crisis has reached the point where a preemptive Russian nuclear strike against one, or a number of European nations is called for.

Karaganov was answered on June 16 by fellow Council on Foreign and Defense Policy member Ilya Fabrichnikov, who published a rejoinder in RT headlined: Why I Disagree with the Call for Russia To Use Its Nuclear Weapons against the West. Fabrichnikov argued bluntly: Sergey Karaganovs call for a preemptive strike has unleashed a major debate, but I dont agree that we should take NATOs bait.

President Putin himself weighed in on the matter in June 16 in the open discussion at the plenary session yesterday of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Everyone is just waiting for us to start pressing buttons. There is no such need, this is the first consideration. There is no such need. Because the enemy on the front line is not successful, thats the whole point. When asked about the likelihood of using such weapons, Putin stated: Why should we threaten the whole world?... I have already said that the use of extreme measures is possible in case there is a danger to Russian statehood.

Whether or not the Karaganov/Fabrichnikov exchange reflects an actual policy debate underway in Russia, or if it is rather intended as a warning to the West that they are playing with fire, either way the danger is extreme, and the possibility of the outbreak of nuclear war at any moment is real.

The first step to finding and implementing a solution to this species-ending threat, is to recognize how close we are to actual nuclear war. Do not delude yourself with the self-consoling: But they will never let it happen!

Armed with that understanding, the solution then lies in organizing sufficient forces internationally to construct an entirely new global architecture which ensures the right to security and economic development of each and every nation on the planetan order which is in the interest of the United States and Russia and China, of Europe and the impoverished nations of the Global South.

This requires the kind of approach outlined by John F. Kennedy in his June 10, 1963 American University speech, which is why that presentation deserves the widest possible viewing in all nations. And above all it is the kind of new world economic order which Lyndon LaRouche designed and promoted throughout his lifewhich is why you would be wise to quickly join in the organizing activities of Helga Zepp-LaRouches Schiller Institute.
NATO Vilnius Summit: Ukraine Will Join the Fold

June 17, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Yesterdays NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels set down the final stones to the alliances summit in Vilnius on July 11-12. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in a press conference following the meeting, addressed the central issue of Ukraines emerging relationship to NATO. We also discussed the way forward for Ukraine, which consists of three elements, Stoltenberg reported. One is to move Ukraine closer to NATO in practical terms, he went on, describing whats called a Comprehensive Assistance Package, to help Ukraine move from Soviet-era standards, doctrines, equipment, to NATO standards, doctrine and equipment, and to be fully interoperable with NATO.

Second, theres the political element of finalizing the formation of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will make the Kiev regime co-equal to the alliances other 31 members. Our ambition is to have the first meeting of the new Council in Vilnius, with [Ukrainian] President Zelenskyy, Stoltenberg remarked.

Then theres the matter of Ukraines formal membership in NATO. Were not going to discuss an invitation at the Vilnius Summit, but how we can move Ukraine closer to NATO, he said. And Im confident that we will find a good solution and consensus at the Vilnius Summit on how to be able to move Ukraine closer to NATO. The Washington Post had reported the day before, that, when he was in Washington, Stoltenberg had found support at the White House for a plan he proposed to bring Ukraine closer to NATO without going through a Membership Action Plan, in effect making Ukraine a NATO member de facto, if not de jure.

Stoltenberg also reviewed other features of the upcoming Vilnius summit. For the first time since the Cold War, we are fully connecting the planning for our collective defense with the planning for our forces, capabilities, and command and control as well as an enhanced exercise program for our troops, he said. As a result, NATO will have over 300,000 troops on high readiness, backed by substantial air and maritime capabilities, to defend every inch of Allied territory against any threat.

We also agreed on a new rotational model for air and missile defense, he continued. It will ensure that resources are used in the most effective way and that we can transition smoothly from air policing to air defense.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a separate press conference, also focused on what to expect from the Vilnius summit.

In Vilnius, NATO will have the opportunity to expand its practical, nonlethal (sic) support for Ukraines current fight, and that will also be a chance to lay the foundations for modernizing and reforming Ukraines defense institutions and making the transition to NATO-standard equipment,

he said. He also promised that the leaders will agree to the new defense spending pledge, that 2% of GDP will be a floor, not a ceiling.

Now all of this work is part of the fundamental shift in collective defense and deterrence that NATOs leaders agreed on at the Madrid Summit last year, Austin droned on. Our updated defense plans will place more forces at higher levels of readiness, and that will deter aggression and allow us to respond more quickly to any challenge to our collective security. This also includes adapting NATOs deterrence posture to our shifting threat environment and deepening the alliances relationships with its partners in the Indo-PacificNATOs new front.
VOA Learning English presents Americas Presidents.

Today we are continuing our story about Abraham Lincoln.

He led the United States during the Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865. In that conflict, the Southern Confederacy battled the Union  the states that supported the federal government.

Southern states wanted to make their own laws, including those that protected slavery. They were afraid that President Lincoln would use the power of the federal government to ban slavery in their states, as well as in other areas.

So 11 Southern states withdrew from the rest of the country. They stopped recognizing the power of the central government.

President Lincoln did not think states had the right to withdraw. He said he was fighting to reunite the country.

But in time, he accepted that the Civil War would also be a fight to end slavery.

Commander-in-chief

Lincoln is known for several qualities as a wartime president. One was how he led the military campaign.

As president, Lincoln worked with top military officials to create a plan. They realized that the Union had more resources and more men who could fight than the Confederate forces. So, they planned to surround the Southern states, cut off their supplies, and prevent foreign powers from helping the Confederacy.

Lincoln hoped the Unions generals could execute the plan quickly and end the war as soon as possible.

But the generals were guarded. They did not want to harm their soldiers if they did not have to. They also knew the Confederacy had a skilled commander in General Robert E. Lee.

Troops under another Confederate general, Thomas Stonewall Jackson, also defeated the Union army in several early battles.

Lincoln was frustrated with the war effort. He wanted generals who would not only win battles, but chase after the opposing forces and destroy them so they could not fight again.

In one famous telegram, he wrote to his top general, George McClellan. Lincoln said, If General McClellan does not want to use the Army, I would like to borrow it for a time

Finally, Lincoln replaced McClellan. Then he replaced McClellans replacements.

Executive power

Lincoln changed the presidency by being actively involved as a commander-in-chief of the military. He also greatly expanded the powers of the chief executive.

Lincoln believed that, during war, the president had powers that were greater than those of Congress and the Supreme Court. As a result, he took many actions that critics  and even some supporters  considered illegal under the U.S. Constitution.

For example, Lincoln spent millions of dollars in federal money without getting permission from Congress. He also limited freedom of the press, restricted mail service, and declared martial law in some places, even when the situation did not require military action.

Most notably, Lincoln temporarily suspended the writ of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus is an important right in the American legal tradition. It means that people who are under arrest have the right to appear personally in court.

But, at some periods, Lincoln ignored that right.

He said the Confederacys rebellion justified his actions. And, he said, extreme measures were necessary to re-unite the country.

Emancipation Proclamation

One of Lincolns most important legacies relates to slavery. The issue was at the heart of the American Civil War.

For most of his career, Lincoln spoke against slavery. But he did not try to bar the custom in states where it already existed. He agreed to leave slavery in the South alone.

Lincoln also did not really believe in racial equality. And he worried that if slavery ended in the United States, blacks and whites would not be able to live peacefully together.

But as the war continued, Lincoln changed his mind about how to deal with the issue.

For one thing, anti-slavery activists were urging Lincoln to end slavery for moral reasons.

Lincoln also considered tactical reasons -- those related to the war.

He saw that enslaved people in the South were escaping to join Union armies in the North. Their actions helped the Union effort.

Lincoln also wanted to prevent England or France from helping the South. The Southern states were important trading partners for Europe. But the English and French people had rejected slavery. Lincoln hoped that if the Union also rejected slavery, European countries would support the North  or at least not support the South.

So Lincoln waited until the Union won a major battle in Antietam, Maryland. Then he announced that he was using his power as a wartime president to order the end of slavery in the Confederate states.

He produced a document called the Emancipation Proclamation. It said that enslaved people in the rebelling states were forever free.

Historians note that the act was important and revolutionary. But it was mostly symbolic. The federal government was not able to enforce the order at the time. And it did not deal with enslaved people in other areas.

But the Emancipation Proclamation was the beginning of the end of legal slavery in the country. During the rest of his presidency, Lincoln worked in support of an anti-slavery amendment to the Constitution. That amendment  the Thirteenth  was approved in 1865. It officially outlawed slavery across the country.

Next week we will finish the story of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Im Kelly Jean Kelly.

Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Quiz - America's Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (Part Two) Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

resources - n. a supply of something (such as money) that someone has and can use when it is needed

frustrated - adj. very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete something

martial law - adj. control of an area by military forces rather than by the police

legacies - n. things that come from someone in the past

symbolic - adj. expressing or representing an idea or quality
Electric vehicles made by General Motors (GM) will be able to use much of Teslas charging network in the United States beginning early next year.

GM will also begin using Teslas connector, the device that connects an electric vehicle to a charging station.

GM joins Ford in changing its electric vehicles (EVs) to work with about 12,000 of Teslas 17,000 chargers. The two big American automakers are pushing to make Teslas connector the most widely used in the industry. GM CEO Mary Barra and Teslas CEO, Elon Musk, made the announcement recently during a Twitter Spaces discussion.

In May, Ford CEO Jim Farley joined Musk to announce that Fords electric vehicles would be able to use much of Teslas charging network. Teslas system of electric charging stations is the largest in the nation. Farley said Ford would switch to Teslas connector instead of going with the connector used by the rest of the industry.

At first, GM and Ford EV owners will need an additional device, an adaptor, to be able use the Tesla stations, which have their own connector. But 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. The U.S. Department of Energy says there are about 54,000 public charging stations in the U.S. But many of the public stations 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. Teslas connector is different from the CCS connector used on most other electric vehicles.

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, but GM spokesman Darryll Harrison said GM is not paying Tesla.

There are other opportunities both companies can take advantage of as a result of the agreement, Harrison said.

Details of the deal are still being worked out. GM EV owners may have to pay a monthly payment to use Teslas charging network, or they could pay for each use. Current GM owners probably will need to buy the adapter, Harrison said.

Teslas charging network is a huge competitive advantage for the company based in Austin, Texas. Tesla sells more EVs than any other company in the U.S.

Chargers often are near major roads making it easier to go on long trips, where most fast-charging plugs are needed.

But permitting EVs from GM and Ford to use Tesla stations will make it easier for their owners to charge while traveling. The deal also could affect some Tesla owners who already are competing for space at some of the busier Supercharger stations that are mostly in California.

Barra said joining Teslas network would almost double the number of chargers available to GM electric vehicle owners.

Mike Austin, an electric vehicles expert for Guidehouse Insights, said GM joining the Tesla network is a step toward making Teslas connector the most widely used in the industry.

It seems like theres a lot of momentum going the way of the North American Charging Standard, for sure, he said.

Im John Russell.

Tom Krisher reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

access  n. a way of being able to use something

advance  n. progress in the development or improvement of something

take advantage of  expression to make good use of (something)

adapter  n. a device that is used to connect two pieces of equipment that were not designed to be connected

momentum  n. the force that allows something to grow stronger or faster as time passes
The port at Long Beach, California is one of the busiest in the United States. Its owners are making changes to the equipment used to move containers from ships and around the port.

The U.S. government is paying for some of the changes. The company wants to buy electric work vehicles and automated machinery. The goal is to reduce the production of carbon gases and improve performance at the port. But the workers are concerned about keeping their jobs.

Anthony Otto works for the Australian company Macquarie. It purchased the port in 2019. Otto is the ports chief executive.

Macquarie started a port electrification project. Its goal was to make the port more effective and to use less power. The electrification project meant a lot of the equipment is to run on power from the states electricity grid and not from motors that run on fuel.

Otto said the Long Beach ports performance improved in 2022. It moved three times the cargo compared to 2019 and created 90 percent less carbon gases.

The people who work there direct self-driving machines to move heavy containers. Others use hand-held controls to move containers on and off ships and trains with robots. Sensors in the pavement help small vehicles and large trucks move through the port area.

Otto said truckers spent less time last year waiting to pick up or drop off containers. That also reduced pollution from diesel fuel engines.

But port workers, who are part of a labor organization, worry that robots, self-driving vehicles, and electrification will cost them their jobs.

Otto said even if some traditional jobs for port workers are gone, new technology has created other jobs. But in a discussion with the Reuters news agency, he would not discuss the job cuts. He did say, however, that the company spends more money on worker salaries than before.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says transportation, which includes work at ports, is one of the nations biggest producers of carbon gases. Those gases have been linked to warming of the Earths atmosphere. Making more ports electric would reduce the number of large diesel engines that release carbon gases. Also, with electrification, more jobs can be automated.

However, some reports say automation reduces jobs. One labor group that represents port workers in California said in 2020 and 2021, the Long Beach port lost almost 400 jobs that would have existed had it not been automated.

The next step in the process at Long Beach is to use $30 million to buy large electric vehicles that can move heavy containers. The money comes from the U.S. government. The port received the money based on a plan to release no carbon emissions by 2030.

The government money comes with a requirement that the new equipment cannot result in a loss of total jobs or reduce the quality of the jobs. The port workers hope the company that runs the port follows those rules.

The Pacific Maritime Association is a non-profit industry group. In a report, it said the number of hours paid to workers at Long Beach and another port in Los Angeles increased by over 30 percent from 2015 to 2021. That was during the period of automation at Long Beach.

Even as port operators look to automate more jobs, two independent reports said that might not be the best idea. One of the reports, by business advisor McKinsey and Co., found that automated ports are not more productive than ports with mainly human workers. That is because when the automated ports get busy, they cannot call in extra workers.

Jaime Hipsher is a member of the workers group. She said her father worked at the ports but lost his job. He worked at a coal processing center. Hipsher said a change in the way ports use energy resulted in some job losses, and she is worried about more losses because of electrification.

She said, often electrification is connected with automation. Hipsher added, "That isn't necessarily the way electrification needs to go."

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story by Reuters.

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Words in This Story

grid n. the network of power lines and stations that send electricity to users like businesses, factories and homes

cargo n. loads of products or goods that are carried by boats, planes, trains or other vehicles to be delivered to whoever ordered them

salary n. the money paid to a worker for their labor

automated adj. using robots and machines rather than people to get work done

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Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan is one of the worlds largest carmakers. The company has faced criticism for being slow to develop electric vehicles (EVs).

This week, Toyota announced that it had reached a "technological breakthrough" in the development of solid-state batteries. The company said it has overcome an issue with the durability of solid-state batteries. It said it is ready to move from research toward production.

The carmaker told investors it expects to sell vehicles powered by solid-state batteries by 2027 or 2028.

Solid-state batteries

Solid-state batteries use thin layers of solid electrolytes that carry lithium ions between electrodes. The lithium-ion batteries currently used in EVs use liquid electrolytes.

Solid-state batteries have been used in small electronic devices like pacemakers and smartwatches. But mass-market production of the batteries for EVs has developed more slowly.

Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than liquid lithium-ion batteries. The gain could ease concerns about the limited distance an EV can travel.

A Reuters study in March found that 35 percent of Americans wanted EVs that can travel more than 800 kilometers between charges. That is a distance few currently offer.

Solid-state batteries also promise to reduce charging time. Toyota said it expects its solid-state battery would have a charging time of 10 minutes or less.

There is also the issue of safety. The electrolyte in liquid lithium-ion batteries presents a risk of fire or chemical leaks.

Companies working on solid-state batteries

Several carmakers and technology companies have tested solid-state batteries for EVs. But they have been unable so far to produce them in large amounts.

It is hard to design a solid electrolyte that is stable and still carries lithium ions between electrodes. Solid-state batteries do not last long and are much more costly to make than liquid lithium-ion batteries.

Other major carmakers have also noted their efforts in producing solid-state batteries.

Nissan Motor of Japan was the first automaker to launch a mass-market EV with its Leaf. It says it is developing solid-state batteries and is working toward mass production by 2028.

Honda is also developing solid-state batteries. But the Japanese carmaker has not said when the batteries might be ready for production.

QuantumScape is an American company backed by Bill Gates and Volkswagen of Germany. It has said it is working with six carmakers to develop the technology.

Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and TotalEnergies have an agreement to develop solid-state batteries with Taiwan-based battery maker ProLogium Technology.

Ford, BMW and Hyundai Motor have invested in Solid Power, which is producing sample batteries. Hyundai has said it plans to mass-produce solid-state batteries by 2030.

The EV market leader, Tesla, has not detailed solid-state battery development plans. The company said it has centered its efforts on the production of more powerful 4680 battery cells for its Cybertruck and other vehicles.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from Reuters.

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Words in This Story

breakthrough - n. a sudden, important success

battery - n. device placed inside a machine, such as watch and car, to supply electricity

durability - n. state of strength and good condition over a long period of time

electrolyte - n. a liquid (in a battery) through which electricity can pass

electrode - n. one of the two points through which electricity flows into or out

charge - n. an amount of electricity

stable - adj. not easily changed or moved

sample - n. a small amount that gives you information about something
At a recent International Energy Agency conference in Paris, government and business leaders said the world is making progress on clean energy projects.

However, the worlds energy demands keep growing. The leaders said there is an urgent need for investment in green energy and making better use of already existing energy.

So, how are U.S. universities preparing their students to work on renewable energy projects?

VOA Learning English recently visited with students in the ThinkEnergy Fellowship at Case Western Reserve Universitys Great Lakes Energy Institute. The university, known as CWRU, is in Cleveland, Ohio.

The students spent one year learning from energy experts and working on a final project where they presented an energy business pitch to their classmates and advisers.

Students receive money for being in the program, too, up to $10,000 for Ph.D. students. The money helps pay for school but also is supposed to be used as seed money for a business idea.

Who are the students?

The fellowship started in 2015. Each year, the program accepts 10 to 15 students at all stages of their academic careers.

Derin Fasipe is among the fellows. He is working on an advanced degree in biotechnology. He is also working to start a sustainable energy business.

Fellow Molly Egan will soon start her fourth year at CWRU. She studies chemical engineering and has an interest in wind energy.

And, fellow Natasha Rouse recently completed her Ph.D. studies. She will continue working on mechanical engineering, robotics and machine learning projects.

What is the goal of the fellowship?

Jonathan Steirer is the programs operations manager. He said the goal is for students to incubate an idea and turn it into a business.

Non-science students, such as those studying business and arts can also apply.

When students from different academic backgrounds work together, Steirer said, a business student can learn a little about engineering and an engineer can learn about writing a business plan.

At the end of the program, Steirer said, some students find a new study path that leads them to a career in energy.

What projects did the students pitch at the end of the year?

One group proposed a less-costly hydrogen power business called Nu-H2. The group looked at pink hydrogen power, which is created with the energy that comes from already-existing nuclear power plants.

Another group thought of a small solar-powered engine that could cool the air in a single room. That company is Sol-Air Cooling. Most people live in small homes, so the product could make a big difference.

The third group worked on a solar energy marketplace for homeowners who want to use solar power without costly solar equipment. The group created a website for the marketplace called E-Gora.

Natasha Rouse worked on that project. She saw the business as a chance for average people to make a difference on the climate crisis.

Frameworks like E-Gora will probably pop up in the next five, 10 years regardless. And those offer people kind of a lower-stakes way into this space. Right, you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to put solar panels on your roof.

Molly Egan worked on Nu-H2. For many energy projects, the proof of concept and technology are  right there, she said. But there are barriers to progress. She said the U.S. electricity grid is outdated as are rules about how to sell and provide electricity.

Are there problems with this kind of fellowship?

There are similar programs at other universities, including Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbia University in New York City and the University of Rhode Island.

One engineering school leader likes the fellowship model but wonders if it goes far enough.

Ron Harichandran is the leader of the College of Engineering at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. He said most universities in the U.S. do not yet have a clean energy field of study. Maybe they should, he said.

He said the world needs major change in the way it produces and uses energy. But he worries that universities are a little bit scattered in how they are training students.

Perhaps, he said, mechanical engineers should be working on wind turbine projects. Electrical engineers should be learning how to move solar and wind energy back into the electric grid. Civil engineers should be learning about sustainable building methods and materials.

Harichandran said the fellowship programs are helpful for students who are not completely sure of their interest in energy projects. But there is no guarantee how students might use the money or that they will follow through on their projects.

After all, Harichandran said, the money the programs receive and provide to the students is a gift.

A better way

He suggested the fellowship programs start to think in the same way as some of the large U.S. government organizations that provide financial aid for science.

He mentioned research grants from places such as the Department of Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). They can get strong results because they have clear goals and deadlines.

For example, a research team at CWRU recently won a grant of nearly $1 million from the NSF to work on a sustainable manufacturing project in Ohio.

Fasipe, one of the CWRU students, made similar comments. He said solving the worlds energy and climate change problem is more complex than just saying traditional energy production must end. He said costs must come down and businesses need to see that they can make money working in renewable energy.

Im Dan Friedell. And Im Faith Pirlo.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English.

Quiz - Engineering Schools Offer Money, View into Energy Crisis Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

dramatic adj. sudden and extreme

pitch n. a casual term used to describe the presentation of an idea, often used in business

academic adj. describing something to do with school, often the long-term process of working in education

advanced degree n. a level of education that is beyond what most people achieve, such as a masters or doctoral degree

seed money n. the money an investor gives a person who wants to start something new, such as a business

incubate v. the time needed for an idea to mature, comes from the term often used to describe how birds keep their eggs warm before they hatch

scattered adj. not well-formed, all over the place, without a central organization

wind turbine n. a machine powered by wind that generates power

solar panel n. an electrical device that collects energy from the sun and passes it along to a battery or power center that can then distribute it to something that needs power

grid n. a term used to describe the network of power plants, cables and more that deliver energy to the end user

sustainable adj. something that can last and be repeated for a long time

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American technology company Microsoft is reporting progress with a program that aims to fight misinformation online.

Leaders of the project recently spoke to The Associated Press about the effort. Microsoft teamed up with the nonprofit Trust Project last year to suggest tools to help users find trustworthy news sources. The Trust Project is a group of linked news organizations.

Microsoft and the Trust Project created advertisements that direct internet users to a list of eight trust indicators that can be used to judge websites. One indicator is whether opinion writing is clearly identified. Others provide guidelines for recognizing good reporting methods, identifying bias and finding quality news sources.

Microsoft said most of the people who saw their indicators said the guidelines improved their ability to judge which online news sources were trustworthy and which ones contained misinformation.

This was a bit of an experiment for us, said Ginny Badanes, director of Microsoft's Democracy Forward Initiative. The group is part of Microsofts efforts to get involved in online reporting and democracy. Badanes told The Associated Press, "The world is changing very quickly and people need tools to equip themselves.

Services like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have been blamed for fueling political divisions and reducing trust in democratic systems.

There are already many existing efforts that say they are aimed at fighting online misinformation. These include fact-checking services. These services seek to examine news stories gaining wide public attention and to explain whether they are true or not. But these services require a lot of research and workers, are not seen by many people, and are not likely to persuade people already distrustful of the media.

Another way to fight online misinformation is through the moderation efforts of technology companies themselves. But these efforts have failed to satisfy many critics of social media services. And legislative efforts to force technology companies to do more policing themselves have been slow to progress.

But some measures designed to increase critical thinking skills and media literacy have shown success. These are aimed at helping people learn how to identify misinformation themselves. Last year, Google launched a series of videos on YouTube in Eastern Europe that were designed to teach people how misinformation works. That campaign was recently expanded to Germany.

Sally Lehrman is a reporter and chief executive at the Trust Project. She told the AP there are important signs to look for when seeking trustworthy news organizations. These organizations will identify their sources, present diverse voices and require their workers to observe rules aimed at producing high quality reporting.

In the experiment, users of Microsoft products and systems, including email, were shown ads. Over a six-month period, the ads led to twice as many people visiting the project's site. About 62 percent of those who visited the site said it helped them feel more confident about judging online information.

Lehrman said she was pleased by the results of the indicator guidelines. She noted that short internet ads are a low-cost, easy answer compared to complex legislative efforts or policing attempts by tech companies themselves.

Lehrman said the need for media literacy programs is increasingly needed as new artificial intelligence methods make misinformation easier than ever to create and spread.

Lehrman said the research proves that many people will read ads that offer help in dealing with online misinformation. But she added that the ads must be effective in getting people's attention.

Are we asking people to eat their broccoli? I always reject that because I think broccoli is delicious, she said. But we have to make it delicious.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English, with additional information from the Trust Project.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

source  n. where something comes from

indicator  n. a condition that shows what something is like or how it is changing

bias  n. a situation in which you support or oppose something in an unfair way because you are influenced by personal opinions

moderate  v. to make sure the rules of an internet discussion are not broken

literate  adj. having knowledge or competence in a certain area

diverse  adj. including many different kinds of something

confident  adj. sure about your ability to do things well

delicious  adj. tasting very good

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Scientists say a spacecraft flying very close to the sun has uncovered new details about the nature of solar wind.

Solar wind is created by a continuous flow of charged particles, known as plasma, that are released into space from the suns outermost atmosphere. That atmosphere is known as the corona.

Researchers recently announced they had learned new information about solar wind from data collected by the Parker Solar Probe. The American space agency NASA operates the spacecraft.

NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe in 2018 with a main goal of studying solar wind. Scientists say studying solar wind and the corona close up is important to learn how solar activity influences Earth.

Unlike Earth, the sun does not have a solid surface. Instead, it is a superheated ball of material held together by gravity and magnetic forces. Some solar material escapes from the sun and is released into space as solar wind.

In 2021, researchers announced that the Parker Solar Probe had entered the suns corona for the very first time. NASA described the successful operation as touching the sun. Scientists said Parker was about 13 million kilometers from the center of the sun when it crossed into the suns outer atmosphere.

Data collected by the spacecraft showed that solar wind can reach speeds up to 1.6 million kilometers per hour. Solar wind forms a large magnetic barrier known as the heliosphere. It protects Earth and other planets from the continuous flow of high-energy particles from the suns corona.

The researchers recently reported their findings in a study published in Nature.

The team said the collected data suggests these particles get blasted from the sun in a similar way that water shoots out from a shower head. The particles are released through holes in the suns corona. The researchers said the data suggests these openings are the source of solar wind.

Past research had found that the suns magnetic field was somehow driving solar wind. This study is the first to identify its source.

James Drake is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland and a lead writer of the study. He said in a statement, Winds carry lots of information from the sun to Earth, so understanding the (source) behind the suns wind is important for practical reasons on Earth.

Drake said that understanding how the sun releases energy can help scientists learn how to prepare for solar storms that can affect Earth. For example, intense solar activity can cause solar flares, explosions of electromagnetic radiation from the sun. This can interfere with different radio communication signals on Earth.

The researchers said the data showed that the holes in the suns corona are usually in areas around the poles during the suns quiet periods. This prevents the speeding particles from affecting Earth.

However, the team noted that the sun becomes active every 11 years as its magnetic field changes and the poles exchange positions. This results in bursts of solar wind aimed directly at Earth, the researchers said in a statement.

The researchers used data from the Parker Solar Probe to examine plasma flowing out of the corona. Data for the latest research was collected at a distance of about 9 million kilometers from the sun, the team said.

When you get very close to the sun, you start seeing stuff that you just cant see from Earth, Drake said. He added that the findings were only possible because the Parker Solar Probe was able to pass so close to the surface of the sun. Were about as close as were going to get, Drake said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Maryland and Nature.

Quiz - NASA Spacecraft Studying Sun Discovers New Details about Solar Wind Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

blast  v. an explosion or violent detonation

shower  n. a piece of equipment that shoots out water and is used to clean the body

source  n. where something comes from

practical  adj. able to be done successfully

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A 70-year-old man from Bloomingdale riding a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle was killed in a two-vehicle crash at 1:48 p.m. Saturday on Route 38 in Geneva, police said.

The preliminary investigation indicates the Harley Davidson was traveling in the eastbound lanes of Route 38, according to a press release from the Geneva Police Department. A 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck traveling westbound veered into the eastbound lanes east of the intersection with Crissey Avenue and struck the motorcycle in a head-on collision, according to police.

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At this time, it does not appear speed or alcohol were factors in the crash, police said Saturday.

The rider of the motorcycle was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, officials said. He was transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva by Geneva Fire Department personnel and pronounced dead at 2:17 p.m. Saturday, according to the release.

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The Chevrolet Silverado was driven by a man from Aurora and was occupied by three passengers, police said. The driver and passengers were evaluated on scene by medical personnel. No injuries were reported by the occupants of the Silverado, according to the release.

The name of the motorcyclist killed in the crash will not be released until the family has been notified, police said.

The Geneva Police Department and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are actively working to investigate the crash, according to the release.
When peanuts are dropped into a glass of beer, they sink to the bottom before floating up and "dancing" in the glass.

Scientists investigated this process in a study involving the alcoholic drink beer. It appeared recently in the publication Royal Society Open Science. The scientists say the research helps them understand mineral extraction or bubbling magma in the layer of Earth called the crust.

Brazilian researcher Luiz Pereira is the study's lead writer. He told the French news agency AFP that he first had the idea when passing through Argentina's capital Buenos Aires to learn Spanish.

It was a "bartender thing" in the city to take a few peanuts and drop them into beers, Pereira said.

Because the peanuts are more dense than the beer, they first sink to the bottom of the glass. Then each peanut becomes what is called a "nucleation site." Hundreds of tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide form on their surface. The bubbles act as flotation devices that carry the peanuts upward.

"The bubbles prefer to form on the peanuts rather than on the glass," said Pereira, a researcher at Germany's Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

When the bubbles reach the surface, they burst.

The peanuts sink again before newly formed bubbles send the peanuts up again. Like a dance movement, the peanuts continue sinking and floating until the carbon dioxide runs out, or someone drinks the beer.

Beer-gas-peanut system

In the experiments, the team of researchers in Germany, Britain and France examined how peanuts acted in what they called the "beer-gas-peanut system."

They found the larger the "contact angle" between the curve of an individual bubble and the surface of the peanut, the more likely it would grow.

But it cannot grow too much  less than 1.3 millimeters across is best, the study said.

Pereira said he hoped that "by deeply researching this simple system, which everyone can grasp, we can understand a system" that would be useful for industry or explaining natural processes.

For example, he said the flotation process was similar to the one used to separate iron from ore.

Air is injected into a mixture in which a mineral, such as iron, "will rise because bubbles attach themselves more easily to it, while other (minerals) sink to the bottom," he said.

The same process could also explain why volcano scientists find that the mineral magnetite rises to higher layers in Earth's crust than would be expected.

Like peanuts, magnetite is more dense and should sit at the bottom. But the researchers suggest, a high contact angle causes gas bubbles that carry the mineral up through the magma.

Science is never settled, especially when beer is involved.

So, Pereira said the scientists hope to create a better model of the dancing peanut action by continuing to experiment with different peanuts and different beers."

I'm Dorothy Gundy.

Pierre Celerier wrote this story for Agence France-Presse. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English.

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

bubble - v. to form small ball of air or gas inside a liquid

magma - n. hot liquid rock below the surface of the earth

bartender - n. the person who serves drinks at eating and drinking places

prefer - v. like better than someone or something else

curve - n. smooth, round line

grasp - n. an understanding of something
CAPITOL SQUARE | WISCONSIN HISTORY CENTER

The striking exterior design of the $160.5 million Wisconsin History Center coming to the top of State Street is meant to evoke inspiration, curiosity and wonder, and its enticing interior a journey of discovery.

The Wisconsin Historical Society on Tuesday unveiled more detailed concepts for the exterior and first-ever images for the interior of the five-story, 100,000-square-foot History Center that will provide unprecedented access to the state's vast collection while sharing regional stories in the context of American history.

The History Center, which will rise on the site of the former, undersized museum site at 30 N. Carroll St. and adjacent properties at 20 and 22 N. Carroll St., will feature a facade with rotated top floors to offer differing views and interpretations from various vantage points.

Inside, a glassy, transparent lobby will feature an expansive wooden staircase echoing an ancient dugout canoe, inspired by the region's long history of water travel and the recent recovery of two Native American dugout canoes from Lake Mendota.

It will lead to a cafe, community gallery and temporary gallery that can host national-caliber shows, and exhibit spaces featuring interpretative, interactive and multimedia presentations. A fifth floor will feature event space and a terrace overlooking the Capitol.

The design intends for the large lobby, retail store, cafe and community gallery to be inviting and free of charge, the concept to create "Wisconsin's living room."

"It's not just a place of exhibits and objects," said Christian verland, the Ruth & Hartley Barker Director and CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. "It's a place for people to connect to history."

All-star team

The center is a collaboration of some of the nation's top architects, exhibit designers, curators and historians along with community voices and extensive consultations with the region's Native Nations, verland said. "This will be a welcoming, vibrant place for the community to gather, engage, reflect and share in our history."

The collaboration involves Ralph Appelbaum Associates based in New York City, known globally for its work on cultural attractions including the American Museum of Natural History's new Gilder Center in New York City and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.; the SmithGroup of Washington, D.C.; and Continuum Architects + Planners of Milwaukee.

"It is rare to have such an unbelievably large collection to work with, including a substantial selection of music, oral histories, photographs and film that will allow visitors to make personal connections to shared stories," said Patrick Swindell, principal and creative director for Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

The location at the top of State Street on Capitol Square demands special attention and presents opportunities, said architect Monteil Crawley, a principal of SmithGroup.

"Given its significance, it was crucial to design the building in a way that engages the public realm," Crawley said. "The ground floor will be transparent, creating a space that warmly welcomes everyone from Wisconsin, no matter who you are, into the History Center. It's a place where people can gather, connect and feel inspired."

The center is expected to welcome more than 200,000 guests annually and double the number of students served to 60,000.

Points of view

Unlike a government or office building, the exterior and interior of the History Center are intended to complement one another, which is possible because the partners have been collaborating from the start.

The site, a crossroads, offers a different perspective depending on how the building is approached or what else might be going on in the area, from the frequent demonstrations around Capitol Square to the Dane County Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, said Chris Wood, vice president and cultural studio leader for SmithGroup.

"There's this great nexus around the Capitol, but particularly on this corner," he said.

While the Capitol is a magnet, the top of the History Center would be offset in a design meant to acknowledge the rest of the state, including the Indigenous people who first called Wisconsin home, Wood said. The exterior features weathered zinc, a warm material intended to feel welcoming, and stainless steel that speaks to industry and technology, he said.

The society owns a zinc mine in Mineral Point, and the stainless steel is also the story of iron ore shipped from Superior to mills, verland said.

Meanwhile, the site's tight urban space "offers unique opportunities for creative storytelling, immersive experiences, and urban integration," Crawley said.

"A vertical museum allows for an unforgettable and dynamic visitor experience not traditionally had in museums," he said. "As visitors move vertically through the History Center, they will enjoy changing vistas and perspectives, providing a fresh and captivating view of the exhibits and the surrounding urban landscape."

A journey

Touches in the interior celebrate the state's craft culture from First Nations craft to brewing, Wood said.

"If we go through the spaces, the whole building is the History Center," Swindell said. "It's not confined to the permanent gallery spaces."

The first floor features a large, open lobby with space for public programming, a retail store and areas to serve students and community groups. That will lead to an expansive wooden staircase offering commanding views of the Capitol and serving as a gathering space for additional programming with an adjoining cafe.

The lobby will feature large, special objects, such as the ultralight plane used to re-teach endangered whooping cranes their migratory paths, Swindell said.

The second floor will house a rotating "community gallery," also visible from the front door, that will provide a platform for local history organizations and other groups from across the state to share their stories.

"The whole idea is to have this as kind of an open space where people can come in and actually use it," verland said.

The second floor will also feature an 8,000-square-foot revolving gallery that can be divided but is large enough to bring blockbuster exhibits to Wisconsin, which could range from the costumes of Disney to the National Archives exhibit of the Civil War, which includes a display of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"This is an international standard exhibit space," verland said.

Permanent galleries

The third floor will be home to two permanent galleries. The first gallery will be a celebration of Wisconsin's identity in American culture, featuring beloved objects such as a vintage 1969 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and items from the society's film, television, music and media collections.

"If we're successful, people who go through that exhibit will never think of Wisconsin as a flyover state again, whether they're tourists or residents," verland said.

The second gallery will be an interactive exploration of American experiences, including the history of democracy in the state, examples of engaged citizenship and experiences of the region's Sovereign Nations. Integrated into the gallery will be opportunities to explore genealogical records from the society's extensive archives as well as a forum for exercising civic engagement.

The fourth floor will feature an immersive gallery meant to evoke the feeling of being outdoors among Wisconsin's vast and varied landscapes.

Through one-of-a-kind items from the society's world-class agricultural collection, to interactive exhibits that place visitors among shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, guests will explore the relationships Wisconsinites have forged with the natural world over thousands of years.

"We're using multimedia quite a bit throughout the experience," Swindell said.

The design, however, intentionally blurs the boundaries between the third and fourth floors so the galleries spill out into the connecting spaces. Most dramatically, both floors are connected through a large, glass-enclosed exhibit of Wisconsin stories and objects. An open staircase also connects the two floors.

Two adjoining terraces on the fourth floor overlook Capitol Square and Lake Mendota.

The fifth floor offers striking event spaces designed to host a variety of public and private gatherings and connects to a rooftop terrace.

Breaking ground

Earlier this month, the Legislature's budget-writing committee signed off on Gov. Tony Evers' proposal to set aside $160.5 million to create the History Center.

The historical society, established in 1846, has one of the nation's largest collections of North American historical assets and operates 12 museums and sites. But its flagship museum has been housed in the undersized, 42,000-square-foot former Wolff Kubly hardware store since the mid-1980s. That building closed in December in anticipation of the project and the society has temporary space at the U.S. Bank building on Capitol Square.

The society has scheduled a groundbreaking and start of construction on the new facility in the first quarter of 2024 with exhibit installation in the summer of 2026 and a grand opening in the first quarter of 2027.
The Madison Police Department is an outlier among larger Midwest agencies as a department without body cameras, according to an analysis of 71 Midwest law enforcement agencies.

Of those agencies, Madison was one of eight to not have body cameras, according to the analysis by Lee Enterprises. That puts the more than nearly 500-officer agency alongside the six-person Lewiston Police Department in Minnesota and the nine-person Anna Police Department in Illinois.

Madison was by far the biggest of all the agencies not to have body cameras too. But guidance on a long-awaited body camera pilot program at the department is coming.

The policy for the study is set to be introduced to the City Council on Tuesday. The policy requires officers with body cameras to record all interactions with the public while on duty. Camera footage will be preserved for six months unless it is tagged as evidence.

Members of the public will be able to submit their own recordings to the police department as well.

With footage of an "officer-involved critical incident" like a police shooting or other high-profile event, the outside agency investigating the incident must be consulted on releasing the footage. The Chief of Police or their designee can also release footage of the incident "as soon as reasonably prudent."

In an interview with the State Journal in March, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the city should work toward preventing police misconduct and violence, adding that body cameras "may be part of the answer, but it's not the only answer."

But the city's slow-rolling and blocking of a body camera program has gone on nearly a decade, long before Rhodes-Conway took office.

Back in 2015, the City Council sided with a citizen-led committee that decided against equipping officers with body cameras. At the time, the city opted for other citizen-led eff orts to build trust between police and the community.

In April 2021, the City Council created the yearlong body camera pilot program to be run out of the city's North District.

Opponents of body cameras in the city have characterized them as an unnecessary expense and questioned whether camera footage would be used to prosecute poor people and people of color.

Other police departments in Wisconsin that have long embraced body cameras include La Crosse.

La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron, whose agency began using cameras in 2018, called the technology reliable and said that officers rarely forget to turn them on during encounters with the public.

Former deputy chief Rob Abraham recounted that officers were apprehensive about adding dashcams to squad cars in the 1990s. But that quickly went away.

"It got to the point where officers wouldn't want to take out a squad car if the camera was down," Abraham said. "Those salty veterans who said they didn't want a camera now wouldn't even go out in a vehicle unless that camera was working."
Its not as if Lonnie and Betty Perry left AT&T. They just did what the U.S. Census Bureau says approximately 29,973 other people did in 2021 and left Illinois for the far superior state of Wisconsin.

But maybe there are a lot of Chicago Bears fans at the United States biggest telecom, because the couples punishment for abandoning the Land of Lincoln was more than a years worth of double-billing.

The Perrys, who are in their 80s, moved from Elgin, Illinois, to Madison in December 2021, the couples daughter, Kim Bangert, told SOS in a May 3 email. Before doing so they canceled their AT&T landline and internet in Illinois and signed up for AT&T internet and cable in Madison, Lonnie said.

And yet they still receive bills from Illinois, Bangert said  about $100 each month, charged in two-month periods, along with a late payment fee of about $50.

The first few times they called, spent many hours, to get the bill credited out, Bangert said. I have helped them on a couple of months as well. Each time we are told that it would be fixed. The bill continues.

SOS laid out the situation in an email to three AT&T email addresses on June 8, and two AT&T public relations officials, Jim Kimberly and Matt Lawson, responded that same day.

We will escalate internally and keep you posted, said the former.

On June 12, he reported that this has been resolved.

We closed the Illinois account as requested and issued credits back to the date of the move, he said. The customer is satisfied.

On Tuesday, Bangert said her parents had received a voice mail from a Rochelle at AT&T.

Hi Mr. Perry. Its Rochelle from AT&T, Bangert wrote SOS in an email, transcribing the voice mail message. Following up with you. We were able to get that account disconnected. I was able to go back and look. The account has been adjusted back to zero as of December of 2021.

Lonnie said their most recent bill had been for $265.06, but Rochelle said the account has been closed out and everything has been taken off.

Send us an SOS Since September 2007, SOS has helped save Wisconsin State Journal readers more than $226,228.49 and solved hundreds of problems. You can send an SOS using any of these methods: Email: sos@madison.com Online form: http://go.madison.com/sendSOS Phone: 608-252-6198 Mail: SOS, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708

Editor's note: This story was updated on June 22, 2023, to provide the correct figure for the amount of money SOS has helped readers save.
A 20-year-old man died after a shooting Downtown early Sunday, Madison police said.

Shortly after 3:30 a.m., officers were sent to the 600 block of East Dayton Street for a report of shots fired in the area, Sgt. Christopher Keys said in a statement.

One person who had been shot was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, police said.

Police did not identify the victim but said he grew up in Madison,.

Officers recovered close to 12 bullet casings at the scene, Lt. Jason Ostrenga said. Police believe the victim or another person in a group he was with may have been targeted.

The shooting, if ruled a homicide by the Dane County medical examiner, would be Madisons seventh this year, Ostrenga said. An autopsy is expected to be completed tomorrow.

Detectives were still trying to identify suspects and a motive in the shooting, Ostrenga said Sunday afternoon. About eight detectives have been checking vehicles, canvassing the crime scene, reaching out to potential witnesses and looking on social media for information related to the shooting, he said.

Ostrenga said officers believed people may have been in the area for a late party. He added that police had received more reports of disturbances and fights off of State Street than usual between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Sunday, with one report of 100 or 200 people fighting. Officers were trying to determine if the shooting was related to those incidents.

At least a couple dozen people were present in the area of East Dayton and Blair Street at the time of the shooting, Ostrenga said. The department encouraged witnesses to provide any information, even anonymously.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or P3Tips.com. Individuals contacting Crime Stoppers can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.
The owners of a town of Middleton home lost a purse and a set of keys in a home invasion early Saturday morning, authorities reported.

Dane County deputies were sent about 5:15 a.m. Saturday to a house in the 3800 block of Silverbell Road, where the homeowners were awakened by someone in their garage trying to come into the house, Lt. Jonathan Triggs said in a statement.

The intruders got into the garage by using a door opener left inside a vehicle in the driveway. The homeowners were able to stop the intruders from coming into the house, but they made off with a purse and a set of keys, Triggs said.

The Sheriff's Office was reviewing doorbell camera footage and seeking video from neighboring homes.

No arrests have been reported.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dane County Sheriffs Office at 608-284-6900.
Capitol Square was packed with more bodies than usual Saturday  though they were wearing less.

In between the sea of tents and food trucks, 150 naked bicyclists joined the crowd of farmers market-goers and Downtown tourists for the annual World Naked Bike Ride.

Now in its 13th year, Madisons naked bike ride is one of dozens staged in cities across the country, where participants bare it all to advocate for body image positivity and less dependency on petroleum. Part of this years route took riders along State Street and on two loops around Capitol Square.

Most of the riders went completely nude, apart from shoes, bike helmets and a healthy dose of sunscreen. Some riders also donned body paint with messages like Im your naked neighbor on their backs, arms and legs.

Wren Bailey has participated in Madisons World Naked Bike Ride for the last few years. Although a recent surgery prevented Bailey from participating this year, she became the groups designated body painter and helped write messages and draw artwork on riders.

Bailey said shes seen an increase in participation among women since she started taking part in the annual ride. She described the dynamic between riders as supportive, positive and like a family.

Some participants even go to other naked bike rides around the country together, Bailey said.

17 great ideas for your weekend Celebrate jazz, Juneteenth and history with a dad this weekend.

You may not know everyones name, but you definitely see familiar faces year to year, she said.

The atmosphere on Capitol Square seemed full of energy and support for the riders late Saturday morning. Bystanders let out cheers and reached their hands out for high fives as the group of bicyclists pedaled by.

Saturday marked the first naked bike ride for Laura Freeman, who took part alongside her boyfriend, Cam Wesley. Freeman said she was initially unsure about participating, but was encouraged by Wesley.

Wesley biked in the Madison ride last year and said he is drawn to events that support body positivity.

Andy Kinzelman, a longtime participant in the Madison ride, said the crowd is generally very supportive.

The people of Madison seem to enjoy us riding by. Its a spectacle, said Kinzelman, who also has gone to naked bike rides in Milwaukee.

He described the experience of biking completely in the nude as really liberating.

When you start chatting with people, its like you forget theyre naked, Kinzelman said. Youre just communicating, like normal people communicate. Its a really non-judgmental group. Nobodys looking at what kind of body type you have. Were just getting together and having fun.

Madison appears on a lot of 'best of' lists. Here are 25 of them Best place to live Best Beer Best biking Best city for the young and broke Best state capitals Best naked bike ride Most caring city Best remote work situation Best city for recent grads Best city to rent with pets Best School Best place for kids Best food truck Best college football Sportiest city Best outdoor activities Best work-life balance Best city for runners Best scientists Best place to walk Most successful women Greenest city Best place to retire Happiest city Most dog-friendly city
Prescription medicines combined with over-the-counter drugs and even dietary supplements can combine to produce unwanted and sometimes dangerous effects. A Pathlights program open to anyone taking more than five separate medicines enlists pharmacists to analyze the medications for potential interactions. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown)

Avoiding drug interactions can be hard, especially as ones list of pills increases, but a service offered through Pathlights makes that task a bit easier. The HomeMeds Medication Safety Program, which began in October 2021, offers a review for anyone taking more than five types of medication.

Were given so many things to put into our body it can be hard to keep track, said Maureen Mott, care coordination aide for the HomeMeds Program at Pathlights, a nonprofit organization based in Palos Heights.

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And its not just prescriptions that can cause problems.

It can be anything from a prescription from the doctor or over the counter such as pain medication, eye drops, allergy medication, herbals and supplements, Mott said. Everything you put into your body for health is considered a medication. Elderberry and ginseng can interfere with your medications  an herbal interacting with a pharmaceutical drug that your doctor prescribes.

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Drug interactions can lead to symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, frequent falls and even hospitalization.

Lets say youre taking a cream for pain and a prescription pain med and an OTC pain med. That is three different medications for pain, she said. How many different forms of this medication are you taking?

Some medications taken for high blood pressure contain calcium or iron, and patients may be taking calcium and iron supplements. Calcium supplements might contradict thyroid medication, and certain supplements can affect antibiotics.

Taking all this stuff, mediations, OTC, drops, creams  they can be interacting with each other and you dont know about it, Mott said.

Maureen Mott, care coordination aide for the HomeMeds Program at Pathlights in Palos Heights, helps older adults who need services in their home, including a free program that will analyze mediation lists for potential interactions. If we get overwhelmed with seeing how much they take, I can only imagine how overwhelmed they get, she said. (Jen Petterson/HANDOUT)

A health crisis can compound the problem. If you go to the hospital and find you have had a heart attack, a stroke, diabetes, when you get labeled with this diagnosis, you are going home with medications right away, Mott said. Thats why so many of our clients have so many medications  because of all these dual diagnoses.

The free program is open to anyone 60 and older who is taking five or more medications, whether they are prescribed or over the counter. Once someone has gotten a referral, the agency contacts its partners Coordinated Care Alliance or Age Options for a pharmacist to perform a review.

Certain red flags trigger reviews, such as someone experiencing dizziness or falls, Mott said, but if a client on multiple medications doesnt have those symptoms, a report still is generated.

If we get overwhelmed with seeing how much they take, I can only imagine how overwhelmed they get, she said.

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Thus far, Pathlights has helped about 65 older adults, but HomeMeds is open to anyone. Its one of the programs we offer that isnt location-based, Moss said. It can be anyone outside the area we serve. Weve done people from other counties, other agencies.

Home visits with the clients illustrate the issue for Mott and her colleagues.

I had my co-worker go out. Shes at the home and sitting in the living room taking down the medications, Mott said. They went to another room to get more and another room to get still more. And then they came in with medications from a different part of the house.

Another person was taking more than 27 medications, including those prescribed, eye drops, herbal supplements and over the counter items.

Once a client contacts Pathlights, a home coordinator checks medicines, confirms their doctor and pharmacies and collects some health history which is entered into a secure database and sent to a pharmacist. An alert is generated if a review is needed.

If no interaction issues are determined, the patient still receives a report so all their health information is in one place. If an interaction is discovered, they are urged to contact their doctor.

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They have options to talk with a family member about the report, and we hope they take the report to their next doctors visit. That is the outcome that the program allows  to have a conversation with their doctor, Mott said. We dont change medications, but it brings awareness so they can talk to doctors about wanting to change their medications.

She shared feedback from a grateful community member who said he didnt know where to turn for a review of his medications.

Hearing that makes your day, Mott said. The program came to him at the right time, and were completing it for him, and that makes him happy and that makes us happy.

Emily Wetherholt, a pharmacist at Walgreens who is on the board of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, began reviewing medication lists for the program last month, because there was a need.

She trained for the program at the beginning of May and already has 50 patient profiles to review and about 140 alerts from 11 sites.

Something like one-third of health errors are medication errors, she said. A lot of times a patient will have multiple prescribers but have the same pharmacy. More recently, people are told to use mail order or multiple pharmacies, so we may not be catching things.

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Pharmacist Emily Wetherholt, who trained for the HomeMeds Program in early May, has begun reviewing patients prescriptions and already has at least 50 other patient records to review. (Becci Hethcoat Photography/HANDOUT)

Wetherholt said the program focuses on transition of care, where there can be a lot of errors. That can mean a lot of prescribers.

Transitions, such as leaving a hospital, can mean home medication may have been changed to whatever was on the hospital list. They may be changing to something as an inpatient. If they take their home meds with their discharge meds, there may be duplications.

Right now, it takes about 90 minutes for her to complete a review but she anticipates shortening that to about an hour once she has more experience with the process.

People like their personal pharmacists  they trust them, which is great. I can see them thinking its intrusive having to give your health information to someone else, but the whole purpose is to help you and double-check it, Wetherholt said.

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She noted medications reviews can help people stay in their homes.

If youre on a medicine that makes you dizzy and youre a fall risk so you cant stay at home, I can say youre taking this antihistamine in the morning and its causing you to not ambulate during the day. Suggesting a therapy change may be able to help you stay where you want to be, she said. Or changing the time of blood pressure medication if thats causing the problem. A lot of the alerts seem to be assessing dizziness because falls can have such drastic consequences from just one event.

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Wetherholt said shes really excited about the program and the need it fills.

I think that retail pharmacists are too busy to catch all these errors. I dont want to make it seem like youre in danger at your pharmacy  I dont think thats the problem  but with the current climate and the staffing issues that pharmacies are having, having a second person review everything just sounds like a good idea, she said.

Its not that those individuals are trying to provide less of a quality of care than in the past. Its just that with the current staffing, theyre not able to.

Information about the prescription review program is with Pathlights at 708-361-0219 or visit www.pathlights.org.

Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
The year is 2028, and a state-of-the-art building has opened in the heart of UW-Madison's College of Engineering campus. It's six times larger than the Depression-era building it replaced and designed to last a century or more.

More impressive than the structure itself is what's going on inside  and how it helps the economy in Wisconsin and beyond.

Here are my forecasts for that expanded engineering footprint, provided the Wisconsin Legislature signs off this summer on plans years in the making and already backed by private donors and public down payments.

 Undergraduate admissions in engineering have climbed by 1,000 students, from 4,500 to about 5,500, which still leaves the college among the smallest in the Big Ten Conference but helps more homegrown Wisconsin students gain admission. In 2023, only one in seven qualified candidates made the cut.

With more students in the pipeline, the workforce needs of companies in Wisconsin  one of the nation's leading manufacturing states  are beginning to be met. 

 Researchers and students are helping Wisconsin farms become more efficient and independent by harvesting the energy those farms are already producing. 

 Electrical and other energy grids, which can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and more, are being hardened against security risks with the help of engineering researchers and their student assistants. 

 Human health is being improved by researchers and students in the college's Department of Biomedical Engineering, which is developing safer ways to move hospital patients in and out of beds; creating safer helmets to reduce concussion risks; and finding more effective ways to treat traumatic brain injury.

 One of the nation's leading Departments of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics is working on the future of nuclear energy, including commercial fission. 

 Researchers and students in the college's Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory are collaborating with others to find ways to overcome today's hurdles to adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles. Those include making longer-lasting batteries, engineering a more robust network of charging stations and developing new materials that aren't reliant on unstable foreign sources. 

 A range of challenges related to the environment are being addressed. Researchers and their student assistants are finding better ways to recycle plastics. They are working to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from production of cement, the most widely used substance on Earth after water. Today, cement accounts for 8% of all carbon emissions. They are finding ways to remove, capture and even disintegrate the most harmful types of PFAS chemicals, which is short for perand polyfluoroalkyl substances. New energy sources, such as hydrogen, are advancing toward various forms of commercial use with the help of college research teams. 

 Wisconsin's competitiveness in manufacturing processes, which has helped the state weather recessions over time, is being improved by research teams spread across departments such as Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

 Researchers within the college are already the source of about 140 invention "disclosures" per year, meaning ideas that could be patented, licensed and become commercial products or processes. That will grow with more space for people with ideas. 

 Startup companies are growing roots in that fertile research soil, many coming from students and faculty in departments such as Chemical and Biological Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and others already mentioned. Nearly 60 tech-based startups were born in the College of Engineering over the past 25 years; that many and more can be expected to add jobs and value to the economy in the years to come.

This futuristic glimpse at the engineering building proposed for a site flanked by Madison's Campus Drive, North Randall Avenue and Engineering Drive can still happen if the Wisconsin Legislature approves the $347 million building, a price tag that would include $150 million in private funding.

Lawmakers may have their beefs with the UW System and the Madison campus, but they shouldn't halt a project so vital to the state's future.

Tom Still is the president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. Email: tstill@ wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

Researchers and students are helping Wisconsin farms become more efficient and independent by harvesting the energy those farms are already producing.
CAIRO  An airstrike in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, on Saturday killed at least 17 people, including five children, health officials said, as fighting continued between rival generals seeking to control the country.

The attack was one of the deadliest of the clashes in urban areas of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.

There was no immediate comment Saturday from either side on the strike, and it was not clear whether the attack was by warplanes or a drone. Sudan's Ministry of Health said in a Facebook post that at least 25 houses were destroyed.

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced late Saturday that the warring sides agreed on a 72-hour cease-fire across the African country, scheduled to take effect Sunday morning.
Robin Fritz, a 5-foot-1 woman in her early 60s, was "terrifi ed" when she was tackled by a sheriff 's deputy in Sullivan County, Tennessee, she said in a civil rights lawsuit fi led last year.

The encounter came after she confronted a teenage neighbor who she said was driving recklessly. In the suit, Fritz said she asked deputies called to the scene to wear a mask or observe social distancing during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, at which point one deputy showed a "hostile demeanor," pinned her to the ground and arrested her.

As the multimillion-dollar case moves forward, her attorney, James W. Friauf, lamented that there apparently is no video of the incident. The sheriff 's office does not use body cameras, and Friauf said he was unaware of any bystander footage.

Video would make "a huge difference," Friauf told Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations.

"We would hope it would conclusively show her being assaulted and basically substantiate all the allegations in the complaint having to do with the law enforcement officials. But unfortunately, there are no cameras."

When asked about the lawsuit, Sullivan County Sheriff 's Office Capt. Andy Seabolt said the agency could not comment regarding pending litigation, and County Attorney Dan Street declined to answer questions about the case.

In the three years since the murder of George Floyd was caught on a bystander's phone camera, law enforcement agencies large and small across the nation have invested in body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras for patrol vehicles.

But even as cameras have proved crucial to documenting cases of police brutality, some agencies have yet to fully utilize them.

7-month study As part of a seven-month investigation, Lee Enterprises and Type Investigations reached out to more than 170 law enforcement agencies across much of the United States seeking information on topics including diversity, citizen complaints and the use of cameras.

Of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.

Twenty-four agencies said they had bodycams but no dashcams. Sixteen said they had only dashcams.

Only seven said they had neither bodycams nor dashcams.

The largest of those is the 249-member Sullivan County Sheriff 's Office, whose deputies were involved in the encounter with Fritz. Seabolt, the sheriff 's office captain, wrote in an email that the office's lack of cameras "has been a budget issue; however, in-car video systems for patrol deputies are currently in the procurement process."

Even agencies that have cameras may not require their use. The Appomattox County Sheriff 's Office in Virginia, for instance, said it had 12 body cameras but that no sworn members were required to wear them on duty. Officials with the sheriff 's office could not be reached for comment.

The majority of agencies that responded to questions about cameras (about 77%) mandated or planned to mandate bodycams for at least some officers in the field. Some said they required use by all officers on patrol, for instance. Others said they required use for all sworn personnel or all uniformed officers.

"Let's just say this," said Brandt Parsley, public information officer for the Bloomington Police Department in Illinois, "there is no gray area in our policies. It's a 'shall.' You shall have your body camera activated."

Dashcams, which some agencies used as early as the 1960s for traffic enforcement but became more common in the 1980s, were also used widely among the respondents, with more than half of the agencies that gave information on dashcam usage indicating that all or nearly all patrol vehicles had cameras.

On the rise

The agencies that responded to the Lee survey had a higher level of camera usage than the Department of Justice found using a sample survey in 2016. Then, nearly half of general-purpose law enforcement agencies in the U.S. had some body-worn cameras. Among those agencies, 60% of local police departments and 49% of sheriff 's offices had fully deployed their body cameras to all intended personnel.

Mary Fan, author of the book "Camera Power: Proof, Policing, Privacy, and Audiovisual Big Data," said increased camera usage stems at least in part from protests that followed the 2014 slaying of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teen, in Ferguson, Missouri, a largely Black suburb of St. Louis. Brown was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer.

"Before 2015, it would have been astounding to have such widespread coverage by police-worn body cameras," she said of the adoption levels seen in the Lee data. "But since 2015, after the protests and pain of Ferguson, where there was a huge dispute about what really happened and no (police) cameras to record ... an unlikely coalition of folks that are usually not united, so civil rights and civil liberties organizations joining with police chiefs" came together, she said.

Still, state mandates for cameras were a few years off . Before May 2020, the month George Floyd was murdered, South Carolina was the only state to require broad adoption of body-worn cameras, according to a database on bodyworn cameras on the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

By May 2021, six states had joined South Carolina in mandating the statewide use of bodyworn cameras by law enforcement personnel: Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico.

Support builds

Law enforcement, civil rights and civil liberties organizations have called for more body cameras in part to improve safety and create a record that wouldn't rely on recollections from citizens or police.

Camera footage is used in settings including court cases, internal investigations and officer and deputy training. Dozens of respondents to the Lee survey said they follow state open records laws or require a Freedom of Information Act request or state equivalent to release footage. A few require a court order or leave release up to the agency head.

Law enforcement leaders and police reform advocates alike say camera use by police can increase transparency.

"What we're known for is kind of this eye of truth," said Regina Holloway, vice president of global strategic community impact for Axon, maker of the Taser and a popular line of body cameras.

"We want to know  'we' meaning the community  wants to know what is happening during day-to-day interactions between our community and police," she said.

No sense of victory

As an accountability tool, the results of increased camera use have been mixed, said David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a visiting professor of law at the University of Minnesota.

"I guess, for people who were hoping that these bodycams would bring about some significant change in police behavior in the country, that should come as a disappointment."

In a 2019 report in Criminology & Public Policy, researchers looked at 70 studies on the impact of cameras on officer behavior, officer perceptions, citizen behavior, citizen perceptions, police investigations and police organizations.

"Although officers and citizens are generally supportive of BWC use, BWCs have not had statistically significant or consistent effects on most measures of officer and citizen behavior or citizens' views of police," the report read.

Yet other studies suggest that body cameras are making a difference. Jessica Huff is an assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and co-director of the Violence Intervention and Policing Research Lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

As a doctoral student at Arizona State University, she wanted to find out if body-worn cameras reduced disparities in police behavior in communities of color. Her research was published in a May 2022 report in Criminology & Public Policy.

After looking at more than 900,000 policecivilian interactions in Phoenix from November 2015 through November 2018, she found that when body cameras were activated in Black neighborhoods, the odds of arrest decreased by nearly 40%. However, body cameras did not have the same moderating influence on arrest levels in Hispanic neighborhoods, her research showed.

Cost questioned

Depending on the size of the agency, launching a body camera program can mean an investment of tens of thousands of dollars for the equipment, training and data storage.

In Hobart, Indiana, which had a 2020 population of just under 30,000, the system price tag has kept Police Chief Garrett Ciszewski from signing up.

"Bodycams are a great tool," Ciszewski said. "Unfortunately, they're just cost-prohibitive."

Ciszewski said the first quote the Hobart Police Department received for 50 body cameras was close to $500,000. When the department looked into available government grants, he said, they would only cover about 20% of the cost. He listed the cost of video storage as another financial barrier.

Several of the agencies Lee surveyed that have neither type of camera  including the Anna Police Department in Illinois, Augusta County Sheriff 's Office in Virginia and Bonne Terre Police Department in Missouri  also cited costs or departmental priorities.

"If I have the choice between putting a bullet-resistant vest on an officer or a camera, I'm going to go with the vest every time," Bonne Terre Police Chief Douglas Calvert said. "It's a matter of needs and wants. I have to have fuel, personnel and equipment. A camera would be a nice want; it's just not a need right now."

Of the agencies in the Lee survey that offered information on how they funded their cameras, grants, local funds and asset forfeiture programs were among the top sources.

Recognizing that cost could be a barrier, in May 2015 President Barack Obama announced a plan to help agencies buy 50,000 body-worn cameras within three years. That September, the Justice Department said it had awarded grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact.

At least three of the agencies that submitted data for the Lee survey used money from the COVID-inspired American Rescue Plan Act. That includes the 1,102-member Indiana State Police; the 145-member Niagara Falls Police Department in New York; and the 68-member Portage Police Department in Indiana.

In other cases, the companies that make the cameras helped fund their adoption. The 118-member Danville Police Department in Virginia began testing body camera technology as early as 2011, when it participated in a pilot program with Axon, then known as Taser International. The department reported having 147 body cameras in the survey.

Some opposition

Beyond the price tag, the pace of body camera adoption appears to have been slowed in some cases by reluctance from within law enforcement.

"In a number of jurisdictions, police unions resisted body cameras or wanted really strong limits on when they had to record, what the recordings would be used for, etc.," Fan said.

For example, in 2020, the Washington, D.C., police union asked a court to block the mandatory release of body camera footage and names of police officers involved in shootings. A D.C. judge denied the request.

And some officers have expressed concerns that body cameras could be used to invade their personal privacy or that recordings would be used by supervisors or others who wanted to unfairly analyze officer conduct, according to a commentary on Body Worn Camera, a website that receives funds through a grant from the Justice Department.

Conversely, Patty Bates-Ballard, who consults with police agencies and other organizations on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, noted that officers looking to hide inappropriate behavior can obscure the camera lens while audio continues to pick up shouted commands, for example, giving the impression someone is resisting when they are not.

"I think officers are figuring out ways to get around it," she said. "So in my view, we need bodycams, but we also need people to be willing to stand in and video from a distance. We need pole-mounted cameras."

Schultz, the Minnesota political science professor, says he's encouraged by the role of civilian and body camera footage today, compared to its role three decades ago when a bystander filmed the Los Angeles police beating of Black motorist Rodney King. That footage did not persuade a suburban Los Angeles jury to find the officers guilty of wrongdoing.

"There's more skepticism in our population now than there was 30 years ago, and more of a demand to hold police officers accountable," he said, noting that the change has followed what seems like a "constant barrage of stories," some with accompanying footage, showing inappropriate behavior on the part of some law enforcement officers.

"The fact that we're holding police, what appears to be, a little bit more accountable now than with Rodney King is a good thing."

Lee Enterprises reporters Alison Burdo, Lauren Cross, Lizzie Kaboski and Analisa Trofimuk contributed to this report. Research by Emma Davis of Type Investigations. Karen Robinson-Jacobs is a member of the Lee Public Service Journalism team and a Type Investigations reporting fellow.

"I guess, for people who were hoping that these bodycams would bring about some significant change in police behavior in the country, that should come as a disappointment."

David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a visiting professor of law at the University of Minnesota
LA CROSSE  Increasing GOP voter turnout was a continuing theme Saturday throughout the Wisconsin Republican Convention, with an emphasis on Wisconsin's role as a battleground state ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

"Wisconsin is not one of 50 states, people. It's one of five. There's about five states that are going to decide this presidential election," Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming told the crowd at the La Crosse Convention Center.

While Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, of Oshkosh, held off a challenge from then-Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in 2022, Wisconsin Democrats reelected Gov. Tony Evers. Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz won her Supreme Court seat by more than 10 percentage points in April, flipping the court's ideological majority.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Madison, is seeking reelection. No Republican challenger has officially announced a bid for Baldwin's seat, though Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, of Minocqua, said he will soon make a decision about whether he would run, depending on work required by the judiciary committee.

"I have to make sure I'm doing my job as an elected representative of the 7th Congressional District before deciding whether to take on the challenge of running against Tammy Baldwin," Tiffany said. "But we'll probably make that decision in the next month and a half or so."

Other potential candidates include former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and Madison businessman Eric Hovde.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, not present at the convention, announced earlier this week he would not run for Senate, opting to seek reelection in the 8th Congressional District.

"Any statewide candidate, you got to be able to show that you can fund your campaign the day after that primary," Tiffany said. "You got to compete in every corner; in particular, we cannot ignore Dane County."

Abortion restrictions

Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said that while Democrats are not taking the Wisconsin Senate race for granted, the GOP's stance on abortion puts Republicans at a disadvantage in the state.

"Republican candidates and office holders are playing leap frog to jump out further into the ultra-mega fringe. They've lost 15 of the last 18 statewide elections, they're facing a messy and expensive primary with a weak field to take on Sen. Baldwin," said Wikler.

Abortion access  one of the defining issues of the April state Supreme Court race  is the "800-pound gorilla in the room," Johnson said.

The senator blamed media for negative public perception regarding the Republican Party's position on reproductive rights.

Delegates at the state convention went on to approve a resolution supporting the state's 1849 abortion ban.

Speakers throughout Saturday's events argued low voter turnout drove Protasiewicz's state Supreme Court victory over conservative Dan Kelly, calling for increased mail-in and early voting by Republicans.

"If every single Republican who voted in the presidential election voted for Dan Kelly, he would be a justice again," U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, said during a panel discussion. "She is a Supreme Court justice because of us."

Several speakers emphasized the need to increase Republican turnout through mail-in and early voting.

"We cannot keep going into election day 200,000 votes down and expect to make it up in 13 hours," said Schimming.

Positions outlined

Non-binding resolutions passed by delegates at the convention included supporting the elimination of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a ban on partisan "get-out-the-vote" efforts and returning all elections to same-day, in-person voting.

After debate, delegates voted to table a resolution that would have endorsed stricter limits for university students to vote in Wisconsin.

Immigration and education were other top issues identified by state and federal legislators at the convention.

"One of the reasons we didn't do as well as we should have, is the Republican Party did not use that issue as they should have," said U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah.

Van Orden called for increased border enforcement while noting solutions should consider maintaining Wisconsin's agricultural workforce.

State officeholders touted Republican educational policy, including promoting charter and voucher schools in the state budget and attacking diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the University of Wisconsin System.

"This is probably ... the single most important issue that we are facing," state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said about diversity, equity and inclusion during a panel discussion.

Vos and state Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, also promoted reducing revenue to the state, tax cuts and limiting funding increases to police, fire, emergency medical services and roads.

The 2024 Republican National Convention will take place in Milwaukee.
Jessica Harrison of Twin Falls will forever be part of U.S. Navy history: Shes the first woman  ever  to achieve the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer in the Gunners Mate rating.

How times have changed.

I remember when I walked in (to my first command), I was asked if I was the new admin, Harrison said in a U.S. Navy news release. But I dont hear those questions anymore. I see it becoming more commonplace to have females work in weapons fields. And I think the only way that we continue to drive that as a Navy is to remove the barriers and remove the division.

She added, One day, were going to not be a Navy of firsts. I look forward to that day.

Harrison, who has served in the Navy Reserve for 17 years, including 14 years on active duty orders with deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, was pinned during an April 28 ceremony inside the Delbert D. Black National Chiefs Mess at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Her achievement was first publicized by the Navy last week.

Gunners Mate is one of the five original ratings established in The Naval Armament Act of 1794 along with Boatswains Mate, Quartermaster, Master-at-Arms, and Yeoman.

This is a pretty significant accomplishment as an individual milestone, but also for the service; probably long overdue, but I couldnt be more psyched to be here to share this moment with you, Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Adm. John Mustin said during the ceremony. I am thrilled that every one of you has an opportunity to reflect on this moment because were going to be able to look back on this and say that we were there the moment it happened.

By achieving the rank of E-9, Harrison joins a fraction of leadership charged with bridging the gap between officers and enlisted personnel, while acting as supervisors and advocates for their Sailors, the Navy said in the release.

I always wanted to show my children that it could be done, and I was the first of my siblings to even graduate, said Harrison, whose sons, Logan and Trey, participated in the pinning ceremony.

The Navy didnt allow women to lawfully work in combat roles until 1994, though women first began to serve when the Navy Nurse Corps was established by Congress in 1908, according to the release.

Harrison will work at the Chief of Naval Personnel headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
After several years of diminished air travel services to Twin Falls, Delta Airlines has announced its bringing back a second daily flight at Joslin Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport, to Salt Lake City.

The agreement will see two daily departures from Twin Falls beginning Sept. 5. Flights will depart at 7:58 a.m. and 1:25 p.m., and return at 12:16 p.m. and 9:56 p.m.

Tickets are on sale through Deltas website at www.delta.com.

The announcement comes as welcome news, after years of reduced services in the turbulent post-pandemic air travel environment saw fewer flights, and local governments agreeing to subsidies.

Mayor Ruth Pierce spoke with the Times-News on Saturday as she was preparing to announce the new service during the Air Show.

Were very excited, Pierce told the Times-News by phone. Its always good to have a second option out of Twin Falls, and this is a larger jet. So well have 140 seats in and out of Twin Falls on a daily basis, and thats really exciting.

Commissioner Brent Reinke was also involved in the discussions between the airport and Delta Airlines. Reinke said the news was encouraging for the future of air travel in Twin Falls.

Its a wonderful thing to see happening, Reinke told the Times-News in a phone call on Saturday. Im grateful that weve been able to make it through what appears to be a very difficult time  worldwide as far as Covids concerned  and Delta has responded to our request.

Economic Development Director Shawn Barigar told the Times-News that the agreement will mean more seats available at more times.

Its going to be a great opportunity to hopefully get us back to the 2019 travel trends, pre-pandemic, Barigar told the Times-News in a phone call. Its been so challenging with the constant uncertainties in the entire air service market and airline industry.

Markets like Twin Falls that have a proven track record of being successful  when (airlines) are focused on issues with pilot shortages and fuel costs and making connections around the world  we felt like we were lost in the mix. But were very pleased we were able to move this forward.

The current single-daily flight is a 50-seat Mitsubishi CJR200.

The new service will see an upgrade to the aircraft, with a 70-seat Embraer 175, featuring first-class, comfort-plus and main-cabin seating.

In 2022, the city of Twin Falls and Twin Falls County agreed to a minimum revenue guarantee with SkyWest, promising to cover any shortfall in earnings as a result of SkyWest continuing to operate the route. In 2023, the minimum guarantee was nearly doubled.

This new service will change that. The planes will still be flown by SkyWest, but Delta will operate the route on whats known in the airline industry as a capacity-purchase basis, which eliminates some of the financial burden on the air carrier.

The increased frequency, larger planes with more comfortable seats, and commitment from Delta to operate the route on a capacity-agreement basis ticks a lot of wish-list items for the airport.

This is closer to where we thought our ultimate goal would be much more quickly than anticipated, Barigar said.

Our big push is to get people to take a look at it as an option, and hopefully a much improved option over what weve had for the last few years, Barigar said.

The current single-daily SkyWest flight will continue through September 4, and the city and county will be asked to approve a third-quarter Minimum Revenue Guarantee to cover the two-month period before the new service starts. A community-funded guarantee with Delta may be discussed once that service begins.

Magic Valley Regional Airport has a single daily flight. It's 'pay-to-play' to keep it. Magic Valley Regional Airport has been slow to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, and a combination of circumstances continue to hamper ambitions to grow services to and from Twin Falls.
The Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office asks that anyone with information please call 208-735-1911 or Crime Stoppers at 208-343-2677, where they can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can be made at www.343cops.com or download P3 Tips on your mobile phone.
Asiana Airlines, South Koreas second flag carrier, resumes its daily flights from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Clark International Airport (CRK). The daily flights commenced on June 5.

Meanwhile, STARLUX Airlines has announced that it will launch a new route between Taipei and Clark starting August 15. Tickets are now officially on sale.

Asiana Airlines resumes its daily flights from Incheon, South Korea to Clark, Pampanga

CRK operates from its expansive and innovative passenger terminal building, which offers A-1 amenities, the luxury of space, and faster check-in or arrival process. The airport employs a one-time security check and contactless systems. It also offers a good selection of dining options.

Traveling to the airport is also hassle-free with frequent point-to-point (P2P) services to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Trinoma, Dau, and Baguio City operated by Genesis Transport Services. Victory Liner also operates P2P services to and from Dagupan and Olongapo.

Clark will be STARLUXs third destination in the Philippines, following Manila and Cebu.

STARLUX will operate an Airbus A321neo on the flight from Taipei to Clark. The aircraft is configured in a two-class layout, with eight seats in Business Class and 180 in Economy Class.

The Taipei  Clark route is expected to increase STARLUXs competitiveness in the North American transit market, by significantly reducing traffic time for passengers heading to the northern Philippines.

STARLUX currently flies to 17 destinations, including Los Angeles, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Macau, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, Manila, and Cebu.

The fleet also continues to grow, with a current count of 20 aircraft, including 13 A321neos, four A330neos, and three A350s. The fourth A350 is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

For more information, visit www.starlux-airlines.com. To book Asiana Airlines flights, visit flyasiana.com.

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is to call on investors and businesses at a summit in London next week to match Ukraines bravery on the battlefield with support to get the country back on its feet.

Sunak will use the International Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 to urge the private sector to make the war-torn nation financially stronger and technologically advanced, the prime ministers office said.

More than 1,000 foreign dignitaries from 61 states along with business chiefs and global investors will join Sunak in London on Wednesday.

The two-day summit, which is being jointly hosted by the UK and Ukraine, aims to unlock the potential of the private sector to help rebuild Ukraine.

The last annual summit of its kind was held in Lugano in Switzerland in July last year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend virtually and both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are also expected to speak in the opening session.

Sunak is expected to make the case for greater innovation targeted at the country, which was becoming a major player in the global IT industry prior to the Russian invasion.

Ukraines bravery on the battlefield must be matched by the vision of the private sector to help the country rebuild and recover. Time and time again, Ukraine has shown its ability to rapidly harness innovation and creativity, and I know its recovery will be no different, he is expected to say.

The illegal invasion of Ukraine has devastated businesses and livelihoods throughout the country, but it has not destroyed the ingenuity or determination of the Ukrainian people.

A financially stronger, technologically advanced Ukraine will bolster its ability to drive Russia back behind its borders and build a brighter future for a sovereign and modern Ukraine of the future.

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Paul Brandfass is a May Petals award winner at Northwest Health  Porter. - Original Credit: Photo courtesy of Northwest Health  Porter (Photo courtesy of Northwest Health  Porter/HANDOUT)

Longtime health center CEO announces retirement

The chief executive officer of HealthLinc will retire at the end of 2023, according to a release.

Beth Wrobel has guided HealthLinc since 2002 and moved the organization from a single, free medical clinic to a federally qualified health center with 12 clinics, two school-based telehealth clinics, one mobile medical/dental clinic and more than 450 employees, a release said. She has also opened two full-service pharmacies under HealthLinc RX.

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The HealthLinc Board of Directors has contracted with The Meyers Group, an executive search firm headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, to assist in the search for a new CEO.

Pair honored in monthly awards at Northwest Health  Porter

Two Northwest Health  Porter caregivers were honored in May.

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Sierra Sweeney was the recipient of the Daisy award for exceptional nursing and Paul Brandfass, a nursing assistant, was the recipient of the Petals award for outstanding support professionals, according to a release.

Sweeney, an ICU nurse, was nominated by a patients family who wrote to thank and acknowledge her for her professionalism and comforting reassurance during their fathers intensive care stay, the release said. Brandfass was nominated by his co-workers, the day shift nursing staff, who wrote that they had nothing but exceptional things to say about him, the release said.

Daisy award was established to celebrate the extraordinary compassion that nurses provide their patients and families, the release said. The Petals award honors non-nursing professionals for their exceptional skills and support.

PNW literacy prep programs recognized

Purdue University Northwests (PNW) undergraduate program in Elementary Education received recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for its rigorous preparation of future educators in how to teach reading, according to a release.

PNW earned an A grade in NCTQs new report, Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction. PNW was among 23% of higher education institutions to earn the grade for meeting standards set by literacy experts for most effective teaching methods of reading instruction, which is referred to as the science of reading by educators, the release said.

The new NCTQ analysis of teacher preparation programs coverage of the science of reading was developed over the course of two years, involving teams of literacy experts, researchers, teacher preparation leaders and educators, the release said. NCTQ evaluated 693 traditional undergraduate and graduate programs across the U.S., including 18 in Indiana.

OB/GYN wins Franciscan Health Michigan City St. Luke Award

Franciscan Physician Network OB/GYN Dr. Sharmilee Thota has been chosen as the recipient of the 2023 Franciscan Health Michigan City St. Luke Award, according to a release.

The award recognizes physicians who have an outstanding rapport with nurses, patients and their families; show respect for the nursing profession; provide education and act as a resource to staff; serve as a role model and exhibit a team approach to care, a release said. Thota has been with Franciscan since 2018.

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I have dedicated my career to womens health, and it is truly my pleasure to serve the women of our community. I am looking forward to another year of building relationships with patients, their families and our excellent staff here in Michigan City, Thota said in the release.
The opening of US migrant processing centers in Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala ensures that more than ever these countries will become waiting rooms for asylum seekers wanting American visas.

The Safe Mobility initiative rolled out by Washington in Central America  the main corridor for tens of thousands hoping to reach the United States without visas  attempts to expand legal pathways for asylum seekers while keeping them in countries farther from the US border.

The new program started May 11 with the end of Title 42, which had allowed US authorities to return migrants across the border and deny them the right to seek asylum under rules put in place due to the Covid pandemic.

Migrants must now seek a virtual appointment on the movilidadsegura.org website, which is supported by the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration.

New regional processing centers in Colombia and Guatemala will interview migrants for legal pathways to the United States, Canada and Spain.

In Costa Rica, Safe Mobility offices will facilitate ways for Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to migrate legally as long as they were in the country prior to June 12.

US officials consider the new program a success.

A State Department official, speaking on background, said it expands lawful ways for migrants to obtain visas instead of making the dangerous journey to try to enter irregularly.

The flow of US-bound migrants from South America  mostly Venezuela and Ecuador  has increased through the Darien, the perilous jungle isthmus between Colombia and Panama.

A recent UN statement said more than 100,000 people have crossed through the Darien so far in 2023, a sixfold increase from the same period last year.

 Borders 

US officials believe the new processing centers will make it easier for migrants to determine if they have a legal pathway to the United States and not have to put their lives in the hands of smugglers.

University of Costa Rica academic Carlos Sandoval told AFP this initiative responds to a strategy of moving immigration controls southward to implement more border controls before the physical border.

Mexico is the first border, Sandoval said. But US officials have sought to place border controls in Guatemala as well, and now it is coming to the south.

In March alone, more than 160,000 people tried to cross into the United States from Mexico, according to the State Department.

 Containing flows 

Sandoval said three types of migrants converge in Central America on their way to the United States. There are Central Americans; those coming from South America, mainly Venezuela; and lastly people from other parts of the world.

Central America has been and will continue to be a waiting room, he said.

Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia will be the strategic countries to contain these migratory flows, said Gabriela Oviedo, Human Mobility Project coordinator at the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL).

 Transit point 

The United States proposes that migrants wait for processing in the country where they are, although there is no guarantee of a visa.

The three countries will have to assist vulnerable refugees to get the help they need to obtain legal status there while they await lawful pathways to other countries, including the United States, the State Department official said.

But in colonial downtown Guatemala City, Diego Berrios, a 23-year-old Venezuelan, asks for money to continue his journey north despite the start of the migration program.

He arrived in Guatemala a few days ago and hopes to reach the US-Mexico border with his wife and daughters, aged one and eight, as soon as possible.

Here in Guatemala, it is just a transit point, he told AFP.

Oviedo warns that there is still no clarity on how the processing centers will operate and what the procedures will be.

We dont know how long they are going to take, what is going to happen to people who are denied these regular permits. There is a lot of uncertainty, she said.

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Malians appear divided over the military juntas loud call for UN peacekeepers to immediately leave the west African country in the throes of a jihadist insurgency.

The foreign minister called Friday for the UN Security Council to withdraw the nearly 15,000 peacekeepers from his country without delay, denouncing their failure to meet security challenges

The mandate of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) expires on June 30 and plenty of people in the capital Bamako back getting rid of the foreign forces.

MINUSMAs presence has served no purpose, Bamako resident Ladji Diallo told AFP.

Theyve been here for 10 years with no result. Their arrival even made the situation worse, he added.

Malis military has increasingly imposed operational restrictions on the peacekeepers and also broken a longstanding alliance with former colonial power France.

The landlocked Sahel state has been battling a security crisis since jihadist and separatist insurgencies broke out in the north in 2012.

The deepening crisis covers not just security but politics, the economy and human rights.

The ruling junta came to power in 2020 and has turned to Russia for political and military assistance. On Sunday it stages a referendum on constitution reform that would strengthen the presidents powers and amnesty previous coup leaders.

At the Security Council Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop rejected the UN secretary-generals offer to change the mandate, covering soldiers and police.

MINUSMA seems to have become part of the problem by fuelling community tensions exacerbated by extremely serious allegations which are highly detrimental to peace, reconciliation and national cohesion in Mali, Diop said.

Mali can take care of its own security, according to the minister.

Mohamed Diallo, another Bamako resident echoed the anti-MINUSMA feeling.

They have brought no solution, he said, claiming on the contrary they stoked problems between Malians.

Since theyve been here for 10 years without results, why not ask them to leave?

But the popular narrative about restoring sovereignty over the desert nation does not reassure everyone.

In Bamako, Moussa Traore said he did not really oppose MINUSMAs departure.

But he did voice concerns about the impact it would have, particularly on the large numbers of locals employed by the force.

If they lose their jobs, it will add to the numbers of those of us who earn nothing and have to manage whatever way we can, he said.

There has to be some serious thought given to this decision which worries me.

The juntas call for the UN peacekeepers to go followed months of sporadic demonstrations calling for them to leave. Counter-protesters have also taken to the streets to demand MINUSMA stay in Mali.

 Security curtain 

Despite criticism of MINUSMA, established in 2013 to help stabilise a state threatened with collapse under jihadist threat, the blue helmets offered a security curtain and logistical support in remote areas, including some where the state no longer has control.

MINUSMA ensure the logistics for towns, it kept the access open and avoided the situation facing places in north Burkina Faso which are under a state of siege, from jihadists, said Jean Herve Jezequel, head of the Sahel Project for conflict resolution organisation Crisis Group.

At Menaka, in Malis northeast, which is under pressure from the Islamic State group, thousands of displaced people have sought safety around the UN base there.

In many places, the Malian army is cantoned in the MINUSMA base. Theres a risk that the jihadists will take control of these places, said Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, spokesman for a group of political and military movements in the north known as the Cadre strategique permanent or permanent strategic framework.

There are also fears for the future of the key 2015 peace agreement between the government and former rebel groups in the north.

While MINUSMA has not been the main mediator between the two parties, it has played an important role in implementing this agreement which is already in bad shape, according to Ramadan.

MINUSMAs departure also threatens the fragile economies of northern towns, already weakened by the conflict.

MINUSMA represents hundreds if not thousands of jobs. From an economic point of view, that will leave a hole that nothing can fill at the moment, Jezequel said.

The peacekeepers fulfil a major role in development and humanitarian aid. The state has not yet been restored and to a large part its MINUSMA that has looked after the people, said Elmaouloud Ramadan.

But Jezequel noted that the 2022 withdrawal of French troops from Mali saw predictions that the country would collapse with a year. Thats not what happened, he said.

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In light of the persisting humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Senator Francis Tolentino favors the Philippine governments initiative  spurred by a request from its ally the United States  to extend help to Afghans who have been tragically affected by war.

With a resolute commitment to human rights and international solidarity, Tolentino, vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, called for swift actions, similar to those undertaken during the Quezon and Duterte administrations, to provide temporary refuge and support to vulnerable individuals seeking safety and stability.

The escalating crisis in Afghanistan has resulted in immense suffering, displacement, and uncertainty for countless innocent civilians, the senator said.

Tolentino emphasized the importance of demonstrating Filipinos shared humanity by assisting those fleeing violence and persecution.

He noted the dire situation of Afghans affected by the war in their country that has lasted for more than two decades, such that any chance to remove innocent lives from conflict and war should be pursued compassionately.

As part of the Philippines unwavering commitment to uphold human rights, Tolentino stressed the countrys duty to render assistance to displaced persons under international law and treaties.

He mentions three key legal documents the Philippines has ratified and is a signatory to, including the 1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); 2) the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol; and 3) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Proclaimed in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, Article 14 of UDHR safeguards the right to seek and enjoy asylum. In 1981, the Philippines also acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, outlining refugees rights with the principle of non-refoulement at the cornerstone.

Lastly, having ratified the ICCPR in October 1986, the Philippines is bound to uphold and protect a broad range of civil and political rights, he said.

Tolentino also mentioned Executive Order No. 163, entitled Institutionalizing Access to Protection Services for Refugees, Stateless Persons, and Asylum Seekers, and dated 28 February 2022. Pursuant to E.O. No. 163, the Philippines has taken steps to strengthen the existing legal framework and institutionalized access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers, collectively known as persons of concern.

Tolentino recalls that the Philippines has a proud history of extending humanitarian aid and hospitality to foreign nationals in dire need.

The country has welcomed refugees and displaced persons from various corners of the globe, such as Jews, Vietnamese, and Syrians, offering them safety and sanctuary.

Through the Philippine Open Door Policy primarily led by former President Manuel L. Quezon, Jewish refugees who were fleeing persecution in Europe found shelter in the Philippines.

Also, following the Vietnam War, the country provided temporary shelter and assistance to Vietnamese refugees before their resettlement in other countries.

Under the administration of former President Duterte, the country recently extended assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing war and persecution in Myanmar.

Drawing upon this legacy, Tolentino urged the government and fellow Filipinos to exhibit the same spirit of empathy and solidarity towards Afghan individuals who have endured immense hardships.

The senator emphasized the need for a comprehensive support system during their temporary stay in the Philippines. This includes access to temporary shelter, food supply, and healthcare, among others.

According to Tolentino, Filipinos have continuously been welcomed to work and live overseas, whether temporarily or permanently. He assures that the relocation programs extended to Afghan war-affected individuals will be temporary and pre-screened to those most in need.

By working in partnership with international organizations and other countries on temporary resettlement programs, the Philippines can amplify its efforts to provide a haven to vulnerable individuals.

Such cooperation will also strengthen the Philippines position as an advocate for human rights on the global stage. Tolentino says opening doors to Afghan war-affected individuals, even for a temporary period, will provide golden opportunities to start rebuilding lives.

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Fishermen and the crew of a passenger ship rescued more than 130 people onboard a Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessel that caught fire while sailing a few kilometers from the Tagbilaran City port in Bohol province Sunday.

It was the second significant fire on a ferry boat in the country in three months, following the blaze that cost the lives of 33 people off the coast of Basilan last March.

In a separate incident on Friday, Two Turkish nationals were rescued after a fire gutted their yacht near Limbones Island in Nasugbu town, Batangas.

The RoRo vessel, the MV Esperanza Star owned by Kho Shipping Lines Inc.

(KSL), traveled from Iligan City and left Siquijor Saturday night.

It was expected to dock at the Tagbilaran port at 4 a.m. on Sunday.

But it sent a distress call when a fire erupted outside the engine room while traversing Doljo Point near Panglao Island, said Anthony Damalerio, head of the Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).

No one was missing. No one was injured. All passengers and crew are accounted for, he said.

He said the shipping company provided water, clothes, and slippers at the Tagbilaran port terminal.

In a statement posted on its official social media page, KSL thanked Bohol coast guard, TransAsia 19 personnel, and fishermen for instantly responding to the distress call when their ship caught fire.

All crew and passengers were immediately rescued to safety, being taken care of and all accounted for, it said.

KSLs RoRo vessel was serving the Cebu City-Tagbilaran City-Lazi, Siquijor-Iligan City route.

The statement said functional fire suppression systems installed atthe vessel, such as CO2, fire hydrants, sprinkling systems and others, were immediately activated to put off the fire and avert further damage to the vessel.

The company said it will replace the vessel this week with MV Cataingan so as not to hamper the flow and continue serving passengers and cargoes plying the route.

In Nasugbu, Batangas, police said the yachts captain, 62-year-old Erdinc Turerer, and boatman Abdula Ercel, 42, were rescued from the burning yacht by local fishermen and authorities.

Turerer suffered first-degree burns after being caught in the fire.

The victims were sailing from San Isidro, Leyte to Ilocos Norte when strong waves toppled the yachts fuel containers into its engine room and gas tank, triggering an explosion and starting the fire.

The two victims managed to abandon the yacht before it exploded but were separated by the strong current.

Both victims were taken to hospital and were in stable condition.

Earlier this year, 33 people died when the MV Mary Joy 3 was engulfed by fire off Basilan in late March.

The ferry was traveling to Sulu from Zamboanga when it caught fire off Baluk-Baluk island, Basilan in the late hours of March 29. Of the 249 passengers, 216 survived.

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Heres what happened locally on June 18 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin:

100 years ago: Every farmer in this county should be making plans to take the week of July 16 to 21st off as a little vacation and yet make it one of the most profitable weeks that he has spent this summer. He can do this by joining the farmers of the county in an auto excursion from Martinsville up the Valley of Virginia by Roanoke, Lexington, Staunton We will stop at farms of note and study the methods of farming, fencing, buildings  COME ON BOYS, AND LETS GO.  T.J. THOMPSON JR., County Agent

75 years ago: The veterans on-the-job related training program is continuing through the summer months at the Martinsville high school, it was announced today by B.S. Ramsey, director of Adult Education. Veterans who accept on-the-job training during the summer may register each Monday and Wednesday nights for supplementary training.

50 years ago: Martinsvilles new garbage collection is proving far superior to the old policy but there are still a few wrinkles to iron out, Assistant City Manager George W. Brown said. The new collection policy, which went into effect in April, requires residents either to use plastic liners in their garbage cans or carry their cans to the curb for pickup.

25 years ago: DuPonts fire training center has a reputation as one of the best in the nation for providing instruction in hazardous materials control and other industrial firefighting specialties. After DuPont closes its nylon plant June 30, theres a good chance that the facility would become the property of Henry County. DuPont and county officials have confirmed that informal talks have been held in recent months to try to determine the centers fate. But no plan has been agreed upon.
The Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) Foundation honored 11 P&HCC graduates as distinguished alumni on June 9 at Chatmoss Country Club.

Every year, P&HCC recognizes alumni who have brought distinction to themselves through academic achievement, career success and community involvement; graduated with a degree or certificate or have taken a minimum of twenty-four credit hours from P&HCC; have demonstrated success within their field of expertise; and have provided significant service in local, state, or national organizations are eligible for nomination, a release said.

This years award recipients are: Elizabeth Ashby, Dayna Bobbitt, J.D., Angie Brown, Brad Draper, Dr. Jan Harrison, Sandra Heath, Dr. Dylan Jones, Dr. Bethany Lackey, Rick Love, Rodney Mills, and Frances Wade.

Ashby completed credits towards her associates degree at P&HCC in 2005 and completed the P&HCC CNA program in 2008 before attending William & Mary to earn a bachelors degree in biology and then Virginia Tech where she earned her masters degree in curriculum and instruction. Ashby then completed postgraduate biology credits from Framingham State University and earned a tethering leadership certification from James Madison University.

Ashby currently serves as a secondary science instructor of physical science, AP biology, life science and general biology for Virtual Virginia. She is also a science content specialist with the CHOICE Program & Virginia Ed Strategies.

Bobbitt graduated wither an associates degree in science from P&HCC in 2010 after participating in D2 and Governors School programs. She went on to earn a bachelors degree in communications and public relations with a minor in business leadership from Virginia Tech in 2013 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2016.

Bobbitt is the commonwealths attorney in Patrick County and has also been an Adjunct Professor for P&HCC in the Legal Assisting/Paralegal program.

Brown earned her associates degree in business management from P&HCC in 1988. She continued her education at Radford University where she earned a bachelors degree in business administration in accounting in 1990.

Brown currently serves as the site facilitator at the Patrick County site of Patrick & Henry Community College.

Draper graduated from P&HCC with his associates degree in business administration. He then attended Radford University when he earned a bachelors degree in finance and insurance in 1986.

Draper is the owner and operator of Draper Flowers & Gifts and has served as an adjunct instructor in floral design classes for P&HCC.

Harrison earned her associates degree in early childhood development from P&HCC in 2003 and her associates degree in general studies in 2006. She continued her education at Old Dominion University earning a bachelors degree in human services in 2006; a masters degree in counseling, marriage and families in 2008; a doctorates degree in educational leadership in 2019; and a graduate certificate in preschool from Liberty University in 2021.

Harrison is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Development at P&HCC.

Heath graduated from P&HCC in 1988 with a certificate in bookkeeping and in 1992 with an associates degree in computer information systems  microcomputer specialist. Heath continued her education at Averett University where she earned a bachelors degree in business administration.

Heath has served as district manager for the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District, a sub-division of the commonwealth, for 27 years now and is co-owner and operator of Heath Ridge Beef Cattle Farm.

Jones earned his associates degree in general studies from P&HCC in 2014. He then attended Roanoke College to earn a bachelors degree in biology in 2016, Montclair State University to earn a masters degree in biology in 2018 and the Binghampton University to earn a doctorates degree in biology in 2023.

Jones is a biologist with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC.

Lackey graduated with her associates degree in general studies in 2008. She then attended Ferrum College to earn a bachelors degree in psychology in 2011 and Virginia Tech to earn a masters degree in counselor education in 2013 and a doctorates degree in philosophy in counselor education and supervision in 2020.

Lackey is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and is the executive director and co-founder of A Tree Planted Counseling, a mental health nonprofit built on collaboration and reducing barriers within the community through healing, inclusive and trauma-informed practices. She also started the Roanoke Refugee Partnership in 2017 and is an adjunct professor in the Counselor Education department at Virginia Tech.

Love graduated with an associates degree in business from P&HCC in 1980. He then attended James Madison University where he earned a bachelors degree in business administration with a minor in marketing in 1982.

Love is a senior member advocate at ValleyStar Credit Union.

Mills earned his associates degree in general studies from P&HCC in 2005. He went to the University of Virginia where he earned a bachelors degree in African-America and African studies in 2007.

Mills is an AVID English and sociology teacher at Greensville County High School in Emporia.

Wade graduated from P&HCC in 1982 with an associates degree in secretarial science. She received a computer programming certificate from ECPI Technical Institute in 1977 and is a master chief deputy clerk with the Henry County Circuit Court.
An Axton-based brewery is putting on a music festival to benefit Girls Rock Roanoke and provide an intimate festive experience at the same time.

Peggy Donivan and Herb Atwell, owners of Mountain Valley Brewing first started a music festival as Appalachian Vibes Music Festival to shine a spotlight on both establish and emerging talent and celebrate the diversity of music.

The first festival  was really to try and feature artists in groups that didnt get the recognition that they needed for whatever reason, Donivan said. And a lot of it was because of their sexual orientation, their appearance and other factors.

This festival, and any future festivals, will be called SunBine Music Festival to represent the summer equinox and the beer the brewery makes. The summer equinox is a time when their farm grown hops are a peak development and the hops grown on bines  SunBine.

This year I think our prime focus, besides inviting some of the same excellent artists back, is to bring something to Axton, Donivan said. Bring something to our customers and the local community.

This is more intimate where you actually get to talk to the people [performers] and theyll mingle with you, Atwell said.

You wont have to push anybody out of the way here to get a view, Donivan added.

This year is the fourth festival and a new stage was built outside on the property where before they rented stages and equipment.

We built the stage for the festival, Atwell said. The stage will remain on the property year-round to host music lawn series at the brewery throughout the year. Smaller bands will perform inside the brewery and bands will alternate stages so that music is playing constantly throughout the event.

The lineup includes: Anna Laprad with Andy Burnette, Riggs Roberson, Jesse Ray Carter and Isaac Hadden Organ Trio on Friday; Charissa Joy & The High Frequency, Maggie Blankenship & Amber Collier, Camel City Blues, Kinnfolk, Emily Musolino Band, The Mighty Good Times, In The Meantime, Megan Jeans Secret Family and Disco Risque on Saturday; and Greg Wampler & The Wamp Show and The Austin Miller Duo on Sunday.

On Friday and Saturday from midnight to 2 a.m. there will be a silent disco for a charge of $10 for the headphones which will be provided. Camping is available for purchase on the overlook behind the brewery and parking is on-site at no extra charge.

Vikings of the Valley out of Roanoke will be present. The group provides educational programming on the ages of northern Europe and the ages of the Viking and will perform a sunrise ceremony Saturday morning at the festival.

The group will also perform weapon demonstrations, sing Viking songs with attendees, have a big Viking boat on site and toy swords for children that attend, as well.

There will be free yoga sessions at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, craft vendors, a painting class by Jessica McFarling and a show by fire performers.

Food trucks will be Hometown BBQ, Gatshaken, a hot dog cart and Frostys Ice Cream. Beer will be from Mountain Valley Brewing.

Attendees can bring their own 16-ounce cup or purchase one at the festival, but to keep the area clean and cut back on pollution there wont be plastic cups available.

The event is only ticketed Friday and Saturday and Sunday will be open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at mountain-valley-brewing-festival.website.spoton.com/ecommerce/events/sunbine-music-fest-22/, at the Brewery and at the gates day of the festival.

All proceeds from the event will go to Girls Rock Roanoke to raise funding for future generation to enjoy music and the arts.
It was almost like old times on Tuesday when I noticed someone dropping in on the City Council meeting after it was well underway.

I turned to my right and saw a young lady quickly take a seat. I turned back to face the council members and then did a double-take.

It was former Vice Mayor Jennifer Bowles either taking notes or coming with prepared notes, I couldnt tell which, but based on my experience, I didnt think she was there just to sit and watch.

I was right.

During the business from the floor portion of the meeting when resident Toolie Hairston usually reminds Council how disappointed he is and how we need to work together; and Ural Harris explains the merits of reversion and criticizes Council about its lack of consideration for the city dwellers pocketbooks; comes now the former Councilwoman Jennifer Bowles.

We would do well to remember it was in November when Bowles and Danny Turner were unseated as city council members by newcomers LC Jones and Aaron Rawls.

We would also do well to note that among the first actions Jones and Rawls took when they were sworn into office was to appoint Rawls and Joe Martin to the Board of the West Piedmont Planning District Commission.

The cities of Martinsville and Danville get three seats each on this board, as does the Town of Rocky Mount, and the counties of Franklin, Patrick, Henry and Pittsylvania.

These governing bodies appoint two members from their own ranks and a third from the community, a citizen appointee, as they call it.

Bowles was appointed as one within Councils rank and ostensibly, she was replaced by Rawls. That left the third seat open and Council appointed Joe Martin to serve in that capacity.

Bowles claimed she was removed without cause, which she said made it illegal, and defended her opinion with a section of Virginia Code.

The cause, as I understood it without it being said, was that she was no longer a member of Council, the requirement for being appointed to one of the two governing body seats.

Bowles said on Tuesday that she intended to continue serving on the Commissioners Board to represent the City, but its my understanding the job of this appointed position is to represent the interests of City Council, not the City. Its the job of the Council Members to represent the City.

On the West Piedmont Planning District Commissions list of board members on the Commissions website, the representatives listed do not include Bowles.

If the only one that thinks Bowles is still on the Commissioners Board is Bowles, as appears to be the case, then I wonder what will happen when she shows up to continue serving as she says she intends to do.

Regardless, the situation on Tuesday was tense and drama had once again returned to the confines of Council Chambers.

I obtained a copy of the bylaws of the Commission and Article II, Section 1, says Commission members shall be appointed, removed for cause, and vacancies filled by the respective governing bodies of those political subdivisions.

The Commissions website says members are appointed by their respective member jurisdictions. Each member jurisdiction can appoint two elected officials and one non-elected resident to serve on the Board.

Since Bowles was appointed as an elected official, her seat on the board became vacant when she failed to win re-election, and Rawls was chosen to fill that vacancy.

I suppose Bowles could have been reappointed to the Board and serve as the non-elected resident, but Council chose Joe Martin instead.

Thats not illegal, as Bowles contends, thats just politics.
McDowell Technical Community College in Marion is pleased to announce that it is joining a group of more than 300 community colleges that compose the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), the most comprehensive non-governmental reform movement for college student success in the nation.

ATD Network colleges work to holistically advance student success and grow as catalysts for economically vibrant communities. By joining the ATD Network, McDowell Tech is committing to a tailored engagement in whole-college transformation and is gaining access to a nationwide network of peer support and expertise.

McDowell Tech is part of a 2023 cohort of 13 colleges joining the ATD Network during a time when community colleges have seen a steep decline in enrollment over the past several years. The college is making a bold statement that it is dedicated to doing better by its students and its community, says ATD president and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout.

The colleges in our 2023 cohort, like all ATD colleges, understand the role that community colleges play not just in in the social and economic mobility of their students as individuals but in lifting up entire communities, she stated. ATDs focus on equity underpins the broad, transformational changes that our Network colleges experience and which, in turn, benefit the entire populations that they serve. These colleges are deeply invested in the process of change-making and have already identified goals toward greater student success. Im excited to see how much further we can all go along this journey as they join our network.

MTCC President Dr. Brian S. Merritt indicates that McDowell Tech intends to work with ATD to build capacity for institutional research, reinvent and reimagine our college for adult learners, intensify collaborations with high school partners, and leverage community relationships to align programs with workforce development needs.

McDowell Tech joins the ATD Network alongside two other institutions, Arapahoe Community College (Colorado) and Piedmont Virginia Community College, in addition to 10 other 2023 cohort colleges that joined in February as part of the Accelerating Equitable Outcomes initiative funded in part by a gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Teams from McDowell Tech and each of the other new member colleges convened in Milwaukee, Wis., from June 12-15 for a kickoff institute that set the stage for their partnerships with ATD. The kickoff experience included an introduction to ATDs Institutional Capacity Framework, a comprehensive assessment built on seven essential capacities that help colleges develop a student-centered culture leading to greater student success.

Collectively, the 2023 ATD Network cohort has a demonstrated commitment to tackling equity challenges, building a culture of data-informed decision-making, and maximizing the student experience through high-quality teaching and learning.

At McDowell Tech, our vision statement is simple: We will learn and grow while focusing on individuals, our community, and our institution, said Merritt. Joining ATD is our next step to help reimagine how we move forward in a changing economic landscape. Our mission is critical to social and economic mobility, and we aim to help anyone who desires the opportunity to earn a degree or credential that could help lift them out of poverty.

About McDowell Technical Community College

McDowell Technical Community College is a proud member of the N.C. Community College System  one of 58 constituent institutions throughout the state. The mission of the college is to enrich our community with access to student-centered, affordable, high-quality, lifelong learning opportunities that promote workforce development. Our vision is to learn and grow while focusing on individuals, our community and our institution. We are committed to partnering closely with employers to intentionally create programming that meet local and regional workforce demands and to strengthen work-based learning opportunities that enrich the student learning experience.

With an annual enrollment of over 1,600 students in curriculum programs and in excess of 4,500 in continuing education, we produce strong and successful leaders in a wide variety of programs, especially healthcare and public safety careers (nursing, health information technology, law enforcement, and emergency medical services) and manufacturing & technical careers (welding, construction, mechatronics and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technology). We have a strong commitment to ensuring more equitable college access and graduation rates that advance social and economic mobility in our region.

About Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on its expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, ATD provides institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work  from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K12 partnerships, and more. ATD calls this Whole College Transformation. The vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable, antiracist, and economically vibrant communities. ATD knows that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes  so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers.
I was finally done with my schooling and training, and my family was excited to move to a community where we could establish our home. Although we didnt know much about Missoula, we were excited for the opportunity to be closer to family, while living in a town where the activities we loved are readily available. During that job interview, I remember talking with one of my potential colleagues and they were describing how they loved the Missoula community. He said: you can find whatever youre looking for in Missoula. Its an eclectic mix of people from cowboys to hippies, farmers to professors and everything in between. His point was that it didnt matter what group of people you may identify with, in Missoula you fit in. Over the subsequent years, my family and I have loved our time here and have become integrated into this community. I have since reflected on the notion that our differences within the community are what makes us stronger.

Our community is indeed a place consisting of many people with differing backgrounds, political ideologies, religion and experiences. These differences can enrich our lives and foster personal growth - if we allow them to. When we interact with individuals from diverse perspectives we have the opportunity to learn from them and broaden our own understanding. By embracing diversity, we can tap into a wellspring of creativity and find new solutions to problems. The resulting solutions to our challenges can benefit the entire community.

Embracing differences should go farther than just a mere coexistence. It is vital that we treat others with kindness and respect. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a world where differences often lead to conflict. Examples of this are all too common. Groups of people clash with those with differing ideas, and who wear a different label than their own. President Russel M Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said, Labels can be fun and indicate your support for any number of positive things. But if any label replaces your most important identifier, as a child of God, the results can be spiritually suffocating. To truly strengthen our community, we can avoid this trap of dueling with those who are different from ourselves. We can appreciate and recognize our differences while following the golden rule of treating others how we want to be treated.

Im proud to be a Missoulian where our differences are celebrated and appreciated, while we learn from and encourage each other in our quest to build a stronger community.
Farmer Craig King stands between silos as he speaks about the impact of the lack of rain on this year's harvest at his Kouts farm on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Northwest Indiana is in a severe drought that the U.S. Drought Monitor has designated as having short and long-term impacts. But for Kouts farmer Craig King hope sprouts eternal, and it only takes a simple one-inch rain like the one that fell Tuesday to keep the faith.

It was a beautiful rain. It came gently and we were able to utilize all of it, King said Wednesday afternoon. The ground was hard and it gave it time to get softened up again.

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The last time Northeastern Illinois and far Northwestern Indiana were labeled a D2 drought was in early 2022, according to Scott Lincoln, senior service hydrologist for the Chicago office of the National Weather Service. But then only one county in the region was labeled D2.

Right now 50% of the regions counties are in a D2 drought. The last time the region had such a widespread drought of that severity was the summer and fall of 2012.

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Farmer Craig King holds "waxy corn" kernels in his hands during a walkthrough of his Kouts farm on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

The impacts to crops in 2012 were more impactful than what were having now, Lincoln said. I think the drought would have been worse if it had been hotter. If recent weeks had been in the 80s and 90s the stress on plants would have been worse.

King is in his 50s and has been farming in Kouts with his father his whole life. This year they planted 450 acres of corn and soybeans. By early May King had planted 150 acres of soybeans, and around May 20 he put in the last of his 300 acres of corn.

Theirs is considered a small holding and they use a 60-foot well and water from an adjacent ditch to irrigate their crops, but natures water is still king. This inch of rain is going to be huge for everybody. I feel bad for the people who didnt get it, but you have to have faith its going to rain.

The worst drought King remembers was in 1988 when he was a junior in high school. That year we chopped a lot of corn. It was only making five bushels to the acre, he said.

Farmer Craig King stands in a milking parlor that he and his father had built, from when his farm also did dairy, on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

King suspects they may already have lost some yield this year as the corn should be a little taller by now. The corn can help itself out once it reaches knee-high because it shades the ground, which keeps it cooler and retains more moisture. He said farmers like to see corn tasseling out by the Fourth of July, but he doesnt expect it will be at that point this season.

Sooner or later its always dry, he said of every single growing season hes lived through. As long as theres enough to get it to root down, hes not concerned for his crop.

The most crucial time is July when were trying to get it to pollinate, he added. Indiana State Climatologist Beth Hall of the Indiana Climate Office said scientists cant offer guidance on the level of intensity to expect from precipitation as far out as July.

I think from a farmers perspective, theyre more concerned with how its going to fall in terms of intensity, Hall said. Ideally, its going to fall slow and steady.

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Farmer Craig King points out a previous "waxy corn" harvest in one of the silos on his Kouts farm on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Lincoln and King agree. Lincoln said the top two feet of local soil are pretty dry right now. We really do need that rain to be a little more steady to get it a chance to soak in, he said.

The area needs to have an inch or more over several days to come out of the drought, Lincoln explained. We had a few rain events since April, but we can kind of count on one hand, he said.

Hall said above-normal temperatures are favored for July with precipitation outlooks not leaning one way or another. So were just saying theres no guidance, she said of the Week 3-4 Climate Outlook released last week that represents the last week of June and the first week of July.

But, if like King, farmers don rose-colored glasses now, they just might be seeing yellow corn and beans come harvest. Yesterdays rain, I call that million-dollar rain, he said. It soaked in and we really need it.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Christian Moya is originally from Peru but lived for a long time in New York City, where there's a huge Latino population and one can find Latin dancing events every night.

So when he moved to Missoula with his wife about a year and a half ago, he wasn't sure he'd find the same sense of community.

But he was pleasantly surprised that, while Missoula's Latino community is fairly small, it is thriving.

For decades there's been an informal group hosting Latin dance and music events around town. The most recent iteration is Latin Nights hosted by a group called Salsa 406!, and it's every first Saturday of the month at the Dark Horse bar.

It's an energetic evening of dancing and live music and conversation, with lessons for those new to Latin dancing like cumbia, salsa and merengue.

"What I like about Latin Nights is it means a lot to me," Moya explained. "It's not even my Peruvian culture, but it reminds me of gathering as a family, listening to music, speaking Spanish and having community. That's what it means to me personally."

Salsa, Moya said, has nothing to do with the Peruvian culture he grew up in. But it's huge in New York City and it's a type of dance he recommends everyone should try. He plays percussion, including congas, for Latin Nights.

"It's a place for Latinos to get together, but it's also a lot of locals and white people trying to learn to dance," he said. "I see that happening for the last few months."

Local dance instructor Jennifer Corbin, who specializes in dances from Spain and the Caribbean, helps organize the events. She's taken on the role from a long line of local Missoulians, starting with Hot Salsa Nights roughly 40 years ago, she estimated.

She's white, but she said the beauty of the Missoula scene is that the Latin Nights brings a diverse crowd of people from all backgrounds.

"The country and western dancers from the Sunrise Saloon come over to the Dark Horse because the music is better," she said. "It's very rhythmic. Dance isn't about performance, it's about connection. Social dance especially, it's learning about everybody in your community. It's building a safe space."

She said the events are a way for people to interact with others of different cultures, from Columbia to Puerto Rico to Mexico to small-town Montana.

"Everyone is super-respectful and fun and caring," she said.

Salsa dancing, she tells her students, is like a perfect apple.

"It's very crisp and snappy but juicy at the same time," she said. "It's just an awesome experience. Even if you don't have experience, there's some sort of move in your repertoire that will work great. You can even just sit and watch and have a great time."

The group has secured public city parks for their new series called Salsa in the Parks. Dance lessons will be at 6 p.m., with music from 7-9 p.m. along with a potluck and dancing.

The first one will be June 24 at Bonner Park, the next one is July 22 at Playfair Park and the last one is Aug. 26 at McCormick Park.

There's also Latin dance lessons hosted on Mondays at the Westside Theater at 8 p.m. for a $5 drop-in fee.

For more information visit Salsa406 on Facebook.

Photos: Dance events build community in Missoula
William Bill Wangler

William Bill Wangler passed away at the age of 89 in his home in Drummond, MT of a heart attack on April 30, 2023. He was born in Kintyre, ND on October 1, 1933 to Magdalena (Glatt) & Joseph Wangler.

Bill was a talented musician playing the drums & guitar in the family band. He joined the Army in December 1953 & was stationed at Fort Carson Colorado where he learned & became an expert mountain road builder which served him well later in life. After his discharge with a good conduct medal, he moved to Montana & worked in the Butte mines, where no shaft was too deep for him to work in, until 1959 when he moved to Drummond to work in the Phosphate & Douglas mines.

On September 29, 1959 he married Helen Glatt, his sweetheart of 7 years at St. Anthonys Church during a ferocious blizzard. They were blessed with 2 children, Bernadetta & Randy.

Bill & his family raised state champion angora rabbits & earth worms that they sold all over the US. He continued mining but in 1965 the trees were calling his name. He became an expert sawyer & road builder.

In 1974, Bill & his family started Wangler Logging. Bill felling trees, Bernadetta & Randy skidding & working the landing with Helen. Many wonderful family times & memories were enjoyed working together in the mountains. After the passing of Helen, Bill & Randy continued to run the logging business and logged side by side in all different areas of Montana until 2014 when Bill retired at the age of 80 & Wangler Logging was no more.

Many people say Bill was a good, kind, thoughtful & well-mannered soul but he was the hardest working SOB they'd ever seen! He wasn't all work & no play. Bill loved exploring the hills with his family on his Mountaineer & loved to fish lakes, streams, oceans & rivers. He was second to none in smoking the fish he caught for many people lucky enough to enjoy.

He looked forward to trips to Branson & watching music shows on the TV since his father & Lawrence Welk were friends.

A highlight in Bill's life recently was when he was in a featured news story on TV about Drummond Senior Meals. He was also a lifetime member of The American Legion & looked forward to working the Drummond Rodeo every year.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Helen, son-in-law Gene Bailey, grandson Michael Bailey, his parents, brothers Tony & Andy Wangler.

He is survived by Bernadetta Wangler Bailey, Randy (Sheila) Wangler, grandchildren; Christie & Erick Bailey, Stephanie (Dave) Barnett, & Shawnee Wangler, great grandchildren; Kinsleigh & Landon Barnett, sister Carol (Julius) Vetter, goddaughter Tammy (Wangler) & Tom Barduson. Many nieces, nephews, sisters & brothers in law.

Friend Cameron Blake & all the stray cats he fed on his back porch.

The family extends their deepest appreciation to the wonderful people of the Drummond Senior Meal Program.

A celebration of Bill's life is Saturday, June 24th at noon.
Running between the contours of the Missouri River Breaks, a network of county roads lead travelers from the firm highway into the often-unstable muck, colloquially called gumbo.

Rather than risk vehicles becoming a temporary fixture in the mixture, Montana Wildlife Federation brought county officials and reporters on a flight on June 12 over the Missouri River Breaks in Fergus County and Crooked Creek in Petroleum County, two areas with exceptionally high recreational use for a region dominated by agriculture. The flight aimed to tour county road needs and contextualize the financial relief currently tied up in a dispute with the governors office.

Fergus County has roughly 1,500 miles of county roads. John Anderson, the countys road and bridge supervisor, said some 75% of road use there is for recreation, while the rest is local farm and ranch operations.

After the flood season subsides, the gumbo typically dries out in the end of August, just in time for antelope and bow hunting season to bring travelers out to the area, Anderson said.

You get about a week of nice road, he half-joked. Then it just gets beat to death.

Counties around the state with local taxpayers shouldering the cost of outsized traffic had high hopes during the Legislature for Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Malta Republican Sen. Mike Lang. The bill would have retooled the state tax revenue on marijuana sales to allocate money toward county road repairs and expanded the use of those dollars toward habitat conservation and restoration projects.

That proposal was at odds with Gov. Greg Gianfortes plan for marijuana tax revenues, some $50 million collected in the recreational markets first year. Gianforte, also a Republican, unveiled a plan before the session began to direct those revenues toward public safety issues, including more state law enforcement agents and a new recruitment campaign to properly staff the state prison.

Lawmakers shut down Gianfortes proposal after its first committee hearing. Langs bill, meanwhile, gathered 130 votes in approval out of the 150-member Legislature.

Still, according to GOP legislative leaders at the time, Gianforte had repeatedly warned he would veto SB 442. In scrapping the outdoors funding from marijuana tax revenues, Gianforte had argued the states conservation funding was flush, and the state had other needs to attend to.

Gianforte indeed did veto the bill. But a dispute about whether the timing and procedure of that veto allows lawmakers to attempt to override him is now being litigated in a pair of lawsuits filed earlier this month by the Montana Wildlife Federation, Wild Montana and the Montana Association of Counties.

According to the governor's office, Gianforte vetoed the bill roughly an hour before the Senate gaveled out to end the session. That timeline precludes a veto override, because legislative rules say lawmakers must take action before adjournment in order to overturn a veto signed while the Legislature is in session. Said another way, had the veto come down after the Legislature adjourned, an override poll could take place.

The plaintiffs, however, contend Gianforte's veto was not read into the Senate's record before adjournment, therefore the Senate was not procedurally able to override the veto. The lawsuits ask a judge to declare the Legislature able to attempt the veto override.

Jeff Lukas, citizens elk management coalition organizer with the Montana Wildlife Federation, joined the air tour by the nonprofit Ecoflight, whose founder Bruce Gordon piloted the six-seater Cessna 210 over the landscape. Anderson, riding shotgun in the buzzing airplane, guided Gordon over the roads that draw hunters to the area year after year. The roads need gravel, Anderson said, rather than just being bladed into a flush surface once a year.

Lukas said success in court could mean stable funding for a region thats not collecting fees directly for recreation use.

Its new money but its going to be consistent money, that tax is always going to be there, Lukas said. This wouldnt just be a one time-time deal, where they get built up and then they get beat up over a couple years and its back to the status quo.

During the session, some lawmakers contended the rural counties that most need the funding are red counties, meaning recreational marijuana sales are banned from the county. A handful of lawmakers questioned whether counties that don't generate any of the marijuana tax revenue should benefit from those dollars.

Fergus County Commissioner Carl Seilstad scoffed at the argument.

Well, maybe their recreationalists should stay in their county, he said.

In his veto letter rejecting SB 442, Gianforte said he expected counties would not lower citizens taxes given the financial assistance, but instead reallocate those dollars to capricious, unnecessary projects, resulting in a net increase of Montanans tax burden.

Craig Iverson, a county commissioner in Petroleum County, said voters recently approved a levy to get a newer piece of equipment that can plow the roads.

Theres no fluff anywhere in Petroleum Countys budget, particularly in the $325,000 earmarked for its county roads, Iverson said. Its not that its offensive or anything, but we struggle with the amount of money were given to try to get across 520 miles of road and do a good job.

The Crooked Creek Recreation Area, on the west end of Fort Peck Reservoir is 50 miles from the highway, and that stretch of county road sees more traffic than any other in Petroleum County, Iverson said.

Some families in the area, he added, have already reported 10 inches of rain this year. While that may be uncomfortable for the families that drove into central Montana to recreate, it can cause some trouble for the people that live there, too.

We enjoy that the recreationalists can come out to Petroleum County and do what they do, but its sure hard on the locals to maintain a road that we would like to have, as well.
HARTFORD CITY, Ind.  For at least the fourth time, a sex offender from Blackford County has been accused of failing to keep authorities updated on his whereabouts.

Darin Scott Maddox, 39, was charged this month in Blackford Superior Court with failure to register as a sex or violent offender, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison.

Maddox was convicted of sexual battery, in Blackford Circuit Court, in August 2006. As a result of that conviction, he is required to register with authorities in the communities where he lives and works.

On May 4, a Blackford County sheriff's deputy was verifying the addresses of local sex offenders, and learned that Maddox now longer lived at the address he had most recently registered at, in the 1800 block of South Blackford County Road 100-W.

A person at that address reported Maddox had been "kicked out" after a disagreement with the property's owner about two weeks earlier, and had indicated he was moving to Ohio.

More: Delaware County man sentenced for posting online images of child sexual abuse

Maddox, arrested in mid-May, was being held in the Blackford County jail on Tuesday under a bond of $3,510. A trial date had not yet been set in the case.

The Hartford City man was convicted of failing to register as a sex or violent offender in 2020, 2016 and 2012.

The most recent conviction stemmed in part from Maddox's failure to inform the sheriff's department he was no longer employed at a local restaurant.

An affidavit said Maddox lost that job after his employers determined he had denied being a convicted sex offender on a job application.

The Blackford County man's criminal record also includes a 2008 conviction for robbery.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Blackford County sex offender again accused of failing to register
Police investigate as turkeys are found shot with darts in California retirement community

A Northern California police department says it is working with state wildlife authorities to investigate multiple reports of turkeys being shot by arrows or darts.

Rio Vista Police Department dispatchers have received at least six calls this year regarding the shooting of turkeys in the area of Trilogy, which is a retirement community on the northwest portion of the city on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the department said in a Friday morning social media post.

At least one of the calls turned out to be reported based on information seen on social media, the department wrote, with officers unable to locate a firsthand witness.

Authorities are investigating the alleged turkey shootings as felony animal cruelty, according to the post.

Police said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is the lead investigating agency and that law enforcement officials cannot provide additional details without hindering the investigation. Fish and wildlife officials also declined to comment on the matter.

Emergency authorities have reported at least two turkey-related issues in the past month, both in the Trilogy area.

The Rio Vista Fire Department on May 19 said a vehicle swerved to avoid a turkey in the roadway, resulting in the vehicle crashing into a fire hydrant and prompting a temporary shutdown of water service in the area. The driver was uninjured.

Rio Vista police in a June 7 Facebook post said a state game warden responded to Trilogy to trap one or more injured turkeys. Police did not specify at that time whether the turkey or turkeys had been shot.

Authorities are advising anyone in the Rio Vista area who spots a turkey that has been struck by arrows or darts to contact police dispatch at 707-374-2300.

The Solano County Sheriffs Office is also assisting in the investigation, Rio Vista police said.
A homegrown Burke County company is getting some help from the state to renovate its building, up fit its footprint and hire more employees.

Gov. Roy Coopers Office and the North Carolina Department of Commerce announced the award of a $200,000 Building Reuse grant Friday to support the growth of Maynard Electric Company in Burke County, according to a release from Coopers office.

The company is in a 79,017-square-foot building at 117 Dugout Circle in Morganton, said Hope Hopkins, director of business retention and expansion for Burke Development Inc. The company is a full-service commercial and industrial electric company, according to the release from Coopers office.

The company moved into the building more than two years ago but the condition in some of the areas of the facility are poor so what it is looking to up fit is in dire need, Hopkins said. She said before Maynard Electric moved in, the building had been vacant for many years.

The release from BDI said Maynard Electric Company will use the grant to support its growth across the state and allow it the required space to fabricate needed parts and prep for jobs as they expand their footprint. The project was approved under the codename Project Piano, according to releases from Coopers office and Burke Development Inc.

Projects that receive these grants must lead to the creation of private sector jobs by new or expanding businesses. Maynard Electric plans on adding an additional 25 new jobs by the end of 2024. The jobs are projected to pay, on average, $53,500 a year, which is higher than the county average wage, according to a release from BDI.

As a Burke County native, I understand the need for skilled workers in this county and the surrounding area, President and Owner Ronnie Maynard Jr. said in the BDI release. This grant will help us create jobs for local workers and people looking to go into a skilled trade career while boosting the local economy. We also look forward to giving new life to the old Grand Piano building, which had long been forgotten.

Maynard Electric has been in operation in Burke County since March of 2013 and has steadily grown over the past 10 years. It initially started by doing commercial and industrial electrical work. Its products include electrical design, construction, installation and repair for industrial, commercial and residential services, according to the release from BDI.

Over the years, the company has expanded its electrical services and added construction, maintenance and fabrication welding. In addition, Maynard Electric can now design and build process equipment systems. The process material handling equipment will include conveyors, belt conveyors, chain conveyors, roll cases, platforms and food processing equipment, the release said.

Burke County was the applicant for the grant and a 5% local match for the grant was approved by the Burke County Board of Commissioners at its April meeting.

BDI President and CEO Alan Wood said in April the company has been working toward expanding for about two years.

The project is expected to create an estimated $1 million in new capital investment, the BDI release said.

We are very excited about this expansion opportunity for Maynard Electric, said Scott Mulwee, chairman of the Burke County Board of Commissioners. The county is committed to creating opportunities for everyone and we welcome this project as part of achieving our shared community goals.
WARSAW, Poland  Nine-year-old Milana Minenko doesnt play piano anymore. During the day, she attends public school in Poland, where she and her mother fled from the war in March 2022. In the evenings, her mother helps her follow Ukraines curriculum to keep up with lessons back home. Theres simply no time  and no money  for anything else.

Russian forces occupied Milanas hometown in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, destroyed her house with a missile on the second day of the war, and uprooted her family. Milana and her family lost nearly everything they loved.

For Milana, that means school. The place that greeted her with balloons on her first day. Friends she can now only send text messages. The teacher who brought joy to learning.

It also means her music school, where she studied piano and singing after her other lessons. That building now lies in ruins. Milanas not sure what became of her primary school. She wonders whether it, too, was bombed by Russian forces targeting schools.

Russian forces have destroyed 262 educational institutions and damaged another 3,019 in their invasion of Ukraine, according to government figures. But the disruption to the education of Ukrainian children goes far beyond buildings turned to rubble. For those whove fled to other countries, schooling is suffering in unprecedented ways, according to families, educators, experts and advocates. The effects of war and relocation combined with the challenges of studying in a new country are compounding educational setbacks for young refugees.

At stake are the knowledge and skills of a generation needed to rebuild the nation after the war, Ukrainian officials say  a priority theyve described since the wars early months. Officials report at least 500 children killed in the war, and thousands have been deported to Russia without consent. Theres no telling how many of the 8 million refugees recorded across Europe will return.

About 1.5 million live in Poland, the most of any country. Many chose it for proximity to Ukraine and plan to go home someday. In Poland, children arent required to enroll in local schools  an option not allowed in Germany and some other countries.

Fewer than half of the child refugees in Poland  180,000 students  are enrolled in schools, according to UNICEF. Like Milana, most spoke no Polish when they arrived. Around 30% of children from Ukraine who are enrolled and studying in person in the Polish school system are also studying the Ukrainian curriculum online, UNICEF estimates.

Enrollment numbers drop with older students; just 22% of Ukrainian teens in Poland attend the countrys schools.

Its a disaster in slow motion, said Jedrzej Witkowski, CEO of the Polish nonprofit Center for Citizenship Education.

The detrimental effects on learning and socializing will be far-reaching, said Francesco Calcagno, of Polands UNICEF refugee response office. That includes extracurricular activities like Milanas music that are key to development and mental health, according to experts.

Come September, it will be the third school year outside of Ukraine and it will be the fourth year online for many, Calcagno said, citing educational setbacks of the coronavirus pandemic. Learning face to face is missing.  We need to bring these children back into school, back into classrooms.

But Polish schools were already struggling with severe teachers shortages. And language issues exacerbate problems for the refugee students; although Ukrainian and Polish are similar, it takes three years to master the latter at a level needed for scholastic work, Witkowski said.

Following curricula in two languages creates more stress for students dealing with the trauma of war and relocation. Many refugee families have moved several times since arriving in Poland, contributing to a feeling of instability.

I have seen students who changed schools five times, said Rita Rabinek, an intercultural assistant trained by the Polish Migration Forum and the global relief group IRC to help Ukrainian kids adjust to Polish schools.

Students who try to keep up with Ukrainian work see the effects of war still playing out at home. Polina Plokhenko, a 16-year-old who left her Polish high school to focus on Ukrainian studies, is completing online lessons with her school on the frontline in Kherson. Bombs often send her teachers fleeing into shelters.

Polina is this month taking Ukraines final state examination, which students must pass to enter universities there. To prepare, Polina attends Saturday classes at one of three Ukrainian schools set up in Poland by the group Unbreakable Ukraine.

Founder Viktoriia Gnap said the schools teachers  also refugees  consider the overall level of the students knowledge quite low. The foundations aim is to provide them with a high-quality education, even as its funding has been cut amid global economic struggles.

Olha Andrieieva, 17, attended a Polish school and followed classes online for her former school in Balakliia, in Ukraines Kharkiv region. Shelling and power outages often interrupted lessons.

She took Ukraines final exam this month. The rite of passage felt surreal  there was no graduation ceremony, and everything seemed unclear. She was calm about the test but shaken by the news of the dam collapse in southern Ukraine, the wars latest humanitarian and environmental disaster.

The thing to worry about is what is happening in Ukraine, not exams, Olha said, her voice trembling.
CHICAGO  Race has emerged as a central issue  and a delicate one  in the 2024 presidential contest as the GOP's primary field features five candidates of color, making it the party's most racially diverse ever.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who is of Cuban descent, announced his candidacy on Thursday, vowing to create a new brand of politics.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the first Black senator in the South since Reconstruction, entered the contest last month. He joined Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador who is of Indian descent, as is Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who describes himself as "a cultural thought leader."

Also in the race is Larry Elder, an African American raised in Los Angeles' South Central neighborhood who came to national attention as a candidate in the failed effort two years ago to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The candidates of color are considered underdogs in a field currently dominated by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Yet the partys increasingly diverse leadership, backed by evolving politics on issues such as immigration, suggest the GOP may have a real opportunity in 2024 to further weaken the Democrats grip on African Americans and Latinos. Those groups have been among the most loyal segments of the Democratic coalition since Republican leaders fought against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Republican presidential contenders of 2024 walk a fine line when addressing race with the GOPs overwhelmingly white primary electorate.

In most cases, the diverse candidates in the Republican field play down the significance of their racial heritage. They all deny the existence of systemic racism in the United States even while discussing their own personal experience with racial discrimination. They oppose policies around policing, voting rights and education that are designed to benefit disadvantaged communities and combat structural racism.

The NAACP recently issued a travel advisory for Florida under DeSantis' leadership, warning of open hostility toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The notice calls out new policies enacted by the governor that include blocking public schools from teaching students about systemic racism and defunding programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Republican presidential candidates of color largely support DeSantis' positions.

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said the GOPs policies are far more important than the racial and ethnic diversity of their presidential candidates. He noted there also were four Republican candidates of color in 2016, the year Trump won the White House after exploiting tensions over race and immigration.

White nationalists, insurrectionists and white supremacists seem to find comfort in the (Republican) Party, Morial said. I think were beyond the politics of just the face of a person of color by itself appealing to people of color. What do you stand for?

With few exceptions, the Republican candidates who have entered the presidential primary field have embraced the GOP's anti-woke agenda, which is based on the notion that policies designed to address systemic inequities related to race, gender or sexuality are inherently unfair or even dangerous.

DeSantis this past week described such policies as cultural Marxism.

Still, the GOP's diverse field is not ignoring race. Indeed, some candidates are making their race a central theme in their appeal to Republican primary voters even as they deny that people of color face systemic challenges.

Scott insisted that America is not a racist country in his recent announcement speech.

We are not defined by the color of our skin. We are defined by the content of our character. And if anyone tells you anything different, theyre lying, he said.

In her announcement video, Haley noted that she was raised in a small town in South Carolina as the proud daughter of Indian immigrants  not black, not white, I was different. Like Scott, she has defended the GOP against charges of racism.

Some think our ideas are not just wrong, but racist and evil," Haley said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

Elder is quick to criticize the Democrats woke agenda, Black Lives Matter and the notion of systemic racism.

Critics say such messages are actually designed to win over suburban white voters more than to attract voters of color. But at a town hall meeting Ramaswamy hosted on the South Side of Chicago on a recent Friday afternoon, there were signs that some Black voters were open to the GOP's new messengers, given their frustration with both political parties.

One audience member waved a flyer for a Biden boycott because the Democratic president has not signaled whether he supports reparations for the descendants of slaves, although Joe Biden did back a congressional effort to study the issue. None of the GOP's presidential candidates supports reparations, either.

Others condemned Democrats, in Chicago and in Washington, for working harder to help immigrants who are in the country illegally than struggling African American citizens.

Federal officials were preparing to relocate hundreds of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to the South Side, even as many local residents struggled with violence and difficult economic conditions.

It is certainly true that there are multiple shades of melanin in this Republican race, Ramaswamy said in an interview before the event. I think that in some ways dispels the myth that much of the left will perpetuate that this is somehow you know, a racist party or whatever drivel.

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People carry a Juneteenth flag as they march during a Juneteenth re-enactment celebration in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 2021. The Juneteenth National Independence Day national holiday marks the day in Galveston in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans learned that they were free. - (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images) (MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)

Garys Juneteenth celebration was buzzing with music, vendors, kids games and free food on Saturday, but alongside the festivities was a strong sense of encouraging further understanding of American history.

Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021. Long celebrated in the Black community, Juneteenth commemorates when the last slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas  on June 19, 1865  more than two years after Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people living in the Confederate states.

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The City of Gary held its annual Juneteenth celebration Saturday on the grounds of City Hall to recognize the upcoming holiday. Hundreds of people flocked to the event to celebrate on the hot, beautiful day.

(Juneteenth) provides a day of remembrance of freedom, how we should all appreciate our freedom in the Black community, Indiana State Senator Eddie Melton, D-Gary, said.

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Director of Constituent Services for the city of Gary Rachelle Ceaser said local activists had pushed for 20 years for the city to honor Juneteenth before the first festival was held in the city a few years ago. Ceaser said despite the federal government only recently recognizing Juneteenth, the holiday has long been a part of African American historical knowledge and thinks in time the day will only be more widely celebrated.

(The legacy of slavery) is baked in the American cake, Ceaser said. We know theres been progress, but theres a lot more to do.

She and many others stressed the importance of learning the history of Juneteenth amid constant political battles over teaching history.

Theres a conservative bend toward trying to rewrite history, Ceaser said.

Calumet Township Assessor Cozey E. Weatherspoon, Jr. was also at the event, and he spoke in even stronger terms about recognizing the history of Juneteenth. He said Juneteenth should be seen as a teaching opportunity.

A thing thats missing for a lot of African Americans is not knowing our history, he said.

Weatherspoon said he was glad more Americans are starting to learn about the history of Juneteenth, but like Ceaser is worried about political battles over history.

Our history is under attack, (Republicans) are trying to wipe our history off the map, Weatherspoon said. Its absolutely vital for our children to learn about the history of Juneteenth.

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Weatherspoon said he had known about Juneteenth essentially all his life, but others at the festival had learned about the day much more recently.

Precious Holmes was at the festival to sing on behalf of Pure Gospel Ministries. She said she never learned about Juneteenth in school, and only knew about it when it became a federal holiday two years ago.

Weve come a long way, Holmes said. Its a celebration. Thats why Im singing Victory Chant today  because we were victorious.

There was much to do at the event for people of all ages. For kids there was a video game truck and a fire safety truck. Little shops lined the grounds, selling t-shirts, artwork and jewelry. One t-shirt booth was operated by Indiana State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary. Smith said Juneteenth means a lot to him and though he celebrates both, he understands why some Black Americans view the day as their Independence Day, rather than the Fourth of July.

Juneteenth opens up a discussion about freedom, he said. I want people to have what I have. I dont want to be a Clarence Thomas and pull the ladder up behind me.

Like Weatherspoon and Ceaser, Smith expressed indignation about attempts to remove Black history from schools.

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I didnt know about (Juneteenth) until about 20 years ago, and (the Republicans) are trying to have people never know about it, Smith said.

Melton, who won the Democratic Primary for mayor of Gary in May, said that amidst attacks on Black history its important to continue to teach about Juneteenth and other moments like it. He said Garys festival was a good opportunity for kids to learn about Black history.

Education (about Black history) starts in our homes and our schools, Melton said. Its incumbent upon us to teach the next generation our history.

Jared Quigg is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
This month, we spotlight our hospice chaplains or spiritual counselors. In 2019, about 1.61 million Medicare beneficiaries with terminal conditions enrolled in hospice care. Medicare requires hospice providers to offer the option of spiritual care from a trained hospice chaplain. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed about 72% of hospice patients opted for spiritual support, including grief support from the chaplain.

At Beacon of Hope, our hospice chaplains are trained to respect the diverse spectrum of beliefs and cultural traditions. They provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, families and care teams throughout the end-of-life journey. They offer comfort, compassion and prayer services. As trained listener, they provide a safe space for individuals to share their fears, joys and hopes as they deal with the transition of life. Chaplains often guide individuals through spiritual and existential questions related to death, provide comfort and solace in difficult moments, and support caregivers throughout the entire process.

For a hospice chaplain, the goal is to create an atmosphere of peace and understanding and provide a safe space for reflection, prayer and conversation. The chaplains are a source of hope and comfort in the midst of difficult times.

Creating a safe space  Spiritual care recognizes the beliefs, practices and traditions that help people find comfort and meaning in their life.

Grief support  Bereavement doesnt start with the death of a loved one. Anticipatory grief typically starts earlier as the realization that there will be many changes as the patients end of life is near. Hospice chaplains help patients and their families through each stage of grief.

Pastoral care for family and fellow caregivers  Anger, fear or depression can affect family and fellow caregivers alike. Hospice chaplains are trained to help guide people through the emotional challenges that arise with a serious illness or death. At Beacon of Hope Hospice our chaplains never promote religion or seek to convert. They listen first to ensure they meet people wherever they are in lifes journey, regardless of religion, culture or family traditions.

Hospice chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, families and care teams throughout the end-of-life journey. Those trusted connections happen when patients or family members feel free to share their own regrets and hopes with someone who will listen. Hospice chaplains are that bedside sounding board.

We are very thankful for our wonderful hospice chaplains at Beacon of Hope Hospice!
Bunnies can be fluffy, cuddly, energetic, playful pets with lots of personality, according to those who own them.

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But theyre also considered exotic pets  a term that essentially refers to pets that arent cats or dogs  which means theres fewer bunny-related veterinary resources to go around, as experienced rabbit owners well know.

Because veterinary care is a major source of education about how to take care of pets, that means rabbit owners can have a tendency to know less about how to take care of their rabbits than people generally do for cats and dogs. And that can lead to problems  including, ultimately, abandoned bunnies, a topic that comes up yearly in the months following Easter.

Thats according to Nathalie Lemaire, founder of the all-volunteer Napa Bunnies, a rabbit rescue organization that runs through foster care, and carries out regular wellness and vaccination clinics. Throughout it all, Lemaire tries to fill that educational gap and advocate for the responsible care of bunnies.

Lemaire was motivated to start what eventually became the organization back in late 2019. She had noticed a colony of feral rabbits in central Napa, and reached out to a bunch of different organizations to see what could be done to help the rabbits. It was clear to her from talking with residents that the colony had existed for years, and the rabbits were living short, brutal lives.

They were all very young, Lemaire said. I mean, were talking six months, maybe, was their average life span.

Lemaire explained that domestic rabbits  unlike the small brown wild rabbits one occasionally sees  can't survive in wild conditions for long. And, if feral rabbits find each other and breed, that can cause a population explosion, as bunnies breed very quickly. There would likely have been way more rabbits in the colony, she said, had they been able to survive for long.

Lemaire felt something needed to be done about the rabbit colony. She reached out to her friend Deborah Claassen, whom she knew through rabbit activism, and asked her whether itd be crazy if she just took the rabbits, tried to get them fixed, and tried to find them homes.

I figured she would talk me out of it, Lemaire said. But she was like, count me in.

Lemaire estimated that, together, the two invested over $10,000 of their own money in the rescue efforts. And others joined and helped out once they got started, including organizations such as the Napa County Animal Shelter, which took in many of the animals. By April 2020, the group had rescued a total of 64 rabbits.

The rabbit rescue efforts also made Lemaire realize more needed to be done to educate the Napa community.

Towards the end of that whole undertaking, I realized there was a need for more education," Lemaire said. People would call and say hey, can we surrender these rabbits to you? Or we dont want them anymore, or which vet will accept rabbits? I just realized there needs to be more education, more support.

In mid-2021, Lemaire decided she might as well make the organization a nonprofit. Napa Bunnies today carries on its work of rescuing rabbits; volunteers foster rabbits while the organization attempts to place them in good homes. (A good home, to Lemaire, particularly means the bunny will housed inside with a fair amount of space, around people and away from the predator and climate-related stresses of the outdoor world.)

Lemaire herself, in April, had four rabbits on-hand in her home. That included Dandy, Lemaire's own rabbit who is not up for adoption, along with Papillon, Camden and Wally. Papillon, who has a physical disability of splayed legs, was technically abandoned, Lemire said. A woman came to Napa Bunnies with Papillion, then a baby, and wanted help figuring out vet care. Once Lemire explained to the woman the care Papillon would need, the woman told her that it wouldnt work for her.

Along with the adoption work, Napa Bunnies puts on wellness and vaccine clinics, and offers rabbit boarding while people are away. (Camden, a young purebred Netherland dwarf mix from a rabbit breeder, was scheduled to be vaccinated.)

The final rabbit present in the house, Wally, is only a few months old. A woman got a Holland Lop off of Craigslist, Lemaire said; it was a female rabbit who wasnt spayed. Wally and his two siblings were the result. Wally was brought to the rescue as he was slowly starving to death, according to Lemaire, because he didnt get the right nutrition as a baby. He now has dental problems that require tooth trimmings and will necessitate surgery. (Lemaire noted that particular rabbit breeds, such as lops, are particularly prone to dental issues.)

He could have a ton of other issues that well have to see over time, but for now were just trying to put some weight on him, Lemaire said.

Adoption is a fairly rigorous process, Lemaire said, and involves a home visit to make sure the rabbit will be able to live a good life in what could be their new home. The organization hosts adoption events the last Sunday of every month, at the Napa Pet Food Express at 3916 Bel Aire Plaza.

Oakland-based Dr. Linda Siperstein, who goes by the name Dr. Sip, runs a veterinary house call practice specifically focused on exotic pets, including bunnies. Her house calls are mostly limited to the East Bay, but shes worked with Napa Bunnies as the veterinarian of record for the organization over the past few years  which means she provides a range of medical care for the rabbits that Napa Bunnies take in, and shes present for vaccine clinics.

Bunnies are the third most popular pet in the United States, Dr. Sip noted, but its certainly more difficult to even find information about how to properly take care of them than it is for dogs and cats.

Information and resources arent always as tangible or as obvious, sitting right in front of people, as that information is for dogs and cats, Dr. Sip said. And theres a little more access in dog and cat care, in that most people have the expectation that their dogs are going to need certain vaccines routinely, maybe flea prevention or some other regular care needs that would necessitate going to the vet.

One reason theres an education gap is because pet rabbits traditionally havent been on a regular, once or twice a year vet visit schedule that dogs or cats have. That means veterinarians dont have the pet rabbit and the rabbit owners as a regular captive audience to provide education about how to properly take care of the pet.

That situation has improved somewhat with the arrival of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in the United States in 2020, Sip said. Rabbit owners who read about the disease learned that they needed to seek out a vaccine for their pet, and that led to an increase in vet visits to vets that focus on rabbits.

People became more aware of rabbit care, or had a reason they had to go to a rabbit vet because not every vet was going to carry the vaccine, it was too much of a hassle to, Dr. Sip said. So youre going to tend to have to go to someone that has some rabbit experience. And now suddenly the vet has that captive audience.

Education is an important part of Dr. Sips practice, she said, given that many health problems in pet rabbits originate from inadequate care.

A great deal of what I do in my house calls isnt just the exam and providing care or treating medical conditions, Dr. Sip said. Its also reviewing all of the husbandry, all of the care, and trying to up the owners game.

Cissy Horne, who now fosters for Napa bunnies, said her bunny ownership journey started when she got a free bunny on Facebook about four years ago because someone couldnt take care of it. She had other pets and didnt think taking care of a rabbit would be too different.

I was like, you know what, how different from a dog could it be? Horne said.

But after a while, Horne started to feel sad that her bunny didnt have a companion. She met with Lemaire and she taught me everything about rabbits.

Eventually, Horne was able to go through Lemaire's adoption process, and she adopted another bunny to bond with her first one.

I actually liked when she came to my house because she was able to look at things and give me ideas, Horne said. It was like having this expert hold my hand through a brand new animal I knew nothing about.

James Horne, Cissy Hornes son, also now volunteers with Napa Bunnies. He said he goes over to Lemaires house every Saturday to socialize with the bunnies, change litter boxes, and weigh them, among other activities. And at the end of April, he accompanied a rabbit his family is fostering known as Topaz to the Pet Food Express adoption event.

Horne added that he has a ton of fun taking care of the bunnies, and that hes learned a ton.

Its kind of been a passion of mine to be around animals, Horne said. Napa Bunnies has given me the perfect opportunity to just be around bunnies nonstop and continue to learn about them. Which I always find intriguing, interesting and fun.

Horne said Napa Bunnies, as an organization, clearly makes constant efforts to teach people about how to properly care for rabbits  including that theyre social animals that need interaction, and that they mostly prefer green vegetables.

Its obviously not just, throw a carrot at them every day, Horne said. Just like any other pet it takes a lot of time and effort to take care of them and make sure youre doing everything right for the animal so they dont end up sick or theyre not eating right or they end up drinking right or theyre lonely. From my experience with Napa Bunnies, they do go into really good detail about these kinds of things.

Lemaire herself hasn't always owned pet rabbits, though by now she's owned them for over three decades. Her first rabbit  named Coco, after Coco Chanel  was her then-boyfriend's idea when they lived in a small Paris apartment. Coco came along with Lemaire when she moved to the United States  by then Coco was a family member, and he lived a long, happy life.

"I think it was just like, they stole my heart," Lemaire said. "And the more you learn about them. I mean, rabbits are the most exploited animals on the planet. I think that's what drove me to advocate for them. And they're silent, right. So just imagine if they were in a backyard hutch and they would meow or bark like a dog or a cat. But they make no noise, so they don't have a voice. So I think it's kind of the underdog thing. And once you do gain their trust, it's magical."

For more information, visit napabunnies.org or email napabunnies@gmail.com.

Photos: Rescued miniature horses find new home in Napa
Stateline Road Smokehouse received unanimous approval from the city of Napas planning commission Thursday, clearing the restaurants way toward opening up at 872 Vallejo St.

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The three commissioners who were present  Paul Kelley and Beverly Shotwell were absent  asked questions about how parking would operate in the area, as well as how the smokers in an open-air smoke yard would operate, before voting to approve. They said that the development was exciting and would help revitalize the area.

I think its awesome, and I really appreciate the willingness to take a risk opening a business in Napa, said Commissioner Gordon Huether.

The parking comments mostly had to do with a request to reduce required parking from 40 spaces to 20 spaces, a requirement somewhat based on square footage of the building. Staff, according to agenda documents, believed that such a reduction would work out because the site is close to the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and because the square footage that would actually be used for the restaurant would be much lower than the size of the 4,427-square-foot building implies.

On the question about the smokers  and whether theyd clog the air near the restaurant with smoke  Darryl Bell, a cofounder of Stateline Road Smokehouse and a Michelin-trained chef, noted that the design of the smokers the restaurant will be using work to send the smoke straight up, with a 10-foot-tall smoke stack. There will also be screening for the smokers, he said.

The commissioners also said they were excited to see the restaurant open.

The two owners are really showing pride of ownership, commission chair Bob Massaro said. I really have the sense that theyre going to work hard to make this not only a success for them but a success for the community.

Bell said at the meeting that he grew up in rural Missouri and Kansas City. He was grateful to come to Napa and receive training as a chef, he said; hes now intending to bring an elevated version of Kansas City barbecue with the restaurant project.

Jeremy Threat, the other co-founder, noted at the meeting that hes long worked as a consultant for restaurants and he at one point vowed to his wife that hed never open one because he knows how hard it is to operate them. But he said he found the perfect partner in Bell.

My grandparents who just celebrated their 72nd anniversary complain to me all the time that I need to stop letting restaurants open the door for tourists and find things that provide value and understand blue collar Napa in addition to tourists, Threat said. So when we sat down to talk about it, Darryl said look, I want to go back to my roots, I want to create a concept thats for families, thats for community, thats a social gathering place. So I was like, that is exactly it.
My route into and around downtown is marked by new red flags on both sides of the road.

A tourist might interpret these flags as saying Welcome to Napa, the festival city. Have the time of your life.

An unsuspecting motorist might wonder if they should mark their calendars  perhaps a presidential motorcade will come this way on the Fourth of July.

In fact, these flags are meant to draw attention to new speed limit signs. Theyre telling us to slow the hell down.

Downtown is now a 20 mph zone, lowered from 25. Browns Valley Road/First Street got dropped to 30, down from 35.

Compared to the speeds that Napa motorists customarily travel, these are astonishingly low numbers. There are glide rides at Disneyland that go faster.

The Courtney household is slowly processing the new limits. It felt at first as if wed all been thrown back to Model T times when cars went putt-putt and electric vehicles with their neck-snapping acceleration were but a dream.

Raise our garbage rates? No problem. Impose drought restrictions that limit outdoor watering? You have our full support.

But tamp down vehicle speeds? Really????

Its true that downtown has become insanely popular with tourists, the streets increasingly difficult to negotiate what with double-parked sightseeing vans and jaywalkers. A 20 mph crawl certainly gives everyone a greater safety buffer, but it sure is low, especially at off-peak hours.

Dropping the speed on Browns Valley Road/First Street west of the freeway was a bold act. When given the chance, people fly along this route. Certainly 40 mph, maybe 45, but who can say for sure. Does anyone even look at their speedometer?

The new limit could be a game changer. As Ive discovered the past two weeks, life is more serene at 30. You see more stuff. Youre improving safety for cyclists and those brave pedestrians who dare cross the street.

As I adjust to the new legal limit, I find my speed hovering between 30 and 35. When it gets to 35, I work to tamp it down, but its a struggle. My car remembers those wild days of going 40, and even then I might have a motorists riding my tail.

When the City Council adopted new speed limits in downtown and elsewhere this spring, it was supported by the Napa County Bicycle Coalition and a citizens group, Slow Down Napa.

Fundamentally I agree. Ive known harrowing moments, me on my bike, some jerk behind the wheel of a careening steel juggernaut.

And I live on a dead-end street where vehicles zoom the full length of it, two Slow Down Napa signs nailed to utility poles not withstanding.

Change is hard. Many motorists are still driving as if in days of yore, i.e., before May. After the red flags have weathered to pink, Im thinking some NPD radar enforcement will be in order. That should sober all of us up to the new reality.

Taking emotions out of it, how significant is the new 30 mph limit on Browns Valley/First in terms of additional time getting downtown? Put another way, is it going to upend my daily life?

I tried doing the math but my brain wasnt up to it. So I did what any father would do whose son has a Ph.D in mathematics from Berkeley. I called Dennis.

The upshot is this. Over the 1.6-mile stretch  Century Oaks Park to the freeway  it will take me an extra 27 seconds at 30 instead of 35. And if Im downshifting from 40 to 30, an extra 48 seconds.

Were talking seconds, not minutes. I can live with that.
Armenian-French cooperation will continue to strengthen. Nikol Pashinyan received French Ambassador

The process of the program of formation of Digital Society and Economy discussed at Government

State minister: We may have situation when we cant wait for the 7 days noted by Karabakh President

The Prime Minister hosts Aram Arzumanyan, disabled as a result of the 44-day war

Nikol Pashinyan, Mikhail Mishustin hold phone talk

Nersisyan. The more Armenia lowers bar on Karabakh issue, the harder it will be for people of Artsakh to raise it

Karabakh official: Armenia has only one thing to do in discussions with Azerbaijan

Artsakh state minister: Many illogical things are happening on European platform; is it serious conversation?

Karabakh minister of state: We managed to make our voice heard by all to which nationwide movement was directed

Lachin corridor has no alternative: Several Armenia NGOs issue joint statement on Charles Michel statement

Karabakh state minister: We are in disaster but we will never surrender

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Karabakh minister of state: Today nationwide movement will continue awareness actions started in Yerevan

Karabakh parliament speaker joins Presidents sit-in

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

Russia MFA confirms readiness to hold Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in Moscow

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

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

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

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

UAE new envoy to Armenia conveys Dubai Aviation Exhibition invitation to defense minister (PHOTOS)

Karabakh President to deliver address

Karabakh children sing Artsakh national anthem in front of UN office in Armenia

Russia antiterrorism committee: Crimea bridge was attacked by 2 Ukraine UAVs at night

Karabakh applicants unable to take Armenia universities entrance exams

First ombudsperson to PM: What do you have to do with territories on which Armenia sovereignty doesnt extend?

Azerbaijan must reopen Lachin corridor: ECtHR reaffirms necessity of implementing its previous decision

Pickets in support of Karabakh being staged outside UN office and Russia embassy in Armenia

Motion to arrest Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan submitted to court

Karabakh state minister: Nationwide movement that started in Artsakh will also take place in Armenia as of today

Armenia opposition MP: International players try to exonerate themselves in advance from Karabakh tragedy

Emergency situation on Crimea bridge, there are casualties and injured

Karabakh state ministers father-in-law dies suddenly, no necessary medical aid provided

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan fired at Armenian positions

Humans pumped so much groundwater from Earth that it caused planet's axis shift, new study finds

Armenia ex-PM: Perfectly legal robbery
China will actively build an international, market-oriented, and legalized business environment, vigorously attract foreign investment, and welcome foreign enterprises to invest in China, said an official during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation China CEO Forum held in Beijing on Saturday.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is gradually fading. With China's further opening-up, the country is comprehensively and orderly opening up its service sector, said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce.

"APEC has served as a model of regional economic cooperation. The vitality and pragmatic achievements realized in the region have reinforced the confidence of member countries in further strengthening regional cooperation. China would vigorously develop the digital economy and promote the digitization of trade," Wang said.

Last year, the import and export trade volumes between China and the other 14 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership reached 12.95 trillion yuan (US$1.8 trillion), up 7.5% year-on-year. The value accounted for 30.8% of the total import and export value of China, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The RCEP agreement, which took effect on Jan 1, 2022, includes 15 Asia-Pacific countries. The trade pact is expected to reduce tariffs by up to 90% on goods traded among the members over the next two decades.

Meanwhile, Zhao Chenxin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, told the forum that China would share the new opportunities emerged in the Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation through further opening-up.

Zhao said China would adhere to a green and low-carbon development path and comprehensively promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the society. The country would continue to support the development of clean energy such as photovoltaic and hydrogen energy, and guide more resources toward the development of a green and low-carbon economy.

"China will actively participate in the development of digitalization, big data and artificial intelligence in an integrated economy, and encourage more foreign investments in advanced manufacturing and high-tech sectors," Zhao said.

The IMF recently projected that the economic growth rate in the Asia Pacific region is expected to reach 4.6% this year, up from 3.8% last year. The region's contribution to the global economy is foreseen to reach around 70%, making it the most dynamic major region in the world in 2023.
The newly released results of the sixth official monitoring of desertification and sandification in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region show that the area of desertified and sandified land in the region continues to decrease.

The region's sixth monitoring process started in July 2019 and was completed at the end of 2021.

Ma Qiang, deputy director of the regional forestry and grassland department, said that compared with the results of the fifth monitoring, the area of desertified and sandified land in Inner Mongolia decreased by 24.15 million mu (about 1.61 million hectares) and 14.59 million mu, respectively, with an average annual decrease of 4.83 million mu and 2.92 million mu.

At the same time, the amount of extremely severely desertified land decreased by 15.91 million mu, and the severely desertified land decreased by 18.51 million mu.

The amount of extremely severely sandified land decreased by 21.99 million mu, and severely sandified land decreased by 32.31 million mu, Ma said.

Home to four of the country's major deserts and four major sandy areas, Inner Mongolia has long been plagued by desertification and sandification, and in recent years, the region has stepped up its afforestation efforts.

Currently, the vegetation condition of sandy land in the region continues to improve, while the four major deserts and four sandy lands in the region have been brought under control.
21:36

A 38-year-old Indian-origin man was killed in a fatal stabbing outside an apartment block in south London and a 25-year-old man has been charged with his murder, as the Scotland Yard said its Specialist Crime Command is leading the investigation.





Aravind Sasikumar died after being found with stab injuries outside a residential property in Southampton Way in Southwark on Friday.





The Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation and charged Salman Salim, 25, with murder on Saturday, when he appeared before Croydon Magistrates' Court to be remanded in custody.





Salim is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey court in London on Tuesday.





Police were called at 01.27hrs (local time) on Friday, 16 June after a man was found with stab injuries outside a residential address in Southampton Way, the Met Police said in a statement.





Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Aravind died at the scene. A post-mortem examination carried out on Friday, 16 June confirmed he died as a result of stab wounds to the chest, the statement said.





The Met Police said the family of Sasikumar, reportedly originally from Kerala, have been informed and are being supported by detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command.





Horrific murder in Southampton Way/Coleman Rd Deepest sympathy to bereaved family. Contact police if you have any info that can help bring whoever did this to justice, tweeted Harriet Harman, Labour Party MP for Camberwell and Peckham in south London, soon after the incident on Friday.





The London Ambulance Service said it sent numerous resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, medics in two fast response cars, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer.





We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car. Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene, a spokesperson said.





This marks the second fatal stabbing of an Indian-origin person in London and the third across the UK this week.





Tejaswini Kontham, a 27-year-old student from Hyderabad who had recently graduated, was killed at a residential property in north London earlier this week.





A 23-year-old Brazilian national has been charged with her murder and the attempted murder of her friend Akhila, who was hospitalised with serious injuries from the stabbing attack in Wembley.





In a separate incident around 205km north of London in Nottingham, British Indian teen hockey star Grace O'Malley Kumar from the University of Nottingham was stabbed along with a university friend.





A 31-year-old man of West African and Portuguese heritage remains in custody charged with their murder. -- PTI
Russian attack conceivable, Swedish lawmakers say

Sweden has been rethinking its military strategy in light of the Ukraine conflict. File image: Shutterstock

A Swedish parliament defence committee report said a Russian military attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out, Swedish public service broadcaster SVT said on Sunday.



Sweden has been scrambling to bolster its defences and applied to join Nato last year following Russia's attack on Ukraine. Sweden was invited to apply but Turkey and Hungary are yet to ratify the application.



The parliamentary report, due to be published on Monday, said that although Russian ground forces were tied up in Ukraine other types of military attacks against Sweden could not be ruled out, SVT said citing sources who worked on the report.



"Russia has also further lowered its threshold for the use of military force and exhibits a high political and military risk appetite. Russia's ability to carry out operations with air forces, naval forces, long-range weapons or nuclear weapons against Sweden remains intact," SVT said, citing the report.



The chairman of the parliament defence committee did not immediately reply to a request for comment.



SVT said the report outlined out a new defence doctrine for Sweden, based on membership in Nato rather than they previous doctrine that relied on cooperation with fellow Nordic states and the EU.



Like most Western states Sweden scaled down its defence following the end of the Cold War but has ramped up defence spending and is due to meet Nato's threshold of 2 percent of GDP in 2026. (Reuters)
It's been 30 years since 'Aaina' movie starring Jackie Shroff, Juhi Chawla, Amrita Singh since it was released in theatres. Taking to Instagram, Jackie Shroff dropped an throwback still from the movie to celebrate the occasion. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtnQRmlyZ-y/ Sharing the picture, he wrote, "#30yearsofAaina#amritasingh#yashchopra@iamjuhichawla." As soon as the picture was uploaded, the actor's fans and industry friends chimed in the comment section. One of the users wrote, "My most time favorite movie & two of favorite actors Jacki ji & Juhi ji." "What an epic movie this was! Loved every bit of it, esp the badass," another commented. Another user wrote, "Beautiful movie ever." Juhi Chawla and Amrita Singh portrayed sisters Reema and Roma Mathur in the film. While Reema is introverted, Roma is a spoiled brat who constantly wants to be the centre of attention. Both fall in love with the same man, Ravi Saxena (Jackie Shroff). Roma eventually wins his heart, but on the day of their wedding, she abandons him because she is offered a role in a film. Ravi, enraged, marries Reema in order to save her family's reputation. The film then portrays Ravi and Reema trying to get acquainted with each other and finally falling in love, while Roma, who returns, feels betrayed and attempts everything she can to derail her sister's marriage. Meanwhile, on the work front, Jackie will be seen in 'Jailer'Starring Rajnikanth in the lead role, this movie also includes stars like Ramya Krishnan, Priyanka Arul Mohan and Shiva Rajkumar and Tamannaah Bhatia.The 'Lingaa' actor has teamed up with filmmaker Nelson Dilipkumar for this project.He will be next seen in 'Baap' alongside Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and Mithun Chakraborty. (ANI)
He looked happiest. In the viral images and videos, the 'Sholay' star is seen dancing to the beats of dhol.

Bobby Deol was also seen dancing along with his father.

The cool grandfather was dressed in a brown suit that he paired with a Punjbai-style red turban.

The groom and his family arrived at Mumbai's Taj Lands End, where the wedding festivities are currently taking place.

Karan made his way to the wedding venue on a ghodi for the baarat. In the papped images, he is seen beaming with joy.

Groom's father Sunny Deol looked dapper in a green-hued kurta and a red turban.

Bobby Deol also posed for shutterbugs in a powder blue sherwani that he paired with a red turban.

On Friday, the grandfather-grandson duo made the pre-wedding function, sangeet ceremony, extra special with their dance to the iconic song 'Yamla Pagla Deewana'.

Karan and Drisha's pre-wedding festivities began with a roka ceremony on Monday night and videos and pictures from the festivities are trending.

Karan and Drisha have been in a relationship for a long time now. Drisha is a fashion designer. Reportedly, Drisha is the granddaughter of Bimal Roy's daughter, Rinki Bhattacharya, who was married to filmmaker Basu Bhattacharya.

Karan followed in his father's footsteps and took acting as a profession. He made his Bollywood debut with Sunny Deol's directorial 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas' in 2019 ((ANI)
According to ED, it was revealed in the Pandora Leaks that Vikram Swarup and Gaurav Swarup were beneficial owners in a company Epsilon Enterprises Ltd. incorporated in British Virgin Island.

Further investigations also revealed that Vikram Swarup and Gaurav Swarup were the beneficiaries in bank accounts of Epsilon Enterprises Ltd. maintained with Standard Chartered Bank, Jersey and the Bank J. Safra Sarasin, Switzerland.

The investigation conducted under FEMA, 1999 revealed that the Swarup brothers were holding assets in the form of "foreign exchange" in the accounts maintained with Standard Chartered Bank, Jersey and the Bank J. Safra Sarasin, Switzerland in the name of said Epsilon Enterprises Ltd. in contravention of Section 4 of FEMA, 1999.

During investigation, assets totaling Rs 30.60 Crore in the form of investments in securities were identified and seized under Section 37A of FEMA, 1999.

Further investigation in the matter is under progress under FEMA, 1999. (ANI)
The parents of the deceased class 10th student who was set on fire allegedly by four people, protested at Ambedkar Centre in Baptla district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Uppalavaripalem Amarnath (15). He was allegedly set on fire by four people after he objected to the sexual harassment of his sister by one of the accused, the police said on Friday. A huge crowd gathered to support the family. Superintendent of Police (SP) Bapatla, Vakul Jindal, said, "We have arrested three accused out of four in this case. The accused Venkateshwar Reddy bore a grudge against Amarnath." "Yesterday the accused executed the plan. Now three accused are in custody and one more will be arrested soon. Further probe is on and a fastrack investigation is underway," the SP added. "Uppalavaripalem Amarnath, a 10th-class student of Cherukupalli Mandal, Rajolu Gram Panchayat, was attacked by four miscreants. After assaulting him, the miscreants sprinkled petrol and lit a fire," said SP Vakul Jindal on Friday. In his dying statement, he told police that he was stopped by one Venki along with three people on his way to a tuition centre. "After assaulting the victim, the group attempted to set him ablaze," Amarnath told police in his dying statement. Later, he was rushed to hospital where he died during the treatment, as per police. During the preliminary inquiry, police said it learnt that the prime suspect had an "affair" with the deceased boy's sister. "This could have led to a fight", the SP said. The deceased's family alleged that the prime suspect Venki (21) had harassed his sister. "When confronted, an argument broke out leading to a fight between them," the family alleged. Police said they are verifying the allegations of the family. "A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and police teams have been deployed to nab the accused," Police said. The body has been shifted for Post-mortem, they said. "Further investigation is underway," the police officer said. (ANI)
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has criticised the Karnataka government's proposal to revise school textbooks in the State and said that it is "unfortunate" that the chapters on Dr Hedgewar and Swatantra Veer Savarkar have been removed. Nitin Gadkari was addressing a gathering at the book launch ceremony on VD Savarkar. "It is unfortunate that the chapters on Dr Hedgewar and Swatantra Veer Savarkar have been removed from the school syllabus. There is nothing more painful than this," said Gadkari on Saturday. His remarks come after the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the revision of Social Science and Kannada textbooks for classes 6 to 10 in state schools, dropping chapters on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar among others. Earlier on June 15, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced to drop a chapter on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar from the school syllabus. "Syllabus on KB Hedgewar has been dropped. Whatever changes they (previous govt) have done last year, we have changed it and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year," said Madhu Bangarappa, on the revised textbook syllabus. "Hedgewar chapter has been taken out. Whatever was manipulated has been omitted and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year. All the details will be available very soon," the Education minister added. Keeping the promises made in the manifesto before the polls, the Siddaramaiah government held a cabinet meeting here today to implement revisions in the syllabus of school textbooks. According to reports, the Congress-led Karnataka government scrapped the chapter from the Class X Kannada textbook. This chapter had been introduced in the state syllabus during the previous BJP government's tenure. "There are certain issues and the five-member committee has been formed. A lot of people who were involved had pressurised our Chief Minister for a few changes. So in the interest of the children, we have done the least. Within a week, the notifications would reach the schools," said Bangarappa. (ANI)
After paying a visit to violence-hit Canning in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday said that he was "deeply distressed" with the clashes which took place on the last day of filing nominations for the panchayat elections. "I had seen myself what happened here. I have heard that it is a war. I am deeply distressed. This is not an acceptable situation. The common man has their rights. Many things have been reported here," the Governor said while addressing a press conference here. Bose visited violence affected area of Canning in South 24 Parganas district. The area witnessed sporadic violence between two groups of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers ahead of panchayat polls. He further said that being a "custodian of the Constitution", he cannot let these incidents happen. "I have a commitment. We the people of India make our Constitution. Governor is a custodian of the Constitution and I defend it. Unfortunately, in some pockets, I have visited. I have met the victims. I am determined to stand by the people," he added. The Governor further said that he has approached the West Bengal government and Chief Secretary regarding the recent clashes. "I have approached to government and Chief Secretary. This is Tagore's Bengal where the mind is without fear and the head is held high," Bose said. Earlier on June 16, WB Governor visited Bhangar, South 24 Parganas, to assess the impact of recent violence during nominations for panchayat elections on Friday. Talking to media persons, CV Ananda Bose said, "I interacted with the victims of violence and locals. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced in a permanent way under the Constitution and law of the land. Peace-loving people of Bengal should be able to exercise their franchise (in panchayat polls)." To maintain order, heavy security deployments have been made in the South 24 Parganas district. Tension and unease prevailed in several areas, particularly in the Bhangar block, where clashes between supporters of the ruling TMC and the Naushad Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF) have occurred over the past two days. The panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11. The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)
"A Date with China" 2023 International Media Tour launches in Quanzhou, southeastern China's Fujian province, June 16, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Chinadaily.com.cn]



"A Date with China" 2023 International Media Tour rolled into Quanzhou, southeastern China's Fujian province, on Friday, marking the start of a four-day cultural exploration in the city. During the tour, journalists and social media influencers from home and abroad will explore ancient dwellings, wharves and sites of the Maritime Silk Road, local Hakka traditions, and the region's unique marine culture.

Under the theme "advancing civilizational exchanges, promoting mutual economic benefits," the tour aims to highlight the industrious spirit of local people and the role Fujian has played in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past decade.

Quanzhou was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, featuring 22 historical sites and monuments. As the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road in China, the city was also one of the world's largest ports during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties and a central hub for maritime trade.

Italian explorer Marco Polo described the city as "the very great and noble city." Drawing parallels with the past, Aniello Puorto, a correspondent of Radiotelevisione Italiana, said at the event's launch ceremony, "Now, our task is to be the Marco Polo in the new era, and continue to build a bridge between Chinese and Italian cultures."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI. "The BRI is a testament to China's commitment to promoting economic development and cooperation across the world," said Yasmin von Roon, a content creator from Italy participating in the media tour. "It represents a vision for a better future where nations can work together to build a prosperous and sustainable world," she added.

In the coming days, the tour's participants will try their hands at traditional porcelain-making, watch a folk performance related to Hakka culture, and visit iconic BRI projects in the province.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday expressed his displeasure over the protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the Salooni murder case in district Chamba. He said that this case was the first case of its kind in the country where all the accused had been apprehended and were currently in police custody. Despite swift action taken by the police, the furore being created by the BJP continues, which is uncalled for and unjustified. He was briefing the media here today in this regard. The Chief Minister said that all the accused involved in this murder were arrested within 24 hours. He said that the BJP's persistence in protesting despite the arrests and the government's acceptance of their demand for an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seems illogical. He further said that the BJP, being the ruling party at the Centre, could easily initiate an NIA investigation by a mere phone call from the Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur. "However, the BJP is exploiting the situation for political gain, with an eye on the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added. The Chief Minister said that despite arrests of all involved in the case, the BJP's youth wing, Yuva Morcha, after five days of the incident has set ablaze the houses of the accused. "Despite assurance to the people given time and again by me that all persons involved in the murder case would be brought to justice, it is beyond the perception why such protests were being held despite arrests made, which seems that the BJP was doing dirty politics," he said. Emphasizing the shared responsibility of the government and the opposition to protect the rights of the state, the Chief Minister asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to collaborate on issues such as water cess and enhancing royalty in various hydropower projects, ensuring that the state receives its due rights. Tension unfolded in the Salooni town of Chamba district on Thursday when a mob torched the house of a man, who has been accused of killing 28-year-old Manohar over an affair with his niece and chopping his body into pieces. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh will soon be having an archive for preserving and keeping documents or records exhibiting its rich history linked to Mahatma Gandhi's visit to the state and the British period.Chhattisgarh's Cultural Department is working on developing the archive and recently hosted an exhibition showcasing the records related to Gandhi's visits to the state and the rich history of the state. "All the archives of Mahatma Gandhi, his visit to Chhattisgarh in 1933 and the British period were kept in Vallabh Bhawan in Bhopal. All these were sent to the Culture department in Raipur. We are making a systematic archive in Raipur, which will be beneficial for researchers in Chhattisgarh," said historian KK Agrawal while talking to ANI. "The move is undoubtedly commendable. The archive is going to be beneficial for the research scholars," the historian added.Agrawal further informed said, "On December 20, 1920, Mahatma Gandhi visited Raipur and then headed to Dhamtari. After Raipur, Gandhi headed to Nagpur where the 35th convention of the India National Congress (INC) was scheduled and this was the same event where a proposal for the non-cooperation movement was to be passed. In November 1933, Mahatma Gandhi announced visiting the entire country for the upliftment of people belonging to the 'Harijan' community." "This nationwide campaign was kicked off by Gandhi from Chhattisgarh and the 'March' was commenced from Durg. On November 22, 1933, Mahatma Gandhi reached Durg and became the guest of Ghanshyam Singh Gupta," Agrawal added. (ANI)
Delhi police arrested three people hours after two sisters were shot dead in Ambedkar Basti under RK Puram police station area during the early morning hours of Sunday, said police. The deceased women identified as Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29) were rushed to SJ Hospital but the duo succumbed to injuries, said police further. According to police, more than two dozen of men reached at victim's residence in Ambedkar Basti during the early morning hours of Sunday, the assailants were looking for the victim's brother named Lalit. Lalit managed to escape and angered by this, the assailants allegedly deliberately shot both my sisters. Manoj C, Deputy Commissioner of Police South West Delhi said "Two women were shot dead in Ambedkar Basti under R K Puram police station area on Sunday morning. Following the incident we have arrested the men identified as Arjun, Michael and Dev involved in the incident. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway." Talking to the media persons, the victim's brother Lalit said, "I had gone to collect my money pending with someone, but after not getting it, I returned to home. After some time, more than two dozen assailants came to my house looking for me and started firing indiscriminately. Somehow I managed to escape, angered by this, the assailants deliberately shot both my sisters. One has been shot in the chest while the other in the stomach, both of them died during treatment in the hospital." Prima facie, the reason behind the shooting seems to be some money settlement issue, however, the exact cause will be ascertained only after a prolonged investigation, said the police official. Following the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned Delhi's law and order situation. In a tweet, Kejriwal wrote "Our thoughts are with the families of both women. May their souls rest in peace. The people of Delhi have started feeling very insecure. The people responsible for Delhi's law and order are conspiring to capture the entire Delhi government, instead of fixing the law and order. Today, if Delhi's law and order were under the AAP government instead of LG, then Delhi would have been safest" Meanwhile, BJP leader and MP Manoj Tiwari when asked about Kejriwal's comment he said, "I don't want to speak much on this, people who are doing politics on such incidents fail to fulfil their prime responsibilities. Continuous fire incidents are being reported in Delhi which needs to be stopped." Advising Delhi CM over rising anger-related issues in Delhi, Tiwari said, "Arvind Kejriwal should work over such rising anger-related issues in Delhi." Another BJP leader and MLA from Delhi's Badarpur Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also gave condolence to the victim's family. (ANI)
In Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a particular emphasis on raising the percentage of girls who attend school. Girls' enrollment in public schools has significantly increased as a result of the special programme, particularly in outlying villages and border regions. One of the causes of this is the government's provision of incentives to girls, such as free uniforms, free books, and scholarships. In addition, girls who excel in academics and extracurricular activities are praised. In the border region of the Poonch district, a Model Higher Secondary School distributed scholarships under the "Betti Hai Anmol" programme. Atiqa Jan, a member of the District Development Council, Neelam Sharma, the higher secondary school's principal, and Mundi Anju Rishi, the acting zonal education officer. Eleven talented female students from the school received a scholarship worth Rs. 55,000 each. The program was organized under the guidance of Anwar Khan, Principal Model Higher Secondary School, Savjian, Poonch with the aim of creating awareness among the public about the importance of girl child education. The programme was distinctive and offered women particular consideration. 13 cultural programmes were all given by female students. The three main guests and the program's anchor were all female. It was done to emphasise the strength of women. Sanam Irshad Bande, who earned a distinction in the board exam for the 12th grade, received a memento and a certificate of appreciation. The students were encouraged by Zonal Education Officer Mundi to recognise their talent and put forth an endless effort to reach their objectives. Neelam Sharma, principal of Shindra Higher Secondary School, urged the students to maintain emotional stability while pursuing their academic and extracurricular objectives. Atiqa John D, a member of the District Development Council, expressed her gratitude and congratulations to the Model Higher Secondary School Savjian's principal and staff for their success in the board exams. She instructed the girls to choose a goal and follow a plan of action to reach it. She was grateful to Anwar Khan, Principal of the Model Higher Secondary School, Savjian for helping the students in this isolated border region realise their full potential. Students from Government Middle School Maidan and Girls Middle School Saujian also took part in the cultural event. The programme was directed by the teacher Ajit Kaur. The Sarpanch Mandi Participating in the programme were Mubasher Hussain, Pir Tariq, Naima Akhtar, Master Khadim Hussain, Mehraj Khalid, and Ismail Bhat in addition to Sarpanch Baila Khawaja Abdul Razak. The vote of thanks was delivered by Rashmi Khajuria. Refreshments were given to all of the students by the school administration. The participants in the cultural programme were also given prizes. (ANI)
The body of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was found in a jute field near his house in Cooch Behar's Sahebganj along with stab wounds. The body has been identified to be of one, Shambhu Das. The police are investigating the matter. "The body of a person namely Shambhu Das was found in a jute field near his house in Sahebganj PS limits of Cooch Behar. The body sustained stabbing marks. Police are investigating the matter. Further probe is underway," Sumit Kumar, the Cooch Behar Superintendent of Police said. Naren Das, the father of the deceased said, "My son had no enemies. He was a BJP worker. He went out in the afternoon and around four to five people stabbed him during that time. We think TMC workers may have killed him." A clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers on Saturday at the Sahebganj Block Development Office during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the July 8 panchayat elections. The BJP alleged that a bomb was hurled at the car of Nisith Pramanik on Saturday. "The police here are literally helpless. (TMC MLA) Udayan Guha is standing there with his goons, numbering 1,000-1,500. They are snatching Form B (nomination paper) from the hands of our workers and the Election Commission and the state administration are sitting silent," BJP's West Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar said. "If a minister can be attacked like that, one can only imagine the plight of the common man in West Bengal. Is Mamata Banerjee running the state or only resorting to a drama," Majumdar added. West Bengal has seen a significant uptick in incidents of violence ahead of the panchayat polls. with clashes reported around the filing of nominations, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur, where crude bombs were allegedly hurled. Some visuals have surfaced of crude bombs being hurled in the area on Saturday. The police detained a few people in connection with the clash. (ANI)
After two women were shot in Delhi's RK Puram, the health minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, on Sunday slammed the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi over the law and order situation in Delhi has worsened in the past year. Earlier today, two women in Delhi's RK Puram were shot dead by unidentified shooters. They were sent to a hospital but they succumbed to the injuries. The police launched an investigation into the matter which is currently underway. Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said, "Over the past year, Delhi's law system has worsened. Murders are happening in Tihar jail, by barging into people's houses. Molestation has become common now. Two women were shot dead in RK Puram. Today, no woman can step out of the house wearing jewellery. Snatchings are being done blatantly. Delhi's law system had never been this bad. This is because the priorities of the governor are wrong. Women wrestlers and six witnesses alleged Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual abuse. But the Police did not register an FIR. The Police are working like a political setup". "The LG should tell how many police stations he has inspected over the past year. He keeps inspecting the work done by the Delhi Government and takes credit for the work done by the government. Why does he not inspect stations at night? The Delhi Police is being utilized for political work. Police Officers felt ashamed when they could not arrest Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after such a major crime", added the health minister. Further, Bharadwaj said that the Delhi Police is deployed to keep an eye on the VIP areas. "The Delhi Police is being deployed to keep an eye on the VIP areas, trap Arvind Kejriwal, trap the AAP leaders, and political espionage. Many times, Delhi Police staff are found keeping an eye around the AAP headquarters", he claimed. He chastised BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Harish Khurana's remark over Delhi Chief Minister. Earlier, Khurana asked why the Delhi CM does not hold meetings with the commissioners or MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly). Bharadwaj said, "BJP dissolved station-level committees. Earlier, every MLA would hold meetings with the commissioners of their respective areas. Even if the state assembly committee summons a police officer, they do not show up. If the LG officially states that the Chief Minister could summon the police officers and that they would follow the directions given by the CM, the CM will start summoning them every month. And we will improve the law system of Delhi within three months". Earlier today, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal paid condolences to the families of the two women, The Delhi Police comes under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (ANI).
Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called for Karnataka Bandh on June 22 against abnormal hike in Electricity charges. KCCI was the first industry body to publicly voice against the revision in tariff and set a deadline for the Govt. "We request all the Trade and Industry to close their establishment on 22 June. This is in protest of abnormal price hike in the Electricity charges by ESCOM's. For the last eight days, we have made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact of the hike in electricity charges. However, no solution is forthcoming from the Officials or government representatives," the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Saturday. "To draw the attention of the government, we are calling for this Bandh. We wish to find a solution and get a reduction in the electricity charges. We hope that the government will respond to our request," the statement said further. District Chambers of Gadag, Bijapur, Rancbennur, Raichur, Talikoti, Vijaynagar, Mysore, Davangere, Koppal, Bagalkoti, Dharwad, Sirsi, Karwar, Bidar, Shivamoga, Kolar, Mandya, Chickmangalore, Yadgir, Chitradurga, KalyanKamataka, Haveri, Hassan, Bellary and other Industry Associations have agreed to join the agitation, the statement informed. Karnataka Energy Minister KJ George on Wednesday said that over two crore Karnataka people can avail free electricity under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. Karnataka Energy Minister explained that only consumers whose average power consumption plus 10 per cent of it is less than 200 units will be eligible to avail the scheme. The Minister added that consumers who use more than the allotted units have to pay for the extra units used, with 9 per cent of tax included in it. "If average power consumption plus 10 per cent is less than 200 units, it will be subsidised. Anything over and above that will have to be paid. Consumers who use more than the allotted units, have to pay for the extra units used. 9 per cent of tax will be included in it," said KJ George, Karnataka Power Minister. Under the scheme, all households that use below 200 units of power every month will get electricity free of cost. "Of the 2.16 lakh crore households with electricity connection, 2.14 lakh crore will benefit from the scheme," said George. He said that the scheme would also be extended to the tenants. "It can be their own house or rented house. They need to have a voter ID and should enrol through the Seva Sindhu portal of the State Government", George said. He also said that the pending amount needs to be cleared by the consumers. The scheme's registration began on June 15 and lasted till July 5. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Kunal Ghosh came down heavily on West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, saying that "he is behaving like the BJP cadre." Commenting on the recent visits by the Governor to various places where violence broke out in the wake of the Panchayat polls, Kunal Ghosh said on Saturday, "We respect his position. But he is behaving like the BJP cadre. In this heat, he is roaming around wearing a black high-neck coat and getting himself clicked in pictures." Continuing with his attack against the Governor, Ghosh said, "He (Governor) is trying to give Oxygen to the Opposition. He is establishing what the BJP, CPM, TMC, ISF are accusing us of. Three of our supporters got killed in the violence. He did not visit them. How is this balanced then?" Rubbishing claims about large-scale pre-poll violence in Bengal, the TMC General Secretary said that some 'disturbance' took place in only three or four booths in the state. "There are more than 61,000 booths in West Bengal. Some disturbance was reported in only three to four booths in the state, that too instigated by the Opposition," he said. Attacking the opposition, Ghosh said, "We want the elections to be held peacefully on issues based on development. But they want to create scenes. They want to go to court, to the central government and make political statements." On the violence, Ghosh said that in Malda, the family themselves revealed which party was responsible for the attack. He alleged that in Coochbehar, BJP's Nisith Pramanik attacked the TMC workers. "In Malda, the family themselves said which party was responsible. In Coochbehar, Nisith Pramanik attacked the TMC workers. This is because Nisith's voter base is being eroded and he will lose. He is mad. He needs mental treatment. He had said once the Subhash Chandra Bose's birthplace is in Sonarpur," Ghosh said. Governor CV Ananda Bose said that "deeply distressed" with the clashes which took place on the last day of filing nominations for the panchayat elections. This was after he paid a visit to violence-hit Canning in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday. (ANI)
"Hindu society is tolerant, that is why you (Yadav) were able to say this," VHP's National spokesperson Vinod Bansal said on Saturday.

RJD MLA Yadav on Thursday ignited a fresh row on Ramcharitmanas with his controversial comments during a discussion where he asked, "Was Hindutva not in danger when Ramcharitmanas was being written inside a mosque?"

This came months after another RJD leader Chandra Shekhar in January claimed that Ramcharitmanas spreads hatred in society as it says that lower sections of the society get "poisonous" if they become educated.

Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya had also alleged that in the Ramcharitmanas, which was composed by Tulsidas, there are words hurting the sentiments of the Dalit community. (ANI)
Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid special attention to the development of Himachal Pradesh. While addressing the Vyapari Sammelan in Shimla which was organized on the completion of nine years of the Modi Government at the Centre, Jai Ram Thakur said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid special attention to the development of Himachal Pradesh. PM Modi completed the Atal Tunnel, which was pending for 10 years, in record time and dedicated it to the service of the people of Himachal." "He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of a world-class institution like AIIMS in record time. While being the Prime Minister, he came to Himachal on every occasion," he added. Jai Ram Thakur further stated that PM Modi launched several flagship schemes in the state due to his special attachment with Himachal Pradesh. "He also chose the holy land of Himachal Pradesh for the launch of several flagship schemes. Today projects worth Rs 45 thousand crores are going on in Himachal to build a network of national highways, BRO projects are going on separately. Apart from this, dozens of important schemes like Vande Bharat Train, Smart City Project of Dharamshala and Shimla, Drug Park, are coming on the ground in the state," he said. "All these schemes have become possible due to the special attachment of the Prime Minister to Himachal Pradesh. Definitely, with all these schemes, the people of Himachal will get new employment opportunities and the state will create new paradigms of progress," he added. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said that previous BJP government in the state has proved to be a milestone in the development of Himachal in the last five years. "Our government in the state has proved to be a milestone in the development. We solved the water problem in Shimla, widened the roads. Where possible, parking, tunnels and lifts were made. The Congress government stopped the development work everywhere. Nobody is talking about guarantees anymore. Law and order has collapsed in the state. Such incidents are happening which have not happened in Himachal till date," he said. The BJP is organising various programmes which are being attended by its senior leaders across the country as part of a mega public outreach to mark the 9th anniversary of the Modi Government at the centre. (ANI)
"A student was stabbed to death in Delhi University's South Campus. The accused and the victim had come to the college to attend their classes," Delhi police said.

As per the preliminary investigation, police said they learnt that there was a fight between the accused and the deceased.

"The accused has been identified and is being traced. The deceased student's body has been taken into custody," an officer of the Delhi police said.

"The body has been sent for post-mortem, they said.

"Further investigation is underway," Delhi Police said. (ANI)
As the monthly radio programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed its 102nd episode on Sunday, Congress hit out at the PM for not speaking on the ongoing violence in Manipur in the last episode aired today. Congress General Secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh while taking to Twitter came down heaving on PM Modi and said that he patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management, but was "maun" (silent) on Manipur violence. "So one more Mann ki Baat but Maun on Manipur. The PM patted himself on the back for India's great capabilities in disaster management. What about the entirely man-made (actually self-inflicted) humanitarian disaster that is confronting Manipur. Still no appeal for peace from him," said in a tweet. He further said, "There is a non-auditable PM-CARES Fund but does the PM even care for Manipur is the real question." Violence gripped Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The monthly radio programme of the Prime Minister was aired at 11 am. Meanwhile, PM Modi's monthly radio programme recently completed its 100th episode which was aired on April 26 live across the country. The 100th edition of the 'Mann ki Baat' programme made its global broadcast on April 30. The programme was also broadcasted live at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. In today's programme, PM lauded India's increasing capability to deal with natural disasters. Stating that the strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years has become an "example", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the people of Kutch for facing Cyclone Biparjoy with "full courage and preparedness." Cyclone Biparjoy, which originated in the Arabian Sea and swept across the west coast of India, made landfall on Thursday night around 10 km north of the Jakhau Port in Kutch, Gujarat. "The strength of disaster management that India has developed over the years is becoming an example today. Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked so much havoc in Kutch, but the people of Kutch faced it with full courage and preparedness," said PM Modi during the 102nd episode of his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat'. The PM, however, targeted Congress rule in the past and said the 1975 Emergency, imposed by the then Indira Gandhi-led Central government was a " dark period" in Indian history adding that millions opposed it with all their might. "India is the mother of democracy. We consider our democratic ideals as paramount, we consider our Constitution as Supreme... therefore, we can never forget June the 25th. This is the very day when Emergency was imposed on our country. It was a dark period in the history of India. Lakhs of people opposed the emergency with full might. Many books have been written on these atrocities; the punishment meted out by the police and administration. The supporters of democracy were tortured so much during that time that even today, their mind shudders," PM Modi said. (ANI)
Gas Turbine Research Establishment-- a DRDO lab involved in the development of indigenous engines-- would be part of the proposed deal with American GE for manufacturing jet engines in India, which would help them gain expertise in the field, government officials said. The officials said the American firm in an "unprecedented move" is sharing manufacturing technology for engines which is 80 per cent by cost. GTRE is a Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratory based in Bengaluru and has developed the Kaveri engine which was supposed to originally power the LCA Tejas aircraft variants. Due to delays in the project, India has been forced to go for the GE-404 engines for the initial 113 LCA aircraft and GE-414s for the LCA Mark 2 and the fifth generation planes planned to be produced in India. Government officials said, subsequently the percentage of the Transfer of Technologies (ToT) is expected to increase further. With this Transfer of Technology, the parts will be made in the country and GTRE will be receiving all the know-how including that of processes and coatings for the crystal blades etc will be transferred. Officials said the proposed ToT is unprecedented and GE has not transferred this level of ToT even to their NATO allies. India has plans of going in for another bigger jet aircraft engine to power its futuristic versions of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft for which it has been in talks with the French side. However, the present status of the talks between the two sides on the matter is not clear. The deal may be announced during PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US in the coming week. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Gorakhpur-based Gita Press for receiving the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021. Taking to Twitter, PM lauded Gita Press for its "commendable work" towards furthering social and cultural transformations. "I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people," PM Modi said in a tweet. According to the Ministry of Culture, the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its "outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods. Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognizes the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to the collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also congratulated the press organisation and thanked the PM for the same. "Heartfelt congratulations to Gita Press located in Gorakhpur, the most important center of the religious literature of Sanatan Dharma of India, on receiving the 'Gandhi Peace Prize' for the year 2021. This award received on completion of 100 years of establishment will give a new flight to the religious literature of Gita Press. Hearty thanks to the Prime Minister for this," Yogi tweeted. Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world's largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. "The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the wellbeing of all," the Ministry of Culture said on Sunday. The Jury headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on June 18 unanimously decided to select Gita Press as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods. "PM Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press, in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service," the statement said. Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh. (ANI)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has asked Mizoram CM Zoramthanga's assistance in resolving the issue of the state which is witnessing ethnic clashes since last month, the latter said on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, Mizoram CM said that his government bemoans the ongoing violence in Manipur and it has taken certain steps and measures to abate it. https://twitter.com/ZoramthangaCM/status/1670373835970080771 "Furthermore, the request is to take means and measures for the Mizoram Meitei to settle peacefully. I assured Manipur CM stating that Govt of Mizoram bemoans the ongoing violence and that it has taken certain steps and measures to abate it," Mizoram CM Zoramthanga said in a tweet. He further said that the Manipur government is "supportive" of the steps taken by the Manipur government. "I also apprised the Chief Minister of Manipur that we, the people of Mizoram are empathetic towards the Meitei and that the government and the NGOs have taken measures for peace and security. Therefore, for the Meitei who are residing in Mizoram, they have nothing to fear as long as they are in Mizoram. We shall go on to promote safety and security for them," Mizoram CM added. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that the Centre should tell how many steps it has taken for doubling the income of farmers in the last five years. While addressing reporters, CM Gehlot said, "It is easy to talk about doubling the income of the farmers. In the last five years, the Government of India should tell how many steps have been taken (in this direction)." He stated that if Congress party returns to power in Rajasthan, it will emphasize on the micro irrigation. "We are taking one step after another. We are giving good seeds, and good fertilizers to the farmers. If our government comes back to power, we will lay emphasis on micro irrigation," he said. Earlier in year 2022 a study conducted by SBI Research showed that incomes of farmers have doubled for certain crops in some states from 2017-18 to 2021-22. The incomes of soybean farmers in Maharashtra and cotton in Karnataka doubled during the period, while for all other cases it rose in the range of 1.3 -1.7 times, the study showed. The average incomes of wheat farmers in Rajasthan grew 1.3 times during the period, whereas groundnut farmers in Gujarat grew 1.5 times. The study was based on primary data of SBI's agri portfolio across states containing granular data of various crops from agri-intensive branches and analyzed the change in income of farmers over the past five years. The Government of India in 2016 had constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee to examine issues relating to "Doubling of Farmers Income" (DFI) and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018 containing the strategy for doubling of farmers' income by the year 2022. (ANI)
Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas on Sunday hit back at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of allegedly spending Rs 50 crore for renovating his official residence. "Arvind Kejriwal must get a medal for telling lies...He used to speak a lot about his sincerity but he has nothing to say about the palace that he has built for himself by spending Rs 50 Crore...whole nation is questioning, and Kejriwal must give an answer," Khachariyawas emphasized that the entire nation was questioning Kejriwal's actions and demanded an explanation from him. Khachariyawas hit back at Kejriwal who earlier accused Ashok Gehlot of having done no work in the state in the last 4-5 years in Rajasthan. Both the Congress and the BJP have been accusing Aam Admi Party National Convenor over the alleged Rs 45 crores renovation of his official residence. "He won't get a single vote in Rajasthan," the minister said. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hit out at his counterpart Ashok Gehlot, accusing him of "sabotaging" his rally and termed it as an act of "Cowardice. Kejriwal took a swipe at Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and said that if the latter had worked for five years, he wouldn't have put up posters all around before AAP's public meeting in the state. "When we were coming here, we saw Gehlot Saheb has put up his posters all over Ganganagar and around this stadium. I want to tell him that if he had worked for the last 5 years, he would not have to do this. 15-20 people came here and they were throwing chairs, all this is an act of cowards. They did not work for five years and this is the reason they are trying to ruin AAP rallies," Kejriwal said while addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar on Sunday. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was also present at the public meeting in Sri Ganganagar. AAP is holding rallies in the state ahead of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Elections that are scheduled to be held in or before December 2023. He further slammed the BJP and Congress accusing both parties of being involved in "corruption". While lashing out at CM Gehlot, Aam Admi Party National Convenor said, "Your work speaks for you. You (CM Gehlot) did not work for 5 years and this is the reason you are trying to ruin Aam Aadmi Party rallies". "When we were coming here, we saw Gehlot Saheb has put up his posters all over Ganganagar and around this stadium. I want to tell him that if he had worked for the last 5 years, he would not have to do this," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal claimed that no work has been done in the last 4-5 years by the Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan. "When I came here, I saw 15-20 people removing and throwing chairs here. It is an act of Cowardice," Kejriwal said. "If you (Gehlot) would have been loved by the people of Rajasthan, you would have been at peace. You (CM Gehlot) would not have sabotaged my rallies," Kejriwal said while taking a dig at CM Gehlot. (ANI)
The deceased were residents of Shahalampur village under Bhogaon in Mainpuri district and had come to attend a wedding function in Mohdabad area on Saturday, according to the police.

The mishap took place near Nibkarori station and the deceased were identified as Ritik, Hariom and Vineet. Their bodies were discovered by some village women lying on the Farrukhabad-Delhi rail tracks.

After being informed by a police team reached the spot but family members of the deceased did not allowed police to take the bodies for a post-mortem, according to Mohammadabad Deputy Superintendant of Police (DySP) Arun Kumar.

(ANI)
Delhi police has arrested three people in connection with a case of cheat and fraud along with the main accused who defrauded several US citizens of more than 20 million dollars by posing as senior Drug Enforcement Agency official, the police official said on Sunday. The accused has been identified as Parther Marker, the Delhi police official further said. According to the Delhi Police Special CP HGS Dhaliwal, the accused was mainly operating from Uganda and Ahmedabad and other parts of India. He further said that Marker has been arrested along with his criminal syndicate mastermind Vatsal Mehta and two of his associates. "We received input from the FBI that an individual named Parther Marker defrauded several US citizens of more than 20 million dollars by posing as a senior Drug Enforcement Agency official. He was mainly operating from Uganda and Ahmedabad and other parts of India. He was arrested along with his criminal syndicate mastermind Vatsal Mehta and two of his associates," Dhaliwal told ANI. He further said that the arrested accused were later sent to the five days police remand. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
CM Soren said it was a formal meeting during which many topics came up for discussion.

CM Soren took to Twitter to post, "Today, there was a formal meeting with the National General Secretary of the Communist Party of India respected D Raja ji, former MP respected Bhubaneshwar Prasad Mehta ji and other people at the residence. Many topics were discussed during the meeting."

Earlier, on June 14, CPI General Secretary D Raja met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, announcing his party's decision to extend its support to the latter's campaign against the Centre's ordinance which ensures transfer postings and the subject of services remain under the control of the Union government.

On May 19, the Union government brought an Ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the "transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'.

The Ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. (ANI)
Shrikant Shinde, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's son on Sunday said that both parties are "moving ahead with the same ideology" and should avoid commenting on each other. Addressing the Shiv Sena workers in his constituency Kalyan, Thane, on Saturday, Shrikant said, "Whatever policies the public need, this government has served them that. We (BJP-Shiv Sena) are moving ahead with the same ideology. We should not comment on one another. Even if someone is saying something, we should be patient". He had earlier resigned from his post following a rift between local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and those of the Shiv Sena. He alleged that there are some leaders who are trying to create obstacles for BJP-Shiv Sena for their "selfish politics." The MP said, "We have made an alliance not in the hope of any post or ministership, but to take Maharashtra ahead. We should have a grip on our emotions and work together." Earlier, a rift had occurred between the workers of both parties in the Kalyan constituency following a molestation case registered against BJP leader Nandu Joshi. The local BJP leaders protested against it stating that the FIR had been filed at the behest of the Shiv Sena leaders for political gains. After the rift emerged, Shrikant Shinde announced his resignation. Shinde added, "When we were working together, we saw we were doing a great job in Kalyan. It will be for the good of our department and the state if we work unitedly". Taking a jab at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, he lamented over the merger of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress with the then Shiv Sena. "Our workers were in poor condition instead of the fact that the Chief Minister belonged to our party. We had brushed aside Bala Saheb's ideologies. In order to form an alliance, the party with which we had an alliance (NCP and Congress), about that party, Bala Saheb had once said, If I ever need to form an alliance with them, I will shut down my shop. In order to gain power and post, we kept aside our ideologies," he said. The leader also castigated the Congress party, "See what they have done after coming to power in Karnataka. They removed the lessons related to Veer Savarkar. I want to ask the ones who are standing with Congress in the MVA. Is this valid? I do not know whether my words are reaching their ears or not since they have not been here for a few days."(ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday hit out at the opposition parties over their meeting that is scheduled to be held on June 23 and said that there is a tussle between the parties for the face of Prime Minister. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of top Opposition leaders to stitch a grand alliance against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting will be held in Patna on June 23, JD(U), national president Lalan Singh said earlier. Talking to the reporters in Patna, Ravi Shankar said, "Who will be their (opposition) PM face?... There is friction between them." Terming the parties in the grand alliance as a congregation of "selfish people for power" who are incapable of facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone. "This is an alliance of selfish people for power. Since they can't take on PM Modi alone, they are trying to do it together. India wants a fixed government not a bunch of people who keep fighting with each other", Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claimed that the Lok Sabha elections may be held earlier than scheduled due to the growing unity of the opposition. Nitish Kumar speculated that the current government might perceive a growing opposition unity as a threat that could result in significant losses for them, prompting them to consider early polls. "The central government has the majority and can obviously prepone the Lok Sabha elections. They (BJP) might think that the opposition unity may affect them in the coming time, so they can prepone the Lok Sabha polls," Bihar CM told reporters. He further emphasised that if the entire opposition contests elections unitedly, then the BJP will be ousted from the states where it currently holds power. "I have warned all the parties and asked all opposition parties must come together to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. We must start preparations after the June 23 meeting," he added. (ANI)
She joined the Sena faction in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday evening.

"I wanted to do some constructive work that's why I joined the Shiv Sena. It's the first time in the history of Shiv Sena that a woman has been made a secretary of the party I'm very happy," she said after joining the Shinde faction.

Manisha Kayande was dismissed from the post of Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson on Sunday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde said Manisha Kayande has the intention of doing great work.

"Manisha Kayande has the intention of doing a great job, I have welcomed her and also given her the post of secretary in Shiv Sena and I hope she will work for woman empowerment," he added.

Kayande was appointed as the spokesperson of Shiv Sena in 2016.

She is a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. (ANI)
According to the publication, three people died in Patnitala Upazila alone in Naogaon while another person Azizul Huq lost his life in Porsha.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Potnitola Police Station Polash Chandra Deb confirmed the matter.

The deceased were identified as Masud Rana, 19, Motaher Hossain, 35, and Khademul Islam, 45, from Akbarpur Union Parishad, the OC added.

According to The Bangladesh Standard, the figure is the year's highest single-day death toll caused by lightning bolts, the last addition to the government's list of natural disasters in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Azizul Huq, 65, from Nitpur Sohati village under Porsha Upazila died in a lightning strike.

OC Jahurul Huq of Porsha police station confirmed.

Meanwhile, in Bangladesh's Sunamganj, three people were killed in two separate lightning strikes in Dirai and Bishwamvarpur upazila of the district, reported Dhaka Tribune.

The deceased were identified as Selim Mia, 25, Joinal Mia, 35 and Abdul Malek, 38. They were residents of Bishwamvarpur upazila.

Abdul Malek died as lightning struck him when he was fishing in a Haor during rain in the morning. He died on the spot.

OC of Dirai Police Station Kazi Moktadir Hossain confirmed the matter.

Besides, Joinal Mia and Selim Mia were injured in another lightning strike in Bishwamvarpur upazila. They succumbed to their injuries on the way to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital, according to Dhaka Tribune.

Officer-in-Charge of Siful Alam of Bishwamvarpur Police Station confirmed the matter.

In Sreemangal, a tea worker named Ripon Kalindi was killed in a lightning strike on Saturday. (ANI)
United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined the officials in the raid which ended with the arrest of over 100 illegal immigrants from 20 different nations, according to the statement released by the UK government. Rishi Sunak made an early morning visit to Brent, North London on Thursday, wearing a bulletproof vest with a light blue shirt and navy blue pants. The UK's Home Office has conducted a record number of visits targeting illegal working in one day, and immigration enforcement officers arrested 105 foreign nationals found working without the right to do so during 159 illegal working visits. The arrests took place at commercial premises including restaurants, car washes, nail bars, barber shops and convenience stores, according to the statement. Suspects were arrested for offences including illegal working and possession of false documentation, with sums of cash seized at some locations. Talking about the arrest, Home Secretary, Suella Braverman said, "Illegal working harms our communities, cheats honest workers out of employment and defrauds the public purse as no taxes are paid. As the Prime Minister has set out, we are committed to tackling the abuse of our laws and borders." "We know the prospect of black-market employment is a significant attraction for migrants considering making dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK. Operations such as today send a clear message that we will not stand for this. Of those arrested, over 40 were detained by the Home Office, pending their removal from the UK, with the remaining suspects being released on immigration bail. It is also expected that a number of the arrests will result in a voluntary departure from the UK," Braverman added. The Home Secretary also stated that in the first quarter of 2023, Immigration Enforcement teams delivered 1,303 enforcement visits, a 57 per cent increase on the same period last year, and since the PM set out his plan to stop the boats in December, arrests have now doubled since the same period last year, as per the statement. Meanwhile, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime, Eddy Montgomery said that this result demonstrates the dedication and professionalism of our officers to take action against immigration offenders, as well as employers who are not complying with the rules. "Our enforcement teams are working around the clock to deter immigration offending and help protect the public. Working closely with partners and agencies including the police and the National Crime Agency, we are tackling illegal work at every level. It is vital that we not only identify individuals in breach of immigration law but target the people smuggling networks behind this type of criminal activity," Montgomery added. (ANI)
China is devoting considerable resources to hijacking international Buddhism and marginalize Tibetan Buddhists loyal to the Dalai Lama and other Buddhists who look at the government-controlled China Buddhist Association and see what it is, a tool of the CCP to justify repression of religious liberty, Bitter Winter reported. Bitter Winter is an online magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China. China has generously funded archaeological and restoration work in Buddhist sites in Pakistan. According to Bitter Winter, China wants us to believe that Padmasambhava was born in Pakistan and that Pakistan played a central role in the early history of Buddhism. They do not insist on it because of philanthropy or their political alliance with Pakistan only. Indian scholar Chandan Kumar in an article on June 11 explained that it is part of China's soft diplomacy to try to make inroads into international Buddhist organizations. The country aims are to substantiate the false claim that there is freedom of religion for Buddhists in China, to downplay India as the birthplace of Buddhism promoting instead China as the main international centre of the religion, and to promote its puppet Tibetan Buddhist leaders hoping they may really become a serious challenge to the Dalai Lama, as per Bitter Winter. As Chandan Kumar writes, China "has gained considerable sway over the International Council of Day of Vesak (ICDV), the World Fellowship of Buddhists, and other organizations in Korea and Taiwan. This influence is evident in the Common Text Project (CTP) undertaken by the ICDV, where Tibetan scholars have been marginalized, and Chinese texts have been given prominence over traditional Tibetan sources. In 2021, China started South China Sea Buddhism Foundation to influence Buddhist countries of the South China Sea. The first South China Sea Roundtable was organized in Shenzhen in 2021 and the second was organized in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The aim of the roundtable is to cooperate with Buddhist temples and monasteries in the South China Sea." (ANI)
Taliban's Minister of Economy Qari Din Mohammad Hanif has met with the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Isabelle Moussard Carlsen and asked for further aid for the people of Afghanistan in different fields, Khaama Press reported. The Khaama Press News Agency is the largest online news service for Afghanistan. Hanif while describing the humanitarian aid as vital but not enough, said that the United Nations should launch development projects in Afghanistan. The Taliban Ministry of Economy in a news release announced that Taliban's Minister Hanif on Thursday met with the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) during which he said, "Humanitarian aid is of paramount importance to our people at this very moment, however, the UN and international aid organizations should focus on launching development projects in the country," according to Khaama Press. The OCHA previously announced that over the past five months, the UN organization had helped more than 17 million people in Afghanistan. According to OCHA, these aids were focused in the areas of education, malnutrition, health, shelter, food and clean water for needy families throughout Afghanistan. For her turn, Isabelle said the UN OCHA has delivered life-saving services to more than 17,500,000 people in different parts of the country over the past two months, as per Khaama Press. (ANI)
Highlighting the unbroken partnership between the world's two biggest democracies, US and India, Samir Saran, a geopolitical expert said that India is undergoing a transformation in its global role, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "muscular" foreign policies. The President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said that the United States branded India with a "Swag of 20 years later," indicating the country's newfound confidence and assertiveness while explaining how things have changed for India in the past years in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policies. Shedding light on India's journey, in context with the West, the ORF President said, "When the US was making this decision, to suddenly re-imagine and brand India in a particular way, it had to sell it to its constituencies, to its partners to its own people." "There is no better country in the world when it comes to branding........Americans are masters of branding.....we have moved from snake charmers to Tiger.......what Americans did was positioned India with "Swag of 20 years later," he added. In an exclusive interview with ANI Editor Smita Prakash, he said, "Even though today the leaders in the US may be fighting the elections on different issues but in the 20th century, in America, India was seen as a country close to Soviet Block." Samir Saran also curates the Raisina Dialogue, India's annual conference on cybersecurity and internet governance. His research focuses on issues of global governance, climate change and energy policy, technology and media, and India's foreign policy. Saran predicted that India will continue to become more vocal and confident as time goes on as Indian youth are more confident and assertive, having a clear vision for their country on the global stage. Responding to how PM Modi's foreign policies have impacted India today, Saran stated, "Second part is we also have to reimagine India's role in the world, even if that takes time. Today's youth is so different, they know what they want, and they have a strong view of their country in the world. "You see a far more confident India today. Each year, every 5 years we are going to see certainly vocal and confident India," Saran added. He also explained how India went through a period of adjusting to its new realities, a reality which was looking far more wholesome at the prospects which were far more positive. "India had not only grown, matured, developed certain skills, Indian industry, and Indian economic market side were beginning to contribute as well, that engine was finally firing," Saran added. The reforms of 1991 played a significant role in unleashing India's potential, enabling it to escape the limitations of the public sector and contribute to global markets. "We had in many ways escaped the shackles of the public sector. The 1991 reforms were beginning to kick-in," he added. Listing out the factors responsible for not continuing the upward trajectory during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's second term, Saran said, "Manmohan Singh's and Atal Bihari Vajpayee's terms were similar. What happened post-2009, there was a resurgence of the other side of the Congress party, of the left-leaning socialist side that somehow made the then PM Manmohan Singh, guilty of wanting more for the country." This shift in dynamics led to changes in key policies with the idea of millions of Indians living abroad being used as both a tool and a means of influencing policy decisions. He also said that because there were these hundreds of millions of folks who were outside the country, that idea was used both as a tool and a means of changing some of the key policies, but also as a way of instilling a reluctant Indian story. "It was at that particular time when former US President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, and he made a visit to Shanghai in 2009 and suggested G2. And if you look at the period when the Americans toyed with the idea of accommodating the rise of India while trying to manage the neighbourhood with China," Saran added. He pointed out that during former PM Manmohan Singh's second term, India missed opportunities to forge closer ties with key global players. "We (UPA government) did not continue to deepen, strengthen our relations with Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Australians and others at that particular time, so that period of 4 years, gave birth to Xi Jinping kind of geopolitics," the ORF president said. ORF helps discover and inform India's choices. It carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. It provides non-partisan, independent, well-researched analyses and inputs to diverse decision-makers in governments, business communities, and academia and to civil society around the world. (ANI)
Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah has threatened to ban the screening of Indian films across Kathmandu from Monday over the controversy around 'Adipurush', a cinematic adaptation of the epic 'Ramayana'. The move comes amid a row in the Himalayan country over the newly-released film, which depicts Sita as being born in India. Claiming that Sita, wife of Lord Ram in the epic, was born in Nepal, the mayor gave a three-day deadline to the makers of the magnum-opus to make necessary changes. He demanded that the makers remove the contentious dialogue from the film not just in Nepal but elsewhere across the globe where it was released. Taking to Facebook, the Kathmandu Mayor, who goes by the name Balen on the social media platform, threatened to enforce a ban on the screening of all Indian movies through the deployment of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police. "Indian film 'Adipurush' has dialogue claiming Janaki was India's daughter. This is objectionable and we had given a three-day ultimatum (to the makers) to correct it. There is no doubt that it is the first duty of every government, government agency, and non-governmental sector and Nepali citizens to protect the national interest by keeping Nepal and its freedom, independence and self-respect intact," the Kathmandu mayor stated in a Facebook post. The mayor claimed the screening of Indian films will damage the country's national identity, nationality and cultural unity. "If the film is shown as it is, it seems that Nepal's nationality, cultural unity and national identity will be severely damaged and irreparable damage will be done. Due to cultural encroachment on Nepal from that movie, this metropolitan city has attracted serious attention," the Mayor stated further in his Facebook post. Shah stated, "If the film is allowed to be shown in other areas within the country and abroad, it will establish a misleading fact, so it is prohibited to show any Indian film in the Kathmandu metropolitan city until the objectionable parts are removed from the said film." Further, according to the mayor's secretariat, personnel from Kathmandu Metropolitan Police were deployed on Sunday evening and conveyed the message to ban the screening of Indian films from Monday morning. Kathmandu has 17 cinema halls, as per the official record of the metropolis. 'Adipurush', which was released across the globe on Friday, has a dialogue which proclaims "Janaki (another name for Sita) is a daughter of India". The dialogue, however, has been removed in Nepal after the censor board in the Himalayan nation raised an objection over it and delayed the film's release on Friday. The censor board of Nepal on Thursday asked the makers to beep out the dialogue in the film before clearing it for screening across theatres in the country. However, the scheduled release of the film on Friday couldn't go ahead as planned as the advisory or circular to beep out the contentious dialogue did not reach the makers on time. On Friday, the mayor wrote to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology requesting it to stop the screening of all Indian films in Nepal unless the objectionable dialogue from the recently-released 'Adipurush' is omitted. Shah also sent a copy of his letter to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Film Development Board, urging the government to take diplomatic initiatives with India to remove the dialogue. Mentioning that Article 5 and Article 56 (6) of Nepal's constitution have vested the federal, provincial and local governments with the responsibility to protect the national interest, Shah said the metropolis was concerned with the film's "cultural encroachment". (ANI)
As part of the visit, he was presented with an update on the activities of the aerospace industry by its Chairman Amir Peretz and CEO Boaz Levy.

In addition, Prime Minister Netanyahu toured an exhibition of advanced means and capabilities - in the fields of defence and attack.

"I am here visiting the aerospace industry, very impressed by the defence and attack tools we are developing here," said Netanyahu.

"We are determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Our strong opposition to returning to the original nuclear agreement contributes to the American decision not to do so. We also made it clear to our American friends that the agreements are more limited - they are also not acceptable to us. "

"In any case," he added, "as I make clear to them, make clear to the world and will make it clear here again: we will do everything we need to defend ourselves, on our own, against any threat." (ANI/TPS)
Satnam Singh Sandhu, Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) convenor, on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "transformed the way the world sees India", calling for the need to ensure that the "voice and opinion of Indian diaspora from Silicon Valley reach him". Sandhu made these remarks at an event, India-US partnership, where tech leaders from Silicon Valley joined in large numbers to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic US State visit, which begins on June 21. At the event, the tech leaders not only highlighted the growing India-US relations but also noted how PM Modi's US visit will strengthen the ties further. Indian-born Silicon Valley CEOs are also part of a four million-strong minority group that is among the wealthiest and most educated in the US. At the event, Sandhu, also the chief patron of NID foundation, said, "It is our effort to pay back to our nation. Whatever we have received from our country. We have found such a leader, who has changed the global perception of India. With PM Modi's visit to the US, it is our effort that the voice and opinion of the Indian diaspora from Silicon Valley reaches till PM Modi." Dr Dalvir Singh Pannu, CEO of Pannu Dental Group, California, called the event a "curtain raiser before Prime Minister Modi's historic event with Joe Biden" in Washington DC. "It was amazing to see all the technology leaders, all the executives from big companies in Silicon Valley today discussing at the root level on how India and the US can collaborate together and almost one thing was summarized by everyone that the name of India as it has been popularised at the global scale in the last decade has never happened before," Dr Pannu said. Shilpa Kolhatkar, Global Head AI Nations at NVIDIA, which seeks to strengthen partnerships with countries all over the world to prepare them for the next generation, which is largely into Artificial Intelligence, also spoke on the occasion. Underlining the importance of AI in today's world, she said, "AI is mainstream now, especially with ChatGPT. Right from 8-year-old children to everybody is using it. I think India with a population of 1.3 billion people, and thousands of AI startups, is a ripe bed of innovation and with the young population in India, it is a ripe bed of upskilling and opportunity to upskill the next generation in terms of their readiness to create AI and also to create jobs and also the ability to use AI as a tool." She added, "So our focus is trifold, engaging with government, industry and academia and triangulating between these three entities to propel the country forward and that's what we are doing in India as well. Now, with the contribution of the Government of India in terms of 2023-budget which has allocated a huge sum of 3 billion dollars towards AI strategy and AI investments." Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California, said, "We have an incredible Indian American community right here in California. Certainly in business and technology, but in every place, progress has been made, Indian-Americans are there leading powerfully with great talent and expression." Parag Agrawal is among the latest feathers in the cap of the Indian diaspora at the highest echelons in the silicon valley of the US. Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, and the top bosses of IBM, Adobe, Palo Alto Networks, VMWare and Vimeo are all of Indian descent. The event was also addressed by Nitu Nanda, senior vice president of Bank of America, CEO and co-founder of Eventful, Sammy Sidhu, and chief, Global Services, at Iron System Bob Sandhu. (ANI)
Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is also the house of royalty for more than 400 erstwhile Indian Princely States and Indian minority groups like Jews and Africans. Among them is Kenneth X Robbins, a man whose passion is to document, archive and rediscover hidden history. Robbins has recently published three volumes that represent his efforts to document the history of all the 'Princely States' of Gujarat using paintings, photographs, maps, documents, and ephemera from his personal collections. He said he hopes to present this work to PM Modi as he arrives in the US on his maiden official visit to the country. He added that he wishes that through PM Modi, the Indian diaspora and the greater community of scholars would take an interest in the history of Gujrat and will deeply engage and interact with his published collection. "Prime Minister Modi came from Gujarat and my work is to really establish the importance of Gujarat in the formation of India. The preservation of Indian culture, and many of the preservation and furthering of Ayurvedic medicine and the particular contributions that particular maharajas have had as a cultural icon," Robbins added. Over the course of more than five decades, Robbins and his wife, Joyce Robbins, have amassed a collection of more than 100,000 items pertaining to the history of South Asia, Africans in the greater Indian Ocean world, and the Jewish diaspora in India and beyond. Robbins is hopeful that someday, the Union government will make an effort to build, preserve, and increase access to deep and distinctive collections, some of Robbins most prized possessions of life, especially his study on Gujarat. The home of the historian is almost like a museum making it the largest collection of Indian ephemera outside of India. Their collection comprises more than 100,000 items, including books, manuscripts, medals and fine artworks -- speaking to the diverse cultures and traditions that find expression in India. It provides a lot of insight into topics of social and cultural history that people are interested in. Generations of scholars will find research topics here. In October last year, it was found that the Robbins' family had designated the Pen Library -- the library system of the University of Pennsylvania, an IVY League school in the US -- as the recipient of their entire collection in their estate planning. Robbins also stressed that the historical and unexplored ties between Afro-South Asian communities need cultural attention and to do so, he wished to present Vice President Kamala Harris, a person of Indian and African heritage, with a book on Jaaz in India. "I'd like to as well since I've been working on Africans in India. One of my books deals with Indian and jazz American jazz musicians. I'd like to be able to give a copy to Kamala Harris because I understand she's a great jazz fan of my great idol, Charlie Mingus," he added. Robbins has been particularly involved in documenting the history of Africans in India. "India is the only place where sub-Saharan Africans ruled over non-Africans in a number of places, and we've documented this. Now the idea is to talk about India, the global Indian diaspora and its interactions with other groups. And I'm working on a book now about interactions between Bengalis and people of African origin in five continents," he said. (ANI)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut Susan Bysiewicz said that she hopes his visit will pave the way for a stronger and closer partnership between the two nations, as well as, between India and the state of Connecticut. The official Twitter account of the Embassy of India, Washington, DC posted her video and appreciated her message. Lt Gov Susan Bysiewicz @LGSusanB #Connecticut extends a warm welcome to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his #HistoricStateVisit2023 #Diaspora #Values #IndiaUSAPartnership #ModiStateVisitUSA" In the video, Susan Bysiewicz welcomed PM Modi on behalf of the people of Connecticut on his state visit to the United States. "The Indian diaspora has made many contributions to our state. I hope your visit is successful and I am confident that will pave the way for an even stronger and closer partnership between India and the United States and between India and the state of Connecticut," she said in the video. She also talked about the Indian relationship with Connecticut and said that India-US shared values of diversity nurture the bond between the two countries. "On behalf of the people of Connecticut, I want to extend a very warm welcome to Prime Minister Modi on his state visit to the United States. India and the United States have a shared appreciation for democracy. It's a special occasion as the leaders of the world of largest democracies visit the world's oldest democracies. Our shared values of diversity nurture the bond between our peoples," she said in her video. Bysiewicz also highlighted the fact that the largest percentage of immigrants in Connecticut are Indians. She said, "Connecticut is home to a vibrant and growing Indian community. The largest percentage of immigrants in Connecticut are Indians and we are so proud they have chosen to make Connecticut their home." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the United States from June 21 to June 24. On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans plan to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and the First Lady welcome the Prime Minister amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will close the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony. PM Narendra Modi during his visit will also become the first Indian PM to address the Joint Meeting of the US Congress for the second time. Indian Americans said the invitation sent to Prime Minister to address the US Congress serves as a reminder of the historical significance of the relationship between the US and India, reflecting the shared dream and commitment to global peace and prosperity, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. 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 Centre in DC in the evening. (ANI)
The other two terrorists were identified as Hasan Khan son of Muhammad Imran, a resident of Bazi Khel, and Anas alias Ali, a resident of Nangarhar, Afghanistan. They were gunned down by security forces between June 16 and June 17 night.

According to the sources, the TTP commander was a resident of the village Malan in Dara Adam Khel. He arrived in Peshawar from Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on May 22, 2023, as per Geo News.

He was also a former member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and was involved in 26 grenade attacks in Pakistan. Moreover, he was also involved in dozens of terrorist attacks against security forces, coal contractors, businessmen and influential people.

He had received more than Rs 100 million in extortion and kidnapping for ransom, as per Geo News.

The other terrorist, Hasan Khan, was an expert in sniping and grenade attacks and remained a part of TTA from 2019 to 2021. He joined the Tariq Gidar group in 2022.

Whereas, Anas was a sniping expert involved in terrorist attacks against security forces in North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts. (ANI)
A police officer works the scene of an overnight mass shooting at a strip mall in Willowbrook, Ill., Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

A police officer works the scene of an overnight mass shooting at a strip mall in Willowbrook, Ill., Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. (AP)  At least 23 people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday during a gathering in a parking lot that drew hundreds of people in suburban Chicago, authorities said.

TV news video showed the strip mall lot in Willowbrook filled with debris and police tape, about 20 miles (32.1 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

The DuPage County Sheriffs Office described it as a peaceful gathering to celebrate Juneteenth that suddenly turned violent as a number of people fired multiple shots into the crowd.

We know of 22 victims injured and one victim killed by gunfire. Several other victims were also injured while attempting to flee the area, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

Police were there monitoring the gathering but were called away because of a nearby fight, the sheriffs office said.

They heard gunshots and immediately returned to the scene, the sheriffs office said.

A motive for the attack wasnt immediately known, and no one was arrested by early afternoon.

We transported numerous victims from the scene. Others just walked into area hospitals, said Eric Swanson, deputy chief at the sheriffs office.

Rick Wagner, who lives nearby, said there were at least 300 people in the lot by 10:30 p.m.

Weve had multiple conversations with police about large groups meeting there, Wagner told the Daily Herald.

It was like cars everywhere, he said.

A witness, Markeshia Avery, said it was a Juneteenth celebration. Monday is the federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed  two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

We just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped, Avery told WLS-TV.

Another witness, Craig Lotcie, said: Everybody ran, and it was chaos.
1 killed and at least 22 injured in shooting at a strip mall near Chicago, officials say

One person was killed and at least 22 injured in a mass shooting near Willowbrook in southeast DuPage County early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Fire officials received calls reporting gunshot victims around 12:30 a.m. and responded to the strip mall at Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane where a really large gathering had occurred, said Steve Vogel, a Tri-State Fire Protection District battalion chief.

The gathering began as a Juneteenth celebration, according to the DuPage County Sheriffs Office.

The fire department transported 10 people to local hospitals. One of those 10 people died and another was in critical condition, Vogel said.

Another seven people transported themselves to the hospital, Vogel said.

Later Sunday, DuPage County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Robert Carroll confirmed 22 people had been shot and one killed.

People had gathered to celebrate Juneteenth, Carroll said. The holiday marks the day the last enslaved Black people were freed in Texas after the end of the Civil War.

The shooting took place 2 miles outside Willowbrooks jurisdiction, the villages police department wrote on Facebook.

The parking lot of the strip mall was littered with abandoned shoes, broken cups and ripped clothing on Sunday morning. At the center of the lot, a pickup truck sat with a Pan-African American flag draped over the back. Police tape surrounded the area.

At the Hinsdale Lake Terrace Apartments just north of the strip mall, residents said they heard the gunshots late last night. A sliding door of one of the units facing the mall lot was shattered and taped off.

Kembley Carlton, who lives at the apartment complex, said she heard gunshots in the mall parking lot for the last few days, and she didnt see the police respond. There had been a block party the past few nights with people recording video, Carlton said.

Carlton said her 23-year-old daughter, who was at the scene of the shooting, ran home as soon as she heard gunshots and scraped her arm from falling. Carlton said three friends who were there fell while running and scraped their knees. She said one went to the hospital for stitches.

It was just a mess, Carlton said. We saw all these people running.

Carlton said shes noticed in the past five years that gun violence in the area has gotten more frequent.

We have never had this problem before, she said. Now its bad over here. Theyre just shooting and dont care.

Jennifer Dunski has family that lives in the area and said her nieces friend died in the shooting.

Im used to the neighborhood being kind of crazy, but this is a whole new level of crazy and its heartbreaking, Dunski said.

She said there have been isolated incidents of violence in the area but nothing ever this bad.

I had to stop by and see because my niece told me this morning and I was just like, This cant be happening, Dunski said. You know, so many hurt, you know, the devastation. Ive never seen this neighborhood look like this.

In a statement released Sunday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, whose district borders the site of the shooting, said he was heartbroken by the shooting.

We live in a tragic reality where you cannot go to school, go to the grocery store, go to your place of worship, or celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July or Juneteenth without fear of being shot, Casten said. Change is needed  we cannot allow this to be the status quo.

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1 taken to hospital, another in custody after sister allegedly stabs brother in Trotwood

One person was taken to the hospital and another was arrested after a sister allegedly stabbed her brother in Trotwood Sunday morning.

At 8:25 a.m. Trotwood police and medics were called to a home in the first block of Chaplen Drive to reports of a sister who had stabbed her brother, according to Montgomery County regional dispatch.

One person was taken to an area hospital and another taken to jail, dispatch notes indicate.

>> Man dies after 2 semi-trucks collide in Indiana

Information about the condition of the person taken to the hospital or what led to the alleged stabbing was not available.

We are learning to learn the charges the suspect faces and the condition of the person hospitalized.

We will update this story as new information becomes available.
10 years after first graduating class, U of M Rochester looking for imaginative solutions

ROCHESTER  Ten years ago, the University of Minnesota Rochester graduated its first class. The university was filled lofty goals for its future: a downtown campus focused on health sciences that would grow to house 5,000 students or more in the coming decades.

But the campus, which began in a downtown shopping center, remains a disparate collection of owned and leased spaces along 1st Ave. SW in the heart of the city. And last year, the school served just 964 students.

Economic realities and unexpected surprises like the COVID-19 pandemic prompted university officials to readjust their expectations over the years. Now they are looking at new goals.

In July, officials will begin updating the campus plan and present it to the University Board of Regents next year.

At the same time, the university continues to push for classroom experimentation  notably through NXT GEN MED. The streamlined degree program was launched last fall and promises a college education and an internship with Mayo Clinic over a 2-year period.

Shortening the time to get degrees and developing stronger relationships with employers are key to the future of higher education, UMR Chancellor Lori Carrell said.

"We're looking for imaginative solutions going forward," she said.

At a congressional higher education committee hearing Wednesday, Carrell testified about NXT GEN MED and the ongoing national push she leads to offer bachelor's degrees in three years rather than the typical four. The shorter time can save students tens of thousands of dollars but leaves colleges without that funding unless they can attract more students and connect them to jobs.

She said Friday she is confident UMR can expand on the concept to offer college educations at a faster pace.

In a 10-year anniversary celebration for the school's first graduating class over the weekend, UMR officials announced a $5 million fundraising effort for student scholarships and faculty projects as part of a new marketing campaign. Dubbed "Onward," the campaign will highlight the university's status as a niche institution offering health science degrees and connections with Mayo to meet future workforce demands.

Launching the fifth campus

The University of Minnesota had a presence in Rochester for decades before state officials signed off on building another campus there in 2006. University officials hosted courses as early as the 1960s and partnered with the Minnesota State system in the 1990s to offer courses. Yet Rochester residents pushed for an official U campus for decades.

"You just have to look across the country and say a city of this magnitude and size, why didn't (Rochester) have a campus at the University of Minnesota?" said Wendy Shannon, a former public schools superintendent in Byron and one of UMR's founders.

When the Rochester school was created, there were high hopes for a large-scale campus befitting the home of major employers, such as Mayo Clinic and IBM. University officials publicly stated goals as late as 2013 for a campus with 5,000 students enrolled over the next two decades, growing in line with Mayo.

That enrollment goal wasn't realistic, said Stephen Lehmkuhle, who was UMR's first chancellor from 2008 to 2017.

State funding challenges wouldn't allow for what's needed to reach 5,000 students so quickly, Lehmkuhle said. In UMR's early years, he envisioned a targeted focus on health care that could one day lead to an enrollment of 1,000 students.

"That would make us one of the largest undergraduate health sciences programs in the nation," he said. "It's there now."

The promise of a smaller, experimental campus is what drew students like Evan Doyle, a health care policy adviser with the Geneva-based Global Fund.

"I wanted to go to medical school and was interested in the field, but I also wanted the opportunity to try something new," said Doyle, one of UMR's first 29 graduates and a former student body president.

Doyle said the program's early days were "rocky" as students and faculty figured out classroom strategies and connections to Mayo Clinic. But the changes felt exciting and necessary.

"You'd be learning about one subject across multiple disciplines, which I thought was quite a unique experience," Doyle said.

Carrell unveiled revised enrollment goals in 2019  the "boldest" plan aimed for 2,500 students  at a time when the school served a little more than 700 students. There's no timeline to get to that many students, but it acts as a measure for growth.

And creating a unified campus remains an issue. A plan to take over the YMCA building downtown fell apart in 2020, six years after it was unveiled.

A proposal to take over the former Bremer Bank space in the same building that houses residential space, proved too costly  even to just get two classrooms.

"It became a decision that would be detrimental to students in terms of their financial well-being," Carrell said.

The university has snapped up nearby property over the years as part of the 2014 campus plan. Much of that land could be used in the next iteration of its campus plans as the university works with consultants to determine where UMR can grow in downtown.

University officials say the future campus plan still won't look like a traditional campus, as UMR saves plenty on facility costs compared with its peers. The measure helps lower tuition costs.

"We have to do college differently," Carrell said. "Even if your college experience ... was a treasure, things are different now. We want more students to succeed."

Carrell sees the ongoing changes and revisions as a strength. UMR can approach education with more flexibility than the typical higher ed institution if things aren't going right.

"That is the mindset of our faculty all the time," she said. "Just as I think it should be, but it is a different model."
14 celebrities who became first-time dads after 50

George Clooney was 56 when he became a father. Getty Images

Some celebrity dads have children later in life.

Elton John, Anderson Cooper, and Andy Cohen had their children through surrogates.

George Clooney became the father of twins at age 56 with his wife, Amal.

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have both made recent headlines for becoming dads again at the ages of 83 and 79, respectively.

But they're not alone  while the average age for a man in the US to become a dad is 30, some of Hollywood's biggest names welcomed their first child after 50.

From John Stamos to Andy Cohen, here are 13 celebrity dads who had their first child after their 50th birthdays.

James Earl Jones became a father at 51 to his son, Flynn.

James Earl Jones. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jones  who voiced the famous line "I am your father" to Luke Skywalker in "The Empire Strikes Back"  and his second wife, Cecilia Hart, who died of ovarian cancer in 2016, welcomed their son Flynn in 1982.

David Letterman became a dad when he was 56 years old.

David Letterman with his son, Harry, in 2017. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Letterman's then-girlfriend Regina Lasko gave birth to their son, Harry, in 2003. Lasko and Letterman married in 2009.

He told the "Today" show's Willie Geist in 2019 that he feels "most secure" when he's with his son.

"People always say, 'Well you're not going to be the kid's best friend,'" Letterman said. "And I say, 'Screw that! Look at me. How much longer am I going to be around?' I want to be the best friend."

Sir Elton John became a father with husband David Furnish at 63 via surrogate.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish with their two sons. Dan Mullan/Getty Images

The couple has two children: Zachary Jackson Levon born in 2010, and Elijah Joseph Daniel born in 2013.

John told People that he wrote his 2019 memoir, "Me," for his sons.

"I wanted my boys to know what I was like and what happened, so that when I'm not here, they can read the book and read the truth," he said. "I just want them to understand what I was like when I went through the journey I had before I had them. How they made my life complete. How they've, you know, finished the circle. And that, you know, they were the last chapter in an incredible life."

Hugh Grant was 51 years old when he became a father in 2011.

Hugh Grant. Juan Naharro Gimenez / Getty Images

Grant has a total of five children  two with his ex, Tinglan Hong, and three with his wife, Anna Elisabet Eberstein.

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening had the first of their four children when Beatty was 54.

Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP

The couple met when Beatty cast Bening in his 1991 film "Bugsy," and they tied the knot in 1992, two months after their first child was born.

"That's the biggest thing that's ever happened to me  and their mother," Beatty told People about his children in 2016. "That's bigger than fame, and it came not a moment too soon."

Steve Martin became a first-time father at 67 when his wife, Anne Stringfield, gave birth to their daughter in 2012.

Steve Martin and Anne Stringfield in 2007. JOE CORRIGAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

"If I'd had a child earlier, I would have been a lousy father, because I would have misplaced my attention on my career," he told AARP in 2017.

When he was 54, Simon Cowell and girlfriend Lauren Silverman became parents to their son, Eric.

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman along with their son Eric in 2021. John Walton-Pool/Getty Images

Eric was born on Valentine's Day in 2014.

"When you become a dad, something clicks in you," he told the Daily Mail in 2019. "It's all about them ... You become very protective and importantly, part of the reason I changed everything in my life."

Jeff Goldblum became a father at 62.

Jeff Goldblum, his sons River Joe and Charlie Ocean, and his wife, Emilie Livingston, in 2017. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Goldblum shares two sons, Charlie Ocean (born in 2015) and River Joe (born in 2017), with wife Emilie Livingston.

"Weekend at Bernie's" actor Jonathan Silverman became a dad at 51 with his wife, Jennifer Finnigan, in 2017.

Jennifer Finnigan and Jonathan Silverman with their daughter, Ella Jack. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Heifer International

Silverman shared the news of his daughter Ella Jack's birth on Instagram.

"First we had each other. Then we had you. Now we have everything. Welcome to the world my sweet daughter," he wrote.

George Clooney welcomed twins Ella and Alexander with his wife, Amal, in 2017 at age 56.

Amal and George Clooney. Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

Clooney told Hoda Kotb on "Today" that he didn't realize what his life had been missing before having kids.

"I wasn't looking at life, going, 'My life will be unfulfilled without children,'" he said in 2021. "I felt like I had a pretty full life. Then I met Amal and realized that my life had been pretty empty. And then when you throw these two kids in there, then suddenly you realize how incredibly empty it was."

At 54 years old, John Stamos became a dad to his son, Billy, with his wife, Caitlin McHugh.

John Stamos with his son, Billy Stamos, and wife Caitlin McHugh in 2019. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concerts, Inc.

Stamos named Billy, born in 2018, after his father.

Andy Cohen was 50 years old when his son, Benjamin Allen, was born in 2019 via surrogate.

Andy Cohen and his son in 2020. Gotham/GC Images

Cohen named his son after his grandfather, Ben Allen.

"I'm in love. And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I'm a dad. Wow," he wrote in an Instagram post announcing his son's birth.

Cohen also has a daughter, Lucy Eve, who was born in April 2022. She was born via a different surrogate, but Cohen has said Ben and Lucy are "biological siblings."

Anderson Cooper welcomed his first son, Wyatt Morgan, in 2020 at age 53.

Anderson Cooper. Steven Ferdman / Stringer / Getty Images

"He is sweet and funny, happy and kind, and i love him more than I ever thought possible," Cooper wrote in an Instagram post on his son's first birthday in April.

He welcomed his second son, Sebastian, in February 2022.

Musician Bryan Adams is dad to two daughters. His first, Mirabella Bunny, was born when he was 51.

Bryan Adams on "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" in January 2023. Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images

Adams and his partner, Alicia Grimaldi, now have two children: Mirabella Bunny, who was born in April 2011, and Lula Rosylea, who was born in February 2013.

"My second daughter Lula Rosylea arrived at tea time this week," Adams wrote on Facebook in 2013, Today.com reported. "The name Lula comes from Gene Vincent's 1958 song 'Be-Bop-A-Lula' and Rosylea is a play on the expression 'a rosie lee' which is cockney rhyming slang in London for 'a cup of tea' and pronounced the same.

"She was born in London and...she's my cup of tea."

Read the original article on Insider
A 16-year-old pocketed $50,000 for her award-winning discovery in the brains of people who died by suicide

Natasha Kulviwat, 16, conducted her research project at a Columbia University lab. Natasha Kulviwat

Natasha Kulviwat recently won $50K at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

She is 16 years old and a high school student with a passion for studying suicide prevention.

She researches the brains of people who died by suicide to identify biomarkers.

Natasha Kulviwat is no ordinary high schooler. Starting last August, she spent six months in the lab at Columbia University studying the brain tissue of people who died by suicide.

Her research investigated if any biomarkers  physical and measurable substances in the brain  might help explain and, perhaps someday, prevent suicide.

Ultimately, her work won her the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations and $50,000 for college expenses at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, an international competition for pre-college students organized by the Society for Science.

Identifying biomarkers of suicide in the human brain

Kulviwat found differences in the brains of 10 people who died by suicide compared to the control group: 10 people who died of other causes.

The brains of those who died by suicide, which were donated for study by their next of kin, contained higher numbers of inflammatory cytokines.

Brain tissue of people who died by suicide showed differences compared to a control group. Kulviwat cut this tissue with an instrument called a vibratome. Natasha Kulviwat

Cytokines create inflammation as a normal part of your immune system's response to pathogens. But your body can also release them when there is no threat  during chronic stress, for example  and that can cause excessive inflammation.

Too much inflammation in the body over time can have many negative effects  it's implicated in conditions like heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disease. In this case, Kulviwat's research suggests that inflammation affected a specific protein in the brain known as claudin-5.

Claudin-5 is usually found in cells that make up the blood-brain barrier (BBB)  playing an important role in regulating what substances can pass from the blood into brain cells.

But Kulviwat found elevated levels of claudin-5 in other parts of the brain  in the neurons and microvessels  of those who died by suicide, indicating there was a breakdown of the BBB.

That means foreign agents in the blood can now get into functional areas of the brain, which can be neurotoxic, she said. The results suggest elevated levels of claudin-5 in the brain might serve as a biomarker of suicide risk.

Can biomarkers be a new way to measure suicide risk?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide risk is usually evaluated by looking at things like a history of depression or other mental illness, life circumstances such as adverse childhood events or job loss, and other subjective psychological factors  like impulsivity or a sense of hopelessness.

Though treatments for suicidal behavior exist, including psychotherapy and medications, suicide rates have mostly increased over the last 20 years. In 2021, more than 48,000 people died from suicide. And there were an estimated 1.7 million attempts.

With suicide being such a major public health concern, Kulviwat's research joins a number of studies looking for biomarkers of suicide.

A review of the research, published in 2021, found some potential biomarkers  including chemicals involved in the body's stress response or that interact with serotonin  but none of the studies looked at claudin-5.

Kulviwat and other researchers hope that identifying a physiological process involved in suicide  that is, looking at suicide as not only a psychological issue  might help more accurately predict who is at risk than current methods and aid in developing more targeted pharmaceutical treatments for prevention.

Interestingly, in her research, Kulviwat found that some psychiatric medications used to help suicidal patients with issues like depression or anxiety, like Lexapro and benzodiazepines, don't strongly interact with claudin-5  but some anti-inflammatory medications do. What's more, in some cases, psychiatric medications can even increase suicide risk.

Kulviwat said, of course, that doesn't mean we should just give out anti-inflammatories to people who may be contemplating suicide. More research is needed, but Kulviwat said she's "trying to see if it might be worth identifying an alternative."

Dr. David Feifel is a neurobiologist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. He is also the medical director of the Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute  where he utilizes newer treatments like ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation for mental health conditions. He said Kulviwat's results were interesting, but noted they should be treated as a correlation, not causation.

Feifel said the brain abnormalities Kulviwat found could be the result of a more fundamental abnormality, and claudin-5 may have no direct link to suicide.

"Before having any impact on the field, her findings have to be replicated in larger samples," Feifel said.

Kulviwat also noted that her study was "very preliminary," and that the sample size wasn't that high. But she plans to continue the research.

"I'm going to be co-author on a National Institute of Health grant with my lab. We're going to try to drill into this research more since the pilot study gave promising results, and then we'll see where that takes us."

Why study suicide?

Currently finishing up her junior year in high school, Kulviwat began researching suicide her freshman year  looking at possible psychological contributors  like impulsivity and lowered ability to cope with change.

But for this project, "I wanted to venture into the neurobiological perspective because not a lot of studies do that," she told Insider.

Part of her interest in suicide research comes from volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and attending Out of the Darkness Walks  events that help raise awareness and provide support to people who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Hearing different perspectives and questioning why suicide research isn't progressing as much as other fields  like cancer or infectious diseases  inspired her research, she said.

She said one of the hardest parts of the project was juggling academic responsibilities, her personal life, and the lab work. She often had to choose her research over time with friends  working in the lab until late in the night and over the holidays. Kulviwat said, laughing, that she even had to sometimes miss her high school classes to work in the lab.

What's next?

Kulviwat already has research in mind for her next project. She plans to look at how medications like anti-inflammatories interact with claudin-5 in an animal model. This research might offer clues to developing alternative treatments in cases of a BBB breakdown and suicide risk.

She said the prize money is a great help towards college, but overall it hasn't changed much for her. "I'm still like a regular high schooler. I haven't taken my standardized tests yet. I'm still trying to pass my classes, trying to keep my GPA up."

Kulviwat hopes to attend medical school in the future and become a pediatrician or pediatric psychiatrist.

"In order to make sure we have a strong foundation and make sure our youth are okay  I think that's really imperative to do, and I think it's important not to overlook that," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
17 inches of rain with more to come: Pensacola could be underwater this weekend

National Weather Service radar readings estimated that up to 17 inches of rain fell in some areas of Pensacola in the last 12 hours, but the rain is not over yet.

Weather service meteorologist Don Shepherd told the New Journal that additional rounds of severe weather are expected to move through the area over the next 24 hours.

In the short term, Pensacola should get a break from some of the heavier rain over the next few hours.

"But as you get into the evening hours, late tonight towards the mid-evening, it looks like another system (moves in)," Shepherd said. "Pretty much what we've had. We're stuck in this pattern. Another system will drop down on the northwest and cross the area."

Stay up to date: Live updates: Tornadoes, flash flooding in Pensacola as storms sweep across South. Here's the latest

Deadly weather conditions: Tornado confirmed in Escambia County, one person killed

Shepherd said a stalled weather boundary that runs from northern Mississippi to south Alabama would continue to generate rounds of convective storms that have intensity levels that are hard to predict.

"It's hard to nail down if it will be like this one that just came across, but potentially it could be," Shepherd said. "It may not be as bad. It's just hard to say."

Shepherd said more heavy rain is likely for Pensacola, and the risk of flooding is higher now because the soil is saturated from the storms Thursday night and Friday morning.

Pensacola reported that the rain gauge at City Hall recorded 11.56 inches of rain in nine hours.

Another evacuation: Over 140 Forest Creek Apartment residents were evacuated after severe storms hit the area

Social media storm coverage: 'Wild storm, lots of flooding' in Pensacola. Weird weather tweets, TikToks and Instagrams

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves appeared on The Weather Channel on Friday and said that stormwater retention ponds in the city are nearing or at capacity.

"Any additional storms precipitation, winds or otherwise, we're concerned about trees coming down," he said.

Shepherd said another round of severe storms is expected around daybreak, and there is the possibility of more storms on Sunday.

"Things are not going to be changing a whole lot through the weekend, unfortunately," Shepherd said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola flooding possible as weekend storms, severe weather linger
Two American tourists who police say were attacked  one fatally  while hiking in Germany were identified as recent graduates of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, according to the school.

Eva Liu, 21, was allegedly attacked by a 30-year-old American man she had met while hiking near one of Germanys most popular tourist sights, Neuschwanstein Castle, on Wednesday, according to Bavarian authorities.

A friend who was with her, Kelsey Chang, 22, attempted to rescue Liu but was pushed down a steep slope. Investigators say the man then attempted to commit a sexual offense on Liu before he pushed her down the slope too, causing her to fall about 50 meters below her friend.

Both women were rescued by emergency responders and taken to two separate hospitals. Chang survived, but Liu later died.

Neither woman previously knew the alleged attacker, an American whose name has not been released, police say. The man had persuaded the two young women to follow him down a hidden trail leading to a viewpoint before attacking, according to police.

After fleeing the scene, he is now in police custody on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual offense, according to authorities.

View from the Marienbruecke bridge into the Pollat gorge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, on Friday. - Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AP

Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang, said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome.

Liu and Chang had both attended high school at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a residential school in Aurora, the school said in a statement.

Eva was a dedicated, academically talented and involved student, said spokesperson Tami J. Armstrong.

On behalf of our administration, faculty and staff, we are saddened by this loss and we grieve for and with her family and loved ones, Armstrong added. The loss of any student, particularly in such a tragic way, deeply hurts us all. We wish Kelsey well in her recovery.

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Germany told CNN Thursday that the embassy is aware of an incident involving multiple individuals in Germany without confirming their nationalities.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
211 Angel Number

Picture this: A car suddenly stops right in front of you; no red light and no pedestrian in a crosswalk. After slamming on the brakes and spilling that morning cup of coffee on freshly pressed office slacks, you look up to see a license plate beginning with 211. It speeds off before you can catch anymore. Later that same day, a meeting request pops up for 2:11 PM. What a strange time for a meeting. On the way home, you have to stop for some eggs. The change you receive after paying cash? $2.11.

Coincidence, or is someone or something trying to tell you a message? Angel numbers have long captured our fascination, and its no wonder why. These celestial messages, believed to be sent from guardian angels, hold the key to unlocking our true potential and even our existence. The 211 angel number is no exception. Heres what it means.

211 Angel Number Meaning

Throughout history, numbers have held deep symbolic meanings in various cultures and spiritual traditions. In ancient numerology, the number 2 was associated with duality and the balance of opposites, while the number 1 represented unity and creation. These concepts can be traced back to ancient mythologies, such as the Yin and Yang in Chinese philosophy or the union of the god and goddess in Greek mythology.

The 211 angel number reflects this symbolism as the number 2 represents harmony, balance, partnerships, cooperation, and faith, while the number 1 symbolizes new beginnings, self-confidence, motivation, and progress. This, paired together in sequence, lends way to a powerful message.

The 211 angel number is a reminder to maintain a positive mindset and believe in oneself. It encourages people to trust in their abilities, remain optimistic, and embrace new opportunities that come. This number also signifies the importance of balance and harmonious relationships in life.

211 Angel Number Spiritual Significance

The 211 angel number carries significant spiritual lessons for our lives. It reminds us to cultivate inner peace and find harmony in our relationships and surroundings. This number encourages us to trust our intuition and listen to our inner wisdom, leading us towards spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Moreover, the 211 angel number can be associated with the elements, such as earth, wind, fire, water, and air. Each element holds symbolic significance, representing different aspects of our lives. By embracing these elemental energies, we can align ourselves with nature and live more consciously.

211 Angel Number And Love

In matters of love, the 211 angel number guides us to maintain balance and harmony within our relationships. It encourages us to communicate openly and honestly with our partners, fostering trust and understanding. This number reminds us to prioritize emotional well-being and nurture the connections that bring us joy and fulfillment.

211 Angel Number And Past Relationships

When it comes to past relationships, the 211 angel number serves as a gentle reminder to release any lingering negative emotions or attachments. It encourages forgiveness, healing, and personal growth. By letting go of the past, we create space for new and healthier relationships to enter our lives.

211 Angel Number, Finances, And Work

In matters of finances and work, the 211 angel number inspires us to believe in our abilities and pursue our passions. It encourages us to have faith in our professional journey, take calculated risks, and remain committed to personal growth. This number reminds us that success is within reach if we align our actions with our dreams.

211 Angel Number And Health:

The 211 angel number carries a positive influence on our health. It reminds us to prioritize self-care and maintain a balanced lifestyle. This number encourages us to listen to our bodies, nurture our physical well-being, and seek harmony in mind, body, and spirit.

211 Angel Number And Twin Flame:

For those on a journey to find their twin flame, the 211 angel number signifies that the divine is aligning circumstances to bring soul connections into your life. It encourages patience, self-love, and an open heart as you prepare for a profound spiritual union with your twin flame.

211 Angel Number And Zodiac Signs

Each zodiac sign carries its unique qualities and characteristics. When combined with the 211 angel number, these energies can be further amplified.

211 angel number urges Capricorns to find balance between their professional ambitions and personal life.

For Scorpios, the 211 angel number emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication in relationships.

Aquarians are encouraged to embrace their individuality and unique perspectives with the influence of the 211 angel number.

The 211 angel number inspires Taurus individuals to find stability and balance in their material and emotional pursuits.

Leos are guided by the 211 angel number to tap into their natural leadership skills and embrace their creativity.

The 211 angel number encourages Geminis to find harmony between their intellectual pursuits and emotional well-being.

Libras are reminded by the 211 angel number to seek balance and fairness in all aspects of their lives.

The 211 angel number influences Cancer individuals to nurture their emotional well-being and maintain harmonious relationships.

For Pisces, the 211 angel number highlights the importance of intuitive guidance and spiritual growth.

What To Do After Seeing The 211 Angel Number

When you repeatedly encounter the 211 angel number, renowned authorities in angelology suggest embracing its energy and messages. Kyle Gray, a well-known angel expert, says, Trust that you are being supported in a big way and take action. Take this as a sign to remain positive, follow your intuition, and embrace the opportunities that come your way.

The 211 angel number holds profound meaning and significance in various aspects of our lives. From love and relationships to spirituality and personal growth, this number encourages us to maintain balance, trust ourselves, and embrace the divine guidance offered by our guardian angels.

By paying attention to angel numbers like 211, we can unlock new levels of self-discovery and embark on a journey towards a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

The post 211 Angel Number Meaning: In Love, Life, Twin Flame, and More appeared first on 21Ninety.
This 4-ingredient hibiscus juice recipe makes the perfect mocktail for Juneteenth

Hibiscus juice made by an Insider food reporter. Lauren Edmonds

I made a hibiscus juice recipe the University of the Virgin Islands published in 1978.

Culinary historian Adrian Miller told Insider why the color red is significant on Juneteenth.

The recipe only needs four ingredients and is incredibly refreshing.

The color red plays an important part in Juneteenth celebrations.

People carry a Juneteenth flag as they march during a Juneteenth re-enactment celebration in Galveston, Texas, in 2021. MARK FELIX/Getty Images

According to culinary historian Adrian Miller, red plays a prominent role in Juneteenth, which celebrates when Union troops ensured enslaved African Americans were free following the Civil War  the holiday originated on June 19, 1865.

There are multiple theories regarding why red is important, mainly because the information wasn't always documented, Miller told Insider.

"The one I hear frequently is that red symbolizes the blood shed by enslaved West African ancestors," he said. "So, red pays homage and respect to those ancestors who died during the Atlantic slave trade."

That's why red takes center stage throughout Juneteenth, especially with food. Community-wide Juneteenth events might serve red velvet cakes, red sodas, and barbecue options made red by smoking the meat and adding a tomato-based barbecue sauce.

One favorite option is hibiscus juice, which uses dried hibiscus flower blossoms and ingredients like ginger. Miller shared his go-to recipe published in 1978 by the University of the Virgin Island's Cooperative Extension Service's cookbook, "Native Recipes."

This simple recipe only takes four ingredients.

The recipe calls for four ingredients. Lauren Edmonds/Insider

This hibiscus juice recipe was incredibly easy to make, and, more importantly, was delicious! For Juneteenth, I also made potato salad, red beans and rice, BBQ jackfruit sandwiches, fried chicken, and red velvet pancakes.

To make it, you'll need:

2 quarts of water

1 ounce fresh or dried food-grade hibiscus blossoms (about 1/2 cup)

1 ounce fresh ginger, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1 cup sugar, honey, or agave syrup, or to taste

Juice from 2 or 3 fresh limes (about 3 tablespoons)

You'll also need a medium saucepan, a pitcher, and a strainer.

To start, peel the ginger and chop it into fine bits.

Finely chop the ginger roots. Lauren Edmonds/Insider

The only prep work required in this recipe is the ginger, which should be peeled and finely chopped into smaller bits.

Boil two quarts of water in a medium saucepan and add the ingredients.

Add the hibiscus blossoms, sugar, and ginger after boiling eight cups of water. Lauren Edmonds/Insider

Bring two quarts, or eight cups, of water to a boil in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Once it hits a rolling boil, remove the saucepan from heat and combine the dried hibiscus blossoms, chopped ginger, and granulated sugar in the water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Let the hibiscus juice cool to room temperature.

Let the hibiscus juice cool to room temperature. Lauren Edmonds/Insider

According to the recipe, cover the saucepan and let the hibiscus juice cool to room temperature. I let my saucepan sit for about an hour.

Strain the hibiscus juice into a pitcher, then let it chill in the refrigerator.

Squeeze three tablespoons of lime juice into the strained hibiscus juice. Lauren Edmonds/Insider

Be careful as you strain the hibiscus juice into the pitcher, and leave the ginger bits and hibiscus blossoms behind.

Take around two or three limes and squeeze three tablespoons of juice into the hibiscus juice. Then put it in the refrigerator to chill.

The best word to describe this hibiscus juice is refreshing!

The finished hibiscus juice (pictured). Lauren Edmonds

Some versions of hibiscus juice are too tart, and others are too watery, but this recipe perfectly balances different flavors.

"I like this recipe because of the way the tartness of the hibiscus and lime, the spiciness of the ginger, and the sweetener all play off each other," Miller told Insider.

I couldn't agree more!

The recipe called for just enough ginger and lime juice to not taste unbearably sharp. The texture was also light, making it the perfect summer refreshment as temperatures continue to rise.

It's a clear step above other mocktails like an Arnold Palmer!

Read the original article on Insider
At least four people were killed and more than two dozen others were injured in shootings in Illinois, Missouri and Washington state in a deadly night of gun violence.

At least one person was killed and 22 more were injured at a strip mall in Willowbrook, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, police said. Authorities described the gathering as a peaceful "celebration of Juneteenth" that began at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"At approximately 12:25 AM police were called away due to a 911 call alleging a fight had broken out nearby," the DuPage County Sheriffs Office said Sunday. "As deputies responded, they heard gunshots and immediately returned to the scene of the gathering."

Investigators look over the scene of an overnight mass shooting at a strip mall in Willowbrook, Ill., on June 18, 2023. (Matt Marton / AP)

Preliminary witness and victim reports indicated that there were at least 20 individuals shot, Chief Sheriffs Deputy Eric Swanson said early Sunday. At this time one victim is deceased.

He said the victims were taken to nearby hospitals, adding that their names and ages were not available. Some people were also injured as they fled but were not struck by gunfire.

The motive behind this incident is unclear, and this is still an active investigation, he said.

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital said it received 12 patients in relation to the shooting Sunday, seven of whom were treated and released. Four patients remained in good condition, and person was described as being in fair condition.

Some witnesses told NBC Chicago they were leaving the gathering when shots rang out.

"We were all just out, and next thing you know, shots just got going off," Craig Lottie said. "Everybody ran, and it was chaos."

Two people were killed and three others were injured hours earlier near the Beyond Wonderland electronic dance music festival in Washington state.

There, police said, someone shot randomly into the crowd at a campground near the Gorge Amphitheater in the small city of George, around 150 miles east of Seattle.

Another deadly shooting took place just after 1 a.m. in St. Louis. One person was killed and nine others were injured, St. Louis police said.

The victims were ages 15 to 19, police said Sunday. The person who was killed was 17 years old, Police Chief Robert Tracy said.

The survivors had injuries from graze wounds to gunshot wounds; two people were shot in the back. A teenage girl was trampled running away and suffered serious injuries, Tracy said. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Tracy said officers in the area noticed a group of people fleeing a building downtown and called for backup at the same time multiple calls came in reporting a shooting.

It appeared the shooting occurred at a party on the fifth floor of the building, an office space, Tracy said. Bullet casings indicated that more than one gun was fired, and "multiple firearms" were recovered.

A person of interest, a juvenile, has been taken into custody, Tracy said.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said at a news conference Sunday that her office was working to expand resources to keep city youths away from gun violence. She also called on parents throughout the area to engage with their children and monitor their teenagers.

"Were seeing downtown St. Louis become a place for teens from across the region to gather on a late night," Jones said. "The city of St. Louis is leveraging every resource we have making major investments and youth programming ... working with communities to create safe educational spaces for kids while they're out of school."

There have been 307 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit project that tracks incidents. It defines a mass shooting as a single incident in which at least four people  other than the shooter  are shot.

CORRECTION (June 18, 2023, 11:16 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the name of the town in Washington where a shooting occurred. It is George, not Gorge.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Jackson

House

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Surrounded by three green acres with sweeping views of the Tetons, this two-bedroom cabin is also just a short drive from town. The home features full-log construction, wood floors, exposed beams, a kitchen with Lacanche oven and range, a primary suite with stone fireplace, a wraparound porch, and an attached two-car garage.

House

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Outside are a deck with a hot tub, wildlife-friendly mature landscaping, and a grassy yard with a firepit and a teepee for guest glamping. $4,650,000. Audrey Williams, Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty, (307) 690-3044.

Moran

House

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This two-bedroom log home is a short walk from forest trails, 10 minutes' drive from Grand Teton National Park, and 45 minutes from Jackson. Hand-built in 1977, the house has a main living space with oak floors, a vaulted ceiling, large windows, and a central river-rock fireplace; a back deck looks out on the woods.

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The 0.96-acre wooded property includes a shed, a concrete slab ready for a garage, and a fenced area for horses. $1,395,000. Dan Visosky, Prugh Real Estate, (307) 690-6979.

Alpine

House

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Set near the Idaho-Wyoming border, this rustic modern home is walking distance to Caribou National Forest. The 2020 two-bedroom house features a main living area with a mudroom entry, high wood-clad ceilings, wide-plank wood floors, clerestory windows, a woodstove, and a kitchen with stainless appliances, eat-in island, and dining nook with picture windows.

House

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The raised front deck offers mountain and forest views over the half-acre property and beyond. $785,000. Patty Speakman, Compass Real Estate, (307) 880-1795.

Cody

House

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This downtown Victorian home and former bed-and-breakfast is an hour from Yellowstone. Built in 1918, the completely renovated five-bedroom house has period details, wood trim and floors, fresh cedar shingles and porch railings, a first-floor commercial kitchen, a finished attic, two laundries, a basement studio apartment with kitchen, and a curved porch overlooking the lawn and mature trees.

House

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A large fenced backyard includes a firepit and a guest cottage. $1,990,000. Jan Brenner, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Brokerage West, (307) 250-1231.

Bondurant

House

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Jackson Hole is a 35-minute drive from this five-bedroom contemporary farmhouse at the edge of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The updated 1970 home features a main living area with oak floors, whitewashed wood beams, vaulted ceilings, and stone-fronted fireplace, and a chef's kitchen with Wolf stove, herringbone-tile backsplash, and eat-in island.

House

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The 3.83-acre property includes a workshop, garage, patio, lawns, and a pond with a sandy beach. $2,500,000. Vanessa Cameron, Engel & Volkers Jackson Hole, Star Valley, & Sublette, (307) 231-6486.

Afton

House

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This updated 1949 cottage is blocks from the restaurants and shopping of Star Valley's largest town. The four-bedroom home has wood floors, an open kitchen with a dining area, a living room with a dog nook under the stairs, a primary suite with a walk-in closet, and a finished basement with a laundry room/workout space, bath and storage.

House

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The fenced backyard includes a patio, firepit, kennel, and lawn. $399,000. Paige Alise, Engel & Volkers Jackson Hole, Star Valley, & Sublette, (307) 413-4645.

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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7 men arrested in Columbus gang bust, sheriff says

The Muscogee County Sheriff says seven gang members were arrested after deputies and the U.S. Marshals Service executed a search warrant at a South Columbus home.

Officers seized more than $100,000 in drugs and multiple firearms, some of which were stolen.

Sheriff Greg Countryman said in a statement that all seven who were arrested were validated gang members.

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The following individuals were charged.





Lamicheon Allen

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Five Counts Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

Jashon Parks

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

Dvante Pollard

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

Rashaad Henderson

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Violation of Probation

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

Arturo Vanhorn Laffeur

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

Rashad Williams

Felony Violation of Probation

Felony Possession of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon

Possession of Marijuana

Jaray Lott

Felony Trafficking Cocaine

Felony Trafficking Ecstasy

Felony Theft By Receiving Stolen Property - Firearm (4 Counts)

Felony Possession of A Firearm During The Commision Of A Crime (6 Counts)

Felony Violation of the Criminal Gang Act (5 Counts)

Felony Possession of Marijuana With Intent To Distribute

TRENDING STORIES:

The seven suspects collectively were charged with 112 crimes, including felony probation violation for some, according to the charges laid out by the sheriffs office.

Among the seized items, the sheriffs office said they found:

Stolen Glock 26

Stolen Beretta 9mm

Stolen Radical Arms 5.56 rifle

Stolen Palmetto Arms 5.56 rifle

Palmetto Arms 5.56 rifle

Canik 9mm

2.28 lbs of Cocaine with an estimated street value of $103,680.00

4.37 lbs of Marijuana with an estimated street value of $19,850.00

93 tablets of Ecstasy with an estimated street value of $1,860.00

Assorted packaging materials and scales for drug distribution

All seven were taken to the Muscogee County Jail without incident, according to the sheriffs office.

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OTHER NEWS:
73-year-old Iowa woman has leg amputated after shark attack while scuba diving in Bahamas

Heidi Ernst, of Marshalltown, Iowa, was attacked by a shark while scuba diving in the Bahamas on June 7, 2023

An Iowa woman had her leg amputated after a shark bit her left calf while scuba diving in the Bahamas last week.

Heidi Ernst, 73, was attacked by the shark while scuba diving south of Taino Beach on June 7, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser. After the shark bit Ernsts leg, she fought it off and managed to return to the boat.

All I could see is that it was shaking his head side to side, Ernst told WSVN.

Ernst was flown to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where doctors decided to amputate her left leg because it was infected, the station reported.

Ernsts friends started a GoFundMe page to help her pay for medical expenses. Currently, the page has raised over $11,000 of the $30,000 goal.

Heidi is fearless, kind, gentle, giving, honest, loves everything nature, has an amazing green thumb, an avid underwater photographer and a wonderful friend, her friend Kim Barnes said in the GoFundMe post.

Ernst is an experienced scuba diver with over 500 dives under her belt. Shes never been afraid of sharks, Ernst told WSVN.

Sharks and humans: Drone images show sharks living in harmony with humans: Graphics

Recent shark attacks

In 2022, there were 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, according to the Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File. Of the 41 shark attacks in the United States last year, only one was fatal.

In May, a shark bit a 15-year-old girl who was surfing in New Jersey. This past April, a Hawaii surfer suffered a bite to the leg while off the coast of Honolulu.

More: Where is the shark attack capital of the world? Global shark stats tell story over 47 years

A total of 1,218 shark bites and attacks have been recorded in the past 47 years worldwide, and about 14% of those were fatal. The vast majority of bites are unprovoked (94%), while a small number of attacks (6%) are provoked.

The odds of being attacked and killed by a shark are 1 in 3.7 million.

Contributing: Chad Gillis and Camille Fine, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bahamas shark attack leaves Iowa scuba diver with leg amputated
John Lamparski/Getty Images

On June 17, 2021, nearly a year after the murder of George Floyd, President Joe Biden thought it was a bright idea to make Juneteenth an official U.S. holidaysigning it into law, to be observed by all.

Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is a major step forward to recognize the wrongs of the past, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), said at the time, but we must continue to work to ensure equal justice and fulfill the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and our Constitution.

Sure, Chuck.

Juneteenth Isnt for Everyone (and It Shouldnt Be)

Growing up in Houston, Juneteenthan event that commemorates June 19, 1865, as the day enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free (more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed)was a Black holiday in my hometown.

I remember spending my summers down at Galveston Beach and watching the procession of decorated cars with live music proceed as the Jubilee parade commenced. I can still smell the tasty barbeque, remember the gallons of signature red soda passed around, and all that hot sauce doused on my plate as the red and blue Juneteenth flags were waved.

Juneteenth was our Fourth of Julya celebration which reminded me that the South still had something to say, and that Black people didnt have to wait for the validation of our white peers to gather around our history.

Since the racial uprisings of 2020, this sacred holiday has now become mainstreamed into something that now feels whitewashed, co-opted, and highly performative.

Its hard to witness something so personal in your life become ruined on the national stagethats the current case with Juneteenth.

The Ron DeSantis Presidential Campaign Kicked Off Already in 1964

I started to notice it last year when Walmart thought it was being progressive when they released a red velvet and cheesecake-flavored Juneteenth ice cream with a Pan-African decorated carton.

Fun fact: Juneteenth has never incorporated African themed colors/designs as part of its official flag (organizers use red, white, and blue to replicate the U.S. and Texas state flags)Walmart just couldnt help but pander to customers as a way to flex that they were recognizing Black people. The controversy led to the corporation to apologize and discontinue the line of tone-deaf ice cream, along with canceling other ill-advised Juneteenth-themed merchandise it was selling.

But its not just Walmart. Last year, the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis had to go into full-apology mode after attempting to incorporate a watermelon salad as a part of its Juneteenth Jamboree menu. This year, a cringy banner created by a Greensville, South Carolina, non-profit hosting a Juneteenth event made headlines for promoting an upstate celebration of freedom, unity and love that featured an image of a white couple.

After public backlash from activists and community members, the organization, Juneteenth GVL Inc, issued an apology on social media.

Even worse, with the rise of far-right conservatism throughout the countryits gotten even harder for groups to even celebrate Juneteenth in peace.

Juneteenth organizers in Pittsburgh are now accusing Pennsylvania legislators and their city government of discrimination regarding last-minute mandates for vendors and security. In Tennessee, some legislators are threatening sponsorssuch as Nashville International Airport (BNA)to divest from backing local Juneteenth festivals or face public retaliation for supporting radical agendas.

In so many ways, the desire to mainstream Juneteenth has now led to much of its press and publicity being met with pandering or controversy. It reminds me of Black History Month, when perhaps there was a moment in time in which America tried to take the shortest timeframe of the year seriously to acknowledge the contributions of Black people. Or perhaps Juneteenth has quickly descended into the rainbow capitalism vibes of Pride monthduring which more of the festivities are being monetized for high visibility, without any intentional focus on the community.

Skip Corporate Juneteenth Branding, Invest in Black People

So, great, more people know about Juneteenthbut how does that actually ensure the very freedoms and concepts of emancipation for Black Americans that the holiday speaks of?

For what its worth, symbolism will do nothing to liberate a marginalized group. At a time when racial disparities continue to worsen and white supremacy feels even more visibly prevalentcorporations and city/state governments bandwagoning on Juneteenth celebrations do very little to combat this reality.

As with Black History Month, I would like to see these powerful institutions actually put their money/policies/influence where their mouths are and let Black people celebrate Juneteenth in peace. Seriously, there are some things that should just be left alone.

Translation: Less means more when it comes to observing Juneteenthbecause our nations current infatuation with it is causing more harm than good.

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Monday marks the third-ever official Juneteenth holiday, celebrating the emancipation of all slaves. It took more than two years for people to be freed after President Abraham Lincoln signed the historic Emancipation Proclamation. Then, in June of 1865, the U.S. Army arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to officially announce and enforce it.

It wasnt until June 17th, 2021 that Juneteenth was officially signed into law as a federal holiday, recognizing a vital moment in African American history.

I think that people dont realize that the 4th of July is not necessarily a celebration for all, because while America gained its independence, Africa and African Americans did not, Dr. Tammy Hodo, founder of All Things Diverse, explained to Action News Jax. Thats why its very relevant.

Read: City of St. Augustine will be closed for Juneteenth Day

On Sunday afternoon, the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center here in St. Augustine got in on the celebration, hosting a luncheon with live music to celebrate Americas newest federal holiday. Dr. Hodo says its a holiday that was long overdue for official recognition.

Im from Milwaukee, Wisconsin originally and weve celebrated it my entire life. So to know that my husband whose actually from the south did not know about Juneteenth day is amazing to me, Dr. Hodo said. I was just surprised how many people didnt know.

Read: The U.S.S. Milwaukee will return to Naval Station Mayport

Those looking for ways to celebrate throughout the holiday on Monday can also find plenty to offer yet again in St. Augustine, including the Lincolnville Juneteenth Festival. More information on the festival can be found by clicking here, while events throughout Jacksonville can be found by clicking here.

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As the generative artificial intelligence (AI) industry booms, the 2024 election cycle is shaping up to be a watershed moment for the technologys role in political campaigns.

The proliferation of AI  a technology that can create text, image and video  raises concerns about the spread of misinformation and how voters will react to artificially generated content in the politically polarized environment.

Already, the presidential campaigns for former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) have produced high-profile videos with AI.

Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, said the proliferation of the AI systems available to the public, awareness of how simple it is to use them and the erosion of the sense that creating things like deepfakes is something that good, honest people would never do will make 2024 a significant turning point for how AI is used in campaigns.

I think now, increasingly, theres an attitude that, Well, its just the way it goes, you cant tell whats true anymore, Barrett said.

The use of AI-generated campaign videos is already becoming more normalized in the Republican primary.

After DeSantis announced his campaign during a Twitter Spaces conversation with company CEO Elon Musk, Trump posted a deepfake video  which is a digital representation made from AI that fabricates realistic-looking images and sounds  parodying the announcement on Truth Social. Donald Trump Jr. posted a deepfake video of DeSantis edited into a scene from the television show The Office, and the former president has shared AI images of himself.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Last week, DeSantiss campaign released an ad that used seemingly AI-produced images of Trump embracing Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

If you proposed that 10 years ago, I think people would have said, Thats crazy, that will just backfire, Barrett said. But today, it just happens as if its normal.

Critics noted that DeSantiss use of the generated photo of Trump and Fauci was deceptive because the video does not disclose the use of AI technology.

Using AI to create an ominous background or strange pictures, thats not categorically different than what advertising has long been, said Robert Weissman, president of the progressive consumer rights advocacy group Public Citizen. It doesnt involve any deception of voters.

[The DeSantis ad] is fundamentally deceptive, he said. Thats the big worry that voters will be tricked into believing things are true that are not.

Someone familiar with DeSantiss operation noted that the governors presidential campaign was not the only campaign using AI in videos.

This was not an ad, it was a social media post, the person familiar with the operation said. If the Trump team is upset about this, Id ask them why they have been continuously posting fake images and false talking points to smear the governor.

While proponents of AI acknowledge the risks of the technology, they argue it will eventually play a consequential role in campaigning.

I believe theres going to be new tools that streamline content creation and deployment, and likely tools that help with data-intensive tasks like understanding voter sentiment, said Mike Nellis, founder and CEO of the progressive agency Authentic.

Nellis has teamed up with Higher Ground Labs to establish Quiller.ai, which is an AI tool that has the ability to write and send campaign fundraising emails.

At the end of the day, Quiller is going to help us write better content faster, Nellis told The Hill. What happens on a lot of campaigns is they hire young people, teach them to write fundraising emails, and then ask them to write hundreds more, and its not sustainable. Tools like Quiller get us to a better place and it improves the efficiency of our campaigns.

As generative AI text and video become more common  and increasingly difficult to discern as the generated content appears more plausible  theres also a concern that voters will become more skeptical about all content AI generates.

Sarah Kreps, director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, said people may start to either assume that nothing is true or just believe their partisan cues.

Neither one of those is really helpful for democracy. If you dont believe anything, this whole pillar of trust we really on for democracy is eroded, Kreps said.

ChatGPT, which is OpenAIs AI-powered chatbot, burst onto the scene with an exponential rise in use since its November launch, along with rival products like Googles Bard chatbot and image and video-based tools. These products have the administration and Congress scrambling to consider how to address the industry while staying competitive on a global scale.

But as Congress mulls regulation, between scheduled Senate briefings and a series of hearings, the industry has been largely left to create the rules of the road. On the campaign front, the rise of AI-generated content is magnifying the already prevalent concerns of election misinformation spreading on social media.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, released a blog post in January 2020 stating it would remove misleading manipulated media that meets certain criteria, including content that is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic.

Ultimately, though, Barrett said the burden of deciphering what is AI-generated or not will fall on voters.

This kind of stuff will be disseminated, even if it is restricted in some way; itll probably be out in the world for a while before it is restricted or labeled, and people have to be wary, he said.

Others point out that its still too difficult to predict how AI will be integrated into campaigns and other organizations.

I think the real story is that new technologies should integrate into business at a deliberate and careful pace, and that the inappropriate/almost immoral uses are the ones that are going to get all the attention in the first inning, but its a long game and most of the productive useful integrations will evolve more slowly and hardly even be noticed, said Nick Everhart, a Republican political consultant in Ohio and president of Content Creative Media.

Weissman noted that Public Citizen has asked the Federal Election Commission to issue a rule to the extent of its authority to prohibit the use of deceptive deepfakes.

We think that the agency has authority as it regards candidates but not political committees or others, Weissman said. That would be good, but its not enough.

However, it remains unclear how quickly campaigns will adopt AI technology this cycle.

A lot of people are saying this is going to be the AI election, Nellis said. Im not entirely sure thats true. The smart and innovative campaigns will embrace AI, but a lot of campaigns are often slow to adopt new and emerging technology. I think 2026 will be the real AI election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
American prisoners at Russia's 'Fashion Colony' work in a factory assembling pants and coats for a Russian clothing company

Penal colony IK-17 is a likely destination for detained reporter Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reports. Stringer/Reuters

Russia's IK-17 penal colony is known as a "Fashion Colony" in part for its brightly-painted exterior.

American prisoners held there say they face toxic work conditions and a lack of medical attention.

It is the likely destination for detained reporter Evan Gershkovich, the WSJ reports.

American prisoners in Russia's IK-17 penal colony spend their days assembling clothes in toxic conditions and are regularly exposed to fungus and airborne fabric particles, a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed.

The prison is the likely destination for detained reporter Evan Gershkovich if he is convicted of espionage charges, the outlet reports.

IK-17  known as "Fashion Colony" for its brightly-painted exterior meant to fool onlookers  is about 300 miles east of Moscow, in the Mordovia region of Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.

If Gershkovich were to be detained at the fashion colony, he would join three known American prisoners already there: Jimmy Wilgus, Thomas Stwalley, and, most recently, Paul Whelan, an ex-marine detained in 2018, now serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges that he denies.

The United States has classified both Gershkovich and Whelan as wrongfully detained, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Prisoners at IK-17 must assemble clothes for the Russian company Technoavia, using materials that can leave fungus on their hands. The investigation found that they also work without air filtration, forcing them to breathe in fabric particles.

A Technoavia spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that labor conditions are closely monitored by the state and that production processes are suspended if standards are not met.

Inmates also have no access to doctors or dental care, leaving inmates without access to necessary medicine, Wilgus told the outlet. Similarly, Whelan's brother, David, told the Wall Street Journal that dental problems are solved by extractions only.

Prisoners and human rights activists also spoke to the outlet about the solitary confinement conditions. Wilgus told the Wall Street Journal he once spent 100 days in confinement, reporting that guards secure beds to the wall for extended periods and force prisoners to sit on the floor or on a bench for 16 hours every day.

As Gershkovich awaits trial, the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously on June 13 to issue a resolution demanding the journalist's immediate release. Almost 40 U.S. Senators also wrote a letter condemning his detainment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slavery

Reece Bratton, from left, Jordan Bratton and Nia Bratton and their parents, Faith and Kevin Bratton, watch Katy's first Juneteenth parade, Monday, June 19, 2023, in Katy, Texas. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Americans across the country this weekend celebrated Juneteenth, marking the relatively new national holiday with cookouts, parades and other gatherings as they commemorated the end of slavery after the Civil War.

While many have treated the long holiday weekend as a reason for a party, others urged quiet reflection on America's often violent and oppressive treatment of its Black citizens. Still others have remarked at the strangeness of celebrating a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the nation while many Americans are trying to stop parts of that history from being taught in public schools.

Is #Juneteenth the only federal holiday that some states have banned the teaching of its history and significance? author Michelle Duster asked on Twitter, referring to measures in Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama prohibiting an Advancement Placement African American studies course or the teaching of certain concepts of race and racism.

The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed  two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the bloody Civil War. For generations, Black Americans have recognized Juneteenth, but it only became a federal holiday two years ago.

In Fort Worth, Texas, the woman known as the grandmother of Juneteenth," Opal Lee, led her annual Walk for Freedom. The 96-year-old former teacher and activist is largely credited for rallying others behind a campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. This year, Lee became only the second Black person to have her portrait hung in the Senate chamber of the Texas Capitol.

Vice President Kamala Harris said in brief remarks on a CNN special that also featured musical guests, including Miguel and Charlie Wilson, that the holiday honors Black excellence and celebrates freedom, one of the country's founding principles.

America is a promise, a promise of freedom, liberty, and justice, Harris said. The story of Juneteenth, as we celebrate it, is the story of our ongoing fight to realize Americas promise, not for some, but for all.

At a Sunday Mass in Detroit, one Roman Catholic church devoted its service to urging parishioners to take a deeper look at the lessons from the holiday.

In order to have justice we must work for peace. And in order to have peace we must work for justice, John Thorne, executive director of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, said to the congregation at Gesu Catholic Church while standing before paintings of a Black Jesus and Mary.

It was important to speak about Juneteenth during the service, the Rev. Lorn Snow told a reporter.

The struggles still not over with. Theres a lot of work to be done, he said.

Most Black Americans agree, according to a recent poll. A full 70% of Black adults queried in a AP-NORC poll said a lot needs to be done to achieve equal treatment for African Americans in policing. And Black Americans suffer from significantly worse health outcomes than their white peers across a variety of measures, including rates of maternal mortality, asthma, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.

Ryan Jones, the associate curator at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, said Juneteenth should be celebrated in the U.S. with the same emphasis that July 4 receives as Independence Day.

It is the independence of a people that were forced to endure oppression and discrimination based on the color of their skin, Jones said.

The museum is located at the site of the old Lorraine Motel, the former Black-owned hotel where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968. It offered free admission on the holiday. At the museum, visitors can hear recorded speeches from civil rights leaders including King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers and others.

Jones said the Juneteenth holiday is a time to reflect on the past.

It acknowledges the sacrifices of those early civil rights veterans between World War I and World War II, and of course in the modern society, the protests, the demonstrations, the non-violence, the marches, Jones said.

The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill this year making Juneteenth a state holiday.

In New York, a hybrid event in Central Park on Monday celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, with an emphasis on the local Blacks communitys impact on the genre. The event capped off a packed weekend of festivities that saw a growing number of collaborators working together to spread awareness of the holiday, according to Athenia Rodney, the founder of the nonprofit group Juneteenth NYC.

Rodney said she planned to spend Monday at home, reflecting on the historical roots of the holiday and how much has changed.

Juneteenth isnt just about a party or a festival, its about how we bring the community together under the umbrella of unity, Rodney said.

As Americans gathered to mark the holiday, at least one event was marked by violence. In the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook, Illinois, on Saturday night, one person was killed and 22 were injured in a shooting where hundreds had gathered for a Juneteenth celebration.

And in Milwaukee, at least six teenagers were shot Monday afternoon around where the city's Juneteenth celebration had just wrapped up.

___

Associated Press writers Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, and Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this report.
For years, she wouldnt admit it. For years after that, she wouldnt even discuss it.

Even thinking about what happened to her family and community felt like a crime punishable by more death and destruction.

Over time, Viola Ford Fletcher began to tell her story. How much time? Fletcher is 109 years old, and next month  on Independence Day  Fletcher is releasing a new book chronicling one of the ugliest moments in American history.

Fletcher was 7 years old in 1921 when a deadly and shameful race riot broke out in Tulsa, Okla., a heinous act of violence that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Black people over the span of 18 hours.

I saw and heard people screaming and running and falling, houses burning, guns shooting, Fletcher said during a Midtown interview with the Daily News. And the rushing of Black people out of town before most of us was killed.

Fletcher and her little brother, Hughes Van Ellis, were at home with their family on May 30, 1921, when Dick Rowland, a 19-year-old shoe shiner, was accused of trying to sexually assault a white Tulsa elevator operator named Sarah Page, 17, after she screamed and he ran, according to Greenwoods Cultural Center.

Greenwood was a thriving community in Tulsa, known as Black Wall Street in the years after World War I, recognized nationally as the richest African-American neighborhood in the country.

With a thriving business district and a residential area filled with influential black leaders, the Greenwood District was an inspiring model of Americas promise. It was here that Count Basie first encountered big band jazz.

It was against that backdrop that an angry white mob went to the courthouse to demand that the sheriff hand over Rowland, the shoe shiner. The sheriff refused. A group of about 25 armed Black men  including many World War I veterans  then went to the courthouse to offer help guarding Rowland.

Outraged whites went home to get their guns, and amid the outbreak, attackers burned and destroyed more than 35 square blocks of the neighborhood.

The white citizens were taking the Molotov cocktails and throwing them into the buildings, said Fletchers grandson, Ike Howard, 56, who co-authored the new book with Fletcher, Dont Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words.

They threw bodies in the river, kids in the river. Dead bodies thrown in the river so they wouldnt have to bury them.

By the time the National Guard arrived and declared martial law shortly before the next day, the riot had effectively ended. Within hours, all charges against Rowland were dropped. Cops concluded that he might have bumped into the woman or stepped on her foot.

What followed was a deliberate effort to cover up the carnage.

The Tulsa Tribune removed the front-page story from its bound volumes, and scholars later discovered that police and state militia archives about the riot were missing as well. As a result, until recently the Tulsa Race Massacre was rarely mentioned in history books, taught in schools or even discussed.

My grandmother said that the ashes were coming from the sky like snow, and the tears were black. You couldnt see, and [there was] coughing and hacking, Howard said.

Among those who endured the trauma were Fletchers infant brother, Hughes Van Ellis, who is 102 years old now, and wrote the books foreword. The family calls him Uncle Red.

When my grandmother and the rest of her family were escaping that night, she saw some horrendous things, and because of that she cant sleep at night, said Howard, who lives in Dallas. Uncle Red is the same way, even though he was a baby.

Over time, Fletcher moved away from Tulsa, but eventually made it back. In between, she had three children, seven grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Fletcher sat draped in a plaid shawl as she and Howard recounted the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the Great Depression and the polio outbreak. The book also covers Fletchers time as a Rosie the Riveter during World War II, working at a shipyard in Los Angeles, building the boats her brother sailed in during his time in the Navy.

Howard did most of the talking, which seemed like a fair arrangement since Fletcher had done much of the living.

They cant enjoy a normal barbecue because when they see or smell smoke they have a physical and mental reaction, Howard said of his grandmother and uncle.

Howard said the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on Capitol Hill even brought some of the memories back, and almost caused her to abandon the book project.

That angry mob reminded her of that angry mob, when they attacked the Capitol, Howard said. That reinforced that fear.

But Fletcher got back on track.

It was hard to even get her to talk about the story because many people are not aware that they had a concentration-like camp, and so everybody that didnt escape and everybody they didnt kill was put in a makeshift prison. They told everybody, If you talk about this we will kill you and your entire family.

When you can put shackles on a persons mind, thats very powerful, and thats why the story was kept under wraps for so long, Howard said. For a long time she would not even discuss it. She wouldnt even admit it.

Now, Fletcher recognizes the Tulsa massacre as an important part of Americas history, as important as Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery, which America will commemorate on Monday.

In Tulsa, residents are marking the day with art, performances, a 5K run and a Black Wall Street pitch competition, in which entrepreneurs present business ideas and compete for cash prizes.

In 1996, an official state government commission was created to investigate the Tulsa Race Riot, including numerous victims buried in unmarked graves.

According to the State Department of Education, the riot has been a required topic in Oklahoma history classes since 2000, and U.S. history classes since 2004. The incident has been included in Oklahoma history books since 2009.

Shes seen the worst of America and some of the best of America, Howard said. We want to let people know youre never too old to tell your story.
By Valerie Insinna and Tim Hepher

WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - European hopes of winning at the second attempt a groundbreaking U.S. military order for refueling planes are fading after the Pentagon scaled back its potential order, cooling the prospect of a new transatlantic "Tanker War," industry sources said.

Aerospace titans Airbus and Boeing clashed in an epic contest more than a decade ago and had shaped up for a re-run after Airbus partnered with the world's largest arms producer Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed and Airbus will tout their LMXT tanker at the Paris Airshow this week, bringing U.S. reporters onboard the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport on which the new plane is based.

But although Lockheed and Airbus insist they are in the race, proposals by the U.S. Air Force to reduce its next tanker procurement to 75 from at least 140 have raised questions over the politics and economics of a bid.

This week, two congressional committees are set to debate draft defense policy and spending bills that could shift the odds for Lockheed-Airbus, but U.S. lawmakers thus far have shown little opposition to the Air Force's plan.

In 2011, Boeing won the first of a three-phase procurement to replace the Air Force's aging tanker fleet, securing a contract for 179 KC-46s. The program has since incurred $7 billion in losses.

Airbus teamed with Lockheed in 2018 for the second phase, called KC-Y.

The U.S. Air Force expects to decide later this year how many tankers to buy after the KC-46's initial production run ends in 2029 and whether it will hold a competition.

However, officials are keen to speed up development of a next-generation tanker it hopes to buy in the mid-2030s and could halve the number of jets purchased in KC-Y.

The new plan could diminish the Lockheed-Airbus teams business case, which people familiar with the matter said was contingent on production of about 100 LMXTs.

NO FINAL DECISION

That would allow Airbus to launch A330 production in the United States  a detail seen as critical for obtaining support on Capitol Hill - and hire 1,300 workers across Lockheed and Airbus plants in Alabama and Georgia.

Over the past year, Air Force leaders have repeatedly said a sole-source contract to Boeing is the likely outcome, although a final decision has not been made.

But Larry Gallogly, Lockheeds director of LMXT business development, said Lockheed and Airbus "are most definitely still in this competition." The companies announced a third American supplier, engine-maker General Electric, on June 6.

Lockheed and Airbus sought a program of at least 120 aircraft, but the business case can certainly close below that, Gallogly said.

Boeing Defense CEO Ted Colbert said the KC-46 "has proven to be highly capable" and is ready for the threats of the 2030s.

A Boeing win would ensure 767 widebody production extends into the mid-2030s, while a Lockheed-Airbus victory would hand Airbus its first aircraft contract with the U.S. Air Force after attempting to penetrate the U.S. defense market for two decades.

Both Airbus and Boeing carry battle scars from the previous competition, which Airbus lost after a decade-long contest that included a corruption scandal that put a Boeing official in prison and a legal protest that overturned Airbuss initial win.

The KC-46 has weathered scrutiny from Congress after technical flaws pushed the program years off schedule. The House Armed Services Committee's draft defense bill would cap the KC-46 purchase at 179 planes, but the service could easily overcome that limit by providing cost estimates.

Advocacy for the LMXT could fall to Representative Jerry Carl, an Alabama Republican and member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. The panel is set to debate defense appropriations on Thursday, but it is unclear whether Carl will offer an amendment forcing the Air Force to open the contract to competition, as he did in a failed attempt last year.

Carl's office did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Valerie Insinna and Tim Hepher; Editing by Mark Potter)
By Edward McAllister and David Lewis

DAKAR/NAIROBI (Reuters) - Mali's unexpected demand for the departure of U.N. peacekeepers may herald a sudden end to a decade-long mission that has struggled to protect civilians and its own troops, raising fears the country could slide deeper into chaos amid an Islamist insurgency and the possible revival of a separatist uprising.

The U.N. mission, known as MINUSMA, has been hobbled by restrictions on its air and ground operations since Mali's ruling junta joined forces with Russian military contractor Wagner Group in 2021. That has limited its effectiveness against an Islamist insurgency that took root a decade ago and has since spread across West Africa.

Despite the restrictions, MINUSMA's 13,000-strong force has held the line in northern cities including Gao and Timbuktu that are surrounded by militants. It patrols camps for displaced people, which come under frequent attack, and provides medical evacuations for Mali's under-equipped army.

And it has also helped to placate Tuareg-led rebels in northern Mali, who halted their separatist uprising with the 2015 Algiers Accord.

It is unclear how quickly U.N. troops could leave following Mali's request on Friday. But, if and when they do, Bamako will be alone with about 1,000 Wagner soldiers to battle the militants linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda, who have killed thousands of civilians and soldiers and control large swathes of Mali's desert north and centre.

"If you leave, you have anarchy and civil war, especially against civilians and the weak. If you stay, you are almost discredited," said Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, a former Mauritanian foreign minister who served as a top U.N. official in West Africa and now runs a regional think-tank.

A spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), the Tuareg-led northern rebel alliance, said a UN withdrawal would be premature because the peace deal had not been fully implemented and would threaten stability across the Sahel. He said, however, the CMA had not yet reached an official position.

Relations between the U.N. and Mali's junta, which consolidated power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, have frayed. Bamako wanted MINUSMA to become a more active fighting force to counter the Islamist threat, which the U.N. said was not part of its mission. U.N. officials, meanwhile, pushed for greater freedoms to protect civilians and investigate alleged rights abuses by militants, the army and, more recently, Wagner.

Ties reached breaking point last month when U.N investigators released a report accusing the army and "armed white men" of massacring 500 people in the town of Moura in March 2022. Mali, Russia and Wagner deny wrongdoing in Moura or targeting civilians anywhere in Mali.

The U.N. has repeatedly said that the constraints imposed by the junta have stopped it from fulfilling its mission. Mali frequently denied or delayed permission for MINUSMA to move in combat zones, it said, impairing its ability to defend civilians under attack or swiftly probe abuses.

Mali's government and army did not respond to requests for comment.

Frustrated by the restrictions, Western and African diplomats called for change this year. However, following a review of the mission in January, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week rejected a proposal for a surge of up to 3,600 more troops, which Mali's African neighbours had pushed for, as well as an alternative proposal that would have shrunk MINUSMA to a political mission in Bamako.

Instead, he proposed extending the mandate for the force with only a few tweaks, including closing some small northern bases.

On June 14, the Malian government issued a statement rejecting all the proposals. Then on Friday, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told a U.N. security council meeting that there had been "a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA" and the force should leave "right away".

The 15-member U.N. Security Council was scheduled to renew MINUSMA's mandate before it expires on June 30. Reuters could not immediately determine whether the council - where Russia holds a veto - will now vote for a renewal, or how long it would take to conclude a withdrawal of the mission if there was no extension.

On Friday, in response to Mali's announcement, MINUSMA's head El-Ghassim Wane told reporters that peacekeepers can only operate with consent from the host country: without that, the mission is "impossible," he said.

MINUSMA spokesperson Fatoumata Sinkoun Kaba declined to comment on the logistics of any withdrawal and said the mission would follow Security Council mandates.

RESTRICTIONS

MINUSMA launched in 2013 after the separatist rebels and al Qaeda-linked insurgents occupied northern Mali. French troops forced the militants to retreat but they bounced back. More than 170 peacekeepers have died in fighting, making MINUSMA the U.N.'s deadliest combat mission.

Violence has spread into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, creating one of the world's fastest-growing humanitarian crises.

Mali's junta promised stability when it snatched power; it took an anti-French stance and deepened ties with Russia. By the end of 2021, Wagner had deployed.

Within weeks, Mali imposed the flight restrictions. Reuters was unable to determine whether the move was linked to Wagners presence. It mirrors past U.N. flight restrictions in Central African Republic, where Wagner also operates.

Bamako and the Kremlin say Russian troops, not Wagner mercenaries, are present in Mali but only to train the army and supply equipment.

Mali's army spokesman, Colonel Souleymane Dembele, told Reuters this year that restrictions on MINUSMA were retaliation for a no-fly zone imposed by French forces last year. Paris denies this.

By mid-2022, restrictions prevented the U.N. from operating unscheduled flights over 70,000 square kilometres of Mali, according to an internal U.N. report from the middle of last year, reviewed by Reuters. Nearly 500 U.N. flight requests - one in four - have been denied this year, according to Security Council figures.

"MINUSMA is another peacekeeping lame duck. The mission couldn't fulfil the expectations of the population," said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation.

Frustrated, countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden, which provided some of the best-trained soldiers, announced troop withdrawals amounting to more than 20 percent of the mission. France, which had a separate task force in Mali, withdrew its remaining 2,400 troops in 2022, including the air support it gave the U.N.

The majority of MINUSMA's remaining soldiers are supplied by African nations.

Three of four units of MINUSMA's elite mobile task force are not operational, the Security Council said in March. In July, Egypt suspended its MINUSMA activities because of attacks on its troops. For nearly a year, its 1,072 soldiers have been in barracks.

A document prepared in April by the U.N. Department of Peace Operations listed several units that MINUSMA lacked - from armed helicopters and airfield support to infantry and intelligence.

HEART AND MINDS

MINUSMA still plays a significant role in Mali. Its $1 billion budget has created thousands of jobs and provided local support by erecting streets lights or police stations in a country whose economy has been crippled by coup-related sanctions imposed by its neighbours.

It helped organise a constitutional referendum on Sunday meant to pave the way to presidential elections next year.

Crucially, it has coordinated peace talks between rival armed groups in the north following the 2015 Algiers Accord, which marked the official end of a four-year armed uprising that seized large parts of northern Mali, the U.N. and security officials said.

A senior U.N. official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said Tuareg leaders had indicated that the withdrawal of the UN mission could lead to the collapse of that dialogue - with repercussions felt across the region.

Ould Mohamed Ramdane, spokesperson for CMA rebel alliance, said that in addition to its role in talks, MINUSMA had brought "calm and security" to areas where it was deployed and had dispensed a lot of humanitarian aid in northern Mali.

"We all think that its withdrawal will have a major impact on the northern localities but also on stability throughout the Sahel," Ramdane said.

"The threat of resumption of violence with the former separatists is looming again," said Yvan Guichaoua, senior lecturer at the Brussels school of international studies, referring to the fallout from MINUSMAs expected departure. In addition to the loss of its security forces, the withdrawal of U.N. investigative teams would increase the risk of impunity for human rights abuses, he said.

Attacks on civilians surged in the year after Wagner arrived. At least 750 were killed during joint operations carried out by Wagner and Mali's military during that period, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a U.S.-based research group. Sixty civilians died in military operations in the year before Wagner came.

Restrictions in MINUSMA's movements have meant the mission has become more and more focused in recent years on protecting itself. A U.S. official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, said 90% of troop operations are focused on securing its own bases and defending peacekeepers.

The U.N.'s Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, disputed that figure in a post on Twitter on Monday, saying it had "no basis".

"Protecting peacekeepers and protecting civilians are not either/or. Most often they go hand in hand," he said.

Still, MINUSMA has struggled to counter a tide of anti-U.N. posts online, losing the battle for public opinion in Mali. In a recent survey of nearly 2,300 Malians conducted by German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 72% blamed MINUSMA for not protecting civilians.

Over 90% said they had confidence in Russia to support Mali in the fight against Islamists.

(Reporting by Edward McAllister in Dakar and David Lewis in Nairobi; Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
Anatoly Berezikov, 40, died the day before he was due to be released from prison

An anti-war activist has died in a Russian prison after being tortured with a stun gun, a human rights group has said.

Rostov police have insisted that Anatoly Berezikov, 40, died by suicide following his arrest on suspicion of treason for putting up posters that called for the Russian army to leave Ukraine.

However, First Department, the human rights NGO he worked for, said Berezikov died on Wednesday, the day before he was due to be released, after being taken to a forest and wounded with the weapon.

Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer for the group, said that the alleged treatment of the activist, a supporter of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, fitted a wider pattern.

He said torture had been normalised and that people accused of treason are taken to a basement or a forest and given electric shocks, often to the genitals, and, in some cases, subjected to a mock execution.

The lucky ones are just beaten, he added.

Berezikovs lawyer in Rostov said his client had injuries from a stun gun on his body the day before he died.

Since launching its war on Ukraine in February last year, the Kremlin has clamped down on dissent.

It has banned opposition, locked up thousands of protesters and encouraged a Soviet-style system of police informers in neighbourhoods across Russia.

Activists death unusual

OVD-Info, a Russian NGO that monitors the police, said that in the next week alone 41 political criminal cases are due to be heard in Russian courts.

Alexandra Baeva, a lawyer based in Moscow, told The Telegraph that although deaths in police custody have become relatively common in Russia, Berezikovs death was unusual.

This is the first death of a political activist in police custody, she said. Berezikov complained about torture to his lawyer and the day before he was due to be released, he died.

Ms Baeva said it has become standard practice in Russia for police officers to record a suicide if a prisoner dies during a torture session.

Prisoners die from a lack of assistance, a lack of medicine. They can also die from torture. Police officers are practically never investigated, she said.

In April, human rights activists reported that the mother of a 28-year-old man who had died in a prison in Perm, central Russia, had been told that she would have to wait until 2027 for his death to be investigated.

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FILE - A plaque with the word in Spanish "Remember" and the names of the victims of the 1994 terrorist attack on the the Jewish community center AMIA is placed inside the AMIA compound in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 8, 2013. A federal judge in Argentina called on Interpol on June 13, 2023 to detain four Lebanese citizens, so they can be questioned for their suspected role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center that killed 85 people. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  A federal judge in Argentina has called on Interpol to detain four Lebanese citizens, so they can be questioned for their suspected role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center that killed 85 people.

Regarding these individuals, there are well-founded suspicions that they are collaborators or operational agents of the  armed wing of Hezbollah, judge Daniel Rafecas wrote in a resolution dated June 13 that the Associated Press obtained Thursday.

Argentine prosecutors have long alleged that Iranian officials used the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah to carry out the deadly attack. Iran has long denied any involvement in the incident.

Both the United States and Argentina have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Most of the Lebanese citizens now being sought by Rafecas have ties to the porous tri-border region that connects Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and that the United States has long said is a hub for terrorism financing.

Rafecas has called for the detention of Hussein Mounir Mouzannar, who has a Paraguayan national ID and could be living either in Paraguay or Brazil, as well as Farouk Abdul Hay Omairi, a naturalized Brazilian citizen whose last known address was on the Brazilian side of the tri-border region.

The other two people who are sought for questioning are Ali Hussein Abdallah, a naturalized Brazilian citizen who has both Brazilian and Paraguayan passports, and Abdallah Salman, who is believed to be living in Beirut.
Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features

As a (relatively) young person, my life often feels centered around memes. Hundreds of years from now, Id like to think history will consider 2023 a year defined by people scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, sending friends videos, and waiting for them to respond with things like Thats SO me or a series of cry-laughing emojis. Were really in the golden age.

One of the years most popular meme trends began in April when a TikTok user named Ava Williams posted a video with the caption, You better not be acting like youre in a Wes Anderson film when I get there. Set to the song Obituary from Andersons 2021 film The French Dispatch, the video features a series of images that wouldnt be out of place in one of the directors actual filmsincluding a picturesque train carriage and a quirkily dressed character, staring emotionless at the camera.

Williams TikTok has now been viewed over 14 million times. The video has also inspired countless iterations from other users, which see them acting like theyre in a Wes Anderson filmusually by looking disaffected and contemplativewhile getting a burger, while working at a shop, going to the supermarket, the library, or traveling around the world.

This isnt even the only current meme about Andersons famed style going aroundtheres also a series of AI-generated trailers of classic movies (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc.) made to look like they were directed by Wes himself.

On the surface, the user-made parody videos appear to be sweet, even loving homages to the directors signatures: picturesque interiors, highly stylized costumes, measured performances. (The less said of the hideous AI trailers, the better.) They are meant to call to mind some of his more well-defined specific works, like The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, which are among the most representative examples of the supposed Wes Anderson look.

But while the trend is amusing and well-intentioned, its also deeply frustrating to see one of American cinemas most adventurous, introspective filmmakers be reduced to a color palette. The precise problem with the trend is that its purely superficial, and in so doing, it entirely misses the point of what makes the directors work so special.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) is one representative example of Andersons aesthetic. Searchlight Pictures

Never has it been clearer that these memes are actually a disservice to Andersons work than when looking at his new film, Asteroid City, now in theaters. While Asteroid City does feature much of the idiosyncratic visual panache weve come to expect, the directors application of his own style is his most advanced yet. Instead of simply relishing in his own aesthetic, he uses it to reveal something deeper about the cast of characters.

Asteroid City finds Wes Anderson operating at his most existential. The film is set in the 1950s, with the story split between two narrative threads. One takes the form of a TV presentation of the story of the making-of a play. Narrated by Bryan Cranston, this part of the film is shot in black and white and a square aspect ratio. A playwright (Edward Norton) and director (Adrien Brody) interact with the actors who perform the characters featured in the play itself, which we also see unfold. Its the titular Asteroid City, which is shown in color, widescreen, and separated into three acts, each with title cards.

Asteroid City: Wes Andersons Alien-Invasion Movie Is Delightfully Brilliant

The characters in both parts of the filmcomprising Andersons largest ensemble yetsearch for a deeper meaning and a purpose that frequently eludes them. This is especially true in the Asteroid City portion of the story. While Asteroid Citys meta narrative serves to inform the core part of the film by telling a story of the creation of art, Asteroid City, the play within the film of the same name, tackles more existential concepts. Several families from all walks of life find themselves quarantined in a desert town located near a nuclear bomb testing site, after an alien suddenly appears before them during a young scientists awards ceremony. The government holds them hostage as it figures out the alien situation. This forces the various strangers to become well-acquainted with each other, leading to several antics and heart-to-hearts.

The film is astonishingly beautiful to look at, but especially during these segments. There, Andersons typically colorful aesthetic is ever-present; the odd town is full of soft shades of orange and turquoise. The pale sand stands in contrast to these pops of much sharper color. But the color palette is more than just eye candy: They highlight a harsh contrast between an idealized life and the empty, wistful realities that these characters endure. These are people stranded both here and in their regular lives, desperate for any sort of connection to process their unbearable loneliness.

Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features

Some of the most powerful moments in Asteroid City come in conversations between Midge (Scarlett Johansson) and Augie (Jason Schwartzman), who speak to each other through the window of their respective motel rooms. Both of them have children who are receiving awards at the alien-infiltrated event. Midge, a famous actress, is obsessed with playing miserable characters to try and find any sort of purpose in art. Augie is emotionally stunted after the death of his wifesomething he only just now told his four children about, despite her having died three weeks ago.

Augie and Midges conversations are bracing and honest; many of them take places when Midge is in the bathtub. but theres a sense of distance between the pairphysically and emotionallyand they can never seem to properly connect. In one conversation, after their extraterrestrial sighting, Augie tells Midge that the thinks the alien looked at them strangely. How did he look? Midge asks. Like were doomed, Augie clarifies. Midge: Maybe we are.

Their teen children similarly develop feelings through their shared existential musings. Sometimes I think Id feel more at home outside of the Earths atmosphere, Woodrow, Augies son, admits to Dinah, Midges daughter, in one such chat. Unlike her talkative mother, the only thing Dinah can do is stare back in silent agreement. Though set in the 50s, these sorts of nihilistic self-reflections help Asteroid City feel like Andersons most modern film. As The Daily Beasts review says, if you piece all of the perfect retro production design theres a thoroughly timely fascination with paranoia and confinement and the notion of making art under those circumstances.

Wes Anderson Knows About the Memes and Has Thoughts

It takes a director with a great understanding of every aspect of storytelling to pull these disparate parts together into a coherent film. Especially when those disparate parts extend to the narrative in such uniquely peculiar ways: There are not only the two visual modes, one black and white, one in color, but also the two very different narrativesthe meta-construction and the story proper. This unconventional construction alone is ample evidence that Anderson offers more than cute colors and actors staring at the screen.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Anderson admitted that he hasnt seen the memes. Ive only been exposed to [the trend] verbally I choose not to really engage. I guess its because I dont want to get distracted by that. Anderson goes on to say he doesnt use TikTok at all, which has likely helped him stay so creativethe man must have a lot of free time without using such addictive social media.

What Anderson is missing out on, though, is that even the silliest memes tap into something deepertheyre valuable currency because we so often see ourselves in them. These memes, however, dont really seek to understand why Andersons films are exciting. Celebrating style is worthy, but these videos reduce Andersons work in such a way that obscures his actual unique touches. Theyre the kind of joke that you forget immediately after scrolling to the next one. But films like Asteroid City are composed of a whole lot more than people staring at a camera while dressed in monochromeunlike the memes, theyre unforgettable.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Atlantic published a story describing killer whales as 'sadistic jerks.' The pro-orca internet was unamused.

Jeff Foott/Getty Images

An Atlantic article published Saturday described orcas as "sadistic jerks" in nature.

Internet users defended the black-and-white mammals, which have now become revolutionary symbols.

This is after a string of boat attacks involving orca whales off the coast of Spain and Portugal.

The internet again defended its newest comrade, the orca, after a piece published in The Atlantic referred to the black-and-white, boat-destroying creatures as "sadistic jerks."

Orcas off the coast of Spain and Portugal, potentially inspired by a female whale named White Gladis, are sinking and destroying vessels. Many experts have chalked the behavior up to the orcas being playful, but one scientist argued that the attacks started because White Gladis was traumatized.

This led to thousands online teaming up with the ocean mammals to humorously start a new revolutionary orca uprising based on the idea that orcas are restoring balance to nature.

The Atlantic story  published Saturday in response to the social media craze  argued that orcas did not merit their recent status as eco-socialist heroes because, in the natural world, they're sometimes cruel to other animals (although they've never intentionally harmed a human in the wild).

"But projection and anthropomorphization are only shortcuts to a shallow sympathy," staff writer Jacob Stern wrote. "Orcas really are capable of intense grief; they are also capable of tormenting seal pups as a hobby. They are intelligent, emotionally complex creatures. But they are not us."

The premise of the article has drawn ire from the internet's staunchest orca supporters, with some saying that the article puts the interests of boats over living creatures. At the same time, others called out the irony that a publication named after an ocean taking an anti-ocean stance.

One person pointed out that they were called killer whales for a reason.

"They're not called Best Friend Whales," one person joked on Twitter. "Did a yacht write this?" asked another.

Another suggested that a seal, perhaps a previous victim of an orca whale, was actually behind the article.

Huffpost journalist Philip Lewis joked that the writer would become the orcas' next target.

In a column response, journalist Laura Bassett at Jezebel questioned why the publication would post an anti-whale take at a time when the lives and habitats of these creatures are in danger.

After a recent spike in orca-boat incidents off the southern European coast over the past few months, orca attacks on boats are happening daily and may continue to ramp up.

Orca experts say, however, that this results from them socializing and having fun rather than organizing a revolution.

Stern did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
FILE - Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a meeting with all of the U.S. Attorneys to discuss violent crime reduction strategies at the Department of Justice in Washington, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  On his first day as attorney general, Merrick Garland pledged a return to what he called the norms of the Justice Department and said he would work to eliminate the perception of political interference. But in the two years since he took office, the former federal judge has found himself in the middle of a political firestorm of historic proportions.

The case against Donald Trump  the first former president to face federal criminal charges  brought a crush of protesters to the Miami courthouse last week, as well as a torrent of social media broadsides from Trump and an onslaught of criticism from Republicans.

The decision to charge Trump, who is running for president again, is perhaps the most consequential in the history of the Justice Department. The ultimate call on that came from Garland, whose demeanor leans to the mild.

Even the day when prosecutors informed Trump about the charges was outwardly quiet in the halls of the stately Justice Department headquarters. That stillness carried into the night amid the furor unleashed when the former president broke the news on his social media platform.

It was hardly the first time that Garland had kept a poker face while under a high-profile glare. He had stayed mum when his nomination for the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama in 2016 languished long enough to break a century-old record before it expired.

Garland spent two decades as a judge, and that experience seemed to come through in his folded hands and stoic expression when he made his public comments on Wednesday about the charges against Trump. The attorney general stressed that he had followed the rules and regulations for special counsels and he punctuated each word as he defended investigator Jack Smith as a veteran career prosecutor."

We live in a democracy. These kind of matters are adjudicated through the judicial system, Garland said as he took about three minutes worth of questions from two of the gathered reporters at the start of a meeting with U.S. attorneys on violent crime.

That repeated mantra of commitment to the rule of law has not soothed Republicans who are standing by the indicted former president and reframing the charges as an unfair political persecution.

Those close to Garland say he has long had a careful, thoughtful presence and does what is needed, with few outward displays of emotion. Still, this moment is likely not an easy one, said friend Robert Post, a professor at Yale Law School who first got to know Garland when they served as clerks together in the late 1970s.

Im sure he is saddened by the spectacle of a former president being indicted for the kinds of crimes that we see Trump indicted for, Post said. Hes the least partisan person that I know. He cares about the law first and foremost.

Smith's appointment as special counsel after Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign was another effort to uphold Justice Department norms and the principle that the agency follows the facts and the law, not politics, said Anthony Coley, who previously served as Garland's chief spokesman at the department.

For the attorney general, the rule of law is not just some lawyer's turn of phrase. For him, the rule of law is foundational element of our democracy, he said.

It was Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, who stood up alone behind a podium the day after the Trump charges became public to declare: We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone.

That appearance also carried visual cues to the separation between Garland and Smith.

Smith did not speak from the neoclassical headquarters where Garland works, but held his news conference in the sleek building across town where he has been working. The special counsel attended the arraignment where Trump pleaded not guilty to illegally hoarding classified documents. Smith sat in the front row behind his team of prosecutors.

He is empowered to decide whether any charges should be brought, though Garland retains ultimate oversight of his work.

Trump announced on June 8 that he had been indicted, and according to the White House, Biden learned of the 37 felony counts against the former president through news coverage. Biden was asked the next day whether he had talked to Garland about the case. "I have not spoken to him at all, Biden told reporters. Im not going to speak to him.

Garland was confirmed by the Senate in March 2021 on a bipartisan vote, with both Democrats and Republicans saying he had the right record and temperament for the moment. He was a federal appeals court judge for more than two decades after a stint in the Justice Department where he earned a reputation for meticulous preparation in the prosecution of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people.

Garland's handling of the release of another special counsel investigation was similarly low key. The review of the origins of the FBIs investigation of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, carried out by special counsel John Durham, originally started under Trump. When it was completed under Garland, the report was released with few redactions.

Trump's last attorney general, Bill Barr, took a far different approach with the release of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election interference and Trumps campaign. Barr released his own memo on the report and later held a news conference largely favorable to Trump before making the report public. The episode came during tumultuous years as Trump insisted that his attorney general and entire Justice Department be loyal to him personally, undermining its reputation for political independence.

Garland still will have to contend with more special counsel findings to come. Smith is investigating Trump's role involving the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and efforts to undo the 2020 election he lost to Biden.

Garland named a special counsel to investigate the presence of classified documents found at Bidens Delaware home and former Washington office that are from his time as vice president.

In announcing that move, Garland used phrasing identical to the Smith appointment, words that he used again in his brief comments after the indictment: independence and accountability."
A view of the 2023 pride parade in Vienna, Austria. Alex Halada / AFP via Getty Images

Austria's intelligence agency said Sunday that it had thwarted a potential terrorist attack at a pride parade in Vienna.

Three suspects, aged 14, 17, and 20, were arrested by Austrian police on suspicion of planning an attack on the parade, which took place in the country's capital city on Saturday and attracted an estimated 300,000 people. This makes it one of the largest pride events in Europe.

Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, Austria's head of domestic intelligence, said that law enforcement "managed to defuse the moment of danger for Vienna Pride and to ensure the safety of all participants," per Reuters.

While Haijawi-Pirchner did not provide details on the trio's alleged plan, the Financial Times reported that the suspects had sought to attack parade participants using "air guns, sabers and axes that were seized by police, as well as possibly using a car to drive into the crowd." The suspects had also reportedly made attempts to try and obtain more lethal weapons.

Haijawi-Pirchner said that Austrian law enforcement had been monitoring the group for a while and arrested them after they allegedly took "preparatory actions" for the attack. The three suspects were Austrians of Bosnian and Chechen heritage, and were ISIS sympathizers, Haijawi-Pirchner said. Officials believe the trio was likely radicalized online.

While Islamic terrorism has slowed in the European Union in recent years, "counterterrorism officials across the continent have warned of a resurgence," the Times noted. Europol reported that six Islamic terrorist attacks were "completed, failed, or foiled" in Europe in 2022, a decrease from 13 in 2020. Despite this, "the number of annual arrests of suspected jihadi terrorists by European police agencies has remained constant," the Times reported, hovering around 260 every year.

Officials have continued to caution the re-emergence of faith-based terrorism in Europe, especially at large gatherings like a pride parade.

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Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that 12 Pakistanis were identified among the survivors of a shipwreck that killed 79 people off the coast of Greece on Wednesday.

"At this stage, we are unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.

She said that the Pakistani mission in Greece remained in contact with the local authorities for the identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors.

The identification of the recovered bodies "will take place through DNA-matching with close family members," she added.

A deadly shipwreck happened off Greek shores on Wednesday, leaving at least 79 passengers dead, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: The summer of 2021 saw a viral surge in TikToks from young women on the cusp of rushing at the University of Alabama. Why were these young women so keen to get in? Award-winning writer and director Rachel Fleit takes us behind the Greek life veneer of pretty women with busy social lives to explore what it's like to be a young woman today and what it means to belong.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Dana Taylor:

Hello and welcome to 5 Things. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Sunday, June 18th, 2023. Happy Father's Day. The summer of 2021 saw a viral surge in TikToks from young women on the cusp of rushing at the University of Alabama. At the time, director Rachel Fleit had been considering making a documentary about the secretive world of sorority life. This was her opening, and Bama Rush, which follows four of these young women. Fleit explored the pressures young women currently feel to fit in. In the process, she also discovered some surprising insights into her own coming-of-age story. Bama Rush was recently released on Max. Rachel, thanks so much for joining us.

Rachel Fleit:

Thanks so much for having me. It's great to be here.

Dana Taylor:

Rachel, as a filmmaker, you've earned a reputation for creating intimate portraits of people struggling with sensitive issues. In the case of Selma Blair, MS, in the case of Ava and Bianca, being transgender in a male-dominated profession. When some of us think of a sorority, we think of a place where pretty young women go to get their social standing confirmed. What is it about their struggles that made you want to make them your focus?

Rachel Fleit:

When the #bamarush exploded on TikTok, I found myself looking at all of these videos and just watching what we would identify as pretty young women who meet the beauty ideal quite easily, long blonde hair, thin, great tans, beautiful dresses, well put together. I kept watching these videos and thinking as just going through life and growing up and becoming who I am, you don't know what someone is really going through based on their exterior. I had this sense that if I were to go down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and pull back the proverbial curtain on the TikToks, that I would see that these beautiful young women were just like the rest of us. They were all struggling in their own way and that a film about the sorority system would be a lightning rod into what it means to be a young woman right now.

I had a sense that what these young women were facing was very similar to what I went through two decades ago at college, but with the added pressure of social media. So I was really focused on debunking this idea of what a sorority woman is and what young women are up against right now.

Dana Taylor:

So how did you find your central characters?

Rachel Fleit:

We had all different methods. We definitely contacted over 500 young women in our process of developing this story and finding our essential characters and we immediately felt some serious resistance. There were a bunch of young women, obviously, who trusted my vision and understood that I was trying to tell this very nuanced, thoughtful, compassionate story about young womanhood through the lens of the sorority system at the University of Alabama. But then there were hundreds of young women who told us that they weren't allowed to speak to the media. It was against the rules of their sorority. I found that so interesting because I would say, "No, no, I'm a compassionate, sensitive filmmaker. I want to really talk about what it means to be a young woman right now. I want to know what you're up against. I want to know why you want to be in a sorority so badly. What does it offer you and how do you feel about yourself?" I wanted to really dive into those things and I would still get resistance and say, "I'm so sorry. We're just not allowed to speak to you," and that was interesting to me.

Dana Taylor:

So speaking of resistance, were there any issues with filming on campus?

Rachel Fleit:

I was attempting to make this very intimate film that is like my style. I wanted to get close with my subjects and allow them to feel safe in telling their truth. We had really no resistance. Then as soon as Rush began, that's when the resistance began. It started with a rumor on social media. There were videos all over TikTok that there was a documentary being made by HBO Max that was trying to end Greek life as we know it. That resistance was so upsetting because as you'll see in the film, we talk about extremely serious topics that young women are faced with right now. The fact that there was this rumor that was attempting to stop us was astounding in juxtaposition with the gravity of what we were talking about with these young women. I was not trying to ruin their tradition. I was trying to really take a deep dive on young womanhood right now.

Dana Taylor:

So at one point, and it's incredibly compelling, in the filmmaking process, someone on your team told you that you needed to be a part of the film. What happened?

Rachel Fleit:

In the process of editing our film, my editor said, "Rachel, I'm so sorry, but I think you're going to have to be in this film." I laughed and I was like, "No way. I am not going to be in this movie. That's not my style. I'm a fly on the wall. I observe. I'm not in front of the camera." What he was suggesting is that in my interviews with the young women in this film, at every single turn like when I met each of them, I would tell them my own story of belonging because that's what we're really getting at with the sorority system. This was just a story about belonging. I knew I did my own things to belong. I wore a wig for 14 years. I have alopecia universalis and I was hiding that because I was afraid that if you knew that I was bald, that you wouldn't want to be my friend, that I wouldn't be accepted. So I would tell this story to the young women and it would resonate with them. It was a way for me to bond with my subjects and to get closer to them.

My editor saw that and heard that and it then really occurred to me that if we were going to create empathy for these young women, because depictions of sorority life in the media are not great, and it was really important for me to lift up these young women and to celebrate them and to shine a light on what they were going through. My editor realized it first and then it became clear to me that if we were going to really show this idea of radical empathy for these young women, that I had to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and really say, "You know what? I get it. I did this to belong." And it was also this way for my audience that was going to watch this film at some point to think, "You know what? What are the ways that I tried to belong? What did I do to fit in?" because I know that we all have that.

Dana Taylor:

What surprised you the most about them, either as a group or individually?

Rachel Fleit:

I love this question because it was really quite a spiritual experience to make this film. I had a sense that beneath the TikToks were beautiful young women who were struggling too, but I didn't realize how similar I was to them. I said this at some point to Katie and Kaiya, who are the two young women who are in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. I said, "Ugh, if I knew that you gorgeous young women with great blonde hair were going through the same things that I was going through as a young woman with alopecia when I was 16, it would've been really helpful to know." I think it was surprising and it was profound for me to say like, "Oh wow, we really are all going through so much and we are all quite similar underneath the exterior."

Dana Taylor:

Systemic racism, another big theme in the film. I knew that there used to be sororities for Black women, sororities for white women, particularly in the South, but I didn't know that it wasn't until 2013 that this changed on the University of Alabama campus. What happened?

Rachel Fleit:

I knew about the tradition of Divine Nine sororities and fraternities as well. I was definitely focused on making a story about the historically white sororities on campus. You quickly learn about the desegregation that happened quite recently and it is astounding. It was astounding to me. In order to tell this story, I interviewed an incredible woman named Deidre Chestang. She was an Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1986. Alpha Kappa Alpha desegregated sorority row. So the sororities were still segregated. She just really tells us in the film that she's not surprised that it took until 2013 based on the racist history in Alabama and at the University of Alabama. What I understand from our research and from talking to young women at the school is that the systems, the historically white sorority system and the historically Black system were segregated for years, and so I needed to include the racist history at the University of Alabama to tell the complete story.

But I knew that my story was a story of belonging and so it was really important for me to allow my subjects, Rian and Makayla, to really explain their experience of being mixed race at the University of Alabama as it pertains to belonging and their desire to be included in this National Panhellenic Conference that was historically white and ultimately, Makayla's decision not to be a part of it. Spoiler alert.

Dana Taylor:

So were the women that you filmed surprised by this as well or was there an assumption that this is just how things were in the deep South? What were their reactions to the persistence of racism in the Greek system?

Rachel Fleit:

I really wanted to allow the young women to really explain their experience. I really looked towards Rian and Makayla to just tell me honestly what their experience was. Rian speaks about this in full detail about her experiences. She says she loves her sorority sisters, but there's still a lot for them to learn. For Rian, in the film, when a young woman in her sorority asks her if her relaxer washed out or asks her to remind her which one of her parents is white, I think that that just spoke for itself. There's this thing of you are different than us and I felt like that was so important to include. Because even if she is being invited into this sorority system and the sorority system is no longer segregated, there are still comments like this and they hurt and they remind you, I think, of your difference or they push back on this idea of belonging and you belong here.

Dana Taylor:

Well, thank you so much for your time, Rachel. I really appreciate it.

Rachel Fleit:

Thank you so much. It was great to talk with you, Dana.

Dana Taylor:

Thanks to Mark Sivell, Alexis Gustin, and Cherie Saunders for their production assistance. Our senior producer is Shannon Rae Green and our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcast@usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow with another episode of 5 Things.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The lure of Greek sisterhood and the need to belong
(Getty Images)

Best-selling author and made-for-TV movie star Carol Higgins Clark has died, aged 66.

Clark, who is best known for writing an 18-book series focused on Private Investigator Regan Reilly, had appendix cancer. She died in hospital in New York.

As well as creating the character of Reilly, Clark appeared in numerous TV adaptations of her books.

Clark, whose mother was suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark, started out as an actor in made-for-TV movies in the 1970s, including Who Killed Amy Lang and A Cry In The Night, which was based on a novel by Mary.

She wrote her first Reilly book, titled Decked, in 1992 when she was 36, and also co-wrote four Christmas-themed novels with her mother, who died in 2020.

Clark, who was also an audiobook narrator, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2016, which was presented to her by her mother, who was previously hailed in 2011.

She is survived by her siblings, Marilyn, Warren and David Clark, and by her nieces and nephews.

According to her obituary, a wake is set to place on Monday (19 June) at the Frank E Campbell Funeral Chapel on Madison Avenue in Manhattan followed by a funeral mass on Tuesday (20 June) at the Church of St Vincent Ferrer on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr called former President Trump a consummate narcissist, adding that the former president regularly engages in reckless conduct.

But the fact of the matter is, he is a consummate narcissist and he constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk, Barr said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation.

Barr, who served as an attorney general under Trump, described the former president as always putting his own interests above anything else, including the nations. He also said that Trumps behavior outlined in the federal indictment against him was not an isolated example.

If he was in the White House again, he will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the countrys interests, Barr said. Theres no question about it. This is a perfect example of that.

Hes a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the countrys, his personal gratification of his ego, but our country cant be a therapy session for a troubled man like this, he added.

Barr has been one of several former Trump administration officials who have broken with the former president over a indictment that includes 37 charges of mishandling classified documents and obstruction of justice.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges that include subsequent attempts to keep some of the nations most sensitive materials from the government. Trump and his allies have maintained that the indictment was politically motivated against the former president.

Barr said Sunday that Justice Department had no choice but to seek those documents. Barr has also previously called the indictment damning against Trump, saying that the former president was wrong to take classified documents.



For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump and his former attorney general, Bill Barr, have been trading public barbs as Barr turns on his ex-boss, calling Trump a consummate narcissist who will put his own interests, his own ego above everything else.

Barr was on Face the Nation just a week after Trump called him a gutless pig in an appearance on Roger Stones radio show, during which Trump unleashed a torrent of insults against his former attorney general. In the wake of that interview, Barr on Sunday compared Trump to a defiant nine-year-old kid and a fundamentally flawed person who engages in reckless conduct.

Discussing the governments case, recently filed in Florida, accusing Trump of mishandling classified information, Barr made it clear that Trump has culpability. This is not a circumstance where [Trump is] the victim or that this is government overreach, he said. He provoked this whole problem himself. Yes, he has been the victim of unfair witch hunts in the past. But that doesnt obviate the fact that hes also a fundamentally flawed person who engages in reckless conduct, and that leads to situations, calamitous situations like this, which are very destructive and hurt any political cause hes associated with.

When host Robert Costa asked if he believed that Trump lied to the Justice Department, Barr said, Yes, I do, and also stated that Trump is mischaracterizing the Presidential Records Act to make his defense.

When asked if he believes former President Trump lied to the Justice Department as part of the classified documents case, former Attorney General Bill Barr tells @costareports: "Yes, I do."



On whether Trump has been mischaracterizing the Records Act, Barr says, "Absolutely." pic.twitter.com/PsTRCsG1Tt  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 18, 2023

The legal theory by which he gets to take battle plans and sensitive national security information as his personal papers is absurd, Barr said. Its just as wacky as the legal doctrine they came up with for having the vice president unilaterally determine who won the election. The whole purpose of the statute, the Presidential Records Act, was to stop presidents from taking official documents out of the White House. It was passed after Watergate. Thats the whole purpose of it.

Barr added that the governments case against Trump regarding his handling of classified documents is very strong because a lot of the evidence comes from his own lawyers.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr tells @costareports that special counsel Jack Smith's case on obstruction in the Trump classified documents case is very strong because a lot of the evidence comes from his own lawyers." pic.twitter.com/6zZlkLWhbk  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 18, 2023

Barr also said that Trump could put the nation at risk if he returned to the White House. He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the countrys interest, theres no question about it Hes like a nine year old, defiant nine year old kid whos always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it. Its a means of self assertion and exerting his dominance over other people. And hes a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the countrys, his personal gratification of his ego, but our country cant be a therapy session for a troubled man like this.

But even after all the insults and name-calling, Barr has stood somewhat behind Trump. When Face the Nation anchor Robert Costa asked whether Trump should serve a prison sentence if he is convicted of one or more crimes, Barr responded, I dont like the idea of a former president serving time in prison. In March 2022, Barr also refused to fully throw Trump to the wayside, saying that even though he believes the former president is responsible for Jan. 6, he would still vote for him in 2024.

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After bitter warnings, the U.S. and China are trying to ease hostilities

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrives in Beijing on Sunday. (Leah Millis / Associated Press)

After months of acrimony, accusations of espionage and warnings against meddling in each others domestic affairs, the U.S. and China this week will attempt to find a way to reopen talks on divisive issues including nuclear warfare, climate change and fentanyl.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Beijing on Sunday in the first such high-level contact in China in five years, a potentially momentous diplomatic action that is likely to be only an initial step.

Blinken is making a trip that was scrubbed in early February after the Biden administration detected  and ultimately shot down  what it described as a Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. territory.

Virtually all contact between the worlds two largest economies slammed shut over the incident, with relations sinking to their lowest level in recent memory.

Tensions were already fraught over a visit in August to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). China claims the self-ruled island as its own and is furious when senior U.S. officials appear to give it sovereign recognition.

Now, the Biden administration has decided the time is finally right to launch what would be a long and bumpy journey to rapprochement.

What were working to do on this trip is  to establish sustained, regular lines of communication at senior levels  because if we want to make sure that the competition that we have with China doesnt veer into



conflict, the place you start is with communicating, Blinken said Friday in Washington before departing for Beijing.

Read more: The no China policy: Inside the alternative universe of Taiwans West Wing-like hit

He said he would seek potential areas of agreement or cooperation, but the more likely outcome is the two nations seeking ways to manage differences.

Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict, Blinken said. That is what the world expects of both the United States and China.

As both he and Chinese diplomats downplayed expectations, the two global powers seem to be far apart on most substantive issues. Yet their economies are



intertwined, making complete rupture next to impossible.

Read more: Putin and Xi call each other a 'dear friend.' But their main common cause is the U.S.

In addition to the conflict over Taiwan, the U.S. maintains punitive trade tariffs on key Chinese exports and is demanding cooperation on control of Chinese production and marketing of the deadly drug fentanyl.

The Biden administration also wants China to back away from support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, and is alarmed by the diplomatic and economic inroads China is making around the world, especially in Africa and Latin America, where purported Chinese espionage installations in Cuba spying on the U.S. grabbed headlines this month.

Blinken said his two-day mission to Beijing is an important but, in a sense, insufficient step because theres a lot of work to be done.

Read more: These friends don't know each other's real name. Why? It's too dangerous

Days before the trip, Blinken called his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, to inform him he expected to conduct what the State Department called direct and candid conversations about issues that include human rights and Beijings detention of U.S. citizens.

Qin warned Blinken against interfering in Beijings domestic affairs, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which added in a statement that the U.S. should respect Chinas core concerns such as Taiwan.

Part of the Chinese anger comes from an expectation officials there had after President Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia, last fall  that Washington would become less critical of Beijings policies and actions. Instead, tensions deepened, especially over Chinese military activities in the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese are coming ready to play hardball, said Carla Freeman, a China expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. They are very cynical about any major takeaways from meeting with Blinken.

Chinese state media have adopted a contentious tone before Blinkens arrival, signaling that the country is not anticipating any dramatic reversal in U.S.-China relations.

Our position is firm: Its impossible to claim a desire for dialogue while simultaneously suppressing and restraining China, a state-backed social media account associated with China Central Television said.

At best, the Blinken intervention could clear the way for other senior Biden administration officials such as Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and John F. Kerry, presidential envoy for climate, to visit Beijing for talks on their respective portfolios. It is less likely, however, that military-to-military engagement will normalize because Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin IIIs counterpart, Gen. Li Shangfu, remains blacklisted by the U.S. over purchases of Russian-made weapons in 2018.

Neither side would say whether Blinken and Xi would meet.

It doesnt mean theyre going to go back to the good old days, but I think the key word is stabilize, said Henry Huiyao Wang, founder of the nongovernmental Center for China and Globalization in Beijing. I think there is wishful thinking on both sides, but theres also reality.

Read more: Mandarin classes are a new battleground between China and Taiwan

For China, the most crucial issue is Taiwan, whose sovereignty quickly became the most sensitive geopolitical matter in the U.S.-China relationship after Xi began calling more forcefully for eventual unification and deploying more military excursions in the Taiwan Strait.

In the shadow of Russias war on Ukraine, Biden has said on several occasions that the U.S. would offer military aid to Taiwan if China attacked, though the White House followed up to underscore that the official U.S. policy had not changed. Still, China has accused the U.S. of undermining its One China policy, which acknowledges Beijings stance that Taiwan is a part of China but stops short of endorsing it.

Such ambiguity has helped preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait for decades, but the delicate balance has grown tenuous, highlighted by several recent near misses between U.S. and Chinese military ships and fighter jets around Taiwan.

China will be treating Taiwan as a bottom line, hardcore issue and may be implying [that] on this issue we cannot have any compromise, said Alfred Wu, associate professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Read more: Taiwan's president meets with Kevin McCarthy in California. What her visit says about Taiwan's future

The Biden administration has also sought to counter the inroads China has made in many parts of the world, including in the Western Hemisphere, through its multitrillion-



dollar, 10-year-old Belt and Road infrastructure project.

We have strengthened Americas ability to out-compete China, said Kurt Campbell, U.S. presidential coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, by building the U.S. economy, better protecting U.S. technology and  critically  by deepening our relationships with allies and partners around the world.

But the U.S. is playing catch-up. Just in recent weeks, China flexed its influence over a traditionally Russian sphere in Central Asia by gathering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in a summit. And Blinkens arrival in Beijing was preceded by the visits of the presidents of Honduras and the Palestinian Authority.

Beijing condemns what it sees as U.S. attempts to contain Chinas rise. Aside from its frustration over U.S. moves to strengthen ties with Taiwan, China has criticized a defense pact the U.S. formed with the United Kingdom and Australia, known as AUKUS, as well as informal collaboration with the Quad, which comprises the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.

Beijing has also bristled at the growing list of Chinese companies subject to a trade blacklist over the use of American technology. Initiatives to prevent Chinese companies from gaining access to sensitive U.S. technology exports have hindered Chinas attempts to achieve self-sufficiency in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Without agreement on the fundamental ordering of their places in the world, there is temptation to turn every aspect of their relationships into a battleground for performative one-upmanship, said Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National Universitys Taiwan Studies Program.

As much as the Biden administration is emphasizing its shoring up of alliances to counterbalance China, this is happening in a shifting world order. It is no longer simply West versus East; it is not a complete or exclusive relationship. Numerous countries in the region do not want to be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing but prefer to work with both, depending on their own interests, analysts say.

That message was delivered publicly to Blinken hours before his flight to Beijing, when he held a news conference in Washington with the visiting foreign minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan.

As the world transits into a multipolar world, now more than ever we need a rules-based, multilateral system with institutions and processes fit for purpose, updated where necessary, Balakrishnan said. This requires the United States and China to achieve a modus vivendi.

This is a very important and critical moment, he added, not just for the United States and China but, indeed, for the rest of the world, [which] will be watching.

Wilkinson reported from Washington and Yang from Taipei. Special correspondent David Shen in Taipei contributed to this report.

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.
Amy Iwasaki Mass knows the power of apology and reparations. She was in the first grade when her family and more than a hundred thousand other Japanese Americans were rounded up by the federal government and sent to internment camps in response to Japan bombing Pearl Harbor in 1941.

They didnt have their guns out protecting us from the outside. They had guns pointing at us, the 88-year-old California native recalled to CNN. It was a pretty scary time.

Four decades later, in 1981, she testified before the congressional committee on wartime relocation and internment of civilians  part of a Japanese American redress and reparations movement.

A copy of the redress check Don Tamaki's mother received from the US government. - Courtesy Don Tamaki

Although we may be seen by others now as model Americans, we paid a tremendous psychological price for this acceptance on the surface, Mass said in her interview with CNN. Our scars are deep and permanent.

Japanese Americans eventually won redress, with the US government granting an apology and $20,000 to those citizens who were incarcerated during World War II. Mass is part of a growing wave of multiracial support for Black American reparations  with many Jewish and Japanese organizations among them.

When we were having trouble, Black people were being good to us, Mass said. Its not the race. Its just human beings.

Amy Iwasaki Mass reads her 1981 testimony in favor of redress for Japanese Americans held in internment camps during World War II. - Stephanie Elam/CNN

Deep blue, liberal California  and separately the city of San Francisco  has formed panels to examine reparations as a way for these governments to contend with systemic discrimination that historically held Black people down and pushed them out.

More than 200 multiracial organizations have signed on to show support for Californias reparation proposals, including bar associations, philanthropies, academic organizations, and social services and civil rights groups, said Don Tamaki, a member of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.

There is no equivalence really between four years in a concentration camp and 400 years of systemic exclusion and discrimination, Tamaki said. But I do think Japanese Americans as a group do understand what its like to be excluded on the basis of race.

Acknowledging the cost of history

Passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 gave affected Japanese Americans the $20,000 payment and a formal letter of apology from President Ronald Reagan.

Mass said she is thankful for her payment, but the apology has the largest meaning for her.

If we didnt get reparations, if we felt we are still being put down by the government, I think that for me it would be hard to fight, Mass said while looking at family photos from their time in the concentration camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. The fact that I got the letter from the president  that was very important.

Amy Iwasaki Mass was a first grader when her family was forced to live in an internment camp in Wyoming. Here she poses with her parents while incarcerated. - Courtesy Amy Iwasaki Mass

Tamakis parents  natives of the San Francisco Bay Area  were also in an internment camp. Among an album of family pictures, he has a copy of the $20,000 redress check his mother received. Also among his keepsakes is a mailing tube addressed to his father from the University of California, Berkeley. His father was about to graduate when he and other Japanese Americans were rounded up at gunpoint, he said, and forced to live at Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, California. The university dutifully sent his degree to Apt. 5 at the racetrack.

That address was a horse stall into which the Tamaki family was forced to live for several months before being shipped to Topaz concentration camp in the Utah desert, he wrote to CNN in an email. Metaphorically, the diploma was the promise of America; but the mailing tube encircling and constraining that promise was the reality for Japanese Americans.

The University of California, Berkeley, sent Don Tamaki's father's degree to the Northern California racetrack where he was being held, writing "Apt. 5" on the mailing tube. It was actually a horse stall. - Courtesy Don Tamaki

Tamaki believes theres a growing realization among other demographics that while slavery ended in 1865, the bias didnt go away, instead morphing into different forms of discrimination that ultimately kept a target on Black Americans and quickly enveloped other people of color who all benefited from the Black civil rights movement of the 1960s.

If it wasnt for the Black civil rights movement, would I be a lawyer? Probably not. Would my parents still be living in segregated communities and me too? Probably, Tamaki mused. I mean all of the changes that happened in American society that in the modern era began to cause at least legally enforced segregation to end was a result of the Black civil rights movement and I think theres a sense that African Americans opened the door and everybody else walked through it and theres a certain truth to that.

Priced out of San Francisco

Just the talk of reparations is serving as an opportunity for other people to learn about how Black Americans have been impacted by decades of discriminatory practices, said Timothy Alan Simon, a native San Franciscan and the chair of the California African American Chamber of Commerce.

Thats especially evident when it comes to affordable housing.

I can remember coming up in the 50s and 60s seeing communities that once upon a time had significant Black populations and now they no longer exist. I think theres a real economic and cultural and moral impact that faces cities that are dealing with gentrification and outward migration, Simon said to CNN.

The data supports his claim. Black people have left the city by the bay. In 1970, 13% of the population in San Francisco identified as Black. That number stood at 5.7% as of July 1, 2022, according to US Census figures.

Native San Franciscan Timothy Alan Simon says San Francisco's dwindling Black population is leaving a cultural and economic void in the city by the bay. - Stephanie Elam/CNN

San Francisco has lost the brilliance to a large extent, the cultural value, the economic contribution and innovation  all thats come out of the African American community and other cities in the Bay Area, Simon added, noting that the city is not as family-friendly as it was when he was growing up, due in part to the tech boom that attracted people from all over the world for high-paying jobs, leading to soaring prices in a housing market without enough supply.

In terms of attracting families back to San Francisco, without the proper housing stock, its just simply not going to happen.

While the California reparations task force says it wont recommend an amount for individual compensation, it did hire a panel of experts including economists to calculate what Black Californians have endured. Through their formula, they determined that an eligible person could be owed up to an estimated $1.2 million.

The task force created to consider reparations recommendations has also called for restoring historical sites, supporting education and offering free legal aid and other services.

Other recommendations include updating language in the states Constitution, removing racial bias and discriminatory practices in standardized testing, compensating people deprived of profits for their work, investing in and creating free health care programs, and apologizing for acts of political disenfranchisement.

Repairing the damage is arduous work

It is not yet clear how and if the state Legislature will put all or some of the recommendations into place. The task force next meets at the end of June.

We think America should know how horrendous the harm is when you put an economic number on it, Tamaki said, adding that the task force is suggesting more than 100 proposals for California to address longstanding issues such as health harms, mass incarceration and over policing as well as housing discrimination.

Tamaki and Simon agree that arguments against reparations fail to acknowledge the cost of being part of a society.

We pay for wars. We pay for public works projects. We pay for human caused harms  whether they be lead poisoning or pollution. We recognize these things as collective obligations, Tamaki explained.

Added Simon, I think that argument, Well, I wasnt here at that time so therefore, I shouldnt contribute to the public trust to try to correct the wrongs  Its a very narrow and not worldly view, in my opinion. Youre paying for things whether you like it or not. Thats called being a citizen.

Tamaki agrees that the work to repair the damage done to Black Americans is expensive and arduous, but it must begin at some point.

Its really an American issue that until we address this, this country is going to continue to churn and recycle this sort of toxic bias that continues to happen, Tamaki explained. I think each time that America has owned its wrongs, acknowledged them, repaired them, its gotten better.

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By Humeyra Pamuk

BEIJING (Reuters) -China and the United States agreed on Monday to stabilize their intense rivalry so it does not veer into conflict, but failed to produce any major breakthrough during a rare visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed "progress" after shaking hands with Blinken at the Great Hall of the People, a grand venue usually reserved for greeting heads of state.

The top U.S. diplomat and Xi both stressed the importance of having a more stable relationship, as any conflict between the world's two largest economies would create global disruption.

China refused to entertain Washington's bid to resume military-to-military communication channels, citing U.S. sanctions as the obstacle. The two sides appeared entrenched in their positions over everything from Taiwan to trade, including U.S. actions toward China's chip industry, human rights and Russia's war against Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden said later on Monday he thinks relations between the two countries are on the right path, and indicated that progress was made during Blinken's trip.

"We're on the right trail here," Biden said of U.S.-China relations. Asked by reporters during a trip to California whether he felt progress had been made, he replied, "I don't feel," he said. "You know it's been made."

Biden said of Blinken: "He did a hell of a job."

At one of the most significant U.S.-China exchanges since Biden took office, it was not clear how the countries would overcome their differences. The sides agreed to continue diplomatic engagement with more visits in the coming weeks and months.

ACHIEVED OBJECTIVES

At a news conference concluding his two-day trip to Beijing, the first by a U.S. secretary of state since 2018, Blinken said Washington had achieved its objectives for the trip, including raising concerns directly, trying to set up channels for dialogue and exploring areas of cooperation. The trip was postponed in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew through U.S. airspace.

But he said progress was not straightforward.

"The relationship was at a point of instability, and both sides recognized the need to work to stabilize it," Blinken said before leaving China.

"But progress is hard. It takes time. And its not the product of one visit, one trip, one conversation. My hope and expectation is: we will have better communications, better engagement going forward."

U.S. officials had been playing down the prospect of a major breakthrough, but hoped Blinken's visit would pave the way for more bilateral meetings, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

It had been hoped that it would even pave the way for a summit between Xi and Biden later in the year.

Biden and Xi last met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November, pledging more frequent communication, although ties have since deteriorated.

"The two sides have also made progress and reached the agreement on some specific issues. This is very good," Xi told Blinken on Monday across a long table adorned with pink flowers.

Blinken responded by saying the two countries have a responsibility to manage their relationship.

His meetings in Beijing, including talks with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and foreign minister Qin Gang, had been "candid and constructive," Blinken added.

It was not clear from Xi's remarks what progress he was referring to, although he told Blinken that China "hopes to see a sound and steady China-U.S. relationship" and believes that the countries "can overcome various difficulties," according to a Chinese readout of the talks.

Xi also urged Washington not to "hurt China's legitimate rights and interests," a signal of potential flashpoints such as Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as its own.

Blinken said he made clear the United States needs much greater cooperation from China on stemming the flow of fentanyl and the sides agreed to set up a working group on the matter.

TAIWAN CORE ISSUE

The lack of open communication channels between the two countries has prompted international jitters, and Beijing's reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington has alarmed China's neighbors.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, senior foreign ministry official Yang Tao said U.S. sanctions were blocking progress on improving military-to-military communications.

Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu has been sanctioned since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Asked what specific progress the two sides had made, Yang said they had agreed to prevent a downward spiral in relations. The official added that Chinese foreign minister Qin had accepted Blinken's request to visit the United States.

Xi's comments, and the diplomatic choreography of the visit, appeared to signal a will to make progress, analysts said.

"China's messaging has been pretty positive," said Wu Xinbo, a professor and director at the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

"China showed that it still hopes to work with the U.S. to stabilize and improve relations. I think that while China is not optimistic about Sino-U.S. relations, it has not given up hope either."

Beijing's tone on Taiwan was particularly pointed throughout Blinken's visit.

"China has no room for compromise or concessions," said Wang, according to the Chinese readout.

The United States has long stuck to a policy of "strategic ambiguity" over whether it would respond militarily to an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing has refused to rule out.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Beijing; Additional reporting by Jason Xue in Shanghai, Sophie Yu, Yew Lun Tian, Dominique Patton, Joe Cash in Beijing, Jeanny Kao and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk, John Geddie, Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Andrew Heavens and Lisa Shumaker)
A body has been recovered from the waters of Durand Eastman Beach, according to Rochester police.

The identity of the individual has not been confirmed, police said.

The Rochester Police Department's Scuba team, with assistance from the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police, assisted at the scene.

The body was found after a search for a person reported missing at Durand on Saturday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Body recovered from Durand Eastman Beach in Rochester NY
Attorneys for Moscow homicide defendant Bryan Kohberger seek to pause his court proceedings while they await delivery of contested records from last months grand jury indictment that pushed the closely watched case to a trial scheduled for October.

Kohbergers defense team may consider challenging the indictment of their client by the confidential panel, which the prosecution sat exclusively for this case. The defense requested the details of those grand jury hearings, including all transcripts and recordings, presented evidence and the jurors names, to decide how to move forward, according to court records.

Three days after the announcement of the indictment, the defense asked for a detailed list of 34 pieces of information included in grand jury records. And for several weeks, the prosecution and defense in the case have been at odds over some of the records, and whether state law or court precedent allows their release.

Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District Court in Latah County, who is overseeing the case, scheduled a June 27 hearing to decide what the defense will be allowed to review  and also what it might not.

Anne Taylor, Kohbergers lead public defender, asked last week in a filing that Judge at that time also rule on the defenses request for a pause. Led by Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, the prosecution objected on procedural grounds.

Mr. Kohberger seeks to stay the proceedings, Taylor wrote in a court filing. He is exercising his due diligence to discover the grounds upon which to file a motion to dismiss related to how the grand jury was selected. He is being delayed through no fault of his own.

Bryan Kohberger, charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is awaiting his trial scheduled to start Oct. 2, 2023. (Zach Wilkinson/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, Pool)

Kohberger, 28, stayed silent when asked to enter a plea at his May 22 arraignment to retain his right to dispute the indictment based on probable cause, Taylor wrote in the filing. The decision led Judge to automatically enter a plea of not guilty for the man charged with the November stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.

The victims were Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. They were each found dead in the womens off-campus rental home on Nov. 13. Chapin was Kernodles boyfriend and stayed over for the night.

Questions over grand jury impartiality

In response, the prosecution argued that certain pieces of information in records sought by Kohbergers defense are not available for review under Idaho law. A judge must determine if the defense has demonstrated good cause to warrant release of more than what the rules expressly allow, Thompson said in a filing.

The Idaho Supreme Court has explained that grand jury proceedings are intended, to the extent possible, to be secret,  Thompson argued, citing a 2015 case.  (T)he appropriate course of action at this point is for the court to enter an order for preparation and release of transcript of the grand jury proceedings.

In a follow-up filing, Thompson said that he agreed that the records made available to the defense should meet their request for the grand jury selection process.

(B)ecause this grand jury was empaneled specifically for the case at bar, the state believes that the transcript/record should include the jury selection process, he wrote.

The prosecution previously moved to seal from the public the names of all witnesses who testified before the grand jury, citing possible threats, harassment and intimidation that could undermine not only the integrity of this case, but the parties prospective rights to fair trial with an impartial jury. The defense, which will have access to the information, did not object, and Judge issued the seal order.

Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District Court in Latah County will decide what grand jury records the defense can review, and whether to pause court proceedings while the state produces them. (Zach Wilkinson/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP)

Edwina Elcox, a Boise-based criminal defense attorney, said the request for grand jury records from Kohbergers attorneys goes beyond what is typically made available. Theyre doing so to review possible ways to toss their clients indictment, she said.

When the state elects to sit a grand jury, theyre supposed to ensure that theres certain procedural safeguards, said Elcox, also a former Ada County deputy prosecutor. Defense attorneys are doing their job and need to vet that out, because we have no way of doing that, because the proceedings are so secret, unless you give us that information.

Retired Judge Jay Gaskill, previously of Idahos 2nd Judicial District Court in Nez Perce County, presided over the grand jury, according to court records.

Depending on what Kohbergers attorneys find in the grand jury records, there could be several pathways to upending the planned trial, Elcox said. One possible strategy, she said, could be to argue that Latah County was too heavily impacted by the students deaths, including intense media scrutiny of the investigation that led to Kohbergers arrest, that an unbiased grand jury made up of local residents was unachievable.

To empanel a grand jury that is really impartial to decide if theres probable cause would be a real uphill battle, Elcox said. Unfortunately the grand jury system does not afford checks and balances to make those assurances because the defense cant even minimally participate in that process.

Given the stakes, still with the possibility that the prosecution may seek the death penalty, Kohbergers defense aims for a favorable ruling from Judge concerning the grand jury records, and pause of court proceedings in the meantime. Their clients murder trial is currently set to start in 15 weeks.

Jury trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 2, 2023. Time is of the essence, Taylor wrote.
 Flash

This photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows the head of a 2,000-year-old statue seized by Turkish police in Izmir, Turkiye. Turkish police seized the head of a 2,000-year-old statue in the western city of Izmir as part of a crackdown on a ring of historical artifact smugglers, the state-run Anadolu agency reported Saturday. The head is believed to be part of a marble statue depicting a goddess or a noble dating back to the Hellenistic period. (Izmir Police Department/Handout via Xinhua)

Turkish police seized the head of a 2,000-year-old statue in the western city of Izmir as part of a crackdown on a ring of historical artifact smugglers, the state-run Anadolu agency reported Saturday.

The police raided the house of a suspect believed to be involved in the smuggling of ancient treasures in the Karabaglar district of Izmir and found the head of the statue in a dishwasher.

The head is believed to be part of a marble statue depicting a goddess or a noble dating back to the Hellenistic period.

Legal procedures have been launched against the suspect who allegedly attempted to smuggle the artifact abroad.
CA man sentenced to probation for assaulting women on flight to Boston, U.S. Attorneys Office says

BOSTON  A California man who pleaded guilty in March to assaulting two women aboard a redeye flight from Los Angeles to Boston last year has been sentenced to one year of probation, authorities said.

Jairaj Singh Dhillon, 43, of Modesto, Cal., was sentenced in federal court by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Paul Levenson to one year of probation, with the first six months to be served in home confinement, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement late Friday.

On March 20, Dhillon pleaded guilty to two counts of assault while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S.

Prosecutors said that during an overnight flight from Los Angeles to Boston on May 31, 2022, Dhillon engaged in unwanted sexual contact with two female passengers sitting next to him.

The first victim reported that Dhillon, seated in the aisle seat next to her, touched her thigh and groin area while she was taking care of her infant child who was in a car seat in the window seat next to her, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The first victim called for help and stated out loud, this man just groped me.

The second victim, who was seated in the aisle seat opposite Dhillon, reported that Dhillon reached out with both hands and simultaneously grabbed her groin and buttocks when she was standing in the aisle, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Flight crew members then intervened and moved Dhillon to another part of the plane for the remainder of the flight, and Dhillon was immediately taken into custody when the flight arrived in Boston, prosecutors said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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J Vasquez, a representative with the Communities United For Restorative Justice, speaks in front of the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., June 14, 2023. Vasquez is part of a coalition that is criticizing the California governor's administration over a proposed change to a 2021 landmark law - a change that could make it harder to access police misconduct records. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration has proposed an end to public disclosure of investigations of abusive and corrupt police officers, handing the responsibility instead to local agencies in an effort to help cover an estimated $31.5 billion budget deficit.

The proposal, part of the governor's budget package that he is still negotiating with the Legislature, has prompted strong criticism from a coalition of criminal justice and press freedom groups, which spent years pushing for the disclosure rules that were part of a landmark law Newsom signed in 2021.

The law allows the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to investigate and decertify police officers for misconduct, such as use of excessive force, sexual assault and dishonesty. It requires the commission to make public the records of decertification cases.

The Newsom administration now wants to get rid of that transparency element. The commission says the public could still get the records from police departments. But advocates say local police departments often resist releasing that information.

A number of states with a police decertification process, including Republican-led ones such as Tennessee and Georgia, require state agencies to divulge records of police misconduct.

In Tennessee, records made available through the requirement provided a slew of new details on police officers actions when they brutally beat Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop earlier this year. Those details, released by the state police certification commission, were not previously made public by the local police department.

Its a slap in the face to the family members who have had their loved ones stolen from them that ... a key provision of the decertification process is not being honored, J Vasquez, of social justice group Communities United For Restorative Justice, said at a news conference last week.

Removing the transparency element from the 2021 law would continue eroding public trust, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker said. The city, 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of San Francisco, was shaken after a federal investigation found more than half of the officers in the Antioch police force were in a group text where some officers freely used racial slurs and bragged about fabricating evidence and beating suspects.

To say, go to the very people who commit the crimes against your community and ask them to reveal themselves to you so that you can hold them accountable, I dont think thats a fair process, Torres-Walker said.

The coalition of more than 20 groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, also accused the Democratic governor of abusing the budget process to push through his proposal introduced in April.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, director of government affairs for ACLU California Action, said Newsom's proposal should have gone through the traditional legislative process, instead of being put into the budget.

Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford, who authored the 2021 landmark bill, declined to comment on the proposed change.

The governor's office referred questions to the commission, whose spokesperson said the proposed change is a cost-saving measure that would still allow the public to access information on decertification cases from local police departments. California is facing a nearly $32 billion budget deficit this year after enjoying several years of record-breaking surpluses and the proposal is one of many of Newsoms cost-cutting measures.

Neither the governor's office nor the commission shared how much money the state could save under the proposal.

According to a May budget request, the commission estimated it will handle up to 3,500 decertification cases each year. That's about 4% of all officers in California. The commission, which has suspended or decertified 44 police officers so far this year, requested an additional $6 million to handle the large number of complaints.

Because of the substantial fiscal implications, as well as the need to urgently implement these cost-saving measures into law, the budget process is the most appropriate avenue for this, commission spokesperson Meagan Poulos said in a statement.

For decades, police officers in California have enjoyed layers of legal protections helping shield most of law enforcement misconduct records from public scrutiny, First Amendment Coalition Legal Director David Loy said.

In 2018, things began to shift after the Legislature passed a bill requiring the disclosure of records pertaining to police misconduct including use of excessive force, sexual assault and dishonesty. That law was expanded in 2021 to include the release of investigations into police racist or biased behavior, unlawful searches or arrests and use of unreasonable force.

The 2021 decertification law was hailed as another mechanism to hold law enforcement accountable.

"California has always been a black hole for police transparency, said Loy, whose group is part of the coalition opposing the change. The last thing California should be doing is taking any step backward on police transparency.

The state Legislature passed its own version of the state budget Thursday to meet its deadline without including Newsoms proposed change to the decertification process. Legislative leaders and the governor's office will continue negotiations to finalize the budget by the end of the month.

___

Associated Press reporter Jonathan Mattise contributed from Nashville, Tennessee.
397 Shrewsbury St.

24

A local developer appeared in front of the Planning Board with a blueprint for a five-floor apartment building on Shrewsbury Street. Wei Dong Wang, the owner of Baba Sushi on Park Avenue, plans to redevelop a property at 393-397 Shrewsbury St. with a 24-unit apartment building, according to plans. Wangs holding company, 318 Park LLC, has a plan for 16 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom units. Two units would be handicapped accessible. Plans show that Wang is looking to also build 25 existing parking spaces for tenant use.

The new owners of 1059 Grafton St., where A.P. Fish Market is found, will build a 4,000-square-foot car wash next to the market.

1059

Grafton Street landmark A.P. Fish Market will soon share pavement with a squeaky-new neighbor, as a new owner is looking to build a car wash with a 120-foot tunnel. Slated to be around 4,000 square feet, the car wash will be part of redevelopment plans by the land's new owners who took over the 4.5-acre property Friday from the multidecade owners of 1059 Grafton St. Pizzarella family, according to brokers NAI Glickman Kovago & Jacobs. Records show that the new owners, guised as 1059 Grafton Street LLC on the Worcester Registry of Deeds, closed on the land for $775,000.

This building at Northboro and Plantation streets is being eyed for a deli.

298

Napoli Deli & Catering of Shrewsbury is looking to expand into a second location, on Plantation Street in Worcester. Rodney Haddad, the longtime owner of Napoli at 79 South Quinsigamond Ave in Shrewsbury, said he is looking to open the second location at 298 Plantation St. Haddad said he is looking to add a second floor to the Plantation Street building, where he would move Napoli's catering service. He is due to appear in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 26 to get height clearance. The Plantation Street building was once home to a tailoring shop owned by the Haddads.

The Charlton service area along the Mass Pike.

$34,000

The state Department of Environmental Protection has hit a New York-based freight company with $34,000 in fines for failure to clean up an oil spill at the Charlton service area on the Massachusetts Turnpike. JNR Freight Solutions Corp. of New York was fined for failure to address a 100-gallon diesel fuel release from one of its vehicles at the service area. On May 1, 2019, a truck owned and operated by JNR Freight Solutions Corp. struck a light pole at the service area. The accident damaged the trucks diesel fuel tank, causing 100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto the pavement and soil.

A rendering of the mixed-use building proposed for 57 Main St. in Marlborough.

57

Marlborough is being sued by the developer of the Rowe Funeral Home site following a City Council decision to increase the project's parking requirement. The lawsuit is over proposed development at the former Rowe Funeral Home site at 57 Main St. On April 10, the Marlborough City Council approved a proposal from JW Capital Partners, LLC, to construct a 99-unit mixed-used building on the property. However, concerns about limited parking at the site led to the council adding a condition that called for the required number of parking spaces to go from 30 to 60.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers
Cholera-like vibrio bacteria, which can cause acute intestinal infections, were found on the territories of Mykolaiv Oblast that were flooded after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), as well as in Odesa Oblast.

Source: Mykolaiv Oblast Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine

Quote: "As of 18 June 2023, according to the results of the conducted research, cholera vibrio was not found in the water, but cholera-like vibrio (which is a marker of the possible presence of cholera vibrio) was found in the following places:

Inhulets River  city of Snihurivka;

Buh Estuary  Chaika Beach, Namyv recreation zone in the city of Mykolaiv;

Inhulets River  city of Mykolaiv

Dnipro-Buh Estuary."

Details: In addition, according to microbiological indicators, the levels of lactose-positive E. coli (at an acceptable level of 5,000 units) are as follows: 240,000,000 in Inhulets River, 6,200-13,000 in Dnipro-Buh Estuary.

The levels of dissolved oxygen, dry residue, chlorides, iron, and biological oxygen consumption did not meet the standards for sanitary and chemical indicators in the Inhulets River, and in the Dnipro-Buh Estuary there was an excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of ammonia.

There are no oil products or pesticides in the samples taken for research.

In order to prevent the occurrence of acute intestinal infections, Mykolaiv Oblast Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine recommends to:

not use water for drinking purposes

not swim in open water bodies

not eat river fish (including dried, lightly salted, smoked)

follow the rules of personal hygiene

treat hands with antiseptic agents.

Background: Earlier, after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, a cholera-like vibrio was found in the Black Sea near the seaport in Odesa. It can cause acute intestinal infections, but is not the causative agent of cholera.

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Christie says he was wrong in believing he could help Trump be a better president

GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie said Sunday that he was wrong to think that he could help former President Trump be a better president.

Look, I made it very clear in 2016 I did not want Hillary Clinton to be president of the United States and I think that was the right decision, the former New Jersey governor told host Robert Costa on CBSs Face the Nation.

And my hope back in 2016 was that I can make Donald Trump a better candidate, and if he won, a better president. I tried, and I was wrong. I couldnt make him a better president. And he failed over and over again, he added.

Christie made a bid for the White House in 2016 alongside the former president, and has since had a rocky relationship with Trump. Christie served on Trumps 2016 transition team, but was fired over reported tensions with Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Christie then helped Trump prepare for debates in 2020, something that Christie now claims will help him face the former president on the debate stage.

Christie, who announced his 2024 campaign earlier this month, has consistently taken aim at Trump over the past few months and most recently after the former president pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges over his alleged mishandling of classified documents and attempts to keep them from the government. Christie has painted himself as an alternative to Trump, saying that he can be the candidate who will go big.

We need a president who once again is not looking at this small stuff in the rearview mirror, whos constantly whining and complaining and moaning about how things are unfair, he said on Sunday. What we need as a party, and as a country, is a president who will go big, lead America to big achievements and big goals again, and theres nobody, Bob, who can do big better than me.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When I came to work at the Chicago Tribune as a newly graduated journalism major, I had something that sounded like a plan. Ill spend two or three years here and, if things dont work out, Ill move on.

That was 50 years ago  and Im still here.

Oh, yes, I spent about four years in local television news in the early 1980s, but soon realized, as an old broadcast saying goes, that I had a great face for radio.

I just want to take a moment to thank all of you readers for putting up with me all these years, even the haters.

Im not kidding, haters, bless your hearts.

Like other commentators, I do hear from some readers who are less appreciative of my purported wisdom than others may be. But I also keep in mind the thoughtful notes I received from readers who, after the first time I called in sick, who said of my absence, I almost never agree with you but I do hope you feel better soon.

Now that Im in the old timers club, I grumpily find myself expressing the sort of attitudes I used to mock with my fellow young reporters.

The only constant in life is change,

As an African American from the baby boomer generation, Ive seen a lot of changes that I was eager to see. As a child in the 1950s and 60s, I was intrigued by the newsrooms I saw on shows such as Adventures of Superman.

Yet I also was annoyed by the absence of many women or people of color, which also was the norm in the real world, except in Black newspapers and other ethnic press.

Fortunately, diversity is increasingly the norm in todays newsrooms, although technology has led to fewer newspapers, especially covering local news. But we do have more essayists posting online with vastly varying degrees of credibility. Some are excellent, but, consumers beware!

A 2018 study by three MIT scholars confirmed my worst fears: false news spreads more rapidly on Twitter than real news.

We should not be too surprised by that. Tabloids such as the National Enquirer always have competed well against the establishment press. Theyre more entertaining, after all, even when they are less truthful.

But a healthy democracy cannot survive on fake news alone. Which brings me unavoidably to our current situation with former President Donald Trump. How has he been able to infect our brains, asks my colleague in punditry, David Brooks, including the brains of those of us who think we should know better?

And how does he keep reinfecting them even now  after his thuggish behavior at the debate with Joe Biden in 2020, after the Jan. 6 committee hearings revealed his attempts to overturn the election and now, after his federal indictment reveals how flagrantly he put national security and the safety of Americans at risk.

But after years of his flamboyant violations of norms, I am less surprised by his antics thanappalled by the support he immediately received from leading Republicans and, according to polls, most Republican voters.

Suddenly the party of law and order, as we have known it since at least the 1960s, doesnt trust our own government enough to believe a 37-count federal indictment for allegedly refusing to turn over classified documents should have a day in court?

Instead, were hearing defund the FBI calls from Trump and echoed by MAGA congressmen  a situation which, for those of us who covered the FBIs pursuit of the Black Panthers in the 1960s, sounds like a world turned upside down.

When you are finished changing, you are finished, said Benjamin Franklin, according to my fast research assistant. (Thanks, Google!)

Routine helps us feel as though we have some measure of control in our lives. An excess of change can give many of us the unsettling feeling that were losing control, if we ever had any.

The best advice I can offer in the middle of such rapid and confusing change is the basic advice for approaching any free market transactions: Caveat emptor, Latin for Let the buyer beware.

Todays media environment puts more of an obligation on news consumers than ever before to check your sources with no less skepticism than you show toward the old-school mainstream media. We owe at least that much attention to the search for truth, which never ends.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime
A code orange air quality alert has been issued for our area on Monday.

The areas under the alert include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Lingering smoke from the wildfires in Canada and temperatures in the upper 80s will contribute to the air quality.

Young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities during this time.

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A student holds a sign that reads "Stop Book Banning" at a rally at a Florida school district meeting. School districts in that state and others have passed a slew of laws restricting reading material available in the schools. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

In Missouri, the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus about the Holocaust faces possible removal from schools for at least the third time over its depiction of a female character in a bathtub.

In South Carolina, an Advanced Placement teacher has been forced to abandon her lesson about systemic racism using Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates after some students complained about feeling uncomfortable.

And in Southern California, elementary school students in the Temecula Valley Unified School District may be short of textbooks next year after the board of education voted against approving a curriculum that includes mention of slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

These incidents happened within the last month as a wave of book banning continues to spread nationwide. People pushing for bans do so under the guise of protecting kids from material inappropriate for their age, but a closer look at the books targeted reveals an ugly pattern. Most were about or written by people who are LGBTQ+ and people of color, especially Black writers. Such commonalities suggest a concerted effort to expunge books by writers from these communities.

Read more: Op-Ed: The recent onslaught of book bans is a strategic part of wider attacks on our democracy

Its heartening that public leaders, civil rights organizations, parents, students and others are increasingly challenging the constitutionality of book restrictions. President Biden announced that he will appoint a federal coordinator to address the surge of book bans.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond early this month jointly issued a five-page warning to California's school superintendents reminding them that the U.S. Constitution restricts the removal of books from libraries and curriculum. They also noted that the state education code requires public schools to provide instruction on "the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups."

In a tweet earlier this month reacting to the textbook vote at the Temecula school district, Newsom wrote, In the Golden State, our kids have the freedom to learn. Californians are fortunate to have state officials actively fighting for the free expression of ideas. The residents of other states aren't as lucky.

Read more: Commentary: I've seen how reading banned books can enrich kids' education

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, for example, believes that librarians should face criminal penalties for distributing material that is harmful to kids. But who decides what is harmful? Not surprisingly, a coalition of groups such as the Arkansas Library Assn. has filed a lawsuit alleging that the book ban law, which goes into effect in August, does not respect intellectual freedom and is unconstitutional. The suit says the law is a direct attack on free speech.

Banning books is not just about removing certain reading material from school and library shelves, but about restricting ideas. Rarely do these conversations about restricting books include their educational or artistic benefits. It seems easier to remove books based on key words or one picture rather than debate their merits.

This is whats happening with the graphic nonfiction novel Maus by Art Spiegelman. The book has been widely lauded for its deft and powerful depiction of the horrors of the Holocaust. However, one picture of a woman in a bathtub showing an angled view of her breasts may violate a newly passed state law that threatens teachers with up to a year in jail if convicted of providing explicit sexual material to a student.

Read more: Editorial: Talk about pride. Schools stand up against intolerance and hate

Not surprisingly, the law has had a chilling effect on school districts in Missouri, which have pulled more than 300 book titles from library shelves since the law was passed last year.

Book bans have been increasing since 2021, when the parental rights movement sprang up. These parents claim they want a bigger say in school matters, but what they really seem to want is to have their conservative viewpoint be the only one represented in the schools.

More than 2,500 books were the targets of bans in the U.S. last year, nearly double the previous year, the most in a single year since such data began to be collected more than 20 years ago, according to the American Library Assn.

Branches of the American Civil Liberties Union have increasingly been filing lawsuits challenging these book removals in various states. Eventually, courts will have to decide whether bans violate laws protecting freedom of speech, equal protection or other anti-censorship laws.

I hope they do so soon. As a parent, I know that books should be viewed as tools of enlightenment, not tools of oppression.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Small and big fires in Sacramento and surrounding counties continued to be contained by Cal Fire throughout the weekend.

The Scott Fire, at 115 acres in Yuba County, was 87% contained as of the latest update.

It started around 5:30 p.m. Thursday near Fargo Way and Dusty Trail and north of Browns Valley, according to Cal Fire. Evacuations were lifted Saturday.

There has been no word on the fires cause.

Cal Fire said it has mitigated threats to structures and power lines, and it is inspecting damage to critical infrastructure.

Firefighters continue to extinguish and remove material, and damage repair is underway, Cal Fire said.

Near Rancho Seco, another fire

A fire Sunday morning adjacent to Rancho Seco Recreation Park on Dry Creek Ranch was contained in roughly 30 minutes due to its light amount of fuel, according to James Hendricks, a volunteer chief with the Herald Fire Protection District.

Hendricks said the first report came in at 10:47 a.m. By about 11:15 a.m., the 30-acre fire was contained. The district was assisted by Cal Fire, Cosumnes Fire Department and the Wilton Fire Protection District.

Cal Fire will investigate its cause, Hendricks said.

El Dorado Hills

The Amador-El Dorado Unit of Cal Fire responded to a vegetation fire on Saturday afternoon on Arroyo Vista Way in El Dorado Hills with assistance from the Cameron Park Fire Department, the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and the Rescue Fire Department, according to social media posts.

Roughly an hour after it began, firefighters stopped forward progress of the five-acre fire, according to the department.

People were asked to avoid the area to allow fire units to work safely and efficiently, as crews stayed on the scene for several hours, Cal Fire said.
(Reuters) -Moscow declined United Nations offers to help residents affected by the flooding from the breached Kakhovka Dam, the world body said on Sunday, as the death toll rose and filthy water has forced the closing of beaches in southern Ukraine.

The collapse of the Moscow-controlled dam on June 6 unleashed floodwaters across southern Ukraine and Russia-occupied parts of the Kherson region, destroying homes and farmland, and cutting off supplies to residents.

The death toll has risen to 52, with Russian officials saying 35 people had died in Moscow-controlled areas and Ukraine's interior ministry saying 17 had died and 31 were missing. More than 11,000 have been evacuated on both sides.

The U.N. urged Russia to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

"Aid cannot be denied to people who need it," Denise Brown, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement.

Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the Soviet-era dam, under Russian control since early days of its invasion in 2022.

A team of international legal experts assisting Ukraine's prosecutors in their investigation said it was "highly likely" the dam's collapse was caused by explosives planted by Russians.

The Kremlin accused Kyiv of sabotaging the hydroelectric dam, which held a reservoir the size of the U.S. Great Salt Lake.

Authorities in Odesa closed the once popular Black Sea beaches there, prohibiting swimming and the consumption of fish and seafood from unidentified sources.

"The beaches of Odesa have been declared as unsuitable for swimming due to the significant deterioration of the water ... and real danger to health," Odesa's administration said on the Telegram messaging app.

Water tests last week showed dangerous levels of salmonella and other "infectious agents," Ukrainian officials said. Monitoring for cholera was also in place.

Although floodwaters have receded, the Dnipro River on which the Kakhovka Dam was built has carried tons of debris into the Black Sea and Odesa's coastline, causing what Ukraine called an "ecocide".

Levels of toxic substances in sea organisms and on the seabed are expected to worsen, augmenting the risk from land mines that are washing up on the shoreline.

"We can forget about a holiday season for a year," Ukraine's Suspilne broadcaster cited Viktor Komorin, head of Center for Marine Ecology, as saying last week.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly, Michelle Nichols, Ron Popeski;Writing by Lidia Kelly and Ron Popeski;Editing by Lincoln Feast, Chris Reese and Gerry Doyle)
Deputy kills gunman after being shot in the line of duty, SC sheriffs office says

After being shot in the line of duty Sunday, a South Carolina law enforcement officer returned fire and killed the gunman in an armed robbery, the McCormick County Sheriffs Office said.

The shooting happened at about 7:40 a.m., according to the sheriffs office news release.

A sheriffs deputy was responding to a report of an armed robbery and was shot, according to the release.

The deputy returned fire and killed the armed robbery suspect, the sheriffs office said.

There was no word about where the shooting happened, and further information about the armed robbery was not available.

The deputy was taken to a local hospital for observation and treatment and is expected to make a full recovery, the sheriffs office said. Further information on the deputys injuries and condition was not available.

The McCormick County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the person who was killed.

No other injuries were reported.

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division responded to the shooting, and SLED is leading the investigation into the gunfire, according to the release.

There have been at least 13 shootings involving law enforcement officers in South Carolina this year.
Driver killed when truck flips several times after running off SC road, cops say

A South Carolina man was killed when a truck crashed and flipped over, officials said.

Noel Tucker Moss, 21, died after Saturdays accident, Greenwood County Coroner Sonny Cox said.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 2 a.m. in Greenwood County, according to Cpl. David Jones of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Moss was driving a Chevrolet south on Ross Road when the truck ran off the left side of the road, Jones said. The Chevy crashed into an embankment, according to Cox. It then overturned several times, Jones said.

Moss was taken to an area hospital where he died at 2:39 a.m. of blunt force trauma caused by the injuries he suffered in the wreck, according to Cox.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if Moss was wearing a seat belt.

Information about what caused the Chevy to veer off the road was not available, but the collision continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroners office.

Through June 11, at least 445 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least nine people have died in Greenwood County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 13 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
Driver dies in car after crash sends it into flames, DeKalb County police say

A driver is dead after a crash sends two cars into flames, according to police.

DeKalb County police told Channel 2 Action News the crash happened Saturday around 6:33 p.m. near Bermuda Road and English Manor Place.

When officers got to the scene there were two cars damaged and on fire.

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The driver from one of the cars was about to escape his car with serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.

The second driver was trapped and died at the scene, police said.

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The cause of the crash is unknown and police are investigating.

The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.

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Russian media report town of Sevsk and nine other settlements left without power

The first drone dropped a munition around 11 p.m. The explosion damaged the power cables of the substation.

Read also: Russia relocates coastal defense missile systems to Bryansk Oblast to attack Ukrainian cities

"An hour later, another aircraft-type drone attacked the substation, and a munition dropped from it damaged a line switch," the post reads.

Russian media reported that the town of Sevsk and nine other settlements were left without power as a result of the attack. No one was injured in the drone strike.

The attack is latest in a spate of incidents involving drones in Russia. The drones are widely thought to be of Ukrainian origin, but the Ukrainian authorities deny being behind the attacks.

On June 11, a drone with a camera crashed into a sanatorium of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow Oblast.

Read also: Russia fortifying its Bryansk Oblast border with Ukraine, satellite imagery

On June 9, a UAV crashed onto the roof of an office building in Belgorod, Russia, and caught fire.

On the same day, an unidentified drone crashed in Voronezh, Russia, with Russian media claiming that it had hit a high-rise building.

Commenting on an attack on Moscow by unidentified drones on May 30, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidents Office, said cryptically that the drones "want to return to their creators."

He said that Ukraine had nothing to do with the attack.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price is facing criminal charges in connection with his votes on projects developed by companies that employed his wife. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

The scandals dont stop at Los Angeles City Hall. With a fourth council member  Curren Price  charged with corruption in about three years, there should be some soul searching inside the halls of power. How did so many leaders go astray, and how can L.A. clean up its rotten political culture?

One obvious and overdue fix is actually pretty easy: Ask voters to strengthen the Ethics Commission, which is the watchdog over the citys elected officials, candidates for office, political appointees and lobbyists.

When the commission was created by voters in 1990, it was considered one of the most ambitious ethics reforms in the nation. But three decades of oversight and enforcement have revealed the commission doesnt have the independence and authority to be the watchdog that Angelenos need or expect.

Read more: Fixing City Hall

The City Council and mayor decide how much to fund the commission, which determines the size of its staff of investigators and enforcers, and whether to enact recommended changes in ethics laws. This means the regulator needs permission from the people who are regulated to do its work. Of course this arrangement is an obstacle to oversight and enforcement.

For example, the Ethics Commission has been trying for 15 years to pass commonsense revisions to the citys lobbying law to make paid advocacy more transparent and the rules easier to enforce. The City Council repeatedly refused to consider the proposals and they died. In 2018, a former Ethics Commission staffer filed a whistleblower complaint after being told by commission management that a council member had threatened to cut the departments budget if it didnt soften rules on gifts for politicians, according to a Times story.

Last year, the Ethics Commission recommended a dozen changes to the City Charter that would give the commission more power and independence. But those proposals have been on the back burner while the City Councils ad hoc committee on city governance reform focuses on creating an independent redistricting commission and deciding whether to expand the City Council.

Read more: Editorial: L.A. is finally cracking down on stealth lobbying

But ethics reforms got a boost last week  and not just because of the criminal charges filed against Price. A group of political science scholars released their recommendations for governance reform in Los Angeles, and they put a priority on empowering the Ethics Commission. Their rationale makes sense: If Angelenos are going to be asked to expand the City Council and create more politicians, they need to know theyre going to get the cleanest possible city government in return.

Specifically, the L.A. Governance Reform Project recommended changing the City Charter to require that the City Council finally act on the commissions proposed regulations and allow the commission to bypass the City Council and put proposed policies on the ballot for voters to decide. Those are smart changes.

Any reform ballot measure should also guarantee a minimum budget for the commission, so politicians cant cut its funding to pressure ethics staff. Its also worth exploring having a larger commission with some nonpolitical appointees, who are not beholden to elected officials. L.A.s commissioners are selected by the citys elected leaders. In Long Beach , the seven-member Ethics Commission includes four commissioners appointed by elected officials, and those four commissioners pick the other three.

Could these changes prevent more corruption scandals? They could help. An empowered commission could potentially respond more quickly to ethical issues as they arise, without having to pass the gantlet of council skepticism or obstructionism.

Read more: Editorial: Cleaning up L.A. City Hall requires turning off the spigot of cash from developers

Among the allegations against Price, for example, is that he voted on projects developed by companies that employed his wife, which creates a conflict of interest. Price recused himself in some instances involving his wifes business, but not others, according to Times reporting in 2019.

City law requires that appointed commissioners file paperwork when they have a conflict of interest and recuse themselves from voting. Those recusals are tracked and commissioners conflicts of interest are reviewed when they recuse themselves three times in a year. Elected officials, however, aren't required to follow the same reporting rules and only have to give a verbal declaration when they decide to recuse themselves. That makes it harder for the public to track and understand elected officials' conflicts of interest. If unpaid volunteer commissioners have to document their recusals, why shouldnt council members do the same? Thats something an empowered commission could consider.

The parade of scandals has created momentum for major changes in L.A. city government. But the work will not be complete without ethics reform as well.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Trumpeting what they called fair, factual content and even values of embracing patriotism, Idahos governor and education chief on Thursday announced a new supplemental U.S. history curriculum available to schools this fall.

Its the first time a curriculum has been offered as supplemental material, said Debbie Critchfield, Idahos superintendent of public instruction, meaning the State Department of Education vetted the program to make sure it meets the states standards.

The states purchase of the curriculum, called The Story of America, removes a financial hurdle for many school districts that cant update curricula over time because of costs, Critchfield said. That obstacle often leaves teachers searching for supplementary material on their own, she said.

The curriculum, available for use in middle and high school, was purchased for three years using $3 million in COVID-19 relief funding, after which it will be evaluated to determine whether it should be continued, according to Critchfield. The materials are not required for districts to use.

This helps our boards take some pressure off of districts who are looking to supplement curriculum, Critchfield told the Idaho Statesman in an interview. It definitely takes pressure off our teachers as they go out to find ways to fill in gaps in their own lessons.

In a news release, Gov. Brad Little said the program offers a picture of America that aligns with our Idaho values of embracing patriotism and a sense of pride about the success of our great country, and it teaches American history in a fair and factual way.

Critchfield said that while she and fellow Republican Little were traveling the state during the 2022 election season, they were hearing from some communities that American history was not being portrayed in a respectful way. She said some parents were concerned about an anti-American ideology that they claim to have seen nationally, and wanted to avoid that in Idaho classrooms.

Critchfield acknowledged that she had not come across a teacher that is out to have that as the theme of their history class in the Gem State. And we want to keep it that way.

The Story of America was launched by conservative author, politician, TV commentator and radio host Bill Bennett, former education secretary under President Ronald Reagan and author of books such as America: The Last Best Hope and The Book of Virtues. The programs website states that stories from those books are part of the lessons.

When first promoting the curriculum, Bennett  who switched from the Democratic Party to Republican in 1986, while he was in the Reagan Cabinet  claimed that an anti-America ideology that radically misrepresents U.S. history has infiltrated our education system.

The news release from Little and Critchfield pointed to statistics on declining history and civics scores across the country as reason for providing the supplemental material, and said it also encompasses writing and critical thinking skills. Average eighth-grade U.S. history scores have decreased by nine points compared to 2014, and average civics scores have decreased by two points since 2018, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Idaho school districts and teachers unions just heard about the supplemental offering this week and said they had not reviewed it.

Before we can comment we will need to ensure that it is thoroughly reviewed by our highly qualified staff and meets the level of quality our students, parents and families expect from the Boise School District, wrote Dan Hollar, public affairs administrator for the district, in an email to the Statesman.

Mike Journee, communications director for the Idaho Education Association, the states union, said the curriculum was brand-new to the IEA. The group would expect parents and educators to be fully involved in discussions about the curriculum if a school district were to consider using it, he said.

We do expect that the teaching of history should be accurate and reflect the true impacts of all the events that have occurred in this great nations history, he said.

Zach Borman, president of the West Ada Education Association, said hed be interested in seeing the material and getting feedback from the teachers union before making a determination on its value.
Employee shot by customer at busy Atlanta McDonalds after physical altercation, police say

An early morning physical altercation at a busy McDonalds escalated to a shooting, according to Atlanta police.

At around 4 a.m. officers responded to the McDonalds on the 500 block of Ponce De Leon Ave in reference to a person shot.

When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his thigh.

Police said the employee and customer fought each other. After the fight, the customer was standing outside the restaurant when he shot the employee, according to police.

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The customer then ran away from the scene, according to police.

The employee was taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK, according to police.

Police are still investigating this incident.

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An ex-DeSantis staffer said the onetime congressman used to call Trump an 'idiot': report

Then-President Donald Trump shakes hands with then-Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis during a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., on July 31, 2018. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

An ex-DeSantis House staffer said the then-congressman used to joke about Trump, per a WaPo report.

"Ron always said this guy was just an idiot," the former staffer told the newspaper.

DeSantis had long been seen as a Trump ally. Now, both men are facing off for the 2024 GOP presidential nod.

For years, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida had been seen as a reliable ally of former President Donald Trump.

When DeSantis was still a largely unknown congressman running for governor in 2018, Trump's endorsement catapulted him to a decisive GOP primary victory that year. During that campaign, DeSantis gained notoriety for a Trump-infused TV advertisement where he played with his small children, telling one daughter to "build the wall" and reading "The Art of the Deal" to his then-infant son.

Once DeSantis sat in the Governor's office in Tallahassee and Trump remained in the White House, it appeared as though their personal and professional ties would only grow stronger.

But according to The Washington Post, DeSantis' feelings about Trump were less than stellar in private. A former congressional staffer for the now-governor told the newspaper that the two of them used to joke about the then-president  with DeSantis reportedly slamming Trump's intelligence.

"Ron always said this guy was just an idiot," the former staffer said.

DeSantis served in the House of Representatives from January 2013 until his resignation in September 2018, a tenure that often takes a back seat to discussions about his career in the US Navy or his gubernatorial record.

But with DeSantis now in the 2024 presidential campaign, the faceoff against his onetime political benefactor is now the defining storyline of the Republican primary.

While Trump remains the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, DeSantis is now the biggest threat to the former president becoming the party's standard-bearer next year.

Insider reached out to a representative of DeSantis for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Netflix users are expressing frustration following the release of new movie Extraction 2.

The thriller, a sequel to 2020s Extraction, was added to the streaming service on Friday (16 June).

It follows mercenary Tyler Rakes, played by Chris Hemsworth, who embarks on a mission to rescue a woman and two children who are imprisioned in a state-of-the-art prison.

The film, which is receiving better reviews than the first film, has shot to the top of Netflixs worldwide charts just two days after release  however, there is one frustrating aspect of the film that viewers are complaining about.

After watching the movie, many are calling the character of Sandro (Andro Japaridze), the captive teenage son, one of the most annoying in film history. It was also highlighted that he somehow avoided getting hurt in any way despite everyone around him ending up injured.

The only annoying part of Extraction 2 was this guy not getting a single scratch while his family either got shot or beat up, one viewer wrote, with another adding: Just finished Extraction 2 and Sandro is such an annoying character.

I hate stupid kids in movies especially serious scenes, like this Sandro guy in Extraction 2, an additional fan wrother with wnother stating: Im still wondering why it was only foolish Sandro that was unhurt in the whole of Extraction 2.

One viewer seven said they shouted at the screen because they were so frustrated by the character: Sandro in Extraction 2 made me shout at a movie character for the first time in a while.

Extraction 2 viewers are complaining about the character of Sandro (Netflix)

Find more reactions to Sandros character below.

That Sandro guy in Extraction 2 is very stupid and annoying   pearl  (@HappinessAnwana) June 16, 2023

Sandro in extraction 2 is such a fool !  Caleb (@Calebamp) June 16, 2023

Im watching Extraction 2 and I want to beat up this Sandro boy through the screen so bad  Khani.M  (@Carniey) June 16, 2023

Add Sandro in Extraction 2 to this list. Annoying is an understatement https://t.co/V7P6OSRavw  WONTUMI (@Nana_Agyemang57) June 17, 2023

The real villain of Extraction 2 is that stupid boy Sandro  Kaladin Stormblessed (@TuslowT) June 17, 2023

Extraction and Extraction 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
Dozens of Democratic strategists gathered on Zoom on Wednesday for a novel meeting. The topic: How to combat an expected explosion of AI-generated fake content flooding TV airwaves and mailboxes in 2024.

The meeting, hosted by the progressive group Arena, drew more than 70 officials. They talked about how generative AI could produce misinformation and disinformation at a pace and scale campaigns have not experienced before.

Im much more worried in the short-term, said Pat Dennis, president of the Democratic-led opposition research group American Bridge 21st Century, pointing to the fact that we dont know whats coming. Bad actors will have an exponentially easier time writing more stuff, flooding the zone, he said.

The convention, to which a POLITICO reporter was granted access, wasnt a gathering of Luddites. Most were clear-eyed about the need to train campaign staff on how to use the technology. But operatives emphasized the need to teach voters how to identify misinformation and disinformation powered by AI.

Sources of information that essentially work to have true information about the world will go from being nice to have to being absolutely indispensable, Dennis added. I hope were preparing for that on a platform level. I hope voters are educating themselves.

Earlier this year, the American Association of Political Consultants board of directors unanimously condemned the use of deep fakes in political advertising. The use of deep fake generative [AI] content is a dramatically different and dangerous threat to democracy, Becki Donatelli, a Republican digital consultant and president of the AAPC, said in a statement at the time.

For the untrained eye, its not always easy to tell if an image is fake. Take, for instance, a video the Ron DeSantis campaign posted on Twitter showing seemingly manufactured images of former President Donald Trump hugging Anthony Fauci. There is currently no federal requirement to include a disclaimer in campaign ads when AI is used to create images, though such bills have been introduced in Congress. Washington state recently signed into law legislation that would require a disclosure when AI is used in campaign ads.



Last month at CampaignTech East, a confab of digital campaign experts, commissioners from the Federal Election Commission offered opinions about regulating AI in campaigns. Democratic Commissioner Shana Broussard suggested that current FEC political ad disclosure rules could be adapted to encompass AI, whereas Republican Commissioner Trey Trainor said he was in favor of as little regulation as possible.

Democratic operatives at the Arena meeting said they are skeptical about industry-wide regulation happening before the 2024 elections. Betsy Hoover, co-founder of Higher Ground Labs, a progressive political tech incubator, called it a strategic move for Democratic campaigns to take the lead on establishing guidelines when AI is used in voter outreach.

AI can have plenty of practical uses like automating some of the more tedious and time-consuming tasks required on campaigns. It can fill the gaps for smaller, down-ballot operations that dont have the resources to, say, generate multiple versions of a graphic or to analyze data, Hoover said.

American Bridges Dennis said if campaigns are fabricating footage, that could open the door for lawsuits. But hes less concerned if theyre using AI to do the same kind of attack stuff theyve always done, just faster and cheaper.

But the potential for misinformation and disinformation underscores the need for humans on staff, Hoover argued. Campaigns, she said, should be thinking about how their programs are prepared to respond to a less stable media environment.

People are going to be looking for trusted messengers more than ever, she said. In the same way in 2016 and 2020, we started to say, Okay, we need to invest in influencer messaging and relational organizing, those things become more important this cycle.
Despite their name, forever chemicals havent been widely understood for very long  by most members of the public, at least.

And if it werent for one West Virginia farmer, Wilbur Tennant, we still might not know much about them.

Back in the 90s, Tennant noticed something strange was happening to his cows. No matter how much he fed them, they kept losing weight, developing tumors, and dying, reported the Chicago Tribune.

Considering that the farm was situated near a DuPont factory and landfill, Tennant figured something might be amiss. As it turned out, waste from the factory, which produced Teflon nonstick products, had made its way into a nearby stream, poisoning the cows that were drinking from it.

What are forever chemicals?

Because of Tennants persistence, it was discovered that these DuPont products contained perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as a PFOA. PFOAs are now called forever chemicals, because they essentially dont degrade in the environment and stay in the human body for a very long time, causing disease.

PFOAs are used in nonstick products, firefighting foam, and textiles, among other products. Because of their widespread use, theyre hard to avoid. But staying away from nonstick pots and pans, as well as regularly reading product labels to see if they have these forever chemicals, can help protect you.

Yet forever chemicals like PFOAs are still found throughout the environment, and in people, because products containing them are made, distributed, and disposed of so widely.

Once people come into contact with PFOAs, the chemicals accumulate in their blood and can even be passed to fetuses during pregnancy, causing deformities. Since they are so hard to get rid of, they can also be found in drinking water, fish, soil, the air  basically everywhere.

The Tennant family engaged in a prolonged legal battle, with the help of attorney Rob Bilott, which eventually resulted in a settlement in 2004.

An imminent and substantial threat to health and the environment

Throughout the course of the lawsuit, Bilott discovered a letter from DuPont scientists to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The letter mentioned the presence of PFOAs in the landfill, as well as the fact that DuPont had been testing its employees blood for the presence of dangerous chemicals. And perhaps unsurprisingly, PFOAs had accumulated in their blood.

Further research from the Tennants lawyer stirred up records showing that DuPont, as well as other industry leaders, knew for decades that PFOAs, as well as some similar chemicals, were toxic. They had known since the early 1960s that PFOAs had the potential to be toxic to animals. Yet DuPont hid this information from the public, arguing for years that they were safe.

After the Tennant lawsuit was settled, Bilott continued his work to expose the company, creating a detailed timeline on DuPonts knowledge about the dangers of PFOAs and mailing the evidence to the EPA and the Department of Justice.

During the course of the litigation, we have confirmed that the chemicals and pollutants released into the environment by DuPont  may pose an imminent and substantial threat to health and the environment, Bilott wrote in his letter, which the Chicago Tribune obtained.

He then sued DuPont on behalf of the thousands of people living near the same Teflon plant as Tennant, resulting in the company agreeing to finance a study on the health impacts of PFOAs.

Were learning more about forever chemicals every day. And while some industry leaders are fighting to not pay for their actions, we have Tennant and Bilott to thank for bringing this environmental and health hazard to the publics attention.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Ode to fathers

As we celebrate Fathers Day, I send my blessing to all the men who care for, protect and provide for their families. You have been entrusted with the gift of fatherhood and inherited a high calling.

We read in the book of Proverbs, Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it, (22:6). A good father embodies a life of unwavering service so that his family might be inspired to do the same for others.

I urge all fathers to install the tenets of faith in your children.

Build your house on the rock of truth so your family is safe and unshakable.

Like St. Joseph, guide your family through the desert of temptations the world offers and take responsibility for your childrens education. Making dialogue an important activity in your familys life will help reduce violence in our society.

May you find joy and fulfillment in this sacred calling that God has given you. May you continue to be a shining example of Gods love and compassion, and may your families be blessed by your presence and strength.

Maria Aselage, Charleston

Support equine act

Many rural, agriculturally driven counties in our state are facing urban sprawl and development at a pace never seen before while much of our rich, ecologically significant farmland is being zoned as low-density residential (LDR) by local governments.

We must consider unique opportunities that assist in conserving our farmlands, which is exactly what the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act does.

The legislation, passed by the S.C. House of Representatives, would create a grant program that could assist in preserving our states agricultural land. Approximately 70% of land in South Carolina counties with a large equine presence is categorized as LDR and therefore eight times more likely to be transformed into commercial or residential real estate.

Funding from the grant program would go directly to support equine-based organizations and horse activities that utilize and maintain our agricultural land and farming heritage, including growing and preserving the existing horse trail network, allowing organizations the financial flexibility to preserve private property through conservation easements, and providing additional funding to utilize more acreage for horse-related activities, like grazing and training.

Please consider supporting the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act and protecting one of our states most valuable natural resources  agricultural land.

Deborah McCutchen, Kingstree

No support here

It is amazing to me that anyone can continue to support Mr. Trump for any public office.

He has proven, by his own actions, to be a liar, a traitor, a sex abuser, and, now, a violator of classified government documents.

I cannot support someone with those characteristics regardless of what office he or she may run for.

I hope and pray this is the end of his political career.

William Bull, Gilbert

Keep watch, Lindsey

Once again Nancy Mace gives lie to the notion that she is a moderate Republican.

The ink was scarcely dry on the indictment handed down by a grand jury of Florida citizens, when she immediately kow-towed to the anti-law and pro-disorder wing of her party.

A moderate response would be to say that while she didnt like it, she respects the judicial process and will await the outcome of a fair trial.

Lindsey Graham should keep his eyes peeled. Given Maces ambition, she might be angling to replace him as Trumps chief apologist in the Senate.

David Greene, HHI

Thanks, Dataw

For over 30 years the dedicated residents of Dataw Island have been picking up trash on a six-mile stretch of St. Helena Island. Each year these teams remove about 500 bags of trash from along the roadside plus lots of larger debris.

There is really no way to properly thank these volunteers for battling increased beach traffic, humidity, bugs, weeds and mowers. One can only imagine what the roadway would look like without their dedicated effort.

Thank you for caring, Dataw Island.

Pat Harvey-Palmer, St. Helena
Fathers' brains adjust their structure and function to parenthood Maria Paternina-Die, CC BY-ND

The time fathers devote to child care every week has tripled over the past 50 years in the United States. The increase in fathers involvement in child rearing is even steeper in countries that have expanded paid paternity leave or created incentives for fathers to take leave, such as Germany, Spain, Sweden and Iceland. And a growing body of research finds that children with engaged fathers do better on a range of outcomes, including physical health and cognitive performance.

Despite dads rising participation in child care and their importance in the lives of their kids, there is surprisingly little research about how fatherhood affects men. Even fewer studies focus on the brain and biological changes that might support fathering.

It is no surprise that the transition to parenthood can be transformative for anyone with a new baby. For women who become biological mothers, pregnancy-related hormonal changes help to explain why a new mothers brain might change. But does fatherhood reshape the brains and bodies of men  who dont experience pregnancy directly  in ways that motivate their parenting? We set out to investigate this question in our recent study of first-time fathers in two countries.

While the baby grows inside the mother-to-be, biological changes prepare the woman for motherhood. Orbon Alija/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Pregnancys effect on a new moms brain

Recent research has found compelling evidence that pregnancy can enhance neuroplasticity, or remodeling, in the structures of a womans brain. Using magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have identified large-scale changes in the anatomy of womens brains from before to after pregnancy.

In one study, researchers in Spain scanned first-time mothers before conceiving, and again at two months after they gave birth. Compared with childless women, the new mothers brain volume was smaller, suggesting that key brain structures actually shrank in size across pregnancy and the early postpartum period. The brain changes were so pronounced that an algorithm could easily differentiate the brain of a woman who had gone through a pregnancy from that of a woman with no children.

All across the brain, these changes are visible in gray matter, the layer of tissue in the brain that is rich with neurons. Pregnancy appears to affect structures in the cortex  the most recently evolved, outer surface of the brain  including regions linked with thinking about others minds, a process that researchers call theory of mind. Mothers also show brain changes in the subcortex  the more ancient structures nestled deeper within the brain that are linked with more primitive functions, including emotion and motivation.

Why do these structural brain changes happen after pregnancy?

Researchers believe these brain changes may facilitate mothers sensitive caregiving of newborns, who demand constant attention and cannot verbalize their needs. Indeed, when mothers see photos or videos of their own infants, it activates many of the same brain regions that changed the most across pregnancy. It seems plausible that new mothers brains change in ways that help them to respond to and care for their newborns.

But what about fathers? They do not experience pregnancy directly, but may take care of the new baby, too.

Dads brains change, too

As with practicing any new skill, the experience of caring for an infant might leave a mark on the brains of new parents. This is what neuroscientists call experience-induced brain plasticity  like the brain changes that occur when you learn a new language or master a new musical instrument.

A sparse but growing body of research is observing this type of plasticity in fathers who experience the cognitive, physical and emotional demands of caring for a newborn without going through pregnancy. In terms of brain function, for instance, gay male fathers who are primary caregivers show stronger connections between parenting brain regions when viewing their infants, compared with secondary male caregivers.

Scientists are interested in what spending more time with a newborn means for a fathers brain. Cavan Images via Getty Images

To learn more about plasticity in new dads brains, our research groups at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Maranon in Madrid, associated with the BeMother project, collaborated on a new study. We recruited 40 men  20 in Spain and 20 in California  and put each into an MRI scanner twice: first during their partners pregnancy, and again after their baby was 6 months old. We also included a control group of 17 childless men.

We found several significant changes in the brains of fathers from prenatal to postpartum that did not emerge within the childless men we followed across the same time period. In both the Spanish and Californian samples, fathers brain changes appeared in regions of the cortex that contribute to visual processing, attention and empathy toward the baby.

Its not clear yet whether simply spending more time parenting changes fathers brains or the changes occur in men who are more motivated to spend time parenting. AJ_Watt/E+ via Getty Images

What remolds a new fathers brain?

The degree of brain plasticity in fathers may be linked with how much they interact with their baby. Although fathers in many parts of the world are increasingly taking part in child care, paternal involvement varies widely across different men. This range of involvement may explain why we found more subtle brain changes in these fathers compared with those observed in first-time mothers. In fact, brain changes in fathers were almost half the magnitude of the changes observed in the mothers.

Social, cultural and psychological factors that determine how much fathers engage with their children may, in turn, influence changes to the fathering brain. Indeed, Spanish fathers, who, on average, have more generous paternity leaves than fathers have in the U.S., displayed more pronounced changes in brain regions that support goal-directed attention, which may help fathers attune to their infants cues, compared with Californian fathers.

This finding raises the question of whether family policies that boost how much time dads spend on infant care during the early postpartum period may help support the development of the fathering brain. On the flip side, perhaps men who show more remodeling of the brain and hormones are also more motivated to participate in hands-on care.

Much more research is needed to tease out these questions and to figure out how best to intervene with fathers who may be at risk of having trouble adjusting to the parenting role. Despite the importance of fathers to child development, funding agencies have not tended to prioritize research on men becoming dads, but this may start to change as more findings like these emerge. Future studies with more detailed measures of postpartum caregiving can reveal more about parental brain plasticity in both men and women.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Darby Saxbe, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Magdalena Martinez Garcia, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Maranon IiSGM .

Read more:



Darby Saxbe receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Magdalena Martinez Garcia received funding from Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Fulbright Commission.
The Flash cinemagoers have been left feeling confused by two cameos in the controversial new film.

The superhero film, which was released on Thursday (15 June) after a lengthy delay, features many surprise appearances from the world of DC.

One such cameo was reported by viewers of the film as being Teddy Sears, who starred in The Flash TV series. He played a version of Jay Garrick before revealing himself to be Hunter Zolomon.

However, confusion reigned when, on Saturday (17 June), Sears revealed that the brief cameo in the film spotted by viewers was not him. Instead, the character takes the form of someone who looks alarmingly like him.

He told TVLine: People kept telling me that I was in the new Flash movie....I mean, Im sleep-deprived with a newborn at home, so my memory is a little foggy. But Im pretty sure I would have remembered shooting a major DC Studios film.

Warner Bros and Warner Bros television then confirmed with the outlet that the footage spotted by viewers of the film was not Sears, but a generic Golden Age Flash representation played by no actor of note.

The update comes after it was reported that The Flash had stalled at the domestic box office in the US. After three days, the film had amassed approximately $60m which is around $10m-$15m less than studio projections. The film cost $200m.

Teddy Sears is not in The Flash  although everyone thinks he is (CW)

*Major spoilers follow  you have been warned*

While it was known that Michael Keaton was in the film, reprising his role of Bruce Wayne from Tim Burtons Batman films, a cameo featured at the end that may have left many viewers feeling rather surprised.

In a scene at the end of the film, set on the steps of a courthouse, Ezra Millers lead character approaches what he believes to be Ben Afflecks version of batman. Instead, its George Clooneys.

Clooney played the Caped Crusader in the critically mauled 1997 film Batman and Robin. His appearance in The Flash is entertaining fans, but has also left them scratching their heads  especially due to the current state of the DCEU.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, turns out that Clooneys cameo was the third ending, with two alternatives both set on the same courthouse steps  set to feature Keatons Batman and Supergirl actor Sasha Calle, with another one filmed featuring Keaton, Calle as well as Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Superman (Henry Cavill).

Ezra Miller in The Flash (Warner Bros)

When James Gunn and Peter Safran overtook the reins of the DCEU, several planned projects  including a new Wonder Woman and Superman film  were axed, meaning a new ending had to be written. Gunn and Safran liked Muschiettis idea about featuring Clooney and, after the actor watched and enjoyed the film, he agreed to return to the role hes received arguably his worst reviews for.

The proble is that viewers seem to be unsure whether Clooneys cameo was meant to merely be a fun plot twist, or whether it will have lasting ramifications moving forward.

With Musichietti officially hired to direct a brand new Batman film, titled Batman: Brave and the Bold, perhaps Gunn and Safran will find a way to work Clooney in. Its worth noting that TheBrave and the Bold will be completely separate from the Matt Reeves-directed Batman series starring Robert Pattinson.

On social media, after watching The Flash, many have been expressing the feeling that ending the film on the reveal that the character is now stuck in the universe of Clooneys Batman is a rather odd way to bring this iteration of the DCEU to a close. The decision has been branded bizarre, weird if funny and leftfield.

The Flash is in cinemas now.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigating a man stabbing himself on the side of the road

UPDATE 6/21: Baker County Sheriffs Office released the incident report that states a man was stabbing himself while standing next to his car.

In the redacted police report, the suspect was on Interstate 10 actively stabbing himself.

When BCSO arrived, the suspect, after certain time disarmed himself and police grabbed a first aid kit. EMS arrived and took life saving measures.

According to BCSO, this is still an active investigation.

UPDATE: 3:32 p.m. County Road 125 is reopened and traffic is moving. Action News Jax has a team en route to the scene to learn more information.

Baker County Sheriffs Office Sheriff, Scotty Rhoden has alerted the community of an officer-involved shooting.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been called to begin the investigation of the shooting. The I-10 westbound off-ramp onto County Road 125 in Baker County is closed and will remain closed for a significant amount of time.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

No deputies were injured during this incident.

Further information will be released by FDLE at their discretion as they are the agency responsible for the investigation.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Florida Keys man fatally shot by girlfriend, deputies say. She says he strangled her

A scuffle after a night of drinking led to a Florida Keys man being shot and killed by his girlfriend early Saturday morning, deputies said.

Brittany Holbrook, 33, is facing a felony charge of homicide, according to records. She still remains in jail and has an arraignment set for June 28.

Around 2:50 a.m., Jordan Kinn called 911 and told the operator his roommate, Tyler Nulisch, is in bad shape hes hurt real bad and there was a lot of blood, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. Deputies were sent to 491 Avenue F in Big Coppit Key.

On the 911 call recording, deputies say Kinn can be heard asking Holbrook where Nulisch was bleeding from  she said his back.

Kinn said he was in the bedroom sleeping when he heard Holbrook scream from the living room. He also told the operator the pair were in an argument.

When deputies arrived they found Holbrook cradling Nulisch covered in blood. He was unconscious but breathing, the sheriffs office said. He was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound about an hour later.

A Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun was found in the living room and a spent cartridge casing. Kinn told detectives that he asked Nulisch what happened while he was in and out of consciousness.

He replied, that b**** shot me in the back.

Holbrook told detectives she had been in a relationship with Nulisch for about nine months. She got home from work at about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Soon after, the trio began drinking. She had several alcoholic seltzers and beers, the sheriffs office said.

Late in the evening, Holbrook and Nulisch fell asleep together in their bed. However, after that she said there was a gap in her memory. She could only remember next holding her boyfriend, who was covered in blood, in the living room.

After recounting the night to detectives she soon after called them back as she had remembered more in detail about what happened, the sheriffs office said.

She remembered waking up in the bed to Nulisch strangling her. She didnt know how she got away, but does remember him strangling her again and pushing her against the bathroom wall. It was hard for her to breath.

She told detectives that while Nulisch was strangling her, she punched and scratched him. While detectives did see bruising on her knuckles, they did not see any sign of strangulation on her throat or in her eyes.

Detectives said Holbrooks inconsistencies, Nulischs dying words and her not having injuries led to their decision to charge and arrest her.
FM Kuleba laughs off Kremlin claims of 'demilitarizing' Ukraine, urges allies to send more arms

Dont be afraid of global changes and dont stop supporting Ukraine, Kuleba tells partners

The Ukrainian minister ridiculed Peskovs claims, and speculated about what Moscow's next claims might be.

"In the next episodes: Virtually all the tasks of the special military operation will have been completed," Kuleba said ironically.

Ukraine, as a member of the EU and NATO, will not be able to attack Russia, Crimea is no longer a burden for the Russian budget, the Nazis are confined to Russia, and the losses of Russian soldiers and equipment in Ukraine, which we will not tell anyone about, helped us correct our mistakes and make Russia stronger. Russia is stronger than ever.

Read also: Kremlin mouthpiece suggests Russians take out Putin, Tsymbaliuk says

Kuleba also gave advice to Kyiv's partners and said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will be able to explain to Russians both the loss of Crimea and the loss of Ukraine.

"The main thing for partners is not to be afraid of global changes and not to stop supporting Ukraine," Kuleba concluded.

Life without modern Russia is possible. And were working every day on new weapons for the Ukrainian defense forces, on strengthening the global coalition in support of the Peace Formula and on restoring Ukraine. All this will come.

Earlier, Peskov stated that Russias supposed task of achieving the "demilitarization" of Ukraine had largely been accomplished.

Ukraine has been receiving copious supplies of Western military aid since shortly after Russia launched its attempted invasion and regime-change bid on Feb. 24, 2022. In particular, while Russia started the full-scale war with a massive advantage in tank numbers, Ukraine is estimated to have achieved parity in this regard due to Russian tank losses.

Prior to that, Putin made a vague, oxymoronic statement about the purpose of Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying the country could change or remain the same simultaneously.

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 former Florida GOP state lawmaker says many people in the state capital are 'terrified' of Ron DeSantis and his political enforcers: 'They just chop off heads and move on'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. AP Photo/Phil Sears, File

An ex-Florida lawmaker said that many in Tallahassee are "terrified" of DeSantis and his team.

"There's no inner circle because they just chop off heads and move on," they told The Washington Post.

This year, with a GOP supermajority, DeSantis has ramped up his conservative policymaking agenda.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has often talked about his desire to enact conservative policies without needless drama, and during the past legislative session in the Sunshine State, he signed into law countless pieces of legislation that had long been on Republican wish lists.

With a GOP state-legislative supermajority built from DeSantis' 19-point landslide reelection victory, he eagerly pushed through a six-week abortion ban, signed a bill that bans diversity-and-equity initiatives in public universities into law, expanded a ban on the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity through the 12th grade, and is in the middle of reshaping education in the state, among a vast array of additional laws and policies that he has put into place.

But pressure from DeSantis  and the force of his political operation  has made many in the state capital of Tallahassee afraid of the governor, according to The Washington Post.

With DeSantis now in full campaign mode as a 2024 presidential contender, he is touting his "Florida blueprint" as a benchmark for what he would pursue as a conservative in the White House.

However, back in Florida, caution abounds even among his most fervent supporters in the legislature.

The Post reported that after several GOP lawmakers backing DeSantis' presidential campaign met at the Governor's Mansion last month, they refused to speak about anything that transpired at the gathering.

And while DeSantis has struggled to gain the backing of Florida Republicans serving in Congress, he has a lock on support from state legislators  whom he directly deals with and whose political futures he can more easily control.

DeSantis has earned the endorsements of 100 of the 113 Republican state lawmakers in Florida, with 12 remaining neutral and only one backing former President Donald Trump.

A former Republican state lawmaker told The Post that people are "terrified" of DeSantis and his political operation. Many believe that his enforcers could dismantle their careers if they were to go against the governor.

"These guys are not normal politicos. There's no inner circle because they just chop off heads and move on so quickly," the ex-lawmaker told The Washington Post.

When DeSantis has spoken about his no-hold-barred approach to governance, he has left little to the imagination, frequently speaking about "woke" policies and remarking that team members who don't fully embrace his agenda could hit the road. He abhors the sort of palace intrigue that came to define Trump's presidency, even as the then-president's endorsement of his 2018 gubernatorial campaign helped him eventually win the GOP primary and the subsequent general election.

But as The Post detailed, DeSantis sees his gubernatorial tenure as one of action  especially as it relates to cultural issues  with the governor deriding some Republicans as overly passive.

"I'm going on offense," DeSantis said during a Club for Growth retreat in March. "Some of these Republicans, they just sit back like potted plants, and they let the media define the terms of the debate."

"They let the left define the terms of debate," he continued at the time. "They take all this incoming because they're not making anything happen. And I said, 'That's not what we're doing.'"

Insider reached out to a representative of DeSantis for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Vittorio Little Vic Amuso, the 88-year-old former boss of the Luchese crime family, says his health is falling apart in federal prison, and his lawyers describe him as a changed man staring down his mortality.

A court filing last week describes a pitiful convalescence in federal prison in Butner, N.C.  his chronic arthritis is so bad, he cant get around without a wheelchair, his vision is clouded and worsening, hes lost all of his teeth, and his pleas for medical help are not answered promptly.

In order to get the help he needs, he often has to make written requests, like one in March that read: I need a cortisone shot in my hip and knee and Im in severe pain please if there is a god help me with this as I am 90 years old and in severe pain.

Amuso is the latest in a string of organized crime figures who have applied for compassionate release under the First Step Act of 2018. The results have been mixed.

Amusos legal team pointed to his perfect record in prison, his Catholic faith, and his devotion to being a mentor to his kids and grandkids.

While the underlying offense conduct is admittedly serious, Mr. Amuso is not the same defendant that stood before the court more than 31-plus years ago, wrote his lawyer Anthony DiPietro. His circumstances have dramatically and materially changed, as he is now an elderly and very sick man of 88 years of age who is staring down his mortality.

He was convicted in 1992 of murder and racketeering in a Brooklyn Federal Court trial where prosecutors linked him to nine murders and three attempted killings. His June 1992 conviction came just two months after the feds secured a guilty plea against legendary Gambino boss John Gotti.

The prosecution that led to his downfall started in 1990, when he was indicted in a Mafia scheme to rig bids in the citys window-replacement industry. The case also laid out allegations of corruption in the trucking, airfreight, construction and garbage hauling industries.

Amuso went on the run until July 1991, when he was captured at a shopping mall in Dickson City, Pa.

Mob turncoats Peter Chiodo and one-time acting Luchese boss Alfonso DArco helped link Amuso to the killings at trial.

Chiodo pleaded guilty in the windows case, and Amuso, convinced he had turned snitch, ordered his killing.

A mob murder squad tried to do the deed on May 18, 1991, ambushing him at a Staten Island gas station, but the 6-foot-5, 435-pound Chiodo survived being shot 13 times.

Chiodos brush with death pushed him to become a government cooperator, and that cooperation included the testimony that helped put Amuso away.

Undaunted by the botched attempt, Amuso ignored Mafia code to not target relatives, and ordered Chiodos sister Patricia Capozzalo whacked, even though she had no role in organized crime, according to court testimony.

The crime family tapped Michael Baldy Mike Spinelli to plan her killing, according to testimony.

He assembled a team and stalked Capozzalo for weeks, deciding that their best chance to kill her was after she dropped her children off at school in the morning. On March 10, 1992, they took their shot outside her Gravesend, Brooklyn, home. She survived the ambush.

Spinelli, whos slated to be released from prison in 2026, was denied compassionate release last month by Brooklyn Federal Judge Raymond Dearie.

A few weeks later, Brooklyn Federal Judge Margo Brodie refused to cut loose another mob killer, Vito Guzzo, 58, who was seeking early release after he was convicted in 1998 of five murders.

The Colombo gangster is serving a 38-year sentence for running the Giannini Crew  a death squad composed of members of several Cosa Nostra families who used the former Caffe Giannini in Ridgewood, Queens, as their home base.

Mob capo Anthony Russo, who ordered murders during the bloody Colombo crime family civil war, had better luck  last year, Brooklyn Federal Judge Frederic Block ordered his life sentence cut to 35 years, which led to his release in February.

Block praised the bipartisan First Step Act, which has led to the reduction of more than 4,000 prison sentences since it was signed by then-President Donald Trump in 2018. In his decision, the jurist said that Russo was punished with a longer sentence because he took his case to trial.

Amusos legal team references the Russo case in its motion to have him released.
Painting him as a security risk, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday added his voice to those critical of former President Donald Trump for his handling of classified information after his presidency.

Esper, who served in Trump's Cabinet, said: "People have described him as a hoarder when it comes to these type of documents. But clearly, it was unauthorized, illegal and dangerous."

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Esper compared Trump's legal case  he was recently indicted on 37 charges related to his post-presidency handling of secret documents  to that of Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of posting secret and sensitive military documents on social media. Teixeira was indicted Thursday.

"We have a case playing out right now in Massachusetts where that young airman from the Massachusetts National Guard is being charged on similar types of accounts under the Espionage Act for taking and retaining unauthorized documents that affected our national defense," Esper told host Jake Tapper.

Esper outlined scenarios in which the mishandling of classified documents could cause trouble for the United States.

"Imagine if a foreign agent, another country were to discover documents that outline America's vulnerabilities or the weaknesses of the United States military," he said. "Think about how that could be exploited, how that could be used against us in a conflict, how an enemy could develop countermeasures, things like that. Or in the case of the most significant piece that was raised in the allegation about U.S. plans to attack Iran, think about how that affects our readiness, our ability to prosecute an attack."

Tapper asked Esper if he thought that Trump, if elected president in 2024, could ever be trusted with the nation's secrets again.

"Based on his actions, again, if proven true under the indictment by the special counsel, no," Esper said.

"I mean, it's just irresponsible action that places our service members at risk, places our nation's security at risk. You cannot have these documents floating around."

Trump picked Esper to serve as Defense secretary in June 2019 and fired him in November 2020. "Mark Esper has been terminated," he tweeted then.

Esper was critical of Trump in his book, "A Sacred Oath," which was released in May. Among other things, Esper described his shock and dismay over a plan to send as many as 250,000 American troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. He also said Trump asked about launching missile strikes on Mexican drug labs.
Howard Kurtz, host of Fox Newss Media Buzz, acknowledged the controversy around a Fox News chyron that called President Biden a wannabe dictator last week, saying the banner went too far.

In a Media Buzz segment Sunday that included quick summaries of some of the weeks top stories, Kurtz included a brief description of the Fox News banner controversy, which he delivered to the audience as a straight news story, before pivoting to the next topic.

Fox News briefly put up a banner that went too far on the day of Donald Trumps arraignment, referring to President Biden, Kurtz said on air Sunday before reading the networks prior response to the controversy. Wannabe dictator speaks at White House after having his political rival arrested. Fox said in a statement, The chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed.'

The chyron garnered significant attention after airing Tuesday. The chyron appeared shortly before 9 p.m. on the day of former President Trumps arraignment, and it was displayed with a split-screen of Trump and Biden, before the network removed the banner.

Trump was indicted on 37 felony counts related to his handling of classified documents. He is accused of obstruction, willful retention of national defense information, and making false statements to the FBI. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Freight shipping center near Tri-Cities abruptly shuts down and lays off workers

The new operator of a refrigerated freight train warehouse south of the Tri-Cities shut down abruptly this week amid reports its private equity partner withdrew funding.

Tiger Cool Express LLC closed its Tiger Tri-Cities Logistics Center on June 13 just six months after it signed a lease/purchase agreement for the 201,000-square-foot facility with Union Pacific Railroad.

The property is at 627 Railex Road, southeast of Pasco off Highway 12 in Walla Walla County.

It is neighbors with Northwest Wine Services, the Pacific Northwests largest wine storage and distribution facility with 760,000-square-feet.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates confirmed it remains a tenant of the wine facility and uses it for storage and truck deliveries after it stopped being served by rail.

Tiger Cool planned to provide refrigerated freight services for agricultural commodities in the Mid-Columbia and to add a ramp to accommodate rail.

An official close to Tiger Cool who asked not to be identified said the company is not bankrupt and is not abandoning Wallula.

He characterized the shut down as a self-imposed time-out caused by a difficult market for freight companies. Tiger Cool is seeking new investors.

He declined to disclose how many employees were affected by the shut down. It reportedly had about 50 workers.

Food train

In January, Tiger Cool executives touted Wallulas access to rail, roads, water and labor, saying it had the making of being the regions next global transportation hub.

After establishing connections between Wallula, Wash., and the Northwest Seaport Alliance docks in Seattle and Tacoma, as well as to Chicago, it said it would look to expand along the Interstate 5 corridor and into Mexico.

Its 700 shipping containers are in temporary storage in Chicago, the official told the Herald.

Tiger Cool designed a new ramp to facilitate the movement of shipping containers between different types of transportation, namely trains and trucks..

The ramp is fully engineered and could be built in two to three months. If the original vision does not pan out, he said Tiger Cool will alter its business model to serve other shippers.

Tiger Cool Express, established in 20I0, was backed by a $15 million investment by Tiger Infrastructure Partners and Barings in 2017, according to a company profile provided by PitchBook, a Seattle research firm that tracks private equity and investment trends.

Barings sold its stake to an undisclosed buyer in December, PitchBook said.

Tiger Infrastructure Partners, based in New York and London, could not be reached to comment.

The warehouse remains available for rent. An active listing on Loopnet offers the space at an annual rate of $9 per square foot. The warehouse is physically divided into six individual spaces, linked by roll up doors. The listing indicates the owner is open to an offer to purchase the property.

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Gabrielle Union wore a daring sheer gown that revealed her derriere on the red carpet

Gabrielle Union attends "The Perfect Find" screening on June 16, 2023. Jason Koerner/Getty Images

Gabrielle Union attended a screening for her new Netflix film, "The Perfect Find," on Friday.

Union wore a sheer black and white gown designed by Burc Akyol.

"Just enough to get a glimpse," Union wrote in an Instagram post.

Gabrielle Union wore a bold sheer dress to a screening of her new Netflix film, "The Perfect Find."

Union arrived on the American Black Film Festival red carpet on Friday in a floor-length gown designed by Burc Akyol, a French couturier based in Paris.

The gown is designed by designed by Burc Akyol. Jason Koerner/Getty Images

The gown featured a black bodysuit with a high neckline, long sleeves adorned with white embellishments, and a sheer skirt. Union paired the gown with dangling earrings and black strappy heels.

Gabrielle Union shared photos of the gown on Instagram. Jason Koerner/Getty Images

"Just enough to get a glimpse," Union wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday. The post received praise from several of Union's celebrity friends, including Taraji P. Henson, Laverne Cox, and husband Dwyane Wade.

The film's other stars, like Keith Powers, also attended the screening and took part in a cast photo. According to Netflix, "The Perfect Find" is a romantic comedy that follows fashion editor Jenna (Union) as she navigates relationship and career struggles while having a love affair with a younger man (Powers)  her boss's son.

Director Numa Perrier told Netflix that Union wanted to make a film that was different than her previous work.

"When I first met with Gab, she told me, 'I don't want to make a film like all the films I've already made.' We know and love all of those films and she's an icon, but she wanted to really open up more," Numa said. "That's where all that good stuff is. That's where you will do something that is really remarkable."

"The Perfect Find" premieres on June 23.

Read the original article on Insider
Georgia DNR: Dont let Canada Geese frustrate you; do this to get rid of them

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has an important message for residents heading into the summer: dont let Canada Goose frustrate you.

The department says that the Canada goose thrives in a variety of habitats, including such areas as neighborhood ponds, office complexes, city parks and other developed areas.

This ability to adapt often leads them to be near people, according to the department.

Geese go through a molting process in midsummer, where they lose their flight feathers and grow in news ones, so it may seem they are hanging around an area longer than usual - especially in late June and early July, Kara Nitschke, migratory gamebird biologist with the WRD Game Management Section said. This means our offices typically receive an increase in nuisance calls about Canada geese this time of year. But it is not because the geese are trying to frustrate the homeowner, they are just hanging around because they cannot fly right now.

So, what can you do if you have goose problems?

Usually, geese can be deterred with the use of harassment techniques. But, because geese cannot fly during the molt, these techniques may not work right now.

During this molting season, DNR officials encourage patience

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If you continue to experience issues with Canada geese on your property, here are a few tips the Georgia DNR suggests to try:

 Harassment: First, try a variety of harassment techniques (also called hazing), including metallic streamers/tape, noise makers, or even trained herding dogs. These techniques may scare the geese away from your property.

 Chemical Repellents: Repellents can be sprayed on the grass in your yard to deter geese from feeding in treated areas. Most repellents require re-application after mowing or after rain.

Physical Barriers: Barriers, such as wire or string 12-18 inches above the ground, or heavy vegetation (like cattails), along property lines or the shoreline can deter geese from using your property. This method requires consistency from the property owner and may not always be 100% effective.

Special Permits to Remove Geese: In cases where the above techniques have been unsuccessful, homeowners who want to reduce or eliminate the goose population on their property can obtain a permit from their local WRD Game Management office (GeorgiaWildlife.com/about/contact). This permit allows for the legal and lethal removal of the animals. The removal can be done by the homeowner or by a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper (list found at GAdnrle.org/special-permits#nuisance).

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Department said it is important to remember that since these geese are a protected species, it is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgias migratory bird regulations.

For more tips and information about Canada geese, go to GeorgiaWildlife.com (click on Living With Wildlife on the home page, and then scroll down and click on Canada Geese).

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IN OTHER NEWS:
This article was originally published in Georgia Recorder.

Words matter  thats what several of the dozen or so educators and parents gathered in a downtown Atlanta boardroom had to say Thursday in a bid to persuade the Georgia Professional Standards Commission not to change the states rules for training K-12 teachers.

The commission had on its agenda a slew of proposed revisions, removing words like diversity in favor of less politically fraught verbiage like differences.

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For example, one change for elementary school educators would call on them to get to know the unique contexts of children and families, rather than their diverse cultural contexts under the previous rules.

But the speakers words did not sway the commissioners, who voted unanimously to approve the changes without discussion.

History remembers white supremacists, shouted one speaker as the commissioners voted.

Commission Chair Brian Sirmans said the changes came at the request of the University System of Georgia and are intended to clarify language that had picked up unintended negative meanings over the years.

These proposed rule amendments are not intended to redefine or remove the care preparation providers place on meeting students needs or prescribe the way (education preparation providers) choose to meet the program standards, he said. We still expect EPPs to prepare educators who are well-equipped to address the learning needs of all students that they may encounter and who are well-prepared to meet the students where they are within a positive and welcoming learning environment.

But speakers including Sarah Hunt-Blackwell, First Amendment policy advocate with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, said they view the changes as more than a mere swapping of words.

Id like to remind the commission, most of you educators, that words matter, she said. As such, we cannot be simplistic in believing that these amendments merely replace one word with another. Changing language does change intent. Replacing the word diverse with words like different and unique implies that there is a norm, a sameness, which excludes those who do not fit in.

Ruth M. Youn, second-generation Chinese-Taiwanese-American writer and parent who lives in metro Atlanta, said she felt like she did not fit in at school as a child. Although her teachers were well-educated and her schools were well-resourced, she said her heritage, language and physical appearance were not welcome and her peoples history in the U.S. was never discussed.

I was not only minoritized, but I de facto learned to adopt negative mentalities towards communities different from mine, she said. Theres a pervasive misconception that teaching about diversity perpetuates racism and divisiveness in the classroom. I argue that by pretending that diversity does not exist, by not equipping educators to teach in a culturally sustaining way, we inevitably create entire cohorts of educators and therefore student populations who are uninformed, ill-informed, and potentially racist, even if they do not realize it.

Christopher Andrews, a DeKalb County educator who has worked in social studies and science classrooms in middle and high schools, said his latest assignment was in Georgias most diverse middle school, and his diversity, equity and inclusion training came in handy to help him make connections with children from different religious and social backgrounds.

A lack of intentional DEI training would have left me vastly unprepared to serve students from diverse backgrounds and ability levels, ultimately ignoring the essence of who they are and failing to equip them for the real world around them, he said.

The changes, which are set to go into effect July 1, would apply to positions including elementary education and reading and literacy specialists, who teach up to grade 12, as well as educational leaders like principals and superintendents.

They follow another controversial change last month, which stripped the definition of diversity from teacher training rules.

Some teachers complained not only about the changes, but about what they described as a streamlined process that skipped over opportunities for them to weigh in. Commissioners said they received a record amount of emails about last months changes, but admitted to ignoring or filtering them.

Others said requiring in-person access to a mostly-digital meeting in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday prevented many interested parties from weighing in.

As I stand here speaking in front of you all and those who are with us virtually, there are parents here across the city of Atlanta, across metro Atlanta, who cannot be here because theyre picking up their children from summer camp, from summer programs, from summer school, said Jason B. Allen, national organizing director for the National Parents Union.

Fights over CRT, DEI

School board meetings across the country have seen heated debates in recent years over so-called wokeness in the classroom as some white parents accuse teachers of trying to make students feel guilty about their race.

In 2021, the Cherokee County School District hired Cecelia Lewis, a Maryland principal, for a new position as an administrator focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. But Lewis, who is Black, would step back from the offer after a group of white parents rose up against the decision, with many arguing without evidence that Lewis planned to bring critical race theory to the county.

Once a niche academic term, critical race theory has become a catch-all for lessons on race that put U.S. policy in a negative light or make connections between past discrimination and current inequality.

Following the first wave of outcry, the Georgia Board of Education approved a resolution against a list of opinions members found unpopular, including that the United States is a racist country or that anyone ought to be made to feel bad for things people belonging to their race did in the past.

Last year, Gov. Brian Kemp signed bills aimed at keeping ideas like critical race theory out of schools and strengthening parents rights to review classroom materials.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Education ruled that proposed book bans in Forsyth County may have created a hostile environment for some students and ordered the district to come up with a plan to fix things.

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and Twitter.
German outlet refutes hoax, widely quoted by Russians, about Ukraine's Defence Intelligence chief being in a coma

Stern magazine has stated it did not publish news about a severe injury allegedly suffered by Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence. The story was spread by Russian media, propagandists and "militants", citing Stern, on 17 June.

Source: DW, citing Stern

Quote: "Stern did not publish such news. So this story is nothing more than an outright fake, more fake news by Russian propagandists."

Details: It is further noted that Stern's most recent story about Budanov, which stated his opinion on whether China would supply weapons to Moscow, was dated 28 February.

On 17 June, Russian media and propagandists began to "quote" Stern, alleging that Budanov has suffered a brain injury and is in a coma.

The Russians pointed out at the time that Stern is one of the most highly regarded media outlets in Germany and that "paying for a story to be published in it would be unrealistic".

Reminder:

A few days earlier, the Russian propaganda machine released a fake news story about a missile allegedly hitting the building of Ukraines Defence Intelligence and seriously injuring Defence Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.

In May, Russian propagandists began spreading the "news", citing unnamed sources, that Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had suffered a head injury and multiple shrapnel wounds during an alleged missile attack on a command post near the village of Posad-Pokrovske near Kherson in early May.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine later posted a video of Zaluzhnyi to disprove the fake news.

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Kyrylo Budanov Intelligence June 25, 2022.

According to a report published by Stern, Russian propagandists falsely claimed that Budanov was in a coma in a Berlin hospital, citing Stern as their source. However, the magazine states that this report was fabricated.

Read also: Large-scale disinformation campaign about Russias war in Ukraine exposed in France

Stern said that approximately 1.3 million readers of Vladimir Solovyovs Telegram channel, known as Putins most vocal propagandist, may have been misled by a post stating, Budanov in a coma, according to the German magazine Stern.

Solovyov alleged that anonymous Stern reporters spoke with doctors at the clinic where Budanov was hospitalized, who purportedly stated that the head of Ukrainian intelligence had suffered a traumatic brain injury, and had gloomy prospects of recovery.

Read also: How does Russian propaganda end up in Western media? Presidential advisor has answers

Stern never published any such report, the German magazine responded.

Earlier, Russian propaganda spread a fake news story claiming that on May 29, a missile struck the General Staff of Intelligence building, resulting in a serious injury to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian intelligence.

The Russians also fabricated a narrative suggesting that Budanov was evacuated by helicopter to a military base in Rzeszow, Poland, with a specially arranged U.S. evacuation flight taking Budanov to Germany.

On the day of the alleged missile strike on the General Staff of Intelligence, Ukrainian intelligence released a video in which its chief emphasized another unsuccessful attempt by Russia to carry out terrorist acts, and promising a response.

Previously, Kremlin propagandists unsuccessfully attempted to spread false information about the death of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other generals.

Read also: Propagandist from Medvedchuks television network sentenced to 10 years in prison  SBU

These claims were promptly refuted, including by the release of a video featuring the very-much-alive general himself.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE PHOTO: Representatives of Ghana's Finance Ministry, the Central Bank and IMF address the media in Accra

ACCRA (Reuters) -Ghana aims complete its debt restructuring before the next review of its $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said on Sunday.

Ofori-Atta said the West African nation aimed to reach agreement with bilateral creditors in coming weeks, adding that it was in the process of getting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the creditors.

The gold, cocoa and oil-producing nation is in talks with its creditors to restructure its debt as it struggles under its worst economic crisis in a generation

Ghana aims to cut around $10.5 billion in interest payments on its external debt over the next three years to successfully implement a $3 billion loan deal from the IMF.

Its debts to countries including China and members of the Paris Club of creditor nations were $5.4 billion of the $20 billion external debt due for restructuring, as of the end of a 2022, according to a government presentation to investors. The total external debt stock was about $30 billion.

"We've successfully worked with the Paris Club and other creditors to determine the parameters for official debt restructuring under the G20 common framework for debt treatment," Ofori-Atta told journalists in Accra on Sunday.

"In the coming weeks, we will seek to complete the MoU on terms with bilateral debt treatment," he added.

Ofori-Atta said Ghana will continue discussions with private creditors, Eurobond investors on external debt to reach agreement with private creditors in the shortest possible time.

"We expect to finalise these negotiations before the next review, which is in September," he said.

The minister said the government will approve by the end of June an energy sector reform plan which will enable it tackle debt owed to independent power producers that has risen to $2 billion by May 2023 from $1.58 billion.

(Reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila and Christian AkorlieWriting by Bate FelixEditing by Frances Kerry and David Evans)
Girl, 11, who was found dead with family had not been to school for four days running

Police at the Wlodarczyks flat in West London - Lucy North/PA

An 11-year-old girl found dead alongside her younger brother and both parents had not been seen at school since last Monday, a neighbour claimed.

Teachers at Southville Primary School apparently asked pupils whether they knew of Majas whereabouts when she failed to turn up for classes four days running.

The schoolgirl was found dead alongside her three-year-old brother, Dawid Wlodarczyk, and parents Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, and Monika Wlodarczyk, 35 on Friday. Police were called at 3.12pm amid concerns for the familys welfare.

Staff at the primary school she attended in Feltham, West London, were said to be concerned why Maja Wlodarczyk had not turned up for lessons last week.

The Wlodarczyk family from left: Dawid, Monika, Maja and Michal

A woman, whose son is in Majas year, revealed a WhatsApp message from a pupil who said they believed a teacher may have contacted police.

In a WhatsApp group chat, a message stated that a teacher had previously had a whole conversation with pupils about the girls whereabouts. The teacher is said to have told children she would call someone if no one had seen her.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, believed the girl was last in school on Monday.

WhatsApp messages

The texts, referring to a teacher, read: I think it was her who called the police.

She had a whole conversation with us, asking if any of us have heard from Maja. She said she would call someone if none of us had.

The messages in the group chat were sent after the four deaths were made public.

Speaking from her home near the Wlodarczyks upstairs flat, the mother said: I know the family. My son said that on Monday he had gone to school and she [Maja] went with him. But on Tuesday she didnt come.

Wednesday and Thursday she didnt come. She went only on Monday. My son said he had a conversation with some staff about why she didnt come. They said that they were going to call the family or something.

I dont know if [the school] called the police. I am so worried, How can this situation happen with children?

No one from the school was available for comment.

It is believed post-mortem examinations of the four bodies will be carried out in the next few days in the hope of establishing a cause of death.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said homicide detectives are leading the investigation.

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Newsoms bold step

Newsom proposes US amendment to restrict guns, (sacbee.com, June 8)

I believe that this is a bold and brave step for a governor to take, even if it is extremely unlikely for the constitutional convention to play out as he hopes, and even if the majority of the U.S. doesnt agree that these are common sense safety measures. Its pivotal that Gov. Newsom has brought gun control back into the national conversation.

It is difficult to fathom how some gun owners are so passionate about having firearms that theyre unwilling to compromise in order to prevent innocent people from harm. Establishing any sort of protections against the tragic events weve all witnessed in the past decades, directly tied to a lack of government regulation on guns, would simply display human decency.

Louisa McNatt

Sacramento

Important dialogue

Newsom proposes US amendment to restrict guns, (sacbee.com, June 8)

Thank you, Gov. Newsom, for formally opening the dialogue with America about curtailing guns and gun violence. The Second Amendment includes a simple phrase about arms and militia, yet the results are a staggering 40,000 gun deaths in our country every year.

Our younger generations seem ready to trade in the Second Amendment for gun control measures that allow some gun ownership but not unfettered proliferation of guns.

Gerald Lance Johannsen

Carlsbad

Opinion

Nature vs. disaster

Regional flood planning should come to the CA Tulare Basin, (sacbee.com, June 8)

The Tulare Basin encompasses the watersheds of the Kings, Tule, Kaweah and Kern rivers, from Tulare Lake to Mt. Whitney. Flood control aligns with the respective watersheds, so the San Joaquin River Basin flood control is separate from Tulare Basin flood control.

When a lake bed fills in a big snow year, its nature, not a disaster. It is a disaster when people build permanent structures in a lake bed and cause subsidence by over-pumping groundwater.

Corcoran lies on the shores of Tulare Lake. Private farm levees prevent the lake from filling to capacity and subsidence causes Corcoran to be in danger of flooding.

The simple solution for big Sierra snow years is that lake bed farmers allow the lake to fill to capacity. Stopping subsidence would also help. After all, they can only farm the lake bed because of taxpayer funded dams, diversions and water projects.

Gisela Wittenborn

Fair Oaks

Rehabilitation

Manson follower Leslie Van Houten should not be paroled, (sacbee.com, June 13)

Perhaps a different view of Ms. Van Houtens life should be considered.

She has spent more than two-thirds of her life behind bars, and during this time has taken advantage of academic improvements and demonstrated social improvement. She is, notably, imprisoned under the direction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Is her continued incarceration warranted? But then again, is her release into contemporary society fair? Where would she live? How would she provide for herself? Can she interact in a world completely different from the one from which she was removed?

I have no suggestion of what should be done, but I do believe that the offered choice is both unfair and unjust.

Bob Losik

Fair Oaks

Not so golden

Grass Valley residents oppose plan to reopen old gold mine, (sacbee.com, June 8)

Residents of Grass Valley are right to be concerned about the proposal for a private investor/developer to reopen the shuttered Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine. Despite assurances of the investors, the environmental impact is not going to be negligible.

As one resident already experienced, the noise will be present 24/7. Local wildlife will experience the noise more intensely. Amassing large amounts of granite at the site will involve a substantial amount of truck traffic, and the discharge water runs downstream into tributaries of the Sacramento River  our drinking water. Water is scarce up there, why dole out a precious resource to allow a private company with dubious leadership to ruin our quality of life?

Theresa Ann Lown

Sacramento

Dangerous infrastructure

Why there are so many hit and run crashes in Sacramento CA, (sacbee.com, June 15)

I am grateful for The Bees focus on the chief cause of vehicular accidents experienced by Sacramentos residents: our poorly designed arterial roadways. These legacy streets, primarily found along commercial corridors, were engineered with a singular objective: enabling swift vehicle movement. Sadly, pedestrian and cyclist safety was seldom considered.

These design flaws inevitably lead to predictable collisions and tragic fatalities. When someone is struck on these roads, it isnt an accident. Its the expected consequence of inherently dangerous infrastructure.

To improve safety, we must prioritize design changes that encourage slower, responsible driving. It is imperative that we offer more protection to vulnerable road users.

Isaac Gonzalez

Sacramento
Janie Simms Hipp testifies before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during the oversight hearing in January 2018. (Photo: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs)

The first Native American woman to serve as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will leave her position at the end of next month, according to a report in our Tribal Business News affiliate.

An announcement by the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) reported that Janie Simms Hipp (Chickasaw) will depart from her position at USDA effective July 31 to head up a new financial services organization that will fund Native farmers and ranchers.

Her planned exit, confirmed by a USDA spokesperson, was announced internally to agency staff earlier this week. The announcement comes just over two years after President Biden announced he would nominate Hipp, who was confirmed in July 2021.

In her new post, Hipp will lead a new ag-financing initiative that she started working on about four years ago when she was NAAFs top executive. She will become the inaugural president and CEO of Native Agricultural Financial Service, the first-ever Other Financing Institution within the Farm Credit System, according to the NAAF announcement.

The new fund, which NAAF contributed $12 million to, intends to expand access to hundreds of millions in lending opportunities for Native American producers. It intends to begin by participating in loans with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as an intermediary, then expand into providing credit and financial services for Native agriculture producers and Tribal governments.

Agriculture must have access to capital. That holds true no matter whether you are a large producer, a small producer, just starting out, or carrying on production that has been in your family for generations, Hipp said in a statement to USDA staff provided to Tribal Business News. While the organization I will lead into the future is focused primarily on Native farmers and ranchers, the work before us will be instructive of the new types of capital needed by all agriculture. By that I mean, capital that is flexible, committed to the producer and their community for the long haul, and able to adjust to challenges and risks in new ways.

The new fund will help fill a critical need in Indian Country, according to NAAF CEO Toni Stanger-McLaughlin.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Tribal economies, and to ensure Native producers continued success and growth, meeting their needs to finance their operations is critical, Stanger-McLaughlin said in a statement. She called Hipp an excellent choice to lead Native Agricultural Financial Services, citing her expertise and depth of experience working with Native producers.

Hipp, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, was the first Native woman to take up the mantle of general counsel for the USDA following a short nomination process from March 2021 to July 2021 under Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who she had previously worked with during the Obama administration.

I was so deeply honored to be asked to serve as one of Secretary Vilsacks Senior Advisors in the Obama-Biden Administration  and when I left, I had no idea I would be coming back. When I received the call from Secretary Vilsack to return (to) the Biden-Harris Administration, I did not hesitate. He is an amazing leader. I have been so humbled to have served as General Counsel, which was something beyond my wildest dreams, Hipp said.

She joined the department amid a flurry of other Native finance and agriculture advocates moving into federal positions, including the appointment of former Intertribal Agriculture Council executive director Zach Ducheneaux as an administrator at the Farm Service Agency.

Janie Hipp has served with distinction as General Counsel of USDA, USDA Chief of Staff Katharine Ferguson said in an emailed statement to Tribal Business News. For the past two years she has worked tirelessly to ensure USDA has had top-notch legal counsel and has been a fearless leader, an inspiration to many of us, and a stalwart champion for whats right while always thinking about the staff within (the Office of the General Counsel).

In the coming months, Hipp will be in a new, but familiar, role. As she has throughout her career, shell be marshaling resources to help Native farmers and ranchers face the ever-changing challenges their work requires.

Agriculture has many challenges before it - as it always does, Hipp said in her statement. The impacts of climate change, disruptions of and adjustments needed in the food supply chain, focusing on the needs of new and beginning farmers and ranchers, and ensuring that underserved producers have an opportunity to survive and thrive - these are issues as alive and real today as they were one hundred or two hundred years ago.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Los Angeles, CaliforniaSept. 22, 2022Kenneth Henderson makes a statement in front of the California Reparations Task Force on Sept. 22, 2022

Weve all heard about the 40 acres and a mule promised to formerly enslaved Black Americans as reparations for slavery. But the history of reparations doesnt begin, and it certainly doesnt end after the civil war. So, sit tight and let the Root walk you through the complicated history of reparations in the United States.

Black Voters Matter Launches Black Reparations Fund

Aug. 24, 2018, file photo, Black Voters Matter Fund co-founders, LaTosha Brown, left, and Cliff Albright, right, lead Mississippi grassroots partners in some empowerment cheers aboard a bus tour to Greenville, Miss.

In June, Black Voters Matter, a voting rights organization, launched their Black Reparations Fund. The fund doesnt provide cash payouts to Black Americans. Instead, the group will give grants to grassroots groups working to research and fund reparations projects.

Read more



$50 M Awarded To Descendants in Minnesota and Dakotas

Photo: Adam Hester (Getty Images)

The Bush Foundation announced that theyd committed $50 million to descendants of formerly enslaved people in Minnesota and the Dakotas. The Foundation made it very clear that this wasnt a reparations program, but that doesnt mean theyre not worth talking about in the broader reparations conversation.

California Moves Forward With Reparations

Photo: Peathegee Inc (Getty Images)

In California, the fight for reparations is underway. Last month, the states reparations task force approved a series of reparations proposals, including cash payments and homeownership grants, for the state legislature to review.

San Franciscos Reparations Plan









Photo: Klaus Vedfelt (Getty Images)

Now heres the plan everyone wants to know about. San Francisco made massive waves after city officials approved a draft proposal, which included a $5 million per person payout for qualified descendants of formerly enslaved people. Although that part of the draft plan doesnt seem super likely to be enacted, the proposal includes 100 recommendations aimed at benefiting Black San Franciscans.

The Fight for Reparations in Congress

Rep. Cori Bush

In May, Representative Cori Bush introduced a resolution to give $14 million in reparations to the descendants of formerly enslaved Africans. But shes not the only person working on Capitol Hill to bring us reparations.

Congressional Reparations Commission Bill

Photo: Kent Nishimura / Contributor (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee re-introduced legislation to form a commission to study proposals for reparations for African American descendants of slavery.



Where Did 40 Acres and a Mule Come From?

Black farmer

While weve got you. Heres a history lesson. After the civil war, union leader met with Black leaders in Savanah, Georgia. Following the meeting, General William Sherman signed Field Order 15, which decreed that roughly 400,000 acres of confiscated Confederate land be given to the Black families that had been forced to tend to it. As a part of the order, 40 acres of tillable land was to be given to each Black family. Some families were also supposed to be given mules, hence the 40 acres and a mule thing.

The First City to Enact Reparations

Photo: The Good Brigade (Getty Images)

In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago, became the first city to fund reparations. Black residents were allotted $25,000 grants towards promoting homeownership. And in March, the city voted to increase the number of uses for the $25,000 grants.

Bostons Reparations Plan

Young Black man in Boston

Boston might not be top of mind when it comes to reparations, but the city has made some pretty major strides in that department. Late last year, the Boston City Council unanimously voted to form a task force to study how to provide reparations to Black Bostonians.

Providence Funds Reparations

Photo: Dave Dill (Getty Images)

Another name you might not have been expecting in the reparations conversation is Providence, Rhode Island. In December, the city approved a $10 million budget for the citys reparations program. Although it doesnt include direct payments, it will fund a host of programs like workforce development training and homeownership funds aimed at helping the Black community.

Georgetown University Announces $400K Reparations Plan

WASHINGTON DC - OCTOBER 3 Students at Georgetown University mades signs and protested for the school to make amends for its history, with reparations funded by student fees to be directed to charities benefiting descendants of enslaved people, outside a Board of Directors meeting held on campus in Washington DC on October 3, 2019.

In 2019, George University announced that they would raise $400,000 per year to benefit descendants of the enslaved people who were sold to make a profit for the school.

The Modern Fight for Reparations

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates might not have been the first person to come up with the modern concept of reparations. But his 2014 Atlantic essay, The Case for Reparations, certainly helped push the reparations into the mainstream discourse.



Rosewood Massacre

Robie Mortin, 92, is pictured on Nov. 5, 2007 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Mortin, who was 8-years-old when her family left Rosewood, Fla.,

In 1994, Florida approved over 2 million in reparations for the survivors of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre, which decimated the Black community in Rosewood.



What Happened to Reparations Post-Civil War?

19th November 1863: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, making his famous Gettysburg Address speech at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery during the American Civil War. Original Artwork: Painting by Fletcher C Ransom

Obviously, Black families never received their 40 acres. So what gives? Well, after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President Andrew Johnson reversed Field Order 15 and gave the land to former slave owners.

Tuskegee Settlement

In this May 16, 1997, file photo, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, background, help Herman Shaw, 94, a Tuskegee Syphilis Study victim, during a news conference in Washington.

In 1974, the U.S. government agreed to pay $10 million to the victims of the Tuskegee experiment. A group of Black men were experimented upon without their consent in an incredibly inhumane study to see what happens if syphilis is left untreated.



Rep. John Conyers Brings The Fight To Congress

Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., shown in his office at the Capitol, as announced that he will challenge Rep. Carl Albert, D-Okla.m for Speaker because Albert has not taken a stand on a bid by House liberals to strip Mississippi congressmen of their seniority. Albert had been unopposed.

In 1989, Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill to create the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act.

The Black Manifesto

James Foreman, executive secretary of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, left, Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., center, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and activist-singer Harry Belafonte appear during a press conference in Atlanta on April 30, 1965.

In May of 1969, Black Americans gathered in Detroit at the National Black Economic Development Conference. At the conference Former Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee former executive director James Foreman called for reparations for slavery and for continued discrimination against Black Americans.

Henrietta Wood

Barbara Martin looks at a display about slavery in Mobile, Ala., on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.

While its hard to call giving one person restitution reparations in the modern sense, Henrietta Woods case is often included in discussions around reparations. In 1878, Wood won $2,500 in reparations from a white enslaver whod kidnapped the free woman and forced her into slavery in Kentucky decades earlier. At the time, this was the largest ever reparations payment for slavery.

Southern Homestead Act

Los Angeles, CaliforniaSept. 22, 2022Los Angeles long-time resident, Walter Foster, age 80, holds up a sign as the Reparations Task Force meets to hear public input on reparations at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2022

In 1866, there was one small attempt at something resembling reparations for formerly enslaved people. The law allowed formerly enslaved people in the south to purchase land at reasonable rates within a 6 month period. The problem was that not many formerly enslaved people were able to afford to buy property, which meant that very few of the intended beneficiaries actually benefited.



Belinda Royall

NEW YORK - AUGUST 9: Lindi Bobb, 6, attends a slavery reparations protest outside New York Life Insurance Company offices August 9, 2002 in New York City.

Before there was Henrietta Wood, there was Belinda Royall. In 1783, Royall, who was sold into slavery as a child to Isaac Royall, was awarded a pension by his estate. His estate had to pay her 15 pounds and 12 shillings.

Reparations For Other Crimes Committed By The United States

FORT SILL, OK - JUNE 22: Agroup of Japanese Americans who held in concentration camps in WWII pose with photos of themselves, during a press conference on June 22, 2019 i

The list of people directly harmed by the United States is pretty long. And in some cases the U.S. federal government has paid reparations to those groups, meaning the concept isnt inconceivable. Heres a short list of those reparations.



Japanese Internment Reparations

San Francisco, California. Exclusion Order posted at First and Front Streets directing removal of persons of Japanese ancestry from the first San Francisco section to be effected by the evacuation 4/11/1942.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which provided $1.2 billion in reparations along with an apology to 60,000 Japanese-Americans whod been interned during World War II.

Native American Reparations

OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA - July 21: The Muscogee Creek Nation District Court is seen in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on July 21, 2021.

This is another famous reparations case. In 2016, the U.S Federal government settled with 17 Native American tribes for $492 million.



Enslavers Received Reparations

Flyer announcing a slave sale, 1859, United States. (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Now heres a group that does not fit into the wronged people who received reparations category. Formerly enslaved people were never paid reparations on any meaningful scale, but one surprising group was. In parts of the country, enslavers were actually paid reparations for the people they kept enslaved.

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Her daughter struggled with addiction for years. Now Boise woman is mom on a mission | Opinion

Editors note: This is the fifth in a series about how Idaho plans to spend millions in opioid settlement funds.

Marianne Morrison is a mom on a mission.

Shes spent the past 10 years watching her daughter, Sawyer, walk down the path of drug addiction and stints in and out of jail on drug charges.

Over the years, Ive tried to contact every person I could think of how to not put people in prison for opioid use, she told me in a phone interview. Because its a sickness. Its a mental health problem. People will disagree with me, but its no different than having cancer or diabetes. Its a sickness.

Morrison, of Boise, is putting together a proposal to the Idaho Behavioral Health Council on ways to spend an estimated $218 million coming to Idaho as part of the national opioid settlement.

Shes in favor of more reentry and treatment facilities instead of incarceration. Not only is it better for people struggling with addiction, in the long run, it would actually save the state money, she argues.

Shes done the math.

The cost to house a person in prison or jail in Idaho comes out to about $75 a day, according to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, while the cost of someone in a community reentry program is about $42 a day, after the inmate contributes a portion of their wages.

With 37% of Idahos prisoners incarcerated for some sort of drug charge, Morrison calculates shifting from a prison model to a community reentry model could translate to a savings of as much as $36 million a year.

The state of Idaho could leverage the opioid settlement funds to make it happen, she said.

From her Boise home, Marianne Morrison sends a text message to her daughter who is incarcerated for possession of a controlled substance.

Opioid settlement fund

When the opioid settlement was first announced in 2021, Morrison said she was optimistic.

I thought, Oh my gosh, this is going to make a really big difference, she said. Idahos going to get this money and theyre going to be so excited that we can make a change in our state and we can use this money for treatment centers, more education, prevention, medication, rehabilitation, and it seems like, the frustrating part is, no one seems to care.

Shes been watching the Idaho Behavioral Health Council meetings and is disappointed in the groups lack of specificity in its recommendations and its lack of monitoring the settlement money as its coming into the state.

So far, only $900,000 of $12 million thats been allocated to the state has been spent. The Idaho Behavioral Health Council last year made five broad recommendations. Two of those recommendations were funded to the tune of about $400,000. The biggest chunk, though, $500,000, wasnt even recommended by the council and went to the Idaho State Police for increased drug seizures, based on Gov. Brad Littles recommendation and the Legislatures approval.

But drugs like fentanyl are cheap to produce, so a seizure will simply mean another batch coming in. And this isnt a problem we can arrest our way out of.

(Getting arrested) is like a 20-minute part of a lifelong process, she said. The police dont really have anything to do with this problem. The thing is, if we can catch it in the beginning or catch it after (the police arrest someone), or make changes after (an arrest), thats really where the money should be spent.

Sawyer Morrison, 26, who grew up in Boise in an upper middle class family, has been in and out of Idaho jails and prison for several years on various drug and other charges.

Community reentry centers

Sending people with drug use disorder to prison and then releasing them just sets them up for failure and a repeated cycle of incarceration  and cost to the taxpayer.

The cycle that Morrison has watched with her own daughter over the past 10 years tells her that the system of incarceration we have now isnt working. Morrison said they tried everything: therapy, sports, medication and nothing stuck. Morrison noted that her family was financially able to try different methods; not every family is able to afford it.

Sawyer progressed from juvenile detention to 30 days in jail, then 60 days, and when she became an adult, the drugs became more serious and so did the charges.

Shes been in and out so many times at this point, Morrison said. Its been over 10 years.

Sawyer would do a little bit of time, get released, relapse, go back to jail.

But if she had to spend three months (in prison) and then if she went to some sort of alternative or residential setting where she had to go to her meetings, take her meds, had a job, but she was supervised like in a dorm, then there may at some point be some chance that she would transition into a member of society that was possibly not a drug addict, Morrison said.

But more than that, Morrison said, she would be doing something useful.

Because literally shes sitting in a cell 24/7, so thats not helping her and its definitely not helping the community, because its costing them a ton of money, Morrison said. And then shes going to come out and just do the exact same thing. So then shes going to burden the police, the court system.

Morrison would like to see the state use opioid settlement money to build a secure dorm-like housing facility where residents could get treatment and counseling and could work during the day, rather than sit in prison or jail doing nothing.

The Idaho Behavioral Health Council recommended One-time funding for housing initiatives but did not make specific recommendations on policies or the level of spending.

The governor did recommend and the Legislature approved $750,000 of ongoing funding for the Department of Corrections transitional housing program, to provide housing for parolees during the first 60-90 days of their release.

That money is coming out of the general fund, not out of the opioid settlement funds.

Morrison is worried that the way the opioid settlement money is being distributed and monitored is a missed opportunity for the state. While $218 million may sound like a lot of money, its being paid out over nearly two decades and is scattered among the state government, all 44 counties, some cities, school districts and fire districts and all seven public health districts.

Theyve always said, We dont have money for that. Its not in the budget. That would cost millions of dollars. Well never do that, Morrison said. It always came down to thats not the way the state wants to spend their tax dollars. So okay, fine.

But these arent tax dollars. Morrison views the money as intended for the benefit of those who have become addicted.

I guess I would like them to understand this is costing the state nothing, she said. You have been given this money as a settlement from these for-profit corporations. This is not taxpayer money. This is like free money. So youre not giving them housing. Youre not giving them anything. The state has been given this money for (the benefit of those who have become addicted). And thats what you should be doing with that money.
Hong Sangsoos In Our Day, the closing night film at Cannes Directors Fortnight sidebar, has sold to Cinema Guild for North America.

Sangsoos 30th feature will release in North American theaters later this year following a North American festival premiere.

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In Our Day follows a woman in her 40s, temporarily living at the home of a friend, and a man in his 70s living alone, who both have visitors with serious questions to ask.

The deal was negotiated by Peter Kelly of Cinema Guild with Youngjoo Suh of Seoul-based sales agent Finecut. Adding to the rich tableau of his work, Hong Sangsoos In Our Day not only makes us laugh, it makes us think about what it means to be alive, said Cinema Guild President Peter Kelly. Its a gift that we hope continues and continues.

Finecut earlier this week sold In Our Day to Frances Capricci, Spains LAtalante Cinema and Ama Films for Greece. North American buyer Cinema Guild has handled two-thirds of Hongs films in the U.S. and Canada.

In Our Day is Hongs twelfth to premiere at Cannes, with the most recent being 2021s In Front of Your Face.

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House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner said Sunday that he hopes that testimony from special counsel John Durham about his recent investigation will shed light on government misconduct.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," the Ohio Republican said: "When your government's lying to you, when your government is telling you that something has happened that has not happened, that's when our committee has to be involved, and that's when we have to look at what happened here."

Durham is to provide closed-door testimony to Turner's panel Tuesday.

Durham in May released his final report into his multi-year investigation into the origin of the FBI's probe of possible links between Russia and former President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. While Durham's investigation yielded not much in the way of prosecutions (much to the chagrin of Trump supporters who hoped it might ensnare Hillary Clinton and others), Durham did find individuals and institutions to scold in his 306-page report.

Turner said what concerned him was that the government had taken material that started out as opposition research by the Clinton campaign and used it as the basis for a full-bore investigation that had political ramifications. Turner said he wanted to assure accountability in investigative processes.

"How," Turner said, "do we make certain this doesn't happen again? How do we make certain that we don't have people with a political bias entering into political campaigns and using the authority of the government to have major media and the government take actions that are not based on truth?"

As for the 37-count indictment pertaining to Trump's post-presidential handling of classified documents, Turner said he wanted to see how the legal process would play out.

"I'm certainly not going to defend the behavior that is listed in that complaint," he said. "But they're going to have to prove it. And it's a legal process that's going to have to go forward.
Take That star Howard Donald is facing a huge backlash after liking homophobic and transphobic tweets.

The singer issued an apology after being caught supporting offensive posts, which has seen him barred from a Pride concert he was due to play in Nottingham next month.

Donald, who has since unliked the posts and deleted his Twitter account, appeared to like an image advertising a Disney concert held for Pride that was posted alongside the caption: Defund Disney.

The singer also appeared to like a transphobic post reading: Only women have periods! Men cannot menstruate. Transgender women cannot menstruate.

His actions were highlighted by transgender TV star India Willoughby, who shared a screenshot of the posts he liked on Twitter.

She wrote: Deeply disappointing to see Take Thats Howard Donald liking transphobic and homophobic tweets  while playing Pride festivals. The LGBT community made that band. And no, being homophobic or transphobic is not just a different opinion.

Donald has since released a statement on Instagram calling his actions a huge error.

The full statement reads: I have made a huge error in my judgement liking social media posts that are derogatory towards the LGBTQIA+ community and for that I am deeply sorry and I know I have let everyone down.

I am really disappointed in myself and I am sorry for any hurt that I have caused by my uneducated actions I clearly have a lot to learn and its a priority for me that I do this.

The Independent has contacted Donald for additional comment.

Take That star Howard Donald is facing huge backlash (Getty Images for ELYSIAN FILM GR)

Nottingham Pride festival released their own statement after many urged organisers to take action.

After an investigation into the matter, festival bosses wrote: In light of recent events, Howard Donald will no longer be playing at our Nottingham Pride Festival on Saturday 29th July at Binks Yard.

Donald joined British band Take That in 1988. He performed alongside bandmates Gary Barlow and Mark Owen at the London premiere of new film Greatest Days, which is in cinemas now.

The jukebox musical film, which The Independent called nicely generic, follows fans of a fictional boyband who reunite after 25 years. it is based on a stage musical of the same name.
In the garden of her home in Bellingham, Washington, Marie Eaton is always able to find something she lost. "When I come out to garden, he's there," she said. "And every time I'm under one of the maples, I think, 'Oh yeah, Wayne, you're here.'"

Her brother, Wayne Dodge, was also an avid gardener with a fondness for Japanese maple trees. But in 2021 he fell down the stairs and became a quadriplegic. A few months later, the 71-year-old doctor got pneumonia.

Eaton said, "As a physician, he knew what that meant; they call pneumonia the old man's friend. And he chose that way to leave. We were devastated to lose him, but understood that choice."

Instead of being buried or cremated, Wayne had chosen a relatively new alternative: natural organic reduction, more simply known as human composting. It's a natural process that transforms the body into soil.

Some of it is spread under the Japanese maples in Marie Eaton's yard. "It's beautiful, like beautiful, beautiful mulch," she said.

After death, Wayne Dodge's body was transformed into soil. / Credit: CBS News

Tracy asked, "What do you say to people who will hear this and say, 'That just sounds a little creepy or a little strange'?"

Eaton replied, "I might invite them to think a little bit about what traditional burial involves, which is embalming a body, putting it inside a lead-lined coffin, and putting it into a concrete vault in the ground, as though we were pretending the person's not dead. That, to me, is much more creepy than this process of naturally becoming part of the soil again."

For Eaton's brother, that process happened at Recompose in Seattle, the first human composting facility in the country.

Katrina Spade, the founder and CEO, showed Tracy the space where families can hold a memorial service, as their loved one is covered with organic plant material, such as straw and woodchips. "We typically have the person's body laid here, and at the end of the ceremony we pass the person's body though the threshold vessel."

At Recompose, in Seattle, loved ones can gather for a memorial as the remains are covered with organic plant material, at the beginning of the process of natural organic reduction. / Credit: CBS News

On the other side is an array of 8-foot-long stainless steel containers, in which more natural material is added to aid in decomposition.

The process typically takes 30 to 40 days.

Spade said, "We're creating this perfect environment to facilitate that transformation into soil. Bone at that point is reduced mechanically to sort of like a sand-like substance."

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust ... / Credit: CBS News

Spade is a former architecture student who was instrumental in Washington State becoming the first in the nation to legalize human composting in 2019. Five other states (Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, New York and California) have followed, and there are now a handful of companies offering this service.

Human composting is considered an environmentally-friendly choice, a way to minimize death's carbon footprint. Today, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, most Americans choose to be cremated (59%) or buried (36%), which involves burning fossil fuels and toxic chemicals.

Tracy asked, "Do you find that the environmental footprint of this is part of what's driving some folks' decisions?"

"Yes," Spade replied. "If you've lived your whole life thinking about that and trying to make a difference environmentally, it makes sense, too, to think about your environmental impact after you die."

But the New York State Catholic Conference opposes the practice, saying it is "more appropriate for vegetable trimmings and eggshells than for human bodies."

Spade said, "I know that this is an incredibly respectful process, and for so many people it's more than that. It's deeply meaningful."

"It is like giving your body back to nature?" said Tracy.

"We truly get to be nature eventually," she replied.

Simple natural burials were standard until the Civil War, when soldiers were embalmed so that their bodies could be returned to their families. Abraham Lincoln's funeral made the process popular, and luxurious caskets became the new standard.

Human composting is one of the few innovations in death care in more than a century. So far, about 300 people have used Recompose's services, which cost about $7,000. The soil created, which fills the bed of a pickup truck, can be taken by the family, or donated to forest conservation efforts.

Marie Eaton's brother's soil was given to family and friends to sustain the trees he so loved. "Wayne is all over Seattle, planted under many, many Japanese maple trees," Eaton said.

She finds comfort in knowing that his death continues to create new life. "Every time I come outside here and see the maples, I'm reminded of this wonderful, wonderful man."



For more info:

Recompose, Seattle



Story produced by John Goodwin. Editor: Ben McCormick.

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President Joe Biden during a prior visit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 24, 2021.

President Joe Biden during a prior visit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 24, 2021.

Human rights groups are blasting the White House for rolling out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to meet with President Joe Biden and address Congress during his visit to Washington, D.C., next week.

The Indian government called the trip historic, and the White House noted that the visit will strengthen our two countries shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific.

But critics want Biden to press Modi about human rights violations in India related to the steep rise of Hindu nationalism  a political and extremist ideology that seeks to transform a secular and diverse India into an ethnoreligious Hindu state that targets minorities. Religious minorities in India are at risk of continued state-sanctioned violence and harassment if the U.S. continues to overlook Modis role in it, they say.

For almost a decade now, human rights activists and others have regularly brought to the White House  Democrats or Republicans  that Modis regime is authoritarian, its right-wing, its anti-Muslim and its anti-minority, said Suchitra Vijayan, the author of Midnights Borders: A Peoples History of Modern India.

The fact that they continue to whitewash him by giving them a platform is very worrying, she added.

Modi was banned from the U.S. in 2005, before he became prime minister, for supporting Hindu extremist groups who rioted and targeted Muslims. But this will be Modis third White House visit at least, and the second time he addresses a joint session of Congress. He first did so in 2016 under former President Barack Obama.

This will be the third official state dinner Biden has hosted. The White House previously hosted the president and first lady of South Korea for a state dinner in April and the president and first lady of France last December.

When pressed about human rights concerns in India, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the visit, adding that the president believes this is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on as it relates to human rights.

The White House did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Despite who is in the White House, the U.S. has a long history of propping up authoritarian regimes for its own personal ends.Suchitra Vijayan, author of Midnights Borders: A Peoples History of Modern India

India continues to be a powerful ally to the U.S. as the worlds most populous country and largest democracy. But inviting Modi to the White House sends a dangerous message to religious minorities across the globe, critics argued.

What happens in a country of a billion people will have global ramifications, said Vijayan.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have scheduled a private screening next week of a BBC documentary on Modi and his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots where at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Muslim. During the pogrom, Hindu mobs torched Muslim homes and businesses, killed Muslim women and children, and demolished mosques and graves. The Indian government has since blocked the documentary on social media, including Twitter.

The screening of the film provides an opportunity to demonstrate what, in practice, freedom of expression and what dissent looks like and also educate the public and remind people of the horrific acts of violence and killings against Muslims in Gujarat, said Amanda Klasing, the national director of advocacy at Amnesty International USA.

Biden is hoping to secure a package for India to buy dozens of U.S.-made armed drones worth billions of dollars in an effort to strengthen U.S.-India ties amid Chinas growing influence.

Despite who is in the White House, the U.S. has a long history of propping up authoritarian regimes for its own personal ends, said Vijayan.

Critics of Modis Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in India, including journalists and activists, have faced targeted harassment and prosecutions. The rights of religious minorities, especially Muslims, continue to deteriorate. BJP supporters and Hindu nationalist groups commit violent attacks against Muslims and government critics with impunity. At least 50 anti-Muslim hate rallies took place in the span of four months last year starting in November 2022.

In fact, a 2022 religious freedom report by the U.S. State Department recorded a rise in violence against religious minorities in India, including incidents of the government bulldozing Muslim-owned homes and shops and reports of Christians being attacked, arrested and detained by police. Christian groups said police sometimes aided crowds in disrupting their worship services, according to the report.

Biden should be listening in to his own State Department and articulating all this publicly and clearly on the record about human rights abuses, said Klasing. The failure to do that doesnt reflect well on what the strength of the relationship is. This is a crucial test.

As of 2020, about 15% of Indians are Muslim, while Christians make up between 2% and 3% of the countrys population. Last month, ethnic violence broke out in Manipur, a remote state in Indias northeast, where churches were burned down and dozens of people were killed, most of them Christians.

John Prabhudoss, the chairman of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, told HuffPost that he has been communicating with dozens of Indian pastors and that most of them are terrified for their families back in India.

Their family could be jailed or even the worst, killed. The fear is real, said Prabhudoss.

Prabhudoss, who visited India alongside lawmakers in 2002 after the Gujarat riots and saw the impact of the violence firsthand, called Modis visit unforgivable.

For the president to bring him to the White House  is shameful, said Prabhudoss. Mr. Biden, shame on you.

Related...
GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson on Sunday said the suggestion that a U.S. president could pardon themselves is unseemly as the question of whether former President Trump could be pardoned is posed to his Republican challengers in 2024.

From a legal standpoint, a constitutional standpoint, that is a question that the courts would have to resolve. Im doubtful of it. I dont think thats what the Constitution intends in giving the president the pardon power, Hutchinson said when asked about a self-pardon on ABCs This Week.

But, most importantly, it would be inappropriate, unseemly and although I can certainly see Donald Trump doing that. Thats exactly what he would intend if he got elected president. And if it was not brought to trial before then, hes likely to issue that as well, Hutchinson said.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts in connection with a DOJ indictment alleging he violated the Espionage Act and obstructed justice in keeping the documents from being returned to the government. Trump has notably not been convicted of the charges.

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has promised to pardon Trump if he wins the presidency  and fellow candidate Nikki Haley said shes inclined in favor of a pardon if Trump were to be convicted of federal charges.

Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence, who is also running for the White House in 2024, said last week that conversations about pardoning Trump are premature at this point.

Two other Republican presidential candidates, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Gov. Doug Burgum (N.D.), both dodged questions about whether theyd issue a pardon.

Trump has said he wont back down from the 2024 race amid his legal battles, though Hutchinson on Sunday said he should.

I think that he should drop out. Clearly, hes not going to, the former Arkansas governor said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Orange Countys pilot program for hospitality workers has been a success.

At the beginning of the year, the county started its ESOL for Working Adults Pilot Program to help hospitality workers strengthen their talents.

After seeing positive outcomes in student learning and employer experience, Orange County Government will expand the program to include more employers.

IMA Medical Group and Paramount Hospitality Management will now provide employees with the English language learning program onsite.

Read: Here are 9 Fathers Day deals in Orlando

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said he is excited to bring more opportunities to the International Drive community.

Early data indicates clear benefits to our workforce and employers when public and private businesses come together to remove barriers to instruction like income, transportation, and childcare, he said.

The two new organizations joined the pilot program on Monday.

They will provide space, time, support, and pay for their employees participating in the language learning coursework over the next eight weeks.

Read: Pope Francis, back to Vatican routine post-surgery, says thanks to shouts of Long live the pope!

The county will use data from these pilots to design and implement a sustainable ESOL program.

Marco Manzie, Founder & President of Paramount Hospitality Management, said he is looking forward to expanding the ESOL program.

English language proficiency is a critical tool for effective communication and personal and professional growth, Manzie said. This initiative enables our workforce to enhance their language skills and bridges the gap, fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

Read: Boosting Early Literacy: YMCA Osceola and Osceola Reads team up to launch Little Libraries for kids

IMA Medical Group Chief Executive Officer Donna Walker said this program would help their employees professional and personal development.

Aligning with our vision, we are excited about this new partnership with Orange County and UCF Global to offer free English classes to our team members, she said. By joining forces, we can enhance the English proficiency of our workforce, providing them the ability to expand their opportunities and better serve the patients in the IMA communities.

Read: Learn and be successful: Over 100 local tourism workers completed ESOL classes

Research from the pilot program in Rosen Hotels & Resorts reported an employees growth in confidence, speaking, and understanding of the English language.

While nearly half of the participants have been in the U.S. for more than eight years, 60% had not taken English classes in the past, and 50% of this group cited work schedules as a barrier to learning English.

Through a grant from Orange County, UCF Global will continue to provide English classes to help workers advance in their professional careers.









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Russian passport

Residents in Mariupol are facing threats of dismissal if they refuse to obtain Russian passports, the National Resistance Center civil defense organization reported on June 17.

Read also: Ombudsman says Putins deportation decree an attempt to intimidate in people in occupied territories

The center also said that in Enerhodar, in the Russian-occupied part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast, employees of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant are subjected to physical torture and inspections.

Moreover, only those in Melitopol who have obtained Russian citizenship for their newborns are eligible for maternal capital benefits, the center said. Meanwhile, in Myrne, residents without Russian passports are being forced to undergo fingerprinting.

Read also: Occupation authorities trying to force Russian passports on Ukrainians in occupied territories

Russian FSB officers regularly conduct searches of private residences in Enerhodar where residents refuse to obtain Russian passports.

Furthermore, the occupation administration in Russian-occupied Crimea is tightening control over the movement of people into the peninsula.

The National Resistance Center reports that Ukrainian citizens without Russian passports are required to undergo questioning using a polygraph when crossing the Chongar checkpoint at the administrative border between Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast and Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea.

Previously, it was reported that an emergency doctor in the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol had refused to hospitalize a child because they did not hold Russian citizenship.

Read also: Russian soldiers desert positions in Lysychansk, Wagner deserters flee Bakhmut with stolen equipment

The Ukrainian authorities have recommended Ukrainians living under Russian military occupation accept Russian passports if their lives or wellbeing are put in danger through refusal to accept an involuntary change in their citizenship.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Israel cabinet has approved a resolution to speed up the process of constructing buildings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Axios reported on Sunday that the resolution would limit the amount of control the prime minister and the defense minister have to approve building plans in the occupied settlements. The resolution would curb the ability of the U.S. and other countries to press the government to suspend such plans.

Building plans will only need to be approved twice at the political level, as building plans in the past decades had to receive a green light at the political level four to five times, according to Axios.

In a statement, the Palestinian minister for civilian affairs Hussein al-Sheikh said that the Palestinian Authority will boycott their Monday meeting of the Joint Israeli-Palestinian Economic Committee due to the decision.

The Palestinian leadership will study a number of other measures and decisions for implementation related to the relationship with Israel, al-Sheikh said.

The move comes as U.S. officials have warned against Israels expansion in the West Bank settlement, saying that the expansion undermines its plans to achieve a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Israel recently informed the U.S. of their plans to build thousands more housing units in the West Bank settlement.

We have long made clear our concerns about additional settlements in the West Bank, that we dont want to see actions taken that are going to make a two-state solution that much more difficult to achieve, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said during the White House press briefing.

We dont want to see steps taken that only increase the tensions and weve been very clear about that. Nothings changed about our policy, Kirby added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), having analysed the data, have identified areas of the frontline where Ukraine's defence forces are carrying out counteroffensive actions.

Source: ISW

Details: The ISW has stated that Ukrainian forces continued these actions in at least four areas on 17 June.

The Russian Ministry of Defence and other Russian sources have claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted localised ground attacks west and south of Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast.

Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, has confirmed that Ukrainian forces are continuing counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut, while Russian sources are claiming that Ukrainian forces attacked the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut.

The Russian Defence Ministry and other Russian sources have also claimed that Russian forces repelled limited Ukrainian ground attacks on the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.

The ISW has noted that the Defence Forces continued their counteroffensive operations south, southwest and southeast of Velyka Novosilka close to the administrative border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Ukrainian forces also conducted counteroffensive actions southwest and southeast of Orikhiv in the western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

In addition, Maliar has said that Ukrainian forces advanced up to two kilometres on several fronts in southern Ukraine.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 17 June:

Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive actions on at least four areas of the front.

A delegation representing seven African states met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg following a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on 16 June to propose a generalised peace plan focused on resuming international trade.

The Kremlin will likely exploit this proposal to promote Russian information operations aiming to slow Western security assistance to Ukraine and has not demonstrated any intent to meaningfully engage with any peace process.

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin continued to signal his disinterest in formally subordinating the Wagner private military company (PMC) to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The New York Times (NYT) released a report supporting ISWs prior assessment that Russian forces most likely destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.

Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, and Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted localised ground attacks west and south of Kreminna.

Russian forces and Ukrainian forces continued limited attacks in the Bakhmut area and on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.

Russian forces continued offensive operations near Vuhledar likely in response to Ukrainian territorial gains in the area on 16 June.

Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near the administrative border between western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces intensified attacks in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The Kremlin continues efforts to gradually mobilise Russias defence industrial base.

Russian officials are planning several infrastructure projects connecting occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast to occupied Crimea, likely to secure new ground lines of communication for the Russian grouping in southern Ukraine.

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San Marco Books and More is excited to announce that Former Jacksonville Sheriff and Author Nat Glover will be hosting a special event on Juneteenth, sharing his remarkable journey from a young Black man in a racist environment to becoming the first Black sheriff of a major city in the Deep South since the Reconstruction era.

Glovers struggles, achievements, and invaluable insights into the challenges facing our country today make his story an essential narrative to be heard.

The event will take place on Monday, June 19, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at San Marco Books and More, located at 1971 San Marco Blvd.

Nat Glover will be joined by Rahman Johnson, City Council Member of District 14, in this thought-provoking discussion.

Nat Glovers memoir, titled Striving for Justice: A Black Sheriff in the Deep South, published by Frederick Douglas Books (to be released on August 22, 2023), chronicles his history-making years in police reformation, his unwavering values as a leader and American citizen, and his vision for advancing the country towards hope and healing.

Proceeds from the sale of Striving for Justice will be directed to the Where They Will Shine scholarship fund, a collaboration between Glover and the Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation. The scholarship fund aims to provide educational opportunities to underprivileged students in Jacksonville.

For more information about Nat Glover and his book, please visit www.strivingforjusticebook.com/book-page.

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No one knows exactly how many people live with sickle cell disease in the U.S. beyond an estimate of 100,000, or how many people who give blood may in doing so also give a better chance for people fighting the disease who need a blood transfusion.

But a Christian-centered nonprofit focused on Black women's wellness and the American Red Cross partnered to hold a blood drive Saturday in downtown Des Moines to try to improve those chances.

Trish Robinson, 38, of Des Moines, said on stage Saturday at the Iowa Juneteenth Observance Neighbor's Day Celebration, "I wouldn't be here" without the more than 25 blood transfusions she's received in her life since she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a young child.

The disease does not exclusively affect people who are Black or African American, but about one out of every 13 Black or African American children born in the U.S. has one of the genes that can pass on the group of inherited red blood cell disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About one out of every 365 Black or African American children born in the U.S. has a combination of sickle cell trait genes that causes them to develop symptoms.

The disease disproportionately affects people who are Black in other ways as well, and that's why it made sense for the organizers of Saturday's blood drive to have it at the Juneteenth event, in the lobby of the Pappajohn Educational Center  to raise awareness and try to diversify the pool of people who donate blood.

More: 'Wellness, community, justice and God': New Des Moines nonprofit promotes Black women's health

Progress has been made on treating sickle cell disease but 'We're not quite there yet,' according to a Des Moines doctor

Dr. Nick Fustino speaks on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Des Moines about sickle cell disease. Fustino treats pediatric patients with blood disorders at UnityPoint Blank Children's Hospital. He was on the stage at the Iowa Juneteenth Observance Neighbor's Day Celebration as part of a blood drive sponsored by the local "Black Women 4 Healthy Living" nonprofit and American Red Cross. Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects Black communities, and the blood drive was an effort to diversify the pool of people who donate blood, which can help sickle cell patients. Trish Robinson, immediately right of Fustino, lives with sickle cell disease. Robinson's sister, Tina Clark, at left, with son Kadeem Duren, does not have the disease and does not carry the genes that pass it on, highlighting the invisibility of the disease from the outside. Angela Mickens, right, heads Black Women 4 Healthy Living's health coalition.

Angela Mickens, who heads the health coalition of Des Moines' "Black Women 4 Healthy Living" nonprofit, said Saturday was the first time the organization had sponsored a blood drive at a Juneteenth event in Des Moines, though it was the group's third sponsored blood drive this year.

Mickens said COVID-19, which itself disproportionately affected Black communities, exacerbated bad health outcomes for people living with sickle cell disease.

Mickens said there's also always a shortage of good blood matches for patients who have sickle cell disease.

The hemoglobin protein is abnormal in the red blood cells of someone with sickle cell disease  hemoglobin carries oxygen  and that causes the red blood cells to become hard, sticky and take the shape of a sickle.

Sickle cells die early, which leads to a shortage of red blood cells. The misshapen cells also can clog blood flow if they get stuck in small vessels meant to carry normally round red blood cells, which can cause pain and other complications such as infections, acute chest syndrome  a pneumonia-like illness  and stroke.

Dr. Nick Fustino, who treats pediatric patients with blood disorders including sickle cell disease at UnityPoint Health Blank Children's Hospital, explained that people with sickle cell disease who receive a lot of blood transfusions can develop antibodies that can lead to complications.

That makes it better for a blood recipient who has sickle cell disease to receive donated blood that has close protein matches, Fustino said.

Fustino and his partners treat about 100 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease, and he said 90% of them will need a blood transfusion by the time they become adults, though many need monthly transfusions.

He said for decades the disease was under-recognized and research into it was underfunded compared to similar diseases.

The CDC noted people with sickle cell disease "have less access to comprehensive team care than people with genetic disorders such as hemophilia and cystic fibrosis," because there have been fewer specialty clinics available for sickle cell disease and the clinics that do exist have been less likely to be networked and less widely used.

Fustino said funding has improved, but, "We're not quite there yet." There are also new drugs in the development pipeline and he said it's possible there could be a widespread curative treatment available within about 20 years  something less risky than a bone marrow transplant.

In the meantime, he said the more Black and African American people in particular who donate blood  something that's also historically been a challenge, to get enough people, he said  the better off sickle cell patients will be, because the more likely they'll be to get a good match.

As of about 1 p.m. Saturday, Mickens said 17 people had donated.

One of those donors, Rhashida Russell, said she knows people who have sickle cell disease and, "It means the world," to know others donated as well. "I'm all about helping people," Russell said.

Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Blood drive shows need for diverse donors to fight sickle cell disease
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Is it a state holiday? Here's everywhere it's recognized

This Monday is Juneteenth, which marks the third anniversary of the federal recognition of the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in Confederate states.

While President Jor Biden formally recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday, this doesnt guarantee a day of paid time off for everyone.

This year, 28 states will legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday, according to the Pew Research Center. This means state workers will have a paid day off.

By the time President Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday, almost all states had voted independently to commemorate Juneteenth as a day of observance. As compared to public holidays, in which all state employees have the day off and banks close, days of observance like Earth Day or Flag Day are recognized but not given off.

See more below about when states first recognized the holiday.

When did states commemorate Juneteenth?

Is Juneteenth a state holiday? Here's where it's officially recognized

The governors of West Virginia and Alabama have authorized Juneteenth as a state holiday through proclamation, but it will not be considered a permanent holiday unless state legislatures pass bills into law.

California allows state employees to take off on Juneteenth in lieu of receiving a personal holiday.

In Pennsylvania, employees under the governors jurisdiction can take a paid day off, and in North Carolina, employees can take floating holiday on a day of cultural, religious or personal significance, according to the Pew Research Center.

What was the first state to recognize Juneteenth?

On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed a reluctant community in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states two and a half years earlier. He pressed locals to comply with the directive.

Although Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective Jan. 1, 1863, enslavers were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, according to Cliff Robinson, founder of Juneteenth.com. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.

The first Juneteenth celebration, held in the state's capital in 1867, was led by Freedmen's Bureau. It became part of the calendar of public events by 1872, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Texas then became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980. Introduced by Houston Democrat Al Edwards, the state legislature passed the act in 1979. Governor William P. Clements, Jr. signed into law in 1980.

Explained: Gov. Ron DeSantis' feud with the College Board over AP African American Studies

Juneteenth is the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making it a U.S. federal holiday. President Abraham Lincoln first issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free in Confederate territory on Sept. 22, 1862, but the news took time to travel. June 19, 1865, is the date when word of the proclamation reached African Americans in Texas.

Celebrating history in the face of repression in schools

The national Juneteenth holiday coincided with a conservative push to limit education about race and Black history. No existing state laws explicitly prohibit the teaching about or celebrating Juneteenth in K-12 education. But laws restricting classroom content are widespread. Education Week reports 18 states have laws limiting how teachers can discuss race and racism in classrooms.

Though the holiday occurs in the summer break for the majority of school districts, some strive to provide resources or lessons for the community, such the Chicago Public School system, which tweeted out a list of Juneteenth celebrations across the city for families or the Willingboro Township school district, in New Jersey, which hosts a district-wide arts performance.

Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Is it a state holiday? What to know
A two-day Juneteenth Festival in one of North Carolinas most popular tourist towns came to an abrupt halt after gunfire put two juveniles in a hospital on the first day.

All activities planned Sunday, June 18, for the federal holiday at Ashevilles Pack Square Park were canceled via a note posted just 12 hours prior to kick off.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County said the decision was made due to a shooting that occurred on site as festivities drew to a close Saturday.

We are saddened that a day of celebration and community unity was darken by a cloud of violence. We pray for the healthy recovery of the victims, for justice to prevail, and that all community members be safe and at peace, Oralene A.G. Simmons, president of The Martin Luther King, Jr., Association of Asheville & Buncombe County said in a Facebook post.

The shooting happened just before 9 p.m. in the Court Plaza area of Pack Square Park, Asheville police said in a news release.

Officers quickly arrived on the scene and found two juveniles who were victims of gunshot wounds, officials said.

Both juveniles were transported to Mission Hospital with serious injuries. One has been released, and the other remains in critical but stable condition.

A 16-year-old was taken into custody in the area and identified as the principal offender.

The suspects identity has not been released. The teen is charged with two counts of felonious assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, officials said.

Police recovered a 9mm pistol, along with a host of physical evidence that littered the park.

Asheville is about 130 miles northwest of Charlotte.

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Pittsburgh residents came out to celebrate Juneteenth with the Grand Jubilee parade on Saturday.

This years parade was led by a drum corps. It began at Freedom Corner in the Hill District and made its way through Downtown Pittsburgh.

Being around my friends, my daughters love it. Its wonderful. Really is. Beautiful day, said Ladora Jamison from the Hill District.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. It is a combination of the words June and nineteenth because June 19th, 1865 was when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved people in Galveston Texas.

The parade started ten years ago. Organizer William Marshall said it has grown from dozens of parade-goers to thousands.

We started in 2013 when Juneteenth wasnt very popular. nobody really knew about Juneteenth. but with the city, making it a holiday. with the state making it a holiday in the federal government, making it a holiday, it became very socialized and proper, said Marshall.

This year, the Grand Marshall was Colonel James H. Harvey, one of the last surviving pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Several survivors of gun violence also took part in the parade, including Mindy Stoops who was shot in October during a funeral service on the North Side.

Im here. I made it through. God took care of me, and thats what was important that day. It couldve been a lot worse situation, said Stoops.

Juneteenth became an official holiday in the city of Pittsburgh in Aug. 2020. The celebration began on Friday and festivities will end on Monday with a fireworks show at Point State Park.

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According to official data, 17 people were killed, 13 of them by drowning and 4 from gunshot wounds received during evacuation, as a result of the Russians exploding the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Source: Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs, on Telegram

Quote: "Seventeen people were killed. Of them, thirteen due to drowning, 4 more received life-threatening gunshot wounds during the evacuation. Thirty-one people remain undiscovered."

Details: Klymenko said that the centralised water supply was partially restored to the population of Novorontsovka.

"Wherever there is still no water supply (and this is more than 167,000 consumers only in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), the delivery of drinking and industrial water is organised. In total, more than 11,000 tons of water were delivered to residents of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast," he added.

A total of 876 houses remain flooded. Among the 3,614 people evacuated from dangerous areas are 474 children and 80 people with limited mobility.

Previously: On June 17, the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that as a result of the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Russians, 16 people are known to be dead, and 31 people are considered missing.

On 11 June, Russian troops fired at a boat with civilians evacuating from the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, killing 3 people and wounding 23.

Background:

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At least 100 suspicious letters sent to Kansas leaders, KBI says as testing continues

The number of suspicious packages and letters reportedly sent to public officials across Kansas continued to rise, totaling more than 100 as of Sunday, federal authorities said.

Alarm over the mail, which contain a white powder, was initially raised Friday when the Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced more than 30 letters had been sent to Kansas lawmakers and other public officials. Kansas Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach was among the recipients.

The total more than doubled to about 70 letters on Saturday, authorities said. The KBI gave the latest figure in the triple digits Sunday afternoon.

Initial testing showed the powdery substance was likely not a biological agent such as anthrax or ricin, KBI spokeswoman Melissa Underwood said Sunday evening. But this does not mean the substance is not toxic, she added. Testing will continue.

On Friday, Tom Day, the director of Legislative Administrative Services, told lawmakers in an email that the letters first discovered had return addresses in Topeka and Kansas City.

KBI officials have said that law enforcement is collecting the letters as part of the investigation. Hazmat teams are being used as a precaution.

Currently, no injuries have been reported, but we ask everyone to remain vigilant in handling mail, Fridays KBI statement read. Media had not been notified of any injuries as of Sunday.

The Progressive Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, and the Kansas Young Democrats condemned the letters in a statement saying: Whether the powder contains an actually threatening substance or is intended as a threat and contains a benign substance, this behavior is unacceptable and is horrific.

The KBI is being assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and local police and fire departments in responding to the letters, a KBI spokesperson said.

Anyone who receives a similar letter is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME or 1-800-572-7463.
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane said on Sunday that another nuclear deal with Iran would not be in the United States national interest.

To give them another windfall of cash like we did as a result of the 2015 nuclear deal, which led to an expansion of their proxy wars in the Middle East, it doesnt make any sense. Its not in our national interest, he told Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday.

Bream asked Keane about reports that Biden administration officials may be engaging in an informal conversation regarding a new nuclear deal with Iran. She also pointed to skepticism from Wall Street Journal editors about the reported talks.

Theyre gonna fuel their proxy wars and theyre seeking domination and control in the Middle East, Keane, who was awarded a Medal of Freedom by then-President Trump, responded. Thats the windfall thats going to take place, for what? The hold in 60 percent enrichment and curtailing some activities against Syria and Iraq?

No, its not a good deal. It wasnt a good deal in 2015. Its not a good deal now, he added.

The reported discussions are infuriating some GOP members who have called on President Biden to not pursue an agreement with Iran that would provide sanctions relief without approval from Congress.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller last week rejected reports that the U.S. has reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. However, he confirmed that the U.S. had allowed Iraq to transfer $2.76 billion in backlogged gas and electricity payments to Iran.

We approved a transaction, consistent with previous transactions that have been approved, to allow Iran to access funds held in accounts in Iraq for humanitarian and other non-sanctionable transactions, Miller said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At first, you sweat.

Its the bodys first line of defense: Sweat, as it evaporates, can keep your body a critical degree or two cooler than the air around you. But a number of factors, including dehydration or tight-fitting , non-breathable clothing that traps sweat instead of letting it evaporate or intense physical activity that raises your core temperature faster than you can cool down, will defeat that defense. Another self-regulating system kicks in, and your breathing and pulse grow more rapid as your organs fight to lower your core temperature.

This is how the first signs of heat exhaustion feel  physical reactions that an increasing number of people experience every day. They are warnings that many dont take seriously, and were not just talking about individuals. As global temperatures inch upward, Florida is obviously on the vanguard of a rising threat to life and health.

Yet local, state and national officials havent done nearly enough to combat the threat heat poses, and many Floridians will pay for that with their lives. That should change.

When your internal temperature crosses a critical threshold of 104 degrees, youre in trouble. Your chances of recovery without medical intervention  by getting someplace cooler, by drinking water  start to dwindle.

The ranks of people at risk of heat-related health problems are wide and variable. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can be particularly dangerous for young children and the elderly, as well as people who are pregnant, people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, people whose jobs keep them outdoors without ready access to shade or water, and athletes whose intense activity can push their temperature into the danger zone far more quickly. Risks also vary by location, with residents in densely populated urban areas suffering more than those in the suburbs and low-income people endangered because they cant afford high electric bills.

But anyone can succumb to heat-related illness. As global temperatures inch upwards, more people will. That demands serious attention at the local, state and federal level.

Your skin is dry now, and flushed. You probably have a piercing headache and you may be feeling weak, dizzy, possibly nauseated. Your speech grows confused, your muscles are cramping and you may start to have convulsions or seizures. Inside, your body is at war with itself. Instead of slowing down, your metabolism will often speed up, pushing your temperature even higher.

The obvious place to start: Better education and warning. The National Weather Service already issues advisories in advance of anticipated spikes, as it did last week for South Florida, where it predicted feels like temperatures in the range of 105-111 degrees  clearly in the danger zone for most humans.

But those warnings might not reach those who need to hear them. Extreme heat advisories should follow the model set up for big, dangerous weather events such as hurricanes, including easy-to-decode levels of threat assessment, advisories on how and when people should protect themselves against dangerously high temperatures and other in-the-moment information that people need to make smart decisions.

Your liver, kidneys and brain start to shut down, then your blood vessels shred. You begin to hemorrhage, purple bruises blossoming across your skin. You are within minutes of becoming one of approximately 1,300 Americans who die each year of heat-related illness. With medical intervention, you may survive  but the chances of permanent brain damage or other long-term effects are significant.

For Floridians at the highest level of risk, warnings wont be enough. There must be a level of infrastructure needed to deal with high heat. The CDC has suggested several ideas worthy of public investment, including the establishment of community cooling stations for those who dont have access to air conditioning and urban forestry programs that can lower temperatures in intensely developed areas.

These are the easy solutions. Then it gets tough, because many of the needed changes fall into one of two areas.

The first: Economic support for those who cannot afford the energy required to stay cool. State and federal governments should consider subsidizing power costs for low-income households that kick in during hot months. But they should also investigate the potential of lower-cost solutions such as evaporative air conditioning units (also known as swamp coolers). These predate refrigerant-based air conditioning systems and require so little energy that many can be operated through USB connections.

The other required step: Restrictions on employers who might otherwise keep their workers in high-heat conditions with inadequate access to shade or water. This will cause Floridas two biggest industries  agriculture and tourism  to scream bloody murder. Those protests should be viewed in this light: Would anyone dare to argue that companies had the right to force workers to cut ferns or sell theme-park balloons in the middle of a hurricane?

Some might still debate the causes of global warming. But its impact is undeniable. Most years, extreme heat already claims more lives than hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding and mudslides combined, and its only getting worse. Our leaders must come to grips with the need to take heat seriously, as the major health threat that it is, or more will die. And Florida will be among the first to bear the grim toll of that failure.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
London  King Charles III on Saturday took part in the first Trooping the Colour of his reign, a centuries-old ceremony that honors the official birthday of the British sovereign.

The 260-year-old tradition marks the birthday of a reigning monarch, the technical head of the British Armed Forces. It's different than 74-year-old Charles' own birthday, which is Nov. 14.

Spectacle was the order of the day as thousands of loyal subjects joined Charles in a series of colorful tributes.

King Charles III during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London. June 17, 2023. / Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

For the first time in more than three decades, Charles revived a royal tradition by riding on horseback during the ceremony, flanked by royal colonels: his son, Prince William, his youngest brother, Prince Edward, and his sister, Princess Anne.

It was a poignant event, the first trooping ceremony for someone other than the late Queen Elizabeth II in seven decades.

In 2022, Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee  marking 70 years on the throne  was one of the largest Trooping ceremonies in recent memory. It would be the last time she would inspect the hundreds of horses and soldiers as they perform battlefield drills to military music, an annual hallmark of Britain's hard power.

As part of the ceremony, senior members of the royal family gather together on the Buckingham Palace balcony for what is known as the fly past, which this year was an impressive display of aerial might.

However, there were a few notable absences, including Charles' brother, Prince Andrew, and his son, Prince Harry, and Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, who are no longer senior working royals. Charles' coronation last month also came with no formal roles for Andrew or Harry.



The Trooping ceremony has not always gone as smoothly as it did Saturday. In 1981, Elizabeth was shot at from a distance. However, that did not stop her from riding on horseback at the event for another five years.

She only opted to ride in a carriage instead beginning in 1987, after her beloved horse, Burmese, a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, retired.

During the final rehearsal for Charles' Trooping ceremony --- because of the unusually high temperatures --- at least three guardsmen, dressed in their heavy tunics and bearskin hats, fainted from the heat.

But on Saturday, the weather cooperated and the event went smoothly.



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(Bloomberg) -- Kuwait formed its fifth government in less than a year, naming new oil and defense ministers, as the OPEC member tries to break out of a protracted political impasse that has stalled fiscal reform and development.

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Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Sabah, the eldest son of Kuwaits ailing ruler, heads the line-up, which includes Saad Al-Barrak as the countrys eighth oil minister in as many years. Al-Barrak, a former chief executive of Zain known for turning the Kuwaiti telecoms company into a global giant, has in the past been critical of government bureaucracy. He was also named state minister for economic and investment affairs.

Manaf Al-Hajeri, the fifth finance minister since 2020, was reappointed and heads up Kuwait Investment Authority, which manages the countrys sovereign wealth fund thats valued at more than $700 billion.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, a leading member of the ruling family, was named defense minister, filling a post thats been vacant for about nine months.

Read more: Kuwaits Election Makeover Promises Reset After Years of Feuding

A former president of the Olympic Council of Asia and a former minister, Sheikh Ahmad was sidelined by senior ruling family members more than 10 years ago following a dispute and remained out of the cabinet until now. He had been among senior Al-Sabahs who have jostled for power in the oil-rich Gulf nation, and his return marks a change in alliances in both the family and Kuwaiti politics.

The frequent turn-over in cabinets has given successive ministers little opportunity to push through reform and bring stability, with the cycle of disruption delaying economic diversification and deterring foreign investment. It has also fueled Kuwaiti sentiment that their country is lacking direction.

The new government is not so new, it follows the same old manual, said Bader Al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University. But its the PMs boldest government so far.

The latest cabinet has the highest number of ruling family ministers in years, and highest number of deputy prime ministers ever, as well as the comeback of an ambitious ruling family member even when his legal battles abroad are allegedly not over, Al-Saif said.

The country earlier this month held parliamentary elections for the third time in less than three years. Opposition lawmakers with ties to the prime minister now dominate the new National Assembly. This could help pave the way for smoother relations between the government, whose members are appointed by the ruling family, and elected legislators.

(Adds analyst and context in 7th and 8th paragraphs.)

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From Chinatown to Westlake, some living in downtown L.A., such as Guatemalan native Miguel Angel, have been reflecting on the 42 migrants brought in a bus from Texas last Wednesday. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times en Espanol)

A month and a half ago, Miguel Angel got off a bus in Los Angeles. He had been detained in an immigration center since January, after Border Patrol officers caught him and the four other people he was traveling with in the Sonoran Desert.

When Miguel Angel was released from the center in late April, he said he was moved around various cities in Arizona and Central California, before he was given a bus ticket for L.A.

Getting here was a surprise. I thought I would have been deported, said Miguel Angel, who is living in a shelter downtown and whom The Times is identifying only by his first name because of his undocumented status. I just got here  and I already found a job, so Im happy. I already cashed my check and sent a part to my family.

On Wednesday, a bus of 42 migrants sent from Texas arrived in downtown Los Angeles. Some of those aboard were from Guatemala, Miguel Angel's home country. Others came from Venezuela, Honduras and China. Couples and families spent 23 hours on a foodless journey that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said would provide much needed relief to Texas border communities.

Miguel Angel said he struggled to understand why the 42 migrants were bused to L.A. However, he said he was glad that other migrants had made their way to Los Angeles, which recently advanced a "sanctuary city" ordinance.

Its important that other people can have opportunities and stay here, Miguel Angel said. Back in our country, the situation is very precarious. Everyone knows it. People even die while coming here. Some drop dead in the desert, others are kidnapped in Mexico, others are mistreated by the coyotes. Many things happen until you get here.

Last Wednesday, migrants were taken to St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church after being driven on a bus from Texas and dropped off at Los Angeles Union Station. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times en Espanol)

Many Latino Angelenos have been paying close attention to the clash over immigration policy that pits California against conservative states. Since last year, Abbott and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida have bused or flown thousands of migrants to liberal cities across the country. Republican officials say the actions were necessitated by the failures of Biden administration border policies. But Democrats and activists say they are political stunts and have raised alarm over a potential lack of informed consent from some of the transported migrants.

Its sad, said Guatemalan street food vendor Roselia Guarchaj, who was making tortillas in a corner stand on MacArthur Park. Because some people were thinking something else. Its not fair.

Read more: Want to help migrants and refugees in L.A. and California? Here are organizations you can support

Although little still is known about what the 42 migrants understood about their sponsor or their final destination when they boarded the bus, they all carried phone numbers of people they knew in California, said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, director of communications for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. The phone numbers allowed organizers to reunite the migrants with their families and friends in San Diego, San Francisco and the L.A. area by their second night in the state, he said.

We dont exactly know [if they wanted to come] or not. Nobody has told us that they dont want to be here yet, Cabrera said. What were trying to investigate is when and where they have their court appointments to decide if they should stay here or go somewhere else, or if we can change the locality of their case.

Olvera Street vendor Mayra Garcia said she heard about the news of the latest bus of migrants Thursday morning while she was getting ready for work. She expressed sympathy toward the migrants, who she said came here for a better life.

Mayra Garcia, 35, of Montebello works at Memo's Place at the Placita Olvera. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times en Espanol)

All the states should be working together. I dont know how things are in Texas, but Ive heard theres a lot of racism towards Hispanic people, and I think [Abbott] should have accepted part of the people there instead of just saying, Im going to wash my hands, get on the bus and let other people deal with them,' Garcia said. What I am grateful for is that the other states havent said they dont want migrants there, and that theyre accepting and helping them, which is also whats happening in California.

Although she thinks that Texas and Florida were not handling their immigration crises properly, Hortencia Galvan also sees a contradiction in the quick actions that government officials have taken to support the bused migrants. In her view, undocumented workers who already are living in the city deserve the same level of attention and support from local officials.

We all need the same opportunities, said Galvan, who lives a block from the church where the migrants were received on the first night. I work at a restaurant and theres many people who don't have papers. I see that many of them have spent 20 to 30 years here and they cant fix them.

Guatemala native Virgilia, who requested to be referred to by only her first name because she has an upcoming appointment regarding the status of her visa, said she thought that the 42 migrants finding transport to L.A. was a miracle."

"Thats what Im telling people. Its a blessing.

After hearing about the bused migrants, Notary Lesly Chavez said she decided to donate clothes she'd collected for other causes to the new arrivals. On Thursday, she drove to the Chinatown church where many of the migrants had spent the previous night. By the time she got there, though, they had all left.

Notary Public Lesly Chavez brought donations for the migrants. She usually collects clothes for people on Skid Row and orphanages in Mexico, often with donations from her clients. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times en Espanol)

Westlake resident Mary Diaz said she felt that the city had plenty of space to spare so long as the migrants were "good people."

What happened in Miami was ugly because they got migrants out of there who didnt know where they were going to be sent, Diaz said. Does it affect us? I dont think so, the sun shines for everyone.

Cabrera said that Angelenos had responded to the situation "in a beautiful way," extending welcomes and donation offers to the migrants.

As an immigrant, I feel the pain of our community. Theyre brothers and sisters that come looking for a better future, that look for a place that welcomes them, Cabrera said. Texas doesnt want them, so we need to act humanely and treat these people with respect and dignity. I think Los Angeles demonstrated that drama and scandal arent necessary to be able to help people who need it.

Read more: 'All we received was abandonment': Migrants sent to Sacramento by DeSantis speak out

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
New law protects endangered animals from cruel and illegal ivory trading: Today is a good day for conservation

The U.K. just took a strong stance against the wildlife trade by expanding the Ivory Act of 2018, which banned the trade of elephant ivory but did not protect other ivory-bearing species like hippos and walruses.

Now, the ban will extend to five more animals: hippopotamuses, orcas, narwhals, sperm whales, and walruses. With the updated law, anyone importing, exporting, or dealing ivory from one of these species could receive unlimited fines or be jailed for five years.

Ivory is used to make trinkets, musical instruments, and jewelry and has traditionally been an ingredient in some Chinese medicine. It can be found on the teeth of animals like elephants, hippos, and walruses.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, at least 20,000 African elephants are slaughtered each year for their tusks. The hippopotamus is considered the second most at-risk species.

But poaching isnt the only threat to wildlife. Many scientists have stated that we are entering a sixth mass extinction as we continue to wipe out more and more animals from the planet, mostly due to habitat destruction and climate change.

A recent study that analyzed more than 71,000 species around the globe found that 48% are declining in population.

Frances Goodrum, head of campaigns and programs at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) U.K., applauded the move to expand the ivory act, telling the BBC, Today is a good day for conservation and a step change towards international commitments to safeguard our natural world.

This is an important step towards ending the demand for, and trade in, all ivory products, Frankie Osuch, policy support officer for the U.K.-based non-profit Born Free, said in a statement on the organizations website. The teeth and tusks of wild animals should not be simply treated as commodities, and it is essential for legislation to reflect that.

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Letters to the Editor: How is fraudulently busing migrants from Texas to L.A. not kidnapping?

Blankets are brought to St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church, where migrants bused from Texas to Los Angeles were being cared for Wednesday. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

To the editor: The fraudulent transportation of migrants to states outside Florida and Texas is a crime. It is the crime of kidnapping. ("L.A. organizers support busing migrants, just not the way Texas Gov. Abbott wants," June 15)

Section 207(d) of the California Penal Code provides that if a person is taken in another state by fraud and transported to California, the person who committed that fraud is guilty of the crime of kidnapping.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are telling migrants they are going to a place that will provide housing, food, shelter and jobs. These statements are fraudulent.

This is such inhumanity and criminal conduct that these people deserve to be prosecuted.

Lawrence Silver, Marina del Rey

..

To the editor: Our city and our state are sanctuaries for the poor folks of the world, even when we do not or cannot take care of our own. We are a democratic state and appear to support what our president is doing.

Common sense and a devotion to duty should make our leaders accept without complaining the buses of migrants arriving here. They should be grateful to border areas that have been shouldering our national responsibilities for years.

The public here provides taxpayers dollars. Community organizations and businesses donate their time and resources and offer solace to those less fortunate.

Los Angeles is a city known worldwide for its sunny skies and welcoming atmosphere. Let us work to keep it that way. We can do this job.

Jean Solomon, Los Angeles

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Scoop

Progressive media activists, rattled by the collapse of a generation of youth-oriented digital news outlets like Vice and BuzzFeed News, are pushing wealthy Democrats to invest in for-profit media companies and social media influencers.

Thats the conclusion of an 85-page report, obtained by Semafor and subsequently published online, prepared for a gathering of progressive leaders in Washington, D.C. last month.

The report calls for diverting a share of the investment thats going into exclusively cause-funded nonprofits towards sponsored content and into direct investment in hybrid and for-profit enterprises with large audiences.

Likewise, rather than continuing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on TV ads, we believe that there is more long-term value for nonprofit investors  ranging from civic media focused philanthropies to mission-driven SuperPAC investors  in diverting a share of that investment into sponsoring topical reporting in a for-profit, or simply in buying some of the stations on which they are now advertising, the report says.

Titled Analysis of the Changing U.S. News Media Landscape and Strategies Toward Delivering Civic Value, the report also suggested backing social media influencers and networks of non-traditional journalists who reach audiences not served by mainstream news outlets. And it recommended creating or backing hybrid non-profit/for-profit newsrooms, and buying unwanted or run-down local television networks that still generate revenue and serve as vital resources for local community news and bulwarks against local gossip on sites like Nextdoor.

Know More

The report and private forums with liberal philanthropic big-wigs were the brainchild of Arkadi Gerney, a longtime Democratic operative and communicator. In an interview with Semafor, he said he hoped the paper could also be used by center- and left-leaning philanthropists and investors hoping to push back against conservative media dominance in local television and radio in places where local media had collapsed.

Gerney enlisted a series of co-authors, including Tim Hogan, Sen. Amy Klobuchars former 2020 presidential campaign communications director, and Sarah Knight, the former director of Soros Open Society Foundations democracy and media initiatives. They also sought input from Allison Rockey, the former Vox executive editor and vice president, and Elizabeth Spiers, founder of The Insurrection, a political consulting firm specializing in polling and digital strategy.

Editorials barely exist, the half-life is shorter on op-eds, the audiences are smaller for cable news, Gerney said of the changing media landscape. Its many things happening at the same time, and its made it more challenging.

He continued: This is not about nostalgia for the past and trying to bring back the exact old ecosystem that we had. There are things that the old ecosystem was doing that were attractive. So what is a new way to achieve that thing?

Max's view

The report and the meeting are part of a push by liberal activists to rethink their approach to influencing politics through the media on a local level.

Over the past several years, liberal groups and individuals have experimented with a number of new initiatives to reach news deserts and fight right-leaning local news behemoths like Sinclair.

Accelerate Change, which is backed by Soross Open Society Foundations, scooped up NowThis earlier this year. According to one person with knowledge of the companys plan, the organization will use the platform in a more explicitly activist form.

Democratic operative Tara McGowan sunk millions into Metas advertising network during the 2022 midterm elections to boost Courier Newsroom, a network of local news sites that Wired dubbed the antidote to bad information from the right.

Hogan, one of the reports authors, is the executive editor of Heartland Signal, a new regional digital newsroom linked to the progressive radio station WCPT 820AM in Chicago. The newsroom has paired aggressive, left-leaning local reporting with progressive AM radio.

One unconventional theme of the report is that progressives should challenge conservative dominance in local television and talk radio, which goes unmatched on the left.

The report also argued that just backing meaningful print journalism or National Public Radio programming (both of which get a lot of support from left-leaning and philanthropic backers) doesnt lead to coverage that finds its way to non-liberal audiences in a substantial way.

Saving progressive media may be a tough sell. But Soross Open Society Foundations have already embarked on something like the strategy detailed in the report. Along with NowThis, theyve invested in media ranging from the now-bankrupt Vice to a group of Spanish-language radio stations.

Room for Disagreement: Many Democrats love to quibble with stories in the New York Times and the other great American independent news outlets. But ultimately, those outlets remain the primary media voices for American liberalism, and represent the very thing that Republican alternative media has always rallied around. The American right and left have never been mirror images of each other. Theyre different sorts of coalitions, with different histories and strategies, as Ben wrote in the New York Times in 2020.

Notable
The little airline that could: How Midway Airlines saved Chicagos Southwest Side airport

During this vacation travel season, a couple of million passengers can be expected to pass through Midway Airport, that wouldnt be there if it wasnt for the aeronautical equivalent of the Little Engine That Could.

In the 1960s and 70s, following the completion of OHare International Airport in the 1950s, Midway was headed for extinction before it was saved by the now nearly forgotten Midway Airlines. The company employed a daring formula: secondhand aircraft; discounted fares, like $99 one-way weekend specials to New York; and a CEO who spoke like a salty old tar.

Our capacity is so small," Irving Tague said in 1980, when Midway initiated flights to New York, we wont constitute more than the proverbial wart on an elephants behind.

Investors were shy of backing him and his partners, and Midway was a tenuous operation out of the starting gate.

None of us is wealthy, Tague said when postponing the carriers first flights. We have spent $1 million of our time and money. And sooner or later we will have to go to work to pay the bills.

But the money was found, providing pilot William Curry an experience he wouldnt have had flying for a major carrier. For Curry, a retired first officer and captain with Midway, hand-me-down aircraft had what he considered an unlikely virtue: not everything worked consistently.

Curry loved flying, and large, commercial aircraft are largely flown by autopilot systems. Those didnt always work so well on Midways fleet.

In the 80s, we were flying aircraft built in the 60s, the captain would push the Autopilot button, and it would pop back out, Curry recalled. Id say, Ill fly it by hand, Captain. 

Alone in the cockpit, Curry would realize his childhood dream of steering an airplane into the wild blue yonder.

Considering Midway Airports lack of curb appeal, its understandable that investors werent eager to risk their money on a startup based there. On Aug. 28, 1961, a Tribune reporter painted a word picture of a ghost town. Empty seats and spick-and-span tables in the snack shops. No lines at the check-in counters, and few flights either coming or going.

Were running an old ladies home, a flight controller in Midways tower told the Tribune for that story.

He and his colleagues once handled up to 150 takeoffs and landings an hour. They now were grateful for even a small private machine to enter their control area, the Tribune wrote.

The airports decline had a contagious effect on neighbors.

The nearby motels, hotels, restaurants, bars, service stations and parking lots are suffering loss of business, too. Proprietors are singing the economic blues, the Tribune reported. Many who worked for airlines or service groups at Midway are being transferred to OHare field and their families are talking about moving north, too.

In the 1950s, Midway was the busiest airport in the United States. Aircraft then had propellers. But as they sprouted jets, Midway paid the price of its geometry. Built on Chicagos street grid, its runways were limited to a milelong square, or about 6,500 ft.

Airlines with jet-propelled craft needed the longer runways at OHare, which triggered an exodus from Midway. In 1970, Mayor Richard J. Daley summoned airline presidents and, as the Tribune reported, bluntly informed them that Midway, a $90 million facility, was being neglected.

In 1978, when Midway serviced only two daily Delta Air Lines St. Louis flights, the Tribune headlined Tagues proposal for remaking the Southwest Side airfield: Midway Airport may find new life as bargain basement. 

Tague and his partners were betting that the Civil Aviation Board would bail out Midway Airport by getting Midway Airlines off the ground. Capitalism assumes that progress requires competition, and the CAB was getting heat from Congress, as the Tribune reported, for refusing to allow any new airlines into the market since just after World War II.

The CAB in 1978 approved Midway Airlines offer to take up the slack and operate out of Midway. Geography and OHares success  for many years it was the worlds busiest airport  favored the Southwest Side airports revitalization. It was closer to downtown Chicago than OHare, in addition to being easier to navigate. Midway Airlines extended an invitation with an ad headlined: Go Midway and Kiss OHare goodbye.

In addition to the swipe at OHare, the airline touted its low prices with a motto aimed at United Airlines, one of the Northwest Side airports major tenants: Fly the wholesale skies.

It had promotional tie-ins with Mid America Federal Savings and Avenue Bank & Loan. If they deposited $2,500, travelers could get two tickets from Midway for the price of one.

But some of its budget promotions backfired. Penny Day in 1980 offered flights to Cleveland for 37 cents and Kansas City for 45 cents. People who didnt get to Midway quickly enough wound up fighting mad.

It was supposed to be first-come, first-served, said Ottis Gaines, who hoped to take his seven children to Detroit. But the way they ran it was first animal in line.

Midway grew from three DC-9 airplanes to 26 by 1984, thanks to employees who worked like kin. Family members dont have to be asked to do chores; parents set an example for children.

It is not unusual to see mechanics helping ramp attendants, and flight attendants get off the plane to help at the gate, Midways President Gordon Linkon told the Tribune in 1981.

The article said that Midway pilots have been known to walk their planes picking up discarded trash between flights. I pick up trash myself when I walk through the terminal, Linkon said.

If I brought a part to an airplane and another landed, Id scoot over there and help unload the luggage, Mike Carlson, a South Sider who was hired as a stock clerk in the parts storeroom and moved up through the ranks, said in an interview. He married a flight attendant. Such matches were common, many made in a greasy spoon across the street from the airport. The Midway Airlines hangout was dubbed Club Taupe, from the color of the flight attendants uniforms.

Once Carlson and his wife arrived late for an employees Christmas party. The tables were filled, and they were leaving when a woman said, Im the wife of the chairman. I will find you seats.

When an airplane needed a replacement part in another city, Carlson would phone around to find one nearby. He said that once he was sent to California to purchase a McDonnell Douglas airplane. What did he know about buying an airplane with 107-foot wingspan and a $40 million price tag?

I learned fast, he said.

Midway Airlines success precipitated its downfall. Other carriers mimicked its cut-rate model, offering discount tickets. Midway was still expanding, adding cities to its schedules, even as war in the Middle East pushed up the cost of fuel. In 1990, Midway lost $139 million.

It declared bankruptcy in March 1991, and acquisition by another carrier seemed the only way out of its death spiral. Northwest Airlines was lined up as a buyer, and Carlson was assigned to stealthily inventory the parts storeroom. Northwest Airlines wanted to know what it would get for its money, he said.

The deal with Northwest fell through, as Dawn Raetz discovered when she saw another gate attendant burst into tears. Outbound passengers on Nov. 13, 1991, were told in midair they had to find another way home. Ticketholders who showed up at Midway Airport found computers being removed and employees packing up their belongings.

Carlson recalled the final flight of three Midway airplanes over the airport. One turned off, performing the missing man salute to a fallen comrade. Fight crews, mechanics and office workers gathered on runways to watch Midways last rites.

To this day, many alums cherish Midway memories, much as does Capt. Curry, the pilot who disliked autopilots.

It was, he said, the land at the end of the rainbow, unicorns included.

Thanks to Capt. William D. Curry, of Greensboro, North Carolina, for suggesting this Vintage story.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
Jeremiahs Italian Ice, the Italian ice and Gelati shop that encourages everyone to live life to the coolest, will open its doors in Jacksonvilles Miramar San Marco community on June 20 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The new location has brought new life to the site of a 1950s gas station in the historic San Marco neighborhood. The original features like the garage doors have been preserved for the business to create a welcoming community gathering space.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Italian ice and gelati shop brings over 30 career opportunities to the local job market where employees serve up delicious treats.

Jeremiahs will also be hosting a Grand Opening celebration the weekend of June 24-25. From 11am-11pm each day, the community can stop by for free samples, half-price small and medium items, lawn games, photos with Mr. Gilati and more. Families are encouraged to attend.

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Additionally, the first 100 guests to arrive on Saturday, June 24, will win FREE gelati for a year.

We are excited to bring our tasty treats to this historic San Marco location. This marks our 2nd store and the 7th Jeremiahs Italian Ice location in Northeast Florida. From our signature Gelati to Soft ice cream and Italian ice, we have a lot to offer the frozen treat lovers in the area. We cant wait to serve everyone, said Christopher Harvey.

About Jeremiahs Italian Ice.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
The upturned political scene in Ottawa County could be catching, experts have said  and it's possible Livingston County is the second stop on a roadmap far-right fundamentalist group Ottawa Impact started drawing in 2021.

What (they've) done and are doing here is a blueprint for counties across America, Rev. Matt Trewhella recently told the Ottawa County GOP.

The pastor  from Brookfield, Wisconsin  created an anti-abortion militia in the 1990s and called the murder of abortion providers "justifiable homicide." He's compared coronavirus pandemic-related mask mandates to the Holocaust.

More recently, he's been active in promoting the idea of resistance to civil authorities based on the ideas of John Calvin and the Magdeburg Confession of 1550, which called on Protestant pastors to resist political tyranny.

That idea might be gaining traction in other conservative strongholds across the state  and both supporters and opponents are organizing.

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meets Tuesday, May 23, to consider becoming a "constitutional county."

'Constitutional'

As early as 2020, majority conservative counties in Michigan began adopting resolutions declaring themselves "constitutional counties," in which local sheriffs are viewed as the highest authority and aren't beholden to state or federal law enforcement.

More than 50 of the state's 83 counties, including Livingston and Ottawa, have adopted resolutions to declare themselves second amendment sanctuary counties or to reaffirm their support for constitutional rights.

The movement was born from unsubstantiated claims promoted by former president Donald Trump that the 2020 election results weren't legitimate. Now, in 2023, counties like Ottawa and Livingston are passing resolutions in reaction to recently passed gun safety laws created by a Democrat-controlled Michigan Legislature.

More: Ottawa County becomes 'constitutional county' after 6 hours of divided public input

More: Livingston declared 'constitutional county' in Second Amendment reaffirmation

Although such resolutions are symbolic and have no legal basis, they establish county officials' mindsets when it comes to enforcing and funding measures passed by a higher legislative body.

(They) do not have the ability to declare a law of the state of Michigan to be unconstitutional, Michael McDaniel, a Western Michigan University-Thomas M. Cooley Law School Professor told WOOD TV-8.

McDaniel said the bottom line is the U.S. has a constitution, the state has a constitution and the county board has a charter. Each is meant to guarantee the others stay in their own lanes.

Livingston County GOP Chairperson Jennifer Smith reviews an exhibit in the Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Extremist Groups

The Southern Poverty Law Center released a report this month labeling several "parents' rights" groups as extremist, including one with ties to the Livingston County GOP and another that almost saw a formal alliance with a school district in Ottawa County.

Moms for Liberty and the other organizations are being designated as anti-government extremist groups" based on longstanding criteria, SPLC Intelligence Project Director Susan Corke told USA TODAY.

Jennifer Smith, who heads the Livingston County Chapter of Moms for Liberty, was elected chair of the Livingston County GOP in December to serve through 2023.

More: Moms for Liberty, with foothold in Livingston County, named 'extremist group'

More: 'Parents' rights' groups with ties to Ottawa Impact labeled extremist in new report

Meanwhile, Allendale Public Schools nearly severed its affiliation with the Michigan Association of School Boards in favor of joining the National School Boards Leadership Council, sponsored by the parents' rights group Moms for America, which also made the SPLC's "extremist" list.

The Allendale Board of Education took some board members and parents by surprise when its new Ottawa Impact-linked majority fired its longtime law firm in January in favor of a group personally tied to Ottawa Impact's founder, Joe Moss.

Ottawa Impact is itself considered an extremist group by many Ottawa County residents, although some feel the organization is reflecting values long lost.

Moss, now the chair of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, and self-described "parents' rights advocate" Sylvia Rhodea, now the vice chair, created the group after clashes with the county and its COVID-19 mitigation mandates in 2020 and 2021.

More: Allendale Schools walks back plan to join National School Board Leadership Council

OI-backed school board member Liz Ramey, who put forward the vote to exit MASB in favor of the NSBLC on Jan. 9, later apologized to the community on Feb. 15 for rushing the move.

I understand theres definitely some things that were pretty rushed and not necessarily intended to be rushed, she said. It was intended to be part of the organizational meeting. I also do appreciate the vote of the board to postpone things, because there were certainly things that came to light that were not known prior to."

Those things included dozens of parents making public comments at the board's meetings and work sessions about NSBLC's stance that special education students are a drain on public education resources and should be separated from the general student population.

The board ultimately decided to continue with the MASB.

Wes Nakagiri of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners attends a second amendment rally in Fowlerville on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Public Communications

The most recent comparison between Livingston County and Ottawa County lies in the way commissioners seek to control public communications.

Livingston County Commissioner Wes Nakagiri, who is often outspoken on conservative issues and was once a leader of the Livingston County Tea Party, has previously made comments in support of Ottawa Impact.

This week, he championed a resolution passed by the county board declaring county-appointed entities cannot promote private events or activities outside the scope of the their mission. The resolution draft came directly after the promotion of local Pride Month events in a county-sponsored newsletter.

Meanwhile, in Ottawa County, the OI-led board recently approved additional spending to create a centralized communications director position and has issued guidance to county department leaders that media inquiries and press releases must be approved by the administrator's office prior to being distributed.

A handful of residents spoke during public comment to share concerns about the new position, saying it's a move to control information and stifle communications after several critiques from OI-affiliated commissioners toward the Ottawa County Department of Public Health.

Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss signed a memorandum of understanding with the local LGBTQ nonprofit Out on the Lakeshore as "vi coactus," or "under duress" on Friday, May 19, 2023.

LGBTQ Community

Conservatives in both counties have focused heavily on their LGBTQ constituents.

This week in Livingston County's Hartland Consolidated Schools District, the board narrowly passed a policy change restricting what signs, posters and flags can be displayed in the district's buildings  effectively banning Pride displays.

The move drew backlash from parents claiming the conservative faction of the school board is attempting to "micromanage our LGBTQ youth completely out of sight in our schools."

In Ottawa County, similar themes are appearing, after Ottawa Impact commissioners repeatedly questioned if it was appropriate to ask county teens about their sexual health habits and orientation.

Moss also refused to approve long-promised grant funds to the Ottawa County LGBTQ nonprofit Out on the Lakeshore, as well as a nonprofit focused on a Black doula program for pregnant women.

On May 19, Moss "signed" the forms "vi coactus," Latin for "compelled by force" or "having been compelled," rather than his legal name (three days later, he re-signed them with his actual signature).

Kim Nagy speaks with attendees of the West Coast Chamber of Commerce's candidate forum Monday, June 20, 2022, at Boatwerks in Holland.

Opposition

As the parallels in conservative groups between the two counties emerge, two opposition groups have partnered to combat what they call Republican "extremism."

In April, Ottawa Integrity PAC announced a partnership with recently formed Livingston Integrity PAC. The groups have signed a memorandum of understanding, according to a joint news release, aligning their missions and agreeing to operate "under the same principles of integrity."

Ottawa Integrity became a rallying point for community members amid a wave of backlash following the actions of Ottawa Impact.

That inspired Livingston County's Julie Ohashi and Cori Charbonneau, who founded the grassroots group Hartland Truth, to join forces.

"We connected with Ottawa Integrity because they have been facing the same issues," Ohashi wrote in the joint statement with Ottawa Integrity. "We wanted to utilize their expertise in being received by moderate voters, who share a concern about where our local politics are headed.

"We need to reach out to those not necessarily aligned on all the political issues, but who want to see consensus in government in a way that works for the people, not for political ideology and culture wars."

 Sarah Leach is executive editor of The Holland Sentinel and The Livingston Daily. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter@SentinelLeach.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Is Livingston County following the roadmap Ottawa Impact created?
Local brewery teams up with Patagonia, new restaurant opens, and Bellingham events

Heres a roundup of the latest retail, business and restaurant activity in and around Whatcom County:

Local brewery teams up with Patagonia

Aslan Brewing Company has teamed up with Patagonia Provisions, the outdoor clothing companys food division to make a new beer.

The Kernza Lager will be released June 27, and have a have a launch party on July 1 that includes a walk through Whatcom Falls and live music, BBQ and beer at the Depot.

The Aslan Depot is open from 3-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and is at 1322 N. State St. in Bellingham.

MOD Pizza adding second Bellingham location

MOD Pizza is bringing another pizza restaurant location to Bellingham in Sehome Village, according to the companys website. The new restaurant does not have an opening date, but will be at 330 36th St. near REI and Dollar Tree.

Juneteenth holiday on Monday, June 19

As Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States is this Monday, there are a few local events in Bellingham celebrating the holiday.

Check out The Bellingham Heralds Juneteenth event guide which includes a community picnic and party in Boulevard Park.

New restaurant comes to Bellis Fair mall

Natalinos Pizza, a pizza restaurant based in British Columbia opened a second location in the Bellis Fair mall food court on Friday, June 17.

The restaurant specializes in Roman-style pizza and pizza crust that is easy to digest and low in fat.

The restaurant and Bellis Fair mall is at 1 Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham and is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Dirty Dan for sale, new restaurant opens

The Dirty Dan Harris steakhouse in Bellingham has been listed for sale by its owner, as the owner has recently opened a new ramen restaurant in the area.

The new restaurant, Ramen and Bowl, serves dishes such as miso ramen, chicken teriyaki, short ribs, edamame, gyoza and shrimp tempura.

It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5-8:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, and from 3-8 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant is at 105 E Chestnut St. in Bellingham.

Bellingham June events

Dont miss out on some of the fun events in Bellingham this month! Check out our June event guide to keep up with the latest local happenings.
Heres a look at Floridas new immigration law that takes effect in two weeks

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a legislative package on immigration that will begin to take effect on July 1st. The legislation, SB1718 targets undocumented immigrants in the state, and is meant to discourage immigration into Florida. The Miami Herald found the law has created a climate of fear among undocumented workers in the state, as well as among employers.

Here are the main aspects of the new law:

 People are barred from driving if their driver license is issued by another state that provides them to undocumented immigrants.

 It will be more difficult for nonresident undocumented immigrants to apply for Florida driver licenses.

 It will be a third-degree felony for an unauthorized immigrant to knowingly use a false identification document, or to fraudulently use an identification document of another person, to obtain employment.

 People in the custody of a law enforcement agency and subject to an immigration detainer will have to submit a DNA sample.

 Hospitals that accept Medicaid will be required to include a question on registration forms asking about a patients immigration status. Hospitals must submit quarterly reports to the states healthcare agency.

 The new law facilitates cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies.

 Private employers with 25 or more workers must use E-Verify, a federal website that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of employees to work in the U.S. Beginning in July 2024, employers who do not comply with the E-Verify system can be penalized.

 Beginning in 2028, the law will not allow unauthorized immigrants to be admitted to the Florida Bar.

Miami Herald staff writer Omar Rodriguez Ortiz contributed to this story.

This story was produced with financial support from the Esserman Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.






Looking for places to worship in Amarillo? Here are local churches and their services

Editor's note: Events are subject to change, and contacting your church ahead of time is recommended. Churches may send updates to worship services, schedules or protocols, as well as any upcoming vacation Bible school schedules, via email to kwood@lubbockonline.com. Listings are sorted below by newest information.

 Amazing Grace Amarillo (Lutheran Church - WELS) - Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. at 8700 Clinton Glenn Dr. Amarillo, TX 79119. We just moved! We also offer children's Bible school at 9:15 a.m. along with our teen/adult Bible study on Sundays. You can stream our services at AmazingGraceAmarillo.com and join us for Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Message our pastor at pastorhans@amazinggraceamarillo.com .

 First Church of Christ, Scientist Amarillo  2701 Julian Blvd. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School meets at the same time for children and teens. This week's subject: "Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved By Atomic Force": "The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory" (Psalm 84:11). Our weekly testimonial meetings on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. are a wonderful opportunity for inspiration and fellowship. For more information see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/First-Church-of-Christ-Scientist-Amarillo-104483494978237 or our website at https://www.cschurchamarillo.com/ .

 The Loft Church  4400 S. Georgia. Services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

 Power Church  New service times: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (bilingual). Also Wednesdays at 7 p.m. When the sanctuary reaches capacity, we will overflow into the fellowship room and youth room where the service will be streamed.

 Sandell Drive In Theater, Clarendon  Sunday service at 10 a.m. Add in a beautiful Sunday drive out to Clarendon and experience church.

 Accelerate Church, 4400 S Crockett, and Accelerate North Campus, 1300 E Central.

 Triumphant Truth Church, 1701 S Manhattan St.

 Central Church of ChristJoin us on Sundays for class at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. Youll find us in person at 1401 S. Madison St. and online at www.amarillocentral.org.

 Paramount Baptist Church  3801 S. Western St. in Amarillo. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. with worship at 10:15 a.m. We also have a Spanish speaking service at 10:15 a.m. Visit www.paramount.org for more information. Everyone is welcome!

 St. Luke Presbyterian Church  3001 Bell St. Visit the churchs website at stlukeamarillo.com for a link to the bulletin and live streaming videos. In-person and live streaming service on Sundays at 11 a.m. Member of PCUSA. All are welcome.

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  2101 N. Coulter St.

 "The Cross" in Groom, Texas  Information: Cross Ministry  Jason Eugea, 806-248-9006.

 Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship  4109 Cornell St. Please join us at the Fellowship this Sunday at 11 a.m. Our services are in-person and also live-streamed on our YouTube and Facebook pages. Children's programming is available during the service. We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every person and are an Open & Affirming congregation. For more information about AUUF, see our website at uuamarillo.org.

 Redeemer Presbyterian Church  7603 77th Ave. "This branch of Christs Church in the Panhandle seeks to be faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission." Sunday school at 9:30 am, followed by worship service at 10:30 and evening worship service at 5 p.m. We offer live streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHc6sCADFHQ6xD91jMxktfQ. Please visit our website at http://redeemeramarillo.com/ for more information. We are located at 7603 - 77th Ave., near Coulter and Arden Road, Amarillo.

 Pleasant Valley Methodist Church  316 Valley Ave. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday worship service. Visit with us in person at 10 a.m.; Sunday School is at 9 a.m. At Pleasant Valley Methodist, we have multiple ways for you to connect with our community of faith. From Bible class Wednesday at 5 p.m. to food cupboard, AISD ministry and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If youd like more information, go to Pleasant Valley Methodist Church (Amarillo) on Facebook, or call (806) 383-3342. Mail us: info@yourpvumc.org .

 Olsen Park Church of Christ  invites you to visit our worship services and Bible studies at 4700 Andrews Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106, Sunday: 9 a.m. (short service), 9:30 a.m. (Bible class), 10:30 a.m. (worship); Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class). For more information, go to www.olsenpark.com and Olsen Park Church of Christ on Facebook, or call 806-352-2809. Subscribe to our weekly Bible study podcast, Faithful Sayings Podcast, on Apple Podcasts or your favorite provider.

 Second Baptist Church  419 N. Buchanan St. Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for worship followed by Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. For more information please visit sbcama.org or call the church at 806-373-1737. Also, our sermons are broadcast on KAMR channel 4 every Sunday morning at 8 a.m.

 Life.Church Amarillo  Services in the new building, located on the northwest corner of I-27 and Hollywood Road, are held at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Life.Church is made up of people from different backgrounds linked together by a common mission: leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The services begin with high-energy worship and feature biblical teaching from Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel. Children (birth-6th grade) learn through age-appropriate LifeKids curriculum created by Life.Church while adult volunteers lead discussions and care for each child. For more, see www.life.church/amarillo.

 South Georgia Baptist Church  5209 S. Georgia St. You're invited to join us each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for small group Bible study and at 10:30 a.m. for our morning worship service. Our 10:30 a.m. service streams live at sgbc.co/watch. Visit sgbc.co for more information.

 Bell Avenue Church of Christ Amarillo  1600 Bell St. For more information, please contact the Bell Avenue Church of Christ at 806-355-2351 or visit our website, www.bellavenue.org .

 Pathpoint Fellowship Church, 6215 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, 79110, 806-463-7284.

 Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church, 1801 N. Hughes St. For more info, please call 806 373 2576.

 Bible Believers Baptist Church, 12,200 W Rockwell Rd. Services at 10 a.m.; Bible Study at 11 a.m. Preaching and Worship at 7 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., prayer meeting and Bible Study. On Friday at 7 p.m., Youth Night. Look for us on KZBZ 10.2 or cable channel 6 Bible Says Broadcast Sundays at 10 a.m. and 940 AM Radio at 9 a.m. Services streamed on our website biblebelieversbaptist.com . Call 806-499-3231 for more information.

 Polk Street United Methodist Church  Please worship with us in person at 8:30 and 10:55 a.m. in our historic Sanctuary at 1401 S. Polk St., or worship online with us at 10:55 a.m. at psumc.com or on our Facebook page. At Polk Street, we have multiple ways for you to connect with our community of faith. From Bible studies and small groups to exercise classes and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If youd like more information, please visit psumc.com and either email us or complete a contact form.

 Grace Communion International (GCI Amarillo), 1400 Wolflin (Covenant Presbyterian)  Saturdays 2:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Fellowship Group gathering for worship music, prayer, devotional readings and seasonal messages. Multi-generational service. New participants and all ages welcome. Refreshments following and simple potluck on the 1st Saturdays. For information and schedule confirmation (806) 473-8753 or (806) 340-4704.

 Westminster Presbyterian Church  In-person and live streaming service on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. available to watch from the churchs website at wpcama.com, click on Sermons. Childcare and youth activities are available. Children and youth are welcome to stay in the service as well. Church is located at 2525 Wimberly Road.

 Coulter Road Baptist Church  4108 S. Coulter St. Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. and worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship is streamed on our website, www.coulterbc.com. Contact info: 806-352-5278.

 Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Amarillo  worship/communion service is at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. The service also will be available on the churchs website on Sunday evenings at https://www.beautifulsavioramarillo.org.videos.

 Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amarillo  1400 Wolflin Ave. We invite you to join us for worship where we praise God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - every Sunday at 10 a.m. We have Sunday School for adults at 9 a.m., prior to worship. Our goal is to rejoice before the Lord as we begin a new week, to support one another in prayer and care; we also challenge one another to live as children of God in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit leads us to share our prayers and resources with mission groups in Amarillo, Egypt, Belize and Ukraine. Each month we also collect supplies to share with groups in town that reach out to others. If you would like more information, you can call the church office at 806-376-5244. Our pastor is also available for pastoral care. All glory to God!

 Trinity Fellowship  Family Worship and Prophetic Nights: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at every campus (no childcare available). At Hollywood Road, if we reach capacity in the West Auditorium at the 9 a.m. service, we use the worship to the Worship Center, which will be our overflow room. For details of the Sunday happenings at your campus, visit TFC.org/Sundays. Church Online at 9 and 11 a.m. on all viewing platforms. Family Worship & Prophetic Nights will be available on all digital platforms during the Wednesday night service time.

 Anna Street Church of Christ  2310 Anna St., across from Olsen Park Elementary. Sunday: 9:45 a.m.  classes; 10:30 a.m.  Morning Worship. Wednesday: 6:45 p.m.  Song Practice; 7:35 p.m.  Evening Teaching. Please check us out on Facebook, or stay current with our preaching series through YouTube. You can visit http://www.annastreetchurch.org/ for more information.

 Southwest Church of Christ  Come see us Sunday for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and for Worship at 10:30 a.m. A list of current classes can be found on our website: www.southwest.org.

 First Baptist Church  Gathering at 12th and Tyler. On campus Sunday morning worship service times are 8:30 and 11 a.m., with Bible study for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Sunday evening worship meets at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary.

 Bell Avenue Church of Christ  Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30 a.m., with classes immediately following; and Sunday evening worship begins at 5 p.m. In addition, the Wednesday night devotional and classes begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

 Bible Believers Baptist Church  Sunday school at 10 a.m.; preaching at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study at 7 p.m. Visitation and Soul Winning: Saturday at 10 a.m. Nursery provided for all services. Minister, Glen A. Stocker.

 Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church  Morning and evening worship services. Welcome all members and guests to come in person, but will continue streaming both services via YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYV3TNTeWd1278byaIzgNIQ .

 Church of Christ at the Colonies  Sunday morning Bible classes for all ages begins at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday morning worship service begins at 10:30 a.m.; and Wednesday evening Bible study at 6:30 p.m. The coffee connection will be open between 10:10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m for members and visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends. Online streaming of Sunday morning service on YouTube or at thecolonies.org and worship is still broadcast in the parking lot on FM 95.1.

 Hillside Christian Churches  more information about service times for specific campuses can be found at www.hillsideonline.com. Childrens programming is available at all Texas campuses.

 Arden Road Baptist Church  Sunday School, children's ministries and nurseries. Service times: Sundays, 9:30 a.m., Sunday school, 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

 Messiahs House  6901 Bell St. Sunday morning worship 10 a.m., sermon and Kids Klub 11 a.m. Livestream: connect@MH.church. Wednesday evenings small groups and classes for babies through high school 6:30 to 8 p.m. First Wednesday of the month is Presence Night (worship only) with classes kindergarten through high school.

 First Christian Church  3001 Wolflin Ave. Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m. All are invited to attend. Those who cannot attend the Sunday worship service are invited to participate online as follows: FCC Facebook page: facebook.com/FirstChristianAmarillo , FCC YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCkyDAlGKrx82S5qCbiBlS_g

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo faith calendar for June 18, 2023
Alana Edgin is a business reporter for the Avalanche-Journal, as seen Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Hello A-J readers!

This was a planning week, as the summer article projects are getting lined up. Over the week, we saw a new farmers market emerge in New Home, the return of a party series at Velvet Taco, and the expansion of healthcare from Oceans Behavioral Hospital.

The New Home Community Farmer's Market finally kicked off their season on Saturday, after struggling to find vendors in early June. The market offered some cool finds, and hopes to give back to their community's volunteer fire department throughout the summer.

"As our community grows, we end up with a major need for that service," said Kendra Sappenfield Martin, organizer for the market. "We also want to make sure that they are equipped to do that in a way that's healthy and safe."

Velvet Taco, 2401 Glenna Goodacre Blvd., brought back their Party on the Patio series, which will have local musicians, giveaways and plenty of specials.

More: Lubbock's Velvet Taco announces summer party series with giveaways, specials

Oceans Behavioral Hospital, 4202 Princeton St., announced their Intensive Outpatient Program for people ages 18 years old and older.

For individuals who require dedicated care but desire flexible scheduling, our Intensive Outpatient Program is an ideal treatment option," said Marybeth Moran, administrator of Oceans Behavioral Hospital Lubbock.

More: Oceans Behavioral Hospital in Lubbock offers new program for ages 18 and older

On Friday, several of my A-J colleagues checked out Ringtail Ranch Lemur Rescue, a local lemur rescue that offers a walk on the wild side, with the added bonus of helping animals. Stay tuned for the details next week.

Another upcoming article will show off a taste of Tokio (yes, that is the spelling for this Texas community), which hosts Williams Ranch Vineyard. Annie Rice and I plan to see what WRV has to offer, and their upcoming plans.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting the A-J.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock's business news includes New Home, mental health
Back in the days of the neighborhood pharmacy, little Ma and Pa pharmacies dotted the map in Sioux Falls. One such place was Mills Pharmacy, at 1509 E. 10th St.

Mills Pharmacy was the second baby of Tom and Marie Mills, the first being Ken.

Tom Mills was born Aug. 21, 1921 in Tiffin, Ohio. He grew up in Normal, Illinois, and graduated from University High School in 1939. From there, he entered the pharmacy program at South Dakota State College, which would later become SDSU. He left school in 1942 to serve in World War II. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Brookings to continue his studies and met Marie LaCraft, who was also pursuing a pharmacy degree. Both graduated in 1947, at which point Tom took a job at Haggar Drug in Watertown.

On Aug. 30, 1947, Tom and Marie were married in Huron, where Marie was born and raised. In 1950, the young family, newcomer Ken included, moved to Sioux Falls, where Tom honed his craft in local pharmacies until he could launch his own concern.

Tom and Ron in 1962.

On Nov. 11, 1952, Tom and Marie held the grand opening of Mills Pharmacy in the new shopping center on the south side of 10th Street, between Wayland and Blauvelt Avenues. As this new shopping center was unnamed, the grand opening festivities included a contest to choose a name for it.

The Mills Pharmacy was stocked with all of the usual drug store items in demand the time  makeup, jewelry, toiletries, a camera department, veterinary supplies, baby needs, and a year-round toy department (bring the tots, and the parents will follow), and a soda fountain. Free prescription delivery was available from the beginning. Prescriptions would come with a butterscotch or peppermint candy in the bag. Just a little treat to sweeten the transaction.

The winning entry for the naming contest was announced on Nov. 8. Mrs. Georgia Krohn won a television for her suggestion to name the shopping center for Moneer Assam, the son of Hamad, whose grocery was across the street. Moneer was a promising young man who died when an army transport plane, in which he was a passenger, crashed in 1944 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The shopping center was named Moneer Heights, and for a time, that part of 10th Street was referred to as Moneer Heights.

More: This Argus Leader contest once offered newspaper carriers trips around the world: Looking back

Meanwhile, Ron Park, who graduated from SDSC in 1950, was making his way in the pharmaceutical space as well. Fresh out of school, he took a job at Dunning Drug, where he sharpened his pharmaceutical skills for a year before buying Valley Drug in Valley Springs. In the five years that followed, he learned the business of running a drug store. In September of 1956, he returned to Sioux Falls and bought into Mills Pharmacy, partnering with the Mills. In 1959, the store was renamed Mills-Park Drug, and it became a Rexall franchise.

Mills-Park Drug hired Cliff Van Hove in 1962, just as a new location was planned in the McGreevy Clinic, just south of the McKennan Hospital campus. Cliff would spearhead this new business, which was to be named the Mills-Park Prescription Shop. The Prescription Shop opened Jan. 2, 1963. In June 1965, a similar shop opened in a medical building near Sioux Valley Hospital. It was called the Mills-Park Medicine Chest. This venture was short-lived and ended up being abandoned by November of the same year.

In 1973, Tom and Ron sold the Prescription Shop to Cliff, who renamed it the Van Hove Prescription Shop. Ron Park bought out Toms half of the business and renamed it Ron Park Drug. Tom and Marie opened a new shopping center, called Valli-Hi Plaza, at 900-904 E. 41st St. The first tenant announced was Valli-Hi Drug, run by Tom and Marie. The new plaza didnt do well, and Valli-Hi Drug closed in 1977. Tom then took a job as pharmacist and assistant store manager at Lewis Drug.

More: Crawford's brought 'topmost in quality' men's wear to Sioux Falls for decades: Looking back

Ron kept Ron Park Drug going until 1995, when he sold the business to Lewis Drug. Ron wasnt retiring, though. He would take a job at Lewis, and would bring one of the pieces of ma and pa drugstores with him; Lewis would add a piece of candy to prescriptions.

These days, Ma and Pa drugstores have a hard time succeeding in this town. Stores like Lewis, Hy-Vee, and Walgreens have more buying power and are able to provide lower prices and greater convenience. Something is lost with the passing of the family-owned drug store, and we are poorer for it.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Ma and Pa drug stores struggled in Sioux Falls. Mills Pharmacy was no different: Looking Back
Man is accused of living with the dead body of a relative for days without reporting it, authorities say

A 61-year-old Alabama man was arrested after failing to report that hed been living for days with a dead relative in his home, investigators said.

Deputies with the Walker County Sheriffs Office responded on June 9 to a house in the small town of Sipsey, located 32 miles northwest of Birmingham, following a report of a family member found dead, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Leandrew Smith Jr. was charged with abuse of a corpse and was taken to the county jail, where he remained on a $10,000 cash-only bond, according to authorities.

Leandrew Smith Jr. - Walker County Sheriff's Office

They discovered Smith had been living there without alerting authorities that his relative had died, according to the post.

Walker County Jail authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.

It is not clear whether Smith has legal representation or how many days the person had been dead in the home.

Treating a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities is a Class C felony, the sheriffs offices Facebook post said.

Investigators are looking into the cause and manner of the persons death, according to the post.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Man chased intruders away, but they returned, Ohio cops say. He was armed and ready

An Ohio man faced off against two accused burglars and shot one of them after they kicked his front door open, Columbus police told news outlets.

The incident happened before midnight on June 17, in Columbus Milo-Grogan neighborhood, police told WBNS.

Two armed men, both 24 years old, showed up at the 26-year-old victims home, and he confronted them at the front door, the station reported. He ordered the men to leave, but they continued to threaten him so he ran back into the home.

The men forced their way inside and attacked the 26-year-old, WCMH reported. During the assault, one of the suspects unknowingly dropped their gun, giving the victim an opportunity to retrieve his own firearm.

Now armed, the victim forced the men to leave. But moments later, they tried to get back inside and kicked the front door open, at which point the victim fired a shot, hitting one of the men in the hip, police told WCMH.

The wounded man was taken to a hospital in stable condition, outlets reported.

Both intruders are facing charges of aggravated burglary, court records show.

Man shoots his own leg while dreaming about intruder, Illinois cops say. Hes charged

Wounded 60-year-old returns fire at accused car burglars, killing one, Texas cops say

Child calls 911 after mom is shot in chest during fight over loud music, Texas cops say

Strangers move in, make 79-year-old a prisoner in his own home, Texas officials say
A man was killed after two semi-trucks crashed into one another in Indiana Saturday afternoon.

>> TRENDING: Car hits, kills man, injures child in Clermont Co.

The Indiana State Police, Pendleton District was dispatched to Interstate 69 near the Pipe Creek Rest Area at around 5:16 p.m. on reports of a crash, a spokesperson from the department stated.

The responding state trooper found a heavily damaged red Freightliner semi tractor-trailer rear ended another that was stopped in traffic.

Darrell Charles Kositzke, 65, of Michigan, was identified as the driver of the heavily damaged semi tractor-trailer.

Initially he was found entrapped inside the wreckage, remaining unconscious and unresponsive, the spokesperson informed. However, once emergency crews were able to extricate the person, they determined Kositzke suffered life-threatening injuries and succumbed to them.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Delaware County Coroner.

The driver of the standstill semi tractor-trailer suffered minor injuries, but was still transported to IU Ball Memorial Hospital.

Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists investigated the scene and found that the standstill semi tractor-trailer stopped due to a backup caused by construction. It was then rear ended by Kositzke because he was believed to be distracted at the time of the crash, the spokesperson said.

Northbound lanes of Interstate 69 were closed and traffic was re-routed in the northbound rest area while the crash was investigated and the wreckage removed.

The Indiana State Police, Pendleton District led the ongoing investigation into the crash. The Alexandria Fire Department, Gaston Fire Department, Gaston EMS, Delaware County EMA, Delaware County Sheriffs Department and Northwest Towing assisted with the incident.
Man steps on Petal landmine hidden in grass in Kharkiv Oblast and has his toes torn off

A 52-year-old man in the Kharkiv district suffered an injury after stepping on a mine hidden in the grass on 18 June.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast

Details: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine noted that the resident of the liberated village of Tokarivka in the Derhachi hromada (an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.) stepped on a PFM-1 Petal land mine, which was placed in the tall grass.

The toes of his right foot were torn off in the explosion; he is in the hospital.

Rescuers ask people not to ignore the mine danger, especially in the liberated territories.

The authorities ask Ukrainians to refrain from visiting forests, fields, reservoirs and other open spaces.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in an interview that the countrys recent string of book bans is castrating children.

Schools and library systems across the country have been mounted by pressure from parents and conservative lawmakers to ban books that contain certain themes, including LGBTQ and African American history and literature.

In an interview on MSNBC, host Jen Psaki asked Moore for his thoughts on the recent book bans some have implemented.

I continue hearing people making the argument that were doing it because we want to we want to prevent our students from having discomfort or guilt, Moore told Psaki. Because we dont want our students to be able to really wrestle with these really difficult things in times when they are maturing as individuals and difficult historical points. But the thing I realized and I wanted to speak out about is thats actually not true. Its a guise.

Its not about making kids feel uncomfortable. Its about telling other kids that they shouldnt understand their own power, Moore added. Its castrating them.

Moores remarks come a month after a Miami-Dade County elementary school banned the poem that American poet Amanda Gorman recited during President Bidens inauguration in 2021, issuing restrictions on Gormans poem and three other books after a parent objected to them, claiming that the titles included topics that were inappropriate for students and should be removed.

Florida has been at the epicenter of educational controversies as its state legislature, along with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), has pushed legislation to limit material and curriculum taught in schools. In January, DeSantiss administration rejected an Advanced Placement African American Studies course, saying the content significantly lacks educational value.

The NAACP issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, saying the state has become hostile to Black Americans under DeSantiss leadership.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix following Saturdays rain-hit qualifying session in Montreal.

Verstappen has won five of the opening seven rounds and even a wet-dry-wet track in Montreal could not slow the Dutchman down.

Nico Hulkenberg took advantage of the sodden track to take second spot for Haas, 1.2 seconds behind Verstappen, with Aston Martins Fernando Alonso third.

MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE IN CANADA!  It's a 25th career pole for the Dutchman  Another job well done for the championship leader #CanadianGP #F1 @redbullracing @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/M0m0I7XROg  Formula 1 (@F1) June 17, 2023

Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth, one spot ahead of George Russell in the other Mercedes, while Lando Norris claimed seventh for McLaren.

However, Hulkenberg was later penalised three places for a red-flag infringement. The sanction lifted Alonso, Hamilton and Russell into second, third and fourth respectively on the grid for Sundays race.

Verstappen has been in a class of one this year and the Red Bull man kept his composure in changeable conditions to take an impressive pole.

Verstappen was quickest out of the marks in Q3 before Oscar Piastris shunt on the exit of the second corner led to a red flag.

The session was delayed for eight minutes and  with the intensity of the rain increasing  no one would threaten Verstappens time.

Max Verstappen kept his composure in changeable conditions to take an impressive pole (Christinne Muschi/AP)

In the wet, you have to stay on top of the conditions, said Verstappen, who will match Ayrton Sennas tally of 41 victories if he wins on Sunday.

It was super-slippery out there, but we made the right calls at the right times and I am very happy to be on pole.

I like driving in the wet  I come from Holland  so we are use to driving in the wet. Maybe it is dry tomorrow, and it will be different, but we have a good race car.

Hamilton had briefly held third spot, but the seven-time world champion was usurped by Hulkenberg just as the red flag arrived for Piastris collision with the wall.

It was a wild qualifying session, said Hulkenberg. The first row is nice, it is very sweet, so let us see how long we can keep it up there tomorrow.

It will be dry tomorrow, a different cup of tea, but I will try my best.

Hamilton finished runner-up to Verstappen in Spain a fortnight ago, and the British driver is hopeful he can take second spot again on Sunday.

Max will most likely be gone, but if I can hold on to Alonso and give him hell that is what I will do, he said.

It was a good result and I think most people underestimate how hard it was out there for everybody. It was tricky to keep it on track and deliver when the time counts.

Ferraris Charles Leclerc was knocked out in Q2 (Graham Hughes/AP)

Sergio Perezs string of poor races continued after he was eliminated in Q2 and starts Sundays round from 12th place.

Perez, who trails team-mate Verstappen by 53 points, started last in Monaco after he crashed out of qualifying and then was only 11th on the grid last time out in Spain.

Here, the Mexican again begins a race outside of the top 10 after he failed to get a clean lap together and faces losing even further ground to Verstappen.

On an afternoon of surprise results, Charles Leclerc was also knocked out in Q2. The Monegasque, who, too, performed badly in Barcelona  qualifying 19th and taking the chequered flag in 11th  was denied an early switch by Ferrari to dry rubber.

When the brief changeover to slicks arrived, Leclerc could not do enough to progress to Q3, yelling in frustration over the radio.

Three in a row poles for Max, 5th pole position of the season! Quali result  Max P1! , HUL, ALO, HAM, RUS, OCO, NOR, SAI, PIA, ALB. Checo P12. #F1 pic.twitter.com/z8k2ieV6Hh  Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 17, 2023

The tyres are not ready, he said. Come on!

Earlier, qualifying was red-flagged after a handful of minutes when Zhou Guanyu temporally broke down in his Alfa Romeo.

The Chinese driver managed to get going again, limping back to the pits, with the session restarted after a seven-minute suspension.

Zhou was able to continue in Q1, but he finished 20th and last.
GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy discussed home-invasion burglaries allegedly committed by Chilean crime rings before attending a political fundraiser Friday in Orange County. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A camouflage-clad mannequin sat on a table where Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with officials about recent home invasions in Orange County.

The prop was meant to draw attention to claims that Chileans entering the United States through a loophole in the immigration system are donning specialized suits that resemble foliage, hiding near homes and breaking in  typically from a second-story balcony  before making off with cash, jewelry and other high-value goods.

"Theres no consequences for these people when they get caught, McCarthy said during a news conference Friday at the Orange County district attorney's office, where he was joined by several Republican members of Congress from Southern California.

It was a rare public appearance for McCarthy in California but outside of his Bakersfield-based district. And it demonstrated that with Republicans' narrow control of Congress in jeopardy next year, the partys leaders are emphasizing border control and public safety as they try to appeal to affluent suburbanites in traditional conservative strongholds like Orange County that have grown more moderate and are critical to their path to victory.

Appearing alongside McCarthy were GOP Reps. Michelle Steel of Seal Beach, Young Kim of Anaheim Hills and Ken Calvert of Corona, all of whom face competitive races in 2024 to hang on to Southern California swing seats that will help determine control of Congress.

Read more: Democrats' plan to take control of Congress could depend on Southern California

While polling shows economic concerns are paramount in voters minds in California and across the nation, messaging about crime and immigration helped GOP candidates win competitive congressional districts during the 2022 midterm election and increased support among some liberal-leaning voter blocs  notably Asian Americans  in former President Trumps unsuccessful reelection bid two years earlier.

Such messaging could be especially effective in traditionally Republican regions that voted for Democratic presidential candidates when Trump was the GOP nominee, said David Wasserman, a congressional forecaster for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which rates nine of the California's 52 congressional districts as competitive in the 2024 election, the most of any state in the nation.

"It's a strategic overture to swing suburban voters, especially women, who might personally dislike Trump but could be open to voting for a Republican on other issues issues including illegal immigration and crime," he said. Republicans "know they need to hold these seats to hold the House."

The event highlighting Orange County home invasions took place hours before McCarthy headlined a high-dollar fundraiser focused on protecting vulnerable California members of Congress, including Steel and Calvert. Donors contributed up to $100,000 to attend the gathering at the exclusive Pacific Club in Newport Beach, which was closed to news media.

In front of the cameras, McCarthy focused on a niche issue that has attracted bipartisan concern and allowed him to highlight immigration and crime: the problems Orange County prosecutors are encountering with a visa-waiver program that allows people from participating countries to travel to the United States for 90 days or fewer without obtaining a visa.

Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said the Chilean government has refused to provide criminal histories of their citizens who are entering the country under the program, making it difficult to prosecute members of the alleged crime ring he blamed for recent home invasions. McCarthy threatened to block money for the visa waiver program unless the Biden administration bars Chileans from entering the country through the visa program without a background check.

Though concerns about the Chilean visa situation have drawn concerns from Democrats as well as Republicans, fears about immigrants and crime have long been central to GOP campaigns across the nation, often successfully. Years of polling show voters view Republicans as being more stringent on justice issues. But polling in California also shows that voters are not as focused on these issues as their counterparts in other parts of the country.

While crime was among the top five priorities mentioned by Californians in a Public Policy Institute of California survey released this month, it was far behind the economy, homelessness and housing.

Still, crime fears play particularly well in Orange County.

Read more: In one of Orange County's safest cities, voters still think about crime. So do Republican campaigns

During last years race for district attorney, incumbent Spitzer branded himself early on in his campaign as a law-and-order candidate. His messaging, which included the slogan #NoLAinOC, focused on punishing criminals to prevent Orange County from becoming like Los Angeles. He pummeled his progressive challenger in the primary and avoided a November runoff. Spitzer alerted McCarthy to the home-invasion robberies tied to Chilean crime rings and appeared alongside the members of Congress on Friday.

Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, said public safety was a big issue starting in the late 1960s because violent crime rates had doubled. Since then, crime has reached historic lows, though there have been upticks in certain categories, which is why such arguments are more dependent on "individual horror stories rather than overall trends."

The same holds true for immigration, added Pitney, who was a Republican for decades until Trump's election in 2016. An influx expected by a recent border policy change never materialized, but pictures of undocumented people crossing the border still resonate with voters.

"It takes time for perception to catch up to the data," Pitney said. "People are in the suburbs because they are afraid of the cities. I say that as a suburbanite. Orange County and surrounding areas tend to be pretty conservative on these issues despite their votes in recent presidential elections."

Part of this messaging is aimed at Asian Americans, a fast-growing voter bloc that could tilt races in California, especially in critical Orange County swing seats.

The county's prosecutors have started charging some defendants arrested in the home burglaries with hate crimes for allegedly targeting wealthy Asians. Such sentencing enhancements can lead to longer prison terms. Spitzer called the move an aggressive legal theory that he hopes will get legislators attention.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, a UC Riverside political science professor who studies Asian American voters, said this is a novel approach  when attacks on Asian Americans surged after the pandemic outbreak, Democrats framed the incidents as hate crimes while Republicans described them as law-and-order issues. He added that the tactic may be successful.

"Fear works," he said. "While the truth may be complicated in terms of what is responsible for an increase in crimes  even if crimes are increasing from historic lows  it almost doesn't matter. Perception matters."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Republicans are doubtful that Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs (R) entrance into the 2024 primary will have much of an effect as he looks to take on two leading candidates who also hail from his state: former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Suarezs announcement earlier this week did not come as a big surprise, as he had been teasing a campaign for weeks. But his relatively low profile, not to mention his more moderate political record, has left his party confused.

Even Suarezs hometown paper, The Miami Herald, called his candidacy a head-scratcher.

Is he the hip moderate or the right-wing Biden baiter? If the latter, hell be fighting for ground to which Trump and DeSantis already have staked a huge claim, the papers editorial board wrote on Thursday.

Some Republicans have suggested he could be angling for vice president, especially since hes a Latino politician at a time when the party is determined to court more voters in that demographic. Whatever the case, most observers are skeptical of his candidacy, while others are outright hostile.

One of the loudest GOP voices criticizing Suarezs entrance into the race is former Miami-Dade County Mayor and current Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who has referred to the mayor as a complete fraud.

I know that he weaves a really good tale, but believe me, I know Francis Suarez very well. I will never, ever support him for president, Gimenez told Fox News this week.

Others are more generous, suggesting the Miami mayor could be one of several candidates, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who are trying to chip away at the frontrunners support.

They could act as battering rams on a wall and little by little theyre taking shots, said Daniel Garza, president of the LIBRE Initiative, which is an advocacy group that promotes free-market ideas among U.S. Hispanics.

The idea for Mayor Suarez is to showcase his record, his ideas, and whatever else he can bring to the table, Garza said. And then take shots at the other candidates.

Suarez told ABC Newss George Stephanopoulos on Thursday that he was running for president because he has a different message than what other candidates have.

People want someone who can unify them, Suarez said in the interview. I was elected by 85 percent of and reelected by 80 percent. And as Ive traveled the United States, from states like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, [and] Nevada, what people want is for someone to bring them together. They want to know more. They want to hear more about my track record.

Suarez, whos the son of former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez, has since launched a media blitz and delivered an address at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

The younger Suarez was first elected as a Miami city commissioner in 2009 and later became mayor in 2017. Hes well-known for his interest in cryptocurrency and has said he wants to make Miami a crypto hub.

Suarez notably did not vote for Trump in 2016. He told Real Clear Politics in an interview published Friday that he wrote in Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) instead. Four years later, he said he wrote in former Vice President Mike Pence instead of voting for Trump. In the same interview, Suarez denied reports that he voted for Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum over DeSantis in 2018.

Suarez will also likely face questions over being under investigation by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust for his work for property developer Rishi Kapoor. The Miami Herald reported last month that Kapoor paid Suarez $170,000 to push a project. According to the publication, Suarezs office denied that a meeting between the two took place and Kapoors attorney has said Kapoor has no record or recollection of any such meeting.

Despite being a well-known face in Florida politics, Suarez has a lot of work to do to build his name ID nationally.

This will be especially imperative over the next two months, as Republicans gear up for the first presidential primary debate in August. In order to qualify, Suarez will need to poll at a minimum of 1 percent in three national polls and garner a minimum of 40,000 unique donors and at least 200 unique donors from 20 or more states and territories.

On Wednesday, a pro-Suarez super PAC, SOS America, launched a six-figure digital ad buy in the early contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Weve got our work cut out for us, said Chapin Fay, a spokesperson for SOS America PAC. Thats why the super PAC jumped in this week and we are going to be working with laser light focus on getting him qualified for the debates at the end of the summer. Thats really our goal.

Suarez is notably the third Floridian to jump into the race, joining Trump and DeSantis, who has been polling in second place.

For many of our members, theres sort of this political love triangle with all of these Florida candidates that are running, said Armando Ibarra, president of the Miami Young Republicans.

All three candidates have laid claim to success in the Sunshine State. Trump had a big political presence in Florida before permanently relocating there after his presidency. DeSantis has touted the states economic growth during the pandemic after he kept the state open throughout much of the pandemic.

Suarez, meanwhile, has highlighted Miamis impact as the largest city in the state.

Miami is the economic engine driving all of Floridas economic success, so were going to highlight that, Fay said.

The digital ad buy the pro-Suarez PAC released highlights Suarezs Miami Model in an effort to draw a contrast between him and President Biden.

Were going to be focusing on Joe Bidens America versus Francis Suarezs Miami, Fay said. In our view, the country is totally out of control, and when you compare it to how well Miami is doing, especially since coming out of pandemic, the record and the differences couldnt be starker.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is running for president. Here are 8 things you should know

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is the latest Republican vying for the presidency  and the only Hispanic in the running so far.

His entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary Thursday left many wondering how he would carve out a place in a crowded GOP field of 10 candidates, including two heavyweights from Florida.

READ MORE: Miami Mayor Suarez is in GOP presidential race: Unity is more powerful than division

Suarez is drawing on his background as a Cuban American whose family faced oppression under the islands communist regime, a youthful politician who started in politics by asking Miamians to vote for his papi when his father ran for mayor, and a leader who sees his city as a thriving city on a hill.

READ MORE: Super PAC backing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez launches ads as 2024 announcement looms

The mayor is also under fire after the Miami Herald reported in May that a developer quietly paid Suarez at least $170,000 over the past two years to help cut through red tape and secure critical permits for his stalled real estate project in Coconut Grove.

Heres what to know about Suarez as he joins the 2024 presidential primary.

1. He would consider pardoning Trump

In a interview Friday with MSNBCs Jose Diaz-Balart, Suarez said he would look at pardoning former President Donald Trump to heal the country. Though still aligned with Republican sensibilities, Suarez has repeatedly said he didnt vote for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

I think Americans are bewildered by this situation, Suarez said. The president is innocent until proven guilty. Hes got to respond to a jury of his peers, so that process has to play out before any sort of a discussion about pardons can happen.

2. He criticized Dont Say Gay expansion

Suarez told NBC News Friday he initially supported Gov. Ron DeSantis Parental Rights in Education law, most commonly known as Dont Say Gay, but said he believes limiting discussions about sex and gender in all grades was excessive.

And the Miami mayor noted he didnt vote for DeSantis in 2018  but did so in 2022.

I think [there] should be sex education... because we need to make sure that our children can grow up in an environment where they can make good choices, Suarez said. But I dont think it should be indoctrination. I think thats where there can be a debate.

3. He supports a federal abortion ban

As other Republicans hopefuls propose a federal six-week abortion ban, Suarez told the AP Thursday he supports a 15-week ban across the country. Hes also suggested that Floridas six-week ban is too severe.

Look, I think that the country is not there yet, Suarez said about the six-week ban.

4. He favors immigration reform

Suarez  who runs a city that is made up of majority immigrants, including his own parents  told the AP that his background gives him a lot of credibility when it comes to immigration reform. For Suarez, securing the border and changing the immigration system is a necessity.

I do think that we need to right-size legal immigration and that it should be connected to our employment rate and our declining birth rate, Suarez said. And I do think we have to do something with those who are undocumented in our country.

5. Hes big on crypto

Suarez told NBC that the next president needs to increase prosperity by transitioning to a digital economy. Since December 2020, the Miami mayor has grown his national profile by promoting the city as a business-friendly tech capital that embraced cryptocurrency, even as the fever over crypto cooled in the past year amid dips in value for several tokens.

And in 2021, he began accepting his city salary in Bitcoin.

How can I help? https://t.co/hIC1k8ka1i  Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) December 5, 2020

Suarez was part of the push to welcome businesses to Miami, including FTX, a crypto exchange company that went bankrupt in November. A month later, its founder was charged with fraud.

Weve positioned our city and we need to position our country, Suarez said. I dont think the candidates are really talking about that, and Im not sure how many of them really understand how to position our country for the maximum amount of prosperity.

6. He went to school in South Florida

Suarez attended Immaculata-La Salle High School, a private Catholic school in Coconut Grove. After graduating high school, he studied finance at Florida International University.

7. Hes a lawyer

Outside from his role as Miami mayor, Suarez works for litigation firm Quinn Emanuel. He studied law at the University of Floridas Levin College of Law.

8. He comes from a Miami political family

Suarez is the son of Xavier Suarez, who became the first Cuban-born mayor of Miami when he was elected in 1985. His father was Miami mayor for three terms and a Miami-Dade County commissioner for two terms.
Nexstar logo

By Liam Reilly

New York (CNN)  Nexstar, the nations largest operator of local TV stations, said Thursday it is conducting an investigation after a news director at a Michigan station told its journalists to scale back its Pride Month coverage and get both sides on LGBTQ issues, saying their polarizing nature had upset some of its conservative viewers.

Were looking into the situation at WOOD-TV, as the communication regarding the stations coverage of PRIDE month activities in the area is not consistent with Nexstars values, the way we cover the news, or the respect we have for our viewers, the company said in a statement to CNN.

Nexstar added that it will take appropriate action as necessary to address this situation and said that it apologize[s] for offending members of the LGBTQ community and WOOD-TVs viewers.

The investigation comes after news staff at the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based NBC affiliate received a memo on Tuesday from the assistant news director, Amy Fox, titled June Pride Month, that said the station had received pushback from viewers who are not happy to see those Pride-related stories.

We need to recognize that some stories related to LGBTQ issues are going to be controversial and polarizing in our community, Fox wrote. While you personally may not agree with a certain position, people are entitled to their opinions and they are our viewers.

If we are covering Pride events we need to consider how to make the story balanced and get both sides of the issue, she added.

Fox further emphasized the need to examine the newsworthy-ness of Pride events before covering them, saying that the station doesnt cover every event or festival that happens in West Michigan.

Fox did not respond to a CNN request for comment.

The memo came days after the station covered an inaugural Pride festival in the city of Grand Haven that drew thousands of attendees. While events recognizing Pride Month are underway across the nation, right-wing media figures and outlets have launched a series of attacks on the celebrations and companies that support LGBTQ causes, including Bud Light and Target, portraying them as woke and falsely claiming they are grooming children with radical ideology.

A journalist at the station, who asked not to be identified, told CNN that several employees responded to the memo via email to voice their disapproval.

Our newsroom immediately stood up to the 2 managers who wrote a memo mandating that we cover the other side of Pride events, WOOD-TV anchor Michele DeSelms wrote on Twitter. Essentially requiring us to give equal time to hate and discrimination.

We said no, and will continue to fight for our LGBTQ colleagues, family members, friends and the community, she continued. This fight is not over. Please know we are standing up for whats right, standing strong together and we will not let hate win.

Luke Stier and Madeline Odle, executive producers at the station, also publicly expressed outrage over the directive.

The guidance is not being followed, Stier tweeted. The only two people involved in its creation have been removed from any discussions surrounding @WOODTV Pride coverage as our corporation conducts a thorough investigation.

The-CNN-Wire

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NBC

Mike Pence has listed a number of certainties since his presidential announcement. His desire for a national abortion ban. His inability to defend Donald Trumps actions over classified documents that led to his federal indictment. How he couldnt overturn the 2020 election on January 6, no matter what Trump claimed.

What he cannot seem to name, however, is the type of voter who would actually vote for Mike Pence.

In an interview with Meet the Press that aired Sunday, the former vice president seemed flummoxed when asked by moderator Chuck Todd about who the ideal Pence supporter wasand how they differentiated from a Trump supporter.

Well, look, I think that the people around the country, as Ive traveled the last two years, have had, in the main, very humbling views about me and my family, he told Todd. Ive been stopped in airports and grocery stores and gas stations by Americans of every political persuasion who thank me for my service to the countryand particularly thanked me for the stand that I took on that tragic day.

Frazzled Mike Pence Still Cant Make Up His Mind on Trump Indictment

How many of them were wearing MAGA hats though? Todd asked. Are people that wear MAGA hats doing that to you?

Pence seemed unable to elaborate further, choosing not to utter his former boss political catchphrase and instead offer a vague description of a potential Pence voter base.

Look, I know the people in our movement, and I can honestly tell you that they're some of the best people in this country, Pence said. They love America and they love our Constitution.

Its unclear, however, how that differentiates Pence supporters among the 58 percent of Republicans who are proud to be an American, according to a 2022 Gallup polland how Pence can claim all of them while being a very distant third in most 2024 polls of the Republican primary, behind Ron DeSantis and Trump.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will use his meeting with African leaders and their rhetoric to slow down the flow of Western aid to Ukraine.

Source: ISW

Details: The ISW has reiterated that a delegation of seven African states met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on 17 June, following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 16 June, to propose a "generalised peace plan focused on resuming international trade".

At the meeting with the delegation, Putin said that the Kremlin welcomed the "balanced" approach of African states to resolving the war in Ukraine.

President of Comoros and current chairman of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, used words similar to the Kremlin's favourite "Russian World" rhetoric during the meeting with Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. He said that stability in Eastern Europe, Africa and the world depends on "fraternal relationships" between neighbouring Slavic "friendly nations".

Assoumani also stressed that peace in Ukraine is important for international food and energy security.

The ISW experts have said that Assoumani's comments and the inclusion of grain shipment guarantees in the peace plan indicate that the states participating in this proposal consider overcoming the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine to be their top priority.

Quote: "The delegation likely seeks to balance Ukraine and Russia to maintain long-standing bilateral relationships with Russia without fully tying themselves diplomatically to the Kremlins war."

More details: The experts have also added that the Kremlin is likely to use this offer to advance Russian information operations aimed at slowing down Western security assistance to Ukraine, and has shown no intention of engaging in any peace process.

The ISW has previously assessed that the Kremlin regularly signals a false willingness to negotiate a settlement to the war in order to induce concessions from the West and dissuade Western leaders from further support for Ukraine.

Quote: "The Kremlin previously intensified this effort to set conditions for its winter-spring 2023 offensive and is likely reamplifying this information operation in an effort to weaken Western support for Ukraine during counteroffensive operations."

More details: The Kremlin has already used the same "vague peace plan" presented by China in spring 2023. And it has tried to use China's declared interest in negotiating a settlement to the war in Ukraine to achieve the desired closer ties with China.

Quote: "The Kremlin will likely use the outreach by these African states to pursue strengthened bilateral and multilateral engagement."

Background:

On 16 June, a delegation from Africa arrived in Ukraine, including the presidents of South Africa, the Comoros, Senegal, Zambia and the prime minister of Egypt, as well as special representatives of Congo and Uganda. They want to act as peacemakers between Russia and Ukraine, as well as to agree on increasing the supply of grain and fertilisers from these two countries to their continent.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named 10 main "components" of the African Union's position on the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Following the meeting, Zelenskyy criticised the rhetoric of African leaders who called Russia's war against Ukraine a "conflict" or "crisis". The President was also surprised that African representatives emphasised their own grain and fertiliser crises, while omitting the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

On 17 June, the African delegation met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said that his logic for the war against Ukraine was allegedly "flawless" in terms of international law and the UN Charter.

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Military expert reveals Prigozhins hidden motives, and why he may even want to see Ukraines victory

Graffiti depicting Yevgeny Prigozhin in St. Petersburg, May 26, 2023

It has been at least a year since some individuals overlooked the notable transformation of Prigozhins role and position within the Russian landscape, Romaniuk told Radio NV.

Read also: Prigozhin alleges Wagner mercenaries captured Russian lieutenant colonel

He has emerged as an independent stronghold within the Kremlin, not merely one among the fourteen or however many towers there are there, but rather, he can be best described as a self-contained Spasskaya Tower, said Romaniuk, referring to the famous and prominent clock- and star-bearing Kremlin tower.

The expert stressed that Prigozhin is accountable to no one except Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who wields direct influence over him. Romaniuk stated that over the past six months, the Wagner PMC leader has already begun forging an independent political career.

(Prigozhin) understands that he has some knowledge of the days and hours (remaining for) Putins reign, and he has no doubts about the outcome. He realizes that in the new Russia, commonly referred to as the post-war era, he will have to find a way to survive. Just like he managed to survive in the prison zone, along with his Wagner group and tens of thousands of other inmates.

Read also: Russia lost seven times as much as Ukraine in Bakhmut, says NSDC Secretary Danilov

Furthermore, the expert stated that, contrary to Prigozhins rhetoric, his current focus may depend on the victory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over Russia.

Because only in the complete collapse and failure of the Russian Federation and Ukraines victory does Prigozhin have the sole opportunity amidst this chaos to seize power, akin to the Bolsheviks actions in October 1917, Romaniuk said.

Romaniuk also asserted that Prigozhin enjoys more than 30% of electoral support in Russia, according to UK intelligence estimates.

The conflict between Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner PMC, and the Russian Ministry of Defense could reach a critical stage on July 1, 2023, according to UK intelligence. This date marks the deadline for mercenaries to sign contracts with the ministry.

UK intelligence emphasized that the requirement for signing contracts with private armed formations received approval from Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whose authority Prigozhin recognizes, unlike that of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Previously, Prigozhin declined to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense, branding it a path of shame.

Read also: SBU charges Prigozhin associate for launching propaganda channel in occupied Kherson

Meanwhile, Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrovs Ahmat battalion has already entered into a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A pair of technology executives are fighting over a million-dollar house in Wrightsville Beach.

An LLC, Wrightsville Beach Property, is suing a former member, Moner Attwa, in federal court  alleging that he kept the title to a beach house that he was supposed to hand over.

READ: CEO pays $10M for priciest home in Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach Property (WBP) is controlled by Mark Gross, the CEO of Virginia-based Oak Grove Technologies. Attwa is Oak Groves former CFO.

The suit surrounds a beach house on East Raleigh Street. Property records in New Hanover County show the lot was acquired in August 2020 for $980,000, with Attwa listed as the grantee. A building permit was issued in September 2020, and records show a 3,700-square-foot, five-bedroom home was built on the lot. The propertys appraised value is $1.46 million.

Read the full story here.

VIDEO: NC family claims child got chemical burns from Myrtle Beach resort




Oleksandr Kubrakov attended the summit of G7 transport ministers in Japan

Kubrakov announced on his Facebook page on June 17 that he was presenting projects at the G7 Transport Ministers' Summit in Japan.

Read also: NV to hold conference on post-war reconstruction, plans and strategy

Among the projects was a "transport visa-free regime."

"We already have something to show and offer to international partners," Kubrakov said.

First of all, we managed to turn the Danube Port Cluster into a powerful logistics hub in a short period of time. Thanks to the modernization of port infrastructure and dredging of berths, we managed to increase transshipment in the Danube ports by 4.5 times.

He also noted that Ukraine is developing a "transport visa-free regime" with the European Union, road and rail border infrastructure, as well as logistics potential.

Read also: Ukraine and Moldova to construct bridge across Dniester, key link between Kyiv and Chisinau

Kubrakov noted that Ukraine, an export-oriented country, has been forced to completely reformat its logistics. Until Feb. 24, 2022, almost 60% of all trade passed through seaports, while now most exports and imports are transported by rail and road.

"This has also become a challenge for neighboring countries," he added.

The blocking agricultural exports by land against the backdrop of an unstable grain corridor could have resulted in a food catastrophe for the world.

Global solutions and a clear strategy of international support for the development of alternative logistics routes are needed, the minister said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Missing 14-year-old girl was lured to mans Georgia home via dating app, reports say

A 14-year-old girl who vanished on the last day of school has been found three weeks later living with a 41-year-old Georgia man, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.

The girl has been reunited with her family and the man, Russell Cheeves, was arrested June 15 and charged with enticing a child for indecent purposes and interference with custody, according to a news release. He is also accused of child molestation, jail records show.

Investigators say the two met via a dating app and that the girl was manipulated into going to the mans home in nearby Clayton County, south of Atlanta, WSB-TV reports.

Information was received that led the lead detective to believe that (the girl) was at a home on Sanders Drive in Morrow, police said.

Officers with the Lake City Police Department and the City of Morrow Police Department visited the home and located (her) ... with a man, the sheriffs office said.

Youth pastor used church Wi-Fi to download child porn after services, Florida cops say

The girls home in Stone Mountain is about 25 miles north of Morrow.

She went missing May 24, and was last seen outside Parkview High School after taking an exam, police said. That was also the last day of classes for the Gwinnett County Public Schools.

The case got more troubling when investigators discovered her cell phone had been switched off and all social media activity ceased. The girl did not have access to money or a car, police said.

These circumstances are outside her normal behavior, as she has perfect attendance in school, police said in a June 5 news release.

Parents jailed after baby boy found with 6 untreated broken bones, Florida cops say

17-year-old high school student was actually a 28-year-old woman, Louisiana cops say

2-year-old boy found covered in flies, locked in feces-smeared room, Florida cops say
Heres what Modesto Police Review Board did at first meeting. And what chief thinks of it

Modestos new Community Police Review Board did not take up specific complaints at its first meeting. It did get a sense that officers have a hard job and that transparency matters.

The nine-member volunteer panel will advise a law firm hired last month to monitor police procedures. This will include matters such as officer-involved shootings, vehicle pursuits with injuries, and hiring and training.

Member Brad Hawn, a former city councilman, was elected chairman at the Thursday evening meeting. Under the bylaws, he will be asked to show up at critical incidents at any hour. They can involve people who die while in police custody from causes other than shooting.

One of the attorneys also will respond to the incident, but that might take several hours, because most of them are based in Los Angeles.

Police Chief Brandon Gillespie told the board he welcomes the oversight.

Were always looking for ways to get better, he said. Were not a perfect organization. Im not a perfect person. Having the input from the community on things related to policing is important to me.

The oversight plan grew out of the citys Forward Together initiative, launched in 2021. It looked at how to prevent shootings by officers and at how to get help for mentally unstable people encountered by police, among other issues.

The law firm is the OIR Group, which has a $451,000 contract over five years with Modesto. It specializes in this kind of work, with about 30 local government clients around California.

The firm will not do its own investigations of complaints against Modesto officers, Principal Michael Gennaco told the board. Rather, it will assess how the department followed its own procedures for officer discipline.

The firm will produce public reports at least once a year, with as much detail as laws on officer privacy allow. It could suggest ways to improve police procedures in general.

The board will meet on the third Thursday of each month, at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Tenth Street Place. Meetings will be open to the public.

Individual members can spend the next several weeks learning more about the department. They can ride along with patrol officers, or try their hand at a simulator of life-or-death shooting scenarios. On Aug. 1, they can take part in National Night Out, where police get to know residents at picnics and other informal settings.

Those serving on board have wide-ranging backgrounds

The board is diverse in age, gender, ethnic background and occupation. Applicants had to be registered to vote in Modesto and could not work for the city or in law enforcement anywhere.

Brad Hawn, right, was named chairman of the new Community Police Review Board in Modesto, California, on June 15, 2023. At left is member Austin Grant. John Holland/Jholland@modbee.com

Hawn is a civil engineer already involved in efforts against homelessness. He urged fellow members to spread the word about the police board.

The vice chair is Nico Solorio, emergency rental assistance manager for City Ministry Network. He will respond to critical incidents if Hawn is not available.

Member Kenneth Bryant is a retired battalion chief for the Modesto Fire Department. He said the board needs to assure residents that it will be independent.

If they dont trust what were doing, if they think were just an adjunct of the Police Department or the city, I dont think thats going to result in building a lot of trust, Bryant said.

Members have staggered four- and five-year terms

The other members are:

Latricia Beasley Day, community organizer for Faith in the Valley

Wendy Byrd, president of the NAACP Modesto/Stanislaus





Trish Christensen, president and CEO of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce





Frank Damrell III, director of government relations for Peer & Co. and aide to former state Sen. Cathleen Galgiani





Austin Grant, emergency preparedness analyst for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, active with the NAACP and other groups





Nancy Smith, retired attorney, including California Rural Legal Assistance and the county Public Defenders Office.





Five of the nine served on the Forward Together panel: Byrd, Christensen, Grant, Hawn and Solorio.

The new board has staggered terms. They will run through 2027 for Beasley Day, Bryant, Damrell, Grant and Solorio. The others will serve through 2028.

Mom of man killed by officer urges board to listen

Forward Together emerged amid protests over the 2020 shooting death of Trevor Seever by Officer Joseph Lamantia. Seevers family reached a $7.5 million settlement with the city in April. Lamantia was fired and has been charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Seevers mother, Darlene Ruiz, has been watching the new oversight system come together. On Thursday, she urged the board to hear from other families affected by police shootings.

It is immensely healing to be able to tell a committee thats supposed to be helping us to bridge the trust and transparency, she said.

Before Lamantias arrest, Seevers family had protested often to the City Council. It happened during the public-comment period required at all local government meetings in California.

More recently, the council has heard from survivors of Paul Chavez Jr., killed in a police shooting last July. Officer Sam Muncy was later cleared by the District Attorneys Office. The family has sued the city over the death.

No one from the Chavez family was at Thursdays police board meeting. In May, widow Brittoni Estrella told the council she did not think the oversight process will help.

Heres some of what OIR attorneys may do

OIRs other clients include the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office and police in Santa Cruz, West Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Palo Alto, Anaheim and Burbank.

This geographical range could mean that an attorney is within reasonable driving distance of a Modesto incident, Gennaco said. Once here, that person could obtain video from officers cameras, recordings of radio traffic, and other fresh information.

Gennaco said he had his first private meeting with police management earlier Thursday. They discussed the June 3 shooting and wounding of Gordon Massey by Officer Raihil Sharma. Massey is accused of firing toward the officer and has been jailed on an attempted murder charge. An internal investigation is under way regarding Sharmas actions.

Gennaco co-founded OIR Group in 2001 after working in the civil rights section of the U.S. Department of Justice. His prosecutions around the nation included excessive force by officers.

Gennaco said police are unique among professions in having the legal right to detain fellow residents, using force if necessary.

That authority is awesome, he said. We dont give that to anyone else. ... And along with that authority comes responsibility.
"Its like growing up with Socrates, only more cynical, blunt, and much easier to understand. Theres no pondering, no contemplation. Things are expressed matter-of-factly. Either it is, or it isnt, and thats that."

I wonder if we might step away from the hustle and bustle of the daily news cycle and talk a bit about fathers. I hear theres a holiday coming up.

I dont know if its fair or not, but Im pretty sure I know why Fathers Day isnt as big a deal as Mothers Day. Mostly, dads dont seem to care.

Maybe thats why most of us take our fathers for granted. We dont seem to appreciate them as much while we have them as we do when theyre no longer with us. Thats when we realize how wise they were, even prophetic. Maybe thats because were a little older and a little wiser ourselves, or maybe we men have become more like our fathers than we ever imagined we would be.

Dads are like having a miniature college education in your own home. The University of Dad. They have their ways, all of them analogous to college classes and textbooks: a nurturing style thats more like playful roughhousing. They have their dad jokes.

And they especially have their words of wisdom.

I use that term loosely. Its like growing up with Socrates, only more cynical, blunt, and much easier to understand. Theres no pondering, no contemplation. Things are expressed matter-of-factly. Either it is, or it isnt, and thats that. It may sound like nonsense when they say something, but theyre so assertive when they say it that it has to make sense. Sometimes, you just have to become a dad to finally figure it out. As Frank Pittman, a psychiatrist and early pioneer in family therapy, famously said, Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.

Every father has a collection of aphorisms, pithy sayings and paternal witticisms that he passes on. Many of these quips are mangled, largely because many fathers deliver these adages at a peak moment of frustration.

My father had sayings for everything. You heard them often at our family dinner table, and, in my family, presenting yourself for the evening meal was an almost absolute requirement. You would need a permission slip signed by the president and counter-signed by the pope to get out of it. Dad presided over such gatherings.

If you were fooling around, as younger kids especially like to do, Dad would say, Stop it. I said, stop it!

Of course, we would not stop it. Then, a glass would get spilled, and the room would go deathly silent. Then wed all turn to the head of the table to look at Dad, and Dad would always intone the very same thing: If you would only listen to the words of wisdom, these things would not happen.

In my dads world, his words of wisdom were the only ones that mattered. Despite being a high school dropout whose English was often fractured in that Brooklyn accent of his, he had great intuitive intelligence. During any spirited family discussion, if he exclaimed, I aint sayin no more, we all knew we were in for about an hours worth of Dads opinion on the subject of which he aint sayin no more.

When Dad thought someone was cheap, hed say, That guy is so tight that when he holds a quarter, he makes the eagle squeak. No, an eagle does not squeak, but to my dad, that certainly sounded better. Especially at the head of the dinner table.

Dads are often quick with a comeback, too. If mine happened to catch a fly buzzing around your head on a particularly hot day, he might conclude, Well, they say a fly always likes a horses ass.

Im no horses ass, Id respond.

Try telling the fly that.

Dads are always good for phrases to characterize people or situations. If someone was particularly incompetent, a complete mental dud, or a person of such low character that he was beneath contempt, my father would describe him with four words that said more than the loftiest paragraph of prosaic vitriol. He would say that person is made with a finger.

For years, I never understood quite what that meant, but I never questioned it because it just sounded perfect. That guys made with a finger! Whatever it meant, it definitely wasnt a compliment.

I never asked him to explain that phrase until I was well along as an adult. With typical bluntness and sarcasm, he looked at me as if I were an idiot and said,

Ya know how to make a baby?

Yeah. I still wasnt catching on.

Well, that guy is made with a finger.

Suddenly, all those people he said over the years were made with a finger came flooding back to me, and I understood. And you know what? He was right. It not only sounded perfect; it was perfect.

When it comes to discipline, moms often use dads as a secret weapon. Wait till your father gets home, or Dont make me tell your father! And fathers were always good for a threatening phrase or three.

In my neighborhood, my friend Als father was a strict disciplinarian who used tough language to keep us in line. He would often say, One more word outta you and youll be spittin chicklets, an old-school word for teeth. Sometimes he would also say, Your teeth will be at Parade Rest, a military term that, even if you werent familiar with it, didnt sound good. At least not for your teeth.

Some threats came with perhaps too much imagery, which could make the point even more. When Dad said, Ill turn you inside out by your tongue, the end result seemed more gruesome than the pain youd have to endure to get there. Even at 6 or 7 years of age, you knew he wouldnt do it, but the image alone was enough to stop you dead in your tracks.

Frustration often yielded colorful words that made no sense but still delivered impending doom: You are makin me pestifurious, he would yell. Apparently, something about me being a pest would make him furious. In our minds, we would say, What?! and laugh, but only on the inside.

Thats another thing: You couldnt laugh. You would wonder with bemused exasperation because whatever Dad mangled was far funnier than what they intended to say, but if you laughed out loud, you were in deep weeds, to be sure.

Politics were a popular topic at our dinner table. Believe it or not, there was as much controversy to discuss then as now.

One day, my father finally got so fed up with the current mayor of New York that he announced, Thats it. I aint votin for another incumbent ever again. It didnt matter who they were, or what party; he refused to vote for them. If they cant do the job, they dont get another shot. Ill vote for the new guy.

In what became a running joke at the table, my brothers would say to him, But dad, if you vote for the new guy, itll take him eight months to figure out how to do the job.

Good! Dad would say. Thats eight months he wont be able to steal from me!

It was a burst of wisdom for which there was no counterargument.

He was practical, even to the end. At the hospital, lying in what would eventually become his deathbed, my brother explained the DNR  do not resuscitate form to him. Pop had never heard of it. If this, then that; if that, then this. Signature, etc.

Do you want me to sign it, pop? my brother asked. Dad didnt blink. He signed it and said, Pull the plug. Everybody take a drink.

He wasnt suffering. He wasnt in pain. He was quite lucid. But he was deteriorating and, after having lived such a rich life, it made no sense to him to spend the money on expensive medical procedures  even though he was on Medicare  just so he could live what he figured would be another few months. He was 90.

Thats it.

Dad didnt have dad jokes, but he was funny in his own way. Hed answer the door in his boxers and my mom would say something about the neighbors seeing.

Dont worry, honey, hed say. If they look, they have to pay.

He had these Yiddish expressions that made no sense. Im not even sure they were Yiddish. Kak shteyendik, literally means stand shitting. And he said it all the time, often at the end of a phone call. Not goodbye, but Kak shteyendik. At work, if you can imagine the pushcart days of immigrant enclaves with row after row of street vendors on a busy shopping day you told the boss you had to go to the bathroom, hed tell you, Kak shteyendik.

Auf gepege de phelen, kaken flgn! On a dead horse, the fly shits. As in, dont be a lazy bum your whole life, or else the fly will  That isnt the right Yiddish translation, but thats what he said, thats what he said it meant, and that was that.

Where do fathers get these sayings? Even if they didnt make sense and you asked for an explanation, Dad would give you short shrift and say, Why do you ask stupid questions like that? Thats just things I say.

Fathers have a great way of putting you off. It could be the most important thing in the world to you, but when Dad says, In a thousand years, its not gonna matter, it not only dismissed your comment, you almost felt inclined to dismiss it, too. After all, its not like youd be around in a thousand years to prove him wrong, and even then, he probably wouldnt care  because what he really was saying was that whatever didnt matter in a thousand years was his way of saying it wasnt important to him now.

A child pestering for a new toy would often be told, serious as can be, Youll get it when George gets back.

George who? youd ask.

George Washington.

But he aint comin back; hes dead.

Now youre catchin on, hed say, and that would be that.

Or he might say, Yes, youll get that toy next week, Tuesday.

Therein lies the great wisdom of fathers who knew very well that by next Tuesday you would forget that youd ever asked him. But it satisfied you when he said it because it was a definite promise, done with such conviction.

Theyre all great actors, fathers.

Some of Dads phrases are universal, like Who died and left you in charge? Thats a father favorite. When youre a young kid and they say that, you actually stop and think about what it is theyre asking without realizing theyre being as totally flippant as they can be.

This hurts me more than it hurts you, was one that made no sense to kids. It couldnt possibly hurt him, since you were the one being punished, but perish the thought if he bothered to explain the emotional pain he was referring to as if it really hurt him. By the time he was done explaining, youd just wish to take your punishment and be done with it.

Or, a variant that made plenty of sense to kids: Remember, I brought you into this world and I can take you out, too.

Truly a universal for all fathers, and probably mothers, too. A favorite ploy of kids is to point to other kids. If they got to do something, why couldnt you? And Dad would say, If that other kid jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you jump off, too? That one comes right out of the parent handbook, except Dad would often add, Its too bad Im not their father, too.

The variant or addendum often came with a humorous snark. Its common enough to teach empathy for another with the advice to walk a mile in their shoes, but the cynic in all fathers is passed along when Dad adds, That way, youll be a mile away from them and youll have their shoes.

Another universal phrase for many fathers: Theres a bus in five minutes   as in, you were metaphorically being told to get on the bus and get lost, beat it, take a powder, scram!

Not Dad. His postscript: Theres a bus in five minutes  be under it. I still use that phrase today, always to the delight of anyone within earshot.

Dads been gone for some years now but hes always there, his voice lurking in my head as I catch myself doing just what he used to do with a turn or twist of the language. And my daughter doing what I used to do, staring at me sideways like the old RCA Victor Dog listening to His Masters Voice, probably wondering how it is that her dad can make no sense and still be so wise.

Happy Fathers Day to all dads out there.
Mothers accused of harming their babies are turning to the same science that freed Kathleen Folbigg

Kathleen Folbigg had her first child at 21, and like most new moms kept a diary of the times her baby fed, slept, burped and bathed.

But the records stopped abruptly after 19 days when the baby died, and over the next decade until 1999, as Folbigg lost her second, third and fourth child, the guilt she felt as a failed mother seeped onto the page.

In 2003, Folbiggs diaries were used as evidence that she had smothered her babies, a theory embellished by claims from prosecutors that losing four children in one family was so rare that it was almost impossible without human intervention.

At trial, Folbigg was found guilty of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter, and spent 20 years in prison before being freed by the New South Wales attorney general earlier this month.

Folbiggs release came after scientists discovered a previously unknown mutant gene in her two daughters that could have been fatal, creating reasonable doubt about her convictions and grounds for a pardon.

Confirmation of a likely genetic cause for the childrens deaths has implications far beyond Australia for parents who have been accused of killing or harming their babies.

At the same time, the case has supercharged calls for a better system of post-conviction review in Australia, so that others who claim to have been wrongly convicted dont languish in prison for years.

Today is a victory for science and especially truth, Folbigg said after her release in a video filmed at a rural property in northern New South Wales, where she is recuperating before taking her case back to the Court of Criminal Appeal to have her convictions quashed.

Critics of her 2003 trial say the prosecutor twisted Folbiggs words and relied on tropes about motherhood to convince the jury that she was fundamentally unsuited for the role and had snapped under the pressure of caring for babies.

The advances in genetic testing used to free Folbigg are giving other families hope that science may explain why their children have died, but experts say sometimes even that cant exonerate parents  often mothers  accused of harming them.

Kathleen Folbigg is recovering from her ordeal at a property in rural New South Wales. - Obtained by CNN

False theory jails mothers

Folbiggs first baby Caleb died in 1989, followed by Patrick who died in 1991 at 8 months after suffering epileptic seizures that had left him blind. Sarah died during the night in 1993 when she was 10 months old, and finally Laura slipped away in 1999 aged 18 months.

The first three deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used when babies under 1 die for no apparent reason. Lauras death was the first to raise suspicion after a forensic pathologist marked the cause as undetermined.

Police began investigating, and while Folbiggs then husband Craig was initially supportive, he became convinced she had killed their babies and testified against her during a seven-week trial that found her guilty.

Emma Cunliffe, a professor at the University of British Columbias Allard School of Law, who started studying trials of mothers accused of murder for her PhD in 2004, says she noticed a key difference in Folbiggs case.

The other mothers whose cases that I set out to study had all been exonerated. Kathleens conviction was the only one left standing, said Cunliffe, who made a case for Folbiggs freedom in her 2011 book Murder, Medicine and Motherhood.

In all cases, the convictions relied on a version of Meadows law, the false maxim pushed by discredited British pediatrician Roy Meadow that one sudden infant death in a family is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder.

None of the cases had access to the genetic technology that eventually freed Folbigg, yet mothers in the United Kingdom and Canada were released after the evidence was examined by a form of post-conviction review committee that doesnt exist in Australia.

(Australias) legal system failed Kathleen Folbigg, Cunliffe said. We didnt need the genetics to know that this conviction was unreliable.

As the campaign to free Folbigg gained momentum, experts began analyzing her diaries and a very different image began to emerge of the woman presented in court as a baby killer.

One of the experts, Sharmila Betts, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience working with mothers and in child protection, analyzed the contents of her diaries in 2014.

In the absence of conclusive medical evidence, (the prosecutor) has presented cryptic and unfathomable diary entries, which Ms Folbigg denied were confessions, as admissions of guilt, thereby dispensing of the need for more conclusive medical evidence of homicide, she wrote in a report submitted as evidence to a recent inquiry.

Betts told CNN a woman who had lost four children would no doubt blame herself for their loss.

If you lose one child, grief. You lose a second, you lose a third, you lose a fourth. So, theres the accumulative grief. But theres also, what is wrong with me? she said. She is blaming herself. She does think that shes done something because no ones explained to her whats happened to those kids.

The scientific explanation

By 2019, some of the worlds leading genetic experts thought they had the answer.

They had conducted whole genome sequencing on the children and their mother and found that Folbigg and her daughters, Sarah and Laura, carried a never-before-seen variant of the CALM2 gene.

CALM genes regulate the protein calmodulin, which plays an important role in regulating sodium, potassium and calcium levels for healthy heart function. Variations can cause cardiac arrhythmia, and the first sign of a problem can be sudden death.

There was no record of the variant, and the scientists rushed to present their findings to an 2019 inquiry into Folbiggs conviction that had largely been called to hear objections to the use of Meadows law in her trial.

But while the genetic evidence was accepted, some after submissions had closed, the retired judge leading the inquiry, Reginald Blanch, concluded that everything that he had heard and read reinforces Ms Folbiggs guilt.

The following year, in November 2020, 27 scientists published their evidence in a paper that laid out the results of whole genome sequencing on Folbigg and her children.

The findings convinced more than 100 of the worlds leading scientists that shed been wrongly convicted and they signed a petition urging the NSW government to hold another inquiry.

From November 2022, the new inquiry was told that Folbiggs sons  Caleb and Patrick  carried rare variants in the BSN gene (or Bassoon), whose deficiency is known to cause lethal epilepsy in mice.

But more crucially, scientists explained that Folbigg and her daughters carried the CALM2-G114R variant, and that while it was totally new, a similar variant had been found in an American family, where a 4-year-old boy died suddenly, and his 5-year-old sister suffered a cardiac arrest.

This time, retired judge Tom Bathurst accepted the science and recommended Folbiggs pardon.

How the science is helping others

One of the lead authors of the study, Professor Carola Vinuesa, says that Folbiggs case has encouraged other families and lawyers to come forward, seeking genetic evidence to clear mothers accused of harming their babies.

In those cases, not all of the children have died. Some mothers accused of injuring their children are seeking a genetic explanation for their symptoms to counter claims of child abuse, she said.

The majority of these mothers have not harmed their children, but the children have these very rare conditions. And a few cases Ive worked on already since the Folbigg inquiry, weve been able to make a genetic diagnosis. Theyre very rare, so theyre not in the textbooks, you cant find them easily, she said.

The mothers are being accused of medical child abuse or fabricated or induced illness by carers  when carers harm otherwise healthy children or fabricate their symptoms to force hospital visits and medical tests.

In the past, such behavior was known as Munchausen by proxy, which was considered a mental illness by Meadow, the same doctor struck off the British medical register for providing wildly inaccurate statistics on SIDS at trials that saw some mothers jailed.

In a 1989 article in the ABC of Child Abuse, he wrote for a worried parent to seek a second or third specialist opinion is reasonable: to seek a 22nd opinion is not.

Vinuesa, with the Francis Crick Institute in London, says mothers accused of medical child abuse are reluctant to talk publicly about whats happening in case theyre perceived to be seeking attention, one of the traditional markers of Munchausen by proxy.

Professor Carola Vinuesa's team searches for variants that might explain the sudden deaths of infants. - Michael Bowles/Francis Crick Institute

One mother in the United States, who declined to be named, told CNN that she worries that if she speaks out, itll work against her and she could be imprisoned or lose access to her children, who have been taken from her as officials investigate the claims.

Helen Hayward-Brown, a leading expert in Munchausen by proxy, told CNN the allegation is becoming more common, and mothers are finding it more difficult to defend themselves, even when genome sequencing shows their child has a genetic illness.

Its really, really hard for them to defend themselves because you can have a coexisting diagnosis, as well as supposedly harming your child, she said.

Seeming to know too much about their childs illness, or asking too many questions can put parents, particularly mothers, in a vulnerable position, especially if they seek out other medical opinions, she said.

Part of the profile is the mother has too much medical knowledge. Shes overly interested in the medical situation, the mother is doctor-shopping, said Hayward-Brown, pointing out the fine line some mothers need to walk.

If youre a very good mother, and you care about your child, of course the first thing youre going to do is look up whats wrong with your child, and particularly if theyve got a diagnosis and a rare diagnosis, youre going to look it up immediately, she said.

There are a number of different support groups around now for parents of children who do have rare genetic disorders, and one of the first things they say on their websites is that a lot of these mothers are falsely accused of harming their children.

Mothers arent being believed, she says, and Folbiggs case shows that when a child dies of a rare genetic disorder before diagnosis, the results can be catastrophic.

The path forward

The world has changed since Folbigg was imprisoned, well beyond advances in genetic testing.

She entered a cell the same year Concorde took its final flight, former US President George W Bush was claiming victory in Iraq, and MySpace was emerging as a new social network. The iPhone was still four years from its global launch.

On her first day of freedom, Folbigg was bamboozled by phones and delighted to discover video-on-demand services, her friend Tracy Chapman told reporters in a press briefing carried live on national television.

She just wants to be able to live a life that shes missed for the last 20 years, said Chapman, who has created a sanctuary where Folbigg has the space to rebuild her trust in society.

Ive got a whole heap of rescue dogs here. Weve got chickens and guinea pigs and rabbits. Im a wildlife rescuer, so weve got a menagerie of wildlife floating around in various stages of release.

Shell help me with all of that because she loves animals, Chapman said.

Tracy Chapman speaks to media during a press conference following the release of Kathleen Folbigg, in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, June 6, 2023. - Stringer/Reuters

Bathurst, who heard the second inquiry, is yet to publish his full report, but questions are already being asked why Folbigg had to fight so hard for freedom, when women elsewhere were being released.

Even after the scientific evidence was published, it took more than a year for the government to call a new inquiry and another year before Folbiggs pardon.

The Australian Academy of Science acted as an independent scientific adviser during the second inquiry to make sure the worlds leading scientists were heard. Now lawyers are taking up the fight to make it easier for the wrongly accused to seek justice.

Folbiggs legal team and other associations, including the Law Council, the Sydney Institute of Criminology and the Australian Lawyers Alliance, say Australia needs a post-conviction review body to examine other potential miscarriages of justice.

There are independent bodies for identifying and reviewing miscarriages of justice in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Norway, New Zealand and Canada. We are lagging behind the rest of the common law world, said her lawyer Rhanee Rego.

Andrew Dyer, director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology, says thats due to a lack of political will in a country where society calls for harsh punishments for people found guilty of breaking the law.

I think the general disdain in the community for convicted offenders has a lot to do with the indifference of governments to this issue, said Dyer, one of more than 30 legal experts who have signed a petition calling for a permanent review body.

The UK experience shows that miscarriages of justice are perhaps more common than people think. Since it began in 1997, the UKs review commission has overturned 540 convictions or sentences, according to its latest annual report published last October.

As he announced Folbiggs pardon, NSW Attorney General Michael Daley, told reporters that hes open to discussions on potential changes to the system.

I think we have to have a look at this case and all of the material thats been put before Mr Bathurst, all thats gone before us now to learn from it, and to amend the law, if needs be, he said.

In Australia, most criminal matters are heard by state and territory-based court systems, so any national review body would require agreement between different tiers of government.

When approached about the possibility of a national criminal cases review commission, Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus declined to comment.

In the video released to media on June 6, Folbigg is seen arranging flowers, including the dainty white buds of Gypsophila, known as babys breath.

For the last 20 years I have been in prison, I have forever and will always think of my children, grieve for my children, and I miss them and love them terribly, she said.

If her children had survived, Caleb, her first born, would be 34, and the last born, Laura, 25.

Perhaps they might have had their own children by now, and at 56, Folbigg would have been a grandmother.

Chapman said of her friends traumatic experience: If it doesnt make us better human beings, or humane beings, Ill be just devastated.

The worst thing for both of us is that this could happen to someone else.

This story has been updated

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In the Kherson Oblast, 200 specialists from municipal services from 13 oblasts of Ukraine are helping to deal with the aftermath of the Russians' blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP.

Source: Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, the President's website reports

Quote: "Side by side, we are dealing with the aftermath of Russian terror in Kherson Oblast. Rescue workers, doctors, and volunteers from all over the country are working here.

Moreover, 200 communal service workers from 13 oblasts of Ukraine have arrived in Kherson Oblast. They are pumping out the water, cleaning the roads of mud, and removing garbage."

Details: In addition, the oblasts transferred to Kherson Oblast 30 units of necessary equipment: dump trucks, loaders, excavators, tractors, garbage trucks, etc.

Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy Oblasts and Bukovyna helped with specialists and utility equipment.

Separate brigades of energy and gas workers are also being formed, which will restore the destroyed infrastructure of Kherson Oblast.

Background:

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Museum collects bits of Trump indictment history: Yes to the signs. No to the pig head.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  You can call them the history patrol troop, these sharp-eyed museum curators.

They show up to South Floridas historic events and obtain items, most recently collecting signs and other objects from the Donald Trump supporters and protesters who converged in downtown Miami.

These workers with the HistoryMiami Museum set forth on Tuesday amid the Trump crowd, aware it was a historic day for a former president to be arraigned in federal court on criminal charges. They approached demonstrators and asked if theyd want to donate their signs and apparel that embody the event. Some items collected were lock him up signs and Blacks for Trump shirts.

When major events are happening in our community, were out here on the front lines collecting items that are very representative of the present moment, said Michele Reese Granger, the marketing and communications director at the museum.

Because many were still in the process of using these items, the history scouts left their card in case those in the crowd wanted to donate their items later.

From Tuesdays protests, the museum was able to acquire the LiBERTAD cap worn by a man donning a real severed pig head on a stick. He offered to donate the pig head too, but the museum declined. Other items were those expressing support for the former president, including an I stand with Trump sign and a Blacks for Trump T-shirt.

These artifacts join the 30,000 other items in the museums collection, not counting the millions of archived photos and newspaper records.

Michael Knoll, the vice president of strategic initiatives and senior curator, isnt shy to leave his office and actively document history in the field. He was there for the Trump arraignment, convincing people to donate their pieces of Miamis story.

Some people find the item too meaningful at that moment and want to keep it, he said. But most people understand what were doing and the historical significance of their items.

Some have even donated their belongings years after being contacted, Knoll said.

The museums team on the field, or rapid response collectors, have had people on the ground for various chapters of Miamis history, including the Black Lives Matter protests and early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They were there when the Surfside condominium collapsed in 2021, collecting items such as family photographs and childrens toys.

We have to think, How is someone 100 years from now going to tell this story? and we prepare for that, Knoll said. But because history tends to come with nuance and constantly evolves, capturing the various perspectives of the moment is key, Knoll said.

For example, in their exhibit for 2020, they gathered Black Lives Matter signs, political masks, COVID-19 warning posters, vaccine vials, and campaign ads for various candidates.

As of now, the items, now artifacts, are not destined for any specific gallery or exhibition, but 25 years later may play a part in telling the tale of 2023.

As long as were telling the story of Miami, these things dont necessarily have to be that old, Knoll said.

And as that story develops, items from Trumps arraignment now sit in the bowels of the Miami History Museum alongside artifacts from the first humans in Florida.
As the nation celebrates Juneteenth, its time to get rid of these three myths about slavery

As the nation celebrates Juneteenth, its time to get rid of these three myths about slavery

Temple Tempie Cummins stoically stares at the camera with her arms folded in her lap, sitting stiffly in a chair in her dusty, barren backyard with her weather-beaten wooden shack behind her. Her dark, creased face reflects years of poverty and worry.

The faded black and white image of Cummins from 1937 was snapped by a historian who stopped by her home in Jasper, Texas, to ask her about her childhood during slavery. Cummins, who did not know her exact age, shared stories of uninterrupted woe until she recounted how she and her mother discovered that they had been freed.

She said her mother, a cook for their former slave owners family, liked to hide in the chimney corner to eavesdrop on dinner conversations. One day in 1865, she overheard her owner say that slavery had ended, but he wasnt going to let his slaves know until they harvested another crop or two.

When mother heard that she say she slip out the chimney corner and crack her heels together four times and shouts, Is free, Is free,  Cummins told the historian, who recorded her story for a New Deal writers project that collected the narratives of the formerly enslaved during the Great Depression. Then she runs to the field, gainst marsters will and tol all the other slaves and they quit work.

That story is one of the first recorded memoires of an experience that would inspire the creation of Juneteenth, an annual holiday celebrating the end of slavery that the US will commemorate this Monday. It marks the moment in June of 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free by executive decree. Many people like Cummins in remote areas of Texas and elsewhere did not know that they were free as their White owners hid the news from them.

Tempie Cummins, who was formerly enslaved, shared her story with a historian who recorded it for a New Deal writers' project. - Library of Congress

Juneteenth has since become known as Americas Second Independence Day. Now a federal holiday, it will be celebrated by parades, proclamations, and ceremonies throughout the US. Though it commemorates a moment when enslaved African Americans were freed, the US is still held captive by several myths about slavery and people like Cummins.

One of the biggest myths that historians and storytellers have successfully challenged in recent years is that enslaved African Americans were docile, passive victims who had to wait until White abolitionists and The Great Emancipator Abraham Lincoln freed them. Black soldiers, for example, played a pivotal role in winning the Civil War. This new understanding of slavery has led to a rhetorical shift: Its no longer proper to refer to people like Cummins as simply slaves.

Theres been a shift in the historical community attempting to not define the period or the people by what was done to them in the sense that their identity becomes a noun, a slave, but rather that they are that they were in the process of being enslaved, says Tobin Miller Shearer, a historian and director of African American Studies at the University of Montana.

There were slavers who did that to them, he says, but theres more to their identity than what was being done to them.

Yet other myths about slavery persist, in part, because of the sheer enormity and brutality of slavery.

The enslavement of an estimated ten million Africans over a period of almost four centuries in the Atlantic slave trade was a tragedy of such scope that it is difficult to imagine, much less comprehend, Albert J. Raboteau wrote in Slave Religion: The Invisible Institution in the Antebellum South.

Here are three other myths about slavery that historians say persist:

Myth No. 1: African Americans were freed after the Civil War ended

There is a popular conception that the formerly enslaved were freed after the Civil War ended. But many had to continually fight for their freedom because so many Whites still tried to keep them in captivity and were willing to use deceit and violence to do so.

The author Clint Smith described this dynamic in his New York Times bestselling book, How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with The History of Slavery Across America. Smith said the Juneteenth jubilation didnt last for many formerly enslaved people. Former Confederate soldiers still tried to round up Black runaways to return them to their owners though that term no longer had any legal merit. And White vigilantes tracked down and punished formerly enslaved people.

Smith unearthed the narrative of a woman named Susan Merritt of Rusk Country, Texas, who recounted what happened when some people like Cummins in Texas tried to claim their freedom:

Lots of Negroes were killed after freedombushwhacked, shot down while they were trying to get away, Merritt said. You could see lots of Negroes hanging from trees in Sabine bottom right after freedom. They would catch them swimming across Sabine River and shoot them.

A sketch of "Celebration of The Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia by the Colored People, in Washington, April 19, 1866" by Frederick Dielman. The fight for freedom continued after the Civil War ended. - Sepia Times/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

And then there was the practice of taking away Black freedom through other means, like convict-leasing programs and a corrupt justice system throughout the South that the historian Douglas A. Blackmon documented in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery By Another Name.

The lesson from history: Slavery didnt end with the Emancipation Proclamation. Black people still had to literally fight for their freedom long afterward. Smith quotes the historian W. Caleb McDaniel who wrote:

Slavery did not end cleanly or on a single day. It ended through a violent, uneven process.

Myth No. 2: Enslaved Africans came to America without any culture or civilization

Mention slavery and it still evokes images of half-naked Africans stumbling onto the American shores, struggling to learn to read and write in a strange and alien land. The focus of many stories about the formerly enslaved is what was taken from them. But they gave plenty to America in ways that are still not appreciated.

Captive Africans who came here didnt need to be civilized. They came to the US as fully formed individuals, not blank canvases, with their own cultures and specialized knowledge, says Leslie Wilson, a historian at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

The thumbprints of the culture that formerly enslaved people created are now stamped on virtually every facet of American culture, Wilson says. By the Civil War, Black people had already changed American concepts of architecture, burial, music, storytelling and medicine, Wilson says.

Much of Southern culture is nothing more than blackness, Wilson says. It is the blues and jazz of the 19th century and the rock and roll of the 20th. It is the chicken and grits, the way that people rock in church or the cadence of the pastor.

If that sounds like hyperbole, consider how much of Americans contemporary landscape is shaped by the legacy of the formerly enslaved:

The Statue of Liberty was originally created to commemorate freed enslaved people, not the arrival of immigrants.

An enslaved person called Onesimus changed the way Americans treated epidemics, pioneering a technique to prevent the spread of smallpox that he had learned from his native West Africa.

Country music owes much of its musical legacy to the influence of the formerly enslaved. The banjo, for example, is a descendant of an instrument that was brought to America by enslaved West Africans and many of the genres earliest hits were adapted from slave spirituals.

Bugs Bunny cartoons and other stories like Brer Rabbit featuring clever, talking animals were originally inspired by African folktales first told by enslaved people.

Brer Rabbit chatting with little rabbit children in an illustration for the book, "Uncle Remus and Friends" by Joel C. Harris (1848-1908.) Such stories were inspired by African folktales originally told by enslaved people. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Black and White culture is so intertwined that the cultural critic, Albert Murray, declared in his book, The Omni-Americans, that American culture is incontestably mulatto. White and Black people in the US resemble nobody else in the world so much as they resemble each other.

The United States is in actuality not a nation of black people and white people. It is a nation of multicolored people, Murray wrote. Any fool can see that the white people are not really white, and that black people are not black. They are all interrelated one way or another.

Myth No. 3: Enslaved Africans were brainwashed by a White mans pie-in-the sky Christianity

In the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, there is a special exhibit of an artifact that is so rare that there are only a handful now in existence. It is what historians call a Slave Bible. It is a copy of a Bible that was used by British missionaries to convert enslaved African Americans. Published in 1807, the Bible deletes any passages that may inspire liberation  about 90% of the Old Testament is missing along with half of the New Testament.

They literally blacked out, portions of the Bible that had anything to do with freedom, anything to do with equality, anything to do with God delivering folk, says Leon Harris, a theology professor at Biola University in California.

There is misconception that Christianity was successfully used to create docile slaves who were conditioned to heed New Testament passages such as slaves obey your earthly masters. Malcolm X derided Christianity as a White mans religion used to brainwash Black people to shout and sing and pray until we die for some dreamy heaven-in-the-hereafter while the White man has his milk and honey in the streets paved with golden dollars right here on this earth!

But historians like Harris say most slaves disdained the type of Christianity that was taught to them. Many instead discovered those missing passages in the Slave Bible, such as the Old Testament stories of God freeing the Israelites from Egyptian captivity. Its no accident that many Black leaders who have led freedom struggles, from Nat Turner to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., were Christian ministers.

Instead of Christianity being a religion of African oppression, many interpreted it as a religion of freedom, Harris says.

A "Slave Bible" published in 1808, right, with all references to freedom from slavery removed, is displayed at an exhibition in the Lambeth Palace Library in London. - Kin Cheung/AP

The historical record shows that enslaved African Americans revitalized Christianity in other ways, historians say. They injected emotionalism and an emphasis on ecstatic worship into evangelical Christianity that can still be seen in how many White Pentecostal worship today. And Negro spirituals, often called the nations first musical form unique to America, continue to be sung throughout churches of all races and ethnicities today.

Former slaves remade Christianity  it didnt remake them, says Raboteau, author of Slave Religion. He wrote that it had a this-worldly impact:

To describe slave religion as merely otherworldly is inaccurate, for the slaves believed that God had acted, was acting, and would continue to act within human history and within their own particular history as a peculiar people just as long ago he had acted on behalf of another chosen people, biblical Israel, Raboteau wrote.

This year, Juneteenth comes at a time when White educators and politicians are passing laws that ban the teaching of Black history in schools that could make White students or others feel discomfort. How many students will be able to learn about the resilience of the formerly enslaved?

Thats a question that no holiday celebration can answer. But one historical debate has been settled:

Even as the stories of the formerly enslaved are forgotten by history, we live in a contemporary America that was profoundly shaped by how they resisted captivity  whether some of us care to know it or not.

John Blake is a Senior Writer at CNN and the author of More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.

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WASHINGTON  The most significan news coming out of the nation's capital this week was the U.S. Supreme Court's 7-2 decision in the Brackeen v. Haaland case that was released on Thursday. The decision upholds the constiutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country this past week.

Janie Simms Hipp Will Leave USDA General Counsel Positioin Next Month

As reported in Native News Online's sister publication, Tribal Business News, the first Native American woman to serve as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will leave her position at the end of next month.

An announcement by the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) reported that Janie Simms Hipp (Chickasaw) will depart from her position at USDA effective July 31 to head up a new financial services organization that will fund Native farmers and ranchers.

Her planned exit, confirmed by a USDA spokesperson, was announced internally to agency staff earlier this week. The announcement comes just over two years after President Biden announced he would nominate Hipp, who was confirmed in July 2021.

Update  FCC Tribal Workshop to be Held July 12-13 (change from June 29, 2023) in Washington State

The Federal Communications Commissions Office of Native Affairs and Policy announced on Friday that the FCC Tribal Workshop will be hosted by the Lummi Nation in Ferndale, Washington on July 12-13, 2023 (originally scheduled for June 29, 2023).

In addition to workshop training sessions, the event will include a listening session inviting tribal comments on current FCC initiatives to promote equal access to broadband and eliminate digital discrimination.

The event page (which includes a Public Notice and registration information for this workshop) is here: https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2023/06/fcc-tribal-workshop-ferndale-washington

When: Wednesday, July 12 (all day) and Thursday, July 13 (9:00 am - 12 noon)

Where: Silver Reef Casino Resort, 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale, WA 98248

What: FCC staff will provide presentations on a broad range of important FCC initiatives that impact Tribal Nations. A training on data and mapping and working with the FCC will be covered on the second day.

Who: Tribal leaders, tribal IT managers, government and community planners and managers, Tribal enterprise specialists, and representatives of tribal social service agencies, schools, and libraries should consider attending this event.

Ranking Member Grijalva Announces New Subcommittee Staff Director for Indian Affairs

The House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) on Wednesday announced Bobby Ahern as the new Subcommittee Staff Director for Indian Affairs on the Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. Brian Modeste remains the Subcommittee Staff Director for Insular Affairs.

Ahern, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Oregon, comes to the Committee from Senator Ron Wydens (D-Ore.) office, where he has served as Senior Policy Advisor for natural resources, agriculture, and tribal policy issues since 2019. Before coming to the Hill, Ahern spent nearly two years at the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) as a Congressional Relations Coordinator, working to advance tribal health priorities nationally.

Bobbys range of policy experience and clear commitment to Indian Country will be a tremendous asset to the Committees work to strengthen tribal sovereignty and honor our trust and treaty responsibilities, Ranking Member Grijalva said. We are lucky to have him joining the team.

Legislation Introduced for Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act

On Wednesday, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill will secure the Fort Belknap Indian Communitys (FBIC) Indian water rights, invest in critical water infrastructure, avoid litigation, and provide economic opportunities for FBIC and communities across the Hi-Line.

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The bill includes Congressional ratification of the 2001 Water Compact between FBIC, the State of Montana, and the Federal government. The Compact was overwhelmingly approved by the State legislature on a bi-partisan basis. The bill affirms Indian water rights secured in the Compact and provides federal funding to settle over 100 years of U.S. mismanagement of FBICs water rights.

"We are grateful to Senators Tester and Daines for introducing our Indian water rights settlement bill and appreciate the work of Governor Gianforte and the rest of the Montana delegation for their support," said FBIC Tribal Council President Jeff Stiffarm. "We have worked extensively with our tribal community, Milk River water users, other irrigators, the Department of Interior, and the State of Montana to negotiate the settlement of our Indian water rights. This bill would benefit the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) for generations to come and boost the regional economy with funding for infrastructure projects. Benefits to FBIC's Southern and Northern Communities include new updated irrigation projects, safe drinking water, and the ability to provide services such as stock water and agriculture projects. We need Congressional approval to finally settle our Indian water rights and secure this sacred resource for future generations."

The bill will finally settle the FBICs water rights that were at the heart of the 1908 U.S. Supreme Court case, Winters v. United States. This important case held that treaties and agreements between tribes and the U.S. to establish Indian reservations included the water rights needed for the tribes to make permanent homelands. Under the Winters Doctrine, tribes across the U.S. have entered into water rights settlements as a means to define and secure legal recognition of their Indian water rights, funding for water development projects, and certainty for state water users.

Federal funding in the bill will be used to update and expand the long neglected federal Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project and ensure clean and safe drinking water on the Fort Belknap Reservation that the U.S. promised to provide FBIC. The bill also restores tribal homelands.

USDA to Host Tribal Consultation on Proposed Rule to the Rural Business Development Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a virtual tribal consultation and listening session on July 12 for elected leaders of federally recognized Tribes or their proxies to provide feedback on a proposal to expand eligibility for Tribes under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program.

These grants create jobs, spur economic growth and support enterprise projects in rural and Tribal communities. The proposed USDA changes will expand eligibility definitions under the program to enable more Tribal government-owned entities to qualify for funding.

The USDA plans to:

 Expand the Small and Emerging Business definition to include Tribal governments and Tribal-owned entities.

 Clarify the definition for Conflict of Interest to explain how the agency defines the relationship between Tribal nations and their Tribal-owned entities.

During this consultation, Tribal leaders will learn more about the proposed changes and can make recommendations relating to the proposed amendments. The Tribal consultation portion of the session will take place first and is reserved for dialogue between the USDA Consulting Officials and Tribal officials and/or their delegated proxies only. The consultation will be followed by a listening session where other stakeholders and representatives from Indian Country will have the opportunity to contribute recommendations and feedback.

To learn more, read full Tribal Consultation and Listening Session

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Jens Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has cast doubt on a peace plan proposed by African leaders for Ukraine, saying freezing the conflict and allowing Russian troops to remain on Ukrainian territory would be unfair on Ukraine.

Everyone wants the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, but a peaceful settlement must be fair, Stoltenberg said in an interview published by German newspaper Die Welt on June 18.

Speaking about the so-called peace plan proposed by African leaders for Ukraine, the NATGO chief warned of the danger of rushing into peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

"We all want this war to end," NATO chief said. But for peace to last, it must be fair.

Read also: Chinese leader Xi backs African nations' plan to restart Ukrainian-Russian peace talks

Stoltenberg then said that peace cannot mean freezing the conflict in its current state, with Russia controlling portions of Ukrainian territory and being forced to accept agreements dictated by Russia.

"Only Ukraine can determine the conditions that are acceptable to it," the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg also said that the success of the Ukrainian army in de-occupying its territories would strengthen Kyiv's position in peace talks.

"The more occupied territories Ukraine is able to liberate, the better position it will have at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace," he said.

On June 16, the leaders of six African countries arrived in Kyiv to launch a new initiative for peace in Ukraine. It provides for the start of "negotiations" with Russia  even if the Russian invasion forces do not leave the territory of Ukraine.

Read also: Zelenskyy calls on African leaders to get behind Ukrainian peace formula

In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited African leaders to join the Global Peace Summit based on the Ukrainian peace formula  which has the complete de-occupation of all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, as one of its conditions.

The Ukrainian President's Office highlighted that Ukraine is ready to listen to all peace formulas offered by other states, but that only the Ukrainian one can actually be applied.

On June 17, the African delegation arrived in Moscow, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to return to peace talks with Ukraine and end the war.

Putin gave no commitment to do so.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Stoltenberg met with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov in Brussels on June 15

Stoltenberg said that this move will enable the Ukrainian Defense Forces to meet NATO standards and aims to strengthen political ties during the summit.

Read also: Biden backs Ukraines simplified accession to NATO after war  media reports

This will bring Ukraine closer to NATO, said the secretary general.

Stoltenberg underscored that Ukraines future lies within NATO, but currently, the countrys main priority is establishing itself as a sovereign and independent state.

Without achieving this, membership discussions are not possible. We must ensure robust security measures are in place after the end of this conflict to prevent Russia from rearming and launching another attack, thereby breaking the cycle of Russian aggression, he said.

Read also: Polish parliament passes resolution backing Ukraine's NATO membership

The NATO Summit is scheduled to take place on July 11-12 in Vilnius. Kyiv has said it hopes to receive a clear signal during the summit that it will be allowed to join the alliance.

Stoltenberg has previously affirmed that such a signal will be given.

However, U.S. news website Politico has reported that Western allies still lack a unified position on the security guarantees requested by Ukraine, just five weeks ahead of the summit.

And according to U.S. newspaper the Wall Street Journal, before Ukraines joins NATO, Western countries will propose a security model for Ukraine similar to the one previously given to Israel. This model would facilitate the transfer of weapons and advanced technologies to Kyiv, representing a step towards membership of the alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that if Ukraine does not receive a clear signal regarding its membership, he sees no point in attending the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

Read also: Ukraine wants swift NATO membership to thwart Russian aggression and protect Baltic allies

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Navy base put up a wall to ward off stray bullets. Locals say that doesn't solve gun violence.

More than 20 shipping containers line the south side of a Navy base in Gulfport, Mississippi. Theyre not there to transport goods, but instead stand as a silent marker of the gun violence afflicting the states second-largest city.

The hulking boxes were put in place last fall, after gunfire at a subsidized apartment complex across the street damaged five homes inside the Naval Construction Battalion Center; no one was hurt. The base responded by increasing patrols around its perimeter and making one of the most fortified areas of Gulfport even more so.

The optics of that are very bad, said John Whitfield, a pastor and the CEO of Climb CDC, a nearby nonprofit focusing on workforce development. The practicality of it, I understand.

A spokesperson at the base said the barrier is meant to be a temporary solution and that the city had offered assurances that it was addressing the gun violence issue. Still, the Navy is considering building a permanent concrete wall.

The force protection of our base, personnel, and families is our highest priority, Becky Shaw, the spokesperson, said in an email.

The shipping containers are just one indicator of the grinding toll of gunfire afflicting parts of Gulfport, a vibrant beach town of about 72,000 on Mississippis Gulf Coast.

Residents and workers in the citys most impoverished areas detailed the recurring snap of gunshots, incidents in which apartments have been struck by stray rounds, and the increasing frustration of the young and old alike having to scramble for cover when someone opens fire. They also described the dual tragedies of teens losing their lives at the hands of their peers, who end up facing lengthy sentences in prison.

Pastor John Whitfield at Morning Star Baptist Church in Gulfport, Miss. (L. Kasimu Harris for NBC News)

A decade ago, Gulfport, where more than half of residents are white and nearly 40% are Black, reported two or three homicides a year. Since 2019, there have been at least 10 killings per year.

In a city where about 26% of residents live in poverty, many see a link between economic hardship and gun violence.

Some of our children and some of your young people are just helpless and hopeless, said Sonya Williams Barnes, a former legislator who lives in Gulfport and is the Mississippi state policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Gulfport is three hours south of Jackson, the capital, where the homicide rate is more than six times higher than in Gulfport. But while Jackson has had a more visible struggle with public safety, residents and community leaders in this coastal town say they, too, have grappled with gun violence for years.

Late Thursday evening, two people were injured in a shooting at a birthday party a few blocks from the Navy base's shipping containers, and shortly afterward a 20-year-old man was shot and killed in a separate incident nearby.

On April 30, a pregnant 16-year-old, JaKamori Lake, was shot and killed in another part of Gulfport; police charged a 15-year-old in her death. A few days earlier, Gulfport police arrested a seventh suspect from a New Years Eve 2021 shooting that left four people dead.

It may not be as bad as Jackson, it may not be as bad as Memphis, Tennessee, but weve got that problem, said Louis Gholar, president of the West Gulfport Civic Club, who helped organize an upcoming community meeting about violence prevention. I think not just in Gulfport  the whole coast has that problem.

In April, five people were injured in a shooting during the popular Black Spring Break event in Biloxi. Two weeks later, a 19-year-old gunman in Bay St. Louis allegedly shot and killed two teenagers and injured four others at an after-prom party. And in May, a shooting during a Cinco de Mayo party at an Ocean Springs bar left a 19-year-old dead and six others wounded.

Tia Mosley, whose 17-year-old son, Caleb, was killed two years ago in a drive-by shooting in Gulfport, said that every time she opens Facebook and sees more news of local violence, anxiety washes over her.

It makes me not want my daughter to go outside at all, she said of her 11-year-old. All you can do is pray.

Tia Mosley with her daughter. Mosley's 17-year-old son Caleb was killed two years ago in a drive-by shooting. (L. Kasimu Harris for NBC News)

Gholar is troubled that many of the victims and suspects in Gulfport in recent years have been teens. Last October, a Gulfport police officer shot and killed a 15-year-old who officials say was armed; a grand jury declined to indict the officer.

Were losing our young people too fast, too quick, Gholar said. They dont even get a chance to live.

Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes, a Republican who is in his third term, agrees that gun violence is a concern. In some cases, issues arise when apartment complexes lack adequate security, his staff said. The mayors office also mentioned boys and girls club programs for at-risk youth and said churches have stepped up to offer support.

But the mayor believes the solution is more a matter of personal responsibility  parents keeping a closer eye on their teenagers and intervening if they discover guns.

Thats where I think we start having problems, when we rely on government to solve everything, he said. Quite frankly, what Ive seen and experienced and believe is that it starts at home.

The William Bell apartment complex in Gulfport, Miss. (L. Kasimu Harris for NBC News)

In Gaston Point, a historically Black middle-class neighborhood in Gulfport, some say thats just part of the picture.

Martha Lockhart-Mais, a retired schoolteacher, said its also a question of how parents are supported in caring for their children. Teens need somewhere safe to go after school, she said.

Others in the community mentioned the need for mentors and conflict resolution resources. Some suggested restorative justice, which allows for teens accused of nonviolent crimes to be subjected to an alternative criminal justice system.

Lockhart-Mais, who said one of her former students was shot and killed last year and several others have been involved in shootings, lives not far from the Navy base and the shipping containers.

I dont like walls that separate people, she said. I feel that people should be able to live together without having a barrier.

Ahead of last week's shootings, she and other neighborhood residents said the previously frequent gunshots had tapered off after the wall of containers was put up last fall.

William Bell Apartments, where much of that gunfire originated, has increased its security, local officials said, and the city has banned parking in a nearby zone to prevent loitering.

Several miles away, in another part of West Gulfport, Bettie Ewing, a retired housing rights organizer, is frustrated by how quickly the shipping containers went up to protect the Navy families, when theres nothing similar to keep her home safe.

She said the barrier sent a message: Were going to protect the military, but the civilians, were just going to let them be.

Bettie Ewing lives at the Emerald Pines apartment complex in Gulfport, Miss. (L. Kasimu Harris for NBC News)

Since 2020, three people have been shot and killed at Emerald Pines, the subsidized apartment complex where Ewing lives. This year, the Gulfport Police Departments online crime map notes seven incidents of shots fired on the blocks around the complex, though Ewing and others said the gunfire is more frequent.

A spokesperson for Emerald Pines management company said the company uses security cameras and has requested increased police presence near the complex.

A spokesperson for the Gulfport Police Department said officials meet regularly with the complexs management, but that having an onsite surveillance system is not the entire solution.

Management must limit access to the complex and hold problem tenants and their guests accountable, Gulfport Police Sgt. Jason DuCre said in an email.

Emerald Pines is in a census tract where almost 60% of residents live in poverty, more than twice the rate in Gulfport overall.

Jalisa Jackson, a certified nursing assistant who moved into the complex this year, said one shooting left a bullet hole near her door. On another occasion, while she was hosting a girls night, she and her guests scrambled to the floor after hearing gunfire. By the time bullets flew past her window, the mother of four had had enough.

Just because were in a neighborhood like this doesnt mean we should be subjected to harm, she said. Jackson added, Were in the crossfire and its not fair.

Jackson recently moved her family two hours away to McComb, Mississippi, where she currently works.

A

When considering how to stop gun violence, few in Gulfport mention gun control. Some said theyd like to see a waiting period for firearm purchases, but the Republican-led state has an open-carry law, and a 2020 attempt to restrict access to guns for those who may be in danger of harming themselves failed in the Legislature.

State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III, a Democrat from Gulfport, said he wants to see fewer guns on the street. The representative, who operates a food assistance nonprofit and also offers firearm training courses, added that he supports a gun buyback program, better mental health services and more funding for the states crime lab, which has struggled with a backlog of autopsies.

In some of the most vulnerable blocks in Gulfport, Hulum added, there are aging apartments that should be torn down. People there are already going through life with life hitting them with generational neglect, he said.

Tia Mosley carries the ashes of her son, Caleb, in a necklace. (L. Kasimu Harris for NBC News)

Gulfport native Jeffery Hill had just graduated high school when he was convicted of manslaughter, ultimately spending 22 years in prison.

He believes there needs to be more assistance for people trying to climb out of poverty, including better transportation to get to work. He also wants to see more spaces for teens to hang out, like arcades and community gyms.

Hill, who was released in 2017 and now lives in Laurel, about 100 miles away, still has family in Gulfport. He hopes to return in the coming months to speak with young adults at William Bell Apartments about handling disputes without violence.

I am the perfect example of what guns can cost you in life, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his government intends to move ahead on contentious plans to change the country's judicial system after talks aimed at finding a compromise solution appeared to be crumbling.

The government's plans to overhaul the judiciary plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises ever earlier this year. Negotiations between the government and opposition parties somewhat alleviated the crisis with attempts to find a middle ground over proposed changes to the countrys justice system.

Those talks were jolted last week over a crisis surrounding the powerful regular committee responsible for picking the countrys judges. Opposition leaders said negotiations were frozen until the committee is formed.

At a meeting of his Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said the opposition hadn't been negotiating in good faith and that his government would move ahead cautiously on the overhaul.

This week, we will begin the practical steps. We will do them in a measured way, responsibly, but in accordance with the mandate we received to make corrections to the justice system, he said.

Netanyahu put the overhaul on hold in March after mass protests erupted in opposition to it. The decision to move ahead is likely to flare tensions and fuel the protest movement that has continued to demonstrate each Saturday, despite the plan being paused.

Protest leaders said they were ready for another round of demonstrations that would make sure every attempt to harm Israel's democratic justice system will fail.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whose party had been negotiating with Netanyahu, said moving ahead unilaterally on the plan will critically harm the economy, endanger security and rip the Israeli people to shreds.

Netanyahu's government, composed of ultranationalist and ultra-religious parties, faced harsh opposition to the overhaul plan when it was announced earlier this year. Leading economists, top legal officials and former defense officials warned of dangerous consequences to the country's future. Even Israel's chief international ally, the U.S., expressed concern.

The government says the plan is necessary to restore power to elected officials and weaken, what it says, is an interventionist Supreme Court.

Critics say the plan would upend Israel's delicate system of checks and balances and push the country toward authoritarianism.

Netanyahu backed down after mass spontaneous protests erupted and a general strike was called for after he fired his defense minister who dissented from the plan over widespread threats by military reservists to not show up for duty if the overhaul was approved.

The committee for appointing judges  which, among other things, approves the makeup of the Supreme Court  has been a central battleground in the overhaul plan.

Both the governing coalition and the opposition traditionally are represented on the nine-member committee. But proponents of the overhaul had demanded that the coalition control both positions, drawing accusations that Netanyahu and his allies were trying to stack the judiciary with cronies.

Last week, the Parliament appointed the opposition representative to the committee but the second vacancy was not filled, prompting a delay to when the committee can resume its work.

Each side accused the other of blowing up the talks with the results of the committee appointments.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanons top Christian cleric said on Sunday the constitution and democratic system had been violated in "cold blood" during a failed attempt to elect a new president last week, and warned that divisions in the nation had widened.

Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai spoke in his first sermon since the Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its closest allies thwarted an attempt by factions including the main Christian parties to elect an IMF official as president.

Wednesday's events marked the 12th time parliament failed to elect someone to the post - reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon's sectarian system and vacant since the term of the Hezbollah-allied Michel Aoun ended in October.

Rai, a critic of the heavily-armed Hezbollah, called Wednesday's session a "farce".

Rai has previously voiced criticism of Hezbollah, including in 2021 when it launched rockets at Israel.

The standoff has played out along sectarian lines with Christian parties supporting Jihad Azour, the IMF's Middle East director and an ex-finance minister, and Shi'ite factions Hezbollah and Amal against him.

Rai said the "wound" of division had widened at a time when unity was needed in Lebanon, which has been mired in a financial crisis since 2019.

Rai did not explain what he meant by the violation at the parliamentary session. Azour won votes from 59 of 128 lawmakers, short of the 86 needed to win a first round vote. Suleiman Frangieh, a Hezbollah-backed Christian, got 51.

The Hezbollah-allied Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri ended the session when Hezbollah and its allies withdrew, denying a quorum for a second round when 65 votes are needed to win.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi, in his Sunday sermon, criticised Hezbollah and its allies without naming them, saying those who withdrew appeared "uninterested" in Lebanon.

Some pro-Azour lawmakers demanded a recount or a fresh vote after it emerged that a ballot was missing. Berri refused, saying this would not change the result.

Hezbollah and its allies attacked Azour, calling him a candidate of confrontation. Without naming him, Lebanon's Shi'ite mufti accused him of being backed by Israel.

(Reporting by Maya GebeilyWriting by Tom PerryEditing by Hugh Lawson and Frances Kerry)
Nicola Sturgeon speaking outside her home on June 18 - Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that she has done nothing wrong after returning home for the first time since her arrest last Sunday in connection with a police investigation into the SNPs finances.

The former first minister was questioned by detectives for more than seven hours a week ago as part of a police investigation into the SNPs finances. She temporarily moved out of her Glasgow home after being released without charge.

On Sunday, Ms Sturgeon told journalists gathered at the home she shares with husband Peter Murrell, in Uddingston, Lanarkshire: For now, I intend to go home and catch up with family. I know I am a public figure - I accept what comes with that. But Im also a human being that is entitled to a bit of privacy.

Asked if she had considered stepping back from the SNP, Ms Sturgeon added: I have done nothing wrong and that is the only thing I am going to assert today. She indicated her intention to be back in parliament this week.

She said last week: To find myself in the situation I did when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing. 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.

Nicola Sturgeon returned home for the first time since her arrest - Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon announced on February 15 that she would be standing down as both SNP leader and first minister once a successor was elected, with Humza Yousaf winning the contest to replace her.

She said at the time that she knew in my head and in my heart that it was the right time to go, and has since denied the timing was influenced by the ongoing police investigation. She was Scotlands longest-serving first minister and the only woman to have held the position.

On April 5, officers searched Ms Sturgeons home and the SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh.

Her husband, ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested before later being released without charge pending further investigation.

A luxury motorhome which costs about 110,000 was also seized by police from outside the home of Mr Murrells mother in Dunfermline.

Almost two weeks later, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested and released without charge while further inquiries were carried out. Mr Beattie resigned as party treasurer shortly afterwards.

Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were the three signatories on the SNPs accounts and the arrest of the former first minister had been widely expected - although there was no indication of when it was going to happen.

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Photo by Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Today, as Californians consider a reparations package that could reach $800 billion to pay for the harm the state has done to its African-American population on matters ranging from over-policing to housing discrimination, theres a pro-reparations argument that needs to be revived. Its that made by Ronald Reagan 35 years ago.

With Californias Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans getting ready to submit a draft of its report to the state legislature by late June, Reagans argument has become more relevant than ever. For here we right a wrong, Reagan declared in 1988, as his second term as president was nearing its end. Reagan spoke these words to mark his signing of a bill designed to provide restitution for the World War II internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry.

At a time when those making the case for reparations are accused of being woke, we forget the heartfelt case for payments combining restitution and reparations that Reagan made without fearing he would lose his credentials as a political conservative.

How Japanese Americans Survived Internment in WW2

The decision to remove Japanese Americans from their homes during World War II reflected long standing anti-Asian prejudices. The Roosevelt administration contended that Japanese Americans posed a danger to the country in case of a Japanese attack on Americas West Coast. But there was no comparable treatment of German Americans or Italian Americans despite the United States also being at war with Germany and Italy.

Reagans speech is one that few want to recall because of the racism it calls attention to, but the speech is a lesson in how to deal with history we would like to have back. At the speechs core lies Reagans belief that, while we cannot undo the wrongs of the past, we can mitigate their continuing impact.

In his address to the nation in 1988, Reagan managed to apologize for government wrongdoing and argue that his apology left America stronger. So what is most important in this bill has less to do with property than with honor, Reagan declared. We reaffirm our commitment as a nation to equal justice under the law.

The timing of Reagans speech is noteworthy. It came decades before the Supreme Court in 2018 explicitly repudiated the Roosevelt-era Supreme Courts 1944 Korematsu decision sanctioning the wartime internment of Japanese Americans. In words that echo Reagans, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. described Korematsu as morally repugnant and gravely wrong the day it was decided.

Prior to 2018 the strongest legal dissent from the Korematsu decision was the confession of error that the Justice Department issued in 2011 when it acknowledged the misleading role the Solicitor General had played in 1944 in defending the internment of Japanese Americans.

Reagan began his 1988 speech by describing the cruelty of the internment that the government was now seeking to redress. He spoke of thousands of Americans of Japanese ancestry being removed from their homes and placed in makeshift internment camps solely because of their race.

The rush to internment began on February 19, 1942, 73 days after the United States entered World War II when President Franklin Roosevelt issued Order 9066. The order came with so little planning that for a time Japanese-American families were interned in the horse stables at Santa Anita race track. In his address Reagan believed it was important not to sugarcoat the emotional and economic impact of internment.

The redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II has meant tax-free payments of $20,000 to more than 82,000 claimants as a result of the 1988 act. The total amounts to over $1.6 billion.

Reagan was not put off by the cost of restitution, which in fact falls short of the amount of money lost by the men and women interned in the 1940s when put in current dollars. At the heart of Reagans speech was his belief that no payment can make up for those lost years.

Thirteen years after Ronald Reagans White House speech, the National Japanese-American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II opened in Washington on June 29, 2001. Unlike the memorials on the National Mall, the National Japanese-American Memorial does not immediately draw attention to itself. The memorial sits just north of the Capitol on a small triangle of land at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and D Street.

The 33,000 square-foot park and plaza that hold the memorial invite contemplation. Designed by Washington, D.C. architect Davis Buckley, the memorial, like Reagans speech, makes a point of being direct and elegiac about the injustices it addresses. On one of its walls are the names of the 10 internment camps where Japanese Americans were held during World War II, and at the center of the memorial is a bronze sculpture, The Golden Cranes, by Nina Akamu, whose grandfather died in an internment camp. Her sculpture consists of two cranes struggling to break free of the barbed wire that entangles them.

Ronald Reagan was not able to attend the opening of the Japanese-American Memorial, but he is present there. Words from his 1988 speech are inscribed on the edge of the memorial pool.

Reagan concluded his speech by recalling the time he attended a 1945 medal ceremony in Orange County, California, at which World War II General Joe Stillwell honored a Japanese-American military hero of the war in Europe with a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross. Reagans role at the 1945 medal ceremony, like that of the other celebrities there, was a minor one, but decades later, he saw his presence at the ceremony worth addressing.

In doing so, Reagan was not just personalizing his speech. He was making clear a lesson in continuity that is easy to forget: the burden of righting a historic wrong sanctioned by the government does not simply fall on those responsible for the wrong at the time it was committed. It falls on a state or nation owning up to its past.

Nicolaus Mills is author of Like a Holy Crusade: Mississippi 1964The Turning of the Civil Rights Movement in America. He is professor of American studies at Sarah Lawrence College.

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North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed GOP legislation on Friday that would ban the promotion of certain beliefs that some lawmakers have likened to critical race theory in state government workplaces.

The move sets up a likely veto override showdown with the General Assemblys Republican supermajority, which initially passed the measure by veto-proof margins in both chambers. While Cooper has used his bully pulpit to rally voters against the most controversial GOP bills passed this session, he has been unable to successfully block any this year.

Starting Dec. 1, anyone entering a state government workplace, such as a private contractor or a diversity trainer, would be prohibited by the bill from compelling employees to believe they should feel guilty or responsible for past actions committed by people of the same race or sex.

Cooper denounced the bill Friday as an attempt to suppress productive workplace discussions related to diversity, equity and inclusion. He criticized the Republican caucus for pretending that bias and racism dont exist when two of their members recently lost leadership positions over comments directed at Black colleagues.

ALSO READ: NC Gov. Cooper on 12-week abortion ban: I will never ever give up fighting

In North Carolina, the diversity of our people is a strength, Cooper said in a statement. This legislation attempts to eliminate training that can help us understand the unconscious bias we all bring to our work and our communities.

The bill would also prohibit hiring managers for state agencies, community colleges and the University of North Carolina system from compelling a job applicant to opine about their personal or political beliefs as a condition of employment.

Emails seeking comment were sent Friday to the offices of Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.

Critical race theory is an academic framework dating to the 1970s that centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that those institutions maintain the dominance of white people.

The theory is a way of analyzing American history through the lens of racism but has become a catch-all political buzzword for some conservatives who take issue with how schools and other public institutions have addressed diversity and inclusion.

VIDEO: NC Gov. Cooper on 12-week abortion ban: I will never ever give up fighting
Office of Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner says 240 children have been removed from the families of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries

The Office of Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner has obtained information about 240 incidents when social services in EU countries removed children from the families of Ukrainian refugees.

Source: Iryna Suslova, Representative for the Rights of Children, Families, Youth, and Sport, in an interview with Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty)

Quote from Suslova: "Differences in legislation have resulted in cases, in European countries, when children were removed from the custody of people with whom they were staying. As of now, we know of 240 such cases.

For example, this could happen in cases when the mother had to stay and work in Ukraine, sending her child abroad with their grandmother. If the grandmother does not have the power of attorney to represent her interests, and is not considered a relative of this child under European law, social services can involve the police and remove the child from the family."

Details: Suslova said that Ukraine could have been better prepared to deal with such cases.

"We had to let people know, to tell them: Dear friends, there are laws that mean you have to do such and such things in, for example, Germany. Or [to explain that] a person aged 65 and over cannot be a custodian of a child in Italy or France. The Commissioners office is trying to keep up to date with such things, to monitor the situation, and to give legal aid to women or families who have ended up in similar situations. We are currently working with international organisations to resolve these issues and to ensure that those who have ended up in similar situations can receive legal aid and interpreters," Suslova added.

She explained that the relatives of children who have been removed by European social services should get in touch with Ukrainian consulates in their respective countries and inform them about what happened. They can also appeal directly to the Human Rights Commissioners office.

Previously: In late May, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner, said that the Ukrainian government was aware of "several dozen" cases of children being removed from the families of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries.

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Yvonne Fletcher - The Telegraph

The police officer who cradled Yvonne Fletcher as she lay dying is bringing a private prosecution for conspiracy to murder against a close aide to Muammar Gaddafi.

Legal advice obtained by John Murray, a retired officer, has given the green light to bring a criminal case against Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk.

A groundbreaking civil case has already found Mabrouk responsible for Fletchers death. She was shot and killed by a bullet fired from the Libyan embassy as she policed a demonstration in April 1984.

Mabrouk was arrested in 2015, but the criminal case against him was dropped in 2017 after the Metropolitan Police was prevented from using key evidence on grounds of national security.

Sources have suggested that Mabrouk may have been recruited as a state asset and given some form of comfort letter that prevented the prosecution going ahead.

Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk

Mr Murray, 67, said: The legal advice we have had back gives us hope that a private prosecution will succeed.

It is clearly something we should not have to do because this case should have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). But we just want to see Mabrouk behind bars.

Lawyers for Mr Murray are currently acting pro bono but will begin crowdfunding to pay for what will likely be a costly case.

Mr Murrays legal team has obtained police and CPS files on the case but recognises it will need to track down witnesses so they can testify in court. In the case of witnesses who have since died, testimony taken at the time can be admitted.

His law firm, McCue Jury and Partners, obtained expert advice from an outside KC who concluded this was the last opportunity to get Mabrouk into a criminal court.

He denies all wrongdoing and is currently living in Libya, having been excluded from the UK in 2019.

In 2021  37 years after Fletcher was fatally wounded  the High Court found him jointly liable for her death.

Although the test for a conviction in the criminal courts is higher  cases have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, rather than on the balance of probabilities  Mr Justice Spencer said in his judgment I consider that the matter to which I am alluding also passes the criminal standard.

John Murray - Heathcliff O'Malley for The Telegraph

Prosecutions can be brought by individuals or organisations  such as animal cruelty cases prosecuted by the RSPCA  but individuals bringing cases have tended not to succeed in the past.

The most famous private prosecution was brought against the alleged killers of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, but it collapsed due to a lack of evidence. Convictions were only finally obtained many years later.

In the case of Fletcher, Mr Murray believes this is the last opportunity to obtain a criminal conviction.

Mabrouk, who lived in Reading, Berkshire, was not present when Fletcher was shot, having already been detained by the police prior to the demonstration.

But the High Court found he was part of a small cabal who ran the embassy on behalf of Gaddafi and that he had clearly assisted in the plan to shoot dissidents protesting outside the embassy on the day.

Matt Jury, managing partner of McCue Jury and Partners, said: The High Court ruling that found Saleh responsible for Yvonnes murder served to demonstrate a criminal trial can take place, with or without the so-called national security material.

So, will the Government continue to block Salehs extradition and prosecution and, if so, why? Johns campaign for justice is far from over. There remain too many unanswered questions.

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An overturned passenger bus is pictured at a road accident site in Chakwal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on June 17, 2023. At least 14 people were killed and over 20 others injured when a passenger bus turned turtle in Chakwal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Saturday, police officers said.

The accident took place on the motorway near Kallar Kahar area of the district when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure, leading to the tragic crash, Deputy Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police Muhammad Yusuf Malik told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, June 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and over 20 others injured when a passenger bus turned turtle in Chakwal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Saturday, police officers said.

The accident took place on the motorway near Kallar Kahar area of the district when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure, leading to the tragic crash, Deputy Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police Muhammad Yusuf Malik told Xinhua.

At least five women and three children are among the people who have lost their lives in the accident, the officer said, adding that the bus was on its way to Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, from the federal capital Islamabad when it met the accident.

Upon receiving the information, police and rescue workers reached the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital, where several passengers were said to be in critical condition.

Taking notice of the accident, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He sought a detailed report of the accident and directed authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the injured. 

A rescuer holds a child at a road accident site in Chakwal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on June 17, 2023. At least 14 people were killed and over 20 others injured when a passenger bus turned turtle in Chakwal district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Saturday, police officers said.

The accident took place on the motorway near Kallar Kahar area of the district when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure, leading to the tragic crash, Deputy Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police Muhammad Yusuf Malik told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)
Forest and Alison Foster wave at Judy the elephant, shown in this 1989 photo, before going off to enjoy the party Forest won by coming the closet to guessing Judy's weight in a recent contest. Judy the elephant was a popular resident at the Oklahoma City Zoo from 1949, when schoolchildren statewide raised $3,250 to bring her to the zoo, until her death in 1997.

The Pachyderm Building at the Oklahoma City Zoo, the one-time home of Judy the elephant and Matilda the hippopotamus, is set to reopen this summer after a $10 million renovation as an event center and exhibition space.

Dwight Lawson, zoo director, said the $10 million renovation preserves much of the buildings design as part of the building being listed in 2021 on the National Register of Historic Places. But visitors getting an early glimpse of the building are noticing a couple of big differences from when they toured the exhibits as kids.

Its climate controlled, and the smell is gone, Lawson said. As we toured people through, thats the comment always made. Its air-conditioned, and you cant smell anything anymore.

The safety moat that separated the elephants from zoo visitors will be covered with glass leading into the event space. The Pachyderm Building is being transformed into part of the new Expedition Africa exhibit that will open later this summer at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

The history of the building at the Oklahoma City Zoo

The building and the adjoining 1923 Clara Girvin bridge represent two significant eras for the zoo, which originally stood along the Oklahoma River. That location, opened in 1902, was relocated to higher ground at what was then known as Lincoln Park after a series of devastating floods.

The bridge once spanned a tributary of the zoo lake and was the main entry to the zoo when it opened at its new home in 1923. The Pachyderm Building, meanwhile, was built in 1962 and ensuing years as part of an expansion program funded through bonds passed by voters and contributions from schoolchildren.

Lawson said not much of the architecture of the Depression-era WPA era survives with the exception of the Zoo Amphitheatre. The Pachyderm Building also represents one of the only surviving examples of mid-century modern architecture at the zoo.

There is a big gap between the era of the WPA and the Pachyderm Building of the late 50s and the more recent spate of development that started in the 1990s when the sales tax kicked in.

More: OKC Zoo's new baby chimp makes public debut

The back side that led into the outside pens of the old Pachyderm Building at the Oklahoma City Zoo is pictured June 6. The building is being transformed into part of the new Expedition Africa exhibit.

Architectural historian Cynthia Savage, who wrote the National Register application, said the building deserved being listed due to its distinctive, zigzag, multi-level, yet single story design, and a facade consisting of fieldstone and concrete.

The building also was home to two of the best-known residents of the zoo, Judy the elephant and Matilda the hippopotamus.

More than 50,000 children across the state raised $3,250, mostly in pennies, nickels and dimes, in 1949 to bring a young Asian elephant named Judy after the passing of another elephant that arrived at the zoo shortly after it moved to Lincoln Park.

By the time the Pachyderm Building opened, Judy the elephant was the zoos top attraction. Judys trainer, Bert Pettus, taught Judy to do tricks, and he and Judy often made visits to schools and public events.

The old Pachyderm Building, which is being transformed into part of the new Expedition Africa exhibit at the Oklahoma City Zoo is pictured June 6.

A similar fundraising campaign led to the arrival of Matilda the hippopotamus in 1953. Another $3,000 was raised with help of 10-year-old Gayla Peevy, who performed a national hit song All I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."

Matilda made headlines again in 1967 when, resettled into the Pachyderm Building, she married Norman Houston, her mail-order husband. Together, the pair produced nine offspring.

Both animals passed away in 1997 at a time when the zoo was undergoing the start of an extensive rebuilding, funded by a dedicated sales tax, that continues with creation of the African Exhibition.

What's new at the Pachyderm Building, Clara Girvin Bridge at the OKC Zoo

The Pachyderm Building and the Clara Girvin bridge are a part of the exhibition, which is set to open this summer. The building is being reimagined with animal habitat spaces where guests can enjoy up-close views of iconic African species, an expanded outdoor veranda offering open views of the zoos multi-species savanna and giraffe feeding opportunities, and an interactive childrens area.

A built-in aquarium is a feature of the transformed space of the old Pachyderm Building at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

With support from Loves Travel Stops, the building also will feature a private event space. Animal habitat displays will range from naked mole rats, mongoose to reptiles and amphibians.

Lawson also credits the Bank of Oklahoma with buying tax credits related to the development of the Pachyderm Building to free up $4 million for the renovation. Getting the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 was key to getting the tax credits.

Essentially, Bank of Oklahoma was able to buy or absorb these tax credits and thereby provide the zoo with additional liquidity they needed to make the most of this project, said Greg Wheeler, Bank of Oklahomas OKC market CEO. We saw this as an investment into our city, and into a piece of OKC history, and were thrilled to learn that renovating this facility meant additional job creation and community education programs.

Dwight Lawson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Zoo, credits the Bank of Oklahoma and Love's Travel Stops with making the restoration and renovation of the former Pachyderm Building a reality.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Zoo Pachyderm Building reopening with new exhibits, less smell
A border adjusted price on carbon would ensure a cleaner America with a level playing field for businesses. | Adobe.com

Last month, Sen. Mitt Romney visited several manufacturers across our state  spotlighting many of their clean and innovative technologies in the process. With so much bleak environmental news today, it is worth remembering how successfully our own businesses have managed to both decarbonize and flourish.

Whats especially remarkable is how American businesses achieved their gains while operating at such a disadvantage globally. Because countries like China and India dont play by the same environmental rules we do, our competitors distort the market with cheap goods that crowd out environmentally cleaner American products  at the expense of our manufacturers and employees.

At the same time this is happening, Washington is constantly changing the rules that businesses face here at home. Look no further than the White Houses new power plant regulations and the immediate plans for lawsuits opposing them. As usual, the biggest losers are the businesses who are forced to choose investments based on wholly unpredictable legal and regulatory maneuvers.

Imagine the even greater impact Utah businesses could have if they were given a level playing field internationally  and clear, transparent rules domestically?

Thats exactly what would happen if the rest of Washington embraces a border adjusted price on carbon like what Romney has called for repeatedly. Replacing D.C.s regulatory behemoth with a clear market signal is exactly what businesses need to operate with certainty. And charging imports for their pollution at the border would hold bad actors accountable while ensuring that cleaner American businesses are rewarded for doing things better.

Its long overdue that we prioritize the Utah and American manufacturers that are working the right way, and I hope the rest of Congress follows our senators lead in backing carbon pricing.

Bill Rappleye

President of WER Enterprises and a two-term Draper city council member
PETERSBURG  Petersburg Police have released the identity of the 10-year-old child shot to death early Saturday morning when bullets from nearby gunfire pierced the walls of the apartment where he lived.

KayVon Morgan, of the 200 block of Juniper Road in the Pecan Acres neighborhood, was a student at Pleasants Lane Elementary School. He was shot several times while he and a friend were watching movies in his bedroom shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday.

Kay'Von Morgan, 10, died after being shot early Saturday morning, June 17, 2023, Petersburg Police said. Stray bullets from gunfire near where he lived pierced the wall of his bedroom in his family's apartment on Juniper Road.

Police said the youngster died shortly upon arrival at a local hospital. He was believed to have been shot several times.

The Petersburg Bureau of Police extend our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones, police said in a statement.

The shooting reportedly originated from property adjacent to the apartment complex where KayVon lived. Bullets from that scene strayed into the building and subsequently the childs bedroom.

Police Chief Travis Christian said the boy was not targeted by the shooter or shooters.

Kay'Von is the seventh homicide victim in Petersburg this year.

Anyone who has information about the incident is encouraged to contact Petersburg Police at (804) 732-4222 or Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212. Those details also can be shared through the P3Tips mobile app.

On Facebook, the former school resource officer at Pleasants Lane Elementary encouraged anyone who may know something about the suspects to come forward, adding that withholding information all because of street code would not be tolerated.

Perry Morgan, KayVons father, noted on his Facebook account that one of his young daughters told him Saturday that even though her brother was gone far away, you still got me and sissy, Daddy."

And I cant stop hearing it [two crying emojis and three heart emojis, Morgan said. Fly high, baby boy.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police ID child killed early Saturday at Pecan Acres
Northeast Wichita is preparing for another round of towering power poles that some residents worry will disfigure a scenic bike trail and lower their property values when they are installed in 2025.

The 60-year-old transmission line between Evergys Wichita State and Mossman substations needs to be replaced, but the plan for running new poles along the Redbud Trail between Maple Grove Cemetery and MacDonald Golf Course has stirred controversy.

The other option Evergy presented was replacing existing power poles on a 2-mile route along Volutsia and 16th Street with significantly larger poles. Last year, the company asked affected residents to weigh in, but the survey did not reveal a route preference from the community, they found.

You are pitting neighborhoods against each other, former Wichita City Council member Lavonta Williams told an Evergy representative Monday night at a District 1 Advisory Board meeting where more than a dozen residents voiced their frustration with the plan.

City staff working with the company ultimately settled on the Redbud Trail route, determining that due to the necessary size of the new poles, the proposed project would result in significant negative impact on neighborhoods along the existing route.

These are the two options Evergy presented northeast Wichita residents with for replacing the aging transmission line between the Wichita State substation and the Mossman substation near 9th and Hillside.

As we talk about trying not to oppress a community, we are degrading a community, and that is what is going to happen, as well as our property values, which will also be going down, said Williams, who was instrumental in the conversion of the old rail line into the Redbud Trail during her time on the City Council.

Current District 1 City Council member Brandon Johnson said the solution is imperfect but the best option for replacing the aging transmission line.

Between those two, the least impactful to front yards was the Redbud Trail, Johnson said. I know that that doesnt make everyone happy.

An Evergy spokesperson told The Eagle that no information is currently available about the exact number or height of the new poles because engineers are still designing the transmission line. Based on the community survey results, the company plans to install weathered steel poles instead of silver galvanized steel poles.

Evergy says they are in the process of upgrading all of their transmission lines across the state.

A similar transmission line project in 2018 that saw Evergy place 105-foot poles in yards near Ninth and Grove resulted in a state law requiring utility companies to hold public engagement events before exercising eminent domain.

We saw how the first phase went on the other side of Hillside, and we can all agree it did not go well, MacDonald resident Kim Curry said. Shameful is the word that comes to mind. Front yard or backyard, these poles are disfiguring and inappropriate in a neighborhood setting.

We need a forward-thinking plan that preserves neighborhoods and green space.

Community input

The current plan would result in the removal of some trees along the forested bike trail, and poles would be visible to residents in the MacDonald, Fairmount and Ken-Mar neighborhoods.

Meeting attendee Andrew Herr questioned why the utility company cant bury lines underground along the trail instead.

Is burying lines expensive? Sure, everythings expensive, Herr said. But I bet a lot of us here broke even or lost money last year. But you know who didnt? Evergy.

In general, underground lines cost an estimated eight times more than rebuilding a line overhead, Evergy Communications Manager Kaley Bohlen told The Eagle. This cost, as well as feasibility prevent undergrounding. In many places, room isnt available to build a transmission line underground because other utilities are already underground in the area.

But there are exceptions. Under the terms of the citys franchise agreement with Evergy, all new electric distribution downtown must be installed underground.

The City may request any portions of Companys electric distribution facilities in the Downtown Area that are not presently underground to be placed underground at no cost to the City, it states.

Wichita mayoral candidate Celeste Racette told meeting attendees they have a right to be upset.

I see these neighborhoods being encroached upon, Racette said.

You all have valid concerns absolutely, and those are god awful poles and you should absolutely stand up and let them know you dont want them in your neighborhood.

Evergy plans to hold a community meeting this fall to share a preliminary design for the new transmission line. A date has not yet been set, but the meeting will be attended by a representative from the Kansas Corporation Commission, which has regulatory oversight over utility companies.

Youll have an opportunity to address your concerns and questions with Evergy at that point, Johnson said. Theyve also committed to another meeting at 90 percent where youll basically know exactly what theyre doing.

Community members organizing against Evergys plan for replacing the transmission line have started a Facebook page called Polestoppers: MacDonald and Fairmount. A number of people brought buttons to Mondays meeting that read Huge ugly utility poles do not belong in neighborhoods.
Pope Francis, back to Vatican routine post-surgery, says thanks to shouts of Long live the pope!

(AP)  Two days after being discharged from the hospital, Pope Francis resumed his cherished Sunday custom of greeting the public in St. Peters Square, expressing thanks for the comfort he received after surgery and thanking the crowd shouting Long live the pope!

Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for affection, attention and friendship and the assurance of the support of prayer during his hospitalization for June 7 abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.

This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort, Francis told some 15,000 people in the square. Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart.

The 86-year-old pontiff sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, adlibbed at times from the prepared speech, and clearly looked delighted to be back to his routine.

Read: Habitat for Humanity gives two Sanford families a chance to have a new place to call home

While the thousands of Romans, tourists, and pilgrims who regularly turn out for the weekly noon appearance of the pope at a window of the Apostolic Palace usually applaud when they catch sight of the pope at the window, this time, the publics applause seemed louder than usual.

The three-hour surgery under general anesthesia had forced Francis to skip the Sunday appearance on June 11.

While his mood seemed uplifted to see the crowd below, including flag-waving nuns and tourists in sun hats on the hot, humid day, Francis turned somber as he noted that Tuesday marks World Refugee Day, an occasion promoted by the United Nations.

With great sadness and so much sorrow, I think of the victims of the very grave shipwreck that happened in recent days off the coast of Greece, Francis said. He was referring to the smugglers overcrowded fishing boat, filled with hundreds of migrants, that sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

Read: Fathers Day 2023: 9 gift ideas to make this day memorable

It seems that the sea was calm, Francis said, seemingly expressing perplexity that such a grave tragedy could happen in those conditions.

I renew my prayer for all those who lost their life, and I implore that, always, everything possible is done to prevent similar tragedies, the pontiff said.

Some of the 104 survivors said as many as 750 were aboard, leaving the possibilities that hundreds perished. Greek rescuers recovered 78 bodies. Questions persist whether the Greek coast guard could have intervened in time to prevent the capsizing.

Read: SpaceX prepares to launch Indonesian communications satellite on Fathers Day

He also prayed for the young students victims of the brutal attack on a school in western Uganda. The attack by suspected rebels on a school in Uganda killed 42 people, including 38 students in their dormitories. Several were abducted near the border with Congo.

Francis lamented this struggle, this war all over the place. Let us pray for peace.

He also urged people to remember the martyred people in Ukraine, following Russias invasion last year.

As he wrapped up his remarks and was about to leave the window, cries of Long live the pope in Italian rose from the crowd, and the pope quickly responded, Thanks.

Read: The U.S. Coast Guard and Volusia County Beach Safety crews teamed up to rescue four stranded boaters

The popes doctors have urged him to take it easy as much as possible even as he re sumes his Vatican workload. Francis will receive Brazils president on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican has announced. But to ensure his convalescence can proceed well, Francis wont conduct the Wednesday general audience in St. Peters Square.

In early August, Francis will make a pilgrimage to Portugal for a youth jamboree. At the end of that month, he flies to Mongolia for a visit that will see him be the first pontiff to go to that Asian country.









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VATICAN CITY  Two days after being discharged from the hospital, Pope Francis resumed his cherished Sunday custom of greeting the public in St. Peters Square, expressing thanks for the comfort he received after surgery and thanking the crowd shouting Long live the pope!

Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for affection, attention and friendship and the assurance of the support of prayer during his hospitalization for June 7 abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.

This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort, Francis told some 15,000 people in the square. Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart.

The 86-year-old pontiff sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, adlibbed at times from the prepared speech, and clearly looked delighted to be back to his routine.

While the thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims who regularly turn out for the weekly noon appearance of the pope at a window of the Apostolic Palace usually applaud when they catch sight of the pope at the window, this time the publics applause seemed louder than usual. The three-hour surgery under general anesthesia had forced Francis to skip the Sunday appearance on June 11.

While his mood seemed uplifted to see the crowd below, including flag-waving nuns and tourists in sun hats on the hot, humid day, Francis turned somber as he noted that Tuesday marks World Refugee Day, an occasion promoted by the United Nations.

With great sadness and so much sorrow I think of the victims of the very grave shipwreck that happened in recent days off the coast of Greece, Francis said. He was referring to the smugglers overcrowded fishing boat, filled with hundreds of migrants, that sank in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

It seems that the sea was calm, Francis said, seemingly expressing perplexity that such a grave tragedy could happen in those conditions.

I renew my prayer for all those who lost their life, and I implore that, always, everything possible is done to prevent similar tragedies, the pontiff said.

Some of the 104 survivors said as many as 750 were aboard, leaving the possibilities that hundreds perished. Greek rescuers recovered 78 bodies. Questions persist whether the Greek coast guard could have intervened in time to prevent the capsizing.

He also prayed for the young students victims of the brutal attack on a school in western Uganda. The attack by suspected rebels on a school in Uganda killed 42 people, including 38 students in their dormitories. Several were abducted near the border with Congo.

Francis lamented this struggle, this war all over the place. Let us pray for peace.

He also urged people to remember the martyred people in Ukraine, following Russias invasion last year.

As he wrapped up his remarks and was about to leave the window, cries of Long live the pope in Italian rose from the crowd, and the pope quickly responded, Thanks.

The popes doctors have urged him to take it easy as much as possible even as he resumes his Vatican workload. Francis will receive Brazils president on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican has announced. But to ensure his convalescence can proceed well, Francis wont conduct the Wednesday general audience in St. Peters Square.

In early August, Francis will make a pilgrimage to Portugal for a youth jamboree. At the end of that month, he flies to Mongolia for a visit that will see him be the first pontiff to go to that Asian country.
A Pride event protester who took a selfie with a terminally ill patient has been charged with criminal harassment, police say

Pride Parade in Toronto. Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images

A man has been criminally charged after posting a selfie with a terminally ill man on Facebook.

He posted the photo after the patient's daughter criticized his call to cancel a Pride event.

He claimed he had the "best of intentions," but others say it was an "intimidation tactic."

A man has been charged with criminal harassment after he posted a photo of a woman's terminally ill father on social media following an argument about a Pride event, police said Friday.

Authorities said that Bubba Christopher Michael Pollock "consistently harassed" 36-year-old Britt Leroux on social media. He took this further when he traveled from London, Ontario, to a palliative care unit in Windsor, where he took a selfie with Leroux's terminally ill father.

Leroux had criticized Pollock online because he had called for Pride events in London to be canceled, according to CBC News, but they had not previously spoken.

Leroux told CBC News that she was shocked when she opened Facebook and saw her father in the background of Pollock's selfie, which he had posted in the comments of one of her posts.

"At first I thought it was fake. I called the nurses and said, 'Are there red roses in dad's room?' and they said yes, and that's when I called the police."

Leroux had called Pollock out for a post in which he said he would organize a protest against a Pride-themed drag queen story time event with other "patriots," The Windsor Star reported.

"I fully respect an event that's pro-gay, however bringing children into it with the drag queen story time is what I have an issue with and why there will be a protest," Pollock wrote at the time, the local news outlet reported.

Leroux believes that Pollock was able to find where her father was staying because of the news coverage of her recent wedding, which took place at the hospital so that her father could attend.

It's not known how Pollock was able to access Andre Leroux's hospital room.

Pollock claimed he went to the hospital with the "best of intentions" and presented "zero threat whatsoever," LGBTQ Nation reported.

Crystal Fach, cofounder of the regional LGBTQ+ advocacy group Diversity Ed, told the news outlet, however, that they believe it was a clear "intimidation tactic."

Leroux told CBC that she was happy that the police charged Pollock, adding, "I want [queer and trans youth] to know this is not fear  we're going to show love wins and love is louder. Love will always be louder."

There were no physical injuries caused by the incident, police said, adding that Pollock had been released to attend court at a later date.

Read the original article on Insider
Happy Father's Day, Prince William!

The heir to the throne posed with his three children for sweet new portraits of the family which were shared with the public to mark the holiday.

In the first picture, William wraps his arms around Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince George, 9. Prince Louis, 5, sits in his dad's lap.

In a second candid shot shared on Instagram, Louis hugs his father around his neck, while Charlotte and George look at their dad, laughing.

Happy Father's Day! (Millie Pilkington / Kensington Palace)

In the sweet photo, Louis wears a blue patterned vest, similar to the one he wore in portraits for his 5th birthday. In those photos, Louis showed off his signature silliness by posing in a wheelbarrow pushed by his mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Buckingham Palace shared additional photos of the family on social media for Father's Day, including a photo of the newly crowned King Charles with his late father, Prince Philip, and a throwback photo of Charles with his young sons.

"To Dads everywhere, we wish you a very special Father's Day today," reads a statement from the official Twitter account for the family.

In an interview published the day before Father's Day, William provided insight into his approach to raising George, Charlotte and Louis in a rare interview with the British newspaper The Sunday Times. The Prince of Wales provided a preview of his upcoming five-year project that aims to address homelessness in Britain.

He told the newspaper that he often thinks about when he should expose his children to the issue and bring them to homeless organization. William's mother, Princess Diana, brought him to a housing organization for the first time when he was 11, according to the paper.

"I think its in all our interests, its the right thing to do, to expose the children, at the right stage, in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding. They (will) grow up knowing that actually, do you know what, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives," he said.

William most recently made a public appearance with his three children on June 17 for the annual Trooping the Color parade. The family stood on the balcony and watched around 70 aircrafts fly by. Louis, per usual, stole the show with his adorable facial expressions.

William recently honored his father by serving a special role at Charles' coronation May 6. While George was a page of honor, William became the first person to pledge fealty to the coronated king during the ceremony.

During the coronation, William kneeled before his father and issued the Homage of Royal Blood. This symbolic moment marked William as his fathers liege man, meaning he has a mutual obligation to the monarch, according to the coronations liturgy.

Charles' father, Philip, who died April 9, 2021, at age 99, issued a similar pledge to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Anton Vaganov/Reuters

A Wagner mercenary whod recently returned home to Russia after waging war in Ukraine was brutally beaten by a professional boxer and left in a coma, according to local media reports.

Alexander Kozhevin, 32, apparently dodged a lengthy prison term by joining the ranks of Russias notorious shadow armyhe was sentenced to 11 years in 2020 for the large-scale sale of drugs, according to Yekaterinburg Online.

His mother, Lyudmila, expressed outrage that her sons attacker was still walking free in an interview with the local news outlet, pointing the finger at an unnamed professional boxer who she said is well-known in the city of Artyomovsky, in the Sverdlovsk region.

He knocked him out and started kicking him in the head, breaking his occipital bone. It was the blow of a professional boxer, she was quoted saying.

The fight reportedly happened in the citys Victory Square, where many young people had gathered to socialize.

They did an operation almost a day after the incident. A neurosurgeon from Yekaterinburg was called to the intensive care unit, Sasha was not transportable. They removed a hematoma and opened up his skull. Now he is in a coma, we are praying for him, she said. I asked the doctors: What is his condition? Tell me the truth, will he live? They answer: Its an open question.

Wagner Parades Captured Russian Colonel as Feud With Kremlin Boils Over

They took his bank cards, his phone, and when he was beaten, they demanded that he give the PIN code for the card and password for the phone I think they attacked him to rob him. Because he has a lot of money, she said.

Kozhevin had reportedly returned from the war in late April after completing a six-month contract with Wagner. The group offers earnings of 240,000 rubles ($2,875) a monthand a pardon to prison inmates who agree to go kill Ukrainians.

He apparently followed the war after his return home, sharing a video on social media of Wagner raising the Russian flag in Ukraines Bakhmut last month.

Kozhevin is not the first ex-Wagner mercenary to meet violence upon returning home. Last month, a former Wagner fighter was shot dead in the Irkutsk region at his own homecoming party.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Prohibition only lasted 17 years in Virginia, but 90 years after it ended, its impact is still felt in Hampton in unexpected ways.

The nationwide ban on the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol came early to Virginia, three years before the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution  still the only amendment ever repealed, with the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Theres still a sense of relief from some, like the local breweries that will join the Hampton History Museum on Saturday, June 24, for a tasting event called Prohibition Legacies: Taste of Summer.

St. George Brewing, Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, and The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery will present their latest offerings. Museum admission  including to the exhibit Teetotalers and Moonshiners, and Hamptons Prohibition Story, which runs through Feb. 4  is free.

But in a much more surprising twist, without Prohibition and the economic pressure it created, Langley Air Force Base might not exist, historical sources show.

Booze has always been big business in Hampton. When Virginia banned the possession of alcohol at midnight after Halloween 1916, dozens lost their livelihoods and moved away. Real estate values tumbled, especially in Phoebus (which merged into Hampton along with the rest of Elizabeth City County in 1952).

Many localities in the state used the local option to close down alcohol peddlers as early as 1909, but Hampton was a lot more reluctant, according to the exhibits co-curators, historians Beth Austin and Willow Pell. The exhibit was inspired partly by a Prohibition project from the Library of Virginia.

We realized that the Hampton Prohibition story was quite different from the state story that the library was telling, Austin said.

While other local governments pushed to end alcohol consumption, Hampton had to be forced, she said. The tourism industry, the military presence at Fort Monroe, and the proximity to water (and the alcohol trade it allowed) all contributed to making Hampton one of the wettest spots in the state.

In fact, there were more saloons per capita in Phoebus than almost anywhere else in the country, according to Tim Receveur, the author of Good and Drunk, a book that describes Phoebus as the Wild West of the Eastern Seaboard.

While Receveur describes himself as more of a hobbyist than a historian, he learned of the connection between Prohibition and Langley Air Force Base while researching.

A conversation with museum curator Allen Hoilman about what happened to the areas saloon owners whod gone out of business was a major impetus for Receveurs book and sparked the idea of a possible connection to the federal governments purchase of Langley Field in 1916.

Receveurs research found that two of the three people who campaigned for Hampton to be the site of a new proposed airfield were former saloon owners. In a Richmond Times-Dispatch article from 1935, one of those men, Harry H. Holt  the former proprietor of the Chesapeake Hotel in Phoebus  made the connection explicit.

With a population of only around 5,000, Elizabeth City County had an abnormal number of its citizens receiving their livelihood from the liquor industry, the article quotes Holt as saying. The cutting off of this source of support seemed certain to doom our community.

Pre-Prohibition restrictions had already caused the number of saloons to dwindle. In 1907, Phoebus had 27 saloons and Hampton had 12; by 1916, there were 15 in Phoebus and just five in Hampton.

Knowing that Congress had passed an appropriation of $300,000 to establish an experimental aviation center, the thought came to Holt  why not bring it to Hampton?

Together with H.R. Booker and Nelson S. Groome, the former owner of Clarkes Palace Hotel in Phoebus, Holt sought purchase options on half a dozen properties that together could meet the governments requirements. With just 60 days to close the deal, the men quietly lobbied the committee in charge of selecting the site. They feared that some other, better-funded locality would hear about their efforts and snatch the opportunity away.

They succeeded, and the construction, jobs and other commerce generated by the field  which became Langley Air Force Base in 1948  has been a major factor in Hamptons economy ever since.

The success of that venture didnt diminish the areas appetite for alcohol, the historians said.

Sarcastic newspaper headlines like Phoebus A Model Town First Month of Prohibition in the Daily Press called out officials for not levying fines and making arrests. Bootlegging, the illegal trade in alcohol (whether the booze was tucked in a boot, concealed in a false automobile compartment or dispensed through a soda fountain), was an open secret for years, with one 1922 Daily Press article quoting a comment made at a Phoebus Town Council meeting that alcohol use was higher than when the city was wet.

Early in 1922, Phoebus mayor, its chief of police (a former saloon proprietor), and a police officer were indicted on charges that they had accepted bribes. The consensus is that they were probably guilty, according to the historians, but they were acquitted that year.

There are few records of raids or fines. One rare photo of a confiscated still from April 1922 was clearly staged, Pell said, and comes from the collection of a portrait photographer from the time, suggesting it may have been more of a photo op than a reflection of justice served.

Austin and Pell said one thing that stood out in their research was the explicit and public racism of the time.

Black business owners had built a strong presence in the area by the dawn of the 20th century and held leadership positions on town councils. After 1900, though, increasing opposition from town leaders  many of whom were saloon owners  pushed them out of politics and out of business.

The brunt of pre-Prohibition restrictions fell on Black-owned businesses, which received disproportionate numbers of fines and license revocations or non-renewals, according to the exhibit. One article from April 24, 1915, listed 32 liquor licenses granted but stated that no licenses were allowed in the Black neighborhood of Sugar Hill or at Bay Shore, the colored resort.

There were no applicants for licenses in these sections, but it was generally understood that the court would refuse them if such an application was made, the article said.

Phoebus didnt revert to its Wild West days, and none of the pre-Prohibition saloons still stands, though Fullers Raw Bar is named in homage to one of them. But Hampton, and especially Phoebus, are once again watering holes for tourists, locals and, of course, members of the military. The historic Mellon and Mallory Street business district is home to popular restaurants, bars and many thriving Black-owned businesses, including 1865 Brewing Co., the first Black-owned brewery in Hampton Roads in living memory.

Prohibition ended on Dec. 5, 1933, when Utah, the last holdout, voted for repeal just after 3:30 p.m. local time, or about 5:30 p.m. in Hampton.

This time, no one waited for midnight.

___

If you go

When: Noon to 2 p.m. June 24

Where: Hampton History Museum, 120 Old Hampton Lane

Admission: Free, but registration is required. Limit 150 guests.

Details: 757-727-1102
Putin seen stuttering while making false claims about General Zaluzhnyi

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had trouble pronouncing a new fake about the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a video of part of his meeting with Russian propagandists that was posted on social media on June 18 shows.

In the video, the "milbloggers" (military bloggers, who cover the events of the war with a pro-Russian slant) ask the dictator where Zaluzhnyi is.

Putin begins to stammer and then answers uncertainly: "I know, I think I know. You should ask him where he is. But to do that, you need to switch to a foreign language. It seems to me that he is abroad."

The dictator then said that he "may be wrong."

Read also: Zaluzhnyi and Syrskyi will personally come to those who put them on Russias wanted list

Earlier, Kremlin propagandists unsuccessfully tried to spread fakes that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, was killed and so seriously wounded that he "would not be able to do his job." The Russian fake was quickly refuted, including by General Zaluzhnyihimself, who released a video showing he was very much alive.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Ukrainian generals are the biggest target for the terrorist state, because their loss "could change the course of the war."

She argues that the fake news about the deaths of Ukrainian commanders should also be seen as a "false start - when the Russians have already planned something, they have objectives and they announce the result in advance," possibly to demoralize Ukrainians.

Malyar confirmed that Russians track the movements of Ukraines generals, and they, like the president, are always under threat.

Read also: Long way to go before victory, says Zaluzhnyi

The deputy minister noted that at the beginning of the full-scale war, she had proposed to strengthen their security.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Here's a look at some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of June 11, supported by your subscriptions.

Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:

Crowds gather at Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence for a previous celebration of PVDFest.

While PVDFest is returning this year, it will do so without block parties, outdoor bars or open containers  changes Mayor Brett Smiley said were made "to bring the focus back on the city's talented local artists and artisans."

City documents posted online revealed the changes to the music and arts festival, including a new location: instead of downtown, it will move to an area along the Providence River from Innovation District Park to Memorial Park.

Smiley had already pushed the dates from earlier in the summer to Sept. 8-10. One of those nights, Sept. 9, will feature a collaboration with WaterFire.

Providence: Frustration brews over sudden PVDFest changes curbing drinking, block parties

St. Michael the Archangel Church has been a hub of social justice activism in South Providence for decades. About 100 longtime parishioners have left since a new pastor took over in 2020.

At one time, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church was a place in an impoverished part of South Providence where you might find prominent judges, labor organizers, activists and even a U.S. senator worshiping alongside refugees from Burundi and Laos. In its heyday, marches for immigrant rights and walks to help the hungry and the homeless departed from the massive brick churchs front doors. Visiting speakers urged the congregation to protest U.S. intervention in Central America.

Now, many longtime parishioners who saw St. Michael's as a hub for activism and a progressive oasis amid the Catholic Churchs conservatism have left, distraught over what they describe as the rigid, authoritarian leadership style of a new pastor and assistant pastor who dont seem to share their vision of radical social change.

It put a hole in my heart, said one departed parishioner.

Faith: Former parishioners say iconic Providence church has strayed from its social justice roots

A screenshot from a stream of a Rhode Island House Finance Committee meeting on March 9, 2023, shows then-Department of Administration Director James Thorsen, left, and David Patten, director of the state's property management division, right.

Former Department of Administration Director James Thorsen defended his conduct in the face of alleged "bizarre, offensive and unprofessional actions" by a fellow state official during a March trip to Philadelphia to visit a state contractor.

The events of that visit to a contractor working on a proposed development of the Cranston Street Armory have sparked investigations by the Rhode Island State Police and the human resources arm of the agency he once headed.

The official accused of misconduct, David Patten, the state's director of property management, resigned Thursday after the Department of Administration released details of another incident involving allegations of "erratic behavior" by Patten on the night before the Philadelphia trip.

And on Friday, Gov. Dan McKee broke his silence on the trip that has given Rhode Island a black eye.

Government: Former McKee official defends alleged inaction on infamous Philly trip

SOUTH KINGSTOWN  More than five years have passed since Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso first requested permission to grow more oysters and scallops on Potter Pond.

On Tuesday, after years of delays and pushback from oyster farm opponents, the Coastal Resources Management Council finally ruled on his application  voting to approve a scaled-down version.

But the battle isn't over yet. Nearby homeowners plan to appeal the decision. And Save The Bay, which has been pushing to overhaul the CRMC, argues that the coastal regulator overstepped when it devised its own revisions to Raso's plan and did not seek public input.

Coastal managment: 'It's crazy': CRMC faces scrutiny over handling of Matunuck Oyster Bar shellfish farm

An assortment of Awful Awful treats at Newport Creamery.

Pizza strips. The state appetizer, calamari. New York System Hot Wieners. Rhode Island has a lot of iconic foods, and nearly all of them are a little weird.

This week's What and Why RI explores the origin of the delicious Rhode Island drink with the curious name, Newport Creamery's signature shake, the Awful Awful. What's the story behind that name? We found out.

What and Why RI: The Awful Awful is a classic Rhode Island treat. Here's how it got its name.

To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: PVDFest changes; Philly trip fallout
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday condemned the candidates in the GOP presidential field for rallying around former President Donald Trump after he was charged with 37 felonies related to classified documents he moved from the White House to his home at the end of his term.

It's absurd that candidates won't stand up and say that these are very serious charges, we need to take them seriously, and, you know, if you are not going to challenge him, why challenge him? Hogan, a Republican who declined to enter the presidential race, said during a panel discussion on ABCs This Week.

"You've got 11, 12 challengers out there that aren't challenging him, and they're, you know, sort of enablers and just making excuses," Hogan said, noting that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson  both of whom have openly bashed the former president over the indictment  were excluded from that count.

The former presidents indictment has gotten a mixed response from his opponents in the 2024 Republican primary race, with some pledging to pardon Trump and others calling for the current front-runner to drop out of the race. Many have instead gone after the Justice Department and President Joe Biden, echoing Trumps claim that the indictment is political prosecution, brought by a federal government they say is corrupt.

I think they're all trying to find that balance, and I get the fact that they are all concerned about overzealous prosecution, but this is not the Russia probe, you know? Hogan said, referencing an investigation into the former presidents ties to Russia during his 2016 campaign.

This [has] very serious potential national security implications. And to say we don't want to look at that  anybody who doesn't want to look at the facts, they should be disqualified from running, not just Trump, Hogan added.
Will Rogers Birthplace (Photo/Cherokee Nation)

Guest Opinion. Before Will Rogers became a world-famous performer, actor and social commentator, he was a young Cherokee growing up on a ranch near Oologah Lake. Now, Cherokee Nation has purchased the historic Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch from the state of Oklahoma. The purchase is a milestone for Cherokee Nation cultural tourism, honoring the legacy of a global celebrity with deep Cherokee roots.

With the transfer from the Oklahoma Historical Society complete, Cherokee Nation will invest in needed maintenance and develop the 162-acre propertys full potential as a destination for tourists from all over the world. We are excited to incorporate the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch into our award-winning network of museums and historical sites across our reservation.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

More than ever, we are committed to telling the Cherokee story to the world. For generations, others have attempted to tell our story, sometimes with good intentions, but often twisting it for their own purposes. By broadening the narrative of Will Rogers to include his early upbringing in a small, rural setting, his home, and his family, the Cherokee Nation will share the larger story of the Cherokee people and our enduring contributions to Oklahoma's heritage. Today, we have the resources to tell our own story.

The ranch holds great significance in Cherokee history, even beyond its connection to Will Rogers. First built in 1873, it has served as a crucial meeting place for commerce, government and community gatherings. It reminds us of the resilience of the Cherokee people, who not only survived but thrived after being forcibly removed to this region.

Cherokee Nation's acquisition of this cherished property ensures its preservation for future generations to explore and appreciate. Through collaboration with the state of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Historical Society, we can offer a better understanding of this region for Cherokees and all Oklahomans.

Also, the economic benefits of cultural tourism cannot be understated. As the Cherokee Nation enhances and promotes the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, we will boost the prosperity of Rogers County and surrounding areas. Attracting more tourism will spread the benefits to local businesses, create jobs and grow the overall economy.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Significantly, our $1 million investment in the property is a boon to the regions economy and will help further preserve the Will Rogers story. Every penny we spent on the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch acquisition will be reinvested into the nearby Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore.

The Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch is a testament both to a remarkable family and to the Cherokee people. The Rogers believed they could make something of this land and provide a future for generations of Cherokees. At the same time, they worried about the survival of the Cherokee Nation due to relentless federal policies aimed at eradicating us. We are proud to showcase this complicated chapter of American history as part of the unforgettable Cherokee experience.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief the Cherokee Nation.
As rumors of cholera outbreak swirl, Russia rushes to vaccinate troops, collaborators

Russian military

Currently, the specific vaccine being administered remains unknown, the partisans said.

On June 17, the partisans reported an outbreak of cholera among Russian military personnel in Kherson Oblast and Crimea, which they attributed to Russia causing a huge flood by destroying the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.

Read also: Photos reveal drastic changes to Kakhovka Reservoir as water levels drop

Russia has commenced a hasty vaccination drive in Hola Prystan, Nova Kakhovka, and Stara Zburyivka, all of which are settlements under Russian occupation. The enemy is conducting the vaccination with urgency, the Atesh statement continues.

The partisans believe that this development may also be evidence that the invaders are preparing for another act of ecological terrorism.

While we sincerely hope that everything will resolve peacefully, given Russias track record, the chances of this are slim, the Atesh resistance movement statement reads.

The cholera outbreak is believed to have emerged due to Russians resorting to using water from unsafe sources, as they faced difficulties in accessing bottled or purified water.

Read also:

Cholera vaccines give about 85% protection against the disease for the first year after being administered.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia can't really fight Ukraine at night because Moscow's military is so broke and degraded it can't afford night-vision gear for its troops, war expert says

Ukrainian soldiers learn to fly drones at night using a thermal-imaging system on May 11, 2023, in the Lviv region of Ukraine. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Russia can't afford expensive night-vision technology to fight Ukrainian forces at night.

A war expert told Insider that Ukraine has the advantage in nighttime operations.

Kyiv's soldiers make the most of Western-provided night-vision capabilities.

Ukraine has the advantage in the dark and is able to launch nighttime assaults against Russian forces thanks to Western-provided equipment  which includes everything from night-vision goggles and scopes to drones equipped with thermal imaging.

Beyond equipment, another thing that gives Ukraine an edge in nighttime operations is Russia's inability to do the same due to lack of resources or planning. An expert told Insider that, at the end of the day, Russia just can't afford to equip its forces with expensive night-vision capabilities.

"The Russian military is pretty well known for lacking some of these higher-end capabilities, even before the war and even before the military was stressed and degraded," said George Barros, a geospatial intelligence team lead and Russia analyst with the Institute for the Study of War.

"These pieces of equipment are quite expensive," Barros added. "Some of these individual helmet-mounted night-vision goggles retail for tens of thousands of dollars for a single unit."

And it's not just these nighttime warfighting capabilities that Russian forces lack. The average soldier is poorly equipped when it comes to weapons, armor, and combat technology. Russian troops have described being sent into battle with rusted, Soviet-era weapons that jam.

"It's difficult to see how the Russian Ministry of Defense could be able to afford to regularly equip its average infantry with really expensive night-vision goggles or other kinds of similar optics when they can't afford regular optics for most of these troops, let along proper body armor and proper training," Barros said.

While some night-vision technology has been "proliferated throughout specialized Russian units," he told Insider, the common soldier just isn't getting anything close to the coveted scopes and goggles. And with corruption running rampant in the Russian armed forces, some groups that get access to higher-end equipment like night-vision systems likely hoard them, Barros noted.

To address certain equipment and technology shortages, Russia sometimes relies on crowdfunding campaigns. Milbloggers and nationalist groups source the money from Russian civilians and put it towards important battlefield assets. In those campaigns, Barros said, he's rarely seen night-vision optics being funded.

"They're crowdfunding for things like drones and medical equipment," he explained. Instead of night-vision goggles, it's "basic optics" like daylight scopes, sights, and range finders.

Ukraine's forces are taking advantage of their Western-provided equipment

Ukrainian military member looking in a thermal weapon sight during advanced training in military tactics on September 11, 2022, in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Ukraine has access to a variety of night-vision systems, including thermal and infrared vision technology, and nighttime assault assets thanks to supplies from the West. Tanks, such as German-made Leopards Ukraine has fielded as part of its counteroffensive operations, have thermal and night-vision optics that also help Ukrainian forces launch nighttime assaults.

Russian sources have reported that those technologies are boosting Kyiv's abilities to operate at night, according to ISW. They've also seen an increase in Ukrainian forces launching nighttime raids during the early days of the counteroffensive.

One Russian occupation official in Zaporizhzhia said night assaults allow Ukraine to use its capabilities even more successfully, ISW said.

Barros said that from a campaign design perspective, Ukraine is using that tactical advantage to its benefit. "There's been combat footage and reports about Ukrainian night raids that have been fairly successful because of these capabilities," he told Insider.

There are plenty of benefits to attacking Russian forces at night, especially if they're unprepared to fight back effectively. For instance, it might be more difficult for Moscow's forces to bring in air support or hold defenses, and it might be easier for Ukraine to go undetected while attacking and advancing under the cover of darkness.

While the full extent to which Ukraine is able and Russia is unable to conduct nighttime operations is unclear, Kyiv is definitely leveraging the tools it's been given and making the most of its opportunity here.

"Whenever we enable the Ukrainians to exploit a tactical or operational edge, they're really good at it," Barros said. "Every single system that we sent them, they make good use of it."

He added that these situations highlight the need for Western nations to continue investing in Ukraine. They have, Barros said, really "demonstrated that if we want the Ukrainians to do well, we need to actually give them the systems and the capabilities that can help them do that."

Read the original article on Business Insider
This photo taken from drone footage, provided by the Ukrainian military and dated May 28, 2023, shows a car on the Kakhovka Dam that appears to be laden with explosives. The dam collapsed June 6, while it was under Russian control. (Ukrainian military via AP)

BERISLAV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to bring down a Ukrainian dam that collapsed earlier this month while under Russian control, according to exclusive drone photos and information obtained by The Associated Press.

Images taken from above the Kakhovka Dam and shared with the AP appear to show an explosive-laden car atop the structure, and two officials said Russian troops were stationed in a crucial area inside the dam where the Ukrainians say the explosion that destroyed it was centered. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dams destruction led to deadly flooding, endangered crops in the worlds breadbasket, threatened drinking water supplies for thousands and unleashed an environmental catastrophe. Ukrainian commanders say it also scuppered some of their plans to take Russian positions in a counteroffensive that is now in its early stages.

Each side has accused the other of destroying the dam, but the various Russian allegations  that it was hit by a missile or taken down by explosives  fail to account for a blast so strong that it registered on seismic monitors in the region.

Russia has benefited from the timing of the massive flooding that followed the explosion  though areas it occupies also experienced a deluge and the consequences may have been more extensive than expected.

In the region around the dam, the Dnieper River forms the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with Russian ones in control of the dam itself.

Two Ukrainian commanders who had been in the area but at different locations told the AP that the rising waters quickly swamped their positions and Russian ones and destroyed equipment, forcing them to start all over again with their planning and leaving them facing a much larger distance to cover, all in mud. One spoke on condition of anonymity in order to reveal more frankly the extent of the problems caused by the rising waters.

Its a regular practice, to mine (places) before a retreat, said the other, Illia Zelinskyi, commander of Bugskiy Gard. In this context, their actions were to disrupt some of our supply chains as well as complicate a crossing of the Dnieper for us.

In recent weeks, Ukraines armed forces have reported limited gains in the beginnings of a counteroffensive to take back territory seized by the Russians since their invasion in February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin himself indirectly acknowledged the advantage to his forces last week, although he maintained Russias denials of responsibility: This may sound weird, but nonetheless. Unfortunately, this disrupted their counteroffensive in that area.

Speaking before a meeting of military correspondents, he explained his use of the word unfortunately with bravado: It would have been better if they had attacked there, he said. Better for us, because it would have ended very badly for them, attacking there.

Kakhovka is one of a series of Soviet-era dams along the Dnieper River that were built to withstand enormous force, amounting to thousands of pounds of explosives. They were constructed in the wake of the infamous World War II Dambusters raids that destroyed German dams. Taking out the Mohne dam in 1943, for instance, required five 4.5-ton, specially made bouncing bombs, according to the Imperial War Museum archives.

Ukraine is not believed to possess any single missile with that kind of power.

Sidharth Kaushal, a researcher with the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said the Ukrainians are not believed to have any missiles with a payload greater than about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms).

Nor does it seem credible that Ukrainian commandos could have sneaked in thousands of pounds of explosives to blow the dam, which was completely controlled inside and out by Russian soldiers for months.

As recently as the day before the structures June 6 collapse, Russians had set up a firing position inside the dams crucial machine room, where Ukrhydroenergo, the agency that runs the dam system, said the explosion originated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as early as October 2022 that the dam was mined.

Zelinskyi, who is not related to the Ukrainian president, confirmed that the explosion seemed to come from the area where the machine room is located. He and an American official familiar with the intelligence both confirmed that Russian forces had been ensconced there for some time. The American spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material.

The Institute for the Study of War, an American think tank that has monitored Russian actions in Ukraine since the war began, has assessed that the balance of evidence, reasoning, and rhetoric suggests that the Russians deliberately damaged the dam.

In the days leading up to the single explosion, Ukrainian military drone videos showed dozens of Russian soldiers encamped on a bank of the Dnieper, relaxed as they walked back and forth to the dam with no cover  suggesting their confidence in their control of the area and especially the dam, which was strategically crucial.

The photos, taken from Ukrainian drone footage, obtained by the AP and dated May 28, showed a car parked on the dam, its roof neatly cut open to reveal enormous barrels, one with what appears to be a land mine attached to the lid and a cable running toward the Russian-held side of the river. Its not clear how long the car remained.

A Ukrainian special forces communications official, who also noted the car appeared to be rigged, said he believed the purpose of that was twofold: to stop any Ukrainian advance on the dam and to amplify the planned explosion originating in the machine room and destroy the top of the dam. The car bomb itself would not have been enough to bring down the dam. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preserve operational secrecy.

The explosion detected at 2:54 a.m. local time registered on Norwegian seismic monitors at nearly magnitude 2. By comparison, a catastrophic explosion at Beiruts port that killed scores of people and caused widespread destruction registered at a 3.3 on the seismic scale and involved at least 500 tons of explosives.

That means its a significant explosion, said Anne Strmmen Lycke, CEO of the Norwegian earthquake monitoring agency NORSAR.

Within a few minutes, water from the Kakhovka reservoir began cascading through the shattered dam, submerging the rivers sand bar islands and flooding much of southern Ukraine, including Russian-controlled territory.

Immediately after the dams collapse, some experts noted that the structure was in disrepair, which could have led to the breach. But the area most obviously in disrepair, a section of roadbed near the edge where Russian forces had detonated explosives to block a Ukrainian offensive last fall, was still intact days after most of the rest of the dam collapsed.

Ukraines intelligence service released an intercepted conversation it said was between a Russian soldier and someone else in which the soldier said our sabotage groups were there. They wanted to create a scare with the dam. It didnt quite go according to plan.

___

Hinnant reported from Paris. Aamer Madhani in Washington and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed.
Ukrainian service members are seen on their position at a front line in Donetsk region

Russia reports fierce fighting, Zelenskiy praises troops, counter-offensive Ukrainian service members are seen on their position at a front line in Donetsk region

By Mark Trevelyan

(Reuters) -Russia reported fierce fighting on Sunday on three sections of the front line in Ukraine while Ukraine's president praised his troops for repelling enemy advances and said their counter-offensive was progressing well.

The assesments of action along the 1,000-km (600-mile) long front were made a day after an African peace mission wrapped up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The mission failed to spark enthusiasm from either Moscow or Kyiv.

The United Nations, meanwhile, accused Moscow of failing to allow it to provide assistance to Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine affected by the breach of a big power dam that flooded vast areas of land and left thousands homeless.

A Russian-installed official said Ukraine had recaptured Piatykhatky, a village in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and were entrenching themselves there while coming under fire from Russian artillery.

"The enemy's 'wave-like' offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses," the official, Vladimir Rogov, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia's defence ministry made no mention of Piatykhatky in its daily update, in which it said its forces had repelled Ukrainian attacks in three sections of the front line. Russia's Vostok group of forces said Ukraine had failed to take the settlement.

The evening report by the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces also made no mention of Piatykhatky. Last week, Ukraine said it had recaptured a nearby settlement, Lobkove, and villages further east, in the Donetsk region, at the start of its counteroffensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised his troops for being "very effective in repelling assaults" near Avdiivka, one of the hot spots in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The long-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive was proceeding well, he said in his nightly video address.

"Our troops are on the move: position by position, step by step, we are going forward," he said.

Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports.

Ukrainian officials have imposed an information blackout to help operational security, but say that Russia has suffered much greater losses than Ukraine has during its new assault.

A regional official said Ukrainian forces had destroyed a Russian ammunition dump in occupied Kherson region, part of a weeks-long effort by Kyiv to disrupt Russian supply lines.

British defence intelligence said fighting had focused on Zaporizhzhia, western Donetsk and near Bakhmut, captured last month by Russian mercenaries after the war's longest battle.

"In all these areas, Ukraine continues to pursue offensive operations and has made small advances," it said on Twitter.

Russia's defence, it said, was "relatively effective in the south", with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

PUTIN TRIES TO REASSURE RUSSIANS

Putin, who rarely comments on the course of the war, made two unusually detailed remarks last week in which he derided the Ukrainian push and said Kyiv's forces had "no chance" despite being newly equipped with Western tanks.

His comments appeared intended to reassure Russians, nearly 16 months into the conflict, as Ukraine seeks to take back the 18% of its territory that remains under Russian control.

At talks in St Petersburg on Saturday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presented Putin with a 10-point peace initiative from seven African countries and told him it was time for Russia and Ukraine to start negotiations to end the war.

Putin responded with accusations long denied by Ukraine and the West and saying it was Kyiv, not Moscow, that was refusing to talk. He thanked Ramaphosa for his "noble mission".

In his video message, Zelenskiy said the talks in St. Petersburg had demonstrated that only Ukraine's peace plan calling for a withdrawal of all Russian troops was realistic.

"Everything discussed in Russia was about the war, about how to destroy lives further," he said.

In Kyiv, Zelenskiy had told the African delegation - the first since the start of the war to hold face-to-face talks with both leaders - that talks would just "freeze the war".

The gulf between the two sides was further underlined when Putin used an economic forum on Friday to slur Zelenskiy and to restate the aims of "demilitarising" and "denazifying" Ukraine, rejected by Kyiv and the West as a pretext for invasion.

AFRICANS TO KEEP TRYING

Ramaphosa tweeted on Sunday that the mission had been "impactful and its ultimate success will be measured on the objective, which is stopping the war". He said the Africans would keep talking to both Putin and Zelenskiy.

The war has destroyed Ukrainian towns and cities, forced millions of people to flee their homes and taken heavy but undisclosed casualties among both armies.

Each side accuses the other of blowing up the Kakhovka power dam on June 6 in Kherson region and flooding vast areas of the war zone. Russia seized Kherson region in the early days of the invasion and still controls parts of it.

The U.N. statement, issued by its humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, said the world body "will continue to engage to seek the necessary access" to Russian-controlled areas

"We urge the Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Aid cannot be denied to people who need it."

(Additional reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth and Wendell RoelfWriting by Mark Trevelyan in LondonEditing by Frances Kerry, David Evans, Ron Popeski and Michael Perry)
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed five civilians and injured eight more, including two children, over the past 24 hours, the regional authorities reported on June 18.

Russia targeted nine out of 25 Ukrainian regions  Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts.

Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported that the Russian attacks killed two civilians and injured three, including a child.

The eastern region is experiencing the most severe fighting during Russias war. The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has killed 1,565 civilians and injured 3,705 more in the region since Feb. 24, 2022, according to the report.

The casualties count is not final, as it is impossible to establish the death toll in Mariupol and Volnovakha, which are occupied by Russia.

Russian attacks killed one civilian and injured four, including a child, in Kherson Oblast as Russia hit the region 68 times with artillery, mortars, multiple rocket launchers, drones, and air strikes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on June 18.

The southern region is subjected to daily Russian attacks, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, since Ukrainian forces liberated the regional capital and the west bank of the Dnipro River in November last year.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on June 18 that Russian forces hit a civilian car with an unidentified anti-tank guided missile, killing two people.

The deliberate killing of civilians at any time and in any place breaches the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime.

Over the past day, Russian forces hit four communities in the northeastern region, damaging houses, gas facilities, power lines, a park, and a root cellar, according to the report.

In the early morning of June 18, Russian forces hit the residential area in the Kupiansk community, damaging a house. No casualties were reported, the governor said.

EU top justice official: We arent waiting for wars end to prosecute Russian crimes As Russias war against Ukraine rages on, the European Unions top justice official says the EU and its partners want to bring all perpetrators of international crimes to justice. Not only war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, but also the crime of aggression, European Commissioner f The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Yurii Malashko reported that Russian forces attacked 20 settlements in the region over the past day, injuring one civilian in the front-line town of Orikhiv.

Russia hit Chernihiv Oblast 16 times with mortars over the border, the Northern Command reported.

Russian forces also hit bordering communities in the neighboring Symy Oblast 45 times with mortars, according to the military.

On June 18, Russian forces attacked the northern region 12 times, damaging houses, Sumy Oblast Military administration reported.

No casualties were reported in Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts.

Both northern regions are subjected to daily Russian attacks over the border.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported two Russian loitering drone overnight attacks. Iranian-made Shakhed kamikaze drones were downed, according to the report.

No casualties were reported in the eastern region.

Russian forces attacked southern Mykolaiv Oblast with loitering munition and artillery, causing no casualties or damage, Governor Vitalii Kim reported on June 18.

Russian forces attacked four settlements in Luhansk Oblast as they try to fully occupy the easternmost, Governor Artem Lysohor reported on June 18.

No casualties were reported.
In Kherson, rescuers and volunteers pull out people and animals trapped in water due to the explosion of Kakhovka HPP

Amnesty International accuses the Russian occupation authorities of "callous disregard for human life" and "violation of its obligations as the occupying power."

Read also: Special forces rescue five Russian soldiers drowning after Kakhovka dam explosion, capture them  video

"The occupying Russian forces have displayed a callous disregard for human life and human dignity by manifestly focusing almost exclusively on their own security needs," said Amnesty Internationals Regional Researcher Anna Wright.

Their failing to undertake an organized evacuation, blocking volunteers efforts to support civilians affected by the floods and taking evacuees without Russian passports through filtration violate their obligations as the occupying power and endanger lives.

The organization, citing residents of occupied Oleshky, reports that after several families moved to a hill and were stuck there for at least two days, "instead of evacuating them placed armed personnel around this makeshift islands periphery."

Read also: New Maxar satellite images reveal damage after explosion at Kakhovka dam

"The occupying Russian forces must urgently fulfil their obligations under international law by organizing the safe and dignified evacuation of civilians from flooded areas under their control," Wright added.

They also must allow volunteers and international rescue teams to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians from flood-afflicted regions.

During the night of June 6, Russian forces, which have occupied the town of Nova Kakhovka for over a year, exploded the dam, completely or partially flooding downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of June 14, more than 3,000 people had reported flooded homes to law enforcement. A total of 3,761 people were evacuated from Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts.

Read also: Greenpeace reports flooding of 32 sites containing chemicals, oil, and gasoline, following Kakhovka Dam explosion

On June 11, a Russian attack on a boat with civilians trying to evacuate from the east- bank in Kherson Oblast killed three people and injured 23 others.

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Russian forces fire around 500 projectiles on Kherson Oblast, killing one person

The Russian invaders have fired 467 projectiles from artillery, mortars, aircraft, multiple rocket launchers and UAVs on Kherson Oblast over the past 24 hours, killing a civilian.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: The report says that the Russian forces attacked the settlements in Kherson Oblast a total of 68 times.

The Russian troops fired 29 projectiles on the city of Kherson.

One person was killed and 4 (including one child) were injured in Kherson Oblast on 17 June.

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Russian forces kill two civilians in vicinity of Vuhledar

Russian troops have attacked the Vuhledar hromada, killing two civilians, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration [hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.],

Source: Kyrylenko on Telegram

Details: The attack reportedly resulted in fatalities in the settlements of Novoukrainka and Bohoiavlenka.

Two people have been injured in the town of Kostyantynivka on the Horlivka front, including a child.

11 private residential buildings and a gas pipeline were damaged in the town overnight.

The Russian army killed 2 residents of Donetsk Oblast and injured 3 more in just 24 hours.

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Russians killed police officer and his 4-year-old son on Father's Day in Sumy Oblast

Two civilians  a father and a son  were killed on Sunday, 18 June, in Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Yurii Zarko, Mayor of Myropillia, in a comment to Suspilne, Prosecutor General's Office , police of Sumy Oblast

Quote: "Civilians, a father and a son, were killed today when the city of Bilopillia was shelled."

Details: The Sumy Oblast Military Administration promised to provide more information later.

The mayor of Bilopillia, Yurii Zarko, clarified for Suspilne that a father and child were killed.

"A father and son were just passing by. A shell landed literally three metres away from them. They just ran for cover and actually did not reach the five metres [of distance between them and the shell  ed.]. The father died on the spot, the child was not taken to hospital in time, he died on the way there," said Zarko.

According to the mayor, it happened around 16:20 (Kyiv time). Zarko also added that there were powerful explosions in the city centre.

Preliminary information indicates there were hits near a local dormitory, on a cinema building, and on a residential building.

Later, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that a four-year-old boy and his father were killed while outside during the shelling of Bilopillia.

The Office also published photos of the aftermath of the shelling.

Roman Babenko

photo by police of sumy Oblast

The police of Sumy Oblast reported that the attack killed Roman Babenko, a detective of the criminal police sector of the police department No 1 (Bilopillia) of the Sumy district police department, and his son.

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The Russian occupation "authorities" complain that the Armed Forces have taken control of Piatykhatky, according to Vladimir Rogov, a collaborator and so-called "governor" of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Source: Rogov on Telegram, Russian Ministry of Defence

Quote from Rogov: "The Armed Forces managed to take it (Piatykhatky  ed.) under operational control.

The invaders' "wave" offensives, despite the enormous losses, have yielded results."

Details: The occupiers claimed that the reserves of the Armed Forces of Ukraine  a large number of infantry and several units of armoured vehicles  had allegedly moved into Piatykhatky.

The collaborator also complains that if Ukraine gains a foothold in Piatykhatky, it will try to strike in the direction of Zherebianka, which will lead to an offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Vasylivka.

As of noon on 18 June, the Armed Forces reported no progress in Piatykhatky.

Update: Later, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that the alleged attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Piatykhatky was repelled by Russian invaders.

"The attack on the settlement of Piatykhatky was repelled. More than a dozen tanks, armoured combat vehicles and the manpower of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed," said Oleg Chekhov, Head of the press centre of the Vostok group of Russian troops.

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Russian National Guard searches for deserters in occupied Luhansk Oblast

The Russian National Guard is searching for deserters from among the conscripted soldiers near the settlement of Novorozsosh in Luhansk Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Russian deserters are fleeing the frontline in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk Oblast.

A search operation by a group of Russian deserters from among the conscripts was spotted in the forest belts near the village of Novorozsosh.

Russian Guard units are involved in the search."

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Russia is moving equipment through Melitopol

Ukraine destroyed a Russian military column as it was redeploying from the Kakhovka dam flood zone to the Zaporizhzhya Oblast section of front, Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov revealed on national television on June 18.

Residents of the occupied city of Melitopol reported the transfer of Russian troops and equipment towards the Zaporizhzhya front from Kherson Oblast following the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Fedorov said.

Our residents witnessed the movement of military machinery, heavy weaponry, and personnel of the occupiers from the Nova Kakhovka and Kakhovka directions. It is from there that hostile forces were redeployed to the Zaporizhzhya frontline, he said.

Read also: Gunfight reported near enemy warehouse in Melitopol, says citys mayor

Fedorov he said one of these columns of enemy vehicles had been ambushed and destroyed, and that Ukrainian intelligence agencies and members of the Ukrainian resistance in the occupied territories were involved in the operation.

The Russian convoy was eliminated on the border of Vasilyivka and Melitopol district, the mayor said. He did not say when the ambush was carried out.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in early June, and on June 6, Russian forces blew up the dam at Nova Kakhovka, causing a massive flood downstream on the Dnipro River, and the draining of the Kakhovka Reservoir  with a volume of 18 billion cubic meters of water, formerly one of Europes biggest.

Read also: Russians looking to abduct nearly 300 children from Berdyansk District to Russian republic of Chuvashia

It was then that Russian forces began to deploy away from the east bank of the Dnipro River and towards Zaporizhzhya Oblast, according to earlier reports.

Some military experts speculate the Russians destroyed the dam in an effort to prevent Ukrainian forces crossing the Dnipro River and attacking behind defensive lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya Oblasts.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has announced that over the past week-and-a-half, Ukrainian military forces have advanced more than 3 kilometers inthe eastern direction. There is also gradual but steady progress in the south, the Ukrainian military says.

Read also: Invaders escalate repression in occupied territories amidst resistance to Russian passportization

Furthermore, the southern offensive is being conducted simultaneously in multiple directions.

Earlier, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, one of Ukraines Deputy Ministers of Defense, said that the invaders had destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in an attempt to impede the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

He added that the enemy lacked sufficient forces and resources to halt the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

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Russians attacked Kharkiv Oblast: one injured, houses and cars were damaged

As a result of the attack on the village of Lyptsi in Kharkiv Oblast by Russian troops, a civilian was wounded, and residential buildings and cars were damaged.

Source: Prosecutor General's office

Quote: "According to the investigation, on 18 June, at about 15:00, Russians shelled the village of Lyptsi. As preliminary information indicates, from a mortar.

A local resident was injured. Residential buildings and cars were damaged."

Details: The Prosecutor General's Office also reported that the Russian military were attacking Kupiansk during the day. Damage to private households, outbuildings and cars of citizens was recorded.

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Russians fire mortars on three settlements in Chernihiv Oblast

On 17 June, Russian troops once again attacked the border areas of Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.

Source: Operational Command Pivnich (North)

Details: In particular, four strikes were recorded in the area of Halahanivka in Chernihiv Oblast.

There were two strikes in the vicinity of Karpovychi.

In addition, 10 attacks were recorded near Arkhypivka.

According to the Operational Command Pivnich, all the attacks were presumably carried out by Russians using 120 mm mortars.

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Russians looking to abduct nearly 300 children from Berdyansk District to Russian republic of Chuvashia

The occupiers are deporting Ukrainian children to Russia

The Russian media have already reported that 48 children had been abducted.

Read also: Russia changes names and birthdates of kidnapped children to hide the genocide, Vereshchuk

"The occupiers are taking almost 300 children from Berdyansk District to 'sunny' Chuvashia," Fedorov said. The Russian republic lies over 500 kilometers to the east of the Russian capital Moscow.

The Russian media reported that 48 children were sent, the rest are going to be taken in several phases.

Earlier, NV reported that Ukraine is investigating the role of Belarus in the deportation of Ukrainian children who were forcibly removed from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia.

Read also: Over 2,000 Ukrainian children abducted to Belarus, says Belarusian opposition

The Office of the Prosecutor General clarified that criminal proceedings have been initiated over the forced transportation/abduction of more than 19,000 children from the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, and Kharkiv oblasts, in particular to Belarus.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia.

There have been numerous reports that abducted Ukrainian children are being indoctrinated with anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Russia, forced to give up speaking Ukrainian, and being adopted by Russians.

Read also: Ukraine repatriates 371 forcibly deported children  Zelenskyy

Such activities fall under the definition of genocide according to the UN Convention on Genocide, which states that forcibly transferring children from one group to another group is an act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

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Russians mine land plots of residents who left for territory controlled by Ukraine  General Staff

In the occupied village of Pokrovske, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian troops are mining private land plots of residents who have left for the territory controlled by Ukraine.

Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "In the village of Pokrovske, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, engineering units of the Russian occupation forces are mining private land plots of local residents who refused to obtain a Russian passport and left for the territory controlled by Ukraine.

At the same time, agricultural land plots of local collaborators are not subject to mining."

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Russians strike Sumy Oblast border areas, damaging TV tower and other facilities

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Russians have launched 21 attacks on border hromadas in Sumy Oblast; there were 119 explosions. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: Khotin, Krasnopillia, Bilopillia, Myropillia, Shalyhyne, Druzhba, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Znob-Novhorodske and Velyka Pysarivka hromadas came under Russian fire.

Russian forces deployed tubed artillery (three explosions) and mortars (16 explosions) to attack Esman hromada.

Bilopillia hromada came under mortar (17 explosions) and artillery fire (seven explosions). A television tower was damaged as a result of the shelling.

The Russians shelled Myropillia hromada using artillery (seven explosions), damaging one house, two stores, a power line, the premises of the village council, and an apiary. There was also mortar fire (six explosions).

The Russians dropped six mortar bombs on the territory of Velyka Pysarivka hromada.

Druzhba hromada was attacked by mortars (four explosions).

Mortar fire was also observed in Khotin hromada (two explosions).

The Russians deployed mortars to attack Krasnopillia hromada (ten explosions). As a result, a grain elevator and equipment were damaged.

Shalyhyne hromada came under Russian artillery fire (ten explosions), which damaged an administrative building.

The Russians deployed mortars (ten explosions) and AGS grenade launchers (20 explosions) to attack Znob-Novhorodske hromada.

Seredyna-Buda came under Russian mortar fire (five explosions).

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Sacramento police located two victims of separate violent crime reports early Sunday and continue to investigate the incidents.

About 1:30 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department said officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 800 block of Calvados Avenue in north Sacramento near Arden Way.

Officers found a male victim with at least one non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to the department. He was taken to the hospital.

Police said no arrest had been made, with an active investigation still underway.

Del Paso Heights stabbing

The department said officers responded to a different report, this time of a stabbing, about 2:30 a.m. on the 3500 block of Altos Avenue in Del Paso Heights near the bike trail, roughly 2 miles away from the incident an hour earlier.

In this case, officers discovered a man with a non-life-threatening stab wound.

Again, police said, no arrest had been made as they continued to investigate.
It has been nearly 20 years since Sacramento County voters managed to raise the local sales tax to address transportation needs: A measure in 2016 barely missed the required two-thirds voter threshold; a follow-up attempt in 2020 was pulled from the ballot; and then there was the flame-out of Measure A last November.

Measure As last iteration was a failed experiment to place a sales tax measure on the ballot through an initiative campaign bankrolled by builders and trade unions. The measure proposed the construction of several roads that werent even on the regional planning agencys list.

While it deserved to fail, Measure A represents the third unsuccessful attempt in just six years to find a combination of transportation investments that voters could approve.

Opinion

A post-mortem of sorts has been quietly happening inside the halls of power among measure backers and transportation advocates. This editorial board has been reflecting as well, and our conclusion is this isnt the county that it was 20 years ago. Our unmet local needs arent just potholes, roads and unfinished trolley lines; our investment needs have evolved. So, too, should any new sales tax proposal for the purpose of generating community revenue.

Here are our three basic principles to build upon:

First, Sacramento County should abandon this failed focus placed solely on transportation, and embrace incentives for smarter use of existing lands in the existing urban core. This is the most cost-effective way to both lower greenhouse gas emissions and maintain mobility in the future region.

Public investments to jump-start redevelopments by expanding existing water and sewer infrastructure, for example, can turn tired industrial or retail strips into next-generation, mixed-use developments with neighborhood retail shops on the first floor and housing up above. The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) already has a solution, known as GreenMeansGo. It just needs money.

Second, the county should only fund additional road construction that is envisioned in the existing regional plan.

Put another way, lets table plans for completing the countys Southeast Connector Road and set a high political bar for a future SACOG to expand its plan and build new roads. New transportation investments must help the region reduce  not increase  greenhouse gas emissions.

The existing SACOG Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy includes plans to build a portion of the connector road from Elk Grove into El Dorado County from both ends  slightly more than half of the 34-mile alignment in all. Plans call for the northern end to be constructed from near Highway 50 in El Dorado County to Douglas Road in Sacramento County. A southern portion along Grant Line Road to Bradshaw would also be constructed, and the middle 14-mile segment of Grant Line would remain two lanes.

If the region succeeds in accelerating the revitalization of existing retail and industrial corridors with the help of additional local public investments, there likely will never be a need to complete this connector, freeing up public funds for more pressing public needs.

Third, we must abandon the model of the private-funded sales tax initiative.

Elected officials in Sacramento County and the institutions they represent lost control of the process when they effectively ceded control of the sales tax measure to a private group of builders, trade unions and political consultants. The allure was in how this private method lowered the voter approval threshold from two-thirds to 50 percent because the measure wasnt placed on the ballot by a vote of a government body. Turning over Measure A to private interests ended up botching the end product.

The public and our government institutions all deserve a voice in the development of a future sales tax measure. History has shown that getting two-thirds approval is achievable when the package of investments fits the times, and times around here have changed.

We need more diverse housing mix and better transportation in our existing communities. Thats where we should invest.
SC man and girlfriend had altercation. Now hes dead and another mans in jail, cops say

One man is dead and another is in jail after a domestic altercation between a boyfriend and girlfriend turned into a shooting when a third person got involved, the Aiken County Sheriffs Office said.

Lloyd Widener III  a 23-year-old Trenton, South Carolina resident  was shot and killed Thursday, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.

The shooting happened at about 3 p.m. at a home in the 200 block of Old Friar Road in Aiken, Ables said. Thats near Exit 18 on Interstate 20.

Deputies responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the home and found an unresponsive Widener lying on the ground near the stairs, according to the sheriffs office. Widener had been shot multiple times and died at the scene, Ables said.

Witnesses told deputies that Widener was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend, which later involved Jeremiah David McFalls, according to the sheriffs office.

McFalls, who called 911, also told deputies that he was involved in the incident, the sheriffs office said.

Information about McFalls connection to Widener and his girlfriend was not available, and there was no word on the nature of the couples altercation, or its cause.

No other injuries were reported.

McFalls was arrested on an unrelated warrant (contempt of family court) and taken to the Aiken County Detention Center, where he was then charged with possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful carrying of a pistol, according to the sheriffs office.

Bond was set at $2,000 on the unlawful carrying of a pistol charge and McFalls remains behind bars in the jail, records show.

Despite the arrest, the shooting remains under investigation by the sheriffs office and coroners office. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday in Newberry.
FILE PHOTO: 70th anniversary of the East German uprising of the June 17, 1953, in Berlin

Scholz faces tricky balancing act in Germany-China talks FILE PHOTO: 70th anniversary of the East German uprising of the June 17, 1953, in Berlin

By Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces a delicate balancing act this week at German-Chinese government consultations in Berlin, seeking to maintain good ties with Germany's largest trade partner while complying with a G7 pledge to "de-risk" from Beijing.

Scholz receives Chinese premier Li Qiang for dinner in the chancellery on Monday evening ahead of the seventh round of bilateral, biennial talks which are also the first face-to-face session since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summit takes place on Tuesday in the chancellery before Li and the Chinese ministers for trade and reform attend the German-Chinese forum for economic and technological cooperation.

The fact Li chose Germany for his first overseas trip as premier reflects the special relationship between Europe and Asia's largest economies. Rapid Chinese expansion and demand for German cars and machinery fuelled Germany's own growth over the past two decades.

China became Germany's single biggest trade partner in 2016 and is a core market for top German companies including Volkswagen, BASF and BMW.

"The China-Germany government consultations are very distinctive among Chinas relations with large Western countries," said Wang Yiwei, director of the Centre for European Studies, Renmin University of China.

The relationship has however come under strain amid concerns in the West about rising Communist party control over society and the economy, unfair competition and Beijing's territorial ambitions.

Scholz joined other leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich democracies last month in pledging to "de-risk"without "decoupling" from China.

The meaning of "de-risking" however remains to be defined, say analysts, with China hawks pleading for a general reduction of business and doves singling out areas like critical minerals.

Scholz's government is divided between the more hawkish junior coalition partners, the Greens and Free Democrats, and his centre-left Social Democrats.

Analysts in Berlin said the Chinese delegation would likely lobby the German government directly and indirectly via big business to press the European Union not to go too far in regulating business in China.

"They know German companies will run up direct channels to the chancellery," said Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund's Asia program.

AVOIDING POLITICAL ESCALATION

Mikko Huotari at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin said the talks were a coup for Beijing, showing it still had important partners in the West.

"That said it is up to us, to get something out of it - and we have an interest to remain in close contact with China on questions like sustainability and in general, for stable economic relations," he said. "We also have an interest not to let political tensions escalate."

The talks come after Antony Blinken on Sunday became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China in five years, stressing the importance of keeping open lines of communication to reduce the risk of miscalculation.

They also come as Germany's foreign ministry finalises a paper on its approach to China, which is expected to reflect the tougher stance it outlined in its first national security strategy published last week.

China poses a growing threat to global security, aggressively claiming supremacy in Asia and seeking to use its economic might to achieve political goals, the strategy said.

The government is urging companies to diversify away from China but many German CEOs have warned of the risks of cutting or reducing links with the world's second-biggest economy while Germany is in recession.

The Chinese delegation will meet with some of those CEOs on Monday, according to people familiar with the plans.

On Tuesday, after the government consultations, it will head to Munich to meet regional officials and corporate executives reflecting the level of Chinese business with the southern German state of Bavaria.

The Chinese delegation will head to Paris for an official visit and to attend a financial conference on June 22 to 23.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Additional Reporting by Laurie Chen and John Geddie in Beijing; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Amina Alhaj Omar, who was reported missing June 10

Two missing woman have been found, but Columbus police remained on the lookout Wednesday for an Ohio State University student who has been missing for more than a week.

Riley O'Connell, 18, was reported missing on June 14 after she jumped over a fence at Evoke Wellness, a medical detox and residential treatment facility at 5471 Scioto Darby Road in Hilliard. She has been battling long-term mental health issues and was receiving therapy at the facility for about a month when she fled without her vital medication, according to her mother, Shaunna O'Connell, mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts.

Riley O'Connell was safely recovered between 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday in Columbus by Columbus police, Hilliard police told The Dispatch. She was taken for medical treatment to Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, according to a screenshot of information and a photograph posted by Shaunna O'Connell on Facebook.

Lori Dougherty, 64, had been reported missing around 5:30 a.m. on June 12 after last being seen at her home on the Northeast Side.

On Wednesday, Columbus police said Dougherty had been located safely.

Amina Alhaj-Omar, 25, remains missing after being reported missing on June 10 by her sister. The Ohio State University graduate student was last seen in the area of Interstate 270 and State Route 23.

Here's what we know:

Alhaj-Omar, 25, is a graduate social work student at Ohio State who was reported missing from Columbus' North Side by her sister on the evening of June 10.

Police say Alhaj-Omar is possibly experiencing a mental health crisis and is considered endangered. She is believed to be armed with two kitchen knives.

Several hours before she was reported missing June 10, Alhaj-Omar's vehicle was found abandoned on Interstate 270 between the Interstate 71 and State Route 23 exits. The vehicle showed signs of possibly being involved in a minor crash, but police said that the air bags did not deploy and there was no evidence she was injured in the crash.

Police said Alhaj-Omar was seen around 3:55 a.m. June 10 inside a BP gas station convenience store at 1091 S. High St. on the city's South Side. Video from the gas station's convenience store showed Alhaj-Omar leaving the gas station property around 6 a.m. June 10.

Amina Alhaj-Omar at a BP station on Columbus' South Side, several hours before she was reported missing on June 10.

Lt. Jason Gardner said Wednesday during a press conference that Alhaj-Omar's behavior inside the gas station was "very unusual," but did not give additional details other than to say she had two kitchen knives with her at the time.

Just over two hours later, around 8:20 a.m. June 10, police got a call about a female trespasser at the Olen Corporation's Columbus plant and quarry at 4755 S. High St. that was later confirmed to be Alhaj-Omar. She left before police arrived.

Police conducted searches last week for Alhaj-Omar in the area where her vehicle was found, in the area of the Olen plant and quarry, and in the area of a Walmart at 3579 S. High St., where a possible, unconfirmed sighting of Alhaj-Omar was reported around 7:30 p.m. June 13. The search at the quarry included the Division of Police's dive team and search and recovery K-9s.

In addition, aerial searches by the Columbus police helicopter unit and Franklin County Sheriff's Office drones have been conducted.

Alhaj-Omar is described by police as a white female, 5-foot-2, about 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

If you believe you have seen Alhaj-Omar, do not confront her, but instead call 911 or Columbus police at 614 645-2358 or 614-645-4545.

Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this report.

jwilhelm@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two women found, one still missing in unrelated cases
Marion County deputies have issued a Florida Silver Alert to help locate a missing woman diagnosed with dementia.

12:09 p.m. update:

Carolyn was located in Putnam County, and she is safe, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said.

Original story:

Deputies said 75-year-old Carolyn Rizer was last seen at an address near NW 120th Avenue Road in Reddick on June 17.

Investigators believe she could be driving a 2004 silver Lexus with a Florida tag IM49UU, and there is a dent in the passenger side doors of the car.

Read: The U.S. Coast Guard and Volusia County Beach Safety crews teamed up to rescue four stranded boaters

Rizer has gray hair, and blue eyes, stands five foot, one inch tall, and weighs 125 pounds.

According to a news release, she was last seen wearing a black and white nightgown.

If you have any information on her whereabouts, please dial 911.

Read: FHP: Searching for hit-and-run driver that seriously injured a pedestrian and crashed into vehicles





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Sen. Tim Scott says there's 'no higher compliment than being attacked by President Obama'

WASHINGTON  South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott on Sunday pushed back at former President Barack Obamas criticism of Black Republican politicians who dont give an honest accounting of racism in the United States.

Scott, the lone Black Republican in the Senate and a GOP presidential hopeful, said Democrats drag out Obama whenever they feel threatened.

There's no higher compliment than being attacked by President Obama, Scott said on Fox News Sunday.

Scott had been asked about comments Obama made on a recent podcast about the senators claim that that hes living proof of the progress the nation has made on equality.

Obama said theres a long history of GOP candidates who come from minority groups validating America by saying everythings great, and we can all make it.

In Scotts video announcing his presidential exploratory committee, he called America a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression.

I'm not being cynical about Tim Scott individually, Obama told his former adviser, David Axelrod, on Axelrods podcast.

Obama said Republicans need a plan for addressing issues like generational poverty thats a consequence of hundreds of years of racism.

There may come a time where there's somebody in the Republican Party that is more serious about actually addressing some of the deep inequality that still exists in our society that tracks race and is a consequence of our racial history, Obama said. And if that happens, I think that would be fantastic. I haven't yet seen it.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks during a town hall, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H.

Scott said the opportunity zones hes championed that offer tax incentives for investments in economically-distressed communities have primarily helped minority communities.

Scott also touted his support for federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities and for alternatives to traditional public schooling.

There is a way for us to elevate poverty, not by a race, but by the statistics themselves, he said. That's what America stands for.

Dig deeper What Sen. Tim Scott does and doesn't say about race in 2024 exploratory announcement

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott knocks Obama's criticism of Black Republicans on racial equality
Fire in Bryansk

The medical facility, situated in the Volodarsky district, was still under construction.

Read also: Russia fortifying its Bryansk Oblast border with Ukraine, satellite imagery

Online footage clearly shows the significant scale of the fire, with thick black smoke visible in multiple areas of the city.

Earlier speculations by Russian media sources suggested that sabotage could have been one of the potential causes for the incident. However, it was later confirmed that the fire at the site had been successfully put out.

The fire affected the bitumen roofing. There have been no casualties, said the Russian Telegram news channel Mash.

Read also: Russia cannot cope with flow of casualties, constructing corpse storage facilities  HUR

Governor Alexander Bogomaz of Bryansk Oblast has not released any official information regarding the fire at the military hospital.

In another incident in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on June 11, a fire erupted at the Rostselmash factory, one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery in Russia. Reports indicated that the fire originated from burning tires on the factory premises.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Slow down: Speed limit changes coming to Winter Springs

Speed limit changes are coming to Winter Springs as the city works to improve it roadways.

Winter Springs officials are advising Central Floridian that the speed limit along Winter Springs Boulevard will be reduced from 30 to 25 miles per hour.

The speed limit reduction become effective on June 19 and spans from Tuskawilla Boulevard to the City limits and was approved by city commissioners on March 13.

These changes coincide with the ongoing road resurfacing and safety enhancement project, which began on May 3, 2023, according to a news release.

Read: German scratch kitchen Schmankerl Stubn to open in downtown Orlando

The improvements include the installation of new asphalt, raised intersections, speed tables, and designated 7-foot bike lanes.

The improvement project, approved by the City Commission on February 27, is part of the City of Winter Springs 2023 Capital Improvement plan, which is funded through the one-cent local government infrastructure surtax.

Read: Here are 9 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Central Florida

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An aerial view of the black smoke and flames at a market in Omdurman

By Khalid Abdelaziz

DUBAI (Reuters) - The start of a 72-hour ceasefire aimed at calming more than two months of conflict between rival Sudanese military factions brought a lull in clashes in Khartoum early on Sunday following battles and air strikes overnight, residents said.

Sudan's army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to refrain from attacks and from seeking military advantage during the ceasefire period, which started at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT), as well as allowing for delivery of aid, Saudi and U.S. mediators said. Several previous truces have failed to stop the fighting.

The power struggle between the two sides has turned the capital into a war zone plagued by looting, led to outbursts of fighting in other regions, and triggered a sharp escalation of violence in Darfur in western Sudan.

In the hours before the truce period began witnesses reported clashes and air strikes in several areas of Khartoum and Omdurman, one of two adjoining cities that make up the wider capital at the confluence of the River Nile.

"The situation in Khartoum is calm, especially because last night there were air strikes and it was terrifying," 49-year-old resident Salaheldin Ahmed told Reuters by phone on Sunday morning, expressing hope that the truce could be the "beginning of the end" of the war.

"We are tired," he said. "Enough of war, death and looting."

Previous ceasefires brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States at talks in Jeddah have allowed for the delivery of some humanitarian aid as fighting has subsided, but both sides have repeatedly violated the agreements.

The conflict, which erupted over disputes about a plan for a transition to elections under a civilian government four years after long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir was overthrown during a popular uprising, has intensified since early June.

On Monday, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Nations are hosting a donors conference in Geneva that aims to attract pledges of funding for humanitarian relief in Sudan.

The U.N. says more than half the population of 49 million now needs humanitarian assistance within Sudan, requiring some $3 billion in funding until the end of the year.

It has also appealed for nearly $500 million for the refugee crisis caused by the conflict. More than 500,000 people have fled into countries neighbouring Sudan, in addition to nearly 1.7 million who have been internally displaced.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
If our state is to create a hate crimes bill honoring Pinckney, it must address race | Opinion

If our state is to create a hate crimes bill honoring Pinckney, it must address race | Opinion

Differentiate hate crimes bill

A few weeks ago, a Shell gas station owner shot and killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old boy, for doing nothing wrong, something that many people believe was a hate crime because they believe the owner chased the young man down because he was an African American.

Forty-nine states and territories have hate crime laws on the books, but not South Carolina.

This recent incident in Columbia has prompted lawmakers, particularly Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, to look at legislation once again, particularly because the S.C. House of Representatives voted to pass the Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Bill during the South Carolina 125th General Assembly, but the bill did not make it through the Senate committee.

I think South Carolina is long overdue for a hate crimes law; however, I believe our state legislators, Republicans and Democrats, should first focus on criminalizing hate crimes against people because of their race and religion, especially a bill named after Sen. Pinckney.

It has been proven that when Dylann Roof went into the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015, he purposely shot and killed Senator Pinckney and his parishioners because of their race and religion. The Carmack-Belton case appears to warrant concerns about race as well.

This is not to say all citizens of South Carolina do not deserve to be protected under the law for hate crimes, but if the law is to be named after Senator Pinckney, then let it be a law that protects people from hate crimes because of their race and religion.

Bridget Deline, Columbia

Uncomfortable thoughts

I read with dismay your story of June 13 about a Midlands teacher who was required to stop the course she was teaching after several students complained they were uncomfortable.

I taught school every semester for 58 years at a number of fine schools, including the University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston, the Harvard Law School and Harvards Kennedy School of Government.

I began every course with the promise that I would do my best to make the students so uncomfortable they could only escape by thinking.

Was I wrong for all those years?

Alex Sanders, Charleston

Support equine act

Many rural, agriculturally driven counties in our state are facing urban sprawl and development

at a pace never seen before while much of our rich, ecologically significant farmland is being

zoned as low-density residential (LDR) by local governments.

We must consider unique opportunities that assist in conserving our farmlands, which is exactly what the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act does.

The legislation, passed by the S.C. House of Representatives, would create a grant program that could assist in preserving our states agricultural land.

Approximately 70% of land in South Carolina counties with a large equine presence is categorized as LDR and therefore eight times more likely to be transformed into commercial or residential real estate.

Funding from the grant program would go directly to support equine-based organizations and horse activities that utilize and maintain our agricultural land and farming heritage, including growing and preserving the existing horse trail network, allowing organizations the financial flexibility to preserve private property through conservation easements, and providing additional funding to utilize more acreage for horse-related activities, like grazing and training.

Please consider supporting the South Carolina Equine Advancement Act and protecting one of our states most valuable natural resources  agricultural land.

Deborah McCutchen, Kingstree

Ode to fathers

As we celebrate Fathers Day, I send my blessing to all the men who care for, protect and provide for their families. You have been entrusted with the gift of fatherhood and inherited a high calling.

We read in the book of Proverbs, Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it (22:6). A good father embodies a life of unwavering service so that his family might be inspired to do the same for others.

I urge all fathers to install the tenets of faith in your children. Build your house on the rock of truth so your family is safe and unshakable.

Guide your family through the desert of temptations the world offers and take responsibility for your childrens education.

Making dialogue an important activity in your familys life will help reduce violence in our society.

May you find joy and fulfillment in this sacred calling that God has given you.

Maria Aselage, Charleston
I stayed in a 5-star Hawaii hotel for $2,275 a night. In my room, I was shocked to find amenities I'd never seen before.

My deluxe ocean-view room at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea  aka the "real" White Lotus. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

I went to the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, which was the hotel in season one of "The White Lotus."

It wasn't the Pineapple Suite, but my deluxe ocean-view room was the nicest I'd ever stayed in.

There was a breathtaking bathroom, a scenic balcony view, and amenities such as a free beach tote.

As a "White Lotus" fan, I couldn't wait to stay at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea  the five-star hotel in Hawaii where the first season of the HBO show was filmed.

I'd seen glimpses of some of the suites on the show, even if they had been transformed to look "kitschy and flawed and rich, like the characters," as Laura Fox, the production designer, told Architectural Digest.

But I was excited to see what a room at the hotel was actually like. In photos on the Four Seasons website, the rooms looked less busy than on the show and had more of a quiet luxury.

I stayed in one of the hotel's deluxe ocean-view rooms, and though it wasn't the Pineapple Suite  nor would I harass hotel management about that, unlike Shane Patton, who Jake Lacy plays  the level of luxury I found there made me feel like a VIP.

From a free beach tote to the bathroom of my dreams, it felt like my room had almost everything I could need. Take a look inside.

Editor's note: Insider received a discounted media rate for the one-night stay. Room rates can vary, but the deluxe ocean-view room was listed on the Four Seasons website as $2,275 at the time of booking.

During a trip to Hawaii, I spent a night at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea  the famous filming location for the first season of HBO's "The White Lotus."

At the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, I felt as glam as Tanya McQuoid, who Jennifer Coolidge plays. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

At the time of booking, a one-night stay in a deluxe ocean-view room was $2,275 on the Four Seasons website. Insider received a discounted media rate for the stay. It's worth noting that rates can vary and that my stay was on the Friday before Memorial Day.

Looking ahead at rates for the same room on Friday nights in July 2023, the cost ranged from $1,395 to $2,195 as of June 2023.

Prices appear to go up over the holidays, the busiest time of year. A one-night stay in the room on the Friday before Christmas cost $4,695, and the Friday before New Year's Eve cost $5,300 at the time of writing.

At check-in, staff gave me a wristband that served as the key to a deluxe ocean-view room on the hotel's sixth floor.

I wore the wristband at check-in before it succumbed to the depths of my bag. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

I expected to receive a key card like at most hotels, but I thought the wristband was smart  because it's meant to be worn, and a bright blue, it's surely hard for guests to lose.

Admittedly, my husband and I have lost a few key cards on our travels, and prior to this Four Seasons location, we'd only stayed at one other property  a resort in Breckenridge, Colorado  that gave us a wristband to access our room.

While I'd worn my wristband in Breckenridge under layers of skiwear, I knew it'd be on display with whatever I wore in Hawaii, and so, not wanting to throw off my outfits, it ended up at the bottom of my bag. Still, neither of us lost it!

Walking into the 600-square-foot room, the entrance set the tone for the rest of the space with muted, white-and-beige hues that gave it a relaxed feel.

The entryway space was used well. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

Walking in, to my left, there was a spacious closet followed by a compact bar area with a Nespresso coffee maker, a kettle, mugs, reusable water bottles, and glasses. There was also a mini fridge.

A door opposite with a full-length mirror, which I thought was handy to have any time before I left the room, led to the bathroom.

And then, on the right, the hardwood-style floor of the entryway gave way to a large, carpeted bedroom and lounge area.

In the background, Hawaiian music gently played. Later, I learned this was coming from the bathroom  but more on that in a little bit.

The king bed looked inviting with a soft comforter and pillows that had the Four Seasons' tree logo on them, while the sectional sofa made the lounge feel more substantial.

It was tough to get out of this bed in the morning. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The bed was as comfortable as it looked. The mattress, which, had it not been to our liking, could have been customized, was firm enough for me, and I chose my preferred pillow out of those on the bed.

And after the massage I'd had earlier that day at the hotel spa, it was easy to get a good night's sleep.

When my alarm went off at 6 a.m. to snag a spot by the hotel's Serenity Pool, it was tougher than usual to get out of bed  even if it was just to lounge by the pool.

In the lounge, the sectional sofa and coffee table faced a 65-inch, flat-screen TV. There was also a small table and two chairs by a reading lamp.

I barely used the lounge, but I liked it. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

I was impressed by the lounge. Often an overlooked  or nonexistent  part of a hotel room, this one had a sectional sofa that was actually comfortable. I thought it made the space look larger, too.

We didn't turn on the 65-inch TV, but had we stayed longer, I'm sure we would've found something to watch; according to the Four Seasons website, it's set up with Chromecast streaming.

As for the decor, it gave the room a contemporary, serene feel  beachy without being busy  and the art on the walls brought splashes of color and warmth to the space.

I couldn't wait to open the sliding doors in the lounge and step out onto the balcony, or lanai, to see the view.

A balcony in a deluxe ocean-view room. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The balcony was angled to face the Pacific Ocean, overlooking a generous slice of Wailea Bay and the majestic West Maui Mountains.

It was the backdrop to the best parts of the resort, in my opinion, so I felt lucky to be able to get a glimpse of such a gorgeous view from my own balcony. I could've sat outside there for hours admiring the scenery.

If I'd been staying longer, I thought, I would've ordered room service and had breakfast here each morning.

I thought the balcony would be the best part, but then I stepped inside the bathroom. It took my breath away.

Is this a bathroom or a marble palace? Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

When I tell you I could live quite happily in the bathroom of room 615 at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, I'm not exaggerating. I walked in and actually squealed with excitement.

There were two vanities that immediately caught my attention: one with double sinks and another with plenty of drawers and a large counter  more on those in a second.

And next to a deep bathtub, there was a massive shower with sleek tiles and a gigantic showerhead.

As for the toilet, that was tucked away in a mini "room" of its own within the bathroom and had a phone next to it just in case needed to make a call.

The vanity with two sinks and LED mirrors was the stuff of dreams.

Double sinks and LED mirrors: a winning combination. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The LED mirrors were perfect for doing makeup, and I liked that the hair dryer was easy to find, stored on one of the open shelves under one of the basins.

The extendable shaving mirror came in handy for my husband, too, and when it came time to do my skincare routine, I was able to get a really good look at my pores.

I loved having this separate counter without a sink that stayed dry.

I'm now adding "dry counter" to my bathroom wish list. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

I still can't believe the size of this bathroom.

When I saw this vanity, I initially wondered what I'd even use it for.

Within a few hours, my jewelry, the hotel hair dryer, and my phone and smartwatch  charging on the nearby outlets  were all laid out on it. Basically, it's for things you don't want to get wet.

I thought it was genius.

But perhaps the best part of the bathroom was the built-in music dial next to the light switches.

This was next-level. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The source of the Hawaiian music we heard upon entering our room turned out to be the bathroom, of all places.

Options ranged from Hawaiian music to R&B and classic rock to alternative and easy listening. I had fun playing around with this novelty and found myself adjusting the music to match my mood.

Doing my makeup to a soundtrack was definitely a vibe.

The toiletries also deserve a mention. I forgot my hair tools, but somehow the shampoo and conditioner worked some kind of magic on my mane before a nice dinner.

From left: The toiletries at the Four Seasons and the evidence that my hair looked good. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

Yes, I'm aware I'm still talking about this bathroom. Allow me, for a second, to tell you about the toiletries.

I figured a five-star hotel would have nice toiletries, but these spa-like products  branded as Lokahi  stole my heart.

While the "ruby guava"-scented products smelled wonderful and made even washing my hands feel fancy, the shampoo and conditioner impressed me the most.

Getting ready for a nice dinner, I blow-dried my hair while running my fingers through it  I'd forgotten to bring my hair tools or products. Usually, drying my hair this way results in a somewhat-frizzy mess, but when I looked in the mirror, it somehow looked like I'd recently gotten out of a hair appointment.

I'm not sure what was in this shampoo and conditioner, but after learning they're exclusive to the hotel, I'm dying to go back just to pick some up.

There were other small touches inside the room that made a big difference, such as this complimentary beach tote I found in the closet and these reusable water bottles in the bar area.

I hadn't seen these amenities at a hotel before. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

At first, I thought the navy beach tote in the closet might be for use only if you bought it, but a tag on the bag invited guests to borrow it during their stay. If you did want to purchase it, of course, you could; according to the label, a new bag was available to buy from the resort for $175, or you could buy that very tote at a slight discount for $150.

I ended up using it to carry my poolside belongings and didn't want to return it at the end of my stay, but it's a little more than I'd usually pay for a beach bag, and I definitely didn't have room in my luggage.

I also made use of the refillable water bottles in the bar area. The bottles  made of single-wall, BPA-free aluminum  looked pretty sleek, branded with the Four Seasons logo, and they even had a space to write your name on them with a provided marker. I topped up my bottle at water stations around the resort, then used it on the rest of my trip, and I've even used it at home since getting back.

Next to the bed, there was a tablet to order in-room dining, book dinner reservations and spa appointments, and more.

You could order everything from a steak to a shave via the tablet. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The tablet in our room was a nice touch and had everything from a resort map to menus for the on-site restaurants Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante, DUO Steak and Seafood, and Wolfgang Puck's Spago.

You could also use the tablet to book massages and even a shave, which ran from $90 to $120.

We didn't end up using the tablet much since we were only there for a night and wanted to explore the resort, but had we stayed longer, I'd have definitely ordered in some breakfast  and taken it out onto the balcony.

After looking around the room, we were greeted with fresh pineapple served with pineapple juice. It made us feel like we were in the Pineapple Suite.

The Pineapple Suite is a state of mind. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

Shortly after we got into the room, a staff member knocked on the door bearing a freshly cut pineapple, presented in a pineapple shell, as well as pineapple juice in a pineapple-shaped carafe.

Pineapples are everywhere in Hawaii, so it felt like a fitting welcome to the hotel. And it was a delightful snack to enjoy on the balcony before heading out to see what the rest of the resort was like.

After a day spent checking out the resort, we returned to our room after turn-down service and found the space looking a little more luxurious.

It seemed like no detail went unnoticed. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

The leis we'd been given upon arrival had been rearranged in a heart shape next to provided shoe-and-laundry bags. The laundry bag was another amenity I would have used if we'd stayed longer.

There were also two milk-chocolate squares on a bedside table. I appreciated that these weren't on the pillows, since we didn't have the air conditining on, and they might have melted.

That level of attention to detail impressed me. And it was clear throughout the room  from the beach tote I used to carry around my poolside essentials to the to-go cups provided for coffee, which helped me start my day.

Anything I'd need or want, I could probably find in the room. And if I couldn't, I could call down to the front desk or find it with a touch of a button on the tablet.

Looking back on my stay, I could see myself splurging on a couple of nights at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea in the future. But I don't know if I'd spend more than a week there if I could afford to.

I miss this view of the West Maui Mountains from the Serenity Pool. Chloe Pantazi-Wolber/Insider

While I didn't quite feel ready to leave after one night at the Four Seasons, I still got a lot out of the resort and made every moment count. Still, I'd have loved to spend more time in my room, and I think two nights would have been ideal.

I could see myself splurging on a night or two in this same room, or another similar to at a different Four Seasons or five-star hotel if I were celebrating a special occasion. Or, I'd bake a mini luxury stay into a trip along with other vacation rentals or hotels in different places  as I did in Hawaii. First, I stayed on Oahu at a Marriott resort, and then on Maui at two Airbnbs in very different parts of the island, as well as the Four Seasons.

I fell in love with the resort, but I also loved seeing other parts of Hawaii. Had I spent every night in Maui at the Four Seasons, it would've been harder to get up in time to watch the sun rise on the summit of Haleakala in the Maui Upcountry or watch sea turtles nesting at Ho'okipa Beach Park on the North Shore. And my bank account would be hurting.

I'd say it's worth staying for a quick luxury break if you can afford it. Just make sure you do your homework to make it count.

Read the original article on Insider
Its been 14 months since Russian President Vladimir Putins troops invaded Ukraine after Russias 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.

Bob Kustra

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, as have soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Meanwhile back at home in America in those early weeks of the invasion, you couldnt travel far in American cities and towns without seeing blue and yellow flags of Ukraine flying in support of this nation now a victim of Putins deadly invasion.

Unfortunately, as wars drag on folks lose interest and are distracted from the news of the day no matter how justified the war. That sure seems to be the case today, now that the war is just another daily news report.

A survey in March showed that 59% of Americans still support the U.S. providing weapons and financial support to Ukraine, but only 42% of Republicans support it. That could be a reaction to how Trump responded to the survey, claiming Ukraine was not a vital interest to the U.S. In all, 79% of Democrats and 60% of independents support the U.S. position on Ukraine.

For those of us who do support the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom from Putins grip, its a question of how we can help. Aside from a few American volunteers who joined Ukrainian soldiers in defense of the country or those who contributed to Ukrainian relief organizations, most of us simply watch the news for clues to who has the upper hand and is winning the war.

There are those who have devoted their lives and careers to fighting Putin and his stranglehold on his people; chief among them is Bill Browder, an American businessman, author and activist who has been challenging Putin for 30 years. His books Red Notice and Freezing Order are must-reads for anyone who cares to learn just how Putin manages to stay in power using his oligarchs to hide his wealth abroad and manipulating organizations like Interpol, an international law enforcement agency, that he uses to go after his enemies.

Browder has a good answer for those who want to know how to lend a hand to the Ukrainian war effort. After the 2022 invasion, the United States asked American companies to pull their businesses out of Russia, all part of the sanctions strategy the U.S. thought would damage Putins ability to conduct the war by crippling the Russian economy and encouraging the Russian people to overthrow the Putin regime.

The U.S. request of companies to pull out of Russia was easier said than done. While more than 1,000 companies left the country, some stayed and some committed to leaving but then didnt.

Those who stayed send the wrong message about how committed the U.S. is in supporting Ukraine and punishing Putins Russia for its aggression.

To deal with the corporate laggards who failed to leave Russia, there is a movement underway that gives American consumers the information they need to play a supporting role in the defense of the Ukrainian people.

The Moral Ratings Agency was created after Russia invaded Ukraine to assist pro-democracy forces in Russia depose Putin and send him to criminal trials at the Hague. It tracks companies to determine if they are still doing business in Russia, so consumers will know not to buy their products.

For example, the Moral Ratings Agency identifies Nestle, Microsoft, Johnson and Johnson, PepsiCo, Proctor and Gamble and Unilever as companies that refused to leave. A consumer may not know all the products of a multinational corporation like Unilever that violate the U.S. sanctions, but the Moral Ratings Agency website lists Ben and Jerrys, Breyers, Dove, Hellmanns and Lipton as Unilever products to be avoided.

The Yale School of Management also tracks companies that have withdrawn from Russia and those that have not. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, who serves as the president of the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, dubbed the list of offenders that refused to leave Russia the Hall of Shame.

Now if we could only hear a steady drumbeat from our elected officials on how we can avoid purchasing from companies refusing to leave Russia.

Its very possible our Idaho congressional delegation is hearing from some of the 47% of Republicans who do not support U.S. military aid to Ukraine, instead bowing to Trump followers who are infatuated with his love affair with Putin, one of his favorite autocrats. All four members of the Idaho delegation are as quiet as church mice when it comes to Ukraine.

Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher do not have a word about the war in Ukraine on their websites. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo have brief, buried mention of their support of Senate resolutions declaring Russian actions in Ukraine as genocide, but nothing easily found by a visitor to their websites. Both did sign a letter to President Joe Biden calling for the U.S. to approve the transfer of jet fighters to Ukraine, but it looks more like Republicans finding a way to reprimand Biden on a detail of the war effort.

Whats missing in America at this most important moment of Ukraines counteroffensive is a renewal of that fighting spirit that most Americans displayed in the early weeks and months of the war. Publicly shaming companies that refuse to leave Russia is the first step as the Moral Ratings Agency and Yales Chief Executive Leadership Institute have done. The next step is ours: refusing to buy products of the companies who give aid and comfort to a Russian economy financing the invasion of Ukraine.

On the world stage, this wars outcome may well determine whether authoritarianism takes root and spreads beyond Ukraine or democracy prevails and influences other countries on the verge of authoritarian rule to swing in the opposite direction.

Check out the websites of the Moral Ratings Agency and Yales Chief Executive Leadership Institute to learn what companies have not earned our loyalty. Then lets buy only from those companies that are not in Yales Hall of Shame, but stand up for Ukrainians in defense of their democratic way of life.

Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio and he writes a biweekly column for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator.
Collaborators are constantly being unmasked in Donetsk Oblast, and some of the Russian strikes on the oblast are the result of the work of traitors.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, in an interview with Ukrinform

Quote: "We have to face the truth and talk about it. Collaborators are constantly being exposed. The number of such people in criminal proceedings can only be named by investigators. Collaborators exist and they continue to act, and some of the attacks that take place in the territory of Donetsk Oblast, strikes on infrastructure facilities, are not the mega-work of the Russian secret services, but the result of the work of traitors."

Details: Kyrylenko said 95,701 residential buildings, 746 educational institutions and 216 medical institutions in Donetsk Oblast have been damaged or destroyed due to the Russian Federations full-scale war against Ukraine.

Excluding casualties in Mariupol and Volnovakha, as of mid-June, 1,560 residents of Donetsk Oblast have been killed and 3,689 have sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity as a result of Russias aggression. 148 children in the oblast have been killed and 290 injured.

About 530,000 people still live in the oblast, whereas there were 1,800,000 residents before the full-scale war.

About 40,000 children remain in the oblast.

"If we consider settlements such as Zalizne, Pivdenne and New-York, where there is constant shelling, then in the Toretsk hromada and part of the Bakhmut district, the focus of our attention is currently the 286 children in need of mandatory evacuation. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] This work is ongoing. I have given [my employees] one month to report from the field on the evacuation of children and parents who don't want to do it. This really only concerns parents because their child will go with them; we do realise this," Kyrylenko said.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Student absenteeism in CPS improves, but not meeting state standard of 90% attendance

School bus stock image.

Columbia Public Schools students miss a lot of school.

Not as much as last year, when omicron was surging through schools, but still a lot.

It's not just a problem in CPS, but also is being seen statewide and nationwide. A University of Missouri researcher has studied its causes in eighth, ninth and 11th graders.

Meeting and missing the state attendance standard

The state standard for student attendance is 90% of students attending school 90% of the school year.

With a school year of 174 days, students could miss 17 days of school and meet the standard.

Just five elementary schools in CPS met the standard in 2022-23. No middle schools or high schools did.

The elementary schools are Midway Heights, 93.6%; Beulah Ralph, 92.8%; Russell Boulevard, 92.7%; Cedar Ridge, 90.8%; and Paxton Keeley, 90.1%,

For reference, the worst attendance numbers at the elementary level were 71% at West Boulevard Elementary. For middle schools, Lange Middle School was the lowest at 60.6% with John Warner Middle School the highest at 85.9%. Among traditional high schools, Rock Bridge had the highest attendance at 81.9%, with Battle the lowest at 64.5%

District officials on Monday celebrated, because the district average reached 80%, qualifying for points in the state's Annual Performance Report.

"I am super excited about this," CPS Chief Equity Officer Carla London said Monday about the improvement.

In 2021-22 district attendance was 73.5%, resulting in no points on the state APR. The 80.3% rate in 2022-23 gets partial points for the district. Statewide the rate was just under 81%, with an average of 33 school days missed.

Springfield, a district to which CPS sometimes compares itself, had an attendance rate of 75.3% in 2021-22.

Among other Boone County school districts, only Southern Boone School District in Ashland hit the 90% attendance rate in 2021-22. The others are Centralia, 85.8%; Hallsville, 88.5%; Harrisburg, 87.2%; and Sturgeon, 81.2%,

Causes, potential solutions

"Last year, we still had a large number of absences related to COVID illness, specifically the omicron strand," said CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark in an email. "This year, illness numbers look better, but we are struggling in other areas."

She also doesn't think the term chronic absenteeism fits, she said.

"Chronic absenteeism and widespread absenteeism are two different things," Baumstark wrote. "Our biggest issue in CPS is more of an increase in overall absenteeism than chronic absenteeism. More kids missing more often versus the same children never attending."

Online access during the pandemic seems to be providing an excuse for some students, she wrote.

"Perceptually, it feels like a change in attitude about the importance of attending school to receive direct instruction," Baumstark wrote. "The pandemic increased our access and reliability on technology to access coursework and materials. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, some are now taking advantage of this over actually participating in instructional time at school. However, access to technology doesnt change the importance of attending school to receive instruction. For each day missed, it actually equates to three days of lost instruction  the day you missed, the day to make up the work, and the lesson after the day you missed that isnt effective because you missed the necessary content day before."

There are other issues, she wrote.

"We also always see a drop around holidays, breaks, and toward the end of the school year," she wrote.

During the pandemic, some things that were paused have been reinstituted, London said during Monday's school board meeting.

"Your home-school communicators have been focused on making home visits," she said. "Parents are getting constant reminders from teachers and letters home."

Some parents say they can't get their child to come to school, she said.

Columbia Public Schools

MU Research

The U.S. Department of Education defines chronic absenteeism as missing 15 days of school in an academic year. That's the measure used by Knoo Lee used in his research. He's a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Missouri School of Nursing.

His study, "Using data-driven analytics and ecological systems theory to identify risk and protective factors for school absenteeism among secondary students" was published in the Journal of School Psychology.

In the U.S., more than seven million school-age children, 16% of the student population, miss 15 or more days of school a year, according to federal data.

Lee examined data from 126,868 Minnesota students in grades eight, nine and 11 from 2016, well before the pandemic.

It found 18 attributes affecting student absenteeism among those students. All related to the students' microsystem and mesosystem, that is their personal experience or factors and people in their immediate environment, including family, Lee said.

They include:

Tobacco product use

Friends' approval of substance use

Substance use

Marijuana use in the past year

Staying home due to illness

Teacher-student relationship

Adversarial childhood experience

The first step toward solving a problem is getting a better understanding of the problem in the first place and that is what we are trying to dig into with this research," Lee said. "We want to ultimately develop more tailored interventions that improve student engagement, which lead to better long-term life outcomes.

He hopes the study's results can be used by policymakers tackling student absenteeism, he said.

Student absenteeism can lead to negative consequences for the individuals in their adult lives, other research has shown. Those include involvement in crime, negative effects on physical and mental health and increased rates of substance abuse.

"It's presented in a multitude of papers," Lee said of the potential negative effects.

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: Student attendance, tackling absenteeism, a continued focus for CPS
New study reveals a troubling phenomeon occuring in some of Americas biggest cities: Unprecedented in at least 120 years

Just as scientists have been saying for decades, the sea level is rising, The Washington Post recently reported. However, since about 2010, its been increasing way faster than was expected along the southern and southeastern coasts of the U.S., threatening coastal cities and their residents.

Whats happening?

The Post reported that recent studies reveal that the sea level in the southern U.S. has risen at about four-tenths of an inch annually since 2010. The global average is less than half that amount  about 0.18 inches annually in the same time frame.

Another similar study, published by a team led by Tulane University researchers, said this faster rate is unprecedented in at least 120 years.

Interestingly, the Post also reported that the causes of this dramatic change arent entirely certain. The ocean is rising worldwide, on average, with increasing global temperatures, but the southern U.S.s sea level is rising faster than expected.

While the land in the southern U.S. is sinking in some places, the higher sea level has been observed even in the regions that arent sinking as rapidly, according to recent studies. Warm currents carrying water into the Gulf of Mexico may be causing the water to expand, also contributing to sea level rise.

Why does the rising water line matter?

As the Post explained, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, and many other communities are in the path of the rising water, which could overtake homes and businesses.

Higher water levels also make hurricane impacts more severe. Increasingly extreme natural disasters cause expensive property damage and create unsafe situations for thousands of people.

Not only that, but Sonke Dangendorf, who led one of the recent studies, calls this situation a window into the future, the Post said. Dagendorf said the rising sea level along the U.S. Gulf Coast and southeastern coastlines is close to what scientists would expect to see around 2100 if Earth keeps getting hotter.

Whats being done about it?

According to the Post, research on rising sea levels is surging. Besides the two papers published about the region this year so far, two more are in review, and NASA has developed a sea-level tool to help examine the problem.

The best thing individuals can do about the rising sea level is to try to help cool down the Earth by producing less planet-warming pollution. Switching from a gas-powered car or gas appliances to electric makes a significant difference, as does buying locally-grown food instead of food shipped from far away.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Odesa's beaches have been declared unsuitable for swimming due to a significant deterioration in the water condition, and the city administration is not considering the opening of beaches at the moment.

Source: Odesa City Council

Details: This refers to the state of water in open water bodies, such as a sea or an estuary.

According to the city council, swimming is dangerous to the health of citizens.

From now on, swimming at the beaches of Odesa is prohibited.

This decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies on 17 June.

For reference: Swimming has been banned at all beaches in Odesa since the start of the full-scale war due to the mine danger.

Meanwhile, in May, Odesa issued an order to prepare access to certain beaches under martial law. The final decision to open the beaches was promised to be made in early May.

The water in Odesa is now heavily polluted due to the Russians' blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, and the decision to open the beaches is now irrelevant.

Background: In Odesa Oblast, border guards are observing the consequences of the Russian ecocide; they say that the sea "is turning into a rubbish dump and a cemetery for animals".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- Swiss voters backed raising corporate taxes for large multinationals to the 15% minimum level agreed by OECD countries and signed off on the governments climate goals.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a local election, Geneva rejected increasing the levy on its richest citizens.

The OECD minimum tax was supported by 78.5% of the electorate, according to government results published on Sunday. The outcome, which was expected based on polls, clears the final hurdle for the implementation of the higher levy next year.

With the slogan So the money stays in Switzerland the government and most parties had been calling for yes votes. A rejection of the measure would have allowed other countries to pocket the estimated additional annual revenue of 1 billion to 2.5 billion francs ($1.1 billion to $2.8 billion), according to the OECD agreement.

Swiss citizens were likely swayed by the nature of the topic and the support should not be seen as a vote of confidence in the government, which recently has been under scrutiny over its role in the Credit Suisse Group AG crisis.

Climate Goal

The governments proposal for Switzerland to become climate neutral by 2050 was backed by 59.1% of the electorate, according to results. The bill includes commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at 50% below 1990s levels by the end of this decade.

Under its system of direct democracy, Switzerland is one of a few countries globally to vote on national climate goals. The current law is a softened version of an earlier proposal which would have outright banned fossil fuels but was deemed too extreme by lawmakers and the public.

The third measure on the national ballot  a plan to ensure that Covid measures including monitoring and contact tracing stay ready to be reactivated if necessary  was also supported by voters, initial data show.

Millionaires Tax

In a cantonal vote held in Geneva, voters rejected a solidarity tax hike for the richest 1% living in Switzerlands second-largest city. The measure to temporarily lift the wealth tax for individuals with assets worth more than 3 million francs ($3.4 million) aimed to boost fiscal revenue. The local government had spoken out against the increase.

Zurich city voters passed a minimum hourly wage, the latest effort in Switzerland to ensure people can live on their salaries. The measure for 23.90 Swiss francs ($26.74) per hour was backed by 69.4% of voters in the Swiss financial hub. In Winterthur, a formerly blue-collar town near Zurich, a similar proposal for 23 francs also found support.

Swiss people head to the polls as often as four times a year, though 2023 will only see this Sundays plebiscites. Thats partly because the country holds parliamentary elections on Oct. 22.

(Updates with final results in second and fifth paragraph, adds details throughout.)

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Tampa Bays world-famous beaches may all look alike. But just as every snowflake (or starfish) is unique, the many beaches here have their own personalities and vibes. If you have visitors in town who are experiencing our beaches for the first time, or youre new here and havent been to some yourself, heres a guide to some of the most popular spots based on what youre in the mood for.

For party time

Head to Clearwater Beach by way of the Courtney Campbell Parkway, State Road 60. Parking can be tricky at on-street spots and city parking lots along the beach strip, so many visitors opt to pay for the private garages and restaurant valets. Dont expect easy beach access here, as Clearwater Beach tends to be one of our most touristy areas. But the hopping spot is perfect for your party needs, with a nightly sunset party at Pier 60 with weekends bringing free movies on the beach and volleyball nets stretched over powdery sand. Frenchys Rockaway Grill is famous for its she-crab soup, and theres usually a party scene at Shephards Tiki Beach Bar & Grill.

If you want to learn more about Clearwater Beach, check out this story about how the beach beautification team cleans up each night. And this story that answers an important question: Why is the water at Clearwater Beach not clear?

For relaxing

Check out the shelly strip of sand with the relaxed vibe and minimal-wave water at Pass-a-Grille, off the Pinellas Bayway exit from Interstate 275. Hang a left at the big pink Don CeSar Hotel, which is also a prime spot for relaxation: You dont need to be a hotel guest to book a day at the spa here, which also grants you access to the hotels private beach.

Out on Pass-a-Grilles beach, a snack shack serves breakfast and lunch and also offers public bathrooms and outdoor showers. The roof of the historic Hurricane (809 Gulf Way) is ideal for sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, and just a few blocks east on this skinny island youll find the Merry Pier (801 Pass-a-Grille Way) facing the channel, where you can rent a fishing pole or a bicycle or take a boat excursion.

There are restaurant gems to be found here, too, if you get hungry. Come to the Seahorse for its early morning regulars scene, where you can order from a breakfast menu that includes omelets, Cajun fish and cheese grits and Bloody Marys. At The Berkeley Beach Club, a rooftop bar offers stunning views and the indoor restaurant downstairs offers plenty of fresh seafood options. Read more about these restaurants, and other beach eats, here.

For nature

With sand as soft as baby powder, nature trails, kayak rentals and lots of places to drop your fishing line, Fort De Soto Park is deservedly on the Hall of Fame list of the countrys best beaches. Its home to five islands and 7 miles of sandy beaches stretched across a roughly 1,100-acre park. Parking is $5 per car. Bring the kids to the century-old Spanish-American War fort (3500 Pinellas Bayway S), where they can climb on a cannon or pretend they are behind bars in the brig.

You can also go camping at this sprawling county park, and theres the Fort De Soto Dog Park, where your furry friends can run on certain areas of the beach. There are even a couple fenced-in areas.

For romance

Take a beautiful nighttime walk across the Dunedin Causeway bridge to Honeymoon Island State Park at the west end. The lights of Clearwater reflect on the water to make gorgeous views for the two-mile stroll. Hand-holding is encouraged. Even more romantic? Taking the ferry to Caladesi Island State Park, which cant be accessed by road and feels like a secluded tropical paradise.

One of Floridas state parks, Honeymoon Island is open from 8 a.m. to sunset each day. It costs $8 per vehicle to enter, but parking in the sand and grass along the Dunedin Causeway is free.

For sticking close to Tampa

Just because there isnt a gulf coastline in Hillsborough County doesnt mean there are no sandy spots. Gandy Beach along the Gandy Bridge is called the Redneck Riviera because of its well-earned reputation for parties. More nonbeach beaches in the Tampa area include Davis Islands Sea Plane Basin (864 Severn Ave.) and Ben T. Davis Beach (the Tampa side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway). If you dont mind driving past gritty industrial buildings at the south end of Commerce Street, youll find a dog beach at Picnic Island Park, as well as a long swimming beach, fishing pier, playgrounds and picnic shelters.
The North Shore was flooded with thousands of fans making their way to see Taylor Swift for the final day of her back-to-back shows. The superstar brought in big crowds that are expected to bring a huge economic boost to the area.

We are having so much fun with other Taylor Swift fans, said fan Anna Jennings of Charlotte, NC. We are having fun with other Swifties.

PHOTOS: Taylor Swifts Eras Tour kicks off in Pittsburgh

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Taylor Swift makes generous donation to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Hundreds of Taylor Swift fans flock to North Shore to buy merchandise

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Mayor Ed Gainey renames Pittsburgh Swiftsburgh on Friday, Saturday in honor of Eras Tour

Sisters Emmalee and Kate Moles were among the thousands of people who packed the North Shore hours before the mega pop star took the stage at Acrisure Stadium Saturday night.

Weve seen so many people flooding local businesses and things like that and all of these little Taylor Swift-themed pop-up shops, the boutiques, Taylor Swift merch and things like that are just popping up around the city, and weve been puttering about. Its amazing, said Emmalee Moles of Charleston, WV.

Bars and restaurants, such as Tequila Cowboy Bar & Grill, saw that extra foot traffic. General Manager Christian Miranda said they saw about a 30% boost in revenue compared to a typical weekend. He added that the staff was prepared to handle the crowds.

Everybody on these days just has to work a little bit harder, maybe multiple jobs and pull together as a team, Miranda said. Our staff is absolutely incredible.

Mikes Beer Bar on Federal Street, which is several blocks away from the stadium, is also seeing a steady flow of people.

[Its] definitely not as crazy as a Pirates or Steelers game, said Jessica Moore, the bar & social media manager at Mikes Beer Bar.

By Saturday afternoon, Moore said they had about a $5,000 increase in business on food and drinks.

The crowds great, she said. A lot of them have been really patient and understanding and there are great outfits. Theyre killing it.

Out-of-towner Anna Jennings drove nearly seven hours from North Carolina to see Taylor Swift perform. She said between the gas, hotel room, and food, shes probably spent about $500, and shes not done.

We definitely spent money on our clothes around here, she said. We bought food and alcohol. Well definitely spend on merchandise. Well definitely drink more and food.

Visit Pittsburghs CEO told Channel 11 last summer there were four big concerts that brought in an economic impact of about $41 million from hotels, restaurants and shops. He believes the two-day concert in the city is going to break records.

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Colleges are seeing a surge in technology majors, but rural students are lagging behind on opportunities to take advantage of the growing, high-paying fields.

From 2018 to 2022, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services majors increased 23 percent, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, from 423,315 to 518,844.

Rural students, however, face two pressing issues: the digital divide of internet reliability and technology access and education opportunities.

The National Center for Education Statistics said that in 2019, around 76 percent of rural students had fixed broadband internet access at home, lower than those in towns at 79 percent, cities at 80 percent and suburban areas at 87 percent.

On Wednesday, the White House announced the Online for All initiative, which will work with more than 300 national and community organizations to close the digital divide.

In the 21st century, high-speed internet is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Which is why President Biden and I are in the process of making high-speed internet affordable for everyone, Vice President Harris said in a recent video.

Part of the campaign will point people to the Affordable Connectivity Program that was passed under the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Currently, more than 18.5 million households are part of the program, which is saving more than $500 million per month on high-speed internet bills for everyday Americans.

Certainly that broadband connectivity is something that weve been thinking about as rural education scholars for a long time, and I think it became more visible to those who are sort of outside of that bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Amy Azano, professor and director of the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech.

However, the more pressing issue for a majority of rural students is they dont have the technology education available to them that others do.

While many schools in cities and suburbs have coding classes or robotics programs, Chris Sanders, who grew up in rural Kentucky and is now director of the Rural Technology Fund, can look back on an early education with little access to computer science.

Theres still lots of rural schools that dont have computer classes. If they have one, its probably typing or Microsoft Office, which kids are probably picking up on their own, Sanders said.

The Rural Technology Fund has been around for 15 years and has reached more than 170,000 students in more than 800 schools by sponsoring scholarships and tech education in rural communities.

I was very, very interested in computers, and there were really no classes and there were no mentors. There were local businesses that provided the resources I needed to learn what I was interested in, so I kind of had to do that on my own, Sanders said as to why he started the organization.

Funding the programs is a major issue for rural schools, but they also need the personnel to back them up.

We have a pay equity issue in rural places. If were paying teachers less in rural places, it makes it more difficult to recruit and retain the teachers who would maybe want to live in a rural community, Azano said.

Rural schools already have difficulties finding teachers in common subjects such as reading and math, but K-12 educators who focused on technology in college are even rarer, according to Sanders.

Allen Pratt, executive director of the National Rural Education Association, said theres a gap in rural schools taking advantage of technology programs and the ability to be trained or get a micro-credential.

We need to do a better job of expanding those opportunities, especially when you can do so many things online now, Pratt said.

The problem follows students long after high school.

Rural students are already less likely than the rest of the population to go to college, with only 21.1 percent of the rural population having earned a college degree in 2021, according to o the U.S. Census and the U.S. Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service, compared to 35.7 percent in non-rural areas.

Once a rural student does go to college, the likelihood of them pursuing or sticking with a technology major is also lower than others.

Sanders says he knows a lot of rural students who start out in tech majors but then they drop out or change majors after the first year.

And thats because theyre far outpaced by their classmates from urban and suburban areas who have been nurtured in the field, he added.

And even as rural students lack the tech education they need, the field is one that can significantly benefit their communities.

Since COVID-19, many jobs, including tech ones, have gone remote, giving those in the field the opportunity to live wherever they want while obtaining high-paying careers.

Kids could take that money and go back to their communities in rural areas and spend that there. The spending that happens in rural communities affects everyone so I think theres a lot of power there. I think kids from rural areas in tech jobs stand to make a lot of peoples lives better, Sanders said.

But there is hope for rural students to catch up, even as technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence continue apace.

Rural people are industrious and resilient and resourceful. And so Im incredibly optimistic because I think that rural people have had to get things done in all kinds of ways and I think that will continue, Azano said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Michael Gove, Britains Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities during his speech in Manchester

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) -Senior British minister Michael Gove on Sunday described a video showing a party at the ruling Conservative Party's headquarters during a lockdown in 2020 as "terrible", as COVID rule-breaking gatherings continue to hang over the government.

The video was published by the Mirror newspaper just days after a parliamentary committee ruled that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had wilfully misled lawmakers about rule-breaking lockdown parties at his office.

The 45-second clip shows revellers partying in December 2020 when the British public in London were banned from socialising indoors to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

People can be seen dancing and drinking in the video. Two of those at the gathering, which had previously been investigated by police when a still photo of it emerged, were given honours by Johnson in his resignation list earlier this month.

"It's terrible," Gove, the housing minister, told Sky News. "I think it's completely out of order. I just want to apologise to everyone really."

The issue of rule-breaking during COVID lockdowns helped bring down Johnson, who left office last year, and still hangs over the Conservatives and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Johnson stepped down as a member of parliament on June 9, days before the privileges committee - the main disciplinary body for lawmakers - issued its damning verdict on him, re-opening divisions in the party and re-igniting public anger.

Polls suggest the Conservatives, in power since 2010, are trailing the opposition Labour party by about 20% percentage points. The next election must be held by late 2024.

VOTE ON JOHNSON

Lawmakers will vote on Monday on whether to endorse the privileges committee's report. Although largely symbolic now Johnson has quit as a lawmaker, his supporters have said those who backed its findings could face a backlash from Conservative members and even face de-selection as parliamentary candidates.

Gove said he would abstain, saying parts of the report were "excellent" but he did not agree with its conclusion that Johnson should have been suspended from parliament for 90 days had he remained a lawmaker. He said he did not know what Sunak himself would do.

The ongoing Johnson saga and COVID "partygate" headlines will do little for Sunak's attempts to focus on boosting Britain's flagging economy, with homeowners facing large increases in mortgage repayments as the Bank of England hikes interest rates in a bid to curb stubbornly high inflation.

Asked if the government would step in to help borrowers, he said it had no immediate plans to intervene but was keeping the matter under review.

"The worst thing to do would be to spend money in order to provide a short-term relief, which would then mean that our overall finances were in a weaker position, and interest rates were higher for longer and inflation was high for longer," Gove said.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Mark Heinrich and Sharon Singleton)
TikTok allowed millions of people to see Canadian helicopter wildfire conspiracies before taking down videos

More than 400 wildfires are raging across Canada, and misinformation about the blazes is spreading as well, particularly on TikTok.

As Media Matters for America (MMFA) noted in a recent analysis, videos on TikTok claiming the fires were started intentionally by helicopters, arsonists, and directed energy weapons have garnered millions of views this month, with the false ideas in these videos then spreading to other social media platforms.

Only a few of the most viral false videos have been taken down, the analysis notes.

Further scrutiny of such claims provides easy evidence to the contrary, with Canadian officials attributing the fires to a combination of lightning strikes, human accidents, and dry, climate crisis-fueled conditions across the country.

We are already seeing one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said in a statement earlier this month. We must prepare for a long summer.

Other videos about the fires featured clips from a controlled burn by fire officials, as well as what was actually a 2015 wildfire, MMFA found.

The Independent has contacted TikTok for comment.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes including large numbers in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Hundreds of firefighters have arrived from countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica and France to assist the exhausted Canadian crews.

As The Independent has previously reported, misinformation spreads quickly on TikTok during ongoing disasters, thanks in part to public distrust of government officials and an increasingly anti-science bent in US politics.

Social media can be helpful. It alerts people to a situation. Its a way for widespread dissemination, Dr Erin Haynes, professor of preventive medicine and environmental health at the University of Kentucky told The Independent in March in the wake of the Ohio train derailment disaster. But because of that it allows widespread dissemination of false information, so it can go both ways. You have to be very cautious when using social media. Fact-check, find the source of that information.
These tiny Japanese pickup trucks that cost about $5,000 are winning fans in America

A Kei truck can cost as little as $5,000 to import from Japan, but those who want to use one in the US can face some restrictions depending on where they want to drive it. Getty Images

Tiny Japanese trucks that cost as little as $5,000 are winning over some Americans.

Kei trucks are about 11 feet long and are typically limited to about 25 miles an hour.

According to Japan Car Direct, they've become popular with buyers such as farmers.

It's not just tiny homes taking America by storm  now tiny trucks made in Japan are becoming increasingly popular too.

Kei trucks are about 11 feet long, are less than seven feet high, and evolved from three-wheel trucks based on motorcycles that came about after World War II.

Several manufacturers made them, and models include the Daihatsu Hijet, the Subaru Sambar, the Suzuki Carry, and the Honda Acty.

The tiny trucks are a common sight on Japanese roads, but they've also won over some Americans wanting a versatile, compact, and cheap vehicle.

Kei cars

One of the companies importing these trucks to the US is Japan Car Direct.

Matt Matusiak told Insider the company ships a range of vehicles to the US, including Toyotas from the 1990s, old Suzuki trucks, and small Nissan camper vans.

But he said that Kei trucks were by far the company's most popular purchase and said they accounted for about a third of its orders.

The cheapest Kei truck that Japan Car Direct sells is about $5,000, with shipping costs accounting for much of that sum.

"Every single year for the past seven years, we've been increasing our sales overall, and a huge chunk of that is Kei vehicles," Matusiak said. "It's probably our most-searched term, and that's what brings most people to our website."

Many of his customers own ranches or farms, but Matusiak said that Kei trucks also appeal to surfers and hunters wanting nimble transport with storage space for surfboards or animals.

How to buy a Kei truck

Japan Car Direct is one of several companies based in Japan that export tiny trucks to the US and other countries.

However, Kei trucks are subject to certain restrictions in the US that buyers need to be aware of. More recent models, in particular, face certain Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency restrictions.

Kei trucks are typically limited to 25 mph, depending on the state. In Pennsylvania, they must be registered as off-road vehicles, while California's tighter environmental laws make it difficult to use a Kei truck there at all, Matusiak said.

Vehicles over 25 years old aren't subject to restrictions and account for most of the vehicles imported to the US, he said.

Japan Car Direct and its competitors will walk customers through the import process, which requires them to complete several forms.

But there's still a certain amount of faith required to buy a car from a foreign country without first being able to see it, Matusiak acknowledged: "It's a lot to digest, for sure."

Do you own a Kei truck? Get in touch with this reporter at rhogg@insider.com or via Twitter DM at @RyanAHogg

Read the original article on Business Insider
Torkelson, Carpenter homer as Tigers beat Twins 6-4 to take 3 of 4 in the series

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter points in the direction of his home run ball as he rounds the bases past Minnesota Twins second baseman Kyle Farmer (12) during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter hit back-to-back homers during Detroits five-run fifth inning, and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Sunday.

Carpenter and Andy Ibanez each had three hits for the Tigers, who won three of four in the series after beginning June by losing 11 of 12.

Brendan White (1-0), the third of Detroits seven pitchers, tossed two scoreless earnings for his first career win. The Tigers also went with an opener on Friday, using six pitchers in a 7-1 victory.

Its just next man up, being ready, going out, executing pitches and getting outs, White said.

It was the third major league appearance for the 24-year-old White, who planned to track down a memento of some sort from his memorable afternoon.

Im sure Ill grab something at some point, but the experience was enough for me, he said.

Carlos Correa had two hits for Minnesota, which had won four of five before faltering in the series against Detroit. The Twins hit .190 in the series.

We have to have better at-bats," manager Rocco Baldelli said. We have to hit more balls on the barrel. We didnt have a good enough series offensively to sit here and say we should have won these games.

In the finale, the Twins rallied in the eighth against a wild Alex Lange. The right-hander faced five batters, walking two, hitting two, throwing a wild pitch and allowing an RBI double.

Lange was replaced by Jason Foley with the bases loaded and nobody out. Royce Lewis hit an RBI single to make it 6-4, but Foley limited the damage by retiring Kyle Farmer on a fly ball to left before striking out Joey Gallo and Byron Buxton.

Buxton is 0 for 13 with eight strikeouts since returning from the injured list Thursday.

Foley added a scoreless ninth for his third save.

I dont want the eighth-inning stress to be the story of the day," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. I think the way our guys hung in there and handled the bullpen day, the way that we hung in there and had a really big inning on offense is a really good testament to winning three out of four on the road which is hard to do.

Twins starter Louie Varland (3-3) allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He has surrendered 17 earned runs over 15 innings his past three starts.

The Tigers batted around in the fifth. Jake Marisnick hit a leadoff triple and scored on Torkelsons one-out drive halfway up the lower deck in left-center. Carpenter followed with his fifth homer.

Ibanez added an RBI single and Miguel Cabrera delivered a sacrifice fly against Jordan Balazovic for a 6-1 lead. Detroit has scored at least five runs in seven of eight games.

Recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A St. Paul, Balazovic made his major league debut. He surrendered two hits and struck out two in 3 2/3 innings.

ROSTER MOVE

Corresponding with the Balazovic move, Minnesota placed reliever Jorge Lopez on the 15-day mental health injured list.

Lopez did not allow a run in 11 1/3 innings over 12 April outings, but he has struggled mightily the past month. In eight outings since May 21, Lopez, an All-Star last year for the Orioles, has allowed 12 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

ITS BEEN 50 YEARS

For the second time in three games, Will Vest started for Detroit in a bullpen game. Vest became the first pitcher to make multiple starts for Detroit in a series since Mickey Lolich in June 1973.

TRAINERS ROOM

Tigers: RF Matt Vierling was sidelined by low back spasms, six days after returning from the 10-day injured list. He was 6 for 11 with two home runs in the first three games of the series. Hinch said he doesnt think its serious.

Twins: OF Michael A. Taylor left under his own power in the eighth inning after getting hit in the head by a pitch. He had no concussion-like symptoms.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Reese Olson (0-2, 6.08 ERA) starts Monday in the first of three home games against Kansas City. RHP Jordan Lyles (0-11, 6.89 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals.

Twins: Open a four-game home set Monday against Boston. RHP Pablo Lopez (3-3, 4.27 ERA) is the scheduled Minnesota starter against Red Sox LHP James Paxton (2-1, 3.09 ERA).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The following is a transcript of an interview with former Attorney General William Barr that aired on "Face the Nation" on June 18, 2023.

ROBERT COSTA: We're joined now by William Barr. He served as Attorney General under former President Trump. His book One Damn Thing After Another is now available in paperback. Good morning. Mr. Barr, thank you for being here.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR: Thanks for inviting me, Bob.

ROBERT COSTA: Former President Trump now says everyone except you says this indictment is about election interference and should not have been brought. He said you know the indictment is total B.S. That's his- that's our shorthand for what he actually said. He's also known for watching the Sunday shows, and he obviously saw your appearance on another network last Sunday. Why is he wrong about this?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, you know, this is- this is not a circumstance where he's the victim or that this is government overreach. He provoked this whole problem himself. Yes, he has been the victim of unfair witch hunts in the past. But that doesn't obviate the fact that he's also a fundamentally flawed person who engages in reckless conduct, and that leads to situations, calamitous situations like this, which are very destructive and hurt any political cause he's associated with. And this was a case, entirely of his own making. He had no right to those documents. The government tried for over a year, quietly and with respect, to get them back, which was essential that they do, and he jerked them around. And he had no legal basis for keeping them. But beyond that, when- when he faced his subpoena, he didn't raise any legal arguments. He engaged in a course of deceitful conduct, according to the- the indictment, that was a clear crime if those allegations are true, and were- was outrageous. What he did was he, according to the indictment, is he took the documents out of storage, led his lawyer to believe that he'd be conducting a full search of the boxes, and then cause his lawyer to file with the court something saying that he had completed a search.

ROBERT COSTA: How strong is the special counsel's case on obstruction specifically?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, it's very strong, because a lot of the evidence comes from his own lawyers. And furthermore, there's evidence of him saying things that are completely incompatible with any idea that this was an innocent document dispute.

ROBERT COSTA: Do you believe he lied to the Justice Department?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Do I personally believe it? Yes, I do.

ROBERT COSTA: And do you believe that- that he continues to claim that he has all these privileges and rights under the Presidential Records Act, is he mischaracterizing the act?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Absolutely. The legal theory by which he gets to take battle plans and sensitive national security information as his personal papers is absurd. It's just as wacky as the legal doctrine they came up with for having the vice president unilaterally determine who won the election. The whole purpose of the statute, the Presidential Records Act, is- was to stop presidents from taking official documents out of the White House. It was passed after Watergate. That's the whole purpose of it. And therefore it restricted what a president can take. It says it's purely private, that have nothing to do with the deliberations of government policy. Obviously, these documents are not purely private, it's obvious. And they're not even now arguing that it's purely private. What they're saying is the President just has sweeping discretion to say they are, even though they squarely don't fall within the definition. It's an absurd argument.

ROBERT COSTA: Do you believe if he is convicted, he should serve his prison sentence?

Well, I don't- we haven't even gotten to the point of whether he's been convicted and also what his sentence should be--

ROBERT COSTA: If it happens?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: You know, I don't like the idea of a former president serving time in prison.

ROBERT COSTA: Republicans remain critical of the Attorney General who spoke out this week as well as Director Wray at the FBI, they've rallied the Trump side. Are they wrong to say that this Justice Department is acting in a political way?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, if they're pointing to this case, I think they're wrong. I think the Department had no choice but to seek those documents. Their basic argument really isn't to defend his conduct, because Trump's conduct is indefensible. What they're really saying is, he should get a pass because Hillary Clinton got a pass six or seven years ago. Now, I think, you know, that's not a frivolous argument. But I- I'm not sure that's true. I think if you want to restore the rule of law and equal justice, you don't do it by further derogating from justice. You do it by applying the right standard here. And that's not unfair to Trump, because this is not a case where Trump is innocent and being unfairly hounded. He committed the crime, or if he did commit the crime, it's not unfair to hold them to that standard.

ROBERT COSTA: You say Trump's alleged conduct is indefensible. So many Republicans continued to defend him. What will it say if the party, your longtime party, puts him forward as their nominee?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, that's the problem. I don't think they're actually defending his conduct, but they are saying it's unfair to prosecute him. But that then raises another question. Okay, if it's unfair to prosecute, and that's not the whole answer. The question is, should we be putting someone like this forward as the leader of the country, leader of the free world, who is engaged in this kind of conduct? The other thing is, this is not just an isolated example. Trump has, you know, has many good qualities, and he accomplished some good things. But the fact of the matter is, he is a consummate narcissist. And he constantly engages in reckless conduct that- that puts his political followers at risk and- and- and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk--

ROBERT COSTA: Would he put the country at risk if he was in the White House again?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: He- he will always put his own interests, and gratifying his own ego, ahead of everything else, including the country's interest, there's no question about it. This is a perfect example of that. He's like, you know, he's like a nine year old, defiant nine year old kid who's always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it. It's a means of self assertion and exerting his dominance over other people. And he's a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the country's, his personal gratification of his, you know, his ego, but our country- our country can't, you know, can't be a therapy session for you know, a troubled man like this.

ROBERT COSTA: This is not the only special counsel investigation, an ongoing one on January 6th, so many witnesses being called in, you were the star witness for the House January 6th. Committee. Are you willing to testify? Or have you already testified before the special counsel?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, if they, you know, if they call me in as a witness, of course, I would- would testify, but all I said was what I said, you know, what I recounted in my book about this full story about a stolen election.

ROBERT COSTA: Have you talked to them in any way behind the scenes, if not formal testimony?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Well, I'm not going to get into any communications I had with the government, but I don't expect to be a witness, but I'll be glad to be one if I'm called.

ROBERT COSTA: Trump was just indicted and arraigned in the records case. Do you believe he's a target, potentially, in the January 6th case?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Yes. And I've said from the beg- by the way, I've defended him when I think there's cases that are unfair, like the one up in New York and so forth. And I've always said, I think the January 6th case will be a hard case to make because of First Amendment interest. But I'm actually starting to think they will pull the trigger on that, and I would expect it to be this summer.

ROBERT COSTA: Do you believe the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will indict Trump in Georgia?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Yeah, I don't know much about her case. I don't know if it's, you know, a sound case or not. I'm skeptical about that. But I will- if--

ROBERT COSTA: Why are you skeptical?

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Again, because of the First Amendment interests. You know, we don't want to get into a position where people can't complain about an election, and claim that an election--

[CROSSTALK]

ROBERT COSTA: Trump said on tape he wants the Secretary of State to find votes.

FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: Yeah, I know. But, you know, there's- they're innocent interpretations of what he said, you know, which is, look, of all the votes that we think are bad. you certainly can find among them some that are slam dunk, but whether that's the proper interpretation or not, I- I am more skeptical of that case. But on the other hand, I think it's likely that will be brought.

ROBERT COSTA: Former Attorney General William Barr, we really appreciate you taking the time to stop by. And "Face the Nation" will be right back. Don't go away.

Full interview: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

CBS News correspondents on "tumultuous week" in Washington amid Trump indictment

Blumenthal says all tools, including subpoenas and hearings, are on the table in PGA-LIV merger
Classified or not, storage unsecured

If we accept former President Trumps contention that all the documents he took to Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster were declassified, his actions should still frighten all Americans. Listed in the indictment are items that compromise national security and our men and women in uniform, and that endanger assets. Why would anybody, especially the commander in chief, declassify sensitive information like this? What purpose would it possibly serve?

Then when we learn how haphazardly and insecurely these documents were stored, it is enough to send shivers up the spine of any patriotic American. Someone with a standing order to declassify information that he moves without any thought or merit as to whether the items should be declassified does not deserve to ever serve as commander in chief of our proud men and women in uniform. Conviction or no conviction, this is a bridge too far.

Warren Council, Escalon

Witch hunt? More like Halloween

Since very few people believe in witches, the term witch hunt has little relevancy. But, then again, when one uses the term hundreds of times in defense of ones actions it could be that there really is a witch, cleverly disguised as an orange pumpkin.

Jim Hoagland, Ripon

Heed Trumans words

Harry Truman said, Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. Weve reached that threshold or are damn close. If you are ignorant enough to endorse a two-tiered justice system being established right now, you will be sorry.

Richard Oliver, Modesto

To Congressman Tom McClintock

I strongly disagree with your recent June 9 tweet where you said, Obvious double standards and glaring political agendas have clearly corrupted our justice system and are now turning it against our democracy. This is a hallmark of leftist regimes and it wont end well.

Indicting anyone, especially a former U.S. president, is a serious matter. However, the judicial process has been clearly laid out, and the indictment was returned by an impartial grand jury after a rigorous investigation into alleged misconduct. To say that this process demonstrates double standards and glaring political agendas that are a hallmark of leftist regimes is to discredit the entire judicial process and our democracy. Your statement is not true and could encourage extremists to commit domestic terrorism.

Please rethink your position and align yourself more closely with your moderate Republican colleagues. Many of your constituents disagree with this and other statements you have made and will work in the 2024 election to seat a new member of Congress whose views are not so extreme.

Anita Young, Modesto

Catholics should give grace to LGBTQ+

The California Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement condemning the Los Angeles Dodgers plans to honor a group of drag-queen nuns (Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) who mock Catholicism. Im glad the bishops issued the statement. It is also imperative they denounce bigotry and violence toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto held an ecumenical prayer vigil in response to the state Senates plan to honor them. I encourage the bishops to have a prayer vigil to denounce homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. This way, we will show that, as a church, we consistently repudiate hatred and bigotry and dont have a double standard.

I have a friend who was thrown out of the confessional and was told he was going to hell because he was gay. It is profoundly hurtful for them when they are not welcome in their own church and when their leaders dont speak up for them. It is essential for the Catholic church and other communities of faith to humbly acknowledge the pain they have inflicted on the LGBTQ+ community, for healing to take place. We must show LGBTQ+ people what the catechism clearly states: respect, compassion, and sensitivity.

Fr. Misael Avila, Riverbank

Offended by drag

How is drag any different from other insulting forms of cultural appropriation such as blackface or dressing as Native Americans or Muslims and mocking that culture or religion? Drag is an insult to women. When drag queens dress as Catholic nuns and engage in blasphemy and vulgar displays of sexuality, it is highly offensive to anyone with consistent moral values. But drag practitioners and supporters are anything but consistent in their moral outrage.

One day we will look back at drag as we look at blackface, and be equally ashamed that we ever allowed this mockery to take place in America.

Marian McNicol, Modesto

Stanislaus should be ashamed

Re: Couple battles Stanislaus Countys eminent domain action (Front page, June 9-10): I am ashamed of my county for using eminent domain to push out Victorina Bach and her elderly husband. Dr. Bach has done so much for our community. She was my doctor as a child as well as my childrens doctor. We are suppose to care for our elderly and not throw them out of their homes.

The money that is being offered is spit, and even if it was enough no amount of money is worth throwing elderly people off their property that they raised their children on and created memories.

Josephine Lambert, Modesto

Can we trust foreign meds?





Across America, I understand there is a shortage of certain cancer treatment drugs. The fact is that the pharmaceutical companies no longer find these medications profitable.

It has been announced by the FDA/government that they will be obtaining these drugs from China. Were not on the best terms with China. Have we forgotten Dr. Fauci and Wuhan?

Arlene M. Avila, Turlock






Michael Cohen, former President Trumps onetime fixer and a key witness in the Manhattan district attorneys case against the former president, was denied his latest bid for an early release from probation Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman rejected Cohens most recent request to end his probation early, ruling that it would not serve its purpose of rehabilitation or deterrence from future crimes.

Cohen pleaded guilty to a variety of charges in 2018, including criminal tax evasion and campaign finance violations. The campaign finance violations relate in part to a $130,000 payment that Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 campaign.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. However, Cohen was transferred to home confinement after a little more than a year in prison.

Since beginning probation, Cohen has petitioned the court three times for an early release, including last July, last December and this May.

Federal prosecutors argued that Trumps former personal attorney simply recycled his previous claims for an early release, all of which have been rejected.

Instead, many of the defendants arguments are the same ones previously considered and rejected by the Court, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said. There is no reason, six months later, to reconsider that decision.

Williams also noted that Cohens recent comments in a book and television appearance suggest that he has not taken full responsibility for his actions.

[W]hile Cohen is free to write and say what he wants, he cannot simultaneously distance himself from his conduct on cable news, while cloaking himself in claims of acceptance of responsibility in court filings, he said.

Cohens recent efforts to back away from his prior acceptance of responsibility is evidence of the ongoing need for specific deterrence, Williams added.

The $130,000 hush money payment Cohen served time for would ultimately result in the first ever indictment of a former president.

Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payment this April. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Passengers stretched out on an airport terminal seat at Gatwick, London. Sleeping while waiting for their flight, the two men rest head to head on the bench in the south Terminal. In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

The Australian airline Qantas is conducting test flights to find a cure for jet lag on long flights.

The airline is testing changes to in-flight menus, lighting, and exercise offerings for passengers.

Menus with chili and chocolate help keep people awake, while light exercise helps travelers sleep better.

Planning a long-haul flight this summer? Researchers for the Australian airline Qantas are working to find a cure for jet lag  and the answer may be on your plate.

As part of ongoing research in partnership with the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, the airline conducted three non-stop 20-hour test flights from New York and London to Sydney, Australia, to study how passengers' reports of symptoms of jet lag (pesky brain fog, exhaustion or difficulty sleeping, as well as gastrointestinal problems) responded to changes made on board.

The research, called "Project Sunrise," is being conducted ahead of Qantas launching direct flights along the same routes in 2025, a first, as no nonstop flight routes currently exist from either New York or London to Australia.

Qantas' goal is to aid travelers in overcoming jet lag and "to overcome the tyranny of distance between Australia and the rest of the world," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement about the research.

Project Sunrise flights offered "specific menu items including fish and chicken paired with fast-acting carbohydrates, as well as comfort foods like soups and milk-based desserts. The aim was to promote the brain's production of the amino acid tryptophan ('Tryp') to help passengers drift off more easily," according to a Qantas statement. Photo by James D Morgan/Qantas

Passengers aboard the test flights kept a daily log of their actions for the week before their trip, wore a device to track their movements, sleep, and light exposure while flying, then followed "a specially designed menu, lighting, sleep, and movement sequences," during the nonstop flights, according to the statement.

Participants also kept a log for two weeks after their trip to track how they felt throughout the study.

Lighting and meal services in the cabin were scheduled to mirror the destination time zone, and passengers participated in light stretches and exercises before sleep.

Menus offered on board "encouraged wake and sleep by using specific menu items including fish and chicken paired with fast-acting carbohydrates, as well as comfort foods like soups and milk-based desserts. The aim was to promote the brain's production of the amino acid tryptophan ('Tryp') to help passengers drift off more easily."

Insider previously reported eating tart cherries, watermelon, and cucumbers may help air passengers sleep and wake easier and fight jetlag.

The airline's team of 10 sleep experts, circadian researchers, and nutrition and movement specialists found that the adjusted lighting, sleep schedules  as well as meals featuring specific ingredients like chili and chocolate  during long-haul flights improved passenger's well-being by reducing their jet lag and giving them better sleep quality inflight.

The study found that participants also had better cognitive performance two days after their long-haul travel day.

Passengers on board a Project Sunrise test flight were encouraged to participate in light exercise and stretching midflight to help them sleep better. Photo by James D Morgan/Qantas

"The early results are promising, and it's given us great momentum to look to the next stage of customer research to support Project Sunrise product and service design," Peter Cistulli, Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney said in a Qantas statement about the research.

Cistulli added: "The early findings have given us optimism that we can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of international travelers thanks to this partnership with Qantas."

Representatives for Qantas and the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A screengrab of Fox News on Tuesday night Fox News

A former Tucker Carlson producer has resigned after a chyron called President Biden a "wannabe dictator."

The rogue text flashed on a broadcast on Tuesday night before hastily being taken down.

Alex McCaskill was a producer for Tucker Carlson before Fox fired the controversial host.

A former Tucker Carlson producer has resigned after a rogue chyron text on Fox News called President Joe Biden a "wannabe dictator" as a result of the indictment of former President Donald Trump, AP reports.

Producer Alex McCaskill confirmed his exit from Fox News in an Instagram post. Fox News did not respond to Insider's request for comment, nor have they publicly responded to McCaskill's departure.

In a post to McCaskill's private Instagram account, he wrote: "Today was my last day at Fox."

"It's been a wild 10 years, and it was the best place I've ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come. I asked them to let me go, and they finally did. To all my friends there: I will miss you forever."

On Tuesday night, as Fox News aired footage of both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, the rogue onscreen text read, "Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.",

A spokesperson for Fox News told Insider on Wednesday that "The chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed."

McCaskill has stayed at Fox after controversial host Tucker Carlson was fired from the network on April 24.

Carlson posted a 13-minute long video to Twitter about the "wannabe dictator" accusations and said, "The women who run the network panicked" and scolded the person who was responsible.

Carlson didn't name the McCaskill or any other member of the production team but said the person responsible was "considered one of the most capable persons in the building."

According to Carlson, the producer offered to resign with two weeks' notice but was told to leave immediately.

McCaskill was named this spring in a lawsuit filed by a former Fox News producer, Abby Grossberg, who also worked on Carlson's staff, AP reported.

Her lawsuit claimed McCaskill "habitually belittled female employees" at Fox News. He is alleged to have called a room provided for employees to pump breast milk a "waste of space" and should be replaced with a room for men to tan their testicles, according to the lawsuit.

Fox has denied allegations in Grossberg's lawsuit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two people killed in crash with a police officer in Palm Beach County on Fathers Day

Two people were killed and a police officer was seriously injured in a crash early Sunday morning in Palm Beach County, according to authorities.

At around 1 a.m., Riviera Beach police officer Carl Johnson was going south on Australian Avenue when the Dodge Charger he was driving crashed with a northbound Hyundai making a left turn at West 13th Street, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said. During the crash, detectives added the front of Johnsons Charger impacted the passenger side of the Hyundai before both vehicles ended up in the shoulder.

The Hyundais driver and passenger  whose identities have not been released by the sheriffs office  died at the crash site, and Johnson was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

In a brief statement posted on Facebook, Riviera Beach police said that one of their officers was in a crash but made no mention of the fatalities. Its not clear whether Johnson was on duty nor which driver had the right of way.

Riviera Beach police didnt immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment.

Miami Herald staff writer David J. Neal contributed to this report.
USS Milwaukee returns from a U.S. 4th Fleet deployment June 19.

On Monday, the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee will return to Naval Station Mayport, following its eight-month deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

Led by Commander Jason Knox, commanding officer of Milwaukee, the ship and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, apprehended or disrupted an estimated 1,664 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated street value of $116.5 million and removed eight suspected drug traffickers from the narcotics trade.

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Read: Fathers Day 2023: Meals and freebies for dad on his special day

Read: JAXPORT is having multiple job openings

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A view shows a section of the burnt building at the Mpondwe Lhubirira Secondary School

Uganda sends more troops to pursue attackers who killed 37 students A view shows a section of the burnt building at the Mpondwe Lhubirira Secondary School

By Elias Biryabarema

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday ordered more troops to western Uganda where attackers from a group with links to Islamic State killed at least 37 secondary school students.

Members of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed the students late on Friday at Lhubirira Secondary School in Mpondwe, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Military and police said the attackers had also abducted six students and fled towards the Virunga National Park across the border. Their fate is unknown.

Museveni said more soldiers had joined the pursuit in the area, which includes Rwenzori Mountain, from where the ADF launched their insurgency against Museveni in the 1990s.

"We are now sending more troops into the area south of Rwenzori Mountain," he said in a statement.

"Their action, the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action, therefore, will not save them. We are bringing new forces to the Uganda side as we continue the hunting on the Congo side."

On Saturday, privately owned NTV Uganda television said the death toll stood at 41, while the state-run New Vision newspaper said it was 42. New Vision said 39 of the dead were students, and some were killed when the attackers set off a bomb as they fled.

The attack drew widespread international condemnation including from the United Nations, the African Union and East African's Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Ugandans were shocked by the attack.

"Parents across the country, please do not panic, our children are safe, and they will remain safe. They are evil people and they are trying to harm our children, but they will not manage," Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Education Minister, said late on Saturday.

Museveni said the government would also investigate if there were any lapses that enabled the attack to happen.

"Was an alarm sounded and by whom? How did the nearby security people respond? Why didnt our people on the Congo side have intelligence on this splinter group etc?" Museveni said.

The ADF was largely defeated by the Ugandan military but remnants fled into the vast jungles of eastern Congo from where they have since maintained their insurgency - attacking civilian and military targets in Congo and Uganda.

In April, the ADF attacked a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 20 people.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Ukraine lost less than 10% of its Western equipment in clashes with Russia  Estonian intelligence

Bradley IFV was damaged during a combat mission and is being repaired

He said that this figure could increase, as equipment losses are an inevitable consequence of any offensive actions.

Read also: Ukraine wants swift NATO membership to thwart Russian aggression and protect Baltic allies

Grosberg highlighted the superior protection offered by Western equipment to servicemen, which often allows crews to survive and avoid serious injuries even when the equipment becomes inoperable.

Regarding the Ukrainian counter-offensive, the Estonian colonel mentioned that the recently trained Ukrainian units have not yet participated in the ongoing hostilities.

Read also: Sweden will train Ukrainian pilots on JAS 39 Gripen jets

He added that the search for vulnerabilities in Russian defensive lines will continue in the following week, indicating that a swift offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces is not anticipated in the near future.

CNN, citing OSINT analysts, reported that Ukraine allegedly lost 16 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles during the initial days of the counteroffensive. However, Ukraine has not officially commented on these losses.

On June 9, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar commented on the Russian deployments, stating that military equipment that cannot be destroyed has not yet been created. She also emphasized the inevitability of human losses.

Read also: Ukrainian counter-offensive is only just starting, military expert tells NV

Furthermore, on June 15, Malyar confirmed the damage to one Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle during the Defense Forces advance. The vehicle has already been sent for repair, and the crew was successfully evacuated, she said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukraine Situation Report: Waning Flood Waters Could Provide Opportunity For Kyiv's Forces photo

Nearly two weeks after Ukraine accused Russian forces of destroying the Nova Khakovka Dam, Kyiv may see the receding floodwaters as a gateway to Russias western flank.

On Saturday, unconfirmed reports emerged claiming Ukrainian Special Forces had crossed the river upstream of the destroyed dam at Nova Khakovka. They are supposedly trying to establish a bridgehead far behind the current frontlines in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, posing a much more immediate threat to Russian defensive lines in occupied Kherson Oblast and Crimea.

There were previous accounts of fighting in the city near the dam itself, as well as heavy shelling.

Once again, these reports are unconfirmed, but they do point to the possibility that the massive changes to the landscape could work, at least partially, in Ukraine's favor.

https://twitter.com/olliecarroll/status/1669447484387516416 https://twitter.com/loogunda/status/1669449222695919616

Earlier this week, the Russian-affiliated Rybar Telegram channel began warning of a Ukrainian attempt to cross the Dnipro River upstream of the destroyed dam. While surging water inundated lands below the dam, the reservoir above it fell to a much lower level, literally draining what had been a massive natural barrier.

Ukrainian formations continue artillery preparation along the left bank of the Dnipro River, the Rybar Telegram channel reported Thursday. About 30 shells were fired at Nova Kakhovka, Tavriysk, Kakhovka and Vasilievka. In the afternoon, residential buildings in Dnepryan came under shelling - a one-and-a-half-year-old child died.

Casts of sabotage and reconnaissance groups are just attempts to keep Russian troops on their toes. The likelihood of a landing operation downstream from the Kahkovka hydroelectric power station is small: after flooding, you need to wait until the soil is in order, and during this time the Russian Armed Forces will have time to restore positions.

However, Rybar said that a landing scenario upstream is much more likely - right there, yes, the entire section from the Kakhovka reservoir to the dilapidated dam is potentially dangerous.

If Ukrainian forces are in fact trying to cross at Nova Kakhovka, Russia would face its most direct threat to its positions in Kherson Oblast and occupied Crimea since troops withdrew from the Dnipros right bank last fall. Furthermore, Russian forces in Zaporizzhia Oblast would have to account for a massive left flank should more crossings occur upriver.

Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

THE LATEST

Saturdays intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense assessed Russia has gained a temporary advantage in southern Ukraine thanks to attack helicopter operations.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1669946425092763649

This assessment mirrors The War Zone's highly-circulated analysis on Russia's use of attack helicopters to blunt Kyiv's counteroffensive that we published earlier this week. You can read that report here.

The Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) reported Ukrainian attacks on three sectors of the front in its most recent control-of-terrain assessment. Fighting reportedly continues as Ukrainian troops press attacks around Vuhledar.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1669858354926178304 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1669874015236759552

On the Zaporizhzhia Frontline, Ukrainian forces are fighting for the village of Pyatykhatky, with Kyivs troops there advancing toward the city of Vasylivka.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1670117762943819785

Russian drone footage on the Zaporizhzhia Oblast frontline shows what could possibly be Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley-ODS destroyed in an attack.

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1669985460750352385

Bradleys are becoming a routine sight among the Ukrainian forces fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as a series of pictures show below.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1670151615020679168?s=20

Photos show one Bradley having been completely destroyed in the fighting, though its crew reportedly survived despite the damage.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1670126573792501760

On the frontline, video shows intense fighting as seen from a Ukrainian trench as indirect fire crashes down nearby in the Kremina forest. The sector remains the linchpin of Russian forces northern flank in occupied east Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1670012409564610566

Elsewhere, video shows just how close quarters things have become since the counter-offensive began. Drone footage captured a Ukrainian assault group dropping grenades into trenches during a close-in fight, while another clip captures the frantic defense as Ukrainians attack.

https://twitter.com/2uwmp/status/1669660787856556033?s=20 https://twitter.com/jackryan212/status/1669687370743009281?s=20

Also in the north, four Ukrainian civilians are reported to have died after Russian forces attacked their car with an anti-tank weapon in Kharkiv Oblast.

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1670020760142741504

As Ukraines counter-offensive continues, much has been said about the state of Russian forces along its defensive line stretching from Kherson to the Russian border, namely their morale and readiness. Dara Massicot (@MassDara), a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, laid out a detailed assessment in a Twitter thread.

Among several observations, Massicot noted not all of the Russian forces were ground down like those in the Donbas after futile winter and spring offensives. Despite more than a year of war, Russian forces have slowly adapted to combat experiences, and its far from certain how Moscows troops will hold in the face of a determined Ukrainian attack.

https://twitter.com/massdara/status/1669811749602701315?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

An investigation from the New York Times concluded that Russian forces blew up the Nova Kakhovka Dam using an internal passageway, given the fact the massive structure was designed to be near-invulnerable to attacks from the outside.

https://twitter.com/walter_report/status/1670112537424146433?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

In Crimea, photos appear to show some rather large cracks in the support pillars under the Kerch Strait Bridge. A barge was seen under the bridge in recent imagery, possibly conducting further repairs.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1664201305437491200?s=20 https://twitter.com/CovertShores/status/1670160743923056640?cxt=HHwWgICwtaCWza0uAAAA

The multinational F-16 coalition will soon begin training Ukrainian pilots, per a tweet from Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. Multiple NATO countries expressed willingness to jointly train Ukrainian pilots in the Viper as part of a long-term plan to overhaul the Ukrainian Air Force with modern fighter aircraft.

https://twitter.com/DefensieMin/status/1669415712341803012

As for supplying F-16s, Acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a speech that Copenhagen is ready to send the fighters to Ukraine, per a report from the Danish website Politiken.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1670063345058168832

Despite those statements, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine wont get F-16s until at least 2024. Reznikov noted that despite any condensed training regimen for pilots and the planes availability, training for support crews and setting up infrastructure will take much longer.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1669971982647951361

Video shows a remarkably organized and ergonomic system for a Ukrainian soldiers grenades in his kit. A quick pull of the velcro strap reveals a stack of hand grenades, each wrapped in hook-and-loop material to keep them secure in the torso pouch.

https://twitter.com/intermarium24/status/1670122913792512001?s=20

There are two rather dubious reports from Russian state-run news agency TASS. The first is a reported operation where troops packed an MT-LB personnel carrier with explosives and drove it at a Ukrainian position as a kamikaze vehicle, though there is curiously no video of the tracked bomb reaching its target.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669940145406001154

This isnt the first reported use of an MT-LB in this role. Ukrainian troops told of one of the aging artillery tractors lumbering without a crew up to their position before exploding in February.

https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1628476295246929926?lang=en

Also from TASS is the claimed destruction of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, one that looks rather curiously a lot like a Dutch YPR-765 APC. The whole production is even more comical, with a staged demining followed by a jump cut to the YPR-765.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669941279885606913 https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1669988917913763842

Also in the world of the bizarre, theres rather remarkable footage of a BMP-2 doing some remodeling work. The IFV backs out of a house and onto the ground more like a bulldozer than a combat vehicle, bricks and plaster falling to the ground around it.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1669677704713584642?s=20

Thats all for now. Well update this story when theres more to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com
By Simon Jessop and Olena Harmash

LONDON (Reuters) -Ukraine is seeking up to $40 billion to fund the first part of a "Green Marshall Plan" to rebuild its economy, including developing a coal-free steel industry, a senior Ukrainian official said ahead of an international summit.

Politicians and financiers will discuss short-term funding issues as well as look at long-term reconstruction efforts at the two-day meeting, starting in London on Wednesday and co-hosted by Ukraine and Britain.

It is expected to launch a "war risk" insurance scheme to cover companies that begin investing in Ukraine again and see government officials discuss behind the scenes if and how to use frozen Russian assets to fund some of the rebuild effort.

The World Bank estimates Ukraine's reconstruction will cost more than $400 billion, three times the country's gross domestic product. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, external backers have poured $59 billion into Ukraine to support it during the war.

Giving the figure of $40 billion for an initial phase of reconstruction, Rostyslav Shurma, a deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, told Reuters the first focus would be the iron and steel industry.

The sector contributed around 10% of Ukrainian GDP in 2021, a third of export revenues and employed around 600,000 people. It also accounted for 15% of the country's carbon emissions and Shurma said there was now an opportunity to build an industry driven by renewable energy.

"If you have to rebuild, it is logical to rebuild green in line with new technologies ... Our vision is to build a 50 million tonnes green steel industry in Ukraine," he said.

Doing so would allow the country to become the world's cheapest supplier of so-called "green" steel - made without the use of fossil fuels - and a major support to Europe's efforts to decarbonise, driven by an investment push in new wind, solar, nuclear and hydro power.

RUSSIAN ASSETS

Many of the country's damaged legacy steel plants were built in locations that suited their reliance on coal as a power source, but they were now free to build closer to the iron ore deposits and away from the Donbas region, Shurma said.

Moscow last year claimed the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which make up the broader Donbas region, as "republics" of Russia, in a move condemned by most members of the United Nations as illegal.

To help raise $20 billion to $40 billion in initial funding, Ukraine plans a coalition of industry, public and private sector stakeholders to develop the plan, including doing initial scoping work on projects.

Preparatory work would likely take 1-1/2 years although "to be realistic, actual construction will start only after the war" is over, Shurma said.

Officials from over 60 countries are expected to attend the conference, as will the top global multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development bank that are being asked to ramp up their lending.

Shurma said funding would be a blend of finance from export credit agencies in other countries; concessional funding handled through the Ukrainian Development Fund it is setting up with asset manager BlackRock; equity of the operating companies; EU transition funding; and private sector loans.

Matteo Patrone, a managing director at the EBRD, said it was crucial to put the focus on the need for private sector involvement.

Multilateral lenders like the EBRD and World Bank will increase their roles too - in order to encourage the private sector - by providing the new "war risk insurance" schemes on behalf of their G7 and other shareholder governments.

The thorny issue of using the estimated $300 billion of frozen Russian central bank reserves is also expected to be discussed by government officials and bankers, although no firm steps to are likely to be announced at this stage.

U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and the Democratic parties introduced a bill on Thursday that would make it easier for Ukraine to fund its fight against Russia by using seized and frozen Russian assets.

(AdditionaL reporting by Marc Jones and Jorgelina do Rosario; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi, Frances Kerry and Alison Williams)
Ukrainian air defenses destroy two Russian Ka-52 helicopters and 12 drones of various types  Air Force

Russian troops have already lost more than 300 helicopters in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion

In addition, Ukrainian military forces have successfully destroyed seven enemy reconnaissance UAVs of the operational-tactical level, including Orlan-10, Orlan-30, Zala, and Supercam types.

Read also: Ukraine already using Polish and Slovakian MiG-29 fighters to protect Ukrainian skies

The press service said that over the course of a single day, the Ukrainian Air Force had conducted numerous aviation sorties to carry out fire attacks and provide air cover. More than twenty aviation strikes were launched against the enemys positions, equipment, rear areas, and concentrations of troops.

On the morning of June 17, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the Defense Forces of Ukraine has already eliminated 302 Russian helicopters.

Read also: Ukrainian intel officer reveals plans to liberate Crimea

Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, specified that this figure is approximately five times higher than the combined losses of Russian terrorists during the two annexation wars in Ichkeria (Chechnya), which saw the loss of about 60 Russian combat and transport helicopters.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Defence Forces shot down another Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter on Sunday afternoon.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Another Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter was shot down this afternoon. Russia will find that its budget is short of about US$16 million."

Background: Since the day of 17 June and by morning of 18 June, the air defence of the Air Forces destroyed 2 Ka-52 attack helicopters and 12 Russian drones.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister thinks Putin will be able to "find a way" to explain to Russians the loss of Crimea and other occupied parts of Ukraine

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs, is convinced that after Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Ukraine has been "demilitarised", Russian President Vladimir Putin will be able to find a way to explain the loss of Crimea and other Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Russian citizens.

Source: Dmytro Kuleba on Facebook

Details: On Saturday, 17 June, Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has largely fulfilled its goal of "demilitarising" Ukraine.

Quote from Kuleba: "Next, [Putin will claim that  ed.] the special military operation has achieved all of its goals. That Ukraine, as a member of the EU and NATO, will not be able to attack Russia. That Crimea will no longer be a burden on Russias budget, that the only Nazis that remain are in Russia, and that the losses of Russian military personnel and equipment in Ukraine  the extent of which must remain secret  have helped [Russia] figure out what it did wrong, and will ultimately make it stronger. [Putin will then be able to claim that] Russia is as strong as ever."

Details: Kuleba stressed that Ukraine is right to tell its partners that Putin will be able to explain Russia losing Crimea and the rest of Ukraine to Russian citizens.

"The crucial thing for [Ukraines] partners is to not be afraid of global changes and to not stop supporting Ukraine. Life without a modern Russia is possible. And we continue to work on new weapons for Ukraines defence forces, on strengthening the international coalition to support [Ukraines] Peace Formula, and on restoring Ukraine every single day. All this will come," Kuleba stressed.

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US authorities seize shipment of swim bladders from endangered fish valued at $2.7 million

US Customs and Border Protection officers in Arizona have seized 242 pounds of swim bladders  the organ that helps fish control their buoyancy  that came from the endangered Totoaba fish, authorities said.

Officers working at the Nogales Port of Entry in Santa Cruz County discovered the organs hidden inside a commercial shipment of frozen fish fillets, CBP announced.

The swim bladders discovered on April 13 were valued at an estimated $2.7 million, according to a news release.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted preliminary DNA testing that revealed the bladders belonged to the Totoaba macdonaldi species native to Mexicos Gulf of California. The agency took possession of the bladders and is investigating the smuggling attempt with Homeland Security Investigations.

Authorities said the seizure is likely the second largest of its kind in the US and the largest Totoaba seizure in Arizona.

Totoaba fish, whose swim bladders are considered an Asian cultural delicacy and are used in traditional Chinese medicine, are protected by the Endangered Species Act, according to CBP. The species has been listed as endangered since 1979.

Illegal fishing, habitat destruction and unintentional catches have contributed to the Totoaba fishs decline, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Its illegal to sell, take, transport or possess the federally protected species in the US and Mexico, CBP said in the release.

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One of the two mothers behind #IMomSoHard calls the duo the Ted Lasso of comedians.

Put us next to Ted Lasso, which should make Wichita feel very good, Kristin Hensley said. I mean, I would like to sit next to Ted Lasso on all levels.

We wanted to lean in with positivity and light-heartedness and show this friendship, she added.

Hensley and Jen Smedley, whose empathetic and funny Facebook videos grew to 300 million views in their first five years, will take the stage at the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday night.

The two, both born and raised in Nebraska, didnt meet each other until they were each struggling comedians in California.

Jen and I met in Los Angeles, but our love story started because we were both from Nebraska and didnt know each other in Nebraska, Hensley said in a joint phone interview. When we met each other, that Midwest contingent was such a strong bond we felt like there was someone else out there in this giant city who completely understood the way we talked, what we ate, how we parented, how we were as people. It was immediately a love connection.

We had a similar upbringing, and it was different enough because Kristin was from a small town in Nebraska (Central City, population 3,000), and I was from the quote-unquote bigger town (the Omaha suburb of Bellevue), said Smedley, who visited her grandparents in Muskogee, Okla., about five times a year, always passing through Wichita.

While commiserating over motherhood one night, they hit the record button.

It all started over a glass of wine one night, when we were crying over feeling like failed parents, Hensley said. We thought, I wonder if we showed the terrible job we were doing if other moms might feel better about how theyre doing.

A highlight of the first video was when Smedley couldnt remember the name of her own daughter, 7 months old at the time  Ive never laughed harder, Hensley said.

Once the women started to comment and say how much they loved it, we felt extra motivated to stay and keep doing it, Hensley said. When we saw the response from women it was so clear that there was this part of the internet that was very untapped, which is a nonjudgmental, fun, rowdy, lean-into-friendship space that makes you feel better.

Smedley said #IMomSoHard brings out the unvarnished truth to other mothers.

Being a parent can be a little bit isolating, so we consider whoevers watching our friends, she said. What we do is provide friendship and camaraderie to people. Come as you are, and even if youre a hot mess, youre still loveable.

The two say they are careful not to censor themselves  their two most popular videos are them trying on various swimsuits and various forms of Spanx.

We show all of our flaws. (Well say), You think thats a flaw? Let me double down and tell you what my son stole from TJ Maxx today, Hensley said. Theres a fine line between Is this funny? and Is this the most tragic thing thats ever happened? As long as you can find the funny in it  and generally you can  theres hope that its not gonna be as bad as you think it is.

Their husbands not only support the show but are at work behind the scenes  Smedleys husband is the director and Hensleys is a producer.

We always say were married to modern men. They were so incredibly supportive right off the top, Hensley said. Were all four working collectively to drive this engine and stay authentic to what were trying to say. They push us comedically to work harder as comedians to thread a needle that moves the dial but doesnt sound the same as it did before.  They are behind the camera fist-bumping each other or doing bits along with us.

Each has two children, an older son and younger daughter for both. Hensleys are 12 and 10; Smedleys are 10 and 8.

Nothing will make your kids more frustrated than having them know you have your own version of a YouTube following, because those are their heroes, Hensley said. Theyre like, How can you, who is so uncool, have a following in a space that I love? Theyre cheesed by it.

Us doing this just gives them another opportunity to be super-embarrassed by us, Smedley said. Its not just screaming I love you at drop off.

They love it, theyre proud of us, Hensley said. My daughter said, I think its really cool that you make moms laugh.

#IMomSoHard has branched out into a best-selling book (a second book may be on the way soon), a childrens book, and several attempts at making a situation comedy, with them looking at the possibility of a reality series.

Theres also an #IMomSoHard podcast, an extended version of the videos.

Seven years ago, the two took #IMomSoHard to the stage, performing for a sold-out house of 2,600 the first night  after entertaining at a baby shower for 30 women at a church that afternoon.

Its an extension of the playroom (the locale of the videos), but its definitely an R-rated rowdy party thats meant as a space for moms to be seen and heard, Hensley said.

Smedley said the two have a lot of shorthand that all mothers understand.

If youre a mom, you cant help but mom all the time, she said. Its kind of what defines your life.

Being from the Midwest gives us a similar language or the same baseline to start from, Smedley added. Being a mom is the exact same thing.

About 80% of the show is scripted and the other 20% is interacting with the audience, including on-stage inspections of the purses of women in the audience.

Its not a TED Talk, theres nothing really Kum Ba Ya about it, Smedley said.

Unless its a Ted Lasso talk, Hensley added. Thats different.

#IMOMSOHARD

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22

Where: Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

Tickets: $35-$75, from wichitaorpheum.com or 755-SEAT
Most of us want to see humane solutions to ensure that desperate people do not need to take such perilous journeys to find protection (PHOTO AVAILABLE TODAY, BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE)

This week we have once again been confronted by the appalling news of people losing their lives at sea as they desperately seek sanctuary. The number of lives confirmed as lost off the coast of Greece is particularly devastating and seems certain to grow.

Most of us want to see humane solutions to ensure that desperate people do not need to take such perilous journeys to find protection. But this tragedy has happened just as the Illegal Migration Bill is being debated in the House of Lords  a bill that will be ineffective in addressing the tragic loss of life weve seen so often in the English Channel.

Instead, as I and many others from all sides of the House of Lords have been arguing, the bill would close the door on anyone seeking asylum in the UK unless they arrived by a so-called legal route. This would mean children from Sudan, people who worked alongside British personnel in Afghanistan and those devastated by war in Syria would be denied sanctuary. This is because there are very few safe ways for people from these countries and others to reach our shores. With the exception of refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, what routes there were have been all but closed  and the bill sets out no steps to address this.

Instead, we see measures that target rather than help victims, driven by the idea that adopting an ever-more hostile and cruel stance towards those fleeing war and persecution will deter them from seeking sanctuary in Britain. In a long list of bad refugee policies, the Illegal Migration Bill is a new low which would amount to an asylum ban, in the words of the UNs refugee agency.

My own family sought refuge in the UK after the revolution in Iran left the small Anglican community there under attack. My father, a bishop in Iran, survived an attack on his life. My 24-year-old brother was assassinated. The truth is that those fleeing war, famine and persecution simply have to find safety by any means they can. 43 years on I have to wonder whether we would have now found that safety and the welcome we received which allowed us to rebuild our lives.

If the Illegal Migration Bill becomes law, asylum seekers  who are fleeing unimaginable horrors and currently have no choice but to arrive by means such as a small boat  will face being locked behind bars while the government seeks to remove them without even hearing their asylum case.

Whats more, it would mean our country could lock up an estimated 45,000 children in the first three years after the bill is passed. Such mass detention of children would apply regardless of whether they were with their families or unaccompanied, without any time limit, and in any facility across the country the home secretary deemed necessary. We know from our past experience of child detention in Britain  as well as past practice in countries like Australia and Greece  the profound physical and mental harm it causes to children, often scarring them for life.

The Illegal Migration Bill is provoking strong opposition from all sides of the political spectrum as well as medical bodies, faith groups, childrens charities and the more than 500 national and local groups of all kinds united in the Together With Refugees coalition  there is increasing public horror. As we mourn the tragic loss of human life on the other side of Europe, let us channel that human compassion and solidarity into finding a new and better way here in the UK. I hope ministers will reflect and think again about the bill as a whole, and revise this measure of extreme cruelty.
Voters think Trump is a criminal, Biden is too old and DeSantis is a fascist, new poll finds

A new poll out from JL Partners underscores major weaknesses for the three men most likely to be sworn in as president on 20 January 2025, with little good news to soften the blow.

With the GOP primary now in full swing, Americans are getting a good look at the alternatives the Republican Party will present to the re-election of President Joe Biden, who was already the oldest president ever to take office when he did so in 2021.

But the top contenders in the GOP, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, each have debilitating labels to overcome if they have any shot of picking up ground with a general election audience, according to the survey. For Mr Trump, voters were most likely to describe him in one word as a criminal; others were even less flattering, such as disgusting, liar, evil and dangerous (though patriot also made a top-10 appearance).

The Florida governor got off arguably worse. The top two responses from voters describing Mr DeSantis were fascist and unsure, the latter indicating possible unfamiliarity with his political record or a lack of name recognition.

And while Mr Biden fares better than either of his would-be opponents, the incumbent president nevertheless remains chained to concerns about his age, which dominated the minds of the most voters asked for their one-word summation of him.

Altogether, the poll results signaled that Americans are largely unsatisfied with the options they have for leadership over the next half decade. To be sure, those three men are not the only candidates running, but no other Republican is polling at a numerically significant level at present and Mr Bidens party is highly unlikely to facilitate a primary challenge against an incumbent president.

The poll, conducted on behalf of the Daily Mail, most likely outlines the kind of attacks that voters can expect to see in a general election scenario; concerns about Mr Bidens age and supposed feebleness will be front and centre, as will discussion of Mr Trumps multiple criminal investigations or Mr DeSantiss record of support for hard-right conservative legislation in his home state of Florida should either of them be the GOP nominee.

JL Partners survey included responses from 1,000 likely general election voters between 12-15 June. The margin of error was 3.1 per cent.
Wagner Group leader says 32,000 former convicts have returned home from war in Ukraine

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, has said that 32,000 former convict fighters from his private military company have returned home after their contracts came to an end.

Source: a comment by Prigozhin, released by his press service

Quote from Prigozhin: "As of 18 June 2023, 32,000 of the people who were previously convicted and participated in the special military operation on the territory of the LPR [Luhansk People's Republic] and DPR [Donetsk People's Republic] in the ranks of the Wagner Group have gone home at the end of their contracts."

Details: According to Prigozhin, 83 crimes were committed by these former convicts who completed their contracts, which is supposedly 80 times less than those who were released from prison over the same period and did not enter into a contract with the Wagner Group.

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Walmart is backing a new, cutting-edge method for growing leafy greens  and it can produce 350 times more than traditional farms

An indoor vertical farming company called Plenty has opened a huge facility in Compton, California, backed by investments from Walmart, RIS News reports.

Plentys technology is a brilliant and efficient use of space and water. Instead of growing plants in a flat bed on the ground, it plants them in vertical columns arranged in long rows inside its massive indoor farms to soak up as much light as possible.

Climate control and LED lights allow the company to grow healthy crops no matter what the weather is like outside. High-tech robots and cutting-edge software monitor the plants, automating much of their care.

Thanks to all these advances, Plenty says it can produce 350 times as much food as a traditional farm and twice as much as other vertical farming models.

Now it will have the chance to prove its claims, RIS News reports. This January, Walmart announced it would invest in vertical farms, and now it has put its money in Plenty.

The new deal means Walmart will receive fresh produce from Plentys facility in Compton, a massive indoor farm the size of a city block. Plenty says it will grow 4.5 million pounds of baby arugula, baby kale, crispy lettuce, and curly baby spinach every year. The crops will go to Walmart, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, and even some local grocery stores in Compton, RIS News says.

This is great news for shoppers, who will be able to enjoy fresh local produce year-round without the added cost and damage from long-distance shipping.

Meanwhile, RIS News says that Plentys vertical farming methods conserve water, an essential environmental move in the midst of Californias long-lasting drought.

Plenty also grows its leafy greens without any pesticides, RIS News reports. Growing indoors and quickly harvesting helps protect crops from pests, so these chemicals are unnecessary. This means Plentys methods wont pollute the surrounding soil and water.

At Walmart, we are focused on identifying and investing in innovative food solutions to bring our customers the freshest, highest-quality foods at the best prices, Charles Redfield, Walmarts chief merchandising officer in the U.S., said in the companys press release in January. We believe Plenty is a proven leader in a new era of agriculture, one that offers pesticide-free, peak-flavor produce to shoppers every day of the year.

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While the deaths of white victims in recent years have spurred numerous changes in South Carolina law, the states refusal to pass a hate crimes law sends an outrageous message about the value placed on Black lives, some Black lawmakers say.

Since 2016, three bills in South Carolina have become law following the death of a white person, including the Tucker Hipps Transparency Act, the Samantha L. Josephson Rideshare Safety Act and Gavins Law. Meanwhile, repeated calls for a hate crimes law  particularly after nine Black people, including a state senator, were killed in 2015 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston  remain unanswered.

It doesnt speak well for the state, nor of its elected officials, said state Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleson, who for years has spearheaded several hate crimes measures. When (Samantha Josephson) tragically lost her life, the Uber bill sailed through the House and Senate. Here we are in South Carolina, coming up on eight years since the (Mother Emanuel) tragedy, and we cant even get (hate crimes) past the Senate. That is outrageous.

Hate crime laws typically increase penalties for people who commit crimes based on a persons protected status, including race, age, gender, religion and sexual orientation.

South Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without a hate crimes law, and one of only two in the nation without some sort of legislation addressing hate crimes, alongside Wyoming.

Gilliard began pushing for hate crimes legislation shortly after a white supremacist massacred nine Black parishioners in 2015 at Charlestons historic Emanuel AME Church. The victims included state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, Emanuels pastor.

On two occasions, The Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act cleared the House but stalled in the Senate, including this year.

The measure, which passed the House in March by a vote of 84-31, would enhance penalties for certain crimes motivated by hate toward a protected class while also allowing a victims relatives to sue the perpetrator for monetary damages. The bill does not specify how penalties would be enhanced nor the crimes that would trigger them.

Supporters of the measure chiefly blame Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, for blocking the bill.

Massey is single handedly holding up a debate and a vote on hate crimes, said state Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, who recently took to the Senate floor every day for several weeks during a special session to call for a debate on the bill. The bill is on the calendar. The only thing (Massey) has to do is to move for debate, and we will debate and vote it up and down.

Some (lawmakers) know that if the hate crimes bill comes up for debate, it will pass, Jackson added. So this is solely on Shane Massey.

But Massey argues hes not the singular cause of the bill stalling in the Senate and that there are plenty of people who have legitimate objections to hate crimes legislation.

I get it, theyve got to find a boogeyman and theyve got to find somebody they want to beat on, Massey said, referring to Democratic supporters of the bill. But repeatedly calling me a racist is not going to get them what they want.

Massey did not specify who called him a racist.

State Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, who has sponsored and advocated for hate crimes legislation, said the legislature has passed laws after the deaths of Black people. The legislature acted after a North Charleston police officer shot a man in the back and after the Emanuel AME Church shooting, when the Confederate flag was moved from the State House grounds.

Those are two instances where two substantial public policy changes resulted from an African American being murdered, Davis said.

He also said Massey lacks the ability to unilaterally block the bill.

I think its fair to say that (Massey) is not a proponent and that he is an active opponent of hate crimes legislation, Davis said. But it isnt fair to say that he unilaterally is holding it up. Shane is going to, as majority leader, reflect the will of the majority, and if a majority of the 30 members in the Republican caucus want to have this thing set for debate, it will be set.

That means at least 16 out of 30 Republican senators must be in favor of debating the measure on special order.

When (Massey) asked that question in the past of the Republican caucus, hes not had 16 hands go in the air. Hes had less than that, Davis said.

A disingenuous link

Massey maintains that hate crimes legislation would do nothing to prevent crimes that are motivated by hate toward a protected class. Linking a bill to the Mother Emanuel tragedy, he said, is disingenuous because its more about the show than addressing the problem.

Theres nothing in that (hate crimes) bill that would have protected those nine people, Massey said. Theres nothing in that bill that would have increased the punishment that the murderer received. Under state law, that guy was eligible for the death penalty. What penalty would you have given in addition to that?

The shooter, Dylann Roof, was convicted in a federal trial in Charleston and sentenced to death. He later pleaded guilty in state court and received nine life sentences.

But Jackson said its important that South Carolina send a message about crimes motivated by hate.

One of the things Massey said to me on the (Senate) floor, when I was trying to convince him to bring up the hate crimes bill for debate, was, Well, this bill is frivolous. Its just a feel-good bill, which insulted me when you think of all the bills that weve passed for symbolic reasons, for reasons none other than to send a message that says, Thats not who we are, Jackson said.

Massey represents District 25, which includes all of Edgefield County and parts of Aiken, Lexington, McCormick and Saluda counties. The district is 69% white and 20% Black.

Majority of hate crimes in SC based on race

Overwhelmingly, the highest number of hate crimes committed in South Carolina are based on race, according to the latest data from the FBI.

In 2021, of the 122 hate crimes committed in South Carolina, 49  or 40%  were based on race.

Hate crimes are reported by city, county and state law enforcement agencies. Crimes are classified by person, property and society.

But as that number of hate crimes has declined  from 58 to 49 from 2020 to 2021  hate crimes involving religion or sexual orientation have risen.

Crimes committed against persons based on religion rose from 31 to 32 over that same period, and crimes against persons based on sexual orientation increased from 12 to 21.

White deaths resulted in new laws

Massey denied that certain white deaths have resulted in new laws while Black deaths have not.

If the angle is that the Legislature will only do stuff when theyre white crime victims and wont do anything when theyre Black crime victims, thats crap, Massey said.

The legislature has passed several high-profile laws in direct response to deaths of white victims.

Last month, Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill  Gavins Law  that makes sexual extortion or sextortion a felony offense, which becomes aggravated if the victim is a minor.

The measure was sponsored by freshman state Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York, whose 17-year-old-son, Gavin, died by suicide last summer after falling victim to an online sextortion scheme.

Guffeys bill received bipartisan support, passing the House 107-0 and the Senate 43-0.

Guffey had previously voted against the hate crimes proposal  a decision he now says he regrets.

I listened to my constituents back home and I voted against it, but I really felt horrible afterwards, Guffey said. Its the only time in my life I ever felt like a politician, and I promised myself I would never feel that way again. I will vote with my heart, and if my constituents dont like it, they can vote me out.

With similar swiftness to the passing of Gavins Law, lawmakers in 2019 passed the Samantha L. Josephson Ridesharing Act after a University of South Carolina student got into what she thought was her Uber following a night out in Columbias Five Points district. The next day, Josephson was found stabbed to death in a rural part of Clarendon County.

The Josephson act requires drivers working for rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, to display license plate numbers in the front and back of their vehicles, aiming to make it easier for a rider to verify the drivers identity. Complying with this requirement could be as simple as a driver penning their license tag number onto a sheet of paper and taping it to their windshields.

The law also created misdemeanor penalties for anyone who misrepresent themselves as a rideshare driver  by, for example, displaying an illuminated sign  to commit a crime, including a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.

That bill passed 99-1 in the House and 41-0 in the Senate.

And in 2016, policymakers passed the Tucker Hipps Transparency Act after a Clemson University student died during an early morning run. His parents claimed the student died from hazing. The House passed the bill unanimously.

The Hipps Act mandates four-year public colleges, with the exception of the Medical University of South Carolina and The Citadel, report violations related to drugs, alcohol, sexual assault, threats and hazing by Greek organizations to the institutions website. Schools also were required to post violations dating back to January 2011.

Though a number of policy changes have occurred following the death of white crime victims, Davis and Massey pointed to the death of Walter Scott, a Black man who was shot in the back while running away from police in North Charleston following a traffic stop in 2015.

In the wake of that, we passed mandatory police body camera laws, Davis said. So, (Scotts death) was the direct impetus for getting that law across the finish line.

And in regard to the Emanuel nine, youre right, we didnt see hate crimes legislation passed, Davis continued, but we did pass legislation in the immediate aftermath of that that removed the Confederate flag from the State House grounds, which was a huge political hot potato that no Republican wanted to touch.

Gilliard said while he will continue to push for a hate crimes bill, national-level leaders from South Carolina could do more to help the cause. He mentioned U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and former Gov. Nikki Haley, who are seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

How can you have Tim Scott and Nikki Haley march around the country talking about equal justice for all, and we dont even have a hate crimes law in South Carolina? Its just a shame, Gilliard said.
Getty Images

The Supreme Court shocked just about everyone when conservative justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh sided with their progressive colleagues to rule that Alabamas recently redrawn congressional maps discriminated against Black voters.

Author David Daley, a senior fellow of voting rights advocacy group FairVote, told The New Abnormals Danielle Moodie what makes the decision all the more extraordinary is that Chief Justice Roberts has made his lifes work to try and gut the Voting Rights Act for more than 35 years.

Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.

The chief justice quite well could have looked at this as a pretty easy bone to throw, he said. Hes also very aware of the courts institutional problems and the courts ethical problems and the very low standing with which the American public currently view this court.

He said while the Alabama decision is definitely a win for democracy, it will be interesting to see if it shapes the courts view on future decisions.

Its really, really important as you do to view this decision as good news, but to view it in the context of a court that for a decade has been really radically shrinking these protections, Daley said. They could have said, well, not much is going to be lost here because if you do the math on this even if Democrats are able to win back a seat in Alabama, a seat in Georgia, a seat in Louisiana, and two seats in Texas, Republicans will have been able to gain perhaps more seats than that simply through the mid-decade redistricting that they're gonna pull off in North Carolina and Ohio where they will be doing a really radical mid decade partisan gerrymanders.

Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher.

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Woman Confused After Recruiter Asked To See Her College Scores As Part Of Job Application  'I Took The SAT 10 Years Ago'

Tate Morgan, women talking at office desk

A job hunter revealed that after applying for a job, she was contacted by a recruiter who inquired about two of her test scores that she took to get into college. Not only did she feel that information was irrelevant, but she also pointed out that she took those tests over a decade ago.

Usually, when applying for a job, candidates don't often have to think about any of the tests they took in high school and college, but that wasn't the case for Tate Morgan.

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She was asked by a recruiter to supply her SAT and ACT scores for the job application process.

"I'm sorry, I have to tell somebody about what just happened," TikToker Tate Morgan began in her video. She explained that she was contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn about a possible job position. The recruiter asked Morgan to send over her resume, which she agreed to do.

However, after telling the recruiter she would send over her resume before the end of the day, Morgan said she was also asked to send over her college entrance scores for both the SAT and ACT. "I am almost 25 years old," she pointed out.

"They asked me if I could also send over my SAT and ACT scores. I took the SAT 10 years ago," she said, clearly dumbfounded at the request. Not only had Morgan taken the SAT several years ago, but the test is also scored differently today than when she had initially taken it.

In 2016, the SAT changed to being scored on a 1600-point scale, with 2 sections, Math, and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, scored between 200 and 800. Previously, the test had been scored on a 2400-point scale.

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"I have a full degree from UC Berkeley," she remarked, adding that when she transferred from community college to Berkeley, not even the college had asked Morgan to provide her SAT scores. It's even more surprising considering SAT and ACT scores don't matter unless you're applying for colleges and universities.

Since the pandemic, many colleges and universities have even dropped their SAT/ACT submission requirement. According to a list created by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, at least 1,835 U.S. colleges and universities are now employing either ACT/SAT-optional or test-blind/score-free policies for fall 2023 admission.

woman asked to send SAT scores to job application

Photo: Production Perig/Shutterstock

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In the comments section, people were equally shocked at the recruiter's request for Morgan's test scores.

"This is how I feel when jobs ask for my transcripts when I have two master's degrees from more than a decade ago," one Reddit user shared.

Another user added, "I've taken the ACT, GRE, and LSAT. I have no idea what my scores were but I graduated from college, grad school, and law school. Isn't that enough?"

"If a job ever asks me for my SAT scores or GPA, Im walking away. Im defined by more than just numbers from 10 years ago," a third user pointed out.

A fourth user chimed in, "Even most colleges are test optional at this point. Hard pass. Thats wild."

It seems job hunters may need to brush up on their college transcript and test scores, despite those numbers not having any relevance to whether or not someone is equipped for any job positions.

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Nia Tipton is a Brooklyn-based entertainment, news, and lifestyle writer whose work delves into modern-day issues and experiences.

This article originally appeared on YourTango
Woman ejected from car, killed in head-on crash with pickup truck, SC cops say

A woman was killed Saturday when the car she was driving collided head on with a pickup truck, South Carolina officials said.

Theresa McIntosh, a 65-year-old Wedgefield resident, died at the scene, Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker said Sunday.

The two-vehicle collision happened Saturday at about 12:30 p.m., according to Lance Cpl. Lena Butler of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

McIntosh was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Impala south on Mac Boykin Road when the car ran off the road to the right, Butler said.

The car overcorrected, veered back onto the road and across the center line into oncoming traffic where it crashed into a northbound Chevrolet Colorado pickup near the intersection with St. Marks Church Road, according to Butler.

McIntosh, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the Impala, Baker said.

The pickup driver also was hurt and airlifted to an area hospital, according to Butler. Further information on the pickup drivers condition was not available.

There was no word if the pickup driver was wearing a seat belt.

Butler said the drivers were the only occupants in their respective vehicles. No other injuries were reported.

Information about what originally caused the car to veer off the road was not available but the Highway Patrol and coroners office will continue to investigate the collision. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

As of June 11, at least 445 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 14 people have died in Sumter County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 30 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
As a mother of two young girls, Melissa Lester knows firsthand about the struggle of keeping up with childcare costs.

I often say this that when theyre older and they ask where their college fund is, Im going to have to say, Im sorry it went to your childcare costs, said Lester.

The Ohio mother testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday about her experience.

Even with two working parents, making ends meet is a real struggle for us, said Lester. Today with two little ones, childcare costs us $2,504 a month. Our family childcare costs more than a one-year tuition at The Ohio State University and the cost just keeps rising.

Lester provided her testimony as the Senate committee debated a proposal to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Congress temporarily expanded the CTC in 2021, which gave many families between $3,000 to $3,600 per child, which was up from $2,000 per child.

ALSO READ: Significant refund shock: A lot of child tax breaks are going down

The child tax credit expansion was a glimmer of hope, said Lester. It helped moms like me feel like maybe, just maybe its possible for things to get better.

The CTC expansion expired at the end of 2021.

They ended when prices began to skyrocket, said Lester.

The Democrat-backed bill dubbed the Working Families Tax Relief Act would make the American Rescue Plans expansion of the CTC and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) permanent.

Our plan would put more money back in the pockets of working families and help parents afford all the extra expenses that come with raising children, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a sponsor of the Senate bill.

Supporters of the bill pointed to data showing the 2021 CTC expansion helped reduce childhood poverty in the U.S.

According to researchers at Columbia University, expanding the child tax credit lifted 3.7 million American kids out of poverty, said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Child hunger fell by nearly a quarter.

ALSO READ: The easiest way to get a $7,500 tax credit for an electric vehicle? Consider leasing.

But the measure is facing pushback from Republicans who argue a tax credit without conditions would lead to fewer people working.

Recent polling from May shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans support work requirements for recipients of government benefits, said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID). Unconditional direct transfer policies simply do not achieve their aim of actually reducing poverty and dependency, even if they are called a tax credit.

A child allowance has been oversold, said Dr. Bruce Meyer with the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. We are in danger of discouraging work And we risk encouraging the formation of family units that cannot support their children.

That argument led to heated frustration from the supporters of the bill.

Thats not reality, said Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO), a sponsor of the Senate bill. The reality is a world where parents are scraping by every single month.

Lester, meanwhile, is hoping lawmakers consider her story and take action to help more families soon.

We need more family friendly policies that truly impact all families, said Lester.

VIDEO: Some parents will receive lower refund due to Child Tax Credit change
19-year-old arrested for first-degree murder in death of teen in Fort Dodge shooting, police say

Fort Dodge police arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of a teen on Saturday.

Police charged Isaac Alexander Bachman of Fort Dodge with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 14-year-old Dakari Jayvon James of Fort Dodge, according to a news release on Monday.

Law enforcement were called to the 1200 block of First Avenue North on Saturday afternoon, finding a juvenile male with multiple gunshot wounds, the Fort Dodge Police Department said in a news release Saturday evening.

The boy was given medical aid by officers but was unresponsive, and died after being sent to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Criminal investigators and officers knocked doors in the neighborhood, interviewed residents and gathered evidence Saturday but are still "working to determine exactly what took place," according to Fort Dodge police.

Dennis Quinn, spokesperson for the department, said police believe the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community.

Fort Dodge police were assisted by the Webster County Sheriff's Office, Webster County Attorney's Office and Fort Dodge Fire Department in the case.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Police arrest 1 in Fort Dodge shooting after teen dies Saturday
Zelenskyy: Delegation from Africa could see who is interested in peace

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the delegation of African countries had the opportunity to see who is really interested in peace during their visits to Ukraine and Russia.

Source: President's evening address

Quote: "All of you saw how the visit of the delegation of African countries to Ukraine went, and then the visit to the terrorist state. The delegation had the opportunity to see who is really interested in peace, and who is an embodiment of war. It was very clear.

Everything that was talked about in Ukraine was about the Peace Formula, point by point. All that was talked about in Russia was about the war, about how to destroy life further.

It is obvious that there is no alternative to the Peace Formula. It's good that the world is hearing and seeing it more and more."

Background:

On 16 June, a delegation from Africa arrived in Ukraine, which included the presidents of the Republic of South Africa, the Comoros Islands, Senegal, Zambia, and the prime minister of Egypt, as well as special representatives of Congo and Uganda. They wanted to act as peacemakers between Russia and Ukraine, as well as increase the supply of grain and fertilisers from these two countries to their continent.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named 10 main components of the African Union's position on the Ukrainian-Russian war.

Following the meeting, Zelenskyy criticised the rhetoric of African leaders who called Russia's war against Ukraine a "conflict" or a "crisis". The president was also surprised that representatives of African countries emphasised their own grain and fertiliser crises, while avoiding the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

On 17 June, the African delegation met with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and he said that his logic regarding the war against Ukraine is allegedly "flawless" from the point of view of international law and the UN Charter.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that no Patriot system has been destroyed in Ukraine.

Source: President's evening address

Quote: "No matter who in Russia says that our Patriots have been destroyed, they are still here, they are working, all of them are shooting down Russian missiles. [And they are shooting them down  ed.] as efficiently as possible. Not a single Patriot has been destroyed!"

Details: Zelenskyy said that during the week, the Ukrainian defenders of the sky carried out more than a hundred group airstrikes against occupiers positions and rear.

"Almost three dozen missiles and about fifty attack drones were destroyed in seven days. And I would like to celebrate the defenders of the Kyiv [Oblast]s sky, the 96th Kyiv air defense missile brigade of the Air Force... Thank you! All Kalibrs and Kinzhals were destroyed during these attacks," the president said.

Background:

On 16 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia allegedly destroyed five Patriot air defence systems near Kyiv and could destroy any building in the centre of the city.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defence of Russia announced the alleged destruction of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex in Kyiv with the help of a Kinzhal hypersonic missile complex. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied this statement.

The White House said that they could not confirm reports of damage to the Patriot system in Ukraine. At the same time, the US admitted that it could have been damaged.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
On a sunny morning on the street where 6-year-old Kingston Campbell was killed, community members and leaders gathered to announce the installation of night vision cameras.

The project, an initiative of Lynchburg Peacemakers, is an effort to add more eyes to the neighborhood of 16th and Floyd streets in hopes of preventing another tragedy.

Six houses now have the night vision cameras installed to monitor the entire street and five community members have agreed to form a Neighborhood Watch. In addition, the group is working to clean up yards, and board up or rehabilitate dilapidated homes.

We got to start working together, said Sean Hunter, of Lynchburg Peacemakers during Thursdays press conference announcing the installation. We can make our streets safe, one street at a time. Were not saying we are a panacea to this issue, but we are going to knock a dent in it.

Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said the addition of cameras on the street will help investigators solve crimes.

Any time we can have more eyes on the street, whether its physical eyes or cameras, it provides information as to what may have happened during the incident and what may have happened prior to the incident, he said.

No arrests have been made in the death of Kingston, who was shot and killed while sitting in his home on Floyd Street on May 2. His death marked the third death of a child in gun violence in the city since February.

Zuidema said he cant say whether the shooting was gang-related, but added investigators continue to run down leads.

Its very rare that a crime occurs in the community that people arent aware of, he said. A lot of times people involved in the crime speak about it afterwards. People have that information.  They absolutely need to step up and come forward.

Lynchburg Peacemakers are working with neighbors in the area of Floyd Street to build a trusting relationship in hopes of curbing further violence.

We have to work together and its very important and very unfortunate that we get to have such a young family standing behind us that lost a child to such senseless violence, Sean Hunter of Lynchburg Peacemakers said. We have to send a message that enough is enough. Our streets have to be safe for our kids. We have to do what is in our power to make the community safe.

Lynchburg Mayor Stephanie Reed spoke at the news conference, pleading for an end to violence in the community.

I feel like the mother of this city, that I have given birth to 82,000 people, Reed said. I feel very protective of every person in this city. I said at Kingstons vigil, he is our child, he is a child of Lynchburg and as a mother, I am asking and begging the community to help put an end to crimes like this. No other mother should have to experience this. No other family should have to experience this.

Reed implored those involved in gangs and gang recruitment to choose something different.

There are programs, alternatives, there are ways to turn your life around, she said. The community is watching now and we want better for you. I dont want another baby killed. And I dont want any more youth involved and young adults involved in crime. We dont want that for you. We want better for you.

... I am calling on our community to turn this around because we dont want to lose another child like this.

The plan is to continue installing cameras and cleaning up, street by street. Diamond Hill Baptist Church is accepting donations for the camera project to expand it to surrounding streets so the cameras may be installed free of charge.

Hunter said the community needs to work together with police. He said community policing is vital in the area, and officers need to get out of their patrol cars and interact with children on the streets.

We got to go back to community policing, Hunter said. We are that kind of city. This isnt D.C. or New York. This is Lynchburg, so lets work on Lynchburg.

Zuidema lauded the work of the Peacemakers in the community.

A lot of times we get together as a community and talk about what needs to be done but much less frequently, we see people going out and doing that, so any time we get a group of people out together on the street, interacting with the community, engaging with them and understanding what the challenges and problems are  thats something definitely we support, Zuidema said.
A Maryland man is charged with capital murder of a Wintergreen Police Department officer in a Friday night shooting.

Virginia State Police announced shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday that Daniel M. Barmak, of Towson, Maryland, is charged with one count each of capital murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in connection with the shooting death of officer Mark Christopher Wagner II.

Barmak, 23, also is accused of two felony counts of malicious wounding, state police said. He is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. Friday when an emergency call came into the Wintergreen Police Department about two people being assaulted at the residence they were all staying at on Arrowood Lane in the Wintergreen community of Nelson County, a news release from state police said.

After calling police, the two injured men fled the residence on foot. The two 23-year-old men were both taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, the release said.

Wagner, 31, was the first law enforcement officer to arrive at the residence. He encountered Barmak in the woods and a struggle ensued, the release said.

During the course of the struggle over Wagners department-issued handgun, Barmak shot and killed the officer, the release said. Barmak was also shot during the encounter.

Wintergreen police and the Nelson County Sheriffs Office took Barmak into custody without further incident. Barmak was taken to UVA Medical Center for treatment of a non-life threatening injury sustained during the incident, the release said.

Inside the residence, state police recovered illegal narcotics, the release said. Wagners department-issued handgun was recovered at the shooting scene in the woods.

Wagners remains have been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for examination and autopsy, the release said.

A fundraiser the Wintergreen Police Department posted on its Facebook page Saturday raised $16,530 for Wagners family as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Nelson County Commonwealths Attorney is working with the Virginia State Police during the ongoing criminal investigation, the release said.

We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Officer Wagners family, the Wintergreen Police Department, and Wintergreen community, a statement from the prosecutors office said. The Commonwealth Attorneys Office is committed to pursuing a just and legal resolve to this case.
A Lynchburg man faces a charge in connection with a fatal two-vehicle crash in Amelia County, according to a Virginia State Police news release.

Brandon Scott Stein, 28, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, and further charges are pending, the release states.

State police said the crash happened after a 1999 Buick Sentry, driven by Stein, was traveling westbound on Patrick Henry Highway near Circle Drive in Amelia County, according to the release. The Sentry crossed the centerline and hit a 2002 Honda Accord head-on. The Accord was driven by Tamia Ronique Fitzgerald, 19, of Blackstone, the release said.

Fitzgerald taken to the hospital for treatment of serious but not life-threatening injuries. A juvenile in the rear of the Accord was med-flighted from the scene for treatment of serious injuries. Another teenager in the front seat died of injuries on the scene. None of the Accords occupants were wearing seatbelts, according to the release.

Stein, who also was not wearing a seatbelt, was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the release said.

This crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the Virginia State Police Richmond Division Crash Reconstruction Team.
Meet Brad Arrowsmith. Brad is the president and CEO of Arrow Towing, a local business owner who provides towing services the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro area as well as throughout southwest Iowa.

When Brad and his team are not busy, saving the day for stranded motorist, he can be found helping Jennie Edmundson Foundation save lives through a combination of donating his services as well as connecting people back to the mission of the Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation.

Founded by the Jennie Edmundson Foundation, Wheels of Courage is an annual open-air car show that raises funds for the Spirit of Courage Charitable Patient Care Fund. These funds go to support cancer patients in need of support for the expenses that accumulate during their battle with cancer. This includes costs related to diagnosis and treatment as well as incidental expenses like housing, utilities and transportation.

The health of my employees and community is important to me, Brad said. I support the Jennie Edmundson Foundation because 100% of their proceeds benefit local residents within the same communities I serve in my business. Wheels of Courage raises funds for important work and I want to do my part.

Wheels of Courage takes place on Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quaker Steak and Lube, 3320 Mid America Drive in Council Bluffs. Each year, this fundraiser hosts over 150 cars and judges cars in 16 awards categories.

For more information or to register a car, you can visit jehfoundation.org or call 712-396-6040. We also welcome same-day registrations before 11 a.m.
The law firm of Willson & Pechacek, P.L.C. received notice that two partners were selected for the following honors:

Lonny L. Kolln II was selected to the 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers list. Paul S. Wilson was selected to the 2023 Great Plains Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in Iowa are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive these honors.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

The founding members, Philip J. Willson (1923-2014) and Frank W. Pechacek, Jr. have over 100 years of combined practice of law. Together they mentored and created a group of attorneys and staff to meet the continuing needs of their clients. The firm has expanded and today has satellite offices in Treynor, Oakland, Carroll, Harlan, Clarinda and Onawa, Iowa. The firm focuses primarily in all aspects of civil trial and appellate litigation in both the state and federal courts, employment law, corporate and business planning, tax law, real estate, estate planning and probate law.
This photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows Lhubirira Secondary School after a rebel attack, in Mpondwe, Kasese district, Uganda. A rebel attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda has left more than 40 people killed, with the majority being students, security sources said Saturday.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community, according to police and military sources. (Photo by John Tugume/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A rebel attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda has left more than 40 people killed, with the majority being students, security sources said Saturday.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community, according to police and military sources.

The rebels, according to the military, burnt a school dormitory and also looted a food store. Among the victims, at least 17 students were burnt to death.

The militants abducted six students and forced them to carry the food, Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua by phone.

"We shall get them wherever they will be" and rescued the students, he added.

At least eight students who were sent to the hospital remain in critical condition, according to the police.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has sent a team of top military officers to investigate the incident.

Dick Olum, Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces commander for the mountain division based in western Uganda, said in a televised address that the rebels were aided to cross into Uganda from neighboring DRC.

"Kindly help us to identify the boys who helped the ADF come here. We have got information that ADF [militants] came and spent two nights here before they attacked the school," Olum said.

The military said in a statement that it was using both aerial and ground forces to pursue the attackers who could be retreating to Virunga National Park in the DRC.

"The planes have already arrived and deployed. They are going to search everywhere for these rebels," Olum said.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a statement after the attack, condemning the heinous attack and abduction of students and demanding their immediate release and safe return.

"Schools are a safe place for all learners and must never be attacked. We appeal to all those involved in the Friday attack to respect schools and the rights of every child to learn in a safe and protected environment," said Munir Safieldin, UNICEF representative to Uganda, in the statement.

The ADF, which is a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is a Ugandan rebel group that is holed up in the jungles of eastern DRC. The rebel group is blamed for causing havoc in villages in eastern DRC.

The Ugandan military and their Congolese counterparts launched joint operations against the rebel group in November 2021 shortly after the ADF launched bomb attacks in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. 

Security officials stand near the Lhubirira Secondary School after a rebel attack, in Mpondwe, Kasese district, Uganda, June 17, 2023. A rebel attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda has left more than 40 people killed, with the majority being students, security sources said Saturday.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community, according to police and military sources. (Photo by John Tugume/Xinhua)

People wait outside a hospital after a rebel attack on a secondary school, in Kasese district, Uganda, June 17, 2023. A rebel attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda has left more than 40 people killed, with the majority being students, security sources said Saturday.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community, according to police and military sources. (Photo by John Tugume/Xinhua)

Coffins for bodies of victims are pictured at a local hospital after a rebel attack on a secondary school, in Kasese district, Uganda, June 17, 2023. A rebel attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda has left more than 40 people killed, with the majority being students, security sources said Saturday.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community, according to police and military sources. (Photo by John Tugume/Xinhua)
African Lion 2023 concluded with a series of air and ground war maneuvers on Friday in Tan-Tan, Morocco. The exercises involved coordinated air raids by Moroccan and American aircraft, along with land maneuvers simulating actual combat operations.

The closing ceremony commenced with a display by two Royal Air Force F-16 fighter jets, performing high-speed and low-altitude aerial maneuvers under the observation of Lieutenant General Mohamed Berrid, the new Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces, and Lieutenant General Michael Langley, the commander of the American military command in Africa, AFRICOM.

The highlight of the air sorties was the involvement of the American B1B strategic bomber aircraft, flying alongside the Moroccan F-16 squadrons. The B1B, renowned for its capability to carry various long-range weapons and conduct stealthy low-altitude flights, was deployed for the first time in the joint maneuvers of the African Lion.

Its primary role is to support ground advances of infantry and armored forces, a task demonstrated by Moroccan and American forces during the exercise.

The land maneuvers involved armored personnel carriers and advanced Abrams tanks from both Moroccan and US ground forces. These exercises simulated direct confrontations and encompassed tasks such as firing heavy artillery shells, precise targeting of enemy positions, and infantry maneuvers using armored vehicles.

Military engineering units were also part of the exercises, employing vehicles to open passages through barriers and destroy obstacles with explosives. These operations allowed partner units to advance safely and carry out attack and counter-attack missions.

In a statement to the press, Army General Michael Langley expressed his gratitude to Morocco, host country and long-standing partner, and to the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa for running this event and this display of professionalism.

Participation in the African Lion Exercise is therefore important for Africa. It is a pinnacle exercise that sets the stage of our approach of building stability and partnerships across the continent of Africa, he said, adding that its about ensuring that our African partners could institutionalize their forces, increase interoperability.

So, we can address some of the challenges that they have in establishing security and stability, added General Langley, recalling that African Lion was first launched actually in 2004. But when the Africom became a combat command, it took on a new flavor in 2008.

All of our national security strategies call on Africom for a partnership-centric approach, he stressed, noting that Morocco and the United States have developed a capacity for partnership throughout history. Since our independence, Morocco has been a partner of choice for the United States, he said.

For his part, Youssef Guertoumi, Commander of the Draa military sector, said we have attended today the culmination of the field training exercise that concludes the 19th edition of the African Lion 2023.

He expressed his sincere thanks to the partners of AFRICOM, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the UTAH National Guard, for their constant support and assistance, which had led to the success of this exercise and which showcases once again the core values that we share to promote peace and security around the four corners of the globe, and particularly on our African continent.

In this regard, he added, various programmed activities have been put in place to achieve a higher level of interoperability between forces, the standardization of tactics, techniques and procedures, and the consolidation of multi-domain capabilities.

Spencer Cox, Governor of the State of Utah, pointed out that over 600 Utah military personnel have been in Morocco for the past three weeks to take part in the exercise.

This partnership has been going on for 20 years. We started just before African Lion, he recalled, adding that it was Utah and Morocco that started this training exercise together that has now become this incredible multinational operation.

To our friends in Morocco, we want you to know how important you are to the state of Utah and the United States, he said, noting that this partnership that we have is growing and its so much more than just this military exercise, although this military exercise is critical.

 We truly believe in Utah that global security is about relationships. Peace and establishing peace is all about relationships,  said Cox, noting that  the relationships that we are establishing here are making the world a better and safer place. Were proud of Utahs role in African life and we look forward to continuing the years to come .

African Lion, a combined joint exercise organized each year by FAR and the US Armed Forces, began this year on June 05 in several regions of the Kingdom  Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir and Tifnit  with the participation of 6,000 military personnel representing 14 countries. The exercise is intended to be an annual event that helps consolidate Moroccan-American military cooperation and strengthen exchanges between the armed forces of different countries with a view to promoting security and stability in the region.
Four more African countries, namely Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Guinea, and Benin, have signed memoranda of understanding with Morocco and Nigeria to participate in the flagship Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

The signing took place at the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Lagos, Nigeria, in the presence of Amina Benkhadra, the Director-General of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines.

The signing of the new MoUs took place on the sidelines of the steering committee meeting for the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, attended by representatives of ECOWAS and all the concerned countries.

The four new joining countries bring the total number of states involved in this project to ten, as these agreements are a continuation of the memoranda signed with ECOWAS, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Ghana last year.

The new MoUs confirm the commitment of the parties to this strategic project, which is expected to enhance the gas resources of African countries and provide a new alternative export route to Europe.

This project is expected to contribute to accelerating access to energy, improving living conditions for the population, and supporting the integration of regional economies.

Amina Benkhadra stated that the alliance represents a progressive step towards ensuring social and economic development, by ensuring energy security and achieving comprehensive development for Africa by Africans, according to a press release published by the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNPC).

NNPC chief on his part said that the Nigerian Corporation sees this project as an opportunity to monetize Nigerias abundant hydrocarbon resources, by expanding access to energy to support economic growth, industrialization, and job creation across the African continent and beyond.

ECOWAs Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitization, Sediko Douka, underscored the importance of the gas pipeline project. It will help enhance electricity production and generation capacity, stimulate industrial and agricultural development, and contribute to achieving the energy transition by using a cleaner source of energy than other fossil fuels, he said.

In a speech in November last year, King Mohammed VI had described the project as strategic and beneficial to all of West Africa.

This is a project for peace, for African economic integration, and for co-development: a project for the present and for future generations, the King had said.

The pipeline will originate in Nigeria and end in Morocco, passing through eleven countries: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania.

The pipeline is expected to transport nearly 3 billion cubic feet of gas per day along the West African coast to Morocco and Europe, running over 7,000 kilometers, of which 1,672 km crossing Morocco, and will benefit over 400 million people in West Africa.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project was announced in 2016 in Abuja by King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
Holding the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Morocco is a judicious choice, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva Saturday.

The choice couldnt have been more judicious, Georgieva told reporters upon arrival in Rabat to take part in a series of preparatory meetings for the 2023 WB/IMF annual meetings, scheduled for next October in Marrakech.

The IMF Chief highlighted Moroccos uniqueness as a country with a rich history and culture, a dynamic economy that has been transformed in recent decades, and the hospitality of its people.

She expressed warm thanks to the Moroccan authorities and people for hosting the WB/IMF Annual Meetings, pointing out that this is the first time the event is returning to an Arab country in more than 20 years, and to Africa in half a century.

In a video she recorded in front of the centuries-old historical site of Chellah in Rabat and published Saturday on Twitter, the IMF chief stated that Morocco, a country that bridges Africa, the Middle East and Europe, is the perfect place for holding the WB/IMF annual meetings.

Thrilled to be back in Morocco- a country that bridges Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The perfect place for our annual meetings, scheduled for October 9 to 15 in Marrakesh, she tweeted, using the hashtag #Marrakech 2023.

She recalled that in just four months the international finance community will gather in Marrakesh.

I cannot think of a better place. Morocco is a country that bridges Africa, the Middle east, Europe, a crossroad, and a place where ideas flourish. A country with rich culture, great traditions, strong and vibrant economy, but above all a country of wonderful people, she added.

While in Morocco, Georgieva will be taking part in a series of meetings and activities, including a high-level round table on Central Bank Digital Currencies, organized, Monday in Rabat, by Bank Al-Maghrib and the IMF.

The Annual Meetings are the major annual event of international finance. Some 15,000 personalities are expected to attend, including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the 189 member countries of the two international financial institutions, as well as leading figures in international finance, international experts and opinion-makers, and representatives of the media, NGOs and academia.
CALLAWAY  Representatives from First Interstate Bank recently donated $10,000 to the 4-13 Fire Department Appreciation event for their bravery and support, according to a press release.

At the beginning of April, 64 fire departments responded to several lightning and railroad fires in Blaine and Custer County, burning almost 40,000 acres.

Our goal in offering this support is to make a significant impact in these communities facing devastation and hardship due to these events, said Stacey Guthard, First Interstate Bank president in Callaway. Supporting our communities through challenging times, making a difference, and being a trusted community partner is at the core of our business.

As a community bank, First Interstates focus is on the people, the businesses and the natural environment of the communities they serve, the release said. The bank believes that to be strong corporate citizens, it is their responsibility to ensure their communities thrive.
LINCOLN  Some wells in Nebraska show higher nitrate levels during drought. Jonathan Cronk, a hydrology masters student, is developing models of these wells to share with well owners and find solutions.

Nitrate converts to nitrite in the body and reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. A person with high levels of nitrate may appear blue or gray, have an accelerated heartbeat and feel weak, tired and dizzy. High levels of nitrate have been linked to thyroid disease and cancer. For babies, high levels of nitrate can cause birth defects and blue baby syndrome, leading to death.

In Nebraska, about 85% of the population uses groundwater from a well as drinking water.

Cronk and Francisco Munoz-Arriola, professor of hydroinformatics and hydroclimatology, are using the Nebraska Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse to identify wells with high nitrate levels. They plan to look at the depth of the wells, the depth to the water in the wells and nearby soil properties.

If they can develop models of the wells most likely to be vulnerable to high nitrate levels, they can then share those with well owners whose wells match the models and catch problem wells at the beginning of a drought or other extreme weather.

Cronk said in May he thought reducing withdrawals from the wells would help and he hoped to determine a reduction in pumping, possibly a ratio, that would protect the wells.

This would be a significant contribution to the field of groundwater science, which dates back only to the 1850s, he said.

Scientists understanding of how contaminants move in groundwater and how to remedy them is limited, Cronk said. They know that contaminants arrive on the surface of the well water and spread throughout the water slowly. Many factors can affect the way contaminants spread and how fast, but generally, the concentration of contaminants is higher near the surface of the water and lower deeper in the water.

During a drought, the water level falls when more is withdrawn than what comes back in. People withdrawing water then can expect to find more contaminants in it even though the well is not more contaminated than before. This has confused people in the past, but Cronk offered an explanation.

When we take more water out than what is coming back in, the water level falls and the high-concentration water remains at the surface of the water table, he said. So, there are not necessarily more contaminants in the well itself, but there is less low-concentration water to draw from. We see a higher concentration of contaminants in withdrawals since we are left taking the water closer to the surface of the water table.

Scientists have written few papers on this, all after the year 2000 and most of those after 2010, he said.

Our understanding of this as a whole is limited, and this is essentially the crux of my research, he said.

While logic might suggest that drought would affect shallow wells more, this may not be the case.

Its not necessarily shallow wells that are most vulnerable, Cronk said. Its wells where there is a small difference between the depth to the water and the depth of the well because, actually, if its 100 meters down to the water, which is pretty far, and the well is like 120 meters, thats also pretty far, but the difference between them is pretty small and so that might be a well that is vulnerable.

The danger he sees for vulnerable wells is increased droughts brought on by climate change, he said.

If there are significant hydrologic changes to a region due to a change in climate, being prepared for that is important, he said. Exhausting groundwater resources would likely result in a change in social regime because then agriculture has to change dramatically to continue producing the same levels or the people living here have to change how theyre using their water.

Cronks research is supported by the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship at Nebraska, a program for graduate students studying the resilience of agricultural lands. He plans to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency or a consulting agency after graduating in December 2023 and said he was grateful for the chance to work with other NRT scholars on complex questions while earning his masters degree.

Its just very nice to be able to do something that feels significant and that feels aligned with what I want to see in the world, he said.
Nebraskas one-house Legislature has gone home, but the second house has already convened.

That brings up a petition drive to overturn a new law that better enables parents to choose which school works best for their children. These are petitions Nebraskans should shun.

Legislative Bill 753, which included western Nebraskas five lawmakers among its sponsors, offers income tax credits to people, businesses, estates or trusts donating to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that grants tuition-and-fees scholarships to parochial or private schools.

Students getting first priority for these scholarships (after children already getting them and their siblings) will be those whose families are at or below the federal poverty level.

But LB 753 doesnt stop there.

After students in poverty, scholarships could go to eligible students who:

Tried to option out to another district but were denied.

Have an individualized education plan because they cope with a disability.

Are experiencing bullying, harassment, hazing, assault, battery, kidnapping, robbery, sexual offenses, threat or intimidation or fighting at school.

Are in foster care.

Have a parent or guardian who serves in the armed forces or was killed in the line of duty.

Many parents understand one or more of these situations. We also believe most teachers  no matter where they teach  likewise recognize that no one type of school is best for every single child.

A faith-based school might be what a troubled kid needs. Or a public school might be best for another kid facing educational challenges. And every type of school can feature kids bent on making life so miserable for other kids that their targets need to change schools.

Sadly, the Nebraska State Education Association declines to admit that truth.

It wants voters, at least, to put LB 753 on the 2024 ballot. If they get enough signatures, the law wouldnt take effect New Years Day as scheduled.

The NSEAs argument basically goes like this: Rich people and corporations will flock to the scholarship program to slash their own tax bills. That will cut state funds for public education, which thus will drive up property taxes and hurt poor, minority and rural folks alike.

But the charitable people and companies we know of typically support several causes. Its unlikely theyll put all their money in the education basket.

LB 753s opponents distort the laws text in claiming it lets donors write off up to half their state income taxes.

The law says their annual tax credits are limited to the lowest of these three amounts: 1) their scholarship contributions that year; 2) half of their state income tax liability; or 3) $100,000 for individuals or companies or $1 million for estates or trusts.

That doesnt add up to multimillion-dollar tax breaks, though the total credits might or might not add up to money the state cant afford to lose. If so, the states investment can be pared back.

LB 753s co-sponsors include the Unicamerals two African-American senators, Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney, whose northeast Omaha districts include thousands of poor and minority students whose parents cant afford to consider nonpublic schools.

There are Nebraskans of means who want to help them. Two Omaha foundations, for example, helped launch Nelson Mandela Elementary School in 2015. Its located in a former Catholic school in Waynes District 13 that also served such students and would have benefited from a law like LB 753.

This is not an anti-public-school bill. This is a pro-parent bill, Wayne said in a press release opposing repeal. Parents need more options when the only existing option has been failing kids for generations, which is the case too often in my community.

Support for education in Nebraska cannot be an either-or matter.

We cant shirk our duty as citizens to support our public schools. We have countless dedicated educators working in them. Theyre the only option in most small towns and counties.

But neither should we act as though private and faith-based schools have no place. We need North Platte Catholic Schools, our citys Our Redeemer Lutheran School and the other faith-based schools that survive throughout western Nebraska.

All this law does is help Nebraska parents who cant otherwise consider a nonpublic school option.

If circulators ask you to sign petitions to repeal LB 753, we suggest you politely say, No thanks.
Saudi Arabia has long had deep ties with the East and the West thanks to its strong position in the international energy arena. The Kingdom has been an oil and gas superpower for decades and is now focusing its attention on the development of its green energy capacity, to lead in the world of renewables. But as it goes forward, it will have to decide on which international energy partners its wants to maintain and who it wants to compete with. China, a superpower in pretty much every energy source, is one such power. Over the last year, Saudi Arabia has been deepening its ties with the Asian giant, with greater collaboration suggesting a long-term energy partnership.

China and Saudi Arabia have several long-standing ties, in energy and beyond. Until recently, when Russia overtook, Saudi Arabia was Chinas top oil supplier. In 2022, it provided China with the equivalent to 1.75 million bpd of crude. And in December 2022, Saudi Arabia hosted the China-Arab summit, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders discussed trade ties and regional security, an ongoing discussion for the states. They decided to align policies across several areas, including security and oil, without interfering in one anothers internal affairs. Saudi Arabia and China stressed the the importance of stability in the world oil markets, highlighting that Saudi Arabia is a reliable exporter of oil to its Chinese partner.

In March, the two powers announced they would be working together to construct a landmark $10-billion refinery in the north-eastern Liaoning province of China, with funding from Saudis state-owned Aramco. This brings together the largest energy consumer worldwide and one of its biggest exporters. The development will consist of an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex. Ashok Dutta, an oil industry executive based in Calgary, believes the move says Im committed to what you are doing, I will help you out and make this relationship more meaningful. Aramco also acquired an expanded stake in a privately controlled Chinese petrochemical group for $3.6 billion.

That same month, Saudi Arabias cabinet approved the decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a China-led political, security and trade alliance that includes member states such as Russia, India, Pakistan and four other central Asian nations. While it will not be considered a full member, the partial membership shows Saudis commitment to aligning its interests with China. Earlier in the month, China helped secure a deal for long-time Middle Eastern rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in one anothers countries, demonstrating Chinas involvement in the region.

And this month, Saudis Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said that the Kingdom wanted greater cooperation with China on trade and energy, rather than competition. Bin Salman stated during the 10th Arab-China Business Conference: We came to recognize the reality of today that China is taking, had taken a lead, will continue to take that lead. We dont have to compete with China, we have to collaborate with China.

The energy minister highlighted the value in working in partnership with China, as the Asian giant has already strongly developed its renewable energy sector, getting the right manufacturers. Further, Chinas oil demand continues to grow year on year, showing significant potential for Saudis crude export market as demand in other parts of the world begins to wane.

However, bin Salman was quick to state that this partnership does not mean that Saudi Arabia will stop collaborating with other world powers, such as Europe, South Korea, Japan, the U.S., and Latin America. When asked whether the strengthening of ties with China would affect Saudis relationship with other countries the minister said: We are Saudi Arabia, we dont have to be engaged in what I call a zero-sum game. We believe that there are so many global opportunities.

Also at the event, Saudi Arabia signed a $5.6-billion deal with Chinas electric vehicle maker Human Horizons to design and manufacture EVs. A total of $10 billion worth of agreements were signed in total during the Arab-China conference, across the technology, renewables, agriculture, real estate, minerals, supply chains, tourism, and healthcare industries. This demonstrates a greater commitment to deepening ties with China, as the Kingdom expands its investments beyond oil and gas to renewables. This also aligns Saudis Vision 2030, with the aim for greater economic diversification and the establishment of a strong renewable energy sector, that will support the development of smart cities.

Over several meetings during the last year, Saudi Arabia has made it abundantly clear that it intends to continue developing its relationship with China, particularly in energy and security. As the two powers look to become world leaders in renewable energy, while also continuing their commitment to fossil fuels in the mid-term, they will align policies to support their energy industries. The Kingdom has suggested that this will not negatively affect its relations with other world powers, although some remain sceptical about this commitment.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Flatwater Free Press

LINCOLN  Brad Anderson still remembers the night his wife forgot hail.

He was sitting on the front porch of their Lincoln home as a storm rolled in. It was around 9 p.m. LuAnne had gone to bed earlier. Brad wanted to watch the rain.

"It starts hailing and next thing I know I hear LuAnne running down the stairs hollering 'there's something hitting the house!'"

She poked her head out the front door.

"I said 'it's hailing,' and she looked at me like 'What?'"

Brad grabbed a stone and showed it to his wife.

"It's rain that's frozen hard," he explained.

"She said, 'That's amazing. I've never seen that before. What's it called again?'"

That's where the recollection ends.

"You don't think about that," Brad says. "The world changes for these people. They don't understand what's happening."

The world changed for Brad, too, in the years following LuAnne's dementia diagnosis in 2010, just before her 55th birthday. He became her caregiver, and like many of the estimated 38 million family members caring for a loved one in the U.S., he struggled with guilt and stress.

He suffered from loneliness, helplessness and despair  feelings that Americans have become increasingly familiar with, so much so that the U.S. surgeon general recently warned of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation.

Brad, now 67, believes his ability to diagnose and wrestle with his loneliness is owed to the very thing that LuAnne gradually lost her grasp of: words.

"I just started writing (poetry) out of need  " he said. "I had a need to express some things that I didn't know how else to express, and you know it was really a survival tactic."

Brad and leaders in the medical and writing communities caution that his story isn't a blanket prescription. But it does, they say, reinforce things we've long known: Creative expression can help in more ways than we might realize. A creative outlet like poetry can heal.

"Self-expression in other words, it's really important," said Dr. Steven Wengel, professor of psychiatry and director of the geriatric psychiatry division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. "It's really good for the soul and good for the brain, as it turns out."

***

A funeral. The first sign something was off came at a funeral service for one of LuAnne's aunts in March 2009.

At the service, LuAnne crossed paths with a cousin she had known since childhood. "Who are you?" she asked him.

Brad was unsettled but didn't dwell on it.

"I just kind of put it away and said, OK, one of those hiccups or something."

It was easy to put it away in the moment. LuAnne and Brad had been together since getting married in 1975 when they were both 19 years old. Thirty-four years, three states and two children later, everything else seemed perfectly normal that day at the funeral.

But other oddities gradually emerged in LuAnne's behavior: failures of memory, bouts of depression.

They thought it might be menopause.

LuAnne was still active in the dance community. She formed the nonprofit the Lincoln Irish Dancers in 1997 after teaching a class through the city. Dancing became such a central part of her life that Brad joined in.

"I realized if I didn't start dancing, I wasn't going to see her," he said.

LuAnne also continued to excel at her job as the business manager for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

But the work grew harder, more confusing. LuAnne couldn't read emails. She printed them and traced the words with her fingers. She struggled to recognize co-workers. At first, they put photos of themselves on her desk to help. She grew increasingly incapable of connecting the people in the photos with the faces in front of her. She tired easily and had a hard time understanding what people were saying to her, though her own speech was perfectly coherent.

LuAnne's co-workers reached out to Brad in fall 2009. Something was wrong.

There is no single test to diagnose dementia, an illness affecting an estimated 10% of Americans 65 and older. It requires a process  interviews, lab tests, examination of medical history and sometimes a brain scan. LuAnne's diagnosis came in May 2010: semantic dementia.

Brad was, he says, "pretty ignorant" at the time. He imagined LuAnne forgetting her car keys  routine lapses we all experience  with greater frequency.

"Well, it's a lot more than that, and you learn pretty quickly," he said. "Then you start thinking, 'Well, what's next?'"

***

It's March 1 and Brad is set to record a poetry reading for "30 Poets in 30 Days," a celebration of national poetry month in April organized by the Lincoln-based nonprofit Larksong Writers Place. The roster of readers includes poets from Nebraska and across the country.

Brad is reading a poem written as a letter to his daughter, Hannah Kahler. It is titled "Daughter."

He reads from the iPad where he writes all his poems. His delivery is calm, quietly comfortable.

Brad's poem sparked more phone calls and conversations than all the other readings, including the ones from nationally known poets, said Karen Shoemaker, a Lincoln-based author and founder of Larksong.

"It's just such a beautiful poem," she said.

For most of his life, Brad never wrote poetry. He didn't really read it, either.

But around 2013, Karen Noel, then president of a local Alzheimer's support group, asked Brad if he would speak during a fundraising event organized by United Way and CHAD Nebraska. Brad's story might resonate because LuAnne was particularly young when she was diagnosed.

Brad said yes. He wrote down thoughts and memories to fold into his remarks, which were so well received that he continued speaking in the following years.

Brad kept writing out memories and observations  "thought bites," he called them. His goal: Convey what it's like to care for someone with dementia. Soon he saw how his "thought bites" fit together.

Poetry is often viewed as abstract, an art form studied in school, said Matt Mason, Nebraska state poet. Really, poetry is about expression.

"It's a complicated thing, and it's very basic," Mason said. "It's about telling stories but it's also  so useful for transmitting emotional elements that are otherwise hard to express."

As Brad continued the fundraising talks, he decided to end with a poem, "The Devil Calls the Dance." The sniffling started in the audience by the second stanza.

"It kind of jolted me.  I almost stuttered because I wasn't thinking about what it sounded like to somebody else. I was too busy processing and putting my thoughts out there and not thinking about how it was received. Obviously it had an emotional impact."

Mason said the poem reflects a man struggling to make sense of trying circumstances. It's a vulnerability Mason said he is familiar with, having turned to poetry to decipher difficult chapters in his own life.

"You can see (Brad) figuring things out as the poem goes on," he said.

***

For a few years LuAnne was largely self-sufficient. She could drive, having passed required annual driving screenings. She was still leading local dances. Initially, she was excited about the idea of being retired.

"I said OK, I'll take that as a win," Brad remembered.

Wins became fewer. LuAnne lost her driver's license after failing her third annual screening.

Brad hired caregivers to come to their home for a few hours each day while he worked. He set up cameras so he could monitor her in the morning before they arrived.

Social activities stopped. Friends drifted away. It became Brad, LuAnne and a few immediate family members who helped when they could.

"You try and be positive and make the most of each day that you can," he said. "You know you're losing that person, and you have to remember that every single day might be the best day that person will ever have."

By 2014, life was unraveling. One day Brad noticed LuAnne got out of bed earlier than normal. She left the house and headed across the street.

"Not good," Brad thought. He rushed home from work. LuAnne had boarded a city bus headed downtown to, as Brad later learned, go to the bank to get money to buy a car. She wanted her independence back. She brought her iPad, which allowed Brad to track and intercept her.

Less than a week later, LuAnne fell into a manic state. She was throwing furniture in their home, yelling.

They got her to a mental health holding facility at Bryan Medical Center. That same day, LuAnne referenced running in front of a moving vehicle to end her life. She couldn't be left alone. After 30 days of trying to recalibrate her medications in the hospital, it became clear: LuAnne wouldn't be coming home. The decision in summer 2014 to place LuAnne in a care center weighed heavily on Brad, who was already racked with guilt. He consulted his daughter Hannah and LuAnne's brother Tim Shaw, an attorney and disability rights advocate.

They picked Douglas County Health Center in Omaha, which specialized in caring for people with memory loss.

Shortly after she was placed in September 2014, Brad became incredibly ill. He realized he hadn't been sick in years  as if his body hadn't allowed it while he cared for LuAnne.

"I didn't realize how much stress I was under until after we finally did have her placed and I realized that she was cared for," he said.

***

Debilitating stress and lone-

liness have emerged as public health concerns in recent years.

A 2022 survey conducted for the American Physiological Association found that 27% of adults said that most days they were so stressed that they couldn't function.

Surveys have found that between one-third and half of U.S. adults have experienced loneliness.

In May U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory titled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." The report cited research that found loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29%.

Writing initially was an outlet for Brad  a way to wrestle with festering feelings.

UNMC's Wengel said research shows that when we engage with our emotions through artistic expression, it forces us to use a different part of the brain. This can unlock a deeper understanding of emotions that may otherwise rattle around in our heads.

"So when you put a name on feelings, it helps you," he said. "It doesn't make them go away, but it helps you deal with it."

For Brad, writing also opened the door to a community.

He started attending open mics and got involved with multiple writing groups, including Larksong, which Shoemaker formed in 2020. Brad was there from the beginning.

"There's a myth about writers  often they're alone, churning out best sellers," Shoemaker said. "I think that's a huge myth. I think people need one another."

***

LuAnne died on Jan. 20, 2017.

She was 61. He struggles to admit it, but

Brad felt relieved when she passed. Her last year had been one of decline  death in slow motion. She was in a wheelchair and could muster only four words: "oh gosh" and "then again."

She had forgotten Brad's name some time earlier, though she would still smile and laugh when he entered the room. Brad believes their love endured.

"I don't know what part of her was there and what part wasn't, but there was enough that I think the emotional connection was there."

About a month after her death, family and friends held a memorial service. LuAnne always said she wanted a wake, Brad recalled. The family had no idea what that entailed, so they improvised. There was music. Dancing.

At a certain point, Brad took a break from writing. It felt too painful.

He eventually picked it back up, after realizing he could write about more than dementia and the accompanying feelings, though he hasn't shut the door on those topics.

"If you loved that person, how could you not have that grief and have those feelings? I earned those and that's fine," he said. "I wouldn't want them to go away. I think that would be worse."

Brad is retired now, and spends his time with grandchildren and writing. He hopes that sharing his story might help someone else.

"You have to find your way through it," he said. "Writing, I felt, was a very helpful way to do that."

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska's first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

POEMS BY BRAD ANDERSON

"The Devil Calls the Dance"

Too many dance this devil

Too many know the steps

Too many loved ones suffer

While the devil calls the dance

My love is spared the knowledge

Of her dances final steps

I must suffer the knowing and the devil calls the dance

Wandering, confused, lost,

Her world suddenly unknown

I reach out and take her hand and the devil calls the dance day is night, night is day

Her mind, can never rest

I move to match her cadence and the devil calls the dance

Following where she leads

To a world I cannot know

Hand in hand, I go with her and the devil calls the dance

Her eyes see without knowing

What once she knew is lost

Lovers, now are strangers and the devil calls the dance

Her hand, in my hand

My arm around her waist

I am my lover's partner

While the devil... calls the dance

"When the Bleeding Hearts Bloom"

The bleeding hearts are blooming again.

She planted them years ago, one by the garage and one by the house.

They seem to like where she planted them and come back every year, one of the first plants to bloom each spring.

These with their pink heart shaped flowers are called old-fashioned bleeding hearts, but I'm not sure how a plant can be old-fashioned.

Their gently curving rows of hearts, hang from stems bending towards the ground, each with a seeming drop of precious blood.

Memories seem to drip from them, from hearts to full to hold them.

I know what a bleeding heart feels like.

In the spring, when the bleeding hearts bloom,

I pause to hold my own, and think of her.
Footage from body-worn cameras has become an essential aid in public understanding of critical events involving law enforcement.

Within weeks of Tyre Nichols' deadly beating at the hands of Memphis police officers earlier this year, the body-camera footage was plastered across national news networks. And, as questions mounted about the law enforcement response in the months following the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, officials released hours of footage from the body cameras of responding officers.

The widespread adoption of police body cameras is intended to increase public trust in police and aid in transparency. But in Nebraska, the release of body-camera footage is rare.

Only once since the Omaha Police Department implemented the use of the cameras has the department shared video from a police shooting or in-custody death.

"Nationally, there will be a police situation with body-camera footage and it'll be on cable news the same day of the incident," said Spike Eickholt, a lobbyist and government liaison for the Nebraska ACLU. "So other states are clearly able to navigate to somehow allow the public to access body-camera footage in some, or maybe even all, cases."

Though body cameras have been around for nearly two decades, their prominence has exploded statewide and locally in past years. Omaha police completed the deployment of cameras for all uniformed patrol officers and some officers in special units in early 2020. The Sarpy and Douglas County Sheriff 's Offices implemented cameras for all road patrol deputies in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Body-camera video from police officers is, by definition, a public record: a record produced by a public body. Many states, such as New Mexico and Oklahoma, broadly consider the footage to be public record and allow any member of the public to request the footage. Departments in Ohio, Minnesota and Chicago have released body-camera videos within hours or days of a death involving police.

But Nebraska, Eickholt noted, is somewhat of an outlier. Body cameras aren't mentioned in the state statutes regarding public records and exemptions. Law enforcement agencies in Nebraska rely on a loosely defined, broadly applied exception in the state public records statute that exempts "investigatory" records from disclosure to withhold body-camera footage.

"If you look at (the statute), it doesn't even mention body cameras in the text," Eickholt said. "But what's happened is that cops and prosecutors have adopted the understanding that body-camera recordings are similar to any other piece of evidence collected in a case, and therefore it isn't considered presumptively public."

That means that police agencies have broad discretion to decide if, when and how much of a body-camera recording should be released.

According to data from mappingpoliceviolence.com, there have been nine instances since 2018 in which a citizen was killed by an OPD officer. A review of World-Herald reports on these killings shows that all nine were recorded on officers' body cameras.

In only one of those cases, the 2020 police shooting of Kenneth Jones, did OPD release any body-camera footage. Days after Jones was killed, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said at a press conference that the body-camera footage would be released after the grand jury process concluded. But it still took weeks after a grand jury declined to charge the officers for the video to become public. Instead of the full video, OPD will often release stills from body-camera footage. In five of the remaining eight cases, police released still images from the body-camera footage. In the three others, no images or videos from body-camera footage were made public. While the release of images is "better than nothing," Eickholt said, it often doesn't capture the full context.

A bill introduced in the latest legislative session by State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln would have made body-camera footage from police killings significantly more accessible. Legislative Bill 366 would have required law enforcement agencies to release body-camera footage from in-custody deaths following the conclusion of a grand jury investigation.

Eickholt referred to the bill, which the ACLU supported, as "a modest proposal" that still places strict limits on the types of footage released. But it was met by resistance from law enforcement officials and various police unions during a March hearing in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Lt. Dan Martin, an OPD officer and vice president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, said that the release of body-camera video puts the privacy of victims and the due process rights of suspects at risk.

"Put simply, these recordings are evidence," Martin said. "We believe strongly in the need to maintain law enforcement custody and discretion regarding their release. Arbitrarily requiring that this visual evidence be made public without any context provided by additional evidence  interviews, forensics and so on  will certainly not result in fair or just outcomes in these cases."
Natalie Coles will never forget receiving an unexpected phone call in 2020. On the line was Virginia-based Dominion Energy, offering to give money to Wilberforce University, the small historically Black college where she is in charge of fundraising.

The company's $500,000 donation went in part toward laptops and hot spots for students when the pandemic shut down the college's campus outside of Dayton, Ohio.

"It was like manna from heaven," Coles said.

Historically Black colleges and universities, which had seen giving from foundations decline in recent decades, lately are benefiting from an increase in gifts, particularly from corporations and corporate foundations. Some have received a new look from companies amid the reckoning over racial injustice spurred by the killing of George Floyd. But the colleges also have been pitching themselves, emphasizing their ability to deliver returns on the investment in student mobility.

Another factor in the giving by corporations has been the influence of their Black employees.

At the beverage company Diageo North America, the employee resource group for African Americans shaped a program that has provided almost $12 million to HBCUs, said Danielle Robinson, head of community engagement and partnerships for Diageo. The money has gone toward scholarships at 29 schools to lessen the debt burden on Black graduates.

"We talked about a lot of different things, but one of the things that kept coming up was the generational wealth gap," Robinson said.

The giving to HBCUs is a new trend for corporations, which had largely ignored them before 2020, said Marybeth Gasman, a Rutgers University professor who researches HBCUs. Increasingly, HBCUs have been using the language of business to argue they not only have a high need but also are a good investment, she said.

HBCUs often have smaller endowments and lower levels of public funding than other universities. A report released in May found foundation support of HBCUs declined 30% between 2002 and 2019. Data is incomplete for more recent years, but HBCUs have been reporting a sustained increase lately in donations from corporations as well as philanthropic foundations. Delaware State University received $20 million from MacKenzie Scott in 2020, part of the $560 million that the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos gave to HBCUs. The money helped DSU rescue a small college in their county that was closing and invest in their facilities.

Foundations have been more receptive when the school reaches out, said Vita Pickrum, the school's vice president of institutional advancement. She said she would like to see foundations shape giving in partnership with HBCUs. Gifts to HBCUs typically are more restricted than those given to predominantly White schools, she said, which she would like to see change.

"Trust the institutions to be able to address the problem that the foundation is trying to address in the most efficient way that they see fit," she said.

While giving to HBCUs has increased lately, better-known schools, such as large private and land grant universities, have been more likely to receive donations compared with small schools, said Michael Lomax, CEO of the United Negro College Fund.

Those small institutions often operate as engines of economic mobility that lift students from poverty to the middle class, Lomax said. Many have near open-enrollment policies, educating nearly any student that wishes to pursue higher education.

While HBCUs have produced celebrated entrepreneurs, scientists and doctors, they have also educated an outsized number of teachers, nurses and other jobs that are essential for society, he said.

"I want to see more of American philanthropy recognizing that those are important," Lomax said.

"That they're going to help us ensure that those jobs and those positions are filled, because they are the positions which will ensure a healthy Black America, but really, a healthy America."

At Wilberforce University, the donation from Dominion supports scholarships and a lecture series on racial inequality in addition to the technology investments. It's a lot to squeeze out of a half-million dollars, which Coles said reflects the way historically Black colleges and universities stretch their money.

"I would really applaud my fellow African Americans for really pushing things within corporate America to make certain that the George Floyd incident was a movement, a long-term movement, not just a one-off," Coles said.

Whether corporations will stick with funding HBCUs for the long term is still a question for Shawnta Friday-Stroud, vice president of advancement at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Donations from corporate and philanthropic foundations have almost doubled from last year, when they'd received $ 2.4 million at this time compared with $5.3 million so far this year.

She's observed that corporate foundations are making funding commitments over multiple years and have expressed interest in partnering with her institution, rather than just giving money and walking away. They have put the money toward scholarships and professional development training.

"My hope is that that continues, let's say, over the next three, four or five years," she said. "And I think that's what's going to be the true test."
TEHRAN, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Uzbekistan on Sunday signed 10 cooperation agreements and one joint statement in Iran's capital Tehran, according to the website of the Iranian president's office.

The agreements, including cooperation in transportation, pharmaceutical production, insurance, trade, technology, and agriculture, were signed by the two countries' high-ranking officials in the presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his visiting Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, the Uzbek president arrived in Tehran earlier on Sunday.

The trip marks the first visit by an Uzbek president to Iran since more than 20 years ago.

Raisi visited the Uzbek city of Samarkand in September 2022 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Iran and Uzbekistan signed 17 memorandums of understanding and cooperation documents during that visit. 
Scientists monitoring the white shark population in the waters off Massachusetts' Cape Cod are attaching improved sensors, including cameras, to the predators to help scientists keep track of their whereabouts and to keep beachgoers informed and safe, researchers said.

The program comes just as tourists are filling up hotels and rental properties on the Cape for the summer  and white sharks are returning in greater numbers to feed on the region's abundant seals.

Interactions between white sharks and humans are rare. But the risk is still there. There have been five in Massachusetts since 2012  three of them classified as bites, one of which was fatal, said Greg Skomal, the State Division of Marine Fisheries shark expert.

"So as a result, we've intensified our research off the Cape to study various aspects of white shark behavior," Skomal said.

For more than a decade, the fisheries division and the nonprofit Atlantic White Shark Conservancy have tagged about 300 sharks with acoustic sensors that emit a high-frequency sound to an array of receivers along the coast. Public safety officials and lifeguards are notified when a shark swims within range of an acoustic receiver.

This year, researchers are attaching more camera sensors to the predators.

The sensors capture more than just video. The sensors can detect a shark's depth, direction, surrounding water temperature and whether it's accelerating or slowing down. The technology allows scientists to monitor the sharks on a second-by-second basis, Skomal said.

Megan Winton, a staff scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, calls it giving smartphones to sharks.

"They're outfitted with an incredible array of sensors that tell us about the animal's movements and their environment," she said, adding that it's "essentially just riding on the back of a white shark."

The information is downloaded to a free app available to the public to reduce encounters and promote safety.

One video captured by a camera tag clamped to a shark's dorsal fin shows the predator moving into water about 4 feet deep close to shore to go after a seal, stirring up a storm of sand from the bottom. The seal ultimately escaped.

Sharks are patient hunters.

"They slowly patrol the shoreline very methodically until they essentially have a chance to make their move," Winton said.

The technology also has provided insight into how curious sharks are. They have been seen coming to the surface to nibble a lobster buoy or check out a bird or some other piece of flotsam, she said.
Omaha Public Library wants to help readers find new books  or at least books new to them. Every month in this space, our employees will recommend reading based on different writing genres, themes or styles. Staff have suggested some of their favorite books about, by or relating to dads for Fathers Day. Find these books and more at your local branch or omahalibrary.org.

Many Shapes of Clay by Kenesha Sneed. I lost my dad when I was young, and as Fathers Day rolls around, I like to find books that speak to the loss of a father, but also show us its okay to feel sadness while also finding happiness in memories. Sometimes those stories are best found in picture books!  Brandy Bartling, library specialist at Saddlebrook Branch

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan. Jim Gaffigans way of describing everyday life as a father of many small children will have you rolling! Whether you need to see your own chaotic family situation with some levity, prepare yourself for becoming a parent, or remember the days you felt the chaos of a busy family, you will love this book!  Sheila Bolmeier, library specialist at Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan. Laugh out loud funny! You will ask yourself how you never thought to describe certain foods this way, or perhaps, understand those who may not enjoy certain foods a bit better. You wont want to put this book down. I can still remember his comments about oysters and avocados, and I read this book years ago!  Bolmeier

How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan. This is an excellent choice for fathers and grandfathers alike! How to Babysit a Grandpa is a funny and joyful book about a boy who gets to be in charge of supervising his grandpa for the day. Highlighting the connection between grandparents and their grandchildren, Reagan outlines tips for how to successfully babysit an elder, from eating delicious snacks, playing together, going on a walking adventure, and more.  Taylor Corbaley, library specialist at Abrahams Branch

To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. Set in small-town Alabama in the 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the voice of Scout, a young girl whose father is called on to defend a young Black man falsely accused of rape. As the hatred and inequalities simmering just beneath the towns surface are revealed, Scouts father Atticus becomes a hero in her eyes as he does his best to stand up against injustice in the legal system. Go Set a Watchman takes place 20 years later, when an adult Scout returns home to find that her loved ones have been torn apart by personal beliefs and political agendas. Without the naivety of youth, Scout learns that even heroes are flawed and the choices between family, love, and justice arent always clear.  Sarah Lewald, pop culture librarian at Sorensen Branch

El Nino Que Queria Dar Abrazos by Sonia Encinas. This is a Spanish picture book is about a boy who wants to give hugs and the unconditional love of his dad. Its a book that encourages us to break down stereotypes.  Ana Valdovinos, youth services specialist at South Omaha Library

A Bed of Stars by Jessica Love. This is a wonderful picture book about father-child bonding and feeling at home with the universe.  Valdovinos

Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield. This is beautiful picture book about Luis and his Papi and how they both work hard to imagine and build their future.  Valdovinos
Holland Basham Architects

Holland Basham Architects congratulates Thomas Berry, AIA, Colorado Office Leader, on his promotion to Associate Partner, adding a noteworthy milestone to his architectural career. With 16 years of experience, he stands out as a thoughtful leader with the skills to build trusted client relationships, lead a successful team, and manage projects to establish a respected presence for the firm within the Denver area.

One of Thomas' most significant accomplishments during his ten years with Holland Basham is establishing the Denver office. Starting solo, he has grown the team by adding talented individuals and defining a local office culture over the last five years. As the leader of the Denver team, Thomas is generous and dedicated to understanding and honoring each person's strengths to manage client expectations effectively.

Thomas enjoys connecting with clients forming trusted partnerships and relationships, and extending the same level of service as is come to be expected from the Holland Basham Architects Omaha office. Thomas excels as a strategic project manager with significant projects, including a large-scale multi-family housing development in Pena Station near Denver International Airport.
The summer before his sophomore year in 2014, Jacob Carmichael and a few friends decided they would create a club for LGBTQ students at Elkhorn High School.

They had the required staff sponsors and knew other students would be interested. But when they asked administrators if they could form their club  called Tolerance, Equity and Acceptance (TEA)  they were told no.

They said if (the school) had a pro-LGBTQ club, they would need to create an anti-LGBTQ club, Carmichael said. The school didnt want any kind of semblance of having a position. They wanted to be impartial and also tried to talk to us repeatedly about considering the community and the pushback they will have.

Carmichael and his friends didnt know that it would take two and a half more years for the school to officially accept TEA as a high school club.

LGBTQ clubs like TEA have been in districts for decades, but they have been attracting attention as education becomes more politicized and parents and politicians push for control over school districts.

Scrutiny over these clubs is a small example of the nationwide conflict over LGBTQ rights, with groups of conservatives alleging  without evidence  that schools are pushing ideology, sexual education and indoctrinating students. Recently on June 12, several parents and a school board used the argument as they criticized the funding and existence of the Prism Club in the Bennington Public Schools.

Amid the opposition, advocates are pointing to the reasons behind these clubs: They make students feel safe, included and heard.

The majority of high schools in the Omaha metro area have clubs for LGBTQ students  often called GSA clubs, which can stand for gay-straight or gender sexuality alliance.

High schools in Papillion, Ralston, Bellevue, Gretna, Bennington and the Omaha Public Schools have GSA clubs, according to school websites. Some high schools in districts like Millard, Elkhorn and OPS have clubs that are more broad and focus on diversity of all kinds.

The mission of GSA clubs is similar in most of the Omaha area high schools. At Papillion La Vista High School, the club unites LGBTQ students, straight allies and members of the school community who are committed to making schools safe and more accepting for LGBTQ students, according to the schools website. It also works to improve school climate, change policies, educate others and offer leadership development.

After Carmichael and his friends received the first no to their request to form a GSA at Elkhorn High, they would receive two more rejections before getting the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska involved. While ACLU attorneys went back and forth with the high school, the club conducted unofficial meetings without the resources other clubs received.

TEA club was approved a semester before Carmichael graduated. He said he can recall the day the schools librarian, one of the club sponsors, received the approval letter from administration.

It was a big relief, Carmichael said. We opened (the letter) and read it and started crying in joy.

He said the first meeting they were allowed to have during the school day was hosted in the auditorium and roughly 100 students attended. The club also received widespread support from staff.

While the TEA Club may not be at Elkhorn High School now, the school does have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Club that provides a safe and inclusive space for all members of the school community regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or ability.

Carmichael, who now advocates for gay and transgender rights in the community and legislature, said he wants people who are critical of GSA clubs to know they are sometimes the only safe place for LGBTQ students.

Students who are involved in GSA clubs have higher GPAs, are more likely to graduate high school and have reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, according to a 2021 survey from the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). A Nebraska-specific survey from GLSEN also reported in 2021 that 39% of Nebraska students have access to such organizations.

Social spaces like that are not about sex. They are not about indoctrination. They are not about anything about that, Carmichael said. All they are is a space for kids who feel othered and abnormal and all of that. It provides a space for them to be seen and heard.

At Benningtons June 12 school board meeting, parent Tracee Baker said the GSA club, called Prism, is a part of an agenda she doesnt support and it doesnt have a place in schools.

If this was 20 years ago and it was a club in support of the gay community, I would be all for it. However, with the ever-increasing list of things they could be  transgender, queer and/or questioning, asexual and two-spirit  you are now entering dangerous waters, Baker said at the meeting. Affirming children is not the answer and schools should not be the place where affirmation is occurring.

Abbi Swatsworth, executive director of OutNebraska, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization, said every student deserves to feel safe and affirmed at school.

The GSA club model helps students of all orientations, including heterosexual students, have the opportunity to treat each other with dignity, respect, kindness and empathy, Swatsworth said. We really believe that rhetoric (of indoctrination) has been on the rise the last couple of years and its unfortunate, because we dont talk about indoctrinating young people if they are attending an environmental club or a young Republicans club.

Some parents who are critical of the organizations believe they bring conversation about sex or sexual education into the school. Experts and advocates say activities and discussion have nothing to do with those topics and instead focus on inclusivity, belonging and acceptance.

One Omaha-area high school teacher said that while her school doesnt have a GSA club, she does have LGBTQ-supportive stickers in her windows and a Pride flag in her office. As a gay educator, she said a lot of her discussions with students revolve around anti-bullying. She spoke under anonymity because she doesnt have consent to talk about her job.

I think its part of building that culture of just feeling like you can have these discussions and its not talking about sexual orientation and gender identity, she said. We want all of our students to feel safe and words do create harm. And so we do invite those conversations within the classroom.

Austin Diep, who graduated from Bryan High School in May, said a GSA club would have helped them have a more positive high school experience.

Diep discovered they were nonbinary the summer before their junior year. Diep said while staff members were mostly supportive, walking the hallways or going to the bathroom could quickly become uncomfortable.

Ive always been more feminine-presenting, so I had to go to the bathroom feeling unsafe. Some students would stare or ask me if I was in the right bathroom, Diep said. Sometimes in the hallways, students would say thats a dude, but I would say Im just existing.

Diep eventually was able to use a gender-neutral bathroom in the nurses office. During Dieps senior year, the school did form a diversity group called BEARclusity, which was for students of all backgrounds.

Diep said he would tell parents who are against GSA clubs that their child doesnt need to be a part of the club  high schools can have dozens of clubs that focus on ethnicity, religion, hobbies, academics, leadership and more.

Schools that receive federal funding are required by law to allow students to form these types of groups on school grounds.

In the case Board of Education of the Westside Community Schools v. Mergens (1990), the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the Westside Community Schools violated the Equal Access Act when officials did not allow a student to form a Christian club without a faculty members sponsorship. The act prohibits schools from denying equal access to students who want to meet based on their groups content at meetings.

The school cant treat a GSA differently than it does other type of extracurricular club just because it stands for something someone disagrees with, said Jane Seu, an attorney for the ACLU of Nebraska.

Bennington parent Kate Johansson said she doesnt want the district to treat the high schools Prism Club any differently than other student-led organizations. There was a similar club at Lincoln High School when she graduated in 2000.

The vast majority of other parents I have met in Bennington are kind and reasonable and not one extreme or the other, Johansson said. We just want our kids to be happy, healthy and safe. If you dont approve of one of the clubs that is there, (students) dont have to join. Its not mandatory.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
As a farmer, I know first-hand the hours, dedication and passion it takes to run my operation, but it also takes ingenuity and the willingness to try new technologies.

The United States is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, having grown our abilities for one farmer to feed more than 166 people, compared to 18.5 people in 1940. In less than 100 years, we are feeding nearly nine times more people. Thats thanks to genetic and technology advancements, being willing to try new ideas and knowing well have to keep finding innovations. The generations before us did it and we will too.

I trust what we grow because its the same food I eat and feed my family. If I didnt understand and fully believe in the science and genetic technology, I would not be growing and taking the chance of harming my soil, livelihood and those I care the most about. With more than 90% of farmers growing genetically modified (GM) crops for nearly 40 years, its obvious the confidence we have in the science. The United States has trusted the science and will continue to.

I work to farm with less chemical application and better tillage practices each year. Im looking out for my soil and farm with the goal to be here for generations to come. I want to be outperformed by the next generation with less tillage, a healthier crop, a shorter growing time and using less inputs and resources. That proves were moving headfirst in the right direction.

In February, Mexico moved forward with its ban on GM corn imports, but instead of waiting until 2024 implemented it immediately. Why? The science has proven and continues to prove GM corn is safe. Mexicos decree alludes to the need for scientific studies to be conducted which investigate the health impacts of consuming GM corn. After decades of global studies, the negative results of GM corn have continued to be absent. Opinions and politics do not override science. This is a control tactic by Mexico and must not continue. Mexico has blatantly ignored the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade pact and must be held accountable.

We have been persistent that the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and Ambassador Katherine Tai must submit a technical consultation under the USMCA immediately. The 30-day technical consultation timeline has come and passed. We are in the same place we were in October; this is unacceptable.

There has been no movement with the USTR. We must move forward now. The conversation has been happening in-depth since last summer with a lack of action. Ambassador Tai is still not supporting the farmers that grow the food she eats, is allowing Mexico to break agreements and isnt doing the job she was appointed to do.

The mission of the USTR is, to work toward opening markets throughout the world to create new opportunities and higher living standards for families, farmers, manufacturers, workers, consumers and businesses. What is happening with Mexico will create the exact opposite.

As the number one white corn producing state, this has not only the opportunity to hurt my familys livelihood and the state economy but the country and even the world as a whole.

During the Proclamation on World Trade Week published May 19, President Biden stated, my Administration has been laser-focused on working through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. He never once mentions protecting the genetic technology and Mexicos decision to ignore science. Thus, our concerns are that the Biden Administrations laser focus is not on challenging Mexicos extreme corn decree.

We have been waiting, and we are past the point of waiting. Its imperative to act now and initiate a technical consultation under USMCA. I will continue to grow crops I know as safe, including GM corn.

As a farmer who grew up loving the land, knowing I wanted to follow the generations before me, I understand the risks, the droughts and the advancements needed to continue the work I do. We must get to work on defending the agreements and opening new markets.
The people of Kalabari and its entire kingdom have been dealt a massive blow following the demise of its traditional ruler

King Prof. T.J.T Princewill, the father of Tonye Princewill, died on Saturday, June 17, following an announcement

According to the statement that was issued on Saturday, June 17, the high chiefs of the Kings cabinet have been briefed about the tragic demise

Rivers State, Port Harcourt  The supreme ruler of Kalabari Kingdom, King Prof. T.J.T Princewill, has been declared dead.

His demise was confirmed on Saturday, June 17, via a statement issued by his son, Prince Tonye Princewill, a prominent politician and investor.

Prince TJT Princewill, Amachree XI, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom is the longest-serving monarch in Rivers State. Photo Credit: Prince Tonye Princewill

Source: Facebook

His statement reads:

It is with a very heavy heart that I am formally announcing the departure of my father, our King, and His Serene Majesty, King Prof. T.J.T Princewill, Amachree the XI, and Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom. He was not just my father, he was also my best friend.

The statement also confirmed that the Buguma Council of Chiefs and the Kalabari Council of Chiefs had been briefed about the demise of the King in line with the customs and traditions of the Kalabari people.

He said:

Further announcements will follow in the days and weeks to come, but we call on you for your prayers and your well wishes, not just for the family, but for the entire Kalabari Kingdom. Hell truly be missed.

The deceased king is regarded as the longest-serving monarch in Rivers State and he is the father to the renowned Tonye Princewill, a politician, investor, and movie producer of national repute whose works have spread across Nollywood and beyond.

Huge Tragedy, Tears as Influential Monarch Passes On at 87

In another similar development, the Onidimu of Idimu Land, Oba Azeez Dada Aluko Olugoke passed on at the age of 87.

The Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, confirmed the death of the monarch on Sunday, May 14 through a statement.

The chairman of Egbe Idimu LCDA, Sanyaolu Olowoopejo, disclosed that Oba Olugoke died on Sunday, after a brief illness.

Source: Legit.ng
A man casts his ballot at a vote center in Bamako, capital of Mali, June 18, 2023.

The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali.

The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

BAMAKO, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali.

Vote centers in the country opened at 8:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) and around 8.4 million voters are expected cast their ballots.

According to observers, the vote began on time and is taking place under the close surveillance of security forces.

The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. 

A man casts his ballot at a vote center in Bamako, capital of Mali, June 18, 2023.

The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali.

The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

People gather in front of a vote center in Bamako, capital of Mali, June 18, 2023. The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali. The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

A woman casts her ballot at a vote center in Bamako, capital of Mali, June 18, 2023. The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali. The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

People are about to cast their ballots at a vote center in Bamako, capital of Mali, June 18, 2023. The vote for the constitutional referendum began Sunday morning in Mali. The provisional results are expected to be announced in 72 hours. Mali's presidential elections are scheduled for February 2024. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)
Amid the detention of suspended CBN boss Godwin Emefiele, the DSS says it has uncovered some plots to stage campaigns of calumny against the government

The DSS released a statement to this effect on Saturday, June 17, noting that such an attempt would not be allowed to hold

The statement also confirmed that Emefiele had been allowed to see his doctor and lawyer even before a court order

FCT, Abuja  The Department of State Security (DSS) has identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the Federal Government over the suspension and subsequent investigation of Mr Godwin Emefiele.

A statement issued on Saturday, June 17, by the spokesperson of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, says the groups intend to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos with placards depicting the Service and the Federal Government in a bad light as well as calling for the immediate release of Emefiele.

The DSS also confirmed that Mr. Emefiele has been granted access to see his family and lawyer. Photo Credit: DSS, CBN

Source: Facebook

The Service, therefore, warns those behind this plot to desist forthwith.

Meanwhile, the Service says it has granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials, and appropriate persons access to him right from the day he was taken in and obtained a court order to do so

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The Service implements Standards and Operating Procedures on Suspect Handling and Investigation professionally.

Emefiele had access to family, doctor, DSS claims

Meanwhile, the DSS also confirmed that Emefiele had seen his family and doctor even before the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama-Abuja, gave its directives about the situation.

The DSS said:

It is instructive to state that the Service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials, and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so.

DSS Discovered Stockpile of Cash in Emefieles Home? Fact Emerges

Meanwhile, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was taken into custody by Nigerias secret police, the Department of Security Service (SSS).

A few days later, a video was trending on some social media platforms, including WhatsApp, claiming that money was found in Emefieles house after his arrest.

Emefiele had been suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, June 9, 2023, sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office.

Source: Legit.ng
..Says vested interests planning street protests in Abuja, Lagos

Soni Daniel, Abuja

The Department of State Services warned on Saturday night it would not tolerate a campaign of calumny by vested interests over the suspension and detention of the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The secret agency claimed that it had already identified persons and groups planning to stage campaigns of calumny against it and the Government over the suspension and investigation of Mr Godwin Emefiele.

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It alleged that such groups intend to gather at different points in Abuja and Lagos in the coming week with placards depicting the Service and Government in bad light as well as calling for the immediate release of Emefiele.

in the statement signed by the DSS Spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the agency said that it was also aware of what it called a cheap propaganda aimed at demotivating and distracting it from professionally executing the onerous responsibilities assigned to it.

The DSS also said It had noted the misleading commentaries, speculative narratives, storylines and videos being circulated in the social media by uninformed parties, critics and/or desperadoes.

It also said it was mindful of orchestrations to infiltrate its fold for the purpose of using disloyal staff for subversive aims against its leadership. The DSS warned: While these efforts are considered as hatchet jobs designed to distract, the Service warns the plotters to desist forthwith from their plans. This is more so that the arrow heads are already under watch and will be apprehended when and if it becomes necessary.

It is instructive to state that the Service had granted the family of Emefiele, medical officials and appropriate persons access to him, right from the day he was taken in and long before the court order requesting so. The Service implements Standard Operating Procedures on Suspect Handling and Investigation to the latter. It conducts its affairs transparently, and professionally and respects the rule of law in compliance with democratic governance.

For the avoidance of doubt, it assures of its professionalism in the current matter(s) under its purview. It will, however, not be distracted or intimidated, it stated.
The Presidency yesterday congratulated the newly elected president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Eze Anaba.

Anaba, the editor of Vanguard newspaper, emerged president after an election which took place at the NGEs National Biennial Convention, in Owerri, Imo State.

He polled 250 votes to defeat Mr Bolaji Adebiyi of This Day newspaper who got 81 votes. The result was announced by chairperson of the election committee, Mrs Maimuna Garba.

Reacting to the election in a statement yesterday, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on special duties, communications and strategy, Mr Dele Alake, wished Anaba and the other newly elected officials of the guild a most fulfilling and productive tenure in office.

He said by the peaceful and rancor-free conduct of the elections, the NGE had sent a resounding message to the larger Nigerian polity that elections for desired offices can be intensely competed for without bitterness, acrimony and malice.

He conveyed the presidents commendation to those who lost in the elections at various levels for accepting the outcome and pledging support for the winners.

This is a light that the NGE is showing that the rest of us may find the way to a mature, tolerant, stable and sustainable democratic culture.

It is of the utmost importance that the various unions in the newspaper industry such as the NGE, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) imbibe the ethos of internal democracy in support of professional integrity for the benefit of good governance, stability and sustainability development in Nigeria.

The NGE has, in this regard, made a strong statement for the Nigerian media as a worthy exemplar. But then, elections are not held within the unions in our profession just for the sake of holding elections to appoint new officers of associational offices, he said.

He said President Tinubu had insisted that the challenges ahead of the media in playing its role towards strengthening the nations democracy, keeping power continually in check as well as promoting good, responsible and accountable governance are greater than the paths traversed before.

The president pledged the support of his administration for the media to achieve the lofty objectives in the best interest of the country.

Speaking after his election, Anaba thanked members of the guild for the confidence reposed in him and promised not to let them down.

He commended the outgoing president, Mustapha Isah, for his leadership attributes and for organising a successful election.

Iyabosa Uwugiaren emerged general secretary with 290 votes to beat the other contestant.

Similarly, Rivers State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara, applauded the emergence of Anaba.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, he commended the NGE members for electing Anaba whom he described as a seasoned journalist and professional with enormous experience.

The governor prayed that Anaba utilises his new position to promote social harmony and development in the country.

He charged editors to put the interest of the nation first in their information management by upholding the tenets of truth and fairness at all times in order to foster development for prosperity of the country.
The Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency change Service Chiefs especially in the wake of the renewed attack in Plateau State.

ACIPA said since mid April 2023, the Fulani militia has been terrorizing the Plateau Local Government Areas of Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and the communities of Jol and Kwi.

The systematic and well planned attacks in Mangu Local Government by militias on rampage against ethnic minorities across Northern Nigeria with particular reference to Christians is a grave concern to us, ACIPA said at the weekend in Jos during a press briefing.

The parley with journalists, chaired by its Chairman, Rev. Luka Shehu, recalls the annihilation and impunity against the Mwaghavul (Mangu), people which is still ongoing, saying that the failure of government under the administration of the former government led by Simon Lalong gave the Fulani militias a lee way to kill the Plateau people.

ACIPA also indicted the Special Military Task Force in the State for negligence.

In view of this, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency immediately replace all Service Chiefs and redeploy all Commanders with a possible probe into their operational activities, Shehu said.

He continued: Over 40 communities have been destroyed or attacked from Mai Katako, Kantoma, Mangu Halle, Panyam and Pushit amongst others.

These attacks are simply a well planned and carefully orchestrated genocide against the peace loving Indigenous people.

We are giving the security operatives through the federal government an ultimatum to dislodge and arrest these militias. Government cannot claim ignorance concerning intelligence about their operations and locations.

We call on the federal government, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), to ensure compensation and resettlement of all those affected not only in Mangu Local government alone but those who have been affected from Bassa, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government over the period.

It is evident that the APC government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, sacrificed professionalism and accountability of our Armed forces and security organisations to cronyism, nepotism and religious bigotry and or sentiments.

We also call on the federal government and the legislatures of the 10th Assembly to as a matter of urgency salvage our states of the menace of insecurity.

We call on them to promote the rule of law and true federalism. To also abrogate the items on the exclusive list with particular reference to state policing and mining amongst others to the concurrent lists items to enable state governors to secure their states as against the current failure under federal control which is contrary to true federalism, ACIPA requests.
A 14-year old boy who was arrested for sleeping with his three younger sisters aged 10, 5 and 2, has opened up that his step mother knew that he was sleeping with the victims in their home in Oshodi area of Lagos where they reside.

Police have arrested the step mum, Mrs. Ihuoma Okey, and charged her to court.

It was gathered that the boys mother got separated from the father before the father got married to the step mother and they had the victims.

The boy reportedly did not see the victims as his blood sisters and so started sleeping with them and deflowered them. The matter was exposed when the eldest among the sisters discovered that after the boy had slept with her, he had also slept with her two younger sisters.

She took the matter to their mother who reported the assault to the police.

The matter was transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command and the boy was arrested. At the Command, he then implicated the step mother saying that she was aware.

Both the step mother and the boy were charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for different offences.

The prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emerhi, asked the court for order to send the file to DPP for advice.

Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, ordered the boy to be remanded in prison custody without an option of fine. The court directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send to DPP for advice.

The matter was adjourned till 8th April, 2019, for the report of the DPP.

PM Express gathered that the step mother knew about the assault but she decided to cover it up in order to protect the victims and the family.

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The Lagos State Task Force on Sunday said it had impounded 4,500 motorcycles (okada) from riders, who had defaulted the states traffic law.

It added that the task force was awaiting the directives of Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on whether to destroy them or not.

The Head, Public Affairs Unit of the agency, Mr Taofik Adebayo, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, also confirmed that some northerners who recently migrated to Lagos in a trailer have been freed.

We have no less than 4,500 impounded bikes awaiting to be crushed but at present, we are awaiting the Lagos State Governments directives with the ones we have now.

We are not relenting and we will continue to impound motorcycles that default as we come by them, he said.

The officer said that Lagos State being the economic hub of the country, had been attracting people from across the country.

Adebayo noted that this forced them to migrate to Lagos and take to the motorcycle transportation which they considered as one of the easiest businesses for them.

Earlier in the month, we intercepted no fewer than 44 people with their bikes in an articulated vehicle coming from the northern part of the country into Lagos.

He added that the task force had to release them because they had proper identification.

However, there are so many illegal motorcyclists that had slipped our inspection and scrutiny into the metropolitan city through routes that are used to smuggle goods.

This tells you that bikes still come into the state in their hundreds in spite of arrests made by law enforcement agencies.

The influx of these displaced people is what is bringing an increase in the okada business in Lagos, he said.

Adebayo said that the laws regarding motorcycle riding in the state were not punitive in nature but corrective in order to reduce the high incidence of accidents related to motorcycle riding.

The government did not totally ban okada but instead, restricted their activities to the inner streets of the city with a code of conduct to follow while operating within the specified streets.

For instance, a rider is not supposed to ride without a helmet, the rider must be above 18 years, the rider must not carry anybody less than 12 years old, the rider cannot carry a woman that has a baby strapped to her back and cannot carry a pregnant woman.

These are the laws that guide the operations of okada riders in the state in order to reduce okada related accidents.

We usually carry out the raids at the early hours of the day or very late at night to catch unsuspecting hoodlums when they are at their most vulnerable state.

During such period, there is no room to start screening and separating the innocent from the guilty but afterwards, the screening takes place and those with valid forms of identification are set free, he said.
By our count, 14 restaurants, two taverns and four coffee shops are currently under construction or planned for Bloomington-Normal, plus a popcorn shop in Lexington, for a grand total of 21 new food places that will be arriving on the scene. I am not sure if food places is a professional term, but it serves my purpose when lumping together any food-related establishments including, of course, restaurants, taverns, bakeries, catering, grocery stores, popcorn shops and others.

Then, if we add the 10 restaurants that already have opened this year to the 21 planned or under construction, 31 additional food places will make 2023 an interesting year for the local restaurant scene.

Anticipating, then enjoying, new food places as they open in B-N always has been very exciting for Kay and me, so the additional 31 food places this year will keep us on the move.

I am not sure which above number surprises me more  the 14 additional restaurants or four coffee shops. I am a McDonalds drive-thru coffee drinker, so the number of specialty coffee shops in the Twin Cities continues to surprise me, and we have four more coming. Also, the prices of my granddaughters specialty coffees in these specialty coffee shops  very surprising.

From Larry's notebook

Kickapoo Tearoom and Boutique (Downs)  Co-owners Lisa Sorensen and Denise Pitzer recently opened a tearoom in the former Downs United Methodist Church in downtown Downs that they describe as upscale casual with an elegant setting and the menu as having a French flair. The tearoom is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday.

 Co-owners Lisa Sorensen and Denise Pitzer recently opened a tearoom in the former Downs United Methodist Church in downtown Downs that they describe as upscale casual with an elegant setting and the menu as having a French flair. The tearoom is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday. Pizza Payaa  A nine-person video production company from Minnesota and three Grande Cheese Co. executives recently came to Pizza Payaa in Bloomington to interview owner Adam Elpayaa for a Featured Pizza Operator video being produced for the Grande Cheese Operator Showcase. It took two days to shoot the video that will be featured on the Grande Cheese website.

 A nine-person video production company from Minnesota and three Grande Cheese Co. executives recently came to Pizza Payaa in Bloomington to interview owner Adam Elpayaa for a Featured Pizza Operator video being produced for the Grande Cheese Operator Showcase. It took two days to shoot the video that will be featured on the Grande Cheese website. The Eatery at Crafted  Featuring brunch sandwiches, The Eatery recently opened in the former Pokeworks restaurant in the Crafted Commons at 1101 Airport Road. Nick Birky, general manager/executive chef, designed the menu that he describes as egg-focused, with each sandwich having an egg. The restaurant has inside and outside dining and the brunch menu is available for breakfast and lunch. A different, smaller sandwich menu is available for dinner.

 Featuring brunch sandwiches, The Eatery recently opened in the former Pokeworks restaurant in the Crafted Commons at 1101 Airport Road. Nick Birky, general manager/executive chef, designed the menu that he describes as egg-focused, with each sandwich having an egg. The restaurant has inside and outside dining and the brunch menu is available for breakfast and lunch. A different, smaller sandwich menu is available for dinner. BloNo Pizza Co.  Owner Brett Matthews has gutted the former All Season Pro Shop in the upper level of BloNo Pizza Co. and will be converting it to an amusement center featuring duckpin bowling. The center will have a large bar, 14 TVs, various amusement games and 10 duckpin bowling lanes. Two lanes will be in a rentable private room. He plans to open by the upcoming holiday season.

Owner Brett Matthews has gutted the former All Season Pro Shop in the upper level of BloNo Pizza Co. and will be converting it to an amusement center featuring duckpin bowling. The center will have a large bar, 14 TVs, various amusement games and 10 duckpin bowling lanes. Two lanes will be in a rentable private room. He plans to open by the upcoming holiday season. Taverna  A full-service, upscale-casual Mediterranean restaurant has been announced for the former PNC bank location in front of Sams Club at 2001 Shepard Road. Apparently, it will be similar to a Chicago Greektown restaurant, and the plan is to open this fall.

 A full-service, upscale-casual Mediterranean restaurant has been announced for the former PNC bank location in front of Sams Club at 2001 Shepard Road. Apparently, it will be similar to a Chicago Greektown restaurant, and the plan is to open this fall. Common Grounds Cafe & Pie Shop (Gridley)  Owners Katrina and Kyle Reinhard have completed a large addition/remodeling that quadrupled the size of the kitchen/baking area and doubled the seating of the restaurant they opened in 2019 on US Route 24.
BLOOMINGTON  Carle BroMenn Medical Center celebrated this years graduates of its residency programs on Thursday night at the Bloomington Country Club. Graduates included Drs. Colby Carr and Joshua Pittman in family medicine and Drs. Ryan Johnson and Torin Karsonovich in neurological surgery.

Carle has retained two of this years graduates: Carr will join the Carle El Paso Family Medicine clinic and Johnson will be practicing at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Karsonovich will head to fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at UT Southwestern in Dallas and Pittman in will be practicing family medicine in Phoenix.

New physicians enter specialized residency training after completing medical school and before beginning independent medical practice. The family medicine residency at Carle BroMenn is a three-year program and the neurological surgery residency is a seven-year program.

Check out photos from Carle BroMenn's Derby Fundraiser Dr. James Leonard, president/CEO of the Carle Foundation, Colleen Kannaday, president of Carle BroMenn Medical Center and Carle Eureka Hospital Shelleigh Birlingmair Annie Holdren, Kathleen Shirk, Kimberly Thompson Linda Shirk, Trish Kallembach Larry Kallembach, Jim Shirk Aaron Trager, Kendall Held, Randal Dimmete, Meg Traeger Champagne and roses Brett and Ellen Haas, Brenda Knoll Carol Morris, Maureen Lyons Kim and Colleen Kannaday Shelleigh and Kevin Birlingmair Dr. Nona Fulk, Dr. Andrea Kane, Dr. Sherri Thornton Rebert and Antoinette Harris Scott Woodward, Kendal Farmer Lori Laughlin, Heather Young, Shari Buckellew Dennis and Cathy Wentworth, Diane Andes-Finney, Roger Finney Dr. Napoleon Knight, Nancy Willamon Aja and Chase Simpson Danielle Kayl, Nikki and Jared Hall Ketti and John Carter Cheryl Magnuson, Courtney Zell Heather and Bryce Miller, Uma Balakrishnan Beth and Katy Whisman Carter Billingsley, Marie Casteel, Jaime Morris Enjoying the evening Cathy Haas, Susan Bandy Stan Glazier, Joan Stralow, Mary Bennett-Henrichs, Scott Henrichs Dana Altenburger, Aianna Zachary Jon and Libby Aubry Kim Schoenbein, Tracy Patkunas, Kate Burcham Program Sue Seibring, Tracey Vincent
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

June 18, 1923: Wesley Snavely, of Tremont, was instantly killed when the automobile in which he was riding turned over along the highway a quarter of a mile south of the village of Tremont. A swarm of bees in the pathway of the machine caused driver Eddie Suchert to lose control. Three passengers were injured to varying degrees.

75 years ago

June 18, 1948: Mr. and Mrs. John O. King, 705 E. Olive St., received word of the birth of triplets, two girls and one boy, to their daughter and son-in-law, Chief and Mrs. Arthur Guengerich of Honolulu, Hawaii. The triplets, each weighing 4 pounds, were born early June 17. Mrs. Guengerich has been in Honolulu since March, when she joined her husband, who is stationed with the United States Navy there.

50 years ago

June 18, 1973: Annual Twin City summer playground programs opened today at all six locations in Normal and at 10 of 12 sites in Bloomington. Students may register at playgrounds nearest homes during program hours.

25 years ago

June 18, 1998: A decision by federal regulators to reduce funding for school internet hookups will cost Twin City taxpayers $875,000, officials said. Unit 5 and District 87 had expected to be reimbursed that amount from the federal government for modernizing their computer systems. Instead, funds they sought are now targeted for poor schools. The districts plan to proceed but use reserve funds to complete the work.

101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup'
TEHRAN, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday strongly condemned a deadly "terrorist" attack on a secondary school in southwestern Uganda that killed at least 41 people.

Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, reacting to the attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels on Lhubirira Secondary School on Friday night in Mpondwe, about 2 km from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in which at least 37 students, a security guard and three people of the local community were killed.

He described the "heinous act of terror" in Uganda as a cause of concern, noting that the "brutal" attack once against proved that terrorism and extremism are two overreaching threats to the international community, the fight against which requires cooperation among and responsible efforts by the global community and related international assemblies.

Expressing his sympathy to the families of those killed and injured in the attack, Kanaani hoped that through a "serious and effective" fight against extremism and terrorism, peace and stability would be ensured across the world, in particular in Africa.

The rebels, according to the military, burnt a school dormitory and also looted a food store. Among the victims, at least 17 students were burnt to death.

The militants abducted six students and forced them to carry the food, Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua by phone.

The ADF, which is a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is a Ugandan rebel group that is holed up in the jungles of eastern DRC. The rebel group is blamed for causing havoc in villages in eastern DRC. 
May 19, 1945 - June 15, 2023

LE ROY  Mervin Gene Peters, 78, of Le Roy, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Martin Health Center in Bloomington.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2023, with a visitation from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington. Service arrangements provided by Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home LeRoy.

Merv was born on May 19, 1945, in Champaign, IL, son of Herman and Antke (Huls) Peters. He married the love of his life Brenda J. Wood on December 3, 1983, and they welcomed their daughter, Sarah, in 1985. He accomplished much in life, but his family was always his greatest pride and joy.

Merv was a force of nature. He graduated from Paxton High School in 1963 following a decorated FFA career. After completing his BA (67), MS (70) and PhD (78) at the University of Illinois he was a superintendent of schools for nine years before leaving to farm full-time. Over the course of the next 50 years he farmed extensively across central Illinois, raised livestock, bought and sold farmland as a real estate broker, started a crop insurance business, and mentored countless young farmers. He lived his life with a strong moral compass and was always willing to help those in need.

He was an avid outdoorsman and poker player. He loved to fish and hunt, and his travels took him to Canada yearly, western Illinois, up to North Dakota and all the way to Argentina to hunt and fish with good friends and family. He and Brenda also travelled extensively and shared a love of the time they spent together in the Pacific Northwest. He was an innovator in every aspect of his life and was a man you were not likely to forget. He had a reason for everything he did and always tried to do the right thing, no matter the cost.

Merv was raised in the Lutheran Church but followed his daughter in converting to Catholicism later in life. He was devout in his beliefs and always quick to remind those closest to him of actions that may need to be confessed.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; and his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Nelson Hevner, and their two children, Norah and Emmett, all of LeRoy. Two sisters: Marless Swan, Paxton, and Melvina Heap, Rantoul. Two stepchildren: Rob Wood and LeAnne (Craig) Tomera, and their six children. A niece, nephews, and countless other beloved friends and family members.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law; aunts, uncles, and numerous dear friends.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington, IL.
Nearly 60 years ago, Congress took a bold, bipartisan step to expand civil rights protections across America.

The work that went into establishing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 set the stage for many of the advances in equity that followed: voting rights, fair housing, equal participation in sports, accommodations for those with disabilities, and much more  with, most will agree, work still to do.

While that first step is seen as a triumph of Lyndon Johnsons presidency, its on the lawbooks thanks to a seemingly unlikely source: a conservative Republican from a mostly white downstate Illinois town.

How did Sen. Everett Dirksen become invaluable to the cause of equality?

As they had twice in the last decade, southern senators were prepared to filibuster far-reaching civil rights legislation when it was up for debate in 1964. Though public opinion was for it thanks to the actions of advocates like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reformers needed superminority Republicans to get the 67 votes then needed to break the logjam.

Enter Dirksen, the GOP leader from Pekin who had a reputation for amending bills enough to win cross-party support. For four months he worked behind the scenes to craft a successful measure.

Dirksens amendments werent meant to gut the bill. His strategy was simple: "First, to get a bill; second, to get an acceptable bill; third, to get a workable bill; and, finally, to get an equitable bill."

Based partly on his religious upbringing and his experience as the child of immigrants, he believed everyone deserved the same fair shot his parents got arriving on these shores. From his work on the District of Columbia Committee in Congress, Dirksen also had a sense of the everyday indignities Black people experienced in the nations capital, a southern city.

So hed previously backed scores of civil rights bills: anti-lynching measures, attempts to eliminate the poll tax, support for integrated schools. He even fought to add federal funding to train Black pilots as World War II loomed. Hed been frustrated when the few civil right bills that passed had been watered down.

It was a moral question to Dirksen, who called moral force  the motive power of human progress.

While GOP moderates already supported civil rights, he knew he needed backing from conservative Republicans, mostly in the Midwest. Like Dirksen, they worried about federal interference in private business. How to avoid that, but keep alive the heart of the bill dealing with ensuring Black Americans werent blocked from patronizing hotels or restaurants and were guaranteed fair hiring practices?

He managed it by first giving state or local authorities a chance to act against reports of discrimination, guaranteeing that their failure to step in would mean the feds could bring down the hammer. That likely also made it easier to show a pattern and practice of behavior to make for a slam-dunk case.

That and about 140 other tweaks and changes from Dirksen were enough to win the day and prove the power and importance of bipartisan engagement. When your countrys in trouble, what difference does it make whether youre a Democrat or a Republican? You do what you can to meet the problem, he told one interviewer days before passing the bill on a vote of 73-27 on June 19, 1964.

That display of bipartisanship, so rare today, deserves to be remembered as America continues to plow what Dirksen called the long, hard furrow toward equality.
Prempeh College at colourful event on Saturday, 17th June, 2023 at the school premises named a dormitory block after Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

The honour, according to the school authorities, was in recognition of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, an alumnus of the school, outstanding contribution towards transforming the face of the school.

Dr. Prempeh shared the prestige of the day with his paternal grand-uncle and mentor, former President J.A Kufuor, also an "an amanfo" who had the biggest auditorium of the school named after him; the J.A. Kufuor Auditorium.

The former President's honour was also in recognition of his outstanding leadership and making Prempeh College earn the accolade - the Presidential school.



In a keynote address, Konongohene, Dr. Nana Awuah Abedimasa II, a member of the schools Interim Management Committee that worked until 10th May, 2023, recounted the immeasurable support the school has and continues to receive from Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

Prempeh College is so personal to him and he never gets tired of us. In our difficult moments, he always pulls through for us. It was a no brainer, deciding to honour him this way.

Nana Abedimasa said these honors to former President and his grand nephew who happens to be the Energy Minister are to serve as an inspiration to the society and in the spirit of moving away from "old age" practice of recognizing people only when they are dead.



Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has done tremendously well and for me, there are no questions conferring this life time honour on him, he said.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh expressed his delight for the honor done him, stating it is humbimg to find his modest contributions have been recognized.



I want to reiterate my firm belief in making an impact in the society I find myself. Afterall that is the essence of leadership; to be able to positively affect lives



For me, everything I have done and continue to do for Prempeh College is also in honour of my grandfather, Otumfuo Nana Sir Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II whose true intention for establishing the college was to promote education not only in the Asante Kingdom but the entire country. I cannot depart from this sacred duty Dr. Prempeh remarked.



The Manhyia South law maker advised the students to place premium on their academic work, stressing it is the key to realizing their dreams and becoming better leaders in future.



The ceremony also witnessed the naming of another dormitory block "Arthur Clarke House" after former headmaster of the school who headed the institution from 1961 to 1963, Mr. Arthur Clarke.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Gilbert Asemuasa, a 24-year-old commercial motorbike rider at Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region, has been sentenced to two years in jail by the District Court for circulating his former fiances private video on social media.



The convict was charged with the offence of non-consensual sharing of intimate image contrary to Section 67 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) which states that;



Section 67  Non-consensual sharing of intimate image



(1) A person shall not, with intent to, cause serious emotional distress, intentionally distribute or intentionally cause another person to distribute the intimate image or prohibited visual recording of another identifiable person without the consent of the person depicted in the intimate image and in respect of which, there was a reasonable expectation of privacy both at the time of the creation of the image or visual recording and at the time the offence was committed.



(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than three years.



(3) For the purpose of this section, "serious emotional distress" includes any intentional conduct that results in mental reactions such as fright, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, mortification, shock, humiliation and indignity, as well as physical pain.



Police prosecutor Chief Inspector Joseph Ajongbah, briefing the court during an appearance on June 2, said three years ago, the convict was in a relationship with a 20-year-old female past student of the Caring Sister Vocational Institute in Keta, and that, in January 2019 in the night, the complainant visited the convict in his house and they engaged in sexual intercourse.



He said the complainant informed the convict of experiencing some rashes on her genitalia and the convict used his phone's light to check but also recorded the area without the knowledge of the complainant.



Chief Inspector Ajongba narrated that the convict had cautioned the complainant not to quit the relationship, and that failure to comply would compel him to teach her some lessons.



He further said the complainant later called for an end to the relationship after a misunderstanding had ensued between them.



Chief Inspector Ajongbah continued that the complainant rejected all the persuasive approaches used by the convict to lure her back. The complainant later received a call from an unknown number threatening to expose her nakedness.



He told the court presided over by Mrs Felicia Gandedzi that after realising it was the convict, who was threatening her, she reported the issue to the convicts brother but nothing was done about it.



The convict was later arrested after a formal complaint was lodged by the complainant with the Police at Akatsi, where the convict, during interrogations, admitted having taken the video but denied sharing it on social media.



However, after investigations, the convict was charged and arraigned. He was later convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment in hard labour after admitting to the offence.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has 'declared' defeat for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 elections.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' Charles Owusu said the NDC's flagbearer, Former President John Mahama has not brought anything new to the 'table' so far to convince Ghanaians that he's an alternative.



"What message has the NDC brought so far that they expect to win the 2024 election? They don't have anything to say. All former President John Mahama is doing is criticizing the ruling government but what different message is he bringing? If he's bringing something different, he should tell us but as we speak, he's said nothing. Until he tells us something new that we know will help the nation, he'll lose the upcoming election. If we want an alternative from the ruling government, it's not (former) President Mahama" he declared.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has blasted former EC boss, Afari Gyan over his recent comment on collation centres.



The former Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, reportedly described collation centers as the most vulnerable point For election manipulation.



According to him, this is because of the dependence on technology in the tabulation of election results.



He made this known at a forum commemorating the 60th anniversary of the political science department at the University of Ghana.



However, Charles Owusu disagrees.



"Since when did he (Afari Gyan) realize this? We've passed this stage. During elections, copies are given and even pasted on the wall at the various collation centres so what is he talking about??? He should come again. I don't think we should tolerate this. This is not something we should be talking about; we don't want to go back" he said on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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People try to protect themselves from the sun in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 12, 2023.

Roberto de Jesus, a day laborer, stands beside the cathedral in Mexico City sweating a river as he waits for work, while homemaker Wendy Tijerina tries in vain to keep her food from spoiling.

The latest blast of a heat wave that has killed eight people in Mexico is making life very difficult for millions of people.

De Jesus, a 50 year old construction worker, positions himself beside the Metropolitan Cathedral in the capital city, which saw a record temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) this week.

He is braving the third heat wave to hit Mexico this year, and forecasters say the latest blazing temperatures could last another two weeks.

It is noon and the streets and buildings of the sprawling, crowded metropolis are positively roasting. There are people everywhere, cars and smog everywhere, in what makes for a suffocating atmosphere.

"The heat hits really hard, it really affects you. While waiting for work it even makes you sleepy," said De Jesus.

He stands outside the cathedral up to nine hours a day hoping someone hires him for the day. The worst part is if the gig is outdoors. "We suffocate," he said.

But it is not just work that becomes challenging in these conditions. Eating from food stalls in the streeta time-honored Mexican custombecomes risky because the heat is spoiling the food.

De Jesus got a taste of this recently and missed three days of work. "I got sick in the stomach from tacos I ate in the street," he said.

'It makes us dizzy'-

And the taco stand vendors put up with another source of heatthe grills and stoves they have to man.

"The heat is horrible," said Javier Ramos, 30, who prepares tacos on a major thoroughfare in downtown Mexico City, putting in 15 hour days.

A heat wave in Mexico has claimed eight lives since April.

"You have to stay hydrated all day," said Ramos.

He said it is tricky to keep the meat and vegetables, which he keeps in ice chests, from spoiling as the temperatures soar.

Also near the cathedral, Natividad Flores, a 40 year old vendor selling homemade clothing, said "we are seeing the consequences of global warming."

Flores wears gloves, a broad hat and sun-block lotion, and drinks a lot of water as she tries to sell clothing she describes as light and airyand just right for this kind of weather.

"It makes us dizzy, all this sun," she said.

Homes lack water

The government says seven people have died in various cities from heat stroke, and one from dehydration, from April 14 to June 12.

In the northeastern city of Monterrey, the temperature surpassed 40Celsius.

The city endured a historic drought last year and is now grappling with low water pressure in homes, while constant use of air conditioners has sapped the electrical grid and caused blackouts.

Tijerina, who lives in the nearby town of Apodaca, said the heat there is even worse because it is an industrial area. "The thermal sensation is stronger," she said, and because of water shortages she cannot bathe her kids. She said people cannot even turn on a fan because of the electricity cuts.

She says her refrigerator cannot compete with the heat as it tries to keep food edible.

"We are going to get an ice chest for medicine that requires medication and for food that is somewhat fragile," Tijerina said.

The state government of Nuevo Leon, which includes Monterrey, has ordered that kids go to class in person only two hours a day so as to keep them out of the sun.

 2023 AFP
GLENS FALLS  The Glens Falls teacher who the school district unsuccessfully attempted to fire in 2013 because of alleged inappropriate behavior around female students is still on the districts payroll a decade later  despite not being assigned to a regular classroom.

Since the 2014-2015 school year, Kennon Engelmann has been assigned as a social studies teacher at Sanford Street School, according to employment records obtained by The Post-Star through a Freedom of Information Law request.

The Sanford Street School was one of Glens Falls elementary schools until it closed in 2011.

Since then, the district has leased space to the Washington-Hamilton-Warren-Saratoga-Essex BOCES and used it as temporary office space during construction projects. It is also used as a polling location.

An employee at the Sanford Street School told The Post-Star that BOCES is continuing to use the entire space for its special education programs.

A recent presentation by a consultant said that the building would need significant upgrades if it were to reopen as a district elementary school. This included installing new interior doors and walls, adding new lighting, making the building handicapped accessible and installing a new computer network and wireless system and communications system.

District officials would not comment about duties Engelmann is assigned at the school. Engelmann is not listed on the districts staff directory on its website nor are there any results when a search of his name is conducted.

Engelmann has earned about $646,000 in salary from the start of the 2013 school year through 2021-2022, according to district payroll records. He has been a teacher for about 25 years and earned $93,073 in 2022, according to SeeThroughNY.

Legal case

The Glens Falls City School District had tried to terminate Engelmann after he was charged in January 2013 with the non-criminal violation of second-degree harassment for alleged inappropriate contact with a student on Dec. 12, 2012. At the time, he was a social studies teacher at the high school. The district had claimed that he smacked a 17-year-old girls buttocks with a school paper and said dance for me in a classroom.

Engelmann was ultimately acquitted in August 2013 in Glens Falls City Court. The judge cited insufficient evidence. The girl who was allegedly touched refused to take part in the trial, but two students who claimed to have witnessed the incident did testify, according to Post-Star archives.

District officials said at the time that he would still be working for the district but assigned to duties outside the classroom. A FOIL request seeking information about his assignment each year from 2012 through 2023 had nothing listed for 2013-2014.

Harassment charge dismissed against GF teacher GLENS FALLS -- A Glens Falls High School teacher who was accused of inappropriate contact with a student was acquitted of a harassment charge 

School officials had sought to terminate Engelmann, claiming there were other incidents of inappropriate behavior. Because he has tenure, the district had to go through a formal arbitration process with the state.

The arbitrator ruled that Engelmann be docked three months pay and be returned to the classroom.

The district appealed the decision by filing a lawsuit in state Supreme Court, saying the punishment was too light, unreasonable and that Engelmann had broken trust.

District officials also say Engelmann had been warned about his behavior in a 2009 memo, according to the filing. In November 2012, the district claimed that a 14-year-old girl commented favorably on a photo of Engelmanns young daughter and he allegedly replied: I have good baby-making genes. Remember that.

The following month, he was accused of asking a girl how old she was by using his hands to make the number. When she told him her age, he told her to text him when she was 20  again using his hands to indicate the number  and licked his lips in a sexually suggestive manner, according to the complaint.

Engelmann has denied the actions.

Case resolution under wraps

The outcome of the districts appeal is unclear because the court file was sealed in July 2013.

The Post-Star filed a formal request with the clerks office for state Supreme Court of Warren County asking that the file be unsealed.

In response, it received a copy of a July 16, 2013 order from Judge Robert Muller that directed Engelmann to appear for a hearing on Aug. 9 to determine why the district should not be entitled to an order vacating and reversing those portions of the Hearing Officers decision which (1) found the Respondent not guilty of the charges of Sexual Harassment and Immoral Conduct as being arbitrary and capricious against the weight of the evidence; (2) imposed a penalty of a fine rather than termination as being shocking and outrageous in its leniency, arbitrary and capricious, not supported by the substantial evidence; and a violation of public policy; (3) required the District to return Respondent to the classroom as exceeding the authority of the Hearing Officer and (4) remitting the matter back to the hearing for imposition to require the termination of Respondents employment with the Glens Falls City School District and for such other and further relief as to the Court seems just and proper.

Muller granted a stay of the hearing officers decision to reinstate Engelmann immediately and said All papers in this matter shall be filed under seal to protect the confidentiality of the parties.

Muller also ordered that a copy of the order be delivered to Engelmann on or before July 22, 2013, and the districts counsel by Aug. 6. It also ordered that any reply from the district should be delivered before Aug. 8, 2013.

There are no additional publicly accessible documents in this case.

The Post-Star had filed a Freedom of Information Law request seeking copies of any documents related to the employment of Kennon Engelmann including employment agreements, contracts, definitions of job responsibilities and settlement agreements.

District officials replied that they do not have any employment agreements, contracts, or job responsibilities or settlement agreements for Kennon Engelmann.

Sealing called unusual

Kristin ONeill, assistant director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, said the sealing of a civil case file sounded unusual to her.

You see it more on the criminal side. There are situations where I think cases are sealed on the civil side. Its much less common, she said. I cant say for sure.

Settlement agreements between parties often include language in which both parties agree not to discuss the terms of the settlement. However, those agreements are subject to Freedom of Information Law requests.

Just because the parties agree it shouldnt be disclosed is not enough to trump FOIL, she said.

Public records

Public records indicate Engelmann has had financial difficulties, which he wrote in filings were exacerbated the school district woes including a $21,500 financial penalty for the suspension that he had to pay through wage garnishment from his check and legal expenses. He paid off $23,297 in 2021 to resolve a 2017 judgment against him in state Supreme Court of Saratoga County concerning unpaid legal bills.

In December 2017, Engelmann was charged in Malta Town Court with second-degree harassment after he grabbed the hair of a 13-year-old girl and placed his forearm against her neck, causing her breathing to be restrained, according to court documents.

Engelmann ultimately paid a $325 fine in that case.

On July 26, 2021, he filed paperwork at the Saratoga County Clerks Office to do business as Kens Taxi.

District declines comment

Glens Falls City School District spokesperson Skye Heritage said the district had no comment when asked in an email about Engelmanns work assignment at Sanford Street School, including how many students he is assigned to teach, what grade levels and the exact nature of his duties.

Heritage also did not respond to a follow-up email seeking comment on if the district is using Sanford Street School for any of its own academic programs.

Glens Falls Teachers Association President Brandon Lis also declined comment, referring all questions to the district.

A phone number for Engelmann was not available. He did not return a Facebook message seeking comment. An attempt to reach him through a letter at his home also was not successful.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  Transportation groups called on the government to remove the limits on the number of motorcycle taxis allowed to operate in the country.

Motorcycle taxi operations in the Philippines have been in pilot testing since June 2019. Only Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It have been allowed to operate under this phase.

A cap of 15,000 slots in Metro Manila, and 9,000 slots in Cebu and Cagayan De Oro was set for each of the three ride-hailing firms -- though Angkas has exceeded this, having about 20,000 riders in the National Capital Region.

Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente convenor Louie Montemar urged the government to remove the cap to improve public transportation.

"Ito ay upang matiyak ang mas magandang karanasan sa pampublikong pagbibiyahe, Montemar said, noting that no such limits are being enforced in other countries.

[Translation: This is to ensure a better public transportation experience.]

According to CitizenWatch convenor Atty. Kit Belmonte, the shortage of transport options has resulted in the proliferation of illegal habal-habals (motorcycle taxis), which are being patronized by desperate commuters.

Because they are unregulated, the drivers of habal-habal do not have proper training and they do not have accident insurance, he added.

Transport groups earlier estimated that there were about 200,000 habal-habal operators in Metro Manila.

Citing the recommendation of the Philippine Competition Commission, Passenger Forum convenor Primo Morillo said that the removal of the cap would lead to better commuter experience.

The removal of limits for operating MTs [motorcycle taxis] will truly help commuters, riders, and even the government. We do not have to wait for the passage of the MT law to remove the cap as the TWG [Technical Working Group] can do it now, Morillo said, referring to the Department of Transportation's group tasked with studying motorcycle taxi services.
ATLANTIC CITY  New York Avenue in the 1960s and 70s was viewed as a thriving oasis for the LGBTQ community.

The city featured at least 10 gay bars, including the West Side Bar and Brass Rail.

Today the city has a plethora of attractions, including restaurants and casinos  but no gay bars.

Its kind of sad, said Jordan Wooding, a 34-year-old city native. There used to be the West Side Bar, the Pro Bar in Resorts ... the Rainbow Room was another hole in the wall. If we at least had one location in the city, that would be cool. A lot of us go out.

As acceptance of the community has increased over time, so have the number of places they feel safe.

Theres no question that the increased acceptance or perceived acceptance of the LGBTQ lifestyle and LGBTQ people have led to the disappearance of the bars as well, because people will argue, especially younger people, that they can go to a regular bar, said Laurie Greene, an LGBTQ activist and author of the book Drag Queens and Beauty Queens: Contesting Femininity in the Worlds Playground. But thats not necessarily true for queer people of color, especially gender non-conforming people. They dont feel safe in straight bars the way that straight white men do. So that creates a real void.

In Atlantic City, there were 15 to 20 bars in and around New York Avenue dating to the 1950s, although it was illegal to operate a gay bar or serve gay people, Greene said.

In the 50s and 60s, bar owners could have their establishments shut down by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control if they served homosexuals, said John Schultz, a former Atlantic City councilman. That was the case for Vals Bar on New York Avenue.

It wasnt until 1967 that Vals and a New Brunswick-based company, One Eleven Wines and Liquors Inc., fought against their shutdowns and won their New Jersey Supreme Court case against the ABC.

And that was about a year or two before Stonewall, added Schultz, referring to the 1969 riots in New York surrounding the police raid of a gay bar.

More recently, in the 1980s there were more than 1,000 gay bars in the country. Now theres less than 200 and I think something like 18 female bars in the entire country, Greene said.

Schultz said dating apps like Tinder and Grindr have diminished the need for LGBTQ bars. He and his husband, Gary Hill, owned several gay bars and real estate properties in Atlantic City in the 1970s. Some of those included the Brass Rail on Mount Vernon Avenue, Studio 5 Disco on South Kentucky Avenue and Studio Six.

Technically why theres no gay bar in Atlantic City is because the only places with gay bars now are in major cities like San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia  they all have gay bars. And then most of the gay bars are a mixture between straight and gay, said Schultz. And so as the Grindr and then the gay dating sites came, these young kids, they dont need to go to a bar, you know? I mean, in those days, you read where to go in the newspaper.

Even as acceptance has grown, some still dont feel comfortable going to many city establishments.

Jeremy Kelly, of Atlantic City, will go to any bar or restaurant in the city to have a good time, but his friend, Jessie Cherlin, who is Black, said he doesnt feel like hes allowed to be himself when he goes to places that arent his usual safe spots.

Im 6 foot tall, but Im 6-foot-9 in heels, Cherlin said. I feel like Im just being stared at or laughed at.

AtlantiCare highlights health equity efforts at DEI summit ATLANTIC CITY  With the past several years bringing health inequities to the forefront, the

Cherlin and Kelly both like going to places like Rhythm and Spirits on Tennessee Avenue, the Anchor Rock Club and the former Bourre on New York Avenue. They also said they go to the AC Pride monthly mixers to meet others in the community.

Id throw us in as allies, said Greg Mungan, production manager for Anchor Rock Club. Having diverse programming is important to us, including pride programming. Were always interested in making it a comfortable setting for people of all walks of life to come out, including folks in the queer community.

Mungan said Anchor Rock Club would still be doing all-inclusive events regardless of being the site of the former Chez Paree Night Club. He was honored to occupy the same space as what was a central location for what was a gay neighborhood from the 60s to the 80s.

Its definitely been very helpful for us to connect the dots with the pride/queer community because we occupy the same space, a natural inclination for people that used to go there, on the lookout for their space more, said Mungan, who has hosted events with Wooding for his monthly drag cabarets, AC Pride and other organizations. Its important for us to be an ally and celebrate what is clearly a rich tradition in Atlantic City.

Judah Dorrington, the citys LGBTQ+ liaison, said it was important to have different kinds of safe places that facilitate empowerment and entrepreneurship, in addition to providing information, resources and programs for the community.

Yeah, we need a gay bar, but what were also interested in is safety, health, enhancing LGBTQ+ wealth, said Dorrington. There are more gay spaces  non-alcoholic or sober spaces, and day spaces  beyond the bar.

GALLERY: John Schultz and Atlantic City's gay scene
A legal loophole that has allowed an intoxicating product derived from hemp to be sold over the counter and online throughout New Jersey could be closing, as legislators look to limit the sale of products containing delta 8.

The state Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on Monday backed a bill creating new limits on the sale and production of delta 8 products, following a recent Assembly committees support of the companion bill.

If approved and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, it would declare delta 8 illegal in New Jersey except under the rules governing marijuana licenses and sales.

It is now legal to buy, possess and use cannabis in New Jersey, at least for those over 21, with several state-licensed dispensaries and more in the works.

Illegal weed sales also continue, with a Somers Point man recently charged after police allegedly found 65 pounds of cannabis at his home, along with another 35 pounds of edibles and additional drugs.

But delta 8 does not fall under either category. A close chemical relative of THC, the compound in cannabis that provides the high, delta 8 occurs in small amounts within the plant, along with THC, CBD and dozens of other chemicals.

Some, including state officials and cannabis business groups, have raised concerns over the availability of delta 8 products, and questions about whether all of the sellers are scrupulous about ensuring customers are over 21.

Right now, there are unregulated, psychoactive, hemp-derived products being sold with zero product safety or marketing standards in our communities and all over the country, state Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, said in a statement. You can get this stuff online, at the gas station, the pharmacy, bodega  its everywhere now.

Sunscreen and pet treats

The federal farm bill approved in 2018 aimed to clear the way for hemp-derived products, such as granola bars that include hemp seeds, which contained no intoxicating substances but were technically illegal.

Hemp and marijuana are different words for the same plant, cultivated for eons both for making rope and canvas, as well as for its intoxicating effects.

The farm bill defined hemp as containing concentrations of THC of less than 0.3%. Dispensary cannabis often has THC concentrations of more than 20%.

The bill also cleared the way for sales of products containing CBD, or cannabidiol, another substance found in hemp and cannabis. It does not have any psychoactive effects, but advocates see promising signs that it could reduce inflammation, ease anxiety and provide other benefits.

There is little indication of serious risks with CBD, although most medical experts caution that some of the claimed benefits seem farfetched and there is a possibility of side effects or interactions with prescription medicine.

But in a few years, CBD has gone from a relatively unknown substance to an ingredient in sunscreen, tinctures, bath oils, pet treats and almost everything else.

Delta 8 is often derived from CBD, with some manufacturers maintaining that because it is derived from a legal substance, it, too, must be legal. The products are prominently on sale in locations throughout New Jersey, and are a significant part of the offerings at the three locations of Kannavis Botanicals in Wildwood.

A Kannavis representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment this past week, but the owners said in a previous interview they expected to see new regulations of delta 8. The company said it vigilantly checks to ensure customers are 21 or older but indicated not everyone selling the products keeps tabs as carefully.

Slow start to New York's legal pot market leaves farmers holding the bag New York's fledgling marijuana market doesn't have enough licensed retailers to sell the 300,000 pounds of cannabis grown by farmers in the state.

The nascent legal cannabis industry is all for new regulations. Representatives of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, which sometimes describes itself as the chamber of commerce for weed, spoke in favor of new regulations at the hearing Monday.

It is shocking to see delta 8 and other unregulated, untested cannabis products being sold at convenience stores and gas stations all across the state, said Scott Rudder, the interim president of the group. Whats even more disturbing is the ease with which children are purchasing these unregulated products.

He said samples of delta 8 products his group purchased did not meet the assurances of the label.

The delta 8-branded products that NJCBA members bought and had tested all had higher levels of THC than is legally permissible, not to mention an assortment of unknown chemicals not noted on the label. This must stop, Rudder said. We cannot go back to the 2019 vape crisis where dozens of people died and thousands were injured due to unregulated and untested cannabis products. This legislation is a necessity.

The states Cannabis Regulatory Commission said it has no authority over hemp, which falls under the state Department of Agriculture. There, the department has control over hemp grown and processed in New Jersey, but not over hemp or hemp products brought in from other states, said Joe Zoltowski, the director of the departments Division of Plant Industry, under which the hemp program falls.

The federal farm bill, which is up for renewal this summer, only looked at THC to determine if a plant was marijuana or hemp. But there are other compounds that become THC when heated, if smoked.

Theyre really selling marijuana under the guise of hemp, he said.

Those growing hemp for textiles opt for tall, thin plants with few buds. The plant can also be used for construction materials and multiple other goods, Zoltowski said. It is strong, durable and lightweight.

Rastafari gain sacramental rights to marijuana in Antigua and Barbuda, celebrate freedom of worship For decades, members of the Rastafari community were persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic marijuana use. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda recently granted them official authorization to grow the herb.

Those cultivating for CBD look for shorter, bushier plants, and that is the more lucrative option. Most hemp growers are growing those plants, but the market is currently flooded.

In its final form, the buds from those hemp plants are indistinguishable from marijuana.

The plants all look the same, they smell the same, they taste the same. That makes law enforcements job very difficult, Zoltowski said.

There was no response to an emailed request for comment from state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, the sponsor of the Senate bill.

There are currently 38 cannabis dispensaries opening in New Jersey, with Cape May Countys first set to open in West Cape May in the coming weeks. The CRC has approved 98 annual licenses, including 51 for retailers for the recreational market. The states first legal cannabis sales came at existing medical marijuana dispensaries last year.

Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis Tax Revenue State By State
The Crime Branch Unit One has arrested two people in connection with a murder that happened in Moshi on June 12. The investigation has revealed that the four friends had an argument over the sharing of Rs 700 received from the sale of scrap metal, the trio crushed one friends head with a stone to death over the dispute.

The victim has been identified as Ravindra Singh (res. Kudalwadi, Chikhli). The Police have arrested Jitendra Kumar Subhash Bhardwaj (age 28, resident Khardaha Neelkanth, Salempur, district Deoria, Uttar Pradesh), Ravi Sukhlal Gindhe (age 27, resident Yaldari Camp, Jintur, district Parbhani). One of his accomplices Tikia (full name address not known) is absconding.

According to the Police, a persons body was found in an open field in Moshi on June 12. Investigation revealed that the person was crushed to death with a stone. Accordingly, from identifying the dead person to arresting the accused, there was a big challenge for the police. After identifying the deceased, the police instructed Crime Branch Unit One to conduct a parallel investigation into the crime.

Two teams of Crime Branch Unit One started an investigation. The police got information that the friends of the deceased Rabindra Singh had killed him and were taking asylum in the Kudalwadi area. Accordingly, the police laid a trap, and the accused tried to flee the spot but the police were successful in arresting Jitendra Kumar and Ravi. When they were questioned, they initially gave vague answers. But later confessed to committing the crime along with another accomplice.

The accused and the deceased were scrap collectors and was doing the work of collecting scrap items found on the streets and selling them. In the first week of June, a storm in the Moshi area blew many shops and houses away. Four of them collected the tin sheets and metal objects and sold them in a scrap shop and got 700 rupees from it. There was an argument between them about dividing that 700 rupees hence the three accused killed Ravindra by crushing him with a stone.

The police have registered a case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and further investigation is underway.
Judges, prosecutors and prompt jury trials are the remedy for street gang violence

Prosecuting street gang violence is most often very difficult. The members of the gangs perpetrating the violence most often do whatever they can to avoid testifying honestly for the States Attorney prosecuting the case. That includes taking the 5th Amendment, disappearing to avoid testifying, telling half-truths, and even engaging in perjury. The members of the rival gang often do the same, preferring to rely on street violence and revenge rather than on the Criminal Justice System.

Notwithstanding these obstacles, the only way to break the cycle of gang violence is prompt prosecution. The gang members have to know that it is more dangerous to be caught breaking the law than it is to engage in street gang violence. When a gang member is convicted of murder, the penalty imposed must be near the maximum to make it clear to all gang members that the next killing will merit a similar penalty. The penalty must be sufficient to take the fun out of shooting at opposing gang members on sight.

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Article 6 of our Bill of Rights) provides: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury 

The Illinois Legislature, except in cases where the defendant is not fit to stand trial and where the defendant causes the delay, to implement that Sixth Amendment right has provided that where a defendant is in custody, he shall be tried by a court having jurisdiction within 120 days. A defendant who is out on bond and who demands a speedy trial has to be brought to trial within 160 days in the absence of an exception.

The speedy trial rule exists because a defendant awaiting trial in custody is serving the equivalent of prison time before he has been found guilty. Without the rule, a defendant taken into custody could sit in jail indefinitely if the prosecutor indefinitely delays bringing his case to trial.

But the speedy trial rule also exists to require cases to be brought to trial within the stated time limits to afford the victims of crime assurance that the law will deal with the alleged perpetrator of a crime as quickly as the needs of the prosecution and defense permit.

Shortly after I was elected a judge in 1974, I was sent to a New Judges Seminar, conducted by the Hon. Roy O. Gulley, the Illinois Supreme Courts administrative director of the Illinois Court System.

Among the things Judge Gulley told us were the following:

1. A judge should not sit on the bench like an alabaster bust of his grandsire. A judge is not a mere umpire; he is the governor of the trial. It is his non-delegable duty to see that justice is done.

2. Besides having judicial duties, a judge has administrative duties. Justice delayed is justice denied. The judge must control his own docket; he cannot cede management of his docket to the attorneys, the clerks, or anybody else.

3. When you set discovery dates, pre-trial dates, and plea dates for a Criminal case, set for the ordinary Criminal Case. The trial date for an ordinary criminal case should be set for no more than 60 days after the defendants initial appearance in court. Set the extraordinary cases on the same 60-day schedule. If continuances are required, they should always be granted to a day certain. (In running the Criminal Division in Rock Island County, my continuances were always for 14 days, but the attorneys were aware that they could always get one or more additional 14-day continuances for good cause. In the 8.5 years that I served as the presiding judge of criminal, I cannot recall ever granting a 3rd continuance  even in a murder case.)

4. Continuances should be granted only for something that was not foreseen when the dates were initially set and only for bona fide cause.

Before I was appointed head of the Criminal Division in Rock Island County, the Illinois Legislature provided that defendants who failed to appear for trial on the date set by the court could be tried in their absence if they were admonished at the time the trial date was set of all the constitutional rights they would be forfeiting if they failed to appear for trial.

In an era when the idiots in the legislature have legislated to eliminate cash bail, trying defendants who have been properly admonished and who fail to appear for trial in absentia strongly deters defendants from jumping non-cash bail. Once old Gand-bang Charlie is found guilty in absentia and a warrant is issued for his arrest and confinement pending sentencing, the word will get around the street gang community like wildfire. It takes about two minutes to properly admonish that you will be tried in your absence if you fail to appear for trial. It saves the sheriff hours of work tracking down the absconding defendant. And it normally results in a quick, easy trial for the court and the attorneys.

When judges are being paid roughly $200,000 per year, it is not unreasonable for the voters to expect the judges to conduct prompt trials. There is no legitimate excuse, barring the defendants unfitness, for even murder cases taking a year for disposition  i.e., until plea, dismissal or the first day of trial.

Those that say it cant be done are too lazy to try. Once the judge makes up his mind to move cases, if the prosecutor cooperates, the average time of disposition should be no more than 90 days.

And if our judges or prosecutors need a seminar, Ill teach them what Judge Gulley taught me.
Iowans may remember Tulsi Gabbard from her billboards that advertised her presidential campaign long after the 2020 Democratic presidential caucuses were over.

Gabbard, a former U.S. Representative from Hawaii who centered her opposition to long foreign wars in her run for the Democratic presidential nomination, has since left office and the Democratic Party.

Invited by the state Republican Party to speak and have an interview with the state GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann on Friday night in Davenport, Gabbard said she harbored "no regrets" in becoming an independent.

She announced her departure in October 2022, citing the party leaders' positions on foreign policy and social issues. She then went on to endorse and campaign for a slate of Republican candidates in the midterm elections, including Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.

"You talked about how the Republican Party is the party of free thought and free speech, that debate is welcome," she said, referencing comments made as she was being introduced. "The Democratic Party used to be that way. That was the party I joined 20 years ago."

Gabbard was first elected to the Hawaii statehouse in 2002 at the age of 21. She enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard, deploying to Iraq in 2004-2005 and was stationed in Kuwait from 2008 to 2009.

Before her bid for the White House, Gabbard became the first Hindu and was among the first female combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She served as Hawaii's 2nd District representative in Congress from 2013 to 2021 and as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee for the first three years of her congressional service. She resigned that post in the national party in 2016 to endorse Bernie Sanders in that year's presidential race.

On Friday, Gabbard called the upcoming 2024 election "the most important election of our time" because of what she called "direct duress and attacks on our fundamental God-given rights and freedoms."

She said she feared government intervention in Christian churches and was critical of the indictment of former President Donald Trump, saying she thought he was being held to a higher standard than other politicians.

Trump was indicted on 37 counts of mishandling classified documents. The indictment alleges he showed military documents to individuals without security clearance and sought to conceal the records from his own lawyers as they tried to comply with the federal government's request for them back.

Gabbard has steered further to the right on social conservative issues, and that reflected in her speech Friday night.

She was critical of allowing transgender girls to play girls sports, saying "there's no longer such a thing as a woman; we as an entire category are being erased from our society."

Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard speaks at the Iowa GOP Reception
The Montana Circle of American Masters (MCAM) recognizes Montana folk and traditional artists for artistic excellence in their work, along with their role in preserving and passing on their knowledge.

This May, the Montana Arts Council welcomed three new additions to the Circle: saddle maker Marc Brogger of Three Forks; blacksmith Glenn Gilmore of Corvallis, and segmented woodturner Terry Hill of Great Falls. Brogger, Gilmore, and Hill join 46 previous honorees in an illustrious group that represents some of the most skilled and respected tradition bearers in Montana. The inductees were honored at a public ceremony in the State Capitol on May 19 in Helena.

MCAM shines a light on Montanans who are among in the best in the world in their artform and who are a vital part of Montanas heritage and cultural landscape, Montana Arts Council folklorist Taylor Burby said. Folk arts can be function-focused, such as quilting, leatherwork, weaving, woodwork and metalwork. But they also tend to be rooted in cultural heritage, and include beading, instrument-making, singing, dancing and storytelling. The skills of producing the artwork are often taught person-to-person, and practitioners craft exists as part a lineage and tradition which extends well beyond their own careers. As such, MCAM honorees are expected to not only display artistic mastery but also show a commitment to passing on their knowledge.

While growing up, artist-blacksmith Glenn Gilmores parents encouraged him to observe and question the processes and mechanics that produced the world around him. These formative experiences catalyzed whats become more than a four-decade-long career using the command of his eyes and mind, and the skill of his hands, to give life to his artistic vision through metal.

Working with metal heated to 2300 degrees, sweat on my forehead, scale falling from the steel as I shape it  these have been the big part of my life, Gilmore said.

His career began with the horseshoe, the gateway to creating visually stunning yet functional architectural metalwork. After attending his first Artist/Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA) Conference in 1978, Gilmore became interested in the creative side of forging and began studying, first under Francis Whitaker at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown and then under Artist-Blacksmith Manfred Bredohl at the Vulkanschmiede Aachen in Germany. While in Germany, he attended the International Teaching Center for Metal Design and earned his diploma in Forging and Metal Design.

Since 1980, Gilmore has compiled an extensive resume that includes over 25 honors, including Best Artist  Metal in 2001, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 at the Western Design Conference in Jackson, Wyoming; features in over 30 prestigious juried exhibitions, such as the Invitational Metalwork Exhibition at the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America International Conference, in Salt Lake City, Utah; and features in over 50 books and national publications, such as Western Art & Architecture, Fine Furnishings International, Cowboys and Indians, and Western Art & Architecture.

Gilmore believes in passing on the knowledge he has gathered and feels strongly about the importance of ensuring his craft's continuation for future generations. From Layton, New Jersey, to British Columbia, Canada, and many places between, Gilmore has offered apprenticeship and journeyman trainings, demonstrations at conferences and craft centers, and provided opportunities for school-aged students to learn about the artistry of smithing.

Today, he resides in Corvallis and continues to build custom pieces for clients nationwide, including at properties such as the Yellowstone Club, Spanish Peaks, and Moonlight Basin of Big Sky, Montana.

Of his work, Montana Circle of American Masters Tom Dean writes, As with any of the previous Montana Circle of American Masters award winners, we came from raw talent  talent that was in our soul and talent that was self-taught. [Becoming a Master includes] wanting to educate and teach others of what and how we do what we do, to pass our talents on to others. Glenn has done all of this and more; he is a brilliant artisan with masterful iron work.
Sam Lawry has felt a connection to birds and the outdoors since he was a little boy traipsing through the marshlands of northern California. As he watched a pair of sandhill cranes move across Teller refuge on a recent afternoon, he couldnt help but ponder how the path of the migratory species has seemingly reflected his own life.

It's always ironic to me because my career started in Arizona, where these birds winter, and then ended in Montana where they breed, Lawry said as he gazed across an open field where the birds stood.

After a 40-year career in wildlife conservation, and raising his own family, hes about to follow their lead once again.

We're gonna winter just like the cranes do, back in Arizona he said. But we have a house here in the valley, and so we'll probably summer in Montana. I call it the sandhill crane transition. I'm gonna follow their pathways.

Lawry is retiring from his post as director of Teller Wildlife Refuge at the end of the month after six and a half years at the helm. While hes looking forward to some well-earned rest and relaxation, there are aspects of the job hes going to miss. After all, spending your days outside, surrounded by all the beauty and wildlife the Bitterroot Valley has to offer does come with its advantages.

I'm excited, he says as he drives his truck along a dirt road through the refuge. But at the same time, this is kind of hard to let go.

Lawry spent his boyhood days growing up in rural northern California. His father was an architect and staunch conservationist who instilled in his children the ethical side of wildlife conservation.

My dad took all of us hunting and fishing. My earliest memories are duck hunting and being out in the vast marshes and rice fields in the Central Valley of California, he said. It really sparked my interest. I knew in ninth grade that I wanted to be a wildlife professional.

Lawry spent 23 years with Arizona Game and Fish where he started out working as a wildlife manager, a combination of a biologist and a game warden. He chronicled his adventures from that time in his life in a memoir titled Stories of the Past, 1984-2004, An Arizona Game Ranger Remembering the Outlaws, released in 2021. He later guest-starred on the popular Meateater podcast discussing the book and his many, sometimes precarious, adventures in the outdoors.

I've had some crazy experiences, he said.

There was the time he and another researcher were crossing a frozen lake on snowmobiles and the ice started breaking up all around them. Or the near helicopter accident in a remote area of Maine near the Canadian border.

When a helicopter pilot has a concerned look on their face, you know, that you want to land, he said.

But the wildlife captures sure were fun, he said with a grin.

I can remember putting a radio collar on a mountain lion. We had it drugged and it started coming out. he said. I was holding its paws down, and that cat moved my hand  and it moved me away as if I wasnt even touching it. That's how strong that cat was.

Lawry worked his way through the ranks with Arizona Game and Fish, holding various positions before taking an administrative job as their migratory gamebird supervisor, working primarily in policy and management. Lawry served on the Pacific Flyway, which administers the regulatory components of migratory game birds and waterfowl seasons. He was also chairman of the staff for the North American Wetlands Council, which annually approves upwards of $40 million a year for wetland projects across North America.

Its interesting, because all of us started out wanting to work outside. You want to have hands-on experiences, whether you're doing management of habitat or research on various wildlife species, he said. I look back at those parts of my career when I was banding ducks in northern, Alberta  how wonderful that was to spend seven days a week catching and banding waterfowl. It was like a childhood dream. But then as you go through your career, you recognize that these agencies don't just function on people banding ducks. They got to have people that can manage people and programs and things. It's a necessity, whether it's a nonprofit like Teller or a government agency.

All of these projects that involve restoring or enhancing the land for wildlife don't just happen with one person. It's all tied to partnerships, and leveraging dollars and things like that, that make conservation affordable and doable.

After many years in Arizona, Lawry decided it was time to move on, and like the sandhill cranes, his journeys would lead him to the mountain west, eventually landing in Montana. When he first left Arizona, he went to work as a coordinator for the Inner Mountain West Joint Venture, a collaborative partnership of private and agency organizations, fostering bird conservation in 11 western states. He was travelling a lot and had an opportunity to visit the Bitterroot in 2006.

I learned about Teller and I thought, you know, I have a wife and four daughters, and Im traveling a lot, airplanes about every other week. I thought, why don't I come to Teller as their biologist and just plant my roots for a little while. So that's what I did.

In 2006 Lawry moved his family to Montana, raising four daughters here. He worked as the director of conservation and education at Teller from 2006 to 2010. He then spent some time working with Pheasants Forever and Quail forever as their western director, overseeing the same 11 states as when he was coordinator for the Inner Mountain West Joint Venture before taking over as executive director at Teller in December 2017. Lawry also authored a long-running column in the Ravalli Republic called "From the Teller," documenting the many avian species that appear in the Bitterroot Valley.

Birds like sandhill cranes that spend the winter in Arizona then fly back on their annual migration to the northern Rocky Mountain States in Montana. So, it's likely the birds that we managed winter habitat for in Arizona, years later, I would manage summer habitat for in Montana, Lawry noted while reflecting on his career.

As I leave this area, I know it's going to be left in good hands," he said. "The Teller has always served a very important connection to conservation education, to the next generation, the young people. And I think it's important that not only do we leave that ethic in minds that are growing, but so many people that are moving to the Bitterroot, adults that would gain appreciation from seeing how to properly take care of the land, or tolerate wildlife and so those people that are able to look at Teller as an example of what they might be able to do on their land, or at least allow certain conservation to maintain itself  aspen grove as wetlands, things like that. Pass that on, and it might just have an impact on a few more people to value the whole conservation role. There can be a balance.

I hope the Teller legacy, if I was to leave one, is conservation never stops and conservation without money is conversation. So, make it happen. Support things like your different nonprofit conservation groups. And together I think you can make a difference on the landscape.
High school mental health counselor Rashanna Hewlett was among the hundreds gathered in Dorey Park on Saturday as Henrico County Recreation & Parks hosted its annual Juneteenth Celebration.

I love the spirit of Juneteenth, said Hewlett, who wore a Black pride T-shirt adorned with a cascade of beads and crystals. Its a celebration of community.

The holiday honors the events of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers delivered word to 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston Bay, Texas, that they had been freed by executive decree.

Hewlett was among three generations of women representing Mindful Reign. Selling waist beads, bracelets, earrings, evil eyes and more, the Richmond local was accompanied by her daughter and mother.

Hewlett makes appearances with her business every weekend all over the greater Richmond area and hopes to leave her legacy to her daughter.

Saturdays celebration kicked off with the Hermitage High Drumline, as members chanted, Were part of the 804. The day continued with musical attractions like Bak N Da Day, Desiree Roots and Mighty Joshua.

Marie Hayes was on site with her business, Bakers Therapy by Marie. Hayes is also a nutrition and wellness consultant, and promotes health with her baked goods, specializing in vegan and vegetarian treats.

Its not just the culture, Hayes said of the celebration. It brings everyone out. I love it.

As part of the celebration, the Henrico Recreation & Parks booth promoted a discovery quest. It encouraged attendees to visit at least five vendors to learn about their history and residents, then place a stick by their name to receive a small prize.

Frank Saucier brought two big canvases with his never-seen-before airbrush graphics Juneteenth and The Last Supper, both featuring an array of Black icons. Saucier said his business, Black Art, had never been featured in an event of this size.

Its a big celebration for us, Saucier said.

Close Ten-year-olds Nilah Mitchell, left, Amara Cox, right, enjoy an inflatable slide at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. Sekiyah Davis, 2, plays in an inflatable obstacle course at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. Hundreds gather at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park in Henrico County on Saturday. A young audience member listens as the Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. Henrico County Juneteenth Celebration 2023 Ten-year-olds Nilah Mitchell, left, Amara Cox, right, enjoy an inflatable slide at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. Sekiyah Davis, 2, plays in an inflatable obstacle course at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. Hundreds gather at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park in Henrico County on Saturday. A young audience member listens as the Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday. The Hermitage High Drumline performs at the annual Juneteenth Celebration at Dorey Park on Saturday.
SAINT-LOUIS-DU-SUD, Haiti  Mylouise Veillard was 10 when her mother dropped her off at an orphanage in southern Haiti and promised her a better life. For three years, Mylouise slept on a concrete floor. When she was thirsty, she walked to a community well and hauled heavy buckets of water herself. Meals were scarce, and she lost weight. She worried for her younger brother, who struggled even more than she did at the facility.

Its a familiar story among the estimated 30,000 Haitian children who live in hundreds of orphanages where reports of forced labor, trafficking and physical and sexual abuse are rampant. In recent months, Haitis government has stepped up efforts to remove hundreds of these children and reunite them with their parents or relatives as part of a massive push to shut down the institutions, the vast majority of which are privately owned.

Social workers are leading the endeavor, sometimes armed with only a picture and a vague description of the neighborhood where the child once lived. Its an arduous task in a country of more than 11 million people with no residential phonebooks and where many families have no physical address or digital footprint.

Theyre almost like detectives, said Morgan Wienberg, co-founder and executive director of Little Footprints, Big Steps, one of several nonprofits that help reunite children and families.

The social workers fan out through cities, towns and villages. They walk up hills, navigate mazes of tin-roof shacks and knock on doors. With a smile, they hold up a picture and ask whether anyone recognizes the child.

On occasion, social worker Jean Rigot Joseph said hell show children pictures of landmarks to see if they remember where they lived. If he locates the parents, hell first determine whether theyre open to reunification.

Like more than 80% of children in Haitis orphanages, Mylouise and her brother are considered poverty orphans. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with about 60% of the population making less than $2 a day. When parents cant afford to feed their children, they temporarily place them in orphanages, where they believe theyll receive better care.

Roughly 30,000 children out of some 4 million nationwide live in about 750 orphanages across Haiti, according to government figures. Many were built after the 2010 earthquake that killed at least 200,000 people.

A 2018 report by Haitis Institute of Social Welfare and Research and others found that just 35 of 754 orphanages  less than 5%  met minimum standards and were allowed to operate. Meanwhile, 580 orphanages received the lowest score, meaning the government should order them closed.

In response to the report, Haitis government banned construction of orphanages and shut down existing ones. But closing orphanages can be dangerous. Government officials have been threatened or forced to go into hiding as owners seek to keep generous donations flowing from abroad; U.S. faith-based donors are the largest funders of orphanages in Haiti, according to Lumos, a nonprofit that works to reunite children in orphanages worldwide with their families.

There is no group or association that speaks on behalf of orphanages in Haiti since the vast majority are individually owned.

Homes are a necessity for children whose parents cannot feed them or protect them from violence, said Sister Paesie, who founded religious organization Kizito Family in Port-au-Prince. It houses and offers free schooling to some 2,000 children from slums.

The idea is to remove them from violence, she said, and parents are invited to visit.

Gangs control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, according to the U.N., and have been blamed for a surge in killings and kidnappings, especially in areas where children at Kizito Family are from.

Reunification efforts have been successful in more rural parts of Haiti where gangs dont have as much control and families can grow their own food.

In rural southern Haiti, some 330 children are now living again with their families. When that day arrived for Mylouise, now 17, and her brother, they were so excited they ran out of the orphanage and left their sandals behind, recalled Renese Esteve, their mother.

They joined Esteve, her new partner, their new child and one other sibling in a one-bedroom home by the foot of a mountain where farmers grow corn, potatoes and vetiver, a plant whose oil is used in high-end perfumes.

Wienbergs nonprofit built Esteve the home as part of an effort to help support families after reunification.

Esteve said leaving children at the orphanage was painful, even though she visited them occasionally. During their visits, the kids told her they werent doing well and asked for food. Esteve herself struggled to eat at home, thinking of her two children.

Sometimes I felt like killing myself, she said.

One day, startled at the weight theyd lost, she decided to pick up the children with the help of social workers. She was convinced theyd be better off in grinding poverty than at the orphanage.

Key to reunification efforts are mentors such as Eluxon Tassy, 32, who works with children living on the street, in orphanages or in transition preparing to return home.

I understand exactly what theyre going through, he said.

He was 4 when his mother dropped him off at an orphanage on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, where he lived for nearly 15 years.

Tassys first priority when helping children navigate the transition back home is gaining trust and building confidence. He uses art and music, singing the alphabet with the younger ones.

Sometimes he has to explain the concept of a family and the importance of affection if a child doesnt remember his parents or has spent much time away from them.

In Esteves case, her children reconnected almost immediately with her. To celebrate, she cooked two meals that day: the traditional Haitian spaghetti breakfast, and later, rice and beans laden with a fish sauce.

It was easy, she said. We were a family again.
Will the center hold in the Virginia General Assembly?

Legislative primaries on Tuesday will test the political center of both parties, but especially that of Virginia Senate Democrats, who already face the loss of a generation of leaders to retirements, hastened by a redistricting process that has transformed the state electoral map.

Voters around the state will choose more than 40 nominees for the House of Delegates and state Senate. Many of the nomination fights will be tantamount to election. In November, the fight for control of the House and Senate will likely come down to a handful of competitive contests. But Tuesdays primaries could have a significant effect on next years new-look General Assembly.

In Northern Virginia, where Democrats have dominated legislative elections since 2017, some party primaries have turned bitter, with progressive challengers publicly scorning moderate leaders who have fortified the partys brick wall in the Senate in a divided General Assembly with a Republican governor.

The most vulnerable target of progressive Democrats appears to be Sen. George Barker, D-Fairfax, co-chair of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, who is enmeshed in a protracted fight with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Republican-controlled House of Delegates over their push for $1 billion in tax cuts in the state budget.

Barker first won election to Senate District 17 years ago by upsetting a Republican incumbent in a district that the GOP had drawn to its advantage. He now faces a well-financed and aggressive challenge by Fairfax County School Board member Stella Pekarsky in a new Democratic district that includes more of her political base than his.

Republicans face fewer intra-party battles, but Youngkin has intervened in several high-profile primaries to bolster GOP establishment candidates against populist challenges from the right, including one in a suburban Fredericksburg district the party needs to hold against Democrats in a competitive race in November.

What were really looking at here is the Washingtonization of Virginia politics, said Stephen Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.

With both parties losing many of their General Assembly leaders to retirements and potentially more to primary challenges, Farnsworth asked, Is this a wave election or a tidal wave election in terms of generational change?

The primary battles are testing divisions within the Democratic Party in a way that resembles the threats that the Tea Party and Make America Great Again movement, led by former President Donald Trump, have posed to the Republican Party, especially in suburban jurisdictions likely to determine control of the next General Assembly.

The Democrats right now are going through an exercise in where the Republicans have been, said Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, who is retiring in January after long being targeted by conservative Republicans who wanted to oust him for his moderate views.

Hanger, one of the leaders in the successful fight to expand Virginias Medicaid program, was paired in a newly drawn district with Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, with the nomination to be determined by party convention, rather than through primary election. He was prepared to move into an adjacent district to run in the GOP primary against Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt, but suddenly decided against it. Youngkin then quickly endorsed Head.

Primaries are tricky, too, because the base comes out, Hanger said.

The base of both parties is largely ideological, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

For many people coming into politics these days, its all about issues and ideology and trying to vanquish the other side, Rozell said. That doesnt leave a lot of room for negotiation and compromise.

Its not just the Trump wing of the Republican Party trying to vanquish what they call RINOS (Republicans in Name Only), he added. On the left, there are a lot of people who want to vanquish the moderates in their party.

Progressives say the old guard is too wedded to compromise and business interests, and that they dont really have their heart in the issues that drive the liberal activist core of the Democratic Party, Rozell said. They believe you need a fighter in there more than you need a compromiser.

As for Barker, for most of new Senate District 36, hes a newcomer, said Bob Holsworth, a longtime political analyst in Richmond and a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Pekarsky has faulted Barker for the budget impasse, although Barkers supporters note that the quickest way to end it would be to capitulate to Youngkin on tax cuts, rather than hold out for a compromise with the Republican House that progressives also might not like.

A budget agreement will not happen until after Tuesdays primaries, in large part because Barker cannot afford to be seen as compromising with a governor who is deeply unpopular in Barkers Fairfax County district.

Its unbelievable how naive these people are, fumed Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, a close Barker ally who is retiring after 48 years in the assembly and his own close call in a primary four years ago. They have no idea how governing works in the General Assembly.

The money war

The primary also is part of a wider money war between Dominion Energy, owner of the states largest public utility (and a major supporter of Saslaw), and the Clean Virginia Fund, a political action committee created by Michael Bills, a multimillionaire hedge fund executive in Charlottesville, to counteract political influence of Dominion and other owners of state-regulated utilities.

Clean Virginia and Sonjia Smith, Bills wife, have contributed $340,000 to Pekarskys campaign since April 1. Dominion has given $200,000 to Barker in the same period. Barker had a fundraising advantage of nearly two-to-one in a primary that is tantamount to election, and about $30,000 more in the bank on June 8. The winner will face Republican Julie Perry in November, but the district is heavily Democratic.

Other Northern Virginia clashes

Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee in a region coping with Virginias worst traffic congestion, is locked in a tight primary battle with Heidi Drauschak in another strongly Democratic district in Fairfax. Drauschak is an advocate for campaign finance reform and co-founded CrowdLobby  a website that connects everyday people to professional lobbyists.

Drauschak leads Marsden in fundraising, bolstered by $300,000 from Clean Virginia and $55,000 from Smith since April 1. Marsden is backed largely by transportation interests and hospitals, although he also has received $65,000 from Dominion.

The winner will face Republican Mark Viafides in the fall.

Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, is another vulnerable Democratic incumbent in Northern Virginia, running in a district that lies almost entirely in fast-growing, ethnically diverse Prince William County, with a slice of adjoining Stafford County. McPike, a moderate Democrat, faces Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Prince William, a Peruvian immigrant with strong progressive credentials and ties to organized labor.

In his case, the challenge is not so much generational, Holsworth said. Its an appeal to the new demographics of the district and it comes from someone whos been in the legislature.

The victor will face the winner of a Republican primary between Maria Martin and Nikki Rattray Baldwin in a district that leans Democratic.

Guzman decided to challenge McPike rather than run for re-election in the same House district with Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Similarly, another Democratic primary in Prince William features former Dels. Jennifer Carroll Foy and Hala Ayala, pitted against each other in a newly created district. Carroll Foy finished second to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the Democratic primary for governor in 2021, while Ayala fell to Winsome Earle-Sears for lieutenant governor when Youngkin led a Republican sweep of statewide offices.

The reality is Prince William has a lot of political talent in the Democratic base, but not enough seats for everybody, said Farnsworth at Mary Washington.

For Republicans, the Fredericksburg area represents one of its fiercest intra-party battlegrounds. In a Senate primary Tuesday, Del. Tara Durant, R-Stafford, is clashing with Matt Strickland, R-Spotsylvania, a hero to the partys MAGA wing because of his defiance of public health restrictions the state imposed on his restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Youngkin endorsed Durant, prompting Strickland to accuse the governor publicly of betraying a Republican ally.

This one is close, Farnsworth said. There is a really combative element to Spotsylvania Republican politics.

Whoever wins will face the victor of a Democratic primary between Joel Griffin and Ben Litchfield, and independent candidate Monica Gary, a member of the Stafford Board of Supervisors.

About two-thirds of voters in the new district live in Stafford, one-quarter in Spotsylvania and the remainder in Fredericksburg. The district leans Republican, but Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, almost won Stafford in her midterm election victory last year in a congressional district anchored in Prince William.

That is a district that Republicans cannot possibly afford to lose, Holsworth said. If they lost that race, its hard to see how they get a majority.

Similarly, he said Democrats need to flip a competitive new district straddling Loudoun and Fauquier counties, currently represented by Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, one of a handful of veteran Republican senators who are retiring.

Russet Perry, a former prosecutor and CIA officer, and Leesburg Town Councilman Zach Cummings are competing for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Juan Pablo Segura, an entrepreneur who is receiving major financial backing from a border security company owned by his father, Enrique.

On the other side of the Blue Ridge, Holsworth said eight Republicans are vying to out MAGA each other in a deep red district in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun, one of the most conservative members of the General Assembly, is currently third in fundraising, trailing former Strasburg Town Councilman John Massoud and Woodstock farmer Timmy French.

Whoever wins the race is going to be quite the lightning rod, Holsworth predicted.
(CNN)  Kourtney Kardashian stole the show at a Blink-182 concert Friday by announcing that she and husband Travis Barker are expecting their first child together.

The entrepreneur and reality star shared a video on her verified social media in which she is in the audience at the show, jumping up and down while holding a sign that read, Travis Im pregnant.

Barker, who is the drummer for Blink-182, jumped off stage and kissed his wife as the Los Angeles audience roared their approval.

The pair got engaged in October 2021.

They married last year in multiple ceremonies. First in Las Vegas, following the Grammy Awards in April 2022 in what they said was not a legally binding exchange of vows, a legal wedding at the Santa Barbara courthouse in May, wrapping up with a lavish ceremony they hosted soon after in Portofino, Italy, at Villa Olivetto, the estate of Dolce & Gabbana designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

The couple each have children from previous relationships.

Kardashian, 44, shares three children with her former longtime partner Scott Disick: Mason, Penelope and Reign.

Barker, 47, is father to his Landon, daughter Alabama and his stepdaughter Atiana, whom he shares with ex-wife Shanna Moakler.

The two have shared a bit about their fertility journey on Hulus reality series, The Kardashians.

In September 2022, Kardashian told The Wall Street Journal she had paused in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments leading up to getting married because it was a lot and she wanted to focus on planning her wedding ceremony.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Kardashian and Barker for comment.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Kourtney Kardashian announces shes pregnant at Blink-182 concert"
With control of the Virginia House of Delegates hanging in the ballots in November, the Democratic Party of Virginia apparently believes it has the luxury of sitting one out.

How else can we explain the curious case of Danville resident Jasmine Lipscomb, a Marine veteran whose would-be candidacy in the 49th House District has been rebuffed by the party?

The 49th is a redrawn district in Southside Virginia composed of the city of Danville and parts of Halifax and Pittsylvania counties. The district leans Republican, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Its incumbent is a Republican, Del. Danny Marshall. The contest would be an uphill slog for a Democrat, particularly a political novice.

On the other hand, the district is 40% Black and 45% minority, according to VPAP  potentially fertile ground for a Black candidate like Lipscomb.

Unless something changes, we wont find out in November.

Lipscomb so far has been the only Democratic Party candidate to come forward in the 49th. But the way she came forward has been an issue.

The Democratic Partys May call for a caucus in the district included a $500 filing fee and a 100-signature requirement. Lipscomb, a substitute teacher, says in a complaint she filed with the party Thursday that she didnt have the money by the May 20 deadline so she did not collect signatures.

Subsequently, she received the filing fee from an angel donor and collected signatures, but was told that she was too late by Patricia Harper-Tunley, acting as chair of the 49th House District nominating committee in the stead of a chair who relinquished her duties because of health issues.

Essentially, Lipscomb was told that rules are rules.

This is discrimination based on economic status, Lipscomb says in her complaint.

But the selective application of the rules is also part of the problem, according to the would-be candidates complaint.

Harper-Tunley, chair of the Lunenburg County Democratic Committee, does not live in the 49th House District, Lipscomb says in her complaint. She alleges that this is a violation of section 7.4 of the Democratic Party of Virginia Plan, which states: The General Assembly District Committees shall consist of the chairs of the county or city committees in whose counties or cities the district lies. In the event any chair does not reside within the General Assembly district, such chair shall designate a member of his or her county or city committee who does reside within the district to serve on the district committee. In the event no member of such county or city committee resides within the district, the county or city chair shall designate a Democrat residing within the district to serve.

Because Ms. Harper-Tunley clearly does not live in within the boundaries of HD49, the HD49 Nominating Committee was improperly constituted and their decision should be given no weight, Lipscomb says in the complaint.

She adds that Democrats in the district can move her nomination forward if a caucus fails to advance a candidate, citing Section 10.6 of the party plan, which states: The committee that convened the convention or called the caucus may thereafter nominate a candidate who shall be the Democratic nominee for such office.

This is otherwise known as nomination by acclamation, Lipscomb says in her complaint. This is an option that, although still available, remains unexercised, by the current, improperly constituted, HD49 Nominating Committee. I remain the only interested Democratic Candidate in HD49.

Lipscombs adviser in this process has been Dr. Fergie Reid Jr. His father, Dr. William Ferguson Fergie Reid Sr., is a physician and civil rights activist who in 1968 became the first African American in the Virginia General Assembly since the Reconstruction Era. Reid Jr., with Brenda Hill, Candi Graham and Eileen Davis, is the co-founder of 90 for 90, a voter registration initiative established as a tribute by the Richmond-area women for the elder Reids 90th birthday in 2015. Its goal is to register 90 new voters per precinct per year.

Reasoning that the initiative needed candidates for these new voters, the younger Reid  a Richmond native who now lives in Los Angeles  began recruiting candidates in 2017. For this election cycle, he recruited Lipscomb among 30 Democratic Party candidates. She is the only House candidate who has encountered resistance, he said.

The elder Reid co-founded the Richmond Crusade for Voters in 1956 to register and mobilize Black voters during Massive Resistance.

I spent a lot of time in the 50s and the 60s making sure all Virginians would be enfranchised equally, the elder Reid said in a statement read by his son Friday. Its just a shame in 2023, now at 98 years old, to see Virginians being disenfranchised by the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Among the younger Reids recruited candidates are Pam Garner, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel running in the 26th Senate District, and Myra Payne, a retired Army lieutenant colonel running in the 19th Senate District. They sent an email Friday to Harper-Tunley, House Minority Leader Don Scott and Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, asking the party to declare Lipscomb the Democratic Party nominee.

Liam Watson, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Virginia, said Friday that the party would not comment on the complaint before the deadline for the nominating process closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

I cant tell the Democrats how to run their business. But absent a last-minute candidate by acclamation, the party is squandering an opportunity to steal a seat or force Marshall and Republicans to expend resources that might otherwise be used elsewhere. Hard feelings appear to be clouding the partys judgment.

District filing fees and rules  ranging from $0 to $250 to the fee that Lipscomb was assessed  appear arbitrary and potentially crippling to low-income candidates. The result is poor optics for a party that professes to support equity, diversity and inclusion.

Or as Garner and Payne wrote: Our democracy thrives when individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives have an equal chance to participate and make a positive impact on our society. Any actions that deter or discriminate against potential candidates erode the very foundation on which our democracy stands.

Competitive races are the lifeblood of a healthy democracy. Gerrymandering, dark money, election denial and voter suppression have left American democracy observably unhealthy.

A candidate, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste.

PHOTOS: Election Day in the Richmond area 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB14 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB10 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB08 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB15 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB11 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB09 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB16 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB12 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB13 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB17 20191106_MET_VOTE_AWE01 20191106_MET_SENA_AWE02 20191106_MET_SENA_AWE01 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB03 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB05 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB07 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB06 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB02 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB01 20191106_MET_LEGI_BB04 20191106_MET_HENCA_AWE02 20191106_MET_HENCA_AWE01 20191106_MET_VOTE_AWE03 20191106_MET_VOTE_AWE02 election day election day election day election day 20191105_CHESSUPER_06 20191106_MET_VOTE_BB03 20191106_MET_VOTE_BB02 20191106_MET_VOTE_BB01 20191105_CHESSUPER_08 20191105_CHESSUPER_07 20191105_CHESSUPER_05 20191105_CHESSUPER_04 20191105_CHESSUPER_03 20191105_CHESSUPER_02 20191105_CHESSUPER_01 Grant the fluff corgi -- HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES --
Armed Tabasco man arrested from public PDC street carrying loaded rifle

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  An armed man reported for making threats in a residential area has been detained. Solidaridad police responded to the Emergency 911 report Saturday morning.

They arrived in Villas del Sol where a citizen pointed out a man who they said, had made threats with a rifle in hand. Police arrested the man after locating him walking along a public street with a loaded weapon.

Police have jailed 32-year-old Rosalino N from Tabasco after he was found on Pardillo Street with his rifle.
Circulation on part of new Cancun airport bridge opened after demolition of old overpass

Cancun, Q. R.  The old Cancun airport bridge road is officially gone. Demolition of the bridge began this past week. Heavy machinery was brought in to do the demolition during the night time hours. It took workers three nights to get the road overpass torn away.

However, there is still work to be done. The city still needs to remove two abutments and accesses.

Heavy machinery worked nights to remove the old Cancun airport bridge. Photo: Ayuntamiento de Benito Juarez June 12, 2023.

The Quintana Roo delegation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) reported that the demolition on the old Cancun airport bridge was finally finished early Thursday morning.

The SICT Quintana Roo informs that the demolition of the three slabs and the two central piers of the old bridge of the airport junction has been completed.

The old road overpass to the Cancun airport has officially be demolished. Photo: Ayuntamiento de Benito Juarez June 15, 2023.

The removal of the two abutments and their accesses is yet to be completed, but these projects are scheduled to be completed the following week without interfere with traffic circulation, the agency announced in a press release.

On Thursday, the first vehicles began using part of the new cloverleaf bridge system, which is still under construction.

Work will continue to remove the remainder of the bridge.

Diagram: la Secretaria de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes (SICT)

Traffic route changes will be maintained into the Cancun International Airport while the rest of the former bridge is torn down and the rubble removed.
UNESCO awards Tulum Hoyo Negro Underwater project Best Practices

Tulum, Q. R.  The Hoyo Negro Underwater Archaeological Project in Tulum has been awarded Best Practices by UNESCO. The award was presented in Paris during a Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage convention.

The Hoyo Negro project is the fourth Mexican project to be awarded the distinction by the United Nations Educational Organization, Science and Culture (Unesco).

The designation was evaluated by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Council (STAB) of the 2001 Unesco Convention and based mainly on its contribution to research on prehistory in Mexico with a focus on the Peninsula of Yucatan, the study of its karstic systems, of the first settlers and the changes in the climate.

Aspects such as in situ registration work stand out, which enables equal access to underwater cultural heritage, through its virtual enhancement with cutting-edge technology, as well as those linked to conservation and protection, the INAH said in a statement.

Regarding Mexioco, the PAS Hoyo Negro is the fourth Mexican project to receive this distinction. Previously, the Museum of Underwater Archeology (Marsub), Fort San Jose El Alto, in Campeche, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Project at Banco Chinchorro in Quintana Roo and the Underwater Cultural Heritage Project in the Nevado de Toluca in the State of Mexico, the latter in the category of Best Practices Archived by Unesco, the federal agency added.

According to Helena Barba-Meinecke, the Mexico representative at the UNESCO Convention, Hoyo Negro represents a biocultural richness which allows paleontological research on animals that lived 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, in addition to being the place where the discovery of the human skeleton of Naia was recorded, the most complete skeleton and among the oldest recovered in the American continent.

The researcher, head of the Yucatan Peninsula Underwater Archeology Office of the INAH SAS, pointed out that this recognition positions Mexico before the world as a nation committed to safeguarding the submerged biocultural heritage.

The virtual accessibility that the public has regarding scientific exploration is rewarded, as well as the work of more than 50 researchers from Mexico, the United States, Canada and Denmark, who have participated in the project, she commented.

Proyecto Arqueologico Subacuatico Hoyo Negro (Hoyo Negro Cenote Project) Photo: INAH June 14, 2023.

The Hoyo Negro cenote, 62 meters in diameter and 55 meters deep, was discovered in 2007 by cave divers Alejandro Alvarez, Alberto Nava Blank and Franco Attolini.

The research project, by the SAS, began in 2011, under the leadership of the archaeologist Pilar Luna Erreguerena, handed over to the archaeologist Barba-Meinecke, in 2019. Doctors James C. Chatters and Dominique Rissolo participate as co-directors, and the cave divers scientists Nava Blank and Robert Chavez.

In the different seasons of work, throughout 10 years, findings have been reported such as Naia, whose skeleton corresponds to a young woman who died between 15 and 17 years of age and lived almost 13,000 years ago. Also, more than 50 species of animals that inhabited during the Upper Pleistocene were identified.

The remains of saber-toothed tiger, gomphothere, various species of sloths, including a new species of giant ground sloth, bears, armadillos, tapirs, among others, have also been found.

Of these species, eight are extinct and the rest have survived thanks to their adaptation to the environment.
EDUCATION

The Appalachian Engineers Team of Virginia Western Community College is one of 12 finalist teams that will advance to the next phase of the Community College Innovation Challenge with the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Science Foundation. The team consists of: Nathanael Girardeau; Daniel Holt; Nicholas Maiolo; Briana Wood; and Rick Henegar, engineering lab manager and advisor to the club.

Stefan Duma, the Harry Wyatt Professor of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the title of University Distinguished Professor by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Linsey Marr, the Charles P. Lunsford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been elevated to the rank of University Distinguished Professor by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

LAW

Frankl Miller Webb & Moyers LLP announces that the following partners have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for 2023: Daniel Frankl, Transportation/Maritime; Thomas Miller, Workers Compensation; and Jason Moyers, Civil Litigation: Defense.

MEDICAL

Dr. Brian Gross, a board-certified otolaryngologist with LewisGale Physicians ENTSalem, has been recognized as a national Physician of Excellence by the manufacturer of the hypoglossal nerve stimulator, an implanted device that relieves moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Natalie Karp M.D. has been named the new director of Phase 3 of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine curriculum.

Dr. S. Alexander Wood will join the staff of the Community Health Center of the New River Valley as lead dentist in the Dublin office.

Andrew Welcome has been named chief operating officer for LewisGale Medical Center in Salem.
Aviation in the Roanoke Valley, which attracted 300,000 commercial air passengers last year, could look a whole different if that number rises in coming years.

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport would build a bridge over Interstate 581 to elongate a runway to meet revised federal safety standards and prepare for and accommodate bigger planes carrying more travelers greater distances, according to a far-reaching plan.

A new master plan, due out next month, also depicts larger gate lounges and a new airport entrance off Aviation Drive. It envisions new buildings for general aviation services, including one for the fixed-base operator, plus new hangars and a new aircraft maintenance center. Facilities for handling cargo, which is flown in and out in the wee hours of the morning, would grow from two to up to five parking spots for enormous freight planes.

Consultants, airport staff and its governing body developed the document, which replaces one from 15 years ago. The public has weighed in. The Federal Aviation Administration could approve the new edition later this year.

At that point, the master plan would guide airport expansion and improvement for the next 20 years. Officials would time the construction of each piece to their reading of passenger travel trends and the availability of federal and state money.

None of this is saying were going to do it, said Mike Stewart, who directs the airport. Its a plan for both building purposes and funding purposes. A major project cannot become reality if it isnt in the master plan, he said.

Officials have not said what carrying out the new master plan in its entirety would cost. But Roanoke would want to see the federal government pay the biggest part of the tab, as the government has done for other projects and does at other airports.

Government officials and private investors established the airport on leased farmland nearly 100 years ago. By the early 1940s, it had passenger service, a paved runway, hangars, a manager and a name  Woodrum Field.

Today, four commercial passenger airlines use multiple runways, the longest 6,800 feet, guided by air traffic controllers in a tower. Cargo moves in and out by the ton, there is a waiting list for hangars and scheduled air service is nearing pre-pandemic levels.

Covering 900 acres, it is set up to serve an area of 570,000 people  from Lexington to near Hillsville and New Castle to Rocky Mount  and is one of nine commercial airports in the state. The airport is owned and operated by a commission composed of local government appointees that functions as an independent subdivision of the state and derives no revenue from local taxes.

Local officials view it as a major catalyst for economic growth and improved quality of life, but have voiced concerns. Many area residents drive to larger airports which offer less expensive tickets and many more flights. Airport officials have said airlines decide flight availability and fares, but that the more area residents use the airport, the greater the incentive will be for airlines to expand service and improve pricing.

Passenger counts during the first five months of this year pulled to within 4% of totals for the same period of 2019 and officials anticipate strong passenger numbers for the rest of the calendar year, airport spokeswoman Alexa Briehl said by email. Passenger counts will indicate when recovery from the pandemic downturn is complete and flying enters a growth phase.

In a shift, business travel has not recovered. But leisure travel has boomed. Leisure travel has been the savior for a lot of local airports, Stewart said.

Stewarts top priorities from the many projects in the master plan are:

Relocating passenger and carry on-baggage screening. Right now, it occupies the former gate No. 1. By shifting this function toward the front of the building, possibly in conjunction with widening the narrowed walkway to the gate area, the airport could regain use of the gate.

Relocating the screening of checked luggage by the Transportation Security Administration out of the lobby and into the nonpublic areas. This would end the practice of travelers carrying their bags from the ticker counter to the screening point and free up ticket counter space.

Starting on the runway extension project, whose initial steps would include an environmental study that could require two years to complete. A safety rule rewritten since crews built the runways calls for 1,000 feet of clear space before and after the runways in case an aircraft misses or goes off the runway. Stewart said the FAA has not set a deadline for the Roanoke airport to fully comply but has approved an exception.

The runways are perfectly safe the way they are, but they dont have a thousand feet on each end, Stewart said. Despite the FAA approval, Stewart said he wants to come into compliance rather than operate on the basis of an approved exception or waiver.

Analysts looked at several options to create a 1,000-ft. buffer for the busiest runway, which is aligned northeast-southwest and roughly parallels Peters Creek Road, and found the best opportunity sits west of I-581. There is a large chunk of vacant land there already designated an airport runway protection zone. The challenge would be connecting it to the existing runway, which would require passage over the interstate.

Such a structure would be new to Roanoke but not the nation. Communities whose airports bridge major highways include Atlanta, Georgia, Denver, Colorado, and Fort Lauderdale, according to Stewart, who previously managed Dulles International Airport.

The bridge would make it possible to construct a buffer zone and a runway extension.

Commission member Randy Clements commented on the prospect for the bridge.

This is not something that we have to do because the airport is unsafe. This is the airport leadership and the airport commission considering the airport as one of the largest panes in our regional economic glass ceiling and by extending the runway, we stay updated with FAA safety standards and it positions us not only to stay up to date with the FAA but it keeps us up to date with the changing air service market. Both of these things work together. But the primary reason that we need to do this is so that we can maintain currency with the FAA guidelines, he said.

In the body of the report lie a couple of other big steps:

Rebuild Aviation Drive, the road beside the airport, about 350 feet closer to Sams Club, running it through the overflow parking lot. This would allow for a new entrance near the car rental center.

The ultimate growth plan presents an opportunity to work with Roanoke City to realign Aviation Dr., to create an efficient airport entrance that does not compete or interfere with adjacent shopping center or cut-through traffic, the draft report said.

Terminal enlargement through widening of the concourse. That way, the gates could accommodate larger planes outside and seat corresponding passenger volumes inside. The gates work well for 50-seat aircraft but become crowded when 70-seat aircraft handle flights, a plane size expected to handle a greater share of future flights.

More investment in general aviation facilities to include a new building for the fixed base operator with extensive airplane parking, situated closer to the runways. The new location and size of the apron will be conducive to attract transient aircraft, as pilots will be able to easily locate the apron even when they are not familiar with our airport, the draft report said.

The general aviation area needs new hangars, because there is a waiting list for the hangars the airport has right now, and more fuel storage tanks, the draft report said.

Expand the cargo hub onto adjacent vacant land. On the menu: a new cargo building, new aircraft parking spaces, new vehicle parking and truck docks.
A stretch of Interstate 64 near Short Pump has been approved for a makeover, which should have a significant impact on traffic patterns and safety once completed.

Henrico County will be adding an interchange at North Gayton Road, which is intended to help alleviate traffic conditions along the rest of the corridor. The county is also going to remove a loop at the Broad Street intersection with the highway, which it said will improve safety by eliminating traffic weaving from merging cars.

Terrell Hughes, Henrico public works director, told county supervisors on May 23 that the improvements should cut 19 minutes out of peoples commutes once finished.

The work was heralded as the largest transportation and safety project in Henricos history.

The countys Public Works department estimates it will cost between $200 million and $300 million in todays dollars. Cost is subject to change as designs and schedules get more detailed.

Our project will make a drive into Short Pump faster and more efficient, said Three Chopt District Supervisor Tommy Brannin.

It will also reduce the risk of crashes, literally saving lives.

That corridor of Interstate 64 has been a trouble spot for accidents over the last five years. It saw seven fatal crashes during that period, as well as 9,500 calls for service. There were also 492 crashes involving injuries and 1,800 reportable crashes.

First and foremost for us, the most important part of this project is safety, said Michael Palkovics, assistant chief of police. Its not only for the safety of the residents and citizens of Henrico County, but also the motoring public, the thousands of people that traverse through this area every day.

The interchange project also is expected to have a net benefit on businesses and economic development efforts in the area.

The project was officially approved by the Federal Highway Administration last week, after the Virginia Department of Transportation signed off on it in the spring.

Next steps are anticipated to take about two to three years. During this time, the county will finish design work, complete an environmental study and acquire land. The county has just under $5 million in Central Virginia Transportation Authority regional funding to help with the design and environmental work.

Hughes said the remaining portion of the project would include many opportunities for public engagement and involvement.

Many of the improvements in Henrico also will impact commuters and visitors from Goochland.

Hughes previously told supervisors that Henrico partnered with Goochland County, which has plans to improve an interchange between Interstate 64 and Virginia 288 on its side of the border.
Three state Senate hopefuls from Roanoke said they are knocking doors, sending mailers, calling, texting and using social media to rally Democratic voters across the valleys for a primary election on Tuesday.

Those three candidates are DeAnthony D.A. Pierce and city council members Trish White-Boyd and Luke Priddy. Each said they favor their chances of emerging as the Democratic candidate in Virginias new 4th Senate District.

The district covers Roanoke and Salem, plus eastern Montgomery County and southern Roanoke County. Those boundaries were drawn during statewide redistricting in 2021.

Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, seeks a third term in office and is running to represent the redrawn district whose constituents voted 55% for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021. Whichever Democrat wins the primary election will face Suetterlein during the general election in November.

These Democratic candidates are seeking to fill the place of Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, who announced his retirement this winter after 28 years in office.

White-Boyd, 60, is a member of city council since 2019. She owns a senior services business in Roanoke and said she has done grassroots community organizing for decades.

Priddy, 31, began his city council tenure this year. Prior, he worked since 2018 as chief of staff for Edwards, and said he became interested in law and politics from a young age.

Pierce, 34, said he recently started work as a plans examiner for the city of Roanoke. He said he is an Air Force veteran and has worked in various public service roles.

The three primary election candidates on Wednesday said they are hearing similar priorities from Democratic voters of the new district.

They want somebody with experience, White-Boyd said. They want someone in a Democratic primary that can win in November.

A prevailing theme is they want someone whos going to beat the Republican, Priddy said. That was the forefront of peoples minds.

This is a newly drawn district, the seat is open, Pierce said. Truthfully, we wont know what the outcome will be until November.

Thats the question for Democratic voters making their decision in Senate District 4 on Tuesday, candidates said: Who is best equipped to compete for and mobilize votes against the incumbent Republican Suetterlein?

I have just as good a chance as they do, Pierce said. We do have Democrats that live in this area and district as well.

I feel good about my chances for this primary, Priddy said. Focusing on the general election, the leaning of this district partisan-wise is largely similar to when Sen. Edwards first won when he ran for senate.

We can win it, although it is leaning Republican, White-Boyd said. We have a lot of support from Republicans, especially Republican women, because they are not happy with Roe v. Wade, and the decisions that have been made to reverse womens rights.

The candidates said they canvassed neighborhoods, distributed yard signs, attended meet-and-greets and party meetings, appeared on television and sent letters to editors to get their messaging across the district.

You name it, weve done it, White-Boyd said. Whatever can be done to reach voters.

I try to show up to as many events as I possibly can, Pierce said. Especially when Im invited to introduce myself and speak as a candidate.

Im having good conversations with voters, Priddy said. I feel pretty confident that Ill have their votes.

Their platforms are similar, too. But each candidate says their experiences set them apart from the others.

I believe all the candidates are largely the same when it comes to policies on reproductive health care, when we say we want to invest in education, Priddy said. But I think that the differences are going to come around certain nuances.

Priddy said he has unique experience working in the state legislature with Edwards as mentor, a willingness to push back in defense of Democratic values and stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

White-Boyd said she has all the qualities of a viable candidate to win in November: a small business owner, mother, wife and grandmother with local government and community organizing experience and endorsements from elected officials.

These are things that are common across this country: homelessness, affordable housing, gun violence, the economy, teacher pay, White-Boyd said. I will be able to work with any member of the senate to get these things done.

Pierce said he stands out because of his lifelong emphasis on public service starting as a teenager working for Roanoke City Parks and Recreation, through military service and in his current role with the city planning department.

Outside of my top priorities medical care access, affordability, housing and education, my pitch is just take a chance on someone who may not have the type of common background that politicians come from, Pierce said. I really do want to have the biggest impact on the most people regardless of where theyre from, or their political affiliation.

White-Boyd holds a fundraising advantage, with more than $64,000 raised as of June 8, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. Priddy raised more than $19,000 during the same time, and Pierce raised about $1,500.

Early voter turnout for the race was low in Roanoke County, Salem and Montgomery County, according to local registrars on Thursday. Early voting started May 5 and extends through 5 p.m. Saturday.

In Roanoke, 629 people voted early in-person as of Thursday morning, said Deputy Registrar Deirdre Martin. The city sent out 2,160 ballots to Democratic voters and had received back approximately 988 thus far, she said.

Roanoke County Registrar Anna Cloeter said 164 people voted early in-person as of Thursday morning, and the county had received back 407 out of 916 mail-in ballots for the State Senate District 4 primary election.

Salem saw 149 in-person early Democratic voters as of Thursday, and 145 mail-in ballots had already been pre-processed, out of 326 total ballots mailed to voters, said Registrar Dana Oliver on Thursday.

In Montgomery County, Registrar Connie Viar said 97 people voted early in-person between May 5 and Thursday. Meanwhile, 317 out of 344 total distributed mail-in ballots came back to the elections office.

Polls across the district will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Republican voters in the new 47th state House District will choose a nominee Tuesday between two delegates whose time together in the legislature has been wrought by conflict.

The primary wont be the first faceoff between Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, and Del. Marie March, R-Floyd. But this time, voters will decide who will continue on toward keeping their job in the House of Delegates.

March, 45, and Williams, 34, began their legislative careers at the same time, elected in 2021 to neighboring political districts, both part of a so-called red wave that flipped the state House to majority Republican.

Soon after, statewide redistricting combined much of their newly won territories into the shared 47th District  Carrol, Patrick and Floyd counties, plus Galax and part of Henry County  setting the scene for a reelection showdown that comes to a head on Tuesday.

The two became fast rivals. On social media, theyve described each other using words like lying, weak, unhinged, and unfit to hold office.

Between online jabs, March and Williams met to settle assault allegations inside a Wythe County courtroom in January. A specially-appointed judge dismissed Marchs allegations that Williams criminally bumped her while leaving a crowded Republican meeting.

After Williams was declared not guilty, March used social media to blame the justice system for her defeat in court.

They sparred last May over abortion, each claiming to be more pro-life than the other.

When the question arose last summer about how Republicans would select their nominee in the 47th, that, too, caused contention and claims of election rigging. District Republicans eventually decided to vote in a state-run primary, rather than attend a mass meeting such as what happened in other nearby House districts.

Early voting in the 47th primary started May 5, and ended Saturday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for Republicans in a 61,000-person district that voted 78% for Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021.

The Republican leaning of the district makes whoever wins Tuesdays primary the likely favorite against Democrat Patty Quesenberry during the general election in November.

March did not respond to multiple phone calls, text messages or emails last week asking about her campaign efforts this spring. She raised about $65,000 for this election, compared to Williams more than $373,000.

Im excited to win on Tuesday. Im excited to get back to work, Williams said during a phone call. Im excited that I get to represent this new district, the 47th.

Williams has endorsements from Republican Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears and Speaker of the House Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, which he said are rare nods when two incumbents face each other. He was also endorsed Friday by Montgomery County Sheriff Hank Partin, according to a press release.

March has posted on social media about endorsements from the Grayson County Republican Party, plus hemp, education and pro-life interest groups.

Its been said that the politicians in Richmond are not very fond of me, March said in a campaign video. I must be doing something right. Send me to Richmond, and Ill represent you, not them.

Williams said hes an available and effective legislator, pointing to a law he wrote that prevents the state from shuttering churches during times of emergency, as happened during coronavirus shutdowns.

Were not finished yet, weve still got projects outstanding. Weve got to finish a water tower infrastructure implementation project in Franklin County, south of Smith Mountain Lake, Williams said. Weve been working with Floyd and Carroll County on their water and sewer infrastructure, same with Patrick. Weve got plenty to do. And I really enjoy the challenge.
September is a gorgeous time to visit the East Coast due to the fall colors  and Collette tour's The Best of Eastern Canada did not disappoint in that regard. We were a little early for the full-blown fall color display but the colors of the trees were definitely exquisite and postcard material.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  The Department of Finance (DOF) wants military and uniformed personnel (MUP) in active service to contribute 5% of their monthly salary to the retirement fund for the first three years of the proposed pension system.

The DOF also wants new entrants to the uniformed services to contribute 9% of their basic salary and longevity pay to the retirement fund.

The agency explained its proposal in a statement released by a technical working group on Friday. The TWG helps the Marcos administration draft a pension reform law for the MUP.

The TWG also said it is proposing that the government supplement the MUP contributions so that the monthly premium would total 21%, which is the same for other government employees.

For the first three years, a 5% contribution of the MUPs in active service will be supplemented by the government with a 16% share to fulfill the 21% total monthly premium for the trust fund. This sharing scheme shall be adjusted until a 9% to 12% contribution ratio is reached on the seventh year," the DOF explained.

Meanwhile, new entrants shall contribute 9% of their base and longevity pay, with a corresponding 12% from the government, it added.

Other government employees, who may retire at age 60 but must retire at age 65, contribute 9% of their monthly pay while the state supplements it with 12% for a total of 21% monthly premium.

On the other hand, SSS members, who retire at age 60, contribute 4.5% of their monthly pay while their employers supplement it with 9.5%.

Since the MUP retire at age 57, they enjoy their pension longer than other employees.

The MUP pension covers retirees from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Bureau of Corrections, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Public Safety College.

The computation for the proposed contribution of MUP will be based on data from the updated actuarial study of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which will be released soon.

According to the DOF, the GSIS will invest the monthly premiums to acquire the required return of 85% to 90% of the pension upon retirement.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has warned that a fiscal collapse will happen if the MUP pension will continue to be funded by taxpayers money and government borrowings.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has supported the proposal to reform the MUP pension system and urged the government to establish "the most strategic mechanism that will enable the system to survive in the long run.

READ: Biting the bullet: The Marcos administration's push for MUP pension reform

Meanwhile, Senate Committee on National Defense and Security chairperson Senator Jinggoy Estrada said government must not rush to approve the proposal but should carefully scrutinize it for the sake of the MUP.

However, he also noted the need for reforms in the MUP pension system.

We also cannot turn a blind eye to the pressing concerns surrounding their pension system which calls for immediate and comprehensive reform, he said.
Shirley Contreras wrote for the Santa Maria Times from 1991 to 2022. Her book, The Good Years, a selection of stories is on sale at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, 616 S. Broadway.
" " The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector assembly in a tunnel of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), in Cessy, France. Nine years after the historic discovery of the Higgs boson, the world's largest particle accelerator is trying to find new particles that would explain, among other things, dark matter, one of the great enigmas of the universe. VALENTIN FLAURAUD/Getty Images

What is about 200 times the mass of an electron, exists for about 2-millionths of a second, continually strikes every inch of Earth's surface, and seems to behave in a way that pokes a hole in long-accepted laws of physics?

That would be the muon, a particle first discovered in the late 1930s, which is formed in nature when cosmic rays strike particles in our planet's atmosphere. Muons are passing through you and everything around you at a speed close to that of light. Nevertheless, many of us probably didn't even realize their existence until April 2021, when the particle made the news headlines after researchers at the U.S. government's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory  more commonly known as Fermilab  released the initial results of a three-year-long Muon g-2 experiment.

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The Fermilab study confirmed previous findings that the muon behaves in a way that's contrary to the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the theoretical framework that aims to describe how reality works at the tiniest level. As this article in Science explains, muons  which exist in a sea of other tiny particles and antiparticles that affect them  actually are slightly more magnetic than the Standard Model would predict. That, in turn, points to the possible existence of other, still-unknown particles or forces.

As one of the researchers, physicist Jason Bono, explained in a news release from his alma mater Florida International University, the team knew that if they confirmed the discrepancy in muons' magnetism, "we wouldn't know exactly what's causing it, but we would know it's something that we don't understand yet."

The initial results, along with other recent particle research, could help build the case for a new physics that would replace the Standard Model. From Fermilab, here's a YouTube video explaining the results and their significance:

"Muons are like electrons except 200 times heavier," explains Mark B. Wise, in an email interview. He's a professor of high energy physics at the California Institute of Technology and a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. (If that doesn't sufficiently impress you, he also served as a technical consultant on particle accelerators for the 2010 Hollywood film "Iron Man 2").

"According to Einstein's formula E=mc2, this means that muons at rest have greater energy than electrons," Wise says. "This allows them to decay to lighter particles while still conserving energy overall."

Another key difference is that electrons are believed to be pretty close to immortal, but muons only exist for 2.2 millionths of a second, before they decay into an electron and two kinds of neutrinos, according to this U.S. Department of Energy primer on the particle.

The muons that are constantly being created when cosmic rays strike particles in Earth's atmosphere travel astonishing distances in their brief existence, moving at close to the speed of light. They strike every inch of Earth's surface and pass through almost everything in their immediate path, potentially penetrating a mile or more into Earth's surface, according to DOE.

" " The centerpiece of the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab is a 50-foot-diameter (15-meter-diameter) superconducting magnetic storage ring, which sits in its detector hall amidst electronics racks, the muon beamline, and other equipment. The experiment operates at minus 450 degrees F (minus 232 degrees C) and studies the precession (or wobble) of muons as they travel through the magnetic field. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab

Some have described muons as the key to understanding all subatomic particles, though Wise doesn't go quite that far. "In the search for physics beyond our present understanding you should study all particles," he says. "The muon has some advantages though. For example its anomalous magnetic moment is very precisely predicted which makes it more sensitive to new physics, beyond our present theory that would alter this prediction. At the same time it can be measured very precisely."

Studying muons isn't a simple matter, though. Fermilab is using a 700-ton (635 metric ton) device containing three rings, each 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter, that was shipped by barge and truck to Illinois from its original home at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York a few years back. The device is capable of generating a magnetic field of 1.45 Tesla, approximately 30,000 times that of Earth's magnetic field.

"It's fascinating that to study something so tiny and short-lived, they need these huge pieces of equipment," Wise explains. "When they are produced at high energy they travel almost at the speed of light and can travel a fair distance before they decay. So you might look for the evidence they leave in a detector."

For example, since muons are charged particles, they can ionize the matter they pass through. The electrons that are produced by this ionization can be detected, according to Wise.

" " A cosmic ray shower, c 1930s. This picture was taken by Carl Anderson (1905-1991), who discovered the muon and the positron. SSPL/Getty Images

Wise says the Fermilab team's recent discover that the particle is slightly more magnetic than physicists expected is significant. "It disagrees with the present theories prediction for the muon magnetic moment (the present theory is usually called the Standard Model). So there is some new physics beyond that in our present theory that is present and changes the prediction for this quantity," Wise says

Like many important discoveries, the Fermilab's finding raises more new questions, and there's much that scientists still want to know about the muon.

"What is the new physics is the question it raises," Wise says. "There are also some other anomalies that are not explained in the [Standard Model] that involve muons. Are they all connected in some way?"

Wise also sounds a note of caution about the Fermilab findings. "It may be there is some systematic effect in the experiment that is not understood and is impacting the interpretation of the measurement," he explains. "Similarly for the theory. So this anomaly could ultimately disappear. It is very important to check such things as much as is possible."

Now That's Interesting As Fermilab physicist Chris Polly notes in this 2020 essay, every particle in the universe  even in the deepest, most seemingly empty expanses of space  is surrounded by an "entourage" of other particles, which continually "blink in and out of existence."
GREENVILLE, S.C.  As Ron DeSantis wrapped up a 12-stop campaign tour that began in an Iowa evangelical church and ended in a South Carolina convention center, dozens of pastors met backstage to pray for the presidential candidate. Later, to the 1,500 people in the auditorium, DeSantis closed out his speech with a paraphrased Bible verse: I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, and I will keep the faith.

The governors religious rhetoric and hard-charging policies are at the center of his outreach to white evangelicals  an important voting bloc in the early GOP nominating contests. When it comes to his own Catholicism, DeSantis is more guarded, rarely mentioning his specific faith practices.

I dont think hes a wear-your-religion-on-your-sleeve kind of guy, said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, a conservative advocacy organization that hosted a fall rally for DeSantis.

Burch argue DeSantis policies are the true measure of his faith, from Floridas six-week abortion ban to a spate of laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights: Perhaps a good Scripture reference that may describe him is, By their fruits you shall know them.

DeSantis officially entered the race last month and is the leading alternative to former President Donald Trump. If the Florida governor captures the Republican nomination and takes on Joe Biden, two Catholic presidential candidates will face off for the first time in U.S. history.

Both have publicly clashed with Catholic bishops: DeSantis over immigration and the death penalty; Biden over abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The current president, though, speaks often about being Catholic. He is known to wear a rosary and is regularly photographed attending Mass  in contrast to DeSantis, who is intensely private.

Hes nominally Catholic, according to a New York Times essay from the conservative writer Nate Hochman, who later joined the DeSantis campaign. Last year, Hochman wrote that DeSantis is politically friendly to conservative Christians. But he rarely discusses his religion publicly and almost never in the context of politics.

The campaign did not respond directly to questions about Hochmans essay or where the DeSantises go to church. A spokesperson for Never Back Down, the DeSantis super PAC, did not have information about his current church attendance.

Maria Sullivan, a DeSantis supporter, remembers worshipping regularly with DeSantis and his wife at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church when they lived in Northeast Florida. Hes a very low-key man, not looking for attention, just there with his family, she said.

Sullivan said she attended the baptism of DeSantis older daughter at the church. The parish also was a polling place in 2018 and where DeSantis cast his own ballot when he was first elected governor.

DeSantis grew up Catholic. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Dunedin, Florida, and his political memoir says he was expected at church every Sunday. His mother counts a nun and a priest among her siblings.

Its during the rare instances when DeSantis talks about trials that he gives his most revealing faith responses. He has spoken of the power of prayer in helping his family through his wifes breast-cancer diagnosis. In March, he agreed with the journalist Piers Morgan when asked if he leaned on his faith after his sisters death.

You start to question things that are unjust, like Why did this have to happen? DeSantis said. You just have to have faith that theres a plan in place, trust in God, theres no guarantee that youre going to have a life without challenges and without heartbreak.

In his stump speeches, though, DeSantis sticks to general God-and-country fare, occasionally referencing the Bible and often in ways bolstering his fighter persona, such as telling audiences to put on the full armor of God.

He deals in vague platitudes about faith  and he very much downplays his Catholicism, said Cary McMullen, the former religion editor of The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida.

In 1960, when anti-Catholic sentiment was more prevalent, then-candidate John F. Kennedy gave a landmark speech to a group of Protestant ministers, pledging he would not take orders from the Catholic Church if elected. DeSantis has already defied the Catholic hierarchy on policy.

In 2022, DeSantis attended Mass and met with most of Floridas bishops, who urged him to reconsider his objection to unaccompanied minors, which the Catholic Church cares for in one of its Florida shelters.

It was a frank exchange, said Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the highest-ranking Catholic official in Florida.

No political party is totally consistent with the gamut of our Catholic interests, Wenski said.

Biden makes a bigger deal of his Catholicism than DeSantis does, Wenski added, noting that it gives all us bishops heartburn because of his radical abortion stance.

After the Greenville rally, a group of four friends and former Trump supporters said DeSantis won them over.

Hes more palatable, said Tom OShields from Easley, S.C. Mr. DeSantis seems to have what those Christian voters are going to want without the baggage of Mr. Trump.

The 2024 presidential field, in the order they've announced Donald Trump, Republican Nikki Haley, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Marianne Williamson, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Democrat Larry Elder, Republican President Joe Biden, Democrat Asa Hutchinson, Republican Tim Scott, Republican Ron DeSantis, Republican Mike Pence, Republican Chris Christie, Republican Doug Burgum, Republican Francis Suarez, Republican Will Hurd, Republican
FLORENCE, S.C.  Francis Marion University played host Saturday to a moderated conversation with Rep. James Clyburn, former state Sen. Maggie Glover and professor Bobby Donaldson as part of the universitys celebration of Juneteenth.

Glover achieved a series of firsts in the state. In 1983 she became the first African American woman elected to the Florence School District One Schools Board of Trustees, then in 1988 became the first African American woman elected from the Sixth District to the state House and in 1993 became the first African American Woman to serve in the state Senate.

Clyburn has a long history of public service and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and since has served in a series of leadership positions.

Donaldson is a history professor and executive director of the Center for Civil rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina.

The Francis Marion African-American Faculty & Staff Coalition sponsored the event with support from the universitys Studying Slavery Initiative.

Thats what this is all about, giving everybody their just due. Juneteenth is celebrated because they finally communicated with people to let them know, Clyburn said of the two and a half years between the Emancipation Proclamation and the date, June 19, 1865, when word of the document was finally delivered to slaves in Galveston, Texas.

Glover spoke of the importance of Black history to the community in that communities that dont know history frequently are doomed to repeat it.

A reception followed the event.
 "Reimagining Restitution: New Approaches To Support Youth And Communities" | Main | Might Prez Biden wisely focus on marijuana offenders for his next clemency efforts? 

July 18, 2022

Spotlighting notable (and constitutionally suspect?) aspects of federal firearm prohibition enforcement

I noted in this post last week the new report from the US Sentencing Commission titled "What Do Federal Firearms Offenses Really Look Like?". Following up on that report, Jacob Sullum has this interesting post at Reason.com headlined "A New Report Casts Doubt on the Assumption That Gun Law Violators Are a Public Menace: The vast majority of federal firearm offenses involve illegal possession, often without aggravating conduct or a history of violence." I recommend that post in full, and here are excerpts (with links from the original):

A new report on federal firearm offenses shows that the vast majority involve illegal possession, often without aggravating circumstances or a history of violence. The data undermine the assumption that people who violate gun laws are predatory criminals who pose a serious threat to public safety. They also highlight the racially disproportionate impact of such laws, which is especially troubling given their excessive breadth.... [T]he federal prohibition of gun possession by people with felony records (technically, people convicted of crimes punishable by more than a year of incarceration) is a lifetime ban except in rare cases where people manage to have their Second Amendment rights restored. That policy, which threatens violators with up to 10 years in prison, is hard to justify unless you assume that people convicted of violent crimes cannot be rehabilitated and do not change their ways as they mature. That assumption does not seem reasonable in light of research indicating that recidivism declines sharply with age. Yet federal law is based on the premise that, say, a man convicted of assault in his early 20s can never be trusted with a gun, even if he stays out of trouble for decades. Because of that youthful crime, he forever loses the right to armed self-defense. Furthermore, the USSC's numbers indicate that two-fifths of firearm offenders had never been convicted of a violent crime. Many prior convictions involved drug trafficking (31.6 percent) or previous weapon offenses (44.2 percent). Five percent of the defendants were disqualified from owning a gun because they were illegal drug users. If a decades-old assault conviction seems like a thin pretext for permanently depriving someone of his constitutional rights, a decades-old drug conviction, involving conduct that violated no one's rights, seems even thinner. The irrationality and injustice of this policy look even worse when you consider the demographics of federal firearm offenders. In FY 2021, 55 percent of them were black. A similar racial disparity is apparent at the state level. According to FBI data, African Americans, who represent about 14 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for 42 percent of arrests for weapon offenses in 2019.... If those restrictions made sense, you might dismiss the disparities, citing cross-racial differences in crime rates. But those restrictions do not make sense, since they apply to millions of people who either are not currently dangerous or never were.

Importantly, as I have noted in some prior posts linked below, whether or not one agrees with Sullum's policy criticisms of broad federal firearm prohibitions, the constitutionality of some aspects of federal enforcement must be subject to new questions in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent Second Amendment ruling in Bruen. As I noted in those posts, Bruen makes clear that to "justify its [gun] regulation, the government may not simply posit that the regulation promotes an important interest. Rather, the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation." And the historical record, as I have seen it, seems to make quite debatable whether broad bans on gun possession by non-violent offenders or drug users is "consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Prior recent related posts:

July 18, 2022 at 12:30 PM | Permalink

Comments

Sullum is a libertarian crackpot, and his piece here is so shot full of lies and distortions that it would take longer than I'm going to devote to it to go through them.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 18, 2022 2:19:14 PM

FYI 922(g) is now 0-15 thanks to the recent gun legislation passed last month. Not 0-10 as the author says.

One of those little nuggets that snuck in as part of the overall package.

Posted by: Zachary Newland | Jul 18, 2022 3:21:34 PM

Mr. Otis agrees with the government that someone (like me) who was half-coerced half-tricked into pleading guilty to a non-violent crime 44 years ago, who has an otherwise perfectly clean record before and since, and whose proof of innocence was never disputed by the state, but was dismissed as untimely, should get a lengthy prison sentence if he possesses a gun, regardless of circumstances. For instance if I was present at a mass shooting and were to save dozens of innocent lives by seizing the shooter's gun.

I conclude that Mr. Otis is dangerously insane, and should seek medical help.

Does he believe the same about possession of automobiles? If not, why not? Cars kill more Americans than guns do, even though there are more guns than cars in the US.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 19, 2022 6:45:48 AM

Keith,

That is a perfectionist fallacy. If your account is true, so what? The law is an axe, not a scalpel for obvious reasons. No law can accommodate a million different scenarios leading to a felony conviction and denial of your gun rights just as no no credible justice system can prevent the occasional wrongly convicted guy in prison.

Its a balancing act of competing goals.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jul 20, 2022 9:48:12 PM

TarlsQtr, I've never asked for special consideration. Anyone who can prove their innocence should be exonerated. Anyone who has had a perfectly clean record for decades is either reformed or was innocent in the first place. The right to defense of oneself and others, which necessarily implies the right to possess the means of such defense, is a fundamental human right, which should be infringed only in the gravest extreme, and only for the briefest period possible. It's even more impossible to keep guns out of the hands of bad guys than it is to keep drugs out of the hands of bad guys -- drugs, unlike guns, are rapidly consumed and will cease to exist unless replenished, so all that gun laws can do is disarm the good guys. If it was the mere presence of guns which were the cause of mass shootings, then Switzerland, where possession of machine guns is *mandatory*, would be the deadliest nation.

Lots of people owe their lives to the fact that Elisjsha Dicken hadn't been falsely accused of a crime or mental illness, nor had he been red-flagged by some random person.

Mistakes can happen, but a legitimate justice system would eventually correct them, not double down on its mistakes. When planes crash, the NTSB figures out why and fixes the problem. Imagine if it instead said engineers have been building planes wrong for more than 21 days, so they have to keep building them wrong forever.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 21, 2022 7:57:25 AM

TarlsQtr --

I don't know that it's a good use of your time to try reasoning with Keith Lynch. He says, citing no law, that a heroic person, as he imagines himself to be, can, if he's a previously convicted felon, be cruelly and unjustly punished for possessing a firearm in the obviously urgent case where he has no sane choice but to defend himself or others.

The reason he cites no law is that it would contradict his florid claim, see e.g., https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1647521.html, US v. Moore, a Sixth Circuit case decided nine years ago that has an extensive discussion of the well-established exception to the FIP statute in cases of self-defense. Either Mr. Lynch does not know about this caselaw, in which case he's just spouting from florid ignorance, or he does know about it, in which case his whole "oh-poor-me" discussion is breathtakingly dishonest.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 21, 2022 8:54:09 AM

Bill,

One thing I learned very early while frequenting these message boards is that whenever a woe is me story is given, there is more to it than what is presented.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jul 21, 2022 9:38:19 AM

TarlsQtr --

You observation is especially apt as respects Mr. Lynch, who was convicted because HE TOLD THE JUDGE HE WAS QUILTY, and now claims his in-court admission was false, that it was everybody else's fault, and that he's really utterly innocent.

When I asked him to produce the records to back up his claim, he declined, and said it was my job to fetch them for him, because it was only "walking distance" for the law school where I teach. Actually, it's a bit over six miles.

But back to the substance of his present claim: There has been a self-defense exception to the FIP prohibition since forever, but he just walks right past that. Is that how an honest person would behave?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 21, 2022 11:08:31 AM

When I was teaching in prison, 2/3 of the inmates were innocent/railroaded, etc. Just ask them.

My favorite and most common was the wrong place at the wrong time excuse. He was riding around with his buddy, they were pulled over, and there was a gun plus a brick of cocaine under the passenger seat. They are always shocked, I mean SHOCKED, it was there.

Never mind the buddy was a known drug dealer, never had a job in his life, and was driving a Cadillac Escalade.

No warning signs at all!

There are always choices in life. To get or not into the buddys car. To plead guilty (even if not) or make your case. Keith lied to the judge in court.

As they say, Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jul 21, 2022 2:51:06 PM

Bill Otis said, "... a heroic person, as he imagines himself to be

...." No, I said the exact opposite of that. I said that if I were

present at a mass shooting I would *not* attempt to seize the killer's

gun. I am not willing to risk five years in prison. Neither, of course,

would I carry a gun in a mall, as Elisjsha Dicken did, or anywhere else,

on the off chance that someone might shoot up the place.

No, I wasn't familiar with the Sixth Circuit case US v. Moore. Why

would I be? I'm not a lawyer. But I do know that Virginia, where I

live, is not in the Sixth Circuit, so that case law doesn't apply to

me. Are you trying to trick me into breaking the law?

I don't know of any Virginia case law with that exact fact pattern,

but I do know that the relevant law, 18.2-308.2, mentions no "hero"

exception. And I do know of a Virginia case where a person was

convicted for having a flare pistol in his boat, although that's

a required piece of safety equipment, and is not what most people

would think of as a firearm. I would no more rely on prosecutorial

discretion to save me from a charge I'm technically guilty of than

I would rely on claims made by a telemarketer or spammer.

TarlsQtr wrote, "One thing I learned very early while frequenting

these message boards is that whenever a 'woe is me' story is given,

there is more to it than what is presented." What, always? Did you

miss the news about several *thousand* exonerations in the US? And do

you think every convicted person who wasn't exonerated must have been

guilty?

If anything I said about my case is a lie, that should be easy for

anyone to prove. Mr. Otis objects to my alleged demand that he look

it up. I made no such demand. But it's simple human decency to not

make accusations without evidence. If he doesn't have the time to

check my record, fine, but then he should STFU about it. But I

suppose nobody with simple human decency can become a prosecutor.

I've told Mr. Otis at least twice that I did *not* tell the judge I was

guilty (or even "quilty"). If either of you believe that a guilty plea

requires a confession, then I too have a case to point to: North

Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970).

He calls me a liar, but suggests that I should go to the Arlington

Courthouse myself and report back what I find about my case. Again I

ask what would be the point? Whatever I told him I found, he'd just

call me a liar again. The only way he can know for sure what the

records say is to check them for himself. If he doesn't care enough

to check, that's fine, but then he should stop pontificating about it.

And yes, six miles is walking distance for any healthy person. If he

can't walk that far, I can't help but wonder if his brain is in as bad

a shape as his body. It would explain a lot. But I never suggested

he actually walk it. I was just remarking on the remarkable coincidence

that the relevant courthouse is so close to his workplace, given that

he could have been anywhere in the US.

You also say, "When I was teaching in prison, 2/3 of the inmates were

innocent/railroaded, etc. Just ask them." Perhaps they are, given

that the methods most used to convict people have so little to do with

the methods used to learn the truth. The overwhelming majority of

defendants are convicted in coerced plea bargains, not trials.

And finally, it's not all about me, or even all about the many other

falsely convicted people. Suppose I *had* been guilty of that

non-violent crime 44 years ago, as you've both smugly convinced each

other that I was, despite -- or rather because -- of a total lack of

evidence. Should I still be forbidden from possessing a gun? Even

one that never leaves my home? How about a flare pistol if I had a

boat? Why? How many people who have had a perfectly clean record for

44 years, and who had never been accused of any violent crime, later

went on shooting sprees? How many more increments to gun "safety"

laws until something in Elisjsha Dicken's past disqualifies him too

from possessing a firearm? Will gun grabbers never be satisfied until

nobody is armed except bad guys? Obviously someone who intends to

shoot up a shopping mall won't be deterred by an additional five year

sentence for possession. But good guys will be deterred from carrying

at the mall.

I am somewhat bothered by Bill Otis's criticism, but I'm not at all

bothered by that of TarlsQtr or any other anonymous troll. I may not

have the courage to attack an active shooter, but at least I have the

courage to always use my real name here and everywhere else.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 21, 2022 11:44:04 PM

There is one thing Mr. Lynch says that I fully agree with -- that he's not a lawyer. He goes on to prove this big time by saying, "If either of you believe that a guilty plea

requires a confession, then I too have a case to point to: North

Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970)."

Of course the whole point of Alford is to note that a defendant can be validly convicted by admitting that the government has enough proof to establish his guilt BRD, even as he refuses himself to admit guilt. In other words, as even intelligent laymen know, an Alford plea IS NOT A GUILTY PLEA.

Then, after his attempt to argue, with ample indignation but no law and no stated limit, that an heroic FIP would be sent away for years for acting in self defense, he also admits that this isn't so under the Moore case. But he obviously still hasn't read Moore, because if he did, he would know that it is merely the specific application of a widely (if not uniformly) recognized common law rule that acting in immediate self defense is an exception to criminal liability under FIP statutes.

The problem Mr. Lynch apparently struggles with, is that decades ago, he pleaded guilty to a crime he now says he didn't commit. But the very core of a GUILTY PLEA is an admission that YOU DID COMMIT the offense. If you show any hesitation about that, the judge simply will not take the plea and you'll be headed to trial. Period. Anyone who's spent any time in a courtroom knows this.

Since HE is the proponent of the argument that he's innocent even though by his own earlier accounts he pleaded guilty, HE bears the burden of persuasion to document his present contrary claim. One way to do this would be by obtaining the court records. But this he has consistently refused to do. We're just supposed to take his word for it that he magically got convicted without either a trial or a guilty plea, and that all this happened, not because of anything he did -- no, he's blameless -- but because of the Big Bad Conspiracy among the malicious cops, the prosecutor, the judge, and of course his own lawyer.

OK, that might conceivably be the state of play. If it is, the case records would shed some light on it. But it is exactly those records he consistently refuses to furnish or even make a slight attempt to obtain. Unlike Mr. Lynch, however, I will not suggest that he should therefore "STFU." Very much to the contrary, the more he writes, the better. Like TarslQtr, I've been saying for years that defendants have an amazingly robust penchant for self justification, and Mr. Lynch's continuing anger AFTER 44 YEARS, and without a shred of documentation to support his claims, proves the point better than I ever could.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 22, 2022 1:35:45 AM

Mr. Otis has completely lost the plot. This thread isn't just about me, it's about everyone whose gun rights are being infringed, especially those whose alleged crimes were non-violent or in the distant past. And not just people who were convicted of felonies, but sometimes also misdemeanors, or who use medical marijuana or who are the victims of malicious gossip ("red flag laws"). After someone has fully "paid their debt to society," how many years must they have a perfectly clean record before they should get their rights back? Especially if they were never even accused of a crime of violence? Is there the slightest public safety benefit to such draconian punishments? Does it make America safer to lock up a boater for years for having a required flare pistol on his boat? (Note that it's also a crime to *not* have a flare pistol on your boat.)

If so, I ask, given that cars kill more Americans than guns do despite there being more guns than cars, why not permanently ban anyone who has ever gotten a traffic ticket from possessing a car, or even being in the presence of an unsecured car? If someone accused of riding his bicycle too fast were to, 44 years later, when visiting friends, momentarily walk through a garage containing a car with keys in its ignition, why not lock him up for a mandatory five year prison sentence, preferably during a pandemic that has killed more than a million Americans?

Is there any wonder so many Americans have such low opinions of police and prosecutors?

Getting back to me, I'm not going to waste my time trying to obtain a transcript that probably never existed, to satisfy someone who would accuse me of lying and forgery if it did exist and it said what I think it would? The only way Mr. Otis can know what documents in that courthouse say is to go there himself, or send someone he trusts to do so. If he doesn't want to, fine, but then he should stop insisting he somehow magically knows what they say.

Alford did not take an "Alford plea," as nothing of the sort existed at the time. He simply pleaded guilty, exactly as I did. Anyone who doubts this, read the case for yourself.

Am I still angry after 44 years? During the 99.99% of the time that I'm not discussing my case, no. But when I am discussing my case with someone who calls me a liar, yes. Mainly because, thanks to people like him, my case is still held against me. This makes no sense. Even if I had been guilty, I have long since paid my debt to society. If 44 years ago I had instead borrowed a million dollars and never paid back a cent, *that* debt would have been completely forgiven after just 7 years. Why the double standard? And, even if Mr. Otis doubts that I was proven innocent, does he also doubt that Virginia has, or had at that time, a 21-day rule that says that such evidence, no matter how strong, is irrelevant after three weeks? Does he also doubt that just this year SCOTUS ruled, not for the first time, that it's perfectly okay to execute a prisoner who has been proven innocent?



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 22, 2022 9:15:49 AM

I really should let this go, but it's just too delicious.

Mr. Lynch says that six miles is walking distance. And it's quite true that an adult of normal health, including me, can walk six miles. But there is this recent invention called "Uber" that can save you the roughly two hours or slightly less it would take to do it. Now maybe Mr. Lynch has a couple of hours to spare during his workday to take a stroll like that, but I don't.

Mr. Lynch also says that it would be no use for him to retrieve the court records he suggests would back up his "I-wuz-cheated" story, because I would still disbelieve him. The question, however, is not what I would believe, but what the records would establish to a reasonable person Mr. Lynch more approves of. But the whole thing's just baloney anyway, since in the modern world, the way you show written material to someone is BY LINKING TO IT, like this: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/06/08/should-an-unpopular-sentence-in-the-stanford-rape-case-cost-a-judge-his-job/a-judges-recall-is-warranted-for-an-indecent-sentence, or this, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/14/mueller-should-recuse-himself-from-investigating-russia--comey-william-otis-column/102827924/

Of course Mr. Lynch already knows this, just as the rest of us do, so it's hard to see much of a point in this shake-and-jive other than as a distraction from the basic fact that Mr. Lynch pleaded guilty (as he admits he did in the third comment on this thread) and now admits (or insists, it's hard to tell which) that his plea was false.

The guy has some problems to go along with his bile. He's accused me of being insane (his exact word), which he knows is false; and of being physically dilapidated, which is also false (but closer to true than it was a few decades ago, that's for sure). He just can't get over the fact that he was convicted of a crime (stealing) based on his own counseled guilty plea.

I can understand being unhappy with the losses or perceived losses of the past. That's human nature. What I understand less well is what's to be gained by clinging to grievance FOR FORTH-FOUR LONG YEARS, and pretending that your unhappiness is everybody else's fault.

Time to grow up and move on. Past time, really.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 22, 2022 10:02:07 AM

Keith,

I suspect the boat flare question is a fringe case at best.

How many cases have there been of a FIP conviction with a guy who was just chilling on the lake with a flare gun in his boat safety box?

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jul 22, 2022 12:12:51 PM

TarlsQtr --

And how many cases are there in which a FIP had a gun solely and immediately for self defense against an imminent threat of death or grave bodily harm, and then promptly got rid of the gun afterward, but was prosecuted for that behavior? I'm not aware of a single one, and none has been cited on this thread. I strongly suspect that it's a product of Mr. Lynch's fantasies.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 22, 2022 1:27:45 PM

Again, this thread isn't just about me, it's about whether people who have had perfectly clean records for decades should receive further punishment, such as a permanent denial of all gun rights. Mr. Otis refuses to respond to any questions on this topic. Instead he resorts to repeatedly calling me a liar, as it it was all about me, and as if he's much more knowledgeable about my case than the crime victim, who hired me sight unseen right out of prison as he knew I was innocent, or the federal government, which issued me a security clearance after I described the circumstances of my wrongful conviction on my SF-86 form. Again, the state never disputed the proof of my innocence, they just said it was untimely, as it had been more than three weeks.

He seems to have a serious problem with reading comprehension, as I've told him these facts several times, and told him where he can find proof of them. And as he most recently responded to a comment in which I said "But I never suggested he actually walk it" by saying "Now maybe Mr. Lynch has a couple of hours to spare during his workday to take a stroll like that, but I don't." He keeps harping on my inability to say much about my plea of guilty except that I did plead guilty at the insistence of my court-appointed lawyer, I was not guilty of what it turned out that I pleaded guilty to, and that I did not knowingly lie. In his latest reply, he implies that he believes a transcript, or maybe even a video, of my allocution definitely exists, not just in the courthouse, but on the Web. Sure, everything any court reporter took down with their steno machine somehow ended up online. It would be nice. Why won't I simply Google "Keith Lynch allocution" to find it? I just tried that, and found nothing about me except my previous comments on this blog.

I stand my my claim that anyone who thinks someone who has had a perfectly clean record for more than four decades and who has never been accused of a crime of violence should permanently lose important civil rights for the protection of the public, is insane.

In a more recent thread, about sentencing, he says that "Neither a pardon nor an acquittal means the defendant didn't do it." That's literally true, but legally irrelevant. The fact that Mr. Otis has never been charged with a bank robbery doesn't mean he has never robbed a bank. For that matter, I've never seen any proof that he *hasn't* been charged with robbing a bank (mainly because I never bothered to check). So of course if he's ever convicted of a crime, the judge should sentence him as if he was guilty of every crime in the world.

Why is he even on this blog? This blog is about sentencing reform. His thesis seems to be that sentences are already perfect, except for not being harsh enough. But the only "evidence" he presents is to call anyone who presents evidence otherwise liars. He's like an NTSB investigator who insists that no plane has crashed in the US in the past 50 years, and calls anyone a liar who points out examples of crashed planes. About like Alex Jones claiming that the Sandy Hook massacre never happened (for which he has been successfully sued).

As for my "letting it go," as I just said, this isn't about what happened to me 44 years ago, it's about what is still happening to me to this day, and to millions of other Americans. Why doesn't the *state* let it go?

I can't provide him a transcript of my allocution, but I'll repeat what I said in a previous thread, now that he's once again denying the easily-proven existence of grossly defective plea allocutions:

Changing the subject from my case to cases with defective plea-bargain

allocutions in general, I refer you to the case of my friend Theodore

William Wells, federal prisoner number 12561-050. He was coerced into

pleading guilty to kidnapping, and was sentenced to ten years. I've

seen a transcript of his allocution, and confirmed that it left out

the element of preventing the alleged victim from leaving. Nobody

ever claimed that she wasn't free to leave at any time. She arrived

at Wells's home by Greyhound bus (crossing a state line), and the next

day from Wells's house phoned friends to come and pick her up, which

they did, using directions that Wells provided to them. Those facts

are all undisputed. I'm sure you can easily find a copy of that

defective allocution yourself. Given that you're interested in the

legitimacy of plea bargains, please do so.

Finally, has anyone actually confirmed that Mr. Otis is who he claims to be? He sounds to me more like a bad parody of a prosecutor than like someone with an actual law degree.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 23, 2022 2:32:21 PM

Keith,

You can literally just Google his name.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jul 23, 2022 3:15:54 PM

I did long since Google his name, which is how I learned how close to Arlington Courthouse he works. This came as a welcome surprise to me, since he could have been anywhere in the US.

But that doesn't prove that the person who posts here with that name really is that person rather than an impersonator. When someone doesn't know that it's possible to plead guilty without confessing, or that the text of decades-old plea allocutions isn't likely to found online, or that there have been thousands of exonerations in the DNA era, or that in the vast majority of cases there never was any DNA evidence and that the error rate in those cases isn't likely to be any lower, it's hard to believe he's a real lawyer, especially one who worked in criminal law for many years.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jul 23, 2022 4:04:56 PM

TarlsQtr. --

Captain Queeg puts in an appearance.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jul 23, 2022 10:05:08 PM

Post a comment
SIOUX CITY  Bob Rehan wanted a succession plan of some sort should he become sidelined in his work.

"One of the things that an attorney who practices primarily as a sole practitioner, such as I do, one of the key things that such a person has to do is keep an eye out for their clients, with a view toward what would happen if something unanticipated happened to me, health wise, or I died," said Rehan, 63, an attorney who runs the Rehan Law Firm on Fourth Street. "You have to have a plan in place."

But, for all that he thought about the matter, he couldn't find "the right fit."

Then one day, in November 2022, his daughter, Omaha attorney Katy Rehan, had an idea while in Lexington, Kentucky for a client meeting: What if Smith Pauley, the much-larger Omaha firm where she's a partner, merged with her father's practice in Sioux City? She held her father's law firm in high esteem, describing it as "a wonderful practice" and "such a well-oiled machine."

"I just said it kind of wishfully, that 'I wish that we could somehow do something with my dad,'" said Katy Rehan, 37. "And both my partners looked at me, and they're like, 'Well, why wouldn't you?'"

So she broached the idea to her father, not necessarily expecting any interest from him. In fact, the overture was warmly received by the elder Rehan: "Number one, it's my daughter, Katy," Bob Rehan said.

"I've always been very impressed with her work as an attorney, and the way she handles and cares for clients," he added.

Bob Rehan went to meet with the attorneys of Smith Pauley -- some level of due diligence was, of course, de rigueur. "It ended up being, like, the best first meeting ever. And the rest is history," Katy Rehan said.

The Rehan Law Firm, 700 Fourth St., announced its merger with Smith Pauley this month, effective July 1. The Sioux City office will carry the Smith Pauley name. Bob Rehan himself is staying put and will continue in his work, as will his staffers.

Bob Rehan has lived most of his life in Sioux City; his family moved here from Omaha when he was a year old. His entire law career has been in Sioux City, beginning after he passed the bar in 1984 and joined the law firm of Tom Vakulskas, working alongside the likes of Duane Hoffmeyer, later a district judge who has since taken senior status.

Rehan worked there for five years before striking out on his own in 1989, sharing an office with attorneys Richard McCoy and Bruce Thomas, and forming a somewhat loosely unified practice they called McCoy, Thomas & Rehan; the three largely conducted their own work independently. After a few years, McCoy became a judge, the firm dissolved and Rehan established his own firm, bearing his name.

The practice of the Rehan Law Firm, consisting of Bob Rehan and fellow attorney Michael Jacobs, along with a longtime office manager, longtime receptionist and a paralegal, consists largely of "helping people complete purchases or sales of residences," Rehan said. His focus on real-estate law began early in his career.

As a young adult, Katy Rehan wasn't sure what she was going to do with her life. Born and raised in Sioux City, she studied journalism and political science for her undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa. But there was "no job I could see myself as, visualize myself as, except for a lawyer."

"I really didn't know, to be honest" Katy Rehan said. "Even when I started college -- I guess I didn't know outwardly, like I wasn't comfortable just committing to anything at that time."

She was at Saturday in the Park in July 2006 when she made up her mind.

"And I'm like, 'I'm going to law school!'" Katy Rehan said.

"And I think, always, it was because of my dad," she added.

She passed the bar in 2010. But the economy had shifted radically, and not for the better, between her decision to go to law school on July 1, 2006, and her bar exam four summers later. At the time, a slow recovery from the Great Recession was just beginning; it was not an encouraging time to be a young, inexperienced job seeker.

"Right after I took the bar -- 2010, things were just kind of shaky then, because it was following the economic crash, so I was really nervous. So I'm like, 'I'm not going to take off any time' -- like my friends did," she said.

Soon she was practicing commercial litigation and some real-estate law in Chicago.

In 2020, she moved to Omaha, keeping her job with the Chicago law firm, doing contract work and also helping her father.

In 2022, a group of attorneys of the former Smith Slusky law firm in Omaha formed the new Smith Pauley. In August of that year, Katy Rehan joined Smith Pauley as a partner. The firm has a total of 22 attorneys -- not counting Bob Rehan or Michael Jacobs -- and 30 support staff. Smith Pauley's lawyers work primarily in estate planning, real estate, commercial lending, corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions and commercial and civil litigation.

Now that her firm and her father's firm are one in the same, Katy Rehan said, she'll probably be working alongside her father quite a bit. "I want to be in the office a lot more, I want this to feel like I'm as much a part of it as my dad, starting now," she said.

Her father's firm, meanwhile, will reap the benefits of having greater resources at its disposal than it ever had before.

"And it kind of gives a person at my station in life, and my station in the practice, a sort of new energy," Bob Rehan said.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to green-light facade improvements for a Historic Fourth Street Building.

According to city documents, Beau Fey, of BluStone Architecture, has requested that the council authorize a certificate of appropriateness for the former Aalfs Manufacturing building, 1005 Fourth St. Ho-Chunk, the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, purchased the building in 2021, along with three other buildings in one of downtown's most popular districts.

Certificates of appropriateness are required by city code for proposed additions or modifications to buildings within Sioux City's historic districts.

Plans call for the five-story building to be remodeled into a mix-use structure with main level commercial space and upper-level residential units. The loading dock/canopy, north and east fire escapes and existing penthouse would be removed, under the proposal. The request also includes construction of a new rooftop patio and the installation of 19 windows into the west facade.

The building with a brick-and-stone edifice was built in 1890 by the Boston Investment Company in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Its first occupant was the Sioux City Upholstering Company. Aalfs Manufacturing Company moved into the building around 1922.

Aalfs was initially a paint and wallpaper company. It later became a clothing company. Aalfs was sold in 2018 to Grupo Siete Leguas.

In other business

The Council is expected to vote Monday on cancelling the city's outstanding purchase orders for two vehicles.

On Nov. 2, 2020, the city awarded a $78,654 purchase order to Thomas Bus Sales, Inc. of Des Moines, for a light-duty bus to replace an older bus that had exceeded its life expectancy.

"Sioux City Transit System and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) have found Thomas Bus Sales, Inc. to be unresponsive concerning the status of orders. IDOT has stated transit agencies do have the option to cancel those orders and place them with another vendor on the statewide transit procurement list," the agenda item stated.

The other vehicle order, for a $28,126 Ford All Wheel Drive Explorer, was placed with Ed Stivers Ford, Inc. of Waukee, Iowa, on March 21, 2022. The vehicle was intended to replace an older Chevrolet Traverse that had reached the end of its expected useful life.

"Ed Stivers Ford, Inc. notified City staff in November 2022 that Ford closed the order bank due to lack of production," the agenda item stated.

On Feb. 6, the vehicle purchase was re-bid, and the Council approved the purchase of a $27,600 Chevrolet Traverse.

T-hangar contract

The Council will also be asked Monday to approve a $974,568.37 contract with a Sioux City contractor for a project at the Sioux Gateway Airport-Brigadier General Bud Day Field.

The contractor will build a new apron (a place where airplanes are parked) and a taxilane connector for the airport's Northeast T-Hangar Development.

Five bids were received for this project. The lowest was from K&S Contracting, LLC of Sioux City, whose bid was 18.93% below the engineer's estimate.

The project is expected to be funded with Iowa Commercial Aviation Infrastructure Funding Grant money.
The Supreme Court got it right this week when it left the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act in place.

Designed to ensure that Native children arent separated from families and placed in non-Native homes, the act was under fire from states that said it was based on race.

Supreme Court Native Child Welfare Demonstrators stand outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, as the court hears arguments over the Indian Child Welfare Act, Nov. 9, 2022, in Washin

In truth, the act underscored the need to preserve families, traditions and cultures. Had it been struck down, the move also could have threatened tribes ability to govern.

For more than a decade, many Siouxlanders have defended the act, holding vigils to call attention to instances where Native children were placed in non-Native homes, even though there were relatives able to care for them.

The late Frank LaMere, a longtime Native American activist, frequently pointed out that changes to the law would challenge tribal sovereignty.

Voting 7-2, the justices affirmed the act. Justice Neil Gorsuch said the decision safeguards the ability of tribal members to raise children free from interference by state authorities and other outside parties.

The 1978 law was passed in response to the number of public and private agencies taking Native American and Alaska Native children from their homes. Before it was enacted, 25 to 35% of Native American children were taken from their homes and most were placed with white families or in boarding schools in an attempt to assimilate them.

Affecting hundreds of Siouxlanders sent to those schools, the move was a frightening one. It diminished Native culture and suggested there was a better way to raise children.

Thanks to the stories told by those affected, weve come to realize how important culture is in a childs life.

The Supreme Court ruling gives us hope. Attempts by others to erase the past shouldnt be encouraged but investigated to determine the motive.
125 Years Ago

Saw Omahas Exposition: Sioux City will contribute largely to the crowds that will attend the Trans-Mississippi exposition at Omaha this summer, and a number of residents have already visited the exposition. Those who have seen it are pretty well agreed in their opinions  there is some disappointment, and it may have been a mistake on the advertisers part to persistently compare it to the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. But the Sioux City visitors believe the show will be a good one.

Kratz and Wigton Differ: Prof. H. E. Kratz, superintendent of the city schools, and E. D. Wigton, president of the board of education, hold different opinions regarding the value and efficacy of the system of half-yearly promotions now in operation in the high school. Kratz is a strongly for the system, citing how much quicker students can advance as well as how much a student is delayed if held back a half-term versus a full term. Wigton opposes the system as it multiplies the classes in high school as well as requires duplicated commencement exercises, complicating the system work.

100 Years Ago

Sioux City Hits in the Pinches: Sioux City took both ends of a double header from Saint Joseph Sunday with both scores being 4 to 3. The Packers got two runs in the first inning and added two more in the fourth for the first game. In the second game, the Packers started the same as the first. They counted twice on hits by Moore and Dennehey, along with a free passage from Metz.

1923 Sioux City Packers The 1923 Sioux City Packers are shown.

Sioux City Marines Hold Picnic: On Sunday, 75 ex-marines and their families assembled for the first exclusive Marine picnic ever held here. The former Marines took their dinners with them, but refreshments such as ice-cream, soda, and cigars were provided by the committee and donated by the firms of the city. Sergeant Robert L. Birt, recruiting sergeant here, stated the picnic would lead up to the organization of a club of ex-Marines living in the vicinity, affiliated with the National Marine Corps Association.

50 Years Ago

IBP Treats Texans and Vice Versa, Oh Boy and How!: Giant Iowa Beef Processors, Inc., and so big Texas staged parties for each other over the weekend. The major event was the groundbreaking Saturday afternoon for Iowa Beefs planned new processing plant to be located in a wheat field east of Amarillo, though the party began early when 150 Amarillo ambassadors boarded an orange-colored jetliner for Sioux City. After visiting Iowa Beef headquarters in Dakota City and having a social hour and luncheon, the enjoyment shifted back to Amarillo with four planeloads of people making the trip.

1973 IBP aerial This aerial shot shows IBP circa 1973.

Traditional Ideas Laid Aside At Seminar: On Morningside College campus over the last two weeks, English teachers have laid to rest some traditional ideas on how to teach literature to young people. The summer institutes goal was survey popular literature to see what youngsters like to read and why. The group also explored different ways to encourage pupils to express themselves in poetry and prose. Lecturers included Dr. Lori Clarke, an assistant professor at the University of Utah; Dana Wall, division head of English for Sioux City Public Schools; Dr. john Conner of the University of Iowas Education department among others.

1998 - Art Center Cancer exhibit 1 A Sioux City Art Center cancer exhibit is shown in 1998.

1998 - Art Center Cancer Exhibit 2 A Sioux City Art Center cancer exhibit is shown in 1998.

25 Years Ago

Art Helps People Cope with Cancer: Cancer patients, survivors, friends, families, and caregivers are teaming up this week with a pair of artists to make a multimedia art exhibit. Artists Jane Gilmor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sandra Menefee-Taylor of St. Paul, Minn., began one-day workshops on Tuesday to create an addition to their current Project, Wisdom Passage, a bridge-shaped house created as a culmination of the writings and drawings of patients and caregivers at HealthEast and St. Josephs hospital in St. Paul. The workshops and exhibit are sponsored by the Sioux City Art Center and the Siouxland Regional Cancer Center.

Seniors Learn How to Surf the Net: About 40 residents at North Park Senior Living Community learned about the World Wide Web and email at a special program on Wednesday, led by Cathy Seaton, a software trainer at Gateway. Some participants had never touched a computer, and others had been using the Net for years. Frances Dornan never uses a computer but decided to attend the session out of curiosity. Mary Bomgaars had a computer never had internet access, and recently decided it was time to join friends and relatives online. Bomgaars says its the thing of the future. Dwight Herrizk enjoys the computers ability to keep his mind occupied and says other people could benefit from learning about technology.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  Fish production in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) could increase if there is no "hindering factor" in the disputed waters, according to an official of the Bureau of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Citing government data, BFAR spokesperson Naz Briguera said in a forum on Saturday that fish production in the WPS contributed 6% to the total volume in 2022.

Reporters asked Briguera if the fish production in the WPS could have been higher if not for Chinese incursions in the contested waters.

"Between 2021 to 2022, nagkaroon ng pag-slide down 'yong production sa West Philippine area at tinatanong ako saan ba attributed 'yon. They are (journalists) trying to get that perspective na parang it's actually a result of the issues happening in the West Philippine Sea in terms of the geopolitical situation," he said.

[Translation: Between 2021 to 2022, there's a decrease in the fish production in the West Philippine area and I was asked what could be the cause. They are trying to get that perspective that it's actually a result of the issues happening in the WPS in terms of the geopolitical situation.]

Briguera explained that while "there is no direct attribution to that particular data" as the production level could be due to bad weather, it is possible that fish production in WPS could increase if there is no geopolitical issue.

"Now going back to your question na posible ba na tumaas ang production ng WPS kung wala ang mga isyung ito na nangyayari doon? I would say yes," the BFAR official said.

"Kung ano man iyong mga hindering factors na nangyayari ngayon at kapag nawala ito ay mangangahulugan ito na mas malilinang natin ang yaman ng West Philippine Sea," he added.

[Translation: Now going back to your question if it's possible that the production in WPS would increase if there is no issue there? I would say yes. Whatever these current hindering factors are, if these are removed, it would mean that we could cultivate the resources in the WPS.]

Citing a 2019 report from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, Briguera said the country is losing around 33 billion yearly due to damaged ecosystems in waters off Panatag Shoal and Spratly Islands because of China's reclamation activities in the area.

RELATED: DFA: Chinese harassment in West PH Sea a 'daily' occurrence

China has been rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling in The Hague which invalidated its sweeping claims over the South China Sea.
My mother suffered from depression all her life. It was not disabling - in addition to being a wife and mother, she managed to receive a degree in mechanical engineering, teach middle school math and study enough accounting to be CFO of our family business, Agro Ingredients. But when I was going into fifth grade, depression struck her hard.

My sisters and I spent the summer with our grandparents while she recovered. What triggered this episode? Something that happens to us all. We had just moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa from the Czech-American enclave of the western Chicago suburbs where my parents had spent most of their lives. My mother had an "in your face" style and no pre-existing friends or acquaintances in town. The nice Iowans pretty much rejected her. Not having a social network did it.

I doubt that she received any treatment for her depression. We couldn't have afforded it. Plus, Czechs were supposed to be thrifty and self-reliant and not be ill in their heads. What really helped her was moving back to Chicagoland, where there were more people like her and she flourished.

For the rest of her life, she lectured me periodically about the reality of depression and how, if I felt sad, or had a friend or loved one who did, they should seek help. I always wondered how you would go about seeking help. We have had the good fortune to have some good friends who are psychiatrists, so I figured you could start with them. Who else is out there? I know that mental health professionals have been few and far between in our area, and the lack of practitioners bothered me.

Our legislators have been bothered by this paucity too. I recently attended a meeting where Rep. Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge spoke of an initiative that should significantly increase mental health services to all Iowans. She worked with her leader, House Speaker Pat Grassley, to develop a program that could bring psychiatrists to Iowa. The program was fine-tuned this year and its funding was unanimously approved by the Iowa Legislature.

Nine psychiatric residencies each year at the University of Iowa have now been established and the program will be implemented on July 1. The funding actually places a priority on giving these slots to students with deep roots in Iowa. The students will rotate through state institutions such as the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. If the program is correctly designed and operates as it is hoped, it should go a long way to helping with this aspect of mental health care.

Nine new psychiatrists every year that are less likely to flee to California or Florida for sunshine and higher reimbursement rates can be a tremendous addition. As Rep. Meyer explained, "The Legislature has prioritized expanding access to mental health care in Iowa over the last 6 years. We know these investments in psychiatry education will lead to more mental health providers in the future to care for Iowans in need."

I also learned of the many other actions that the Iowa General Assembly has taken to help with our highly-recognized mental health gap. Payment rates to mental health practitioners who treat patients receiving Medicaid support have increased, although Iowa certainly doesn't have the highest reimbursement rates for medical professionals. A variety of barriers to treatment have been removed by legislative action, such as allowing certain professionals to prescribe medication when they couldn't before. I am certain some of these actions were controversial, but in total they should significantly improve the Iowa mental health landscape.

Your mother is always right. If you or a loved one are hurting, you need to get some help. Iowa psychiatric residencies and local mental health programs mean there is a high probability that this help will be available close by and without long waits. Kudos to the Iowa General Assembly for approving this important funding.

Suzan Stewart is a retired corporate attorney. During the 40 years she has lived in Sioux City, she has been involved in a variety of local and state volunteer activities, including serving as chair of the Woodbury County Republican Party. She and her husband, Dr. Bob Stewart, are the parents of four children and have five grandchildren.
This essay is adapted from First Family: George Washingtons Heirs and the Making of America by Cassandra A. Good  2023 by Cassandra A. Good, used with permission by HarperCollins/Hanover Square Press.

On a cold day in New York City in the winter of 1789, a family prepared to sit for their portrait. This was no ordinary family: It was President George Washingtons. They were Americas very first first family. They stood frozen in their poses before the artist in a rented house with luxurious mahogany furniture, rich carpets, and newly painted walls. Through the windows, they could watch white-sailed ships make their way down the East River. In the finished painting, it is the Potomac River that curves gently through the background. In the forefront, George and Martha sit across from each other at a table with a map of the new District of Columbia unfurled. George rests his arm on the shoulder of a young boy in a coral suit standing at his side, while a girl in a white gown stands behind the table and next to Martha. Visible in the shadows of the painting, an enslaved man stands behind the white family. When the portrait was finally completed nearly a decade later, the artist, Edward Savage, reproduced The Washington Family in thousands of prints that made their way into homes across the country.

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In the late 18th and 19th centuries, everyone in the new United States would have recognized these children. But as far as most Americans in the 21st century know, George Washington never had any children. Some may have read the words of George Washingtons most famous eulogist: AMERICANS! he had no childBUT YOU,and HE WAS ALL YOUR OWN. Who, then, are these children; who was Washingtons family? It was a question I started asking over a decade ago, when I first came across Washington family members in historic records. Clearly, I thought, what I needed was a family tree. As it turned out, this was no simple task.

There were no comprehensive family trees online. With further digging, I located a Washington descendant who had compiled just what I was looking for: a massive family tree that showed all the descendants of George Washingtons father. It arrived in the mail in a tall poster tube, and the document I unfurled stretched 5 feet long and 2 feet wide. The tree mapped out 10 children (by two wives), 40 grandchildren, 130 great-grandchildren, and around 300 great-great-grandchildren. Sprawled out on the floor, I leaned down over the long document to read through the names. The children from the family portraitwhom I had learned were Eleanor (Nelly) and George Washington (Wash) Parke Custiswerent there.

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The Custis childrens names were absent for good reason: They were not blood-related to George Washington at all. They would appear on a separate family tree only for the Custis family, into which their grandmother (and future first lady) Martha had first married. Martha Dandridge had entered one of Virginias wealthiest families when she wed Daniel Parke Custis in 1750. The pair had four children, but only the two youngest, John Jacky Parke Custis and Martha Patsy Parke Custis, survived past toddlerhood. When Daniel died suddenly in 1757, Martha became the wealthiest widow in the colonya prime catch for a young man on the make like George Washington.

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George and Martha married in 1759, when George was almost 27 and Martha nearly 28. Georges marriage to Martha propelled him into Virginias upper gentry. Bringing his wife, her children, some of the 84 enslaved people she inherited, and her wealth to Mount Vernon, George expanded the house (inherited from his brother Lawrence, who died young) and profited off the labor of bondspeople to make his estate productive. Martha maintained her role as the primary parent, with the often-absent George as a stern but loving stepfather to Jacky and Patsy Custis. Jacky was, his stepfather said, a boy of good genius, but he was a lazy student whom George lamented was more interested in Dogs Horses & Guns than learning. Jacky dropped out of one school after another. His sister Patsy had to stay close to home because she suffered from seizures, which her parents did everything they could to treat. Nonetheless, their Sweet Innocent girl (as George called her) died after a fit in 1773 at only 17.

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Soon after, Jacky marriedagainst the advice of his stepfather, who felt the 20-year-old Jacky was too immature and irresponsiblea young Maryland woman named Eleanor Calvert. Eleanor and Jacky had seven children, four of whom survived, before Jacky died suddenly in 1781. Elizabeth (Eliza), Martha (Patty), Nelly, and Wash Parke Custis, then, were, in todays parlance, George Washingtons stepgrandchildren. While Americans in the 18th and early 19th centuries did not use the language of stepfamilies, such blended families were quite common due to high death and remarriage rates.

With four children aged 5 or under on her hands, Eleanor Calvert Custis might well have been overwhelmed. Martha, missing having children in the house, offered to take Nelly and Wash and raise them at Mount Vernon with George. This would not have been unusual at the time, and Eleanor and her elder daughters lived close by and visited regularly. There was as of yet no legal form of adoption, but people referred to Nelly and Wash as Georges adopted children. Nonetheless, this was also a time when blood relationships were central to legal definitions of family and inheritance. Thus George Washington could essentially adopt two children and raise them as his own, but have no children.

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Indeed, while never having any biological children of their own, George and Martha raised and supported other children beyond the Custis grandchildren. They took in a bevy of nieces and nephews over the course of their decades together. Both George and Martha had numerous siblings and, in Georges case, half siblings. A rotating cast of orphaned nieces and nephews, or those whose parents had too many children at home to support, made temporary homes with the Washingtons. Others received considerable financial support and advice. It was Bushrod Washington, the eldest son of Georges late eldest full brother, who inherited the famous Washington estate of Mount Vernon.

Is Edward Savages family portrait really the Washington family, then? It turned out that the answer to my questionwho was George Washingtons family?was far more complicated than I imagined. Over more than a decade, I have searched through images, objects, houses, financial records, letters, and diaries scattered over museums and archives from Boston to New Orleans. I read 19th-century newspaper and magazine articles, spoke to living descendants, and conferred with archivists and fellow historians. I spent months researching at Mount Vernon, working through papers in its library vault and talking with curators and librarians there. As the pieces fell into place, I found that there was no single definition of George Washingtons family or who counted as his descendants. But one thing was clear: For Americans from the Revolution to the Civil War, the Custis grandchildren were George Washingtons family.

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Related from Slate Rebecca Onion Andrew Jacksons Adopted Indian Son Read More

This was no accident: It was the result of choices that George, Martha, the Custises, and the Washington nieces and nephews all made. While George supported many of his nephews and nieces, his closest emotional bonds were with Marthas grandchildren. They, especially Nelly and Wash, spent the most time living with him, hearing his stories, and experiencing life as the nations first first family. Martha prioritized keeping the family together, bringing the children with them as the capital city moved from New York to Philadelphia. The public visibility all four siblings gained during the presidency cemented their role as Georges family early on in their lives. None of Georges blood-related family members ever had this kind of close access and public recognition.

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After George Washingtons death, the Custises and the Washington nieces and nephews continued on diverging paths. While a Washington nephew inherited Mount Vernon, the house was an empty shell when he moved in; all the Washington furniture, china, clothing, and other household objects that quickly attained the status of relics ended up in the Custis grandchildrens hands. The grandchildren, then, had both the family stories and belongings that could keep Georges memory and legacy alive. They chose to use those strategically at every step, while the Washington nieces and nephews lived largely in obscurity as small Virginia planters. When Bushrod Washington, inheritor of Mount Vernon, died in 1829, his obituary did not even mention his relationship to his famous uncle. His nephew and grandnephew who next owned Mount Vernon, John Augustine Washington II and III, similarly preferred to stay out of the limelight.

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It was the Custis grandchildren, then, who took center stage as George Washingtons family. They nurtured their celebrity as the first family, contributing to political discussions, inviting visitors to their homes to share stories and display relics, and serving as representatives of George Washingtons Revolutionary legacy at social and political events. None of them had any particular talents or accomplishments in their own right; their fame came from who they were and how they shaped their public personas, not what they had done.

Perhaps we should not be surprised, then, that the Custises were largely forgotten within a few decades of their deaths in the mid-19th century. They had never been George Washingtons blood relatives; it had been through their own choices and efforts that the nation had known them, rather than the many Washington nieces and nephews, as the first presidents family. Americans defaulted to a definition of family that they still rely upon today: Family was about blood relationships.

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That didnt mean that the American public lost interest in Washingtons family; to this day, they are interested in presidential descendants. But to be a descendant means being a blood descendant, even if your ancestors had little or no personal relationship with the president. In 2008, genealogy company Ancestry.coms chief family historian tracked down the closest male heir to George Washington to answer a question that would have appalled George himself: Who would be king if the first president had become a monarch? This wasnt the first person to go on such a quest; periodicals in 1908, 1951, and 2000 had done the same. The winner this time: Paul Emery Washington, a Texas businessman whose own 2014 obituary noted that he was the closest descendent of President George Washington. Today, this mans descendants would be able to join the newly formed Society of Presidential Descendantsyou can join as direct or collateral descendants, the latter only if you are related by bloodline (lineage of the presidents parents (father and mother)but the descendants of the Custis grandchildren could not.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

I am 18 years old and just finished my first year of college at my dream university. I learned a new programming language, became the president of a club, was a teaching assistant this past semester, and became friends with my roommate. My parents raised me to be independent from a young age, and I was more than ready to step out into the world. But my parents cant seem to let up one annoying habit thats keeping me from feeling like an adult.

I wasnt allowed any internet access until middle school and didnt get my first cell phone until I turned 12. In the beginning, it was heavily monitored, but they let up on this slowly over the course of three yearsexcept for Life360. While I was still in high school, my parents were always calling me while I was driving, questioning me about why I was going wherever I was going, why I was taking this road instead of that one, and why I was on the highway. Theyd accuse me of lying about where Maps/Waze took me because it wasnt the route they would have taken. Theyd scold me after the two-mile drive home from my school because the software clocked me going 47 when the highest speed limit on my route was 50. And this didnt stop when I went away to college!

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Ive been called in the middle of a lecture that got moved to Zoom, with my mother demanding to know why I was skipping class. Ive been caught in the crime of arriving home from Walmart on a Thursday night at the ungodly hour of 9:30 p.m. and grilled about a walk at dusk to attend a club meeting. And then my mother got upset over me NOT leaving my dorm over the course of a weekend. I havent ever broken their trust concerning my location. This isnt punishment for anything I did wrong, and I dont know how to win back the trust I never lost. How do I confront people who have this level of confidence in their authority? Should I do it face to face, while Im home for the summer, or wait until Im back in a dorm again?

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Surveilled in the South

Dear Surveilled,

I wouldnt confront them. I would just stop answering the phone when they call. (If they object to this, you can politely let them know its not safe to answer the phone when youre driving, and its unacceptable to answer the phone when youre in classan explanation that has the virtue of being absolutely true.) Your only other option, as I see it, is to give up the phone they pay for, thats on the family plan and that they can monitor in any way they choose, and find a way to pay for your own phone. And if they dont like this, you can tell them that now that youve turned 18, you feel its important to take responsibility for yourself in any way you canand remind them that theyre the ones who taught you to be independent (though Ive got to say Im not sure what you mean by this, under the circumstances).

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Want Advice From Care and Feeding?

Submit your questions about parenting and family life here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.)

Dear Care and Feeding,

I (they/them) have always known that I wanted to have kids. However, Im 31 now and single, as I always have been. I have an income thats nice enough for a single person but is extremely modest. I rent my home, and I live some distance from my family (who Im not sure Id want that closely involved in the day-to-day life of any hypothetical child anyway). Still, now that Im in my 30s, it seems to me I really need to start working on this if Im going to make it happen, but it feels impossible. From finding a sperm donor to raising a child, the whole thing seems daunting. I have a supportive network of friends, which is great, but none of them want children so its hard to imagine them acting as the sort of extended family a child needs (does a child need that?). I find myself envious of people who get pregnant by accident since thats never going to happen to me (failing some massive changes in my life/self, or something truly horrific occurring). How do I even begin undertaking something like this on my own? Is it even responsible to do so?

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Baby Fever

Dear Baby Fever,

Ill be honest with you: I remember contemplating the same questions when I was in my mid-30s, for my own reasons. I got lucky and met the man who is my daughters father at what seemed to me the eleventh hour. If I hadnt, I might very well have pursued the path youre considering (though I also thought seriously about adopting).

Ill tackle the pragmatic part of this first. You need to gather as much information as you can. One good source Ive found, which walks you through the process, is Family Equality, which will take you step-by-step through various ways to become a parent. It will help you feel less overwhelmed, I think, and also lay out for you some things you may not yet have thought about. For example, although the cost of using anonymous donor sperm through a sperm bank may seem out of reach, and known donor spermfrom a friend or acquaintance whos on board to help you achieve your dream of parenthoodmay be free, the legal expenses associated with ensuring that your parentage is clearly defined may even the financial scales. And leaving aside matters of money, the choice between a known and unknown donor is a crucial first step if you feel sure you want to become a parent through pregnancy.

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Some of the other practical things that are worrying youhow much money you make, the fact that you dont own your own homeI would consider less pressing. People of modest means have been having children since time immemorial. It is certainly possible to be a parentand be a good parentwithout every bell and whistle that our culture urges us to provide. If you love your child and keep them fed and warm and safe, you can make this work. And if the friends you already have love you, they will also love your child, whether or not they ever decide to have children of their own. You will also make new friends, I promise (children, once they are beyond infancy, have a way of bringing their parents into contactlots and lots of contactwith other parents).

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The question is: How much do you want this, and why? Thats what Id spend my energy on at this juncture. Be as sureand as clear-eyed about whyas youre able to be. It is not irresponsible to have a child if you want to. Ill tell you that for me, it was the single best thing I ever did; its still my favorite thing about my life (and my grown daughter is my favorite person!). But theres no turning back from this, and it will change your life foreverso take some time to think it through, OK?

Catch Up on Care and Feeding

 If you missed Fridays column, read it here.

 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

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Dear Care and Feeding,

My son is 10, my daughter is 8. Both of them go to the afterschool program at school twice a week. Last week, my son was involved in a playground incident. He and his friend, and my daughter and her friends, were playing two separate games that involved the play structures. My son had purposely fallen to the floor of the play structure, having died in the wizard game he was playing with a friend. He was just getting up when his sisters best friend, who was running, tripped over him and fell, hard, breaking her arm in the process. The injured child and my daughter agree that this was an accident and no one was at fault. The afterschool program does too (though its been pointed out that both running and lying down on the structures are against the rules). In any case, my daughters friends parents dont blame my son. No one blames my son. And yet he still feels very guilty about this. He understands that it was just a bad coincidence, but he still feels at fault. How do we get him to stop beating himself up over this?

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Feeling Like the Guilty Party

Dear Feeling,

So he knows hes not at fault, but he still feels terrible about his role in what happened. Why is that a bad thing? Why would you want him to shake it off after a week?

Its healthy to feel bad about having had a role, however unintentionally, however accidentally, in someone elses misfortune. Let him work through this on his own, on his own timetable. Letting him know that its natural to feel the way he feels, that kind and compassionate people are genuinely sorry when they cause anyone pain; assure him that this often happens in the course of our lives. Let him take this in, and be available to talk it over with him if he wants to. (And if he wants to do something nice for the child with the broken arm, let him do thatnot because he owes her that but because its a lovely thing to do.) But trying to get him to let go of feeling guilty would be tantamount to teaching him that he should be coolly unaffected by pain he inadvertently caused. This is not a good lesson to teach our children.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

My 16-year-old son, Ernie, has always had a flair for the dramatic. I also have fraternal 13-year-old twin daughters, Anna and Amelia. A few days ago, Anna came to me with this information: It seems that Ernie had drafted a love poem in Google Docs on his school account (Im not sure if the school monitors what kids write there, but that was a stupid move regardless). He meant to text the document to his good friend Julia, to get her opinion on it, but instead accidentally sent it to Ameliawho has been blackmailing him over it ever since!

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Anna told me this had been going on for two weeks without her realizing it, that shed only found out about it the other day when Amelia tried to use the poem as leverage to get Ernie to drive her and Anna and their friend to the movies after my husband and I and the friends mom all said we couldnt drive them. (This scheme was also illegal, by the waynot just mean: Ernie is still in the phase of driving where he has his license but isnt allowed to drive with kids in the car other than his own siblings.) My husband thinks Amelias punishment should be two weeks without her phone, and then we leave it at that. Hes opposed to our doing anything else, including extending the punishment, trying to discover why Ernie went along with his sisters blackmail scheme, and making any effort to get the family back together again (Amelia isnt speaking to Anna or Ernie). Am I overreacting, as my husband insists?

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Mother of A Mess

Dear Mother,

Yep, you sure are. I think your husbands punishment plan fits the crime, and I think you need to let the kids work this one out on their own. You dont have to play Sherlock Holmes, either. Id venture to say that Ernie was susceptible to Amelias taking advantage of him because he was deeply embarrassed by her having read his poem and deeply scared about the prospect of her sharing it with others. Youd be surprised (I guess) by how far teens are willing to go to avoid feeling any more humiliated than they already do.

Michelle

More Advice From Slate

My husband and I both were raised in households where our dads yelled. While my husband had (and still has) a great relationship with his dad despite thisand sees him as a good role modelI did not have a good relationship with mine. What I mostly remember is trying my best to stay out of his way and walking on eggshells to keep from annoying or antagonizing him. My husband and I very rarely get into arguments in which he raises his voice, but from time to time it does happen, and I have to ask him not to yell at me.
When Jeremy worked at the sterile, fluorescently lit grocery store chain Albertsons, he and the other employees rarely connected. The store was too big, and there was too much to do. Imprisoned for hours at the register in the stale, lightly chilled airsurrounded by People magazines, Tic Tacs, and Slim Jimshe spent most of his time waiting to leave.

Things changed after he started working at Trader Joes. The place just seemed aliveeveryone was friendly, the store was small enough for friendships to form, and the endearingly tacky Hawaiian shirts and punny foodstuffs made it seem fun. More importantly: Everyone, it seemed, was banging each other.

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Referring to Trader Joes as the single most incestuous company [he] ever worked for, he described his first few months there as a sort of carnal mayhem. We worked late shifts, and everyone lived nearby, explained Jeremy, who spent 10 years at a California Trader Joes. I noticed it with the staff at first, but it was even with the managers. Theyd make jokes about it. There was a manager who met his wife through Trader Joes. Whenever wed get new managers, theyd introduce their partners by saying, Yeah, I met them at the manager party. Two of the people I was hired with became managers and got married. It was nonstop.

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For some people, shopping at Trader Joes is affordable-grocery blood sport, a battle with other customers to get the last Mango Jicama Slaw or new frozen item. For others, theres a sort of quivering horniness in the air, a tension floating between the shelves of Tomato Feta Soup and Everything but the Bagel seasoning. You know it when you feel it.

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Or maybe you already have. Either everyone at Trader Joes wants to fuck me or everyone at Trader Joes is fucking each other but something sexual is definitely going on there, Rachel Sennott, a comedian and actress, wrote online at the beginning of 2020. Megan Johnson, a writer from Boston, concurred: Im not sure of very much in life, but Im pretty confident in my belief that the staff of Trader Joes is having sex parties after they close the store.

I cannot confirm the existence of midnight post-lockup orgies, but after many interviews with current and former Trader Joes staffers, and delving deep into the Trader Joes employee subreddit, I can report: Yes, Trader Joes has seen a whole lot of hookups.

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Erin, another excrew mate who worked at a tri-state Trader Joes throughout her college years, was taken aback at how amorous the staff was. There were tons of intrastore couples, she told me. At my first store, a manager there fucked one of the employees who was married to a separate, other employee. At that same branch, two of my co-workers had a baby together.

Two employees she worked with had hooked up in the freight elevator, the stuff of legend at her store.

Jonathan, who currently works at a Midwestern Trader Joes, is seeing one of his co-workers. Its awkward because she used to date a guy who still works here, he said. I cant really look him in the eye.

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Another former crew member, Sarah, told me two employees she worked with had hooked up in the freight elevator, the stuff of legend at her store. Allison, who worked at stores over the course of five years, said the situation in her area was so heated that colleagues from different locations around her area coordinated their lunchtime crew meals for a bit of afternoon delight. As Drake says, The things we could do in 20 minutes, girl,  Allison said. (Like nearly everyone in this story, all these people asked me not to use their real names.)

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All of these accounts mirror the replies of a forum thread posted to the r/TJCrew subreddit earlier this year. The topic reads, simply enough, Why does everyone fuck each other? The poster, who goes by Maryneedswifi, recounted the rat nest of interlocking affairs, trysts, hookups, and love stories that have plagued her Trader Joes location. Specifically, she noted that one of her crew mates, a 29-year-old man, broke up with his long-term girlfriend after it came to light that he was cheating on her with a newly hired 18-year-old. Its all so weird and I hate the environment, can any of you relate? she asked.

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Sure enough, the responses quickly piled up, illuminating many stories of unbridled Trader Joes lust. Some of the posters agreed that the rampaging libido left their stores sick with hurt feelings and bad vibes, but others simply described Trader Joes as a bacchanalian free-love environment, akin to a verdant hippie commune, or a polycule that pays $15 per hour.

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I work at a store where most everyone is involved with one another to some degree, posted one user. Theres virtually zero drama. The largest entangled group is really cool, inviting, accepting, and inclusive. The person added: I dunno how my store has been able to keep up this wheel of love for so long, because people have joined and left over years like a Ship of Theseus kind of thing, but it works really well and Im not going to knock it.

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Trader Joes did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But several current and former employees told me the policy on the matter remains similar to a 2016 version found in the company handbook that was revealed in an unrelated lawsuit: essentially, that workplace romances are fine and dandy if theyre not happening between managers and subordinates, and crew members are allowed to date at will so long as it doesnt interfere with work. (Ill assume that date also means bone.) Managers interested in consensual relationships with their subordinatesor one anotherhave to notify a regional vice president before acting on their desires, and the VP can arrange for one of them to be moved to a separate store.

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To be fair, some of the respondents on the Reddit thread seemed genuinely confused by their TJ brethrens carnal accounts. Other respondents pointed out that workplace hookups are common at all businesses, not just Trader Joes. They have a point: If youre a veteran of the service or retail industry, youre certainly aware that casual interbreeding between employees happens all the time, especially when you factor in the late shifts, free alcohol in some cases, and often a roll call filled with younger people with a blissfully limited suite of responsibilities. And recent research from a trade group suggests that workplace romance in general is on the rise, even with more hybrid and remote work. The Trader Joes frozen aisle isnt the only place co-workers are making eyes at one another.

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Still, what makes this Trader Joes situation unique is that were talking about a grocery store that closes at 9 p.m. That doesnt seem like an environment conducive to off-the-clock hanky-panky, yet for some people, it iseven more than other grocery stores, it seems. Jeremy worked at Albertsons before getting hired at Trader Joes, and Jonathan spent time at a Whole Foods. Both of them told me that those jobs never matched the wanton mess of their future employer because supermarkets, by their very nature, are prudish and antiseptic.

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Everyone has their own theories about why Trader Joes is a sweaty outlier.

I think its because a store like Albertsons is so much bigger, Jeremy said. I worked in produce at Albertsons, so I just hung out with the produce people. People at the registers were doing their thing, but you wouldnt hang around them. Meanwhile, at his Trader Joes, nobody was assigned to a specific task. Everyone worked everything, he said. It created that family environment. Everyone had exposure to each other. You couldnt avoid it.

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Sarah agreed that Trader Joes puts a lot of stock into creating a breezy kinship among those wearing the apronwhich is likely why so many of the stores customers get the sense that the cashiers are flirting with them. In a podcast released by Trader Joes in 2019, the companys president, Bryan Palbaum, said that Trader Joes specifically seeks out people who have outwardly nice personalities, because its difficult to train someone to be nice. The general positivity and management practices at the store is contributive to being flirty, Sarah said.

There might also be an even simpler explanation. During her stint at the company, Allison said, she couldnt remember a single encounter with a Trader Joes clerk that shed describe as ugly. When a gaggle of hot, young single folks stock shelves together, inertia tends to take over. You can just feel the sexual tension when you walk in the doors, she said.

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Jonathan agreed that as a company, Trader Joes tends to attract prospects who are young, hot, and skeptical of traditional lifestyles. A lot of the people are into the polyamory thing, he told me. Apparently polyamoryand a variety of other alt-relationship preceptsis a frequent topic of discussion in Jonathans break room. Everyone is very sex-positive, he said.

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And then theres the stores Hawaiian shirts and nautical promotional hierarchy: Managers are referred to as captains, and they are reported to by a galley of mates and crew members. Employees are immediately thrust into a sort of mild role-play in which their position and outfits are meant to reflect the sort of relaxed, anything-goes energy of a cruise or a tropical beach vacation. (I know soft kink when I see it.)

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Erin offered my favorite theory. If youve cohabitated with someone, youre likely aware of the quiet intimacy of grocery shopping: two lovers pushing the cart, retrieving things from the shelves, deciding what to eat tonight. Working at a Trader Joeswith its smaller scale, distinct workplace culture, and homey texturemanufactures a version of that tender sensation with your inherited crew mates. Heaven is peacefully orbiting the aisles with a mild crush around closing time. Youre getting insight into how people take care of themselves and the things they do when theyre alone, said Erin. Theres something already very sexually charged about that.

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Trader Joes breezy identity has taken a hit amid its opposition to union drives, and the era of good vibes may be in decline. But nearly everyone I spoke to was positive about their co-worker experience, even with the bad politics of, say, a manager/subordinate fling or a disastrous breach of marital fidelity that makes you the star of a Reddit thread. A couple of 22-year-olds sharing a chaotic service-industry romance? Thats the spice of life, baby! I genuinely think its harmless, healthy even, Erin said. It keeps people coming to work.

Jonathan concurred. This is the best job Ive ever had. I wish I worked here years ago, he said. I would have more money, and I wouldve had a lot more fun.
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Whether youre a small business owner, a freelancer, or an entrepreneur, youre bound to encounter tasks that demand more than just the regular toolkit. Among these tools, a professional chainsaw often becomes indispensable for big firewood-cutting jobs, land clearing, tree services, and other heavy-duty tasks. But to choose the right chainsaw, understanding the different types and their uses is essential.

Understanding Chainsaws: From Amateur to Professional Use

What Makes a Chainsaw Professional?

The term professional in chainsaws indicates more than just a marketing angle. Professional chainsaws are designed with features and capabilities that cater to heavy-duty tasks, long hours of operation, and demanding work environments. These include increased chainsaw cutting power, durability, fuel efficiency, and most importantly, chainsaw ergonomics balance.

Professional chainsaws, with features such as vibration control, improved oil flow, bumper spikes, and advanced safety mechanisms like chain brake systems and a safety trigger lock, are designed to offer superior performance and a smooth cutting experience.

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Chainsaw Types and Their Applications

Gas Chainsaws

Gas chainsaws are often the first choice for professional use due to their power and performance. These chainsaws are ideal for heavy-duty operations like big firewood-cutting jobs, land clearing, and tree service. Their power allows them to handle large-diameter wood and operate for extended periods, making them the go-to for professional power tools.

Battery-Powered Chainsaws

Battery-powered chainsaws, on the other hand, are lighter and quieter power tools. Theyre great for light-duty jobs in the construction industry or for freelancers in audio and video production who require a quieter, lightweight chainsaw for prop-making or other delicate tasks. They offer convenience, and portability, and are a great eco-friendly alternative.

Corded Electric Chainsaws

Corded electric chainsaws are another popular choice, especially for homeowners and hobbyists. They offer continuous operation without worrying about battery life or fuel. Theyre quiet, lightweight, and perfect for small to medium tasks. However, their range is limited by the length of the power cord, which can be a drawback in certain situations.

Key Features to Consider When Buying a Professional Chainsaw

When considering a professional chainsaw, look for features such as power, size, and weight. High power is crucial for heavy-duty jobs, while a lightweight chainsaw enhances maneuverability and reduces fatigue. Also, pay attention to the oil mechanisms, air filter systems, safety features, and the oil tank size. These elements can significantly influence your user experience and the overall performance of the chainsaw.

The Heavy-Duty Contenders: Best Professional Chainsaws for Extreme Use

Top Pick: Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Powered Professional Chainsaw Runner Up: Echo Commercial Chain Saw Best Value: Oregon Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw Type Gas Gas Electric Engine Power 60.3cc X-Torq engine 50.2 cc 2-Stroke commercial-grade engine N/A Special Features X-Cut chain, LowVib Technology, Smart Start technology, Air Injection Technology Automatic, adjustable clutch-driven oiler, G-Force Engine Air Pre-Cleaner, Decompression valve for easy starting PowerSharp self-sharpening system, Tool-free tensioning, Automatic lubrication system Safety Features Inertia-Activated Chain Brake N/A UL Certified Weight Higher (exact weight not provided) Higher (exact weight not provided) N/A Pros Powerful, fuel-efficient, reduces vibrations, easy start, easy maintenance, durable Powerful, reduced oil consumption, easy starting, longer air filter life, improved user control Fast, efficient sharpening, optimal cutting performance, instant startup, lower noise, pre-assembled, 2-year warranty Cons Higher price point, requires regular maintenance, potentially heavy for extended use Requires regular maintenance, potentially heavy and noisy Limited mobility due to cord, not suitable for larger tasks

Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Powered Professional Chainsaw

Top Pick: The Husqvarna Professional Chainsaw is a high-performance chainsaw designed for heavy-duty applications. It features a 60.3cc X-Torq engine that provides ample power for demanding cuts and promotes environmental sustainability by reducing emissions by up to 60% and increasing fuel efficiency by up to 20%.

The X-Cut chain is pre-sharpened and ready to use straight out of the box, and LowVib Technology uses dampeners between the engine and chassis to significantly reduce vibrations, making your work more comfortable and reducing user fatigue.

Smart Start technology makes starting the chainsaw a breeze, and the Air Injection Technology keeps the engine clean by expelling larger dust and debris particles before they reach the air filter, thereby improving the engines lifespan.

Husqvarna professional chainsaws are among the top-selling brand in chainsaws. Their products are favored by professional arborists, land-clearing tree service professionals, and workers in the lawn care industries.

Pros:

Powerful 60.3cc X-Torq engine thats fuel-efficient and reduces emissions.

X-Cut chain provides long-lasting sharpness and durability.

LowVib Technology reduces vibrations for comfortable operation.

Easy-start features and Air Injection Technology for easy maintenance.

Durable construction with a forged three-piece crankshaft.

Safety feature includes an Inertia-Activated Chain Brake.

Cons:

Higher price point compared to some other chainsaws on the market.

As a gas chainsaw, it requires regular maintenance.

Its weight can be an issue for extended use.

Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Powered Professional Chainsaw

Buy on Amazon

Echo Commercial Chain Saw

Runner Up: The Echo professional chainsaws are versatile, mid-range chainsaws that offer a combination of power, performance, and portability. Equipped with a 50.2cc 2-stroke commercial-grade engine, this chainsaw is able to handle a variety of tasks from trimming limbs to felling trees and storm cleanup.

This chainsaw features an automatic, adjustable clutch-driven oiler which helps to reduce oil consumption and ensure the right amount of oil is delivered to the chain for smooth and efficient cutting. This feature also helps in prolonging the life of the chain and the bar.

Pros:

Powerful 50.2 cc 2-Stroke commercial-grade engine

Automatic, adjustable clutch-driven oiler for reduced oil consumption

Decompression valve for easy starting

G-Force Engine Air Pre-Cleaner for longer air filter life

Replaceable metal spike for improved user control and leverage

Cons:

As a gas chainsaw, it requires regular maintenance.

May be heavier and noisier than electric chainsaws.

Echo Commercial Chain Saw

Buy on Amazon

Oregon Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw

Best Value: This professional chainsaws built-in PowerSharp self-sharpening system reduces downtime by sharpening your chain in just 3 to 5 seconds. Combined with its tool-free tensioning feature, this chainsaw ensures a consistently perfect tension for optimal cutting results with minimal maintenance.

Further enhancing this tools convenience is the instant startup that corded electric chainsaws provide, along with quieter operation compared to gas-powered counterparts. This unit arrives pre-assembled and is UL Certified with a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.

Pros:

Self-sharpening system for fast, efficient sharpening

Tool-free tensioning for optimal cutting performance

18-inch guide bar

Instant startup and lower noise levels than gas chainsaws

Pre-assembled with a 2-year warranty

Automatic lubrication system for extended chain life

Cons:

Corded, which might limit mobility

Maximum cutting diameter of 17 may not be suitable for larger tasks

Oregon Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw

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STIHL Chainsaw MS 462C

Many professional chainsaw users love Stihl chainsaws. And for good reason  theyre German-engineered and built in America. Fortunately, Ebay has a good selection of brand new Stihl chainsaws, like the MS 462 C.

The STIHL MS 462 C is powered by a next-generation STIHL M-Tronic engine management system, which electronically controls ignition timing and fuel metering. It intelligently adjusts to changes in operating conditions, ensuring optimum performance at all times.

Key Features:

Adjustable Automatic Oiler: Adapt the lubricant for different bar lengths and cutting conditions.

Pre-Separation Air Filtration System: Efficient filter system prolongs the time between cleanings.

Ematic Lubrication System: Strategic design for adequate lubrication and reduced oil consumption.

Master Control Lever: A single, easy-to-use lever for operating the choke, starting throttle lock, and on-off switch.

Anti-Vibration System: Minimizes vibration levels for a comfortable working experience.

STIHL Quickstop: Safety feature to halt the chain in case of kickback situations.

Side-Access Chain Tensioner: Allows convenient adjustment of the saw chain.

Pros:

Lightweight design mitigates user fatigue

M-Tronic system optimizes engine performance

Adjustable Oiler and Ematic system provide efficient lubrication

Safety features like STIHL Quickstop enhance user safety

Cons:

Gas-powered operation may not suit all users

The chainsaw requires manual activation of the decompression valve.

STIHL Chainsaw MS 462C

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FARMMAC 36 Inch Gas Chainsaw

The FARMMAC F660VW Gas Chainsaw is a professional-grade tool featuring a powerful 92cc 2-cycle gasoline engine. This powerhead is compatible with both Stihl MS660 G660 and Neotec NS892, offering a versatile solution for different chainsaw milling needs.

This professional chainsaw is equipped with high-quality spark plugs for quick ignition and surging power, making it easier to start. A 2200GS flywheel provides high-speed magnetic induction to generate strong power, improving the efficiency of deep quenching and high-speed cutting. FARMMAC professional chainsaws are popular pieces of outdoor power equipment.

Pros:

Powerful 92cc engine compatible with Stihl MS660 G660 and Neotec NS892.

Lightweight 36 guide bar for improved maneuverability and reduced fatigue.

Equipped with high-quality spark plugs for quick ignition and surging power.

Constructed with durable magnesium alloy parts.

Excellent customer service with 6-month replacement for the motor part.

Cons:

As a gas chainsaw, it requires regular maintenance.

May be more expensive than some other options on the market.

Some users may find it heavy, despite the lightweight guide bar.

FARMMAC 36 Inch Gas Chainsaw

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Worx Nitro 40V 16 Cordless Chainsaw Power Share PRO

The Worx Nitro 40V 16 Cordless Chainsaw is a powerful and efficient tool designed for users who want a professional chainsaw that can match the performance of a gas-powered saw but with the convenience of a battery-powered one. It is part of the Worx Nitro series, which are engineered to provide greater power, performance, and run time.

This chainsaw boasts a high-speed 16 bar and chain, delivering professional, gas-like power, performance, and cutting capacity. It is equipped with a brushless motor, known for their efficiency, longer run times, increased power, and longevity compared to brushed motors.

The Worx Nitro 40V Chainsaw also has user-friendly features such as one-step tool-free tensioners, and automatic chain lubrication for hassle-free, efficient cutting and increased bar and chain life. Safety is also prioritized with a chain-brake guard for added security.

Pros:

Powerful with high-speed 16 bar and chain.

Equipped with an efficient and long-lasting brushless motor.

Comes with high-capacity, heat and impact-protected batteries.

Features user-friendly design with tool-less chain tension adjustment and automatic chain lubrication.

Safety features such as a chain-brake guard.

Comes with a charge level indicator and a bar & chain sheath.

Cons:

The cost is on the higher side compared to other cordless chainsaws.

Battery run time might be limited for longer or more demanding tasks.

Worx Nitro 40V 16 Cordless Chainsaw Power Share PRO

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STIHL CHAINSAW MS 211

The STIHL MS 211 is a highly advanced gas-powered chainsaw, designed for fuel efficiency and minimal emissions. This chainsaw features a powerful low-emission engine and a professional pre-separation air filtration system. Other notable features include the Anti-Vibration System, STIHL ElastoStart, IntelliCarb Compensating Carburetor, and side-access chain tensioner for enhanced user comfort and convenience. With the inclusion of safety features like STIHL Quickstop and proprietary technologies such as Ematic Lubrication System and Master Control Lever, the STIHL MS 211 offers superior performance with minimal environmental impact.

Pros:

Low-emission, fuel-efficient engine reduces environmental impact while delivering high power.

Anti-Vibration System and STIHL ElastoStart: Enhances user comfort and reduces fatigue.

IntelliCarb Compensating Carburetor: Maintains engines correct RPM when the air filter becomes partially clogged.

Side-Access Chain Tensioner: Simplifies the process of adjusting the saw chain.

STIHL Quickstop: Enhances user safety by reducing the risk of injury in kickback situations.

Ematic Lubrication System: Provides optimal lubrication while reducing oil consumption.

Master Control Lever: Simplifies operations by consolidating controls into one lever.

Cons:

May not be suitable for larger jobs

STIHL CHAINSAW MS 211

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BILT HARD Gas Professional Chainsaw

The BILT HARD Professional Chainsaw with a 20-inch bar is a powerful tool for anyone who needs to tackle tasks like tree felling, limb trimming, and general yard clean-up. This chainsaw features a 60CC 2-stroke gasoline engine that provides substantial power to the 20-inch bar and chain, offering a maximum speed of 11000 rpm.

Included in the package are useful accessories like 2-cycle engine oil (3.2 oz), lubricating bar and chain oil (8 oz), safety goggles, and a tool kit, providing value for your money.

Pros:

Powerful 60CC 3.8HP 2-stroke gasoline engine

High-quality carburetor for efficient operation and extended lifespan

Low-kickback function for enhanced safety

Air cleaning system for improved engine life

Comes with useful accessories

Cons:

As a gas chainsaw, it requires regular maintenance.

May be noisier and heavier compared to electric chainsaws.

BILT HARD Gas Professional Chainsaw

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CRAFTSMAN Full Crank 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw

Craftsman chainsaws are among the most popular chainsaws worldwide. The Craftsman S165 42cc Gas Chainsaw, sporting a 16-inch bar and chain, offers a combination of power, performance, and ease of use. Its 42cc full crank, the 2-cycle engine generates high output, making it an ideal tool for cutting even the toughest wood swiftly and smoothly, with reduced vibration.

Constructed with a lightweight yet durable poly chassis, the S165 is designed to withstand prolonged use while minimizing user fatigue. Its compact and lightweight design, along with the 3-point anti-vibration system and ergonomic handle, promote balance, maneuverability, and comfort during operation.

The chainsaw is equipped with EasyStart technology for quicker, smoother, and easier pull starts, allowing you to get straight to work on your outdoor projects. The adjustable automatic chain oiler with an easy-view function ensures the chain is always adequately lubricated. You can manually adjust the oil flow to maintain the right amount of lubricant on the chain.

Pros:

High output 42cc engine for powerful cutting

Lightweight and durable design for prolonged use

EasyStart technology for quick, smooth starts

Adjustable automatic chain oiler

Cons:

Requires regular maintenance due to the gas-powered nature

Not suitable for heavy-duty logging tasks.

CRAFTSMAN Full Crank 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw

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Stihl Chainsaw MS 391

This STIHL chainsaw, the MS 391, is designed for superior performance in field, farm, and ranch tasks. This gas-powered chainsaw offers impressive power while maintaining its weight comparable to less potent models, providing an optimal power-to-weight ratio.

An advanced pre-separation air filtration system enhances engine efficiency, extending the duration between air filter cleanings. It segregates heavier dirt particles before they reach the air filter, reducing maintenance frequency. The Anti-Vibration System on the Stihl MS 391 lessens the vibration levels of this outdoor power equipment, offering a comfortable user experience with minimized fatigue.

Pros:

High power with optimal power-to-weight ratio

Side-access chain tensioner

IntelliCarb Compensating Carburetor maintains optimal engine RPM automatically

Environmentally friendly with low emissions

Extended air filter life due to advanced filtration system

Enhanced user comfort through reduced vibrations

Cons:

Gas power may not suit all users

Regular air filter checks needed for IntelliCarb system effectiveness

Stihl Chainsaw MS 391

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Makita Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 16 Chain Saw Kit

The Makita XCU04PT LXT is a brushless cordless chain saw equipped with a robust 16-inch chain. This tool delivers unparalleled power efficiency that rivals a 32cc gas chain saw, thanks to its unique Makita-built outer rotor brushless motor direct-drive system.

Additional highlights of this model include a built-in lock-off lever, designed to prevent accidental chain engagement. Furthermore, it has an intelligent built-in LED on/off switch with an auto power-off function that extends battery life by automatically shutting down the saw after periods of inactivity.

Pros:

Highly efficient, brushless motor thats equivalent to a 32cc gas chain saw

Variable speed trigger for optimal cutting performance

Tool-less chain adjustment enhances convenience

Safety features include a built-in lock-off lever

Energy-saving auto power-off function

Cons:

Weighs 19.2 pounds, which might be heavy for some users

The size (21.9L x 10.2W x 10.2H) may demand significant storage space

Makita Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 16 Chain Saw Kit

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Husqvarna 120 Gas Powered Chainsaw

Unleash the power of the Husqvarna 120 Gas-Powered Chainsaw, designed for a multitude of outdoor tasks. With a 16-inch chain driven by an efficient 38-cc, 1.8-HP X-Torq engine, this tool delivers remarkable performance, reducing emissions and boosting fuel efficiency.

Starting this machine is a breeze, thanks to an air purge system and combined choke/stop control that together simplify the start-up process and diminish the risk of engine flooding. The 16-inch blade is equipped with an inertia-activated saw chain brake system to minimize kickback and potential injury.

Pros:

Efficient X-Torq engine boosts performance while reducing emissions and fuel consumption

Air Injection Technology extends engine life

LowVib technology reduces operator fatigue

Easy-start features lessen the risk of engine flooding

Inertia-activated chain brake system minimizes kickback risk

Cons:

Gas-powered, hence requires fuel and regular maintenance

At 13.49 pounds, it might be somewhat hefty for certain users

Husqvarna 120 Gas Powered Chainsaw

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NEO-TEC Gas Chainsaw with 36 Inch Bar and Chain

The NEO-TEC NS892 is a professional-grade gas chainsaw designed for demanding wood-cutting tasks. Driven by a powerful 92cc full-crank, air-cooled, 2-cycle engine, this model delivers a potent 7HP, which, combined with a fast air cooling system, enhances both power and efficiency, and prevents overheating.

Boasting compatibility with guide bars of varying lengths (24/25/28/36/42 inches), the NS892 is capable enough for cutting through large logs or felling trees swiftly and efficiently. Its low kickback feature and ergonomically designed Plus Handle Bar ensure a comfortable, stable grip, reducing the risk of accidents during operation.

Pros:

Powerful 92cc engine for demanding tasks

Compatible with various guide bar lengths

High-quality HLHIC carburetor for easy start and better fuel utilization

Magnesium alloy parts ensure durability and quick heat dissipation

Cons:

Requires regular maintenance due to the gas-powered nature

May be heavy for some users, weighing approximately 18 pounds

NEO-TEC Gas Chainsaw with 36 Inch Bar and Chain

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Understanding Heavy-Duty Chainsaws: When More is Better

Heavy-duty chainsaws are designed to tackle the toughest jobs in logging, farming, land clearing, and tree service. These chainsaws are equipped with powerful engines, long bars, and robust chains designed for maximum pulling power and durability. When choosing a heavy-duty chainsaw, consider factors such as engine power, bar length, chain type, vibration control, and ergonomics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are professional chainsaws worth the investment?

Absolutely! Professional chainsaws offer superior performance, durability, and safety features that standard chainsaws may lack. They are built to withstand intensive use over extended periods, making them a worthy investment for professionals and business owners.

What should I look for when buying a heavy-duty chainsaw?

When buying a heavy-duty chainsaw, consider its power, durability, safety features, and ease of use. Also, consider the type and scale of tasks youll be undertaking. For heavy-duty tasks, youll need a chainsaw with high engine power, a robust build, and enhanced safety features.

How to maintain a professional chainsaw for long-term use?

Maintaining a professional chainsaw involves regular cleaning, proper storage, and periodic servicing. Clean the air filter regularly, check the chain tension and sharpness, and ensure the bar and chain oil levels are adequate. Use quality fuel and oil, and get your chainsaw serviced by a professional at least once a year.

Where can I buy professional chainsaws?

You can buy professional chainsaws from various online marketplaces like Amazon or directly from the manufacturers website. Always ensure youre buying from a trusted source to avoid counterfeit products.

Which type of chainsaw is best for my needs?

The right type of chainsaw depends on your specific needs and tasks at hand. For heavy-duty tasks like big firewood cutting jobs or land clearing, a gas chainsaw is often the best choice. For lighter, less intensive tasks, a battery-powered or corded electric chainsaw might be sufficient.

Key Takeaways: Choosing the Best Professional Chainsaw for Your Business Needs

Choosing the right professional chainsaw is a crucial step in enhancing your work efficiency and output. As a business owner, freelancer, or entrepreneur, understanding the different types of chainsaws and their uses can help you make an informed decision.

Remember, the best chainsaw isnt necessarily the most powerful or the most expensive. Its the one that best suits your needs, preferences, and budget. So, consider the tasks at hand, evaluate the features on offer, and make the right investment. Its a choice that, when done right, will serve you well for years to come.

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With the increased complexity of regulations, dedicating enough time to understanding online sales taxes can be challenging. Fortunately, weve compiled all of the necessary information into this ultimate guide so that you can have an easier time navigating the world of digital taxation.

In this guide, youll learn what states charge online sales tax, the best software tools for online sale tax compliance, and more. Lets get started!

What is Internet sales tax?

Internet sales tax is a type of taxation that applies to transactions made from the sale of goods and services over the Internet.

Conduct Market Research Sell Your Business Power Up Your Event's Success

Online retailers are required to collect, report, and remit state and local sales taxes based on where the buyer resides. This can create a burden for small businesses, who may not have the resources or expertise to manage their complex small business tax obligations.

Be sure to research if your state requires a sales tax permit to collect sales taxes for online sales.

Are online sellers required to collect sales tax?

Yes, online sellers are required to collect sales tax from customers when they make purchases online.

In 2018 the Supreme Court case South Dakota vs. Wayfair, Inc. led to new internet tax reform saying that states can require online out-of-state sellers to collect and remit sales tax, whether the seller is physically located in that state or not. This impacted the final sales price of many popular products to sell online.

This is generally done by either including a sales tax calculator on the check-out page or by automatically calculating the sales tax into the total cost of the purchase.

Depending on the state, local taxes may also need to be collected and accounted for.

How do online sellers pay sales tax at the right amount?

Online sellers can ensure theyre paying the correct amount of sales tax on their products and services by following two main procedures:

Researching and monitoring local, state, and federal laws  It is crucial for online businesses to be up-to-date on all sales tax rules and laws in the states where they are selling their products or services.

 It is crucial for online businesses to be up-to-date on all sales tax rules and laws in the states where they are selling their products or services. Using a reliable Sales Tax Automation software  By using a compliant software solution, online sellers can easily automate the process of calculating taxes at the right rate based on customer location.

Understanding the Sales Tax Nexus for Remote Sellers

Understanding the Sales Tax Nexus for Remote Sellers is critical for businesses that sell goods and services remotely.

There are four main types of sales tax nexus that apply to remote sellers:

Physical Nexus  This represents a physical presence in a state, such as having property or employees in the state.

Click-Through Nexus  Certain states have passed laws that treat online retailers who refer shoppers to them as having a physical presence within the state even if they dont have any other ties there.

Affiliate Nexus  This arises when an online seller has affiliates or independent contractors located in another state, allowing that state to claim some form of connection to the business.

Economic Nexus  This refers to when a business reaches certain thresholds for either the number or dollar amount of sales made via residents of a particular state, giving that state the right to collect taxes on those transactions.

What states charge online sales tax?

Most states in the US now charge sales tax on online purchases of tangible personal property made by customers within their borders.

Currently, 46 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring online retailers to collect sales tax from customers, with some states applying different rates depending on the type of product or service being sold.

States with an Economic Sales Tax Nexus

States with an economic sales tax nexus require businesses to collect sales tax from customers based on a certain threshold of revenue or the number of sales made in the state.

Currently, these states include:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

States with a $100,000 Sales Tax Threshold

Most states have set a specific threshold of $100,000 for sales before online vendors have to start collecting sales tax from customers, including:

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

States with a $250,000 Sales Tax Threshold

Only Alabama and Mississippi have an economic nexus threshold of $250,000 in sales only.

While Mississippi counts all online transactions, Alabama excludes sales made through a registered marketplace facilitator, wholesale sales, and certain services.

States with a $500,000 Sales Tax Threshold

Texas, New York, and California are the only three states with a $500,000 sales tax threshold.

What are the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement?

The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) is an agreement between states that streamlines the collection of sales and use taxes.

The agreement enables businesses to easily remit sales and use taxes in all participating states.

The SSUTA simplifies compliance by standardizing definitions, procedures, tax base, and software requirements across member states. It also provides relief from internet-based taxation for qualifying small business vendors by capping their liability for taxes.

How to Ensure Your Business Complies with Online Sale Tax Laws

If youre selling products online, its important to understand and comply with the applicable state tax laws for online sales.

To ensure your business is compliant, here are some tips to help you navigate through this complex area of web-based commerce:

Research the Laws in Your State: Learn about all the rules and regulations that apply to collecting, remitting, and reporting taxes on online sales transactions in your state. Doing so will help you stay up-to-date, and also ensure that youre collecting the correct amount of taxes from your customers.

Learn about all the rules and regulations that apply to collecting, remitting, and reporting taxes on online sales transactions in your state. Doing so will help you stay up-to-date, and also ensure that youre collecting the correct amount of taxes from your customers. Charge the Correct Tax Rates: Make sure you are charging customers the correct amount of tax based on their location. Be aware that rates can also change depending on where goods shipped or services performed by you take place.

Make sure you are charging customers the correct amount of tax based on their location. Be aware that rates can also change depending on where goods shipped or services performed by you take place. Collect Customer Information Accurately: Ensure customer information such as their name, address, telephone number, and email address is collected accurately so that it can be used for sales tax filing purposes if necessary.

Ensure customer information such as their name, address, telephone number, and email address is collected accurately so that it can be used for sales tax filing purposes if necessary. File Returns On Time: File all necessary returns for each taxable period accurately and on time to avoid any penalties or fines from your state department of revenue or other taxing authorities.

Best Software Tools for Online Sale Tax Compliance

Stay up to date on the latest online sales tax compliance regulations with the best software tools.

Managing sales taxes can be complicated, but these solutions streamline processes and stay on top of changes in policy so you dont have to.

Avalara  With over 1,200 signed partner integrations, Avalara seamlessly connects to many of the business applications that you are already using  such as popular ERPs, eCommerce systems, accounting tools, and other solutions.

TaxJar  Say goodbye to your most time-consuming tasks like correctly calculating sales tax rates, categorizing products, and managing multi-state filings. With TaxJar you can rest assured that your business operations stay efficient, reliable, and consistent.

Vertex TaxCompliance  Vertex software and services make filing returns to local tax authorities a breeze, accelerate cross-border commerce with confidence, maximize internal efficiency, and optimize the online customer journey.

This table summarizes and compares the key features and benefits of each software tool, making it easier for you to choose the right tool for their business.

Software Tool Key Features Benefit to Your Business Avalara Over 1,200 signed partner integrations. Seamlessly connects to many business applications like ERPs, eCommerce systems, accounting tools, etc. Streamlines sales tax compliance by integrating with your existing business tools TaxJar Automates tasks like calculating sales tax rates, categorizing products, and managing multi-state filings Eliminates time-consuming tasks, ensures efficient and consistent business operations Vertex TaxCompliance Facilitates filing returns to local tax authorities, accelerates cross-border commerce, optimizes the online customer journey Makes tax filing easier, enhances cross-border commerce, improves online customer experience

Leveraging Marketplaces for Sales Tax Compliance

In the online sales landscape, marketplaces have emerged as powerful platforms that not only provide a space for sellers to reach a wide audience but also take on some of the burdens of sales tax collection. This section of our guide will discuss the role of marketplaces in sales tax compliance and how sellers can benefit from these platforms.

Online Marketplaces and Tax Collection Responsibility

Following the South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. ruling, many states in the U.S. have passed Marketplace Facilitator laws. These laws require online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Walmart to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of third-party sellers for sales made through the marketplace. This is a significant advantage for small businesses that often lack the resources to handle the complexities of sales tax.

If you sell through these marketplaces in these states, you wont have to worry about setting up to collect sales tax. However, you are still responsible for tracking your sales for record-keeping and monitoring if you have crossed any economic nexus thresholds in states where you sell directly.

Benefits of Using Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces can offer a range of benefits for small businesses, especially in terms of sales tax compliance. Here are a few of the key benefits:

Simplified Tax Collection: Online marketplaces automate sales tax collection, reducing the burden on small businesses. This can save time and resources for businesses that may not have dedicated staff for handling tax matters. Reduces Risk of Non-Compliance: With the marketplace collecting and remitting sales tax on behalf of the sellers, businesses reduce their risk of non-compliance with sales tax laws. Expands Business Reach: Online marketplaces enable businesses to reach a wider audience without the need to establish a physical presence in other states, allowing for business growth without the added sales tax complications.

The role of marketplaces in online sales tax compliance is a key consideration for businesses navigating the digital commerce landscape. By leveraging these platforms, businesses can focus more on their core operations and less on the complexities of sales tax collection and remittance.

Are there any online sales that are not taxable?

Small business owners should be aware that there are certain online sales that are not taxable.

Depending on the state, there may be different thresholds that dictate what is and isnt taxable. For example, in some states, you can make a certain amount of money from online sales before they are taxed.

It is important to understand the laws of the state in which your business operates and to ensure taxes are up-to-date.

Can you avoid internet sales tax?

It is possible to avoid internet sales tax by following certain procedures. Depending on the state, there may be different regulations that apply.

For example, some states require businesses to collect taxes on any sales over a certain threshold.

Other states may not need any taxes at all. It is important to research and understand the regulations and sales tax laws in your own state before engaging in any online sales activity.

What is the internet tax rate?

The internet tax rate varies from state to state. Most states use a destination-based sales tax collection system, which means that sellers are responsible for charging the sales tax rate based on the address of where their customer has their items shipped.

The rates can also vary depending on the local jurisdiction, such as at the city or county level, making the calculation of an accurate internet tax rate more complex.

When did internet sales tax start?

The internet sales tax was first introduced in the United States in 2018, when the Supreme Court issued a ruling that allowed states to collect sales tax from online retailers, regardless of the retailers physical location.

Theres a large impact of an online sales tax on small business entities operating within the US, as they now have to navigate complex regulations and pay taxes like any other business.
Older family members are more entangled in the disinformation whirlwind.

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The family of Bratislava-based secondary school student Marta Kropocheva faced some unpleasant conversations after Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year.

With family in both Kyiv and near Moscow, the Ukrainian-Russian student soon realised her family held different views on the war. As soon as disinformation and Russian propaganda about the conflict began to circulate on social media and in Russian state-owned media, it became difficult for Kropocheva and her family to have meaningful conversations about anything because the war  and lies about it  intruded into every aspect of their life.

They even lost the essence of what it means to be a family.

We either dont talk to each other, or ignore the situation we have found ourselves caught in, Kropocheva tells The Slovak Spectator. Both ways, its horrible.

More often than not, the student adds, her family confine their conversations to mundane topics like the weather or how they have been. Kropochevas family is just one example of the many families for whom the war has caused tensions. Such families can even be found in Slovakia.

Slovak university student Matej Cacik describes how his grandfather consumes disinformation and thus holds opinions opposed to his. So far, he has always ended our debates by stating, Lets agree to disagree., he said. But in his experience, family debates about disinformation can end with each side wanting to win the argument. As a result, family relations can become fraught.

Research suggests that Slovakia is more vulnerable to disinformation than most other countries in central and eastern Europe.

Slovakia inundated by Russian propaganda

In a prescient 2021 report, written before the February 2022 invasion, the Slovak police force warned for the first time about a possibility that misleading narratives concerned with the situation on the Belarus-Poland border could combine with related topic of migration and with the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine [to] have devastating misinforming effects on the whole middle Europe region. A year later, the police were talking about hybrid warfare by Russia that puts the security of people in Slovakia and the future of democracy in danger.

For example, in March of this year, the police debunked a hoax about the transfer of nuclear weapons through the territory of Slovakia. It appeared on Facebook, a principal source of disinformation in Slovakia. The police explained that they regularly assist in the transport of radioactive material, which nuclear power plants in Slovakia use to produce electricity. Such nuclear material is not a weapon and is not explosive.

The misuse of this standard police activity to create delusions about nuclear weapons serves only the interests of Russia, the police said.

Several Slovak politicians and prominent public figures, including General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka, have contributed to the spread of pro-Russian narratives and even disinformation. Last year, Zilinka, for example, ordered an investigation into the alleged destruction of a WWI cemetery in Ladomirova, eastern Slovakia, where the remains of Russian soldiers, among those of several other nationalities, are buried. The police soon announced that this was a hoax that was being spread by the Russian Embassy in Slovakia to divert attention from the events in Ukraine.

Despite the polices categorical dismissal of the claims, the investigation by prosecutors remains technically open.

The Beacon Project, an initiative by the International Republican Institute, dubbed the Russian Embassy in Slovakia the most virulent diplomatic social media presence in Europe when it comes to undermining the Ukrainian war effort, the Euronews media outlet noted recently.

Just like the Slovak police, a civic association, Krupica, is therefore calling on people to verify information they absorb from various media.

Young people can defeat hoaxes

While the police force debunks hoaxes on its social media channels, the civic association focuses on students and teaches them to distinguish between fake and real news. Krupica, which was founded by Cacik, hopes that these students can then use the knowledge they acquire in conversations with their older relatives, who are generally more prone to believing various disinformation, including about the war in Ukraine.

Compared to neighbouring countries, Slovakia has the strongest pan-Slavic sentiment, noted Cacik. The 19th-century idea of pan-Slavism suggests that Slavic nations would be united by Russia. This sentiment is especially strong among older Slovaks who grew up and lived in communist Czechoslovakia before 1989. Cacik discovered this as soon as he tried to initiate a polite debate about politics with older Slovaks, who frequently began to repeat pro-Russian and anti-Western talking points. He contends that Slovaks are therefore more likely to accept disinformation that paints Ukraine as the aggressor.

Some of the most frequent disinformation narratives circulating within Slovakia concern military support for Ukraine, refugees from Ukraine, and the role of the West and NATO, which in the narratives are blamed for the war, the Infosecurity.sk disinformation-fighting website explains. The police listed more specific war-related disinformation examples, such as the alleged mobilisation of Slovaks, in their 2022 report.

Cacik, while aware that it is no easy thing to change the minds of people consumed by disinformation, still remains hopeful. I believe that the active citizenship of young people who lead by example will bring us success and will create a more hostile environment for hoaxes, the student says. He also relies on young people whom Krupica has helped. Cacik adds that well-informed and well-educated young people are necessary for the preservation of democracy in Slovakia. For instance, they can be of help when it comes to assisting older people to distinguish between real and fake media content.

Its a long-term and complex process that needs patience, kindness and a constant overview of the current narratives on both sides, he said.

In his opinion, the first attempt never goes well.

Embrace critical thinking

Like Cacik, Kropocheva also knows how hard it is to confront older people with facts.

We tried talking to my grandparents about war-related facts, but it has never worked. explained the student.

Her Russian grandparents often draw news from Russian state-owned media and the social media app Telegram. The app is widely popular among Russians and Ukrainians but lacks fact-checking mechanisms, the Ukraine Crisis Media Center points out. Russian propaganda is therefore strong on Telegram.

And while some may assume that disinformation is only an issue for uneducated or less-educated people, this is misleading. According to disinformation expert Tomas Krissak, even well-educated people can succumb to disinformation if they invest too much time in it. Conspiracy theories often exploit human curiosity, he told the Sme daily. He added that they target peoples moods and emotions.

So, what is the best way to resist disinformation, in Krissaks view?

Ask critical-thinking questions, he says.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230617/putin-thanks-doctors-working-in-special-operation-zone-on-medical-worker-day-1111254260.html

Putin Thanks Doctors Working in Special Operation Zone on Medical Worker Day

Putin Thanks Doctors Working in Special Operation Zone on Medical Worker Day

Putin congratulated medical workers, especially those working in the zone of the special military operation in Ukraine.

2023-06-17T23:31+0000

2023-06-17T23:31+0000

2023-06-17T23:31+0000

russia

vladimir putin

russia

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"Medical Worker Day is, above all, a professional holiday, but millions of Russians know about it and are delighted to be able to wish doctors, paramedics, nurses and orderlies a happy holiday, tell them how much respect they have for their work, and express their gratitude and admiration," Putin said in a Sunday statement. The president pointed out that people have gained a deeper appreciation for the efforts of medical workers following the coronavirus pandemic. The Russian president also highlighted the work of the medical community in Donbas. The Medical Worker Day is officially celebrated in Russia, as well as Belarus and several other countries, on the third Sunday of June each year.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230506/over-126000-donbass-residents-recognized-as-victims-since-2014---investigative-committee-1110137676.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/abkhazia-ready-for-any-scenario-with-georgia--1111255404.html

Abkhazia Ready for Any Scenario With Georgia

Abkhazia Ready for Any Scenario With Georgia

Abkhazia holds regular military drills with the Russian army and is ready for any developments in Georgia, the country's ambassador to Russia told Sputnik

2023-06-18T03:56+0000

2023-06-18T03:56+0000

2023-06-18T03:56+0000

russia

georgia

abkhazia

russia

sergei naryshkin

russian foreign intelligence service

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"We have learned from bitter experience, therefore we must always be ready for any development of events. Hence the permanent exercises, often jointly with the Russian military," Kvitsinia said, asked about the possibility of a "second front" against Russia getting opened in Georgia under Western pressure. In April, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that the West was forcing Georgia to enter into a military conflict with Russia, convincing Tbilisi that now was a good time to regain control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in March that Ukraine's attempts to draw Georgia into the conflict and to open a "second front" against Russia remained the main threat for Tbilisi.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/russia-expresses-concern-over-us-creating-tensions-in-georgia-moldova-moscow-says-1108380517.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/blinken-in-china-whats-on-his-agenda---1111256393.html

Blinken in China: What's on His Visit's Agenda?

Blinken in China: What's on His Visit's Agenda?

Blinkens trip to Beijing was delayed in February due to political tumult brought on by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew across America and was finally shot down.

2023-06-18T06:28+0000

2023-06-18T06:28+0000

2023-06-18T07:06+0000

world

us

china

xi jinping

antony blinken

meeting

visit

communication

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning for what American media dubbed a high-stakes visit meant to steer relations between the United States and China back on course after months of inflamed tensions between the two nations. He is the first US top diplomat to visit the Asian nation in five years, and the first Biden administration official to do so.Blinken has already met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang as he plans to sit down with Wang Yi, director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.Speaking to reporters on Friday, the top US diplomat said that in his meetings with senior Chinese officials, he intends to raise the US very real concerns on a range of issues, including the fentanyl crisis, Taiwan, the conflict in Ukraine, and Chinas detention of American citizens.On the fentanyl crisis, an unnamed senior State Department official was quoted by the media as saying that Blinkens specific focus will be on stemming the flow of precursor chemicals from China to labs in South America, where fentanyl is produced.He stressed the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. According to him, the US wants to make sure "that the competition we have with China doesn't veer into conflict" due to avoidable misunderstandings.He was referring to the Biden-Xi sit-down in late 2022, when the two president agreed on Blinkens visit to China in 2023, which was postponed in February after the shoot-down of what Washington called a Chinese surveillance balloon in US airspace.Xi, for his part, hinted during his meeting with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Friday that Beijing is ready to reduce bilateral tensions.At the same time, officials from both governments reportedly signaled low expectations for the Blinken visit, with a senior State Department official telling reporters earlier this week that he does not expect a long list of deliverables.They were echoed by Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who said that both the US and China came to the shared conclusion that now is the right time to engage at this level, but that were not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another. Blinkens visit comes amid a major cooling in relations between the economic superpowers, which American Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns described as the lowest moment since then-US President Richard Nixons trip to China in 1972 to establish ties.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/what-to-expect-from-blinkens-big-beijing-trip-1111190663.html

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antony blinken's visit to china, us-chinese tensions, blinken's planned meeting with chinese president xi jinping
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region VI has launched an investigation into the killing of farmer Roly Fausto, his wife Emelda, and their two children in Negros Occidental.

On June 14, Roly was found dead near their hut, while the lifeless bodies of his wife and children were discovered inside.

Roly and Emelda were members of the Baclayan, Bito, Cabagal Farmers and Farmworkers Association (BABICAFA).

All possible angles will be pursued in the course of CHRs independent investigation, the agency said Saturday in a statement.

Rights group Karapatan said the couple were allegedly harassed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) months prior to the killings.

In separate occasions, the AFP allegedly interrogated Roly and Emelda, and searched their house unauthorized. Rolly was also reported to have been physically assaulted and was forced to confess that he is a member of the New Peoples Army (NPA), Karapatan said.

In a text message, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said they have yet to receive a report on the AFPs involvement in the alleged harassment.

They (Karapatan) probably heard it from the NPA unit there, Aguilar told CNN Philippines Sunday.

We protect our people. That is our constitutional mandate, Aguilar added.

Aguilar also said the CHR has yet to reach out to the AFP regarding the investigation.

Karapatan also urged Congress to investigate the case of the slain Fausto family.

While investigations on the murder of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo are ongoing, numerous cases involving peasants and farmworkers in Negros are left unaddressed, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said Friday in a statement.

It is a pity that ordinary folks lives are seen as unimportant in the eyes of our legislators, she added.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/borrell-says-eu-las-ministerial-meeting-postponed-due-to-disagreements-over-syria-1111264288.html

EU-LAS Meeting Postponed 'Due to Readmission of Syria' to Regional Bloc

EU-LAS Meeting Postponed 'Due to Readmission of Syria' to Regional Bloc

EU foreign policy chief on Sunday admitted that disagreements over the restoration of Syria's full membership in the League of Arab States (LAS) led to the indefinite postponement of the LAS-European Union ministerial meeting that was to take place in June.

2023-06-18T14:01+0000

2023-06-18T14:01+0000

2023-06-18T14:19+0000

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He made the statement during a visit to the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. He added that despite the fact that it is a sovereign decision of the LAS, Brussels cannot agree to it. "It's a sovereign decision, and we respect it," Borrell said, adding it was taken despite Damascus' alleged "lack of meaningful efforts to resolve the conflict." He also noted that the Syrian leadership "has not been held accountable" and that the EU could not ignore this. Earlier in the week, diplomatic sources in Brussels told Sputnik about serious disagreements on a number of issues between Arab countries and the EU, primarily on relations with Syria, against which the bloc imposed sanctions. Arab states also do not support the EU's sanctions policy against Russia. Due to the disagreements, the parties have not yet been able to hold another EU-LAS summit. The first such summit was held in February 2019 in Egypt. The next one was supposed to take place in Brussels in 2022, but no date for it has yet been set. At their extraordinary meeting on May 7, the LAS foreign ministers approved Syria's return to the organization after a 12-year hiatus. The Arab countries are in favor of easing Western sanctions against Damascus, which have hampered economic relations with the country, its reconstruction and preparations for the mass return of refugees from neighboring states. Last Thursday, during a donor conference on aid to Syrian refugees, Borrell reiterated that the EU does not share the LAS position on Syria and does not intend to restore official relations with Damascus. Damascus and Moscow have repeatedly described Western unilateral sanctions against Syria as illegitimate.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/us-sends-f-22s-to-mideast-to-counter-russian-forces-acting-unsafely-in-syria-1111194835.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230523/uks-sas-ran-secret-war-in-syria-since-2012---probe-1110546216.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/who-is-unhappy-about-syrias-return-to-the-arab-league-1110259422.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/china-slams-london-for-contacts-with-taiwan--1111265436.html

China Slams London for Contacts with Taiwan

China Slams London for Contacts with Taiwan

The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said on Sunday that a meeting between UK Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat and Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang earlier this week had violated international norms, and called on London to cease all contacts with Taipei.

2023-06-18T15:45+0000

2023-06-18T15:45+0000

2023-06-19T12:47+0000

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china

united kingdom (uk)

one china policy

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taiwan

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"The British side allowed certain figure from the Taiwan region to visit the UK and arranged for relevant official to meet with said person. This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," the embassy spokesperson said in a statement. The document read that the meeting sent a "seriously wrong signal" to Taiwan's independence separatist forces and interfered in China's internal affairs, adding that Beijing strongly deplored and firmly opposed the move. "China urges the UK to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and basic norms governing international relations, stop any official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities, and stop emboldening separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence'. We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine China's interests will be met with resolute responses," the statement said. Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. The latest escalation around Taiwan took place in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230602/keeping-taiwans-autonomous-status-quo-most-west-can-achieve--french-diplomat-1110855750.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/eu-should-not-support-independent-taiwan-says-swedish-political-heavyweight-1109456712.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/tsais-visit-to-us-cant-curb-chinas-growing-political-influence-in-the-world-risk-analyst-says-1108958770.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/germanys-decision-to-recognize-russia-as-major-threat-goes-against-logic-1111260478.html

Lavrov: Germany's Decision to Recognize Russia as Major Threat Goes Against Logic

Lavrov: Germany's Decision to Recognize Russia as Major Threat Goes Against Logic

Germany's new national security strategy, which names Moscow as the main threat to the country, contradicts Berlin's logic and interests, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday.

2023-06-18T10:39+0000

2023-06-18T10:39+0000

2023-06-18T10:43+0000

world

russia

germany

sergey lavrov

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"It is difficult for me to comment on the actions, statements and documents adopted by contemporary German politicians. They rest neither on logic nor the interests of Germany and the German people," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian TV broadcaster.Earlier this week Germany unveiled National Security Strategy that dubbed Russia "the greatest threat to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/germany-unveils-first-ever-national-security-strategy-1111141484.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/hungarian-pm-orban-slams-eus-newly-adopted-migrant-reception-quotas-1111266954.html

Hungarian PM Orban Slams EU's Newly-Adopted Migrant Reception Quotas

Hungarian PM Orban Slams EU's Newly-Adopted Migrant Reception Quotas

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban on Sunday slammed the European Union's newly-adopted quotas for the equitable resettlement of migrants from the Middle East and across the Mediterranean Sea in EU member states.

2023-06-18T21:32+0000

2023-06-18T21:32+0000

2023-06-18T21:32+0000

world

european union (eu)

hungary

viktor orban

migrant

migrant quota

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In early June, the European Commission adopted a new action plan on combating illegal sea migration, under which it would speed up the redistribution of irregular migrants across all of the EU to ease the burden of frontline member states. Not all EU member states are ready to accept migrants under quotas, however.Europe has been experiencing a major migrant crisis since 2015 due to the influx of thousands of refugees from Middle Eastern and North African countries. Migrants have been trying to reach EU states using various routes, including via Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Balkans.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230505/germany-seeking-to-limit-number-of-refugees-crossing-into-eu-1110123339.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/japanese-brazilian-companies-team-up-to-produce-engines-for-flying-vehicles-1111257805.html

Japanese, Brazilian Companies Team Up to Produce Engines for Flying Vehicles

Japanese, Brazilian Companies Team Up to Produce Engines for Flying Vehicles

Japan's Nidec corporation, a major electric motors manufacturer, said on Sunday that it will form a joint venture with Brazil's aerospace company Embraer to develop electric propulsion systems for urban air mobility vehicles.

2023-06-18T06:55+0000

2023-06-18T06:55+0000

2023-06-18T06:55+0000

beyond politics

japan

brazil

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"Japan's Nidec Corporation  and Brazil's Embraer  today announced an agreement to establish a joint venture company, called Nidec Aerospace LLC, to develop Electric Propulsion Systems for the aerospace sector. Nidec Corporation, the world's leading comprehensive motor manufacturer, will be backed by Embraer's more than 50-year history of complementary aerospace experience to design, certify, produce, and commercialize next-generation electric propulsion systems based on well-proven technologies suitable for powering more efficient and greener aircraft models," the statement read. The joint venture is driven by the growth of the urban air mobility industry, the company added. The new firm, Nidec Aerospace, will develop and manufacture electric propulsion systems for electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles with headquarters in the city of St. Louis in the US state of Missouri. The production will be centered around both companies' existing factories in Brazil and Mexico, the statement read. Nidec will take a 51% stake in the firm and Embraer 49%. The launch customer will be Brazilian company Eve Air Mobility, "an independent company well-positioned to be a global leader in the urban air mobility segment," Nidec said. Japanese newspaper reported that Eve Air Mobility seeks to launch commercial operations of electric flying vehicles using engines produced by Nidec Aerospace in 2026. Nidec will reportedly invest $140 million in engine research and development. The joint venture deal is expected to be sealed in the second half of 2023, Nidec's statement read.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210126/to-the-skies-and-beyond-prototypes-of-flying-cars-and-taxi-drones-1081882653.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200829/japanese-company-showcases-working-prototype-of-flying-car--video-1080315587.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/pope-francis-delivers-first-sunday-address-after-surgery-1111262606.html

Pope Francis Delivers First Sunday Address After Surgery

Pope Francis Delivers First Sunday Address After Surgery

VATICAN CITY (Sputnik) - Pope Francis delivered his first traditional Sunday address to the faithful from the window of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican... 18.06.2023, Sputnik International

2023-06-18T12:19+0000

2023-06-18T12:19+0000

2023-06-18T12:19+0000

world

vatican

religion

pope francis

uganda

greece

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The audience on Saint Peter's Square greeted the pontiff with cheers and applause. Before the sermon, Pope Francis thanked those who supported and prayed for him during the stay at hospital. He added that this "human closeness and spiritual closeness" were of great help and comfort. However, the voice of the 86-year-old pontiff betrayed signs of tiredness and some weakness. Pope Francis also lamented the recent attack on a school in Uganda. On Wednesday night, the fishing boat carrying migrants capsized in international waters 47 nautical miles southwest of the Greek town of Pylos. The boat was heading from the Tobruk area in eastern Libya to Italy. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched under the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center. Greek media reported later in the day that at least 78 people had died in the migrant shipwreck, with over 100 rescued. The International Organization for Migration said the boat was carrying at least 400 migrants, while the survivors estimated that 700 migrants had been on board. On Saturday, a terrorist attack on Lhubirira secondary school in the Ugandan city of Mpondwe claimed the lives of 41 people, including 17 pupils who died in the bomb blast, according to media reports.On June 7, the Vatican press office said that Pope Francis had undergone a laparotomy  an incision in the abdomen  and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses, and that the three-hour operation had been completed without complications. The Holy See said that all audiences with Francis had been canceled until June 18. On Friday morning he returned to the Vatican from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. In response to reporters questions about his health, he joked that he was "still alive."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/pope-francis-holds-easter-sunday-mass-at-st-peters-basilica-1109286223.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/moscow-positively-assesses-vaticans-efforts-in-ending-ukraine-conflict---foreign-ministry-1110602577.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/putin-suggests-top-ukrainian-general-zaluzhny-may-be-abroad-1111259768.html

Putin Suggests Top Ukrainian General Zaluzhny May Be Abroad

Putin Suggests Top Ukrainian General Zaluzhny May Be Abroad

Zaluzhny stopped appearing on public after Russian missile strikes on a number of Ukrainian military objects last month as part of Moscows special operation in Ukraine.

2023-06-18T08:59+0000

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Journalist Pavel Zarubin has posted a video of Russian President Vladimir Putin giving his thoughts about the whereabouts of commander-in-chief of Ukrainian troops Valery Zaluzhny during Putins meeting with military correspondents in Moscow earlier this week.I think I know where Zaluzhny is, the Russian president said before urging the journalists to ask the top Ukrainian general himself about it.A representative of Russian law enforcement agencies earlier told Sputnik, citing Ukraine military sources, that Zaluzhny received a head injury and shrapnel wounds as a result of Russia's missile strike in early May.The first questions about Zaluzhny's condition and whereabouts arose after NATO reported on May 10 that he had notified the alliance that it was impossible for him to speak to members of the alliance's military committee, even via a video link.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/ukraine-commander-in-chief-zaluzhny-was-injured-in-russian-missile-strike-in-early-may---source-1110558358.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/switzerland-approves-minimum-tax-on-corporations-in-referendum-1111265794.html

Switzerland Approves Minimum Tax on Corporations in Referendum

Switzerland Approves Minimum Tax on Corporations in Referendum

Swiss residents in a Sunday referendum approved the introduction of a minimum tax rate of 15% for large multinational companies.

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According to the referendum results, 78.45% voted in favor of the initiative and 21.55% against. In April, Switzerland decided to join a project of 140 countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the G20 on minimum taxation of large multinational enterprises. The aim of the project is to make such companies pay at least 15% income tax in each jurisdiction if their annual turnover exceeds 750 million Swiss francs ($839 million). The Swiss Federal Tax Office estimates that the revenue from the additional tax would be 1-2.5 billion Swiss francs. Swiss citizens also supported the text of the federal climate law, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland to zero by 2050. About 59% voted in favor of the law, while almost 41% voted against it.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230618/us-doubts-about-wallaces-candidacy-for-nato-secretary-general-over-ukraine-reports-1111266201.html

US Doubts About Wallace's Candidacy for NATO Secretary General Over Ukraine - Reports

US Doubts About Wallace's Candidacy for NATO Secretary General Over Ukraine - Reports

The United States is skeptical about UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace's candidacy for the post of NATO secretary general because a number of US military officials are dissatisfied with him over his measures on Ukraine, a UK newspaper reported on Sunday.

2023-06-18T17:54+0000

2023-06-18T17:54+0000

2023-06-18T17:54+0000

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The newspaper said the US has reservations about Wallace, with some in the military unhappy with the way he has set the pace on the Ukraine issue. The newspaper also reported that the European Union would not accept a candidate from a country that is not part of the bloc. Wallace would need a firm decision from US President Joe Biden in favor of his candidacy in order to become secretary general against the background of such a position in the EU, The Guardian noted. Current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was due to retire on October 1, 2022, but in March 2022 the leaders of the alliance decided to extend his mandate until September 30, 2023.

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Abuckabett Hanover, in rein to Andrew McCarthy, took top prize in the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup, a race that had a two-horse spill early in the stretch, on Saturday night (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Abuckabett Hanover, who was an impressive winner in his first start back as a five-year-old in late May, sat fifth through early opening fractions set by Billy Clyde, who took his rivals through an opening quarter reached in :26.2 followed by Wheels On Fire, Linedrive Hanover and Whichwaytothebeach. Billy Clyde continued to call the shots through a half in :54.3, but found himself under pressure to his outside by Linedrive Hanover around the turn for home.

Billy Clyde went off stride in early stretch, starting a chain reaction that affected Whichwaytothebeach and Wheels On Fire, causing their respective drivers, Travis Cullen and Doug McNair, to be unseated from their respective pacers. Abuckabett Hanover, trained by Andrew Harris, went on to post a 1-3/4-length score in a career-best time of 1:47.2. Tattoo Artist was second, Linedrive Hanover was third and Captain Kirk finished fourth.

The Gold Cup victory comes three weeks after a sensational performance by Abuckabett Hanover at The Meadowlands, a one-length triumph in 1:48.3 on May 27. It was the first start in over six months for the $160,000 yearling who sold online last October for $534,000.

Owned by Harris, William Pollock and Bruce Areman, Abuckabett Hanover, who went over the $1 million mark in earnings last year, is now 14-4-8 from 48 starts.

Abuckabett Hanover paid $9.60 for the win.

McNair, along with his mount Wheels On Fire, got onto their feet immediately following the incident and then walked off the track. Whichwaytothebeach unseated Cullen in the collision. They were the only two horses not to finish the race.

Initial reports from Woodbine Mohawk Park said Cullen was examined by paramedics following the incident and taken to hospital. He was replaced on his drive behind Im Offngone N in the Roses Are Red Stakes. Wheels On Fire and McNair were reported to be okay from the incident. Any updates will be reported when available.

The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:

For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(with files from Woodbine)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  Fifteen leaders from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have asked the Supreme Court to nullify some provisions of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC).

In a statement on Sunday, the newly formed BARMM Governors' Caucus said the leaders accused the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the region's interim chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of grave abuse of discretion in enacting the BEC.

They said the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35, or the BEC, was "contrary to the Constitution, Bangsamoro Organic Law, Omnibus Election Code, and other national election laws."

The petitioners alleged the regional law encroached upon the power and prerogative of the Supreme Court as well as the constitutional duties and jurisdiction of the Commission on Elections.

"Worse, by providing restrictive qualification for political parties, the Bangsamoro Electoral Code curtailed what should be free and equal opportunity for political parties to seek and obtain parliamentary seats, thereby contradicting the mandate of the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law," they said.

"It would also facilitate the use of public funds for political campaign or partisan political activities, in violation of the Omnibus Election CodeIt further intruded into the power of Congress to define and penalize election offenses and prescribe procedures for their prosecution," it added.

The high court received the 64-page petition on June 14. Lawyers Romulo Macalintal, Ace Bautista, and Christopher Rodriguez represented the petitioners consisting of government officials, political leaders, and civil society groups.

They prayed for an immediate issuance of a status quo ante order or temporary restraining order against the implementation of the new law pending the decision on their petition.

The BEC was signed into law on March 8 and shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general and regional circulation. The petitioners said it was published on May 2 in a regional paper.
Showcasing one of the deepest fields in its storied history, the 40th edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup produced an instant classic on Saturday night (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Featuring several horses coming into the premier North American pacing event for three-year-old pacers on top of their respective games, the stage was set for a compelling showdown under the lights on a picture-perfect night. The eventual star of the show, Its My Show, used a combination of grit and gumption to get the job done in front of a loud and appreciative crowd.



Save America, with Yannick Gingras in the bike, crossed over from post nine to take an early lead as Scott Zeron, at the controls of Its My Show, settled into the second spot followed by fellow Cup elimination winners Christchurch and Fulton. After marching the field through a brisk opening panel in :25.4, Save America was overtaken by Its My Show, who reached the half in :54.

Well, the thing is my horse can leave faster than anything Ive ever drove, and then at the same time, I can calm him down if I ask him to, said Zeron afterwards. I was confident that I could start him up as hard as I did and was able to seat a bunch of horses. I knew Yannick would be leaving from a better angle from out there and, honestly, to get away second was best case scenario for me. So, to be able to re-move and control from there was great for me.

Ahead by a 1-1/4 lengths through three-quarters in 1:20.4, Its My Show looked to power away from the pack as a host of hopefuls soon set their sights on the pacesetter. Zeron called upon the son of Sweet Lou for his best as stablemate Fulton attempted to reel in the leader, while fellow elimination winner and slight choice on the toteboard, Confederate, began to make headway to the far outside.

Its My Show, trained by Linda Toscano, was able to repel the fast-closing Confederate by a head in a personal-best 1:47.4 and in the process, pushed his record to a perfect six-for-six in 2023. Fulton held third. Voukefalas was fourth.

Fulton was giving me a hell of a run in the last turn and I figured Timmy [Tetrick, driving Confederate] had to be right behind him with how great Confederate is," said Zeron. "I knew it was going to come right down to the finish.

Toscano, celebrating her first North America Cup crown, was ecstatic with the performance of her bay gelding, who went winless in eight starts as a two-year-old.

Hes an amazing horse, started Toscano. He disappointed me so much last year and at the end of the year, [I said] lets castrate him. I cant be this wrong about this horse and hes come back, and hes been nothing less than perfect. When you can win these kinds of races, this is what you do it for.

Zeron, who teamed with Captain Crunch to win the 2019 edition of the Cup, was thrilled to add another piece of hardware to his trophy case.

Assistant trainer Brad McNinch, Linda Toscano and Scott Zeron celebrate Its My Show's win

"This is my favourite race. It always has been.

Bred and owned by Richard and Joanne Young, Its My Show is now 6-2-1 from 14 starts. The win pushes his bankroll to $649,965.

It means a lot, said Richard Young. Im a Canadian and Ive been in the business for 30 some-odd years. His brother [Best In Show] won the Meadowlands Pace four years ago and he was in the North America Cup and finished sixth, I think. I havent had a horse between them, so coming back and winning this one is almost like back-to-back. So, it feels really cool.

Its My Show, sent off as the third choice, paid $8.50 for the win.

Saturday evenings Pepsi North America Cup card generated a handle of $5,259,044. The Cup race did a handle of $653,718, up 13 per cent from last year.

The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:

For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Woodbine)
As Bella Bellini bounded to the lead in the closing stages of the mile, she had a swiftly surging challenge from Refined she could not turn away, leaving the Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee to land a 7-1 upset in the $210,000 Armbro Flight final on Saturday (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

HP Mama B planted herself on the point at 55-1 motoring to a :27 first quarter with Adare Castle sitting second and Raised By Lindy in third. Raised By Lindy soon pulled off the pegs towards the backside and swept to the top before a :56.2 half  at which point 1-5 favourite Bella Bellini made her move out of fourth to charge uncovered along the rim.

Bella Bellini loomed nearer to Raised By Lindy coming to three-quarters in 1:24 with Refined loosely following cover several lengths off the lead. Raised By Lindy folded inside of Bella Bellini entering the final eighth, but Refined and Warrawee Xenia began hitting their best strides down the center of the track. Driver Doug McNair implored Refined to the finish and downed Bella Bellini by a half-length at the beam in a 1:52 mile, while Warrawee Xenia came rolling wide of them to just miss in third and Raised By Lindy held fourth.

I was following the right horse right off the bat; I was just thankful Dexter [Dunn on Bella Bellini] didnt move her to the front or we wouldve been a long first over, winning driver Doug McNair said after the race. I still didnt think  even though I was following her  that I had a real good shot of beating her. She lugs in a little bit in the turns and runs out a little bit in the straightaways, but she does it fast. I just figured once we got out of the last turn, as long as we kept her on the right foot wed have a shot to get some good money. And halfway down the lane, it looked like she was going by and she did.

Virgil Morgan Jr. trains Refined, a seven-year-old daughter of Uncle Peter competing for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She collected her 34th win from 95 starts and has now amassed $910,228 through her career, which lacked a black-type victory until Saturday night.

Shes just matured, Morgan Jr. said after the race. Shes always been good, as far as being on the national scene. But last year, she showed up in the Breeders Crown and did some work. She did really good and finished third, then she finished second in the TVG [Mares Trot at The Meadowlands]. So we had some high hopes coming into this year for her. Late, late [in the mile], shes just so game; she tries so hard. And it showed up tonight.

In the minor upset, Refined paid $16.30 to win.

The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:

For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
On a track listed as "good," the Maine faithful waited patiently in inclement weather for one of their favourite sons, Kevin Switzer Jr., to snag his 3,000th victory. It finally arrived in Race 7, where his sister, Candace Brandstatter, harnessed the horse El Jacko N and provided the well-known New England driver with his career benchmark.

Friends and a large, enthusiastic extended family swarmed the winners circle to help the 35-year-old third generation horseman celebrate the momentous occasion.

Following the festivities, Switzer Jr. shared his excitement with track photographer Stephanie Gray.

I am very happy to reach this milestone at my home track, with my sisters horse, he said.

Having my family, friends and colleagues here in the rain makes it much more special for me, the talented teamster added. Thank you to First Tracks [Cumberland] for the recognition today and leading up to today. I am very grateful to do what I love, in the place that I grew up.

El Jacko N, the 11-year-old New Zealand-bred son of Elsu, was the 9-5 favourite and paid $2.60 to win. Owned by P T Stable and trained by Brandstatter, El Jacko N earned his 34th career win and second in a row at Cumberland.

Two $14,684 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies went postward as races one and nine. In the first split, sophomore filly South St Dottie (driven by Nick Graffam, 5-2 odds) came from off the pace to score over the pacesetting favourite La Mambacity (Heath Campbell, 2-5) in 2:02. Trained by Mike Graffam for owner Jan Donaway, the three-year-old daughter of Western Maverick paid $7.60 to win for just the second time in her career. Janie finished third.

The second Maine-bred division was captured by the favourite Pickmepickme in wire-to-wire fashion in 2:01.3. Driven by Andy Harrington for owner-trainer-breeder Marc Tardif, the daughter of Western Maverick was the top freshman filly in the state of Maine last season. She paid $2.60 to win the ninth race of her career. Katelyns Angel (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second and was also trained by Tardif. Justcallmemimi (Bruce Ranger) was third.

Leading reinsman Bruce Ranger enjoyed three wins on the 12-race program, with Nick Graffam and Andy Harrington each collecting a pair of victories.

Racing resumes Friday, June 23 at First Tracks Cumberland. First post is slated for 3:15 p.m. (EDT).

(First Tracks Cumberland)
She didnt have the best trip, but that certainly didnt deter the talented three-year-old pacing filly Sylvia Hanover in the $420,000 Fan Hanover final, part of the stakes-laden North America Cup undercard on Saturday night (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The incredible daughter of Always B Miki recorded her third win in as many tries this year. Last season, she won eight of nine (second in the other) and Saturday's effort put her well over the $1 million mark in addition to tying the track, stakes and Canadian record of 1:48.2 established by American Jewel in 2012.

Sylvia Hanover and Bob McClure were looking for the lead early in the race, but Beach Cowgirl from post eight took control first and paced by the opening quarter in :26.4. McClure let Sylvia Hanover have her way as she did not want to sit and she was on top by the :55 half.

Sylvia Hanover had company in Twin B Joe Fresh nearing the 1:21.3 third panel, but dismissed that rival and could not be caught down the stretch as she went on to win easily in the record mile. Charleston got up to take second while Twin B Joe Fresh held for third.

She likes a target [but she doesnt need one], said McClure. Last year, she used to get lazy on the front. But she wasnt sitting in that hole any more today. We got slowed up and she wanted to roll, I couldnt let horses get outside me and take the chance of never getting out, so I took a shot.

When she cleared the front and Dex [Dexter Dunn aboard Twin B Joe Fresh] came at her, she just did the rest on her own. Shes a very special horse, I just have to stay out of her way. Ive never sat behind anything like her, shes always going to give you everything shes got."

Trainer Shawn Steacy certainly agreed with his drivers sentiments.

Shes an amazing animal," he said. "I dont think she knows how to get tired, shes incredible, I dont know how else to put it. She can do things most normal horses cant do.



Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms (just like the races namesake), Sylvia Hanover was a $135,000 yearling buy from the Harrisburg Sale by Hudson Standardbred of Hudson, Que. Shes following in her mothers footsteps as her dam, Shyaway, raced in the 2011 Fan Hanover eliminations and final for trainer Chris Ryder. Sylvia Hanover is her seventh foal, her first being $2 million winner Western Fame.

Introduced in 1983, the Fan Hanover Stakes is named in honour of the pacing filly who accomplished what no other sophomore distaffer has done before or since  win the Little Brown Jug. Owned by the  Dr. Glen Brown, who passed away last year, and trained and driven by Glen Garnsey, the Albatross miss defeated her male rivals in the 1981 edition of the coveted race. Dr. Browns granddaughter, Jenna Hague, was on hand Saturday night to make the trophy presentation following in her grandfathers tradition.

The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:

For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Woodbine)
Amid pomp and ceremony and the gathering of legislators, law enforcement personnel and health care officials from across the state, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday signed 24 bills aimed at improving behavioral health services for Virginians.

Youngkin stood on the Fauquier Health campus in Warrenton, in the shadow of the hospital on the hill, and signed legislation thats part of his Right Help Right Now plan to support people before, during and after a behavioral health crisis.

Having same-day care offered through mobile crisis units and crisis centers will reduce overcrowding at emergency departments, according to the plan. That will reduce the strain on police officers who currently spend hours in emergency rooms with patients who are under a TDO, or temporary detention order, waiting to be seen.

In addition, the actions reduce the criminalization of mental health in Virginia and work to bolster the behavioral health workforce, according to the plan website.

Virginians deserve same-day behavioral health services in their moment of need, and yet many people find themselves waiting days for a bed to become available, Youngkin said. When you need help, every moment matters. At times, that care arrives too late.

Behavioral health is a broad term that takes in both mental health and substance abuse issues. The two used to be treated separately, but theyre so interrelated, theyre often a dual diagnosis, Michelle Wagaman, prevention services director for the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, said during a behavioral health summit last summer.

While Virginia regularly ranks at the top of national scorecards as a place to do business and for public education, when it comes to availability of behavioral health services, that is not the case, according to the 2022 report.

The commonwealth ranks 39th nationwide for access to mental health care and 41st for the availability of its behavioral health workforce.

This years report hasnt come out yet, but a look at job openings in the health care field shows more than 10,000 vacancies statewide. Those openings are in all fields of medical work and are posted on the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association website.During the governors event on Wednesday in Warrenton, he and other state officials stressed that Virginia has lacked the necessary infrastructure to meet behavioral health needs, and that this is the first year of a three-year plan.

The intersection where behavioral health meets other systems like law enforcement, schools, courts and private hospitals is wide and complex, said Nelson Smith, commissioner of the states Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. These bills will improve Virginians experiences when navigating these roads.
Members of the public education advocacy group, Support Our Schools Nebraska, are driving efforts to repeal LB 753, which was recently passed by the 2023 legislature.

LB 753, otherwise known as the Opportunity Scholarship Act, seeks to offer tax credits to taxpayers who make donations to opportunity scholarship funds. Those funds would then offer scholarships to students wishing to attend a private or parochial school, effectively making school choice more accessible across the state.

Support Our Schools Nebraska is currently collecting signatures on a petition that would place the issue on the General Election ballot in 2024, thus letting the citizens of Nebraska decide whether or not the legislation is right for them. Persons gathering petitions started their effort in Scottsbluff and Gering last week.

When George Norris started the unicameral years and years ago, he said we are one house, Nebraska State Education Association President Jenni Benson said during a visit to Scottsbluff Wednesday, June 14. Not a senate and a house. But the second house is the people of Nebraska. Thats all were saying. When a bill goes through, if you dont like it, you have the ability to do this  To get it on the ballot for the second house to decide.

Benson said that Support Our Schools Nebraska supporters take issue with several parts of LB 753, but that its key takeaway has to do with the use of public tax dollars to fund private education. She said that the voters of Nebraska have shown their lack of support for that practice multiple times in the past.

This has happened three other times years ago. They were all soundly defeated, Benson said. The bottom line is about using public dollars for private education, and our Constitution of Nebraska says that we should not do that.

According to Benson, LB 753 would treat donations made through its provisions very differently than those made to public schools and other nonprofit organizations, which would incentivize wealthier citizens to take advantage of the system.

Our bottom line interpretation is that if you are someone who owes $10,000 in taxes, you get to take $5,000 of those and donate it to an opportunity scholarship fund, Benson explained. If you donated to a public school foundation, or to the Cancer Society or to any nonprofit, you get a 7% deduction on your income tax. This gives you a 50% dollar-for-dollar credit. So if its really about kids, why wouldnt you just donate to the school of your choice?

LB 753 would cap out at $25 million each year at first, but is allowed to grow up to $100 million annually. Benson said that similar legislation in other states, like Arizona, has led to caps up to $250 million. Support Our Schools Nebraska and other allied organizations fear that such amounts of money could significantly alter the landscape of education in the state.

Now they (Arizona) have charter schools in strip malls and subpar schools. Because if you can get this money, why not start a school? Theres no accountability, you dont have to be approved, Benson said.

Of the 11 Panhandle counties, only Scotts Bluff County and Box Butte County currently house private schools, but such institutions are far more numerous on the eastern side of the state. According to Benson, that means that the majority of money donated to opportunity scholarship funds through the LB 753 provisions by Panhandle residents would be funneled out of the area.

Its one pot of money, so most of that pot is not going to go to the Panhandle, she said.

To get the issue placed on the 2024 General Election Ballot, the organizers need to reach a certain total number of signatures in addition to certifying enough counties. Each county has a required number of signatures for certification based on its population.

Were trying for 90,000 signatures, Benson said. We have to get 60,000 and 38 counties.

Support Our Schools Nebraska must submit its signed petitions to the Nebraska Secretary of State by August 30. If successful, the issue will be put before Nebraska voters in November of 2024.

On Friday, June 16, another group calling itself Keep Kids First, announced the launch of a campaign urging people to decline to sign the petition. A press release on the effort included statements from Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, a sponsor of LB 753, and other senators, including Panhandle senator Tom Brewer.
[This is part of the series: A List of Things I Remember About Living In Saudi Arabia.]

I remember driving from Taif to Jeddah.

Coming into Saudi Arabia, we would fly into Jeddah and then drive to our compound in Taif.

Leaving the country, or anytime we wanted a weekend away, we would have to drive back to Jeddah.

It was a trip we made back and forth many times.

First, there are only 2 ways to drive from Taif to Jeddah and back.

You can take what we called The Escarpment  which is the shorter way  but it hurls you off the 6,000 foot plateau, where the city of Taif sits, onto a switchback mountain road of knee-weakening drop-offs.

The other way you can go, we called Snake Road  it is the longer way to go  but gets you there with less whiplash.

At some point in our years in Saudi Arabia we started driving Snake Road every-time we left for Jeddah or returned home.

But those first few years

Those first few years, we drove The Escarpment, and my dad ate on a bag of pistachios in the car the entire way.

Back and forth, back and forth, I would get a little more nauseous in the back seat with each curve.

I would hear another pistachio crack open.

We would swerve to miss someone not staying on their side of the road.

Finally, I would lay down in the back seat. More curves, more pistachios cracking open.

To this day, the smell of pistachios makes my stomach turn.
JICA supports Vietnam to develop sustainable water supply system

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training on a project to develop a water supply system that is resilient to contaminated water sources.













The project is expected to help address the challenges posed by contaminants from domestic and industrial wastewater.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  The mayor of Mabini, Batangas along with two others were arrested by authorities on Saturday for possession of unlicensed firearms and explosives.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Executive Judge Mary Josephine Lazaro led to the arrest of Mayor Nilo Villanueva and his brothers Oliver, a former policeman, and Bayani Villanueva.

Ariel Villanueva, a fourth person mentioned in the warrants, remains at large.

The police conducted three raids, first at Oliver's house in Sitio Pook, Brgy. Pulong Niogan where they found firearms and ammunition; second at the mayor's house in Sitio Silangan, Brgy. Sto Tomas where they found one suspected explosive device; and third at Bayani's home where they found firearms, ammunition, and a grenade.

The mayor and his brothers were brought to the CIDG Regional Field Unit National Capital Region, and they will face complaints for violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and illegal possession of explosives.
Local police officers are wearing body cameras. This is not news. In 2021, the Washington Legislature passed into law a requirement that police interviews in felony cases or any cases with a juvenile be recorded. In response, both the Longview and Kelso police departments, along with many others throughout the state, introduced a body cam policy.

At the time, the murder trial for Derek Chauvin for his killing of George Floyd was still ongoing and the use of violent force in policing was one of the hottest topics in America. The Legislature believed that body camera footage would provide clear answers on whether police force was justified.

We are in agreement on that. Body camera footage eliminates the he said/she said element that so often rears its head in a dicey situation, and instead lays the events out plain for us to see. And the evidence cuts both ways; a police officer who abuses their authority can be exposed by it, but so can someone who lies about police conduct during a stop. It doesnt simply keep police accountable, it keeps everyone accountable.

Since early 2022, police in both cities have been wearing body cameras. Kalama followed soon after, while Woodland, Castle Rock and the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office are all rolling cameras out.

Weve also begun to see the cost of these cameras more clearly. The cameras cost the city of Longview $218,000 over five years for the equipment and processing software. In Kelso, the police department hired a full-time records staffer to store and process footage at a cost of $86,000 a year in salary and benefits. These costs were shouldered jointly by the cities and the state.

Ryan Jurvakainen, a prosecuting attorney with Cowlitz County, told the county commissioners that recordings can involve hours and hours of body cam (footage) that comes to our office that has to be processed, has to be reviewed. For instance, if the face of a child appears in the footage, their face must be blurred any time it is on screen to protect their privacy.

It is, unquestionably, a lot more work. The offices of the county prosecutor and public defenders say theyre getting bogged down. But we do feel that it is necessary work.

Body camera footage is excellent for decreasing subjectivity in situations where tensions are high and people can easily jump to conclusions. But it also can be a valuable source of evidence. Body camera footage is currently as close as we can get to being able to rewind through a memory and dissect it frame by frame.

What we have is a matter of handling and storing evidence, not just mere video footage. Rather than seeing it as a burden, we should look at it as an opportunity to replace subjective testimony with more objective video footage at trial. Yes, the cost can be high, but thats the result of treating something with the highest degree of care and security.

Wed like to see a greater investment in body-camera footage and the people who handle it. The city of Kelso, for instance, upgraded a part-time position to fulltime to better deal with the demands of body camera footage.

Some of the investment needed is more staff, who can complete such tasks as going through a video piece by piece or giving more help to prosecutors and public defenders to sort through the footage. But others, such as the long download speeds (sometimes as much as four hours) or the inability to watch footage before it has fully downloaded, could also be helped by investing in more hardware. The county should commit to substantial support for both the prosecuting attorneys office and office of public defense.
More people are flocking to Washingtons collection of state parks, surprising parks officials who expected visitation to drop but instead are seeing even more tourists at its array of mountains, lakes, rivers and geological marvels.

Southwest Washington is very diverse ecologically speaking and historically speaking, and in what recreation opportunities there are, said Washington State Parks Meryl Lassen, communications consultant. Its very rich.

And the data seems to prove the areas appeal. Since 2019, most of the parks have seen more tourists in the last two years, according to a 2021-23 financial report from Washington State Parks. In the general Lower Columbia region, the most popular were Battle Ground Lake, Beacon Rock, Columbia Hills and Westport Light.

Stay up to date on Lower Columbia news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Lower Columbia news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.

Laura Holmes, Washington State Parks administrative services director, said in an interview the high numbers of visitors came as a slight surprise. They knew more people would come to parks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines that restricted much of public in-person events, but figured once the restrictions were lifted, they would see a major dip in 2022. But the mountains beckoned.

We expected visitation to potentially go down a little.  And we are seeing a bit of a downward trend, but not as much as what we were thinking, Holmes said, noting they tend to make conservative estimates in their budget.

Breaking down the numbers

Washington State Parks reported about $12 million higher revenue than what it had expected, bringing in $122.8 million during the 2021-23 budget years. Capital project spending went up, with a projected $60 million that was reappropriated, according to the financial report.

The largest drivers of money include the Discover Pass, which people can order online and use at any state park, and camping services.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program got more funding than ever at $120 million across multiple agencies, with $17 million dedicated to priority projects and establishing a long-distance trail system, according to the report. More than $24 million went toward the Nisqually Full-Service Park project, which is about to begin construction on the campground.

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Its one of those things that becomes an interesting issue to have, (one) that were not quite used to, but is a good problem to have, Holmes said.

Data from Washington State Parks shows that between 2019 and 2021, visitors to Battle Ground Lake jumped nearly 60,000 from 332,272 to 389,728.

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center near Castle Rock saw 162,058 visitors in 2022, up from 90,560 in 2021. Seaquest State Park, across the street, also saw a jump in visitors, with 156,243 recorded in 2019 compared to 175,919 in 2022.

Thats a whole different level of tourism because you have Mount St. Helens right there, Lassen said.

More visitation means more reason to start and continue projects, add services and maintain parks. According to the May financial report, there are 21 completed projects in Washington state, 26 in construction, 42 in design/permitting and 12 that are planned.

Its not just state parks seeing more people; the National Parks Service reported record-high visitation in 2021. Roughly 297 million people went to at least one of the Services 423 parks, according to the agency, and then 311 million in 2022.

A response to pandemic

Lassen said the isolation and entrapment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic led people to turn away from indoor activities, instead looking to the vastness of Washingtons unique landscape. Beacon Rock, for example, is the core of an ancient volcano.

Mike Hedges, an outdoors enthusiast from Kelso, said he also experienced the need for more outdoor activities.

We almost forget that 2020 and 2021 happened  It really felt like we lost two whole years of our lives so quickly, Hedges said.

Hedges said he imagined the May 14 landslide that swept debris across one of the main access highways to the mountain, would cause less visitors to Mount St. Helens, but noted other regional parks often get more visitors than the iconic volcano.

A lot of them are pretty well-outfitted and have good setups, Hedges said. He said he would like to see a more robust network of biking and hiking trails.

A jump in people coming to parks can spur projects, but it can also bring some challenges. Lassen said the main issues can include general maintenance, protecting the land and outreach about proper park etiquette.

In its June newsletter, the parks agency has offered tips for a beach-friendly Fourth of July that asked tourists not to litter, adding volunteers last year collected more than 35,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches.

Holmes said with more revenue, theyve been able to add more maintenance staff to help with keeping facilities clean. The agency has also been able to take care of backlog maintenance that helps deal with litter and other impacts to the land. Adding signs, boosting education and general marketing will likely help encourage good behavior, she said.

That increased use is something that our stewardship is working to assess and protect, Holmes said.

At the mountain

Mount St. Helens Institute Executive Director Ray Yurkewycz said in an April interview the steady rise of new visitors to the mountain is partly what led them to pursue a Mount St. Helens-themed license plate to sell in Washington state during this years state Legislature, though the effort failed.

An Institute-sponsored petition to design and offer a mountain plate got more than 6,000 signatures and would have cost $30, $28 of which would go to the Institute.

Some of that revenue goes back to support the mountain like outdoor schools, stewardship programs and trail cleanup, Yurkewycz said of the potential revenue uses. It supports the states interest in outdoor school, which is what we do.

Yurkewycz is leading the effort on a revamped visitors learning center on the mountain, one that would build new cabins, trails, campsites and an amphitheater on-site. They hope to open by the 50-year anniversary of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.
Apr 23, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A detail view of the glove, hat, and sunglasses of Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo (not pictured) during the eighth inning of their game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

After the Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up a road series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, they boarded a bus and headed north to their next stop, a series with the Milwaukee Brewers. But before the team got too far, something unusual happened.

The bus driver got arrested for driving under the influence.

The teams bus was supposed to follow a police escort from the Illinois State Police. But shortly into the drive, something seemed awry.

During the escort, the bus driver, 61-year-old Ronald E. Funderburke from Shelby, NC, was not following the escort and was traveling away from the escorting officers, an ISP spokesperson said in a written statement, per CWBChicago.com. Troopers observed more erratic driving and stopped the bus on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 northbound at Dempster Street.

The ISP statement added that After observing multiple signs of impairment, troopers arrested Funderburke for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported him to Chicago Police Department 16th District.

The Pirates also released a statement on the bizarre incident.

We are deeply concerned regarding what transpired last night. The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely, said Brian Warecki, the teams Senior Vice President of Communications. Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consistent with this trip, and we are now in communication with the appropriate parties regarding this matter.

As the two cities are just over 90 miles apart, most teams traveling from Chicago to Milwaukee (or vice versa) take a bus.

An intoxicated person driving any vehicle has tremendous potential for disaster. When its a vehicle the size of a bus, with dozens of people on board, its even worse. Fortunately, disaster was averted here.

[CWBChicago.com]
A Caldwell police officer was injured and a suspect is dead after an officer-involved shooting early Saturday, according to Caldwell police.

Police said the officer is in stable condition. The identity of the officer and the deceased suspect have not been released due to the ongoing investigation.

Officers responded to several vehicle burglaries and found two suspects who fled on foot, police said.

One officer had a physical struggle with one suspect when they pursued them, police said. The suspect shot the officer, who then returned fire and fatally wounded the suspect. The officer was then taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Caldwell police have asked the Texas Rangers to take over the investigation.
CCFNB Bancorp (OTCMKTS:CCFN  Get Rating) is one of 165 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare CCFNB Bancorp to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, risk and dividends.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

3.7% of CCFNB Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.2% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 4.7% of CCFNB Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.3% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares CCFNB Bancorp and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio CCFNB Bancorp N/A N/A 13.82 CCFNB Bancorp Competitors $3.32 billion $831.91 million 439.24

Profitability

CCFNB Bancorps peers have higher revenue and earnings than CCFNB Bancorp. CCFNB Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

This table compares CCFNB Bancorp and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CCFNB Bancorp N/A N/A N/A CCFNB Bancorp Competitors 25.14% 11.84% 1.12%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for CCFNB Bancorp and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CCFNB Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A CCFNB Bancorp Competitors 1048 3087 3131 19 2.29

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 44.42%. Given CCFNB Bancorps peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe CCFNB Bancorp has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Dividends

CCFNB Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.35 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. CCFNB Bancorp pays out 43.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 28.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

CCFNB Bancorp peers beat CCFNB Bancorp on 9 of the 10 factors compared.

About CCFNB Bancorp

(Get Rating)

CCFNB Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. that provides banking and related financial services to individual, business, and government customers. It accepts checking, savings, money market, interest checking, individual retirement, and repurchase sweep accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and demand and time deposits. The company offers commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans; financial and agriculture, tax-exempt, commercial, and consumer real estate loans; and installment loans to individuals. It also provides trust services; personal, corporate, pension, and fiduciary services; stocks, bonds, and other non-insured financial services; and remote capture, internet banking, telephone and mobile banking, and automated teller machine services, as well as investment and insurance products. The company is based in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

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St. Jamess Place (OTCMKTS:STJPF  Get Rating) and Old Mutual (OTCMKTS:ODMUF  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk.

Dividends

St. Jamess Place pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.1%. Old Mutual pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 13.0%. St. Jamess Place pays out 56.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Old Mutual pays out 76.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for St. Jamess Place and Old Mutual, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score St. Jamess Place 0 1 3 0 2.75 Old Mutual 0 2 0 0 2.00

Profitability

Given Old Mutuals higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Old Mutual is more favorable than St. Jamess Place.

This table compares St. Jamess Place and Old Mutuals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets St. Jamess Place N/A N/A N/A Old Mutual N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares St. Jamess Place and Old Mutuals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio St. Jamess Place N/A N/A N/A $0.28 49.38 Old Mutual N/A N/A N/A $0.11 5.84

Old Mutual is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than St. Jamess Place, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

46.4% of St. Jamess Place shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 28.5% of Old Mutual shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

St. Jamess Place beats Old Mutual on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About St. Jamess Place

(Get Rating)

St. Jamess Place Plc engages in the wealth management business. It offers investment, retirement, protection, intergenerational wealth management, banking and mortgages, and advice for businesses. The company was founded by Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild, Mark Aubrey Weinberg, and Michael Summer Wilson in 1991 and is headquartered in Cirencester, the United Kingdom.

About Old Mutual

(Get Rating)

Old Mutual Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services primarily in South Africa and rest of Africa. The company operates through Mass and Foundation Cluster, Personal Finance and Wealth Management, Old Mutual Investments, Old Mutual Corporate, Old Mutual Insure, and Rest of Africa segments. It offers risk products, including group risk and funeral covers; long-term savings; lending products comprising micro-lending; and transactional products. It also provides financial advice, investment, and income products, as well as asset management services. In addition, the company offers investments, annuities, and consulting services to employee-sponsored retirement and benefit funds; and health, property, and casualty insurance products. It serves low-income and lower-middle income markets; high income and high net worth individuals; and employee-sponsored retirement and benefit funds. The company was founded in 1845 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18)  A passenger ferry caught fire as it approached the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol province Sunday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG said MV Esperanza Star of Kho Shipping Lines was from Port of Lazi in Siquijor and it was set to dock at 4:30 a.m. at the Port of Tagbilaran.

The PCG is yet to confirm reports that fire broke out on the vessel at 3:50 am.

Bohol Provincial Disaster Management chief Anthony Damalerio said the PCG is still investigating the cause of the fire, which was declared out around 10 a.m.

According to PCG-7 Commander Mark Larsen Mariano, 55 crew members and 65 passengers were rescued from MV Esperanza Star.

The management of Kho Shipping Lines said all passengers and crew of MV Esperanza Star are safe and are now "being taken care of" by the company.

Damalerio said fishing boats and a Trans Asia ship responded to rescue the passengers and crew members of MV Esperanza Star.

Personnel of the BRP Malamawi, Coast Guard Sub-Station Tagbilaran, and Coast Guard Special Operations Unit-Tagbilaran have conducted firefighting and rescue operations.

The PCG said that currently, BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) at BRP Malamawi (FPB-2403) remain in the waters off Panglao to continue monitoring the burned ferry.

CNN Philippines' Pia Garcia and Cebu-based correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Loop Media, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LPTV  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 608,100 shares, an increase of 26.1% from the May 15th total of 482,100 shares. Approximately 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 71,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 8.5 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Loop Media

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Loop Media by 6,955.1% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,868 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 4,799 shares during the period. Fountainhead AM LLC bought a new stake in shares of Loop Media in the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. Romano Brothers AND Company bought a new stake in shares of Loop Media in the 4th quarter valued at $83,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in Loop Media during the 1st quarter valued at $79,000. Finally, HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in Loop Media during the 1st quarter valued at $87,000. 18.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Loop Media Stock Up 7.0 %

NYSEAMERICAN:LPTV traded up $0.21 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $3.21. 1,114,129 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 175,601. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Loop Media has a fifty-two week low of $2.68 and a fifty-two week high of $14.50. The company has a market cap of $180.98 million and a PE ratio of -5.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Loop Media ( NYSEAMERICAN:LPTV Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($0.17) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.16) by ($0.01). Loop Media had a negative return on equity of 3,756.58% and a negative net margin of 81.77%. The business had revenue of $5.39 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.78 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Loop Media will post -0.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Separately, B. Riley assumed coverage on shares of Loop Media in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. They set a buy rating and a $5.00 price target on the stock.

Loop Media Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Loop Media, Inc engages in curating short-form video content into dynamic and visual experiences. It delivers to business customers for their out of home venues and directly to retail consumers in their home and on their mobile devices. The company was founded by Liam McCallum, Jon Niermann, and Shawn Driscoll in 2016 and is headquartered in Glendale, CA.

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The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (NYSEAMERICAN:GLU  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,000 shares, a decline of 23.1% from the May 15th total of 1,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 14,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Insider Activity at The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

In related news, insider Mario J. Gabelli sold 1,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.21, for a total value of $25,099.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 4,703 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,126.63. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GLU. Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $148,000. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,600 shares of the companys stock worth $148,000 after acquiring an additional 2,900 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 46.8% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 13,326 shares of the companys stock worth $195,000 after acquiring an additional 4,249 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 11.9% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 13,200 shares of the companys stock worth $213,000 after acquiring an additional 1,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in shares of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 18,389 shares of the companys stock worth $270,000 after acquiring an additional 1,053 shares in the last quarter.

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Price Performance

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Dividend Announcement

GLU traded up $0.13 on Friday, hitting $14.05. 4,629 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,039. The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust has a twelve month low of $13.09 and a twelve month high of $17.19.

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.54%.

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to seek consistent level of after-tax total return for its investors with an emphasis on qualified dividends by investing its assets in equity securities and income producing securities of domestic and foreign companies involved in the utilities industry and other industries that are expected to pay dividends periodically.

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Agree Realty Co. (NYSE:ADC  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,160,000 shares, a growth of 5.6% from the May 15th total of 3,940,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 695,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.0 days.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Joey Agree acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $66.36 per share, with a total value of $331,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 519,253 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,457,629.08. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Joey Agree bought 5,000 shares of Agree Realty stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $66.36 per share, with a total value of $331,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 519,253 shares in the company, valued at $34,457,629.08. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Craig Erlich bought 3,000 shares of Agree Realty stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 26th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $64.09 per share, with a total value of $192,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 35,151 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,252,827.59. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders purchased 33,370 shares of company stock valued at $2,215,776. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Trading of Agree Realty

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Credit Suisse AG raised its position in shares of Agree Realty by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 126,269 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $8,533,000 after acquiring an additional 4,333 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Agree Realty by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,348,857 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,037,276,000 after acquiring an additional 992,766 shares during the period. Strs Ohio raised its position in shares of Agree Realty by 138.0% in the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 269,593 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $19,122,000 after acquiring an additional 156,342 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its position in shares of Agree Realty by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 54,544 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,868,000 after acquiring an additional 5,987 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Agree Realty by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 45,788 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,232,000 after acquiring an additional 6,877 shares during the period.

Agree Realty Trading Down 0.0 %

ADC stock traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $65.84. The stock had a trading volume of 1,624,493 shares, compared to its average volume of 642,766. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $69.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firm has a market cap of $6.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.78, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.46. Agree Realty has a twelve month low of $63.34 and a twelve month high of $80.44.

Agree Realty (NYSE:ADC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by ($0.52). The firm had revenue of $126.62 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $124.55 million. Agree Realty had a return on equity of 4.04% and a net margin of 34.48%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.97 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Agree Realty will post 3.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Agree Realty Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.243 per share. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.43%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Agree Realtys payout ratio is 163.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ADC has been the subject of several analyst reports. JMP Securities downgraded shares of Agree Realty from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Agree Realty in a report on Wednesday. They set an outperform rating and a $80.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Agree Realty from $80.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Agree Realty in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price objective on Agree Realty from $78.00 to $73.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Agree Realty currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $78.14.

Agree Realty Company Profile

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Agree Realty Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that is RETHINKING RETAIL through the acquisition and development of properties net leased to industry-leading, omni-channel retail tenants. As of December 31, 2022, the Company owned and operated a portfolio of 1,839 properties, located in all 48 continental states and containing approximately 38.1 million square feet of gross leasable area.

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Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BOLIF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 520,200 shares, a growth of 20.6% from the May 15th total of 431,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Boliden AB (publ) Price Performance

OTCMKTS BOLIF opened at $34.65 on Friday. Boliden AB has a 52 week low of $29.80 and a 52 week high of $43.80. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $36.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.14.

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Boliden AB (publ) Company Profile

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Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters.

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Shares of Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE:TALO  Get Rating) have received an average recommendation of Buy from the six ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $25.60.

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on TALO shares. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Talos Energy from $18.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Talos Energy in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Stephens started coverage on Talos Energy in a report on Monday, April 24th. They issued an overweight rating and a $21.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Talos Energy from $22.00 to $23.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, TheStreet cut Talos Energy from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th.

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Insider Activity at Talos Energy

In related news, major shareholder Bcc Enven Investments (S), L.P sold 363,804 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.50, for a total value of $5,275,158.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 15,145,377 shares of the companys stock, valued at $219,607,966.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.79% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Talos Energy

Talos Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its position in Talos Energy by 37.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,756 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC increased its position in Talos Energy by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 57,145 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,079,000 after acquiring an additional 561 shares during the period. Bailard Inc. increased its position in Talos Energy by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 28,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $536,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in Talos Energy by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 16,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $308,000 after acquiring an additional 603 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its position in Talos Energy by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 12,364 shares of the companys stock valued at $208,000 after acquiring an additional 647 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.24% of the companys stock.

Talos Energy stock opened at $14.21 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.61 and a quick ratio of 0.61. Talos Energy has a 1-year low of $10.69 and a 1-year high of $22.63. The company has a market cap of $1.78 billion, a PE ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 2.22. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $13.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.11.

Talos Energy (NYSE:TALO  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $322.58 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $347.00 million. Talos Energy had a return on equity of 12.36% and a net margin of 34.48%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Talos Energy will post 1.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Talos Energy Company Profile

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Talos Energy, Inc operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It focuses on the exploration, acquisition, exploitation and development of shallow and deepwater assets near existing infrastructure in the United State Gulf of Mexico. The company was founded by John A.

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Capital Investment Services of America Inc. decreased its holdings in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME  Get Rating) by 2.0% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 25,084 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 500 shares during the period. Capital Investment Services of America Inc.s holdings in AMETEK were worth $3,645,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AME. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in AMETEK by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 4,306 shares of the technology companys stock worth $573,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC increased its holdings in AMETEK by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 84,481 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $11,251,000 after buying an additional 9,510 shares during the period. Prudential PLC bought a new position in AMETEK in the 1st quarter valued at about $591,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in AMETEK by 45.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,974 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $396,000 after buying an additional 924 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AMETEK by 41.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,379 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.42% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on AME shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AMETEK in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Wolfe Research lowered shares of AMETEK from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. DA Davidson raised their target price on shares of AMETEK from $177.00 to $180.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on shares of AMETEK from $153.00 to $161.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $156.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

AMETEK Trading Down 0.5 %

In other AMETEK news, Director Anthony James Conti sold 3,440 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.57, for a total transaction of $480,120.80. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 26,078 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,639,706.46. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock.

Shares of AMETEK stock opened at $155.91 on Friday. AMETEK, Inc. has a 1 year low of $106.17 and a 1 year high of $158.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.93 billion, a PE ratio of 30.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.22. The firms 50 day moving average is $144.55 and its 200 day moving average is $142.57.

AMETEK (NYSE:AME  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The technology company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.08. AMETEK had a net margin of 18.97% and a return on equity of 18.42%. The firm had revenue of $1.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.54 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.33 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that AMETEK, Inc. will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AMETEK Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 9th. AMETEKs payout ratio is 19.38%.

About AMETEK

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AMETEK, Inc engages in the manufacture of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. It operates through the following two segments: Electronic Instruments (EIG) and Electromechanical (EMG). The EIG segment designs and manufactures advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power and industrial markets.

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Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,800 shares, an increase of 20.8% from the May 15th total of 4,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days.

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. Stock Up 0.7 %

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. stock opened at $5.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $444.62 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.90 and a beta of 0.55. Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. has a 1-year low of $4.39 and a 1-year high of $6.14. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $5.33 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.30.

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Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter. Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. had a return on equity of 13.95% and a net margin of 8.45%. The firm had revenue of $125.92 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $139.45 million. Equities research analysts forecast that Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. will post 0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. Company Profile

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. ( NYSE:CPAC Get Rating ) by 6.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 98,674 shares of the construction companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,935 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LPs holdings in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. were worth $670,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.42% of the companys stock.

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Cementos Pacasmayo SAA engages in the production and market of cement, quicklime, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete products, and construction materials. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete, and Blocks; Construction Supplies; Quicklime; and Other. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Lima, Peru.

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Thai Oil Public (OTCMKTS:TOIPF  Get Rating) and Neste Oyj (OTCMKTS:NTOIY  Get Rating) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability.

Dividends

Thai Oil Public pays an annual dividend of $2.01 per share and has a dividend yield of 154.2%. Neste Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.1%. Thai Oil Public pays out 115.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Neste Oyj pays out 45.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Insider and Institutional Ownership

6.3% of Thai Oil Public shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Neste Oyj shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Thai Oil Public N/A N/A N/A $1.74 0.75 Neste Oyj N/A N/A N/A $0.54 40.54

This table compares Thai Oil Public and Neste Oyjs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Thai Oil Public is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Neste Oyj, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Thai Oil Public and Neste Oyjs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thai Oil Public N/A N/A N/A Neste Oyj N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Thai Oil Public and Neste Oyj, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Thai Oil Public 0 0 1 0 3.00 Neste Oyj 1 0 5 0 2.67

Neste Oyj has a consensus price target of $56.00, suggesting a potential upside of 157.83%. Given Neste Oyjs higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Neste Oyj is more favorable than Thai Oil Public.

About Thai Oil Public

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Thai Oil Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the oil refining, petrochemicals, lube base oil, and other businesses in Thailand and internationally. It operates through Oil Refinery, Lube Base Oil Refinery, Petrochemical, Power Generation, Solvent, Ethanol, and other segments. The company produces gasoline, diesel/gas oil, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas; and petrochemical products, such as paraxylene, benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes. It also produces and distributes lube base oil, bitumen/asphalt, and other by-products, as well as special products, such as treated distillate aromatics extract; and hydrocarbon and chemical solvents, and other chemicals. In addition, the company operates natural gas-fired combined-cycle co-generation power plants that generate and sell electricity, steam, and utilities to companies and industrial users, as well as invests in other power generating companies and related business. Further, it is involved in the production of ethanol; and manufacture and sale of linear alkyl benzene for use in the production of detergents and cleaning products; and provision of human resource management services. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

About Neste Oyj

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Neste Oyj provides renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in Finland and other Nordic countries, Baltic Rim, other European countries, North and South America, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Renewable Products, Oil Products, Marketing & Services, and Others. The Renewable Products segment produces, markets, and sells renewable diesel, renewable jet fuels and solutions, and renewable solvents, as well as raw material for bioplastics based on its technology to wholesale markets. The Oil Products segment produces, markets, and sells diesel fuel, gasoline, aviation and marine fuels, light and heavy fuel oils, and gasoline components, as well as special fuels, such as small-engine gasoline, solvents, liquid gases, and bitumen. This segment serves retailers and distributors, oil majors and trading companies, petrochemicals companies, and companies marketing lubricants and solvents. The Marketing & Services segment markets and sells cleaner fuels and oil products, and associated services to private motorists, industry, transport companies, farmers, and heating oil customers through a network of service stations, as well as direct sales. The Others segment offers engineering solutions. The company was formerly known as Neste Oil Oyj and changed its name to Neste Oyj in June 2015. Neste Oyj was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

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Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,350,000 shares, a growth of 10.7% from the May 15th total of 1,220,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 368,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.7 days.

Institutional Trading of Compass Minerals International

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 19.7% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 66,531 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,281,000 after acquiring an additional 10,934 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 466,435 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $15,994,000 after acquiring an additional 7,946 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 13.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,342,759 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $80,333,000 after acquiring an additional 276,135 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 399.7% in the 1st quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 80,437 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,758,000 after acquiring an additional 64,340 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 628,424 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $21,549,000 after buying an additional 23,647 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.94% of the companys stock.

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Compass Minerals International Stock Performance

Shares of Compass Minerals International stock traded down $0.24 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $35.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 735,688 shares, compared to its average volume of 315,535. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $33.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 2.54. Compass Minerals International has a one year low of $28.89 and a one year high of $47.68. The stock has a market cap of $1.45 billion, a P/E ratio of -36.31 and a beta of 1.34.

Compass Minerals International Dividend Announcement

Compass Minerals International ( NYSE:CMP Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported ($0.46) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.99). Compass Minerals International had a negative return on equity of 6.08% and a negative net margin of 2.99%. The firm had revenue of $411.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $427.00 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.33 EPS. The firms revenue was down 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Compass Minerals International will post -0.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.70%. Compass Minerals Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -61.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Compass Minerals International from $81.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Compass Minerals International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. CL King reduced their price target on shares of Compass Minerals International from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Compass Minerals International from $50.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Monday, May 22nd.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Compass Minerals International, Inc, produces and sells essential minerals primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.

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First Community Trust NA lowered its stake in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS  Get Rating) by 7.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,724 shares of the companys stock after selling 136 shares during the quarter. First Community Trust NAs holdings in General Mills were worth $147,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 13,284 shares of the companys stock worth $1,114,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the period. Strategic Investment Advisors MI raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 11,193 shares of the companys stock worth $939,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the period. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 3,874 shares of the companys stock worth $325,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. LCM Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 7,262 shares of the companys stock worth $609,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the period. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,575 shares of the companys stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.48% of the companys stock.

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General Mills Price Performance

Shares of General Mills stock remained flat at $80.71 on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 5,348,972 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,454,220. General Mills, Inc. has a 1-year low of $65.69 and a 1-year high of $90.89. The company has a market capitalization of $47.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.54. The stocks fifty day moving average is $86.40 and its 200 day moving average is $83.37.

Insider Transactions at General Mills

General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. General Mills had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 14.04%. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.84 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,185,088.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other General Mills news, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total value of $272,585.31. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 35,491 shares in the company, valued at $3,215,129.69. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 13,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,185,088.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 55,371 shares of company stock valued at $4,849,178. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on GIS shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $76.00 price target on shares of General Mills in a report on Friday, March 24th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of General Mills in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, General Mills presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $84.76.

General Mills Profile

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General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables.

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(CNN)  African leaders hoping to mediate in the Ukraine war met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg Saturday.

The delegation aims to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table despite both of them playing down the possibility.

Many African countries have been impacted by the Ukraine war, well into its second year, in particular with grain prices soaring.

A statement released by the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed his arrival in St. Petersburg, alongside the leaders of Zambia, the Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal, and Uganda.

The delegation is seeking a road to peace to the 16 months long conflict between Ukraine and Russia which has thus caused devastating economic impact, loss of life and global instability, the statement said.

The leaders visited Kyiv on Friday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

They were initially greeted with explosions and forced to take shelter in bunkers as Russian airstrikes hit the capital.

The delegation voiced concerns that the continent of Africa was suffering under a prolonged conflict, with Ramaphosa insisting to Zelensky that there should be peace through negotiations.

But Zelensky rebuffed efforts to bring Kyiv to the negotiating table imminently, and ruled out any peace negotiations with Russia until Moscows troops withdraw from his countrys territory.

Today, I have clearly said repeatedly at our meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land means to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering, he told journalists in a press conference after the meeting.

Ramaphosas office had previously described the peace initiative as the first time that Africa is united behind the resolution of a conflict outside of our continent, and where you have a group of African heads of state and government traveling together in an attempt to find a path to peace to this conflict.

Western nations have criticized some African countries for not condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine and conspicuously stayed away from votes denouncing the invasion at the United Nations General Assembly.

Meanwhile, South Africas Ramaphosa has been clear that he will not take sides in a contest between global powers and that he is pushing for a negotiated end to the conflict.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "African leaders meet with Putin seeking road to peace"
Independence Bank of Kentucky lifted its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 3,307.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,075 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 10,750 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentuckys holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $580,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 32,224.4% during the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 225,994,826 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,816,289,000 after acquiring an additional 225,295,680 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 124,437,061 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,943,291,000 after acquiring an additional 2,589,952 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,566,364 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,712,255,000 after acquiring an additional 717,683 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 26,658,930 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,215,792,000 after acquiring an additional 606,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,853,005,000 after acquiring an additional 8,563,389 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays decreased their target price on Charles Schwab from $61.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. StockNews.com lowered Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, May 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.19.

Charles Schwab Price Performance

Shares of SCHW stock opened at $54.40 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The Charles Schwab Co. has a twelve month low of $45.00 and a twelve month high of $86.63. The company has a market cap of $96.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.86, a P/E/G ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $66.42.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.77 EPS. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.84%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 27.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $53.47 per share, for a total transaction of $267,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $533,844.48. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown purchased 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

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The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:INFU  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 79,900 shares, an increase of 24.8% from the May 15th total of 64,000 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 49,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.6 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on InfuSystem in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director R. Rimmy Malhotra sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.70, for a total value of $174,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 190,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,656,619.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 18.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

InfuSystem Trading Up 8.6 %

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of InfuSystem by 31.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,398 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 1,526 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of InfuSystem by 52.4% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 7,672 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $67,000 after buying an additional 2,637 shares during the period. HRT Financial LP bought a new position in InfuSystem in the 1st quarter worth $80,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in InfuSystem in the 3rd quarter worth $82,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in InfuSystem in the 1st quarter worth $83,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.78% of the companys stock.

INFU traded up $0.79 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $9.93. 327,185 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 41,254. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $8.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 2.00 and a quick ratio of 1.60. InfuSystem has a 52 week low of $6.10 and a 52 week high of $10.88.

InfuSystem (NYSEAMERICAN:INFU  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $30.37 million for the quarter. InfuSystem had a net margin of 0.05% and a return on equity of 0.13%.

About InfuSystem

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InfuSystem Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides infusion pumps, and related products and services in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Integrated Therapy Services (ITS) and Durable Medical Equipment Services (DME Services). It supplies electronic ambulatory infusion pumps and associated disposable supply kits to oncology, infusion, and hospital outpatient chemotherapy clinics for the treatment of various cancers, including colorectal cancer, pain management, and other disease states.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II (NYSEAMERICAN:VKI  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,100 shares, a growth of 24.7% from the May 15th total of 8,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 75,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of VKI stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $8.33. 100,959 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,961. Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II has a 12-month low of $7.81 and a 12-month high of $9.79.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.0321 per share. This represents a $0.39 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.62%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II

About Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. US Bancorp DE grew its position in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II by 88.5% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,194 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the 4th quarter worth approximately $63,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the 1st quarter worth approximately $73,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the 1st quarter worth approximately $89,000. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $87,000. Institutional investors own 16.85% of the companys stock.

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Invesco Advantage Municipal Income Trust II is a closed-end investment fund and trust. Its investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of capital. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Get Rating)  Investment analysts at Wedbush lifted their Q1 2024 EPS estimates for shares of Lennar in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, June 14th. Wedbush analyst J. Mccanless now anticipates that the construction company will earn $2.42 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.40. The consensus estimate for Lennars current full-year earnings is $9.96 per share.

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LEN has been the topic of a number of other research reports. JMP Securities upped their price target on shares of Lennar from $115.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $130.00 to $145.00 in a report on Friday. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $127.00 to $150.00 in a report on Friday. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $103.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $120.00 to $135.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lennar has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $121.53.

Lennar Stock Up 0.2 %

Lennar Dividend Announcement

Shares of LEN opened at $120.02 on Friday. Lennar has a 52 week low of $62.54 and a 52 week high of $121.95. The firm has a market cap of $34.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.44. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $111.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 7.09.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 26th were paid a $0.375 dividend. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 25th. Lennars payout ratio is 10.24%.

Insider Activity at Lennar

In related news, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 9,289 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.16, for a total value of $958,253.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 9.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lennar

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sanders Capital LLC increased its position in Lennar by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 3,067,185 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $322,392,000 after acquiring an additional 102,601 shares during the period. Smead Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Lennar by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Smead Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,057,384 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $321,362,000 after acquiring an additional 94,694 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its position in Lennar by 111.4% in the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,467,501 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $259,359,000 after acquiring an additional 1,300,163 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Lennar by 551.1% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,824,684 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $191,793,000 after acquiring an additional 1,544,432 shares during the period. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in Lennar by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,441,742 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $148,802,000 after acquiring an additional 43,237 shares during the period. 82.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Lennar Company Profile

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Lennar Corp. engages in the provision of real estate related financial and investment management services. It operates through the following segments: Homebuilding East, Central, Texas, and West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other. The Homebuilding East, Central, Texas, and West segment constructs and sells homes primarily for first-time, move-up, and active adult homebuyers primarily under the Lennar brand name.

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Merrion Investment Management Co LLC reduced its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 2.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,810 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 175 shares during the period. Merrion Investment Management Co LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $472,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,544,751,000 after buying an additional 21,451,006 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 35.7% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 13,794,089 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $992,048,000 after acquiring an additional 3,627,705 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 174,002,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,369,862,000 after acquiring an additional 3,357,590 shares during the period. Finally, Edmp Inc. grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 6,884.3% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 3,343,588 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $46,471,000 after acquiring an additional 3,295,715 shares during the period. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BMY. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. 51job reissued a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $78.62.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $66.16 on Friday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $63.07 and a twelve month high of $81.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $67.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $138.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.44.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.96 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

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Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR  Get Rating) in a note issued to investors on Sunday. The firm set a sell rating on the stock.

New Concept Energy Stock Performance

About New Concept Energy

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New Concept Energy, Inc engages in real estate rental business. The company owns approximately 190 acres of land located in Parkersburg West Virginia. It also provides advisory and management services for an independent oil and gas company. The company was formerly known as CabelTel International Corporation and changed its name to New Concept Energy, Inc in May 2008.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday morning.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Nomad Foods from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $21.00 price objective for the company in a report on Sunday, February 26th. Barclays increased their price objective on Nomad Foods from $21.00 to $22.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $20.00 price objective on shares of Nomad Foods in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Nomad Foods from $21.00 to $24.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $22.20.

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Nomad Foods Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of Nomad Foods stock opened at $18.03 on Wednesday. Nomad Foods has a 1 year low of $12.50 and a 1 year high of $20.32. The business has a 50-day moving average of $18.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.82. The company has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.88 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Nomad Foods ( NYSE:NOMD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.08. Nomad Foods had a return on equity of 11.63% and a net margin of 7.87%. The company had revenue of $831.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $811.47 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that Nomad Foods will post 1.71 EPS for the current year.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NOMD. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Nomad Foods by 61.6% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,588 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 987 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Nomad Foods by 117.5% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,897 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025 shares during the period. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its stake in Nomad Foods by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 183,478 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,605,000 after purchasing an additional 1,242 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Nomad Foods by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 21,849 shares of the companys stock valued at $409,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming boosted its stake in Nomad Foods by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 9,221 shares of the companys stock valued at $159,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares during the period. 78.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Nomad Foods

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Nomad Foods Limited manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of frozen food products in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Switzerland, and rest of Europe. The company offers frozen fish products, including fish fingers, coated fish, and natural fish; ready to cook vegetable products, such as peas and spinach; and frozen poultry and meat products comprising nuggets, grills, and burgers.

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Shore Capital reaffirmed their house stock rating on shares of Petro Matad (LON:MATD  Get Rating) in a report released on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports.

Petro Matad Stock Up 5.0 %

Shares of LON MATD opened at GBX 4.20 ($0.05) on Wednesday. Petro Matad has a one year low of GBX 1.60 ($0.02) and a one year high of GBX 7.10 ($0.09). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 17.93 and a quick ratio of 16.91. The firms 50 day simple moving average is GBX 5.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 4.28. The stock has a market capitalization of 46.62 million, a P/E ratio of -15.50 and a beta of 2.52.

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About Petro Matad

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Petro Matad Limited, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, and produces oil in Mongolia. It holds 100% interests in production sharing contract blocks, including Ongi Block V that covers an area of approximately 7,937 square kilometers; and Matad Block XX that consists of an area of approximately 218 square kilometers in Mongolia.

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The Berkeley Group (OTCMKTS:BKGFF  Get Rating) and Installed Building Products (NYSE:IBP  Get Rating) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and dividends.

Dividends

The Berkeley Group pays an annual dividend of $1.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.7%. Installed Building Products pays an annual dividend of $1.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. The Berkeley Group pays out 68.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Installed Building Products pays out 15.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Installed Building Products has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

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Profitability

This table compares The Berkeley Group and Installed Building Products net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets The Berkeley Group N/A N/A N/A Installed Building Products 8.71% 57.73% 15.26%

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score The Berkeley Group 1 2 1 0 2.00 Installed Building Products 0 6 1 0 2.14

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for The Berkeley Group and Installed Building Products, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

The Berkeley Group presently has a consensus target price of $5,000.00, indicating a potential upside of 10,081.43%. Installed Building Products has a consensus target price of $117.14, indicating a potential downside of 7.59%. Given The Berkeley Groups higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe The Berkeley Group is more favorable than Installed Building Products.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

45.9% of The Berkeley Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.9% of Installed Building Products shares are owned by institutional investors. 17.3% of Installed Building Products shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares The Berkeley Group and Installed Building Products top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio The Berkeley Group N/A N/A N/A $2.62 18.77 Installed Building Products $2.74 billion 1.31 $223.43 million $8.36 15.16

Installed Building Products has higher revenue and earnings than The Berkeley Group. Installed Building Products is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The Berkeley Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Installed Building Products beats The Berkeley Group on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About The Berkeley Group

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The Berkeley Group Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the residential-led and mixed-use property development activities in the United Kingdom. The company is also involved in land selling activities. It operates under the Berkeley, St Edward, St George, St James, St Joseph, and St William brand names. The Berkeley Group Holdings plc was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cobham, the United Kingdom.

About Installed Building Products

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Installed Building Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation of insulation, waterproofing, fire-stopping, fireproofing, garage doors, rain gutters, window blinds, shower doors, closet shelving and mirrors, and other products in the continental United States. The company offers a range of insulation materials, such as fiberglass and cellulose, and spray foam insulation materials. It is also involved in the installation of insulation and sealant materials in various areas of a structure, which includes basement and crawl space, building envelope, attic, and acoustical applications. In addition, the company installs a range of caulk and sealant products that control air infiltration in residential and commercial buildings; and waterproofing options, including sheet and hot applied waterproofing membranes, as well as deck coating, bentonite, and air and vapor systems. It serves homebuilders, multi-family and commercial construction firms, individual homeowners, and repair and remodeling contractors. The company was formerly known as CCIB Holdco, Inc. Installed Building Products, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

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Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 22,770,000 shares, a growth of 6.2% from the May 15th total of 21,440,000 shares. Approximately 23.4% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 5,200,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.4 days.

Nordstrom Trading Down 1.6 %

NYSE:JWN traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $19.06. 8,008,690 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,906,088. Nordstrom has a 12-month low of $14.02 and a 12-month high of $27.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 173.27, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 2.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.73, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.35. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $16.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $17.62.

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Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The specialty retailer reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.12) by $0.19. Nordstrom had a return on equity of 46.05% and a net margin of 0.13%. The company had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.06) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Nordstrom will post 2.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Nordstrom Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 26th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.99%. Nordstroms dividend payout ratio is presently 690.91%.

Several research firms recently issued reports on JWN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Nordstrom from $17.00 to $19.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Nordstrom from $14.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Monday, June 5th. Credit Suisse Group reissued a neutral rating and set a $17.00 price objective on shares of Nordstrom in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. TheStreet lowered Nordstrom from a c+ rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Nordstrom in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.75.

Insider Transactions at Nordstrom

In other news, insider Teri Bariquit sold 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.51, for a total value of $487,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 56,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,109,202.03. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Nordstrom

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its position in Nordstrom by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 11,224 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $188,000 after acquiring an additional 738 shares in the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Nordstrom by 37.7% during the 4th quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 183,687 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $2,965,000 after acquiring an additional 50,335 shares in the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new stake in Nordstrom during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $776,000. New York State Teachers Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Nordstrom by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 151,514 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,445,000 after purchasing an additional 1,626 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its position in shares of Nordstrom by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 270,100 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $4,359,000 after purchasing an additional 5,500 shares in the last quarter. 66.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Nordstrom Company Profile

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Nordstrom, Inc, a fashion retailer, provides apparels, shoes, beauty, accessories, and home goods for women, men, young adults, and children. It offers a range of brand name and private label merchandise through various channels, such as Nordstrom branded stores and online at Nordstrom.com; Nordstrom.ca; Nordstrom stores; Nordstrom Rack stores; Nordstrom Locals; ASOS; Nordstromrack.com; and clearance stores under the Last Chance name.

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(CNN)  The sinking of a packed migrant boat off the coast of Greece may be the worst tragedy ever in the Mediterranean sea, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

Dozens of people were killed and hundreds more left missing when the boat, traveling from the coastal city of Tobruk in Libya to Italy, capsized off the coast of Greece earlier this week. The true toll of the disaster is yet to become clear.

We dont have all information yet on what has happened but it seems like this is the worst ever tragedy weve seen in the Mediterranean, she told a press conference in Brussels on Friday.

The tragedy has shone a spotlight on the EU refugee crisis in which every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war, persecution, climate change and poverty risk treacherous routes to Europe.

Johansson condemned the role of smugglers who put people on the boats. They are not sending them to Europe, they are sending them to death. This is what theyre doing and its absolutely necessary to prevent it, she said.

Unfortunately, we have seen this coming because since the start of the year, there was a new modus operandi with these fishing boats leaving from the eastern part of Libya and weve seen an increase of 600% of these departures this year, she added, stressing the need to find different ways to fight the smugglers and save lives.

When it comes to fighting the smugglers, we cant rely on only one way to do that. We have to use intelligence  we have to use common police investigations together with countries of origin, with countries of transit, with countries of departure, she said.

Other global bodies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) called for urgent and decisive action to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean and emphasized the duty to rescue people in distress at sea without delay.

Denial from authorities

Greek authorities have faced criticism for how the disaster was handled.

On Friday, they denied claims that the boat had capsized after the coast guard attempted to tow it to shore.

Authorities had initially said the coast guard kept its distance but their assistance had been declined after they threw a rope to the vessel to stabilize and check if it needed help.

Tarek Aldroobi, who had three relatives on board, told CNN that they had seen Greek authorities towing the vessel with ropes, but says they were tied in the wrong places  which caused it to capsize.

Their boat was in a good condition and the Greek navy tried towing them to the beach but the ropes were tied in the wrong places, Aldroobi said. When the Greek navy tried pulling them it caused the boat to capsize.

Speaking to Greek national broadcaster ERT, government spokesperson Ilias Siakanderis said the coast guard arrived two hours before the boat capsized after its engine broke down and there had been no connection between the two.

The engine broke down at 1:40 a.m. and at 2:00 a.m. it sank  therefore there can be no connection between (the coast guard approaching the boat and the time of its sinking), he told ERT.

The Hellenic coast guard also defended its response.

When the boat capsized, we were not even next to boat. How could we be towing it? Nikos Alexiou, a spokesman for the coast guard told CNN.

Alexiou said their patrol boat only used a small rope to stabilize itself while it was close to the migrant boat and they were unable to tug the fishing boat.

Our patrol boat could not tow the fishing boat, he said.

According to Alexiou the coast guard had been observing the boat at close but not mooring distance, when they started approaching following an alert that the migrant boats engine had failed.

Regretfully there was movement of people, a shift in weight probably caused by panic and the boat capsized. As soon as we got there, we started our rescue operation to collect those who were in the water, he explained.

The NGO Alarm Phone meanwhile alleged that the coast guard was aware that the boat was in distress hours before it capsized.

The coast guard this week said it had repeatedly asked the boat if it needed assistance and were told it did not. Authorities also previously said they could not intervene with the boat without being asked for assistance, as the boat was in international waters.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Greek migrant boat wreck may be Mediterraneans worst ever tragedy with hundreds still missing"
Equities research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:AMS  Get Rating) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the stock.

American Shared Hospital Services Stock Performance

American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile

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American Shared Hospital Services provides radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to health care providers. The company offers radiosurgery equipment for the Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-invasive procedure to treat malignant and benign brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformations, as well as for trigeminal neuralgia.

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The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:AZEK  Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,810,000 shares, an increase of 5.7% from the May 15th total of 7,390,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,620,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.8 days. Approximately 5.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insider Activity at AZEK

In related news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.34, for a total transaction of $1,013,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,244,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,530,562. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.34, for a total transaction of $1,013,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,244,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $31,530,562. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Corporate Opportunities F. Ares sold 7,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.36, for a total value of $170,520,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,326,090 shares in the company, valued at $178,463,552.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 11,988,250 shares of company stock valued at $298,652,875. Corporate insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AZEK. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in AZEK by 35.2% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 11,990 shares of the companys stock valued at $299,000 after acquiring an additional 3,124 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. purchased a new stake in AZEK during the first quarter valued at $1,468,000. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in AZEK by 155.0% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 22,887 shares of the companys stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 13,910 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in AZEK during the first quarter valued at $124,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in AZEK by 113.5% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 724,014 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,989,000 after acquiring an additional 384,936 shares during the last quarter. 99.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AZEK Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:AZEK traded down $0.20 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $26.28. 1,554,134 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,744,527. AZEK has a 1 year low of $15.12 and a 1 year high of $30.26. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $25.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $23.76. The company has a current ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 292.00, a P/E/G ratio of 10.45 and a beta of 1.61.

AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $377.69 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $356.45 million. AZEK had a return on equity of 5.49% and a net margin of 1.02%. Analysts predict that AZEK will post 0.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AZEK shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on AZEK from $28.00 to $29.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Bank of America upgraded AZEK from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $28.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Loop Capital upgraded AZEK from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $27.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $28.13.

AZEK Company Profile

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The AZEK Company Inc engages in manufacturing and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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Tradewinds LLC. bought a new stake in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 3,828 shares of the energy exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $439,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of EOG. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in EOG Resources by 16.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,911,000 after buying an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new position in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its stake in EOG Resources by 237.7% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 813 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its stake in EOG Resources by 23.7% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $79,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the period. 87.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EOG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $142.00 to $141.00 in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $152.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Scotiabank upgraded shares of EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $137.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.17.

Insider Transactions at EOG Resources

EOG Resources Price Performance

In other news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.87, for a total transaction of $579,350.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 149,689 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,344,464.43. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock.

EOG Resources stock opened at $113.41 on Friday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $92.16 and a 12-month high of $150.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.54. The firms 50-day moving average is $114.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.17 and a quick ratio of 1.90.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.42 by $0.27. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.83% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The company had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.28 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.00 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.34 earnings per share for the current year.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.91%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 20.64%.

EOG Resources Profile

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EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad, and Other International geographical segments. The Other International segment includes China and Canada operations. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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West Wealth Group LLC reduced its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Get Rating) by 14.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 268,719 shares of the companys stock after selling 46,150 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF accounts for about 6.0% of West Wealth Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. West Wealth Group LLC owned 0.08% of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF worth $13,041,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EFV. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 66.5% during the 4th quarter. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 536 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Leelyn Smith LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Howe & Rusling Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF stock opened at $49.39 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.31 billion, a PE ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $49.36 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.37. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12 month low of $49.15 and a 12 month high of $59.57.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 Value 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.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Get Rating).

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The lush green lawn of First Presbyterian Church on Anna Street was covered with rainbows and signs of support Saturday at Grand Island Pride 2023.

Some vendors had items for sale, but most were stations of support for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. One of those was a makeshift art studio, put together by Hastings Museum. Visitors could paint with Kool-Aid, make colorful friendship bracelets and make connections.

Dan Brosz is curator of collections at Hastings Museum. The Museum also participated in the Hastings Pride festival, he said.

"We're not here just to promote the museum, but to share the message that the museum is an all-inclusive place," Brosz said. "We're here for everyone."

One organization had something not unlike a hugging booth, sharing something that many take for granted.

"Free Mom Hugs is here to advocate and show love for all those kids that maybe don't get a hug," said Karen Williams, who was one of the happy huggers. "There are unfortunately some kids who don't get hugs at home after they came out."

Hugs seem simple, but Williams said for someone whose family doesn't accept who they are, hugs are a pretty big deal.

"Some folks have said that we're their favorite booth," she said.

Starbucks store manager Beth Gartner was with her coworkers showing their support.

"We decided it was super important to get out today and show our support," she said.

The Starbucks station was a popular stop for free coffee, water and conversation.

Gartner said that while she thinks the "majority" of Grand Islanders support LGBTQ+ members of their community, "we still have a way to go to educate those who don't really know the community that well. I think it's important for us to keep sharing our stories and be who we are."

Danielle Helzer was at the event not only to help host Save Our Schools Nebraska's petition campaign, but to be an ally. She was asked why she thought there is hostility toward LGBTQ+ people and organizations.

"I think people fear the unknown. I think people fear something that comes into direct conflict with who they are or what their beliefs are," Helzer ventured. "In reality, LBGTQ+ people are not asking for anything big; they're just asking to be recognized as the people that they are.

"If you don't know anybody who is part of the queer community it's easier to hate someone," she said. "It's easier to say nasty things about someone when you don't know anyone (like them)."

Ace Grim (they/them), was among a group of friends from Grand Island who attended the festival. Grim, who recently attended Grand Island Public Schools, had advice for young LGBTQ+ people like themself and allies.

"Just be authentic," they said. "There's always going to be people that are going to not agree with you."

Haters are going to hate, Grim said. "It's kind of dumb, but don't let them ruin it."
New funeral director joins All Faiths staff

Kelley Sheridan has joined the staff of All Faiths Funeral Home as a funeral director.

Sheridan is originally from York and received her Mortuary of Science degree in 2009 from Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa. She apprenticed at Westlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Omaha and worked as a funeral director at Roeder Mortuary, also in Omaha.

In 2016 she joined the staff at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Lincoln and in 2020 she became the manager of Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Grand Island.

Sheridan and her husband, Danny, along with their two children, are members of Peace Lutheran Church where she helps with the childrens ministry on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. In her time off, you can find caring for three family ducks and starting home projects that may or may not be completed.

MONA welcomes new director of learning, engagement

KEARNEY  The Museum of Nebraska Art has appointed Christine Brown as the new director of learning and engagement.

Brown comes to the museum via Blue Hill Community Schools where she has been teaching art education to grades 7-12 since 2000, as well as serving as an adjunct teacher at Hastings College since 2012.

She is a graduate of Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) earning a bachelor of arts degree in arts education and a master of fine arts in curriculum and instruction from Doane College. Brown has also taught art education in several other Nebraska school systems and has professional affiliations with the Nebraska Art Association as well as Nebraska Art Teachers Association.

The director of learning and engagement is responsible for the development, management and evaluation of all engagement programs serving all audiences of MONA. Brown will work in tandem with other staff members to provide a comprehensive art education curriculum, ensuring that all programming, both on-site and virtual, fulfills the mission and vision of the museum.

Opened in 1986, the Museum of Nebraska Art houses the official art collection of the state of Nebraska. MONAs permanent collection numbers nearly 6,000 works by artists of regional, national and international acclaim. It collects, preserves, researches, exhibits and interprets the work of artists who were born, lived, trained or worked in Nebraska or who created artworks that reflect the states culture.
Expressway target of 3,000 km by 2025 feasible: Prime Minister

By Huong Dung Sun, June 18, 2023 | 8:15 pm GTM+7

Work on new expressways is getting underway, and with the current network of 1,729 kilometers, Vietnam is likely to reach its goal of over 3,000 kilometers of expressways by 2025, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday.

At a ceremony to kick off construction on Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, and Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway, the cabinet leader said in the 2000-2021 period, the country invested and opened 1,163 kilometers of expressways.

To have 5,000 kilometers of expressways by 2030 as targeted, we must build four times more than in the previous 20 years, he noted.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (center) kicks off construction on Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, and Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway on June 18, 2023. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.

Since 2021, Vietnam has built an additional 566 kilometers of expressways, bringing its total to 1,729 km, he said, adding that another 1,756 kilometers are under construction.

According to the PM, the three above routes, with a total length of 247 kilometers, will help link key economic regions in the South and Central Highlands regions.

Ring Road 3 will run 90 kilometers through HCMC, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An provinces, and is expected to cost VND75.4 trillion ($3.2 billion).

It will have six lanes and a speed limit of 80-100 km per hour, and two others for emergency stops. The first phase will stretch 76 kilometers with four lanes.

An overpass will be built to link the ring road with the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, which connects with the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway running from Dong Nai to the beach town of Phan Thiet.

The project will also link with four other expressways, including HCMC-Trung Luong that connects HCMC with the Mekong Delta; Ben Luc-Long Thanh, linking Long An and Dong Nai; HCMC-Moc Bai, connecting the city with the Cambodian border; and HCMC-Chon Thanh, linking HCMC and Binh Duong.

Once completed in 2026, the route is expected to open up space for the development of industrial corridors, connect seaport clusters, and reduce travel times and logistics costs. It will also drive the development of the key southern region.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway will run 53.7 kilometers from Dong Nai to Ba Ria-Vung Tau with a total cost of over VND17.8 trillion ($756.48 million).

The first phase of the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway, linking Khanh Hoa province and Dak Lak in the Central Highlands, will stretch 117.5 kilometers with funding of nearly VND21.9 trillion ($930.7 million).

The expressways are expected to be put into use in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Earlier on Saturday, the PM kicked off construction of the 188km Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang Expressway. Crossing the Mekong Delta region, the expressway begins in Soc Trang provinces Tran De port, runs through Hau Giang province and Can Tho city, and ends in An Giang provinces Chau Doc town.

It is designed to be 32.25 meters wide and have six lanes, with the total cost exceeding VND44.69 trillion ($1.89 billion) sourced from central and local budgets.

Once operational in 2027, the project will contribute to completing the regional transport network, connecting Mekong Delta localities with Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Tokyo, Japan (CNN)  When Kaneko Miyuki reported her sexual assault as a seven-year-old in Japan, she remembers the police laughing at her. I was already confused and scared, she said. They wouldnt take me seriously as a child.

The following investigation made things worse. After being questioned, she was taken back to the scene of her assault without a guardian present, against all modern guidelines.

The police never did bring her attacker to justice. The whole experience was so traumatizing for Kaneko that she repressed her memory of it until she began having flashbacks in her twenties, and didnt come to terms with the fact she had been sexually assaulted until her 40s.

Kaneko is among countless Japanese women who say their experiences of sexual assault and abuse were ignored because they didnt fit the criteria of a victim. About 95% of survivors never report their assault to police, and nearly 60% never tell anyone at all, according to a 2020 government survey.

But that could be about to change. On Friday, the Japanese parliament passed a raft of bills overhauling the countrys sex crime laws, long criticized as outdated and restrictive, reflecting conservative social attitudes that often stigmatize and cast doubt on victims.

The new laws expand the definition of rape to place greater emphasis on the concept of consent; introduce national legislation against taking explicit photos with hidden cameras; and raise the age of consent to 16. The previous age of consent, at 13, had been among the lowest in the developed world.

It marks a major victory for sexual assault survivors and activists, some of whom have spent decades lobbying for these changes.

We  would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the victims of sexual violence who have raised their voices together with us, Spring, a survivor advocacy group, said on Friday.

While cautioning there was still more work to be done, such as extending the statute of limitations and in recognizing power imbalances in cases involving authority figures, it said the bills were nonetheless a sign of progress.

Our earnest wish is that those who have been victims of sexual violence will find hope in their lives, and that sexual violence will disappear from Japanese society, it said.

A question of consent

One of the biggest reforms passed on Friday is to change the language used to define rape to include a greater emphasis on the concept of consent.

Rape had previously been defined as forcible sexual intercourse committed through assault or intimidation, including by taking advantage of a victims unconscious state or inability to resist.

The law had also previously required evidence of intent to resist.

But activists had argued this is too hard to prove in many cases, such as when a victim experiences the common freeze response, or is too afraid to resist physically.

Tadokoro Yuu, a representative of Spring, said the law had discouraged victims from coming forward due to a fear of acquittal if courts found insufficient evidence of resistance.

The new law replaces forcible sexual intercourse with non-consensual sexual intercourse, and expands the definition of assault to include victims under the influence of alcohol or drugs, those with mental or physical disorders, and those intimidated through their attackers economic or social status. It also includes those unable to voice resistance due to shock or other psychological reactions.

Age of consent and voyeurism

Other major changes include raising the age of consent to 16 years old except for when both parties are underage  on par with many US states and European nations including the United Kingdom, Finland and Norway.

The amendments also expand protections for minors, establishing grooming as a crime for the first time. They further criminalize activity like asking those under 16 for sexual images, or asking to visit a minor for sexual purposes.

It also makes it easier to prosecute people accused of taking or distributing photos of a sexual nature without the subjects knowledge or consent  a hot button issue in Japan where upskirting and hidden cameras taking explicit photos of women has long been a problem.

A survey last year found that nearly 9% of more than 38,000 respondents across Japan had experienced this kind of voyeurism, according to public broadcaster NHK. Victims described having photos taken up their skirt and shared on social media; others had photos secretly taken in changing rooms and bathrooms.

They also described the long-term impact on their mental health, with many feeling unsafe in public spaces including trains and schools. Reporting the issue rarely helped: often, peers and even police officers would place the blame on their clothing, arguing that they had placed themselves at risk by wearing skirts, NHK reported.

Until now, laws against voyeurism have been enforced only by local governments, and can vary across prefectures, complicating matters.

In one notorious incident in 2012, a plane passenger took an upskirt photo of a flight attendant, was caught with several images on his phone, and admitted guilt  but was ultimately never charged, according to NHK. The problem? The crime had taken place midair on a moving plane  so it was impossible to know which prefecture they had been traveling over at the time, thus which locations law should be applied.

Acquittals prompt outrage

These amendments build on the work of an entire generation of activists who have tried with little success to push forth change, said Nakayama Junko, a lawyer and member of the non-profit Human Rights Now.

Its been a long time  Its not just a movement that has been going on for 50 years, its a voice that has been heard for decades, she said.

These previous attempts were blocked by governmental inertia and sometimes outright opposition from parliament members who believed the changes unnecessary, she said. Many people, including Japanese media, had a limited understanding of consent and believed the crime of rape was being properly punished, meaning little attention was paid to the issue.

Things began to change in 2019 when the country was gripped by several high-profile rape acquittals, handed down within the span of a few weeks.

In the most controversial case, a father was acquitted of raping his 19-year-old daughter in the central Japanese city of Nagoya. The court recognized that the sex was non-consensual, that the father had used force, and that he had physically and sexually abused his daughter  but judges argued she could have resisted, according to Reuters, which reviewed the verdict.

The fathers acquittal prompted nationwide protests, with women from Tokyo to Fukuoka taking to the streets for months and calling for legal change. Demonstrators held flowers as a sign of protest, and signs with slogans against sexual violence, including #MeToo.

In the Nagoya case, the fathers acquittal was eventually overturned by Japans high court. But the spark had been lit, finally setting into motion the proposed reforms that have for years failed to take hold.

The protests conveyed (that) the reality of the damage was very significant, Nakayama said, calling it a main driving force that led to this amendment.

A long road ahead

Both nonprofit organizations CNN interviewed praised the bills as an important step forward  but cautioned that much work remains to be done.

Japan still lags far behind other developed nations in its ideas toward sex and consent, Nakayama said. Other countries have already begun amending their laws to reflect a Yes means yes mentality  meaning sexual partners should seek clear affirmative consent, rather than assuming consent unless told otherwise. Meanwhile, in Japan, it seems that (the concept of) No means no has just been communicated, she said.

Tadokoro, the Spring representative, echoed this point, saying it was important to recognize that consent isnt inherently or permanently granted between couples, and can be withdrawn; that its wrong to assume its a yes even if they come over, or do not say no clearly.

There are other legal reforms they want to tackle in future amendments: better laws protecting people with disability from sexual abuse, and outlining the ways they can give consent, and extending the statute of limitations since many survivors go decades before coming to terms with what happened to them  as in Kanekos case.

Others spend most of their life dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health consequences, before reaching a point where they have healed enough to consider pursuing justice.

But perhaps the biggest obstacle is the Japanese public itself, and the harmful views on sexual abuse and victimhood that are still widespread.

When I talk to other people about (my assault), I get avoided, and am not accepted, said Kaneko, recalling people who told her she would forget with time or that thats just life.

Sometimes their responses are far crueler. I get ruthless reactions like, You got done? she said.

There are some positive signs of change, she said, pointing to public awareness campaigns by the government and increasing sexual education in schools. But there is still a gaping lack of systemic support for survivors like counseling, therapy, and public services to help them re-enter society.

Survivors of sexual assault like myself cannot even work, or go about your life  you become mentally ill, and you cant take care of yourself, she said.

Authorities also need to introduce trauma-informed training for law enforcement and other workers dealing with survivors, said Tadokoro, adding that some police investigators understand (how to approach the situation), while others do not understand at all.

For Kaneko, who went on to become the general secretary of Spring, the damage done at the police station when she was seven years old compounded the trauma from her assault  leaving scars that took decades to untangle.

I was implanted with a distrust of people when I experienced that kind of thing in an institution that is supposed to protect citizens, such as the adults and the police, she said.

For many years, despite a lot of pain, I had no idea what (the source) was for many years  Having PTSD is not easy to heal on your own.

This story was first published on CNN.com. Why Japan is rethinking its rape laws and raising the age of consent from 13
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The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

June 17, 2023



Tiawan S. Gongloe

Fellow Liberians, this Friday, June 16th, Liberia will be joining 53 other African countries in commemorating the Day of the African Child (DAC). As adopted by Heads of State of the Organization of African Unity, now African Union in Abuja, Nigeria in 1990, June 16th was not only set aside by our Continental Leaders to honor and salute the memories of heroic African children, who were brutally massacred by Apartheid South African police during the Soweto Uprising in 1976, but to also remind African leaders and other policymakers about the imperatives for mainstreaming national policies that are pivotal to the healthy growth and development of the African Child.



As Liberia joins the rest of the Continent in celebrating this auspicious day in honor of the African Child, I feel obliged to candidly inform you all that the prevailing statistics on Liberian Children are pathetically grim. According to the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Liberia has the worlds highest percentage of out-of-school children. UNICEF further laments that 15 to 20 percent of Liberian children between the ages of 6 and 14 are out of school. Moreover, a whopping 46 percent of Liberian children dont even complete primary school.



Additionally, about 25 percent of Liberian children between the ages of five and seventeen are also engaged in child labor. For those of us who live and work in Liberia, we witness the severe impacts of the prevailing economic hardships on our children on a daily basis. We see school-age children who should be in classrooms selling in the markets rather than going to school; many children are now the breadwinners for their families, helping to minimize the economic difficulties on their parents and guardians.



Within the healthcare delivery sector, more and more Liberian children continue to encounter multiple challenges, such as high infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. In fact, Liberias infant mortality rate is among the five highest in the world, with 15 percent of children dying before their very first birthday.



Fellow Liberians, like any other children on the face of this planet, Liberian children deserve a better and brighter future. Our children deserve an environment that will enable them to optimize their potential. In other to ensure a brighter future for our children and posterity, we must prudently carve out forward-looking policies aimed at engendering healthy living conditions, affordable, accessible educational opportunities, and the general well-being of every child in this country.



Thirty-three years after our heads of state declared the Day of the African Child, how are we faring as a continent? Are our policies holistically focused on creating a brighter future for our children?

To begin with, the debts that our national leaders acquire today are obviously the future burden of todays children because when those debts shall have matured for repayment 20 to 30 years from now, some of the children today and even those yet unborn will be the national leaders, who will inherit such debts. And so, when todays national leaders secure loans, when they receive grants from sympathetic countries for socio-economic development purposes, in order to improve the living condition of our children and callously convert those resourceswhether loans or grantsinto their personal use, they are stealing, not only from us but also stealing the future of our children.



And so, fellow Liberians, as we all celebrate the Day of the African Child this Friday, June 16th, let us search our souls and ask ourselves these hard questions: Are our children better off today than they were five years ago? Do our children have better healthcare facilities, better educational facilities than they had five years ago?



I pose these questions because every society is expected to be dynamic, not stationary. Every society is expected to move forward, not backward. Unfortunately, in our pathetic case in Liberia, pervasive corruption is tremendously impeding the forward movement of the Liberian People.



Fellow Liberians, amid the prevailing corruption and resultant hardship in this country, all is not lost, because as sacredly enshrined in Article One of our Constitution, we all have an inherent right to peacefully change our national leaders via the ballot box for the betterment of our lives and our childrens lives. As we approach October 10, 2023, Presidential Elections, let us all remember that our vote is our voice; that our vote is our power, because its our birthright.



I therefore humbly renew my clarion call to you all, to join us at the Liberian Peoples Party and the Gongloe Global Movement, so that together, we can usher in a transformative Good Governance paradigm for a Better Liberia in 2024. For me personally, every day is, and should be a day of the African child and all other children around the world. When Im elected President in the 2023 elections, I solemnly promise every Liberian and foreign resident within our territorial confines that uplifting the children and maximizing opportunities for them will form the bedrock of our national policies. Every day, we must ensure that our children immensely benefit from the decisions we make and the policies we pursue.



May the God of our Mothers and Fathers bless the work of our hands and save our Republic.

A BETTER LIBERIA IS POSSIBLE
CARBONDALE  For Meadow Boden and Graci McDaniel, participating next week in the annual Air Race Classic isnt just about the competition. For the two recent Southern Illinois University Carbondale aviation graduates, its also about focusing on the achievements and future of women within the aviation industry.

Last year, one of the biggest things for me  and what Im looking forward to experiencing this year and see Graci experience  is the connections that you make with these other women, Boden said. Obviously its a competition; obviously we are all trying to win. But they are all supportive of each other, including all of the other collegiate teams. Its nice that everyone is there to support each other.

Boden and McDaniel will compete in a Cessna 172S within the collegiate division of the 2023 Air Race Classic, which starts Tuesday, June 20, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The four-day, 2,334-nautical-mile journey runs through June 23 and includes nine stops in eight states before ending in Homestead, Florida. This is the 46th year for the event. Boden and McDaniels progress during the competition can be followed at airraceclassic2023.mapprogress.com. The pair left Southern Illinois Airport Thursday, June 15, for the event.

McDaniel, a 2019 graduate of Pinckneyville Community High School, earned her bachelors degree in aviation management in May. She is finishing up her certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate and will work on her multiengine rating while remaining at SIU as a CFI.

This is an awesome opportunity, said McDaniel. If you asked any of the girls here if they want to participate, they would.

Charting their course

McDaniel looks forward to more real-world experience and flying in different environments, including lower altitudes. The duo will try to beat their own predetermined air speed in accounting for changes in terrain, weather, winds and airspace. They will fly with no air conditioning or open windows because the drag will slow the plane down.

McDaniel noted that several male aviation students have said they wished they could compete as well. But its awesome to be with all of these women who get to do this, and this event is just for us, she said.

The thing Im most excited for is just the type of flying that we are going to be doing and experiencing in the plane  trying to push it to its limits.

Boden expects her previous experience in the event to help. Her team finished 16th overall and third in the collegiate division last year. She also participated in 2021 in a shortened single-day air derby.

Theres a lot of things during the race that you dont know until you do it, Boden said. You are flying the plane harder and faster than you normally would ever fly it. We are pushing this plane to its limits, seeing what the plane can do. Last year when we did that, it was a surreal feeling because I didnt know what it felt like. Knowing what it feels like now, I think, will help us quite a bit because we understand what its going to be like.

Loves learning about aviation

McDaniel said she wanted to be an astronaut but is too short. Her grandfather, Calvin McDaniel, was a pilot in World War II, and when he returned, bought his own planes. He was instrumental in the development and funding of the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport after growing tired of landing on the grass, she said. The field at the civil, public use airport is named in McDaniels honor.

While her grandfather died when she was 5, aviation was always a common conversation at dinner. Once she started getting into aviation there was no turning back, she said, noting she loves learning about all aspects of it.

McDaniel initially began at St. Louis University but transferred to SIUs aviation program. That was definitely the best choice I could have made. Im 100% a better pilot since being at SIU.

Here, people are flying all the time. Everyone is pushing each other to get done as quickly as they can. Thats something that I needed at the time that I transferred, and I was successful in getting done pretty quickly through everything.

Both Boden and McDaniel said they are keeping their aviation-related career options open.

Boden, who is from Bushnell, had a private pilots certificate before enrolling at SIU and participated in the programs Summer Wings program in 2018. It was the only school she toured when deciding on a university. She flew with Steven Goetz, the programs chief flight instructor, and it was Goetz who last year issued Boden her CFI certificate.

After I graduated, I knew that I would stay to work here, which was a really good decision for me, Boden said.

Diversifying the industry

The Air Race Classic celebrates the history of women in aviation. Amelia Earhart was one of 20 women to compete in the first womens Air Derby in 1929. This is the eighth year SIU has competed. A team from SIU won both the overall and collegiate title in 2015.

The event represents an opportunity to showcase the aeronautical skills of our female aviators on a national stage, said Jose Ruiz, professor and School of Aviation director. By doing so, our female flight students and instructors inspire prospective female aviators throughout the nation. Supporting our Air Race Classic participants serves to promote diversity within aviation, SIU and the SIU School of Aviation.

Data from the Federal Aviation Administrations Women in Aviation Advisory Board show that women make up less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation occupations.

Ruiz notes the program continues to be proactive in increasing diversity by engaging in aviation-related events that target under-represented groups, including the Chicago-based AeroStar Avion Institute Aviation Day and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The SIU School of Aviation has student representatives of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, National Gay Pilots Association and Women in Aviation registered student organizations attend yearly conferences and hosts an annual Aviation Diversity Luncheon.

Grateful for the universitys support

McDaniel and Boden both emphasized they are grateful for the universitys support. Goetz has been a major help in helping prepare for the event, and the aviation maintenance and flight line crew have also been instrumental, Boden said, adding she loves everything the school had to offer.

I dont think people realize how lucky we are that we get to train in a really nice facility and our aircraft are really nice. Its a team effort. Especially this year I realized that its not just about us two that are part of the race; its about everyone who helped us get there.
MOUNT VERNON  Through the newly established St. Clare Foundation, the Felician Sisters of North America plan to devote themselves to helping the underprivileged in Southern Illinois, through ministries in food pantries, behaviors health, and ministering to the needs of the poor.

The Felician Sisters, officially known as the Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi, are a religious institute whose members profess public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They are one of the 15 founding members of the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, which works to promote awareness, exchange best practices, recommend actions, and share information on behalf of victims and survivors of human trafficking.

St. Francis of Assisi believed that serving the poor, and getting his hands dirty, was a source of profound joy. To Francis, service was the mission and The Felician Sisters, the spiritual daughters of St. Francis, want to do the same thing. The group says that they want to serve Southern Illinois with their vision and mission. To do so, they say they are transforming their presence in Southern Illinois to be more independent.

We minister each day to individuals and families in great need, the Felician Sisters website states. Our Sisters serve the homeless, women in transition, and others who are marginalized  people that society has seemingly forgotten  with compassion and mercy, a healing presence, spiritual sustenance, and a reminder of Gods unconditional love.

One such place the Sisters do their work is Centralia at the Felician Wellness Center. There, the Sisters provide low-cost wellness programs to Southern Illinois residents.

The organization has been in Southern Illinois for sometime, but only recently have they decided to provide health and welfare ministries.

Their plan is to transition from co-sponsorship of SSM Health, Illinois to sole sponsorship of the newly established St. Clare Foundation. SSM is a not-for-profit Catholic affiliated hospital group with health care locations throughout Southern Illinois.

The Felician Sisters are excited to share with you our deepening commitment to the community by transitioning our role from health ministry co-sponsor to full sponsorship of a newly established foundation, said Sr. Clarette Stryzewski, CSSF, Chairperson, St. Clare Foundation. The new Felician-sponsored St. Clare Foundation will serve as a catalyst for a healthy community and support local community agencies with the needed funding to address the health and social needs of the most vulnerable. We expect the foundation to be fully operational by 2025.

The Sisters as well as SSM Health believe this move into an independent operation status will benefit Southern Illinoisans by creating a more sustainable service network of healthcare and welfare.

Though the St. Clare Foundation is only beginning, the Sisters have already focused their attention to hunger, mental health access, shelter, drug abuse, and overall issues with poverty in Southern Illinois.

While the Sisters look ahead toward what the future brings, SSM Health looks back and remembers warmly their partnership together for the past couple decades, and also considers future collaboration.

"SSM Health is deeply grateful for our partnership with the Felician Sisters, which has flourished for more than 25 years, said Michael Baumgartner, Regional President of SSM Health, Illinois. Now, with the founding of the Felician-sponsored St. Clare Foundation, our continued collaboration will further expand care for those who need it most. Achieving overall health and well-being reaches far beyond the walls of our hospitals, and the complementary work of the foundation will play a significant role in improving the lives of the people in our community.

Though reorganization and development may be happening with the Felcian Sisters in their new foundation, SSM Health says patients need not worry about their health care coverage, which will go unchanged.

The partnership between the Felician Sisters and SSM Health has existed since the mid '90s, with operations at SSM Health St. Marys Hospital - Centralia, SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital  Mount Vernon, and the local SSM Health Medical Group.

The plan of transition to a solo sponsorship for the Felician Sisters wont be complete until the end of 2025.
DENMARK -- Three sisters are making their dreams of careers in IT a reality and helping to change the face of cybersecurity through a unique opportunity at Denmark Technical College.

Tanya Martino, Tongie Martino and Tonia Martino Governor are 2023 workforce development graduates from the Fusion Cyber Virtual RMF Bootcamp and are preparing to test for their Security+ industry credentials.

The newly minted program is part of the four-way public-private partnership between Denmark Technical College, Fusion Cyber, Capital Business Development Association and Cisco aimed at promoting diversity in the cybersecurity industry.

The sisters are all HBCU graduates from Denmark Tech and Voorhees University and have worked in a variety of fields, including education, health care and finance, before setting their sights on careers in cybersecurity.

"One day I stumbled across a YouTube video about cybersecurity, and it was saying how there were a lot of opportunities in this field and how so many jobs were vacant. That's what got me excited about cybersecurity. I started talking to a friend who was already in the industry, and every time he would tell me a little bit more of how I could get into cybersecurity. When he found out about this program, I was like, okay, this was actually meant for me, right? It was actually meant for me to be in this program," Tongie Martino said.

From there, Tongie set out to get her sisters hooked on the idea of a cybersecurity career change, too.

"Tongie was talking about it every day, from sunup to sundown. She was talking about how she can get into cybersecurity and all these things that she's going to be able to do with her cybersecurity salary. She would talk about where she's going to work and how she'll have to study to pass the certification. It must have planted a seed. So, I decided hey, I'll try it; if I get in, I get in and if I don't, then I know that it wasn't for me. I happened to get in," said Tanya Martino.

All three sisters started the cohort last July and quickly started learning.

"The program is very fast-paced, so one of the challenges for me has been to keep up with everything. I'm a special education teacher in a general education classroom, which means I'm teaching 107 students a day with 90-minute classes, but I've been able to find a balance and make it work," Tanya Martino said.

"I work for a company that has some ties to cybersecurity, so it was kind of exciting to come to work and know a lot more than what I did. By taking a chance and studying for 10 months, I really have acquired a lot of knowledge,"

"Up next is to buckle down and pass the Security+ test. Cybersecurity really spans every industry, so from there, I'll be looking at the doors this program has opened for me. I feel this program has prepared me for an amazing career in cybersecurity and I'm looking forward to a new beginning," said Governor.

It was a proud moment for me to attend the graduation at Denmark Technical College and watch four of our graduates receive their certificates. The fact that three of them were sisters was even more gratifying. As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to social justice and workforce development, we hope to be able to continue to extend the opportunity to enter the exciting field of cybersecurity to underrepresented communities, said Scott McGregor, director of Ciscos Social Justice Action Office.

Christopher Etesse, founder and CEO of Fusion Cyber, said, "I'm really excited to see the success the students are having. When we designed the program, one of our goals was to diversify cybersecurity by removing barriers and providing high-level training for mid-career workers. The Martino sisters are really at the heart of what this movement is all about.

The program, which launched last summer, has several cohorts of a 24-week version of the course schedule that will meet two evenings a week virtually and has a for-credit associate degree in cybersecurity with Denmark Technical College starting in August.

SC Tech, the statewide technology and cybersecurity industry cluster housed within the SC Council on Competitiveness, reported the number of tech firms in South Carolina has grown 254% since 2000. With the exponential growth of cybersecurity and the influx of South Carolina technology-based businesses, the bootcamp couldnt have come at a better time.

"Fusion Cyber Bootcamp is helping increase opportunities and enabling new pathways for a diverse group of people who are now ready to pursue a fantastic career with 75% higher wages than the state average in a field that is essential to our personal, corporate and national security," SC Tech Director Kim Christ said.

I strongly encourage anyone who has the interest to come and learn more about this amazing opportunity. Denmark Technical College has been thrilled with the preliminary results of the partnership. We are churning out graduates that will become leaders in the charge to diversify the technology industry. The generous scholarships provided by CBDA, Fusion Cyber and Cisco allow us to bring the program to students who may not otherwise be afforded the opportunity," said Willie L. Todd Jr., Ph.D., president and CEO of Denmark Tech.

"I'm so proud that I can be a representation of African American women. I want them to know that the opportunity is out there and all it takes is just a little bit of dedication, a little bit of hard work and they can do it too," added Tongie Martino.

Denmark Technical College is filling seats for the July 2023 24-week Fusion Cyber RMF Boot Camp. Interested individuals should fill out the cyber career survey at https://denmark.fusioncyber.co/survey-form/.
Dr. Mark McGannon has cared for the eyes of his patients with a warm smile and caring hand for more than 40 years. Hes also taken care of his community by picking up unsightly litter every other Saturday for at least two decades.

McGannon doesn't see it as a burdensome chore that somebody else should be doing, but takes pride in picking up everything from cigarette packs to drink bottles along Longwood and Columbia roads in Orangeburg.

The 74-year-old says he'll continue his efforts as long as his good health continues because he wants to be part of the solution to litter rather than dwelling on the problem.

I think it's just something I should do. I've had people say to me, Why do you do that? They're just going to throw it out again tomorrow. I say, I'm doing it for me. I enjoy doing it. I enjoy a litter-free street here. Why wait for somebody else to do it? I can do it, he said.

I live on the end of Longwood Road. I pick up from Longwood Plantation to Columbia Road and from the Columbia Road Church of God to the Orangeburg Church of Christ on Columbia Road. I don't do it every Saturday. It's probably every other Saturday, but if I see something that obviously blew off somebody's truck or something, I'll stop and pick it up, McGannon said.

The doctor said Orangeburg resident Pat Milhouse is a fellow warrior against litter. He talks with Milhouse about the problem and how they can make an individual difference.

You can complain that people are littering. I mean, I don't know who's littering, but I know who's picking it up. There's other people like Pat Milhouse. He comes to see me about once a year, and we talk about trash pickup. He's proud of the areas that he keeps clean, McGannon said.

The Cleveland, Ohio native said sometimes people will stop and thank him for his litter pick-up efforts, but he's hoping that it will be an activity that others will actually participate in.

It's know it's been 20 years since I've been doing this. I don't have the knees anymore, and I've never been much of a runner, but I can walk, McGannon said.

Litter is the one negative McGannon hears about in Orangeburg, but I don't take much with complaining about it.

If it bothers you, fix it. I see the county workers mow and fix things up, but that's not enough. If you see some litter, why wait for somebody else?

McGannon referenced an ad 6th District Congressman James Clyburn appeared in years ago, when the congressman spoke of removing a tree branch from a road.

He said he told his father, Why won't somebody do something about this? His father said, You're somebody. That always stuck with me. I thought that was a wonderful ad. The litter problem bothered me where I live. I said, 'I'm someone, I can work on that, McGannon said.

He continued, It's always the same stuff in the same place. So it's probably not a lot of people who do it. I don't know, but it's the same pack of cigarettes, it's the same fast food stuff. There's not so many beer bottles or beer cans.

There's less of that than there used to be, but its soft drink bottles and mostly fast food stuff.

McGannon said he does not participate in litter pickup for recognition, but because it's needed.

When I read about people in the paper doing community service and all that, I'm amazed that I don't know them, but they don't do it to be known. They don't do it to be on the front page of the paper. They do it because they think it's the right thing to do. It doesn't require people pushing them to do it. They're self-motivated people, he said.

McGannon hopes other people decide to take pride in keeping their communities free of litter.

I'm happy that somebody saw me picking up litter and saw that this is something that hopefully they could do. People do notice me. People beep and wave when I'm picking up the litter. I don't know who it is, I just speak," he said.

His wife, Linda, has also given back to her community in various ways, he said.

My wife and another lady run the food pantry at our church. She goes there and puts a lot of her time into that. She's always volunteered. She was on the OCtech Foundation board for lots of years," he said.

McGannon is grateful God has allowed him to continue his litter pickup work and said he will continue, as long as I can walk and I'm in good health.
(CNN)  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Beijing for a high-stakes visit meant to steer relations between the United States and China back on course after months of inflamed tensions between the two nations.

Officials from both governments have signaled low expectations for the visit, with a senior State Department official telling reporters earlier this week that he does not expect a long list of deliverables.

Instead, US officials are framing the trip as an effort to resume normal channels of communication with China in order to avoid conflict between two of the globes great powers.

What were working to do on this trip is to really carry forward what President (Joe) Biden and President Xi (Jinping) agreed to in Bali at the end of last year, which was to establish sustained, regular lines of communication at senior levels across our governments precisely so that we can make sure that we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid, as best possible, misunderstandings and miscommunications, Blinken said Friday prior to his departure at a news conference alongside Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Blinkens primary goal in China is to reestablish channels of communication, especially direct military-to-military communication, between Washington and Beijing, according to a senior State Department official.

The Biden administrations relationship with Beijing is one of its most complicated and consequential, and one that has seen months of strain, including two military-related incidents in recent weeks.

Blinkens trip, which had been announced by Biden and Xi after their meeting last year, was originally scheduled to happen in February and had been seen as a key follow-on engagement. However, it was postponed after the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting the US, which Blinken said at the time created the conditions that undermine the purpose of the trip.

However, Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said Wednesday that both the US and China came to the shared conclusion that now is the right time to engage at this level, but were not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another.

I think the fact that China agreed to this meeting reflects that Beijing is feeling pretty confident about its own position, Patricia Kim, a Brookings Institution fellow, said at a media briefing Friday.

Both sides make comments about the fact that this trip, this visit isnt going to fundamentally change the US-China relationship or resolve the many disputes between the two countries, and I think theres this desire not to set expectations too high or to appear too eager to engage with the other side. I think neither side wants to look as if theyre accepting or acquiescing to the others actions, she said.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, Biden acknowledged legitimate differences with China but maintained he was willing to discuss the areas we can get along.

Blinken promises to raise very real concerns

Blinken said that in his meetings with senior Chinese officials, he intends to raise our very real concerns on a range of issues. Those issues include the fentanyl crisis, Taiwan and cross-Strait issues, the war in Ukraine, and Chinas detention of American citizens, including Kai Li, Mark Swidan and David Lin.

On the fentanyl crisis, the senior State Department official said that Blinkens specific focus is on stemming the flow of precursor chemicals from China to labs in South America, where fentanyl is produced.

Blinken also said Friday he intends to explore the potential for cooperation on transnational challenges  global economic stability, illicit synthetic drugs, climate, global health  where our countries interests intersect and the rest of the world expects us to cooperate.

His visit comes on the heels of a flurry of meetings between American and Chinese officials in recent weeks.

In May, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, in Vienna, followed by talks between the two countries commerce officials in Washington. Chinas new ambassador has also arrived in the US, vowing to enhance relations at a time of serious difficulties and challenges.

China and the US have already had relatively frequent high-level diplomatic contacts, all of which indicate that the two sides are gradually getting back on the right track, said Shen Dingli, an expert on Chinas foreign policy in Shanghai.

However, contacts between the countries top military officials are still frozen, and it remains to be seen whether Blinkens visit can lead to a breakthrough on that front. China rejected an offer for a formal meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who is under US sanction, in Singapore last month, although the two did speak briefly.

The US is also due to host the leaders summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in November, which Xi, the Chinese leader, will attend no matter the state of the US-China relationship, Shen said.

But whether Xis trip will include a formal visit to the US  and at what level  depends on what can be done by the two sides beforehand, Shen said.

Biden told reporters Saturday he believed Blinkens trip to China could ease tensions and said he hoped to meet with Xi again over the next several months.

Shen said there were two things China cared about the most: managing differences on the Taiwan issue and preventing supply chains from decoupling, especially on advanced chips.

The hope is that Blinkens visit can improve relations both in form and in substance. But hope might not turn into reality, and relations might become worse after the visit, he added. We prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Blinken would not predict whether his visit would pave the way for continued high-level engagements between the US and China.

As to what comes next, lets see how the visit goes, the top US diplomat said Friday, referencing comments from his Singaporean counterpart. This is an important but, in a sense, insufficient step because theres a lot of work to be done.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Blinken visits China vowing to raise real concerns but with low expectations for breakthroughs"
(TBTCO) - Sau qua trinh chuan bi khan truong, quyet liet, nhat la sau 3 ot kiem thu a cho thay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich trai phieu doanh nghiep phat hanh rieng le (TPDNRL) tai Trung tam Luu ky Chung khoan Viet Nam (VSD) hoan thanh ve mat chuc nang va tich hop thong suot voi he thong cua cac ben lien quan. Theo o, en nay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich a san sang hoat ong theo ung ke hoach van hanh chinh thuc thi truong giao dich thu cap TPDNRL ma co quan quan ly giao nhiem vu
BEIRUT  Jean-Yves Le Drian, French President Emmanuel Macron's new "special envoy" for Lebanon, will visit Beirut Wednesday, a diplomatic source said Sunday, where he will hold talks with political leaders in the wake of Parliament's recent failure to elect a president .

"The June 21 visit has been confirmed," this source told AFP, while Lebanese media had mentioned a trip "next week." Another source close to the matter also mentioned a Wednesday visit. Neither of the sources suggested how long the special envoy would stay on site, or with whom he might meet.

Drian, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, held talks with Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna Friday, to share the details of her discussions with Lebanese officials in recent months. That day the French President and Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman discussed Lebanon's political crisis at the Elysee Palace. The two leaders called for "a rapid end to the political vacuum" in Lebanon. The eight-month presidential vacancy "remains the major obstacle to resolving Lebanon's severe socio-economic crisis," the French president asserted in a statement issued after the meeting.

Political stalemate

Macron appointed Drian to this post on June 7 in order to "facilitate a consensual and effective solution" to the country's political impasse. At the time, Elysee acknowledged that "the situation remains difficult in Lebanon," which needs to "overcome both the political crisis and the economic and financial difficulties."

Lebanon's Parliament failed for the twelfth time to elect a president last week, with the tug-of-war between the powerful pro-Iranian Hezbollah and its opponents exacerbating the risk of a prolonged vacancy in the country's executive.

Lebanon is also deep in an economic slump. It reached an agreement in principle with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April 2022, but must first undertake crucial reforms to unlock aid to revive the country's economy, where over 80 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line, according to the UN.

AFP originally published this story in French.
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.
The water crisis in which 250,000 people were without water one week ago would have lasted for months if the Government had not bypassed the procurement procedure outlined in the procurement act.
About a week ago, I wrote about a friend who was robbed on Stanmore Avenue. That was a Frida
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  The collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen within two weeks, Pennsylvania's governor said Saturday, after joining President Joe Biden on a helicopter tour over the critical stretch of highway closed to East Coast traffic since last weekend.

We are getting it done here in Philly, Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a briefing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flyover that included members of Congress and the city's mayor.

Biden outlined the substantial initial federal commitment and longer term support for a permanent fix for the vital roadway. I know how important this stretch of highway is to Philadelphia and the Northeast Corridor, he said. "Over 150,000 vehicles travel on it every day, including 14,000 trucks.  Its critical to our economy and it's critical to our quality of life.

Shapiro, offering a timeline that would be welcome news to commuters and long-haul truckers alike, said with Biden at his side: I can state with confidence that we will have I-95 reopened within the next two weeks. We are going to get traffic moving again thanks to the extraordinary work that is going on here.

He said folks here in Philly have a real renewed sense of civic pride through this project and that there's something special happening in our community with people coming together.

The stretch of the East Coasts main north-south highway collapsed early last Sunday after a tractor-trailer hauling gasoline flipped over on an off-ramp and caught fire. State transportation officials said the driver was trying to navigate a curve and lost control.

I've directed my team ... to move heaven and earth to get this done as soon as humanly possible, Biden said. He said he told the governor, There's no more important project right now in the country as far as I'm concerned. The president described it as an all hands on deck project to address a crisis.

We're with you. We're going to stay with you until this is rebuilt, until it's totally finished, he said at the briefing.

Pennsylvania's plan for the work involves trucking in 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets for the quick rebuilding, with crews working around the clock until the interstate is open to traffic. Instead of rebuilding the overpass right away, crews will use the recycled glass to fill in the collapsed area to avoid supply-chain delays for other materials, Shapiro has said.

After that, a replacement bridge will be built next to it to reroute traffic while crews excavate the fill to restore the exit ramp, officials have said.

Biden said the design was "incredibly innovative in order to get this work done in record time.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the area Tuesday, promised that the federal government would provide the needed assistance to repair the destruction, although he warned that the wreckage will likely raise the cost of consumer goods in the short term because truckers must now travel longer routes.

Joining Biden on the presidential Marine One helicopter were Shapiro, Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman and Rep. Brendan Boyle and Mayor Jim Kenney, all Democrats. Later Saturday, Biden was to attend a 2024 campaign event with union workers at the convention center.

___
WASHINGTON  Americans on the right and the left have a lot more in common than they might think  including their strong distrust of each other.

A new survey found that when asked about core values including fairness, compassion and personal responsibility, about nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans agreed they were very or extremely important. Yet only about a third of either group said they believed the same was true for the opposing party.

The results of the poll, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago and the nonprofit group Starts With Us, reveal a stark truth at the source of the polarization that has a powerful grip on American politics: While most Americans agree on the core principles underlying American democracy, they no longer recognize that the other side also holds those values.

This is a hidden opportunity for Americans to reestablish a sense of shared values, said Tom Fishman, chief executive at Starts With Us, a nonpartisan organization that works to bridge political polarization. Americans from both parties need to understand that they still share common values, he said, and to recognize their misconceptions about the opposing party.

Americans have a long tradition of quarrelsome politics, dating back to before the Boston Tea Party. But with the notable exception of the Civil War, a sense of unity has kept those forces of division at bay. Experts who study partisanship and trust say that while a certain amount of polarization is natural, it can become a significant problem when its exploited by political parties or when one party no longer views the other as legitimate opposition but as an enemy.

A number of factors are cited as possible causes for an increase in division, including the decline and fragmentation of legitimate news sources, politicians who stoke distrust, and social media platforms that spread misinformation while too often sorting users into echo chambers where they seldom encounter an opposing view.

This loss of unity is tied to growing distrust in the media, government, science and public health while political anger has sometimes boiled over into hate speech or violence like that seen on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently attacked the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn the Republicans 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

When you get worried is when polarization turns into dehumanization  a sense that the other is somehow less than human, or evil, or unable to share your decent human values, said Nealin Parker, executive director of Common Ground USA, a group that works to resolve conflict by building trust among Americans. That should be concerning to anybody, because those are the necessary psychological steps to doing harm to each other.

In the survey, respondents were asked to rate the importance of six principles: personal responsibility, fair enforcement of the law, representative government, government accountability, compassion and respect across differences, and learning from the past. In each case, about 90% of both Democrats and Republicans rated these values as very or extremely important.

When asked if members of the opposing party thought those values were very or extremely important, however, about two-thirds of respondents said no.

For example, while 91% of Republicans said they think its very or extremely important that citizens should learn from the past to improve the country, only about a third of Democrats said they believed that to be true of GOP voters. And while only 31% of Republicans say Democrats believe government accountability is very or extremely important, 90% of Democratic respondents said they do.

The findings reflect a phenomenon known as affective polarization, in which disagreements are based on animosity and a lack of trust instead of an actual debate over values or policy. Julia Minson, a professor who studies conflict and collaboration at Harvard Universitys Harvard Kennedy School, said recognizing common values is a good start to bridging Americas divides.

Too often, Minson said, We ascribe negative things to people we disagree with. We see them as an adversary that doesnt want to be a partner. Its very much about emotions and trust and largely divorced from actual differences.
PARIS  The worlds first lipstick. The first modern perfume. A pivoting toothbrush. The original Nivea cream and serum. Not to mention the intimate secrets of Queen Elizabeth II. These are some of the treasures held in Guerlains first archive, which brings stories from the iconic French cosmetic companys sensational past to life.

Guerlain just debuted its newly opened collection, a warehouse of wonders shrouded in secrecy and hidden from public view by Paris Seine River. Its a gem of documents and mysterious objects spanning three centuries, each with a unique history of its own.

Yet what is perhaps most remarkable about the collection is that the company founded in 1828 that invented modern perfumery hadnt assembled it before.

Its what we call our little secret, said Guerlain heritage director Ann Caroline Prazan, who sifted through a mine of artifacts to compile it in a years-long labor of love. It was hard to whittle down 18,000 pieces to just 400 from so many years, but we did it.  Some of the pieces are so fragile, Im scared to touch them.

The ambitious project exists thanks to Prazans passion  and patience. Through a mist of perfume, she reels off vignettes about Guerlains innovations and famous patrons, including French Empress Eugenie, Josephine Baker, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Barbra Streisand, Margaret Thatcher and the late U.K. queen.

As Prazan turned to handle the collections most prized object, a lipstick created in 1870 and housed in a contemporary-looking gold bullet, she carefully took off her white gloves as if she were performing a sacred ritual.

Its so modern, she whispered, her finger carefully operating a push-up mechanism to reveal a dark Bordeaux wax pigment still intact after 153 years.

The refillable lipstick has a remarkable story, like everything else in the archive seems to. An employee of Aime and Gabriel Guerlain was walking in a street and happened upon the store of a candlemaker, whose wax and colored pigments gave him a eureka moment.

At the time, women used tubs of colored powder to paint their lips with a clunky brush. Seeing the candlemakers tools gave the Guerlain employee the mad idea of creating a waxy, lip cosmetic as a stick, Prazan said.

That small object revolutionized womens makeup forever, she said.

Prazan also procured the worlds first ever lipliner, also in sleek gold casing, and a third stick that turned out to be a liner that women used to paint the veins on their arms and necks blue, a popular technique women used in late 19th-century Paris to appear paler.

That Guerlain is a family-run house across five successive generations is perhaps one reason why these archival pieces have been so fastidiously kept. The company was bought by luxury conglomerate LVMH in 1994, but has managed to keep its unique identity.

Innovation, including beyond the sphere of perfume, is the brands hallmark. Among the archival treasures is the patent for the first pivoting toothbrush. Documents revealed a 1845 design that looked like a precursor to todays electric toothbrush.

A tub of moisturizing cream called Nivea that was whisked out of a drawer told another tale that connected past and present. The cream, which contained ingredients to whiten the skin of European women, was sold off by the house to create the famous skincare company of the same name.

Then there is the old bottle of Jicky, the worlds first modern perfume. Created in 1889, it revolutionized the market with the concept of a scent cocktail that featured hints of spice, lemon, lavender, wood and vanilla. It also included synthetic ingredients and is, incredibly, the worlds oldest continuously produced perfume.

Yet it is the anecdotes of the houses stars that bring the most dazzle to a collection which seems so alive despite its history.

Queen Elizabeth II, featured in a photo on the wall wearing a glamorous white fur stole, was such a fan of Guerlains LHeure Bleue perfume, Prazan says, that she emptied a bottle and filled it up with the oil from her 1952 coronation. It was kept for years, such was the late monarchs emotional attachment to the scent.

While the archive is an secret affair, the brand has created an exhibit open to the public for the 170th anniversary of its most famous design, the Bee Bottle. The exhibit, called Chere Eugenie, is on view at Guerlains Champs-Elysees shop until Sept. 4.

There, the original Bee Bottle  a historical artifact  is on display like a crown jewel with light reflecting off hand-painted bee reliefs. It was created in 1853 for the nuptials of Empress Eugenie and Napoleon III.

The bee was the French imperial emblem and also the emblem of Clovis, first king of the Francs. It has come to represent Guerlain to this day.

For the bottles anniversary, 11 international artists and actors, including Charlotte Rampling and Audrey Tautou, created a series of photographs inspired by the Bee Bottle.

A foot in the past with eyes to the future seem to define Guerlain, a mantra its longevity has forced the company to perfect.

I plan well into the future, easily 100 years away, Prazan noted while putting away her nearly 200-year-old objects. I know the house will be around for that long, long after were gone. How many people can say that?
Tucson police are searching for the shooter of a 30-year-old man who was fatally shot Friday in a south-side parking lot, they said Saturday.

Police were called to the scene and found the victim at about 4:15 p.m. Friday in an alley north of a business in the 3700 block of South Park Avenue.

Firefighters took Jacob Dean Stark to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police, based on initial interviews and forensic evidence, said Stark had been in the area with a friend when he was approached by a male who shot him and ran away.

Detectives have a basic description of the shooter, are following up on leads and are seeking information about a motive.

They ask that anyone with information call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME; "you can remain anonymous," police said.
Voters in Tucson Unified School District will be asked to approve a $480 million bond package to update and renovate aging schools, add security systems, provide access for every student to computers/iPads, and buy buses.

The districts governing board voted 5-0 last week to take the package to voters in the Nov. 7 election. It includes:

$263.9 million for repairs and upgrades to existing facilities;

$43 million in improvements to classrooms and learning spaces;

$75.5 million for health, security and safety measures;

$66.4 million on access to updated technology; and

$31.2 million on student transportation and support vehicles.

If voters approve the package, its tax rate will be 69 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That means it will cost the average homeowner in TUSD, with a home value of $183,000, about $126 a year for 24 years, district officials said.

The district serves more than 40,000 students at 87 schools, and those schools, ranging in age from 12 to more than 100 years, have an average age of 55.

We have faced significant cuts to state capital funds in the last 15 years and our last bond was approved by voters nearly 20 years ago, district officials said in materials presented to the board.

Among the improvements would be replacing roofs and air conditioning units, updating plumbing and restrooms, and building new or updated science, career and technology labs.

Updated security and safety systems in each school would include cameras, lockdown systems, fencing and access control.

The bonds would not be used for salaries or benefits, officials said.

TUSD board president Ravi Shah said he hopes community members will decide to invest in our schools and our students, our district and the future of Tucson.

For an investment of just $126 for the average homeowner annually, we can finally modernize our schools and facilities, Shah said.

We can update our 25-, 50-, 75-, 100-year-old buildings with new floors, bathrooms, stages, courts and fields, we can build learning labs for the future, we can make sure our buildings and outdoor spaces deter would-be bad forces that would harm our students and staff with new fencing, stronger windows, modern door-lock systems and other security features, he added.

We can make sure TUSD has the technology and transportation fleet to meet the needs of all our students.
The Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend summer camp at little or no cost to their families. Since 1947, the Sportsmens Fund has helped pay for 43,468 children to go to camp. Were one of the oldest 501(c )(3) charities in Arizona and one of the most efficient, with 97 cents from every dollar going to send kids to camp.

We send local kids to weeklong YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout overnight camps, as well as overnight camping at Camp Tatiyee for school-age children and teens with special needs. Our goal is to raise $238,000 to send up to 700 kids to camp. So far, weve received 715 donations totaling $130,413 or about 55% of our goal with camps filling up. Last month we increased the goal by $13,000, so 13 Tucson-area kids with special needs who were on a waitlist for Camp Tatiyee could attend where the camper-to-counselor ratio is generally 1-1. Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $800 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Our code is 20450. We do not share or sell our donor information. Donations are welcome throughout the year. Recent donations include:
All lanes of Arizona 83, known as the Sonoita highway, reopened Saturday night, the Arizona Department of Transportation says.

The highway had been closed since Friday afternoon due to the Oak Fire.

The wildfire north of Sonoita, which started Friday, had burned an estimated 3,213 acres and was 60% contained as of Sunday, unchanged from the day before, Coronado National Forest said in a Tweet.

"Lines held well throughout the night and were not tested," the Tweet said. "Internal burn pockets but no changes along the perimeter.

"A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for today. Possible Red Flag Warning for later this afternoon (Sunday)."

The fire was burning on national forest land as well as Bureau of Land Management and state lands.
A salty discovery by scientists at the University of Arizona suggests water might be more common than previously thought on many asteroids in the solar system.

Researchers identified microscopic salt crystals that could only have formed in the presence of liquid water while sifting through the dust from a common class of asteroids thought to be largely dry.

The find could bolster the idea that most, if not all, of the water on Earth was delivered here long ago inside space rocks.

The analysis by Tom Zega and Shaofan Che from the UAs Lunar and Planetary Laboratory involved a single particle of dust, roughly twice the diameter of a human hair, that was collected from the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa in 2005 by Japans Hayabusa spacecraft.

Their study, published June 12 in Nature Astronomy, is the first to prove that the sodium chloride crystals formed when the asteroid was in space and are not the result of contamination after the sample was brought to Earth in 2010.

"The grains look exactly like what you would see if you took table salt at home and placed it under an electron microscope," said Zega, a professor of planetary sciences at the UA, in a written statement.

To determine if the salt came from human sweat or some other terrestrial source, researchers cut a tiny section  smaller than a red blood cell  from the dust particle and subjected it to a number of techniques.

"We ruled out every possible source of contamination," Che said.

The finding is significant, Zega said, because Itokawa is a type of asteroid that makes up about 87% of the meteorites collected on Earth but are rarely found to contain water-bearing minerals.

"Our discovery of sodium chloride tells us this asteroid population could harbor much more water than we thought," he said.

Most scientists believe Earth and the other rocky inner planets formed about 4.5 billion years ago within a swirling cloud of gas that surrounded the young sun and was too hot to allow water vapor to condense.

"In other words, the water here on Earth had to be delivered (later) from the outer reaches of the solar nebula, where temperatures were much colder and allowed water to exist, most likely in the form of ice," Che said.

Research led in the 1990s by the late Michael Drake, former director of the UAs Lunar and Planetary Lab, showed how water molecules in the early solar system could have been trapped in asteroid minerals and survived an impact on Earth.

"Those studies suggest several oceans worth of water could be delivered just by this mechanism," Zega said.

Icy comets or asteroids from more distant reaches of the solar system are thought to be the most likely source, but the salt found hiding inside Itokawa hints at another, much closer cosmic watering hole.

"If it now turns out that the most common asteroids may be much 'wetter' than we thought, Zega said, that will make the water delivery hypothesis by asteroids even more plausible."

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency followed up its Hayabusa mission with Hayabusa2, which launched in 2014, collected samples from the asteroid Ryugu and returned them to Earth in 2020.

NASAs asteroid-sampling spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, is now on its way home with its payload of rocks after a UA-led mission to Bennu.

That several-billion-mile trip is slated to end on Sept. 24, when a sample-return capsule from OSIRIS-REx is set to land at the Utah Test and Training Range, west of Salt Lake City.
From alcohol to cigarettes, most adults have tried some form of recreational drug. Fewer people have experimented with prescription medication for recreational reasons, but certain areas of the country are experiencing a serious problem with opoid addiction. Other drugs like cocaine and LSD, are used sporadically among adults in the U.S.

Using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive, the experts at HealthGrove, a health data site, ranked the 25 most commonly used recreational drugs. The substances are ordered by the increasing percentage of people age 12 and over who used the drug recreationally in 2015. In the case of a tie, the drug with a higher classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is ranked higher.

To collect this data, SAMHDA conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in which they record use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco in the U.S. population aged 12 or older. It is important to note that this data only includes recreational use of drugs, not proper medical use.

Drugs that are legal, alcohol and tobacco, have the highest recreational use. According to the survey, nearly one in five people over the age of 12 also used marijuana in 2015. As the drug becomes legal in more states, recreational use is likely to increase. Other Schedule I drugs (drugs determined to have no medical benefit by the DEA) including heroin and DMT had a recreational prevalence rate of less than 1 percent in 2015.

Note: Not all images in slideshow depict the exact drugs.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates  On a boat off the coast of an island near Abu Dhabi, marine scientist Hamad al-Jailani feels the corals, picked from the reef nursery and packed in a box of seawater, and studies them carefully, making sure they havent lost their color.

The corals were once bleached. Now theyre big, healthy and ready to be moved back to their original reefs in the hope theyll thrive once more.

We try to grow them from very small fragments up to  now some of them have reached  the size of my fist, al-Jailani said, whos part of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabis coral restoration program.

The nursery gives corals the ideal conditions to recover: clear waters with strong currents and the right amount of sunlight. Al-Jailani periodically checks the corals growth, removes any potentially harmful seaweed and seagrass, and even lets the fish feed off the corals to clean them, until theyre healthy enough to be relocated.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, or EAD, has been rehabilitating and restoring corals since 2021, when reefs off the United Arab Emirates coast faced their second bleaching event in just five years. EADs project is one of many initiatives  both public and private  across the country to protect the reefs and the marine life that depend on them in a nation that has come under fire for its large-scale developments and polluting industries that cause harm to underwater ecosystems. Theres been some progress, but experts remain concerned for the future of the reefs in a warming world.

Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise and sun glares flush out algae that give the corals their color, turning them white. Corals can survive bleaching events, but cant effectively support marine life, threatening the populations that depend on them.

The UAE lost up to 70% of their corals, especially around Abu Dhabi, in 2017 when water temperatures reached 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit), according to EAD. But al-Jailani said 40-50% of corals survived the second bleaching event in 2021.

Although the bleaching events did wipe out a good portion of our corals, he said, it did also prove that the corals that we have are actually resilient  these corals can actually withstand these kind of conditions.

Bleaching events are happening more frequently around the world as waters warm due to human-made climate change, caused by the burning of oil, coal and gas that emits heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Other coral reef systems around the world have suffered mass bleaching events, most notably Australias Great Barrier Reef.

How to limit global warming and its effects will be discussed at length at the United Nations climate conference, which will be held in Dubai later this year.

The UAE is one of the worlds largest oil producers and has some of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions globally. The country has pledged to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which means all carbon dioxide emissions are either slashed or canceled out somehow, but the goal has been met with skepticism from analysts.

But bleaching due to warming weather is not the only threat to coral reefs around the gulf. High oil tanker traffic, fossil-fuel related activities, offshore installations, and the exploitation of marine resources are all putting marine life under intense stress, according to the U.N. Environment Programme, causing them to degrade.

Environmentalists have also long criticized the UAE, and Dubai in particular, for its large-scale buildings and huge coastal developments.

The building of the Palm Jebel Ali, which began more than a decade ago and has been on hold since 2008, caused an outcry among conservationists after it reportedly destroyed about 5 square miles of reef.

More than 90 million cubic meters (23.8 billion gallons) of sediments were dredged and dropped, more or less on top of one of the remaining reefs near Dubai, said John Henrik Stahl, the dean of the College of Marine Sciences at Khorfakkan University in Sharjah, UAE.

Development company URB has announced it wants to grow 1 billion artificial corals over 124 square miles and 100 million mangrove trees on a 50-mile strip of beaches in Dubai by 2040.

Still in the research and development phase, the project hopes to create 3D technology to print materials that can host algae, much like corals.

Members of Dubais diving community are also encouraging coral protection efforts.

Diving course director Amr Anwar is in the process of creating a certified coral restoration course that teaches divers how to collect and re-plant corals that have fallen after being knocked off by divers fins or a boats anchor.

I dont want people to see broken corals and just leave them like that, said Anwar. Through the training we give people, they would be able to take these broken corals that they find and plant them elsewhere, and then see them grow and watch their progress.

But experts say that unless the threat of overheating seas caused by climate change is addressed, coral bleaching events will continue to occur, damaging reefs worldwide.

You have to make sure that the cause for the degradation of the coral reefs in the first place is no longer a threat, said Stahl, the Khorfakkan University scientist. Otherwise the restoration effort may be for nothing.
It may seem to be an act of  to use a Shakespearean phrase  vaulting ambition for a new theater company to present as its first-ever production what many hold to be one of the greatest, most profound works of literature ever written.

Especially when one of the principal players in this backstage drama hated the play.

That would be me, said Cathy Woods, laughing. Woods is the executive director and board president of Pembroke Players, a company that is not only going to present Shakespeares Hamlet as its inaugural show, but is also transforming the piece in ways to make it more accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.

It shows that weve come to play, said Cody McCoy, the companys artistic director. His affinity for the works of William Shakespeare is literally worn under his sleeve, as his left wrist bears a tattoo of Shakespeares name.

Also, no one is doing classical theater in Tulsa these days, McCoy said. And for most people, Shakespeare is sort of the definition of classical theater. What we want to do is present all kinds of classical works in ways that show how these stories and characters are still relevant today.

One way the company plans to do that with its inaugural production is to leave the casting of the show in the hands of the audience.

Four principal actors  Sarah Maurice-Brubaker, Lisa Hunter, Vivica Walkenbach and Sean Rooney  will be chosen to perform the four principal roles in Hamlet, from the titular prince of Denmark bent on revenge for what he holds to be the murder of his father; his mother, Gertrude, now married to his uncle Claudius, whom Hamlet holds responsible for his fathers death; and Ophelia, the young woman whose love for Hamlet drives her into madness.

They have been working on this play since February, learning all four roles, said McCoy, who is directing the production. Each night, we are going to ask the audience to select which roles these actors will perform that night.

The concept of non-traditional casting is built into the process, as the four roles are two women and two men that will be performed by three women and one man. In addition, the quartet of actors cover a fairly wide range of ages, which can create even more visual incongruities.

Its been fascinating to watch how each of these actors approaches these roles, Woods said. The way one performer will do, say, Ophelias mad scene is so different from how another performer will do it. And yet, they all work. It just shows how rich these characters are, and what they can draw out from the people playing them.

In addition to four leads, Whos Hamlet? will feature a cast of Players who will take on all the additional roles in the drama  or, to be more precise, what is left of it.

Hamlet is Shakespeares longest play, which if performed in full takes about four hours to get from Whos there? to the final blood-soaked scene. Woods had edited the play down to get the running time to less than two hours.

Yes, they called me the Shakespeare slasher, Woods said, laughing. Cody loves Shakespeare so much that he didnt want to cut a word out, but I had never liked Hamlet, so I had no qualms about hacking away all the politics and anything that got in the way of the main story.

With the exception of a few pronouns, we havent changed a word of the script, McCoy said. Its all Shakespeares Hamlet. Its just not all of Shakespeares Hamlet.

The idea for the Pembroke Players (named for the Elizabethan company of which Shakespeare was a part early in his career) and this unusual approach to Hamlet was born about a decade ago.

Cathy and I were in (American Theatre Companys) A Christmas Carol as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, Woods said. We fell into a fast friendship over our love of literature, especially Pride & Prejudice. I wrote a version of it that we tried to stage a couple of times, but it always fell through.

Woods said that, while she and McCoy and other cast members were passing the time backstage, one colleague mentioned an idea for a unique approach to Hamlet. That person is no longer involved with the company or the production, but Woods and McCoy thought the idea worthy of pursuing.

The thing about the great writers of the past, whether its Shakespeare or Jane Austin or Christopher Marlowe or Oscar Wilde  is that they wrote about people, McCoy said. Shakespeare understood people like no one else, and one of the themes that runs through his work, especially Hamlet, is madness.

So our production really focuses on the idea of mental illness, he said. All the characters in this play are dealing with it, and are trying to self-medicate, with often tragic results. That is why we end the play with a tableau that will show how this story might have turned out differently if these people had been able to get the help they need.

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Power lines and trees were down across Sand Springs, with many blocking roads, City Manager Mike Carter said just after 2 a.m. Sunday, after a severe storm brought nearly 100-mph winds to northeastern Oklahoma late Saturday.

Carter said police and fire crews had been out across the city to assess damage and that street crews were heading out to start removing debris.

All in all, on the scheme of things, its not too bad, but well see when its daylight, he said.

Carter said authorities had received multiple reports of residences  including his own  being damaged by falling trees.

Further damage assessments were to continue after daybreak, he said.

Residents are being asked not to call the 911 dispatch center with general questions but only with life-safety issues such as power lines down, injuries or damage that requires emergency services, the Police Department said in a Facebook post early Sunday.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Michael Dekker Tulsa World Business Writer Follow Michael Dekker 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

The Tulsa World is reshaping its reporting and coverage of local business and we need your help.

My name is Michael Dekker and I am the new business reporter for the Tulsa World.

I have been at the Tulsa World since 2002, and have worked at newspapers in Oklahoma and Kansas since 1989.

I am excited about this new opportunity and aim to provide the most comprehensive local business coverage in the area.

On social media, you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

We are working on a number of changes to improve what we offer the community. This includes focusing coverage on these popular topics: the local economy, local businesses doing extraordinary things, local innovation in industry and with employees, entrepreneurship, leadership, real estate, development, employment and the business of health care.

The goal is simple: Tulsa has a lot going on and we want to dedicate a reporter and pages to covering it all when it comes to business and economic development.

We also want to offer different perspectives from those working and leading in business in the Tulsa area.

We are bringing back our Business Viewpoint column that allows contributors to submit a first-person op-ed in 400-500 words. We want insight and access to give readers a chance to understand important topics and trends from those experiencing it.

We also will publish a column by Dave Ramsey, who made his name in personal finance with his radio show and is now writing a column about what he calls Entreleadership. Kim Komandos column on all things tech will continue.

Tulsa World Editor Jason Collington will contribute in this new push in business coverage.

He will have a regular series called Leaders Next Door that offers a question-and-answer format with local leaders who are doing big things.

A new feature called Hacks and Habits also will allow Tulsans to share the things they do to help complete their to-do lists in hopes of giving readers some help at work.

We will have more details on this and some other new features later next month.

Business stories will be published in the daily paper and the newly titled Business section will debut next week in Sundays print edition. Online all the content can be found next week at tulsaworld.com/business.

We also want to be the place to celebrate employee promotions, new hires and leadership changes.

Our Business People feature allows businesses in their own words to share those announcements through our advertising department.

To place one, email the announcement and photos to advertising@tulsaworld.com.

That feature runs each Sunday in the Business section.

To pitch a story, send us a Business Viewpoint or give us a news tip about a local business, email us at business@tulsaworld.com.

We look forward to telling insightful and entertaining stories on the world of business in Tulsa. There are so many in this emerging era.

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Editors note: This is another in a series of weekly stories that will focus on the Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package scheduled to go to voters on Aug. 8.

The way River Parks Authority Executive Director Jeff Edwards sees it, spending $5 million on a new maintenance building would be a wise investment.

And not simply because it would give the popular park systems maintenance crew the space it needs to do its job.

We are securing and maintaining that investment that the public has made into the infrastructure known as River Parks, Edwards said. And they should be excited about that because it is only going to secure our involvement with trying to maintain the safest, cleanest, most inviting park atmosphere that we can.

That public and private investment, Edwards noted, amounts to $170 million.

Weve simply outpaced the expansive growth of River Parks with a decades-old facility, he said.

Thats why Edwards and the River Parks board pushed hard to have funding for the facility included in the proposed $814 million Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package.

Voters will have their say on Aug. 8.

For the past 40 years, whenever a piece of playground equipment has broken or a vehicle has needed work, the repairs that could not be done in the field have been done in a cluttered, cramped, 3,000-square-foot structure on Charles Page Boulevard. The building, which only has one vehicle bay, is also used to store paper products and other supplies.

Its just not enough space. I mean, weve got over a million dollars worth of equipment sitting outside in the weather instead of being protected  shortening the life of the equipment, said Park Superintendent Michael Crumb. During the winter months, we have things that cant sit outside or they will freeze, so then those are in the shop space and we cant use them.

Every time we do something we have to move things out of the way to get to parts or to get to a piece of equipment. The physical limitations of the site are really making our operations pretty inefficient.

Location is also an issue. The current maintenance facility is at the northern end of the park system, which stretches south to 101st Street on the east bank of the Arkansas River and 71st Street on the west bank. Edwards and Crumb believe having a centrally located site makes more sense, and theyve got a property in mind.

Plans call for building a secure 20,000-square-foot facility on the north side of 71st Street, east of Elwood Avenue near the Arkansas River. The property is adjacent to Turkey Mountain and is owned by River Parks.

Having them at a location that is heavily used like the Turkey Mountain area is super beneficial when you think about how we are really trying to be as efficient as possible and limit the windshield time our guys have and actually turn that into in the field work time, Edwards said.

River Parks has six full-time maintenance workers who are assisted by temporary and seasonal employees.

Edwards said that in addition to helping employees be more efficient and effective, the new facility would help morale by reminding them that their efforts are important and valued.

Their space doesnt have to be immaculate, but it is less than sexy right now, Edwards said. And so to encourage your workers to go out in the heat, to go out in the cold, but then have a great place to come back for a break or a lunch, a meeting space  showers, all of the accommodations that you think about when you are asking employees to do the work that they do in park maintenance, and we just dont have any of that in this facility.

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Chronic student absenteeism is up across post-pandemic Oklahoma, and the problem is far worse for students in Tulsa Public Schools  and showing no signs of improvement.

Educators and experts alike say the latest trend data should serve as a wake-up call for schools and parents alike.

The pandemic broke the habit of attendance. Even for adults, were saying, What? I have to go to the office every day? said Phyllis Jordan, associate director at FutureEd, a Georgetown University-based think tank.

In partnership with the national Attendance Works initiative, Jordan has authored a new May report sounding the alarm about national, downward trends and offering schools simple, research-based strategies for addressing post-pandemic student absenteeism.

Theres this real disconnection from school, disconnection with teachers, friends, even a favorite class or club, Jordan said. Theres a lot of different reasons  whats going on in the school and whats going on outside the school  but schools need to work to reestablish that connection.

The State of Oklahoma recently downgraded the public school system here to a D grade in the category of chronic absenteeism on the most recent school report cards.

Schools are measured on how many students miss 10% or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, because research has repeatedly shown that kind of chronic absenteeism places students at academic risk.

In 2021-22, the percentage of public school students across the state who did not miss 10% or more of the school year was down to 80.5%, compared to 85.97% in 2018-19 and 86.51% in 2017-18.

For TPS, the percentage of students not chronically absent fell far further, from the 78th percentile in 2017-18 and 2018-19 all the way to 54.62% in 2021-22.

And district leaders say the figures for the 2022-23 academic year that just concluded were no better.

We would anticipate similar data for this current school year when (state) report cards come out next year, said Stacey Vinson, instructional superintendent for secondary schools at TPS. Parents understanding the importance of kids being at school every day, from pre-K all the way through 12th grade, is really important.

The standard for attendance hasnt changed  it hasnt changed because the data still shows that its really good for you to be there.

Parents may not realize how quickly nine days of excused and unexcused absences plus disciplinary matters per semester can add up and qualify their child for being considered chronically absent.

And with students worldwide impacted by pandemic-related learning interruptions, the timing couldnt be more detrimental.

Schools are already rapidly burning through pandemic relief funds for student learning interventions, but Jordan said these new, extraordinary levels of absenteeism threaten to undermine those efforts to get kids caught up.

Tutoring, after-school programs, summer school are not going to make up enough if a student doesnt show up for school, said Jordan.

Greatest challenges

Reasons for chronic absenteeism vary widely.

To help policymakers and educators respond to the post-pandemic absenteeism crisis, FutureEd and Attendance Works created a comprehensive playbook of more than two dozen strategies that schools have used successfully, with real-world examples.

Jordan and local school leaders alike say identifying the most common barriers to students getting to school at each site is key.

Transportation is a huge factor. They might live too close to catch the bus, but there might be safety risks to walking, including violence, said Jordan. Also, a lot of kids moved to a different location during the pandemic and there has been a wave of evictions because the eviction moratoriums have ended. Transportation, housing instability and homelessness  all of these factors have been compounded.

Stephanie Andrews, executive director for student and family services at TPS, confirmed those are all common challenges among local families.

She also thinks its noteworthy that the Tulsa district is seeing record numbers of mental health challenges requiring service referrals among its student population.

We are still seeing quite a bit of a trauma response to the pandemic. We still have a lot of young people experiencing pretty intense anxiety and depression. There were so many who had family members that actually died. Adolescent mental health is in the toilets, just like it is across the nation, Andrews said. Of course, some adolescents have always had this sort of aversion, when you think of seventh, eighth, ninth grade, worried about being bullied, feeling really odd in your skin. Like that was always like that, right? Yeah. Put some mental health in there. Add in some trauma from a global pandemic and were seeing kids that are really having difficulty getting in the building.

Andrews said just like many workplaces for adults have become much more hybrid in blending in-person with home-based work, students are experiencing learning environments that afford them much more flexibility for computer-based instructional offerings.

That has meant for much more casual attitudes toward showing up for class in person, even among the highest achievers.

Jordan said schools need to focus on relationships with students and the relevance of what theyre being asked to learn, such as ethnic studies programs and career connections.

Schools have got to give them that reason to show up. A big piece of that is reaching out to the families, she said. A lot of times, families dont know the academic consequences and they dont appreciate the connection of academic success to attendance. Parents need to know that.

For many years, TPS parents have been able to access their students information on the districts online portal and receive automated phone call alerts.

But beginning last year, the district stepped up its outreach with weekly grade and attendance updates sent to parents emails.

A significant challenge to outreach has been keeping parents contact information up to date, so they can receive phone calls and emails from their childs school.

Still, Vinson said, Theres a whole lot more that schools can do  having welcoming environments, making sure that the kids have engaging topics and challenging content in their classes, that theyre getting the support they need  particularly post pandemic.

New approaches working

Some school sites in Tulsa have tried new strategies and theyre already seeing success in student attendance.

At McClure Elementary School, near 61st Street and South Peoria Avenue, educators set attendance goals for students, and then did constant outreach to parents to build relationships, communicate those goals and find them supports when needed.

The school also successfully lobbied for 100 more students to receive school bus transportation because that has been a major barrier.

McClure is a walking community. We were asking elementary students as young as 4 to walk from I-44 to 61st Street, and 71st Street or as far as Riverside  with no sidewalks, very little street lighting, and a high homeless population, said Principal Tiffany Ann Morgan. Our social worker, attendance clerk and dean worked closely together to support families in where bus stops were, bus rider safety and meeting the needs of families and students, so they felt valued and that they belonged at McClure.

High schools in Tulsa face the steepest climb since good student attendance rates have cratered.

One year before the pandemic hit, students in grades 9-12 posted percentages of good attendance  meaning not chronically absent  between 74.4% in ninth grade to 69.1% in 12th grade.

For 2021-22, those figures had fallen to between 46.8% in ninth grade to 40% for 12th grade.

That means 5 or 6 out of every 10 high-schoolers in the district is missing 18 or more days of school and considered chronically absent.

In January, the principal at Central Middle and High School went directly to students, teachers and parents to make clear the district and state expectations for attendance.

He created an appeals committee where students and their families have to face him, and Centrals lead counselor and dean of students to explain low attendance, how students will recover lost instructional time and how parents will improve monitoring of their childs attendance.

They were all sent an email that presented 10 facts regarding the importance of school attendance, our district policy and how we are at Central treating our instructional time as being sacred and protected. These expectations were not optional, and we were very clear through our communication that they were not, said Central Principal Jason Gilley. We started this in January, and our attendance went up every month with the exception of a 0.1% decrease in May. We are in the process of re-vitalizing our PTA, and hope to involve them this upcoming year on setting expectations, as well as supports.

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Related content Sand Springs firefighters rescue family, motorists trapped by falling trees

Officials said Sunday that residents should prepare to wait days, not hours, for power and other services to be fully restored in the wake of the most damaging citywide weather event since a 2007 ice storm that brought the city to a near-standstill for a week.

We are seeing damage that, when its all said and done, may not be quite as bad as the 2007  ice storm, but its going to be close, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said during a Sunday morning news briefing on the wall of wind, as he put it, that hit the Tulsa metro at about midnight.

Theres a lot of work out there, Bynum said. Please be patient.

Tulsa County Commission Chairman Kelly Dunkerly said the damage is spread throughout the metro area.

Dunkerly said Tulsa, other municipalities and the county have declared emergencies in order to pool resources.

It affects Tulsa in a huge way but also Glenpool, Jenks, Bixby, other cities were also impacted, said Dunkerly. Were all pulling together.

Devon Laney was in his midtown home with his family when he heard a crash.

At first I thought it was just a limb, Laney said But, I came outside and realized it was a whole tree.

Laney said they would probably have to wait for a crane to lift the tree off of the house. Before that happens, he and his family wont know what damage the uprooted tree did to their home.

Officials said there were no reports of deaths nor injuries in the Tulsa metro from the storm, which packed winds of up to 100 mph reported in midtown Tulsa.

A tornado  initially rated an EF-1 by the National Weather Service on Sunday  developed four miles south southwest of Oologah early Sunday morning. Extensive tree and some structural damage was reported with the tornado, but no injuries.

Craig Longacre, Laneys neighbor, woke up to sirens during the storm and then woke up again to clean up the aftermath. Both Laney and Longacre live near where the 100 mph winds were reported.

I got up at 7 oclock and started helping my neighbors clean their yards, Longacre said. Thats what neighbors do.

He brought out a saw to help clear parts of the tree on Laneys home.

Dunkerly said the storm knocked out power and damaged barns at Expo Square, where the remainder of the 13-day Pinto World Championship was postponed until fall. Dunkerly said he had no reports of horses or other livestock injured during the blast.

PSO spokesman Wayne Greene said about 183,000 customers were without power late Sunday afternoon. That was down from 205,000  the vast majority in metropolitan Tulsa  at 10 a.m.

Greene said that was the most outages since the 2007 storm.

Greene said 2,000 workers from as far away as New Jersey and Delaware are re-enforcing about 700 local PSO employees and partners.

Sandy and Bob Sober, also midtown Tulsa residents, are without power and had a tree fall.

Thats one of the last trees that was here when we arrived, Bob said.

The Sobers moved into their home in 1982. The tree was covered by burls and supported by wires before it fell.

The tree landed in front of their neighbors garage. Both of their neighbors are medical professionals, Sandy said.

They both have work to do, Sandy said. She said she was going to go ahead and walk to work.

Other trees fell around the neighborhood including several trees that blocked three of the four lanes on Lewis Avenue near 31st Street. People from the neighborhood began clearing one of the trees with a chainsaw.

Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker said his department had 857 calls between 11 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, which was more than four times the normal amount. In addition to downed power lines, Baker said TFD dealt with more structure fires than usual and was seeing an increase in calls from people needing help with oxygen tanks and other medical equipment that depends on electricity.

Baker said equipment can be recharged 24 hours a day through 5 p.m. Thursday at Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Place.

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith said the Tulsa Boys Home grounds in Sand Springs was devastated by the high winds, and several buildings in the Sand Springs area lost roofs.

Officials cautioned against clearing branches and debris in the vicinity of power lines.

Bynum said the Cox Convention Center suffered serious damage to its roof and that the exterior doors of the Performing Arts Center were blown off and some interior doors shattered. He expects the city to incur considerable expense for repair and replacement of street and traffic lights, too.

Replacement of the convention center roof was already part of the Improve Our Tulsa bond issue package going to the voters in August.

He and Dunkerly urged Tulsans to stay off the streets as much as possible, especially at night, because of the street and traffic disabled lights and because of debris and crews working to restore power.

Officials also uprooted trees have broken water and sewer lines, and the power outage significantly affected cell phone signals.

One of the things you learn in Tulsa is to never assume youve seen it all when it comes to weather, Bynum said. I will plead guilty to the classic Oklahoma move by going out on my back porch and watch the storm come in last night. And then that wall of wind hit.  It really was a wall that hit our city from one side to the other. Ive not seen anything like that.

While the city and neighbors try to respond to the damage Laney said bought ice to keep their food cold while they wait for the power to return.

Laney also attempted to call a crane to lift the tree off of his home but couldnt find a company Sunday morning.

I dont think were unique, Laney said. I think everybodys in the same situation.
Because the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board went against the legal advice of Oklahomas attorney general in approving sponsorship of a private Catholic school, it will need to hire a private attorney to negotiate a contract with religious leaders.

A special meeting on the matter has been set for Monday afternoon.

Also still lingering is the question of the eligibility to serve and validity of the deciding vote of a new member appointed at the last minute by Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall.

If opened, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School will be the nations first religious charter school.

Oklahoma statutes define charter schools as public schools and specifically prohibit them from affiliation with a nonpublic sectarian school or religious institution.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond and his representatives advised the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board that a vote of approval would be unconstitutional.

Oklahoma Catholic Church leaders and lawyers from the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative Clinic who helped them view St. Isidore as a test case to challenge separation of church and state laws across the nation.

They argue that charter schools are private and that as a result the Catholic Church should not be barred from obtaining charter school sponsorship and funding on the grounds of religion.

On June 5, Oklahomas current governing board over all online charter schools voted 3-2, including the deciding yes vote by a new member who was installed one business day before, to approve state sanctioning and taxpayer funding for St. Isidore.

Its not just that they went against legal counsel; they went outside the parameters of the state and U.S. constitutions. Ergo, we are just unable to represent them, Phil Bacharach, spokesman for the Attorney Generals Office, told the Tulsa World on Friday afternoon.

Mondays special meeting agenda includes a closed-door executive session for the board to communicate with its current attorneys about the St. Isidore matter and then an item that would allow them to vote in public on the possible hiring of outside legal counsel under Oklahoma Statute Title 74, Section 20i.

Commonly referred to as 20i contracts, outside legal representation can be obtained by eligible state governing boards from a list of attorneys and firms maintained by the attorney general.

Ahead of the June 5 vote, Deputy Attorney General Niki Batt also sounded the alarm that the boards standard sponsorship contract, which is in place with six existing online charter schools, could become unenforceable because it would have to have its requirements related to nonsectarian school operations carved out for St. Isidore.

Still lingering is the question of the eligibility of Oklahoma City businessman Brian Bobek, who signed his oath of office as a board member moments before the start of the June 5 board meeting.

The state Attorney Generals Office believes that Bobek is ineligible to serve until November, but an email to that effect was not received by the boards chairman and executive director until after Bobek cast the deciding vote on St. Isidore.

Long-serving member Barry Beauchamp, a retired school superintendent from Lawton who had been allowed to continue serving after his term expired some months ago, was replaced abruptly on June 2 by House Speaker Charles McCall.

Less than half an hour before the June 5 meeting, Batt sent an email to board Chairman Robert Franklin of Tulsa and Executive Director Rebecca Wilkinson, saying that because Beauchamp had not vacated his seat, the law that created the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board doesnt allow Bobek to take over the seat until November.

Franklin has said publicly that if Bobek was ineligible, his vote was invalid.

The email from Batt basically says he shouldnt even be seated, Franklin told the Tulsa World previously. My response is I think his vote should be vacated. Therefore, it (the vote) was 2-2 and was voted down.







The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.(tncms-asset)83950bb9-d5df-5053-99d9-dab09ad645b0[0](/tncms-asset)
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam on Saturday inaugurated the T2 Terminal of Phu Bai International Airport.

The terminals design was modelled after the Ngu Mountain, the Huong River, and the architecture of Hue imperial palaces.

Construction of the T2 Terminal, whose investor is the ACV, began on December 12, 2019.

The facility has a capacity of five million passengers per year, including one million international passengers and four million domestic guests, and required an investment of nearly VND2.3 trillion (US$97.8 million).

Its exterior architecture is inspired by Hue imperial palaces with cascading roof layers.

The exterior architecture of the terminal is modelled after Hue imperial palaces with cascading roof layers. Photo: Nhat Linh / Tuoi Tre

ACV chairman Lai Xuan Thanh said Thua Thien-Hue is an economic, cultural, scientific, and technological hub of Vietnam and a gateway to the East-West Economic Corridor connecting Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos with the East Vietnam Sea.

However, the infrastructure at Phu Bai International Airport has downgraded and failed to serve the increasing number of passengers.

The inauguration of the T2 Terminal will better serve the travel by air of tourists to Thua Thien-Hue, contributing to boosting the tourism, economy, and culture development in the province and the central region as a whole.

This is the first terminal that the ACV has applied digital transformation and upgraded digital infrastructure with self-check-in kiosks, an automatic announcement system, and a biometric identification system, among others, to provide passengers with convenience, Thanh added.

The interior of the T2 Terminal of Phu Bai International Airport in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Nhat Linh / Tuoi Tre

The security screening area at the T2 Terminal of Phu Bai International Airport in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Nhat Linh / Tuoi Tre

The parking lot at the T2 Terminal of Phu Bai International Airport in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Nhat Linh / Tuoi Tre

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Vietnamese property developer Novaland wound down its food and beverage business and sold it to a Singaporean investor, with the value of the deal not disclosed.

A Novaland representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that a Singaporean investor acquired Nova F&B Joint Stock Company, which was renamed IN Dining after the deal completion.

The deal was completed at a time when Novaland is making efforts to restructure its operations, with a focus on its core business of real estate.

Following this M&A deal, the foreign investor will take over and operate the Nova F&B business, which includes coffee chains, restaurants, clubs, and others, with several coffee shops earlier built in prime locations in downtown Ho Chi Minh City such as Co Ba Cafe, PhinDeli, and Saigon Casa.

In addition, Nguyen Thanh Ha Ngoc was chosen as the new legal representative and director of Nova F&B Joint Stock Company.

Ngoc is general director of IN Hospitality Joint Stock Company, which controls convention centers such as GEM Center and White Palace in the southern metropolis.

Serving as a broker of this M&A deal, VinaCapital, a major investment management firm in Vietnam, will be in charge of seeking and introducing a business to represent the Singaporean investor in managing and operating the F&B business.

Andy Ho, chief investment officer at VinaCapital, told Tuoi Tre that IN Holdings is now the new operator of Nova F&B.

Andy said that VinaCapital is a shareholder of IN Holdings and has been in partnership with the latter over the past four years.

Hence, VinaCapital fully knows the capability of IN Holdings and envisaged opportunities from Nova F&B for IN Holdings.

IN Holdings, which mainly targets high-end customers, is expected to operate the F&B business effectively and expand it in the next two years, Ho said.

Over the last three years, Nova F&B has run a dozen business facilities in the field under its own brands such as Marina Club, The Dome Dining & Drinks, Dynasty House, PhinDeli, Mojo Boutique Coffee as well as franchised ones including JUMBO Seafood, Crystal Jade Palace, Sushi Tei from Singapore, or Gloria Jean's Coffees from Australia.

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PARIS -- Twelve police were wounded on Saturday in clashes with demonstrators in France's Savoie department where a protest against a high speed rail project in the Alps turned violent, authorities said.

Some 2,000 protesters, including a roughly 300-strong dark-clad hardcore, were in the Maurienne Valley objecting to construction of a rail link including a tunnel between Lyon and the Italian city of Turin.

They threw rocks at riot police, who responded with tear gas, and one demonstrator was wounded, local prefect Francois Ravier told a news conference.

Association Les Soulevements de la Terre contested that figure in a Twitter post late on Saturday and said 50 demonstrators were wounded, including six who were hospitalised.

"The day is not over, we remain prudent and mobilised," said Ravier, noting a security presence would go through the night.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted the police injury toll. Border checks turned up 400 objects, like knives and hammers, while 96 individuals known by security services were sent back to Italy, the officials said.

Activists take part in a protest against the Lyon-Turin rail link between France and Italy in La Chapelle near Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, June 17, 2023. Photo: Reuters

An activist throws an object, as they take part in a protest against the Lyon-Turin rail link between France and Italy, in Les Chavannes-en-Maurienne, France, June 17, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Activists take part in a protest against the Lyon-Turin rail link between France and Italy, in Les Chavannes-en-Maurienne, France, June 17, 2023. Photo: Reuters
With a cacophony of honks sounding like a hailstorm, tens of thousands of hungry geese blanket a lush green field in Finland with their black flocks.

"There's probably around 20 to 30 hectares behind me, it is easily eaten in a day," cattle farmer Kari Pekonen tells AFP.

In Finland's eastern Karelia region, home to boreal forests and wetlands, climate change is pushing local farmers into conflict with wildlife.

"Many farmers in this region have completely lost faith in the fairness of society," Pekonen says.

Two decades ago, few Barnacle geese stopped in Finland to feed during their migration north across the Arctic, where they nest, from their wintering areas in the Netherlands, Germany and beyond.

But now they number hundreds of thousands in Finland.

This has led to harsh competition for arable land between the geese and farmers.

Of his 250 hectares of grassland meant to feed his cows, Pekonen says the geese now eat around 85 percent, causing him to lose around two-thirds of his income.

He points to the ground and says the grass should be up to his shins by now.

But instead, all that remains is stubble.

"It is an unsustainable burden for this region," he says.

The third generation in his family to raise beef cattle, Pekonen has had to give up many of his cows -- from 300 two years ago he now has fewer than a hundred.

This year will determine what he will do in the future.

Migration changing 'radically'

To safeguard their crops without harming the birds, farmers have tried solar-powered laser cannons that scare the geese away, drones acting as birds of prey, and even loudspeakers blasting the geese's own panic screams.

But results have been mixed, experts say, as the geese quickly learn to ignore the threats.

Like many migratory birds, the medium-sized black-and-white Barnacle geese are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Each spring, the geese travel from their wintering areas in continental Europe to lay eggs in the tundra of the Arctic islands of Novaya Zemlya in Russia and Svalbard in Norway.

In spring, the geese prefer to feed as close as possible to their northern nesting areas before departing on their final leg across the Arctic Ocean.

Northern Europe's cold springs meant the geese used to prepare for the journey further south. But warming temperatures are pushing the flocks northward.

"The migratory stop-over sites of Barnacle geese have changed radically," explained Teemu Lehtiniemi, research director at conservation group BirdLife.

Although there are various reasons for the new route, like the decline in agriculture on the Russian side of Karelia, an important factor is the warming climate.

"Thanks to global warming, the best place to prepare for the final trip is moving further and further north," Lehtiniemi said.

Barnacle geese faced extinction in the 1970s as their numbers dwindled to around 10,000 largely due to hunting.

Since then, the species has been protected by international agreements and their numbers have skyrocketed to over a million.

Millions in damages

When the springs were colder, the geese prepared for the trip across the Arctic south of the Baltic Sea, where farmland is abundant.

But in Finnish Karelia there is less arable land so the pressure on farmers is greater.

Like many others, Pekonen wants to see an end to the geese's protected status and for hunting to resume.

"No one has the resources to keep chasing them away," he said. "In spring it is an impossible task, as you also have to do the farming."

But Lehtiniemi said he did not consider it a viable solution, adding: "There will be geese in the future and there will be lots of them and they need somewhere to feed."

Since the species is protected, the state has to pay compensation for any damage to agriculture -- over 3 million euros a year in eastern Finland alone.

The Natural Resources Institute Finland is considering designating certain fields exclusively for geese.

Pekonen said many farmers in the area have already thrown in the towel.

"It's up to everyone to think about whether they are prepared to work for a third of their salary. Why should we do it?"

"Let's see when the hunger comes and teach the people a lesson."
Bac Giang Province in northern Vietnam has turned the first sod at a second-phase social housing project for workers in Nenh Town under Viet Yen District at a total cost of some VND5 trillion (US$212.4 million).

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the 12.6-hectare project, which is set to feature 16 twenty-story apartment buildings, on Friday.

When in place, the project will provide some 7,000 apartments for more than 20,000 workers.

This is one of the largest social housing projects underway nationwide.

Over 600 customers have registered to buy an apartment at the project.

Secretary of the Bac Giang Party Committee Duong Van Thai said that the province is developing 12 social housing projects.

The province aims to meet 80 percent of the housing demand of workers by 2025 and accommodate 90 percent of laborers by 2030.

The prime minister appreciated Bac Giang Provinces efforts in fulfilling the goal of building at least one million social houses for low-income earners and workers in industrial zones by 2030.

The government leader underscored that providing houses for residents is always a top priority of the Party and the government.

Besides, Vietnam is focusing on developing more social housing for low-income earners and workers.

PM Chinh also called on enterprises and departments to join hands to construct more affordable apartments.

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- Work on three major expressway projects in southern Vietnam, namely Beltway No. 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot, and Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, will start this morning.

-- Police in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have fined more than 100 people for spreading fake news about deadly armed attacks on the headquarters of the People's Committees of two communes in the province on their Facebook accounts.

-- The Airports Corporation of Vietnam and the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam on Saturday inaugurated the T2 Terminal of Phu Bai International Airport. The terminals design is modelled after the Ngu Mountain, the Huong River, and the architecture of Hue imperial palaces.

-- Police have arrested 62 people involved in armed attacks on the headquarters of the Peoples Committees of two communes in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on Sunday last week, a leader of the Dak Lak Police said on Saturday.

-- The administration of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam on Saturday held the ground-breaking ceremony of a project to expand and upgrade the 77-kilometer-long coastal road 994, which carries a price tag of over VND6.5 trillion (US$276.3 million).

-- Police in Ho Chi Minh City are investigating a loan shark ring run by a 38-year-old man from Latvia and his accomplices.

Business

-- Vietnams budget air carrier Vietjet on Saturday opened a direct route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane, the capital of Queensland State in northeastern Australia, making it the first Vietnamese airline to operate a direct air service between Vietnam and the state.

Lifestyle

-- The third night of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023 lit up the sky of the namesake Vietnamese city on Saturday with performances from former winners of the festivalAustralia and Italy.

Education

-- Vietnam took the lead at the first Abu Reikhan Beruniy International Chemistry Olympiad as all of its eight students won medals, including four golds and four silvers, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training informed.

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Doctors in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam have taken many maggots out of the tracheostomy stoma of a local man in a medical operation.

The surgery was performed on 69-year-old P.V.U., who had been taken to Quang Nam General Hospitals oncology department in a state of fever, difficulty breathing, and painful inflammation and redness in the neck area, doctors said Saturday.

Doctors found that the patient was suffering a severe infection with foul fluid caused by a lot of maggots living in his tracheostomy stoma.

U. has a history of laryngeal cancer and he has undergone a tracheostomy with cannula, the patients family told doctors.

A tracheostomy stoma is an airway that directs air into the trachea without going through the nasopharynx, doctors explained.

After considering the patients pathological conditions, doctors decided to conduct an operation to remove dozens of live maggots from the stoma.

This is a very rare case recorded in patients with tracheostomy, doctors said, adding that the improper cleaning of the cannula has led to the formation and development of maggots that caused the infection.

The longer such a condition is left untreated, the more danger it causes, doctors warned.

They recommend that patients with cannula tracheostomy need to have their tracheostomy area cleaned and the tracheostomy dressing changed once a day.

During the cleaning process, caretakers should observe the skin surrounding the tracheostomy area to detect redness or other abnormal signs, if any, doctors advised.

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HA NOI  COT Group, a major enterprise in electronic and electro-optical technology, plans to invest in Thang Long Industrial Park II to produce electronic, photovoltaic, and virtual reality products in November this year.

In a working session with the Hung Yen People Committee, the representative of COT Group said that after the survey, the enterprise chose Hung Yen as the location for its investment expansion.

According to the plan, the group will lease 6.6 hectares in Thang Long Industrial Park II in the first phase to invest in project construction. In the next 5-8 years, the group will expand its scale to 20 hectares with total investment capital of about US$500-800 million.

It will use the most advanced equipment for the production line. Additionally, the company is also willing to learn about the investment environment, legal procedures, and preferential policies in leasing land.

Nguyen Hung Nam, Vice Chairman of Hung Yen People Committee, said that the province paid great attention to creating favourable conditions for investors.

He affirmed that the provincial authorities would ask agencies and localities to coordinate with COT Group and the investor of the Thang Long Industrial Park II to urgently complete legal procedures. Once it fulfils financial obligations, the province would issue a certificate of land use rights for the expanded area in the industrial park.

Thang Long Industrial Park has an advantage in high-tech projects. There are 104 foreign investment projects with a total registered capital of about $3.2 billion, mainly from Japan such as Kyocera, Hoya, Nippon, Daikin, Toto, and Panasonic.  VNS
ST PETERSBURG  Russias Rosseti power grid company and the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), a subordinate company of the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to resume their long-term strategic cooperation which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia.

The two companies agreed to develop joint projects based on the capability of each side and the advancements of Rosseti. They will also collaborate in technology exchange, digital transformation, personnel training, and occupational safety.

Additionally, Rosseti will assist EVNNPT in developing primary power transmission lines and transnational high-voltage power connections in the region using advanced technologies.

EVNNPT Deputy General Director Vu Tran Nguyen said according to the government's plan, Viet Nam needs new investments worth US$15 billion to build and modernise over 36,000km of power transmission lines and put into operation more than 169,000 transformer stations by 2030. To such end, EVNNPT needs to cooperate with global partners, including Rosseti, in various advanced fields.

On this occasion, the EVNNPT delegation also visited the Training Centre of the Northwest Power Grid and the remotely controlled 330 kV Volkhov-Severnaya substation, which is part of the St. Petersburg Energy Belt.  VNS
Tam Vi is the perfect setting for tourists, businesspeople, and locals to convene, serving traditional Vietnamese classics and specialties to be cherished by anyone with a set of taste buds

By Alex Reeves

Have you heard? Michelins been in town. Seemingly anyone with even a passing interest in taking food from their plate, bowl, or polystyrene tray and placing it into their mouths seems to have  and they all have an opinion about it.

Such is the magnitude of the worlds most prestigious purveyor of dining: the perennial powerhouse of making tires and telling us what and, most importantly, where to eat.

Michelin, along with everyone else, has had some things to say about a handful of restaurants throughout Ha Noi  and one in our sister city of Ho Chi Minh City, or Sai Gon. In total, four eateries were awarded stars and over a hundred were finally acknowledged.

So, I thought Id join in by actually visiting these newly anointed culinary kings and let our readers know what theyll be getting themselves into.

Today, Ill focus on Tam Vi  perhaps, to some, a surprise addition to the list of acclaimed awardees. However, Michelins been producing their guide annually since 1900 and you most certainly do not end up being awarded a star for anything other than excellence.

Tam Vi is not a house of fine dining, serving up an 18-course tasting menu by transforming things  that you were never entirely sure you wanted to eat in the first place  into foams and other equally confounding concoctions.

Nor is it a street food stall firing out fifteen bowls of the same dish each and every minute from dawn till dusk, sending lines around already congested urban corners as quickly as it sends the local competition out of business.

It fits neither end of the conventional spectrum we seem to find in the Michelin guide, and the reason behind this, I believe, is what has led them to this very recognition. Well get to that.

Speaking of powerhouses, Viet Nam has been a growing global gastronomic one for decades now. While half the world may not have got their tongues around the pronunciation of our beloved pho, theyve certainly welcomed the flavours into their minds and mouths.

Vietnamese cuisine can be found in places from Pennsylvania to Prague and is roundly celebrated as some of the most varied and delicious food on an already culinary-rich continent. Even the small village near my rural northeastern English hometown now boasts its own restaurant simply named Banh Mi.

Where we often run into trouble  both with finding Vietnamese food abroad and enjoying the delights of Michelin-starred dining  concerns the price. Be it a US$1,000 evening in Paris or a $20 bowl of broth, these sorts of sums (somewhat ironically) leave a bad taste in the mouth.

Thankfully, that is not an issue here at Tam Vi. In the venue  itself a juxtaposition of old and new, much like the country from which it draws its culinary inspiration  you can expect to pay between VN100-200,000 ($5-10) for most dishes, and as much as VN300,000 ($15) for something more special.

This sparkling gem is nestled in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from the Temple of Literature, the cultural landmark by which the traditional feel of Tam Vi could easily have been inspired.

Rustic wooden tables dot the space, backdropped by a tight modern finish and attention to detail which reminds you that this isn't just any Vietnamese restaurant. Its intimate, yet unpretentious; the walls are adorned with art from Viet Nams more ancient history, and a gramophone sits gracefully on a desk as you enter.

Circular windows let perfect amounts of light into private rooms downstairs and add a feel of cosiness, while lamps and natural light diffused from the curtains along the length of the balcony set the tone in the dining room, until the long doors open in the evening.

Having lived here for over five years and having consumed almost everything present on the menu at one time or another, I needed other perspectives, so invited guests of varied culinary heritages.

These included local artist Tedd Pomaski  whose Vietnamese mother lovingly prepared these dishes for him at home during his childhood in Hawaii  and a fellow five-year expatriated Mancunian for whom banh cuon is the finest of all lifes dishes.

We were joined by Leon, a close friend and relative newcomer to Viet Nam whos travelled the length of the country twice already, and for whom Vietnamese food couldnt be more different from the hearty fare served back home in Germany.

The consistency of their response corresponds to the finer and notable qualities of the restaurant. We found ourselves foraging through the remaining beansprouts and luffa gourd for the last remnants of stir-fried chicken heart, and chasing the final drops of caramelised pork fat in the richness of the thit kho tau (caramelised pork belly and eggs).

Collectively acknowledged highlights included the banana flower and pig ear salad  which added crunch and texture to the table  while the beef and seasonal Tonkin jasmine flower provided the aroma and depth of flavour to diversify the variety of dishes on display to us.

Gordon Ramsay once referred to Viet Nam as an extraordinary melting pot of great food, and remarked that the Vietnamese people eat as well as anyone anywhere in the world. And hes right.

To that end, this is where I believe Tam Vi has hit gold of the Michelin star variety. The true skill and artistry of its team is in taking so many delicately flavoured dishes  with such variety of texture and depth  and applying consistency to them under one roof.

Many restaurants in Viet Nam serve one dish very well. As they specialise in that one singular dish, its no wonder theyre firm favourites with locals already in the know. There are other spots to dine at with multiple traditional dishes, but not of this calibre.

It would be too easy for a native or regular visitor to simply consider this high-end Vietnamese food. To the rest of the world, this is intriguing, new, challenging, and inventive cuisine, and Tam Vi is the perfect place to be introduced to such a spectrum of flavours.

Smiles were shared between customers; the staff were warm and humble despite their newfound success, as well as the inordinate amount of custom and logistical challenges it must be bringing them.

I trust that Tam Vi will wear their Michelin star with pride, and I look forward to my next visit  if Im able to grab a seat. VNS

@afreeves23
by Nguyen My Ha

The trend to return looted art and artefacts to countries conquered by wars over the years has been happening for a while. Giant collections of art in the world's biggest museums and private collections have been surrendered in auctions or other means after they were proven to be taken forcefully away from their original rightful owners. From the Elgin Marbles to imperial Vietnamese gold seals, the list of stolen property is endless.

Just last week, AFP reported that prosecutors in New York City, led by Alvin Bragg, NY County District Attorney for Manhattan, had seized hundreds of artefacts looted from around the world that had landed in NYC museums and private collections.

A politician and lawyer who teaches at New York Law School, Bragg has co-ordinated with forensic archaeologists to identify and return more than 950 artefacts worth more than US$150 million to countries such as Cambodia, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, and China.

Bragg reportedly handed back to Beijing two seventh century stone sculptures valued at $3.5 million just last month. The sculptures were loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in NYC by Met trustee and philanthropist, billionaire collector Shelby White from 1998, until they were seized this year.

White, now 85, gave a total of 89 works after Bragg's home searches and was praised by prosecutors for cooperation and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

None of the aforementioned returned antiques were identified as being from Viet Nam, though some were returned to Cambodia.

A paper in the Journal in Public Archaeology states: "The exact nature of the illicit antiquities trade from ground to market in Southeast Asia remains poorly known outside of Thailand and Cambodia ...[and] little is known about the Vietnamese antiquities trade in general and its relationship to regional antiquities trafficking."

While details are scant, the nation is likely to have suffered great losses, and those in the field agree.

In an email to Viet Nam News, Christos Tsirogiannis, a forensic archaeologist at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Aarhus, in Denmark, wrote, "There are archives confiscated from notorious dealers, in which objects from Southeast Asia are indeed depicted."

He revealed that he had identified some on the market or in museums, but would not disclose anything further, as he believes it's up to governments to decide where these artefacts actually belong. Having worked extensively on trafficking of arts and artefacts for the past 17 years, he has researched international networks in antiquities trafficking.

Tsiogiannis worked for the Greek Ministries of Culture and Justice from 1994 to 2008, excavating throughout Greece with the Greek police Art Squad from 2004 until 2008. He also recorded antiquities in private collections. Currently, he is head of the working group Illicit Antiquities Trafficking of the UNESCO chair on threats to cultural heritage and cultural heritage-related activities at Ionian University in Greece.

"New York is one of the world's hub cities for the illicit trafficking of antiquities," Tsirogiannis said.

While the Southeast Asian section on display of the Metropolitan Museum could have been identified by forensic archaeologist, a long bloody and painful colonisation of Indochina by the French should lead to more work to be identified and repatriated in the future.

It will be difficult to get a true handle on just how much the nation has been plundered. Just last autumn, Viet Nams Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism sent a delegation to France to negotiate with French auction house Millon to repatriate a gold seal of Nguyen Dynasty's Emperor Minh Mang created in 1823.

The ai Nam Kingdom was invaded by the French Second Empire in 1858, following French ships' attack on Tourane, today's a Nang.

The Nguyen Court had surrendered three southern provinces to the French, and three others were captured by force later. In 1884, the Treaty of Hue was signed, in which the Tonkin (North Viet Nam proper), Annam (Centre) were protectorate regions, the Cochinchina (South Viet Nam proper) was a French colony, and the royal court was also put under French supervision.

During the 87 years of colonisation, a drainage of natural resources, treasure troves, antiquities and human resources exhausted the country, prompting the people to rise up to fight for its independence in 1945.

The UNESCO 1970 Convention that prevents illicit trafficking of cultural property has it that cultural antiquities must be returned to the land of their original owners.

If these artefacts are to be returned to museums in Viet Nam, a comprehensive plan must be made first to pave the way for the repatriation, with preservation of these treasures best taken into account.

While the repatriation of cultural property can sometimes be a complex issue, there is no doubt that the nation suffered much from the legacy of colonialism. Sooner or later, our ancient artefacts must be returned. VNS
Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have become top important partners of each other in various fields, with economic, trade and investment cooperation serving as both pillar and primary driver of their increasingly growing relationship, said Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

During a reception in Hanoi on June 13 for RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Oh Yong-ju, Dien hailed the diplomat for her active efforts to elevate the Vietnam-RoK relationship to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership as it stands today.

He suggested Ambassador Oh and the RoK Embassy in Vietnam continue working closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and urged the Korean ministries and agencies concerned to diversify measures to boost bilateral trade and effectively carry out joint work in trade, industry and energy, toward lifting two-way trade to 100 billion USD as soon as possible.

Ambassador Oh, for her part, conveyed the RoK sides message expressing its desire to sign several documents with the MoIT, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Vietnam-Korea Centre for Essential Mineral Supply, a MoU on the establishment of Korea Plus in Vietnam and Vietnam Plus in Korea, and a Joint Statement on the establishment of an electronic Certificate of Origin data exchange system between the MIT, the General Department of Vietnam Customs and the Korea Customs Service.

She said despite the complex fluctuations in the global economy, Korean businesses still show interest in establishing or expanding their manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, particularly in core technology sectors such as energy battery or semiconductor.

The ambassador affirmed that in her capacity, she will always strive to foster a strong and substantive Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

The MoIT is ready to support cooperation activities between Korean businesses and Vietnamese organisations to bring balanced benefits for all parties in accordance with Vietnams laws and regulations, said Dien.

Source: Bao Nhan Dan
The implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs) and regional mega trade pacts have resulted in a loss of custom taxes for Cambodia, but has also boosted investment flows, created jobs, and increased exports, said Kun Nhem, director-general of Customs and Excise, while speaking at a workshop yesterday.

In a workshop yesterday, Nhem said FTAs and RCEP have reduced customs tax income.

Cambodia loses revenue from preferential tariffs under FTAs, but these frameworks benefit the countys economy due to the flow of trade and tariff reductions, he said.

Despite a loss of customs tax revenue from preferential tariff rates under RCEP and FTAs with China and Korea of about $400 million a year, Cambodia attracts more new investment, creates jobs for people and increases exports, contributing to national income, Nhem said.

RCEP and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) came into effect in January 2022.

The RCEP free trade agreement comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Cambodia has two institutions responsible for collecting taxes. One is the GDCE, which collects taxes on goods entering and leaving the country, and the other is the General Department of Taxation (GDT), which focuses on interior taxes such as income tax, salary tax, value-added tax, and property tax.

Official report showed that the GDCE collected $564.1 million as customs income in the first three months of this year, a decline of 5.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

The income represents 20.5 percent of the target set for the entire year of 2023.

During the first quarter of 2023, the main source of income was the import taxes on vehicles and machinery, which accounted for 36.3 percent of the total customs income.

Cambodias exports in the first five months of 2023 were worth $9.18 billion, down 2.4 percent from $9.41 billion for the same period last year, the report said.

Source: Khmer Times
Responding to climate change, does Vietnams agricultural sector appear to be trailing behind other agriculturally developed nations when it comes to fostering corporate transformation to a sustainable food system?

I dont think this is a race or a competition. The reality is that were facing a climate emergency, so every single country can always do more and move faster.

The challenge for everybody is that this is expensive and complicated. The event on clustering industry towards sustainable food systems transformation in Vietnam is trying to encourage people to find ways to work together. Working together, as I said on the panel, is very difficult.

Were trying to transition, so the important thing is that the Vietnamese government is very much engaged in attempting to make Vietnam a hub for innovation in food system transformation.

And I know that we as a private company appreciate very much the support and partnership that we get from the government because if were going to fix these very difficult problems, we need to work together.

What should Vietnam do to speed up the agricultural sector in transitioning to a sustainable food system and becoming a regional food innovation hub?

All this is really about making sure that farming is a good profession to join. If you inherit your family farm, it makes sense for you and your family to stay on the land. So the more that we can help with improving the productivity of farms in a regenerative way, meaning a way that is good for the soil, good for the planet, then youre going to have a double benefit. You will benefit that farmer because you will have a more productive enterprise and a more productive farm.

But most importantly, these are efforts that will be good for the planet. Were facing a climate emergency, and its significant. That we play our role as the worlds biggest food company in helping agriculture change, transform itself, and become stronger so that we can make a difference and deal with the climate emergency.

What are Nestles expectations from the key message of Vietnam in the transformation to a sustainable food system?

Nestle has committed to being net-zero by 2050, meaning that we want to reduce our carbon footprint. One way to do this is to encourage farmers to take the best of the old way of doing things, conventional agriculture, but combine it with regenerative agriculture techniques. We really encourage farmers to work with us to develop regenerative agriculture techniques that will be good for them, good for us, and good for the planet.

Because the structure and dynamics of agricultural production have been thoroughly exploited, in what direction will Nestles solutions for Vietnams transition to a sustainable food system move?

One thing thats changing is science. In the old days, theres one message for farmers, which was that if you use this amount of fertiliser and this amount of pesticide, this is the result youll get: your farm will be more productive.

The truth is that today we know much more, and because we have this new science, we can take a much more tailored approach and understand soil health much better.

The key thing is that we have better science than weve ever had before to help the farmer. If we can harness that science to help that farmer to make more money, to have a better living for them and their family, and actually enhance the impact on the environment, then thats a very exciting journey to go on.

The economic efficacy of Nestles products is determined by calculating their revenue and profit margin per unit of land. How has this affected Nestles transition to a sustainable agricultural system in Vietnam?

Of course, were a private company and we have a responsibility to our shareholders. But ever since we started 150 years ago, weve been all about creating shared value. This means creating value for your shareholders while at the same time creating value for the communities where you operate.

In Vietnam, the work that we carry out in the Central Highlands with coffee farmers is about helping them turn from farmers into agri-preneurs because we need to have a reliable supply of good-quality coffee. Cost always comes into it, but we prefer to see it as an investment.

Its an investment to transform our business into a low-carbon business to strengthen our business, and over the long term, this will be good for Nestle shareholders as well as the communities that we buy our coffee from.

What is Nestle doing to facilitate Vietnams transition to a sustainable agricultural system?

The important point is that if you want to build a sustainable food system, it has to make sense for all of the actors.

Through the Nescafe Plan 2030, we are investing to strengthen farming communities. At the same time, were also investing in our other facilities, such as our factories. Were very proud that this area in the Central Highlands is becoming a lighthouse for the whole company, and its an area that we now see as being best practice, so that other coffee-growing parts of the world can learn from what we do there.

And then, of course, the better quality coffee that we can get as a result of this goes to our factories, and now were very proud of the fact that our factories export to other parts of the world.

Those two things are interconnected. The more that you have a better-functioning agricultural system, the more that you have farmers who have better yields because the soil health is better, and then you have a more reliable supply of coffee. You need a reliable supply of coffee to make your factories run in the most efficient way.

What challenges and opportunities does Nestle face when implementing regenerative agriculture in Vietnam?

One of the most enduring challenges with asking farmers to change their ideas, change the practices that theyve heard from their grandfathers and from their fathers, and to do something different  perhaps to use less fertiliser, instead, to use compost fertilisers made by agricultural residues and coffee husk.

Additionally, we also help farmers to change their habit to pick ripe cherries. Via these changes in farming, we help them save 20 per cent of fertilisers and increase 20 per cent of production. Youre asking them to trust you that really what you are telling them or encouraging them to do will be beneficial to them.

So we try as much as possible to create pilot farms so that we can show them how there is a benefit. We get groups of 50-100 farmers, and they elect a farmer leader, and then we train that leader so that they are helping us to make sure that the messages make sense.

When Ive been to the Central Highlands, we have an army of agronomists who are really the heroes who are helping to work with these farmers. Often, these agronomists come from farming families themselves. They are really all about making sure that we work with farmers and farmworkers so that all of this makes sense.

Last but not least, we also have very strong cooperation with the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute for high quality, drought resistant planlet production and distribution to all farmers to rejuvenate their ageing coffee plantation. Since 2011, the Nescafe Plan in Vietnam has distributed more 63 million plantlets for rejuvenating more than 63,000ha of ageing coffee farms.

*Interview held at an event on clustering industry towards sustainable food systems transformation in Vietnam, as part of the fourth global conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Program, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in April.

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